Episode 12:
The Ukumbusho Tradition
At Mizimu Grove, the elephants in the Pride Lands are all hard at work. From pulling loose leaves, pushing away old logs, sweeping up unwanted dust, and pulling aside loose branches, they really wanted to make sure this place is all tidied up for what they are preparing here.
“Careful with that branch!” Ma Tembo instructed the young elephant who plucked a few leaves off if it. “Remember, it represents peace!” She then spots a fully grown elephant bringing up more fruit to the pile they have put together. “Put the mango for the Peace Paint with the rest of the fruit.” She then feels a lot of dust of the rocks she is standing on. “And will someone please make sure that the rocks are clear of dirt?”
It was there the Lion and Pony Guard had arrived to check up on them with Rarity having equipment for a movie shooting in her saddlebag ready to help make it into a recorded film for all eyes to see.
“Quite an operation.” Ono commented.
“Totally!” Fuli agreed.
“Sure is heck of a rodeo here.” Applejack added.
“What do the elephants call this ceremony again?” Bunga asked.
Rainbow tried to pipe in with… “Kuba... Kubamusho?”
“Ukumbusho.” Kion answered. “It's a performance that celebrates the friendship between the elephants and the lions of the Pride Lands.”
“Ooh! Fascinating!” Pinkie gleefully remarked before turning to the Princess of Friendship. “You know Twilight, you should probably consider putting together a Friendship Festival of some kind together sometime soon. That way we could celebrate of how friendship has changed and combined both worlds into one big happy family!” She ended her happy ramble with another tight hug for the alicorn.
After breaking apart from the hug, Twilight replied. “I’ll give it some thought.” She said wanting to focus more on what celebration they are dealing with today though she did think to herself. “Come to think of it, it’s actually a great idea! I really should consider it.”
At that point Makini had arrived. “Scuse me, Lion and Pony Guard. Comin' through. Sorry I'm late, Ma Tembo.”
“Makini, you're here.” She kindly greeted.
“Rafiki just told me I'll be painting the elephants for the Ukumbusho. It's so exciting!”
“Yes, and we've gathered plenty of fruit for you to make the Peace Paint.”
“Really?” Applejack spoke up quite surprised herself earning herself a disapproving glance from Rarity.
“Of course, Applejack.” Ma Tembo kindly replied. “It’s part of our tradition to use the color of the fruit to use to paint ourselves for the ceremony.”
Before Applejack could speak up, Rarity quickly spoke up while placing a firm hoof over the earth pony’s chest. “And it is quite a lovely one, I never could have imagined such a divine and fruitful idea of color.”
“Thank you, Rarity.” While the elephant’s back was turned, Rarity frowned in the orange earth pony’s direction to get the silent message for her to refrain from throwing further questions about it for the time being. Though Applejack stubbornly yet reluctantly obliged she did not hesitate to frown back at her. Clearly she doesn’t understand why questioning tradition is such a big deal with all things considered since the two worlds moved to become one but it was perfectly clear that now isn’t the time or place to do so.
“Oh, thank you, Ma Tembo!” Makini happily expressed her gratitude towards Ma Tembo. “I'll get to work making the paint right now!”
While Rafiki’s apprentice moved to get to work, both Kion and Twilight moved to approach Ma Tembo to compliment her for the smooth process in taking charge to get everything all set up nicely so far.
“Looking good, Ma Tembo.”
“Everyone’s going to love it!”
Though the matriarch of the herd felt uncertain and stressed deep down. “I hope so. When I was little, we had the Ukumbusho every year. So many wonderful memories. And now that we have a new Lion Guard to play the original Lion Guard, the tradition can continue. Are you all ready for your parts?”
“Absolutely. Right, guys?”
While Kion was 100% positive about it, the rest of the Lion Guard however, wasn’t sharing the same enthusiasm. In fact, it took a few extra seconds for them to respond.
“Totally.
“Affirmative.
“Okay.”
“Excellent. You can practice over there.”
Just then Mtoto came running over to the group. “Beshte! Applejack! Guess what! Me and my mom are gonna be in the Ukumbuso performance tonight, too. She gets to be the bravest elephant and I get to be the strongest.”
“Poa!”
“Well I’ll be darn tootin! Congratulations, Mtoto!”
“And I'm sure you'll be great.”
While Twilight, Kyoga, and Rarity moved to help the Lion Guard rehearse for their parts, Applejack and Rainbow Dash moved to help with the speedy clean-up, while Pinkie and Fluttershy moved to check up Makini putting together the paint from the fruit she was provided with.
“Oh, they're all so beautiful...” Makini commented as she looked on at her choices.
Just then Zito one of the grumpier elephants came over to her in an urgent manner. “Makini, we need to get painted. Soon! The show starts at moonrise.”
“Easy, Zito. You’ll get painted soon enough. You just need to be patient while Makini gets everything all put together.”
“Yeah!” Pinkie chimed trying to put effort into getting the elephant to smile. “Give her a little more time before stepping in line.”
“Okay, okay…sorry.” Zito relented before backing off for the time being.
“Fear not, elephant!” Pinkie assured. “Pretty soon you’ll be as yellow and braver than Fluttershy!”
“Hey!”
“Oh lighten up silly filly!” Pinkie returned by patting her on the head. “We all know you’re a big girl!”
“Even though I’m a year older than you.” Fluttershy returned still feeling very annoyed on par with when she did the same thing during Gilda's party a while ago. She then smiled and dropped the subject for now before moving to talk to the young mandrill still deciding on what colors to use. “So…what you are thinking, Makini? Is everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“Except?”
