Chapter 15! So how evil am I going to be? Evil. n.n Onto the story.
Azia brought the Prideland news after a long disappearance. She revealed to Obassi in early morning of her news. There was a new queen in the Pridelands, who had a littler of cubs on the way. Kovu was still holding strong, finally regaining control over the pride from Vitani's slight dictatorship. The fire-colored bird peaked in the younger lions' den and admired how beautifully they had grown, then noticed Gunab in question. Obassi answered quickly that it was his new plan that would begin today. The beginnings of war. Azia fled quickly, before any of the others woke up, leaving Obassi to his normal schedule, but with a thought in his mind, war would begin this very day.
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I'll do it, Gunab thought as he departed from the Outlands, beginning his mission. I'll kill my father and family. Not just for Obassi, but for myself, too. He stood with pride and determination on a large boulder and gazed at the faraway Pride Rock and closed his eyes and let the storm-chilled air rush though his fur and breath.
A memory shot back at him. Sitting on the tip of Pride Rock with one of the greatest kings he had ever known, with all the answers to the world. The lion he adored most, next to Obassi. Gunab bowed his head in a moment of shame. He didn't follow in Simba's footsteps like he had planed. Instead, he had turned to the enemy, but it is what he wanted. I made it through the difficult training, he thought, I made it through my mothers death. I survived in a rival land, and I've committed myself to another pride. I'm sorry, Great King Simba, but this is my choice.
With that, Gunab began once again in a swift pace, his muscles already tensing for the fight. He knew that Obassi and Boniko would follow him soon enough after the fighting had begun. Until then, he was all alone.
He crossed the border where his mother was killed almost two years ago. Pride Rock grew larger. The cloudy sky sent a bolt of lighting thought the sky, branching out above Pride Rock, sending a long rumble of low thunder though the land, but no rain. Luckily, though, the land was still too wet for a fire to start.
And then the king appeared. Gunab slowed to a slow walk, seeing his father for the first time in forever. He ducked into the shadows to watch Kovu for a few moment. Kovu paced the top of Pride Rock for a minute then paused, tensed, catching an unfamiliar scent. He looked around quickly, not seeing anything then froze in fear when Gunab exposed himself into the light under his father.
A feeling of recognition went though Kovu, he swore he knew this lion. "Who are you?" Kovu said, just loud enough for Gunab to hear but not so loud as to disturb the sleeping lionesses.
Gunab gave a sideways smirk and started slowly up the path to the top of Pride Rock. Kovu growled loudly, sensing the challenge. "I've come to claim my position.." Gunab said in a low, fierce voice to break through Kovu's growing growl.
"Your place is not here, outsider. Leave here before you die." Kovu spoke just as fiercely.
"Oh, but it is," Gunab lowered himself in a crouch, preparing for his attack, "..father."
Kovu's eyes widened and he froze at the last word, giving Gunab the chance he prayed for. He was quick and precise, aiming to knock Kovu to his back. He leapt through the air, claws, fully extended, sinking into Kovu's back, knocking him to his side. Kovu roared in pain and shock.
Gunab didn't want to give him the chance to call out again and began clawing violently, hoping to weaken Kovu by making him bleed too much. The older lion regained his senses and returned back to his feet, only to rise on his hind legs to match Gunab's attacks. He swiped his large paws across Gunab's face, hoping to knock him away, but failed. Gunab had been trained to stand that kind of attack. Taking advantage of his quicker movements, Gunab sank down to all fours and flew forward, attacking Kovu's underside, sinking his fangs into Kovu's thick mane, and claws into his exposed underside.
By now, the groggy lionesses began to awaken at the sound of fighting. The lionesses quickly attacked Gunab when they saw the fighting and sent him away from Kovu and began attacking him. Now Obassi and Boniko showed up at the top of Pride Rock and easily fought the group of lionesses from Gunab, and the ones aiding Kovu, away.
Already, younger lionesses began to fall from the group of twenty or thirty of them. The only one who didn't participate in the battle was Falai, who stared out the den then clawed through the back of Pride Rock to escape and save her unborn cubs' lives if she could.
Now both Gunab and Kovu were covered in blood, from themselves and their component. They stared each other down for many seconds through deep glaring eyes. Kovu growled and twisted his head, taunting Gunab to attack again, and he did as so, but not in the way Kovu anticipated. Instead of a frontal attack, Gunab leapt in the group of lionesses Boniko and Obassi were fighting to conceal himself, throwing Kovu off, before attacking Kovu at the side, pinning him by the shoulders to the ground.
"'Father?'" Kovu repeated, his eyes locked with Gunab's.
