Chapter 25: The Shifting Crown

Elsa awoke first that morning. The clouds that had once loomed over the valley had disappeared completely. It was still early, though. The morning sun was still hidden behind the rock and the wall of thorns on the east side. She yawned and stretched before standing. Her eyes suddenly shifted towards Tenji. Her mind began working its course again, but she quickly occupied her mind with other matters. She walked away from her sleeping companions, sitting by the stream quietly.

After a few minutes the others began to awake as well. After everyone had awoken, Kindra walked up to Elsa. "Elsa," she called.

Elsa shifted her gaze to her dear friend, "What is it, Kindra?"

"We need to call a meeting," Kindra told her, "As of now, we have no leader whatsoever."

"Ok," Elsa agreed. She called out, "Tana!"

Tana left her conversation and approached her fellow lionesses, "Yeah, Elsa?"

"Get everyone to come to the kings tree. We're having a meeting," she enforced.

Tana nodded and returned to the springs. Meanwhile, Kindra and Elsa went under the tree to wait for the others. And as expected, they came. There was an indistinct chatter in the group. Marty joined in, turning to Alex, "What's this about."

"I think I know," Alex answered, his eyes locked to the front.

Marty simply shrugged at the lack of response.

"Yeah, that really answers the question, Alex," Melman remarked sarcastically.

"Let the cat have a breather!" Skipper enforced.

Private complained, "I wish they would get on with it already!"

"OW!" Kowalski yelled.

Skipper turned to him, "What are you doing?"

Kowalski his standing tall and uncomfortably, with Rico behind him, kneeling down. Kowalski answered, "Rico is just helping me with the last few thorns, sir."

Rico pulled another brown spine out. "OW!" Kowalski shouted.

The zoosters all shared a quick giggle. Alex, however was still standing formally.

"Is anything wrong, Alex?" Julien asked from Alex's shoulder.

Alex shook his head, "No. I just hope Tenji can handle it."

"What?" Julien didn't follow.

"What about me?" Tenji turned from his conversation with Tana.

"Nothing," Alex comforted him.

Gloria held a finger over her lips, "Sh! Elsa wants to say something."

Elsa waited for everyone to quiet down. When silence came at last she began, "As you all now know, King Kuju and Malik are dead. That leaves us to decide who's leader-"

"Well that's easy!" one of the lionesses interrupted, "We just choose the oldest male."

"Yes," Elsa acknowledged, "But, I'm not entirely sure who that is." she looked at Alex, "Tell me, Alex. You are considerably older than Tenji. But what I want to know is, are you part of this pride or not?"

Alex sighed, "No."

The lionesses gasped.

Tana stepped forward, "But, why not? You're definitely on our side. Why don't you want to be in our pride?"

Alex explained, "It's not that I don't want to. I'm really happy here. But-" he looked at Marty, "Not everyone is happy here," his gaze returned to Tana, "I need to return to New York where we belong," he gestured to Marty, Julien, Gloria, and Melman. Alex then dawned a look of defeat, "If we can even get there..."

"Of course you can!" Skipper cut in.

"What!" Alex exclaimed.

Skipper laughed, "You don't think we would've came back without completing our mission. We found what we wanted and returned to the area where we were left here. You know, by the cages. But then, you guys had moved along to this place. Using my keen tracking skills-"

Kowalski cleared his throat.

Skipper sighed and continued, "Using Kowalski's keen tracking skills, we found you guys at that rock. I'm getting off the point, though. What I'm saying is that we did find a way to get back."

"Oh my! Really?" Gloria was overwhelmed with joy.

A broad smile spread across Marty's face.

Melman did a strange sort of dance.

Alex felt more relaxed than he had in days. With wide eyes he looked into the sky, "I can't believe it's true... We're actually going back!"

Julien cheered, "We're finally going to get out of this dump-" the lionesses glared at him, "- I mean, dumbfoundedly wonderful place...thing..."

Elsa sighed. She thought to herself, 'I guess it really is best to forget about my feelings for him... I'll always miss him though-'

"Elsa, go on!" Kindra tapped her shoulder.

"Huh?...Oh!" Elsa snapped out of her thoughtful mood, "Ok, settle down everyone!"

The zoosters suppressed their joy towards the knew news.

Silence returned. Elsa continued, "Anyway, so being that Alex is leaving us, soon. That makes Tenji our new king and leader."

"I-" Tenji paused. "I-...I am truly honored to be chosen... and I...will..." but Tenji's focus was distracted. He was looking at something in the east.

"What is it Tenji?" Kindra asked.

"Its...I think its..." Tenji squinted against the burning sun.

The entire group shifted their focus to the east as well. Together, they tried to make the shape out against the morning sun.

Alex put a hand over his eyes to better look at the phantom object.

On the tall rock stood a gleaming white figure reflecting the sun's rays with a godly presence.

"Oh my god..." Tenji gasped.

The figure came down from the rock with an indescribable grace and approached the group at the kings tree. Every step was smooth and deliberate. It was a male lion with snow white fur and a flowing white mane. He stopped before the group and waited.

Alex's jaw dropped, "My god...white lions are supposed to exist in the wild..."

A tear rolled down Tenji's cheek, "Dad?"