Given From Above is so called „co-story". After reading MinisterSweetGoodKid's Power and Peace I decided to write an alternative ending (using Cogitor's idea that worked so well with LLtQ altend) of the tale. Don't get me wrong – I like PaP and I consider it as the best MSGK's story so far. However in few issues Author went "a bit too far" – making me liking her characters, she also made me to fell sympathy towards "bad boy" there. So I imagined the version of the story where Nafsi is saved (as well saved are some political principles severely damaged in original tale…) – he keeps his power and also deals with his problems… but for a price. The Order in Eastlands is restored but in much different way than original epilogue tells. Perhaps that vision would appeal to You, perhaps not. However I hope You have some fun reading "the other paw" perspective of this drama.
To enjoy this story You must be aware of PaP plot (Find MSGK in my favourite authors). GFA starts in the middle of PaP's 15th chapter, seven days after Nafsi's disappearance. Since that time POV sticks with Asili, but I tried to keep compatibility with original, varied only by few changes that trigger the different outcome.
Story is T-rated, due to some violence described and rather disturbing emotional and social matters.
And here few words from MinisterSweetGoodKid:
First off, I'd like to thank Taka PL for wanting to do an alternate ending for Power and Peace. As I wrote the original story, I myself wondered what it would be like if the king had lived and changed. But with that, would come a price, the prince would have to die. I didn't want to end one of my favorite stories like that and Taka, to my complete surprise, wanted to see and write it for himself which, again, I thank him for deeply. He is one of my good friends and his own works have inspired me time and again to continue writing. The question that came to my mind after I read this in full was could Nafsi be changed if he lost something, or someone he loved? The answer to the question is yes. Anyway, read this and enjoy. I know I did. Taka, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope to see more alternate endings for either my future stories, or others, including from you yourself in the future.
And now – the story itself:
Given from Above
Prologue - The Kingdom
You would have no power over me at all if it had not been given you from above. – John 19, 11
Asili knew that only dead ones are composed. But if to gain ideal equilibrium of mind one has to die, lioness thought that it was a bad deal in the end. Life meant uncertainty and greyfurred could cope with that, if only such states of chaos lasted shorter than a week. But it happened to last longer. King was still gone.
Last days of dry season were a bad time for philosophy, politics and even any kind of abstractive thinking. Sun was scorching the dried savannah, causing a common prayer of all Eastlands inhabitants for a rain to come. So lionesses rather avoided any serious thinking and just wished that the authority issues would be solved in one way or in the other. It was the seventh day that king was gone.
For the beginning, Asili – the same as all lionesses – felt simply a relief, that Nafsi left. Just few days without king's erratic behaviour, his unpredictable mood, switching from benevolent calmness to the edge of violent madness, greyfurred called a blessing. But with more and more time passing without ruler, with prince Seth trying to administrate orphaned land, Asili sensed a great enigma in the air.
Nafsi was gone. But what would be, if he returns?
That "if" was the key issue. When lionesses just hoped that absence of ruler was his usual trip, lasting few days maximum, they just enjoyed moments of tranquillity and used that time to rest, both physically and mentally. But on the morning of seventh day Asili asked herself the old question in completely new way. Not "when" king would be back, but "if" he would. And what was a pleasant rest before a labour, became a inching dilemma, before possible salvation or doom.
Prince Seth called animals representatives. That gathering was long absent in Eastlands, as Nafsi never bothered with such a "waste of time", as he referred it with tired voice. In fact animals of Eastlands also never insisted to have a gathering. They also referred it as a "waste of time", but most of their voices sounded with fear, saying that. If one didn't have to meet the king, she or he avoided that honour.
"Representatives!?" yelled Aneesa. But ion fact in her voice there was more of surprise than fear. "So… prince called them without…"
"…king's permission." It should be added. But no one in cave dared to say it, yet. Maybe Nafsi would never call animals of the land in order other to cheer some pride-holiday, but still, giving a command of gathering of council was something that king should give. Or someone acting in king's name.
It was too hot to think, but Asili felt it was very wrong. She sensed that whoever prince Seth was about to do, she shouldn't participate in this. Maybe even express her doubts, but that was few steps beyond all self-confidence she had. So greyfurred just stepped to queen-mother and asked quietly.
"Ma'am?"
"What's the problem, my child?" Neema, raised her head a little, just to see young lioness better.
"If the hunting is off for now…"
"As you see, I already took my free time." Smiled queen-mother. "Whatever my grandson is going to do with those representatives, that is not your concern. He will send guardians to set it up. Just rest…"
For the first glance that idea looked tempting, but Asili was already driven by imperative to avoid any kind of involvement. She wished even to leave before she would be told in what she was involved. So she just replied, looking around.
"Yes, ma'am… But I was wandering, where is her highness… She wasn't with us on the hunt and I think someone should look after her… just in case."
Neema narrowed her eyes, as if recalling queen spoiled her good mood. Perhaps it did. Old monarchess was rather cheering the sudden change in her grandson than worry about daughter-in-law.
"She will be fine." Said Neema. "Just she needed a break in this all." She raised her paw and pointed it in random direction. Of course she had on mind whole situation of passing weeks, but she didn't tell it directly.
"We all need." thought Asili. But then added aloud. "Ma'am, I will go to search her."
"If you think that is necessary…" called queen-mother after her, because young lioness had already turned around and with fast steps went to cave's exit.
