Author: Daggermouth

Lion King 4
Chapter: II – Ahadi and the Sacred Valley.

Before the war at Priderock there a fateful meeting... Nala the queen had just been told that Mheetu may still live. While searching through the Elephant Graveyard she met her old friend Malka once more...

Mheetu was said to be killed by Scar, Nala had talked to a purple snake with red stripes and it was that snake who told who about Mheetu. She realises she was acting upon the word of a stranger, she realises the snake lied to her to get her away from Priderock. As Nala regrets everything and sulks into despair. Malka comforts her, Nala had a new found courage with Malka, with him by her side the two of them searched the Elephant Graveyard one last time, but Mheetu was never found and this only confirmed Nala's feelings that the snake she met lied to her about everything. Malka believes the snake did it to help the queen grieve and to help her release the feelings she's felt trapped inside her for so long. But Malka is not surprised because he too has heard of this snake, infact Malka has met this snake before, before the two old friend's part sides once more Malka explains all he knows to the lost Nala:

"His name is Joka; and he is more than just a snake...he is not one of us. He is something, more. If it brings you hope to say it then I shall: I will find Tama, and you will see her again, I promise." Malka's words bring only slight hope to the queen. Soon they go their separate ways, as Nala returns to Priderock, Malka goes the other direction travelling through the Elephant Graveyard, dodging green geysers and eventually reaches a place far to the south, Malka ventured further than any lion as before and goes beyond Five Stone and goes beyond the Grass Wall, past the Evenstar Beach and the Sunstar Desert, through the Oasis and finally beyond the mountains, Malka had a home beyond the mountains, he had his own pride, when his mother named Kilo died he was left in charge. He hasn't seen his home in so long, his search for Tama had taken him far and wide but still he never found her. Climbing up a small trail up the mountainside the adult lion dreams of old times with his seven friends, the adventures they had as cubs were legendary. But none of his seven friends had seen beyond the mountains accept him, Malka was the only cub to reside so far away from Priderock and after the Daggermouth Gorge incident, they never adventured again. Reaching the top of the mountainside Malka stands proud above his home beyond the mountains. Looking down at a huge valley covered in bamboo covered jungles and mystical shining deserts but most of all mist covered peaks stretching up into the heavens. Before the reign of Ahadi this beautiful land was undiscovered, its sun filled peaks never seen before. Malka remembers back, remembering the history of the valley all those many years ago—'

'—Several decades ago, a very brave lion with green eyes and a hirsute maine of black was searching the Pridelands, his name was Ahadi and he was the Lion King. It was a harsh time of drought and water was scarce. The Lion King had to leave his home of thunder to search for new sources of water. His wife Uru and two cubs, Taka and Mufasa he was all forced to leave behind, with a sad heart Ahadi marched across the Pridelands. He roamed through a forest, a forest which time forget, where he met a young couple Kari and Uzuri and their two daughters Solta and Zira, he couldn't stay long and continued to travel toward the unknown of the north. Stopping here at a place also affected by the drought, the land is dry and has a dusty landscape where trees are as thin as skeletons. The ground is churning with powdery, red dust and the remaining grass turns brittle. Ahadi notices the land was covered in an eerie silence, entering the land Ahadi desperately needed nourishment of water. Here a young mandrill approaches him, weak and tired the mandrill collapses infront of the Lion King. Ahadi rushes into the Grass Wall with the mandrill upon his study back, together they approach a small lake with a few drops of water remaining. Letting the creature fall limb from his back, if either of them drank the water they would surely not be enough for the other. The kind and merciful Ahadi let the mandrill drinks the last drops in the dried up lake.

"What is your name?"Ahadi lays down in the hot beating sun next to the creature he just saved.
"My name is Rafiki, and I fear I am the last of my troop here in the Grass Wall." Rafiki arranges to say after finishes drinking. From that moment on the two of them became friends, the king and his new friend Rafiki. Together they shared stories and feelings and it comes to pass that Rafiki joins the king on his quest to find new sources of water during this harsh drought. Along the way Rafiki told of his wise ways, in the Grass Wall his troop of baboons and mandrills learned many healing and shaman ways in the caves. The caves had writings of the old forefathers, ancient creatures which existed before the Great Earthquake. Ahadi knew the tales, the Prideland didn't exist until the Great Earthquake began, the Earthquake tore holes into the world and new life was born from the ashes, the form of the Pridelands took shape from this earthquake. Ahadi's father Mohatu the first ever Lion King survived this devastating Earthquake. Like two shadows in the Pridelands Rafiki and Ahadi travelled far and wide, for many nights and days, but one journey tested their friendship to its limit.

