Mei's Courage-A Lion King Story

Prologue

I never given much thought about how I would get Rani and Simba where they needed to be, and rightly so. And who knew that two little girls would tame the heart of a dark lion and save him from himself. All it took was one candle in the midst of the darkness of the shadow; and the light would definitely clear things up. Whatever it took for me, I fought and conquered the darkness and the venom within that dark lion. Darkness rose...and with the light to meet it halfway. As I am cradling my sweet autistic 3 year old daughter, Brianna, whom was nestling on my lap, I smiled, knowing that I did what I had to do and risk everything to protect Rani and Simba. Now that I'm older and I have a 3 year old daughter, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I felt Scarlet wrap her arms around me happily; she is a beautiful woman with red wavy hair and light blue eyes. I kissed her tenderly. It was evening in North Olmsted, Ohio. We live close to Great Northern Mall and a house down from where my older sister Ruby is. In our house, we have both urns of both my moms, Tamera and Bridget Williams who died from the complications of COVID-19 during the early lockdown days of the pandemic. This was when I was pregnant with my daughter, Brianna Marie. I gave birth to her on November 7th, 2020, the moment that Joe Biden was elected President of the United States. She was born at 9:30 a.m. in the morning. When she was 2 years old, the doctors diagnosed her with the mild form of autism.

"You remember that moment, babe?" Scarlet smiled.

"I do." I remembered fondly.

"Member what, Mommy?" Little Bri-Bri asked in my arms. Bri is a mix of me and of Scarlet with fair skin, red curly hair and my blue eyes.

"The moment that Cousin Rani became a very powerful sorceress. Mommy was there for it." I explained to little Bri. "And Mommy had to do a couple of things to help Rani become sorcerer."

All three of us were watching the original cartoon version of the Lion King; it was my favorite Disney movie growing up, and so, I passed that tradition down to my little girl. And her new baby sister, Yara too. Yara has my Asian skin, bone straight black hair and light blue eyes just like Scarlett.

As soon as "Be Prepared" came on, Bri would hold on to me, a little worried.

"It's okay, baby." I soothed, hugging her.

"Who was that, Mommy?" Bri trembled softly.

"It was Scar, Simba's uncle." I explained softly. "But Mommy changed him from bad to good."

"How'd you do that?" Bri asked.

"Great uncle Joshie told Mommy a story; and it was about two wolves; one wolf had white fur and was good, and the other had black fur and was bad." I explained in a way so that Bri would understand. "So Mommy took his story to heart and saved Simba's uncle."

"And who would have thought that the same little girl would grow to become a mother?" A deep British accent said endearingly. I knew from the scraggly thin frame, orange fur, black slicked back mane, creamy tuft for a goatee; black hairy tufts under his lion arms; claws protruding and the pink mark on his left eye. It was Scar.

"Long time no see." I smiled, tenderly petting his orange tuft.

"It's been a while, my not so little cub." Scar smiled as well. I let him lick my face and forehead as I wrapped my arms around his black mane.

"I know, it has. I missed you." I smiled. Bri studied Scar cautiously for a moment and curiously played with his tail. And then little Bri lay on his back, feeling how soft it is, just like her Lion King plushies.

"I missed you too, dear." Scar said likewise.

"My plushy." Bri giggled.

"Why, hello there." Scar chuckled.

"Isn't he cute, Mommy?" Bri giggled.

"Are you sure, Bri-Bri?" Scarlett asked worried.

"She's okay, babe." I reassured to my wife.

"Oh, no, it's alright, dear." Scar assured. "Indeed, your mother did save me, little one. Rani too."

"Seems like only yesterday that it happened." I smiled reminiscing.