Episode 36:
Ono the Tickbird
“This way everyone!” Ono lead everyone through a field of wrecked trees with a rhino grunting heard from a distance.
“Oh my.” Fluttershy gasped.
“What a mess!” Beshte remarked.
“The rhino's headed for the baboons' tree!” Ono also reported.
“Then we better get there first.” Kion stated.
“On it.” Both Rainbow and Fuli quickly rushed over to the scene but not before coming across and being run over by the family of baboons.
“What just happened?” Fuli asked completely dumbfounded.
“Hapana! We're too late!” Ono exclaimed upon seeing the whole family has fled from their now former home.
“Un-Bunga-lievable! It's raining baboons!” Bunga commented on the sight.
“Good thing I brought my umbrella.” Pinkie cheerfully held up said item to shield the Guard from the family running by them.
“Not exactly. Look!” Ono directed their attention to the rhino with his horn stuck in the tree.
“Hey! That's Kifaru! But he's a nice rhino.” Beshte pointed out and recognized.
“But why is he smashin' into things?” Applejack then asked. “Especially other’s homes like that?”
“I dunno, Beshte.“ Kion answered just as confused as everyone else before nearly dodging another baboon. “But we've got to stop him before he really hurts somebody. Come on!”
He led the team towards the rhino with Bunga sticking back.
“Hey, you know, we could just catch the baboons...” Bunga tried to point out another option before landing flat on his back because of the result of catching one.
“... Or maybe not.” Kyoga quipped before she and Bunga race to catch up with their friends.
“Kifaru! Stop shaking that tree!” Kion ordered of him.
“Don't yell at me.” Kigaru irritably returned. “I didn't put the tree here!”
“Hey, Kifaru? What's the kerbubble?”
“How are you doing?”
Both Beshte and Fluttershy greeted.
“Oh, Beshte. Fluttershy. It's you.” He gently greeted with his tone now softening up. “I'm kinda stuck.”
“Don't worry. Everything's gonna be okay.” Fluttershy just as gently assured him.
“The Lion and Pony Guard's here now.” Beshte added.
“We'll get you loose, Kifaru.” Twilight said. “Then you can tell us what happened.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful.” Kifaru responded very pleased for their assistance before Kion starts giving his team insturctions.
“Beshte, Applejack, you two push the tree that way. Fuli, Pinkie, Bunga, Kyoga, Twilight and I will move Kifaru the other way. Ono, Fluttershy, Rarity you three, watch his horn but don't get too close.”
“Of course.”
“You don't have to tell me twice.”
Both Rarity and Ono took his instructions to heart immediately while watching out for the horn’s sharpness.
“Everybody ready?” Twilight asked of everyone. “Now, go!”
Everyone all grunted as they all moved to push him back and free him from the tree.
“Okay, doing great... So close... Yes!” Ono guided everyone until they successfully removed his horn from the hole in the tree.
“Thank you! You don't know how it felt to be stuck like that!” Kifaru expressed his grateful relief to the group.
“We kinda do!” Bunga squeaked out in pain due to he and Pinkie being sat on by the rhino.
“Oh. Sorry, Bunga. You too, Pinkie Pie.” He apologized with the pink mare wobbling away with stars floating over her head.
“And I thought your pointy end was the dangerous one.” Bunga commented.
“Yet it we were looking at it from the wrong end.” Pinkie commented while stumbling in her footing before falling on her back still jumbled in her mind.
“So what's going on, Kifaru? Why're you causing so much trouble?” Kion asked of him.
“What trouble?”
“For starters, you shook the baboons out of their tree.” Twilight pointed out to the tree they had to free him from.
“So that's what they were shouting about...” He realized.
“Not to mention knocking down a whole bunch of trees before that.” Ono pointed out to the damage he caused.
“Oh... I thought it was odd that so many trees were growing on the path to Lake Matope.” Kifaru further realized upon walking around unaware that he is nearly poking and stabbing the others with his horn.
“Hey! Look out!” Bunga quickly alerted.
“Easy there partner.” Applejack also warned.
“Oh, sorry!” Kifaru sincerely apologized.
“Whoa!”
“Watch where you point that thing!”
Both Rainbow and Fuli quickly alerted while nearly dodging his horn.
“Sorry! Sorry!” The rhino apologized again. “I better be on my way.” He moved to head out yet seems unaware of his surroundings while approaching another tree.
“He's going to run into another tree.” Beshte spoke in alarm.
“It's like he doesn't know it's there.” Kion added confused of why.
“That’s because he doesn’t” Fluttershy gasped along with Ono realizing why.
“He doesn't have his tickbird!” Ono also exclaimed before he and Fluttershy quickly intercept him. “Kifaru! Stop, stop!”
