| Paswa's Quest |
| Scar's legacy |
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| Scar's legacy |
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-Prologue: Paswa's story-
The brown cub looked at Pride Rock from a distance. Deep in thought and hesitation, it gave out a sigh. Apparently it was Scar's son and it had to take over the Pride Lands by itself to fulfill its mother's wish. It knew it's quest well, and it had no hope in surviving in the wild. It had to kill the Pridelanders from the inside out. All those thoughts would come into the young cub's mind. It knew it had no other choice either. No other pride would accept a cub from another pride expect from Simba's pride.
Its name was Paswa, meaning ''be forced''. He had brown fur, amber eyes and an Pridelander-like body style. Little he resembled his father expect from the ''Outsider'' nose and the brown fur. It had a small, light brown tuft on its head. His mother died a few days ago, after the hungry hyenas came across their den near the desert. His mother told Paswa to run away and take over the Pride Lands for her, a few moments before the hungry hyenas finished her off. Paswa went across the gorge, passed the great Prideland river and remained in a hill, looking at Pride Rock with fear in his eyes, thinking of the low possibilities of winning against the entire royal family and the pride. And that's where the story begins.
Chapter 1: The meeting
Paswa stared at Pride Rock for a long while, although it was a cold night. He was hesitating. The idea itself sounded crazy. Nobody ever managed to bring down anyone from the Royal Family by themselves. For a moment, he thought she shouldn't do it. But if he didn't, his heart would be filled with guilt for not fulfilling his mother's wish. The mother that gave birth to him, the mother that took care of him, the mother that loved him, the mother that was always there for him. He cringed; the idea of ignoring his mother was too coward-ish and jerky. He had finally decided what he wanted. Fulfill his mother's wish. He gave out a sigh and ran to the Pride Lands.
Everything was quiet; It was rather peaceful night. Only he was the one interrupting. His hard breathing could be heard as he was running. Fortunately for him, no carnivorous animal saw him. He got through the Pride Lands with ease. He hadn't seen the Pride Lands since he was an infant, when his father was a king. The Pride Lands were like new to him now. The place had changed from barren to grassy. The cub considered itself lucky that Pride Rock existed so he could find the way.
Suddenly, he stopped. He heard someone. ''Help..!'' he heard. He turned behind him, but he couldn't see anything. ''Help...'' he heard again. This time he saw the person the voice was coming from- it was a lion cub!
The cub was thin, its colour was orange, and it had a small, dark brown head tuft. The body style was ''Outsider'' like. The cub was slightly bleeding on its paw. Paswa immediately ran to the cub as soon as the cub collapsed into the ground from the pain. The cub also had a tiny
scar on the nose, something Paswa noticed when he went close to it. He helped it stand up.
''Are you okay? What happened to you?''Paswa asked the cub.
The cub smiled at Paswa, but the smile disappeared a few moments later. ''I'm okay, thank you. I got seperated from my parents a few days ago when I got lost. A hungry scavenger attacked me tonight, but I managed to scare it off. But I got really hurt.. the cub told Paswa with a weak voice.
Paswa gasped. He felt sorry for the cub. ''I'm sorry. I feel I can relate to you, because I'm on orphan... My parents died. That belongs to the past now through. What's your name?'' Paswa said.
''Argh, I'm sorry about your loss. My name's Nyota. I know this is random but I'm starving...''
''Don't worry. I'm going to Pride Rock. If you come with me, they'll help you.''
''Are you sure?''
''...Yes.'' Nyota's question made it shiver. What if they didn't accept them? Or what if they kill them? He couldn't be sure, but he didn't want to accept Nyota, especially in that condition.
''Of we go then! To Pride Rock!'' Nyota said. He finally looked happy and excited. They headed to Pride Rock, which was really close. They knew they'd arrive to Pride Rock that morning.
Chapter 2: The arrival at Pride Rock (Part one)
Paswa and Nyota had been walking for quite a while. At some points they felt exhausted and really hungry or thirsty. It was getting cold too. But they wouldn't give up. A warm wind blew towards the cubs, giving them confidence. Both cubs were amazed by the grassy plains, the waterholes, the small forests... The Pride Lands were a wonderful place to live. And it was even more wonderful being a lion! You had nothing to fear, being incredibly strong and highly respected among the animals. ''Yes, these kind of days it's good to be a lion.'', Paswa thought. Nyota, being younger than Paswa, was amazed by the leaf-filled trees.
