CandyLuv99; Thanks so much for the review. I'm glad you have your eyes on Nefertiti, but I won't spoil it. Thank you also for the Oc submit, Leila will come in handy.
Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy!
As the next day came, the pride went about their daily routine. As King Ahadi took his sons out for their regular lessons about the goings of pride and their kingdom's history.
The light brown lion was informed by his mate that Taika will be talking to Nefertiti later in the day with her. Of course it was after Uru did her queen duties and Nefertiti was still the leader of the Lion Guard. Until a new one is formed, the current guard still has their duties to serve and protect the Pridelands.
King Ahadi was explaining the cheetahs' coalition and how the cheetahs were most active during the day when he was interrupted.
RRRRROOOOOOOARRR!
It was only then that the father looked at his sons a bit more calmly.
"Boys, you have to pay attention now. A guard has just called for his leader, which means that there really is some kind of trouble. Luckily, your Aunt Nefertiti isn't far away. Hmm, I wonder…" – the king took a moment to think something over. "Since we're practically done with our lesson, how would you boys like to watch the Lion Guard at work? If we hurry up, we might just get there in time. That should be a good experience for both of you."
"WOW, really?" Mufasa and Taika bared their little fangs in a smile of amazement and anticipation. "Let's go!"
Ahadi smiled. Seemed this was a step in helping Taika with what happened on the summit of priderock a few days ago. "Alright, then. Make sure to run as fast as you can!"
And so they took off, galloping toward where the roar came from. Both the brothers tried to catch up with their father, but still, every few minutes, he had to stop so that he wouldn't leave them too far behind.
The cubs were exhausted from the heat, and were glad to see the end of their run as they climbed a tall hill and noticed that part of their pride was gathered under one of the tallest trees in the Pridelands. To their shock, they saw that many cubs and lionesses sat underneath the tree, gazing toward one of the tallest branches… on the tip of which there was a small ball of yellow-peach fur attached, holding on for his dear life.
"Das! Hold on!" yelled a peach lioness, terrified.
"What in the world are they doing?" – Mufasa asked, seriously concerned.
Taika answered with a snicker. "They were probably just bored and made Das climb to the top of the tree."
"Look! There's Auntie Nefertiti!"
A regal looking dark gold lioness with an orange emblem of the Lion Guard on her left shoulder suddenly entered the scene along with three of her companions. They were in a hurry, and upon noticing what was going on, they immediately joined another member of the Guard who was already sitting at the bottom of the tree, right below the branch from which Das was dangling.
"You two stay here!" Ahadi instructed. "I'm going down there to see if I can help them."
Mufasa and Taka obeyed, knowing that they had a better view of everything that was going on from the top of the hill. The frightened lionesses seemed greatly relieved with the arrival of Ahadi and the Lion Guard, but still the cub's life was in danger. He was holding on to a dry branch that was bent dangerously because of the weight of his body, looking as if it was about to crack.
"Das!" called the leader of the Guard. "Try to slowly move back the same way you climbed the tree! But be careful!"
Unfortunately, the cub's muscles were flexed from the dread of falling, and he was unable to move.
"I… I can't!" – cried the helpless cub.
Nefertiti frowned. She couldn't send anyone to climb up the tree, because then the branch would surely break off. She turned her head toward the rest of the Lion Guard.
"Nguvu!" Nefertiti addressed a huge orange, dark orange mane lion that looked like a boulder made of muscle.
The prince's aunt started saying something to him that Mufasa and Taka weren't able to hear. But then they noticed that the strong lion came up to the tree, put his front paws on the trunk, and…
"Can you see that?!" gasped the thrilled reddish-brown Prince. "They're going to shake him off like a ripe piece of fruit! Haha!"
"I don't think that's very funny, Taika." Mufasa answered, biting his lip. "It looks extremely risky. I wouldn't wanna be in Das' skin right now…"
With a forceful heave, the strongest member of the Lion Guard shook the whole tree one time and then another, causing the leaves to fall and the top branch to make a cracking sound.
"W-whoooaaah!" – cried the frightened cub, shoving his claws even deeper into the wood.
"Don't worry, Das! We'll catch you!" Nefertiti assured her best friend's nephew, standing at the bottom of the tree with the rest of her Guard.
