Chapter Text

A HUGE Adventure

A Lion-King-story written and translated from German by Kiburi1873

If you would like to enjoy my story in its original language German, please start here.

Here you can find me: https://paths.to/Kiburi1873

This story was written from 2012 to 2018 and revised in 2021 and 2024 (April to October).
Therefore, the events from the movie "Mufasa: The Lion King" were not taken in consideration here.

On my FurAffinity page you can see pictures of selected scenes from my story.
You can find the link on my paths.to page or use this direct link.

I dedicate "A HUGE Adventure" to the lion Cecil (2002-2015), who had to die for human amusement.

Prologue

"A HUGE Adventure" begins in the Pride Lands, an idyllic kingdom somewhere in the middle-east-african savannah. Since six years Mufasa, the Lion King, is ruling there with his wife Sarabi. A few months ago, their son Simba was born. Every day they prepare him for his future role as king. He is already looking forward to his time at the top of the Pride Lands. An intact family in an intact kingdom, you might think. But the supposed idyll is deceptive, after two weeks ago everything had come extremely close to a change.

What had happened? Taka, Mufasa's younger brother, attempted to murder Mufasa and Simba twice within 24 hours. Only the just-in-time-intervention of the shaman Rafiki, Mufasa himself and an unknown, foreign lion prevented both attempts from being successful. For the latter, Taka paid with his life and fell victim to his own plan. Since then, a long trace of huge paw prints runs through the gorge. How they got there is kept strictly secret by Mufasa's orders.

14 days have passed since the events in the gorge, during which the Pride Lands have mostly returned to normality. In the meantime, Simba has become friends with Malka, the prince of the Sunlands, the Pride Lands eastern neighbor, and made the acquaintance of Kovu and his sister Tama, two lions from the Outlands. But still there is no trace of the foreign lion to whom Simba owes his life. Regardless, he has remained a bright little lion who likes to be kept busy around the clock. Every morning, he can't wait to set off on his next adventure. Little does he know that today it will be the biggest of his life.

Chapter Text

Inside Pride Rock's cave. The sun is shining in. King Mufasa, Queen Sarabi and Simba are lying in their sleeping places. The lionesses have just left to hunt. Queen Sarabi wakes Simba to prepare him for the new day. She gently nudges Simba until he finally wakes up. He slowly opens his eyes and turns to Sarabi.

Simba: 
still sleepy 
"Good morning, Mom..."

Sarabi: 
"Good morning, Simba. Did you sleep well?"

Simba: 
rubs his eyes 
"Yes, I did..."
looks outside 
"Oh, the sun is already shining."

Sarabi: 
"Exactly. I have to go and supervise the hunt. So I'm going to wash you now so that you can set off on your next adventure."

Simba: 
annoyed 
"Not again..."

Sarabi lies down next to Simba and puts him in her paws. She licks his body to clean him. Simba reluctantly puts up with it. But when it's his ears' turn, he gets ticklish. 

Simba: 
"Hey, that tickles."

Sarabi: 
"I know. I used to feel the same way. But don't worry. I'll be finished in a minute."

Sarabi washes Simba's ears a second time. He can no longer hold back and laughs, which makes Mufasa wake up. 

Mufasa: 
sleepily 
"Sarabi..., our son is awake..."

Sarabi: 
"Yes, of course he's awake. That's why I'm washing him already so that you two can get started later."

Simba: 
"Good morning, Dad."

Mufasa: 
"Good morning, Simba..."

Sarabi: 
"Your father has big plans for you today. You have to listen to him very carefully. That's another reason I washed your ears twice, so that it doesn't fall back on me if you don't understand everything."

Simba: 
"Something big? What is it about?"

Sarabi: 
"He just told me that you have to make a wise decision. That's all I know. But you can ask him when he's awake."

Simba: 
"I will."

Sarabi: 
stands up and turns to leave 
"I'm looking forward to hear how you liked it. See you later."

Simba: 
"See you later, Mom."

Sarabi leaves the cave. Simba follows her to the entrance and watches her. When he can no longer see her, he enjoys the rays of sunshine. 

Simba: 
"Aah... Today will be another beautiful day for a new adventure... If Uncle Taka would still be here, he would definitely have had one for me, too... But I have to make a wise decision today? That makes me curious."

Simba runs back into the cave to Mufasa. He is still lying in his place, dozing. Simba jumps at him from the side and tries to shake him. 

Simba: 
"Daddy, wake up. Look how the sun is shining.”

Mufasa: 
sleepy, eyes closed 
“Mmhmm...”

Simba: 
“Daddy, you can't sleep through this beautiful day.”

Mufasa: 
yawns, slowly opens his eyes 
“I don't plan to do so...”

Simba: 
stands in the sun's rays 
“The sun is already wonderfully warm.”

Mufasa: 
looks outside from his sleeping place
“Very good. The ideal weather for patrolling the border.”

Simba: 
“May I come with you?”

Mufasa: 
“No, Simba. That's far too dangerous. I've already had to deal with intruders that I might not have been able to defeat without reinforcements. If I have to look after you, too, it could be fatal for both of us in the worst case. And since you have already narrowly escaped death twice, I will avoid any unnecessary risks.”

Simba: 
a little disappointed by the rejection, but still he smiles 
“Escaped, thanks to you.”

Mufasa: 
smiles cautiously, puts Simba close to him 
“Remember one thing, my son: my help can also come too late. That would have happened, for example, if the hyenas had been quiet enough when you visited the elephant graveyard with Kubwa. Likewise, you would most likely be dead now if the stranger had not brought you to safety. You owe him your life. I owe him a lot for that. But it was your uncle who planned everything for a long time and carried out the attacks on us.”

Simba: 
listened with interest, hangs his head 
“And that's why you killed him…”

Mufasa: 
sadly looking at Simba 
“Yes, Simba... I had to do it... He left me no other choice... Believe me: It's for our own good.”

Simba: 
“But why did he want to kill us? I see no reason why he would do such a thing. He was always nice to me.”

Mufasa: 
“Nice… There you go. He was just pretending. This was one of his biggest problems his whole life. He had his reasons for wanting to kill us. I could tell you, but you're too young to understand.”

Simba: 
shows interest 
“No, Dad, tell me. Maybe I will understand after all.”

Mufasa: 
shakes his head 
“I'm sorry, son… But I think it's better not to let you know before you're older.”

Simba: 
pretends to accept the answer 
(“Hmph… Still no wiser! But I'll find my answers.”)*
“Yes, that's probably for the best… May I know what happened to the stranger?”

* Text in brackets means that a character is thinking instead of speaking. 

Mufasa: 
"Of course we would let you know if we knew more than you. He hasn't been seen since we saw him in the gorge. But I assure you: As soon as we hear anything new about him, you'll be the first to know."

Simba: 
"Oh, thank you, Dad... But are there still dangers lurking out there, despite Uncle Taka's death?"

Mufasa: 
looks outside 
"In the Outlands, as you saw, definitely... That's why it's important that we are patrouling at the border several times a day. Nothing can happen to you so quickly within our borders. Even so, I can't guarantee 100% safety. The two hyenas that your new friend Malka chased away recently showed that there must be more out there. That was brave of him, but don't do what he did. You would definitely come off worse. To make sure that dangerous situations are no longer an issue for you in the future, I would like to meet you at Rafiki's laboratory later."

Simba: 
looks up at his father 
"Does this have anything to do with the wise decision that Mom told me about earlier?"

Mufasa: 
"Exactly. A wise decision that will have a decisive influence on your future."

Simba: 
"That sounds interesting, but Rafiki isn't around."

Mufasa: 
smiles, stands up and turns to leave 
"That's right. Only the two of us will be there. But until then, I'll patrol the borders and look for further clues in the gorge while you look for someone to play with. Maybe Malka will come to visit us again today. Or you can go to Kiburi. He's always happy when you come to him. I'm sure Kubwa would be too if you were with her. But stay away from the Outlands and the gorge! If you see hyenas, run away immediately. This time I'm so far away that I can't help you out. You're only safe as long as you stay within our borders."

Simba: 
"Okay, Dad. I'll keep that in mind. See you later."

Mufasa: 
"See you later, Simba."

Mufasa leaves the cave. Simba remains sitting thoughtfully. 

Simba: 
"Who...? Who will answer my questions without telling me I'm too young...? Does everyone think I don't have the intelligence...? I don't think so... I have to find someone who lived through Uncle Taka's time... But if not Dad, then who...? And that's not even the only thing that's been bothering me since Uncle Taka's death... I keep thinking about that moment in the gorge when the stranger brought me to safety from the herd of wildebeest... He said to me: 'Stay sitting here! Your father is coming soon!'... When I asked him who he was, he just replied: 'I must not tell you, but one day you'll find out!'... Then he hugged me with one paw and licked my cheek once before disappearing between the wildebeests... Who could that have been...? Judging by his scent, he is one of us, and that's what Dad thinks as well... But that can't be... No one in our pride looks like Dad... It's really very mysterious... That's exactly what happened shortly after... While I was looking for Dad, the ground started to shake again... I had no way to take cover... So I dropped to the ground, covered my eyes with my paws and thought: 'That's it...' But when I risked a look between my toes, instead of more wildebeests, it was Dad, who came stomping towards me as a giant lion... 'This can't possibly be your surprise!' I thought and squeezed my eyes shut. Shortly afterwards, the earthquake suddenly stopped and the paw of an adult lion shook me... I opened my eyes again and saw Dad standing in front of me with a gentle smile... in his normal size... When I asked him, he said I had been unconscious... Was he really telling me the truth...? Or did he deliberately lie to keep something from me...? I think the latter is more likely... That would also explain why I have felt like I have shrunk compared to Dad since then... Or has my dream of being a giant myself already clouded my senses so much that I am just imagining it...? I have to find out, there is no way around it... But who else could I ask...? Come on, Simba, think about it!"

Simba thinks hard. When the conversation with his father flashes before his eyes again, a flash of thought lights up his young grey cells. 

Simba: 
"Yes, of course! Kiburi! Why didn't I think of him sooner? He experienced Uncle Taka's time just like Dad. I will ask him next. But first I will go to the watering hole and quench my thirst. Maybe Malka is waiting for me there, too."

Chapter Text

Simba leaves the cave. After passing the rocky path, he also leaves Pride Rock and walks out into the wide savannah. On the way, he always moves through the tall grass to avoid being spotted. Again and again he stops and looks out of the grass, hoping perhaps to see his father. But he does not see him. The borders of the Pride Lands are way too far away for that. After a ten-minutes-walk, Simba reaches the watering hole and is delighted to hear three familiar voices from nearby. They are Malka, Kovu and Tama, who are bathing in the watering hole and splashing each other. Simba stops at the edge.

Simba: 
"Good morning, everyone."

Kovu: 
"Who do we have here? Our model prince."

Tama: 
"Hehe... Now it's getting fun, Kovu..."

Malka: 
"Hey, Simba. Great to see you again."

Kovu: 
"Do you want to splash around with us?"

Simba: 
"Oh, no. Just drink some water and then I'll find a shady spot."

Simba stands in the water up to his belly, closes his eyes and drinks. Suddenly a large wave splashes over him. Soaking wet, he opens his eyes and realizes that Kovu is the culprit. He sets off another wave. But Simba opens his mouth as wide as he can, so that a load of water lands directly in it. He closes his mouth again and swallows it without hesitation. 

Simba: 
"Aaaah... Thanks for the nice refreshment."

Simba closes his eyes and continues to drink. Kovu and Tama look at each other in surprise. Malka laughs. 

Malka: 
"Bad luck, you two."

Simba: 
("I'm not getting any further here. Those three can't tell me under any circumstances why Uncle Taka wanted to kill us. They certainly don't know anything about the stranger or whether dad was actually a giant. If I tell them anything about it, even Malka would think I'm crazy.")

A small wave splashes over Simba's nose. He opens his eyes and sees that Kovu has positioned himself challengingly in front of him. 

Simba: 
"Hm?"

Kovu: 
"If you don't want to splash around, then you probably want to fight me."

Simba: 
"I'd rather not. I don't stand a chance against you on land or in the water."
("Although it should be the other way around!")

Malka: 
"Now don't be a spoilsport. That's important for later."

Simba: 
"Malka, my chances are zero. That's the sad truth. You've already seen it yourself. I've never beaten Kovu yet. And that is anything but motivating.”

Tama: 
“For once, Simba is right, Malka. Kovu and I have never beaten you yet either. That's why we've given up on it already. But if we knew you'd give us a chance, we wouldn't hesitate for a second.”

Malka: 
puts on a mischievous grin 
“Come over here, you heroine.”

Tama: 
grins 
“Better not. You'll trick us again.”
flees to land 

Malka: 
“Congratulations on your wise decision.”

Simba can't hold back any longer and starts laughing out loud. Malka laughs with him. But Kovu takes advantage of this very moment. He jumps at Simba from the front and pushes him underwater with his back forward. Simba doesn't have a chance. Underwater, Kovu grins at him. Since Simba couldn't breathe before diving, he quickly runs out of air. He panics, but Kovu doesn't let go. Malka puts his head underwater and sees that Simba is running out of air. He comes back to the surface. 

Malka: 
"Simba is running out of air! He will drown if someone doesn't intervene immediately!"

Tama: 
laughs 
"All the better. Then the way is clear for us."

Malka: 
"It was obvious that you would stick with Kovu again! You will stop laughing soon!"

Malka intervenes and pushes Kovu aside. Simba shoots out of the water, gasps for air and coughs. 

Malka: 
pats on Simba's back 
"Simba! Are you OK!?"

Simba: 
coughs, to Kovu 
"Say, have you lost your mind!?"

Kovu: 
laughs 
"No, I haven't. Face it, Simba. You don't stand a chance against me anywhere, not even underwater. Your Pride Lands are doomed. That's why I'm making a bet out of it now. Tama, listen carefully."

Tama joins them. 

Simba: 
"Thank you, Malka. You are a true savior in times of need."
("Ouch, here it comes.")

Kovu: 
"I bet that Simba will not be able to defeat me even once before he becomes king. Then I will take his place."

Simba: 
"Wait a minute! You, king of the Pride Lands!? Never! THAT place is mine!"

Kovu: 
"That's exactly what I will become if I win. Then you will leave the Pride Lands to us so that it becomes part of the Outlands then. Tama will be my queen."

Tama: 
"Yes, that will be great!"

Malka: 
to Simba 
"Ouch, you poor thing..."

Simba: 
("It won't come to that, you show-offs! If only I knew how to get along better with you...!") "
It doesn't matter. I've gotten used to it."
to Kovu 
"And what if I win?"

Kovu: 
laughs 
"I don't think that's possible, but if you win, I'll never be allowed to fight you again and as a punishment I'll have to take a bath in the mud. Then we'll leave your fake sister alone forever, too."

Simba: 
"Stay away from Kubwa, I'm warning you!"

Kovu: 
"But as we all know, we always have to make things easier for you. So that you feel motivated despite my overwhelming superiority, you can use any aid you want, no matter how difficult you make it for me. EXCEPT lions."

Simba: 
"Really ANYTHING?"

Kovu: 
"Just NO lions, otherwise EVERYTHING."

Simba: 
"Very well. That sounds good. I'll take the bet."

Kovu: 
surprised 
"I thought you would say no... But fine, as you wish. The bet stands. I'll wait for you for the first round at the mud hole. You have just given up your kingdom, that's for sure. You really couldn't have made a stupider mistake than taking on my bet."
laughs 

Tama: 
laughs with him
"Great! You showed him again."

Kovu: 
"And when I'm done with you, it'll be your fake sister's turn."

Simba: 
"Not a bad word about Kubwa! I have no siblings!"

Kovu and Tama disappear into the grass. Malka visibly suffers with Simba. 

Malka: 
"Poor Simba. You really don't have it easy..."

Simba: 
"Thank you. At least someone who understands me. But don't worry about me, I can do it. I have to do it, because when I'm king later, I'll have to be able to do it, too. With you by my side, I can do it even more."

Malka: 
"Exactly. We won't let them take it away from you. I have a say in that, too."

Simba: 
"They won't; we'll make sure of that. I just don't know how yet..."

Malka: 
"If you want, I can teach you some techniques that I learned from my father."

Simba: 
"Thank you, Malka. Thank you very much..."

Malka: 
"My pleasure, Simba."

For the first time since the two have known each other, they hug briefly. 

Malka: 
"Thanks to my father, Kovu and Tama don't stand a chance against me, even when they're together. Nevertheless, I wish I could be bigger so that they don't dare come near me at all. But if I could, I would want to become a giant. Then I would simply knock them over with just one paw and I would have won."

Simba: 
"If only it were that easy... But your offer sounds very good. I'll come back to you."

Malka: 
"You can come to me whenever you want. I'm always there for you. Whenever they get too close to you or Kubwa, let me know and we'll teach them both some manners."

Simba: 
"Thank you, Malka. You are a true friend. We'll see each other again soon. Be ready. Until then, bye."

Malka: 
"I will. Bye, Simba."

Malka disappears into the grass and follows Kovu and Tama. 

Malka: 
"Hey, you two, that was mean! Just wait until I catch you! That will be your downfall one day if you're not careful!"

Simba: 
("Great! Coming here was a really stupid idea! I should have gone to Kiburi straight away. He's always on my side. But I'll take up on Malka's offer. That will help me a lot even before I become king.")

Simba leaves the watering hole. He walks slowly through the tall grass with his head hanging and sinks into his thoughts. 

Simba: 
("What a disappointment... First I was almost eaten, then almost trampled and now almost drowned... Now I have a bet on my paws that will cost me my whole kingdom if I should lose it, and still I have no answers to my questions... But why am I complaining... I could have turned it down... But for me as the future king, that's out of the question... If only I were bigger, or at least significantly bigger than Kovu, things would look very different... Malka and I have more in common than I thought... It's a shame that the mushrooms from the adventures of Alice in Wonderland don't exist in our world, too... And the similar-looking fly agaric would only make me sick, instead of getting bigger... Besides, Kovu could imitate me at any time... So unfortunately the mushrooms are out of the question... But if dad really was a giant after all, and I could be too, THAT would be great... Kovu would be at my paws forever and only do what I tell him... Then I would have the say... But if it really was like that: How did Dad manage to do that...? That's not possible... Maybe I was actually unconscious after all...? But the earthquake felt deceptively real... No..., a definite no... I was not unconscious, but Dad is hiding something from me... He gave himself away when he told me that he had seen the stranger as well... I'll find out what he's hiding from me shortly... Kiburi can always help me... And that won't change today...")

Chapter Text

A few minutes later, the tall grass becomes shorter. Simba finds a baobab tree with plenty of shade. At its foot lies his friend Kiburi, an unusually large, powerfully built lion with shiny, snow-white fur and a thick, intense red mane. His belly, toes and the area around his mouth are light gold, like Simba and Mufasa. Like them, he has red eyes. He is still asleep. 

Simba: 
fascinated by the sight of Kiburi 
("Yes, there's Kiburi. What a huge lion he is. Even bigger and stronger than dad. He is quite rightly called the proud giant. I want to be that big when I grow up. Preferably even bigger, so that I can be the biggest. But... somehow I remember him being smaller. Or is it just my imagination again?")
approaches Kiburi 
("Oh, he's still sleeping. Well, I have time. I'm sure he won't mind if I join him.")

Kiburi is lying on his belly and his head is resting on his crossed paws. Simba goes to him and climbs up on his right side. Once at the top, he makes himself comfortable in Kiburi's thick mane. The two of them stay like that until Kiburi wakes up because Simba is warming up his mane. 

Kiburi: 
("Hm? Why is it suddenly getting so warm here? I'm lying in the shade. Wait a minute... There's something on me...")

Kiburi raises his paws to feel the object on his neck. He reaches Simba and touches him. 

Kiburi: 
("That's a lion cub. What little rascal has made himself comfortable on me?")

He takes the "little rascal" in his paws and lifts him over his head just to look into Simba's eyes. Simba smiles at him. 

Kiburi: 
surprised 
"Oh! Hello, Simba! What a surprise."

Simba: 
"Hello, Kiburi."

They greet each other by rubbing their noses and cheeks together. Then Kiburi puts Simba on the ground and licks his cheek once. 

Kiburi: 
"I'm always really happy when you come to see me."

Simba: 
"Me too."

Kiburi: 
"Did you sleep as well as I did?"

Simba: 
"I did. Just as well as every night."

Kiburi: 
"That's nice."

Suddenly, Simba stops smiling. 

Kiburi: 
looks questioningly at Simba 
"Is something wrong?"

Simba: 
"Indeed. I have two questions that are tormenting me and I just can't get them answered."

Kiburi: 
"Don't worry. I'll help you out."
strokes Simba on the head 

Simba: 
purrs 
"That's really sweet of you..."

Kiburi: 
"No problem, Simba. I'm really curious to hear what it's about."

Simba: 
"Well, Kiburi... My uncle has been dead for two weeks. Dad killed him, saying he had no other choice. When I asked him why, he replied that I would be too young to understand. He just said that Uncle Taka wanted to kill us both. Can you tell me why?"

Kiburi: 
"It's a long story... But you're not too young to get to know it! I disagree on that!"

Simba: 
"Finally!"

Kiburi: 
giggles 
"Yes, exactly. Now you've reached your goal. I just have to think about where to start..."

Simba: 
"At the beginning, of course."

Kiburi: 
"Yes. That's probably for the best."
giggles and grins 
"Well, Simba... What happened two weeks ago was the tragic end of a long chain of events. It began when your father and your uncle were still cubs themselves. Your father had proven to be their more suitable successor in the eyes of your grandparents Ahadi and Uru. So the lessons mainly focused on your father, while your uncle was often left out. But your uncle thought he was better than everyone else. HE really wanted to be king at all cost. So he hoped that your grandparents would change their minds. When he realized that it wouldn't work out that way, he wanted to prove himself. Much to your grandparents' displeasure, he kept disrupting class. One day, it went too far for your grandfather and he confronted him. The situation heated up so much that he became violent towards your uncle. THAT'S where the scar on his right eye came from."

Simba: 
"Ouch... That must have hurt..."

Kiburi: 
"Definitely... Your grandfather could be very rough... From that moment on, the two of them avoided each other. In the time after that, your uncle became more and more of an outsider. The closer your father got to the throne, the further away he went from his family. From day to day, he became less and less fond of his big brother. The whole situation made him more and more bitter. This became particularly clear in the last year before your father became king. Your father was allowed to make his first speech. In the middle of it all, your uncle left Pride Rock and couldn't be found for a long time. When you were born, and it was finally clear that he would never become king, the peak had been reached. He didn't come to your christening either, unlike me. His already insane envy reached its peak. So he thought about how he could get rid of both your father and you so that he could become king after all. That led to the dangerous incident you experienced with Kubwa in the elephant graveyard. That was his first attempt, which only failed thanks to your father."

Simba: 
"So he told me about the elephant graveyard to lure us into a trap. We were lucky that the hyenas were too loud and that's how dad heard them."

Kiburi: 
"That's right... Simba..., we'll probably never be able to fully explain the whole story. But one thing is for sure: your uncle had contacts to the Outlands. There he had a girlfriend Zira. They were the ones who commissioned the hyenas to kill you. When they failed, they decided to help. So your uncle took you into the gorge the next day. The surprise your father was supposed to have for you never existed. While you were waiting for your father, he gave Zira and the hyenas a signal, whereupon they panicked a herd of wildebeest and drove them through the gorge. He hoped that you would die in there, along with your father. How lucky that the stranger was there... Without him, you probably wouldn't have survived, because your father couldn't reach you... When he was trying to save himself and climb out of the gorge, he met your uncle. But instead of helping your father, he wanted to throw him into the herd of wildebeest. Fortunately, he gave himself away, which meant that your father discovered your uncle's plans at the last moment. So your father had no choice but to kill him. He turned the tables by throwing HIM into the herd of wildebeest, which made the latter fall victim to his own plan. Your father then looked for the hyenas. When he found them, Zira was among them. He drove all four of them into a dead end and demanded a complete explanation of the failed plan and its history. After they had explained everything to your father, it became clear to him that Zira also clearly supported your uncle's plan. So he killed them all so that they would no longer pose a threat... And so you both survived in the end... If you have been able to follow me in the last five minutes, you now know why your uncle Taka had to die..."