"Look at all those leaves!" the young cub told Paswa.
"What? They're just leaves." Paswa told him, not getting what the cub meant.
"They're so pretty! The trees in my homeland never have leaves. Mommy said that the place is too dry for any plant to grow. All the trees are dead there." Nyota suddenly felt hungrier than ever."Are we gonna arrive to Pride Rock soon? I'm really hungry."
"Don't worry, we're gonna be there soon. It's almost morning."
Nyota stared at Pride Rock for a while. "But it seems like too far away to me! I wanna go there now! Plus, my foot hurts a lot... It could even be infected.." Nyota said loudly, and his voice sounded like a yell.
"Stop complaining... At least you'll be free of worries when you get fed. Just be careful not to get too attached to those lions..." Paswa suddenly realized that he said something he wasn't supposed to.
Nyota looked at Paswa with a confused, almost scared look. What could Paswa possibly meant by this? Was he gonna leave Pride Rock after they arrive? This stayed into the cub's mind for a while, until Paswa whispered to him ''never mind'' with a sigh. But the cub couldn't hold itself from asking.
"Paswa?"
Paswa now wished he never said that to Nyota. He thought Nyota was gonna ask him what he meant. That could mean Nyota wouldn't trust him anymore... And he needed a friend since he couldn't be friends with the enemy lions. All these passed into Paswa's mind until he finally got the braveness to answer.
"Yes, Nyota?"
"Are you gonna leave after we arrive there?"
He didn't see that coming, in a good way. He felt so relieved!
Of course I'm not! I was just kidding. He told Nyota, lying of course. He didn't like lies. He didn't like the idea at all. But to get rid of Nyota's suspicion, he had to lie. It was more of a white lie. Thinking of that made Paswa feel better.
Nyota smiled at him, knowing that his friend wasn't leaving. He let out a deep sigh of relief. But having his back paw injured, Nyota couldn't stay happy for long. ''I just hope they have a cure for injuries or something like that...'', he thought. The cubs continued their journey, which was by far their longest adventure so far, knowing they'd get in even bigger trouble together.
As they were getting closer to Pride Rock, they saw the sun rise back to the sky, just like it did every day. That gave the cubs more hope.
"We have to move faster. Before the king's Majordomo or one of the lions or lionesses wake up." , Paswa said.
Nyota nodded, but something questioned him. "But Paswa, what's a Majordomo?"
"Forget it." Paswa rolled his eyes, but Nyota didn't notice. The cubs started moving faster. Pride Rock was really close now, just a few metres away.
It didn't take long for Paswa and Nyota to reach Pride Rock. The cubs were there soon enough. Fortunately, no lion or lioness was around. Paswa and Nyota quietly climbed up Pride Rock and soon, they were up. But for their surprise, an old lioness, Nala, was there.
The lioness was getting out of the den, when she saw the two little cubs on Pride Rock. At first, Nala thought of chasing away the traitors, but then again, they were just cubs. They meant to harm. She decided to talk to them politely and ask them what they want. While thinking of this, Nyota was hiding behind Paswa, who was afraid to even move.
"Good morning, young cubs. What are you doing up here, on Pride Rock?" Nala asked the cubs with a smile.
Paswa didn't answer immediately. He was too afraid to even blink, until he decided it was time to toughen up and answer the question, before the lioness
gets angry with him.
"Err... We're just... We lost our parents... and we would like to join... your pride... but then again... we sh-should be going by now..." he answered.
"Oh no, don't go! Listen. You're no harm to the pride, and everyone loves cubs in this pride. I'll just have to talk to the King about this. Wait here, young cubs." Nala walked in the den, leaving the cubs outside.
"Let's go now while we have the chance!" Nyota whispered Paswa.
"Are you kidding? That lioness seemed nice."
"But if the king doesn't want us to stay, what are we gonna do?"
Paswa didn't answer. He just waited for the lioness to come outside, almost shaking, with an ever more scared Nyota behind him. They heard voices coming from the den, and shortly after, Nala walked out of the den with two more lions.
