CHAPTER X – END
Once again the sun was shining bright above the Pridelands. It was the beginning of a very unique day. The whole land was thrilled after they heard the news about princess Kiara, who has announced to be expecting her first cub to be born. Guests have been coming from all corners of the kingdom to deliver their congratulations to her and Kovu.
Amongst them, also Elkanah showed up to pay tribute. Firstly, he greeted an old acquaintance, the shaman Rafiki, who had just recovered from a serious sickness. But the snake did not want to lose his time for too long. At the entrance to the cave, he saw Timon and Pumbaa. The two had been gazing at him suspiciously from afar.
-Ey, Pumbaa. Look- it's that crawler who's been slithering 'round Simba's tail for a long time now. Ya think we should let'em in?
-Oh Timon, you're startin' to overreact. If the crawler came to see Kiara, so what? Ya know he's a different kinda crawler. And besides, today's a happy day and everyone is welcome to congratulate the princess.
The warthog silenced as Elkanah approached. He didn't even turn his head to look at them as he went by, and they did not block his passage. But as soon as they breathed with relief, the snake turned around and hissed straight in their faces.
-For you, it'sss MISSSTER crawler, underssstood?
The warthog and the meercat waved their heads, laughing awkwardly, and Elkanah went inside the cave without another word.
Kiara and Kovu were lying at an honorable spot, engaged in a friendly conversation with a few lionesses, former Outsiders. Vitani, who was slowly getting over the loss of her mother, was also there. The females were paying respect to their former pridemember who brought them back to their fatherland without the need for a devastating war to be waged. And they looked significantly better since their return. After they were finished, Elkanah crawled up to the pair of royal lions and bowed before them profoundly.
-Sss… greetingsss and highessst ressspect from all of the ssserpent kind, dear Kiara and Kovu. And may your firssst child… be a masssculine child.
Such a formal way of welcoming made them both laugh sincerely. The snake also smiled delicately and then suddenly wrapped himself around Kiara's waist, causing her to shriek with surprise.
-Elkanah! Watch it! That tickles!
-Sss… worry not, princesss. I can feel your cub.
-Re… really?
-Oh, yesss! It'sss a ssstrong one.
Kiara looked at Kovu with a smile while the serpent let her loose and hung from the prince's neck. His long body was now joining the two lions like a rope.
-You are one!
The royal pair were still gazing at each other smiling, and as he was holding them Elkanah spoke to Kovu.
-And as for you… you have done a great work, prince! I congratulate you!
-I should be the one thanking you, Elkanah. You helped me a lot. I already told everything to Simba. You can be sure to have respect and gratitude in this pride.
The snake crawled down to the ground, letting the lovers go, and then made another bow.
-I require nothing more but to ssserve the good and order of the circle of life.
They kept on talking joyfully for a moment, but as there were other waiting in the line to congratulate the young mates, Elkanah said his farewell and left the cave. He went towards the top of the rock. Bathing in the sunbeams, in great self-content, there laid king Simba. The serpent stood before him and gave his respect.
-Welcome, your majesssty.
-Welcome Elkanah, Governor of the Snakes and my advisor.
-On thisss joyful day you too should be congratulated becaussse of your first grandchild, sssire.
The lion gasped deeply. It seemed that something was bothering him despite of the celebration.
-Ehh… To be frank, I suppose I am the one who owes something to you, my friend. I have lost my trust for others throughout the years. Sometimes I really had good reasons to do so… and sometimes it was my mistake. In your case, what I did was wrong. You helped us a lot. I'm sorry for not trusting you, Elkanah.
-Oh, but sssire…
The snake crawled up on Simba's back with sympathy and then laid his head among his red mane. The two gazed together upon the whole vast Pridelands.
-Eventually, harmony mussst triumph in the circle of life. Thusss isss the natural consequence of thingsss.
Simba was looking at the sky.
-Yes… and how lucky we are that's true. At last, we are all one.
-And a bright future standsss open before usss… I have to share a certain feeling of mine with you, Sssimba. Persssonally I think that Kovu isss going to be and exssselent king, and hisss ssson- an even better one.
Simba frowned upon hearing those words.