“Except…” The stress over the situation was starting to sink a little. “I don’t know what color to make first. Orange? Green? Yellow?”
“Well if it helps, I don’t think it matters which color you start with.”
“Yeah!” Pinkie chimed in as she appeared suddenly by the mandrill’s side. “Just do what you do best, just go by feel, you know, go with the flow.” She added while making literal motions like she is riding a tidal wave and arms wiggling as she moved them.
Instantly, it eased her nerves as she got the idea. “Oh…” She moved to use both Twilight and Cadance’s deep breathing technique before continuing. “…Shwari. If there's no right place to start, then there's no wrong place to start.”
Twilight having watched this, smiled in approval before turning back to the Lion Guard still in their rehearsal space.
“Can't elephants and lions live together in peace?” Kion said his line in a deep voice only to turn back after a long pause. “I said... "Can't elephants and lions live together in peace?" And you say...”
“Fuli…” Rarity hushed, now wearing a director hat and sitting in a fashionable chair with a megaphone in her hooves.
“I know. I know.” Fuli moved to speak her line next though really fast on par with Pinkie Pie when she’s really super excited and talkative. “Of course, we can. We are both noble animals who believe in peace.”
“Cut!” Rarity shouted while waving her arm in the air like she is talking to someone else on set.
“Rarity, there’s no one else working here.” Kyoga pointed out while holding a video camera the former brought here.
“True, but that’s what you say when you’re not rolling a scene otherwise they’ll getting into character at the wrong time and place.” She insisted before turning back to Fuli. “And as for you darling, I think you need to be more about getting the feeling of your character.”
“Should I do it faster?”
“No, of course not.” Twilight shook her head as she moved to give her some advice she can use. “I mean just do it like you’re talking like it is you being you and not like Pinkie Pie.”
“What’s not to like about me?” Said pink pony appeared very curious of what was said behind her back.
“Nothing! You’re an excellent friend no pony could ask for.”
“I know right!” Pinkie tightly hugged Twilight once more before rushing back over with both Fluttershy and Makini.
Just then Ma Tembo approached to check up on them. “Not exactly how I remember the Ukumbusho of my youth.” She commented on what she saw so far.
“I know it seems kinda rough now...” Kion tried to explain in a positive manner…
“Which is why we're here.” A certain meerkat said upon arriving while riding on Pumbaa’s back.
“Oh, we came as soon as we heard the Ukumbusho was back on!”
“Theatrics are our specialty!”
“Nobody does drama like Timon!”
“Honestly, Ma Tembo, I don't know why you didn't ask us to help in the first place.”
“I think I know why...” She sees Rarity suddenly shaking her head against the idea just knowing exactly what these two wanted to do. “But right now, I'll take all the help I can get.” The unicorn director grunted and face-hoofed herself in response.
Feeling pleased that he is on board with the production, Timon moved to have his say towards ‘his’ actors. “All right, Lion Guard, listen up. You may be good at stopping rock slides and vicious predators. But this is serious. Do ya hear me?”
Suddenly a thought occurred to Ma Tembo. “Oh, no. I can't believe I didn't think of this.“
“Think of what, Ma Tembo?” Twilight asked.
“It's just been so long since we've had an Ukumbusho. Naturally we can't celebrate peace with the lions without the Lion Guard.”
“Lucky for you, the Lion Guard's here.” Bunga quickly assured while flexing his muscles. “And even luckier, we're an un-Bunga-lievable Lion Guard!”
But that wasn’t the point Ma Tembo was trying to make here. “Yes, well... Traditionally, the Lion Guard in the Ukumbusho has always been... Lions. Traditionally.”
With that said, the Lion Guard crew was left blank there.
“Nothing we can do about that.”
“Yeah, tradition or not. You can't make us lions.” Fuli added in agreement. “And don’t try to get Twilight to turn us into lions.” She quickly added to which the princess herself appreciated having just been spared the trouble of even thinking about how to try that kind of spell.
Just then Makini rushed over with a quick resolve. “I know. I can paint you to look like lions. It will look amazing.” She moved to place a finger in paint from yellow fruit. “Just a little paint here...”
Kion instinctively moved out of the way while kindly reminding her. “I already look like a lion.”
Makini giggled as she realized her mistake. “Oh, right. Because you are a lion.”
“Of course he is silly!” Pinkie chimed in as Makini turned to the rest of the Lion Guard.
“So, I'll make the rest of you look amazing!”
“Very well.” Ma Tembo approved. “Whatever it takes to get us closer to tradition. Just be sure you have time to paint the sunbursts on the elephants, Makini. The performance won't look right without them. This is King Simba's first Ukumbusho along with both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's so it has to be perfect.”
“Ooh! An extra special reason to want to get it perfect! Like Twilight” Pinkie piped up again.
Twilight shook her head in Pinkie’s direction before moving to turn back to Ma Tembo to back Makini up on that. “Of course, Ma Tembo. She understands.”
“And don't worry about the Lion Guard. We'll have them looking and acting like lions in no time!” Timon further assured
“You'll never know the difference.” Pumbaa added.
After Ma Tembo let them be, Rarity quickly pulled both Timon and Pumbaa aside for a quick work to make her opinion on the matter very clear to them. “Listen while I appreciate you two wanting to help, keep in mind that I was assigned to be director for this..." She said much like what Twilight would say if this were her at the Gala dealing with Discord before moving to speak with gritted teeth. “…keep it under control!”
