Chapter Thirty-Three: Laughing Matter

The midday sun bathed Pride Rock in gold, casting warm light across the savanna and painting the stone with a gentle gleam. A soft breeze rolled through the tall grass, carrying laughter, the scent of wildflowers, and the lingering magic of a moment none of them had quite processed. Jitu had laughed. It wasn’t just a chuckle or a breathy huff. It had been full-throated, chest-shaking, thunder-rolling laughter. And the ones who had drawn it out now strutted toward the group like they had just brought rain to a drought.

Timon and Pumbaa. Their chests puffed with pride, grins plastered wide across their faces, they marched up the slope at the base of Pride Rock like heroes returning from a victorious hunt. "Well, well, well," Timon called out, arms spread in theatrical greeting. "If it isn’t the peanut gallery!" Vitani groaned, already rubbing her forehead. "Here we go…" Timon leapt onto Pumbaa’s back with a flourish. "Not just here we go—here we triumph! Behold, the unstoppable, unflappable, undeniable kings of comedy!"                                        "Yeah!" Pumbaa echoed, bouncing slightly. "We made Jitu laugh!"Kovu’s grin widened, his green eyes alight. "We were there. It was pretty great." "Great?" Timon put a paw dramatically to his chest. "Oh no, no, no. It was legendary. The great, silent, frost-touched guardian—reduced to tears of laughter! All thanks to us!"         "And me!" Pumbaa added. "We were hilarious!" Vitani narrowed her eyes. "You got lucky. Probably thought your dance was ridiculous." Timon wagged a finger at her. "Ah-ah-ah. Jealousy, darling, doesn’t suit you." 

"I am not jealous!" Vitani snapped, though the hint of color in her cheeks suggested otherwise. "I just… never saw him laugh like that before." "Because he hadn’t," Timon said, somersaulting dramatically off Pumbaa’s back. "Because you can’t make a mountain laugh with growls and glares. No, no—you need charm. Timing. Wit. And we…" He struck a heroic pose. "Are comedy royalty." "Comedy kings!" Pumbaa added, puffing out his chest proudly. Simba chuckled, leaning comfortably against Nala. "I have to admit, it was something. I’ve never seen him look that… light."

"Oh, it was more than ‘light,’" Timon insisted, spinning in a circle. "It was glorious. It was transcendent. It was the roar of joy breaking through a decade of silence!" Vitani growled softly, claws digging into the dirt. "Okay, you made him laugh. Great. So what?" Timon gasped, staggering back like he’d been mortally wounded. "So what?! So what?! Oh, poor misguided lioness. That was a miracle. A moment for the history scrolls!" Kiara laughed. "It was funny though. He sounded… normal. Happy." 

"And we did that!" Timon declared proudly. "We made the mountain shake." Pumbaa blushed bashfully. "It was kind of amazing." Vitani rose to her paws, glaring at both of them. "Anyone could do it. I just haven’t tried the right thing yet."                           "Oh-ho-ho!" Timon cackled, clapping his tiny hands. "You hear that, Pumbaa? She thinks she can top us!" "I’d love to see it!" Pumbaa grinned. "You will," Vitani growled. "And when I do, no one will remember your silly little dance."

"Oh, bold words!" Timon grinned, practically vibrating with smugness. "But until that glorious, mythical day, we remain the only ones who cracked the mountain’s mask." Simba, watching the banter unfold, tried to hide a laugh behind his paw. "Easy, Timon. I think you’ve stoked the fire enough." Timon waved him off. "Just speaking truth to royalty. And the truth is—Vitani is a fierce, fearless warrior… but as a comedian?" He made a face. "Well, let’s just say the mountain isn’t shaking." Vitani’s glare could have turned stone to sand. "You’re lucky you’re small."

"And you're lucky he hasn’t reviewed your pouncing technique again," Timon said, hopping back onto Pumbaa. As they strutted off into the golden savanna, their laughter trailing behind them like smoke from a fire, Vitani stood perfectly still, her eyes narrowed to burning embers. "Amateur?" she muttered. Kovu leaned in with a grin. "You know you just accepted a challenge, right?" Vitani’s lips curled into a fierce, determined smile. "Good. I’m going to make Jitu laugh so hard he forgets Timon even exists." Simba shook his head, chuckling. "This, is going to be fun."