Paswa's eyes widened. He recognized Kovu from his fur colour. What was he doing in here?! He was exiled with the other Outsiders! That meant that the Outsiders joined Simba's pride! Paswa wanted to faint, but he remained in his position and waited. He looked at the other lioness. It was a lioness with a golden-to-orange fur, a Pridelander styled body and orange eyes. All he could guess was that she was possibly Simba's daughter, which made Paswa think, because he heard that Simba had a son, not a daughter. The other lioness had almost the same body style, and she looked incredibly familiar to him. But now that was something new. He noticed that Kovu had a scar, just like his father! All the cub could think is ''This is beyond insanity..''.
Kovu stood in front of the young cubs, with a serious look. Beside him, Kiara was looking at the cubs, almost smiling at them. The other lioness stayed behind. Kovu knew he had seen the first cub somewhere... but as for the other, it didn't look like a lion from these lands.
"What are your names, young cubs?" he finally asked.
Paswa decided to answer this by himself, since Nyota was shaking.
"I'm Paswa. The cub behind me is Nyota." , he said, trying to make his voice sound calm.
"So, Paswa and Nyota, you would like to join this pride? Why so?"
"We are alone, sire. Nyota came from another land and I'm an orphan.."
Kovu remained silent for a bit, until he finally answered.
"Well, I suppose we can afford two more cubs, isn't that right, Kiara?" he told the cubs.
"Of course! Plus, they can be good friends with our cubs!" Kiara answered.
Nyota took a big breath and let out a sigh of relief, knowing that they were safe and under protection. Kovu smiled at the cubs, and then walked away, climbing down Pride Rock. Kiara remained in front of the cubs. She noticed Nyota's back paw was hurt, but said nothing. She finally asked the cubs:
"I suppose you must be starving! Don't worry, when the lionesses wake up, we're all going out to hunt." She told them.
Paswa didn't forget to say ''Thank you'' to his queen and walked into the den with Nyota and the duo layed down in a corner and started discussing how lucky they were. As they were talking, Paswa noticed an Outsider lioness with a tomboy-ish look walking out of the den without noticing them.
Meanwhile, Kiara was looking at her kingdom from the top of Pride Rock, when Zazu flied down in front of her.
"Oh, Zazu! I suppose it's time for the morning report, eh?"
"Indeed, your highness. I assume I'm not late?"
"Not at all, Zazu."
Zazu smiled at his queen and started his morning report. He was talking for a while with Kiara, until he finally finished:
"...and the monkeys say they want less prepadors and more bananas to eat. That's all for today, your majesty."
"Alright, Zazu. Thanks for your report, I'm off to get those done before the other lionesses wake up. You're allowed to leave now. Also, could you tell Rafiki to come by? We have a cub that needs some dedical treatment."
"Oh, one of your children got hurt, your highness?"
"Oh no, Zazu! I forgot to inform you! We have two new cubs in our pride. Their names are Paswa and Nyota, and Nyota seems to be hurt."
"Oh, is that so? Alright, I'll let Rafiki know immediatly!" Zazu finally said. But as he was about to take off, a voice from behind them told them:
"I'll go."
It was Vitani. Vitani is a lioness with a rather wild nature. Altho she joined the Pridelander, she was still an Outsider at heart, and more of an outcast to the pride. She has a head tuft and a look that has a tomboy-ish style. She finished with just a few more words.
"...if you approve, my queen."
Kiara and Zazu both turned behind to see her. Kiara decided that she could go instead if she wished to.
"Of course, Vitani! That'd help Zazu a lot." Kiara told Vitani, smiling at her with the happy tone in her voice she almost always had.
Zazu smiled at Vitani.
"Thank you, Vitani. It's greatly appreciated!" he told her. He then flew off to do his job. Vitani smiled, as this was just another challenge she had put up to herself, which was to inform Rafiki and come back before the lionesses go to hunt. She immediatly climbed down and ran off.
Kiara soon climbed down too, to go let Kovu know his duties because she had decided to stay on Pride Rock with the new cubs. She wasn't in a hurry tho, she knew her mother wouldn't let anyone touch the cubs until she was back. As she walked throughout the Pride Lands, she finally found Kovu talking to Tamaa, the royal messenger. Tamaa was not like the other cheetahs, but his life is another story. She walked near them.
"Sorry, am I interrupting you, Kovu and Tamaa?"
"No, not at all Kiara. What is it?"
