TLK Novelization

[ILoveKovu]

Very early rough draft but what do you think of the way I'm trying to narrate? And I'm not done with the first scene. I'd originally started with Scar's but thought I'd write Simba's presentation.

I'm going to try and contact Disney for permission to write a novelization. How should I go about it? Should I write them first or talk to a publisher to protect it? Do you think they could just run with the idea and not acknowledge or credit my effort?

Chapter One: The Circle of Life

Dawn broke onto the Pride Lands, the sun’s golden rays dancing on the water and tinting the grass, and awaking the creatures who had not yet risen.

Though this was the sun’s usual routine, this was no ordinary morning. No, it was the presentation of their future king; Mufasa’s son.

Just then, a mighty roar sounded, and all the animals stopped what they were doing. The rhinos stopped charging, the antelope stopped grazing, the meerkats stuck their heads out of their burrows or ceased foraging, and the cheetahs paused in their hunting.

------

In a cave, a mouse came out and started preening in the sunlight, then it sniffed and became frightened. Just then a large paw caught it.

“Life's not fair, is it? You see I -- well, I... shall never be King.” The lion exhaled lightly. “And you... shall never see the light of another day... Adieu…”

“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?” A hornbill had flown in seconds ago. His name was Zazu, and the lion he was addressing was called Scar, Mufasa’s brother.

Scar sighed. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to announce that King Mufasa is on his way.” Zazu bowed. “So you’d better have a good excuse for missing the ceremony this morning.”

The mouse seized the opportunity to escape from under Scar’s paw.

“Oh now look, Zazu. You’ve made me lose my lunch.”

“Hah! You'll lose more than that when the King gets through with you. He's as mad as a hippo with a hernia.”

“Ohh… I quiver with fear.” On the word fear, Scar crouched and bared his teeth at Zazu.

“Now Scar, don’t look at me that way… HELP!”

Scar pounced on the bird and caught him in his mouth.

Behind him stood Mufasa on a rock.

“Mm-hmm?” Scar inquired with difficulty due to his mouth being full of Zazu.

“Drop him.”

“Impeccable timing, your majesty.” Said Zazu from Scar’s mouth.
Scornfully, the dark lion did so, spitting him out.

“Eyycch.” Yet Zazu still tried to look dignified, covered in slobber as he was.

Sarcastically, Scar greeted his brother. “Why! If it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners.”

“That was today?” Scar feigned astonishment. “Oh, I feel simply awful.” Then he turned and started scraping his claws, sharpening them, making Zazu cringe at the sound. “Must have slipped my mind,” he said as he inspected his claws.

Zazu flew up to Scar’s face to look him in the eyes. “Yes, well, as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother, you should have been first in line!”

Scar snapped his jaws at Zazu, and Zazu retreated behind Mufasa’s foreleg. Then Scar bent down to speak to Zazu.“Well, I was first in line, ... until the little hairball was born.”

Mufasa lowered his head to meet his brother’s. “That ‘hairball’ is my son -and your future king.”

“Ohh, I should practice my curtsy.” Scar turned his back and began to exit but was interrupted by Mufasa’s growl.

“Don’t turn your back on me, Scar.”

The dark lion looked back and with a sly look in his eyes, answered. “Oh, no, Mufasa. Perhaps you shouldn’t turn your back on me.”

Mufasa roared and leapt in front of Scar, intercepting his retreat. “Is that a challenge?”

“Temper, temper. I wouldn’t dream of challenging you.”

Zazu opened his beak. “Pity! Why not?”

[ILoveKovu]

Please post some feedback, ideas, etc.

[KingKovu44]

It's very good so far. I would definitely read it.