Chapter Text
This chapter looks at what Simba experienced while waiting for Kopa and Malka. So we have now turned back time.
Kopa leaves the cave. Simba stays behind and watches him. After just a few seconds, he disappears.
Simba:
whispers
“Good luck, my son… You must not fail… Please don’t...”
sinks into his thoughts
“So… How do I pass the time until he comes back…?”
Before he can answer his question, he sees Bahati coming into the cave.
Bahati:
“Now the moment of truth has come, huh?”
Simba:
"Bahati..."
Simba experiences another flashback. It shows the moment in the gorge when he is saved by the lion, who is still unknown to this day. He looks exactly like Bahati. Simba falls silent.
Bahati:
“Are you alright, Simba?”
Simba:
"Yes, I am... But... When I see you, it seems to me as if YOU had saved me back then..."
Bahati:
“Are you thinking about the gorge again?”
Simba:
"Yes…"
Bahati:
“Oh, Simba… You know that can’t be.”
Simba:
"Of course I know that... But you look exactly like him. Same looks, same voice, even the same scent. How many big coincidences are necessary for something like that to happen?"
Bahati:
"I don't know... That was before my time... But it must still be bothering you after so many years... I can't help you much, Simba... But I'll support you wherever I can... I promise..."
Simba:
snuggles up to Bahati
"Thank you, Bahati..."
Simba and Bahati rub their heads together to express their affection for each other. Because of that they fail to notice that Mufasa comes into the cave and sees them doing so.
Mufasa:
“That’s how I like to see you two.”
Simba, Bahati:
frightened
"Father!"
Mufasa:
“I guess I surprised you now.”
Simba:
"You did."
Bahati:
“Honestly, yes.”
Mufasa:
"Always stick together, my sons. Nothing can hurt you as long as you're together. Then history can't repeat itself. I would have liked to have had a brother like that... What were you just talking about, Bahati?"
Bahati:
"Simba is once again wondering who saved him in the gorge."
Mufasa:
"Simba..."
Simba:
“I’m sorry, Father… But as soon as I see, hear AND smell Bahati, it’s like my savior is standing in front of me again.”
Mufasa:
lowers his head
"I know... I'm also sorry that I never found out who we owe your life to..."
Bahati:
“And I'm sorry that I can’t be of much help to you two…”
Simba:
"It's okay, Bahati..."
Mufasa:
"Nobody can blame you. You weren't born yet."
Bahati:
"Is there nothing left that we haven't tried yet? Maybe we've overlooked something."
Mufasa:
"Then we would have to start all over again... But you could be right, Bahati. We should consider it."
Simba:
“Thank you, father… How did you proceed back then?”
Mufasa:
"In such mysterious cases, I follow one of Mohatu's words of wisdom. He once said: Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Bahati:
“Did it do you any good?”
Mufasa:
sighs
"Unfortunately not... After eliminating the impossible, nothing possible remains... I can't remember anything more mysterious than this..."
Simba:
"Then we'll probably never find out..."
Bahati:
"But he told you that one day you would find out who he is."
Simba:
“And when will that day come?”
Bahati:
puzzled face
"I wonder that too..."
Simba:
"The next big question is: Where did the stranger disappear to after leaving me on the safe ledge?"
Bahati:
“Well..., another question without an answer...”
Mufasa:
"The traces ended in the middle of the gorge, as if he simply ceased to exist at that point..."
Bahati:
"That can't be. Such a thing is not possible."
Simba:
“It IS… We just don’t know how yet...”
Mufasa:
"I refuse to accept that there are no answers to our questions...! I will keep looking for them. The next clue I find, you will know first. The truth is somewhere out there, my sons, and we WILL find it."
proud, determined pose
Simba, Bahati:
"Thank you, Dad..."
Mufasa:
hugs his sons
"Don't worry, you two. We can do it..."
Shortly afterwards, Mufasa releases the embrace.
Mufasa:
"Your mother and I were with Rafiki earlier. Perhaps we will know more this evening if we trust his word for today."
Simba:
"What is he saying?"
Mufasa:
"He predicts that completely unexpected things will happen today and in the next two days."
Simba and Bahati look at each other questioningly.
Simba:
"Something unexpected."