Kiara explained the reason she had come to him and she ran back to Pride Rock. Kovu continued his discussion with Tamaa and then, Tamaa told him a simple ''farewell'' and left. Kovu rushed to do his duties.
Chapter 2: The arrival at Pride Rock (Part two)
Kiara rushed in the pride's den. As she entered the den, she noticed Paswa and Nyota talking in a corner. She approached the cubs, whom looked really happy to be accepted into the Pride Lands. They turned at Kiara.
"I'll let the pride know about you when they're up. Meanwhile, don't approach them because they might think you're here without permission. You should better come out with me.", said Kiara.
Paswa and Nyota immediately stood up and followed Kiara outside the den.
"Would you like to see the Pride Lands from the top of Pride Rock? The view's amazing, I loved going up there when I was a cub, and I'm sure you'll love it up there as well."
"Sure!" Paswa and Nyota replied. Kiara nodded and smiled at the cubs as she started climbing on the top of Pride Rock, with Paswa and Nyota following her. It wasn't long until they reached the top of Pride Rock.
"Wow!" Nyota said while staring at the Pride Lands. The kingdom was so big! He must had travelled quite a lot, because he couldn't see his homeland. Paswa was amazed by the wonderful view, but he immediately sighed when his eye caught his old home, and Kiara noticed that. She was sitting in one of the edges she'd sit when she was a cub to show her father she wasn't afraid. Wonderful memories passed through her mind of her cubhood. But her favorite memory was meeting Kovu, something her father didn't approve. She met up with him two more times before both their parents realized that.
A warm wind blew, which made Kiara snap out of her daydreaming. She knew the wind was blown by her father, Simba, who had died months ago.
Paswa couldn't help but think what happened and the Outsiders were accepted back into the Pride Lands. His mind, which had somewhat matured earlier than it was supposed to, couldn't help but slip a question out:
"Why were the Outsiders accepted in the Pride Lands again?"
Kiara smiled at the cub. "That's a long story. It all started when Kovu, who was planning to take over Pride Rock at first, was accepted into the pride after saving me. The next day I taught him what fun was, and that night we knew we were in love. Kovu's half-sister, Vitani, saw that Kovu didn't kill Simba when he had the chance to, told Zira, their mother and the next day the ambushed Simba and Kovu, and made Simba think that Kovu was part of the ambush. Simba managed to escape, but that caused Vitani and Kovu's half-brother, Nuka, to die. Zira slapped Kovu, giving him a scar on his face. Kovu ran to the Pride Lands, to be exiled from my father. That evening, I escaped from Pride Rock and went out to find him. Kovu saw that I still loved him and rushed to me. When Kovu said ''we are one'' after seeing that our reflection in the water was one, I realized that the Pridelanders and the Outsiders were one, too. Meanwhile, the Pridelanders and the Outsiders were fighting after Zira convinced the Outsiders that it was their opportunity to take over now. We ran as fast as we could there, and I told everyone what I realized. Everyone expect from Zira realized that what I said was true and joined us. Zira attempted to kill Simba, but I stopped her and she fell on the river in the gorge and died. That's how the Outsiders joined us."
Paswa felt really guilty after that. Kovu's story was familar to his... He was accepted on the Pride Lands while plotting to take over. And then he didn't want to take over anymore... But Paswa had to do it for his mother. It was love whom made him decide to take over, not hate.
"Oh, thank you for telling me, your majesty." Paswa said.
"Oh, you don't need to call me that. I never really liked being called like I'm something really special, I'm just a lioness that is in charge of the kingdom, that's all..." she laughed.
Paswa smiled at Kiara, and then turned to Nyota, who was still staring at the kingdom. "Hey, haven't 'cha got enough of the view? Did you listen at Queen Kiara's story?" Paswa asked, in a mischievous tone. Nyota looked at Paswa, then back at the kingdom.
"Oh yes, I did... I was just looking at the Pride Lands and the nearby lands. Just see, there's a really barren land just out of the Pride Lands. And look at the northern borders! There's a really shadowed place in there. And that desert at the end of the gorge! That mountain northwest! This land is ours to explore!"
"Oh no no no, don't even think of going out of the Pride Lands! It's already slightly dangerous in the kingdom, but out there it's a lot more dangerous! I've went out of the Pride Lands once... Not in the Outlands but in a grassland and I was almost stomped by some extremely aggressive elephants." she said, worried.
