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It had been a long day, well really it had been a long night. The poor white lion had been out since sometime last evening. His nose always to the ground in search of the mushrooms he needed for his next great potion. But so far, the mushrooms had eluded his nose, and the only proof he had of his attempt was a very brown and dusty nose. Not that he cared much about the nose, he couldn't even see it! He could just smell the Earthy scent of the ground. It was a calming scent, it reminded him of his den.

But now as he was finally about to give up, everything was finally coming into place. He was such a great apothecary, lions came to him from all corners of the pride. But how could he help them, if he couldn't find the herbs he so desperately needed? He was definitely down in the dumps, but he held his head high. Forcing a wide grin to his face as he positioned himself against the trunk of a tree. Even when you're down, you should never ever frown. He truly tried to live by those words, that he told the cubs near daily. But some days, it was harder than others.

The poor male nearly jumped out of his skin as the God swooped down near him. He hadn't heard a thing up until the cheery voice, and of course not a single scent. "WHO'S THERE?!" He yelped loudly, his fur bristling along his back. Obviously he wasn't going to fight anyone. What good would a blind lion be in a fight? No good, that's for sure.

As Mlinzi stood there, fur bristled, prepared to defend himself, he noticed the chuckle in the intruder's voice. "A-Are you laughing at me?" Skeptically he leered into whatever was within his line of sight. "Or are you laughing with me? Because if you're laughing with me, I should be in on the joke right?" The light hearted chuckling, had calmed his nerves a bit, but he couldn't fully let his guard down until he knew what exactly he was facing.

A... God ... of Laughter?

He'd heard of gods before, especially from his friend N'Seka, who spoke the praises of the Goddess of pestilence. But never had he thought he would meet one. Especially not one that so closely related to himself. Laughter was the best medicine! It filled his heart with a strange warmth to know that what he always told his patients was true.

"I'm Pumbaa'Mlinzi ... its wonderful to meet you." He tried to raise his voice to the same volume as the God's but he just couldn't reach that high. "A-Are you truly a God? I-I apologize, but I can't see you to believe it with my own eyes." He smiled vaguely, never raising his paw to the god. How could he? He couldn't see that the god had raised his paw.

"Do you really think laughter is the best medicine?" By this time his voice was filled with excitement, regardless of his attempts to hide it. If this - Iiro truly was the God of Laughter, he couldn't have come at a better time. Mlinzi was definitely in need of a few good ones.

Mlinzi laughed at the lion's first comment. Yeah, he had a long name, and everyone had always found a way to shorten it. "You can call me whatever you'd like. I think I have more nicknames than I can truly count!" He tried to grin at the lion, but wasn't really sure how his mix of emotions would turn out.

Before Mlinzi could react to his next question, he already had an answer. Fly him around?! He'd never been up high in his life, how would he react to being lifted off of the ground?! He could feel an odd tingling sensation in his toes. Could it be excitement, his heart was beginning to race as well. It most definitely was excitement. "I-I've never been up high before ... You won't drop me right?" Of course he didn't think a God would do such a thing, especially not a cheery one like this one. But one could never be too safe.

"I think I might have to take you up on that offer Iiro. You see feeling ill is kinda commonplace around here." He frowned slightly, as he looked around. "I've always told my patients that same thing, but most of them just think i'm joking."

"OK!" Mlinzi nodded in agreement, "I can't wait to hear what you decide on." He loved hearing all the nicknames others came up with. He'd been called some strange things. Some short, some long, some just completely random. But he cherished each and every single one of them. Because with each one came a smile, not only from himself, but from the one who had given it to him. He loved seeing others smile, so very much.

His heart was still flipping in circles as he decided to accept Iiro's offer. But as Iiro had said, he may actually enjoy it! His only regret would be that he could not see it as it happened. "OK Iiro - i'd like that a lot." Prancing his paws a bit in excitement, he tried to shoo away some of his jitters.

"I think.

I think i'm ready!" He winced his eyes tight shut, even though he couldn't see to begin with. His body quaking in a mix of fear and excitement.

The idea of being held above the earth was simply too much for Mlinzi to handle maturely. Instead he squealed like a little school girl each time the god introduced him to some new surface. He could feel the leaves, a very different texture than those on the ground. The mist from the pond tickled his toes, and he giggled in pure glee. No moment in his life would ever top this moment, and he was totally fine with that.

Feeling his feet once more back on solid ground, Mlinzi took a deep breath, and smiled the widest smile he'd given in months. "THAT WAS AMAZING!" Mlinzi jumped on the tips of his paws in a pure rush of adrenaline. "Yeah, I guess you proved it fair and square." Still panting from all the excitement he joined Iiro in laughter. It felt great too! Such a long time it had been for him to have a moment of pure happiness, nothing could bring him down this time.

"Thank you Iiro, I really enjoyed that!" He paused a moment, just now recalling the nickname he'd been given.

"A nice choice of nickname by the way."

It was as if a whole new world had opened up to him, one he never really would have thought accessible. Yet in an instant, there it was at his paws, backpaws rather. He couldn't thank the God enough, but he knew that at some point, Iiro would tire of his constant praises. Perhaps he could hold it in, at least until he had time to tell a friend. Iiro would never know just how much of a debt he had put this lion into, but it was by far a happy debt.

"Well, I will carry it with honor, and allow no one else to use it!" He smiled, in what he hoped would be the God's direction, and took a small bow.

"Thank you for everything Iiro." Mlinzi held his steady bow for a few moments, before standing once more and returning to his ecstatic self. "And I do mean everything."