In the forest of the floxes, a lioness slowly slipped through the trees. Turning to look back at her home once more, Lisha started off in the direction of the Pride Lands. She didn't care what any of the floxes thought. Daren had become like a son to her, and so she was going to help him. One lioness might not make much of a difference but she couldn't make him carry the burden alone. Swallowing, the silent lioness broke into a run. She would do anything to help Daren.
The clouds rolled in thick and dark as the black lion made his way towards Pride Rock. Animals fled before him and the very grass seemed to bow before him. Standing on the peak of Pride Rock, Redeye watched the approaching form with narrowed eyes. What lion would be coming to them, parading under their own disguise? Leaping down towards the cave, he roared for his lionesses to come to him. A few who had been in the cave wandered out, including Blacksoul. She was now far into her pregnancy and her large belly prevented her from moving very fast.
"There is an intruder in our lands," said Redeye, his voice rumbling. "I will speak to him first, but if it comes to a fight, you must all be ready." The lionesses nodded, and stood waiting, their eyes gleaming in the fading light.
Blacksoul walked slowly over to where Redeye stood. "My love," she said, "I am sorry that I will not be able to fight." Redeye's head snapped around and he looked over at his mate.
"And why won't you fight?"
Blacksoul looked in shock at Redeye. He didn't even seem to care that she carried an unborn cub. "But Redeye.." she began.
Redeye turned his back on Blacksoul, and looked out across the Pride Lands. The black lion was approaching from the North, and there, coming towards Pride Rock from the East was Deathdream and the rest of the black lionesses. Redeye smiled to himself -- an evil heartless smile. He was ready. Turning back to Blacksoul, he gave her one cold, hard stare. Then he walked away, pushing past her.
"You will fight," he called out as he left. "I order you to fight."
Blacksoul looked from Redeye's retreating back, to the black lionesses surrounding her and then over to the cave. Inside the mouth of it, she could see the Pride Landers grouped together, listening quietly. She recognized the one near the front – Azmera. The beautiful lioness bowed her head as she looked at Blacksoul, her eyes filled with pity and sorrow.
They are the captives, thought Blacksoul to herself. How then, is it that I feel like the prisoner?
Snapped back into reality, Blacksoul turned to see Redeye standing on the narrow peak of Pride Rock. He glared down at the approaching lion, the wind ruffling his black fur. As she looked up at him, Blacksoul realized for the first time that the only thing she saw in him was evil. Redeye stood tall and strong, full of hate and the passion to kill. He didn't care about the pride or her cub. And no – he didn't love her. In a moment Blacksoul realized it all. She had been tricked by a cunning warlord. She had done everything she had been taught was wrong and become the opposite of what she had ever wanted. As she watched the black lion approach and begin to climb the rocks, she froze. She didn't want to fight, or be anywhere near the terrible black pride. Clawing at her fur, she tried to rid herself of the black, although she knew it would make no difference.
Daren looked up towards Pride Rock as he approached and his fur bristled as he saw the terrible black lion from the years before standing in his place. Letting out a loud challenging roar, he began to leap from rock to rock, climbing swiftly up towards him. As he reached the large flat surface near the cave, he found himself surrounded by the black lionesses. Redeye turned and made his way down towards Daren, chuckling to himself as he did so.
"What do you want with us, rouge?" he asked as he approached the prince. "If you think that painting yourself black suddenly makes you one of us, you are very wrong."
"I would never be counted as one of you!" spat Daren. Looking around him, he spotted his mother among the other Pride Landers in the cave. But, as his eyes searched franticly among them, he realized he couldn't spot Kianga. Where was she?
"Ah," said Redeye, his voice full of mock fear. "So then, you have come to defeat us all and take over our lands?"
Daren's claws dug into the earth as he stood ready to pounce, his teeth bared.
"I have come to fight you, Redeye, and all your lionesses. I am here to reclaim my lands and my pride! I am Daren, son of Kimoni! NOW YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"
Roaring, Daren sprang at Redeye, catching the evil lion off guard. The two lions tumbled towards the edge, furiously kicking and biting as they went. Nearby, the black lionesses roared, ready to join the fight, but Blacksoul held them back. She couldn't command them to go and kill Daren. Snarling at her lionesses, she watched as Daren began to chase Redeye up Pride Rock. Thunder echoed around them and the sky hung thick and black.
As Daren and Redeye fought, Deathdream edged her way back towards the cave. "Azmera!" she called. "You must be ready to fight! We will need to help Daren!" The lionesses nodded to each other, and crouched, ready to spring into action when called upon.
Hearing the call of Deathdream, the black lionesses suddenly realized they had been tricked. A traitor was among them and Blacksoul hadn't ordered them to attack. Snarling, Painclaw leapt forwards, striking the pregnant lioness to the ground. Rushing towards the Pridelanders, she stopped at the mouth of the cave. The rest of the Black Pride gathered around her, forcing Azmera and her lionesses back. There was no room to fight, but still, Painclaw reached forwards, trying to strike Deathdream.
