A Great Calling (Chapter 8)

‘’Ah, so you’re Shujaa?’’ I hear a british-like voice say as I’m resting at the waterhole, causing me to open an eye to see a hornbill landing in front of me….ah, it’s Zazu, ‘’I am-‘’

 

‘’Zazu.’’ I stopped him, causing him to blink in surprise.

 

‘’You know my name?’’ Zazu asked and I nodded, causing him to scoff, ‘’Hardly surprised someone in the pridelands knows my name.’’

 

‘’And I trust your wedding went well? Simba told me about you going to a wedding outside of the pridelands.’’ I said, causing him to smile.

 

‘’Yes, everything went well and my wife is going to be moving into the pridelands to assist with majordomo work.’’ He said, causing me to raise my head and looked at him with confusion.

 

‘’But Zazu, majordomo work isn’t that hard, is it?’’ I asked and he laughed.

 

‘’If you were in my position, you’d realize that being a majordomo is harder than expected, although I am surprised to find a cub all the way out here without supervision.’’ He replied, causing my eyes to widen…oh crap.

 

Better think of an excuse, Connor.

 

‘’Well..uh…my parents are in another land.’’ I said, causing a sound of a faceplm to be heard inside of my head. You try thinking of an efficient excuse, Mohatu!

 

‘’Yes, well, you seem to be enjoying your time here.’’ Zazu pointed out and I grunted.

 

‘’It’s not boring, I will say.’’ I admitted, ‘’Many places to explore, but I occasionally run into trouble.’’

 

‘’As do all cubs.’’ Zazu said with a smile, before he frowned, ‘’Well, I’m gonna go meet up with the sire.’’

 

‘’Yeah, do that.’’ I agreed before Zazu walked off, then got up and stretched. Since Kiara was out of the pridelands on something Nala called ‘the trail to ubuntu’, which actually translated to ‘humanity for others’ and a tradition exclusive to the royal family, meaning I couldn’t come, which I was fine with until I realized how boring it was without someone who became almost like a best friend to me.

 

However, as I was walking, I noticed a shadow with glowing green eyes moving around near dark trees at the zuberi river, so I curiously went to investigate it until a teenage lioness jumped in front of me, causing me to stop in my tracks.

 

‘’Hello there!’’ the lioness said with a grin, ‘’My name is Armani!’’

 

But when she introduced herself, I crawled under her and kept walking, causing Armani to follow me.

 

‘’So where ya goin’?’’ Armani asked as I groaned and looked down.

 

‘’Nowhere.’’ I replied, but Armani was unfazed as she started bouncing around.

 

‘’Come on, you gotta be going somewhere!’’ She said as I yawned, then growled.

 

‘’I saw a figure over at the trees near the zuberi river.’’ I answered as we were approaching the trees, causing the figure to go back into the darkness, but I saw shining and growling eyes as his eyes glowed more, causing me to stop, but Armani bumped into me, causing me to stumble and fall as her ears went down.

 

‘’Oops, sorry!’’ Armani apologized, but I looked back and saw she was holding in a laugh, ‘’Didn’t mean to!’’

 

‘’Shut up and stay put!’’ I barked, causing her to stop as I pointed to the shadow, which was coming closer.

 

‘’So you’re Simba’s new puppet?’’ He asked darkly and I recognized that voice anywhere…it’s Scar.

 

It is time for you to protect the pridelands and end this lion.

 

I looked at Scar as he came out of the shadows and did an evil smirk.

 

‘’A cub…how fitting.’’ Scar chuckled, ‘’Already took one from Simba, how about I take another one?’’

 

My eyes widened before I growled.

 

‘’What did you do to Kiara!?’’ I growled as Scar looked confused.

 

‘’Simba has a daughter?’’ Scar asked and I blinked in slight shock before growling again.

 

‘’Don’t act dumb with me!’’ I yelled as Armani was stepping back.

 

‘’I have no knowledge of ‘Kiara’, you brat!’’ Scar roared as I spotted Simba running towards us, ‘’So if you want your life to be spared, I suggest you and your friend stay out of my way!’’

 

‘’First of all, we aren’t friends.’’ I said, causing Armani to frown sadly, ‘’Second, I saw you at the caves a couple days ago..you were running from the pridelands to avoid something.’’

 

‘’Of course, boy.’’ He said, ‘’The hyenas are after me, but I will get through the two of you before running further.’’

 

‘’You will do nothing like that, Scar!’’ I heard Simba say as he jumped between the three of us, having a staredown with the much older lion.

 

‘’Ah..Simba.’’ Scar said as he walked around Simba, chuckling, ‘’How is Kopa?’’

 

‘’He’s dead because of you, Scar.’’ Simba growled as I watched their confrontation.

 

‘’And now you will join him.’’ Scar smirked madly.

 

‘’You’re too old and frail to match me physically, Scar.’’ Simba pointed out, causing Scar to grin evilly and make me shudder, only for me to notice a second figure sneaking behind Simba.

 

‘’SIMBA, WATCH OUT!’’ I shrieked as the lion pounced on Simba and began trying to bite his neck, but Simba kept moving his head and kicked it off. I watched as Simba fought both the lion and Scar, causing me to step back a bit before taking a deep breath and running to the mysterious lion and biting it’s right hind leg.

 

‘’Shujaa, stay out of this!’’ Simba said as the lion tried to shake me off of it’s tail, but I kept biting and clawing at it before the lion struck me with his paw, sending me across the ground before turning his attention to me and Armani.

