Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King or any of its characters. If I did then this awesome story would never see the light of day.
The characters I do own are as follows (For now):
• Kali
• Usafi
• Chaka
Again I apologize for the wait. But like you I am busy and have other thing to do. But my first loyalty is to you my Readers.
ENJOY!
The Decision
*2 1/2 Moons Later*
"MOMMM. How much longer do I have to be bathed? I want to go play with Nala and the others." Usafi whined as she endured her mother's bath.
"As long as you keep complaining it will take longer. Now hold still, I am almost done cleaning that pretty pink pelt of yours." Sarafina said as she licked along her back.
Not wanting to spend her bath in silence, Usafi looked at her mother and thought It's now or never.
"Mom. Can I ask you something?" Usafi asked with a hopeful tone to her mother as she was being bathed.
"Of course. What is it dear?" Sarafina inquired with a thought what could she possibly want to know.
"Well… I have noticed that you and I look nothing alike and that other lionesses have been giving me weird looks. So I was wondering, who is my real mother?" She asked.
"Well…" Sarafina said and then hesitated. In her head she wondered if she should tell her or not but a thought came to her that made up her mind. Her mother was always very inquisitive and persistent. No matter what she would press until she got an answer and I bet Usafi is the same she thought.
"You are right my dear. I am not your mother. Your mother was a very beautiful lioness named Msala who died a few moons ago. When we found her we feared the worst but then we gained a light of hope from her death; you. Kali found you lying in your dead mother's arms and was also the one who gave you your name. Also, your mother and I were very close so I took it upon myself to raise you as my own. I know it is sad that she is gone but I know deep in my heart that she loved you and she would not want you to be sad." Sarafina said to her young daughter. She saw Usafi shed a few tears for her mother's passing, but then surprisingly smiled. She looked up at Sarafina who had finished bathing her and then gave her a tight hug.
"Thank you, Mother. I love you so much and I thank you for taking me in. I know that if my mother was alive she would be just like you." She said while hugging her. Sarafina felt her heart would burst from this display. She also had relief in her mind when she realized she had not asked for her father. It's best if she does not know until she is older she thought.
Then, Usafi broke the hug and went to rejoin her sister, Kali and Simba who were close by and playing with each other. As she ran down, she passed many lionesses who began saying things about her.
"What a sweet little cub that Usafi is. Wouldn't you agree?" A lioness said.
"Oh, I agree but she also is bit too shy in my opinion. I mean when she came to talk us a week ago she stayed silent almost the entire time." Another said.
"Oh, and let us not forget that she also seems a bit weak. I mean she is supposed to be tough. But then again pink is not a sign of a tough lioness but a lioness with looks." A third one who chimed in said.
"You have no idea how wrong you are." Usafi said as she gave the gossiping lionesses a glare.
"Just cause I am pink and not tawny or golden-brown like the rest of you does not mean I am weak." She continued before she decided to walk off and find her friends.
"I think you should remember that she is Nala's sister and thus will probably be one of the toughest lionesses in this pride. Also, she and Kali are very close and seeing as Mufasa has not chosen who will be future king you should try to respect her since she might be your future queen. Lastly, about her fur, let me tell you this: Pink might be pretty, but it is also the color of water when blood is being washed away." Sarafina said to the gossipping lionesses as she watched her daughter walk off.
Sarafina watched her daughter running off and then saw her pass Zira and Scar. Scar looked at her with same indifference that Zira had for Simba and Nala but in his mind he thought she and Kali would look great together.
"Hi Zira." Usafi said happily as she ran up to the lioness.
"Hello, Usafi." Zira said with a warm, caring, motherly tone. The sound of such a tone coming from Zira made Sarafina snort and think Puh-lease. She then noticed the weird look in Zira's eyes as she looked at her daughter and remembered how Mufasa said he saw a similar look in Scar's eyes when around Kali.
"Usafi, could you come here a moment?" Sarafina called.
"You think she suspects?" Scar asked Zira as he watched the cub run off.
"No. She and Sarafina do not suspect. Don't worry, when the time comes she will serve her purpose." Zira said to Scar lovingly, nuzzled him and then they both walked off.
"What's up Mom?" Usafi asked she approached her mother.
"I just want to tell you to not spend as much time around Zira." she told her daughter.
