Chapter 3
Simba's point of view
My mother accepted the trip with a heavy heart, Safya said nothing, I felt bad for the lioness, she had come all this way to fulfill her parents' wishes but now she would be stranded by herself with a pride of lions she's never met.
The only one besides me and my father that was actually supportive was Tojo, he pulled me aside later that night to talk "This trip is an excellent idea" he said with a smile
"Tojo I have something else in mind. I intend to find my bride" I told him excitedly
"What is wrong with the one you have?" he asked truly baffled "she's a pretty young thing"
"she's not for me" I said simply "I want someone smart, confident, with a sense of humor, not afraid to speak her mind, a lioness with an actual personality" I said and he rolled his blue eyes
"Where would you find such a lioness?" he asked turning his head to the side
"Out there, somewhere" I told him
"Where will you go? The land is so big, the choices so infinite" he said concerned
"Far away from here" I said "where no knows I am royalty. I must appear as an average lion"
"And how will you know when you have found a lioness suitable for a king?" he questioned me
"Trust me, I'll know when I find the one" I said looking up at the full moon
"And once you find her how are you going to convince your father to let you marry her instead?" he asked lifting an eyebrow
"I'll figure that out when the moment comes" I told him honestly I haven't thought about it
"Alright lover boy…" he sighed "when are we leaving?" he asked
"I'm leaving at dawn" I told him "you're staying here to convince Safya that marrying me is a terrible idea"
"Aw come on Sim, I was really interested on the ones that aren't the one" he said and I laughed
"You know… Safya is actually one of those" I said and his face lit up, I know it's weird to try to set up your cousin with your intended wife but hey at least he'll keep her company while I'm gone.
The next morning I rose with the sun, there was no need for Zazu's usual wake up call, I haven't been this excited or woken up so early since I was a cub and my father promised to show me the whole kingdom, I ran outside ready to begin my life changing trip "Simba" my mother's voice called and I halted and turned around to see them standing on the entrance of the den
"Were you planning to leave without saying goodbye to your parents?" my mother asked
"I'm sorry mother" walking towards them
"The boy is excited Sarabi, give him a break" my father told her
"I truly am" I said nuzzling my mother
"I'm glad you are my dear" she smiled "but I wish you would at least take a few guards with you"
"It won't be necessary mother, I know how to defend myself" I told her confidently
"I would hope so, I have been training you for over a year now" my cousin said walking in the middle "have a good trip, your highness" he said bowing his head before I pulled him in for a hug
"Remember, you have a month to get the princess to change her mind" I whispered in his ear
"I'm going to miss you too Sim" he said patting my back
I pulled away from the hug and turned to my father bowing my head "take care son and enjoy yourself" he said putting his paw on my shoulder
"I will father" I smiled and as I was about to turn around, a feminine voice called
"Your highness?" Safya said and I groaned inwardly, I was anxious to leave the last thing I want is to deal with her right now
"Yes, princess?" I asked
"I will be counting the days until your return, I look forward to being with you again, my beloved prince and to spending the rest of our days together" she said sweetly and I felt both guilty and awkward standing before her, I have to applaud her commitment and efforts but this just doesn't feel real and organic, it just doesn't feel right and just so you see how staged all this is, here she is bidding a loving farewell to her intended husband knowing that he's going on a pleasure seeking quest, or at least that what she and everyone else thinks, but I know what my real mission is and it is not just pleasure or an affair, I'm on a quest to find love.
But I can't possibly tell her what my real intentions are, I also didn't want to lie to her, get her hopes up or make her a promise I wouldn't be able to keep, so I said the only thing that was certain for me at the moment "Right...see you in four weeks" I said bowing quickly "Goodbye everyone!" I said practically running away from the scene, not my proudest moment I must admit but I needed to get out of there already, so I wasted no time, I headed straight towards the borders but once I was there I froze and I asked myself the same question my cousin had asked before 'where will you go?' Tojo was right, the land is so big, the choices so infinite, I knew I had to go as far away from the Pridelands as I could but in which direction?