Bahati:
"It could be anything."
Mufasa:
"I can reassure you. He assured us that it will definitely be only good things."
Bahati:
snuggles up to Simba with relief
"Lucky!"
Simba:
licks Bahati over his head
“I can only agree with that.”
Mufasa:
smiles
“Keep it up.”
looks at his sons with pride for a moment
“So, have you prepared everything for Malka’s return?”
Bahati:
"I'm ready."
Simba:
“I just have to make one final preparation and then I’ll be ready.”
Mufasa:
"Then I won't hold you up any longer. Kopa has probably picked him up already."
Simba:
"I hope so..."
Mufasa:
"Simba, even if he still acts a bit childish sometimes, Kopa is ready to take on responsibility. We agree on that. Giving him Kiburi's supernatural powers as a reward is something I would have done too if I were you. So don't worry. He'll make it."
about to leave the cave
"As soon as Malka is one of the supernaturals, you can call us. Then your mother and I will greet him personally."
Simba:
"All right. See you later."
Bahati:
"See you later."
Mufasa nods and leaves the cave. Shortly afterwards, Bahati also gets up and walks towards the exit.
Bahati:
"Now, Simba, as we discussed: I'll keep watch outside and warn you if they come near. Until then, the cave is yours."
Simba:
“That’s exactly how we do it.”
Bahati:
“And please leave our cave in one piece.”
Simba:
"Oh, Bahati... Don't worry either. Even as a cub, I let the ceiling drop on my head and it always stayed intact. And stone is almost indestructible compared to wood."
Bahati:
“Yes, that’s true. Then I’m relieved.”
As Bahati says this, he leaves the cave. Simba stays behind and waits until he can no longer see his brother. Then he takes his designated place and begins the final test. He thinks back to the moment when he grew bigger in Rafiki's laboratory for the first time.
Simba:
"What a great feeling that was... When I experienced first hand what it means to be powerful and a giant... My dream became reality... I think back to that now, at my final test... But this time while sitting down..."
Simba sits down and concentrates. He looks at his paws when he already hears the hissing sound he has been waiting for.
Simba:
“Well then, here we grow again…!”
Simba begins to grow fast and looks around.
Simba:
“Very good, exactly at this pace.”
He looks up and continues to grow until his head almost touches the ceiling of the cave.
Simba:
“Yes…, great… right underneath the ceiling… This will be the perfect surprise for Malka…”
stares at the ceiling
"Hey, Kovu...? Look at me...! Did you really think I had no chance against you...? Wrong...! I had the right friends at the right time who made me strong...! And you, with your dear Tama, achieved nothing...! I'm sure you would want to tell me something different now, but you are condemned to eternal silence while I remain the eternal king! That wouldn't have had to happen if you hadn't behaved so immaturely and attacked us...!"
While Simba continues to boast, he doesn't notice that Kubwa, about half his size, is coming into the cave. When she sees him sitting in front of her as a giant, she is briefly frightened, but immediately relaxes again. She stops in front of him and looks up at him.
Kubwa:
“Hey, my gentle giant?”
Simba:
frightened
"Oh! Kubwa!"
Kubwa:
“Are you letting the ceiling fall on your head again?”
Simba:
"Yes, indeed. But... did Bahati just let you in?"
Kubwa:
"No, he doesn't know I'm here."
Simba:
"He doesn't know? Even though you're so big?"
Kubwa:
"Yes. I made myself very tiny and sneaked past him. Luckily for me, you were growing just as I came in. Since your hissing drowned out mine, I was able to grow with you relaxed and become a giantess."
Simba:
"And show everyone once again what it means to be called 'Kubwa'."
Kubwa:
sits next to Simba and concentrates
"Oh, I have just started..."
Kubwa's body begins to hiss. It gets louder and Kubwa continues to grow. Simba looks towards the exit of the cave.
Simba:
“I hope for your sake that Bahati doesn’t notice.”
Without a care Kubwa continues to grow until she reaches Simba’s size.
Kubwa:
"Well, Simba, my gentle giant... When I'm as big as you, my name will receive all the honor it deserves."
Simba:
"Naturally..."