“Ono? Fluttershy? What's wrong?” He asked after stopping himself.
“You tell me.” Ono responded with a question back at him.
“What happened to your tickbird?” Fluttershy asked.
“You mean Mwenzi? Kifaru returned knowing what they are talking about.
“That's right. Mwenzi!” Beshte recalled. “I see you guys together all the time.”
“Not anymore you won't.” He sadly replied. “He left me this morning. No reason or anything. He just flew away.”
“That explains everything!” Ono exclaimed in realization.
“It does?” Bunga questioned.
“Absolutely! Rhinos have very poor eyesight...” Ono began before being cut off by Pinkie.
“Ono! Shh! He's standing right there!” She reminded him.
“Believe me, I know all about it.” He admitted it’s not new news to him. “My eyesight's worse than most rhinos!”
“That's why rhinos partner with tickbirds.” Ono further explained. “The tickbirds ride on the rhinos and warn them about dangers that the rhinos can't see! Common knowledge, really.”
“That's awfully nice of them!” Rarity complimented. “What's in it for the tickbirds?”
“Ticks, of course.” Fluttershy answered to which both Rarity and Fuli uttered a slight groan in disgust.
“And all the other bugs they find on our backs! They eat 'em all up!” Kifaru added.
“Mmm! Sounds like a good deal to me.” Bunga said with delight in his voice.
“Oh, it is!” Kifaru agreed before singing a brief tune about his friendship with Mwenzi.
Start at 0:25
Stop at 0:50
“So you didn't mean to cause all that there trouble.” Applejack asked. “You just couldn't see where you're going.”
“That's right. I'm really sorry. I was just trying to go to Tamasha.” The rhino apologized with regret in his voice.
“What's Tamasha?” Twilight asked.
“Every wet season, all us rhinos get together near Lake Matope. And we all spar in the mud.” Kifaru explained while speaking the last part tearfully. “It's great.”
“Sorry I asked.” Twilight apologetically returned for accidentally striking a tender chord.
“Poor guy seems awfully sad he won't get to go.” Beshte commented with pity.
“That's why we need to find Mwenzi and get him to come back.” Kion decided.
“But what if we can't find him in time to get Kifaru to Tamasha?” Fuli asked.
“I know! We find him a temporary tickbird to take him there. A tickbird like me!” Bunga proposed.
“You?” Kion asked slightly amused.
“Sure!” Bunga agreed to help Kifaru no problem. “Riding around the savannah with all the bugs I can eat? What could be better? Kifaru! Say hello to your new tickbird! Zuka Zama!”
“Bunga? But you're not a bird!” The rhino reminded him when he hops on his back.
“And no offense, but you’d make a terrible tickbird.” Kyoga backed him up there.
“Trust me! I'll getcha to Lake Matope and have a snack!” Bunga attempted to reassure the lioness who remained unconvinced.
“Okay.” She relented before whispering to Twilight. “Bet ya it wouldn’t last more than fifteen seconds."
“It’d sure wouldn’t.” Twilight agreed while the rhino accepts Bunga’s offer. “More like less than ten seconds.”
“Uh, well, bye, Kifaru! See ya, Little B!” Beshte fared them off with the honey badger snacking on the bugs on his back.
“See ya!” Bunga happily returned while Kifaru walks off ahead.
“I think Bunga's gonna do a great job guiding Kifaru.” Pinkie placed faith in him with Twilight voicing otherwise knowing along with Kyoga what is going to happen next.
“Three, two, one…” She counted down before Ono spotted an alarming sight.
“No, he's not! Kifaru! Kifaru, stop!” Ono quickly flew over and stopped him from stepping over an upcoming cliff with Fluttershy’s animal instincts kicking in and flying in front of him before he could take that one overstep off the edge.
“Huh?” Kifaru said unaware with what almost happened.
“Huh. Look at that.” Bunga casually remarked.
“Kifaru. Step back slowly.” Fluttershy gently advised.
“Uh, okay, Ono. Fluttershy.” Kifaru did as he was told.
“That's it, keep going.” Ono added still slightly alarmed that he might fall over until he was a safe distance from the edge.
“Sorry, Kirafu.” Bunga apologized. “I was having so much fun snacking, I forgot to look where we were going!”
“Oh really?” Twilight sarcastically remarked unimpressed. “And you sure did a great job of nearly leading him over and under. And I don’t mean that as a joke.”
“Wow! Kifaru really listened to you, Ono.” Kion said to Ono impressed.
“Along with you too, Fluttershy.” Twilight added equally impressed too.
“Well, you know. It's a rhino/bird thing.”
“And I too know a lot about animals.”
The two replied it’s what they do best.