Simba: 
"I understood everything... So that is the whole truth... He wanted to take away what belongs to us from dad and me..."

Kiburi: 
"Correct..."

Simba: 
"Until now I have missed Uncle Taka... But the thought that he almost became our murderer makes me want to forget him immediately. He wasn't at my baptism and yet he was so nice to me... But he was only pretending... I would never have expected that from him... How could I have let myself be tricked like that...?"

Kiburi: 
"You have nothing to reproach yourself for, Simba. You couldn't have known that. Nobody wanted you to know about the problems in your family. Believe me, otherwise you would have just worried.”

Simba: 
“I understand... That’s why I’m so glad that I have my family... And you, Kiburi...”

Simba rubs his head in Kiburi’s mane. Kiburi hugs him carefully with his huge paws. 

Kiburi: 
“And I'm glad that you exist, Simba... I would like to know who we owe your life to as well...”

They rub their heads together for a moment. Then Kiburi looks out into the wide open country. 

Kiburi: 
“But unfortunately not everyone is as lucky as you... Has your father ever told you who you owe your name to?”

Simba: 
“No, I’ve never heard of that before.”

Kiburi: 
“Then you’ll find out now... You know, Simba: It was ages ago, but once I had a cub too. A son... named..."
struggles to keep his composure 
"...Simba."

Simba: 
"You had a son who was called the same as me?"

Kiburi: 
tears coming
"...Yes..."

Simba: 
"Hey, Kiburi. Don't cry..."
tries to hug Kiburi by the neck 

Kiburi: 
sobbing voice 
"It's okay... You just keep reminding me of him... When he was your age, he was just like you... He always wanted to go on voyages of discovery and have someone to tell him stories... That became less of a thing over the years, of course... But when he was twelve, it all happened very quickly..."

Simba: 
"What happened to him?"

Kiburi: 
slowly regains his composure 
"I can only assume. That day, when we were taking a nap, his mother Amara gently nudged me. Amara was a white giant, a huge, white lioness, even bigger than me, from the Land of Giants, today's Outlands. She whispered into my ear that they were going to the watering hole for a short drink. Without thinking anything about it, I continued my nap. But I soon realized that this was the biggest mistake of my life. Hours later, I woke up with a start. I was still alone and sensed that something must have happened. I immediately started looking... First I ran to the watering hole... I found no one there... There was also no indication that Simba and Amara had ever been there... I felt like I looked all over the Pride Lands, but no one had seen them..."
voice getting sad again 
"Then... as I continued looking alone... I was shocked... It smelled of blood... I looked around in the hope of finding the place where the smell was coming from. When I finally found it, the place in Kilio Valley that is now called the Place of Disappearance, my worst fears came true... In front of me were traces of blood, surrounded by remnants of fur... I recognized that they belonged to Simba and his mother Amara... They were nowhere to be found there either... My world collapsed... I returned home broken-hearted and wanted to be alone for the time being... After that I tried to live with my loss, but it was myself who kept reminding me of my Simba... Except for a few small differences in his facial features, he looked very similar to me... He was like my alter ego, only bigger and more powerfully built than me... My genes had prevailed in his appearance... but he had also inherited some of his mother's size and strength... No wonder... She was a white giant... But that didn't bring either her or Simba back... It was your father who was able to persuade me to talk to him about it..."
speaks in a normal voice again 
"He said to me: 'Kiburi, if Sarabi and I should have a son one day, we will name him Simba, so that you can at least begin to overcome your grief.' I was overjoyed by his decision and fell into his arms. From then on, I finally felt better again. My joy was all the greater when you were born a year later and, of course, I was able to be there for your baptism. Since then, I couldn't be happier that you exist, Simba...'
hugs Simba carefully 

Simba: 
has listened full of compassion 
"I feel honored, Kiburi. I am very happy that I can help you overcome your grief so that you can remain in our beautiful Pride Lands."

Kiburi: 
"Of course I'll stay. I can't leave you alone here."

The two hug each other again. 

Kiburi: 
"By the way, if it had been up to your mother, you would have been called Bahati. That means luck. Another beautiful name, I think."

Simba: 
"Oh yes. I would have liked that one too.”

Kiburi: 
raises his head and looks into the distance once more 
“But you know: The Pride Lands were not always as beautiful as they are today. The drought that your great-grandfather Mohatu had to contend with was one of the worst the Pride Lands had ever seen.”

Simba: 
“Dad told me that story.”

Kiburi: 
“Then you can certainly imagine what it looked like here. The land was like a desert. The ground was bone dry and starting to crack. I don’t even want to think about how many thirsty animals I saw fighting for the last drop of water here. A horrific sight..."

Simba: 
looks at Kiburi in confusion 
("Wait a minute... That's not possible.")
"Excuse me...? But Kiburi, that was about 40 years ago. How could you have witnessed that? No lion has ever reached such an old age yet."

Kiburi: 
looks at Simba in astonishment 
"You don't know about that yet? Your father has never told you?"

Simba: 
"No. Probably because he thinks I'm too young."

They both laugh. 

Kiburi: 
"Perhaps you're right. And I thought he had already done that. Then it's high time I do it for him. But first I must warn you. It could be that your father has deliberately not told you anything about me yet. Because what I am about to tell you is, by his orders, subject to the strictest confidentiality. You must not tell anyone about it. Can I rely on you?"

Simba: 
"Of course you can. I'm great at keeping secrets."

Kiburi: 
"I'm glad you are. Then I can tell you with a clear conscience."

Simba: 
"Now I'm very excited."

Kiburi: 
"You have all right to be, Simba. As you may have already realized, I'm not an ordinary lion."

Simba: 
"I thought so. I've already learned that there are also completely white lions in existence. But not that their manes can have color. And their eyes are usually blue. King Amani, for example, was one of them."

Kiburi: 
"You're right. My life began at the people in one of their scientific laboratories. I was created there as a result of one of their animal experiments. It was a horrible place... I lived in a very small space with my fellow prisoners. Over and over again, the people carried out experiments on us, some of which were very painful. Everyone was on their own. Anyone who was weak or ill was left to fend for themselves. I have since repressed everything that the people did to me. All I remember is that they forced me to regularly drink liquids that I didn't know. It wasn't always pleasant, but it was bearable. That's why I can still remember it. If I could I would've asked them: Why are you doing this to us?"

Simba: 
"That really sounds terrible."

Kiburi: 
"It was... You can be glad that you have your parents who protect you at all costs. I was on my own from birth on. And yet I am nothing more than the son of two lions who may never have met. I would have loved to know who my parents were and what they looked like. But since people experimented on me so much and I can't even be sure whether I always looked like I do now, I have no clues... But over the years I made a discovery that was strange at first. As I continued to drink the liquids, I noticed that I felt less and less pain during the animal experiments. One day this ended with me not being able to perceive them at all anymore. While some of my fellow prisoners were writhing on the floor in pain, I stood next to them and was at a loss as to why it had stopped for me. But I would find out later. This continued until I was eight years old. Since I was now an adult, I was held captive alone. Two people stood in front of my cage. One of them said something to me, but I didn't understand a word. Today I believe that they had the same intention for me as they may have done to Amara and Simba. Namely, that they wanted to rob me of my beautiful, white fur."

Simba: 
"Ouch! That sounds very painful."

Kiburi: 
"It would have been, in any case. But then my big chance came. The two people unlocked the door of my cage wide and wanted to lead me out. Suddenly a third person appeared and called something to them. They ran away and forgot to close my door again. From my cage I could see through an open archway that led directly outside. There I discovered a hole in a fence that seemed just big enough for me. 'Now or never!' I thought and ran out of my cage through the archway into the open. The short path to the hole seemed long to me because I was afraid that someone might see me and stop me. But I reached the hole sooner than I expected and successfully jumped through on the first attempt. I couldn't believe my luck. I had actually managed to escape from my prison and no one had noticed. Without looking back, I fled into the forest as fast as my paws would carry me. For days I just ran straight ahead. The forest slowly turned into the jungle. I didn't care where I ran. The only thing that mattered was to get as far away from the people as possible. Until the Pride Lands and Pride Rock appeared on the horizon. As I came closer, I liked the view so much that I thought to myself: 'I'm staying here. This will be my home.' But when the lionesses saw me, I felt cramped. I was a stranger to them at the time, of course. But the fear only lasted a short time. I didn't have to explain much to them and they already knew where I came from. Apparently I wasn't the only one who managed to escape. King Amani, who had once founded the Pride Lands and ruled them as their first king, welcomed me into his pride with open arms. He saw a very good friend in me at first sight. That didn't surprise me, because he was a completely white lion with blue eyes. To this day, he remains the only white lion to have ever ruled the Pride Lands. In fact, over the years we became much more than best friends. He once even told me that he had considered me his own son from day one. That's why he wanted to protect me even after his time as king. I didn't know what to say. I also couldn't imagine what he wanted to do for it until he showed me. He planted a seed from his favorite tree in exactly this spot. Over the years it grew into this beautiful tree, which still marks my home today and always reminds me of Amani. I've lived here since then and have made many friends, including almost all of Amani's successors. Well, that's how I found my way here. Although I would have been interested to know how people made me look the way I do today. You've learned the right thing, Simba. Since I lost my own Simba, there are no more lions in the wild that look like me. They either have colors as you or none at all like Amani. And did you like this story?"

Simba: 
listened with interest 
"I really liked it. You have a fascinating story behind you, Kiburi. But I have one more question.”

Kiburi: 
“And what is it?”

Simba: 
“If the first drought that you witnessed was about 40 years ago, how old are you today?”

Kiburi: 
“Well, Simba. I am sure that you will not believe me. That is why I would like to show you something. Something that the people have burned onto my neck.”
points to a spot under his mane
“It must be around here. If you push my mane aside here, you will find what you are looking for.”

Simba stands up and walks to the spot that Kiburi pointed to and pushes his mane aside. It requires some strength from Simba as it is very thick. When he uncovers Kiburi's neck shortly afterwards, he discovers a small rectangular field. 

Simba: 
“Yes, there is something there. A small field in which something is written. But I can't read it.”

Kiburi: 
“That doesn't matter. I learned human writing during my captivity and therefore I can tell you. So, at the top is my name, in the middle the species we both belong to, and at the bottom my date of birth. That date, Simba..., was 123 years ago.”

Simba: 
gasps 
“ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE YEARS!?”

Kiburi: 
“Well, you’re amazed, aren’t you?”

Simba: 
“I’m amazed! Then it's only two years until you've already lived for 125 years! That's really unbelievable!”

Kiburi: 
“I can imagine that. It has to do with the liquids that people forced me to drink. These liquids gave me supernatural powers. You know, people have always been obsessed with finding the key to eternal life. That is exactly what they wanted to find out with my help. I still remember exactly how I came to this realization. When I was only 12 years old, a passing hornbill payed me a visit. He greeted me with the words: 'If you live past the age of 35, you can be sure that you have eternal life within you.' I still don't know how he knew that. But he must have recognized me, because he mentioned that he had seen me escape successfully. I thought about his words and wanted to know more from him. But as quickly as he came, he disappeared again. After that, I never saw him again. But since my 36th birthday, at the latest, it's clear that he was right. People have found eternal life. Without knowing it, because thanks to their carelessness, they made it possible for me to escape. I am now more than four times the maximum age a lion can live to, and I still feel like I've only just grown up and haven't gotten a day older since then."

Simba: 
"Unbelievable... It's really unbelievable that eternal life has actually become possible... And eternal youth as well... You can hear that in your voice. Despite your 123 years, you sound like a young lion who has only just grown up."

Kiburi: 
nods 
"That's right, Simba, that's right. But I didn't find out the reason for my painlessness until 15 years after I arrived in the Pride Lands. When I was 23, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and found myself in the middle of a hunt for a herd of antelope. I was impaled several times by their horns. That's what I THOUGHT, because I noticed that they did not penetrate my body, but simply bounced off me. I realized that I was still painless. And when I examined the supposed puncture sites, not the slightest scratch could be seen. My later attempts to scratch myself were also unsuccessful; all without pain. Now I just had to put one and one together. Now hold on tight for the result, Simba. People have unknowingly made me not only immortal, but also invulnerable.”

Simba: 
puffs up his chest with pride
“It makes me so proud to have such a unique friend... I never dreamed that you could be invulnerable in real life and no longer know pain...”

Kiburi: 
stands up and takes on a proud pose
“Exactly, Simba. In real life, no one else can do that except me. And nothing has changed 100 years later.”

Simba: 
walks a few steps back and looks at Kiburi with a concentrated gaze 
(“No, I'm not imagining it. Kiburi is definitely bigger than when I last visited. What is going on here? First dad and now Kiburi. HOW is that possible...? I have to ask him.”)

Kiburi: 
looks questioningly at Simba 
“There's something else bothering you, Simba. I can see it.”

Simba: 
“Right, Kiburi. May I ask you something about you personally? I noticed something about you.”

Kiburi: 
lies down on his belly again 
“You can ask me anything, Simba. Even if it's about me personally.”

Simba: 
“Thank you...”
comes back to Kiburi and sits down 
“Kiburi, if it is as I believe it is, then it does not match your age. But when I look at you from over there, I am sure that you were smaller the last time I visited. I already noticed that when I arrived.”

Kiburi: 
surprised look 
(“Aha. You noticed. Great!”)
smiles 
“Simba, I always knew that you were one of the most attentive lions I know. What you have discovered there is the third of my supernatural powers, which the completely unsuspecting people have endowed me with, also through their liquids."

Simba: 
his jaw drops in amazement
("If what I think happens now, that would explain everything! Then I would also know how to beat Kovu!")
"You have even more supernatural powers?"

Kiburi: 
"Exactly, Simba. You really paid close attention and recognized it clearly. In addition to my immortality and invulnerability, I can also freely decide how big I want to be.”

Simba: 
imagines in his mind how he overwhelms Kovu as a giant 
(“THAT is what I need! Then Kovu will be the one without a chance!”)
“OOhhh...”

Kiburi: 
“Have you ever wondered why your parents call me the proud giant?”

Simba: 
“They always told me that they call you that because you are unusually big for a lion and your name means pride.”

Kiburi: 
“That was the best answer without giving anything away to you. But in reality, they call me that thanks to my supernatural powers, which allow me to live up to my nickname at any time. With it, I change my size every day. But only slightly, so that it doesn’t stand out. One day I make myself a little bigger, the next maybe even bigger, before then maybe I'm getting smaller again. Isn't that fantastic?"

Simba: 
"Now I'm even more at a loss for words."
giggles

Kiburi: 
"You're not the only one. My Simba didn't have them either. You know, when he was your age, the adventures of Alice in Wonderland were some of his absolute favorite stories. He wanted to hear them over and over again. That led to me coincidentally discovering the power to change my size at will. It happened two years before he disappeared with his mother, when we were both drinking at the watering hole. While I was drinking, my thoughts were with Alice. She had just eaten a biscuit in the White Rabbit's house and was then growing taller and taller. I imagined what would have happened to me in her place. So I took Alice's place and grew bigger in the house. In doing so, I triggered my previously unknown power. I heard a hissing sound, but I thought nothing about it. Until Simba asked me in alarm: 'Dad, what's happening to you?' 'What shall be happening to me?' I asked back, while I continued to drink calmly. 'You're growing,' he answered. These words tore me out of my thoughts. Only by now did I notice that the ground under my paws was moving. I turned around in a flash, because I thought someone was standing behind me and pulling me away. But there was no one to be seen. Then, when I looked at my paws and then at Simba, there was no doubt: I had actually grown bigger. 'Well, either this water comes from Wonderland or I have a power that I don't know about yet,' I joked. 'I think it's the latter. If the water really did come from Wonderland, I would have had to grow too,' said Simba. 'Let's see if you're right. I have a suspicion,' I answered and grew even bigger in my mind. Indeed, the hissing sound came again and I continued to grow. 'You're right. I have the power to shift size at will. Unlike Alice, I can even control it,' I said to Simba. 'Dad, I don't understand anyone who doesn't envy you,' he replied with an envious look. Understandable, but now I had to find out whether I could shrink, too. That wasn't difficult, either. I just had to slowly let myself get smaller again in my mind. We immediately used our discovery to play a little prank on Simba's mother, Amara. She jumped up, more than surprised, when we got to her, and I was suddenly the biggest of the three of us. But after we told her about our discovery, she quickly recovered from her shock. If she could have, she would have turned pale with envy. But she was too proud of my uniqueness for that. This way the three of us spent two happy years together before I lost them forever... Ah... they left us far too soon..."

Simba: 
"That was another great story, Kiburi. But... I find it hard to believe."

Kiburi: 
"I know, it sounds unbelievable. It took me some time to understand what I am capable of, too. But maybe I can convince you otherwise by showing it to you. Would you like to watch me become a giant without any help?"

Simba: 
jumps up 
"Yes, please. I can hardly wait."

Kiburi: 
smiles and stands up 
"Of course, but first I'll check if we are alone. Because as you already know, my supernatural powers must remain top secret."

Kiburi leaves the shade of his tree and walks around it once to make sure he is alone with Simba. Simba follows and supports him. When they are finished, they return to the shade. 

Kiburi: 
"The coast is clear. Or have you seen anyone?"

Simba: 
"No, we're alone."

Kiburi: 
"All right. Then we can start."

Simba: 
grins expectantly at Kiburi 
("Now I'm really excited, even though it sounds like a made-up story.")

Kiburi walks back to his sleeping place and turns back to Simba so that Simba can see him from the front right. Kiburi remains on all fours, relaxes and concentrates. At first, he just seems to stand there motionless. But then a quiet hissing reaches Simba's ears. It sounds like a balloon is being blown up. 

Simba: 
("There's that hissing again that he was talking about. It sounds like he's inflating himself.")

Kiburi: 
looks at Simba 
"And up we go."

Then the hissing becomes clearly audible and Kiburi begins to grow. Simba's jaw drops in amazement as he watches his big friend grow bigger and bigger by the second. 

Simba: 
(“Indeed! He is getting bigger and bigger! That is THE solution! If I could do that too, I would have won the bet already! Well done, Kiburi. You have convinced me. Now you just have to show me how it works for me too.”)

Kiburi has already doubled his size and is growing even further. Simba's joy watching him grows with him. 

Simba: 
(“'The Proud Giant' couldn't be a better fit for Kiburi. And he keeps growing. Mom and Dad were absolutely right about that, without even suspecting anything. I can hardly wait to see Kovu's stupid face when I turn into a giant before his eyes and beat him in the first round.”)

Meanwhile, Kiburi has grown so much that he is approaching the top of his tree. When he notices that his back is touching the lowest branches of the treetop, he stops growing and looks down at the extremely excited Simba. 

Kiburi: 
"Now you're completely at a loss for words, am I right? THAT is the real reason why your parents call me the proud giant."

Simba: 
jumps around 
"I want to be able to do THAT too! Please show me how it works! PLEASE!"

Kiburi: 
looking embarrassed 
"I'm afraid I have to disappoint you... I am not able to share my supernatural powers... In this case luck was not on my side..."

Simba: 
sits down immediately and hangs his head in disappointment 
("No... That would have been it. I was SO close!")
"That's really a pity..."

Kiburi: 
"You're not alone... I was just as disappointed when I found out that my Simba had not inherited them from me... But believe me, Simba. If I could, I would have done it already. I would rely on you to use them responsibly.”

Simba: 
“Thank you very much, Kiburi... That means a lot to me... But now that you've made yourself so big, you remind me of my second question, which I wanted to ask you.”

Kiburi: 
lies down on his belly again 
“Just go ahead. I'm sure I can give you an answer again.”

Simba: 
“When I walked through the gorge to look for dad after the herd of wildebeest had passed, I thought the worst was over. But then the earth started to shake again. I had nowhere to take cover, so I threw myself on the ground, put my paws in front of my face and thought: 'That's it'. When I noticed that despite the shaking, no more wildebeest passed me, I risked a look between my toes. Then I saw dad, stomping towards me as a gigantic lion. I squeezed my eyes shut. 'No, you can't do that to me! It's never your surprise!' I pleaded with him inwardly. From one second to the next, the tremors suddenly stopped and the paw of an adult lion shook me. I opened my eyes in surprise and looked ahead. There dad stood in front of me, in his normal size, gently smiling. He told me that I was unconscious. But I don't believe him, because he had also seen the stranger. Since then, I also have the feeling that either he has grown or I have shrunk. Do you know anything more specific about that? ...Kiburi?

Now it is Kiburi whose jaw drops in amazement. 

Simba: 
"...Kiburi, what is it?"

Kiburi: 
"That would explain why the earth shook so jerkily that day."
thinks for a moment 
"Wait... Was Rafiki successful...? Did he really succeed...?"

Simba: 
jumps up and regains hope 
("Is there a way after all?")
"What?"

Kiburi: 
"I'd better tell you the whole story...: The evening your father saved Kubwa and you from the hyenas, he came visiting me with Rafiki. They told me about the incident at the elephant graveyard and that they were very worried about your uncle's development. They both had the feeling that he was behind it and that it was only a matter of time before he would strike again. On top of that, Rafiki foresaw that your father and you would not survive the next day. So they had a crisis meeting with your mother, during which she suggested my supernatural powers. At first they accepted that it was not possible to use them. But as was to be expected from Rafiki, he had thought about her suggestion and came up with a theory that even I would not have thought of. He suspected the solution was in my blood. So your father asked him to find out whether this theory worked and whether my supernatural powers could be shared via a potion. To do this, he had to take some of my blood in the hope that this would achieve his goal. Of course, I agreed to the plan without hesitation, and he took some of my blood. Rafiki told your father that he couldn't promise him anything, but that he would get in touch as soon as he had made it. They thanked me, and left... The following night, I was very worried about you, Simba..."

Simba: 
"I would have been too, if I were you, Kiburi. But now you're contradicting yourself. Earlier you said that nothing could penetrate your body."

Kiburi: 
"Then I guess I didn't mention that earlier. If the situation requires it, I can temporarily override my invulnerability at any part of my body. My painlessness remains unaffected. I found that out shortly after I had discovered my invulnerability in the first place."

Simba: 
"Oh, that's the way it is. Yes, then it all makes sense again."

Kiburi: 
nods 
"Hm Hm. And then on that day when you were in the gorge, I was still sleeping here because I hadn't been able to sleep a wink during the night. The herd of wildebeest woke me up rudely. It caused an earthquake that I could clearly feel from here. Then there was a brief silence. I feared that Rafiki's grim prediction had come true at that moment and that I would never see either you or your father again. I blamed myself greatly for not having done more to ensure your survival alongside my blood donation. But a new tremor tore me from my thoughts. It was different from the first. It was noticeably stronger and came in bursts, as if a giant was walking through the Pride Lands. I looked around, but there was nothing to see. Then the tremor suddenly stopped. Then I mentally disappeared into my memories and blamed myself for having watched idly. I cried at the thought that you might be dead. But relief came in the afternoon when your father visited me. I fell into his arms, crying, I was so happy to see him again. In all the excitement, I didn't think about asking him whether Rafiki's theory had been confirmed. But I could only really breathe a sigh of relief after I asked him how you were doing and he confirmed that you had survived your uncle's assassination attempt unscathed as well. Then he told me about the hair-raising plan and the backstory that you two had escaped. To protect us all, he killed your uncle, along with his hyenas and his girlfriend Zira for their attempted crime. If you have been wondering how I know about this, then you've got the answer now. Your father has told me all of this. But when I asked him about the second earthquake, he didn't know what I was talking about. I can understand that, because as a giant you don't notice the tremors you cause. There I speak from experience. But for me the matter is clear. I have no idea how Rafiki managed it, and it's better if he keeps it to himself. But his theory worked. You weren't dreaming, and you weren't unconscious, either. Your father was actually a giant. He has my supernatural powers. Thanks to this knowledge, I can give you hope again, Simba.”
smiles at Simba

Simba: 
jumps around in excitement 
“Rafiki should brew me a potion too! I just can't wait to be a giant!”