The younger lion gave a low growl, pushing more weight onto his pin with a slow nod, "I left nearly two years ago to seek a better life. One where I would earn my way to leadership, not by inheriting it. Father, I fight for myself and my pride and my love."
Kovu was silent, just staring at his son. He now knew why the lion looked familiar, his own son had returned, only to destroy the pride. "It.. didn't have to be like this, though."
"This is how I wanted it, though." And with that, the two great lions gave a last locked look before they sunk back into the violence and Gunab sunk his fangs deep in the mane, through all the fur, piercing the flesh slowly, the taste of blood dancing though his body for the first time. Kovu clawed at Gunab weakly, the blood from all the deep wounds pooling under him. Not wanting Kovu to suffer, Gunab shook his head quickly, snapping Kovu's neck, instantly killing him.
The lionesses quit fighting, though there were only ten left alive, Obassi and Boniko covered in blood. There was silence as Gunab released his death grip on the king's neck. Gunab looked at Kovu. The only other lion he ever killed, and his father at that. Cries from the lionesses broke the silence. Gunab stood over Kovu's dead body, warning any of the lionesses that if they even tried to attack any of the three, their lives would be ended effortlessly.
Obassi's lips curled to a wicked smile and he padded to his half-brother's body and looked over it carefully, then nodded to Gunab, "Good job. Very nice."
Gunab gave a half-bow to Obassi, but stood up proudly and strong, "I killed the king, so I take over, not you. This is now my pride."
Boniko nodded, "He is right, Obassi. We follow him now." Boniko looked at Gunab with part admiration, part pride.
The dark lion gave a stubborn growl but gave in and nodded, "And now, Gunab, you may have my daughter as your queen for this new pride."
The Prideland lionesses murmured among themselves until one stepped forward, "Obassi, Obassi, Obassi. I thought you were dead a long time ago." Vitani gave a small sneer then looked at her twin brother's body, sadness sweeping over her as she turned to Gunab, "If you are going to be our new king, you have to promise," she gave a tearful but powerful command, "promise to lead us back to greatness!"
With a deep sigh, Gunab nodded, "I'll do my best, Aunt Vitani." And with that, the short war ended and had ended as peacefully as it could. The lionesses were allowed to mourn and perform burial ceremonies to honor a great king, and laid his body to rest next to Nala, Simba, and Kiara's, along with the lionesses who died during the short lasting fight.
Obassi fled the Pride Lands in late afternoon to fetch the rest of the Liba Pride and bring them to Pride Rock, staying out of the mourning lionesses ways. The Liba Pride looked over the land what was still bloodstained and stared at Gunab and the other two lions in amazement, the younger ones having no idea of the preplanning. Azazsi and Umaimai nuzzled Gunab proudly as if he were one of her own children. Boteshu and Qua were cautious as they congratulated their "brother" then bowed to him graciously.
Rarely seen on his face, Obassi gave a proud smile towards Gunab and then to Ibzimai, "I think you have something to ask my daughter."
Ibzimai looked at Gunab with curiosity, not knowing what was coming. "Ibzimai.." he tried to think of how to word it in front of his whole pride, even the Pridelanders, "..would you do the honor of becoming my queen?"
A silence swept over them, waiting for Ibzimai's answer. The white lioness smiled and nodded, her blush noticeable under her soft fur. Gunab smiled and nuzzled Ibzimai affectionately and the young couple cuddled for a moment then looked at everyone else, who was still silent.
Boteshu and Qua looked at each other, then to Dekala, then they all looked at Ibzimai and Gunab and burst out laughing, "We knew you two would end up together!" Boteshu sang through his laughing fit. The Liba Pride laughed and the former Pridelanders chuckled, trying to lift their spirits.
Gunab turned to the new lionesses and smiled warmly, "I know I killed your king somewhat heartlessly, but I assure you that I'll take much after him, but more successful, after all, I was his one and only son." The lionesses, including Vitani, smiled and roared happily towards him, knowing that Gunab would keep his promise to the new Liba Pride.
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Less than a week later, the marriage ritual took place, joining Ibzimai and Gunab as King and Queen of the Pride Lands until death. The young couple roared proudly at the tip of Pride Rock, announcing to the lands that a new leadership has begun. One by one, Obassi, Boniko, Azazsi, Umaimai, Dekala, Boteshu, Qua, Vitani, and the other lionesses bowed in loyalty to them. The only thing the lionesses didn't mention was the disappearance of Falai and what had come of her, but they all assumed she fled somewhere far away to safety. And so, the Pridelands lived in peace and prosperity through the seasons at the great leadership of a young king and queen.
Such a happy ending. n.n Don't you hate it when people end things that fast? Ah well, I like it, and that's all that matters. Love all of you and see you next story!