I was standing on the edge of a gorge, and when I looked down, I saw a giant dust cloud covering the entire bottom of the valley. I didn't realize it at first, but when I saw the black forms running beneath the dust, I remembered the scene in the first movie, when… Oh jeez, Simba!
I run down the slopes, but I reach a height low enough to see instead of a frantic and unharmed Simba, I see a mangled and bloody version instead, lying on the branches of the dead tree, his chest rising slower every moment. Instead of running, I jump down the slopes even, but then I hear the sound that I had dreaded was coming….
"AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
I lowered my ears and closed my eyes, knowing that was the final sound Mufasa ever made. I open them, and I'm suddenly hanging from the same ledge Mufasa had fallen from, and when I look up, Scar is looking at me, with a huge smile full of sharp teeth.
"Now, you've only yourself to blame, young child. If you hadn't tried to interfere, you wouldn't be in this predicament. Now then…" and with that, Scar scratches my paws, and with nothing but a small gasp, I fall into the herd of wildebeests…
"NO!" I jump up, looking everywhere frantically, but I start to breathe normally again when I see I'm still in the main den of Pride Rock, and Mufasa and Simba are okay. However, it's still night, and when I try to go back to sleep, I hear a quiet footfall coming my way. I open my eyes, and I see Nala standing in front of me with a worried expression.
"Athari, are you okay? You screamed, and I thought…" she trailed off, obviously shy.
I get up, and I give her a soothing smile, "It's okay, nothing's wrong, I just… had a bad dream." I finish, not wanting to tell her about it.
She looks at me, with an even more worried expression, "Really, what was it about? My mom always says, if you have a bad dream, it's better to talk about it." she asks, a bit curiously.
I shake my head, "Not for me, and I don't want to worry you about it. Go back to sleep, and if you want, we can go for a walk tomorrow, with Simba of course." I can't tell her about my dream, or she'll probably tell someone, and Scar might find out.
Her face lights up, "Okay, and maybe we can take you somewhere cool" and with that, she goes back to where she slept, and lies down.
Somewhere cool, huh? I guess that can work, but I'm gonna have to ask Mufasa about that, and…. before I know it, I'm back to sleep.
LATER
When I wake up, I see that everyone has already left, and I stretch, but it's still weird being a cat, I can't do the things I did before. When I walk out, I see Mufasa talking to Zazu, and I had already taken some steps towards them, when I remember my promise to Nala. I sigh, I remembering what I had to ask Mufasa. I'm still walking towards them, when Mufasa notices me.
"Athari, I believe you have somewhere to be?" he inquires.
I frown, not really knowing what he means, "What do you mean?" I ask.
He shakes his head, "I believe you were going for a walk with Nala and Simba, and they already asked me, yes, you may go wherever you wish now, but stay within the borders of the Pridelands. I don't want another mess like yesterday."
I nod, and I head down to the entrance of Pride Rock, where Nala and Simba are waiting for me.
"Hey guys, so Nala, where is this other cool place you told me about?" I ask, peering at Nala.
She smiles, and trying to be stealthy, she shares a mischievous look with Simba. I don't know if I should be worried, or relieved, relieved because she still has the same bond with Simba.
She looks back to me, "Oh, it's this nice place where we like to hang, you'll like it." again sharing a look with Simba.
"Yeah, and it's not far, it's right over there." Simba cuts in, pointing to a distant object, that looks like a tree.
"Okay, then let's go." I respond, and then we started walking in the general direction of the tree. I stay back a bit, just watching Simba and Nala talk, but when we're away from Pride Rock, I notice Nala and Simba aren't around me. I look around, but I can't find them. I start to panic, when I hear a distinct fail of a roar.
"RRAAWWWRRRR!"
Before I know it, I'm on my back, with two faces looking down at me, giggling.
"Yeah, we got you good!" yells Simba, getting off and looking very smug. Nala gets off too, and with a playful smile, "Athari, I can't believe you didn't notice us ditch you." she says, with a small chuckle.
I roll my eyes, "Okay, you got me, but do you have to do it to me?" I ask, a bit grumpily.
Simba giggles, "Well, we can't do it to anyone else, they're too big." he explains.
Nala looks to me, "Yeah, and Zazu can dodge us, when he's not rambling." she says, laughing.
Just looking at their faces, I can't help but smile, but then I see a figure running at us. My instincts kick in, "Nala, Simba, get behind me." I run in front of them, but when I see it's Scar, I'm not sure whether to relax, or to growl.
