Chapter Two
"Remyyyy!" Remus lifted his shaggy brown head and turned to glance at his partner, who was standing over a brown lump. He trotted over to the black wolf and came to a stop beside him.
"What is it Siri?" He asked. Sirius just nodded to the lump.
"It's alive." Remus lowered his head to sniff at the brown lump and pulled away in confusion.
"It's a lion. A young one." Remus said.
"Well what's it doing way out here?" Sirius asked. Remus shrugged and scooped the limp lion into his jaws. "We're taking him with us?" Remus nodded and trotted off. Sirius followed with a shake of his head and they quickly found a small watering hole with some shade.
"Splash him a bit Siri." Sirius splashed some water on the young lion and they watched as the cub spluttered and blinked wearily at them.
"Who are you? Where am I?" He asked hoarsely.
"I'm Remus and that's my mate, Sirius. We found you out in the middle of the desert." Remus said kindly. "Have some water." The cub lapped at the water and looked around him. "Now, what is your name little cub?"
"Simba."
0000000000 Back at Pride Rock
"I can't believe they're gone." Nala whispered to her mother. The older lioness nuzzled her daughter's head.
"I know. It's a terrible tragedy." She whispered. Beside them, Lily shifted restlessly. Tom lay snoring on his perch in the center of the den, surrounded by his small gang of lions.
"What if it was not an accident?" Nala asked. Sarafina turned towards her with a wild look.
"Don't even speak of it!" She hissed. "Tom will kill you if you do." Nala lowered her head in sadness.
"I am sorry." Sarafina sighed and gave her cub a reassuring lick.
"Everything will be all right."
0000000000 Three years later
Simba looked up into the stars as Sirius and Remus dropped off to sleep. Something wasn't right. He could feel it. But what could be wrong? He lived with his best friends, and he didn't have to worry about anything!
Yet that feeling of hopelessness was still there! It had been there for a long time now. He stood up and walked a little ways away from the clearing where the three of them slept. He collapsed on a log and sighed.
"You are alive." A rough voice jolted Simba out of his doze. He whirled around to find a sleek wildcat looking at him with wide black eyes. "Simba?"
"Who..? Severus?" Simba asked in shock. The sleek cat bounded over to him and leapt up to lick at Simba's muzzle.
"Oh thank god I found you!" Severus exclaimed as his coat shimmered from brown to black.
"What are you doing here?" Simba asked. Severus pulled back and Simba began noticing small differences in his old mentors appearances. The cat was thinner, and his coat wasn't as shiny.
"It has gotten so bad back at Pride Rock." Simba jerked. "Tom has taken over. The herds have moved on and the water has dried up. Tom has...many of the lionesses are now dead because of his harshness."
"I..." Simba shook his head. "What do you want of me?"
"You need to return. Fight for your birthright." Simba shook his head.
"I can't. You don't understand..." Severus patted Simba's paw.
"Then tell me. Make me understand." And so Simba began his tale. Severus listened with wide eyes until Simba had finished, and then did his best to comfort the distraught lion. "It wasn't your fault. It was Tom. And now is the perfect chance for you to uncover everything and punish him!" Severus said.
"I....."
"Well go with you." Remus spoke up, coming out of the bushes. Simba's eyes widened. "You won't be alone."
"Yeah, we won't leave you to face this alone!" Sirius said from beside him. Simba nodded shakily.
"I'll go back then."
0000000000
"James? No! You're dead!" Tom backed away from the large golden and brown lion, standing on a ledge above him. He jumped down and trotted over to Lily. He lowered his head and nuzzled her.
"Are you okay...mom?" Lily gazed up into Simba's eyes and nodded. One of the lionesses, who were standing to their left, trotted over to them and helped Lily to stand. Simba absently noted the small bulge in her belly but dismissed it for now.
"You!" Tom cried. Simba stalked foreword with a growl. "You dare return after what you've done!"
"I've done nothing Tom. That was all you." Simba replied. "You and your hyenas." Tom growled, as did the hyenas and his small group of lions. "And now I'm here to expose you and take you down!" Tom leapt at Simba and the lionesses joined in the fray as Tom's 'clan' aided Tom.
The battle between the two sides went on well into night. Soon the hyenas had fled and Tom was cornered. The other lions, who had sided with Tom, were being held in the cave. None of them were brave enough to aid their falling master.
"You wouldn't kill me now would you Simba?" Tom asked shakily, lowering himself to the ground. His wounds had long since stopped healing, his magical reserves having been depleted.
Simba growled, using the last of his own reserves to heal himself, before leaping at his 'uncle', sinking his fangs into Tom's neck. Soon the evil lion lay dead and Simba had won back his pride. Now all he had to do was banish the lions that had sided with Tom, and ask his mother about that small bulge...
END
There will be a sequel! Not to fear... and I might revise this one some day. Might.