Exactly three months into their journey to find water Ahadi and Rafiki travelled up the mountains bordering the southern sun line. Beyond the mountain the sun was scarce. Travelling up the dark mountain up a small trail made of dirt and rocks the two friends reach the top peak of the southern mountains. Looking down they saw a new land undiscovered, found by Ahadi himself, he named it the: Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley was far to the south-east; Priderock was two day hike away from here now. But Ahadi with his friend were tired, hot and needed to rest, they descended down into the dark, misty valley. The mist brought a cold but refreshing breeze across their faces; the valley had several bodies of water, lakes and wide roaring rivers through jungles and tough wheat grass coloured yellow. However no water left the valley.

"This place is completely barricaded from the Pridelands, hidden here all this time." Rafiki says, he was young and could travel far. Together Ahadi and his careful friend Rafiki rest in the heart of the Valley. Rafiki shows the Lion King how he can create and change the colour of fire, creating a small controlled fire on a pit of old tree logs, the two friends sleep, but Ahadi still had the problem of getting water back to Priderock, carrying the water for two days to Priderock would be impossible, the king slowly closes his eyes and falls quickly asleep.

Panic fills Ahadi as he awakes, the fire and logs was destroyed and Rafiki was gone! Vanished, or worse, kidnapped, Ahadi must of slept straight through it, he notices there was a struggle around and a small trail of feathers leads towards the highest peak in the Sacred Valley. Ahadi immediately follows the trail running fast to save his friend. Ahadi ran through this unfamiliar land, but

following the trail he did not get lost in the large place, along the way Ahadi meets up with a pack of cheetahs, including a small cheetah cub named Beba, she had only just been born, her eyes not yet even open, they do not recognize the king, but they point him in the right direction as the king doesn't stop for food or water, rushing his way through the misty valley he begins his long climb up the tallest mountain, harsh cliffs and cold winds batter the king, the trail of feathers had been blown away but Ahadi knew his friend Rafiki was up here, it was a one way trip upward in a spiral. Ahadi shivered, he was near the top now, the air was thin up here, higher than any creature he'd ever known, a fall from here would mean certain death. Ahadi couldn't see the valley below him now, only a sea of white mist surrounds the world below him. All this time Ahadi had bonded with the eccentric mandrill but out here Rafiki was the only friend he had, Ahadi started to care for Rafiki as soon as they'd met as he let his friend drink the last drops of water in the lake of the Grass Wall. As the thoughts cross his mind Ahadi reaches the top, the wind was ferocious and filled the Lion King's lungs with an icy bite. But surely laid there was Rafiki on the top of the flat peak, he was not moving and his body seemed almost frozen, further ahead a dark cave.

"Rafiki!" Ahadi shouts over the roaring wind and rushes up to his friend curling around him to warm his friend. Helping Rafiki up onto his back Ahadi strolls towards the spiral path leading back down the mountain, it shouldn't be as hard to descend down the mountain. But as Ahadi walked away from the cave two red eyes open in the darkness, emerging from the cave on the top of the mountain a huge vulture with red eyes and huge wings which the creature unleashes outwards as it walks out of the cave. Giving a loud high-pitched caw the vulture spreads its massive wings; its feet had three deadly long and sharp talons.