Simba runs up to Scar, "Hey uncle Scar, what's up?" he asks cheerfully.
I notice Scar grimace, but he quickly smiles to cover it up. "Simba, come with me, I want to show you something." and then he starts to walk away, with Simba looking back at us," Well, I guess I'll see you guys later." He runs to catch up, but soon he's already a dark blob next to a bigger one.
I look at Nala, "I guess that means we're going back to Pride Rock." I'm already walking back, when I feel something knock me onto the ground. I look up behind me, and I see Nala laughing, falling onto the ground. "I got you again, man you're not good at this." I get up, and I roll my eyes.
"I suppose you think you're very clever, now don't you?" I ask, a bit angry.
She gets up, and before I know it, I'm rolling on the ground, and I'm almost touching noses with Nala. "Okay, this is just sad, didn't you ever play Pin with your friends?" she asks, getting off. I get up, wiping some dust off my chest, thinking of a response. "No, there weren't other cubs in my pri- I mean, my other pride. I mainly just learned how to be a king." I know I have to have to act what I told Mufasa I was, but Nala still looks surprised. 'You… you used to be a prince?" she then looks at me, and I don't know why, but I get a bit uncomfortable with the way she did it.
"Well, yeah, but it doesn't really matter any more, I'm not part of that pride…" I trail off, remembering my family, with my mom, my dad, and… my little baby sister. I can't stop it, but suddenly I feel a drop of water roll down my face, and I feel a furry body wrap around mine, and I see Nala look at me, with nothing but sorrow. "It must be hard, not being with your family. But it's okay now, you have us." I don't know why, but I return the hug, and when I remember the position I'm in, I back up quickly. "Well, I guess we-we should a…be going to Pride Rock now…yeah."
With that, I start walking back to Pride Rock, and I feel Nala brush by me, with a small smile on her face. "Yeah, maybe we should." She starts to run, but when I run after her, I'm surprised to find that I can match her, even sprint right by her, and before I know it I'm racing Nala all the way back, when I see Mufasa sitting on a rock with Zazu, looking at something. I stop to stare at them, when I see Scar run up to them, and he says something I don't catch, and then they're all running back the way Scar came. I then realize something, didn't Scar do that right after… oh no. I'm tempted to go after them, but then I realize that if I interfere, I might end up getting Simba killed.
So, with a heavy heart, I race back after Nala, and when we get to Pride Rock, she's dancing with a big smile on her face. 'Whoo, I beat you, and there's nothing you can do about it." She continues dancing, and I think to myself, it's worth a shot. While she's not looking, I get into a pouncing position, and she turns around only to see me flying at her. We roll a few feet, and then we stop, with me breathing hard, and with her beneath me, looking very surprised. "Oh yeah, well I think this settles it." I breathe a couple more times, before I see her blushing a bit, and then I realize that we've been like this for a few moments more than the norm, and I hurriedly get off, also blushing.
I notice the sun has risen pretty low, so the stampede must be over. I can't help it, but my ears lower, knowing I couldn't have done anything to save Mufasa. When I look up, I see a lone figure coming back to Pride Rock, and it's none other than Scar, walking with a very regal look. He leaps on top of a rock, and when he roars, all the lionesses have gathered around.
"Everyone, it breaks my heart to tell you this, but the king and prince have died." I can tell he's lying, with the happy gleam in his eyes, but the other lionesses have bowed their heads, suffering grief.
"Mufasa's death, is a terrible tragedy, but to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live." He fakes a sniffle, "For me, it is a deep, personal loss. So it is with a heavy heart, that I assume the throne. Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise, to greet the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together, "he then leaps to the top of Pride Rock, "in a great and glorious future." The laughing of dozens of hyenas fill the air, and I can't help but wonder, if this is something I should have prevented.
Hey everybody, sorry for the wait, but I went to my brother's house right after I uploaded last chapter, and I didn't get the chance to work on this one yesterday, and I got home a bit after 2 today, but to make up for it, it's extra long, and I hope you accept my apology. What holds in store for our hero's future, and what do you think I should have happen? Will he live out the reign of King Scar and defeat him with Simba, or will he rise, to become the prince he shouldn't be (as in, becoming Scar's adopted son)? I honestly want your opinions, seeing how many of you like this story, and like me.
Remember to follow and review, I'll see you next chapter.
