The Golden Queen

[Warning!

This fan-fic was written by non-english-speaking author. Due to my limited language (and poetical!) skills, it may contains lot of grammatical and syntax errors. Please, don’t bother with harsh form of the text, and try to focus on the plot.]

Fanarts to this story made by Sarafina from Lwia Ziemia Forum (Polish Prideland Forum)

Dramatis Personae (in alphabetical order, my characters are marked with *):

Ahadi – once king of Priderock, father of Mufasa and Scar (Taka).

Amini – rouge lion from Horen Pride, father of Kovu.

Arista* – once king of Golden Pride, father of Sparthi and Zira. Died during the Great Drought.

Hawaa* – lioness from Outland (former Pridelanderess)

Horen* – leader of rouge lions pack.

Kiara – daughter of Simba and Nala, sister of Tanabi. Princess of Prideland.

Kovu – son Zira, adopted son of Scar.

Mufasa – once king of Priderock, son of Ahadi.

Nala – Priderock Queen (in Simba’s era). Mate of Simba, mother of Kiara and Tanabi.

Ostasi* - Outlander lioness, friend of Danti.

Rafiki – old mandrill, shaman and advisor of Simba.

Sakia* – old lioness, friend of queen-mother Sarabi, once faithful subject of Scar.

Sarabi – queen-mother, mate of Mufasa, mother of Simba, grandmother of Kiara and Tanabi.

Sarafina – friend of Sarabi, mother of Nala.

Scar – Priderock king after death of Mufasa.

Simba – king of Priderock, after Scar’s death. Son of Mufasa, father of Kiara and Tanabi.

Sorphi* – lioness from Simba’s Pride.

Sparthi* – son of Arista, brother of Zira. Prince of Golden Pride. Deceased during the Great Drought.

Tanabi* – son of Simba and Nala, prince of Priderock, younger brother of princess Kiara (name was inspired by many of fanfics, where Tanabi plays main role. But watch out, i’ve made few of changes in this character. What is most important, he’s second child of Simba!)

Vinia* – lioness from Simba’s Pride.

Vitani – daughter of Scar and Zira, sister of Nuka and Kovu. Heir to Scar’s throne.

Zazu – old hornbill, majordomo of Simba’s court.

Zira – Once queen of Priderock (in Scar’s era). Daughter of Arista (Golden Pride’s king), sister of Sparthi, Mother of Nuka, Vitani and Kovu.

... – and others characters, that I can’t introduce now, because “spoiler threat”.

Odd numbered chapters (except of 19th) are about times just before “Simba’s Pride”

Even numbered chapters are about times just after “The Lion King”

[„Treasure” song. Quite merry tune, in chorus becoming more serious.]

[Capture of Prideland’s Border, between savannah and desert. Zira is running at the edge of sands in direction of setting sun.]

Every minute on this world

We possess the wealth untold

With an every breath this treasure shines inside

[Zoom on Zira’s eyes. Her face is calm and joyful. Then, switch to lioness’s recollections: She in times of Great Drought, on the lead of Golden Pride. Then capture of Scar, who is helping Zira to carry Sparthi.]

Something that is worth to keep

Something we have buried deep

In our hearts, our spirits and our minds

[Zira is hugging with Scar in Priderock’s back cave.]

Knowledge, beating in our chest

Chest of wealth, our spirit's crest

Show us clearly what that untold value is

[Zira during her coronation: all lionesses are bowing to her.]

By our lives we are to prove

Are we worthy of this truth

Are we destined to win or bound to miss

[Capture of Scar playing with tiny Nuka, younger Zira is watching this with smile on her face.]

Chorus:

It's a wealth of our heart

Something that you keep inside

And never, never, never give it up

[Back on desert: capture of paws of Zira, who are hitting sand in fast run.]

It's a reason for your days

Keep you going in life's maze

This is treasure of your life, prize on top

[Zoom to Zira’s face, she is looking like she is about to cry.]

Second verse:

Choose carefully what for you up

Don't risk life for just a scrap

So make sure you always take the lion's share

[Pictures are moving, but in background is still Zira’s sad face.]

Learn the joy that comes from pride

Only meal that satisfy

Only way that points the aim and takes you there

[Scar is back from hunting. He looks exhausted, but he gives Zira (she is pregnant in this capture) and Nuka decent piece of meat.]

You must take the sacrifice

There's no prize without the price

But what are tears when main goal is to lose

[Capture of Zira, running thought the desert, but it slowly changes to Zira’s returning to Priderock, in night of Scar’s death.]

