The Lion King: Rise of the White Pride

Chapter 10: Midnight Walk

Shaka was in some kind of thick forest. It was calm and silent. Even the wind didn't make any noise with the leaves. There was a small lake and a rock bridge above it. It was pretty much like the spot when he met Rafiki. But something was different. The stars were quiet as ever and the lake was very calm.

When he turned, he saw the lion that appeared at his last dream but this time with a darker lioness beside him peering at him. A bright flash of light blinded him.

He was in a jungle in the night. He walked around to an open place and scaled down a cliff. There he sightseeing the open parts of the jungle. It was beautiful. The vegetation there was large and healthy. Spaced trees gave shade on nice places. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Dandelions up on a platform. Water lilies were spread beside a pond that was fed by a waterfall. There were river systems with some of it streamed in ravine. It was as beautiful as Pride Lands. His smile grew as he looked around the beautiful scenery of the forest. Wait. He heard something.

A conversation of some sort from atop a hill just by the waterfall. ". . . from the dead," he heard some of it.

His mind was working out what was going on. He ran up a hill and closed into the source. It was two lions. A golden lion with red mane and eyes and a cream lioness with teal-blue eyes. Shaka barely recognized them.

The lioness spoke, "You don't know how much this will mean to everyone . . .," she looked to her paws. ". . . what it means to me," her expression saddened.

The lion smiled. "Hey it's OK," he tried to comfort the lioness.

Suddenly the lioness scooped up and swiveled her head under the lion's muzzle. "I've really missed you," she said before purring.

"I missed you too," he said while returned her with a nuzzle.

Shaka was there behind some bushes. He was witnessing . . . no, watching a scene of two lovers fell in love. He couldn't help but hear closely to the two hoping to get some clue. But instead, he heard a noise from behind him. It was a meerkat and a warthog hiding behind a huge tree root and some leaves.

They both swiped the leaves covering them away. "I tell you Pumbaa, this stinks," the meerkat said.

"Oh. Sorry," the warthog responded.

Wait a minute Shaka thought. He had seen those two before. Yeah! He snapped into realization. They were the same meerkat and warthog – Timon and Pumbaa - that made some of the remaining Pride Lander came back when they confronted him back then although younger. If they were here, then Simba must be somewhere around. He had his ears sharp to take as many information as possible.

Timon casted Pumbaa a look of annoyance. "Not you, them!" he threw both of his hands at the leaving lion and lioness. He played his hands. "Him. Her. Alone," he ended with both hands clasped together.

Pumbaa asked. "What's wrong with that?"

Timon crossed his arms, he was clearly annoyed. " I can see what's happening " he said with a singing tone.

"What?" Pumbaa interrupted.

"And they don't have a clue " Timon continued.

"Who?" Pumbaa interrupted once more.

" They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line " he waved his right hand. " Our trio's down to two " he threw his left pointer and middle finger at Pumbaa.

"Oh," Pumbaa said, realizing.

" The sweet caress of twilight " he waved his hands in front of him. " There's magic everywhere " he sang while climbing up Pumbaa. " And with all this romantic atmosphere " he dug into Pumbaa's hair and came out. " Disaster's in the air " he sang while pointing his hand at a direction which Shaka followed a path way that led to the pond earlier.

Shaka stopped in front of some tall grasses and split them apart. He could see the lion and lioness earlier scaling down a hill beside the pond. Suddenly the whole jungle echoed. The trees' fricted against each other while the flower hummed. The water vibrated as if the nature itself began to sing in Shaka's ear.

"Can you feel the love tonight"

Shaka gaped at the very first verse.

"The peace the evening brings. The world, for once, in perfect harmony"

The lion and lioness were walking at the rocks behind the waterfall.

"With all its living beings"

The lion and lioness walked beside the pond and started drinking.

Shaka still gaped at the song. He knew this song. The sweet melody of the choir were glistening in his mind. His uncle once sang it and said it was the song that united Shaka's parents. Shaka liked it too. The lyrics were soothing and romantic.

He snapped back to reality as he saw the lion was watching the lioness as she drank.

"So many things to tell her, but how to make her see the truth about my past? Impossible. She'd turn away from me"

The lion sang, but strangely his mouth didn't move.

Wait, a past that could make her turn away? What was it? He thought. It must be very big enough to do that.

Now was the lioness who sang without moving her lips.

"He's holding back. He's hiding. But what, I can't decide"

She raised her head and reacted to the lion as he stared at her but like wasn't responding to his words earlier.

"Why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?"

