Twice in a Lifetime: Chapter 1 – Confusion
Disclaimer: I don't own Disney or TLK.
A/N: This is my first Lion King story. Please read and review if you'd like. I'd appreciate no flames. Thank you.
What is this? Where am I?
All I could see was whiteness all around me. Like a thick fog that impaired all sight.
Who am I?
As hard as I tried I couldn't remember anything. Who I was, where I came from, even what my own name was. It was all blank. Just like the white fog that surrounded me.
Why am I here?
My thoughts reverberated all around me. I could hear them and not just think them. Did that mean others, if there were any others, could also hear them?
"Is anyone out there?" I called. Immediately the fog began to lift. The dense white clouds gave way to a bright blue. A sky formed around me and I tempted myself to look down. I was in awe but I had a strange feeling of Déjà vu at the same time. Sun kissed lands of green were lay beneath me. They spanned for miles on end. Sparkling blue water dotted the lands and herds grazed peacefully. But all the energy seemed to be centered around a large rocky crag which stood proudly in the middle of the beautiful lands. I stared at it for a little while longer before I realized I was now suddenly floating directly above it.
Pride rock. That's Pride rock, I know it is.
The name of this fantastic place suddenly came back to my memory. And suddenly I found myself plummeting down towards it. I squeezed my eyes as tightly as I could.
I felt the falling sensation stop and I opened my eyes. I found that I was now inside a cave. I was facing the mouth and the early morning light was pouring into the cave. I made to leave but a noise distracted me. I turned around to see another lion lying in the corner.
Shocked I realized what I was. I was a lion, just like the one laying a few lengths away from me. Well technically she was a lioness. I took a cautious step closer to her. She seemed to be panting.
"Er, hello?" I asked.
She made no noise to suggest that she had heard me. I was about to say something else but three more lionesses ran into the cave. In fact they ran right through me. I recovered from my shock only to look down at my paws and legs to find that they were transparent and become even more shocked.
They can't see me and they can't hear me.
One of the lionesses began to speak, interrupting me from my thoughts.
"Breath deeply Uru, we've come to help with the birth of the new prince." She said to the lioness laying down who was now apparently in labour.
One of the others said, "Please come into the center of the cave so we can help you better, your majesty."
The lioness named Uru grunted in pain but got up and relocated herself in the centre of the cave. The lionesses situated themselves around her. Seeing Uru in the light of day suddenly triggered a memory.
Mother?
How could this be? How could I be standing here watching my mother without her or the others feeling my presence? And why am I see-through?
Before I could ponder these and other questions Uru, my mother gave another grunt. One lioness said aloud.
"Just one more push Uru, hang in there."
Uru roared loudly and out slid a tiny newborn cub. It was male and had dark fur with an even darker tuft on his head. Uru cradled him in her arms and licked him clean while purring loudly. The other lionesses congratulated her. After the cub had blindly found a source of milk Uru turned to the other lionesses.
"Where is Ahadi? Isn't he coming to see his new son?"
The lionesses shifted uncomfortably. "He said he'd be here your majesty. That is after he shows Mufasa the entire kingdom from the top of Pride Rock." One of them finally spoke up.
Uru's ears drooped. It saddened me to see my mother so put out. The emotions I could attach to her memory seemed to be very content and loving ones. She was very beautiful even when she was sad with her dark brown fur and blue eyes.
"Ok. Thank you for your help. Please just tell them to come right over." Uru said. The lionesses bowed and left the cave. Uru gave her cub one last lick on the forehead and laid her head on her paws and started to sleep.
I didn't know what I was supposed to do until a short time later a large muscular lion bound into the cave with a male cub at his heels.
Uru lifted her head and smiled. "Ahadi, take a look at your new son." She nudged the now sleeping son awake. His eyes and ears would still be shut for the next little while but he still sensed visitors. He moved his head around and sniffed around a bit trying to locate the new arrivers but still wouldn't move from Uru's side. Ahadi had light orange coloured fur with a black mane and green eyes. The cub was rather broad with orange fur and a red tuft on his head.
