THE LION KING - LEGACIES:
Book 4.
DISCLAIMER:
THIS IS A PIECE OF FANFICTION.
CHARACTERS, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT APPEAR IN THE LION KING, THE LION KING 2, THE LION KING 1½ AND THE LION KING SNA, ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF DISNEY AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES.
ORIGINAL CHARACTERS AND EVENTS ARE MY OWN INTERLECTUAL PROPERTY.
IF YOU CONSIDER THIS INTERLECTUAL THAT IS.
"Welcome people, to the fourth installment of the exciting new Series: The Lion King – Legacies.
Please note: if you have not yet read "Lion King: Judgment", or the previous installments of The Lion King Legacies – you are encouraged to do so.
A Special Thank you to JJZ-109, Chu10, and all of the loyal readers and repeat reviewers. Your contributions are appreciated, and are what have driven me so far in the completion of this story.
Many thanks.
Cheers: Haradion"
Prologue: War in Heaven
The Dark Lion moved across the dismal, grayish plains as quickly as he could. Like most of the Spirits, the Twilight realm unsettled him. It did not have the same life that the mortal world had, the same vibrancy, or the same allure. Nor was it anything like the heavens which he now inhabited since his death. They were however, a convenient place to gather, and speak. And it was to this purpose which he now bent himself.
The Dark lion made his way through the twisting writhing mists, seemingly knowing of some direction or location to travel, though there were no landmarks or features which might have pointed a casual traveler in the correct direction. It was, barren of life. Eventually, the mists cleared, and he saw the back of a pair of other lions. They were similar in size and shape. Golden, with manes and tail tips of a flaming crimson. They stood proud and noble, even with their back to him looking every inch kings. As he approached, he cleared his throat. They turned as one. The younger of the lions smiled when he saw him. Next to them stood another Darker Lion, who stood there is silence.
"Kovu." Simba said in greeting. Kovu bowed his head.
"Simba… Is everyone here yet?" He asked him. Simba shook his head.
"Nala will be a few moments… She isn't as… disturbed by this plane as my father and I, and often uses its mists to recall fond memories of happier times. I can't stand to have my mind ripped open in front of me, but she finds the process a relief to watching recent events…" Even as he finished speaking, the air rippled slightly, and a lioness emerged into view. She was a cream coated lioness, with startlingly blue eyes. Immediately, she moved to her mate, and nuzzled him, purring softly. When she saw Kovu however she smiled.
"It's good to see you, Kovu." She said, as if he were a visiting relative. It didn't seem necessary to state, but the habits of a lifetime were still in check, and it was sometimes hard to let go of the manners and courtesies which had been so prevalent in their mortal lives. Kovu returned the greeting warmly. He had always liked the King's mate. She was compassionate, pleasant, and spoke her mind.
"We've been watching the activities of your Son, Kovu. He's doing remarkably well. Better than any of us would have done in his place, I would wager." Simba said. Kovu smiled proudly. That much was true. Watching from the shadows and shadelands had been a grueling and taxing experience for any parent to sit and watch as their child underwent such terrors and experiences, but it had to be said, Kiava had successes thus far, and had indeed done remarkably well. Already kingly qualities were showing. His growth had been extraordinary. Kovu could not help but feel proud of his Son. Of the young prince.
"He is indeed a remarkable young cub…" He said. Simba smiled.
"Cub? Take a closer look… When I was a cub, I was dwarfed by a trio of Hyena's three times my size… He is nearly as big as Asante, if you look… Granted, she is a small specimen for a Hyena, but if I am not very much mistaken, Kiava is nearing adolescence…" He said. Kovu leaned down, and saw that the ghostly waterhole by which they stood opened not out into a pool of water but that the liquid rippled and shifted, showing shapes and images. The image before them now, was of Kiava… In the Process of beating a young Hyena senseless. Kovu blinked as Kiava dodged the blows of two Hyenas, causing them to crash into one another, before landing on the nape of a third, and begin to knock the creature out. He looked up at Simba who was grinning.
"Now I couldn't do that as a cub." Simba said. Kovu winced.
"I suspect we may have to thank your mother for that…" He said, looking at Nala. Nala shook her head.
"Oh Kovu… I told you she knew what she was doing… And you can't deny that it has worked, for the most part…" She pointed out. Kovu sighed.
"I know… I merely lament the necessity for such… brutality." He said. Simba nodded slowly. We all do, Kovu. We all do." The Water shifted again, and centered on the face of another. A much older lioness, whom Kovu recognized as his sister, Vitani. Her eyes were cold and distant. Kovu sighed when seeing her, and Simba nodded sympathetically.
"Your sister… Will she manage?"
"Vitani is far stronger than I ever was, Simba… But this latest tragerdy has hurt her deeply. I worry it will cause her to make mistakes… to become reckless."
"Let us hope not…" Simba said, as Inti and Koron stepped into the vision, speaking to Vitani, who listened carefully, and then nodded. Whatever had been said, Inti seemed satisfied by it, and departed, nodding his head at a a pair of Cheetahs, who stood up and followed him.
"Almasi's children seem to have adapted well…" Kovu observed. Simba winced at that.
