Simba secretly struck out on his own from Timon and Pumbaa to prove to them that he could take care of himself but soon found Joka the purple python proving him dead wrong. Emphasis on "dead."

The lion cub couldn't escape his ensnarement and was cocooned all over by Joka's constricting coils. The overwhelming grip was painful enough but his throat was soon squeezed nearly shut. Simba's breathing soon became barely audible wheezing, his cheeks both puffed up by the figurative and literal noose around his neck.

Joka took sadistic pleasure by purposefully holding back his full power. He wanted to see just how much punishment this spit fire of a lion cub could take before giving in. It was his little appetizer, a show before the main course was served. The sight of Simba's cheeks turning as purple as he was was the real cherry on top.

Timon called out for his feline friend but couldn't see Simba's suffering from beyond the foliage. Had he had listened closely, he might've been able to make out the cub's choked up cries for help and maybe get Pumbaa in time. However, the meerkat would stroll along while the former prince would slowly slip away for good.