Chapter Ten: Change of Power
True Tigress: Thank you! I appreciate having people take the time to read my stories, it let s me know that I'm doing well :) I will keep writing and here's the next chapter
Hunter 305414: Ok, I felt a little guilty for the questions being raised. The Pridelanders have lost the Pridelands, unfortunately (name of the chapter) so… Who is dead and who is alive? Read the chapter, I made sure to put those in. Thank you for the review, the kind words, and the belief in me :) enjoy the chapter.
Whoa it's fandoms: I know, poor little Riri and Zuri… I also have them in this chapter. And Fahamu… well you'll have to read on otherwise there are spoilers for this chapter :)
Guest: We can only hope that Kali comes to his senses. If not, Usafi will slap him silly.
CSIMentalistTLK Lover: Yes, Sarabi and Mufasa are reunited. Zira and Moto fought bravely. Very valiant lionesses, all died in glory protecting the ones who mattered most. Enjoy the chapter, my friend :)
Note: I found a PERFECT voice actress for Rafiki's niece, Indira. Naomie Harris, otherwise known as Tia Dalma/Calypso from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, kind of with the accent just not with the "Jamaican Patois" as Tia Dalma has, but still somewhat Jamaican.
The rain let up by the morning. The Moon Pride had taken sanctuary in Pride Rock, throwing all the dead bodies into the water before hoping that they'd be okay.
Usafi woke, looking to her side. Maji and Kali were there. Luckily, Hafsa had stayed behind in the Moonlands with a few other lionesses, and Usafi was going to get the others.
The Moon Pride had won the battle. They had the Pridelands. The flood had seemingly assisted them, but they had Pride Rock. Usafi stood up, careful not to wake the portion of the family she had, and saw multiple puddles throughout the lands. The dark pink lioness sighed.
"The Kings had mercy. May the Great Spirit be praised." Usafi said softly.
"Usafi." A female voice came from the cave, and a silver lioness with green eyes, a black sharp nose, and a white stripe starting at her head and going down her back emerged. Usafi knew this lioness. It was Kali's half-sister, Ketaki.
"Ketaki, hi." Usafi said. Ketaki looked to her sister-in-law, her green eyes concerned.
"Is everything okay? You should be happy. We won." Ketaki said. Usafi sighed.
"At what prince, sister? Kali came here to retrieve his daughter and she's not here. We had to throw bodies into the raging water last night. We all could have died." Usafi said, her lavender eyes saddened. Ketaki sighed.
"I feel the same. We've lost many of our best warriors, and we also had to… I understand. But… we'll be okay." Ketaki said.
"I just wish I could give Kali his child back. I wish I could have what was left my sister." Usafi said. Ketaki nuzzled her sister-in-law with a sigh.
"I know. Mpenzi was my best friend, her daughter is my niece, and I want to see her too. Usafi, I'd like to think that there's a reason Kali won't see his child yet." Ketaki said. Usafi felt tears building.
"I think there is. I think this fight angered the Great Spirit. Kibuluu rushed the battle. We weren't supposed to fight, at least, not yet." Usafi said. Ketaki nodded.
"If that is so, we will deal with it. Kibuluu will have his day. Until then, we need to go get the others." Ketaki said. Usafi sighed deeply.
"You're right. Let's go get the others." Usafi said. Ketaki nodded and the two lionesses ran through the marshy swamp that was left in the flood's wake to the southern border, where several lionesses were, Hafsa leading them. Usafi felt her heart soar at seeing her daughter, and Hafsa ran to her mother.
"Mom, you're okay!" Hafsa said. Usafi nuzzled her daughter.
"I am. How did you fare through the weather?" Usafi asked.
"We went to the top of the hill to the eastern part of our lands. We were okay, a little soggy, but okay." Hafsa said. Usafi smiled, and Ketaki stepped forward.
"I am glad to hear that. Let's go back to Pride Rock, I'm sure that after a reunion we'll all feel better." Ketaki said. Hafsa nodded and smiled at her aunt.
"I'd like that." Hafsa said.
*+-/_\-+*
JJ was the first awake, finding herself next to Simba, who slept soundly, the blood around his eye being cleaned up. The Crown Princess's head hurt and her world spun. She immediately lifted a paw, remembering that Kovu had struck her the day before. Finding no blood, just a painful wound beneath her hair tuft, the Princess sighed shallowly, lying her head back down before her mind raced again.
Where was Amri? Had he gotten out of the fight okay? Was he okay himself? Where was he?!
JJ stood up and almost immediately fell back down, albeit gently.
"You should calm yourself." Indira's beautiful voice penetrated JJ's conscious and the Princess looked to the shamaness-in-training.
"I should but I can't find Amri." JJ said. Indira sat next to the Princess, her black hair falling around her face as she patted JJ's head, making the Princess wince a little.
"Rest assured, your lover is probably fine, dear." Indira said.
"Then where is he?" JJ asked. Indira smiled.
"I can go look, if you wish." Indira said. JJ looked up with hopeful eyes and Indira chuckled.
