Siblings Reunited
Author's Note: hi all! Here is my newest chapter, and I think the title of this chapter should give you all a hint of what this could be about. Leave a review!
Chapter Summary: A troubling development back at Pride Rock has Sarabi more determined than ever to save her pride. Zarifa and Simba finally meet.
Scar didn't take to the lionesses' refusal to hunt well, as Sarabi expected. The combined effort of intimidation from Zira and the hyenas did not deter Sarabi's decision. She stayed firm. Through her defiance, Sarabi felt strong and powerful again.
"Sarabi, are you okay? You don't look so good," Sarafina said, observing her best friend. With food and water being virtually nonexistent in the Pride Lands, Sarabi had gone days without eating. Though she remained stoic for the sake of her subjects, Sarabi couldn't deny that she felt her body weakening. She offered Sarafina a weak smile.
"Just a little tired is all," Sarabi said. Sarafina wasn't convinced.
"Sarabi, I saw you give that mouse you caught to Zama," Sarafina said, her voice unusually stern.
"As queen, you have to put the needs of your pride before your own," Sarabi said. Sarafina was shaking her head.
"What our pride needs is our queen to be healthy and strong. You are no good to us when you haven't eaten. I am going to hunt something for you, and I'm not taking no for an answer," Sarafina announced, standing tall.
Any other day, Sarabi would have refused Sarafina's offer. But she couldn't deny that Sarafina was right. If she wasn't well enough to lead her pride, what example was she leading for her pride? Sarabi did a big stretch as she lay on the bedrock.
"I can't stop you, Fina, but please don't stress yourself out trying to find anything. I think a nap might do me some good," Sarabi tiredly said, as Sarafina ran out of the den and into the savannah, trying to salvage something for her best friend.
Sarabi was ready for a nap. At least napping was a way to pass the time and ignore the hunger. Sarabi felt like she didn't get to sleep as much because of how often the hyenas made her and the lionesses hunt. She was excited to let sleep take over her.
She would have dozed off if the sound of Scar and Zira talking didn't catch her attention. Her ears perked up as she tried to make out what they were saying. Curious, Sarabi tiptoed to the edge of the den, staying as much in the shadows as possible. Scar and Zira were talking on the side of Pride Rock. Zira sounded urgent.
"I sent Jafari back to the Outlands to die peacefully, any day now. I don't want Nuka and Vitani to see him die," Zira said, her voice anxious and quick.
"If that is what you feel is right for the cubs," Scar said, unemotional. "Is that what this big meeting was supposed to be about? Your elderly mate dying?"
"I'm pregnant. Jafari won't live to see this cub," Zira announced. Sarabi kept herself from gasping.
"Congratulations. I'm sorry your cub won't know its father, but that is life."
"Actually, that is why I called this meeting, Scar. I wanted to discuss the future of this cub," Zira said, grinning wickedly. Scar noticed.
"What are you getting at Zira?" Scar asked, cutting to the chase. The grin never leaving her face, Zira began pacing back and forth.
"You don't have a mate, Scar. And it's obvious that no matter how much you try to convince Sarabi, she'll never be your queen."
"Watch your mouth."
"I don't really understand why you want to try so hard with her. She's past her cub bearing years, and the other lionesses are getting up there, too. After this cub is born, I won't be having anymore cubs."
"If you don't tell me what this is all about Zira, I will lose my temper," Scar warned, showing his teeth as a warning. Zira stopped pacing and stood before Scar.
"I want you to declare my unborn cub as your successor. You will take responsibility for this cub and it will follow in your paw prints," Zira said. Sarabi gasped quietly and Scar raised his eyebrows.
"And why would I want this cub and not one of your other two?"
"Have you met Nuka? He couldn't rule the Pride Lands to save his life. Jafari has raised both Nuka and Vitani. A real king will raise this cub. If you don't make this cub the heir to the Pride Lands, there will be consequences," Zira warned with a low laugh.
Scar thought for a moment. He and Jafari did have a striking resemblance to one another. This cub could very well come out looking just like him. Outsiders didn't have to know that Scar did not have cubs of his own.
"On one condition: you must understand that you will never be my mate. Sarabi is who I am meant to be with, she just needs more convincing," Scar said, which sent shivers down Sarabi's back. Begrudgingly biting her lip, Zira nodded.
"As you wish my king," Zira said.
Sarabi disappeared to the back of the den, trying to get as far from Scar as she could. She had hoped that Scar would never have the opportunity to produce an heir, that his bloodline would end. But if he claimed responsibility for Zira's unborn cub? He could very well raise this cub to be just as destructive as he was. He and this cub could set the Pride Lands on fire with their ways.
Maybe Sarabi needed to face the facts: she should get the pride away from the Pride Lands before it got to that point.