“Poa! You two would be great at helping Kifaru get to Lake Matope.” Beshte recommended.
“Definitely!”
“Sounds like a very good idea to me.”
Both Fuli and Applejack immediately agreed.
“Wait. You want us to be Kifaru's tickbird?” Ono questioned in surprise by this proposal.
“You are the keenest of sight and our biggest animal expert...” Kion backed up to say it’s a great idea.
“And you are the best animal expert the Guard has to offer.” Twilight added liking the idea too.
“Which is why you need me to help find Kifaru's real tickbird!” Ono argued.
“Kion and I can track Mwenzi by scent.” Fuli assured him.
“And Twilight and I can sense out his presence with our magic.” Rarity added.
“And I know what he looks like. He's got a bright red beak.” Beshte backed them up.
“But I'm a member of the Lion Guard. I can't just sit around on some rhino's back all day!” Ono further protested this decision in contrast to Fluttershy who is accepting the decision no problem.
“You won't be just sitting around, Ono.” Kion assured his role is much bigger than he thinks it is. “By guiding Kifaru to Tamasha along with Fluttershy, you'll be protecting the Pride Lands.”
“But... But...”
“And protecting the Pride Lands and Equestria is the Lion and Pony Guard's duty.” Twilight added before approaching him for further words of encouragement. “Come on, Ono. You can do it. Do it for Kifaru.”
“All right.” Ono relented.
“Hey, Ono. You, uh, want some tips from a former tickbird?” Bunga offered.
“No he doesn’t!” Twilight firmly refused while dragging him away with her magic.
“Besides, you nearly guided him off a cliff!” Ono agreed without question just as Twilight used her magic to zip Bunga’s mouth closed before he can say anymore.
As Ono flew onto the rhino’s back resigned to his temporary job with Fluttershy flying alongside him. Fuli and Kion get a whiff of the tickbird’s scent while Twilight and Rarity got a good scan of the tickbird so they know where to look too.
“I got the scent. You?” Fuli asked the Guard’s Fiercest who sniffed the rhino too.
“Yeah.” Kion answered while turning to the unicorns. “Got a good read?”
“Yep.”
“Absolutely, darling. Even though I’m not a fan of this sort of thing.”
Both unicorns answered without question.
“Let's go find Mwenzi.” Kion told everyone while leading the way.
“See you later, Ono!”
“Take care, Fluttershy!”
Both Beshte and Rainbow called back.
“Bye.”
Both Ono and Fluttershy returned.
“It’ll be okay, Ono.” Fluttershy again assured the egret who’s still unhappy of having to do this. “It’s not forever.”
“I know.” Ono acknowledged with a sigh. “I just prefer being with the Guard is all.”
“Okay Ono. Which way to Lake Matope?” Kifaru asked.
“To the right.” Ono stoically answered moving up his right wing.
“Righty-o!” He said before doing just the opposite without realizing it.
“No! No!” Fluttershy quickly exclaimed and corrected him. “Your other right! Other right!”
“Oh, my other right!” Kifaru did just that upon realizing his near-mistake. “Why didn't you say so?” He asked Ono who groaned in response.
“This is going to be a long trip.”
Not long during their journey, the rhino started snorting and grunting which further agitated Ono even further while Fluttershy tried her hardest to put up with it.
“Everything okay, Ono, Fluttershy?” Kifaru asked.
“Yep. Everything’s fine. Just keep walking.” Fluttershy gently answered.
“Okey-dokey.” He replied while continuing to snort and grunt along the way which did little to ease Ono’s patience with him.
“Okay. We want to take the path to the right.” Ono then irritably instructed.
“Righty-o.”
But he again performs the same error and goes left instead.
“No, the other right. The other right. It's this way!” Ono shouted before he could get far.
“Okay, okay. You don't have to shout.” Kifaru returned feeling hurt by his outburst. “Mwenzi never shouted. Until... until he decided to leave.” He then turned away and started to cry to which Fluttershy shot a disapproving frown at the egret to make him apologize.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I just...” Ono moved to do so before accidentally bumping into his rear end and fell on his back. “Ow!”
“Ono? I have an itch.” Kifaru said to him.
“Okay...” He returned wondered where he is going with this.
“When rhinos have itches, their tickbirds scratch them. Mwenzi did it for me all the time.” He explained.
“I see. Okay. Where's the itch?”
“Inside my ear.”
“Of course it is.” Ono figured before flying over to scratch it. “There you go. Now...”
“You didn't get it.” He told him unsatisfied before the egret moved to fix his mistake.
“Up a little... Wait, now down just a little...” He told him with Ono starting to lose his patience again.