Both Timon and Pumbaa nodded in agreement with forced smiles as her intimidating tone came across clearly to them. Though with all things considered it might come to clash at some point later on.
Sometime later, Makini is now putting on the finishing touches to her paint job on the Lion Guard while both Kion and Twilight watched on.
“So, Kion? Twilight? Pony Guard? Do they look like lions to you?” She asked.
Truthfully, their initial thoughts were more quizzical than in stunned disappointment unlike the time Rarity created dresses for her pony friend’s first Grand Galloping Gala appearance.
“Uh...”
“Well…”
Their leaders spoke up unsure of what to say without hurting Makini’s feelings.
It’s not a bad job but it’s also not great to the point Rarity could actually do a better job herself if she could. The whole Guard was painted gold yellow while wearing red tree leaves to serve as their manes and rope around the top of their heads to hold it up and in place.
“Yeah, c'mon, Kion. Twilight.” Bunga encouraged for them to respond already approving of the paint job. “Do we look great? Or really great?”
“I've definitely never seen anything like it.”
“Me neither.”
They both spoke upon breaking their brief stunned silence.
“That's what I thought. I look un-Bunga-lievable.”
“That's one way of putting it.” Ono dryly commented just when they turned to Rarity tending to Fuli’s makeover with both Timon and Pumbaa taking it upon themselves to have the honor of proudly presenting her.
“Prepare yourselves for the piece de resistance!”
They pulled the leaves aside to reveal a completely yellow-coated cheetah with an unimpressed frown. “Ta-da!”
“You see any cheetahs here, Pumbaa?”
“Not me! All I see is a lion. And what a lion!”
“I look ridiculous.” She uttered without changing her expression at all.
Timon quickly shushed her. “Shh... You're spoiling the illusion.” Then he moved to get comfortable by resting his head on her face. “Ooh. Ooh.”
Now Fuli was looking on feeling a little violated with the way he is hugging her. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry. Even as a lion, your fur is still so soft...”
Kyoga quickly pulled Timon away with her magic before forcing him to look at her so she can shake her head in disapproval at him. “Timon, we've talked about this. Never invade someone’s personal space.”
After letting Timon go, Fuli moved to express her honest opinion about her new appearance and she still isn’t enlightened by it. “Ugh! This costume is so weird!”
Beshte the only one who didn’t have a problem with it tried to encourage her otherwise. “Come on, Fuli. You look just like the rest of us.”
“Why doesn't that make me feel better?”
“You know what? You all look terrific.” Kion complimented with full sincerity. “Good work, Makini.”
Twilight also complimented. “I know you're all gonna do great at the Ukumbusho tonight.”
“Oh…” Makini realized upon seeing the sun lowering down from above. “…it's almost sunset. And I still have to paint the elephants!”
She quickly rushed off ahead so she can do so with but Twilight and Fluttershy looking at each other in understanding of what they should do before moving to follow after her to make sure she doesn’t have a meltdown because of it while the others moved to help run the area as Rarity prepares to resume being a film director (alongside Timon and Pumbaa of course).
“Makini! Wait for us!” Twilight called after her before turning back to say this before fully focusing on the young mandrill. “We’ll be back.”
In the meantime, Timon moved to take over rehearsal. “From the top, everybody. Pumbaa, you be Ma Tembo.”
“Oh, good! Let me get into character.” The comedic warthog tried to imitate the elephant’s trumpeting to no avail. “No, that's not right. Let me try again.” He proceeds to actually get it right this time.
“Beautiful, Pumbaa! Beautiful!” Timon praised his best friend before turning back to the lion prince. “Now, Kion... You say your first lines to him. And remember, looking like lions is only part of the magic. Now, we gotta get you acting like lions.”
“I know! We can go on a hunt!” Bunga eagerly suggested.
Timon quickly dismissed it. “Hunting does not a lion make.“
”How would you know?” Fuli begged to differ on that claim.
“We raised a lion.” Pumbaa proudly answered.
“Right. Trust me, we know more about lions than anyone else in the Pride Lands!”
Before they could get carried away, Rarity quickly spoke over Timon before he can get another word in by putting her hoof down and right in front of him. “Ah, no you don’t! I’ll take over from here, thank you!” Moving to turn her attention to Bunga she moved to instruct him. “Okay, now first thing’s first, Bunga you know what to do?”
“Oh, yeah. I got this!”
“And action!” Rarity shouted through her megaphone once she got seated in her special chair.
To demonstrate this Bunga moved to imitate a lion’s roar.
“That's one impressive roar.” Kion complimented while in character. “Are you new to the Pride Lands, lion?”
“Kion, it's me, Bunga.” The honey badger said while breaking script. “I must be really good at this.”
“And cut!” Rarity said while motioning her hoof while Fuli sighed sharing the unicorn’s same frustration since this rehearsal is really taking longer than it should for them to get completely settled into their roles and it is since not going well for them in the slightest.
Meanwhile, with both Twilight and Fluttershy’s assistance, Makini was able to calm down again all while painting yellow suns on the elephant’s foreheads.
“You're going to love it, Zito! This yellow sunburst is going to be so pretty...” She then started to trail off when she felt she wasn’t getting anymore paint out of the shell she has in her hands. “Just as soon as I,uh...Uh-oh.” She leaps down and realizes that she now has an empty shell.
“Everything okay, Makini?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah I just need to get some more yellow paint.” She looks down at the leftover fruit only that there isn’t anymore yellow around. “Yellow... Yellow... There's got to be something yellow.”