"But why?" Usafi asked with worry and confusion.
"I just get the feeling that she will try to hurt you when you two are alone. I don't want to lose you." Sarafina said trying to explain to her daughter.
"Ok, mom. But Zira's really nice. She won't hurt me, I swear." Usafi replied before hugging Sarafina and then running off again to find her sister and friends.
It didn't take long for Usafi to find her sister because she soon heard "USAFI, over here." and she saw her sister and friends waiting for her near the bottom of Pride Rock.
"So who is up against who today?" Usafi asked her sister with a playful and competitive tone.
"Me and Simba are going at it again today, but we already know who will win since I am the best of us and he is the worst." Nala replied with a laugh which Usafi joined her in.
"So that means it is me and Kali again. I'll beat him this time. I can't keep losing to him forever." Usafi said with a determined tone.
"Make him eat dirt Sis." Nala said before she was interrupted by Simba tackling her from behind.
Usafi turned to face Kali who had a supremely calm expression on his face and who said "May the best of us win." As he finished, he bowed to her in respect and closed his eyes.
At first, Usafi was preparing to tackle Kali but stopped herself when she remembered that Kali was the one who gave her, her name and how she felt about that. But her feelings were completely pushed aside as she felt the competitive urge rise up. NOW she thought with eagerness
She pounced at Kali with blinding speed. Kali had planned on her trying that so he quickly retaliated by meeting her in midair. They rolled around a bit and at first it seemed like Kali would win but at the last minute when he was going to push forward and use his weight he instead caught Usafi's eyes, lost his focus and Usafi ended up pinning him. Mufasa who had come up to watch had noticed that Kali had given Usafi an edge and caused himself to lose. What? Why did Kali just let her win? Surely he could have… He was broken from the thought when he saw how Kali looked at her with such care and affection and then a smile came to his face as he thought Falling Already son.
"Today has gone so well. Not a sign of the hyenas or any rogue lions reported and no problems amongst the herds have been mentioned by Banana Beak. I think today's decision will have a good resolution." Mufasa said to himself as he looked up at the sky.
He roared to his sons to let them know he wanted to talk to them. His sons ran over to him and stopped in front of him and looked into his anxiously eager to know why their Father had called them.
"Boys, I would like you to follow me." Mufasa said. He then got up and turned back towards Pride Rock. The two cubs followed their father with confused looks on their faces. Once they reached the top of Pride Rock, Mufasa set himself down in front of his sons and gave them a look telling them to do the same.
"Now boys I am sure you are wondering why I brought you both up here." He asked. Both cubs nodded and then Simba asked.
"Dad, are we in some kind of trouble? He asked with a worried look on his face.
"No Simba, quite the opposite. Today I am going to make an announcement to the entire Pride, but before I do so I need to know something from both of you." He stated simply.
"What is the announcement?" Kali asked with a knowing look and roguish smile on his face. Damn. Why does he have to have his mother's gift to read minds? Mufasa thought to himself. Oh yeah Dad I know what you're thinking Kali thought.
"I am going to announce which of the two of you will be the future king. Normally it should have been Simba, the firstborn twin to be named King but when my father did this, I and my brother were torn apart because of it. Therefore, I chose not to make the same mistake as he did and waited till you were as old as you are now to ask each of you this question: Do you think you should be King?" Mufasa replied very calmly.
Kali and Simba were shocked, not because of what their father asked but the fact he asked it. They looked into each other's eyes and tried to see if the other would be hurt if they spoke their true feelings about the matter. Simba, the braver of the two replied first.
"I think I want to be King, but I do not know if I should be King because I always seem to be making bad choices and Kali always seems to know the right thing to do. So I guess, I am saying I think Kali should be King." He stated.
Mufasa nodded his head and smiled at Simba's surprising maturity and then looked to Kali and awaited his answer.
