The next morning, I could not find my friends anywhere, until I found a herd of zebras grazing. There was Riki and Ravi, alongside Willhelm.
"Billy?" I asked, "What are you doing?"
"Mungu, this herd of zebras want me to become their king." He said.
"Great." I said, "So, what are you two doing?" I asked Riki and Ravi.
"We are just helping the new king adjust." Riki said.
"I will come to the Pridelands when I can." Willhelm said, "Thank you for the journey."
"You're welcome." I said, as Riki and Ravi came with me again.
"Why are you leaving your pride?" They asked.
"I'm leaving my pride because of my fur color." I said.
"What?" They asked.
"Yes." I said, "My fur color made me have to leave, or else I would be killed by my father." I said.
"Who was your father?" Ravi asked.
"The king of the biggest pride that roamed South Africa." I said, "Why are you guys leaving?"
"The same reason." They both said.
"But your fur is as gold as gold." I stated.
"Yes, however, an evil lion by the name of Mabaya usurped our father." Riki said.
"Where are you both from?" I asked.
"Kenya." They said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes." They said.
"Why don't you two usurp the usurper?" I asked.
"We've tried that." Riki said.
"We're not strong enough." His twin said.
"Did you try fighting him 2 on 1?" I asked.
"No, actually we didn't." Ravi said.
"Try it." I said, "Tell me of what happens." I said.
"Thank you Mungu." Riki said, before I was alone again.
Now without anyone slowing me down, I ventured out during the nightfall. Then, I seen a green light in the sky.
I'm unsure if I was simply hallucinating, or if it was my mother.
"Mungu?" The figure asked.
"Mother?" I asked.
"Mungu." She said, "Your father is trying to kill you."
"I know that mom." I said, "But why?" I asked.
"Because your fur color is white." She said.
"Why is my fur color white?" I asked.
"Because of a pigment defect called 'Albinism.'" She said.
"Why me though?" I asked.
"I do not know, but I do know that you will become king of the Pridelands." She said.
"Will you give me any direction?" I asked.
"I am sorry Mungu." She said, "I cannot. Your destiny is created by yourself."
"What is my destiny?" I asked.
"I will give you a riddle." She said.
"Okay." I said.
"Who is the greatest king?" She asked.
"The king of the Pridelands?" I asked.
"Now, who is the worst king?" She asked.
"Father." I stated.
"You will become one of the two, who it will be, you must follow your heart." She said.
"How will I know who I become?" I asked.
"You will meet a lioness named Shana. You will either kill her, or you will become her king, and rule the Pridelands with her." She said.
"Thank you for your guidance." I said.
"You are welcome my cub, now go." She said.
Then, she disappeared.
I was alone again. I seen poachers off in the distance. One thing I have they do not have: night vision.
I would kill every poacher in this continent if I must to get to the Pridelands.
I walked down to the poachers.
What I heard was very unsettling.
"Did you hear of the lion who killed those other poachers?" Asked one with an assault rifle.
"Yeah, what happened to him?" The other asked, armed with a sniper rifle.
"His pride gotten away, except for his daughter." The one with the assault rifle said.
"Did they kill her?" Said the other.
"No, she's being shipped off to a zoo in Rhode Island." Said the one with the assault rifle.
"Where is she being shipped from?" The one with the sniper rifle asked.
"She's being shipped from here." Said the other.
When is she going to be shipped?" The sniper asked.
"Tomorrow." The other said.
That's all I had to hear. I then pounced them, and mercilessly ripped the two open.
Then, I heard gunshots, and a large truck coming towards the compound.
"Which lion is being shipped today?" Asked a man who was unarmed.
"A lion named Shana." Said another man.
It was ten to one. I could not win the battle.
Then, my mother came back in her green form. "Go down there." She said.
"I will not win that battle." I said. "Ten to one?"
"Eight." She said, "Two are unarmed."
"How will I beat that?" I asked her.
"Because I believe in you, and that is your future queen in that truck." She said.
"It is?" I asked.
"Yes." She said, "Now go."
