Yay! This time, it's not a replica of TLK! Now, the story will reveal that it has a plot! gasp! Let's get on with it!

"It's really creepy," Nala said, laughing a bit.

"Isn't it great?"

"We could get in big trouble." Nala was enjoying the pride of lying, and accomplishing something any cub would envy. Being a few years older than Simba, she was the more sassy of the two.

"I know." And just as Simba made his reply, the two heard a growling sound behind them.

"Apparently, someone here thinks we ARE trouble!" Nala said.

"Er..." Simba had never been good in these situations.

"RUN!!!!" Nala took off. Shrugging, Simba followed.

Soon, the two cubs found themselves dashing onward for their lives, hardly caring that they were straying further and further from the Pride Lands. They could see a hyena behind them, and the two terrified cubs were NOT going to get eaten, under all circumstances, said Simba. The two cubs persisted on, jaws snapping behind them, and a dark hyena face staring at them with sinister eyes. Soon, Simba and Nala came to a fork in their path.

"This way," Simba said, heading to the left.

"No. THIS way!" Nala dashed off down the right.

Not wanting to be seperated from his friend, but having all the same a terrible feeling, Simba ran after her. "Wait up for me!"

The two friends dashed on for a few minutes, until they found themselves at a dead end. "What're we gonna do?" Asked Simba.

Nala shook her head. Trembling, she said, "I don't know! We're trapped!"

The hyena was right on their heels. Simba and Nala squeezed their eyes closed as tightly as they could, and the two huddled together, quivering in fear. "Please..."

As the two prepared to feel jaws snapping against their flesh, they suddenly heard a loud snarl. Soon, not daring to open their eyes, they could hear animal snarling and fighting against animal, until the growling nearly ceased.

"I won't kill you," A mock menacing voice said.

The voice sounded only vaguely familiar to Simba, like he'd heard it once, years ago. It was a goofy, friendly-natured sounding voice, and Nala and Simba were unafraid. "That's WAY below me. But if you ever come near these cubs again, Shenzi, my sister, you won't be so lucky."

"Please Monty, have mercy... I -- don't take it personally! I was just minding business! You know we depend on Scar for food!"

"Shh..." The one called Monty said, "we don't want the little ones -- especially his daughter Nala -- to know!"

"You mean they don't KNOW?? Man, you really are thick, my brother."

There was more snarling, a snap, and whimpering. "If you are to ever harm these cubs again, I will break much more than that."

Who were these people? Neither name sounded familiar. And what about uncle Scar? Why was this 'Monty' trying to help them? Was this some kind of trick?! The two could hear rattly, painful breath in the background.

"Here, let me help," Monty said in a nasty voice.

Hearing whimpering, Simba could only guess that Monty was pulling his sister Shenzi off the ground. "Now GIT!"

There was more whimpering, and soon the two cubs could hear a hyena limping away from them. With fear, they opened their eyes. What they saw above them nearly scared them to death. There above them, was a huge hyena face; staring down at them. His tongue was lolling out and he was grinning broadly.

"Aah!" Simba backed off. "Please, don't eat me!"

"Wha...?" The hyena looked confused, "gross! I never eat lions! I mean, you know, some of my best friends were lions!"

Nala had newly found courage now. "Really?" She asked, smiling and moving closer to the hyena, "you are?"

The hyena nodded. "M' name's Monty. I'm the one who saved ya from m' sister Shenzi." He was gloating, holding his head high, with a brilliant smile on his face.

"Really?" Simba looked doubtful. "Why?"

"Why??" Monty was taken aback. "Ain't yer father ever toldja about ol' Monty?"

Simba was becoming suspicous. "No..."

"Aww..." Monty looked disapointed. "Well, ya see, back in the olden days, me and Mufasa, we used to be bestest friends. But ya see, Ahadi, the old king, didn' approve of that. Kenyou believe it? He didn't approve! Ahadi was predujiced! Er, whatever the word is. He didn' approve o' us bein' friends wit' each other!" Anger was filling Monty's eyes.

Simba could hardly believe his ears. Ahadi wouldn't let Mufasa and Monty be friends, just because Monty was a hyena? Clearly Ahadi hadn't known Monty very well, or he would never do such a thing! Would he?

"Me mom, she told me that Ahadi hated 's all. That is, b'fore she died. Ahadi that jerk jus' went up and killed 'er fer no arappent reason! Er, whatever the word is."

Simba stared in disbelief.

"Iss what dey call racism," Monty said, glumly.

Simba put his paw on Monty's, and stared into his eyes. "I'm really sorry."

"Yehh... thass alright." Monty smiled.

Simba grinned back at him. Sure, he was a rather odd companion, but as far as Simba was concerned, if he had four legs and could talk, he was a friend. "Welcome to the gang," He said. "Monty."

"Great!" Monty said, standing and nearly knocking Simba over.

"Yeah... heh heh..." Simba said. "Er... hate to break it up, Monty but uh... Nala and I, we gotta be getting back to the Pride Lands."

To Simba's surprise, Monty brightened. "Great!" He exclaimed. "Er... ken I come with ya guys?"

Nala looked at Simba. Simba looked at Nala. The two shrugged and began whispering to each other. Monty waited impatiently. "Okay," Nala finally said.