Now Zito was starting to demand an answer. “Makini, what's going on?”
“Well...” Makini hesitantly started before explaining just when Twilight regrouped with them. “It looks like I might have run out of yellow paint.”
“In the middle of my sunburst?”
“I did have to use a lot of yellow to make the Lion Guard look like lions.” She admitted.
“Do you have any idea how preposterous that sounds?” Zito asked now angry. “The Ukumbusho will be ruined!”
“Now hold just a minute!” Twilight moved to float up to his eye-level before it can get out of hoof.
Hearing this attracted Kion and the rest of the Pony Guard along with the elephant leader herself.
“Ruined? What's happening?”
“What's going on?”
Both Ma Tembo and Kion inquired while turning to the alicorn to explain it over the now irritable elephant.
“Nothing!” Twilight innocently insisted with a forced smile before dropping it as she explained the situation. “Expect that in the process of painting the Lion Guard, she ended up running out of yellow paint before she could get to work on the elephant’s sunbursts.”
“Do you really need a sunburst?” Applejack asked.
Zito took offense to that question. “What? You lions and ponies don't appreciate tradition at all!”
“Of course we do!” Applejack asserted while fuming back at the elephant’s aggressive response. “It was a simple question. Yes or No.”
“No! No!” Twilight moved to keep both Applejack and Zito at bay when they looked ready to tussle with each other. “That’s not what she meant! And Rainbow Dash, back off!” She quickly added just when she was about to rush over to give Zito a piece of her mind.
“I’m sure Applejack didn’t mean it like that.” Kion tried to assure the agitated elephant while taking the earth pony’s side on this.
“Kion, sunbursts represent the Circle of Life.” Mtoto’s mother gently reminded. “They're a big part of the tradition.”
“Or maybe you expect me to go out there with only half a sunburst!” Zito irritably retorted while being restrained by Twilight while Rarity moved to do the same with Applejack.
“I don't even have half a sunburst and I still have to rehearse my scene with Bunga.”
“That scene is the centerpiece of the entire Ukumbusho performance.” Ma Tembo added to stress its importance.
“Oh, no! I really have ruined everything!” Makini gasped in horror at her mistake.
“You certainly have.” Zito bluntly remarked to which had the innocent mandrill gasping full of hurt and shock.
“Zito!” Fluttershy fiercely scolded with a stare to match in his face before Twilight moved to assure everyone it’ll all work out.
“It’ll be okay. And do you know why? Because we’re going to figure this out.”
“She’s right.” Kion backed the alicorn up there. “We won't let some yellow paint ruin the Ukumbusho.”
“What do you know about...” Zito tried to challenge both leaders of the Guard before being interrupted by Ma Tembo who urged him to back down.
“Listen to them, Zito. The Guard has always come through for us.”
“What if she made more yellow paint?” Kion suggested.
“Okay...” Ma Tembo calmly accepted the idea without question. “Makini, see if you can find some more yellow fruit in the forest.” She then sees the mandrill was still not fully focused due to feeling crushed and hurt by Zito’s words. “Makini?”
She snapped to attention before rushing off. “Fruit. Got it.”
“I’ll go after her to make sure she finds it.” Twilight volunteered before turning to the Pegasus. “Come on Fluttershy! And Applejack and Rainbow Dash…” The yellow Pegasus followed after her without question while Kion moved to take control of the situation but not without the former adding in both ponies direction with a disappointed glare before they could even follow after her. She even teleported right in front of them to make sure the message is crystal clear to them. “Don’t you two think I haven’t noticed what just happened! And we will talk about this later!” She sternly stated before teleporting back to Fluttershy’s side and leading the way.
With that all settled, Kion moved to take control of the situation from here. “Okay. Good. In the meantime... Mtoto's mom, you go rehearse with Bunga. Don't worry, Ma Tembo. Everything's gonna be okay.”
Outside of Mizumu Grove, Twilight and Fluttershy managed to catch up with her as she is looking around the nearest forest for yellow with little luck.
“Nope. No. Oh! Ooh, beautiful! No. Yellow, Makini. Yellow!”
“Makini!” Twilight called out to her as she and Fluttershy approached her.
Upon hearing and seeing her she moved to calm herself down again. “Shwari...”
“Better.” Twilight then moved to check up on her. “Now, you okay?”
“Yeah…” She admitted with a sigh. “…it’s just I’d feel a lot better if I had more fruit for yellow paint. I mean you heard what Zito said.”
“Never mind what Zito said.” Twilight said while shaking her head. “He was just upset and has a strong mindset to following tradition like the whole herd.”
“I’m sure he didn’t mean it.” Fluttershy added while placing a gentle hoof on her back. “Everyone knows that you are trying your hardest in making this the best celebration they could ask for.“
Makini knew what they were saying is true, though deep down she still wishes to be able to make it up to them. When she spotted something in particular she suddenly found her resolution to the matter. “Ohhh...” She spotted some yellow flowers the bees were hovering over. “I can crush these and make paint that's even more beautiful than the banana paint I had before!” As she took the flowers from their stems she took the time to apologize and insist it’s necessary. “'Scuse me, bees. I really need these flowers!”
“Makini, wait!” Fluttershy called out to her to no avail. “Oh, what do we do?” She asked Twilight now worried herself upon seeing how badly this will end.
“We do what we always do best.” Twilight calmly replied. “Be ready when it happens.”
“But shouldn’t we at least consider getting some yellow paint from the other world even if it means breaking tradition a little.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Twilight shook her head before leading the way back to Mizumi Grove. “In fact, they might just learn something out of all of this.”
