Well it's back up! By popular demand, I've decided to re-upload Sweet Revenge. I had to re-write most of the chapters (I only saved two x] Silly me.) so the words are different and stuff. But the plot's pretty much the same. But some things were taken out and new things are put in. I hope you still like it.
~1~
A lioness sheltered herself in a dimly lit den. Water drips from the roof of the cave frequently, giving off an audible plop every second or so. The cave is so dark that she could barely see the ball of fluff that purred in her arms. The child was born just a few hours before, and him and his mother were on the run.
"Don't worry, Sweetie." said the young lioness to her frightened son. "Mommy's gonna take you back home and we'll be safe and sound."
She licked him tenderly. Her olive-eyed son cooed back at her. She glowed proudly at her boy. If she got out of this alive, they'd both be out of harm's way and they'd eventually find someone to accept them.
"Who'd turn down a new mother?" she thought.
But suddenly, she shot up. Her nostrils flared as the smell of smoke filled her nose. She darted her head left and right. A ring of fire trapped the two!
"No!" she bellowed before she grabbed her son and headed to safety.
The sea of flames trailed right behind mother and son. The thick smoke blinded the young mother, but she could still see the figures looming in and out of the clouds, their true identities remained hidden by the smog. Her cub was coughing violently and her eyes were watery and red.
Finally, she saw a safe haven—a large boulder high enough to get fresh air. She hoisted herself up onto the boulder and dropped her son onto the surface. Her breaths were becoming more labored. She tried her hardest not to frighten her son, who was already groaning and whimpering.
"We'll be alright," she wheezed. "We'll be alright…"
She collapsed onto the hard surface. The cub buried himself into the crook of her arms, hoping he could shield himself from the madness that took place around them. A sinister chuckle could be heard. Then, yet another figure appeared as the clouds wafted away.
"You know the penalty for betraying us, Tamu." she growled.
"I'd rather die a thousand deaths than give you my son!" Tamu shot back, despite her health.
"Suit yourself."
"You'll get what's coming to you. You and that other piece of trash!" Tamu said with effort. It was obvious her end was near. "Z-Zira."
With one last breath, her head fell and she died. Zira pressed her paw against her windpipe, to make sure she was really dead. The cub felt his mother's body grow cold. He yowled for her soothing voice, hoping for a response. Nothing. He had a glimmer of hope when she saw her arm being lifted. But he buried back into her dirt brown pelt when he saw Zira's face peering into his secret refuge.
"Hello there, little one." she smiled. "You're coming with me."
He tried to avoid her grip, but she caught him by the nape of his neck and carried him back to the rest of the pride. The 'pride' actually consisted of just three lions: the unnamed newborn cub, Zira and her new mate, Vuta. He was about Simba's age but mightier. He was a sandy brown with eyes as blue as the Mediterranean. The rest were a group of about ten hyenas who were still loyal to Scar and Zira, even after he betrayed them. The group included Malaika, the daughter of Banzai and Shenzi. She was resented by the pack as a pup. She was even ostracized by her own parents. She eventually took off, along with the others. She and her mate, Talib, gave birth to two hyena pups, Nama and Obi, just a few weeks before Gamba was born.
"Vuta." Zira smiled as she dropped the frightened cub in front of him.
He chortled heartily at the sight of the shaking boy.
"Gamba, my boy." he said. "I'll train you to be a true warrior."
He then turned his attention to Zira.
"Take him and follow me." he ordered.
Zira complied and they reached a cliff. At the bottom, the hyenas roared with laughter and buzzed with life.
"SILENCE!" Vuta roared, his thunderous voice bringing the pack's liveliness to a sudden stop.
His lips curled into a menacing smile as Zira presented the cub.
"A prince has been born!" he yelled, making the hyenas cheer with cacophonic howls and laughs.
"We are sure Prince Gamba will lead us to victory!"
The cheering grew even louder and more powerful. Vuta's ruthless smirk grew even wider. Gamba looked down at the horde. He wasn't quite sure what was happening. He wished his mother was here to pacify him with her angelic voice and assuring words.
"We WILL get our vengeance and we WILL take what's rightfully ours!"
"All hail Prince Gamba!" the hyenas cheered in unison.
"All hail Prince Gamba!"
"All hail Prince Gamba!"
"All hail Prince Gamba!"
Their cheerful song took place for the rest of the night, but the very next morning, yet another birth took place. But it was further down. A magenta colored bird swooped into a baobab tree. She was Zazu's daughter and the new royal advisor.
"Had a good night's sleep, Rafiki?" she asked cheerfully. "I hope you did because you have TWICE as much work to do today."
"Aha! Tweenz?" he responded in shock.
"They were born early this morning. Such an adorable pair."