“Ono? How about I take over and you lead him to Lake Matope.“ Fluttershy offered before he could snap at the rhino again.
“Sounds good to me.” Ono accepted without further protest.
“That’s good. That’s good. That’s better.” Kifaru responded satisfied with the job she is doing until he belching loudly to which Fluttershy quickly turned green in the face. “Oh, excuse me.”
“Glad you’re now satisfied…” Fluttershy told him with a forced smile while placing a hoof to her mouth now feeling very queasy. “…I’ll be right back.”
Ono could only feel pity for Fluttershy when she barfs into a nearby bush. Maybe there is more than meets the eye to why Mwenzi left Kifaru.
“I hope the guard finds Mwenzi soon.” Ono muttered to himself with a sigh hoping that this doesn't last long.
“Ono, I may not see very well, but my hearing is perfect. And Mwenzi would never mutter under his breath!” Kifaru responded with fully attentive ears.
“Sorry.” He apologized again.
Meanwhile, Kion and Fuli both sniff around for Kifaru’s tickbird while the unicorns use their magic to pick up his trail and Rainbow Dash flies around looking for any signs of Mwenzi.
“I think I've seen this tree before.” Beshte commented when they passed by it.
“You have.” Fuli irritably confirmed. “We're just going around in circles. We just can't seem to get a good scent!”
“But our magic picked up his trail around here.” Twilight pointed out.
“Question is, where is he hiding?” Rarity wondered while they along with Kion and Fuli approach a tree getting good sniffs and vibes from it. “Never mind because I’ve just got a strong sense of magic from here.”
“Hey, you’re right! I think Mwenzi's been here!” Kion concluded.
“Yeah. Pretty recently too.” Fuli agreed picking up the same strong sniff.
“Maybe he's still here!” Pinkie suggested before she and Bunga climb up the tree.
“We'll check it out! Zuka Zama!” Bunga volunteered before they search the tree and re-emerged empty-handed.
“Nope!” Pinkie shook her head.
“No sign of...” Bunga began before hearing and seeing a nearby bird. “Hey, look!”
“Is that him?” Applejack asked as it flew by.
“I didn't see it!” Kion responded before it flew by them again.
“There! I saw a red beak!” Fuli spotted.
“It’s him!” Twilight confirmed.
“Big B, you know Mwenzi. Is that him?” Bunga asked while pointing in his direction to make sure they are looking at the right bird.
“I'm not sure. He flew by so fast.” Beshte answered unsure just when the bird flies by again. “Mwenzi!” He didn’t stop nor acknowledge it. “I don't know if that's not Mwenzi, or he's just ignoring me.”
“I have an idea.” Kion spoke devising a plan to get his attention to which they enacted when Mwenzi floated down to take a drink from a nearby river.
“Oh, no! I'm a lonely little rhino covered with ticks! If only I had a tickbird to help me out!” Beshte said outloud while still smiling.
“Very convincing.” Kyoga sarcastically remarked.
“At least he can do a better job than Applejack?” Twilight whispered to Kyoga.
“True.” Kyoga nodded.
“Hey!” Applejack returned slightly offended having heard that. “I could have done a better job if I tried.”
“Could you?” Kyoga asked with an unconvinced expression.
“No.” Applejack admitted true to her element.
“Don't worry, little rhino! I'll help you!” Mwenzi moved to fly onto the hippo’s back before realizing that he was tricked. “Hey! I don't have any ticks back here! What gives?”
“Hey, there, Mwenzi!” The Lion Guard’s Strongest greeted.
“Beshte? But you're not a rhino!” Mwenzi pointed out before being pounced on by Bunga.
“Ha! But you're just the tickbird we've been looking for!” Bunga told him while the rest of the Guard emerges from their hiding spots.
“Uh-uh? Lion Guard? Pony Guard? What do you all want with me?” Mwenzi demanded.
“Sorry we tricked you, Mwenzi.” Kion apologized. “But it was the only way to get you to stop and talk to us.”
“Talk about what?”
“Uh, Kifaru.” Fuli answered.
“Oh. Him.” Mwenzi responded with a tone of disgust. “What about him?”
“Well, without you, he's causing all sorts of damage.” Fuli explained.
“And by lots of damage we mean three acres of trees.” Rainbow said with emphasis.
“He really needs his tickbird.” Beshte added.
“You have to come back to him.” Kion implored of him.
“After what he did? No way!” Mwenzi immediately refused.
“What'd he do, darling? Rarity asked.
“He said you just flew off for no reason.” Applejack mentioned.
“No reason? No reason? Is that what he said? No reason?” Mwenzi responded by flying out of Bunga’s grasp now riled up from what he had just heard.
“So you're saying there was a reason?” Bunga asked.
