Author's Note: Alright, here is Chapter Two. I got this chapter done pretty quickly so sorry if it isn't as good as the first couple chapters. I was up at the local ski hill with my family for Christmas Holidays staying in our condo. We don't have the internet there so I was forced to write rather than chat on msn not that I was overly upset, you know. Enjoy.
-The Lion King III: A Journey of Love and Hate-
By Vitani008
-Chapter Two-
A few years later, back at Pride Rock, the young golden coloured prince, pranced up the slanted rock and skidded to an abrupt halt as he reached the top. He looked out at what he would one day rule and roared. Behind him, someone chuckled slightly. The young prince turned around face to face with a young female cub with big blue eyes and a golden coloured coat. She was the Prince's best friend, Dakota.
"I don't think you get to do that until you're king, which you're not," she continued to giggle.
"Well, I'm the future king, so I get to do whatever I want."
"I don't think it works that way, Amiri."
"When I rule, things will work that way," Amiri laughed, "Grandpa Simba said he was going to show me the whole kingdom today, but the sun is almost at it's highest and he's still sleeping."
"He's old, Amiri. But you're right; he should be up by now," Amiri and Dakota turned around to see Queen Nala smiling, "Go on and wake him up, darling."
"Thanks, Grandma," he trotted off into the cave, Dakota bouncing off towards her mother who was lying with the rest of the lionesses.
"Grandpa! Grandpa Simba! Wake up!" called Amiri as he bounded up to him, pouncing on his back.
"Amiri?" asked Simba, rolling over, knocking Amiri off him and yawning.
"Get up, Grandpa. You promised you'd show me the kingdom today," he climbed up on the side of his face and bit his ear, playfully.
"I did?" he asked opening one eye looking into the angry eyes of his grandson, "I mean. I did. Of course I did. I'm up, I'm up."
"Good, let's go," squealed Amiri, hurdling out of the cave, his grandfather sauntered slowly behind him. Amiri rushed to the top of the rock which shot skyward, while his grandfather stretched and yawned as he bathed in the sunlight.
"Hurry Grandpa!"
"Amiri, you must understand that I am not as young and quick as I used to be. I'm old now. Soon I will join my father and the other great kings of the past in the stars. Then you're father will take over as the King of the Pride Lands, and then when it is his time, when you're much older it will be your turn to take your place …" he gazed over the African savanna, watching the animal kingdom and continued looking to the clear, cloudless sky, "…in the Great Circle of Life."
"I've always wanted to be King but if you and Dad have to die in the process then forget it."
"But, Amiri, it's how it goes. Here, this is how my father explained it. We eat the antelope, right? But when we die, our bodies become the grass and the antelope eat the grass so we are connected in the Great Circle of Life. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand. So when I rule the Pride Lands, what will be my kingdom?"
"Everything the light touches," Simba explained simply.
"Everything the light touches? Wow!" he exclaimed, "That will be my entire kingdom?"
"Yes, but you must promise me, you will never leave the Pride Lands. It's dangerous out there."
"Why? What's out there?"
"You see that dark shadowy place over there?" he asked, pointing at the place he was talking about.
"Yes."
"That is the Elephant Graveyard. Your grandmother and I went there as cubs after both my uncle Scar and my father told me never to go there, but my curiosity got the better of me."
"What happened, Grandpa?" the curiosity getting the better of Amiri.
"We got mixed up with some hyenas but luckily, my father came to the rescue. He was so disappointed in me."
"Don't you hate it when they're disappointed? It's such a guilt trip, isn't it?"
"You have no idea what a guilt trip is," laughed Simba, "You didn't know my father. He was the best at giving the 'I'm so disappointed in you…' lecture."
"I wish I could have met him, Grandpa," whispered Amiri, sighing slightly.
"I do too. He loved cubs, you two would gotten along famously." There was a moment of silence, before Simba chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"We are so off topic. You were asking what was outside of the Pride Lands."
"So what else is out there?"
"Well, the Outlands, of course."
"But, I'm allowed to go there with Timon and Pumbaa, right?" asked Amiri as Simba simply nodded.
"Just be sure to inform your mother before you go off. And please don't go to the Elephant Graveyard. No one knows what lies there."
"Alright, I promise but I thought a king could do whatever he wanted?"
"Oh, Amiri, being King isn't just about getting your way all the time," exclaimed Simba.
"Then what's it about?"
"Being responsible, keeping the pride and the Pride Lands safe, riding it of any fright, fear or insecurity that may find its way in here."
"Oh, but what if I can't do that? What if I don't make a good King?" asked Amiri
"Amiri," laughed Simba, "When I was young…"
"Oh no. Another 'when I was young…' story." Amiri rolled his eyes, "I get these all the time from Mom and Dad. They're stories aren't that exciting. They had boring lives. "
Simba chuckled but continued, "Boring: no, exciting: maybe a little. But, anyways, when I was young, I was just like you. Desperately wanting to be the king, always wanting my way and always discovering and exploring new places, but I was always afraid that I would disappoint my father. Shortly after he died, I ran away, blaming myself for his death. I didn't know this then but remember; everything you do, there will be consequences for. I learned that by taking the hard path."
"You ran away? Now, your life was exciting. What happened?"
"That is a story for another time. All I will tell you is that because I ran away, the Pride Lands were taken over and ruled by one lion who wasn't the rightful king. He drove the pride into starvation but he didn't care. He couldn't let go of the hatred and in the end, everything turned against him. But because I didn't want to take my place as King, I let that lion bring harm to the pride, my mother, my best friend. But today is not about me; it's about you, so promise me; no matter how bad things are, you can come and talk to me or your parents. Nothing is bad enough that you have to run away. "
"Alright Grandpa. I won't take the hard path. But what's the easy path?"
