Love The Hardest Way

Love The Hardest Way

Postby SweetHeartagram » October 13th, 2011, 9:42 pm

Disclaimer: I do not own TLK or Pet Sematary

This is my first fanfic on this forum! I have already posted this oneshot on FF, but it isn't beta-read (I didn't feel like bothering Arbarano about this). Basically, it's a Simba/Nala story inspired on one of my favorite novels. I hope you like it. Simba and Nala are "teens" (if their feelings for each other seem more intense, it's because of the hormones! :lol: ). I twisted the conventional storyline a bit, but the story explains itself, so don't worry. I'm sure you will find it quite... different, I guess ;)



By the time I reached the top of the hill, the night shadows had put out the purplish flames of twilight. Monstrous clouds glided along the bleak sky, shrouding the fields in a mist of blinding flashes, daunting roars of thunder, and utter despair. The latter was a racking feeling which had recently afflicted the pride and spread throughout the entire kingdom like a deadly plague as a result of a lamentable tragedy.

I should’ve known how difficult it would be to say goodbye, to return home without him by my side. We had even been ‘betrothed’, a word I had never taken seriously as a cub. But, indeed, it meant more than I’ll ever be able to express, especially now that he left. Of all the silly proverbs Mom had ever bugged me with, one burned in the back my head as bright as the sun right now. You never know what you have until it’s gone, she’d said. Sadly, I mused, it never comes back to you…

Notwithstanding, a tiny gleam of hope could still guide me out of the deep grave in my heart. Because maybe there was a way to overcome death. Because I wouldn’t give up without a fight. Because I was convinced I’d see my best friend smile at me again. I didn’t know whether the legends were true or not; I simply had to try…

An electric rill of white fire tore its way across the atmosphere’s thick black belly, instantly followed by a violent explosion. Having panted the soreness out of my body, I started downhill toward the burial ground. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, charging my legs with extraordinary strength, and tears streamed down my heavy cheeks as I raced forth.

The memory of the accident, so gravely fresh, pierced my soul over and over with a set of sharp claws. I preferred to evade the term ‘murder’, due to the fact that it rendered the heartache unbearable. It was yet more hurtful to look into all the futures life could’ve blessed us with if things hadn’t resulted the way they did. Unfortunately, the past couldn’t change, only reverberate in our minds until the end. That warm summer afternoon, destiny had extinguished the flickering flame of life from his beautiful eyes and, consequently, all my chances of true happiness. That warm summer afternoon, Mufasa and Sarabi had lost their boy; the pride, its prince; and I, my soul mate.

It happened a couple of months after his uncle had fallen terribly ill and passed away. We were so young, so fearless… so alive.

The light of sunset had greeted us with its beautiful hues. That bright orange deepening to a dull red… Oh! I wouldn’t forget it for the world. Simba and I lay on the soft grass, chatting and teasing and laughing like nothing could stop us, wondering about dinner, not even considering how all that matters could vanish completely in the blink of an eye.

Descending proved less tiring than climbing up, for I made it to the bottom on the other side of the hill unaccountably fast. The wind whooshed a ghostly warning into my ears, hoping to scare me away with its morose wail. Nevertheless, my heart was wailing louder; in order to appease it, I needed to continue. And so I padded on.

The last time I’d come, dragging Simba along had made it all harder. Rather than his weight, it was the overwhelming storm of emotions and grief in my head that had delayed me. I just couldn’t bear the sight of him: his pale face, his ice-cold body, the clotted blood imbruing his whitish underbelly… and those vacant amber orbs, which used to glint so excitedly when they could actually see. But that was just how love worked between us; if I had to, I would love him the hardest way.

Little could we imagine what kind of blow fate had in store for us that day. We were running playfully after each other, as though we had inexplicably become four-month-old cubs again, screaming in indescribable ecstasy. The rays of sunlight showered down on us ragingly, but neither the heat nor the sweat bothered us.

And, unexpectedly, it all fell apart… An adult cheetah leapt out from behind a patch of sallow shrubs and slashed out at me. Simba, who had caught up rapidly, charged at the predator, shoving him away just in time.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, snarling at the enemy.

The ravenous cat smiled morbidly, riveting his cold saffron orbs on the future king. Subsequently, he pushed his paws against the soil to gain impulse and, with claws unsheathed, jumped on him. The struggle did not last very long. Although our assaulter received many bites and scratches, he managed to limp away from the Pridelands before anyone could accuse him of his terrible deed.

Simba flopped onto the green carpeting of the savannah. It wasn’t until he rolled over that I picked up on the deep gash upon his belly. I set my paw on it and pressed real hard to prevent the blood from oozing out. My efforts failed, though; the earth where he reposed soon took on a vermillion color similar to that of the crepuscular sky.

I lied to him, assured him everything would be alright.

“I have to get help for you, Simba,” I insisted, my glum eyes gushing with salty trickles of premature grief.

“No!” he cried, sniffling and staring up at me with such hopelessness I froze next to him. “Stay with me.”

I should’ve searched for Rafiki, for Mom, for Mufasa… anybody. I would always regret not having done so.

The seconds ticked, growing into minutes, and each minute felt like an hour. Simba’s condition deteriorated as more blood abandoned his body. Almost half an hour had wasted away when his lungs shut and he finally panted out his last words.

“I love you…”

Instantly afterwards, I repeated them with unrivaled vehemence. Before he could hear them, however, life fled his beautiful amber eyes through a translucent tear.

But we’d leave all that behind. Yes! In the end, this episode of our lives would go out. No traces whatsoever would remain… Only the dark shadows of a dark past.

A thorny bush gripped my tail as I walked past it, holding on to it tightly. Perhaps, this was nature’s last attempt to stop me. I’d waited so long for dusk to come and certainly didn’t feel like backing away now that it had. With a sharp, brusque motion, I led my tail out of the withered tangles. The sharp thorns clutched it determinedly, although to no avail.

I resumed my journey.

The clouds expelled a loud scream from the core of their nebulous bodies. The sky above blazed intensely, then unleashed the heavy rain it was retaining, drowning the world in its liquid sorrow. As I advanced earnestly, silver droplets soaked my pelt.

At length, I made it to the graveyard, completely drenched and dirty. Three circles comprised of rough, uneven boulders surrounded the strange symbol which rested in the center of the supposedly magic burial ground. I worked my way into the first, which was the broadest of the three, and proceeded toward the second, where I’d buried my prince.

Tears of mad joy ran down my face as I stumbled upon his empty grave. The soil and rocks under which his corpse had lain sealed were now scattered around the hole I’d dug for him with my bare claws. A hopeful smile drew upon my muzzle when a sweetly familiar voice spoke right behind me.

“Nala…” it whispered tranquilly.


So... How was it? Creepy? When I posted it on FF, I was afraid people would disapprove of it. Surprisingly, the crowd proved to be quite receptive. I hope you liked it too! :)
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SweetHeartagram
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