"I will go look. What does he look like?" The female mandrill asked.
"He's a cream-gold, has an orangey-red mane and teal eyes." JJ said. Indira nodded and left JJ. The Princess sat back up, her ears ringing. She still had the image of her father…
JJ shuddered and felt a tear escape her right eye. She silently sobbed, not wanting to wake the wounded around her. She knew she should rest, but felt too wired to close her eyes.
So many had died. JJ may have been unconscious, but her ears were still working in her state. She had heard that Ramsa, Moto, Sarabi, Zira, and a couple other lionesses were among the dead. Nuka, Kijani, and Amri were among the missing. Fahamu was an orphan now, under Rikala's care.
The Princess was deep in thought when her mother softly padded to her, nuzzling her gently. JJ jumped, then realized it was her mother, and leaned into the nuzzle.
"Hey, sweetheart." Ashaki said. JJ smiled a bit.
"Hey, Mom." JJ said. Ashaki licked her daughter's wound, making JJ wince a bit. Ashaki gave a small smile, her eyes looking into JJ's. The Queen sighed.
"Poppa told me. Kovu hurt you." Ashaki said. The Princess had tears in her eyes, and nodded.
"He wanted me dead. Maji saved me, Mom." JJ said softly.
"I'm glad he did. Even in adversity, the good can see the evil." Ashaki said. JJ's tears spilled over. She almost lost her life, and had she not lost her life, she could have lost her child, growing inside of her. The Princess looked up to her mother, and the Queen nuzzled her daughter.
"Sweetheart, you're okay, you're okay. We're safe now. Kovu can't get to you." Ashaki said.
"It's not that… I… have something to tell you." JJ sobbed.
"Tell me. Tell me, sweetie. I'm here." Ashaki encouraged.
"Don't be mad." JJ begged.
"I won't be. I won't be mad no matter what." Ashaki said.
"I'm pregnant." JJ said.
*+-/_\-+*
Amalia woke, her head pounding. She opened her eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight pouring into the dark, damp cave. She smelled blood and death. The River Princess lifted her head, looking around. She saw blood pooled around her mother, brother, and father's bodies. She gasped, desperately trying to stand to get away from the appalling sight, her head injury causing her to not move well.
After what seemed like hours of struggling against the haze her head had her in, Amalia stood clumsily, and bolted from the cave. She ran gauchely, and almost blindly. The River Princess ran from one border of her lands to the other, finding no lionesses, no help, in sight. She screamed in frustration. What was she supposed to do now?
"Did he kill everyone?" Amalia sobbed. The River Princess curled into a ball, sobbing. She was alone, hurt, and alone. Her sobs permeated the damp air of the Riverlands, becoming the only sound for miles upon miles.
The black lioness shed her tears, wanting to wallow in her sorrow when a gray lioness with blood red eyes looked at her in sadness. The gray lioness padded over to Amalia.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked. Amalia jumped and nearly screamed, but stood up and bared her teeth.
"I'm not okay! A lion came in and slaughtered my pride!" Amalia screamed. The gray lioness backed up a step, recognizing this temper as grief, and knowing it was similar to her own. The gray lioness stepped up and held the young lioness in an embrace, making Amalia cry more.
"Hush, now…you're no longer alone. I'm here." The lioness said. Amalia looked up to her.
"What's your name?" Amalia asked.
"Dot…" The lioness paused briefly, "Bianca. My name is Bianca. Who are you?" Bianca asked.
"Princess Amalia of the River Pride, daughter of Queen Amani and King Shujaa." Amalia said. Bianca's blood red eyes widened a bit.
"Your mother's name is Amani?" Bianca asked.
"Yeah, why?" Amalia asked. Bianca sighed.
"Amani was my daughter's name, the name given to her from her father." Bianca said. Amalia gazed at the elderly lioness in confusion, seeing some facial similarities between herself and the lioness, seeing where she got her skinny frame from.
"I suppose it's possible my mother and your daughter are one in the same." Amalia said. Bianca smiled.
"Should we get our hopes up?" Bianca asked. Amalia's facial expression remained dark.
"My mother was killed yesterday, as were my father and brother." Amalia said. Bianca's jaw dropped, then it closed and she brought the black lioness into a hug.
"Seems we're all each other have, kid." Bianca said.
"I don't mind that." Amalia said, leaning into Bianca's hug with a sob. Bianca smiled. She may have lost her daughter, be she gained her granddaughter.
And her life back from being Scar's personal servant.
*+-/_\-+*
Myota woke uneasily alongside his daughters. His head pounded, his heart hurt…
He had lost his mother the night before. His heart ached, and like a cub, he mewled for his mother. He wanted Zira there. He wanted her to nuzzle him and tell him it was okay, that it was all going to be all right.
Jua woke, looking up to her father with bright green eyes. His eyes. Myota had to remember, his daughters lost someone, too. They lost their grandmother, and their mother within mere weeks of each other.
"Dad?" Jua asked. Myota smiled at his golden daughter.
"Yes, Jua?" Myota asked. Jua sighed.