Kiburi: 
“Today Rafiki isn't back home yet. But if you're lucky and there's still something left of the potion, then I can still share my supernatural powers with you. Oh, Simba, I'm so happy for you.”

Simba: 
makes a high jump for joy 
“Great! That's a good thing! My father wanted to meet me at Rafiki's lab shortly."

Kiburi: 
"Oh, who knows. Maybe he has the same plans for you as we do."

Simba stands in front of Kiburi and tries to grow. He concentrates, but nothing happens. 

Simba: 
"I can already see myself growing towards the sky."

Kiburi: 
"It's not working yet, but that could change in a moment."

Simba: 
excitedly turns to leave 
"I have to go now, otherwise I'll be late. I'll come back later and tell you how it went."

Kiburi: 
"I'm looking forward to your story, Simba. See you later."

Simba: 
"See you later, Kiburi."

As fast as he can run, Simba disappears into the tall grass and runs towards Rafiki's laboratory. While he's still watching after him, Kiburi shrinks* back to his previous size and makes himself comfortable in his place again. 

* Shrinking occurs silently

Kiburi: 
("Oh, Mufasa. What a lovely son you have. He reminds me more and more of mine. But yours has developed further than you want to admit.")

Chapter Text

Simba runs at high speed through the tall grass towards Rafiki's laboratory. He imagines how his life will change once he too has Kiburi's supernatural powers.

Simba:
("I knew it! Once again, Kiburi is the best thing that could happen to me! I got answers to my questions and figured out how to make Kovu's bet backfire on him! He will never be allowed to fight me again, and he will have to be careful of me in the future! I can't wait to see his stupid face when I blow into my thumb and turn into a giant in front of him! And then he will be the one wondering if it was all real! Finally, here comes Rafiki's lab! And Dad is already here!")

The tree with Rafiki's laboratory appears in front of Simba. There Mufasa is waiting for him. His border patrol was successful and went off without any incidents, but there are no new signs of the stranger. Simba leaves the tall grass.

Simba:
"Hello Dad."

Mufasa:
"Hello, my son. Glad you're on time. Did you play well?"

Simba:
"Yes, I played at the watering hole with Malka, Kovu and Tama. I even fought against Kovu. But even underwater I don't stand a chance against him... He even almost drowned me if Malka hadn't saved me..."

Mufasa:
frightened, hugs Simba with relief with his left paw
"These are horrible news, Simba... Thankfully nothing happened to you. There you see: this time my help would have come too late. Now I'm not only in debt to the stranger, but also to Malka. That's why we have to act quickly so that you are spared such situations in the future."

Simba:
grins
("Oh yes, let's get started.")
“And then I went to Kiburi.”

Mufasa:
"Your best friend, right? He really likes you. You're like a second son to him."

Simba:
"We are much more than best friends. He is like a second father to me."

Mufasa:
laughs
“Well, then everything is correct.”

Simba:
"Especially since he answered a burning question for me today."

Mufasa:
"Which one?"

Simba:
"The question about why Uncle Taka wanted to kill us both. You said I would be too young to understand. Kiburi answered it and I understood everything."

Mufasa:
looks at Simba in surprise
"Really? I didn't expect that. Well, my son, I must confess that I underestimated you. I was sure that you wouldn't understand the whole thing yet."

Simba:
"But I understood. And since then, I don't miss Uncle Taka anymore. When I think about that he almost became our murderer, I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore, and I want to forget him."

Mufasa:
"That's good, Simba. It makes it easier for you to leave the past behind you. But now I want to tell you why we wanted to meet here."

Simba:
(“I shall make a wise decision so that dangers will no longer be an issue for me in the future.”)

Mufasa:
"As you know, I have been able to handle every dangerous situation in my life on my own. But if I had not made use of Rafiki's potions that day, the events in the gorge would most likely have had a completely different outcome. I don't even want to think about what could have happened... It showed how dangerous life can be even within our borders. And since I cannot avert dangers from you when I am not nearby, you shall make use of them as well. That is why we have come here."

Simba:
("Very good. Now comes my big moment.")
"I'm ready. What do I have to do?"

Mufasa uses his left paw to point up at Rafiki's lab.

Mufasa:
"Look, Simba. Up there, Rafiki keeps his potions. All you have to do is climb up to them. When you get to the top, choose one of them and drink it. Each potion helps you, so you can't make a wrong decision. But choose wisely, because each potion helps you differently. And remember: Only ONE potion. We'll do this again later. Then you can choose another potion. Did you understand everything?"

Simba:
"I understand. But Rafiki isn't here today. Does he mind if I just climb up there?"

Mufasa:
"No, he doesn't. He's out with his students today to collect herbs. But I've discussed everything with him. He knows that you're going to climb up there today. That's why he cleared away everything dangerous beforehand."

Simba:
("Hopefully not my potion too...")

Simba and Mufasa go to the foot of the tree. Simba gets ready.

Simba:
"Okay, Dad. I'm ready. Is there anything else I need to know?"

Mufasa:
thinks briefly
"Just one more thing: take your time up there. I doesn't matter to me if you come back after ten minutes or after an hour. We're not in a hurry at all. Take your time to choose your potion and drink it. Then put the vessel back in its place and then you come back down to me. I'm curious to see which potion you choose."

Simba:
("I know that already.")
"Me too. I will choose a potion wisely."

Mufasa:
"That's good, my son. Go now. See you soon."

Simba:
“See you soon, Dad.”
("Potion, I'm coming...")
     
Simba looks for the depressions in the tree's trunk that Rafiki also uses to climbs up. He quickly finds them and uses them to climb up the trunk. On the way up he has to stretch a bit because for him the depressions are far apart from each other. When he gets to the top, the laboratory is on the right and the storage room is on the left. Simba goes to the storage room first.

Simba:
"Oh... This is it..."

A room filled with drinking troughs appears in front of Simba. They are stored on three shelves one above the other, which are connected by a ladder. On the right side there is a mirror as high as the walls. Simba goes to the middle of the room and looks around.

Simba:
"Oh dear... So many potions... Which one did Dad drink...? I don't know... And if I ask Dad, he might guess what I'm planning... But with so many potions Rafiki somehow must know which one does what. As long as I don't know what the potions do to me, I'll keep my paws off them. I won't challenge danger again."

As Simba walks along the bottom shelf and approaches a potion, he sees a four-digit number on it. He looks at the neighboring ones and notices that they also have different numbers on them. Simba smiles.

Simba:
"Bull's eye! The potions are labeled. Then there must be something written about the potions somewhere. But there doesn't seem to be anything here. Maybe I should look in the lab on the other side."

Simba runs to the other end of the treetop. There is Rafiki's laboratory. Upon his arrival, he sees Rafiki's potion-making equipment on a wooden table in front of him, as well as a stool standing in front of it.

Simba:
looks around
"So this is where the potions are made... But I still don't know which potion I have to drink. Is there something up there on the table?"

Simba jumps onto the stool and attempts to climb over it onto the table. But as he steps on it, he slips on something slippery and falls back down, landing on his back.

Simba:
“Ouch, that hurts! Since when can you slip on stools?”
spots the slippy culprit
"Oh, Rafiki's notes. So that's what I slipped on. Let's see what's in them."

Simba heads straight for them and opens them. They contain the numbers of all the potions in the storage room and a short description about their effects.

Simba:
"Finally! That's exactly what I was looking for! Let's see..."
     
Since Simba doesn't know which potion he is looking for, he has to read through all the entries. He reaches his goal when he reaches potion number 3412, right before the end of the list.

Simba:
"That's it! That's got to be it! One hundred percent! It says: "Made for Mufasa and Sarabi, for Simba only upon request. Can only be made with Kiburi's blood. The consumer gains his supernatural powers, which last 'FOREVER'." That's what I wanted to read, and I didn't miss anything! But I hadn't noticed yet that Mom also has Kiburi's supernatural powers. I'll have to ask her about that later. In any case, I now know which potion is mine! Let's go!"

Simba closes the notes and puts them back on the stool. He runs over to the storage room. Upon his arrival, he stops.

Simba:
"So. I'm back. Where is potion number 3412?"
     
Simba walks along the bottom shelf.

Simba:
"It's hard to believe... These are my last steps as a normal lion... My life is about to change forever."

Before Simba knows it, potion number 3412 appears before his eyes. It is kept inside a small vessel with a cork stopper. It is filled with a clear liquid whose color slowly changes from yellow to green and back again. Simba looks at it.

Simba:
"This is it... I've finally found it... It even changes its color... That alone shows that it's a very special potion... My wise decision is made, Dad... I will drink it immediately..."

Simba takes the vessel in his paws, slowly lifts it from the shelf, and carefully places it on the floor in front of him. He takes another close look at the potion.

Simba:
"It sounds unbelievable, but in this vessel lies the key to my big victory... After drinking this potion, I can become as big as I want and finally defeat Kovu... Until about half an hour ago, I didn't even believe that such supernatural powers really existed... I might still not have if Kiburi hadn't shown them to me... And now they stand before me united in this potion... Rafiki's abilities are really impressive... Let's go..."

While Simba continues to hold the vessel, he bites into the cork stopper and tries to pull it out. The cork stopper sits not particularly tight on the vessel, so it can be removed without much effort. He holds his nose over the opening.

Simba:
"Hm... No smell. All the better. So if the potion shouldn't taste to my liking, at least I'm spared the smell."

Simba looks around one last time to make sure no one is bothering him. He is alone.

Simba:
looks at the potion again
"Well then... The time has come..."

Simba sits down, takes the potion in his paws again and puts his mouth around the neck of the vessel. He carefully lifts it, sits upright and continues to lift it until the opening tilts downwards, and the liquid flows into Simba's mouth. He drinks the entire vessel in one gulp. Then he carefully puts it back down on the ground and leaves it there. Simba gets back on all fours.

Simba:
"How does Rafiki do that? The potion tastes like a mixture of banana and gaballo fruit. I could never get enough of it. That's what water should taste like. That would be paradise. Oh..."

Simba feels a pleasant warmth spreading from his belly to his whole body and enveloping him. He closes his eyes and enjoys it.

Simba:
"Oh yes... That feels good... I feel supernatural powers entering me giving me eternal and invulnerable life... When I am king one day, then I will forever remain so, together with Kubwa... Now nothing and no one can be a threat to me anymore... And no matter how big the biggest lions in my pride will be: I will always be the biggest... Now Kovu has nothing to laugh about anymore..."
     
Simba stays like this until the warmth begins to fade away a few minutes later. After it has completely disappeared, he opens his eyes and is proud of himself.

Simba:
"I did it..."
     
Then he puts the cork stopper back onto the vessel and puts it back in its place on the shelf. Simba goes back to the front of the room and looks into the mirror. Now he wants to know.

Simba:
“Let’s see if from now on I'm one of the lions with supernatural powers as well.”

Simba sits down and bites his front legs hard. He feels no pain. Not the slightest bite mark is visible.

Simba:
"Indeed... No more pain... I have become invulnerable... And my life no longer knows an end..."
looks proudly into the eyes of his reflection
"But now it has finally come: the moment when I will try out whether I can be as big as I want to be from now on."

Simba gets back on all fours. He walks in front of the mirror so that he can see his reflection from the front right.

Simba:
"So... Kiburi grew in his mind and became bigger because of that. Then I have to do the same now."

Simba begins to concentrate and looks at his paws. Quietly, the hissing sound he has been waiting for so long is heard.

Simba:
"The hissing sound... I've been waiting for this for what feels like an eternity... Now my big victory is assured... Let's go, Simba, become a giant!"

Simba increases his concentration and grows in his mind. He feels an indescribable joy as the hissing sounds get louder, and he watches his paws slowly growing bigger.

Simba:
"It works... It works!"

He looks at his belly, his hind legs, his tail, his whole body. Everything is getting bigger.

Simba:
“Yes, yes, YES!”

He looks at his reflection and sees how it grows with him.

Simba:
“YEEESSSSS, EVEN BIGGER!”
     
Simba begins to grow faster. His reflection follows suit.

Simba:
"A great feeling... Not everyone is that lucky... Kovu will make SUCH a stupid face... It's a shame that Malka mustn't know about it yet... But as soon as we're kings, I'll change that..."

Simba watches excitedly as he and his reflection grow closer and closer to the ceiling. He enjoys the way his surroundings seem to shrink. When his back is still only a few centimeters away from the ceiling, he stops growing for the sake of Rafiki's storage room.

Simba:
"Now, that'll have to be enough for a test. There's no more room for growth in here. Wait a minute... What is that...?"

Right above his head, Simba discovers a large hole in the ceiling.

Simba:
looks through the hole from below
"How did such a big hole get into the ceiling? Things like that don't just happen by themselves. Maybe I can see something up there."

Simba sits down and carefully raises his head. He just about fits through the hole. When he gets through, however, he can see nothing more than the inside of the treetop.

Simba:
"Hmm... No indication of how the hole could have been created. Maybe Rafiki or Dad know what happened here. Anyway, now I have a bet to win."

Simba carefully lowers his head back into the room and looks around again.

Simba:
"Wow, how small everything has become in here. Now I don't need a ladder anymore to get to the potions on the top shelf. But I better keep my paws away from there. After all, I don't want to destroy Rafiki's storage room. And who knows what he'll do to me if I spill his potions. Now I'll go and see if Dad has fallen asleep yet. Hehe."

Simba leaves the storage room. While doing so he forgets to lower his head and hits the ceiling. Simba flinches.

Simba:
"Ouch! Ah... Well, being a giant doesn't only have advantages."

Simba lowers his head far enough to leave the storage room. He has just enough space to move. When he gets back to the entrance, he looks down at Mufasa. Mufasa is still lying at the foot of the tree, waiting for Simba.

Simba:
"Dad is still lying there waiting for me. Does he know which potion I chose? I'll know in a minute. Now pay close attention, Daddy."

Simba stands close to the edge, aims at Mufasa from above and jumps out of the tree. When he reaches the bottom, he stomps mightily. Mufasa is terrified when the ground shakes and he suddenly finds himself between two huge paws.

Mufasa:
"Ahh!"

Simba:
"Gotcha!"

Mufasa jumps up and darts out from underneath Simba. He turns around and looks up, overwhelmed. Simba is twice his size.

Mufasa:
“By all the kings of the universe! Simba, what happened up there!?”

Simba:
“Surprise! That’s what my potion does!”

Mufasa:
(“Bull’s eye, Simba! THAT's the one you should take!”)
"Simba, that was the best potion you could find. Now nothing and no one can harm you anymore."

Simba:
"This is the result of my wise decision. I can now be as big as I want. You could have told me earlier that these are the supernatural powers of Kiburi."

Mufasa:
“Did he get ahead of me?”

Simba:
"Yes, exactly. I found out when I was with him earlier. He told me everything about his origins and his supernatural powers."

Mufasa:
"All the better. Then I don't need to tell you anymore. We have to thank Rafiki for the fact that you are now Kiburi's equal. Rafiki managed to develop a potion that allows Kiburi to share his powers with us. I've already tasted it before. And guess what: it actually worked. I felt pleasantly warm for a few minutes afterwards. I'm sure you felt that, too."

Simba:
("That's what I wanted to hear. Everything I saw in the gorge was real. Dad was actually a giant. Here comes the big proof.")
"I did. But does that mean that you can be a giant like me?"

Mufasa:
"Exactly, Simba. Wait, I'll show you..."

Mufasa concentrates. The hissing sound is heard again, and he grows until he reaches Simba's size. They look at each other.

Mufasa:
"Since then, I can be a giant like you are now, my son. Come on, we'd better lie down before someone sees us."

Simba and Mufasa move away from Rafiki's lab and lie down in the tall grass, which is just tall enough to hide them both.

Mufasa:
"For me, this is a childhood dream come true. Even when I was your age, I dreamed of one day being bigger than everyone else. My iron belief in this has already made me very big naturally, as you have seen. But I never really felt big without supernatural powers. That is history now. Incidentally, immortality seems to have a side effect. Your mother and I feel as if the potion has rejuvenated us. As if we had just become adults."

Simba:
(“Of course she does. That’s exactly why to this day Kiburi doesn’t feel a day older. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one whose big wish has come true.”)
"It was a coincidence that Kiburi and I came up with this topic earlier. Why haven't YOU told me about it yet?"

Mufasa:
“This, Simba…, has a serious background…”

Simba:
“Oh, that sounds important.”

Mufasa:
nods
"That's why you have to listen to me very carefully now. It's a long story. The Outlands, where you and Kubwa were hanging out, were once called the Land of Giants and a long time ago it was even part of our territory. The Land of Giants was once a magnificent land and enjoyed a level of prosperity that was even greater than ours. Huge, white lions, called the white giants, lived there, hence the name. We were close friends with them, especially Kiburi. But six years ago, shortly before I became king, everything changed... An unknown lion pack invaded and conquered the land. NONE of the white lions survived... With the best will in the world we had no explanation for this, since they were all much bigger and stronger than us. Soon after, we received a message from there. It said that the Land of Giants would now be called the Outlands and was casting its shadows ahead. We would be next, they continued. We interpreted that as a declaration of war. And that's what happened. To this day, we are still being attacked from there. We don't even know who we are dealing with. That's why I always told you to stay away from the Outlands."

Simba:
"Yes, Dad... I learned my lesson... I'll never do it again..."

Mufasa:
"Nothing happened to anyone. As we saw at the elephant graveyard, hyenas are now among the attackers. We will probably never be able to fully explain the whole situation, but one thing is certain: Taka had contacts to the Outlands. He had a girlfriend there called Zira. But it was HE who ordered the hyenas to kill you and Kubwa."

Simba:
"I'm starting to understand why you killed Uncle Taka."

Mufasa:
"Yes... I didn't even realize how big the threat actually was. The incident at the elephant graveyard made it clear to me that I had to act urgently. That same evening, your mother and Rafiki and I racked our brains over how we could counter the impending danger. Rafiki, you must know, is able to predict the future almost perfectly. His latest prediction said that we would both die the next day. I felt a chill run down my spine and walked back and forth. Your mother made a suggestion that saved us all. 'Let's just use Kiburi's supernatural powers,' she said. 'That would be nice,' I replied. 'If I were as powerful as Kiburi, no one would come near us anymore. Unfortunately, we don't know if and how we can get to them,' I said desperately to the two of them. Rafiki then retreated to his tree to think about your mother's suggestion. When he came back some time later, I was very surprised. He had a theory, as simple as it was ingenious. He suspected the solution was in Kiburi's blood. If he could take some of it from him, he explained to us, he might be able to give us access to Kiburi's supernatural powers. Without hesitation, I asked him to find out whether his theory worked. So we both went to Kiburi and explained everything to him. Of course, he was completely on our side and let Rafiki 'tap' into him. Rafiki said he couldn't promise anything, but he would get in touch as soon as he had come to a solution. But I was confident that he would manage it and I was right. The next morning the potion was ready, so all I had to do was come to him and drink it straight away. Today I'm glad it works. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't have survived the events in the gorge. Then your life would have been very short. That was the first time Rafiki's prediction didn't come true. But we're not angry with him for that at all. Let's be glad that things turned out differently. Rafiki is a perfect potion maker. He has already received numerous awards for his skills. With his experience, even difficult potions like this are a piece of cake for him."

Simba:
“Now you have confirmed to me that I did not dream in the gorge.”

Mufasa:
"What do you mean?"

Simba:
"I mean that moment when I saw you in the gorge, stomping towards me as a gigantic lion. When I opened my eyes again, you stood before me in your usual size. Now I know that you were actually a giant."

Mufasa:
"Exactly. What you saw was all real. Your senses didn't deceive you and in reality you weren't unconscious. I just wanted to keep Kiburi's supernatural powers a secret for a little longer to be on the safe side. That brings us to the next part. The events in the gorge as they unfolded from my perspective. Or did Kiburi get there before me again?"

Simba:
"He only told me that you recognized Uncle Taka's intentions at the last moment, turned the tables and threw him into the herd of wildebeest. Then you killed his hyenas and his girlfriend Zira. He also mentioned the stranger. That's all he told me."

Mufasa:
"I didn't tell him any more. Now you'll hear the rest from me. So... When I arrived in the gorge with Taka, I saw you hanging on that branch. It looked as if it was going to break off at any moment. I had only taken the potion a few minutes earlier, but hadn't had a chance to test whether it worked. By jumping into the wildebeest herd, I had to trust Rafiki with my life and hope that he hadn't made a mistake. As soon as I got inside the herd, I was run over several times... That should have been fatal or at least painful... but neither of those things happened. Rafiki had made it. But despite supernatural powers, there was no way through the herd and I had to go back to the wall. Out of the corner of my eye, I had seen the stranger running past me between the wildebeests. I'm so glad he was there for me... Without knowing that he had already brought you to safety, I fought my way up the wall. Almost at the top, on a ledge, I met Taka. I begged him to help me. Now came the crucial clue: He tried to sink his claws into my paws. But he didn't succeed because I was already invulnerable, which he didn't notice. Then he looked deep into my eyes and gave me a devilish grin. I still have to process what he said to me: 'Well, well, Mufasa, first the son and then the father right after him... Zira will be very happy about this... And now: Long live the king...' Then he tried to lift my paws out of the rock so that I would lose my footing and fall... When that didn't work either, his grin suddenly disappeared... I was shocked when everything became clear to me. Your uncle wanted to kill us both so that he, together with Zira and the hyenas from the Outlands, could take over the Pride Lands and become king after all. Never in my life had I felt so betrayed and assumed that you were already dead. That made me more furious than ever. Now that I knew that Rafiki had done everything right, I tried to concentrate, just like Kiburi had always described it to us. And that actually worked as well. Within seconds, I became so huge that I could stand on the ground of the gorge with my back paws. I will never forget the shocked look on your uncle's face when I looked him in the eyes. 'Mufasa! How...!? How is that possible!? Who was that!?' he stammered. He had probably seen the stranger too, but that was unimportant at that moment. And so, without hesitation, I ended your uncle's life. I won't tell you how today, because children really shouldn't hear that yet. I ask for your understanding. But that wasn't enough for me, because I had to find out immediately who Zira was. I had only known her from my father's stories. He had also had dealings with her before. But we had never met her together. The search was short-lived. After the wildebeest herd had passed through, I could hear the hyenas laughing loudly in the distance. With the same size, I made my way towards them. And as if I had suspected it, a lioness was with them. When they saw me, they were terrified. They were in a dead end, trapped. When I asked who the lioness was, she revealed herself to be Zira, Taka's friend. Now there was no escape. I pushed them into a corner and demanded each of them to explain their plans, down to the most insignificant detail. Of course, they didn't want to know what I was talking about. But at least the hyenas were easy to see through. Moreover, they dared to believe that I was too gentle to follow up my threats with action. I was horrified at how they showed me no respect and seemed to stop at nothing, even though I was standing in front of them as a giant. Now it was time to put an end to this. This misconception was now going to cost them dearly. Before their eyes I grew a lot further and then held my paw over their heads. And lo and behold: their ignorance was over. I learned the story of the attempted assassination from beginning to end. The trigger was exactly what I had suspected. Your uncle was jealous of us. He thought he was the better king and did not want to accept that he would never be. So he and Zira and the hyenas thought about how he could get rid of us. The hyenas made the first attempt in the elephant graveyard, and the second they all made together in the gorge. Zira had already been looking forward to uniting the Pride Lands with the Outlands together with Taka. Together they wanted to create a great dictatorship, which I recognized especially in her contemptuous attitude towards me. For me, that was one more reason to end this terror once and for all. My paw was still above their heads, which I then used to neutralize them as well. So their plan went wrong for all of them. Hoping to have averted the danger for the time being, I walked back through the gorge as quietly as possible. By the way, I was now so huge that my shoulders reached up to the very top of the gorge. I could only walk through it with my head lowered. Nevertheless, it was a great feeling. My childhood dream had more than come true. I could finally enjoy being a giant to the fullest. Up until then, I had never felt so powerful. No size was big enough for me anymore... I would have loved to become EVEN BIGGER... But before I could even think about it, I arrived at you. You were lying there on the ground, tiny and small. I shrank back to my normal size and took the last steps. When I shook you and saw that you had survived everything, I was infinitely relieved... So the whole thing had a happy ending for us. Without Kiburi, Rafiki, your mother and especially the stranger, it would certainly not have happened like this."