Even understanding why, Fluttershy still had her doubts about her approach. “I sure hope you’re right.”
Upon arriving back at Mizumi Grove, Makini proudly unveiled her discovery to the elephants. “I have yellow!”
“Oh, thank the Savannah.” Ma Tembo was the first to express her delighted relief.
“Good going, Makini.” Kion complimented.
“About time.” Zito voiced still rather grumpy about the whole thing.
“Don't you think these flowers will make an even prettier yellow paint?” Makini asked as she got to work making the paint.
Zito simply lowered his head so she can finish the job. “Just finish painting me.”
Elsewhere at the grove, rehearsal still hasn’t gotten any better and that’s because Bunga keeps fumbling his line over and over again and again much to the irritation of Mtoto’s mother.
“Don't tell me, don't tell me. I'll remember...” Predictably he doesn’t know. “Uh... Line?”
The annoyed elephant hopelessly sighed before replying. “We bravest can do anything."
Even still Bunga didn’t get it. “Of course we can. What's my line?”
“That is your line. "We bravest can do anything."”
“Then my mom says, "We bravest can even find peace when things are most frightening."” Mtoto added.
“Got it. It's all in my head. If I could find my head. But I'll get my lines eventually.”
Rarity watching this just face-hoofed herself again before moving to focus back on Kion and Fuli on another scene for the reenactment.
“Okay, Kion. After Ma Tembo passes the Branch of Peace to you, you pass it to the fastest lion” Timon instructed before placing the branch in Fuli’s mouth. “... Here. Go.”
Only problem with that is having the branch in her mouth hard to get her line properly said leading to a muffled attempt in the process.
“With this branch, we will hasten the day of peace.”
“I can't understand her at all.” Pumbaa commented.
“That's because I have a stick in my mouth.” Fuli replied with the stick still in her mouth.
Rarity couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay! Stop! Stop! Stop!” She quickly intervened thus shocking the two into stunned silence. “This style of management is over, boys! Consider yourselves, terminated!” She took a deep breath to regain her composure before smiling and gently removing the branch from the cheetah’s mouth and moved it to her right forepaw. “Let’s take it from the top, and when passing the branch we use our paws and hooves so we don’t have a mouthful of trouble.” She giggled briefly. “Okay. Good. And action!”
With the branch out of her mouth, the performance went through much more smoothly.
“With this branch, we will hasten the day of peace.”
“Okay good. Now, Strongest. Go!” Rarity encouraged Beshte to continue rolling the scene while they’re on a roll as he is handed the branch.
“It takes great strength to support peace between us.”
“Phew!” Rarity sighed with a relieved smile. “Finally, you all got that part right!” Just then, trumpeting is heard nearby. “Oh and just in time!”
“Everyone! The King and the Princesses are here! Take your places. It's time to start the show!” Ma Tembo announced to everyone knowing exactly what it means for them.
“But I still don't have my peace paint on yet!” Mtoto’s mom quickly reminded.
“I got ya!” Makini quickly assured before moving to paint her forehead. “I just did four of these, I can practically paint a sunburst with my eyes closed.”
Ma Tembo moved to approach the arriving lion king and alicorn princesses who are all very happy to see each other.
“Ma Tembo, I am looking forward to this evening's celebration.” The lion king himself greeted. “I'll be interested to see if the Ukumbusho is as beautiful as I've heard.”
“And the same can be said for us.” Celestia added while gesturing to herself and her sister.
“Indeed, sister. Indeed.” Luna agreed.
“Yes, Your Majesty. We shall see.” Ma Tembo assured all while eyeing the very confident director Rarity smiling and nodding in response to her statement.
By nightfall, the whole audience had all gathered around ready to watch the enactment.
Amongst the audience, Rarity along with the Pony Guard moved to stand by as camera crew so they can record this movie so everyone in Equestria can see this, along with keeping watch in case anything happens during the performance should another threat arise.
“Everybody ready?” Kion whispered to his friends who all nodded in response. “Let's do it.”
They all stepped forward onto the rocks that served as the stage before performing a song together with Kion starting off as tall and pride as the first Lion Guard leader himself as the rest of his team along with the elephants all proudly marched forward.
Once it was time for the first big speech of the performance, Ma Tembo stepped up to face Kion on stage.
“Many dry seasons ago, Askari, leader of the first Lion Guard, made peace with the elephants. Working together, the lions and elephants made the Pride Lands a safe home for everyone who respects the Circle of Life. It is this peace that we celebrate tonight.”
Everyone resumed singing as the symbol of peace is laid forward.
“Told you it will all work out.” Kion whispered with a smile.
Ma Tembo likewise agreed now feeling less stressed with what she is seeing so far. “Yes. So far so good.”
Kion then resumed performing his role. “Greetings, wise elephants! My name is Askari. I am first leader of the Pride Lands Lion Guard. You have nothing to fear from us.” Instantly, they heard buzzing sounds nearby. “What is that?” He asked now out of character.
“Hmm.” Ono turned his head to the direction of the sound it came from. “That's strange. It sounds like...”
“Bees!” Ma Tembo exclaimed in fright upon spotting them who all swarmed around them.
All of the elephants all panicked and stampeded around the grove because their deep fear of bees forcing the royal sisters to conjure up a force field powerful enough to repel all of the bees away from Mizimu Grove to buy everyone enough time to move to safety.
While this was all going on both Timon and Pumbaa had time for this exchange thinking that this is still the reenactment going on.