It was also a trick, not to ask prince for permission. Just week earlier king was ordering his subject everything, from issues of pride to slightest tasks. Asili felt that her leaving the cave should be commanded by someone, but asking Seth for that was very risky itself. Seth wasn't king, yet? Or he was? And even lioness wished to ask blackmaned lion for any instruction, she would felt extremely embarrassed to do it. She was just few months older than Seth, she was his cubhood playmate.
So she aptly passed by the prince, who was ordering guardians to call representatives. Most of lionesses stood there, listening for that groundbreaking decision, so attention of the pride was focused completely out of her. Pretending she was the most easy and calm lioness in the world, she passed prince by.
"I know that is sudden, but we have a sudden problem here." Seth continued his briefing. "Call animals, for today if possible and for tomorrow for sure. They all should know what is going on here and with that blasted rogue who almost killed Akase…" Then he noticed Asili. Instinctively he smiled, as he always had a solid dose of fondness towards his old cubhood-mate. "Oh, As… Don't bother yourself. I already ordered guardians to take care for invitation."
"Yes, sir." Replied greyfurred. "I'll get your mother and will be right back." Seth nodded his head, asking no more questions, just returning to paused briefing. Asili sighed with relief and entered grass of savannah.
Then she stopped, uncertain what to do. She wanted just to leave Eastrock, to be aside that unbearable waiting. But what she wanted to do instead? She told queen-mother she would look for lady Nuru. Yes, that was a good reason to go away - lady Nuru. Asili turned west and walked ahead. She had no idea if queen was somewhere there, but because of that she couldn't say that was a bad direction. "Nice place for a start." She thought. "I hope that queen is all right, but I could search for her, until all this mess is over."
Ronan almost overturned her. That means: he ran just aside, not pushing her, but she almost fell at her own, scared by sudden approach of guardian. Lion seemed to ignoring her completely, focused on own mission. "Yeah, he is a messenger." Though Asili, resuming her pace. "I guess he carries some awfully important news."
As lion disappeared beyond the hummock, lioness felt a sudden urge to follow him. It was a pure coincidence that guardian was sent on mission and met her in process, but according what Asili heard earlier, he was calling for Representatives. "Who could he call?" she asked silently and discovered she ran after him.
She kept a distance – enough to always he separated from him by safe space of some piece relief. She had no idea, why she was doing it. "Damn! I'm tracking a guardian? Am I playing a detective?" And then she was hit by very obvious thought.
She knew, where and what for Ronan ran.
"Oh, Stars!" she gasped, speeding up. It was even worse that she expected. Guardian seemed to heading for hyenas East Clan. Although Asili didn't hear all prince's orders, she heard many times as guardians talked among themselves about Nafsi. She was also aware that since some time there was a communication between pride and clan, done aside of Nafsi orders nor even knowledge. "They are going to depose king!" thought lioness. Ronan and Rubani mentioned about it once. I thought they were kidding, but now…"
She ran. She discovered it with amazement and fear, because she had left Eastrock because she wanted to be far from crisis in pride. By following guardian, she followed it even closer. "Stars! Why I'm getting myself involved in all this?" she asked, but she knew the answer.
The promise.
Promise given to her dying mother. That she would "take care" of king. She almost forgot that it was even an issue. Nafsi seemed to be strong and independent, so any kind of help, especially from young and inexperienced lioness, seemed to be useless. King never asked her for anything, except of fulfilling duties of huntress. But this changed rapidly. "And what I'm suppose to do?" she thought. "I know that Nafsi is somehow mad… It's good that Seth will replace him. But still… Stars, it shouldn't be like that. I promised to my mother… we all promised to be loyal to our king!"
All those doubts didn't interrupted her run. She kept still the same distance to Ronan and watched carefully for not being detected. Savannah became more and more rocky, as they moved to western part, to hyenas area. "I think I should find the queen." Thought Asili. "And tell her that things went too far. She will surely fix all that." But there was no Nuru in sight, while Ronan was. And he ran directly to hyenas keep. Sun was slowly coming down, but still it's warm rays were making day awfully hot. "Too hot to think. Much too hot." Repeated Asili in mind.
She stopped at once, seeing that Ronan halted to take drink from waterhole. Lioness also was thirsty, but she knew that if she waited for lion to go further and took a drink herself, she would lost him. At least visually – she knew where he wanted to go. So she waited in grass, thinking on her next move.
"It's much above me!" she thought. "Males are to rule, kings especially. And queens, of course, but that is a special case. I have nothing to do with that stuff." But then she noticed grin on Ronan's face. Lion looked as he was perfectly satisfied and proud of his job. "Depose the king." Gasped Asili in mind. "It shouldn't be like that… but what could I do?"
As guardian stood up and set off, she followed. She had no idea how she could behave in such situation. Only finding queen and asking her to do something was some reasonable option. But she looked as hypnotized on run of guardian. Lion stopped.
Just before him suddenly appeared few hyenas, previously hidden in grass. Asili almost gasped out of fear, taking look around herself. But no one was there – for Ronan a welcome-committee had been waiting intentionally.
"So…" said hyena, whom Asili recognised as matriarch Ajali. "We heard the news… But because you are here, I suspect it is what for we had been waiting for long time."
"Indeed, ma'am." Replied guardian. "We finally decided to abolish that tyrant."
"Come with me." said hyena. "You will tell my clan more."
Asili followed lion and scavengers, although she wanted to be in completely different place, if that possible, far from all plots of her pride.