Her sight locked at the lion as he ran to her back and swung into the pond with a vine.

Shaka got it. It was their thoughts. One more thing about these sights he knew he had was that he could hear what peoples in the sights were thinking. It was a little bit privacy exposing but he couldn't do anything.

The choir continued their part as the lion crashed into the pond.

"Can you feel the love tonight"

The lioness worriedly looked for the lion in the pond.

"The peace the evening brings"

Suddenly, the lion emerged in front of the lioness, swung his paws around her neck, and dragged her into the pond. The lioness emerged and desperately tried to get ashore, with the lion grinning at her with his drenched mane covering his face. The lioness pushed him back into the pond by his muzzle and ran off.

"The world, for once, in perfect harmony"

Under the orange sky, they ran in a grassland, making birds that perched there flew away. They arrived in a closed forest and wrestle a bit before the lion gained momentum.

"With all its living things"

Something obstructed Shaka's sight but it definitely the one that sent both lion rolling downhill and ended with the lion pinning her.

Shaka slowly followed them and stopped behind a bush. He could see the similarity of the two before him but something was about this song. He sang it, subconsciously.

The choir sang with higher tone full of emotion.

"Can you feel the love tonight"

While the lion was grinning ear to ear, the lioness licked the lion on his muzzle when he closed his eyes.

"You needn't look too far"

The lion was surprised at that and looked at the lioness in confusion. The lioness looked at the lion amorously.

"Steeling through the night's uncertainties"

The lion realized that and his confused face slowly turned into a smile.

"Love is where they are~"

They both got up and nuzzled against each others neck, surrounded by swarm of colorful butterflies that only made the scene more romantic

Shaka smirked at this. He was watching a scene where two lovers reunited! That's something. He continued singing along the song. The environment darkened when the nature stopped and he turned around when he heard some voice.

"And if he falls in love tonight"

It was Timon and he sounded like he was about to cry.

"It can be assumed"

Next were a heavier voice

"His carefree days with us are history"

Shaka guessed it was Pumbaa.

"In short our pal is doomed"

both voices sang in unison followed with full-force cries.

Shaka practically face palmed himself for listening to those two. But he knew the song was over. He followed the former two as they walked into the jungle.

"Isn't this a great place?" the lion asked when they were walking on a high platform of a log above the rivers.

"It is beautiful. But I don't understand something," she replied. "You've been alive all this time. Why didn't you come back to Pride Rock?" she asked.

The lion climbed up and laid his back on some hanging vines. "Well, I just needed to . . . get out on my own. Live my own life. And I did. And it's great," he mumbled. He sounded like he was trying to convince the lioness and himself.

"We've really needed you at home," her voice caught.

The lion rebuked, "No one needs me."

"Yes, we do! You're the king," she said.

The lion broke her sentence. "Nala, we've been through this. I'm not the king. Scar is."

The lioness still hadn't given up. "Simba, he let the hyenas take over the Pride Lands."

Wait a sec. He's Simba. She's Nala. And Scar's the King of Pride Lands? When did this happened? Shaka's mind tangled. He couldn't focus after hearing Scar's name. The couple did look alike as the present though younger. His mind was starting to fill with question. Why were Simba and Nala in a place like this? Since when Scar ruled Pride Lands? Nothing answered. He could only wait and listen.

Nala said that the hyenas had taken over the Pride Lands. Everything was destroyed, food and water, but Simba still wouldn't broke. He said he couldn't come back and she wouldn't understand whatever reason that was. He even used Hakuna Matata to convince her that he couldn't do anything about wrong things in the past.

Wow Shaka thought. Even the mighty king had terrible past, huh? Then again, Shaka saw Simba's thought. Simba thought Mufasa's death was his fault. That was harsh, but Shaka couldn't help but empathy the lion for falling into Scar's trap.

Nala shouted out loud that that's his responsibility. Simba returned a question about she leaving the land and she answered that she did to find help and met him, their only hope. Simba apologized and Nala said he wasn't the Simba she knew. Simba said the exact same thing and Nala just continued that she just disappointed. Simba sarcastically said that she sounded like Mufasa which Nala promptly replied "At least one of us does." Simba, clearly enraged, tore into Nala with words that she couldn't just show up and told him how to live his life, he continued that she didn't even knew what he'd been through. She said she would if he just told her but he cut her off and walked away.

Another flash of light blinded Shaka as he backed away at the king's argument with the queen.