“What are they doing?” Pumbaa asked.
“No improvising!” Timon called out to them.
“This is no act!” Rarity shouted at them thus shocking them once again. “When you will two realize that you are both not cut out to know what is best for tradition!”
“Careful! Look out!” Makini called out the elephants that nearly ran her over.
”Ma Tembo?” The lion king called out to her as she and the other elephants all ran off with the bees still swarming around their faces.
“Is this because I didn't know my lines?” Bunga asked Beshte standing beside him.
“No!” Twilight shook her head. “I’m afraid our unwanted guests are attracted to the elephants is why and if we don’t stop their rampage, it’ll get messy fast!”
“Twilight’s right, C'mon. We gotta stop ‘em before they hurt someone or themselves.” Kion along with Twilight were both quick to lead the guard after the elephants. “Till the Pride Lands and Equestria’s end...”
“Lion and Pony Guard defend!”
Deciding none of this was important now, Rarity moved to toss aside her director’s cap before running after the others.
The elephant’s rampage made its way through across the nearby pond where the flamingos are who all squawked and flew away in fright up seeing them stampeding their way.
“This way.”
“Through the trees.”
Both Rainbow and Ono quickly alerted the crew as they flew ahead to keep the elephants in sight as they were all knocking down trees and such through their short-sighted attempts to flee from the hovering bees.
“Elephants! Calm down!” Kion shouted after them to no avail.
“Why are the elephants so scared?” Beshte asked.
“Well, elephants are afraid of bees.” Ono answered before adding while flying beside him. “But I didn't realize they were this afraid.”
“Elephants are afraid of bees?” Pinkie asked like it is one of the craziest things she’s heard.
“Common knowledge, really.”
“Huh. Hard to believe that something so big can be afraid of something so delicious.” Bunga commented sharing Pinkie’s confused notion.
“So how are we gonna get rampaging elephants to stop rampaging?” Fuli asked.
Applejack thought about rounding them up, but remembered that they won’t stop as long as bees are swarming all over their faces.
“Ooh! I know! I know!” Pinkie suddenly piped up happily. “Why don't we ask those elephants?”
The Lion and Pony Guard all came to a skipping halt in front of the elephants who didn’t have any paint on their foreheads unlike the other elephants.
“Any bees on me?” One of the elephants Zigo asked while still catching her breath.
“Don't see any.”
“Nope, no bees around you.”
Both Bunga and Pinkie quickly answered.
“So the bees stopped chasing you... But they're still after the other elephants.” Kion deduced as he started putting the pieces together.
“I guess so. But why?”
“Hmm.” Fuli gave it some more thought. “You weren't in the show, but Ma Tembo and the others were.”
“And they're wearing the yellow paint that Makini made from flowers.” Kyoga added.
“Of course!” Twilight realized at the same idea Ono and Rarity figured it out.
“The bees are attracted to the pollen from the flowers!” The unicorn stated.
“We have to wash that pollen off the elephants!” Kion stated.
“Good thinking, Kion.” Beshte agreed.
“Except it's the middle of the Dry Season. There’s not enough water around these parts of the Savannah.” Applejack however reminded everyone. “Where are we going to find enough water to wash a bunch of giant elephants?”
“Well we better figure it out fast.” Rainbow commented as she and Ono got a good look at what’s about to happen in front of them.
“Herd of buffalo... Right in the elephants' path!” Ono alerted.
“Fuli, Rainbow, go warn the buffalo! We'll stay on the elephants.” Kion instructed of them who were better quick to do so.
“You got it, Kion!”
“Huwezi!”
Upon arriving they wasted no time in trying to alert the buffalo of the upcoming stampede they’re about to face.
“Vuruga Vuruga! Buffalo!”
“You need to get out of here! Right now!”
Because it was nighttime and buffaloes aren’t known for having great eyesight, they couldn’t recognize the two at first glance when they appeared in the shadows, especially since during her rush on over here, Rainbow ended up snagging clouds and twigs in her mane to give her a mysterious appearance.
“Leave? This is one of the few grazing grounds left.” The buffalo leader however refused to comply. “Who do you think you are? Telling us what to do!”
“It's us, Fuli and Rainbow Dash. From the Lion and Pony Guard.” She still wasn’t convinced. “The costume. Of course. Ugh.” Fuli realized as she took the time to lament to herself before continuing. “I knew I looked ridiculous. Long story. Elephants are coming fast. You gotta move.”
“And why should we listen to you, weird looking cheetah-lion thing that we've never seen before? And…” She looks up in alarm up seeing Rainbow’s appearance. “…who are you?!”
Rainbow upon getting an idea on her head, quickly whispered to Fuli as she put some more twigs on her face. “Let’s just move this along.” She moved to float over the sky locking her pink eyes on the now frightened buffalo all while hovering around them to startle them.
Getting the same idea, Fuli moved to speak in a gruff and menacing tone. “I am something you've never seen before and so is she. We only come out on the full moon to eat buffalo!” The buffalo wound up feeling on edge by her words. “If I were you, I'd run. Now!”
At the same time both Fuli and Rainbow Dash unleashed their best roar with the latter sounding more like a demonic screech causing them all to gasp and all run away in fright.
As soon as they all fled and were out of earshot, Rainbow shook off the twigs and clouds after emerging from the shadows all while laughing her head off.
“Maybe looking ridiculous isn't so bad after all.” Fuli commented upon seeing her costume is actually good for something before sharing a high-five with Rainbow Dash with the latter relishing in the prank opportunity she just seized upon.