"I wouldn't celebrate any event which forces a child to become a warrior or Warleader Kovu, no matter how remarkable… Though perhaps your perspective is different to mine… You did the same, as I recall…"
"Not as young… but yes." Kovu admitted.
The image beneath them shifted and pulsed yet again, and it showed the face of another young lion. This one was older than the cubs, seemingly an adolecesnt, though now the lion's mane was stretched fully around its face, in a rough circle, and extended back behind his neck. he was a young adult male lion, and Nala nodded upon seeing Danyal again. Simba smiled.
"I remember this one. Seems he got his wish to fight after all… You knew the boy's mother, didn't you?" Simba said. Kovu nodded uncertainly.
"Yes… I knew Kulana very well. She and I were very good friends… But she left about half a year before Zira put her plan into action… I never saw her again, until the day she returned to the Pridelands… The day she died. You never met her alive. Vitani knew her, but never seemed able to make up her mind as to wether she liked her or didn't…" Kovu said. Simba nodded.
"Either way, her son appears to be doing well for himself… and found himself a… companion… in the form of Sundar… Anyone have any idea what her powers represent, or what it can mean?" He asked. None of them said a word. The Darker lion who up till now had said nothing shook his head.
"We can't know… If it is important, it will reveal itself at a later date… For now, our biggest concern should be Kiava… And his… Plan."
"Taka's plan, you mean." Mufasa said, scowling. Kovu shrugged.
"It's entirely possible that the Hyenas will side with Kiava… We do not know how they will react to this. Scar seemed to think they could be convinced to do the right thing…"
"Scar has a blind spot when it comes to those creatures. I am not my father, I do not detest their very existence, but even I have cause for concern about their reliability. They could turn on Kiava at a moment's notice. They have before."
"Simba, as I recall, Scar turned on them…"
"Another reason for them not to trust Kiava. I think this ill advised…" Mufasa said. He looked at the darker lion, who still didn't betray any emotion or thought. "What about you, Tojo? You are probably the one lion besides Scar who ever trusted them…"
Tojo shifted.
"That's likely because I was the one lion besides Scar whom they ever liked." He paused.
"Shenzi and Banzai are not regular Hyenas. I recall the day they arrived in the Pridelands, and the days that followed. They learnt different ways of thinking. They were foolish, reckless, and easily manipulated to begin with, but they became cunning and dangerous as time went on. Traits that they learnt from Scar. Its possible, that if Kiava could instill them with some of his traits, the Hyenas could be persuaded to join forces with Kiava… Especially if he was able to help them against the Shai'tan. Amun's forces are pushing them to their very limit. Soon, they may be desperate enough to try anything, Simba. And that might include listening to and working with Kiava… But it might just as easily include killing him, or giving him to the Shai'tan. We can't know for certain which they would do…" He said. Kovu coughed.
"Father… Perhaps if you or Scar appeared to Shenzi… if you spoke to them." Mufasa shook his head.
"No! No, we can't intervene like that… I can tolerate Scar's interference with Kiava, so long as it is minimal and only in a guiding capacity. We can't directly influence events, and we can't appear to those that we knew personally. Scar never knew Kiava, and vice versa, but if people regularly began seeing the spirits of friends, or enemies, they were killed long ago, they would never be able to move on with their lives. Shenzi and Banzai were good friends with both of you. For you to interfere could be disastrous.
"Or it could go well."
"We have no way of knowing beforehand which it would it be. We can't risk it. We shall have to trust Kiava to manage this on his own, without hour influence. Hopefully… He can convince Shenzi… If not… I don't think out combined influence could help him get out of the Ivory Tower alive…" Mufasa said. Kovu sighed.
"Very well. Turning out attention to other matters." He waved his paw, and the pool shifted again. This time, it displayed no friends or lions or mortals of any kind. It merley showed the great cosmic depths of space. The Stars and lights which covered the sky. Clouds of gas and dust. The raging power of the stars glowing in their glorious light.
And behind them… something else.
It appeared to look like a cloud, or a swarm. A blackness. A darkness. A blight. And it was growing in size, covering the heavens, devouring stars and worlds. Kovu sighed when he saw it. A void. The destruction of the heavens.
"It's growing… It's not coming as fast now, but its growing still. As the Shai'tan's power grows, so does the blight in heaven. AS the Shai'tan kill, it is the heavens which die. I wonder if they knew the damage their action were having upon the heavens, would it slow their hatred, or hasten it? Either way, it confirms what we already know… As the Pridelands burn, so do the heavens… And we haven't stopped it yet." He said.
"We're holding it back… Keeping it at bay. But with each day, it takes more of our strength to withstand. Kiava's time is running out. Sooner or later, he must defeat the Emperor, or there may be nothing left." Nala added.
Simba sighed.
"Were the need not so desperate, I would rage at our actions, using a boy in such a way."
"If he can convince the Hyenas, he will have a far better chance at stopping this…" Tojo pointed out.
"But if he fails what then?" Mufasa asked.
Nobody answered. For no one had an answer.
AN:
An interesting little segment, showing that the Spirits have indeed been looking and watching throughout the story so far. I hope you found it interesting. Now. Onwards, to the next chapter!