"And where is it that you are going?" a familiar voice called from above
"Me? I-I...to be honest I don't know" I said searching for the source up on the tree branches "I don't know what direction to take"
"That depends on what it is that you wish to find" the voice said as the leaves rustled above me before the old baboon landed in front of me with a big smile
"Who said I was looking to find something?" I asked
"Do not lie to old Rafiki, prince Simba" he said pointing his finger at me and raising an eyebrow, why do I even bother? The guy can sense it all, he has a omnipotent power to sense it all so be probably knows all about my plan, but why hasn't he tried to stop me? He's the spiritual and cultural leader of the kingdom and keeper of our traditions and heritage
"Alright…" I sighed, I might as well tell him what he already knows "I'm not really looking for something, I'm looking for someone"
"Ha!" he laughed using his staff to stand up "we often find what we seek where we least expect it"
"Okay well I didn't expect to find you here so… maybe you could use that stick of yours to draw me a map?" I asked and he laughed loudly
"No, all I can offer you is my advice" he said before clearing his throat "just remember, love it's brightest in the dark and that light will guide you to a better place" he said gesturing to the brightest star in the sky
"What does that even mean?" I asked looking up not getting a response "Rafiki?" I asked turning around to see that he had disappeared. Enough time wasted, okay, let's see…there's no point in heading north into the desert, no one lives there so it's either west or east. I looked left and then right trying to figure out what to do "well, the Zamunda lands are west …" I mumbled, there's no way I won't be noticed there "so, I guess east it is" I shrugged.
I've been walking all morning, I thought I'd be tried by now but I'm actually feeling amazing, I can actually be by myself; no guards, no majordomo, no parents. I drank some water from a small creed, just smelling the grass, the dirt; feeling the summer breeze calling me and the realization hit me, for like the first time ever, I'm completely free. I looked around and smiled I felt like an unsupervised cub, like I could go running and racing and that is just what I did, my mane was flying and my heart pounding but it all came to an abrupt stop when I crushed into something or someone.
"Hey watch it!" a lioness exclaimed, she had fallen to the ground after we bumped into each other
"I'm so sorry!" I said walking towards her, she simply glared at me "Please let me help you" I said extending out a paw out to help her but she slapped it away
"Look buddy, I don't need your help" she snapped at me
"Okay, okay I'm sorry" I said stepping away from the hostile lioness, I guess this means she doesn't know who I am, no one has ever treated me this way…
"Just stay out of my way" she said getting up and dusting herself off
"Alright…" I said rising a paw "didn't mean to bother you"
"Ugh if my mate was here you'd be in serious trouble-" she started but then narrowed her eyes at me "y-you look familiar…I think I know you" she asked watching me intently
"No… I don't think so" I say turning away as she tried to get a better look at me "I'm not from around here" I said avoiding eye contact
"What's your name?" she asked and my eyes widen
"I… um my name is…" I mumbled helplessly, should I tell her my name or should I make one up? As I tried to figure it out, she examined my face carefully but then something clicked and her eyes went wide with shock
"y-you- you're that prince, Simba of the Pridelands!" she exclaimed, well, there goes my plan for anonymity, she then gasped loudly "you're highness, I'm really sorry, if I'd known who you were of course I never would've-"
"No harm done" I sighed and she smiled
"Wait until I tell my pride sisters who I bumped into today, they're never going to believe me" she gushed and I gave her a forged smile, time to get out of here
"Well… it was a pleasure meeting you -" I began
"Vania, my name is Vania, your highness" she introduced herself
"Right, I have to get going Vania" I told her hopping she would leave me alone
"Would you like me to take you to the king? I'm sure she would welcome you gladly" she said getting closer
"No thank you, I must be on my way now" I said looking around
"Please, let me make it up to you somehow your highness" she pleaded with me getting closer and closer "I could hunt for you or perhaps there's something else I could do for you?" she asked giving me a sultry look
"Um… no thank you" I said clearing my throat and stepping away from her "I don't think your mate would like that"
"Oh I'm sure he wouldn't mind" she smirked walking towards me again
"Well, I do but thanks for the offer anyways, goodbye!" I told her turning around and walking away
"Goodbye!" she mumbled after sighing loudly. Of course, as soon as she knew I was royalty, she threw herself at me; this is exactly why I want to keep my identity a secret, I need someone that would like me for me, not for my tittle. This is a sign that I need to go further away from home, where no one knows of the Pridelands and its rulers.
Night came and I continued walking aimlessly in the dark, the feeling of freedom was replaced for frustration, throughout the day, I had other encounters with other lions and lionesses and they all knew who I was! I guess this is what makes the Pridelands the greatest kingdom of all, my forefathers had form alliances with all the small prides around and my father made sure to personally visit them all, I'm the spitting image of my father, of course I'm going to get recognized.
"What am I going to do?" I asked myself, stopping and sitting down under the stars; I looked up, silently watching them shine brightly when Rafiki's words came to my mind "love it's brightest in the dark and that light will guide you to a better place…" I repeated them out loud; the brightest star was the North Star, is it that the light that is supposed to guide me? But if I head north I'll end up in the middle of the desert… "There's no harm in trying" I shrugged standing up, having made my decision to follow the star; the desert can't be that bad, can it?