Just then the elephants came heading their way before they briefly split apart from each other before following after the Guard.
“Whoa!”
“Huwezi!”
Upon catching up the elephants, Beshte took notice at the little baby elephant having the same problem as the other elephants. “Poor Mtoto. Looks like the bees are bugging him too.”
“Ah! Go! Away! Bees!”
In an attempt for them to go away, Mtoto snorted dirt up his truck and sprayed it at them.
It worked…only for a few seconds.
“Aw, I was sure that would work!” Beshte remarked in pity.
“It was a valiant effort.” Applejack commented feeling the same way before suddenly widening her eyes when that gave her an idea. “But of course…that could actually work on getting that paint off of them.”
“She’s right!” Kion realized it’s potential.
“It could blast the paint off!” Ono added.
“Then the bees wouldn't have anything to go after.” Fuli also added before rushing off ahead. “I'll tell Mtoto.”
Rainbow rushed after her. “Mtoto!”
“Fuli? Rainbow?”
“Don't blast the bees. Blast the paint.”
“That's what they're after. Trust us.”
“Um... Uh, okay!” Though a little confused and hesitant, he complied given that his life is on the line with them. And as the bees all dispersed the second he blew that paint off of his forehead. “It worked!”
“All right.”
“Nice work.”
The leaders of the Guard complimented upon catching up to them.
“Thanks. Lion and Pony Guard! You saved me!”
“You're welcome.”
“Ha! Think nothing of it!”
Both the Guard’s Fastest returned with the latter’s tone leaning on bragging about it.
“Now we just gotta take care of the others.” Kion stated with the youngest of the bunch saved.
Both Ono and Rainbow quickly flew up and managed to get a glimpse of where they are headed.
“Hapana!”
“They're heading towards Sehemu Pass!”
“Sehemu Pass?” Rarity asked.
“But that pass is too narrow for elephants.” Beshte commented.
“They could get stuck.” Fluttershy added.
“Actually…” Kion spoke up upon seeing the benefits from it. “…that might not be a bad thing.”
“Indeed!” Ono came to realize it himself.
“Huddle up!” Twilight ushered everyone to do so before she and Kyoga performed a teleportation spell so they can appear in front of the elephants inside the pass.
Upon arriving inside Mtoto was quick to shoot dirt at the first elephant that got stuck inside the pass, Ma Tembo.
“Ma Tembo! Close your eyes. Now!” Mtoto quickly warned with the latter quick to do so before preparing to chew the little elephant out for it.
“Mtoto! What in the Pride Lands...” She stopped herself mid-scolding before realizing why he told her to do so. “The bees! They're gone. Why?”
“It was the pollen in the paint.”
“Once Mtoto blew it off, the bees weren't attracted to you anymore.”
Both leaders of the Guard answered.
“Kion! Twilight!“
“Zito and Johari are headed your way!”
Both Ono and Rainbow quickly alerted.
Knowing that Ma Tembo is in harm’s way right now, both leaders called upon their Strongest members to push them through.
“Beshte!”
“Applejack!”
Both were quick to come to her aid.
“Let us give you a little push to get you free.”
“Ready?” Ma Tembo nodded with her back still turned due to being able to turn around.
“Back it up, Big B, AJ. There you go.“ Bunga guided them before the two gave them a firm and gentle push to get her unstuck from the rocks in time before the next stampeding elephants came their way.
Upon getting stuck both Ma Tembo and Mtoto were quick to snort dirt to blow the paint off of their foreheads.
“Oh!”
“Huh?”
“Ma Tembo! Mtoto! You did it!” Kion congratulated.
“The bees? Are gone?” Zito asked.
“Well, most of 'em.” Bunga corrected as he moved to munch on a few that didn’t flee like the others. “Just doing my part to make sure every elephant is safe.”
“Ugh, of course you do.” Rarity remarked in disgust while looking aside to emphasize it.
Just then Mtoto noticed that one elephant is missing and isn’t coming their way. “But... Where's my mom?”
“Ono!”
“Rainbow Dash!”
Both fliers flew up to scout the skies before spotting her on the cliff-side knocking down every tree she comes across.
“Hapana! Mtoto's mom's on the edge of Mapango Cliffs.
“And she looks terrified!”
“Oh, no! My mom...” Mtoto gasped in horror.
“Don't worry, Mtoto.” Twilight quickly assured before leading everyone on over in her direction. “We'll help her.”
On the cliff side, Mtoto’s mother is really unable to find herself to stop with the bees still swarming her face. “Oh! Leave me alone, bees!”
“There she is!” Kion shouted upon spotting her on upper ground from where they are standing.
“Mom!” Mtoto shouted while wanting to rush over to help her only to be quickly held back by both Twilight and Kion.
“Mtoto! Stop!” Kion commanded.
“All those trees she knocked down were holding the hill in place.” Twilight added while still not letting go of him.
“In other words…” Rainbow added. “…The ground's too dry.”
“It won't hold her weight.” Ono chimed in.
“The whole cliff could collapse at any second.” Applejack also added.
“Not to worry, little elephant!”
“We got this!”
Both Pinkie and Bunga confidently stated before the former pulled out her party cannon so they can both climb inside and shoot themselves up onto the ledge.
“Ready?”
“Lets! Zuka Zama!”
The party canon went off, sending both the pony and honey badger up onto the cliff. They both leaped off the crumbling edge before moving to come to the struggling elephant’s aid.
Pinkie quickly rushed off with a fly swatter that had honey placed onto it to which Bunga quickly took so he can eat it all up.
