The Lion King: Sarafina's Truth

Chapter 4

Time for the Truth

It was now nearing midday. Sarafina had been asked to lead the hunting party about to take off. She agreed and asked Luri, mother of Malka, to look after her little ones. She agreed, for like Mara, she was a trusted lioness who was able to nurse the cubs when they were hungry, and had no issue with letting Simba have the milk he needed, for even she felt it was far too harsh for Simba to be limited on nurishment.

Soon Sarafina was with the hunting party, and they were soon off. As they walked the had Tama be the tracker. Now that she remembered correctly, Mara and Tama were both aware of Simba's origins. So Sarafina called Mara forward to her side. "Yes Sarafina, what is it?" She inquired.

"Mara. You, Sarabi and I have been friends for as long as we can remember. And ou know of Simba's situation. I need your advice. Should I tell him the truth?" Sarafina asked softly.

Mara was surprised she'd be asking this in the middle of the hunt, but then again, had she asked back at Pride Rock, cute little ears may have discovered what was being talked about. "Well Sarafina. Had it been a week after it had happened, I would have advised against it. But now, I think that this poses as an opportunity. With Mufasa gone, and already I am seeing that Simba would much rather be with his true mother, I would say you should tell him. And as for what Mufasa will think once he learns Simba's knows the truth, well, I think Mufasa has made a crucial errror on his own part. While he has sent us on hunts, we have been able to take down prey with less help each time we do. This has increased the strength of the pride sisters. Most are on your side already. And you alone, I think you yourself could take on the king. He doesn't realize how strong you have become. You could easily take him down in one pounce. Until a few days ago, I was begining to wonder if you were gonna make your move to get your son back. I would have taken action myself within the week if you hadn't. After the hunt, I would let Simba, Nala, and Mheetu know of Mufasa's betrayal. And the pride sisters... I think they already suspect something about you and Simba. Let them know in the morning," Mara said.

Sarafina smiled, "Thank you Mara. I honestly don't know where I'd be without your friendship."

"Probably still trying to find a way to get Ni to notice you. Speaking of him, I've heard rumors being passed around the herds of the Pridelands that he's been seen near the borders. I think that something good is gonna happen for the pride soon. Honestly, I don't know how much longer I'll be putting up with that monster tyrant," Mara said.

Sarafina chuckled at this and soon Tama said she had the sent of gazell close by. Soon the hunting party took up their positions, again following Sarafina's instructions and going for the kill that was just enough to feed the pride for the day. This time it was just so they could let the stornger ones survive and allow the herd to grow. Soon they spotted their target. Sarafina was the one to lead the cornering team. Tama, having proved her worth lead the ambush team. Within a few moments, sucess had been made. Soon the pride sisters drug back their prize. As they walked in, the cubs were pelased to see them and ran straight up to them, this time not holding back, since the king was gone.

Sarafina Soona had her fill, and once she as done, she made her way over to her cubs. All three were eagar for a meal. Nala and Mheetu were excited when they heard that Simba would be spending the night with them. As the three nursed, Sarafina was taken back to the day she had brought the three of them into this world, all suckling beside each other. This of course reminded her of the pain that Mufasa had already caused her, and now she knew it was time. Simba, Nala, and Mheetu all needed to know the truth.

"Children. There's something I need to tell the three of you. I've been holding back. But now I think it's time all three of you knew," Sarafina said.

"Know what Mama?" Mheetu asked inocently.

"Trust me when I say, it's been hard for me to keep it secret, but, Simba... King Mufasa... he's not your father," Sarafina said.

"W-what do you mean? He's had me call him dad for as long as I can remember," Simba argued.

"I know, but he's been feeding you lies all your life," Sarafina said.

"So my mom was a mate with another lion?" Simba asked.

"Well, yes, but, truth is, your mother has never been at the kings side. What I mean is, your mother... she's not Sarabi, granted she's been very good to you," Sarafina continued.

"But... if she's not my mom... then who is?" Simba asked in a large state of confusion.

Sarafina sighed, "Simba. Do you remember this morning, when you told me you were having nightmares?"

"Yes," Simba answered.

"They weren't just nightmares... they were memories... from when your were just a few hours old," Sarafina said.

"Huh?" All the cubs said.

"Simba I... I'm your mother... your my son," Sarafina said with tears streaming from her eyes.

"Y-your my mother?... B-but why haven't you told me before?" Simba asked.

"Because I was trying to protect you. All of you. The king told me that had I spoken a word of this and he found out, he would hurt you to get to me. I couldn't let that happen. I never wanted you to be treated the way you have been. That's why, whenever I got the chance, I gave you as much attention as I could. I'm really sorry that it had to be this long, but was only for your protection. Can... can you ever forgive me my son?" Sarafina asked, now completely in tears with many drops hitting the cave floor.

