Simba's Struggle
Chapter Four
Vintage Vengeance
"Mommy are we lost? Because I know how to get home."
"Of course not Kiara" laughed Nala to her young inquisitive daughter.
"Well why are we here?" the princess begged. "I hate it here."
"Kiara, your father is working very hard trying to find us a new home, until then please just be patient." replied Nala, with a soft nuzzle to Kiara's head. "Can you do that for me?"
"I guess so." came the simple reply.
"Thank you." smiled Nala. "Now, go get ready for bed with Grandma." Kiara did as she was told an bounded over to Sarabi, jumping and pawing at her. She was the mirror image of Simba as a cub thought Nala, just as cheeky, and fun and adventurous. Nala smiled again, these smiles were becoming rarer by the day since leaving Priderock, sleeping under a tree and bush were not the lifestyle an ex-Queen was accustomed to; however, she trusted Simba wholeheartedly. Right on cue, Simba came bounding into view, the glow of the moon on his golden coat creating a beautiful spectacle although he still had a lost look in his eyes; a look that had become ever-present since the family left Priderock. Nala jumped up to meet him, and warmly embraced him with all the passion and care she could muster.
"No good Nala. I still can't find somewhere safe and comfortable for us."
Nala understood, finding a place to live would be difficult, as herds and prides and packs were ever-expanding and thus there was less room in the Pridelands. She smiled warmly at her partner and gestured for him to lie down in the shade, as the sun was setting on another monotonous day. Simba slumped down in a heap besides Nala, Kiara and her grandmothers were already snoozing, and looked into the stars.
"I've let you down Nala, I'm sorry." Simba stated matter-of-factly. Nala began to weep. Not in a hysterical manner, just a soft soundless cry which scared Simba to his very soul. He cradled her and licked her wet cheek. "Tomorrow I'll find somewhere, I promise." Nala turned to face Simba, and looked him dead in the eye.
"Take us home Simba. Please. You are the King." she begged as her daughter had earlier. Simba swallowed deeply and with great regret, turned away from Nala.
"Like I said, I'm sorry."
The next morning Zira woke her pride in the usual manner; with a roar and an order.
"Get me the monkey." she snarled to Zazu. He turned his beak towards the new Queen, and replied;
"If you mean the royal family's advisor; Rafiki, he is a mandrill and deserves much more respect than that." Zira smiled, a wicked smile, and pounced at the hornbill; pinning him to the floor.
"Don't you tell me about respect you foul, pretentious flying rodent." she hissed. "Once this coronation is out of the way; I will have no need for you, the monkey, or those two imbeciles." she said pointing at Timon and Pumbaa who were still sleeping in the corner. "I can decide who stays and who leaves. Now; get. Me. The. Monkey." Zazu flew as fast as he could from the cave. Zira watched as the bird became one with the clear blue sky, before turning attention to the warthog and the meerkat silently snoozing in the shadows. She crept towards them, hoping not wake them, she crept and hunched her back, until she was face-to-face with Timon. She roared.
"Arrrggghhhhhhhh!"
"What? Arghhhhhhh! Timon!" Pumbaa shrieked as Zira glared at them both. They both cowered before her, looking up at her with fear and trepidation.
"Good morning Zira." said Timon politely. The Queen didn't like this, and made this known by clenching her paw around Timon's head.
"You will address me as 'your majesty' you disgusting fur ball." she stated callously. Pumbaa suddenly cried out, trying to help his friend-
"Your majesty, we are sorry. Please let him go." Zira stared at the warthog, then back to the feline trapped in her paw, and meekly let go of him. Timon dropped to the floor we a heavy thud and shook his head, dismayed.
"You two idiots, will go into the Pridelands and gather all the animals of the Kingdom for my coronation this afternoon. Then if you do a good job, I will let you free rather than serving you in my royal banquet." Zira growled. Timon and Pumbaa looked at one another and nodded before turning back to the Queen-in-waiting. "Now." She ordered. She barely finished speaking before they had scurried from the sleeping chamber. Zira laughed to herself, all was well.
Simba's teary eyes scanned the horizon, and he called out in-sync with Nala;
"Kiara!" They both looked far and wide from where they had just awoken to discover their daughter was missing. Simba turned to Nala.
"Where could she have gone?" he asked, clearly distraught with worry. Nala scanned her memory, thinking for any clue the young Princess could have given, but it was hopeless.
"Simba," she began. "what if scavengers came in the night?" Simba's inside lurched, and he had a sudden convulsion to vomit.
"No we would have woken up." he said adamantly. Nala looked at him in vain, he must be able to do something, he was Simba, King and Prince, defender of the meek. Then it hit her.
"Priderock. That's where Kiara's gone."
Simba suddenly sprinted into the sun, heading for his former home, tailed by Nala who was followed closely by Sarafina and Sarabi.
"And don't forget to tell her we sent you!" cried Timon after the flamingos now heading towards Priderock. "Well that's the last of 'em Pumbaa. Now do you know what we do now?"
Pumbaa thought for a moment, as Timon grinned sheepishly back at him.
"Ermmmm, we go back to Zira?"
"Yeah right!" exclaimed Timon laughing himself almost to tears. "Let's eat!"
