Author's Notes: I was going to wait until I had finished Alan and the Beast before I uploaded this, but the urge to make William into a fluffy lion cub was too strong. Theodore, Isabella and Julian are OCs made by myself and my rp buddy. The versions in this story are simplified versions. Usually, Thedore is a demon, and Sebastian's father instead of his brother. Julian is usually Grell's cruel and slightly abusive father, however in this story they have no relation, as Julian is a hornbill and Grell is...well, you'll see. The pairing in the summary gives it away.
The Shinigami King
Disclaimer: William T Spears, Sebastian Michaelis and Undertaker belong to Yana Toboso. The plot belongs to Walt Disney. I own Theodore, Isabella and Julian. I also mashed everything together.
Prologue: A Prince is Born
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama…
Morning broke spectacularly over the African savannah. The golden sun rose majestically in the sky, creating all manner of reds and oranges across the horizon line. A lion's roar echoed in the distance, several birds chirped in reply.
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!
Sithi uhm ingonyama
Ingonyama
Siyo Nqoba
Ingonyama
Animals across the plains lifted their heads and began to walk. Rhinos, gazelles, even mighty elephants walked side by side with each other as one herd. They walked past the beautiful Victoria Falls, and the grand Kilimanjaro. Flocks of birds and herds of zebra joined them, all walking to one place in the distance.
From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Pride Rock stood tall against the African horizon line. All the animals were gathering here, anticipating a great event. More animals gathered, the herd was constantly increasing.
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
A black lion stood upon Pride Rock, his majestic mane blowing gently in the breeze as he watched the animals approaching. This was Theodore, King of Pride Rock, and the ruler of the Savannah.
It's the Circle of Life!
And it moves us all!
A small brown hornbill flew over the crowd of animals. Theodore watched as it soared upwards and landed on the rock in front of him. The hornbill spread his wings and bowed politely to his King. Theodore smiled and nodded gently.
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
The animals began to part; on old, silver haired mandrill carrying a staff made his way slowly through the crowd, smiling as the animals bowed. Carefully, he climbed to the top. Theodore smiled and embraced the mandrill, greeting him like an old friend.
Till we find our place,
On the path unwinding,
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
Theodore led the mandrill to the back off Pride Rock. Isabella, Theodore's Queen, was laying in the shade, a small bundle of black fur between her forepaws. She gently licked the bundle; the little cub stirred and rolled over, blinking his bright green eyes. The mandrill smiled at the cub. He lowered his staff and gently rattled the fruit over the cub's head. The cub purred happily and tried to swat the fruit with his tiny paws. The mandrill smiled even more and pulled one of the fruits from the staff, carefully breaking it in half. He dipped his thumb into the juice and gently drew a line across the cub's forehead. He then scooped up a handful of sand from the rock and sprinkled it over the top. The cub frowned and sneezed cutely. Theodore and Isabella smiled at their son and nuzzled each other. The mandrill carefully scooped up the cub and carried up to the peak of Pride Rock. He grinned widely and raised the cub in the air.
It's the Circle of Life!
And it moves us all!
The animals went wild with excitement. The gibbons jumped around screeching. The zebra whinnied and stomped their hooves. The noise grew higher as all manner of animals began to call out happily.
Through despair and hope!
Through faith and love!
The little cub looked around nervously as the animals continued to cheer. The clouds parted, a single beam of sunlight shone down, highlighting the mandrill and the new prince. One by one the animals bowed.
Till we find out place!
On the path unwinding!
It's the Circle!
The Circle of life!