"Leave him," The vulture says in an unfathomable voice,
"Leave him, you will not survive the descend down my mountain." It repeats to Ahadi who stops, looking over his shoulder the Lion King grunts but accepts the vulture is right, he nought had enough strength to make it home. Shaking his head Ahadi suddenly realises the vulture is trying to
"I know who you are, King Ahadi, I know why you're here, leave your friend and save yourself, you don't need him."
"Who are you?" Ahadi roars angrily turning just as Rafiki's body falls to the ground, the trail of feathers belonged to this vulture; he stole Rafiki and brought him here, indisputably to eat, or worse.
"My name is Vaxis and you're lunch,"
"I'm the Lion King, you cannot harm me." Ahadi immediately replies slowly backing off; but the Vulture caw's louder still and take off into the air its beady eyes fixed on the king. Ahadi realises the Sacred Valley is so far south-east it was out of the jurisdiction of the king, Ahadi had no power here. Suddenly Vaxis the Vulture swoops towards the defenceless king its large claws digging into the kings fur before Vaxis flies off disappearing into the mist leaving Ahadi to roar in pain. Vaxis was here, the king could only hear the vultures large powerful wings flapping in the mist,
"You cannot win!" Vaxis swoops down taking another strike at the lion.
"You will die now!" Another attack faster this time, Ahadi couldn't react fast enough to catch the powerful bird he resulted into only clawing the air. Vaxis swoops once more, but the king remembers something his friend Rafiki once told him about trusting your instincts and using all your senses to your advantage. With one almighty blow Ahadi unleashes clawing Vaxis his claws getting caught into the vultures venerable body, the king finds himself getting carried by the vulture across the peak of the mountain scraping his back paws against the hard rock in the process before both Vaxis and Ahadi plummet off the mountain. The silhouette of Ahadi and Vaxis falling down the side of the mountain behind the bright white mist slowly descends picking up speed, along the way down the lion and the vulture take blows against one another, slashing for eachother faces trying desperately to maim eachother. With a loud crack Ahadi lands on his back on a rocky terrace further down the mountain. It was a painful sight to see the lion fall, the king was defeated.

Far Across the Lands of Africa...

Uru back at the stormy Priderock wishes for her lovers return, praying to the Great Spirit for the safe return of her husband.
"Mom? Can I lay with you? A young innocent Taka tilts his head up at his reddish furred mother, Uru, surprised decides to stay.
"Taka, I-I was just wishing to the Great Spirit that your father return home."Taka didn't understand much he was still a cub. Uru smiles and lies down with her son, she decides to explain to him the stories she was told.
"The Great Spirit, she is like mother nature in a way, she is a being who watches over us my son, she guides us, protects us, and she has a plan for all of us. They said her maine was as white as an angel." Taka gasps in disbelieve he was clearly fascinated by the tale, both of them then look up brightest star in the sky.
"Your grandfather Mohatu once met her before the Great Earthquake. They were many creatures living before the Great Earthquake they were called: The Ancients, they are now long extinct. They say Mohatu's heart was as pure white, like snow. When Mohatu died it was the first time and only time it ever snowed in the Pridelands. They say that the snow was the tears of the Great Spirit. Mohatu is the brightest star in the sky, he was a great king. The kings of the past will look down on you from those stars long after I'm gone my son. I do hope your father returns soon." Queen Uru smiles down at Taka warmly sighing slightly. Taka cuddles up to his mother, snuggling into her fur before falling asleep. A purple coloured female hornbill named Zuzu silently sweeps down from above bowing before queen Uru, she was the kings majordomo before he disappeared, Zuzu takes a deep breath before continuing
"The Lion King is so brave, I've seen him go off to face many crises and dangers, he is still out there somehow I can just feel it in my feathers, the king shall return," Zuzu says as both her and Uru looking out onto the dry Pridelands full of drought and unhappiness. Uru smiles down to her friend before replying,
"I hope so, I hope so..."

The years rolled on... And still Ahadi never returned home...

The two friends were trapped. Vaxis had spent years tormenting Rafiki and the Lion King, never letting them leaves the Sacred Valley. Clearly Vaxis ruled here and clearly it was a mistake descending into the dimly sunlit valley. Each day Ahadi never forget his wife and two cubs, and Rafiki never forgot his fatherland. It was impossible to escape the valley you would have to climb the mountains and Vaxis would be there. The simple journey to find water has turned into a hellish survival here. Vaxis controlled all the vultures here, Vaxis had a name for himself: the nightmare vulture. Rafiki came to the conclusion that Vaxis, the nightmare vulture, knew the second they entered the valley, and he torture them so only for sport, death from above. Ahadi and Rafiki had lost hope many times but together they brought eachother new hope. But through the hard times Rafiki had noticed that the king's behaviour had changed so much, for the worse, he had grown very angry.