Nyota sighed, and Paswa frowned. Kiara realized that cubs loved exploring. "Well, when you're just a tad bit older, we can go out there together. But NOT without a babysitter!" Kiara giggled, as she realized she sounded like her father.
"Yay!" the cubs yelled, and Kiara smiled at their reaction.
"Queen Kiara! What's going on?" a voice said behind them. Kiara, Paswa and Nyota turned behind them to see the whole pride staring at them.
"I have an announcement to make to the pride. Please get down and I'll follow you." Kiara said calmly, with Paswa and Nyota hiding behind her. The pride climbed down, and so did Kiara and the cubs. The pride formed a circle, and Kiara, Paswa and Nyota stood in the center of it.
"These cubs are now in our pride. They came this morning asking for a home because they are orphaned. I'll have to ask you to treat them nicely, and not torment them because their parents are missing. Help them with any way you can if they have a problem. Now, out to hunt! Mother, please lead them for me!" Kiara said in a serious tone in her voice. Nala nodded and smiled at her daughter, whom had spoken like a true queen. Chattering could be heard before the lionesses rushed out to hunt. Suddenly, a lioness was climbing on Pride Rock with a mandrill being with her. It was the same lioness Paswa and Nyota saw. Paswa got suddenly really stressed; that lioness was his half-sister, Vitani!
Vitani would visit Paswa sometimes in her teen years, when he was still a fully grown infant. She'd say, she'd come because she wanted to escape from the barren and full of misery Outlands. But if Vitani recognized her now, it would complicate everything because she knew he was Scar's son! With a jump, Paswa hid behind Kiara. Nyota turned at Paswa, confused.
"Why are you hiding, Paswa?" Nyota asked as he turned his head back to the lioness and the mandrill, whom were approaching them. Vitani's eyes, blue as the sky, suddenly widened; Paswa was there?
"Who's Paswa? I have a brother called that!" Kiara moved so everyone could see Paswa. Now everyone was looking at Paswa: Vitani, Kiara, Nyota and the mandrill. Kiara was shocked.
"Vitani, I didn't know you had a younger brother!" Kiara said.
"Well, half-brother, actually, he's only Scar's son-" Vitani said, when she realized she shouldn't have said that. Now everyone would think Paswa was a threat. Paswa looked at everyone with fear; Even Kiara was a tiny bit suspicious.
"Well well, you shouldn't judge someone from his genes, but from his soul." the mandrill said. Paswa recognized the voice; it was the old mandrill, Rafiki. He knew Rafiki had recognized him when he saw him, but he also knew Rafiki would never go against him. Rafiki's words convinced Kiara, but she knew she had to tell Kovu about this. Vitani was worried on how her older brother would take this.
"But, what did that Scar do anyway?" Nyota asked, who was confused.
Kiara sighed. "Scar was a lion who was younger brother to my grandfather, Mufasa. Scar was jealous of his brother, whom was the king, and planned to kill both him and his own nephew, Simba, who was my father. He managed to kill Mufasa in a stampede and because Simba had survived through the stampede, Scar made him think it was his own fault that his father was dead. He told Simba to run away, and then had the hyenas chase him to get rid of him. The hyenas didn't manage to kill him, but never told Scar. Scar took over Pride Rock and brought the hyenas in, and became a selfish king- more of a tyrant. He didn't listen to anyone and turned the Pride Lands into a shadowed, barren land. That until my father came back to the Pride Lands as an adult and took over. Scar was killed by his own hyena henchmen because he blamed them for Mufasa's death."
Paswa frowned. He already knew what his father did, but he was still his father and he didn't like people saying bad things about him.
"Wow... Paswa, you never told me you were part of the royal family of the Pride Lands... But wait, how come Paswa didn't end up in the Outlands as well?" said Nyota.
"Ehh... that I don't know..." Kiara said.
"We fleed when Simba took over so nobody would recognize us, so if we needed to go back, nobody would have a problem with it because we wouldn't have been exiled like the others." Paswa replied.
Just take your time with it and be sure to proof-read your work so you can pick up on mistakes that spellcheck won't find, like the few in your prologue. ^^ Hope you do decide to write this story though my friend and you know I'll be here to read it if you do. 
