After Le Roi Lion (I love French!)
Well guys, thanks for reviewing. Heh heh... looks like I messed up again, calling Sarifa Kiara. Once I accidentally called Radhi Kovu... how embarrassing.
"Scar?" Radhi asked his caregiver, one night under the stars. "How can I kill my father? I can't let him leave me!" He said.
Scar sighed. "Radhi? You've probably heard this before, from Simba. Do you see those stars?"
"Yeah. There are lots of them, Scar."
"Yes," Scar said. "Up there, the Great Kings of the Past are looking down on us. Watching us." He sighed again. "My brother is up there, to name one. And so, even if you kill Simba, he will alwayas be with you."
"My father didn't tell me that. Wait, weren't you the king once?"
"Yes," Scar said. "A part of me is up there."
"What?" Radhi whispered, mainly to himself.
"Scar?" He asked. "Scar? Did you like being king when you finally got it?"
"Not really," Scar answered. "I wanted to be adored, loved, admired. I thought that when I became king, everyone would adore me. But I was wrong."
"Loved?! Adored? Didn't Moofie, and your parents love you?"
"Not particularly. They weren't fond of me. Everyone loved Mufasa. As a matter of fact, Shenzi was one of my only friends. Now even she has left me, just as all the others. One day, you probably will too."
"No Scar." Radhi moved closer to his companion.
"What's wrong with this picture? Maybe that you're in it?... Why am I not loved?... Even in death his shadow looms over me. There he is! No, there he is! And there!... Who am I talking to? ... That's it! I need a queen!...You know, Sire, you should really try alcohol... You are bucked up. Royally.... You and your petty complaints. You don't know what real hunger is. Day after day it gnaws at the very core of my being... My name is Scar! And it's not dumb!" Various quotes from throughout Scar's past erupted in Radhi's head.
"Poor Scar."
He pulled himself up, and on to a jutting rock. He looked toward the stars, and could have sworn he heard someone say, "Mamela."
He looked at his reflection in the water. "The great kings have come to peace with each other." His gaze tilted toward the sky. "In the sky."
Sarifa and Ke each grew into beautiful young lionesses, with Nala's care. Simba was still a loner, and Sarifa still hardly knew him. Rarely could she remember what her father looked like. Over the years, Sarifa had become a few inches taller than Ke, much to her delight. Ke was, after all, older than her and thus had more time to grow. So to be taller than her friend was a wonderful surprise. Ke was dark brown, and had green eyes and "cute," puffy hair on the top of her head. Her smile was glorious. Her thin face was precious. Sarifa, on the other hand, had vibrant red orange eyes like her father. The younger lioness had a face much like her mother's, although it was more emphasized and her eyes shone. The area around her eyes resembled her father; which she was proud of. And the lioness had boundless energy, something Ke envied. The two bounded together, hunted together, stargazed together -- and gossiped together. The only male in the pride -- other than Simba -- was a "guy" called Closphir. Sarifa and Ke thought that Closphir was "hot," and were rather "interested" in him. Often they gossiped in private together about going on a date with Closphir. Closphir was a few years older than Ke, and nearly completely grown. Ke was around 23, Sarifa 19. And Closphir was 26. Still, Ke and Sarifa always became rather "tingly" around him. The lion was of a burnt orange pelt, and a a chocolate colored mane. He had a "funny" mane that fell over his head in a large forlock. His dark green eyes just had something about them... and this was what the two young lionesses talked about the most together. Closphir.
"He's so cute!"
"I know!"
Sarifa, alone, ran through open fields; hardly noticing that she was in the Elephant Graveyard by now. But then -- she smelled something. What was it? It smelled... human! Human! And then, she saw that a hunter was pulling the trigger on his gun...
Radhi was slinking through the elephant graveyard. Until he heard a blast and -- a feminine scream? Hunters!
As he ran in fear through the grass, suddenly he saw it. He skidded to a stop. A lioness was lying motionless on her side. He could see a bullet hole on her shoulder, and she was covered in blood.
"Oh my god!" Radhi dashed toward Sarifa.
"Miss? Are you okay?"
Sarifa looked up at him, dazed but in disbelief. "Huh? Radhi?" She asked. The lion was more brown gold than herself, being rather orange cream colored. He had green blue eyes, a dark mane with golden... highlights? And her father's face. He was much larger than any lion Sarifa had ever known. True, he did look much like Ke had described. But how could it be him? Radhi was long dead! He was taken by hyenas before she had been born!
"Are you okay? What's your name?"
"Sarifa." The lioness managed to tell Radhi her name before falling victim to unconsiousness.
"Sarifa," Radhi pondered it for a moment. "Have I heard that before? I know I've heard it somewhere!" He sighed. "Oh, it doesn't matter." He was panicking by now.
"Gotta get help. Gotta get help right now. Okay."
With no effort Radhi pulled Sarifa's small body onto his. Frantically he screamed for help. "Help! Somebody!" He shouted. "Oh, please be okay Sarifa. I get blamed for everything-- you can't die! Everyone's gonna think I did it! Oh, please be okay." He was whispering now.
"Help!!!! Doesn't anybody know a Sarifa? Come on, I've got an injured lioness on my back! Someone shot her!"
