A/N: Let's have a moment to calm things down. Let's delve into Alex's troubled mind after the incident with the hyenas.
We strode along the path of the shifted earth, navigating besides the fissures and chasms that extended about a kilometre before Pride Rock, and as my adoptive parents and brother advanced towards the natural palace, I realised that I was bloody thirsty, so I let my family know that I intended to get a drink from the waterhole. They were promised a return within the half-hour, and by the time I had arrived at the waterhole, thoughts sprinted through my mind as I washed my face, with tan and dirt masking my peachy skin. I looked at my distorted reflection in the clear water moved by the wind, admiring my long yet full face. Lines of weariness supported my blue eyes as I attempt to comprehend the events of the last hour. A question burdened my mind more than the bruises on my shoulder.
Am I a murderer?
Am I capable of ending a life in anger, without regret? It occurred to me that I didn't really think twice to kill the hyenas. Something broke in my mind like a damn containing a violent urge to unleash utter destruction. It was similar to how I felt when Rafiki floored me the other day. Embarrassment and a lust for revenge overwhelmed me, and I wanted to get back at him. I know that this current debate means that I have some form of regret, but as Rafiki said, I am vulnerable while I have untamed emotions. What if my enemies get their hands, or paws, on my weakness before they can diminish? Will Ibilisi, who has apparently answered the call of Scar, manage to convince me to give into my emotions and use my gifts to their potential? I am determined to not let that happen, but is determination enough?
Is any of this enough? Will I succeed in my duties as a Guardian? Will anyone, or anything, stop Scar and Ibilisi from holding fast dominion over the Pride Lands, or even the entire world. How great is their lust for power and revenge?
And even though it is inevitable that I am going to be The Guardian, how many times will I have moments of doubt and despair? How will I deal with them?
And even though it is undeniable that death comes to all, how long can I prevent the claws of death reaching those who I love?
And even though it is so that my end will come to pass, who shall protect the Pride Lands beyond my passing?
And even though I shall be given endless love, will I be able to return it to the Kings of the Future?
As these questions pass through my cerebrum, I remember my true purpose for the visit. I take a handful of water and sip it from my cupped palm, enjoying the fresh liquid passing through my throat.
"It's a nice day with unpleasant events," a female voice spoke, the suddenness of which threatened to trigger a choking fit.
"Yeah, uh...who are you?" I asked in confusion. Surely I would have heard the sound of the lioness' paws on the lush grass? I observed her features, her light brown pelt with a cream underbelly, and bright blue eyes, much like my own.
"My name is Dhamiri," her voice brought comfort to my heart, her sound was as beautiful as harmonic music performed by angels. Her voice reminded me of the warm voice of my mother.
"Nice to meet you...Dhamiri," my words came between gentle gulps of saliva and water. "My name is..."
"I know your name, Alex Richard Maximilian," she spoke calmly, and to my utter confusion. I was utterly discombobulated.
"Y-you do?" I questioned. My voice was stolen and so I could not convert my thoughts to voice. How the hell did she know my full name, the name I have not yet uttered in this place before.
"I know everything about you...because I am you, I am your conscience," she said. I shook my head, but I knew not whether it was in astonishment or denial.
To ensure that I was not dreaming, I dipped my head in the water, and the only result was my face getting needlessly drenched, and water going in places where it isn't comfortable.
"You're what now?" I ask for confirmation after allowing the water to drain from my facial cavities. How can the personification of my conscience be a lioness?
"I am indeed the personification of your conscience, and it is in the form of a lioness because your family history is intertwined with lion-kind," she informed.
Well, my family's coat of arms was that of the banner of Elizabeth II, St George's banner and three lions standing on their hind legs. But why?
"If I answered all of your questions, we would end our conversation by tomorrow's rising sun," she chuckled, even though I didn't speak at all. I kinda accepted the fact that she would say things before I could.
"Right, I should be getting back, my family would be waiting for me," I said, unsure if I needed to continue this conversation.
"Yes, but be cautioned, even though your family will provide guidance, it would be prejudiced against hyenas, you should not ignore your violence on a particular species, that is an unintentional fault of lions, they were poisoned against hyenas by Ibilisi, so they would not hesitate to engage in combat," Dhamiri explained the relationship between lions and hyenas. I questioned whether my family would offer impure advice.
"Do not fear, Alex, those who love you will always give you advice that will benefit you," Dhamiri assured me, taming my troubled mind. The brewing storm in my mind was cleared by my own conscience, funnily enough.
"Thank you, Dhamiri, I really appreciate it," I voiced my gratitude.
