Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Parvana and the changes her presence in the storyline plot provides as time goes on.
Parvana: The Most Breathtaking And Spectacular Tigress Chapter 1
Another day means another ounce of misery and loneliness spent in Africa.
Parvana marks down another day on their makeshift calendar with chalk.
Parvana sighs crestfallen as she gazes at it with melancholy.
It's been months since the Chimps and Penguins left them here after they went off to Monte Carlo to spend all those diamonds and gold dug up. They promised to be back in a couple of days instead it's been months and months. The others still hold hope, but Parvana is starting to lose it.
Parvana really wants to go back home. To her it's like the only place she believes that she'll ever belong.
Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman fit in perfectly here on the Reserve in Africa. They're constantly surrounded by their own kinds here while Parvana is stuck an outsider. The only Tiger in the Reserve and probably all of Africa.
Even now Parvana still gets peculiar looks from the other animals because she's a cat with stripes instead of a solid color or spots. Parvana doesn't fit in. to Parvana the Central Park Zoo is her home. She knows the others miss it desperately so, but are extremely reluctant because they feel so alive and perfect here.
Parana is so scared to say anything and ruin their happiness. Trust me, that's the very last thing Parvana wants to ever happen to her best friends. They mean far too much to Parvana for her to ever deliberately cause them any pain.
Alex is so happy here after finding his roots and parents along with it. Gloria and Melman is finally a couple. Marty even got over his issues on not being as one of a kind as he thought and become a much better Zebra for it.
Parvana is the one individual left in the dark.
But it's, also, far more than that. With Parvana being the only Tiger here it means she can't find a mate. Gloria and Melman have each other, but can never have offspring. Parvana is different. She wants cubs someday. At one point in time when they were younger Parvana thought she might have cubs with Alex one day giving birth to Ligers, but that never became reality. Alex sees her as a sister nothing more nothing less.
Speaking of Alex it's his birthday today making it even more reminiscent for Parvana.
It was on a Marty's birthday when the five of them ended up out of the Central Park Zoo and started the beginning of this crazy and unbelievable journey.
She's aware how selfish it sounds, but Parvana is so tired of all this and just wants to return back home.
Parvana is aware of the others hosting a private celebration for Alex's birthday. They've even worked painstakingly hard on a miniature model of New York City out of mud, dirt, rocks, and sticks to make it look as close to home as possible. So Parvana now makes her way over there away from the watering hole where all the others in the Reserve usually find themselves at this time of day.
As Parvana passes, the pride, various herds, and coalitions grouped together, mingling with laughter and big smiles on their own content faces a sadness that weighs on her heart, making the steps she took heavy in the dirt and underbrush.
.
Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand
Left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in thunder
But I won't cry
And I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down
I won't be silenced
You can't keep my quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
'Cause I'll breathe when they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know I won't go speechless
.
Soon Parvana has moseyed over to where all four of her friends and the lemurs have gathered for the occasion. She stands over them at the peak of a hill. Below Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman are having a good time. She can't hear what they're saying, but she can quite clearly view their faces. They're definitely enjoying themselves immensely and that's ticking her off somewhat.
Can they really just be satisfied with a simple mural of the Zoo after all they've been through trying to work their way back to it?
Come on! It's like they've completely forgotten about it after spending so much time here in the wild. Now she's starting to become pissed. Mixed up with all the other emotions boiling inside her Parana doesn't really know how to take it.
What is she thinking?
Parvana easily shoves aside those heinous thoughts just as fast as they came to be.
What helped with this is that her friends actually broke down into tears the more they stared at the New York City model. Parvana softens, her stiff posture relaxing. All this time they've been bottling up the same homesickness she has, but better.
Gloria holds old the cake they made to Alex for him in order to make a wish. Right when Alex is about to do so King Julien, Maurice, and Mort burst forth out of the cake. The resulting explosion ruined the surprise. Made worse when Mort regurgitated the cake he consumed back onto the platter.
Parvana makes a decision right then and there.
She won't keep her doubts and reservations contained inside anymore. She's going to tell them how she truly feels.
.
Written in stone
Every rule
Every word
Centuries old and unbending
Stay in your place
Better seen and not heard
Well now that story's ending
'Cause I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try
Try to shut me and cut me down
I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless
Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No, I won't live unspoken
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless
Try to lock in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echo saying
I won't be silenced
Though you want to see me tremble when you try it
All I know it I won't go speechless
Speechless
'Cause I'll breathe when they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless
.
At that moment Parvana is spotted.
Seeing her on the hill Gloria waves her down to join the party.
Inhaling and then exhaling deeply Parvana does so.
"Hey, Parvana, we were wondering where you were. You missed the big reveal," said Marty.
"Yeah, we were getting worried for a second there," said Gloria, concerned.
Sighing, Parvana apologized "I'm sorry everyone. I guess I just have had a lot on my mind lately."
"Like what," asked Melman.
Parvana aims a deadpan glower at the Giraffe. She doesn't say a word. Her answer is the passing glance she gives the model. Alex is the first to understand.
"Oh," said Alex, contrite. "I see. You miss home."
"I do. A lot," said Parvana, mustering her courage to speak the truth blazing inside her for so long. Parvana doesn't hold anything back letting it all out. "Look you guys. I'm glad things have been working out so well for you here since we first arrived in Africa, but that's not the same case with me. You guys fit in here so easily, but look at me. I'm the only Tiger in the Reserve. I don't fit in here. I've tried. I've tried so hard for your sakes. I don't belong here. The only place I've felt I truly belong is in New York City at the Central Park Zoo."
"Parvana, why haven't you said anything before now," implored Gloria, sympathetically.
Shrugging, avoiding eye contact with any of them, Parvana said "I…I was ashamed. I have seen how happy you are all to be while living here. I didn't want to ruin it for you. I'm sorry if I have, but I can't keep what I feel inside anymore."
There's a pause.
Smiling Alex walks over to place a gentle paw on Parvana's shoulder.
"Yeah, Parvana, well guess what," said Alex, softly.
"Yes," said Parvana, quietly.
"The wish I made is that we could go home," said Alex.
Snapping her head up at this revelation, eyes wide in shock, Parvana said "What?"
"You heard me correctly. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love this. But it's not the real thing," said Alex, longingly.
Rolling his eyes, Marty said "Well, that's because it's a mud model, Alex. It's not actually New York. I hope that was clear!"
Irritated, Alex said "What are we doing? Here we are, relying on the Penguins to come back for us, but we should just go to Monte Carlo and get them."
"How do a Tiger, a Lion, a Zebra, a Giraffe, and a Hippo walk into a casino in Monte Carlo," said Melman, incredulous.
"I don't know. Ask the rabbi," said Marty, sarcastically.
"Hey, I'm serious," said Melman, frowning.
"Come on. We can do it. We can do anything! It's us," encouraged Alex, brightly.
"We're us," agreed Marty, grinning.
"We've gone halfway around the world. Compared with that, Monte Carlo's just a hop, a skip, and a swim away.
"Yeah," said Melman.
Gloria squeals.
Putting both his paws on Parvana's shoulders, Alex said "There's no need for you to worry anymore. We gonna go home. We're gonna get you home."
Tears in her eyes Parvana hugs him so grateful. Finally, they're heading back to their actual home. For real this time.
Parvana can't wait. Nothing can go wrong.
Parvana just jinxed it, didn't she?
Authors Note:
Hope you guys all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment. ;D
The song you see here is Speechless for the brand new Aladdin movie sung by Jasmine. I was so inspired by this song when I listened to it. I already used it in one of my other stories so far, too. But I just can't resist putting it in another one.