"Grandma's really dead, isn't she?" Jua asked. Myota frowned and looked pained.
"She is. Along with many others." Myota said. Jua felt tears in her eyes and nuzzled her father. Myota held Jua close and sobbed. Mwenzi looked up at her father and fraternal twin and scoffed.
"C'mon, you babies. Its just death." Mwenzi said with a roll of her eyes. Myota and Jua both looked to Mwenzi in shock.
"Mwenzi!" Jua admonished.
"You're not my mother, don't admonish me as like you are." Mwenzi growled.
"That is enough, young lady. You will behave yourself. You lost your grandmother last night." Myota snapped.
"Not my blood grandmother. She only adopted you." Mwenzi said.
"Zira was my mother in every way except one. She raised me, she took care of me, hell, for the longest time, it was just me and her against everyone else." Myota snapped at his daughter. Mwenzi laughed mirthlessly.
"She never treated me like I was her grandchild. She favored JJ and Chaka over Jua and myself." Mwenzi said.
"JJ is going through a tough time! Chaka was almost killed by Kovu! Mother never let us see her after a certain point!" Jua stood up and growled at her twin. Mwenzi laughed.
"You defend her? How naïve of you, sister." Mwenzi said. Jua snarled and reached out a paw, slapping Mwenzi in the face. The creamy-white lioness stood up and backed away; shocked someone had finally hit her for her sharp remarks. Jua's face stayed hardened as she glared at her sister.
"You have no right to say our grandmother wasn't good." Jua snarled. Myota glared at both his daughters and roared, successfully waking up all of the lionesses and lions in the area.
"That is enough! I am your father, and you two will behave, understand me?!" Myota roared. Jua's ears flattened in shame against her skull, while Mwenzi looked irritated.
"Whatever, I'm out of here." Mwenzi got to her feet again and walked from the scene.
"Where do you think you're going, young lady?" Myota demanded. Mwenzi looked to her father, her ruby eyes bright with anger and hostility.
"I'm going back to the Pridelands. My mother is there, and she's the only one who understood me!" Mwenzi screamed as she burst into a fast run. Myota didn't even attempt to go after her and Jua gazed at her father.
"Why aren't you going after her?" Jua asked softly.
"She's too far gone, Jua. I have no choice." Myota said with a sigh. Jua nuzzled her father with a sad smile.
"I'm still here Dad, I won't leave." Jua said. Myota smiled.
"I know. I still will always have you." Myota said with a sigh.
*+-/_\-+*
Rikala woke alongside her daughter when Myota had roared, but instead of watching the whole fiasco, the dark brown lioness had decided to take Zuri somewhere else to talk.
Nuka hadn't come back yet. No one had seen the son of Zira and Scar since he had chased off a lioness the night before. It made Rikala's heart ache to think that her mate, the father of her child, was dead. Was he? Was Nuka okay? Had he survived? Had the lioness he chased killed him?
"Mom, what's wrong?" Zuri asked. Rikala sighed.
"Your father didn't come back last night. Sweetie, in the middle of the fight, he chased off a lioness…" Rikala said. Zuri stopped and stared at her mother.
"No." Zuri said. Rikala's eyes closed and she dropped her head.
"Honey, it's possible he died." Rikala's voice was thick with tears. Zuri burst into tears and Rikala brought her daughter into a tight embrace.
"He can't be dead!" Zuri wailed. Rikala bit her lip and sighed.
"There is a possibility he lived, but…" Rikala said. Zuri wailed louder, her sobs racking her body. Rikala started crying as well, her mate was missing, her mother-in-law was dead, and her father was missing… and now she was the caregiver of not one, but two cubs. Fahamu needed a mother, and Rikala knew it was time to step up and be that mother Fahamu needed, even if she were his half-sister, she would be his mother as well.
"Zuri, we need to get back. A pridesister has Fahamu and…" Rikala said. Zuri sniffled and looked up to her mother.
"Not Grandpa too." Zuri begged. Rikala sighed and gave a sad smile.
"Grandpa too." Rikala said. Zuri's lip trembled, then the young lioness stood tall and proud.
"You're right, Fahamu needs us." Zuri said with a sigh. Rikala smiled at her daughter and the two went back to the Pride to retrieve Fahamu and tell him what had happened to his parents the night before.
A/N: Sorrow and anger is the order of the day, it seems… Mwenzi leaves Jua and Myota to join with Kiara's forces, JJ tells her mother that she's pregnant, three lions are missing and assumed dead, Rikala and Zuri are just in pain at the thought of Nuka's death, Amalia wakes to find Kibuluu slaughtered her family, and Usafi feels regret for hurting the Pridelanders.
Bianca: At least Amalia and I are together.
Amalia: Yeah you did some good luckily *she smiles*
Me: Everything will get better, like it's said, "this too, shall pass."
Bianca: Of course it'll pass. You can make it better.
Amalia: *hugs me*
Me: *lip trembles* okay, I'm closing the chapter. Will the Moon Pride realize their mistakes and turn on Kibuluu? Will the Pridelanders cope with the immense losses? Review and stay tuned!