Simba:
"Certainly not... I never imagined that I had been in so much danger at my uncle, whom I once loved so much."

Mufasa:
"Yes... He could play the good uncle very well... And as for my surprise that he told you about: I never had it. It was all part of his plan. I hope, Simba, that you now understand why I had to kill him."

Simba:
"Yes, Dad. I understand you. I'm even sure that I would have done the same thing if I were you. But now that everything has been cleared up, I'm thinking about something else: How did you come up with the idea of giving Kiburi's supernatural powers to me too?"

Mufasa:
"That brings us back to the topic, Simba. You have to thank Kovu and Tama for that, the two lion cubs who claimed they were lost. Yes, THEM. But that's not the case, they come from the Outlands. Last evening, when these two were at the watering hole, I was able to listen to them from a safe distance. They were informed that Taka and Zira were dead. But regardless of that, the Outlands are still planning to conquer our land and later advance towards the Sunlands. Kovu has already thought about how he can get you to give the Pride Lands to him. That way it shall be connected to the Outlands. To Tama he didn't mention exactly what he plans to do, so unfortunately I can't tell you."

Simba:
"But I can. He made a bet with me. If I don't manage to defeat him in a playful fight even once before my coronation, that's exactly what I'll have to do."

Mufasa:
"That's exactly why I didn't hesitate for a second and asked Rafiki to make another potion. I'm glad you found it right away. Kovu's bet must fail, my son. That is your task now. Prevent the Outlands from carrying out their plans."

Simba:
"I already know how, because now I have a chance against Kovu."

Mufasa:
"Very good. But be careful. In possession of Kiburi's supernatural powers, you bear an enormous responsibility. They can be very useful, but they can also cause a lot of damage. So if you decide to use them against Kovu, make sure you do it in such a way that he survives. And make sure that you always return to your normal size afterwards and do not remain larger than you actually are."

Simba:
(“And again my senses did not deceive me.”)
"Unlike you. That would explain why I feel like I've shrunk compared to you since Uncle Taka died."

Mufasa:
"Ah, so you've noticed. You paid close attention. Yes, after my experiences as a giant, I've decided to stay a little bigger than I actually am in the future. Now I'm finally as big as I always wanted to be and I feel at least a little bit as powerful again as I did in the gorge. And believe me, Simba: If you do that, you'll feel many times how powerful you really are."

Simba:
"You have my word, Dad. But when you stomped through the gorge, you caused earthquakes so strong that not only I, but also Kiburi could feel them under his tree. Now you know what he meant by the second earthquake."

Mufasa:
"So that's what he meant... Then he'll have to show me how to move quietly enough as a giant. Now I have to tell YOU a few rules for dealing with his supernatural powers, which you must follow at all costs. But first we have to shrink back to normal size, otherwise someone will really discover us."

Simba:
"Will do."

They both shrink back to their normal sizes.

Simba:
“Now I have shrunk for the first time, and it worked perfectly.”

Mufasa:
"Very good, my son. You already know how your new powers work and I don't need to explain them to you. But the rules do, and we'll get to them now. Firstly, you must not tell anyone that we are immortal. Believe me; the consequences would be too terrible to even mention one of them. Secondly, if you need treatment by someone who must not know anything, you must override your invulnerability at all costs. You can do this by using mind control. Otherwise, you could attract too much attention faster than you think. And thirdly, no one is allowed to see you while you are larger than normal. If that does happen, you must immediately return to your normal size and flee. If you meet this person again later, you must convince them that what they saw was not real. If you don't succeed, tell Kiburi or me. We will then take care of it. Kiburi, your mother and I are of course exempt from these three rules because we can do and know the same things as you. I have also let our pride in on our legacy and instructed them to keep quiet about it so that they are among the exceptions as well. And of course Rafiki, who brewed the potion. You must not tell anything to anyone I have not mentioned up to this point or who is not part of our pride. Your friends Kubwa and Malka must not find out about it until they are adults, in case you want to let them in on it later. Kovu and Tama must not find out anything under any circumstances, as you can probably imagine. But for the first time we will make an exception. Let them come to us and they will think that they dreamed it all. Did you understand everything?"

Simba:
"I understand everything. I understand why you kept quiet. Telling someone would have been the biggest mistake I could have made. Thank you for saving me from that. But does Mom have supernatural powers too? I hadn't even noticed yet."

Mufasa:
"You couldn't have noticed. Rafiki brewed the potion for her again while I was with Kiburi to tell him about the events in the gorge. When I returned to Rafiki's laboratory, it was ready, and I was able to watch your mother drink the potion. She also felt the pleasant warmth, just like you and I did. But when she tried out her new powers afterwards, our big secret almost came to light. She took it too far in her mind, which caused her to grow so fast that she couldn't stop in time and rammed a large hole into the ceiling of Rafiki's storage room. You should have noticed that up there."

Simba:
(“So that’s where the hole comes from.”)
“Yes, I saw the hole.”

Mufasa:
"That was quite a shock for us. Rafiki and I had to stabilize the ceiling first before she could carefully shrink again. Fortunately, nothing more happened. Since then, she's been holding back because she hasn't quite got the hang of concentrating yet. But we'll get it under control. That's all, my son. Now you can go and do your task."

Simba:
stands up
“I’m going to go to Kiburi again to tell him about my task.”

Mufasa:
"Well, he'll be happy for sure. Then run quickly."

Simba:
starts running
"I will. See you later."

Mufasa:
“See you later, Simba.”

Simba disappears into the tall grass again.

Mufasa:
stays seated for a moment and then also leaves the place
("Perfect. This exceeds all my expectations. Simba has actually understood the story of Taka's death. He has figured out on his own how his new powers work and has mastered them straight away. So we now have one less thing to worry about regarding the future of our pride. If we use Kiburi's supernatural powers wisely and everyone who knows them plays along, the attacks will soon decrease. This way our pride will become a little safer every day. I really have to tell Sarabi about this. Maybe then she will try again herself...")
stops and looks at his paws
(“...so that she can be a giantess without fear... The mere thought of it makes my toes itch every time and I could become a giant myself again... I can't allow myself to do that during the day... if there were no alternative...”)
closes his eyes and walks on stomping
("Oh yes, that's better... One day I'll really grow bigger than I was in the gorge... Oh, mother, father... if we had known that earlier, you would still be here today...")

Meanwhile, Simba rushes through the tall grass.

Simba:
"I finally have what I need. Now I have to go back to Kiburi and tell him everything before it's Kovu's turn. I'm sure he'll like that."

Suddenly Simba stops and looks at his paws.

Simba:
"But I could definitely get to him a little faster; the grass is high enough for that. Then I can also test whether everything will go the way I imagine it."

Simba raises his right paw and brings his thumb to his mouth. He takes a deep breath and blows into it, but nothing happens.

Simba:
“Hm... So it doesn’t work on its own... Then I guess I also have to blow into my thumb in my mind...”

Simba blows into his thumb again, this time also in his mind. This time he starts to grow. He blows himself up to twice his size.

Simba:
"Excellent. That's how it should be. Let's move on."

Simba continues his way through the tall grass. He can't be seen. When the grass gets shorter, and he sees Kiburi's tree, he stops. Kiburi is lying on his back in front of his tree, sunning himself.

Simba:
"Very good. Now he will find out how it went."

Simba shrinks back to his normal size and leaves the tall grass. He sneaks up to Kiburi and jumps on his belly. Kiburi is not frightened because he is expecting Simba to appear. However, he has not heard him coming. Kiburi raises his head to Simba.

Kiburi:
"Ah, Simba. There you are again. Did you find what you were looking for?"

Simba:
"Yes, I succeeded! I now have your supernatural powers! And it was indeed Dad's intention to give them to me!"

Kiburi:
"Great! That's great! Rafiki really did it. But as often as he has been awarded for his skills, that was to be expected of him. We should be proud of Rafiki and your parents. Without them, this would have never been possible."

Simba:
“Now we are even prouder of them.”

Kiburi:
("I wish this potion had existed when my family was still complete...")
“Does everything work the way I showed you?”

Simba:
"Everything is working. Would you like to watch me become a giant?"

Kiburi:
“Nothing would please me more, Simba.”

Simba:
“With pleasure, Kiburi.”

Simba climbs down from Kiburi, stands in front of him and concentrates. Then his body starts to hiss.

Kiburi:
"That sounds good."

Simba:
“And that’s how it feels.”

Simba increases his concentration and begins to grow. Kiburi stands up and watches him.

Kiburi:
"Yes, now it works. You would love to grow up that quickly, wouldn't you?"

Simba:
"That's true. Then I could be king right away."

They both laugh. Simba grows until he is at eye level with Kiburi.

Simba:
"It's a whole new feeling. I was twice as big as Dad and looked down on him. It was as if we had switched roles."

Kiburi:
"This way you could see everything from his point of view. You will do the same later, when you look down on your cubs. Did he also explain to you what you absolutely have to pay attention to when dealing with your new powers?"

Simba:
"He explained everything to me. That's why I knew nothing about your supernatural powers until today. But I found out that I can also enlarge myself by blowing into my thumb."

Kiburi:
“If you focus at the right moment, you can do that too.”

Simba blows into his right paw's thumb again. With just one blow, he becomes twice as big as Kiburi. To keep up, Kiburi concentrates and grows so much that he remains standing at eye level with Simba.

Kiburi:
“Now you don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone anymore.”

Simba:
"Especially not in front of Kovu. Now I can finally defeat him."

Kiburi:
“Kovu from the Outlands?”

Simba:
"Exactly. He almost drowned me earlier. Then he bet with me that I wouldn't be able to defeat him even once before I became king. If he wins, I have to give him and Tama the Pride Lands so that it can be connected to the Outlands. Dad found out about that last evening when he listened to him talking to Tama about it at the watering hole. Then he decided to give me your supernatural powers. But if I win the bet, Kovu must never fight me again and has to take a bath in the mud. Then they'll also leave Kubwa alone forever. And he has allowed me to use any help I want, as long as they're not lions. No matter how difficult I make it for him. We're meeting shortly for the first round at the mudhole. And you can probably guess who the winner will be."

Kiburi:
giggles
"Oh yes, I can imagine that. He's finally getting to know that he has no say here. I can hardly wait to see his stupid face. If he's going to play unfair and allow you to do it, then you can do it too. And later we'll pretend that he dreamed it all."

Simba:
"That's how we do it."

Kiburi:
"May I come along as a spectator? As you may have noticed, Kovu doesn't like me very much either. That's why I would like to see him fall flat on his face in the first round with his boasting."

Simba:
"Kovu wants us to be alone. But if you stay quiet and hide well in the grass, you can come with me."

Kiburi:
"Thank you, Simba. This will be great fun for both of us. Now we'll shrink back to normal again and then we'll set off."

Simba:
"Yes, Kiburi."

Simba and Kiburi shrink back to their normal sizes. Then Kiburi looks down at Simba with a smile, while Simba looks up at him expectantly.

Simba:
“I’m ready. Are you?”

Kiburi:
"Just a moment."

Kiburi concentrates again and continues to shrink.

Simba:
surprised
"Kiburi, what are you doing?"

Just seconds later, Kiburi stops shrinking and is now the same size as Simba himself.

Kiburi:
"Surprised?"

Simba:
“You bet! You can even make yourself smaller!”

Kiburi:
"Of course. We can take on any size we want. I use it so rarely that I can't even remember the last time I was smaller than I actually am. But now that I'm down here with you, I remember how big the world appeared to me when I was a cub myself."

Simba:
“Now I've noticed another thing. Our voices don't change at all. I thought you would sound like me now.”

Kiburi:
“Well, even I'm surprised by that over and over again. But you're right. Usually, the pitch of the voice changes along with size. Why that's not the case with us, people are probably just as baffled as I am. But quite honestly: I'm fine with it this way.”

Simba:
“Me too. You, as an adult, with the voice of a cub. I don't think that would have suited you.”

Kiburi:
nods
“Exactly. We could walk together comfortably at this size, but we should hurry now. Surely Kovu is waiting for you at the mud-hole already. I know how to get there quickly.”

Simba:
“How so, Kiburi?”

Kiburi:
“All I have to do is grow big again.”

Kiburi concentrates. His body begins to hiss, and within seconds he grows back to his normal size. Then he lies down on the ground in front of Simba.

Kiburi:
“Come on, Simba. Climb onto my back. I'll take you there quickly.”

Simba:
“You're letting me ride on you? Great idea, Kiburi!”
quickly climbs onto Kiburi's back

Kiburi:
gets up again
“Now hold on tight. Here we go.”

Simba:
“Will do. Let's go.”

Chapter Text

Kiburi starts running. He carries Simba on his back at high speed through the Pride Lands towards the mudhole, much to Simba's delight. When it appears in front of them a few minutes later, Kiburi slows down and looks around.

Kiburi:
"Kovu doesn't seem to be here yet."

Simba:
"Be careful, Kiburi. He likes to hide."

Kiburi:
“Then we should definitely follow his example.”

Kiburi lies down in the tall grass and is completely hidden along with Simba. He carefully crawls closer to the mudhole. As they approach the end of the grass, they spot Kovu. He is playing at the edge of the hole and does not notice that he is being watched.

Kiburi:
"There he is."

Simba:
"Very good. Then we'll have him right away."

Kiburi:
giggles
"He will never forget today. And later he will think that he dreamed it all."

Simba:
"Hehe. Yes, I'm looking forward to it just as much as you are. So, you stay here and watch us. Try to stay behind me at all times, because in case he runs away, he must not see you. Otherwise, he'll think I'm cheating."

Kiburi:
“And that’s exactly what we don’t want.”

Simba:
"Exactly. Now it gets fun."
descends from Kiburi

Kiburi:
grins
“Have fun, Simba.”

Simba:
grins back
"We will have it."

Simba sneaks past Kiburi and out of the tall grass. He makes sure that it closes behind him so that Kiburi is sufficiently hidden. He sneaks quietly to the edge of the mudhole and stops there. Kovu is standing on the other side, already waiting for him. They look at each other boastfully.

Kovu:
"There you are. Ready for the first fight of many?"

Simba:
"I have never been more excited about a fight with you than I am now."

Kovu:
"Oh, really? You don't want to win."

Simba:
"I care about much more than just winning. I can't just give away my future kingdom from my paws."

Kovu:
"You better wait, Simba. He who laughs last, laughs best. Now, where is the help I allowed you to use?"

Simba:
("Now things are getting funny.")

Simba raises his right paw and shows his thumb to Kovu.

Simba:
"Here."

Kovu:
sounds like he's about to burst out laughing at any moment
"Your thumb?"
     
Simba:
"Yes. I just blow into it and victory is mine."

Kovu bursts into loud laughter and rolls on the ground.

Kovu:
"I can't handle this in my head! Are you seriously telling me that you can beat me by blowing into your thumb? Do you think that it will make you bigger or something? Simba, I would have never expected that from you! How can you believe such nonsense? Here, I'll show you!"

Kovu blows hard into his right thumb several times. Nothing happens.

Kovu:
"There you go. But that's YOUR problem. So if you really want to lose, then so be it."

Simba:
grins
“Shall I prove you wrong?”

Kovu:
“Sure, if you really want to embarrass yourself to the core.”

Simba:
"As you wish."

Kovu:
"Hehe... You're such an idiot. I didn't expect you to make it SO easy for us."

Simba:
(“We will see about that.”)

Simba puts his right thumb in his mouth and blows into it. His first blow makes him grow to twice his size. Kovu is startled and freezes.

Kovu:
"Aaaah! What the...!? No, that's impossible!"

Simba:
"I told you, but you didn't want to listen to me."
(“His face is simply priceless.”)

Simba blows twice and continues to grow. Kovu watches in disbelief with his jaw dropped.

Kovu:
“No! This can’t be true! I must be dreaming!”

Simba:
"You wanted to see my help; here it is."

Simba blows and grows three more times, then looks down at the terrified Kovu.

Simba:
"Yes, Kovu. He who laughs last, laughs best. So who's the idiot now?"

Kovu tries to imitate Simba and blows several times into both his thumbs, alternately. Again, nothing happens.

Simba:
"Give it up. You can't do it."

Kovu:
“That’s unfair!”

Simba:
"I can use any help I want, no matter how difficult it makes it for you. You said so yourself."

Kovu:
“I never said that!”

Simba:
looks at Kovu with a serious look on his face
"Now listen carefully! You made a bet. If you make a bet, you can't cheat. And you better stop contradicting me now."

Simba blows into his thumb again, this time long and hard. He then holds his right paw, which is now five times the size of Kovu himself, directly over Kovu. Screaming, he drops to the ground and holds his paws above his head.

Simba:
"You forget that I can trample you to death right now if I want to."

Kovu:
“NOOOOO!!! DON'T!!! YOU’RE RIGHT!!!”

Simba:
("Here comes my big moment.")
“Then let’s get it over with now.”

Simba pulls back his right paw and extends the toe to the right of his thumb, nudging Kovu and causing him to fall onto his back, whereupon Simba puts his paw back over him.

Simba:
"That's it for you, Kovu."

Kovu:
looks very frightened with wide open eyes at the underside of Simba's paw
"NO! PLEASE DON'T!"

Simba:
"YES, I DO!"

Simba drops his paw on Kovu. Kovu puts his paws in front of his face. Simba's huge paw hits the ground. A slight tremor is felt in the vicinity. Kovu is immobilized and is trapped up to his chest under Simba's paw. The rest of his body is sticking out between his two middle toes. Kovu can't believe what he's experiencing. Simba lowers his head very close to his paw to look at Kovu with his huge eyes. He flashes him a big grin.

Simba:
"WON!"

Kovu:
desperate
"No... It can't be true..."

Simba:
"Wake up, Kovu. You lost your bet. So what do you say now?"

Kovu:
in shock
".........."

Simba:
"You don't want to tell me? Well, maybe you'll be more talkative after you've paid off your betting debts."

Kovu:
"Oh no! Aaaah!"

Simba holds Kovu between his two middle toes and lifts him above the mud. He dips him briefly into the mud several times, then pushes him deep into it. Simba remains like this to put Kovu into the same situation he recently experienced at the watering hole. After about the same amount of time as Kovu did, he lifts him out again and sets him down at the edge. Kovu looks like a large, dark brown lump and spits out mud.

Kovu:
"Ugh! Simba, look at what I look like."

Simba:
"You've had all the time in the world to think about your betting debt. So, once again: Well, what do you say now?"

Kovu:
"Okay, fine. I lost this time. But remember one thing, Simba. Don't think I'll put up with this. Together with Tama, I'll get revenge and then..."

Simba:
"SILENCE!"

The wind caused by Simba's scream knocks Kovu to the ground again. He freezes in fear.

Simba:
"It's like you said! From now on, for all time, you must never fight me again! From now on, you will stay away from Kubwa! If you don't comply, I will become much bigger than I am now and then I will really trample you! Is that clear!?"

Kovu:
“Y... Yes..., Simba.”

Simba:
"I'm warning you just this once, Kovu. Don't even think about conquering our land. Whatever you try, you will fail. If you challenge us... you will regret it."

Kovu flees sobbing into the tall grass. Simba waits until he can no longer see him. Then he shrinks back to his normal size and cheers.

Simba:
"I have won!"

Kiburi comes out of his hiding place and walks towards Simba.

Kiburi:
"Well done, Simba. You really showed him what you're made of. I could barely keep quiet from laughing."

Simba:
"I can imagine that well. It was 'big' fun to silence his big mouth. Now he also knows what it feels like to get almost drowned."

Kiburi:
"Oh yes, hopefully he's realized that now. That's why he probably won't dare to approach you again for the time being."

Simba:
"I expect so. That's why I prefer to spend my time with you, Kiburi."

Simba jumps on Kiburi and snuggles into his mane. Kiburi enjoys it.

Kiburi:
"Oh yes, Simba..."
(“Thank you, Simba... You remind me more and more of my Simba...”)
"What do you think? Shall we go back to my tree? I could use some cooling down."

Simba:
"Agree. It's nice and cool there. Let's go."

Kiburi sets off with Simba on his back. They head back the same way they came. This time they take their time and strut through the Pride Lands with their heads held high. When Kiburi spots a rock to his left, about half his size, he stops.

Kiburi:
"Simba, now that I see this rock..."
walks towards the rock

Simba:
"Yes…?"

Kiburi:
stops next to the rock
"Stand on it. I want to show you something."

Simba:
"Okay."

Simba jumps from Kiburi's back onto the rock.

Simba:
looks at Kiburi expectantly
"And now?"

Kiburi:
"As king, you will be the proudest animal in the Pride Lands. Then it's always an advantage if you know how to show it. I want to show you how."

Simba:
enthusiastic
"I gratefully take on that, Kiburi. What do I have to do for it?"

Kiburi:
"It's very simple: you stand like me, raise one paw,..."
raises his left paw
"...hold your head up..."
holds his head up high
"...and puff out your chest."

Kiburi takes a deep breath and puffs up his chest. Simba is deeply impressed by the sight of his big friend.

Simba:
"OOOhhh... You look very proud, Kiburi..."

Kiburi:
“That’s how it should be.”

Simba:
"Wait, I'll try."

Simba follows Kiburi's instructions. He raises his right paw, holds his head high and takes a deep breath. Kiburi smiles contentedly.

Simba:
"Like this?"

Kiburi:
"Excellent, Simba. This way you will be a proud king one day."

Simba:
"Thank you very much, Kiburi. I will definitely use it many times. Dad hasn't shown me that yet."

Kiburi:
giggles
"I guess I'm always one step ahead of your father."

They both laugh. Kiburi then stands next to Simba.

Kiburi:
"Let's go. Get on."

Simba:
"Yes."

Simba jumps back onto Kiburi’s back and the two continue on their way.

Chapter Text

When they approach Kiburi's tree again about 20 minutes later, a surprise awaits them. It is Kovu, who has sat down right where Kiburi is sleeping and is still cleaning the mud from his body. The traces are unmistakable. Kiburi and Simba are horrified by what they see. They hide in the grass.

Kiburi:
“Well, that’s enough now...! First being a bad loser and then THIS...!”

Simba:
"When he doesn't succeed, he always looks for someone to blame... That seems to be you... And he knows full well that this is your tree and your sleeping place..."

Kiburi:
"That's exactly his problem...! That's MY tree and MY sleeping place...! No one ever dirties either of them and gets away with it...! Now I remember why I hate the Outlanders...! So I'm going to show him who's in charge of this place...! Listen carefully, Simba... I have a plan..."

Simba gets off Kiburi and lies down next to his head.

Kiburi:
"Now, Simba. Roles reversed... Now you are my spectator... You stay here and watch us... If Kovu gets naughty again, I will teach him a lesson for life that he will never forget... And no one will believe it..."

Simba:
“That sounds great, Kiburi... But why do I have to stay so far away...?”

Kiburi:
"I need enough space... When things really get serious, I don't want to crush you... Even though I know that nothing can happen to you anymore..."

Simba:
“You also want to make yourself bigger in front of his eyes...?”

Kiburi:
"I will also make myself bigger... But only when he turns his back on me... Then I will surprise him from behind..."

Simba:
grins
"Hehehe... We're having fun again, Kiburi..."

Kiburi:
grins back
“It’s never boring with us , Simba... See you soon...”

Simba:
"Yes, see you soon..."