Kubwa:
"I met Kopa earlier at the watering hole. He is on his way to the Flat Ridge Rock with full commitment."
Simba:
"Very good."
Kubwa:
“Who were you just talking to?”
Simba:
"I was just bragging to Kovu about our supernatural powers again."
Kubwa:
"Ah, great. Yes... I imagined it differently back then... As soon as I become queen, I am attacked..."
Simba:
"That's why it was important to me to complete the ceremony before I killed them... They should leave knowing that we will not be intimidated and that they have achieved nothing with their attack."
Kubwa:
"That must have been very hard for you... You've just become king, and you already have to wipe out two lives..."
Simba:
"Not at all. I couldn't let them carry out their threat and harm you. At the same time, we could take revenge for everything we had endured from them up to that point."
Kubwa:
"If I could have been bigger back then, I would have grown huge in front of their eyes and roared them off their paws. Then they would have never dared to come close to me again."
Simba:
"Surely that would have been funny. But then Tama would have seen with her own eyes that Kovu was always right in his claim. We had to avoid that at all costs. She had seen it shortly before her death, but that was no use to her."
Kubwa:
“Exactly… It’s good that we left it at that and can now live our eternal life in peace…”
snuggles up to Simba
“Thank you, Simba… Without you, I would be a completely different lioness today...”
Simba:
"For me, it was a matter of course, Kubwa..."
puts his right arm around Kubwa
"But you know... I tend to agree with Kovu on one point."
Kubwa:
"Which one?"
Simba:
“On that you are the fake sister of Bahati and me.”
Kubwa:
a little horrified
"Really?"
Simba:
"Yes."
shows his left paw to Kubwa
"Look at us. Our fur, our toes, our eyes, the tufts of our tails. We have almost the same colors, so it seems like you could really be our sister. Many of our subservients say the same thing. But they have always emphasized that they formed this impression themselves."
Kubwa:
"And I always thought that Kovu had told them that. Then I will no longer react annoyed in the future. Of course, we know better than anyone that I'm not your sister. But now that you mention it, I have to say that we could actually be siblings in terms of our appearance. From now on, I'll take that as a compliment. You've made my life a little more beautiful, Simba. Thank you, my gentle giant."
Kubwa kisses Simba on the cheek. Touched, he smiles at her and kisses back on her cheek.
Simba:
“With pleasure, Kubwa, my gentle giantess.”
The two rub their heads together in love until Bahati calls into the cave from outside.
Bahati:
"They're here! Kopa did it!"
Kubwa:
"I knew it…!"
Simba:
"He did it...! Excellent..."
Kubwa:
“Quick, we have to shrink.”
Simba and Kubwa shrink back to their normal sizes. They make it just in time before Kopa comes into the cave. He immediately lets Kubwa give him a big hug.
Kubwa:
“We are so proud of you, Kopa!”
Kopa:
"Thank you, Mom..."
Simba:
puts a paw on Kopa's back
“Kopa, you did it. Your success fills us with great pride.”
Kopa:
"It wasn't as difficult as it sounded, Dad. I'd be happy to provide safe conduct again anytime."
Simba:
"We're glad to hear that. We'll remember it. I'll talk to Malka now. But don't go too far away, because after that I'll reveal the secret and give your reward to you."
Kopa:
"I'm waiting for you."
Simba:
“Very good. See you soon.”
Kopa:
"See you soon."
Kopa turns around and leaves the cave. Kubwa wants to follow him, but is called back by Simba.
Simba:
"Kubwa!"
Kubwa stops and turns to Simba.
Simba:
"Think about your size."
Kubwa:
"The surprise... I almost forgot about it."
Kubwa shrinks to her former normal size.
Kubwa:
“Shall we proceed as discussed?”
Simba:
“As soon as you can come in, I’ll call you.”
Kubwa:
“Everything as discussed.”
grins mischievously
“HE will be amazed.”
Simba:
grins back
“He will never forget that sight.”
Kubwa giggles and heads towards the exit. Simba watches her until she disappears around the corner. On the way out, Malka comes towards her.
Simba:
(“Oh boy, oh boy, that was close…!”)
Simba hears Kubwa and Malka talking to each other, but not what they are talking about. When they separate, Kubwa leaves the cave.