Chunkuna Matata- Part 1

Growing tired of the burdens of leadership, Simba has decided to take a well-deserved vacation, not just from Pride Rock, but also from his diet. Enjoy!

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The pressures of leadership weighed on just about anyone. Simba had listened to the lessons his father had passed down to him, about all the virtues a true king should have— strength, honor, patience, wisdom, forbearance— and he was sick to the back teeth of it all. The King of the Pridelands considered himself very good at his job; the valleys that made up his domain flourished as richly as they had in the days of his father, he had expanded the kingdom and brought in a new pride of lions, he had a family with two children he was filled to bursting with pride for— but the years were starting to wear him down, and after all he had done for the Pridelands, Simba decided it was time for a long overdue vacation— thankfully, he knew just who to go see for that.

"Pumbaa! Can you believe it? Ah, look at him! Our little lion, all grown up and so… regal-looking!" Timon gushed, the meerkat standing on top of his warthog companion just to be near eye-level with Simba.

"It's like only yesterday he wandered into our side of the jungle," Pumbaa said wistfully.

"Guys, guys! Come on, we saw each other only just last week," Simba let out a small chuckle, affectionately ruffling Pumbaa and Timon's hair. 

"Well, sure, but while we usually have to come to your big rock, you've not come over to our side in a long time! And kid, lemme tell ya, there have been some changes, and I think you're gonna like 'em." Timon said, leading Simba deeper into the jungle.

"Yeah? What, you find a new termite mound?" Simba asked.

"Hardy-har-har, yet I wonder how all your high falutin' pride mates would think if they knew, back in the day, when he was just a scrawny little cub, King Simba the Great's favorite dish was ants on a log— two dozen of the big, juicy carpenter ones, too."

"Timon! Timon! Tell him about the locker!" Pumbaa insisted.

"I'm getting to it, Pumbaa, sheesh!" Timon hopped up on a large stone, covered with palm fronds— but as he kicked them away, Simba's brows bounced— it looked more like a container of sorts.

Simba tilted his head. "I… don't get it, what, you guys built a box?"

"We didn't build it, someone else did!" Pumbaa explained.

"And they filled it up… with this." Timon heaved on a handle, pulling it open and revealing a mass of meat— Simba's eyes went wide, he could see cuts of every kind— all the animals he hunted, every juicy bit he could ever hope to get.

"Oh… Oh wow." Simba looked up to Timon and Pumbaa. "Guys, where'd this even come from?"

"Hey kid, you've not been gone that long, huh? Hakuna Matata, right?"

Simba grinned, prying loose a huge rack of ribs. "It means no worries."