 

‘’...Uh oh.’’ I said before running off, having the lion chase me near the cliff at the river, only for me to slow myself down  and jumped down to a steep platform with him looking down at me with a smirk.

 

‘’Oh, so you’re Nala’s new son?’’ The lion asked me and I scoff.

 

‘’No, i’m a lion from another land.’’ I said, ‘’But seriously, who are you?’’

 

‘’My name is Ni, a former friend of Nala’s.’’ The lion said, causing me to look at him confusingly, ‘’I came through the pridelands during Scar’s reign and saved Nala.’’

 

‘’Then why help Scar?’’ I asked and Ni looked at the ground below him.

 

‘’...Because Simba took Nala away from me.’’ Ni told me before he went to swipe me off of the cliff, but I managed to leap and grab a rock that’s just big enough to hold my weight and small size, ‘’When I came back, I saw that Simba and Nala married and became the royals of the pridelands...I trust you’ve met all of those royals?’’

 

I growled at him when he said that.

 

‘’So this is what it’s about? Jealousy?’’ I asked, ‘’You’re angry Simba took Nala from you when you never had her to begin with?’’

 

Suddenly, Armani came in and tackled Ni as I pulled myself up and stretched before running to where they were and scratching Ni’s leg, causing him to wince. As the two of us fought Ni, I noticed that Simba was easily overwhelming Scar, but wouldn’t kill him.

 

Do it…

 

Mohatu, this isn’t the ti-

 

Kill him…

 

‘’Scar..’’ I heard Simba growl as he approached the downed lion, ‘’Leave the pridelands..you are in no condition to try to take it back without help.’’

 

That’s an understatement..wait..Nala’s coming, I see her running to us..oh good, she back from that trail to ubuntu! And sure enough, Nala reached us and noticed Ni before her eyes widened.

 

‘’Ni..’’ She breathed as her eyes followed the lion, who was circling her, ‘’...How are you-’’

 

‘’Here?’’ Ni stopped her, ‘’I agreed to work with Scar in order to get back at Simba…’’

 

‘’Get back at Simba?’’ Nala asked, stunned, ‘’But you saved my life during Scar’s reign, Simba was thought to be dead!’’

 

‘’But he STOLE you from me!’’ Ni roared, ‘’HE BECAME YOUR KING AND I WAS LEFT IN THE DUST!’’

 

‘’You LEFT the pridelands after you saved me!’’ Nala shouted until Scar was sent flying past us and slipping off of the cliff and into the river.

 

‘’...Wow.’’ I blinked as Scar fell into the water with a scream of rage, only for us to turn back and notice Ni was gone...perfect…

 

 

Ah..great night skies at the peak of pride rock, does anything get better than that in terms of views? Every animal is seen from the distance whenever a big announcement or birth has happened, but this time, it is not the case, rather the pride was celebrating the defeat of Scar and Ni..although I wish it didn’t come down to the death of the former and the fleeing of the latter.

 

‘’Need company?’’ I heard a voice say as Kiara sat next to me.

 

‘’Well, if it’s to keep myself occupied when everyone else is celebrating, I guess.’’ I chuckled as Kiara smiled.

 

‘’I can tell you aren’t one for celebrations.’’ Kiara said, but I scoffed.

 

‘’Kiara, I only don’t like celebrations when I have no proper reason to attend.’’ I told her, ‘’ In human years, i’m fifteen years old, so I doubt i’m old enough to remember Scar’s reign, which, from what i’m being told, was at least 10-20 years ago in human terms.’’

 

‘’That’s pretty long for your kind of years, Connor.’’ Kiara pointed out, ‘’But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with us.’’

 

‘’You’re one to talk, you aren’t with your family celebrating either.’’ I laughed and she smirked.

 

‘’Can’t let me be there for my friend?’’ Kiara asked and I shrugged.

 

‘’Your family needs you for this celebration, Kiara, so I think you should go.’’ I replied and Kiara looked me dead in the eyes..oh boy.

 

‘’Come on, Connor, pleaaaaase?’’ Kiara asked with a face that would make puss n’ boots say ‘aww’. The face caused me to sigh and chuckle.

 

‘’Alright, alright.’’ I said before my paw was grabbed my Kiara’s, ‘’WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE!’’

 

Kiara used her legs to rush us to the den as the screen scrolled up to the night sky and moon..yeah, I can see what happens to the screen..thanks Mohatu.

 

'''THE SEASON HAS ENDED! I am sorry if the fight against Scar and Ni was anticlimactic, but I was tired when writing it.'''

 

NEXT: SEASON 2!

 

AND BEFORE I TAKE A BREAK AND START WORKING ON SEASON 2, HE’RES A QUICK TEASER!

 

In a perfect world…

 

‘’Alright, Kiara, it’s your first hunt!’’

 

One we’ve never known….

 

‘’Kiara, don’t make a so-darn it!’’

 

‘’Sorry.’’

 

We will never need to face the world alone…

 

‘’Shujaa, you do understand the task bestowed upon you is something that might get you harmed.’’

 

‘’Yes, and i’m willing to do it, Nala.’’

 

They can have the world….

 

‘’Kiara-*cough*! Kiara!?’’

 

We’ll create our own…

 

‘’The fire burned Kiara’s legs a bit, but she said she’ll be alright, Simba.’’

 

‘’Thank the great kings…’’

 

I may not be brave or strong or smart….

 

‘’You don’t have to take this path, Vitani.’’

 

‘’Oh, no? Why not?’’

 

But somewhere in my secret heart…

 

‘’I know who you are...Kovu.’’

 

A GREAT CALLING: SEASON 2