Shaka woke up. It wasn't even a string of light from the horizon and the stars were still playing in the sky. Shaka guessed that it just past midnight. He stood up and walked past a fast asleep Kubwa upstairs. He made no noise at all like his paws were embedded with super soft cotton that silenced every step he made. He passed several Outsider-type lions and lionesses on the way but paid more attention to their difference against the Pride Lander-type.

Aside from fur color difference, Shaka figured their nose was a bit different and the Outsider-types seemed to permanently extend their claws. They were rounded up, but Simba mentioned that the Outsiders used to have "sharp edges".

He reached the entrance and found Simba sat stargazing just to his right. On the stone steppes were the quatre that fell asleep there with respective couples close with one another.

"Trouble sleeping?" Shaka asked.

Simba flinched. He definitely didn't see nor hear Shaka coming. This proved how stealthy and quiet Shaka could be. But Simba acted normal and turned to Shaka.

Simba shook his head. "Nah. Just seeking guidance . . ."

". . . from the kings above," Shaka continued Simba's sentence. "About me, I suppose," he tilted his head.

"You got me," he chuckled. "Mind-read me as in that's a training from the pride?"

"Nope," he waved a paw. "Just a lucky shot," he continued. "Well, did they answer?" he glanced at the sky.

Simba shook his head to the sky. "Silent as the stars."

Then, Shaka remembered the vision in his dream. How Simba and Nala argued in the jungle. He also got the urge of telling Simba about his dreams. He decided to share it. Shaka asked Simba to quietly go outside Kovu's earshot. They moved swiftly down the base and into the tall grasses. They stopped near the water hole.

"What is it?"

Shaka glanced around to make sure no one listened. "Listen," he crept close.

He told Simba about his vision in his dreams. About how they randomly occurred and show him past events, and even rarely, the future. He thought he would have visions whenever he saw something or met someone, but that was not always the case. He also told Simba how he was able to hear the peoples in his vision's thoughts. The past visions were frequent and describing events he already passed and other events his connections' had. The future visions were very rare and mostly uncertain so he didn't mind them.

Simba could only nod at the seemingly impossible story. But it all changed when Shaka told Simba about the event where Simba met Nala in the jungle. Simba jumped and gulped when he heard that. Shaka told him what he saw – including the scene where they sang "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" details, and of course Simba growled when Shaka told him he saw the scene where he and Nala tumble down the hill . . .

An enraged Simba literally chased Shaka across the Zuberi River when he heard that. Shaka tried to convince him while running that he couldn't control the visions.

Simba stopped chasing, just as Shaka cornered out of breath in an arena bordered by five egg-shaped boulders. Simba looked around scanning his surrounding while Shaka searched for an chance to escape.

Simba turned to Shaka, who was still glancing around. "This place is called the Five Stones," he said, his anger disappeared into thin air.

Shaka stopped pacing and looked at the stones. "Pretty describing name," he commented, Simba glared at him. "For a place's name, that's usual," he grinned.

"This is where Kovu trained his children and other pride members," he looked at the rocks. "He always taught them with tolerance, care, and treat them seriously," he put his paw on a rock's side, countless scratch marks were seen along with a pair deep of four clawed mark. "This is also the arena of fighting when someone wants to duel or such," he continued, an emotionless expression was laid on his face. He did lighten up when he recalled something. "My father told me that this is where he met Rafiki when the shaman was attacked by hyenas," he chuckled at that point.

Shaka did his flat expression again. "I still can't trust Kovu, yet."

"You have to. He's nice and reliable," he muttered. "He's respected here."

Shaka casted Simba a disgusted look. "I had seen that Scar's scoundrels being like that," he sarcastically said. "They were relied, trusted, respected, blah blah blah," he mouthed off. "In the end, they massacred the whole pride with terror," he turned to the closest stone.

It went silent for a few minutes. Simba hesitated to talk about it any further as Shaka could just slice off his head easily and more dangerously, threatens the pride. He trusted Shaka, really. But the pride was his family and wouldn't take it for granted. Simba looked up into the sky while Shaka was inspecting the ground – there were many scent there.

"I'll let you guys know I'm here," a feminine voice called out of nowhere. A figure dwelt in the shadow of one of the rocks. She walked into the moonlight and saluted Simba. "Night."

She was small, smaller than lion but larger than lion cubs. Her body was long and slender.

Simba focused his sight to get a better look. "Haraka," he followed.

Shaka raised his head and turned to the female cat. "A cheetress," he gasped. He circled the new being in the scene. "Never seen one," he admitted.

Haraka smirked. "It's not everyday you see a cheetah with a pride of lions," she sat down. "Good morning, Elder," she bowed to Simba.