“No, he’s saying there’s loose feathers up his beak. Yes, he saying there is a reason!” Kyoga sarcastically remarked while Mwenzi is now ticked off and flying around the Guard from what he is hearing from the rhino’s mouth.
“We were running late for Tamasha, and he blamed me! We're always late. It's always Kifaru's fault! But he always blames me! So what would you do?” He then asked Fuli and Rainbow Dash who both immediately answered with a scoff.
“I'd leave and I wouldn't look back.” Fuli sarcastically answered.
“Me too.” Rainbow immediately agreed.
“Ahem.” Twilight promptly reminded them they need to convince him to go back to Kifaru not further drive him away.
“But, uh, that doesn't mean it's what you should do.”
“Even if he pushed you around one too many times.”
They both quickly corrected themselves.
“Yeah, Mwenzi. You and Kifaru were such good friends.” Beshte added. “He seems pretty lost without you. And not just because he can't see!”
“Though he really can't see!” Bunga pointed out it’s true.
“Oh yeah! In fact, it was so bad that Bunga nearly guided Kifaru off of a cliff.” Pinkie randomly added.
“Hey!” Bunga complained. “It wasn’t that bad.” Everyone gives him the look. “Never mind. It was that bad.”
“Doesn't seem like you're doing so great either.” Kion suggested to Mwenzi. “Looked like you were just flying around aimlessly.”
“Kinda of like me under the poison joke flower effects.” Rainbow added with a light chuckle and rubbing the back of her neck upon recallin that memory.
“Well, uh, I am used to having a job to do.” Mwenzi answered.
“Looking after Kifaru, right?” Kyoga asked knowing why that might be.
“Yeah.” Mwenzi admitted.
“Just come with us and talk to him.” Twilight recommended. “Real friends work things out.”
“You really think he misses me?” Mwenzi hopefully asked.
“Of course he does.” Beshte nodded. “Look how much time you spent together. How could he not?”
“Okay.” Mwenzi complied with a sigh. “I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to him.
”
Meanwhile Kifaru has made another stop along the way so Ono could fetch him some jackalberry leaves. Something that required a long trip for him to get but was able to find them.
“Whew. Here you go!” Ono presented him his requested snack.
“What are these?” Kifaru asked as if they weren’t what he expected.
“Jackalberry leaves.” Ono reminded. “You asked for them. I had to fly halfway across the savannah to...”
“But I like the dark green jackalberry leaves.” Kifaru pointed out.
“How am I supposed to know that?” Ono correctly pointed out.
“Well, Mwenzi knows.” He answered.
“But I'm not Mwenzi!” Ono again corrected him while giving an apologetic sigh to Fluttershy before turning away from the rhino.
“Hmm, you know, Ono... I should actually thank you.” Kifaru then said after a moment of deep thinking.
“You think so?”
“For what?”
Both Ono and Fluttershy asked with the former feeling it’s long overdue.
“Yes.” Kifaru replied. ‘If you weren't so bad at being a tickbird, I'd never know how wonderful Mwenzi really was.”
“Well, you're welcome.” Ono returned before realizing the unintentional insult just as Kifaru turned away. “Wait, what?”
Kifaru then suddenly started panting and gasping for air.
“Ah! Kifaru! What's wrong?” Fluttershy immediately asked the exhausted rhino.
“All this walking's got me overheated.” He spoke in between pants before collapsing on his knees.
“Oh dear!” Fluttershy exclaimed in worry before quickly rushing off to get some water for him.
“Oh! Uh, well, the lake's not too much farther...” Ono quickly told him.
“Mwenzi always make sure I was near mud to cool off.” Kifaru recalled. “Maybe I can dig for some mud.”
“Huh. Here. Let me help.” Ono quickly offered by using his wings to fan him to help cool him off with Fluttershy joining in with a big leaf filled with water.
“There, there, feel better now.” Fluttershy asked while offering him the water in her hooves.
“Oh! Oh, this is nice!” Kifaru then said feeling much more now. “Mwenzi's so much smaller than you two. He could never do something like this for me.”
“Did you just say I was better at something than Mwenzi?” Ono asked with an amused chuckle to which Fluttershy giggled at as well.
“Oh, yeah.” Kifaru confirmed. “Little Mwenzi couldn't do this if he tried. Ono, Fluttershy, you're the best.”
“Aww, stop.” Fluttershy humbly and lightly blushed at the compliment just when the Guard arrives with Mwenzi in time to hear him say that.
“Ono and Flutterrshy are the best?” Mwenzi voiced feeling like he was just suddenly replaced. “I thought you said Kifaru was lost without me?”
“But he was! You should have seen him...” Kion quickly tried to explain which did little to calm him down.