"I didn't say not to take the hard path. The hard path may be the rightful path but you'll know when you come to it. I took the hard path, but in the end, the bad guy was defeated and I took my rightful place as King, so in the end, it all worked out to the better. But, Amiri, there will be a point in your life when you must choose between two paths. One will be easy and one will be quite hard," Simba explained, pausing then continuing, "I know when you think about it, you'll want to choose the easy path right away, but think about it first. The easy path might no be the right path. It's up to you make that decision. It's a decision that no one can help you with, not me, not your mother or father, not even Dakota."
"Not even Dakota? But she's my very best friend."
"Not even Dakota. As my mother said, 'The answer lies within your heart', meaning only you can choose a path," Simba smiled, remembering his mother. She went peacefully and she was happy with her husband in the skies.
"This point? H-how will I know? When I come across it, I mean?" stammered Amiri.
"Don't worry, Amiri. You'll know." Amiri gave him a confused look and Simba chuckled, "You just will."
"Alright, grandpa. I trust you," he smiled.
"Okay, run along now," he nudged Amiri from behind. Amiri bounced off, in search of Dakota as his grandfather stayed behind, sitting on the hill, looking out to the sky. When he found Dakota, she was playing in the water hole with two other cubs. She was with a young male with almost white coloured fur, stomach, paws and chocolate brown eyes. His name was Avaro and he was the son of one of the lionesses of the pride. The other cub was a female with a dirty light brown coloured coat and bright blue eyes. She was Aziza and she was Vitani's only cub.
"So, Amiri, did King Simba show you the whole kingdom?" questioned Avaro.
"Oh yeah; the whole kingdom, and I'm going to rule it all!"
"You know you'll have to marry a lioness before you can rule the Pride Lands," explained Aziza.
"Are you suggesting he marries, oh, say… you?" asked Dakota, with a daring glare.
"Eww, no; I'm his cousin. That's disgusting, though it would be nice to be Queen of the Pride Lands." Aziza sighed.
"You know what I just realized; Dakota will be the queen of the Pride Lands," said Avaro, deep in thought.
"…but that means I have to marry her," added Amiri.
"Yes, but think about it. I'm a guy so you can't marry me and Aziza's your cousin so you can't marry her. That makes Dakota the only eligible candidate. That is if you want to be King," explained Avaro. Both Amiri and Dakota glanced at each other and blushed.
"But it'd be so weird," Amiri stated.
"Yeah, I can't marry him," Dakota agreed.
"We're best friends," they declared.
"But you have no other choice, Amiri," concluded Aziza.
"Unless…" thought Avaro aloud.
"Unless what?" demanded Amiri and Dakota.
"Unless, Dakota's mom or another lioness has another cub; a daughter," said Avaro, a-matter-of-factly. Suddenly Aziza burst out laughing.
"Yeah, like that'll happen. We cause enough trouble around here; why would anyone in this pride want another cub to worry about?"
"She's got a point, Amiri," Dakota pointed out, "But who said it had to be in this pride? Princess Kiara married out of the pride. Perhaps you'll meet someone who isn't in this pride."
"Hmm… maybe, but I'm too young to be worrying about who I'm going to marry."
"Who's marrying who, Amiri?" All four cubs spun around.
"Hey Mom," smiled Amiri, "Nobody's marrying anyone."
"At least not for awhile," whispered Aziza, though everyone could hear her. Kiara laughed quietly as Kovu showed up beside her.
"Oh, Kovu; your son wants to get married," she laughed.
"Mom…" said Amiri, angrily, through gritted teeth.
"Does he, now?" he questioned then turning his attention towards his son, "You should wait until you know what a hassle the ladies can be."
"Uncle Kovu!" giggled Aziza.
"My thoughts exactly," huffed Amiri.
"Oh, you two," Kiara was talking to Aziza and Avaro, "You're parents wish to speak with you."
"About what, Aunt Kiara?" asked Aziza, curiously.
"They didn't say, but it sounded important." Aziza and Avaro said their goodbyes and were on their way back to Pride Rock. After his parents were out of earshot, Amiri turned to face Dakota who was rolling around on the ground, laughing.
"Dakota, it's not that funny," he said with a straight face.
"You're right, you're right," laughed Dakota then mimicking Kovu the best she could she continued, "You should wait until you know what a hassle the ladies can be."
"Hey, Dakota; listen to this: Grandpa Simba was telling me about this place he went to with Grandma Nala when they were cubs. I want to check it out."
"It's probably some place dumb," she started, rolling over on her back and swatting at a fly as Amiri shook his head.
"It's anything but dumb. It's an Elephant Graveyard."
"Cool!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet.
"I know!"
"An elephant graveyard, huh? Is that safe?" she asked casually.
"It's a graveyard; meaning the elephants are dead," Amiri pointed out.
"Yeah, but how'd they get there?"
"Beats me," he shrugged her shoulders, "But c'mon, it'll be fun."
Dakota didn't say anything, let alone move. She just looked at her friend.
"You're not scared are you, Dakota?" Amiri asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"I'm not scared, but my mom always told me never to leave the Pride Lands. It's not safe out there," whispered Dakota in a voice that was almost impossible to hear.
"Yeah, that's what my grandpa said but it's a graveyard, Dakota. What could happen?" Amiri laughed as he continued, "Their ghosts are going to rise from the dead and poke us with sticks?"
"Yeah, you're right."
"Alright, let's get out of here!" said Amiri, walking away from the water hole, Dakota by his side.
Author's Note: Okay, that was Chapter Two! I thought some of that was really cheesy but I was in a rush to get it get it down. I'm going away for the holidays; away from the internet so I wanted to get posted before I left. I'm not going to say I don't want flames because; really I don't care. As always, Read, Review, Enjoy.