"I accepted a challenge far beyond my calling. But I fear what else I must sacrifice to escape this place." Ahadi looks over to his friend who gives him a friendly hug of comfort in a secluded dark cave. Not only was Ahadi angry but he was broken inside, not as proud as he once was. Rafiki carved a large blue staff in a nearby tree and attached Baobab fruit to the end of it with the strong wheat grass, for years the friends assaulted Vaxis with his troop of vultures but all times failed. After seven years in the Sacred Valley, Ahadi had enough. He schemed with the cheetahs that with their excessive speed made plans to chase the nightmare vulture away. Together all the creatures in the Sacred Valley march towards the field of battle. There the a very young Beba and the cheetahs, with Ahadi fought against the vultures, the vultures swooped around in the heart of battle as the cheetahs raced around and took out their wings, Ahadi clawed Vaxis right on his beak, sending massive claw marks down the vultures face. Vaxis flew away cawing loudly but not defeated the vultures were getting the upper hand. Hope came as Rafiki swung from a Baobab tree and used his new staff to smack the vulture out of the sky, sending the vulture to tumble from the sky towards the ground smashing into the ground with a loud thud surely breaking some of its limbs on. After seven whole years, this was their chance, it seemed like forever to Ahadi and Rafiki but they quickly escaped, finally reaching the mountain without trouble. Parting ways with the cheetahs and little Beba everyone went their separate ways, they were free and they were glad to see to the sunlight once more. Both Ahadi and Rafiki were battered and bruised and almost couldn't walk, but after all they'd being through, the journey was over; they marched into the Pridelands.

And Vaxis, was never found...

Ahadi was laid in the lion's den, he looked much older and had cuts across his face and was bruised in many places. Uru was worried sick and darted to her mate's side as he coughed weakly. Both brother's look worried, lying with him now,

"Don't worry; Daddy's home," Ahadi manages to say before closing his eyes for rest. Uru looks after him, much like she did with Taka and Mufasa over the years, whatever. Some day's after Ahadi returned, so did the rain, the clouds exploded with hail and rain like never seen before, although it would be some time before the land itself repairs, the rain was most welcome to many. The Hippopotamus could finally soak in the waters, and the dodo's no longer need to conserve water. But the Lion King brought back somebody from his travels to help the Pridelands recover from these sinister times, a wise mandrill-baboon by the name of Rafiki; With a eccentric grin he joined the Pride, with a rain-dance he learned in the Sacred Valley is it said he helped bring rain once more to the Pridelands. Eight years of drought was finally over. Rafiki became a Shaman, maintaining the balance of the Circle of Life, but most of all, helping Mufasa whim the mischievous acts of his brother Taka. Taka and Mufasa had grown into teens while their father was away. As

another average night closes in, Rafiki comments to Mufasa and Taka who were sitting nearby; discussing past events, learning for the first time about Priderock and situation here. Taka certainly didn't get along with his father or his brother. Mufasa was going to be the next king and now that the drought has ended, perhaps the various animals' can live in harmony once more. Stretches out next to him and the two swiftly fall asleep.

Later that night...

Rafiki is awakened in the middle of the night. When he opens his eyes, he comes face-to-face with a spitting snake. A large purple snake with red strips, the giant snake is poised and ready to strike, its fangs sticking outwards dangerously, "You shall not intervene!" The snake hisses. Rafiki squints realises the snake is something more. Joka the snake slivers towards Rafiki with a deadly look in its eye.

"I have plans for this world Pridelander and you shall not intervene!" Joka strikes his fangs towards Rafiki he holds his staff upwards as poisonous venom spits from Joka's fangs but only just misses the mandrill. Suddenly Mufasa jumps in and promptly claws the snake away with little effort showing how brave he can be. Giving an elongated hiss the snake quickly slivers away in defeat but not before giving an outlandish, almost friendly look at Taka...

Joka the Snake...he was here too...

Shortly after his return, Ahadi's private watering hole was mysteriously poisoned; Ahadi died almost immediately, his life cut short from his mate Uru. Everyone undoubtedly held Scar responsible for this treachery. Scar claimed to be innocent, he was at the Elephant Graveyard at the time of Ahadi's death, Scar walked free, for good reason, for it wasn't Taka who killed his father, it was Joka, the purple snake with red stripes and deadly poison in his fangs—'

End of Episode II.