The Lion King III: Reign of Peace
A/N: I've not taken the time to study the natural behavior of the species we all know and love; the lion. I like to be as natural as possible with my stories, but this might be a little different this time. I know the basics, thanks to the movie, but beyond that I am ignorant. Please, bear with me and point out anything that might be...wrong. One more thing. I have a tendency to focus heavily on details, no matter the relevance, unfortunately. Please, if you get bored with any point of the story, TELL ME! I need to know when I've gone over-board, since it's nearly impossible for me to find those points.
(This story is my version of a sequel to The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, meaning that it comes immediately after the movie's completion. I own none of the movie characters, nor a bunch of the settings. Also, some themes and ideas are taken from the movies. They are not mine either.)
Part 1: Healing of Old Wounds
Prologue
The night quickly swallowed the land of the living as a cool darkness swept across the great African savannah. The sun dropped her light below the rigid horizon, and the world began to bathe in darkness. Creatures of all sizes, from the scurrying mouse to the leaping antelope, found shelter from the dangers of the night among the tall, browning grasses, beneath rock formations which protected from breezy winds, or anywhere else that could provide sufficient safety. The activity of the day hushed as night came about with the world resting in a haunting silence. Even the air itself ceased to move, and the tall grasses slept without disturbance.
The only light shed upon this motionless landscape came from the inky sky above. Though clouds shedding a glow of violet scattered across the sky, crystal light twinkling from distant stars broke through the shelter, and spread remnants of their light upon the Earth. The Kings kept their eyes open this night, but with obscured vision.
Later on into the night, the clouds began to swell with excess precipitation. All the light from the beyond found shelter behind these dark clouds, and the Kings' vision was cut off from their people. A soft patter of rain fell from the clouds, and the ground greedily absorbed it.
Among the tall grasses, at the base of a towering umbrella tree, a howl of pain from a lion broke into the air. Frightened, birds nesting nearby spread their wings and bolted from the scene. A claw, with blades from a sharpened dagger, rose from behind the tall stalks of grass. It struck downward, pounding against the face of a young, handsome lion just growing out of the stage of adolescence. He spun around slightly in the air, and was thrown into a clearing where the tall grasses ceased to grow. The ground beneath him was hard rock, reddened by the constantly-beating sun.
The head of the young lion drooped in weariness and pain, hovering just above the ground. Blood from deep wounds spread across his body matted the fur and, as it dried, it turned uncomfortably crusty. His body stood with a heavy limp in the back left leg, and his body shook with the intense pain, and nearly collapsed to the ground.
"Father, please," he begged in a raspy, pained tone, "stop this."
The other lion stepped out of the tall grasses, a grin spread across his face. The darkness hid all his other features. The rain from above began to beat more heavily against the ground.
"I will stop only when you're leaning over the cliff to death. When you can barely hang onto this life," A chilling voice replied to his son's pleas.
The young lion struggled to remain standing. Still, his eyes, red with blood, focused on the figure approaching.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
The older lion's brow curled with anger, "You dare question me! My plan is flawless, and I will finally be able to get my revenge! Would you keep me from this victory and return me to the world I left behind?"
"No, I-"
The young lion was interrupted by a slash to his face. The blood shed blinded him in red, adding to what blood was already swimming in his eyes. Again, he voiced a howl of pain. When he crashed to the ground, small, loose pebbles pushed into his wounds, adding to his pain. This time, he couldn't stand up.
"Trust me..."
A/N: Well, there you have it! The prologue! This here is just a little taste of the plot I'll be writing. No specific characters yet...just these two. Do you like my style? Or is it boring and long...and just plain terrible? Please, let me know! I want to please as many people, fans I must say, as I can!