As the thunder rumbled in the distance, Lisha made her way through the Outlands, preparing for the sprint to Pride Rock and heavy fighting she knew would follow. As she took a deep breath, ready to cross into the Pride Lands, she stopped suddenly. Turning around, she saw Obsieron winding his way out of the darkness.
"Wait Lisha," he called. "You don't need to go alone."
Lisha smiled sadly, ready to make the young flox go back, when she saw Jayson step out of the gloom, with Cayliess close behind him. Slowly, floxes began to appear around them and Lisha gasped. There were hundreds of them – including ones she had never even seen before.
Jayson smiled as he saw Lisha's shocked expression. "We realized that Daren would need our help. There are many packs of floxes, all of whom have had visits before from Redeye. It is time that we finish him once and for all." Turning, Jayson nodded to four large male floxes nearby – the leaders of other packs. Then, Jayson looked back at Lisha. "We would be honored if you led us, Lisha." Nodding, Lisha glanced at the mass of floxes, waiting for her command. Her heart leapt, and she turned and ran into the Pride Lands. Snarling, the floxes followed her, racing with all their might to bring aid to a most deserving prince.
Daren and Redeye fought with fury, continuing until they reached the highest point of Pride Rock. For a while, it seemed that Daren was winning, and then an unexpected swipe from Redeye made him loose his balance. As he stumbled, Redeye struck him again, sending him sprawling. The evil lion charged towards him, raising his paw once again as Daren struggled to get up.
Father, help me! Called Daren silently, as the black lion approached him. The prince had fought valiantly but his strength was gone. Just as Redeye moved to make his final blow, the clouds broke apart, revealing a glowing full moon and almost instantly, a blinding flash tore through the sky, followed by a loud rumble. Sparks flew everywhere, and Pride Rock shuddered under the force of the impact. As suddenly as the lightning had struck, everything fell silent. The lionesses of the Black Pride gasped in amazement and stopped the advance of their attack.
In the silence, rain began to fall in big drops, soaking everything they landed on. Blacksoul climbed to her paws again, wincing slightly and lifted her gaze to the peak of Pride Rock. The sight made her tail droop. The lightning had hit the top of Pride Rock and now the two lions lay still, Redeye's body slightly on top of Daren's. As Blacksoul stood there, time seemed to stop. The rain continued to fall, slowly washing away the black forever. The lionesses' creamy pelts began to show in splotches where the black was washing away.
"Daren!" screamed Kianga, her fur hanging and the ground around her stained black. She shoved her way through the shocked lionesses and bounded up the rocks, her heart heavy. To come so far -- she couldn't lose him now.
Throwing her body against Daren's, Kianga cried with all her might. Burying her face into his soft thick mane, like she had always dreamed of doing, Kianga sobbed in pain and sorrow. And then, she felt Daren's body stir. Drawing back, she gazed into Daren's eyes as they slowly flickered open.
"Kianga," he whispered, softly licking her cheek.
"Oh Daren!" replied the lioness, pressing her body close to his again.
Blacksoul watched as Kianga helped Daren push Redeye's limp form off him, and then helped him to his paws. Daren's fur was beginning to show through the splotched black, as was the fur of all the lionesses. Blacksoul looked down at herself, smiling sadly at the reappearing color. Then she sighed. In one evening, everything she had ever made – everything she had ever fought for had been torn away. She had nothing. Bowing her head, she turned, her fur matted and wet.
But then she stopped.
In front of her stood a memory – a ghost! Every detail was correct, everything just as she remembered. It was exactly like in her dreams and yet, somehow, she knew it was real. Cautiously stepping forwards, she took in the scent and her eyes trailed along the two deep scars.
"Lisha!" she cried, throwing herself against the other lioness. Tears fell from Blacksoul's eyes, joining the rain on her face. She felt guilt, sadness, anger, pain and joy, all at the same time. Pressing close to her sister, she felt the younger lioness's comforting strength, and although Lisha didn't say a word, Blacksoul knew she had forgiven her.
The other black lionesses watched in shock and amazement. The few who remembered when Blacksoul had first joined the black pride cried as well, recalling the sad death of her sister. But she had lived after all! A few of the lionesses moved to join the sisters, while some slowly edged their way towards the edge of Pride Rock, trying to escape. However, as they looked down, they gasped in amazement.
Hundreds of animals stood surrounding the base of Pride Rock. They were small, but fierce and their numbers were great. The mighty prince of the Pride Lands had prepared well. Bowing their heads, they stood in silence as Kianga helped Daren down from the peak. Stopping, she glanced towards the long part of Pride Rock, where all the kings and queens had stood before. Daren started towards it and then paused, turning back to look at Kianga.
"I asked you when we were cubs if you would be my queen," he said to her. "Now I stand waiting. I wouldn't be a king without you by my side."
Kianga smiled, tears streaming down her face. Together, Daren and Kianga walked to the edge of Pride Rock and looked out over the lands. As they stood there, the clouds parted again, and the bright full moon shone down on them. The falling rain lightened and Azmera watched with pride as her son stood, looking out over his lands for the first time as king. And somewhere, high in the clouds, the faint form of Kimoni gazed down on Pride Rock.
A soft breeze swept the land as Daren led out a loud roar. The Pride Lands once again belonged to their rightful king.