The Black Prince
Chapter 1: Circle of Life
A large dark shadow is cast upon the grassy plains of the Pridelands by the large towering figure of Pride Rocks peak; home of the King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi. Rulers of the Pridelands and parents of one rambunctious young cub. On a normal the King and Queen would sleep in until the sun was higher in the baby blue sky, but, their energetic cub had different plans.
"Dad, please wake up already. Come on its dawn. You PROMISED you would show me the kingdom today."
The Kings just yawned and tried to go back to sleep. Simba on the other hand would not give in so easily. After backing up a few paces he charged forward and head-butted the red maned of his father. His wife Sarabi stirred beside him before burring her head in her husband's mane mumbling sweet nothings. A frustrated scowl formed on the prince's face. His father had promised to show him the Kingdom today and now he's just going to sleep in. As if! He decided to take a different approach. He walked up to his father and jumped on his head trying to pull him over by his ear.
Taking the hint the king yawned loudly. "I think our son is awake." He whispered to his wife not bothering to open his eyes.
The queen stirred slight and with a smile she quipped back. "Before sunrise he's your son."
Simba back up once more and charged his father's head, which was huge in comparison to him, and head-butted him. The king shuffled and yawned again before giving in to his cub's demands.
"Ok. Alright, alright I'm up. I'm up."
Mufasa and his son exited the cave careful not to step on the many, many other pride members inside. A quick turn to the left and a steep climb before they could reach the top. A view that Simba has been waiting for a long time. Sarabi noticed her sons hesitance so she pushed Simba forward and watched with a proud smile as her sun acceded Pride Rocks peak.
Simba sat on the top with his father to his left looking out at the still rising sun as it projected a yellow haze upon the plains. It took him a lot of begging and convincing but he finally get his father to tell him about the circle of life.
"Look, Simba everything the light touches is our Kingdom."
The young cub gasped in surprise, all this, would be his Kingdom. "Wow."
"Simba, a Kings time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day Simba, the sun will set on my time here and will rise with you as the new King."
Simba looked on in awe. Soon he would be king. "And this will all be mine."
"Everything."
Simba smiled and looked forward again his black pelt creating a silhouette of himself on the horizon. This moment was very, very special to him. His father never really spent a lot of time with him because of his Kingly duties, but, when he did it was the best time of his life. Like the time he took him to hunt for mice. Or when he took him to a meeting with King Mosi of the neighboring pride, also a very good friend of Mufasa's. Out of all the moments this has to rank second. Yeah, sure, learning about the Kingdom and the Circle of Life is great but when he visited the neighboring pride he met the Kings daughter, Asha. In Simba's she is the most beautiful lioness ever, her dark brown pelt creating a contrast to her bright green eyes. Her bubbly personality and reserved nature made Simba like her even more. By the third visit he had falled heads over heals for her. However she does not know this, on the basis of only visiting once a month and the fact that the young prince is very shy. King Mosi's pride wasn't far no more than a couple hours walk prom the pride land border.
"Everything the light touches." He said still in awe. He scanned the horizon until his eyes fell upon a dark place. A place that hold to many painful memories for his father. "What about that shadowy place?"
Mufasa panicked slight before answering calmly. "That's beyond are border. You must never go there, Simba." He hoped for once Simba would listen to him, he couldn't handle another person he held dear taken away by those stupid mangy poachers. He already lost his mother to a rouge and not long after his father to hyenas. The last person he wants to see go is his son.
"But I thought a king can do whatever he wants."
"There's a lot more to being King than getting your way all the time."
Simba gasped in surprise for what seemed the hundredth time today. He hadn't been this excited sense he and Tojo pranked Scar. Poor Lion he smelled like dung for a month. Well, at least the smell matched his personality. They didn't escape punishment though, after having his laugh the King made sure that those two were not to leave to cave for a week. It was the worst week of his life. But, on the other paw it gave Tojo and him time to plan another great prank. One that would go down in Prideland history. Sadly it rained for the next few days and in their haste to go out and play after the rain stopped they had completely forgotten about the ingenious plan.
"There's more?!"
Mufasa stopped himself and realized he needed to tread carefully. "Well, Simba…"
The pair of lions descended Priderock and walked the plains of the land. Something Mufasa did with his father daily or used to. They watched as a heard of antelope leaped by. Mufasa took this as his chance to explain the Circle of life.
"Everything you see exists together, in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance, and respect all creatures, from the crawling ant to leaping antelope."
"Dad, but don't we eat the antelope?"
"Yes, Simba, but let me explain."
Simba sighed, a little disappointed. He was hoping to have fun with his father not get a history lesson. Well, beggars can't be choosers.
A/N Well hello my Toasty people its Rainbow here with a new story called "The Black Prince" This story will be my focus. Yes I know I haven't uploaded on anything for a while but I have a lot on my plate. I just whipped this up in a couple hours. So enjoy.