Kiburi gets up and continues walking through the grass towards his tree. Simba stays in his position. Kiburi leaves the grass and approaches Kovu, pretending he hasn't noticed anything yet.

Kiburi:
“Well, if that isn’t the little show-off from the Outlands.”

Kovu:
frightened
"Kiburi! Don't scare me like that! What are you talking about?"

Kiburi:
"What am I talking about? You know exactly. Simba told me everything. You made a bet with him and lost. Well, that's how quickly it can happen. Now, where is your big mouth that hides nothing?"

Kovu:
annoyed
"Pah! He only won because he cheated! He blew into his thumb right in front of me and grew bigger! No wonder I didn't stand a chance!"

Kiburi:
"What was that!?"
gets a fit of laughter

Kovu:
“What’s so funny about that?”

Kiburi:
"Are you trying to tell me that blowing into your thumb makes you bigger? What a nonsense! You've been lying in the sun for too long!"

Kovu:
"But, Kiburi, I'm not lying! Then he pushed me to the ground with just one toe, took me in his paw and dipped me in the mud!"

Kiburi:
"Kovu, Kovu, you're a terrible loser. Whenever you don't succeed, you always make up some stupid thing to distract from yourself. You just have a sunstroke. That's all."
acts as if he now sees the mud residue on his tree and his sleeping place. Kiburi's tone becomes noticeably more severe
“Wait a minute! Kovu, how dare you!?”

Kovu:
"What?"

Kiburi:
“You still ask!? How dare you dirty my tree and my sleeping place!?”

Kovu:
“This is what it looked like when I arrived here!”

Kiburi:
"Don't you dare lie to me, Kovu! When I went to the watering hole, everything here was sparkling clean!"

Kovu:
“How can I dirty your place when I am so clean?”

Kiburi:
“And what’s that on your back?”

Kovu touches his back and notices that it is still covered in mud.

Kovu:
("Damn!")

Kiburi:
"You're silent... Well, big mouth, nothing behind it, isn't it? Give it up, Kovu! You've been caught! YOU did this dirty deed! Now I'm really curious to hear how you explain it to me! Because I'm wondering why you didn't just bathe in the watering hole! You don't do things like that without a reason! Say whatever you want! So, come on, tell me! Why!?"

Kovu is visibly tense. He is fighting with himself; he is determined to succeed. But he realizes that further lying would only make his situation worse and finally gives in.

Kovu:
"Okay, fine! Yes, it's true! It was me! And you really want to know why I did that!? Can't you figure it out yourself!? Because you interfered with my bet! You're the one who made me lose! Admit it!"

Kiburi:
"That's enough now! Just because you were unsuccessful once, you're making up one nonsense after another to distract attention from yourself! And slandering me as an innocent bystander makes it even worse! You'll quickly make enemies this way, Kovu! If Mufasa finds out about this, he'll think very carefully about whether he wants to put up with you here any longer! You Outlanders shouldn't be here anyway!"

Kovu:
turns to leave
"Ha! We'll see! I won't lose to Simba again! Next time I'll be better prepared!"

Kiburi:
“You lost your bet and are not allowed to fight him anymore, remember?”

Kovu:
"I can fight Simba whenever I want! My next fight with him will have a different winner! You can count on it! Until then, I'll go and prepare! Have a nice day!"
     
Kovu tries to leave the place, but Kiburi reacts quickly and steps on his tail. He falls to the ground.

Kovu:
"Ouch! Hey, let me go!"

Kiburi:
"One minute, little man! You are not leaving this place without cleaning up the mess you left behind!"

Kovu:
pulls a smug face
"You are absolutely right. It is YOUR tree and YOUR sleeping place. That means it is not my mess, it is YOURS. So, clean it up yourself. Now let me go!"

With a strong tug, Kovu pulls his tail out from under Kiburi's paw and slowly moves on.

Kiburi:
(“Is there anything left to say about this...? I have never met such a cheeky boy in my entire life...”)

After Kovu has walked a few steps, he stops, sits down and licks himself.

Kovu:
“Oh..., this itching...!”

Kiburi watches him and sees his chance.

Kiburi:
(“Well, so be it! I can do things completely differently!”)

Kiburi stands a safe distance behind Kovu and concentrates, keeping an eye on Kovu. Shortly after the hissing sound is heard, Kiburi begins to grow. He grows fast, pausing several times to make sure Kovu doesn't notice. Kiburi grows to gigantic proportions. Despite the audible hissing of his body, Kovu is too busy to notice. Simba watches in amazement.

Simba:
("Incredible! This is really insane! How big does he want to get? I've imagined him as a giant several times today, but he hasn't been this gigantic yet. Kovu will never forget that. And if he tells anyone, no one will believe him.")

Kiburi stops growing. He looks around for Simba, spots him and winks at him with a grin. Simba winks back. He turns his paws over so that the soles are facing upwards and moves them up and down several times.

Simba:
(“Even bigger! He must be really scared!”)

Kiburi understands Simba's gesture and confirms it with a slight nod. Without taking his eyes off him, he continues to grow considerably and becomes bigger than ever before in his eternal lion life. Now his paws are as big as his tree. He winks at Simba again, who winks back again. Now they turn back to Kovu. He hasn't noticed any of this.

Kiburi:
("Well, Kovu. Now you're in for a big surprise. Hopefully Simba holds on tight.")

Kiburi stands on his hind legs and rears up. Simba realizes what he is planning and quickly claws into the ground with all fours. Kiburi aims his paws at Kovu and lets himself fall with great momentum. He stomps on the ground powerfully to the left and right of Kovu. In doing so, he triggers an earthquake that can be felt far and wide. Simba manages to hold on to the ground despite the strong shaking. Kovu, on the other hand, is thrown high into the air by the force of Kiburi's stomping. Screaming, he flies through the air before Kiburi catches him with the sole of his right paw. He lifts him up to his face and looks at him threateningly with his huge eyes. When Kovu sees this, he cries in fear, lets himself fall and covers his eyes. Kiburi waits until the earthquake has stopped. Then he speaks to him with a thunderous voice.

Kiburi:
"I'M WARNING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME! IF YOU DARE TO FIGHT SIMBA ONE MORE TIME, HE WILL PERSONALLY TRAMPLE YOU! BUT IF I'M NEARBY, HE'LL BE HAPPY TO LEAVE IT TO ME! AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN SO RUDE TO ME TODAY, YOU BETTER NOT COME CLOSE TO ME FROM NOW ON! OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE THE LAST THING YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE!"

Kovu can't say a word. In the distance, Kiburi sees the mudhole. With Kovu in his paw, he swings far and throws him there with all his strength. Kovu's screams disappear with him in the distance. Shortly afterwards, Kiburi sees him land headfirst in the middle of the mud.

Kiburi:
"Bull's eye!"

Kiburi makes a jump for joy, causing the earth to shake again. After the shaking stops, he looks down at Simba and smiles. From his perspective, he is tiny. Simba smiles back and jumps up and down. You can see that he had fun.

Kiburi:
“Now he can lick himself clean again.”

Simba bursts into loud laughter and rolls around on the floor. Kiburi giggles, and he begins to shrink. When he is back to his normal size shortly after, he goes to Simba. Simba runs towards him, beaming with joy. Kiburi stops, sits down and spreads out his paws. Simba jumps into them, and the two hug.

Simba:
“Thank you, Kiburi. Without you, I would have never won the bet.”

Kiburi:
"I'll do anything for you, Simba. I owe that to both your parents and you. They will be very proud of you when we tell them what you've accomplished. But is Kubwa still going to be your queen?"

Simba:
"Hehehe... Yes. After everything I've experienced today, it's final. I'll tell her today."

Kiburi:
"But maybe she won't like it. Do you know that she has dwarfism?"

Simba:
"I know. But if she promises to become my queen, I promise to cure her of her dwarfism. As soon as we are at the top of the Pride Lands, I will break my silence and give her your supernatural powers. Malka will follow her. Dad told me that once they are grown, I can initiate them both into it if I want. That is exactly what I will do."

Kiburi:
"Aha. Good idea. I'm sure they'll be very happy about that. Until then, we'll just have to keep quiet. But we'll manage it."

Simba and Kiburi hug again until Kiburi hears a hiss and feels Simba growing. He continues to hold him in his paws in front of his face and watches him grow. When Simba's hind paws touch the ground, he slowly walks backwards with them as he continues to grow, still held by Kiburi. Slowly, Kiburi lets Simba down so that his paws can now reach the ground. Simba sits down and grows even more until he is eye level with Kiburi. They look at each other. Simba grins.

Simba:
"But with the GREATEST pleasure, I will let you trample Kovu if you happen to be in the vicinity."
laughs

Kiburi:
laughs with him
“Thank you, Simba. I’ll be happy to take care of that.”

Simba:
looks over to Kiburi's still dirty sleeping place
“Then cleaning your sleeping place will be left to us.”

Kiburi:
"Yeah, we have to take care of that now. Then there are the paw prints that I just stomped into the ground here. Even if they look interesting, we have to remove them immediately. Otherwise, even the best secrecy won't help. But we'll get it back on track."

Simba:
"Exactly."

Simba remains the same size as Kiburi. Together they go back to his sleeping place. Once there, they pick some grass and use it to remove the mud. Then they use their paws to remove Kiburi's paw prints and level the ground back to its original state. They enjoy it so much that they continue working even though the bare minimum has already been done. About thirty minutes later, the tree and sleeping place look even cleaner than before and the paw prints are no longer visible. Simba and Kiburi sit next to each other and look at the result.

Kiburi:
“Thank you for your support, Simba. Without you, this place wouldn’t have been as beautiful as it is now.”

Simba:
"You're welcome, Kiburi. You, as my second father, deserve to live in such a beautiful place."

Kiburi:
("Thank you, Simba. Those were really touching words. If only my Simba were still here...")
sighs

Simba:
“Are you thinking about your Simba?”

Kiburi:
"Yes, Simba. You remind me more and more of him. You are exactly like he was. Always friendly, adventurous and helpful. Until that day when he and his mother never arrived at the watering hole. Instead, I only found a small pool of blood and remnants of fur at the place where he disappeared... It's been 79 years now... I would love to know what happened to them... But even if they survived, they've been dead for a long time... I'm sure you would have gotten along wonderfully..."

Kiburi bursts into tears.

Simba:
"Hey, Kiburi. Don't cry."
hugs Kiburi

Kiburi:
sobbing voice
"It's okay... I just haven't gotten over their disappearance yet... But thanks to you, after such a long time, at least a beginning is possible..."

Simba:
"Don't worry. I'll help you."

Kiburi:
already sounds better
"Thank you, Simba. Now we will tell your parents about your success."

Simba:
"Let's do it. I'm curious to hear what they'll say."

Chapter Text

Together, Simba and Kiburi set off to Pride Rock. On the way, Simba lets the day pass by once again.

Simba:
"Today is the best day of my life, Kiburi. And it started out like any other. This morning, Dad said I was too young to understand why he killed Uncle Taka."

Kiburi:
"But you got it."

Simba:
"Exactly. And then there was whether I was dreaming in the gorge or not."

Kiburi:
“You have received an answer to that too.”

Simba:
"But then Kovu came along, who first splashed me with water, almost drowned me and then made a bet with me."

Kiburi:
“None of that can hurt you anymore.”

Simba:
“Then you came and answered all my questions.”

Kiburi:
“It’s always a pleasure to help you, Simba.”

Simba:
"...and told me about your supernatural powers."

Kiburi:
"Without Rafiki, I would have been the only one to have them. But thanks to him, I now share it with you and your parents."

Simba:
"Now I knew what I needed to defeat Kovu. Dad was very helpful. When I got to the lab, I quickly found the right potion and took it. Everything worked immediately. You should have seen Dad's face when I stood in front of him, twice his size."

Kiburi:
"He was probably not prepared for that."

Simba:
"It certainly looked that way. Then he told me the rest of Uncle Taka's story and confirmed me that I wasn't dreaming. But then we were finally able to take on Kovu."

Kiburi:
laughs
"I will never forget his faces, as you blew yourself bigger and bigger before his eyes and how he lay tiny in my paw later."

Simba:
laughs with him
"I would really like to know who believes this story."

Kiburi:
"Me too."

Simba and Kiburi arrive at Pride Rock. As they climb up, they can hear a very desperate voice from afar. It is Kovu, who is trying to tell Mufasa and Sarabi an unbelievable story.

Kiburi:
"Oh. We'll find out soon. Kovu is trying to tell your parents. You have to shrink back to normal so he doesn't think he wasn't dreaming."

Simba:
"Will do."

Simba shrinks back to his normal size and jumps onto Kiburi's back. They then continue to the cave and stop near the entrance to listen to Kovu's story. Mufasa and Sarabi deliberately remain unimpressed by his story.

Mufasa:
"Please, Kovu! You don't mean to say that Simba inflated himself with his thumb!"

Kovu:
"Y...! Y...! Yes...! But...! But it was really like that, your majesty! He grew at least ten times bigger than me! Then he knocked me over with just one toe, picked me up in his paw and plunged me into the mud!"

Sarabi:
“Oh, come on! You’re just making that up to distract attention from yourself!”

Kovu:
"But it's nothing but the truth! And when I met Kiburi at his tree later, he too grew huge and threw me miles through the air into the mud!"

Mufasa:
"That's enough! What a nonsense! Kovu, you're out of your mind! Face it! Thanks to me, Simba has made progress in fighting! And just because you don't want to lose, you're making up some nonsense to deny Simba's big victory! It's amazing that you still have any friends!"

Kovu:
"No, no, no! I saw it with my own eyes! Those two can change their size! How else would those giant paw prints have gotten into the gorge?"

Mufasa:
"Excuse me!? Kovu, no one is allowed to even approach the gorge without our express permission! Are you sitting on your ears?!"

Sarabi:
"You seem to forget that we only tolerate you and Tama! We can banish you from here at any time! If you still want to be king: forget it! The Pride Lands will never submit to the Outlands! We will make sure of that!"

Kovu:
"But... But... your majesty, I..."

Simba and Kiburi enter the cave.

Mufasa:
"Hello, you two. Nice to see you again."

Kovu:
sees the two and panics
"Aaaah! Noooo! There they are! Both of them! Help!"

Kovu tries to hide. Simba and Kiburi act as if they know nothing.

Simba:
“What’s wrong with YOU?”

Kovu:
"There! There are the culprits! They are monsters! Those two can become giants!"

Kiburi:
“What does he mean, Simba?”

Simba:
"I haven't the slightest idea. In any case, it's just another one of his made-up stories."

Kovu:
"You're lying!"

Kiburi:
"What are you talking about, Kovu? Today I haven't seen you yet."

Kovu:
"No! That's another lie! The two of them grew huge and threw me into the mud! And so Kiburi must have walked through the gorge and left traces there!"

Mufasa:
"That's enough now, Kovu! Leave our cave immediately!"

Sarabi:
“And don’t you dare come back so dirty again!”

Kiburi:
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but sometimes your imagination just runs wild. There's no such thing. But I didn't expect anything else from you. And as for the paw prints in the gorge, they were there before you even got lost here."

Kovu:
"But... I know what I saw... I'm not crazy... I can only repeat it... Those two..."

Mufasa:
"GET OUT!"

Kovu:
"Aaaah, help!"

Kovu runs out of the cave. Kiburi follows him with Simba on his back to the entrance. They watch him until they can no longer see him. Then they go back to Mufasa and Sarabi.

Mufasa:
“Now I’m curious to find out what actually happened.”

Simba:
"Today was the best day of my life so far! I finally defeated Kovu in battle!"

Mufasa:
“Well, congratulations, my son. Great. You have mastered your task excellently.”

Kiburi:
"I couldn't have done better; he was that good."

Sarabi:
"Well done, Simba. From now on, you will help make our country safer again."

Simba:
“You know about my new powers?”

Sarabi:
"After your meeting under Rafiki's laboratory, your father told me about your wise decision. You couldn't have made a better one. We also have great respect for the fact that you immediately understood such a complex story as your uncle's. We wouldn't have expected that from you yet. And yet we always wished that you would never grow up, Simba..."

Everyone laughs.

Mufasa:
"Please don't get that wrong, Simba. She means growing up in the sense of becoming an adult. Of course, you can change your size at any time, just like we can."

Simba:
"Of course I understand that."

Sarabi:
“And that helped you achieve your big victory?”

Simba:
"That's exactly the way it was. Just before we started, Kovu asked me if I was using any help. When I showed him my thumb, he seemed to know what I was up to. Because when I said I was making a fool of myself, he burst into loud laughter. He claimed it was just fantasy. So I blew into it and grew bigger and bigger. He stopped laughing immediately. Then I was able to just throw him on his back and catch him. I had won. I will never forget the incredulous look on his face. But he can tell his grandmother about the mud."

Kiburi:
"It was very amusing to watch from a safe distance. He was not prepared for it at all. And later we caught him soiling my sleeping place. This time it was Simba who watched from a safe distance as I confronted him. He claimed he did it because he was convinced that I had helped Simba to win. He accused me of being responsible for his defeat. When I asked him to clean my place, he got cheeky and refused. Then he walked a little way away from me before stopping and licking himself again. When he turned his back to me, it was time for a nasty surprise. I stood behind him and started to grow. In all my 123 years, I have never grown as gigantic as I did at that point. And to Simba's delight, I grew even more. My paws were as big as my tree. But now the time had come. I reared up like a zebra and stomped on the ground mightily to the left and right of him with great momentum. Kovu flew high into the air and landed on the sole of my right paw. I looked at him threateningly and spoke a word of power to him in a thunderous voice. As I did so, I saw the mudhole in the distance and threw him there with a well-aimed throw. He fell headfirst into it. We really had a great time. Didn't we, Simba?"

Simba and Kiburi laugh. Mufasa and Sarabi smile.

Sarabi:
"We heard you all the way here. That explains Kovu's dirty fur and the earthquake earlier."

Kiburi:
"Yes, Sarabi. I am responsible for both. I have already removed some of the traces with Simba's help. Of course, I will do the same with the rest."

Sarabi:
"But no, Kiburi. As our best friend, savior and integral member of our family, you don't have to worry about that."

Mufasa:
"We will keep my paw prints in the gorge as a memorial to remind us of what almost happened to Simba and me. But I expect the next rainy season will wash them away."

Kiburi:
"Thank you very much... But the best part was Kovu's incredulous face as Simba grew bigger. I wanted to laugh out loud at that moment."

Mufasa:
"Yes, I can imagine that. But please always remember that the supernatural powers must remain top secret. If our secret leaves our pride and falls into the wrong paws, the consequences would be too terrible to imagine. Especially regarding the Outlands."

Simba:
“We all have to be aware of that.”

Kiburi:
"We won't tell anyone, Simba. We promise."

Sarabi:
to Mufasa
"But that won't stop Simba from showing me how he looks like when he is a few times his size. I've never seen him like that before."

Mufasa:
"Of course not. As long as we're among ourselves, we can be as big as we want."

Kiburi:
"Wait, Simba. I'll let you down."

Kiburi lies down on the ground so that Simba can climb down from his neck. He sits down in front of Sarabi and smiles at her. Sarabi's look shows that she can't wait to see Simba grow.

Simba:
“Take another good look at me, Mom. I’m about to become as big as you.”

Sarabi:
"I can't even imagine it yet... But now you will certainly help me."

Simba:
"With the BIGGEST pleasure."

Simba stays seated and concentrates. When his body starts to hiss quietly, Mufasa, Sarabi and Kiburi put on a smile. They are reminded of themselves. The hissing gets louder and Simba starts to grow. Beaming with joy, he watches as Sarabi's face gets closer and closer to him. It only takes a few seconds until he is at eye level with her and stops growing. Sarabi hugs Simba.

Sarabi:
"My son... You are still a cub, and you can already be as big as me. Thank you, Kiburi. Without you, none of this would have been possible."

Kiburi:
“I was happy to do that, Sarabi.”

Simba:
to Sarabi
“And you can do that too?”

Sarabi:
"I can do that. But I'm not very good at it..."

Simba:
"It's very simple. All you have to do is relax and imagine in your mind that you are slowly growing bigger. Then you will also grow bigger in reality. The faster you grow in your mind, the faster you will grow."

Sarabi:
"That sounds easier than it is. The first time I tried it, I grew too fast and punched a big hole into the ceiling of Rafiki's storage room. Since then, I've preferred to stay as big as I actually am. I'm all the more pleased about my other powers, especially the eternally regained youth."

Mufasa:
"It's just a matter of practice. Try it again, very carefully, and you'll see how easy it is."

Kiburi:
“And once you have it under control, it’s no longer a problem.”

Sarabi:
"Very well. But you will take responsibility if our cave collapses because of me."

Mufasa:
"Of course we do."

Kiburi:
“Yes, then we will take responsibility for everything.”

Simba:
"It won't come to that. If all three of us say how easy it is, then it's the way it is."

Sarabi:
"You've convinced me, Simba. I'll try."
     
Sarabi sits quietly and relaxes. She gathers her courage and concentrates. When her body starts to hiss quietly, the first step is completed.

Mufasa:
"Very good. The beginning is done. And now SLOWLY grow bigger."

Sarabi follows Mufasa's instructions and transfers them into her mind. The hissing gradually gets louder until she slowly starts to grow. Simba, Mufasa and Kiburi are satisfied.

Kiburi:
"Excellent. If you want, you can increase speed."

Sarabi begins to tower over Mufasa while sitting. She gives it a try and increases the speed in her mind, which accelerates her growth. She already seems much more confident in using her new abilities and continues to grow at the new speed. When Sarabi stops, Simba is back to the size she is used to, from her perspective.

Sarabi:
"And? How was I?"

Simba:
“You couldn’t have done it better.”

Kiburi:
"So good that you have successfully restored the size ratio between mother and cub."

Mufasa:
“Great, honey. That’s the way it should be.”

Sarabi:
"Then I'm relieved..."

Simba concentrates and his body begins to hiss again.

Simba:
“Wait, we’re coming up to you.”

Simba has barely finished speaking when he begins to grow. Mufasa and Kiburi don't need to be told twice and grow with him. Sarabi watches with a proud feeling of having got the hang of it as her family literally grows bigger and bigger. When Simba is at eye level with her again, he stops growing and looks down at Kiburi and Mufasa. They follow him at a short distance. They also grow until they are at eye level with Sarabi again. Sarabi hugs Simba and Mufasa. Kiburi closes the gap opposite of her. All four look at each other.

Sarabi:
"It makes me so proud to have a family with such unique powers. We owe it all to Kiburi and Rafiki."

Mufasa:
"Actually, we should be grateful to YOU for this. Because you got the ball rolling. But don't forget: Only the four of us can do this. No one outside our pride must know that we can do something like this."

Kiburi:
"That's why we should talk again about how to move as a giant without being noticed."

Mufasa:
“I was too loud, right?”

Kiburi:
"Indeed, Mufasa. You were stomping around so much that I felt even stronger tremors under my tree than I did when the wildebeest herd passed through. And given the distance to the gorge, you can probably imagine how strong the quake must have been."

Mufasa:
"Oh yes, I can imagine that. Simba told me everything. Since then, I also know what you meant by the second earthquake. But you're right. We need to talk about that again."

Kiburi:
"Gladly. I have some useful advice for you. Especially for situations where someone has seen you as a giant, and you have to make it believable that it wasn't real."

Simba:
"We are excited to hear what you have to tell us. We will be able to put that to good use."

Sarabi:
“But first you certainly want to recover from your adventures.”

Simba:
“Oh yes, of course.”

Mufasa:
“You have earned it, my son.”

Kiburi:
"We've just arrived at lunchtime and have already experienced so much. A nap is just what we need."

Simba:
“I want to tell you something else.”

As Simba says this, his body begins to hiss.

Mufasa:
"What is it?"
     
Simba begins to grow. He becomes twice as big as Mufasa, Sarabi and Kiburi and is only a few meters away from the ceiling of the cave. Then he looks down at them as they look up at him expectantly. Simba's front legs are now long enough for him to hug all three at once.