With one more strong push of Nguvu's mighty muscles, the dry branch finally cracked, making the lionesses gasp in horror. It didn't break off completely, however, leaving the poor Das dangling at its end, kicking the air helplessly with his hind legs.
"WHHHOOOAAAHHH!"
"Just let go! We've got you!" Nefertiti kept yelling.
Finally, the cub listened. Now even Mufasa and Taika let out a loud gasp of dread for the life of the cub. They saw him fall a long, long way, and then…
Another lion from among the Guard agilely jumped high in the air, as fast as an attacking cheetah, and grabbed Das in his teeth before he even reached the ground. They landed safely, with the rest of the lions making sure that their swift companion wouldn't lose balance and fall to the ground upon landing.
But he didn't.
Very soon, the Lion Guard was surrounded by cheering lionesses, cubs, and even the king himself. Das, who almost fainted during his fall, was handed to his mother.
After the commotion died down and the pride separated. Nefertiti dismissed the guard before walking over to her nephews and brother-in-law.
"I hope you boys learned something here today. Young Das could have been hurt or worse." the dark gold lioness smiled before turning her green eyes to Taika. "Your mother has something to share with you. I believe she's waiting by the water hole."
Taika was confused but didn't speak on it. He bid his father and brother goodbye before following his aunt towards the watering hole.
...
Uru smiled at her son as he sat in front of her but besides her sister. She was still skeptical of allowing this to happen. But if it brings peace between her sons, so be it.
"Taika, there's something very important I want to talk to you about. That is why your aunt is here with me. So that she can witness our conversation and approve my decisions, as the leader of the Lion Guard."
Taika frowned. This didn't sound good. Was it punishment for what he said to his father or the harsh way he told Uru the other day she doesn't love him like she loves Mufasa.
"You now know," the Queen went on, "that the ancient laws demand of me to choose your brother as my successor. That is something that no one may deny."
Taika lowered his head and pinned his black rimmed ears.
"Although I have more than just one son. It would therefore be unjust to entrust one of my children with an important task in the kingdom while leaving the other one idle. It has been an age-long custom, as your aunt may testify, that the second-born cub of the lion king and Queen is assigned the duty of leading the Lion Guard in protecting the Pridelands from every possible threat. I therefore wish to announce to all you today that, by my royal decree, my you, Taika, shall in the near future assemble new members for the Guard, and when that task is complete, you will then become their leader."
He felt his aunt hugging him, telling him how proud she is.
But Taika couldn't understand a thing. Leader of the Lion Guard? Him? Was this some sort of a joke?
"Mother?" Taika said almost silently, "Punish me if you will, but please, don't be cruel…"
"Hey, hard to believe, isn't it, my little Prince?" – the dark gold lioness smiled at him, pettingthe black tuft on the top of her nephew's head with a colorless paw. "Don't worry. I'll teach you all you need to know about being leader of the Lion Guard. You'll be ready in no time!"
If his aunt was saying that… then it must have been the truth!
Suddenly, Taika felt something inside that he really enjoyed. Leader of the Lion Guard! He would make his name be respected by all the creatures in the kingdom! Taika had never been more proud of himself than he was now.
Before long his mother spoke to him again.
"I see you're a bit surprised, my son." Uru said, smiling honestly.
"Yes!" Taika smiled widely. "But… this is an awesome surprise!"
"I'm glad you're happy, Taika." Uru embraced her cub before standing. "Now come. I have some announcements to make."
Taika feeling happy for the first time since finding out Mufasa was to be King, happily trotted after his mother and aunt towards priderock.
On the kopje, gathered around the king and queen was the pride. The were astounded and bright eyed at the announcement that Prince Taika will be the newest leader of the Lion Guard.
Of course not all were happy. Two cubs who constantly bullied Taika were sour expressions. Das and Esau. How can a runt like Taika be the leader of the mightiest lions around? They were still skeptical about a female being in charge even though Das' mother and aunt was Princess Nefertiti's best friends.
"Wait! Everybody! Please, settle down! I know that you are all happy to hear the good news, but there is one more announcement I have for you!"
This time, Uru summoned her older son and put her paw on the startled Mufasa's shoulders.
"All of you know who is going to be the future king of this land. But what every king also needs is a suitable mate. I am therefore happy to announce that, from this day forward, my son Mufasa and Asra's daughters are officially betrothed, which one Mufasa chose in the future will rule beside him as the next King and Queen of the Pridelands."
