Cursed: A Pair of Emerald Eyes
Hello, my fellow reviewers! I am announcing this new trilogy on my profile page soon, so check that out, and make sure to review my updated 'Tanabi's Story'. Also, I am going to tell you in this and any future stories the title's relationship to the plot. Don't forget to review, and happy reading! (P.S. this story takes place before she meets Kovu a second time and before the hunt.)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Lion King characters and any of their rights reserved. I do own my OC's though.
Title Explanation:
The story is based around a brother/sister couple which is scorned at or cursed in the Pridelands. Cursed will be a proper title for the trials which will be on Tanabi and Kiara. Also, since Tanabi inherited the emerald eye trait from Nala, his mother, Kiara finds that stunning in him.
Chapter 1: Seeking the Princess' hand but failing
Simba/Kiara
It was like any other day in the majestic Pridelands for the great king Simba. The sun had finally risen, making the early morning clouds appear a bright pink color, and the wind brushed through Simba's auburn mane. Today, several tribes close to the Pridelands would send a worthy young male of their choice to become the prince of Pride Rock and become the future mate of the young princess Kiara. Simba walked from his dark, cool sleeping den, onto the mahogany promontory point of Pride Rock, then, circling his head, he saw several lions not far off in the horizon, approaching the Pridelands' border.
"Zazu, come here." Simba called to the aid of the annoying blue hornbill.
"Yes, sire?" Zazu asked, landing beside Simba's gaunt body.
"Alert the representatives of each tribe that they will be meeting me at the base of Pride Rock." Simba ordered his majordomo.
"Affirmatively, sire, I will be off at once." Zazu responded, gliding off towards the lions now very close to Pride Rock.
"I hope at least one of them meets Kiara's standards." Simba sighed out loud, recalling the past experiences with other tribe representatives. "Otherwise…. I don't know what I will do."
Meanwhile, Zazu flew back and perched on Simba's back, examining the seven young male lion newcomers. The first was tall, pale fur, brown tuft and a strip of mane down his neck, with bright azure eyes, but also seemed very tough-looking with scars on his paws and in various parts of his body composition. The second was shorter, but had golden fur, darker muzzle, beaming emerald eyes, a dark chocolate brown tuft with barely a strip of mane down his neck, and a comforting smile. Although, Simba noticed deep underneath his warm complexion he was angry and depressed at something. The next three had much in common with orange-pale fur, brown eyes, a red tuft, and tribal paints littered their faces. The last two were the shortest, and looked like pre-teens with brown fur, jet-black tufts, orange irises, and nervous complexions.
Simba spoke up, saying, "I know you seven have gathered here today to receive my daughter, Kiara's hand as future mate and my heir. I would also like you to present your names starting with the pale-furred one."
The gruff lion put on a small lop-sided, goofy smile, and said in an English accent, "My name is Dhahabu, representing the Southern Rivers Tribe."
The second troubled lion continued to smile and responded, "My name is Akiki, and I'm from the Northern Woodlands Tribe."
The three look-alike lions announced, "Our names are Chawa, Chupo, and Nguvu, we're representing the Mountain tribes, Dark Mist Tribe, and the Forest tribe."
The last two were twins, and one of them had enough courage to speak up, "My name… is Zamani….. and this is my brother…. Maji… we represent the Red waters tribe."
"Welcome to the Pridelands, fellow competitors." Simba smiled.
He then turned to the ascending ledge and stated, "Kiara, come down, they're waiting."
Kiara descended the ledge, looking more beautiful than she could ever be. Her orange pelt shined, her brown eyes twinkled in the sunlight, and a beautiful pink lily was stuck beside her ear. She came down next to her proud father, and walked down the line of lions, checking all the traits she desired.
Tanabi
While Kiara was picking her future heir, Tanabi had been ordered to stay in the sleeping cave until Kiara had made her decision. This was determined by Simba because he had a tendency to be an overprotective older brother, and resulting in the lions being scared off.
"Pfftt….. I don't know why dad needs Kiara to pick an heir when he should be finding a female for me!" Tanabi growled, sighing, and rolled over, swatting an annoying tse tse fly.
Tanabi was very tall, had the bright golden fur of Simba, had bright emerald eyes, and had a large tuft of auburn mane on his head and a larger strip of mane down his neck than most teenagers his age.
He rolled over on his stomach and did what he was best at….thinking. Tanabi had always been a lone lion when it came to social activities, unless he was wrestling with Kiara or spending time with his parents. He often spent his free time thinking to himself about trying to picture him, Tanabi, as King of Pride Rock. He was often concerned with the future of the pride under his leadership. Who would faithfully follow him as his queen unto making wise and important decisions? Who would guide him to making the right choices in having kids? Sighing, Tanabi got up, stretched, and shook his mane up. He needed to cool off; the summer was taking a beating on his perception of the obvious. Unfortunately, he couldn't, Kiara usually took a while with these decisions, so he paced around the cave, glaring at the rock ground, every once in a while peering out of the cave, checking on the progress. Usually, during the morning, he had something requested of his mother, or someone to converse privately with. Most of the lionesses had gone off to the early hunt, and the ones who remained were sick or tending to their wounds. But then, unexpectedly, Kiara marched up to the entrance of the cave, an angry look distorting her beauty.
"Didn't go so well?" Tanabi asked, not trying to get Kiara angry, cocking his head to one side.
"Don't ask 'Nabi." Kiara stopped her brother coldly. "Don't…. even….ask."
"Oh great…." Tanabi sighed rolling his eyes up towards the top of the cave, and then faced the mid-morning sunlight streaming into the cave. "Dad must've chosen some really crappy delegates this time. I wonder what he's going to do now."
His father marched up to the cave shortly after Kiara, fuming, "Kiara! Get back here; you've rejected too many lions to be your future husband, and I'm sick and tired of searching!"
Simba went into the center of the cave and his sister and he argued for a long time. Tanabi clasped his paws over his ears and lay down, not wanting to hear another argument of his father with Kiara. He wondered when this would stop and when his sister would realize that she didn't have any more options. Tanabi also knew that his father and his mother, Nala, would talk yet again negatively about Kiara's choice. What would they say? Probably something like this:
"Hon, Kiara rejected 7 more lions today…. What am I going to do?" His father would say.
"Find 7 more, Simba….. Honestly, you would think teenagers would be more sensible, I mean, look at your only son." His mother would respond.
Just then Nala arrived to see Tanabi avoiding another argument between father and daughter.
"What happened, Tanabi?" Nala inquired, secretly wishing not wanting to question the matter at hand.
"Ask dad…." Tanabi sighed, remaining in the same position, getting up for a quick cooling off at the waterhole.
"Oh boy, what am I going to do with my two teenagers?" Nala asked herself, walking towards the two furious lions at the dark center of the cave.
There's chapter one. I promise, there will be more chapters coming soon. Please criticize if you must, but don't flame or stupidly try to report. Just write something in the comment box so I can have some feedback.
-PrinceTanabi (Jonathan)