Ahadi rubbed heads with his mate before looking the young cub up and down. After a long silence he said, "He's kinda scrawny, even for a newborn."
Uru growled at Ahadi which seemed to frighten the younger cub. "Mufasa, why don't you go play with Sarabi?" She suggested to the cub who nodded and ran of the cave.
Ahadi looked shocked but Uru continued to look fierce. "Why do you scorn your new son before you even know him?" She growled.
Ahadi glared at her. "I told you Uru many times! I never wanted to have this cub, one heir was enough. We didn't need another!"
She growled louder. "This isn't just my fault Ahadi; you have as much blame in this as I do."
He growled back, "I know! And that's why I'm angry! I'm as busy as it is trying to prepare Mufasa to be a proper king and I don't need another burden! In fact I've decided I want you to raise him. I can't handle him right now, especially at such a young age. If we want Mufasa to be a good heir then I must put all my efforts into grooming him for that position! I can't be bothered with this garbage!"
Uru gasped and I suddenly anger erupted in my heart, I didn't know why but this lion was angering me beyond words.
"You…you would call your own son garbage?" Uru asked in a deadly silent voice.
Ahadi looked at the cub who had fallen asleep again.
"Yes, I would. In fact I'm going to go visit Rafiki right now to inform him of the new Prince Taka." He told her.
She couldn't jump to her feet on account of the cub but she growled angrily at him with her teeth bared. "You can't do that!" She hissed.
He snarled back, "I can do what I want and you're not going to stop me!" And with that he turned around and angrily ran out of the cave.
She continued to growl even after he had left. She turned to face the sleeping cub and nuzzled his head. "No good will come of this. Sleep well my little…Taka." She placed him between her front paws and laid her head beside him.
I stood there slightly numb. Taka? That's my name! And Ahadi, he's my…father. And the cub, what was his name? Mufasa. He's my brother.
I couldn't remember much past those facts. Aside from some emotions that is. Bitterness and jealousy seemed to be prominent right now with some anger. I sat down to try and remember a little further but it wasn't coming. I didn't know what I was supposed to do.
I looked to the cave entrance to find that it was now late morning. I decided to exit the cave but as soon as a stepped out.
FLASH
A bright light flashed I was no longer in the cave or anywhere near it apparently. I was beside a large waterhole. I looked around to see if I could find any indicator of what just happened. I heard noises coming from the bushes and out walked Taka with Uru in tow. They walked to the waterhole and began to drink. When Taka finished he or I looked at our mother and said.
"Mom? Why can't I go hunting yet?" He asked with pleading eyes.
She continued to drink but then looked up and said to Taka sadly, "Because son you are still to young to hunt. You could get hurt."
He groaned, "But Mufasa gets to hunt. Dad takes him all the time. Why won't he take me?"
She sighed and scooped him up with her paw to bring him closer. She nuzzled his head. "Mufasa is older and stronger, Taka. And your father is busy." She tried to give him a bath but he wiggled from her grasp.
"But that's not fair! He doesn't love me like he loves Mufasa! It's always Mufasa this and Mufasa that, when do I get to spend some time with dad?" He looked near tears.
She sighed again sadly. "Taka please try to understand. Being the king is a very important job. It takes up most of your father's time. Mufasa's training takes up the rest of it so please understand he's a busy lion. Besides what's wrong with the time we spend together?"
He rubbed against her chin. "Nothing mom, but it just seems like he ignores the both of us. And you're the queen, he shouldn't do that."
"Like I said he's busy. Now how about I try to talk to him into spending a little time with you? Who knows? Maybe he'll be free." She said and Taka immediately brightened up.
"Really? You mean it mom? Thanks so much! You know something mom, you're my best pal and I love you." He purred and jumped on her back.
She laughed as he nipped her ear. "Oh Taka. I love you too. And if you ever got the chance I think you'd be a great king."