-Elkanah… I also got something to tell you. The pride doesn't know yet. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that Nala and I have decided to have another litter. With enough luck… I will have an heir of my own.
The black mamba on top of the king's head lead out a prolonged hiss.
-Oooh Sssimbaaa… But the circle of life isss full of mysssteries and uncertainty, don't you think? Lisssten to me carefully, if you may. Now it'sss my turn to ssspeak.
Elkanah wrapped around Simba's neck like a collar, whispering straight into his ear.
-I need to fulfill the conditionsss of a certain agreement that I have made. You sssee, a sssneke's word isss a sssacred thing… The circle of life will have to roll… without you, mongoose-hunter!
The king didn't even have time to react. He only growled silently as Elkanah bit him in the muzzle. The world around him turned, everything went black. Simba felt the venom in his veins as it filled his body… He attempted to kick the serpent down from his body, but in his blind fury he made a step in the wrong direction. They both fell down from the top of Pride Rock.
A great unrest started among the animals. Kiara and Kovu left the cave, ran down and tried to squeeze through the horde that was crowding around. Nala also stood there, weeping in despair.
-Nala! What happened? – Kovu screamed.
The queen was barely able to answer.
-Simba… It's Simba!
Kovu pushed through the crowd. It was true- Simba was really lying there, battered all over. Kiara was already cuddled over his body, crying silently.
-Noo!
The young prince's roar made the other animals silence and lower their heads to the ground in grief. Everyone had their eyes fixed at the wounded king's face. It was twisted with pain. For a brief moment, Simba slightly opened his eyes, taking a last look at the sky.
-Father…
He said nothing more. A heavy silence covered Pride Rock. Only Rafiki's angry shout tore it apart.
-It's YOUU!
Using his cane, the shaman managed to pull Elkanah from under the dead king's head. The snake was still wrapped around his neck. He coughed silently and everyone stood back.
-It was you who did it, you traitor! – screamed the mandrill.
-Sss… eh-eh… Yesss, it wasss me. You have never underssstood the nuancesss of the circle of life for which I did thisss, Rafiki.
-The circle o' life… and death!
After saying that, the shaman smashed Elkanah's head with his staff. All the animals looked at each other, greatly anxious. A lot were crying.
-I told ya, I told ya… - Timon kept on saying through tears.
-So… so who's going to be the king now? – asked a giraffe.
Rafiki, the sage of the Pridelands, already knew that. He pointed the new ruler with his cane, and at one everyone turned their eyes at him.
-Kovu will be de king.
The young lion looked around, frightened. There were still fresh tears on his cheeks. He wasn't ready for this.
-Please, don't sentence me to this, not now…
-You proved yourself to be worthy, Kovu. You must be strong now. – Rafiki stated firmly, putting his hands on the lion's shoulders. – You are the mate of de queen, de blood from Simba's blood, de blood from Mufasa's blood… You are de heir. You must take your place in de circle of life.
Kovu did not answer. He was submerged in sadness and uncertainty.
-Listen to me, everyone! – called the shaman. – De king is dead! Long live de new king! Kovu!
And then such an uproar lifted above the Pridelands that it caused the young lion's legs to shake. Rafiki pointed at the top of the rock for him. Reluctantly, step by step, Kovu ascended it. The scar on his eye burned harder than ever. His roar was long and filled with pain. Just behind him, Kiara stood hanging her head down sorrowfully. This is how another unfinished cycle of things became closed- the legacy of both Mufasa and Scar became one, making place for a new order that rose from the ashes. This is how the circle of life and death keeps turning.
And all that because of one snake…
THE END
AN: Now don't tell me you didn't see this comming... Hats off to Sandydragon, who guessed exactly what was going to happen XD.
So this is my version of the events that shows a good conclusion to the LK story. Since I don't like Simba very much, naturally I wanted him removed. Well, maybe not exactly dead, but still I think that Kovu should become king.
Oh, and Elkanah's phraze about the 'masculine child' is an obvious reference to 'The Godfather', if anyone wondered.
So I know I wrote this to be the end, but there's one flashback left for me to publish. I only need to translate it yet, as it still remains written in it's initial, Polish form.