"You're very welcome, Alex. I will be there for you when all hope is lost," she said.
I smiled at my own conscience, which is a strange thing to have happened to you. Things I thought were beyond impossible were becoming very much real. If I were told that I would be adopted by a Royal Family of lions, trained by a mandrill, talking to the personification of my conscience, I would reply with a statement claiming that I despised England.
In a blink, Dhamiri ceased to be seen by my eyes. I sighed in weariness, just wanting to descend into slumber in this very spot, but I forced myself to make the return journey to Pride Rock. As I walk beneath the darkening sky, I muse on the questions I asked myself, and the answers that my own conscience gave me.
My doubts were tamed, but not extinguished. Who wouldn't freak out at having to protect an entire kingdom?
Soon enough, I found myself at the foot of Pride Rock. I now possessed the comforting feeling I got when I arrived at my home in London. I felt safe here, and I knew many happy memories would be forged here. Before I could begin to ascend the entrance to Pride Rock, a sweet air caught my attention, and it pleased my ears.
The sound of a voice as soft as the evening wind in which it was carried was sung in a strange language, the melody was fluid and polyphonic. The pleasant sound came from behind me, and as I turned to face the wind, the delicate voice grew in volume and became a beautifully epic melody. However, an unexpected sound interrupted the voice, a deep, heavy sound but was delicate as the moving air. I have heard this music before, but I know not where I heard it. I recognised the melody as a distant memory, only just beyond my reach, if only I could unfold the memory...
"Alex!" a young voice cried, ending the marvellous music, but I was not disappointed, for the voice belonged to Simba. The cub ran down the slanted rock and nuzzled my knees, and my reply was to stroke his head and neck, and this caused a purr to ripple through his throat, the vibrations caused satisfaction to my entire body.
"Hey, buddy. What do you want?" I asked Simba. "Is our mother and future sibling okay?"
"Yeah, they're both good," Simba responded to my further relief.
"C'mon, let's go see them," I suggested, my hand ceasing to stroke his neck. We made our way back to the cavern at the foot of the pinnacle of Pride Rock. At the entrance stood Mufasa. The sight of his regal and powerful body brought to my heart calmness and security, similar to the feeling I experienced when I was surrounded by the embrace of my biological father.
"I cannot speak highly enough of your bravery, my human son, not only did you fight for your family, but you fought off dark memories of your old life to save the lives of your mother and unborn cub," my adoptive father, who I should start referring to as 'Father', or 'Dad', said. My neck twitched at the mention of the incident prior to the aftershock. I was still plunged into doubt. Would I succumb to anger and hatred and slaughter another single being without regret during the black deed?
"I would have done nothing less if Sarabi was not my mother, it would destroy my soul to witness the slaughtering of the future of the Pride Lands and do nothing to prevent needless suffering. It is my duty to protect the Royal Family and their loyal people, and I will uphold that duty until my last gasp of oxygen and until my last drop of blood, and if the fall of the Pride Lands were to come to pass in my stewardship, then the King or Queen will have the right to exile me into the realms beyond our borders, for I would not be worthy to protect that which I have let fail," I voiced my oath to my father.
"I appreciate it, but I have faith that the punishment you set yourself will not be required. You have already shown mighty loyalty, endless bravery and faultless love for this land as it is your old one," Dad replied, and each compliment caused the corners of my mouth to rise. I placed a hand on the shoulder of the mighty lion and after a moment of admiration and reflection of my first week in the Pride Lands, the days of which I have lost count, I decided to enter the cave where Sarabi was resting.
"Alex, come here," my mother requested. I gladly approached my lioness mother, whose stomach was slightly swollen, more so than what would indicate a stomach full of food. I folded my legs and gently lowered my body, extending a tender arm with the intention to stroke her neck. To my confusion, my mother gently guided my hand before I could stroke her, and she placed it on her enlarged stomach, and retained her paw on my hand, waiting for a sign of motion by the unborn cub. Soon enough, the unborn cub kicked at the wall of her womb, and I felt the weak thud on the palm of my hand, and a grin formed on my face, a mask of excitement and amazement triggered a chuckle from the lioness.
"It can't wait to meet you, Alex, your new sister will arrive in the coming weeks," my mother commented.
"You think the cub is a girl?" I remarked, and Sarabi nodded.
"Maternal instinct," she replied.
A/N: So, a new character will be arriving soon. I already have a name for them, so don't waste your time leaving suggestions for this character, but I'm always welcome to other OC suggestions. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated and thank you for reading.