FLASH
Another switch. Now I was sitting at the bottom of the crag that jutted out of pride rock. All the lions and lionesses seem to be assembled there too. Taka and Mufasa were sitting up top. Ahadi walked out to the tip with tears in his eyes.
"It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of my mate and queen Uru who was killed by a rogue lion earlier today." He said before breaking down completely.
Mufasa and Taka leaned on each other for support.
FLASH
An adolescent Taka lay at the top of Pride Rock watching bitterly as Mufasa walked off with Ahadi.
FLASH
Sarabi rejected Taka when he asked her to be his mate as Sarafina looked hopeful in the background.
FLASH
Taka in an attempt to make Mufasa look bad receives his scar from an angry herd of buffalo. He now asks to be called Scar instead of Taka.
All these memories kept on pouring in. All the hate, anger, bitterness, rivalry, jealousy, and sorrow were becoming clearer and clearer. I was Scar.
FLASH
Mufasa was announced king.
FLASH
Ahadi dies of old age.
FLASH
Simba was born to Sarabi and Mufasa.
FLASH
Sarafina bore Nala and wouldn't admit to who the father was and started avoiding Scar.
FLASH
All Scar knew now was hate. He drove everyone away. Sarafina avoided him completely.
FLASH
Scar plans to kill Simba and Mufasa.
FLASH
Scar kills Mufasa in the gorge.
FLASH
Scar takes over and starts a tyranny.
FLASH
Simba returns from being presumed dead and takes over killing Scar in the process.
FLASH
MAKE IT STOP!
I opened my eyes to find myself back in the white fog. I was dead! My whole life had just flashed before my eyes. I had no sense of time or what age I was in. But I was dead! If my heart was till working it'd be pounding.
I flung myself down and placed my paws over my head when, "Get up Taka!"
I shot to my feet and saw two large lions standing behind me. I immediately recognized them.
"M-m-mufasa? Ahadi?" I asked with a shaking voice.
Mufasa and Ahadi stood there regally.
"Taka you were consumed by your hate and your soul was blackened as a result. You wished so badly to be king but you were unprepared and immature when you killed your brother. Your rule nearly destroyed the kingdom and when you were sent to your death by Simba you could not be allowed to become a Great King of the Past." Ahadi said sadly but he continued. "But what you've seen has shown that you were not to blame for this change of heart. It was primarily my fault for you turning out this way. I am sorry Taka."
I stood still slightly on shock but then I registered what he said, "Sorry? SORRY! All you can say is sorry for making me the most hated king of all time?" I snarled at him.
Mufasa stepped in front of Ahadi. "Please Taka. We're here to offer you another chance, one that will hopefully help you to find your former self. We can't tell you much about this chance except that if you accept then you must make the right decisions and help someone else. If you refuse to take the chance then you will be eternally doomed and if you take the chance and fail you will also be eternally doomed." He said solemnly.
"Damned if I do, eh Mufasa? Why does this not surprise me? You two can't even help me properly. Besides should I succeed in this chance what's in it for me? Not that I'm counting to achieving. Like you said I'm consumed by my own hate, the same hate you installed in me." I growled.
"Please Taka I've felt worse and worse as I watched you sink deeper and deeper into your despair. This was the best we could do for you in terms of saving your soul. Please accept and try, try for everyone who's ever loved you. I'm not allowed to say this but Uru and Sarafina would love to see you conquer your hate." Ahadi pleaded.
My ears perked up. My mother and lover were on my side. I was shocked but I didn't want these two to see it.
"Fine!" I growled. "I'll do it. When does this 'chance' begin?"
Ahadi and Mufasa looked at each other and smiled before turning to me.
"Now." Said Ahadi with a smile and suddenly the white fog began clear and I felt the now familiar sensation of falling.
This better be good I thought as I saw Mufasa and Ahadi fade out of sight.
Authoresses Note: Well that's chapter 1. Please let me know what you think but please no flamers. Thank you.