If your treasure is at hand

If you're ready for last stand

Fight for it, fight for life that you choose

[Capture of Zira, fighting the hyenas and coming to dying Scar.]

Chorus:

It's a wealth of our heart

Something that you keep inside

And never, never, never give it up

[Capture of last talk of Scar and Zira.]

It's a reason for your days

Keep you going in life's maze

This is treasure of your life, prize on top

[Fading picture of Zira, carrying Scar’s body. It becomes capture of older Zira, who stopped next to border rock of Prideland. Sun is almost set.]

01 – The doorstep of Change

Another turn of Circle of Life had passed. Sun was setting on west and also whole season was ending. Zira smelled the scent of rain. Although air was still dry, queen knew, that season was changing and rains was about to come. Again, she made it. She kept her pride save in hardest time. For once more, existence of Golden Pride was secured... until next dry season.

Lioness looked on plain of the desert. Behind her was fertile savannah with monumental rock in centre – Priderock. Place both loved and loathed by her. Before her was the desert – miles of golden sand, hiding her old home and old life. Closed chapter. That moment she was living only there – between two worlds. This was the border, outskirts of Prideland. Here she met Scar, when she was emigrating from Golden Sand, looking for paradise. Her pride hadn’t discovered paradise, but sanctuary, that allowed them to survive. Zira herself found even something more precious, than any paradise could be. Him.

“O, my love... How long it was? Six years?” she muttered to hot air of desert. “And since you left... almost four years. Eternity for me.” She whispered with breaking voice. Since day of Scar’s death she hadn’t cried with single tear. But she was so often crying inside, without sobbing or wet eyes. She was just... in the same time mourning her loss, but also tasting sweet taste of beautiful memories. “I miss you so much...” she continued. “I know, that law is law... but even one word from you, would calm my heart... Scar... speak to me!”

But this was useless. Dead king have never appeared to his mate. Zira felt his presence almost every time she was talking to him. But this was a silent presence. Breath of longing and love, so profound but soundless. And this time was exactly the same. Lioness was enblown by gentle and warm wind from desert. This breeze was whispering something soothing and comforting, but Zira was unable to identify any single word. That was surely words of love, that was surely words from Scar. But what he was talking?

“Thank you, anyway.” Replied Zira to unseen interlocutor. “Some day, we will be one again and then we will talk all days and nights... But before it happen, I have to fulfil your last will.” Wind grown a little, like silent interlocutor wanted to say something, but lioness didn’t notice it. She was still talking, to soothe her anxiety and sorrow. “Kovu is almost ready. I will send him to Simba’s pride, for reconnaissance and... if that is possible... for assassination.” She stopped and looked in the sky. Sun already had set, so first stars were shining on firmament. She pointed her head to most dear to her – star that sparked for the first time at night after Scar’s death. It was northern star, strong and beautiful. “Please, understand me!” she whispered with uncertain voice. “This is a trick... in fact, a deceit. But we must use it! We are too weak to fight face to face. We haven’t you on your side. Pridelanders are too numerous for us. We are weak, because of hunger... our only advantage is memory of you... memory of your wisdom and intelligence. We must kill Simba, in order to return to Prideland. I know, that you never deceived anyone, never failed your word... But look, how it ends. We... “ she sighed silently. “We must use that lie to bring back the truth. Please, forgive me, Scar.”

Wind ceased, but feeling of presence not. Zira was still touching by unfelt paws of her mate. She was certain, that dead king was there and listening. She closed her eyes, to focus on bittersweet pleasure of that contact.

“We all are doing well... at least, as well, as we could at the end of dry season...” she smiled and her face changed. Countenance of dreadful warrior queen, that was running her pride in fight against all word, ceased and then appeared some other countenance. Face of gentle beauty and sensibility. Zira was beautiful lioness and even years of hard life hadn’t changed it. But this smile, that she was smiling that moment, was seldom guest on her face. She was looking like young lioness, who just had fallen in love. Her lips became smooth and peaceful for long moment. She looked like that only in those moment, when she was talking to Scar. Alone. But even then, this smile faded quickly. So Zira opened her eyes and once again looked on stars. “Kovu is worthy to bear your name... I hope, you are proud of him. I know...” she turned her sight to the ground. “...that it should be Nuka... But, please, understand me... Nuka wouldn’t stand a chance. I raised Kovu in that single purpose, of coming in your pawprints. I was too weak, to be ideal mother for all of them. But