For many long seconds. There was scilence, and no one moved. Sarafina closed her eyes and hung her head. Then, she was given a shock as she felt someone position themselves between her forlegs and burying their face in her fur. She opened them to see Simba shedding tears of his own. "Please. Please promise me you won't give me back to the king after this Mommy. Please don't leave me," Simba pleaded.

Sarafina wrapped her right foreleg around her son and her tears became tears of joy. "Never. I'm never letting you out of my sight again sweetie. Your my son and I am your mother. Mufasa can't make you suffer anymore," Sarafina assured her son.

Simba smiled and nuzzled her lovingly. "I knew it. I knew something was off about this whole thing," Nala said.

"What do you mean Nala?" Sarafina asked her daughter.

"Well, I'm not the only cub who noticed, but, every time I saw Simba and Mheetu together, aside from their fur colors, They looked completely alike. they even act alike," Nala said.

"Do not," Simba and Mheetu said together.

They looked at each other and then burst into laughter. Sarafina and Nala joined in the laughter and soon Sarafina said, "Well, if they think that Simba's not the king's son, they are right. I'll be telling the pride sisters tomorrow. Perhaps, we can put an end to Mufasa's tyrany."

"Tyr-a-ny? What's that?" Simba asked.

"It's when someone treats everyone as if they're dirt beneath his paws. It sometimes happens to those who have royal blood. Unlukily for us, Mufasa was one of them," Sarafina said.

"What about Scar?" Mheetu asked.

"No. He's much more level-headed and smarter then his brother. Honestly, after it's all over, I think the pride might appoint him as the new king," Sarafina said.

"Cool," the three cubs said together.

"Well for now, let us get some rest. If you want to have energy for tomorrow, you'll all need a good night sleep," Sarafina said.

Simba yawned, "Sounds good. I'm already feeling ti-," he was unable to finish his sentence as he collapsed and fell asleep between Sarafina's forlegs.

Nala put a paw up to her mouth stifling a snicker, for she thought it was cute how her "little" brother passed out. He had been both little by size and by being born a moment after his sister. Sarafina smiled and motioned Nala and Mheetu to come to her side and rest. They did so, and soon, she hummed the tune that she had done so many times. Even though he was about to enter dreamland, Simba now knew why the song sounded so familiar. It was the song she had hummed when had just been born. Soon all three cubs were asleep and Sarafina follow suit. For the first time in a while, Simba was having a good night sleep.

When morning rose, the cubs streched as the mother started to give them their morning bath. As usual, Mheetu could not hold still, and now Simba was joining in the torment, but he was easier to handle due to his size. Soon Sarafina was finished and knew, now was the time to tell the whole pride why she had been planning what had been set in motion.

She soon made it to where everyone could see her. "Can I have your attention everyone?" Sarafina reuested.

Soon the talking died down and all eyes were on Sarafina and her little ones. All were surprised to see Simba among them. "Thank you. Now, as you all know, over the past week, I have been doing things that are not to the kings standards. And as you all have seen, he did not keep a level head like a king should have done. Yes, I am sure many of you see him as a tyrant in many ways, even if he makes sure the Pridelands stay in order. There is also another reason that I have made such acts in the past few days," Simba curled up to his mother's leg and she continued, "I am sure everyone has seen that the king and I have not been on the best of terms. Now, while I admit I see him as a tyrant king, that isn't the reason I have been uneasy with him. Years ago, he dealt me a painful blow. As you all know, the king and queen had a son."

Everyone nodded and Sarafina continued, "What many may not know is... their son did not survive birth."

There was a mumbling among the sisters. This was important, and they needed to know why Sarafina was bringing forth this now. She held a paw up and said, "The same night I had also given birth to my children... but I did not have two cubs... I had three cubs. Only a few hours after they were born, Mufasa cubnapped my little Simba and claimed he was his own cub. He threatened me, saying he would hurt my children to put me in my place."

Everyone gasped. For so long they had been decieved by the tyrant king. "I know this is difficult for some to hear, and I myself was emotionally broken, til fate gave me a chance yesterday to finally reveal the truth. Mufasa has wanted to keep us divided for so long so no one would challenge him. But as my good friend Mara has pointed out, Mufasa has made a crucial error. With each passing hunt, we've been able to ask the help of fewer lioness to bring down the kill. This means that our individual strength rivals, if not betters that of the kings. But I ask that none of us take him on alone. I ask that we rally together and cast the king out of our lands," Sarafina said.

"But what of Scar and the Queen?" a pride sister asked.

"They've been on our side since the begining. I would even advise to have Scar as or new King when this is finished," Sarfina said.

All the pride sisters soon agreed and the cubs were all over the place now knowing that Simba was not limited playing time by the king. "Now, we need to come up with how we will approach the king with this," Sarafina said.

Soon the sisters gathered around to share ideas/

End of chapter 4. Hope you all enjoy it. Now everyone knows what happened all those years ago. What will happen now that Mufasa's leverage to keep the pride in control is no longer in his grasp. Simba will now finally have the family he's needed. Please let me know what you think and leave a positive comment and constructive criticism. Stay tuned.