Simba:
“I love all three of you with all my heart and thank you for your help.”

Touched by this gesture, they respond together.

Mufasa, Sarabi, Kiburi:
“We love you too, Simba.”

They hug each other tightly for a few seconds.

Mufasa:
“Well then, make yourselves comfortable.”

All four shrink back to their normal sizes.

Sarabi:
"I will lie down at your right paw."

Kiburi:
"I'm on your left."

Simba:
"I snuggle up in Kiburi's mane. It's so soft."

Kiburi:
feels honored
"Thank you, Simba."

Simba:
"You're welcome."

Mufasa:
laughs
“You two searched for each other and found each other.”

Kiburi:
“Yes, that’s true. Thanks to you too.”

Sarabi:
"We were happy to do this, Kiburi. We want you to at least begin to get over your loss."

Kiburi:
"I owe you something for that..."

Mufasa:
"Everything in its own time, Kiburi. It won't run away, especially for us."

Simba:
“Whatever it is, I will help you.”

Kiburi:
“I’ll gladly accept that.”

Mufasa and Sarabi lie down on the ground. Simba jumps onto Kiburi's back and then climbs into his mane.

Simba:
“Your soft mane just invites you to sleep over and over again.”

Kiburi:
“I can imagine that well.”

Mufasa:
"We do too. Sarabi and I used to do that with my father. His mane was so nice to snuggle up in."

Sarabi:
“Just like I’m doing to you now.”
snuggles up to Mufasa's mane from the right side. She purrs.

Mufasa:
also purrs
"Mmmmm... Well, have a good nap everyone."

Sarabi:
“You too, honey.”

Simba:
"Have a good nap, everyone."

Kiburi:
“We will have it, Simba.”

Simba:
“It will be wonderful in your soft mane.”

Kiburi:
"In any case."
lies down on the ground and moves closer to Mufasa
"So, here we are. Sleep well."

Simba:
"You too, Kiburi. See you later."

Kiburi:
“See you later, Simba.”

The four of them make themselves comfortable and begin their nap. Kiburi's thoughts revolve for several minutes around both Mufasa's Simba and his own. Finally, he opens his right eye and looks at Mufasa. He puts his right paw on Mufasa's left paw. Mufasa doesn't notice anything. Kiburi closes his eye again.

Kiburi:
whispers
"Thank you, Mufasa..."

Chapter Text

After all that had happened, Simba decided to make it official who would become his queen: his best friend Kubwa. But, as he expected, she was shocked when he told her about his decision. Although only a few days younger than Simba, she was about a third smaller than him. Rafiki had discovered that she suffered from dwarfism, so it was to be expected that she would not grow very big. So she asked Simba to reconsider his decision. But Simba knew what he was doing. She just wasn't allowed to know at that point that he could help Kubwa. So he limited himself to promising to cure her of her illness. In return, she had to promise to become his queen. Kubwa was not convinced that Simba would be able to keep his promise. But since she did not want to lose him as her only friend, she trusted him anyway. This decision would later prove to be the right one.

So the years went by and Simba and Kubwa grew up together. During this time their friendship grew stronger and stronger. They also kept in touch with Malka. Simba even showed him the huge paw prints Mufasa had left behind in the gorge years ago. Meanwhile, they were moving further and further away from Kovu and Tama. Mufasa's words had an effect. Of course, the two of them didn't like that at all. So they concentrated on Kubwa and terrorized her at every opportunity. Since they now knew the Pride Lands well, they were able to escape Simba every time. He seemed helpless against the two of them. This helplessness made Kubwa deeply despair. Kovu and Tama were sure that in this way they could force at least one of them to change their mind before the coronation.

A few days before Simba's coronation, it emerged that Malka's parents had decided, for no apparent reason, to abdicate on the same day as Mufasa and Sarabi. They completely ignored the fact that Malka had been invited by Simba himself in their presence and did not allow him to attend. This was met with complete incomprehension.

Right on time for Simba's fifth birthday, the time had come. After eleven years on the throne, Mufasa and Sarabi ceremoniously handed over the scepter to their son. It was going to be the last change of generations in the history of the Pride Lands. Now things got exciting: the new king officially announced who he was choosing as his queen. What nobody knew: Kovu and Tama had secretly hidden among the guests. They were firmly convinced that Simba would pass the throne directly to them both. But, as everyone present expected, he chose Kubwa. Kovu and Tama were beside themselves. They knocked the guests aside and attacked Simba and Kubwa, saying they would kill them. A serious fight broke out. While bystanders tried to calm the situation, Sarabi was able to separate Kubwa from the fighters and bring her to safety. Miraculously, she survived the attack unharmed. So did Simba, who was of course well protected from injuries. After this incident, both wanted to continue the ceremony. Their wish was granted without any problems. Meanwhile, Kovu and Tama were finally arrested. They would deal with them later. But with their words and actions, Kovu and Tama had crossed the red line and Simba knew that he had to seize the opportunity to end their terror now.

After all the festivities were over, Kubwa went to Rafiki, accompanied by Sarabi, and had him examine her. She had survived the incident without a single scratch. To be on the safe side, she had him give her a potion that restored her body to an intact state. Meanwhile, Simba, together with Mufasa and Kiburi, led Kovu and Tama to the dead end in the gorge where Mufasa had killed Zira and the three hyenas four and a half years earlier. On the way there, Kovu and Tama repeatedly threatened Simba with war if he refused to hand over the Pride Lands to them. Simba did not allow himself to be blackmailed and began to make good on his own threat from his cubhood. In front of Kovu's and Tama's panicked faces, he grew so huge that his shoulders reached up to the very top of the gorge. "You shouldn't have messed with us!" he yelled at them before stomping them into the ground with his gigantic paws. They had no chance and died instantly. The terror was over.

Now that Kubwa had kept her promise, it was time for Simba to do his part. On the afternoon of the same day, he took her to Rafiki's laboratory. When they arrived, Simba surprised her by growing up to the ceiling in front of her eyes. Then he told her what everyone had kept secret from her until then: Kiburi has supernatural powers. When Simba was still a cub, Rafiki found out how they could be shared. This way, Mufasa and Sarabi, just as Simba, already had these powers. Kubwa was to be the next so she could free herself from her dwarfism. Kubwa was overjoyed at Simba's help. After he had shrunk back to his normal size, he gave her the potion, which she immediately took. Shortly afterwards, Simba taught Kubwa how to use her new powers step by step and without any problems. Kubwa beamed from ear to ear and thanked Simba for his successful surprise with a big kiss. She immediately decided to give herself a new normal size. From then on, she stood at his side, just as big as himself. Together they came up with a ritual. At regular intervals they walked through the Pride Lands as giants and made the earth shake. This was to warn the Outlands not to cross the border. Anyone who could become a giant was welcome to walk with them.

One month later, the next surprise came: Mufasa and Sarabi were expecting a cub. For only one reason: Kubwa had been exposed to the terror of Kovu and Tama until she was an adult. As a result, she had lost faith in her ability to be a good mother. So Mufasa and Sarabi decided to become parents again themselves, to share their own experiences with cubs with Kubwa in the hope of making her change her mind. Simba didn't know how to react to this news. He couldn't imagine having siblings at all. But the further Sarabi's pregnancy progressed, the more Simba looked forward to being a big brother. After another three months, the time had come. Mufasa and Sarabi gave Simba a little brother, named Bahati. As soon as they saw each other for the first time, Simba was overwhelmed by his feelings. The ice was finally broken.

Just like Simba back then, Bahati developed splendidly. Mufasa's fear that he would become like Taka proved to be unfounded. Bahati was absolutely attached to Simba. He idolized his big brother and wanted to be with him all the time. Of course, that wasn't always possible for Simba, so he sometimes had to let him do something else. The greater their joy was when they saw each other again afterwards. Bahati was a very lively cub. He always reminded Simba of his own cub-hood.

Mufasa and Sarabi's plan worked better than expected. After just eight months, Kubwa felt ready to have her own offspring. A few weeks after Bahati's first birthday, she gave birth to her first cub together with Simba. A son whom they named Kopa. Simba and Kubwa were able to use the experience they had already gained with Bahati to good effect. This way, they also gave Kopa a carefree cub-hood. In his role as uncle, Bahati quickly realized that he was Kopa's favorite caregiver. Whenever he had the opportunity, he played with him a lot. This earned him the role of the most lovable uncle in the world, which Kopa named him. But they had one thing in common. When they were both still cubs, Simba told them that their family had supernatural powers. It would only be a matter of time before they came to life for Bahati and Kopa too. They believed him, without wanting to know more.

But as Bahati and Kopa grew up over the years, there were some peculiarities. While Bahati grew into a responsible adult, Kopa remained somewhat childish in character. For this reason, Simba decided to only give Bahati supernatural powers on his fifth birthday. He postponed this indefinitely for Kopa. Over the next three years, Kopa's character changed little. But Simba remained confident that he would soon be ready to take on responsibility. Meanwhile, he noticed that Bahati looked more and more like the stranger who had once saved him in the gorge.

One day, when Simba was drinking at the watering hole with his family, he told them how the decisive events had once taken place there. He suddenly caught his breath, because he remembered a friend he had almost forgotten about: Malka. Eight years had passed since contact with him had been lost. "I have to find him again!" he swore to himself. The very next day he set off alone towards the Sunlands. When he arrived there with peaceful intensions, he asked how to get to Malka. When Simba finally found him, Malka recognized him immediately. The joy of seeing him again knew no bounds. After that, Malka couldn't stop telling stories. Since he had taken over the kingdom from his parents, he had still ruled it alone. He had come to terms with not having a queen and was fine with that. But over the years, Malka's tasks became more and more overwhelming, and he looked for help. For him, Simba was his savior in times of need. Of course, he was ready to help his old friend. For one year they discussed with Kubwa how Malka could be helped best. They came to the conclusion that they should form an alliance. The Sunlands were dissolved as an independent kingdom, converted into a district and joined the Pride Lands. To relieve him of his own burden, a large part of Malka's responsibilities were transferred to Simba and Kubwa. In order not to remove Malka from his former position entirely, he remained responsible for the Sunlands. However, any actions on his part in the future required consultation with Simba and Kubwa.

On the first anniversary of Simba's and Malka's reunion, their decisions were successfully implemented. Malka believed that his time as king would soon be over. He thought it would be a shame that he would not be able to enjoy it for long. Simba wanted to prevent this by giving him Kiburi's supernatural powers. He believed that Malka, as his friend and ally, should also be part of it. So he asked him to come to Pride Rock in a month. As a pretext, he wanted to know what experience the Sunlands had made with the political reorganization. Malka thought it was premature, but he agreed. Until then, he let Kubwa, Bahati, Mufasa, Sarabi, Kiburi and Rafiki in on his plan and prepared himself.

Chapter Text

14 years have passed since Simba's victory over Kovu. Compared to that, a month felt like a moment. The day of Malka's return to the Pride Lands had already arrived. Simba had promised him that Kopa would be waiting for him at the district border. From there he would then accompany him to Pride Rock. Malka was looking forward to getting to know Simba's son. Little did he know that he would make even more new acquaintances today. All Kopa needed now was an introduction from his father Simba, which he was now to receive.

Inside Pride Rock's cave. King Simba sits in the cave and waits for Kopa. He is led to the entrance of the cave by his uncle Bahati. He enters the cave alone. Kopa sees Simba and stops. They look at each other.

Simba:
"Come in."

Kopa:
continues his walk
"Dad, you've made me wait long enough now. What awaits me?"

Simba:
“Just calm down, Kopa. The wait is over now.”

Kopa:
“That was about time.”
sits down in front of Simba and looks at him mischievously
“You know I don’t like secrets.”
          
Simba:
"I know. Until yesterday it was just not certain whether everything would take place as planned."

Kopa:
"But it will."

Simba:
"Exactly. And that's why I want to tell you what it's all about."

Kopa:
“You have my undivided attention.”

Simba:
"Great. It's this: We're getting a visit from our friend Malka, who has been our ally for a month. He's finally returning to the Pride Lands after almost a decade. I want him to reach Pride Rock safely. That's why it's your job to meet him at the border of our districts and escort him here. I'm sure that won't be difficult for you."

Kopa:
"No problem. I can do it. Malka will arrive here unharmed."

Simba:
"That's the right attitude. And if Malka actually arrives here without a scratch, you'll have a reward."

Kopa:
“A reward? What kind?”

Simba is silent and looks mischievously at Kopa. Kopa realizes what he is trying to tell him. Kopa lowers his head.

Kopa:
"I know... Another secret..."

Simba:
"...that you can release by completing your task as I expect of you. Does that motivate you?"

Kopa:
raises his head and looks motivated at Simba
“Of course. But the district border is long. Have you agreed on a meeting point?”

Simba:
"It's good that you ask, otherwise it would have been difficult to find Malka. First, you leave Pride Rock to the south. When you reach the watering hole, you go northeast until you reach Kiburi's tree. From there, your path leads you southeast and from the three stones to the east. The agreed meeting point is at the Flat Ridge Rock, right in front of the border. There you wait for Malka and give him safe conduct back along the described route to our cave. And so that you know whether the right one is in front of you: Malka is quite powerfully built, about your height, and has red eyes. His fur color is similar to that of your grandmother Sarabi and he has a black mane. Did you understand?"

Kopa:
"Understood."

Simba:
serious face
"Then listen to me very carefully now... Malka doesn't know that we have supernatural powers. He shall only hear about it from me when he gets here. ONLY FROM ME. Your route takes you past Kiburi's tree. It is therefore likely that you will meet him. I don't know how big Kiburi was when Malka last saw him. He might have chosen a size for today that is so big that Malka will notice it. If he asks you about it, make him ask Kiburi. He will then defuse the situation. NOT A WORD from you. Do you understand that?"

Kopa's facial expression suggests that he is aware of the importance of secrecy.

Kopa:
"Yes..., not a word..."

Simba:
"Great. Then you can set off. Probably Malka is already on his way. I'll be waiting for you here in the cave."

Kopa:
jumps up and walks to the exit of the cave
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be there in time. See you soon."

Simba:
“See you soon. And don’t rush!”

Kopa leaves the cave. He carefully walks down the rocky path from Pride Rock and continues south. He hurries because he wants to be at the meeting point before Malka. After a few minutes he arrives at the watering hole. There he meets his mother Kubwa. She is drinking.

Kopa:
"Mum!"

Kubwa:
surprised
"Hello, Kopa. What brings you here?"

Kopa:
“I’m on my way to pick up Malka.”

Kubwa:
"Exactly. Today he is finally returning to the Pride Lands. Take good care of him so nothing bad happens to him."

Kopa:
"Don't worry. He will arrive safely."

Kubwa:
"That's nice... But if you're supposed to meet at the district border east of here, then why are you coming here?"

Kopa:
"Dad told me a route that I should take to lead Malka to Pride Rock. The watering hole is the first waypoint and next I should go to Kiburi's tree. He says it is the safest way."

Kubwa:
"I understand... I wouldn't want anything to happen to Malka either. After all, he's a long-time friend of ours. A safe route is always the best choice."

Kopa:
"Exactly. That's why I have to move on now, so that he doesn't get to the Flat Ridge Rock before me."

Kubwa:
"I don't want to hold you up. Your father and I are waiting for you in our cave. But take your time."

Kopa:
"All right. See you soon."

Kopa leaves the watering hole and gradually disappears into the tall grass. Kubwa watches him.

Kubwa:
"You can do it, Kopa... Then you will be very happy about your reward..."

She takes another sip and then heads towards Simba. Meanwhile, Kopa is running with big strides towards Kiburi's tree.

Kopa:
"It's all further apart than I thought. I hope I don't miss Malka. Ah, finally, there comes Kiburi's tree. Watch out, Kiburi, I'm coming!"

Kiburi's tree appears before Kopa's eyes. He shoots out of the tall grass, intending to surprise Kiburi, but he is not there. Kopa stops, astonished.

Kopa:
"He's not here... What a pity... He really likes to be surprised by me... Later, then. I have to move on. Now to... the southeast."

Kopa walks past Kiburi's tree and disappears into the tall grass in a southeasterly direction. He continues to run quickly to reach the meeting point in time. A few minutes later he reaches the three stones and walks past them without saying a word, now in an easterly direction. When he finally arrives at the Flat Ridge Rock soon afterwards and does not yet see Malka, he is relieved.

Kopa:
"Phew, I made it in time. He's not in sight yet. Well then, Malka: I'm here and waiting for you."

Kopa sits upright on the rock and waits. He looks expectantly over the vast land. It doesn't take long before he notices movement in the distance. A lion, exactly matching Simba's description, is moving towards him. Kopa looks closely and comes to the same conclusion.

Kopa:
“Everything matches. That must be Malka.”

Kopa raises his right paw and waves at Malka to come over. Malka recognizes his signal and walks straight towards him.

Malka:
(“So this is Simba’s son. He looks just like his father. Then he must be just as nice.”)

He stops a few meters in front of the district border. He sits down and raises his right paw.

Malka:
"Amani iwe nanyi."
("Peace be with you.")

Kopa returns the greeting by raising his right paw.

Malka:
"Prince Kopa?"

Kopa:
"Personally. Then you are King Malka."

Malka:
"That's me. I request permission to enter the district of government."

Kopa:
"Permission granted."

Malka crosses the border with a symbolic step. When he reaches Kopa, he is embraced by him.

Kopa:
“Welcome to the district of government, Malka.”

Malka:
"Thank you, Kopa. You're just like your father. He always likes to hug me too. I can see him in your face."

Kopa:
"You think so?"

Malka:
"Yes. Look at yourself. You have a lot of him in your appearance. His magnificent mane, his strong body, his face. You are his son, that is obvious."

Kopa:
stirred
"Thank you, Malka..."

Malka:
"My pleasure, Kopa. Now then, will you show me the safe way to Pride Rock?"

Kopa:
"Of course. That's why I'm here. Follow me."

Kopa and Malka leave the Flat Ridge Rock together. They go back to Pride Rock along the same route that Kopa came.

Kopa:
“Did you have a good trip?”

Malka:
“Apart from the fact that there was no one available to accompany me, it has been quite pleasant so far.”

Kopa:
"How come?"

Malka:
"At home the hunting season recently started again. We want to make sure that there will be plenty of food by the time I return. Hunting is not for me. Then I prefer to travel alone."

Kopa:
"I understand that well. My great-great-grandfather Mohatu had to deal with a severe drought 54 years ago."

Malka:
“The Sunlands were also affected by this.”

Kopa:
"Exactly. He also set out on his own to find water. And in the end he actually succeeded."

Malka:
"A strong performance from a truly great king. We can still learn a lot from him today."

At about two o'clock Malka sees Pride Rock. He stops, somewhat confused.

Malka:
"Kopa?"

Kopa:
"Yes?"

Malka:
“Don’t you think we’re coming a little off course?”

Kopa:
"No, why?"

Malka:
points towards Pride Rock
"Look. Pride Rock is over there. But we'll walk past it like this. Are you sure we're in the right place?"

Kopa:
"Dad doesn't want anything to happen to you. That's why he told me a route to take you."
points to the three stones
"Look. These three stones are a waypoint on our route. From here we have to continue in a northwesterly direction. So we are heading towards Pride Rock. But not for long, then we have to change direction again."

Malka:
"I understand your father well. After knowing each other for as long as we have and then losing touch, I wouldn't want that either."

Kopa:
"Exactly. Don't worry. We're on the right way."

Kopa and Malka continue their journey in a northwesterly direction. During this stretch they do not exchange a word. When they approach Kiburi's tree while they are hidden in the tall grass the silence ends.

Kopa:
"See that tree up ahead? That's our next waypoint."

Malka:
recognizes the tree
“Yes, that is Kiburi’s tree.”

Kopa:
“Exactly. Dad had a lot of thoughts in choosing the route.”

Malka:
“Those were the days when Kiburi told stories to Simba and me... He could always tell such exciting stories...”

Kopa:
“Malka, get down!”
falls to the ground

Malka:
follows him confused
"Why? What is it?"

Kopa:
“There’s Kiburi.”

Malka:
"Kiburi, our favorite storyteller... But why are we hiding from him?"

Kopa:
"Kiburi loves surprises. When I came by earlier, I wanted to surprise him too, but he wasn't here. Now I can make up for it. Come with me, but very quietly..."

Kopa and Malka sneak up to the edge of the tall grass, invisible to Kiburi, and lie down there. Kiburi had joined in the hunt earlier and secured his share. Now he has just eaten it and is still licking his paws clean. He turns his back to Kopa and Malka and does not notice that he is being watched.

Kopa:
"So, Malka: You wait here. I'll go ahead and surprise Kiburi. On my signal, you follow me. Alright?"

Malka:
"Okay, but wait a minute, Kopa..."

Kopa:
"Yes?"

Malka:
takes a close look at Kiburi
"Just look at Kiburi..."

Kopa:
also looks at Kiburi
"Is something wrong?"

Malka:
“He is so... so big...”

Kopa:
“Of course. That’s how you know him.”

Malka:
"Yes, I do. But I remember him being smaller. Actually, he's not big anymore. He's a giant."

Kopa:
"That's why he is called the 'Proud Giant'."

Malka:
"Still... He seems bigger to me... And he was already fully grown when your father and I were still cubs..."

Kopa:
"You'll have the chance to ask him soon. Wait here."

Kopa stands up carefully and sneaks up to Kiburi quietly, while Malka stays behind, hidden by the grass. Kopa stops right behind Kiburi and prepares to jump. Kiburi sits in front of him and turns his back to him. He has no idea of Kopa's surprise.

Kopa:
("Surprise!")

With all his strength, Kopa jumps at Kiburi from behind. Kiburi is frightened.

Kiburi:
"Hey!"

Kopa has Kiburi firmly in his grip and brings him down. Since Kiburi cannot see the supposed attacker, he defends himself.

Kiburi:
"Get off!!!"

Kiburi turns sideways and rolls across the ground. Kopa is not prepared for this, so he breaks away from Kiburi and falls onto his back. He tries to get up again, but Kiburi is faster and pins him down by pressing his paws onto Kopa's chest. Kiburi growls at him loudly and threateningly, but when he recognizes his "attacker" he falls silent on the spot.

Kiburi:
“Kopa, you rascal! I should have known.”

Kopa:
embarrassed look
“Uh… Well, tough luck.”

Kiburi:
"I keep falling for it over and over again."

Kopa:
"I thought you liked surprises."

Kiburi:
"Yes, I do. But you've never... 'overwhelmed' me like that before."

Kopa:
“It almost worked.”

Kiburi:
"You may be able to compete with other lions by now. But if you want to compete with me, you still have a lot to learn."

Kopa:
"I'll stick with it."

Kiburi:
"That's good."
helps Kopa get back on his paws
“Well then, what can I do for you?”

Kopa:
“Today I am providing safe conduct for the first time.”

Kiburi:
"Oh yes. I remember. Malka is coming back to us today after many years. You are supposed to pick him up from the Flat Ridge Rock, right? Then I don't want to hold you up."

Kopa:
"You don't need to. I'm already on my way back and I have him with me."
points towards Malka
"He's waiting there in the tall grass."

Kiburi:
“Malka, where are you hiding?”

Malka rises from the tall grass.

Malka:
"Here."

Kiburi:
"Ah... Nice to see you again. Come join us."

Malka leaves the tall grass and walks to Kiburi and Kopa.

Malka:
“Yes, our proud giant can also be very uncomfortable, right, Kopa?”

Kopa and Kiburi laugh.

Kopa:
“I was and am aware of that.”

When he reaches them, Malka stops.

Malka:
"Hello, Kiburi. It's been a while."

Kiburi:
"I notice that, Malka. Look at how big you've become."

Malka:
“Ah… When I stand next to you, I immediately feel small again.”

Kiburi:
laughs
"I believe that."

Malka:
"Is it possible that you have grown? You seem much bigger than I remember."