"Sitaki kiti kwa maana si hatima yangu. Ni hatima ya mwingine. Ingawa yeye ni mbaya na matatizo, yeye pia ni waaminifu na safi wa moyo. Kwa hiyo nasema: Kuna mmoja tu halali Mfalme kutawala Ardhi Pride. Kuna mmoja tu Mfalme wa kuongoza katika Njia Tukufu. Moja Mfalme kuleta kiburi pamoja. Na moja Mfalme kukaa pamoja Wafalme Mkuu". Kali replied. (I do not want the throne for it is not my destiny. It is the destiny of another. Though he is rough and troublesome, he is also loyal and pure of heart. So I say: There is only one rightful King to rule the Pride Lands. There is only one King to lead in the Noble Path. One King, to bring the pride together. And one King to sit alongside the Great Kings.)
He paused then turned to look at Simba. He smiled at his golden brother and then bowed his head and said.
"That king is my brother Simba, whom I would proudly serve rather than force him to serve. He is the one meant to be King and I am meant to be at his side to help make him the greatest King these lands will ever know." He replied proudly.
When Mufasa and Simba heard this they both stared at Kali with awe. But when the moment passed, Simba got tears in his eyes and then embraced his twin. Mufasa watched this, and realized he should not have been worried because he now knew his sons would never turn out like he and Scar had. He then cleared his throat and the boys broke their embrace and he said. "I have made my decision, so let us go announce it to the Pride."
Both boys nodded to their father and both hurried to a different side of Mufasa. Kali on the left and Simba on the right, and like this they made their way to the Royal Den where the hunting parties had returned with today's meal. Mufasa and the two princes entered the den and upon entering Mufasa released a mighty roar which caused all eyes to look towards the King and his sons and they waited anxiously for the announcement they knew was being made.
"Today marks the day of deciding who will be the future King upon either my death or abdication of my title. I have thought long and hard about this decision and approached both my sons about this and I have made my decision." Mufasa stated with great pride and presence that all the Pride, even Scar, looked to him with eagerness. He continued. "So without further ado step forward my son and future King of these great lands… SIMBA!" He yelled the name.
Simba stepped forward hesitantly towards the Pride. He almost backed up again towards his father, but Kali came up in front of him and bowed in complete respect. He then raised his head and went back to their father. Amazed with the nobility of Kali's gesture the Pride then roared in approval and then bowed in acceptance towards their future King. Only Scar and Zira did not repeat this gesture. Zira looked disgusted at the thought of either of the cubs one day becoming king. Scar simply stared, not at Simba, but at Mufasa and mostly at Kali. He looked surprised that Kali had accepted his father's decision and was ok with serving his brother. He then walked out of the den with a very confused look on his face and then ran off towards the Elephant Graveyard with Zira in hot pursuit.
Kali watched his uncle and Zira depart and became concerned. Did he want me to be King? Kali wondered to himself. He was broken from his thoughts when his mother came up to him and nuzzled his head lovingly. He returned the gesture of affection and she whispered to him.
"You are truly my child. Only you would have the kindness and courage to show you were willing to serve your brother. I am so proud of you, Kali. My fierce, silver sentinel!" As she finished this statement, she stopped her nuzzling and they both looked towards Simba who was pinned to the ground by Nala.
Apparently, Simba had been acting like he was all that and goaded Nala into trying to pin him. She then got a smile on her face and while looking down at him exclaimed. "King or not, I will always be able whip you into shape, so mind your manners Simba." At her statement, everyone: Mufasa, Sarabi, Kali, Nala, Usafi, the rest of the Pride, and even Simba laughed at her very true statement. Once they finished laughing they all gathered around the kills and began to feast.
Author: So there you have it, Simba is going to be king and Kali is perfectly fine with it. GO KALI!
I know you are wondering how it could be called the tale of two kings when Simba is now king but wait there is more that has yet to happen.
Where is Chaka?
But what do Scar and Zira have going through their heads? Wait and see…
Swahili: Mfalme si mmoja ambaye anasema yeye ni maana ya kuwa mfalme. Mfalme si mmoja ambaye anajaribu kuondoa wale walio katika njia yake ya kiti cha enzi. Mfalme ni yule ambaye ana uaminifu wa masomo yake na mmoja ambaye ni uhakika wa mwenyewe. Uhakika ni tamaa, uhakika ni wazi.
Long I know but once you decipher it. It will make sense.
Also, if you are looking for a good Kopa story I would like to suggest The True Prince Kopa by SteelLark and for a good AU Lion King story I suggest either Royal Pains by Nala-Nay or To Face or Forget by Ioxoxheartxoxonuka.