-"Strangers Like Me"-
"Link… are you sure about this?" Zelda asked nervously as she and Link approached the Cape Water Buffaloes, who were sitting around, talking amongst themselves. They had not yet seen them, so Zelda was hoping he'd change his mind and turn back before it was too late. But he insisted, "Yes. Trust me, I have a plan."
As if on cue, one of the buffaloes looked up and saw them. He stood up as all the others took notice and stood up as well. There were about 12 or so of them, not counting the children playing in the distance. Each one was well over 6 feet tall, and each was so muscular they looked like just one could force back an elephant's stomp. Zelda was even more nervous upon this observation because of all the stories she had heard about them: how incredibly aggressive they were, stubborn and easy to anger. She remembered all the stories about them during their attempted uprising so many generations ago, how brutal they were in battle and how they took down the entire Rhino army without a single causality amongst them, and only a handful receiving minor wounds. She sincerely hoped Link's confidence was justified. As they approached them, one stepped out amongst them and said, in a deep booming voice that shook Zelda to the core, "Halt. What is your business here?"
"We've come to ask for your service," Link said humbly. The buffalo scoffed and demanded, "And who are you to make such a request?"
"I am Link, Son of King Mario and his rightful successor," Link announced. The buffaloes all looked slightly shocked at this before one said, "That is impossible…He is long dead."
"And yet he appears before you," Link said, "Look at me. Have none of you seen the prince?"
"I have," One buffalo admitted, as some of the others looked at him. Link asked, "Do I not resemble him, were he 8 years older and bearing a scar on his cheek?"
The buffalo mulled this for a moment, and admitted, "Perhaps…"
"So? Will you believe me or not?"
They looked at each other for a good long time, quietly discussing it amongst themselves. Finally the one standing out in front turned and asked, "Say we do believe you. What would you have us do?"
"I would have you help me take back my kingdom, and restore the Circle of Life,"
"And why exactly should we help you with this task?" The buffalo demanded. Zelda grew more nervous, fearful they would get offended soon and start attacking. But nonetheless Link kept on, "By doing this, you would become heroes to the other tribes of the Pride Lands. They will hold eternal respect for you. In addition, what do you know of the section of land in the north called, 'King's Paradise'?"
"It's the lushest land in the Pride Lands, and all the tribes have been seeking it for ages now,"
"That's right. It once belonged just to the royal family, but then my grandfather declared it open for all. However, many of the tribes that were otherwise unfriendly to each other bickered over having specific claims to the land, so my father closed it off to all about 30 years ago until the tribes' rivalries would die down enough, or until he could find one specific tribe worthy of claiming it,"
"We grow tired of history lessons," One of the buffaloes said impatiently, "What has this to do with anything?"
"The Cape Water Buffalo have never had a proper land within the kingdom. If you help me in my crusade now, that land shall forever be yours,"
A great silence fell over all them. Zelda looked at Link with great shock as she whispered, "Link, do you know what you're offering to them?"
"I do," Link assured her. He then addressed them once more, "However, there is a catch. Since you would now have a proper land within the kingdom, you must recognize the authority of the king. The land will otherwise be yours, and you may govern yourselves as you please, but if a conflict should arise between your tribe and another, you must heed to the decision of the king."
"You ask much of us, young prince," The buffalo in the front said.
"Yes, but I offer much in return. And I give you my word that no true Lion King will abuse his power over your tribe. And if any does, the Circle of Life will appoint a new ruler in his place. Do you find these terms agreeable?"
The buffaloes talked amongst themselves for a while. Finally one of them said, "Very well. We agree."
Link breathed a sigh of relief while Zelda admired him, stunned that he had successfully negotiated with them. He then stepped forward and said, "Good. Now, here is the plan. First, you can leave one or two behind to guard the children."
"I will," One of the females said automatically. Link smiled, "Okay, the rest will go to the Elephant Graveyard and free the Leopards. Take those who are able to fight, gather up whatever weapons you can find, then lead them towards Pride Rock. One or two will have to take the children, elderly and those otherwise unable to fight towards the watering hole, and protect them at all cost."