Once Taika heard his mother's second announcement he didn't listen anymore. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Mufasa. His brother sat there, his back straight, attempting to act out the role of an obedient successor. But, to Taika's great delight, he noticed that Mufasa's amber eyes became as wide as a full moon.
And then, just like every other cub in the pride, apart from Mufasa and Sarabi themselves and Wivu, Taika burst out laughing. No one at Pride Rock was mocking him anymore.
Taika laughed as Asra brought her daughter to sit her next to her future mate, making all the lionesses gasp at how cute they looked together. "So much for royal benefits!"
Seeing his behavior, Uru leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"Taika, be nice!" the goldish lioness scolded him. "You know that Sarabi is a kind, sweet little lioness. You should be wishing your brother all the best at this important moment in his life!"
But as the celebrating went on, a dark expression appeared over Asra's oldest daughter.
~PP~
It was late in the afternoon of the next day. Prince Taika found himself alone on the peak of Pride Rock with nobody but his aunt to keep him company.
-"So…" he addressed the Queen's half-sister, looking a bit confused. "… what now?"
Nefertiti smiled down at her bright eye nephew. "From this day, you're no cub anymore. But you also belong to me now! Haha! C'mon, lemme show you our new private den!"
Willingly or not, Taika let himself be taken by his uncle to the side of Pride Rock, where the famous Lair of the Lion Guard was. He'd never been inside that place, and as he walked up the stone steps to enter the cave, he looked at the paintings on the walls curiously.
"So this is where you hang out with the rest of the Guard?""
-"Wrong!" – Upesi said with a chuckle, lying down on the lair floor comfortably. "This is where we hang out. Now there's only two members of the Lion Guard, remember? Just you and me! Thankfully, the presentation was, in our terms, uneventful. I don't think we have anything else to do now. So, unless anyone calls for us, and I hope they won't, I'll tell ya a thing or two about how it is to be leader of the famous team of protectors of the kingdom. But first…"
The beautiful lioness jumped to her colorless paws again and reached behind a big boulder, revealing a hidden zebra leg from earlier's hunt.
"Lunch! I'm tellin' ya, my prince, those presentation things are nothing but a pain in the ass. All this fuss, and you can't even hunt that day 'cause all the attendants receive an royal assurance of complete safety."
Taika was actually very enthusiastic about his aunt's proposition. Lying down by her side, he began to eat.
"I was thinking…" Taika spoke after a moment, pointing at the symbol on Nefertiti's shoulder. "… when do I get one of these?"
"Good question!" The Lion Guard leader tossed her zebra bone straight out the entrance to the lair. "You'll get that, along with much more special stuff, a bit later. First, we need to find you some companions. You can't do everything by yourself, you know."
"How do I… recruit new companions?" Taika asked curiously.
"How? Well, lemme tell ya! Boy, is it gonna be fun! The León Tournament, of course!"
"What's that?" Those words did not sound familiar to the young prince.
"What, you mean to tell me that my precious brother-in-law or my wonderful sister never told you anything about what the León Tournament is? What else do you learn during those lessons of yours, then? Sure, we haven't had one since I was a bit younger than yourself, but still… Okay, come with me. It's time to look at some of these old pictures."
"Alright…"
Taika followed his aunt to one of the walls of the lair. There Nefertiti showed him five small shapes painted on the wall.
"Right. So now according to ancient tradition, blah blah blah, you get the idea, the Lion Guard usually, if not always, consists of five members." Nefertiti pointed toward the first symbol. "The leader- that's you- is simply referred to as 'the leader'. He technically should be the fiercest and wisest of the bunch."
Taika smiled up at his aunt. He liked that he was recognized for more than his small size.
"Next, we have the four members… but don't let your superiority over them go to your head too much. They'll follow you if you ask them to, but lording it over your team only leads to unnecessary fights, okay? Trust me, I've experienced that the hard way... So the four other guardians are: the strongest, the bravest, the fastest, and the keenest of sight.You yourself need to gather all the male lion cubs around, and impartially, you hear me? Impartially choose the ones among them who are strongest, bravest, fastest and keenest of sight. And that's what the LeónTournament is for! Get it?"
Taika understood his aunt's instructions well. But he already began to think how he could use the rules that the Lion Guard followed to his own advantage.