"There's something veeeery special about tweenz, Nyoni."
"Oh?" she replied with a hint of curiosity in her tone. "How come?"
"Yes! They ah very close, close-ah than regul-ah seeblingz."
"I had four brothers and sisters, and I don't feel close to any of them."
"No! Only tweenz! You see, Nyoni, tweenz very close because they have special power."
"Special power?" Nyoni asked quizzically.
"Yes! When one tween goes missing, the other tween can find him. When one tween is talking, the other tween already knows what he says."
"Maybe it's just coinciden—."
"No! Special tween power!" Rafiki interjected.
"Well as much as I'd like to stay and chat about this *ahem* 'special tween power', I have to announce the birth." Nyoni said nonchalantly before she took off. "See you later!"
Rafiki looked at her fly off.
"Eh-hehe. She's too young to understand. Teez a shame Zazu couldn't live long enough to see his beyooteeful dautah grow." he continued solemnly as he looked over to a mound of dirt. "But teez part of the great circle of life."
He grabbed his stick and ambled towards the rock, where many of the animals began to group. Meanwhile, inside the rock, many of the lionesses gathered around the new parents.
"Oh Kiara, they're so beautiful!"
"They look so much like their Mommy."
"I'm so proud of you both!"
Kiara and Kovu beamed proudly at their cubs. Two little girls. The oldest was a splitting image of her mother. The same golden fur and her beautiful royal red eyes. The youngest of the brood was a tan furred cub who inherited Kovu's eyes but most of Kiara's features. Her fur was a mix of Kiara and Kovu's pelts.
"Have you thought of any names?" Nyoni grinned as she glided to them.
"The gold one's name is Zarina." Kiara said warmly.
"Very fitting, your majesty."
"And the brown one's name is Keisha." Kovu added.
"They're adorable."
"Thank-you, Nyoni. Any sign of Rafiki?" Kiara asked.
"He's on his way." she replied. "Just give him a minute or so. He's no spring chicken you know."
The comment triggered a warm chuckle from Kiara, who focused back on her oldest cub once she yowled.
"Wow," a cub said in awe to her brother, who shared her features. "They're so tiny."
"Yeah!" her brother responded. He looked up at his mother. "Mommy? Were we that tiny?"
"Yes, you most certainly were." his mother, Kandi, smiled as she nuzzled them both lovingly. "You and Fola were very cute babies as well."
"All babies are." Fola added. "Except for Jabari. Cause he's got a big head." she said with a laugh.
"Shut up, were twins!" Jabari snarled.
"You shut up, Bighead!"
"Hush!" Kandi scolded to both her cubs.
"Sorry," they said simultaneously.
Vitani watched through the crowd. Her little brother's proud grin must've been contagious because she couldn't help but smile as well. Her son, Jelani, who was just a month older than his royal cousins, wriggled and squirmed in Vitani's grip. He wanted to meet the new cubs up close, but Vitani wouldn't budge. From what he saw, the mandrill had finally arrived, smudging their tiny foreheads with the various fruit juices and sprinkling sand on top to finish it off. He was also muttering something in Swahili. Simba and Nala exchanged looks, both with wide smiles on their faces.
Rafiki lifted up Zarina. Being the oldest, she was the one who would be presented first. He took slow steps towards the ledge. Zarina's beady eyes glided from one side to the other, taking note of all the animals that arrived to see her. Rafiki sent her in the air and they began to trumpet, chirp, roar, tweet and screech. Zarina smiled down at them as they began to bow down at the sight of their future queen. Rafiki slowly brought him back in his arms and transferred her back to her smiling parents.
Now it was Keisha's turn. She looked back at her parents hesitantly.
"It's okay, Keisha." Kiara giggled.
She looked down at the other animals. Her glower soon turned into a big smile. She tried to reach out to them with her tiny arms. When Rafiki lifted her, she thrashed and kicked giddily. She emitted an energetic laugh as a response to the other animals' sounds. She wriggled around so much, that she nearly fell out of the mandrill's leathery hands. But fortunately, he caught her before she could plummet. Rafiki brought the feisty cub to her mother and placed his warm hand on Kovu's shoulder.
"Thank-you." the brown lion said gratefully.
Without Rafiki, he might've never fallen in love with Kiara and they wouldn't have had those two beautiful cubs. Rafiki's fingers curled slightly, wrapping around the king's broad shoulder.
"Your tweenz arrival has meaning." he smiled. "A great change will come."
Kovu wasn't quite sure what he meant, but before he could ask, the wise mandrill was long gone.
Well there was the very first chapter. If you liked it, great! If not, that's okay too I guess. But if you want, feel free to give some pointers. Be advised that ranting and constructive criticism are two different things. Thanks! :)