The celebration of the new prince carried on for quite some time. The caves underneath Pride Rock were empty, except for one lion who wasn't in the celebratory mood. Taking advantage of the silence, a small grey mouse scurried out of his hole into the main cave. He stood on his hind legs and began to wash his whiskers. He paused suddenly and began to sniff the air nervously. A large black paw slammed down on the mouse heavily. Sebastian grinned to himself and lifted the poor mouse into the air. He watched as it wriggled around, dangling by its tail. He brought the mouse closer to his face,
"Life's not fair is it?" he said. He played with the mouse idly, letting it run over his paw "You see I, well, I shall never be King" Sebastian dropped the mouse and quickly swiped it from the air. He raised it to his mouth,
"And you, shall never see the light of another day" he lifted the mouse higher, "Adieu…" he opened his mouth, extending his tongue in anticipation,
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"
Sebastian sighed in irritation. He lowered the mouse and trapped it under his paw,
"What do you want?" he said. Julian, a small hornbill who acted as the King's advisor, and trusted friend, flew into Sebastian's cave,
"I've come to tell you that King Theodore is on his way" he said, bowing. He looked up, glaring slightly "So you'd better have a good reason for missing the ceremony this morning". Sebastian sighed and again and rolled his eyes. The grey mouse managed to free his tail from Sebastian's paw and scurried off,
"Now look Julian, you've made me lose my lunch" said Sebastian, sadly. Julian snorted,
"Ha, you'll lose more than that when the King gets through with you" he snapped, ruffling his feathers "He's as mad as a hippo with a hernia"
"Oooh, I quiver with fear!" hissed Sebastian. He crouched down and bared his teeth at Julian. The hornbill gulped and backed away,
"Now Sebastian, don't look at me that way…." Julian turned and tried to flap away "Help!" Sebastian pounced, catching the bird between his jaws,
"Sebastian!"
Sebastian turned his head; Theodore was stood at the entrance of the cave,
"Drop him"
"Impeccable timing, your majesty" said Julian, pushing his beak out of Sebastian's mouth. Sebastian lowered his head and spat the hornbill out. Julian looked at his saliva covered wings and grimaced. Sebastian turned back to Theodore,
"Why, if it isn't my big brother, descending from on high to mingle with the commoners!" he said, not bothering to hide his sarcasm. Theodore continued to glare at his brother,
"Isabella and I didn't see you and the presentation of William" he snapped. Sebastian faked surprise,
"That was today?" he said "Oh, I feel simply awful!" he reached up and scraped his claws down the wall, grinning as Julian cringed at the noise. He examined his now sharp claws carefully,
"Must have slipped my mind" he said. Julian glared at Sebastian and flew into the air, hovering close to his face,
"Yes well, as slippery as your mind is, as the King's brother you should have been first in line!" he spat. Sebastian snapped his teeth; Julian gulped and quickly hid behind Theodore's leg. Sebastian lowered his head to look at him,
"I was first in line" he said "Until the little hairball was born". Theodore lowered his head, looking at his brother directly in the eye,
"That 'hairball' is my son" the two lions raised their heads simultaneously "and your future king"
"Oh, I shall practice my curtsey" said Sebastian, once again sarcastically. He turned around to walk away. Theodore growled,
"Don't turn your back on me Sebastian" he snapped. Sebastian looked back over his shoulder lazily,
"Oh no Theodore, maybe you shouldn't turn your back on me". Theodore roared loudly. He ran and leapt in front of Sebastian, snarling,
"Is that a challenge?"
"Temper temper, I wouldn't dream of challenging you" said Sebastian. Julian sniffed,
"Pity" he said "Why not?" Sebastian looked at him,
"Well, as far as brains go, I've got the lion's share" he looked up at Theodore, sneering slightly, "But when it comes to brute strength, I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool" he climbed down the ledge at the back of the cave and walked out of sight. Theodore watched him leave and sighed. Julian flew over and landed next to him,
"There's one in every family, Sire" he said, sighing deeply "Two in mine, actually, and they always manage to ruin special occasions". Theodore shook his head,
"What am I going to do with him?" he said,
"He'd make a very handsome throw rug" suggested Julian, as he flew up to perch on Theodore's shoulder,
"Julian!" said Theodore, smirking slightly. He walked down the ledge and began to walk across the grassland,
"And just think!" said Julian, "Whenever he gets dirty you can take him out and beat him".
Months passed by in the savannah, the dry season slowly made way to the much needed rains. Showers poured over the Pride Lands, bringing nourishment to the thirsty grass and plants. In the midst of the rains, Undertaker the mandrill sat in the large baobab tree he called his home. Many open gourds and fruits surrounded him, he was using the juice to paint pictures on a flat part of the tree's large trunk. His most recent picture was of the new born cub. He grinned to himself as he carefully finished the picture. Undertaker chuckled and picked up and gourd with red colored juice. He dipped his thumb in and carefully drew a line across the forehead of his drawing,
"William…".