“It's okay, Mtoto's mom.”
“No more bees.” Bunga then noticed they missed one before quickly gobbling it up. “Well, almost no more.”
“Now they’re all gone!” She added with a big grin.
Now that the bees were gone, the elephant could not see and think straight. “Bunga, Pinkie when did you get here?” She then breathed on the verge of panicking upon seeing on how high up she really is. “When did I get here? Ooh!”
“It's okay. You're the bravest, remember?” Pinkie reminded.
Bunga then further assured by saying... “And we bravest can do anything. We bravest can even find peace when things are most frightening.“
“That's my line.” She said with an amused smile.
“Hey, at least I remembered it.” Bunga shrugged like it’s no big deal while Pinkie gave one of her biggest grins to date.
“So you did.” It was actually pretty funny and the elephant was taking deep breaths to calm herself down. “Okay. I'm okay.”
Upon hearing that, Pinkie pulled out her megaphone from her poofy mane to announce it from up high. “You hear that? It's all good. She's okay.”
Mtoto sighed in relief upon hearing this.
“Let's take the back way down.” Bunga advised.
“Good idea.”
And the timing turned out perfectly because as soon as they stepped away from the edge, it gave way and collapsed behind them.
“Whoa!” The three all exclaimed when that happened with the pink pony shuddering due to her Pinkie Sense.
“Keep moving! Keep moving!”
“Thank you both, Bunga, Pinkie Pie.” The mother elephant thanked. “Together, we bravest really can do anything.”
With the crisis averted, everyone all returned to Mizimu Grove, where everyone was all waiting for them.
“Ma Tembo. Are you all right?” Simba was the first to ask in concern for the herd.
“Yes, Your Highness.” She quickly assured. “Thank you. I'm so sorry we panicked, but... Bees! They can fly up our trunks and sting us. It's very, very painful.”
“That sounds awful.” Kion commented.
“I can't imagine what that would be like.
“Me neither.”
Both sisters added in agreement.
“Ma Tembo…” Makini quickly rushed over since she had a hand in that incident happening. “…I am so, so sorry. I never should have used flowers to make the paint.”
The leader of the elephants was quick to forgive her knowing that it was just an honest mistake. “It's okay, Makini. You didn't know.”
“And considering I gave you a hard time back there. I can’t blame you for being so desperate in using them.” Zito added all while sounding sincerely apologetic upon realizing that he was too hard on her earlier and that led to the dominion effect that took place tonight. “That being said Makini, can you forgive me?”
Natural to her she was quick to do so, “Of course!” Makini then gasped when she spoke of a resolution to fix all of this. “Maybe I can find some more yellow fruit and repaint you! It'll look amazing!”
“Or maybe we could just get some yellow paint from Ponyville?” Fluttershy suggested otherwise. “If that’s okay?”
“Actually…” Kion spoke up thinking they should make this as easy as possible with his suggestion while speaking it in a kind manner. “…I know it's not tradition, but maybe we should consider finishing the Ukumbusho without any paint?”
Ma Tembo pondered it for a moment while still reluctant at the idea. “It's difficult for elephants to break with tradition.”
“Then why not think of it as starting a new tradition?” King Simba advised.
“Much like the first here Pony Guard.” Applejack chimed in. “Think of it as a compromise with all things considered here tonight.”
After a few seconds of considering it, Ma Tembo was all ears for it. “I like the sound of that.”
The other elephants all trumpeted in agreement.
“Sounds good to me. Although I still have my paint.” Mtoto’s mom pointed out.
“Not for long!” Her son was quick to spray it off with dirt.
“Wow. Great job, Mtoto.”
“Great aim, partner!”
Both of the Guard’s Strongest complimented.
“Well, I am the strongest.”
“Paint or no paint, I still get to say my lines, right?” Bunga asked Mtoto’s mother.
“Just be sure you don't say my lines this time.”
“No promises.”
“Ah, classic Bunga.” Rarity smiled while shifting her eyes to the side before donning her director cap again ready to resume filming once more. But before she could take charge, she found Timon and Pumbaa right in front of her, only unlike before they looked on feeling regretful for how they acted beforehand. “Okay, boys, what is it this time?”
“Listen…we’ve just been thinking and uh…”
“…we got caught up in the pride of raising a lion who became king that we got it in our heads that we know more than the rest of the pack…”
“…that we let what we thought was tradition override you when we should have listened to you right from the start.”
“Can’t you at least let us help direct the filming of this movie?”
“And maybe as long as we promise to behave ourselves we can maybe help put together a film of how the Pony Guard came to be?”
“Please?” They both asked together practically begging.
“Well…” She pondered for a bit before handing them their very own director’s hats. “…sure.” They both smiled upon seeing their newly bestowed positions though Rarity was quick to sternly look upon them to remind them whose boss. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“Then let the new Ukumbusho begin.” Ma Tembo declared.
“All right. You heard the elephant. Let's get this show started!”
“Places, everyone! Places!”
Timon and Pumbaa said to everyone as the play started over again with both Kion and Ma Tembo taking center stage once more.
“Greetings, wise elephants! My name is Askari. I am first leader of the Pride Lands Lion Guard. You have nothing to fear from us.”
“And you, wise lions, have nothing to fear from us.”
Twilight watched on smiling before winking in Fluttershy’s direction to assure she knew what would happen right from the start. Lessons learned, apologies given to each other, compromises made with old traditions turning into new traditions, much like the creation and combination of the first mixed animal Lion Guard along with the first Pony Guard every put forward.