"I will," One piped up, as another also volunteered. Link turned to Zelda, asking, "And all the hyenas will be at Pride Rock?"
"Most of them,"
"Good. The idea is to drive back all the hyenas to the Elephant Graveyard and contain them. In the days to come, I'll see to gathering up the rest and driving them there. As soon as the battle is over, you'll be free to migrate north to your new home,"
Link then saw this news sink in for all them. They looked relieved at the idea they would have a proper home now, and that's when it hit Link; so many generations, the Cape Water Buffalo Tribe had been feared and dubbed dangerous and should be avoided, so much so that they were never even given a real chance to be a part of the kingdom. No wonder they held so much resentment against the royal family, they had discriminated them unfairly. Sure, they were being cautious and probably didn't realize it, but that was the effect all the same. And now that had all changed.
"When would you have us leave?" One finally remembered to ask. Link realized himself he forgot to specify as he said, "Oh, well immediately if possible."
"We are always ready for combat," Another said as they all stood up. The female who volunteered to do so went to the children an gathered them up to protect them while the others raised their axes in the air, shouting, "To glory! And for our descendents!"
They all shared a battle cry as they charged North West towards the Elephant Graveyard. Link sighed with relief as Zelda smiled wide at him, saying disbelieving, "Link… You did it."
Link shrugged, blushing, "Oh, it wasn't that much."
"Link, do you have any idea how many kings have failed to do dealings with them?"
"Quite a few," Link said, a feeling of pride coming over him. Zelda further said, "That's something I'd only think your father were capable of."
Link's smiled beamed with happiness as he said to her, "Thank you for that Zelda…"
She threw her arms around the lion, hugging him close. Link then began to remember his time in his childhood as he was being trained by his father to one day be king. Upbeat music began to play as Link remembered singing to his father as he taught him about the tribes of the kingdom, "Whatever you do, I'll do it too. Show me everything and tell me how. It all means something, and yet nothing to me. I can see there's so much to learn. It's all so close and yet so far. I see myself as people see me. Oh, I just know there's something bigger out there. I wanna know, can you show me? I wanna know about these strangers like me. Tell me more, please show me! Something's familiar about these strangers like me…"
Link could remember realizing that the inhabitants of the tribes were truly not very different from lions when you get down to it, and that the royals were no better than those they ruled over. He then remembered at the same time him and Zelda growing closer together, becoming even better friends, feeling things he didn't know at the time was blossoming romance. He remembered singing to himself in confusion, "Every gesture, every move that she makes, makes me feel like never before. Why do I have this growing need to be beside her? Ooo, these emotions I never knew, of some other world far beyond this place. Beyond the trees, above the clouds, I see before me a new horizon."
He then remembered his mother telling him of some great lovers of legend not long after he confessed to her these strange new feelings he was starting to feel towards Zelda (realizing only in present the connection of what she was saying). When she did, he would sing, "I wanna know, can you show me? I wanna know about these strangers like me. Tell me more, please show me! Something's familiar about these strangers like me…"
He smiled at Zelda in the present, and began singing to her, "Come with me now to see my world. Where there's beauty beyond your dreams. Can you feel the things I feel right now, with you? Take my hand, there's a world I need to know…"
The two looked off towards the distance, as they pictured their futures together, Link commenting, "A beautiful kingdom ruled alongside my beautiful queen."
Zelda blushed, whispering to him, "And one day ruled over by our sons, who will be raised how to be good kings by their amazing father."
Link smiled wide at the idea and began singing to her, taking her hands in his, "I wanna know, can you show me? I wanna know about these strangers like me. Tell me more, please show me. Something's familiar about these strangers like me…"
They smiled at each other then leaned in and kissed. The two then pulled away and looked north east towards Pride Rock, the pitch black clouds looming over it making it seem more a fortress of evil than a home of a king that it should be. Link sighed, "Well, guess it's time."
Zelda nodded as they went back over to Toad, Yoshi and Toadsworth (who were hiding behind a rock), and the five walked on towards Pride Rock
There's the penultimate chapter :) Next will be the final battle, and then just the epilogue after that. Stay tuned! And remember to review