"Alright." I said, as I ran down the hill and rushed head-on with the truck.
Then, there was gunfire coming towards me. I dodged them all, and killed each man, except the two who were unarmed.
"Holy fuck!" Said one man.
"An albino lion!" Said the other.
I paid no mind to the two of them, and opened the door of the truck.
"What is he doing?" Asked one of the men.
"I do not know." Said the other.
As I walked inside of the truck, I seen her. She was beautiful. She also looked scared, and like she has been crying for a while.
"Hello?" I roared.
"What?" She asked.
"I'm here to help you." I said.
"You're only a ghost." She said, "You expect me to believe a white lion?"
"If you want to rot in a filthy zoo, then be my guest!" I yelled.
"What?" She asked.
"Exactly." I stated.
"Okay, fine." She said, "Why are you helping me?" She asked.
"Who do you think would help you?" I asked.
"Let's go then." She said.
"Okay." I said, guiding her out of the truck.
We then ran like our paws were on fire. We did not want every poacher in Africa to come down ontop of us.
Then, we got to a rock, when she asked me, "Your not a ghost, are you?"
"No, I am not." I said.
"Sorry." She said.
"It is alright." I said.
"Why did you save me?" She asked.
"I don't know." I said, "Why did I?"
"Because I am the princess of the Pridelands?" She asked.
"Maybe." I said.
"Well, I am sorry, but I am being courted by another lion." She said.
"Who?" I asked.
"Kibwana." She said.
"My brother?" I asked.
"Depends, does he come from a pride in South Africa?" She asked.
"Yes." I said, downcast.
"He was the reason why I was captured." She said, "Thank you for the rescue, however, I must be going." She said.
"Would you need to go if I told you I was the rightful ruler of my pride, and remind you he was the reason you were captured." I said.
"Wait, you?" She asked.
"Yes." I said, "I know I might not look like a ruler, but I am my father's first born, and I just saved you. Believe me, my brother would not save anyone but himself." I continued.
"I do not know who I should choose." She said, "He is not here." She said.
"He would lie straight to your teeth." I said.
"How do I know you're not lying?" She asked.
"Would I be all alone and wandering here if I was lying?" I roared. Then I continued "And if I were you, I would not go to the lion who had me captured."
"I guess." She said, "But you must've done something bad to be banished."
"Yes." I said, "Coming out of my mother's womb white."
"Alright." She said, "Where are you going now?" She asked.
"To your father's Pridelands to see if I belong there, or anywhere." I said.
She could only cry for my sympathy, and the fact I was telling her the truth, unlike my father and my twin.
"Alright." She said, "Let's go to the Pridelands."
"Let's go then." I said.
When the daylight came, I saw we were already in Mozambique. I was also feeling guilt for being unfaithful to my brother.
"Let's go." I said, nibbling her ear to wake her up.
"Alright." She said with her eyes still closed.
"Get up Shana." I said.
"Or else what?" She asked.
Then, I felt an unexplainable feeling inside of me. It was trying to make me kill her. I fought it hard, and well.
Then, she opened her eyes after I did not answer her.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Nothing." I said, "Let's go."
"Alright." She said, getting up.
Nighttime:
Shana was asleep, and I was guarding her, trying to stay awake. Then, my mother came and said, "Good job Mungu."
"What is?" I asked.
"Not killing Shana." She said.
"Thank you." I said, rolling my eyes at her.
"Look at me." She said, I looked at her. Then, she said, "You have completed the first stage of your journey."
"How many are there?" I asked.
"There are five stages." She said.
"What are the next four?" I asked.
"The next is going into the Serengeti, then there is becoming the prince, then you must kill someone you know." She said, "That is all I can tell you know."
"Who?" I asked.
"I cannot tell you." She said, as she dissipated.
I looked down at Shana's sleeping form, and thought, "I hope I do not have to kill you."
Author's Note: This was a chapter that I am unsure of, but, oh well, What are you going to do? Thank you for reading this chapter, and as always, R&R, and please, No Hating.