Hello readers! I am back and with a brand new story! I'd like everyone to kindly leave a review when finished reading, so I can know how I can make the story better. I think that I have done enough blabbing, so without further ado, here is chapter one!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

-Quote from the Grave of an Irishman

"Ahadi. I think it is time."

The Pridelands king looked over to his mate, her black orbs consumed with worry, and his red ones calm and confused.

"Time for what my dear?"

Uru's face disfigured into a glare, her eyes glaring daggers at her mate. "Ahadi, you idiot! I am about to have our cub! I'm in labor!"

The king's eyes widened in shock, his face displaying the very same emotion mentioned. "ZAZU!"

The young hornbill flew down from above, eventually settling down in front of the king. "You called, sire?"

"Yes. Take Mufasa and Taka and get them as far away from Pride Rock as you possibly can. It's about to get really ugly over here."

Zazu nodded his head in understanding, and then bowed. "As you wish, sire!"

He flew away in order to complete the mission assigned to him.

Meanwhile, Ahadi carried Uru on his back, all the way to the tree of the pride's shaman, Rafiki.

As they approached, a heavily accented voice called out to them. "Ah, Ahadi and Uru. What a pleasure. I am guessing dat it is time for the birth of de cub."

Ahadi nodded, his mane flying in the wind. "Yes. Uru just entered labor."

"Den dere is no time to waste! Bring her inside, bring her to Rafiki!"

Ahadi gently let go of his mate, who followed Rafiki to the interior of the tree that he called home.

"Lie down, Uru, lie down. Relax, and just stay calm while Rafiki tend to you, yes?"

The queen sighed, wondering just how painful the birth would be compared to her previous two. It wouldn't be as painful as her first two. It would be much, much worse. The pain was so awful that Uru could not even feel any of her paws, and her mind was consumed with nothing but pain.

It was six hours before Rafiki emerged from the tree, and began to walk toward an incredibly nervous Ahadi.

"Is Uru alright? Is the cub okay? How did the birth go?"

Rafiki shook his head. "It vas a very difficult birth. Your mate is healthy and alive, as is de cub, but I'm afraid your son was born with a birth defect."

Ahadi grew worried. "Okay, I have a son, and he was born with a defect. What could possibly be wrong with my son?"

Rafiki leaned on to his staff, and let out a deep sigh. "Due to de difficult nature of de birth, de prince will never grow a mane. He shall live the life of any normal lion, but he will forever remain maneless."

An emotion that one would not expect began to overtake Ahadi. Anger. Anger at Rafiki, anger at Uru, and anger at his son for simply being born alive.

"Let me see the little maggot! I think I know exactly what to name him!"

Rafiki shook his head, and motioned inside. Uru was smiling in pure joy, as she held her son who was sleeping in her arms.

"Ahadi, isn't he beautiful?"

Ahadi growled, and stared angrily at his mate. "Beautiful? How could a lion that will never grow a mane possibly be beautiful? He is a crime against nature!"

The king smiled, but this was not a smile of joy or amusement. No, it was a smile of darkness. "That shall be his name. Scelus. Crime."

Uru stared up at her mate, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "How could you say that, Ahadi? How could you say that about any cub, much less our son? I beg you, please change his name!"

"My decision is final, woman! His name is Scelus, and that is what he is. A crime! Live with the consequences of your poor fertility!"

With that, the king of the Pridelands stormed out of the room in a fit of rage. Uru, still in shock, looked down to her son, who still slept peacefully in her paws.

"Don't listen to your father, my son. Your name shall not be Scelus, as you are not a crime in any way whatsoever. No, your name is Gaudium. Joy."

With that, Gaudium awoke, and the little cub nuzzled his mother, who gently licked him on the head.

Well, that is all for now. Please do tell me what you thought of my story in the reviews, and I will try to have the next chapter up whenever I can. Thank you for reading!