The Lion King: The Three Rulers

Painful Revelations

       As the battle raged on between the two snow leopards, Makucha, for the first time felt concerned for one another. Sure he wanted Chuluun to win originally, but the other leopard was her sister and to win would mean Chuluun would need to end her. If he had been forced into this situation, if he had ever had any siblings, he would likely have rather died. So to imagine what Chuluun was feeling, it was impossible. But most of all, it was his fault she was in this situation now. Meanwhile, Chuluun grappled with the situation.

CHULUUN: "Mei... what... what are you doing here?", she asked in horror.

MEI: "Lun... I...", she tried.

ZIRA: "Enough talk! Fight!", the wicked lioness growled

MEI: "This wasn't the deal, that is my sister! I...", she yelled back

MSHINDI: "SILENCE!!!", he growled making the earth shake and everyone stumble. 

       Mshindi then calmed himself as usual for his character.

MSHINDI: "If she does not wish to fight, I will not force her...", he stated coldly.

       Mshindi waved a paw as a group of predators closed in on Cheuluun and Mei, too many for them both to fend off together as they neared the cliff.

MSHINDI: "But unfortunately, others here may not take kindly to the loss of their entertainment and I am not one for wasted talents and time...", he continued.

MEI: "Wait!!!", Mei called cutting him off.

       Intrigued, Mshindi called off his predators.

MSHINDI: "Stand down, I'd like to hear what this leopard has to say...", he said with a toothy smile that would send shivers down anyone's spine.

MEI: "I will fight her... I will fight my sister...", she spoke sternly and plainly.

CHULUUN: "What?!", she said in surprise and confusion.

       However, Mei continued, ignoring the sister she acknowledged she would fight. Her only sister.

MSHINDI: "A surprising commitment, but how can I believe something that you had abstained from just mere moments before you both faced your end? Surely you care for your sister?", he asked with a still intrigued grin.

       Chuluun locked eyes with Mei and as she remembered something, a distant memory, she spoke again...

CHULUUN: "My sister means nothing to me... I will fight her...", she stated with no emotion given the circumstance.

       Meanwhile, Makucha looked at Mshindi as he fully understood the horrible reality. This was Chuluun's sister. He looked at Zira and Hera as the two lacked any emotional empathy for the current situation. He looked at Chuluun who seemed like she was sick to the stomach, yet proudly held her stance.

MSHINDI: "Very well... I knew you weren't all useless...", he spoke as he waved off the predators as the spectators formed the battle circle around the two snow leopards, "But we shall see who proves their worth..."

       Chuluun and her sister squared up on opposite ends of the circle. The two faced off in an intense standoff as Makucha watched the two spackled pelts pace back and forth. That was until with a scream Mei charged first. She hit Chuluun on her blind side as she tackled her sister to the dust. Chuluun was too quick to be pinned as she quickly got the upper hand checking her sister off of her. Chuluun took a step forward only to wince in pain at her paw. She kept it off the ground as she looked towards her sister who heaving in breath got to her paws. Hera spoke to Makucha in the crowd.