Mei's Courage-A Lion King Story

The Sorceress Chosen

My eyes widened in curiosity as I looked at the landscape around me among the throng of kids. This was what Mama Bridget meant by expecting the unexpected and preparing for what's not there! It was predawn and the sun was beginning to rise.

Everything here is beautiful! It reminded me of back home in the Metroparks. Mama and I would definitely take hikes over there! I thought amazed.

In front of us stood a very powerful rock, and on top of it was uncle Joshua, and he was dressed in royal blue sorcerer robes and with him was a golden stick that he held in his hand. With him was King Mufasa! I knew by the golden tuft of fur. The both of them went down to greet us.

"Welcome to Pride Rock, and the Pridelands, everyone!" Uncle Joshua greeted. "All of you are officially invited to greet the newborn future king along with all of the animals. Here's someone I'd like you all to meet, lion to human. This is the current King of the Pridelands, Mufasa."

We all gasped in awe of Mufasa's majestic, angelic and regal presence. And we all bowed courteously. I curtsied. Rani stood transfixed in awe and nervousness put together. But then she bowed quickly.

"Welcome." Mufasa's rich deep and kind voice startled all of us.

"T-thank you, your majesty." Rani said awestruck.

"Dad, what's with the fancy robes and the scepter?" Adrienne asked curiously.

"My occupation here in the Pridelands is a Sorcerer, Adrienne. My job is to stay with the King and Queen at all times, and to serve, protect and defend the Pridelands and the Circle of Life." Uncle Joshua explained. "This scepter was first used by my grandfather, your great grandfather, back when Mohatu, Mufasa's grandfather became the first Lion King. When my grandfather died, my dad took over when he was old enough. When Mufasa's father, Ahadi was king, my dad stayed the sorcerer until a new heir was chosen. When Mufasa was chosen to be the next King, your grandpa passed this Scepter on to me. And now that Mufasa has a new son, I must pass this Scepter on to another family member. Usually, the Sorcerers have all been men."

"I wonder if you could be the sorceress Mei?" Scarlett asked curiously.

"What?! Me?! No...no...I mean it could be anybody!" I giggled shyly.

Hopefully Rani would be the one. I thought in my heart.

"As per tradition, now that there is a new future king, you must choose someone to succeed you. Have you chosen yet?" Mufasa asked as he turned to my uncle.

"As a matter of fact, I have chosen, King Mufasa. The person I choose to succeed me and hold this Scepter is..." Uncle Joshua knelt at eye level with Rani whom was nervous.

"Come forward, Rani." Uncle Joshua said.

When Rani was chosen, my heart started to burst with excitement! I squealed excited. I was more than willing to rally behind Rani, whatever it took, now that Uncle Joshua chose her.

"What—me?!" Rani stammered nervously as I hugged her excitedly. Everyone cheered.

"YOOOOOOO!!!!! NO WAY!!!!" Krishna yowled in excitement.

"With your blessing, King Mufasa, I choose my youngest daughter to succeed me as the next Sorceress." Uncle Joshua said for all of us to hear.

"It's about high time that a girl should hold the Scepter. My father would not have approved of this, as he was rooted in tradition, but I do." Mufasa nodded, approving uncle Joshua's latest and exciting move.

"But, I don't know anything about being a Sorceress! Who will help me?" Rani wondered, nervous.

"Ah, don't worry, Rani! Your papa-ji will show you the ropes!" Grandma Padma reassured. She is a beautiful South Asian lady with a bhindi, dark hair that was graying a little bit, and lively brown eyes.

Uncle Joshua had Rani in the front and Mufasa placed a gentle paw on her head.

"May the Great Kings of the Past look upon this day in favor. This young girl, Rani Haruka will be taking on the mantle of Sorceress under the wisdom and training of the other Sorcerers gathered here. May they guide you and help you on your journey to becoming the next generation with my son. Congratulations, Rani Haruka. You are now an apprentice Sorceress." Mufasa blessed Rani.

"YAYYY!!! All right, Rani! You go girl!" We all cheered wildly and simultaneously.

"There's also another thing—now that you're my protégé, you get to see the new future King first and you'll be presented along with him!" Uncle Joshua added.

"I get to do all that?!" Rani squeaked in excitement.

"Yep! Go on ahead with Mufasa and I'll meet you there. The animals should be arriving soon, and the sun is rising." Uncle Joshua instructed. He used the scepter to make Rani look amazing; she had a French braid and white Sorceress in training garb.

"Okay!" Rani nodded her head and joined the King who offered a ride on his back. My eyes lit up in love for my cousin.

"She's so lucky! Not to mention I'm so excited for her!" Lexi smiled.

"Me too!" Rani's sisters and I said simultaneously.

"I wonder what the future King will look like!" Rachel wondered.

"It's got to be genetics. He's probably going to look like his mom, or he might look like Mufasa." Adam said.

We all waited with bated breath for the presentations of both the future king and the next Sorceress. I saw a blue bird with a red, orange and yellow multicolored beak flying overhead towards Pride Rock, and a wise old mandrill who is a shaman if you will. I would know these two to be Zazu, and Rafiki.

Soon, it was time for Rani and the newborn future king to be presented to all of the Pridelands. The newborn lion cub's name was Simba.

Rafiki held little Simba for all of us to see.

"Behold, O dear Pridelands, here is the one who will succeed me! Your future Sorceress, Rani!" Uncle Joshua proclaimed for all of us to hear.

The animals cried out in joy, and all of us kids cheered wildly.

A light shone on Simba and Rani as we all bowed before the future king and my cousin!!

After the ceremony and after the animals had gone, I met Queen Sarabi, Mufasa's mate. She is a kind lioness with beige fur, and red eyes. And we all saw baby Simba in Rani's arms.

"You know, Simba...something tells me that we're gonna be really good friends." Rani remarked to the little newborn lion.

"Awww!!! Rani, he's so cute!" I fawned. The kids clamored too.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere and from in my backpack, my cat jumped out from inside of my bag and chased down a mouse. My cat's name is Snowball or Snowy, because of her white angelic fur; and she reminded me of Duchess from the Aristocats.

"HEY!!! SNOWY!!! SNOWY, COME BACK!!!! SNOWY!!!" I sprinted away from the group and ran after my mischievous kitten!

I searched the grasslands of where my cat would be, and it led me to a cave which is near the backside of Pride Rock.

Little did I know where Snowy or the mouse were headed.

"Snowy?!" I called out.

She was hunting the mouse until...

THWOMP!!!!

A lion's paw swatted down on the mouse...it was a familiar orangish brown tuft with protruding claws about to rip you to shreds. Snowy let out a terrified mew as she scattered.

"Snowy! You bad girl! You know better than to chase around a mouse like that!" I chided the little troublemaker.

Snowy mewed in my arms.

"I know...but we have to let it..." I said to Snowy and I looked to see that the mouse was squeaking in between the paws of that same dark lion. "...live?"

It's you!!!! I thought as the part of my vision came back.