Lion King - Lost Heir

Aftermath

Kovu

I watch the chaos unfolding before me, frozen to the spot. The hyenas are quickly disappearing over the horizon, but their leader, Haraka, lies on the ground, gasping for air, fur reduced to nothing but ash. One of the newer medlions kneels next to her, and props her up so that she can speak. 

"You will..." she struggles to get the words out.

"What?" snarls Askari, almost spitting into her chargrilled face. 

"Die," she rasps, her final breath leaving her body as her eyes roll upwards, not seeing. 

I finally find a way to move my body, and run to Swala, crouching next to the now dead lioness, body shaking with silent sobs. 

"Are you ok?"

She replies by burying her head in my mane, tears wetting my fur. When she breaks away, I notice her tail, blood drying on the mauled tip of it, fur still wet with blood. I call a medlion over quickly, and they tend to her wounds, giving me time to speak to the person who certainly has a lot of explaining to do. 

In Pride Rock

I pace back and forth, as Askari explains his past, or what he can remember of it, claws digging into the ground.

"You didn't tell us you were raised by hyenas."

"I just wanted to be accepted, please, I swear."

"That isn't a reason not to tell the truth."

"I was taken as a young cub, I always thought that Haraka was my mother, and that she was dead. But I was wrong," he pauses, taking a deep breath. "I didn't know I was in line for the throne, and..."

"Now you want to rule as you should, well, go on, take our crown, I don't care."

He looks back at me, pain badly hidden behind his eyes. 

"I don't want to be king. You and Kiara are the right rulers for this place, and none of the lions would trust me anyways."

I have to will myself not to let my jaw hit the ground. What sort of person just denies a chance at the throne!?

"You...You don't?"

"Of course not! I'm not cut out for it, and even though I feel at home here, I feel better knowing that you and Kiara are in control of the pride."

"Thank you, Askari, and don't worry, I'll make sure that the other lions accept you. Now, don't you have a lioness that you should probably explain all this to, what's her name?"

"Mpenzi."

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

"I don't know if I can talk to her now..."

"Trust me, it will all seem so much better when you do."

He nods, and swallows, before exiting the cave. Kuua and Kuishi emerge from behind a boulder, confused looks etched into their faces. They look much older now, sporting the beginnings of manes. 

"You trust him?! After all that!?" sputters Kuua.

"It was not his fault, now run along, your sister probably wants some company."

Kuishi clenches his jaw, before exiting the cave, followed closely by his brother. 

Mpenzi

I'm tending to Swala's tail when he comes, begging for forgiveness. He pulls me aside, and explains everything.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He stutters, looking down at his front paws and sighing. 

"From the moment you pinned me as a dare, I knew you were the one for me, Penz, and I didn't want my past to ruin anything for us."

I put a paw over his, and he glances up at me, shocked. 

"I wouldn't let anything get between us."

I lean up to lick his muzzle, and he leans into my touch.

"I'm sorry."

I give him a sad smile in response.

"It's ok."