Kiburi:
"That's true. I suspect that humans have been in our land and have conducted one of their experiments again. How I hate that... Some time ago, I took part in the hunt, just like today. My share of the spoils had a strange aftertaste. Such things rarely happen, but they are not unusual. Since then, I have been growing again. Not far yet, but I am doing it."

Malka:
"You're probably already the biggest lion that ever lived. Hopefully you'll stop growing at some point."

Kiburi:
"Most certainly."
looks alternately at Kopa and Malka
"Am I holding you up?"

Kopa:
"Not at all. Your tree is just on our route to Pride Rock. Next we're going to the watering hole."

Kiburi:
“Hey, I was just about to go there too. May I accompany you for a bit?”

Kopa:
“Of course. The more we are, the better.”

Kiburi:
lies down on the ground
"Climb on my back, Malka. Then you can rest."

Malka:
"Oh no, thank you. That's really nice of you, but..."

While Malka says this, he closes his eyes and turns his gaze slightly away from Kiburi. Kiburi takes advantage of this: he swings himself under Malka and lifts him up with momentum. Malka is completely overwhelmed.

Malka:
"WOAH! KIBURI!"

Kopa laughs.

Kiburi:
"You've walked far enough. Now we'll take over while you recover."

Malka:
“Yes… I could really use some rest after this shock… Am I not too heavy for you?”

Kiburi:
"Oh no. I don't even feel your weight."

Malka:
"Then I must be very light, and you must be incredibly strong... But as big as you are, and will probably get EVEN bigger, it's no wonder that you can carry me so easily."

Kiburi:
"You'll like it up there."
to Kopa
“We’re ready, Kopa.”

Kopa:
“Well, let’s go then.”

Together, the three of them leave Kiburi's tree and head towards the watering hole. Malka quickly recovers from Kiburi's surprise.

Kiburi:
“Have you at least had a pleasant journey so far?”

Malka:
"Yes, but without company. At home they are too busy hunting. But I managed on my own."

Kopa:
"But it is my father's wish that we accompany you now. There is nothing we can do about that."

Malka:
“Of course. And I appreciate that.”

Kiburi:
“Are they so busy that no one could accompany you?”

Malka:
"We want to make sure that there will be plenty of food when I return. We already have more than enough. But you never know."

Kopa:
“We are approaching the watering hole.”

Kiburi:
“I’m sure you have plenty of water too.”

Malka:
“At least as much as you.”

They arrive at the watering hole.

Malka:
“Ah, finally. It was about time.”

Kiburi lies down and Malka gets off him. Together the three of them drink at the shore. While doing so Malka remembers the past.

Malka:
"This is where it all started... Kovu made a bet with Simba that was completely against him, but he won it right away... To this day I don't know how he managed it..."

Kopa:
“You can ask him.”

Kiburi:
"He will be happy to give you an answer."

Malka:
"That's exactly what I'm going to do. We've already learned a lot from each other and we'll continue to do the same in the future."

Kopa:
"That's good."

Malka:
"Okay, I'm done. Are you?"

Kopa, Kiburi:
"Ready."

Malka:
"Oh, wait..."

Malka climbs back onto Kiburi's back. Kiburi looks at him mischievously.

Kiburi:
"Oh...! I thought so! Now you like riding me, don't you?"

Malka:
"I actually like it up here. I had forgotten how comfortable it is."

Kiburi:
“Yeah, yeah. Then and now.”

Malka:
"Don't worry. If I get some of this special meat, then YOU can ride ME someday."

Kopa and Kiburi laugh.

Malka:
"You laugh about it. I would have liked to become a giant, just like you, Kiburi. But unfortunately it didn't happen."

Kopa:
"That can still change. You just need a little luck and then you will be."

Malka:
"I hope so."

Kopa:
“Come on, Kiburi, let’s move on.”

Kiburi:
"Yes."

The three lions leave the watering hole towards Pride Rock. It now appears very close. Now they walk a little faster to cover the last stretch. A short time later, when they arrive at Pride Rock, Malka dismounts from Kiburi before they climb up the rocky path together. When they reach the top, Bahati is waiting for them.

Bahati:
calls into the cave
"They're here! Kopa did it!"

The group arrives.

Bahati:
“Kopa, my nephew, come to me.”

Kopa comes to Bahati and lets him hug him.

Bahati:
“Well done, Kopa… I knew you could do it… Just as we expected from you…”

Kopa:
"You know, Uncle Bahati... It wasn't that difficult. I would do it again anytime."

Malka is equally astonished and confused by their exchange of words.

Malka:
(“What? Uncle? Simba has siblings? Why don’t I know about this?”)

Bahati:
"Your father will be very pleased. Tell him about your success."

Kopa:
"I will. Now you'd surely like to meet our guest."

Bahati:
"Yes, very much."

Kopa:
"Here he is."

Malka steps forward.

Kopa:
"I'll be right back."

Kopa goes into the cave to Simba and Kubwa.

Bahati:
"King Malka."

Malka:
"That's me."

Bahati:
"Welcome back to Pride Rock. I am Bahati, Simba's younger brother."

Malka:
"It's so nice to meet you, Bahati. I'm also pleasantly surprised to learn that Simba has siblings. He's never told me about you before."

Bahati:
"He wanted to surprise you."

Malka:
"Well, he succeeded. Do you have any other siblings?"

Bahati:
"No, he only has me as his 'little sibling'."

Kopa comes back from the cave.

Kopa:
"I'm back. Everything is set."

Bahati:
“And your reward?”

Kopa:
"We'll get to that as soon as Dad has spoken to Malka. You can go to him now, Malka."

Malka:
"I'm on my way."

Malka enters the entrance of the cave. Kubwa comes to meet him there.

Malka:
"Hello, Kubwa."

Kubwa:
“Hello, Malka. Did you arrive safely?”

Malka:
"Without a single scratch. That was perfect. Your son has earned his reward."

Kubwa:
"I'm glad to hear that."

Malka wants to look outside at Kiburi. But he can no longer see him and looks straight back at Kubwa.

Kubwa:
“Everything okay, Malka?”

Malka:
"I have to tell myself that I haven't suddenly grown. When I stood next to Kiburi, I felt small and now next to you, I feel big again. If you were standing next to Kiburi, you would seem to me as if you were still a cub. But we all know why."

Kubwa:
(“So I look like a cub? We’ll see about that soon...”)
"Yes, I've always known that. Simba is waiting for you inside. I'll wait for you two outside."

Malka:
"All right. See you soon."

Malka continues his way into the cave.

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.

Chapter Text

Malka enters the cave. He immediately spots Simba and goes towards him. When he reaches him, the two embrace, like when they were cubs. Kubwa listens to their conversation from outside.

Simba:
“Malka, my old friend… It’s so nice to have you back...”

Malka:
"Ah, it's been far too long..."

Simba:
“Has Kopa fulfilled his task?”

Malka:
"Your son is really very nice, Simba. He is in no way inferior to you. It was an absolutely safe conduct. I felt very safe. The only one he will probably never get past is Kiburi."
giggles

Simba:
laughs
"I expected nothing else."

Malka:
“However, on the way here I realized that more has changed than I thought.”

Simba:
"What?"

Malka:
"I didn't know you had siblings. Since when?"

Simba:
"You couldn't have known that, because I wanted to surprise you. Bahati is my younger brother. When he was born, I had already been king for four months. After her experiences with Kovu and Tama, Kubwa didn't believe she could be a good mother. So Mufasa and Sarabi decided to have another cub. They wanted to convey to her that her situation today is completely different. That way I could also gain experience with cubs before we had our own."

Malka:
"A brilliant idea."

Simba:
"...which was very beneficial to us regarding Kopa."

Malka:
"You look so similar, you can tell that you are siblings. Hopefully the past will not repeat itself..."

Simba:
"That was Mufasa's concern too, but it won't happen. We love each other too much for that."

Malka:
“Back then, you told me you couldn’t imagine having siblings.”

Simba:
"Yes, I said that. But I had no idea what it's like to have some. You should have seen Bahati as a cub. He thought I was a god and always wanted to be with me. I was never safe from him."

Malka:
“Aw, sibling love, huh?”

Simba:
giggles
"But as an adult he has become more calm and can sometimes get along without me. Nevertheless, we spend most of the time together. To this day he swears to me again and again, even in the presence of our father, that he will always be by my side, no matter what happens. Since Mufasa recognized the exact opposite of his own brother Taka in Bahati, his worries turned out to be unfounded."

Malka:
“Not everyone has a brother like that.”

Simba:
"Certainly not. But I'm also there for him. Since we got Kopa, he'd like to have cubs of his own. But he just can't find a suitable partner. That's why I ask him to look after Kopa every now and then. With moderate success. Kopa likes to play hide and seek with him. He often loses him. But we'll manage it."

Malka:
"You will succeed. I am sure of that. Well then. You wanted to know what experiences the citizens of the Sunlands have made with our union?"

Simba:
"Yes, please."

Malka:
"Well, overall, things are looking very good. The vast majority agrees with our union and is enjoying the new freedoms. But of course there are also some critics who consider it as a break with tradition. My parents would certainly have taken the latter side. So what? THEY wanted me to take their place at all costs. I have never gotten over the fact that I was not allowed to come to your coronation and that we lost contact because of that. I can no longer rule my kingdom alone. That is why it was my decision to accept your help and submit myself to you. They should be happy that I reacted in time. Who knows whether the Sunlands would still have a ruler otherwise."

Simba:
"Interesting."

Malka:
"Unfortunately, Tiifu, my deputy, is also among the critics. She doesn't like our union at all, which is not surprising. She vehemently relies on tried and tested methods and is very closed to new things and difficult to convince. This is also reflected in the fact that since then she increasingly does not do what I tell her. She simply no longer takes me seriously. If Tiifu continues like this, we will probably have to replace her."

Simba:
"We will. We will not allow ourselves to be influenced by that. We will stay on course and bide our time. I am confident that our alliance will convince even the last critics in the future."

Malka:
"Okay, let's do it."

Simba falls silent and appears satisfied. But Malka is confused.

Malka:
(“Wait a minute. Is that it?”)
"Uh, Simba?"

Simba:
"Yes?"

Malka:
“We're not finished yet, are we?”

Simba:
"That's right. How did you come up with that?"

Malka:
"I know you. You never ask me for a private conversation about every little thing. Then it must be something important. Especially since I would also like to know something from YOU."

Simba:
“And that would be what?”

Malka:
"When we passed by Kiburi earlier, I noticed that he has grown. He was already fully grown when we were still cubs. How can that be?"

Simba:
giggles
("He noticed it. Well, now it has to come out.")
“Very attentive of you.”

Malka:
“So I did NOT imagine it and Kiburi’s story about the strange tasting meat was NOT made up?”

Simba:
"Yes and No. It's true that you didn't imagine it. I don't know what kind of story Kiburi came up with, but no, it was made up. Likewise, I didn't want to talk to you about our alliance. That was just a pretext for me to get you here. The actual reason is...: I want to let you in on a secret of my family and share it with you..."

Malka:
"Oh... Yes, that's more than a little thing... In that respect, you did well to bring me here..."

Simba:
“Do you remember Kovu?”

Malka:
"I was still thinking about him at the watering hole. Him, who thought he was better than everyone else and wanted to take over the Pride Lands by force. Well, he paid for that with his life."

Simba:
“Was there a moment when you thought: Now he’s gone crazy!?”

Malka:
thinks for a moment
"Yes, there was. He ran to Tama and me in despair and told me that he had lost against you. You were said to have blown into your thumb and grown bigger as a result. I didn't believe a word he said. He had just made it up to distract attention from himself."

Simba:
"Malka..., that may sound just as crazy now... But he didn't make that up... It actually happened that way..."

Malka:
"I'M SORRY, WHAT!?"

Simba:
“Yes, you heard that right.”

Malka:
laughs
"Are you kidding me?"

Simba:
"Why should I?"

Malka:
"This is a joke."

Simba:
“Malka, have I ever lied to you?”

Malka:
"...Uh..., no."

Simba:
"Have you never wondered how I was able to beat Kovu all by myself, even though you saw how bad things were looking for me?"

Malka:
"Yes, I did. But I never dared to ask you. I wanted to save my face in front of Kovu and Tama."

Simba:
"If you listen to me carefully now, everything will become clear. And along the way, you will learn why Kiburi has actually grown."

Malka:
"Okay, so I assume it was as you said. What happened after we parted ways at the watering hole?"

Simba:
"My situation seemed hopeless. I had absolutely no idea how I could ever defeat Kovu. So I went to Kiburi to ask him if he could help me too. When I got to him, I noticed exactly the same thing as you. I had the impression that he had grown. At first I thought nothing of it and poured my heart out to him. As we got a little off topic, I learned something about Kiburi's story by coincidence. And now it gets interesting: Kiburi is the result of what the people call an 'animal experiment.'"

Malka:
"I've heard of this before. It's really cruel."

Simba:
"That's exactly what happened. He was forced to drink random liquids. But he was lucky and benefited from it. They gave him supernatural powers. He can be as big as he wants at any time. That confirmed my first impression. As soon as I knew about it, I asked him to show me and he did. Before my eyes he grew to the size of his tree. I immediately knew how to defeat Kovu and wanted to know how to make it work for me. But he said that it wasn't possible. Now I was back at the beginning."

Malka:
“Interesting… That explains a lot… But to this day it is not clear which giant had walked through the gorge shortly before.”

Simba:
"Kiburi wondered the same thing. But... it was Mufasa. In the gorge he came towards me as a giant. I thought he was going to trample me, so I put my paws in front of my face. Shortly afterwards he shook me. There he was again standing next to me normal sized and claimed that I had been unconscious. But I knew what I had seen."

Malka:
his jaw drops
“Mufasa was the giant? That’s not possible.”

Simba:
"You should see your face, Malka. Kiburi was also amazed when I told him that. That gave him the answer to the riddle. On the evening before the events in the gorge, Kiburi received a visit from Mufasa and Rafiki. The danger they suspected his brother Taka was behind forced them to take action. Rafiki believed he had found a way to allow Kiburi to share his supernatural powers. To do this, he wanted to test Kiburi's blood. Of course, he had some blood taken from him. As it turned out the next day, Rafiki was right. This way at the last second, Mufasa was prevented from being overthrown by his own brother."

Malka:
"I can follow that far. But what does that have to do with you?"

Simba:
"When Kiburi told me that, I immediately understood why Mufasa wanted to meet me at Rafiki's lab. In a playful way, he wanted to give me Kiburi's supernatural powers too. To do this, I was supposed to climb into the storage room alone, choose a potion and drink it. Since Rafiki had left his notes freely accessible in his lab, I immediately knew which one was the right one. This way I received supernatural powers as well and was able to defeat Kovu single-handedly."

Malka:
"By a potion...? Are you saying that you drank Kiburi's blood...?"

Simba:
"Most likely."

Malka:
disgusted
“BAAAH, DISGUSTING! How did Rafiki come up with such an idea!?”

Simba:
"It didn't taste anything like what you might think. It tasted like a mixture of bananas and a gaballo fruit. Very tasty."

Malka:
"I don't know..."

Simba:
"And the best part is: Like Kiburi, we will keep our supernatural powers forever. Even today, we can be as big as we want. Just imagine: I was already bigger than Pride Rock and left an imprint of my paw on its back."

Malka:
hangs his head
"Great idea... Simba, don't take this the wrong way, but I can't shake the feeling that this is all made up... I would like to believe you... Can you change that somehow...?"

Simba:
sits down and begins to concentrate
(“Then in Kiburi’s way.”)
“That’s how I looked at Kiburi when he told me everything.”

Malka:
exhales long
“Phew... How can I believe you, Simba?”

Before Malka can continue, he notices a faint hissing sound echoing through the cave. He looks around in confusion.

Malka:
"What is that noise? Where is it coming from?"

Simba:
"Listen to it."

Malka:
"That's coming from your direction."

Malka stands in front of Simba, looks around and listens. When he notices that the hissing is coming from Simba's body, he is frightened and jumps back. His jaw drops again.

Malka:
"Your body is hissing! Simba, what's happening to you!?"

Simba:
"What you asked me to do."

The hissing gradually becomes louder.

Malka:
“What did I ask you for...!?”
pauses when he can't believe his eyes
"SIMBA!?"

Simba begins to grow before his eyes. He grows quickly. With horror, Malka realizes his mistake.

Malka:
“Oh no, I didn’t mean that!”

Simba continues to grow. Malka becomes increasingly embarrassed.

Malka:
"I take it all back! Please, Simba!"

Simba is still growing and enjoying Malka's embarrassment. Malka bows guiltily to him.

Malka:
“How can I fix this?”

Malka looks up at Simba and is horrified. Simba is completely unimpressed by his bow and grows even faster. Malka drops to the ground and puts his paws in front of his face.

Malka:
"What have I done!? I have put our friendship in danger! Please forgive me, Simba! PLEASE!"

Malka remains lying on the ground with his eyes covered. He can still hear Simba's body hissing loudly. He risks a look between his paws and sees Simba's paws getting bigger and bigger and getting closer and closer to him.

Malka:
no longer looks
"Please don't, Simba..."

Just as Malka is expecting the worst, there is a dull sound and the hissing suddenly stops. After a few seconds of eerie silence, he hears a small stone fall to the ground next to him. When Malka doesn't hear anything else, he slowly removes his paws from his face. An overwhelming sight reveals itself before him. Where Simba used to sit moments ago, there are now two gigantic paws. Malka looks up... and higher... and higher... until he can finally see Simba's face. His jaw drops again. Simba has literally let the ceiling fall on his head and is looking down at Malka with a mischievous look on his face.

Malka:
"I will never question you again, Simba, I swear! You have my undivided attention!"

Simba:
"I quote: 'Thanks to my father, Kovu and Tama don't stand a chance against me, even when they're together. Nevertheless, I wish I could be bigger so that they don't dare come near me at all. But if I could, I would want to become a giant. Then I would simply knock them over with just one paw and I would have won.' End of quote. Correct me if I'm wrong, but do these words sound familiar to you?"

Malka:
“I told you that at the watering hole when we were still cubs.”

Simba:
"Exactly, you wanted to be bigger. I want to grant your wish. But now that I have your undivided attention, I'll take the opportunity to tell you about Kiburi's other supernatural powers."

Malka:
can't stop being amazed
“Kiburi can do more?”

Simba:
nods
"He is invulnerable. No matter how you attack him, nothing can hurt him. That's how I got away unscathed when Kovu and Tama attacked Kubwa and me at our coronation. Luckily, nothing happened to Kubwa either."

Malka:
"I can't express my amazement in words..."

Simba:
"After you've heard what's coming now, you'll be even less able to do that. Because Kiburi is... immortal."

Malka:
“You mean...: He has eternal life?”

Simba:
“Have you ever wondered how old Kiburi is?”

Malka:
"Not yet. How old is he?"

Simba:
"137 years."

Malka:
“WHAT!? Then he belongs to a completely different generation. He looks surprisingly young for that.”

Simba:
"And that will never change. After my parents received their supernatural powers, they noticed that they had been rejuvenated by them. As if they had just become adults. The supernatural powers keep Kiburi and us at exactly that point. When you told me a month ago that you thought your time as king was almost over, you gave me the idea of giving his supernatural powers to you too. Then you will have all the time in the world to enjoy our alliance."

Malka:
"Oh yes..."

Simba:
"Imagine: Together with Kubwa, we will remain kings forever and no one will ever be able to change that. Would you like to be part of that?"

Malka:
jumps up
"Of course I want! Even if the potion still makes me a little dreadful..."

Simba:
"I knew you would want to join us. As I said, it tastes like a mixture of banana and gaballo fruit. You will like it. Rafiki has prepared the potion for you. It's in his laboratory, where I also enjoyed it. Kubwa will accompany us there."
calls outside
"KUBWA!"

That was the signal for Kubwa. She slowly enters the cave and stands next to Malka. He looks at her admiringly.

Kubwa:
“Here I am, my gentle giant.”

Malka:
"How do you do that? Simba can become a giant while you have to stay small. I admire how well you handle it."

Simba:
grins without Malka noticing
(“Ouch, Malka! That wasn’t a good idea. You’re just getting yourself even deeper into trouble.”)

Kubwa:
looks at Malka in a similar mischievous way as Simba did to Malka shortly before
"WHAT did you just call me?"

Malka:
confused
“What now? It’s always been like this.”

Kubwa:
looks up at Simba
“Did you tell him everything?”

Simba:
nods
"I did. He's in the know."

Kubwa:
“Great. Then I can finally become big again.”
begins to concentrate

Malka:
frightened
“Become big again!?”

Kubwa looks at Malka mischievously again. Her body starts to hiss, the volume of which increases immediately. When Malka sees her slowly growing in front of his eyes, he realizes that he has embarrassed himself again.

Malka:
"No... Not again..."

Shortly afterwards, Kubwa has returned to her normal size. She is now visibly bigger than Malka and looks at him in a dominating manner.

Kubwa:
"If I were you, I would choose my words more wisely, my dear. As thanks for allowing Simba to take me as his queen, he gave me Kiburi's supernatural powers so that I could free myself from my dwarfism. Since then, I have a new, normal size, as you can see. If you had listened to Simba properly, you would have figured it out yourself. And I have overheard the part about still being a cub from earlier."

Simba:
grins
“I wouldn’t want to be in your skin right now, Malka.”

Malka:
extremely embarrassed
"Sorry... I didn't mean to offend you... Nothing can shock me anymore."

Kubwa:
"It's okay. Not even the thought that you'll soon be able to do the same things as us?"

Malka:
“I can hardly wait for that.”

Kubwa:
“I know that feeling.”

Simba:
“Then let’s get going right away.”

Bahati comes into the cave. He looks around as if he is looking for someone.

Bahati:
"Sorry to bother you, but have you seen Kopa by any chance?"

Kubwa:
"No. He hasn't been here since he brought Malka here."

Bahati:
sighs
"Then he got away from me again..."

Simba laughs.

Bahati:
looks up at Simba
"Leave our cave in one piece!"

Simba:
"I'll be careful."

Bahati:
"Unlike me..."

Simba:
“But, no.”

Bahati:
“How can I ever have cubs of my own when I can’t even look after my nephew and am not much better as a guard?”

Kubwa:
"Oh, Bahati, we with our supernatural powers are the great exception. This will never happen to you with anyone else. You are an excellent guard. We trust you completely."

Simba:
"That's quite a compliment, Bahati. And as for Kopa: you'll find him again. We were just about to leave for Rafiki's lab. We'll keep an eye out for him together on the way there."

Bahati:
"That's nice of you..."

Simba:
"Wait for me. I'll be ready in a minute."

Simba begins to shrink. This amazes Malka again. When Bahati turns around and is about to leave the cave, Malka takes the opportunity.

Malka:
"Bahati?"

Bahati:
“Yes, Malka?”

Malka:
“Do you also have Kiburi’s powers?”

Bahati:
“Of course. What Simba can do, I can do too.”

Malka:
"I suspected it..."

Bahati:
“That doesn’t surprise you, does it?”

Malka:
"Not at all. After embarrassing myself twice without knowing what was happening, I'd rather ask you before it happens to me a third time."

Bahati:
"I understand that well. But you won't regret joining us. Once you have supernatural powers yourself, you will feel more powerful than ever and never want to be separated from them again."

Malka:
"I will."

Bahati:
"Every time I'm a giant and walk through the land, I enjoy the way the ground shakes underneath me. This is what it feels like to be powerful."

Malka:
"Oh yes, that deters enemies. I'd be crazy to decline."

Simba joins them. He has shrunk back to his normal size in the meantime.

Simba:
"Now, I'm ready. You too, Malka?"

Malka:
"Simba, there are now five lions with Kiburi's powers. Who else?"

Simba:
"As of now, only our mother Sarabi. As soon as they are yours, we will do the same with Kopa as a reward for his safe conduct. But then it will really be everyone."

Malka:
"That's reassuring. Well then, I'm ready."

Simba:
"Let's go."

Bahati:
"Yes."

Kubwa:
"Let's go."