“I do see him! And I see that he's doing just fine! Well, if that's what he wants...” Mwenzi quickly flew over to Kifaru in anger.
“Mwenzi, wait!” Twilight tried to call out to him to no avail.
“…Kifaru!”
“Huh? Mwenzi?” Ono squawked out in surprise of his sudden appearance.
“Mwenzi! You came back!” Kifaru voiced with joy to see him again, although it was short-lived with what he had to say next.
“Only to say this. Goodbye forever!”
“No!” Kifaru cried after the tickbird storming off in a huff.
“Mwenzi, wait!” Ono pleaded.
"It's not what you think!" Fluttershy also tried in vain to stop him with her words alone.
“Mwenzi!” Kifaru desperately shouted after him but he refused to fly back. “Well, Ono. Looks like you two will have to be my tickbird and flying pony from now on.” He then said to the egret which did not sit well with him.
“Mwenzi! Wait, wait! We need to talk!” Ono shouted after him before resolving to fly after him to clear up the misunderstanding since he is refusing to come back and listen.
“Ono, stop! What about Kifaru?” Kion reminded. “It's not safe to leave him alone!”
“Then you all take care of him! I'm getting that tickbird back!” Ono merely returned before flying off anyway.
“Let him go.” Kyoga advised to the Lion Guard leader before he could think of following after and stopping him from leaving. “He’s not abandoning us.”
“Hey, Kifaru!” Bunga quickly greeted while jumping onto his back. “We're back in business! Bring on the bugs!” He then sees there are no ticks to snack on. “Hey! Did Ono eat 'em all?”
“You okay, Kifaru?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, I just lost my tickbird and my backup tickbird.” Kifaru sadly voiced otherwise. “How do you think I feel?”
“It’ll be okay.” Twilight attempted to assure him. “It was just a big misunderstanding.”
“Know what'll make you feel better? Sparring with other rhinos at Tamasha!” Kion then offered in an attempt to cheer him up. “Come on, Kifaru. Let's get you to Lake Matope.”
“Oh, okay...” Kifaru returned with a small warm smile. “Thanks. Maybe Tamasha will make me feel better.”
“Yep. Just the thing to cheer you up.” Pinkie added with a big smile.
“Hop down, Bunga.” Kion told Bunga who immediately obliged before they all head on over where the other rhinos are gathered…
…only to find to Kifaru is straying off again.
“Go straight! Go straight!” Beshte quickly corrected him with Rainbow quickly intercepting him.
“Whoops. My bad.”
Elsewhere, Ono has managed to catch up to Mwenzi who retreated to a tree branch to settle on.
“Mwenzi! Mwenzi! Mwenzi! What are you doing? You can't stay here.” Ono warned him.
“You can't order me around, Ono. I'm not your rhino.” Mwenzi refused to hear him out.
“I don't have a rhino. And I'm not ordering you around. It's just not safe here.” Ono explained why he is telling him this while floating around him. “Makuu and his crocodiles hang out here. If you don't want to get eaten, you have to move!”
“Oh, yeah? Why would I listen to you?” Kifaru angrily fired back with his back turned. “You were trying to take my place!”
“I wasn't!” Ono innocently responded before perching on the branch. “And I couldn't, anyway. The whole time I was with Kifaru, all he did was complain and wish I was you.”
“That's not what it looked like to me.” Mwenzi responded still not convinced.
“I couldn't do anything right.” Ono further insisted otherwise. “Speaking of right, how do you get him to make a right turn?”
“Why should I tell you?” Mwenzi still refused to answer.
“So you couldn't get him to turn right either?” Ono assumed.
“Of course I could!” Mwenzi corrected before turning back to him. “You just make him turn three lefts!”
“Three lefts? Why didn't I think of that?” Ono suddenly realized how much sense it makes. “See, that's what makes you a great tickbird.”
“I did my best. Kifaru never was good with directions.” Mwenzi then said with his mood now lighten up a bit.
“So how do you handle the noises?” Ono then curiously asked. “You know, the...“ He added while imitating the sounds the rhino made.
“No, no, it's more like...” Mwenzi corrected with imitating snorting and grunting to which both birds shared a laugh over.
“Yes! Yes! That's it! That's totally it!”
“Yeah, he's a mess. He's kind of my mess, though.” Mwenzi recalled while singing his memories of his friendship with Kifaru.
“There's something about a tickbird and his rhino.” Mwenzi then said after remembering the good times.
Resume at 0:51
Stop at 1:15
“You miss him, don't you?” Ono figured he truly does care about him.
“Oh, he drives me crazy, but he's my best friend.” Mwenzi replied that the sentiment is vitriolic. “Does that make sense?”