A shadow moved through the dust. It was Scar. He sat not far away, in the shadows. Though Radhi did not notice him.
"HELP!" Radhi screamed.
Another shadow emerged. This was Vitani.
"Radhi?" She asked. "What's going on?"
"It's Sarifa! She's injured!" Radhi had no idea that Sarifa was Simba's daughter, only that he needed to save her.
"Oh my god," Vitani said. "Come with me. I'll take her to her mother."
"Uh, okay." Radhi felt a little awkward, but he knew he had to save Sarifa.
At Pride Rock, Simba was pacing. Why wasn't Kiara back yet from her daily run? She had promised to do some hunting.
"SIMBA!" Simba looked toward three figures in the distance. What were they? Three of them. He couldn't tell who -- or what -- they were, their features were indistinct as they were too far away.
"Nala!" Another called.
They were two lions, carrying Sarifa!
"Huh? Sarifa!" Simba ran down to greet the strangers.
"She. In the elephant graveyard. Hunters. Shot her. We, took her home." Radhi was out of breath.
Simba payed him no mind. "Vitani!" He cursed. "What are you doing here? I banished you to the outlands!"
Vitani narrowed her eyes. He had called her "Vih-tah-nee" again! Her name was "Vih-tuh-neay!"
"Sarifa is my mother's daughter too. Does it make remote sense that one might want to save their own sister?" Vitani growled.
"Uh, what about Sarifa?" Radhi asked, absent-mindedly.
"Oui. Radhi is right. We have to take care of my sister."
"How dare you address Sarifa as your sister!"
"Well she is. Except you're her wretched father."
"How dare you," Simba said. "I don't want to listen to that crap."
It was all coming back to Radhi. The days and nights Radhi had spent comforting Vitani... the princess to be forgotten. And how he longed, those nights, to kill... Simba?! Simba!? Sarifa's father? His father? This lion who had just cussed in front of... but... what was wrong with him? He looked so old...
"Uh, I can see someone here doesn't like Simba... hey guys, break it up! What use is there for fighting?"
True, Scar had told him Simba was evil. What was he doing?
"Radhi is right," Vitani said, defending Radhi.
Simba's eyes went wide, and he looked at Radhi. He observed all angles of the young lion, several inches taller than himself. He had the same face, although it was thinner and more pronounced than that of Simba. His mane... how odd looking. A dark color, almost black. But brown charcoal, all the same. With golden highlights. Highlights in a mane? Simba had never seen such a thing. Although, he had seen a tail that way... this lion had it too! He had green blue eyes, golden brown fur. And Vitani had called him Radhi. Radhi?!
"Wh--how?" He asked. "Who are you?" He blurted out.
Radhi, absent mindedly, answred, "My name is Radhi. I humbly ask to join your pride."
"Radhi?!" Simba screamed in delight.
Radhi fought back tears, looking at his father. Remembering the days and nights they used to spend together... how, he thought, could this lion be evil?
"Father!" Radhi smiled.
Vitani cleared her throat, in an attempt to remind the two that she was there.
"You!" Simba said. "You took Radhi! Leave, now!"
Vitani backed off in instinctual fear.
"Simba, you owe her your daughter's life!"
"Nala?"
"I agree with my son and daughter," Nala said.
Radhi and Vitani smiled.
"But Nala, she's--"
"Hush." Nala was brushing Simba's muzzle with her tail. "Haven't you ever watched TV? The girls are always right."
Radhi nodded, before noticing what he was doing. He frowned. "Huh?"
"Son of a--" Nala gave Simba a look, and he stopped.
Simba and Radhi walked fondly together back to the den. Simba continued to observe Radhi. He seemed to walk with a limp; which Simba soon realized was the cause of a long jagged scar from the mid-shin to his paw. He didn't have that when Simba knew him! How had he obtained that? After more careful observance, he noticed that on another leg -- a back one -- were several short scars. Below the left eye was a nearly black triangle, that Simba soon realized was a scar as well. Where did he get the scars? And there were more. Written about his body were many small scars. How did he live through all these injuries? And why was one claw extended on his limping paw? Simba payed close attention to when he lifted the limping paw. One toe was smashed -- the one which he kept his claw extended. Simba never imagined that his son would become so ragged! One ear was ever so slightly torn. The lion was skin, bones, and muscle. How had his perfect son come to this state?
"Simba, why have you been such an emmerduer lately?" Nala asked Simba, when they were alone in the savanna.
Simba mock glared at Nala. "You'd better tell me what that means!"
"Nuisance."
Simba looked rather disappointed. "Oh," Was all he said.
"Why couldn't you just accept Vitani and Radhi, be un fils a maman?"
"Could you please just speak in English?" Simba pleaded.
Nala smiled. "Oui Monsieur." It was a teasing voice.
Simba sighed, a slight smile on his face. "I mean, what do you expect me to do? Be her," He poorly immitated. French, "'pere neurrecier?'"
"Actually, oui. En ce qui me concerne."
"Oh... don't you think I deserve a break?"
"Hah! J'espere!" Nala laughed.
Simba rolled his eyes; he hadn't a clue what Nala was talking about. "Fine then. My primer amor!"
"Je t'aime!" Nala giggled.
"Comme vous dites."
Hope you like! Review, please? Sorry about all the French. I think it's overwhelming too.