"Morning to you too. What are you doing here past midnight?"

"I can ask the same question to you," she picked up a stone and threw it to Shaka who subconsciously deflected it. "Who is that?"

Simba glanced at Shaka. "Long story," he, with Shaka filling in, told Haraka a couple of days ago until now.

They walked farther from Pride Rock. Passing to the Zuberi River and walked along the river bank as Simba and Shaka tell her the story.

Haraka closed her eyes and nodded at the story. Simba piped up, "I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but . . ."

Her eyes shot open. "I trust him," she cut him off.

Shaka at the back raised his head in shock. "You do?" Haraka nodded.

"I'm a decent lie detector, and I didn't see any from your stories," she explained. "I trust you," she gave him a friendly smile. "So this visions . . .," she tried to change the subject. ". . . they appeared occasionally," Shaka nodded. "Have any idea of the trigger?"

"I think interacting with certain objects or people at certain times . . . but I'm not sure."

"Hold on a minute," Haraka raised a paw. "You saw Simba as a child waking up Mufasa after Simba fought you a couple of days ago, but you saw Simba and Nala . . .," she cleared her throat. Simba shot her a glare. ". . . talking in the jungle after Kiara held your shoulder?" both lions raised their head in the same confusion. "What did Kiara have to do with that . . . event?"

"Well, I told her about our meeting once," Simba said. He jumped across the river by the stepping stones.

Haraka followed him. "So it isn't limited to physical, but memories and probably mentally?" she turned to Shaka who had just landed across.

Shaka shook his head. "It is unsolvable, believe me," he laughed.

"Still. I think I can solve it! I just need time to think."

Shaka laughed. "We all have the time of the world, my dear," he smiled as he picked up a stone and flicked it into the river which was flowing gently like time.

Haraka's eyes were fixed into the flowing water. "Right," she returned his smile. Simba could only smile at fast speed Shaka was getting new friends and strengthen their friendship in the same time.

Simba brought another topic, "Since when you're this good at psychology?"

"It came to my mind when I was five months when my parents had a fight. I took my proposal to them and they agreed to let Rafiki teach me how to. It is useful, very. I solved my parents' trouble and other animals I met," she said eagerly. "I'm happy that I can help others. I even open a therapist center once, but it went down quickly," he giggled.

Suddenly, a bubble popped inside Simba. "If you get visions of me, twice, just by touching me and Kiara, why don't you try to get a vision about Kovu?" Shaka and Haraka diverted their attention to Simba. "If you just learn about his story when he joined the Pride Landers, maybe you can trust him more," he explained.

Both youngsters pointed a paw at Simba. "Brilliant!" they looked to each other and then giggled.

I don't hate Kovu that much, really. But I can't let my eyes off him yet, just yet. Simba's right. Maybe this weird ability of mine can help me gain trust to him. That's right! I should be able to take advantage to it. Shaka thought while smiling gladly. Simba grinned at the white lion.

Suddenly, drops of water fell from the sky and the dark clouds were covering the sky without any of them realizing. Simba located a cave above the cliff and they took refuge there.

It was crampy for the three of them, but it was better than getting wet. The rain was getting hard after they enter. The entrance was as wide as Haraka's head-to-tail length. The inside was narrow but deep enough to shield them from the rain. There was a tree canopy so the rain drops didn't fall to the cave's entrance and sprinkle at the cats. Simba realized that the tree that made off the canopy was dry so he decided to take cover above, leaving Shaka and Haraka alone in the cave.

Once Simba's snores were heard, Haraka immediately asked with sharp eyes. "You lied," she shot him a threatening look although Shaka didn't faze. "That Hasira you talked, he's not dead, is he?"

That one hit the mark. "I don't know," Shaka sighed, his heart paced. "He did survive when he fell, but an avalanche was threatening us if we closed in so we couldn't help him," Shaka sadly said, his eyes were watery. "We didn't want to leave him, but a day before that, he said that he better die than staying there," Shaka blinked, a pair of tears went down his eyes. "But he said that we were his best friends he ever had and told us that if he get in a trouble whatsoever, don't . . . help . . . him," he choked his words.

"Put a lid on it," she looked outside. "I understand," her voice trailed off as she drowned in the scene of the rain in the savannah.

Shaka regained his composure and wiped his tears off, joining Haraka in her view of the rain. The sound of the rain and the river clashed against each other along with the thunder up in the sky. The damp earth and soil along with the moisture grasses made the view more prettier. However, mist started to show and the view was quickly got obstructed. Both cats slept a minute after seeing nothing.