“One of my best friends is a honey badger. And another is a pony who likes to throw parties most of the time.” Ono could relate with some of his crazy friends. “You should hear the noises they make.”
While both birds bond over their similarities, Makuu secretly stalks them preparing to hunt them down.
“Hmm. Lunchtime.” He said to himself before submerging underwater.
“I'm sure you two can work things out.” Ono suggested that they can press forward with their bond together while placing a comforting wing on him. “Just come back with me and talk to him.”
“You know what? I will.” Mwenzi agreed to which pleased the egret.
“Great! Let's go!”
Suddenly, Makuu used his tail to send Mwenzi flying backwards
“Ah! Ono!” He screamed after the egret.
“Hapana!” Ono gasped upon seeing Makuu readying his jaws towards the targeted bird. “Hold on!” He quickly flew over and snatched Mwenzi away from the crocodile’s jaws and back onto the tree they were standing on.
The good news, Ono saved his life. The bad news, Makuu’s razor sharp teeth injured his right wing.
“Ono, my wing! I can't fly!”
“Just stay here.” Ono advised before flying off. “I'll go get help!”
“Okay, Ono.” Mwenzi stammered while the mean and sinister crocodile evilly chuckles while looking up at the helpless flyer.
At the same time, the Guard has just managed to guide Kifaru to where all of the other rhinos are gathered.
“Hey, look, Kifaru! We're almost there!” Kion told the rhino who is still looking the wrong way.
“Really?” He asked before being corrected by Fluttershy and Beshte.
“Yes, we are here.” Fluttershy kindly answered.
“Take our word for it.” Beshte added
“About time if you ask me.” Rainbow muttered under her breath just when Ono urgently arrives on the scene.
“Everyone, everyone! Mwenzi's in trouble!” He alerted the Guard.
“Who cares about him?” Kifaru refused to acknowledge while walking away.
“Makuu's got him trapped!” Ono quickly added to which quickly changed the rhino’s attitude.
“Makuu the crocodile?” Kifaru reacted with immediate concern. “Mwenzi doesn't stand a chance! I gotta save him!”
He charged ahead to where his tickbird is, determined to find and save him, despite his poor eyesight.
“Any chance he's going the right way?” Rarity asked.
“Mwenzi! I'm coming!” Kifaru shouted in his direction while bumping into multiple trees along the way.
“Amazingly enough, he is!” Twilight answered while impressed that he is doing this all on his own.
”And we better go with him!” Kion stated while she and Twilight lead the way while following after the charging rhino. “Till the Pride Lands and Equestria’s end...”
“Lion and Pony Guard defend!”
Back at the tree where Mwenzi is on, Makuu is currently trying to knock the bird off of the tree with his tail to no avail.
“Oh, why don't you just give it up, Makuu?” Mwenzi suggested to him to point his efforts are in vain so far. “I'm not about to fall, and I'm too high for you to reach.”
“I might have a trick or two that'll surprise you.” Makuu said undeterred before submerging underwater.
After a few seconds of sudden quietness which greatly worried Mwenzi, Makuu suddenly leaped up and chomped his jaws on the tree branch, narrowly missing the tickbird before plopping back into the water. Makuu’s bite of the branch left Mwenzi cornered and hyperventilating for his life seeing that Makuu has him dead to rights now.
“You won't be so lucky next time.” He told the now panicking bird.
“There won't be a next time, Makuu!” Kifaru called out to him while attempting a charge at him.
“Kifaru? You came for me?” Mwenzi voiced greatly pleased to see him although his relief was short-lived when the rhino’s poor eyesight cuased him to crash and get his horn stuck in a dead tree.
“Nice try, rhino.” Makuu chuckled in amusement of his futile attempt. “But this does change things. It's no longer a small snack...”
By making a crocodile growling noise with his mouth in the water while he does it he summons three more crocodiles to his side so they can all take down the trapped rhino.
“A great big meal like this is gonna take more than one croc to bring down!”
“Just wait till I get loose, Makuu!” Kifaru defiantly responded while still struggling.
“No, I don't think we will.” Makuu remained unconvinced before preparing to approach him.
“Think again, Makuu!” Kion called out to him while he and the rest of the Guard arrive on the scene ready for a fight to defend their friends.
“Oh, the Lion Guard...” Makuu groaned rather annoyed with a roll of his eyes before circling and facing off against both him and Twilight. “This isn't your business, Kion. And it’s not yours either, Twilight. Back off!”
“No chance, Makuu!” Twilight nor Kion refused to back before the lion cub pounced on the crocodile with the unicorn following it up with a magical blast to the face.