While Nala and Simba were spending the evening finally feeling the love between them, Zarifa and Apollo were trying to keep themselves busy. They alternated between swimming, hunting and lounging, but it was obvious that Zarifa was distracted trying to think of how to approach Simba. A part of her hoped that Nala would do most of the work for her.
The sounds of angry stomping against the ground shook Zarifa from her distracted thoughts. She bopped her head up, wondering who was approaching. To her surprise, it was Nala. And she did not look happy. Zarifa jumped from the ground.
"Nala? What's wrong? What happened?" Zarifa asked, jumping in front of Nala to keep her from storming off. Nala was fuming.
"We need to forget about Simba, he can't help us," Nala spat, angry and resentful.
"What do you mean he can't help us?"
"Actually, he won't help us. He would rather us all starve and die than take his rightful place as king," Nala scoffed, unable to control her anger.
Apollo and Zarifa looked at each other, unsure of how to respond or react. "Did you tell him about me?" Zarifa asked nervously. Nala laughed sarcastically.
"He barely let me get a word in! I barely could mention Sarabi, and even then he didn't care that she was suffering," Nala said. "Forget about him, Zee, you need to step up."
"Step up?"
"This is your destiny, Zarifa, what Sarabi raised you to be. Either step up and fight for your rightful place as queen, or you can hold on to that fantasy of Simba coming home!" Nala spat, spitefully.
Zarifa found herself at an impasse. She understood the gravity of her very existence, and how much Sarabi sacrificed to prepare Zarifa to fight for her place as queen. But Zarifa couldn't leave without Simba. Her father had sought her out, had told her that the Pride Lands were at stake, that her mother would die if she didn't.
Even though she had been raised to believe that she would save the Pride Lands by becoming queen, Zarifa understood that she would save it by brining Simba home to become king. And she needed to do what she knew was right.
"I get that you're hurt, Nala. But let me talk to Simba. I can convince him," Zarifa said, as assertively as she could. Nala was shaking her head.
"You are wasting you're time Zee, that is not the Simba I remember! You're setting yourself up for disappointment," Nala said as her voice broke. Apollo stepped forward, in defense of Zarifa.
"Just in case Simba doesn't come back, I will leave tonight to get the rest of the Warrior Pride and lead them to Pride Rock. Regardless if Simba comes back or not, you guys will need us," Apollo said, looking to Zarifa for approval. With a soft smile, she nodded and nuzzled him.
"Thank you, Apollo. As soon as you assemble the pride, go right to Pride Rock," Zarifa said, before turning to Nala. "Please, Nala, don't give up on Simba yet. Go get something to eat and nap. I promise by the time you wake up, Simba will have changed his mind."
Before she could argue, Nala was suddenly made aware of how tired and hungry she was. Nala knew she couldn't argue on an empty stomach and no sleep. She began to turn away.
"Fine, whatever you say. Last I saw, he was in the open savannah," Nala said, turning away into the jungle, to clear her head.
Apollo gave Zarifa one final nuzzle before he, too, set off on his own. Taking a deep breath, Zarifa ran off to find her brother.
It took all of five minutes for Zarifa to find Simba, who had his back turned to her and was yelling at the sky. She couldn't make out what he was saying, but she imagined he was finally trying to talk to Mufasa. She halted from afar and just watched as she saw Simba hunch over. Zarifa felt her heart beating against her chest, but she took a deep breath and decided to be brave. She walked over to her brother.
"Simba?" She said quietly, which caused him to jump in surprise. His body was tense.
"Who are…?" Simba began to say, but stopped when he saw Zarifa. His eyes were wide. "Mom? Is that you?"
Zarifa inhaled sharply. There was no denying that she was Sarabi's daughter, just like there was no denying that Simba was Mufasa's son. She shook her head slowly.
"No, I'm Zarifa. Sarabi's daughter," Zarifa said, cutting to the chase.
She couldn't read Simba's face. She had expected him to be shocked, inquisitive, and maybe a little angry. Instead, he looked sad, like he had just been betrayed. He sighed and closed his eyes, turning away from Zarifa.
"She found another mate," Simba said quietly. Zarifa immediately shook her head and took to her brother's side.
"No! She could never be with anyone else," Zarifa said, taking a deep breath. "Mom was pregnant when dad died."
Simba looked at Zarifa again, but this time his eyes were wide with surprise. He was inspecting this young lioness. He couldn't deny that she bore a strong resemblance to Sarabi, and she looked the right age, but Simba still wasn't sure if he could trust her.
Until he saw the red lightening-bolt shaped marking on her head. It was the same colour as his mane. The same colour as their father's mane.
Suddenly filled with love for this complete stranger, Simba laughed and began nuzzling Zarifa.
"A sister! I've always wanted a sibling, I can't believe it," Simba cried over and over as he cuddled into Zarifa. She was so happy she could've cried.