Pumbaa was glad to hear this, his stomach had been rumbling since they scurried from the cave. The two friends headed for a familiar cuisine-de-mange, and began to tuck in to a whole smorgasbord of creepers, crawlers, slithers, and slimies. Timon was happily munching away, until something caught his eye in the long grass ahead of him, something sleek, with a dazzling cream colour. He nudged Pumbaa who was currently enjoying a mouthful of insects, and nodded toward the creature.
"What is it?" queried Pumbaa. But it soon became clear, as paws were place in front of paws, and a tail swung in a powerful manner only befitting a lioness.
"Is it Vitani?" asked Timon, worried. Pumbaa shook his large head.
"No, it's too small to be Vitani." the animal was now getting closer, and suddenly it dawned on them both at the same time.
"Kiara!" they both proclaimed as they ran towards the once Princess. Kiara looked up in shock and surprise, and warmly hugged them both.
"Kiara, what are you doing here? Alone?" asked Timon like a strict old Uncle. Kiara stared into the ground, before looking back into the meerkat's eyes.
"I thought Mom and Dad were lost, so I thought I'd come home and then show them the way back." Timon looked at Pumbaa and they both felt sympathy suddenly for the small cub.
"Come on Kiara, let's take you home." said Pumbaa.
"To Priderock?" exclaimed Kiara, excited. Timon smiled at her.
"Maybe. But first let's get your Mom and Dad. They will be awfully worried." he said as warmly as possible. "Now, where are they?" Kiara exhaled deeply, knowing deep down that Timon was right.
"This way" she said glumly and lead the three of them back through the long grass. They walked in silence for a little while, Timon and Pumbaa occasionally sharing a glance of worry about Simba and Nala's off-spring. Eventually, something broke their silence and stride as a flamingo came rushing by.
"Wait! Wait!" cried Timon. The flamingo turned around and stared at the strange trio with bemusement. "Zira's coronation is taking place at Priderock, you better hurry."
"Oh I know." replied the vivacious flamingo. "You don't know the other thing do you?"
"What 'other thing'?" said Pumbaa.
"Simba is heading to Priderock." said the flamingo with a smile. Consequently, six eyes lit up as if something had been turned on in their respective brains.
"Are you sure?" asked Timon, wanting to be certain.
"I just flew over him and the former Queen and their mother's. They were sprinting towards Priderock, I'm sure of it." And with that, the eccentric bird took off into the skies, streaming towards Priderock. Quick as a flash, Timon saddled Pumbaa, and they bounded after the bird, with Kiara keeping pace alongside them.
Zira swaggered to the edge of Priderock, and look upon her subjects with disdain. In return, the animals looked at the new tyrannical leader with fear, even Andre the elephant had a look in his eyes which showed a great fear to match his great size. Behind Zira stood Rafiki, looking more depressed and lifeless than ever before. At the edge of the cave stood the lioness, some of whom were scowling at the recent decision Zira had made which she was about to announce to the Kingdom prior to her coronation. She stared out the at the vast crowd.
"Animals of the Pridelands, welcome. Today marks the official start of the greatest era known to this wonderful land. Today I officially become Queen." she paused and let the ripple of speech amongst the animals die down before continuing. "And as Queen, I have the right to create laws and abolish laws. My first law is simple. No more hunting from the lions of Priderock." the zebras and wildebeest and many other animals began to rejoice with laughter and cheering. Zira simply smiled her most wicked and devious smile. "Instead, each day a member of every herd of this land will be sacrificed to us. Regal lions such as myself and my cubs shouldn't be forced to chase after creatures who we rule. So starting at dawn, every herd must offer up a meal for us, and if you refuse, your entire family will be decimated." Zira looked out onto the now silent crowd. The eyes of each animal told a thousand stories, regret, fear, denial, each possible emotion was passing through every animal of the Pridelands. The ruler now turned her attention to Rafiki. "Now, you. Monkey, come here and do what must be done to coronate me as Queen."
Rafiki smiled, his most courteous and elegant smile.
"No."
"What?" screeched Zira as she turned back to the wise mandrill. Rafiki stared Zira dead in her devious, evil eyes.
"You are not de Queen. Nala is. And Simba is da King." said Rafiki before again smiling at Zira. The crowd erupted with cheers of encouragement. Zira lost all control, and as the baying crown looked on, she struck Rafiki with her open claw, tearing flesh and pouring blood onto the rock formation. The monkey collapsed into a heap.
Pandemonium became writhe on the rock as half the lioness lunged towards Zira, seeking revenge for this betrayal of tradition in the highest regard, and half jumped to her defence. The lionesses and Zira began to fight. New wounds were opened as teeth and claws were plunged into the once glorious grey and cream coats of the lions. The animals below began to scream and rage, as the violent spectacle engulfed them.
Zira and her loyal followers began to gain the upper hand, and as Zira dragged a beautiful lioness to the edge Priderock, meaning to throw her over the edge, a roar so powerful and so clear rang out from behind her. She turned.
Simba was charging towards her.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who continues to read "Simba's Struggle". This is the penultimate chapter, and with one more to go I hope you can all help me by reviewing this, my longest chapter to date. Thank you again.