One of the other crocodiles tried snipping his teeth at Ono and Fluttershy who both effortlessly dodged his attempts before the latter performed her stare on him so Ono can relentlessly peck at him into submission.
“Huwezi!“ Fuli shouted while she and Kyoga leaped over another crocodile with Rainbow quickly greeting him with a punch to the face.
“Pick on someone your own size!” Bunga taunted the two crocodiles now attempting to charge him before being greeted by the charging hippo with Pinkie backing him up with her party canon.
“Twende Kiboko!”
“See ya later alligators!”
All while this is going on, Kifaru still is stuck even with all of his hard-fought attempts to break free. Seeing this Mwenzi, quickly leaped off of the tree so he approach and help him out.
“It's okay, Kifaru! You can do it!” Mwenzi encouraged.
“Mwenzi?”
“Move your foot back and to the right!” He instructed him. “Your other right! Your other right!” He quickly corrected him when he moved his foot in the opposite direction.
“Got it!” He did as he was told.
“Now brace yourself against that rock and pull!”
Kifaru grunted while doing what he was told before finally freeing himself and knocking away a crocodile that was about to attack his friend.
“Mwenzi?” He asked thinking he hit somebody by accident. “Uh-oh! What'd I hit? Sorry!”
“No, you did great!” Mwenzi voiced otherwise with a compliment. “Keep swinging! Keep swinging!”
Kifaru followed his advice before knocking away the crocodile cowering in fear of Fluttershy’s stare before knocking away the other crocodile with his snout tied up and restrained by Applejack and Bunga.
“Un-Bunga-lievable!” Bunga remarked very impressed while Makuu now sees that they have lost this battle with the rhino now free.
“No meal's worth this. Forget it!” Makuu growled in defeat before turning away to leave.
“Too late, Makuu!” Kifaru refused to let him walk away scot-free for what he did before charging and knocking him into the river with the dead tree log along with it. “That's what you get when you mess with my best friend.”
Mwenzi reunited with his rhino friend just when the crocodile float leaves with the Guard approaching their friends.
“Great job, guys.” Kion congratulated them.
“Way to charge them away!” Rainbow added very excited from seeing him in action. “Because that was awesome!”
“Thanks. I couldn't have done it without my tickbird.” Kifaru then said giving credit to him for what he has just done.
“And I couldn't have done it without my rhino.” Mwenzi repaid in kind before sharing a brief song and nuzzle together to which Rainbow made disgusted facial expression from behind to which the others chuckled upon noticing.
Resume at 1:15 to the end
“Uh, Ono?” Kifaru said to the egret standing next to them. “I'm sorry, but you can't be my tickbird anymore. I hope you're not too upset.”
“Oh, I think I'll manage.” Ono took it in stride while completely relieved that it is no longer his responsibility to which Fluttershy giggled and patted his feathers with his response.
With their friendship now rekindled, everyone all made their way over to where the Tamasha is being held where two rhinos lock horns and wrestle with each other in the center of the mud pit while the other rhinos cheer them on.
“Yeah! Go!” Kifaru cheered for them before his tickbird quickly turned him around after whispering into his ear since he was watching with his back turned. “Hmm? Oh. Whoo-hoo! Yeah! Go!”
“Gotta tell ya, I'm surprised to see you here.” One of the tickbirds perched on the rhino next to him said to Mwenzi and recalled. “I heard you two split up!”
“Who, us?” Mwenzi asked before he and Kifaru both stated to assert that their friendship is now a cemented bond.
“Never!”
While Kifaru cheers the wrestling rhinos on, the Guard minus Fluttershy who retired for the day (mainly because she is not a pony who likes seeing other animals fight each other) watch on and witnessed the pair’s rekindled friendship along with the other rhino’s wrestling to which Rainbow took great interest in.
“Aah yeah! Come on rhino’s! Show them what you’re made of!” Rainbow cheered while pumping her hooves up.
“Looks like they're having a really great time.” Kion happily said to the others.
“Totally.” Fuli agreed with a chuckle. “I'm glad they made it here together.”
“I’m glad they both have rekindled their friendship together.” Twilight said in agreement.
“Me too.” Rarity also agreed while wearing her mud boots to avoid getting her hooves dirty.
“I’m glad you’re managing to keep your hooves clean from the dirty work.” Applejack remarked with a chuckle to which Rarity returned while a friendly shake of her head from the farm pony’s friendly teasing.
“It must be great to have a friend with you all the time.” Beshte said to his egret friend perched on his back.
“Yeah! Hey, Ono! Wanna be my tickbird?” Bunga offered while standing on all fours to which Ono laughed it off.
“I'll always be your friend, Bunga. But my tickbird days are over.” He kindly declined in response to which everyone in the Guard all shared a hearty laugh together.