"Oh Simba, mom has told me so much about you. I wish we could have grown up together," Zarifa said, her voice shaky. Simba pulled away and took another look at Zarifa.
"You certainly are our mother's daughter. You could be twins," Simba remarked. Zarifa nodded with a soft smile.
"And you look just like Mufasa."
At the mention of Mufasa, the smile fell from Simba's face. He sighed and looked away.
"You never got to meet our father, how would you know what he looks like?" Simba asked, sounding more spiteful than he meant to. Zarifa stood tall.
"Because he appeared to me and told me that I had to find you," Zarifa announced. Confusion was written all over Simba's face. His brows furrowed together.
"What do you mean he told you to find me?" Simba asked. Zarifa sighed. This was the part Nala failed to accomplish.
"He told me I needed to find you and bring you back to the Pride Lands to take your place as king," Zarifa said, knowing how unbelievable it sounded. Simba sarcastically laughed.
"That's good! Did Nala put you up to this? That's one I haven't heard," Simba said, sarcastic. Zarifa was getting mad.
"I'm telling the truth, Simba! Dad said that if you didn't come home, mom would die! And I am not losing anyone else that I love because of Scar," Zarifa said.
Simba may have believed her, even if it was just a little bit. But he still hesitated.
"Even if that's true…find another way. It would do more harm than good if I went back. They don't need me. That includes mom," Simba said. Zarifa was shaking her head, desperate.
"We need you! The Pride Lands are dying. There's no food or water. Scar killed lionesses that opposed him. He was going to kill me when he found out my real identity. I haven't seen mom since I was a cub. Our home is being ripped apart, being turned into something dad never wanted! Please Simba, I need you to help me save the Pride Lands," Zarifa begged, on the verge of tears.
Zarifa trained herself to never feel sorry for herself. She knew Sarabi gave her the best she could, given the circumstances. But it broke her heart to know that her life could've been very different if Scar had not been king. And she wanted her mother to have a family again.
Simba was about to answer, but was cut off by someone in the shadows.
"You should listen to your sister, your majesty," Rafiki said, jumping down from the trees, surprising the two young lions. "Your father wants you to take your place as king."
Simba scoffed. "He's dead, how would you know what he wants?"
"He is alive. I can show him to you. You follow Rafiki, he knows the way," Rafiki said before running into the trees.
Baffled but curious, Simba and Zarifa chased after the elderly baboon.
As they ran through the dark jungle, getting caught in vines and hit by branches, Zarifa wondered what Rafiki meant that Mufasa was still alive. If he were alive, why didn't he go back to Pride Rock? Was he hiding away too?
When Rafiki stopped them in front of a watering hole, he urged Simba to come forward to see Mufasa. Disappointed, Simba only saw his reflection, but Rafiki urged him to look harder.
"You see…he lives in you," Rafiki said, causing both Simba and Zarifa's hearts to break.
"Simba…" A powerful voice said above them, shocking them both. Simba looked up.
"Father?"
Zarifa stood in the shadows with Rafiki as Simba spoke with Mufasa. She had the chance to speak with their father, and she wanted to give Simba the same gift she was given of reuniting with dad, no matter how short it was.
"You travelled very far to find your brother," Rafiki said, breaking Zarifa from her trance.
"I had to bring him home."
"Let me ask you—how did you know your brother was alive? When I got the sign from the Great Kings of the past, they said nothin' 'bout you bein' here."
Zarifa shrugged her shoulder, unsure of how to reply. "I just…had a sign."
"Mufasa came to you, didn't he? You talked to him," Rafiki said, incredulous. Zarifa suddenly felt like she should have kept that to herself.
"When I was asleep he did," Zarifa answered quickly, noticing that Simba was chasing after Mufasa's spirit in the sky that was fading all too quickly.
"You have a gift, princess. It will make you one of the fiercest lions in the Pride Lands," Rafiki said, amazement in his voice. Zarifa shrugged, not thinking much about it.
"I hope you're right, Rafiki. Because right now I am ready to knock some sense into Simba's head if he doesn't come back after all this," Zarifa said, which made Rafiki laugh.
Mufasa was gone, again. Zarifa and Rafiki took to his side, hoping that talking to Mufasa after all these years did more good than harm. Simba continued to look at the stars, but she could see that his eyes were full of exactly what the Pride Lands needed: hope.
"Are you ready to face the past?" Zarifa asked quietly. Knowing that he couldn't run from the past for much longer, Simba nodded, eyes still glued to the sky.
"I can't run from the past anymore. I have to learn from it," Simba said, and Zarifa felt proud to have this lion as her big brother.
Rafiki abruptly hit Simba on the top of the head with his walking stick.
"OW! Geez, what was that for?"
"It was long overdue!"
To be continued…
I am able to confirm that this story will have 20 chapters. Sarabi and Zarifa's story is about to wrap up, so tell me in a review what you hope to see happen!