All four leave the cave together. They carefully walk down Pride Rock and then through the tall grass towards Rafiki's laboratory. On the way there, Bahati can't shake the thought that he has lost sight of Kopa again. He hangs his head, which doesn't go unnoticed by Simba.

Simba:
“Bahati, what is it?”

Bahati:
"It's my own fault..."

Simba:
"Because of what?"

Bahati:
“That Kopa is gone again...”

Simba:
"You will find him."

Bahati:
"I shouldn't have let him persuade me to play hide and seek with him so often... Over the years he has perfected it... And now we've reached the point where I can't find him anymore..."

Simba:
"Don't worry. We know Kopa. Nothing will happen to him. Especially not once he has Kiburi's powers."

Bahati:
"Do you really want to do that...?"

Simba:
"Bahati. Kopa managed to guide Malka safely to Pride Rock all by himself. He is ready for it. Dad confirmed it to us."

Malka:
“Apart from Kiburi, I would say he can handle any opponent.”

Simba:
“There you hear it.”

Bahati:
"Very well... But please do me a favor, Simba... As his father, you have more influence on him than I do... Please tell him that the next time he hides, he should under no circumstances think about shrinking to the size of an ant..."

The others laugh.

Bahati:
"You're laughing about it! This way I'll never find him! The way Kubwa made a fool out of me earlier, alarms me accordingly!"

Kubwa:
"Oh, don't worry. Kopa will be reasonable enough to give you a chance to let you find him."

Bahati:
“And you’re absolutely sure about that…?”

Kubwa:
"Hello? Apparently I know my son better than you know your nephew."

Bahati:
"Yes, unfortunately that is true..."

Simba:
"I'm telling him so you'll feel better, brother-heart."

Bahati:
"That's what I wanted to hear. Thank you, Simba."

They leave the tall grass and arrive at Rafiki's lab.

Simba:
"Now, we'll proceed as follows: I'll climb up to the storage room with Malka and give him the potion. Bahati, you and Kubwa will continue to look for Kopa."

Bahati:
"I've looked everywhere. I couldn't even find him at the watering hole, even though I had the feeling he was there."

Simba:
"Obviously not yet, otherwise you would have already found Kopa."

Bahati:
"By the time I reach a possible hiding place, he could already be somewhere entirely else. That's exactly what makes it so difficult."

Simba:
“Have you really looked everywhere?”

Bahati:
"Simba..., please..."

Simba:
"I see... Then I'll give you a tip. It's easier to look for Kopa where you think he's most likely to be. Because if he and Vitani haven't found the most beautiful one yet, it's quite possible that they're looking for it right now."

Bahati thinks about Simba's words. What does his big brother mean by that? Then he comes up with the solution to the riddle and puts a paw to his head.

Bahati:
("Of course! The butterfly bush has started blooming again! Kopa and Vitani like butterflies! They look at them!")

Simba:
“Do you have an idea?”

Bahati:
"Yes, the butterfly bush. I could have thought of that myself."
snuggles up to Simba
“Aw, Simba… Who would I be without you?”

Simba:
hugs Bahati
“Without me, you wouldn’t be the most lovable uncle in the world.”

Malka:
to Kubwa
"Now look at these two. That's true sibling love."

Kubwa:
giggles
"At first, it didn't seem like it. I remember exactly how Simba reacted when Mufasa and Sarabi told him that he was going to be a big brother. While I was happy for him, Simba didn't know how to react. He stared at the two of them as if to say: 'Siblings? ME? Are you crazy?'"

Malka laughs.

Kubwa:
"But over the next few months, things changed quickly. The further Sarabi's pregnancy progressed, the less Simba could wait. The climax came when Bahati was born. You should have seen it. Simba cried with joy when they saw each other for the first time. Sarabi even put Bahati in his paws. When Simba put his head close to him, Bahati licked his face. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. From that day on, Bahati was completely infatuated with his big brother, which Simba gratefully reciprocated. The two of them built an indestructible bond. For them, life without each other has become unthinkable, much to Mufasa's delight."

Malka:
"Mufasa no longer needs to worry about the past repeating itself. I think that's out of the question."

Simba:
releases the embrace
"You told Malka that nicely, Kubwa. So then: We'll proceed as discussed. Afterwards we'll meet here again."

Chapter Text

Kubwa:
"Come on, Bahati, I'll help you. The two of us will find Kopa for sure."

Bahati:
"That's nice of you... Thank you..."

Kubwa grows and becomes as big as Rafiki's tree. When Bahati sees this, he does the same. Then they walk away. Malka still can't believe what is happening in front of him.

Simba:
“Good luck, you two! And remember my words, Bahati!”

Simba and Malka briefly watch Kubwa and Bahati. Then Simba turns to Malka.

Simba:
"And...? Excited?"

Malka:
trembles a little
"Oh yes, I am... If everything I have experienced up to this point was supposed to be a surprise, then you have more than succeeded... At times I was a little scared... Especially because of Kubwa..."

Simba:
"I understand that well. Kiburi's powers have given her so much self-confidence that she is often carried away by demonstrations of power. That is understandable given her difficult past. Nevertheless, I have had to slow her down on several occasions. One morning I was standing with Bahati on Pride Rock to awaken the Pride Lands with our roar, as we do every morning at sunrise. We had just finished that when we were met with a scream that sounded more like a scream of joy. Surprised, we looked ahead and saw Kubwa in her giant form standing in the middle of the Pride Lands growing bigger and bigger. She also shouted: 'Yes, even bigger!', so loudly that the whole land could hear her. 'Kubwa!!! Don't overdo it!!!' I shouted back, but she was already too big to hear me and kept growing. We could only watch her."

Malka:
hangs his head
“Thank you, I don’t want to know any more...”

Simba:
"There is nothing more. The next moment, Bahati and I were frightened and we bumped into each other. We looked at each other in confusion. Suddenly we were no longer standing on Pride Rock, but lying on a rock near the watering hole. Then everything became clear to us. We both had the same dream and were torn from our nap by it."

Malka:
“Well, that went well again… Now then, where do we proceed? Here, at this tree?”

Simba:
points up to Rafiki's lab
“We proceed up there in Rafiki’s lab.”

Malka:
"Up there? How are we supposed to get there?"

Simba:
"Follow me."

Simba and Malka go to the other side of the tree. There are the depressions in the trunk that are needed for climbing.

Simba:
“This way up.”

Malka:
looks at the depressions
"Oh, yes. I know these depressions from before. I can get up there. No problem."

Simba:
"Very good. Follow me."

Simba climbs up the trunk using the depressions. Malka follows him. Once at the top, they walk to the left to the middle of the storage room.

Simba:
"Wait here. I'll get you your potion."

Malka:
overwhelmed by the sight of the storage
"What a big storage... with so many potions... Only a true master can do that..."

Simba:
has already disappeared behind the shelves
“His awards speak for themselves.”

Malka:
"Yes... He has really earned them... And one of these potions is for me...?"

Simba doesn't answer.

Malka:
“Simba?”

Malka hears Simba walking back to him. He is carrying a vessel in his mouth.

Malka:
"Oh, I see. You couldn't answer."

Simba:
nods
"Nnn hnng."

He places the vessel on the floor in front of Malka.

Simba:
"That is it."

Malka:
"Oh... It changes its color. First green, then yellow, then green again... I've never seen anything like that before. How does it work?"

Simba:
“Only Rafiki himself knows.”

Malka:
eyes the potion suspiciously
"Hmmm..."

Simba:
"What is it, Malka? Is there something wrong with the potion?"

Malka:
"Simba... I don't want to look like a coward... but what will happen after I drink the potion?"

Simba:
"Not much. You will feel a pleasant warmth that spreads from your stomach to your whole body. It will last for a few minutes. When it disappears, you have done it. Then you have Kiburi's powers."

Malka:
“I’m relieved… I expected worse.”

Simba:
"I understand that you are worried. When I was in your current situation, we were still cubs. I hadn't thought about what could happen at all. But when I think about it now, I have to say that it was careless of Mufasa."

Malka:
"In what way?"

Simba:
"Well, I was just a cub and no one had thought about possible side effects. The potion could have blocked my natural physical development and I would have remained a cub forever."

Malka:
“Aren’t you exaggerating a bit?”

Simba:
"Maybe, but it wasn't impossible."

Malka:
“That’s true, but who doesn’t want to be a cubs forever?”

Simba:
"The two of us, for example. Then we wouldn't be kings today. And how would we have explained to Bahati that such a small boy is his big brother?"

Malka:
"Oh... I didn't think of that. Yes, that would have been difficult. I'd rather be an adult, then."

Simba:
"Me too. But you can rest assured. There are no side effects. You just get supernatural powers and that's it."

Malka:
"How do you actually control these powers? It looks so easy for you. Is it?"

Simba:
"That brings us to the next topic. That depends on how well you can handle your thoughts."

Malka:
"Ah, mind control."

Simba:
"Right. I have to practice that with you first. I don't want another accident to happen here."

Malka:
“Did something go wrong back then?”

Simba:
"Not me, but my mother. She grew so fast in this room that she rammed a big hole in the ceiling with her head."
points to the ceiling above Malka
"You're sitting right underneath it. It's been repaired a long time ago, but you can still see where it was."

Malka looks up and discovers the spot mentioned. The hole is closed from below with a large square board.

Malka:
“Oh yes… Okay, I’ll be careful.”

Simba:
“Very good… Do you remember the stories of Alice in Wonderland?”

Malka:
“Kiburi once told it to us. Yes, an exciting story.”

Simba:
"Go to the place with the white rabbit's house. That's what you need now."

Malka:
"I only remember a part of it... In the house, Alice eats a cookie and grows so big that she can no longer leave it."

Simba:
"That's all you need. Now close your eyes and concentrate."

Malka:
"Good..."
closes his eyes and concentrates
"...And now?"

Simba:
"Imagine that you are in Alice's place. You are standing in the house and you have already eaten the cookie."

Malka:
imagines the scene
"...I'm standing in the room now... What's next...?"

Simba:
"You're slowly getting bigger..."

Malka:
"...Yes, the room seems to be getting smaller... I'm getting bigger..."

Simba:
"Try to grow faster..."

Malka:
"...It works... I grow faster..."
flinches
"...Ouch, I'm hitting the ceiling... And I keep growing..."

Simba:
"Try to stop growing..."

Malka:
"...It worked... I'm not growing anymore..."

Simba:
"Very good... If you already had supernatural powers, you would have grown in reality too."

Malka:
"...That sounds good, but I would like to get out of this tightment now."

Simba:
"No problem. Just imagine yourself getting smaller again."

Malka:
"...It works... I'm shrinking... Alice couldn't do that..."

Simba:
"Indeed. She didn't have any supernatural powers."

Malka:
"...I'm back to my normal size now... Or am I not...?"

Simba:
"With supernatural powers, you will no longer have a normal size. Then you can be as big as you want."

Malka:
"...Yes, that's right... ...Then I'll get a little bigger again..."

Simba:
“Did it work?”

Malka:
"...Yes, I'm bigger again..."

Simba:
"That's it. You're ready."

Malka:
opens his eyes
“I thought it would be more difficult.”

Simba:
“Once you get the hang of it, it’s no longer a problem.”
looks at the potion and then back at Malka
"Are you ready?"

Malka:
"More than ever. I just can't get the thought of Kiburi's blood out of my head..."

Simba:
"Malka, you have to ignore that now. It tastes like banana and gaballo fruit. Nothing more."

Malka:
"Yes, well... I'll do it..."

Simba:
“Then we will take action now.”

Simba holds the vessel with his paws. He bites into the cork, carefully pulls it out and puts it on the ground.

Simba:
"Here you go. This is for you."

Malka:
seems thoughtful
"This is a priceless gift, Simba... How will I ever be able to thank you for this...?"

Simba:
“First of all, let’s make sure we never lose sight of each other again.”

They both giggle.

Simba:
"I will help you convince even the last doubter of our alliance. We will strengthen it to infinity and be there for each other whenever there are difficulties. In this way, together with Kubwa, we will remain kings for all eternity."

Malka:
"Agreed. I will do everything in my power to make it happen. But to be king forever... crazy... the idea alone sounds overwhelming..."

Simba:
“You will have all the time in the world to realize this.”

Malka:
"Exactly... So I won't waste any more time and will accept your gift."

Simba:
“Good, but hold the vessel tightly.”

Malka:
"I'll be careful."

Malka sits down and carefully takes the vessel in his paws. When he has found the right position, he looks at Simba again.

Malka:
"Here we go."

Simba:
grins
"Cheers."

Malka carefully brings the vessel to his mouth and puts it around the neck of the vessel. He slowly lifts it and takes a first sip. You can see that he really enjoys the potion and he swallows it immediately.

Malka:
"Hey, you're right. It tastes like banana. I like bananas. I can't say no to that."

Simba:
“I told you so.”

Malka is so excited about the taste that he drinks the rest of the potion in one go. He then carefully puts the vessel back on the ground. He obviously enjoyed it.

Malka:
"Simply delicious. I have never drunk anything so tasty. It actually tasted of banana and gaballo fruit."

Simba:
"Even I am always amazed that Rafiki can make such delicious things."

Malka:
"I would have never thought that even as juice bananas could taste... so... delicious..."

Simba:
"What is it?"

Malka:
"It's starting... The warmth is coming... In the stomach..."

Simba:
"Very good. Just sit still and let it spread out."

Malka:
"It's already doing that... My torso... My legs... My head... My tail... Now it's got me completely... Oooohhhh... that feels good..."

Simba:
"I know how you feel. I'm going to be quiet now so you can enjoy it. Let me know when the warmth goes away."

Malka:
"Okay, I'll do it..."

Malka closes his eyes. You can see that he is more than enjoying the warmth. Simba sits next to him and watches him. It reminds him of the moment many years ago when he received supernatural powers himself. A few minutes pass until Malka's warmth subsides and finally fades away. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at Simba.

Malka:
"It's over... The warmth is gone..."

Simba:
"Welcome to the club, Malka. Now you have supernatural powers too."

Malka:
"It was an indescribable feeling. As if I was being reborn."

Simba:
“And how do you feel now?”

Malka:
“Well… now I don’t feel any difference.”

Simba:
"Give me one of your paws. Then I'll show you one."

Malka offers Simba his left paw. Simba takes it and bites into it with all his strength. Malka flinches.

Malka:
“What was THAT for?”

Simba:
"Don't you see? You should have roared, the way I bit you."

Malka:
"I didn't feel a thing."

Simba:
“And my bite would have definitely left a mark.”

Malka:
looks at his paw
"Nothing. Not a scratch."

Simba:
"See. These are your supernatural powers. You are invulnerable now."

Malka:
still looking at his paw
“Crazy… I’ve never felt so strong before…”

Simba:
"You will feel much stronger once you change your size for the first time."

Malka:
“Right, I can do that now too.”

Simba:
"Come over here."

Simba leads Malka to the wall-high mirror. Malka looks at Simba and then at himself.

Malka:
“Well, you can’t tell that we have supernatural powers.”

Simba:
"Exactly. That's our biggest advantage. If you repeat what we just practiced, you can see yourself growing here."

Malka:
“Oh yes, I would like to see that.”

Simba:
"Then concentrate."

Malka:
"Yes…"

Malka concentrates. He takes Alice's place in the white rabbit's house again.

Malka:
"I'm back in the house now..."

Simba:
"Now let yourself grow slowly. I emphasize: SLOWLY."

Malka:
"Very carefully..."

Malka follows Simba and lets himself grow slowly in his mind. A quiet hissing sound fills the room.

Simba:
"Do you hear that? It's coming from you now."

Malka:
"Yes, I hear it..."

Simba:
“Now increase the pace very slowly.”

Malka makes himself grow faster in his mind. Gradually the hissing becomes louder and Malka begins to grow. Malka is overwhelmed when he sees his reflection slowly getting bigger.

Malka:
"Simba, it works! I'm getting bigger!"

Simba:
"As it should be. Carefully continue growing up to the ceiling."

Malka:
"Amazing!"

Malka increases the pace and grows a little faster. His reflection follows. Malka is overwhelmed.

Malka:
“This is too good to be true! May I get even bigger?!”

Simba:
“Feel free to grow up to the ceiling, as long as you don’t break through it.”

Malka continues to grow at the same pace and gets closer and closer to the ceiling. When he touches it with his head, he stops growing. He looks at his reflection in the mirror and can hardly believe it.

Malka:
“Man, am I big!”
looks down at Simba with a smile
“This is absolutely crazy, Simba! Now YOU are so small!”

Simba:
"That's not surprising. So, how are you feeling?"

Malka:
"As big and strong as never before."

Simba:
"I know that well. That's how I felt when I faced Kovu, and he was the one with no chance."
sees that Malka begins to shrink
"Hey, you're shrinking."

Malka:
“It’s a bit too cramped up here for me.”

Malka shrinks so much that his head no longer touches the ceiling.

Malka:
“But still I enjoy being able to continue being a giant.”

Simba:
"You shrunk without my help. Great. Wait, I'll come up to you."

Simba concentrates and grows to Malka's size. When he's finished, Malka falls into his arms.

Malka:
"Simba..., I am eternally grateful to you... I will do everything so that we can remain kings forever..."

Simba:
hugs Malka too
"And to make sure we'll never lose sight of each other again, no matter what happens, Malka... I never want to have to live without you again..."

Malka:
"I'll watch out..."

Simba and Malka hold their embrace and rub their heads together, purring. Suddenly Malka licks his cheek. Simba looks questioningly at Malka. Malka smiles back.

Malka:
"Simba..., I have to tell you something..."

Simba:
"Yes?"

Malka:
"I cannot imagine how my life would have turned out if we had not met by chance... Since I have known you, it has only changed for the better... You taught me how to keep my bearings... Since then, I have never lost them once... You were my savior in times of need when I was about to leave the Sunlands to themselves a year ago... It was unfortunate that my parents separated us for so long... But without your precious help from our cubhood, I would never have been able to hold out for so long... Now our kingdoms are united... And now you have granted one of my greatest wishes... You are right, Simba... I also never want to have to live without you again... You simply mean far too much to me for that..."

Simba:
“I really appreciate that, Malka… But it almost never got this far because of me...”

Malka:
astonished
"What do you mean?"

Simba:
"Malka..., since you are so open minded with me..., I have to confess something to you... When we first met and... the way you threw yourself at Kubwa..., you were immediately out of favor with me. Your actions with the hyenas did the rest. If the search for your pride had been unsuccessful, our parents would have taken you in and declared you my new brother. I categorically ruled that out at the time. I thought you were a suck-up... a show-off... I already saw my future as king in danger..., so I tried to get rid of you... That's why I left you alone in the gorge, hoping that you wouldn't find us again..."

Malka:
a little shocked
"That surprises me, Simba... It couldn't be noticed on you."

Simba:
"Yes, I never forgot that. But when you called me back and revealed your true character to me, you were like a complete different lion to me. That was the first time I realized that we would become something really big. And we literally achieved that in this moment... Malka... if I should have hurt you in any way back then... then I'm very sorry... I would have never had such a stupid idea if I had known better from the start... Can you forgive me...?"

Malka:
"You are very sincere, Simba. Of course I forgive you. With so much good that you have done for me since then, I simply have to. But, you know...: If anyone is sorry, it is me. I never meant to unsettle you with my behavior back then. But all's well that ends well: We have found each other again and will now walk the same path together forever. So let's put this behind us."

Simba:
“Thank you, Malka… You are a true friend...”

Simba also licks Malka's cheek. They continue to hug each other until they hear Kubwa calling from below.

Kubwa:
"Simba! Bahati is back! He found Kopa!"

Simba:
"I'm coming!"

Malka:
"HE's back? Kubwa wanted to help him."

Simba:
"Maybe he changed his mind. If that's the case, he's definitely improved. Then he's come a lot closer to fatherhood again."

Simba and Malka break their embrace, whereupon Simba shrinks back to his normal size. Malka follows his friend.

Simba:
"Well done. Now you've got it. You can stay here and join in if you want."

Malka:
"Gladly."

Simba:
"Good. We'll surprise him. I'll go downstairs and get him up. In the meantime, you'll make yourself big again. As big as we were until just now."

Malka:
"Will do."

Simba:
“Can you grow without my help?”

Malka:
"Of course. Now I can do that."

Simba:
"And come up with a good excuse for Kopa, just like Kiburi did for you? He'll definitely react to your size."

Malka:
“I already have it ready.”

Simba:
"Very good. I'll get him now."

Malka:
“Simba, could you please tell Bahati that I would like to talk to him as soon as the opportunity arises?”

Simba:
“No problem. I’ll pass it on.”

Simba leaves the storage room and waits for Kopa at the depressions in the trunk. Malka can still see the vessel in front of him. He puts his paws next to it and looks at them briefly. Then he concentrates and starts to grow again. He is already more confident and is growing quickly. Shortly afterwards his head is almost under the ceiling again. He looks at himself in the mirror.

Malka:
"Madness..."
looks at the vessel again, which he wants to take in his paws, but they are too big for that
"Man, have I huge paws... That's right, Simba... I feel so strong, like I could literally tear down trees..."

Malka listens to Simba welcoming Kopa next door.

Simba:
"It's good to have you back, Kopa. You're keeping your uncle very busy. He was already worried about you."

Kopa:
“This time he seemed quite relaxed.”

Simba:
"I gave him the tip that you could hang out at the butterfly bush."

Kopa:
"And that's exactly where I was. I was chasing one of the many butterflies with Vitani. I almost caught one, but Uncle Bahati was lying in my way and I tripped over him and fell."

Simba:
“Ouch… Were you hurt?”

Kopa:
"Fortunately not. Only my pride was damaged afterwards."

Simba:
“I understand that. Did you two at least manage to catch your butterfly?”

Kopa:
“Yes, Vitani immediately gave chase and successfully caught him.”

Simba:
"That's nice. Maybe I can give you back your pride after I have revealed the secret of your reward."

Kopa:
"I'm still looking forward to it."

Bahati calls from below.

Bahati:
"SIMBA!?"

Simba:
looks down expectantly
"Yes?"

Bahati:
“Can you please come down for a minute?”

Simba:
nods, then to Kopa
"Go ahead. I'll be right there."

Kopa:
"Yes."

While Simba climbs down the tree's trunk via the depressions, Kopa goes into the storage room. When he arrives, he is very frightened when he sees Malka sitting there in front of him in his giant form.

Kopa:
"Aaah!!!"

Malka:
"Surprise!"
("...which I have now revealed...")

Kopa:
"You scared me!"

Malka:
"Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Kopa:
“Why are you so big all out of a sudden?”

Malka:
"This..., um..., is a gift from your father."

Kopa:
"What did he do to you?"

Malka:
"It has always been my wish to be bigger. Your father granted it by letting me taste a very delicious drink. I have never tasted anything so delicious in my entire life. The next thing I saw in the mirror was how I was getting bigger and bigger. Now I am just as big as I always wanted to be. And I feel so strong, I feel like I could tear down trees."

Kopa:
looks worried
"I'm happy for you... But how do you plan to get out of here...?"

Malka:
looks around embarrassed
(“Uh… The question is legitimate...”)
"Oh... I guess we both didn't think about that..."

Kopa:
"Well... I don't have to understand why Dad didn't do this with you outside. Look at yourself: you've grown up to the ceiling. You can hardly move around here without damaging something. But I'll help you, no question. Surely Rafiki has a potion here that can reverse your growth spurt."

Kopa wants to look around the storage room, but Malka stops him just in time.

Malka:
("For heaven's sake!")
"Kopa! No, wait! That's not necessary. Your father will explain it to you right away."

Kopa:
looks mischievously at Malka
“Well, I’m curious to hear THAT explanation.”

Malka:
embarrassed look
(“Hopefully Simba will come soon…”)

Just as Malka tries to distract Kopa even further, he hears Simba climbing up the tree's trunk.

Malka:
“There he comes.”
breathes out a sigh of relief
(“Phew, that was close… I couldn’t have held Kopa off any longer...”)