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The following tale is the second volume of Tales From the Outlands, and is slightly different than volume one. It will NOT follow the life of one single character as volume one did. Instead it will deal with the characters that were introduced in volume one on a more personal level. This first section picks up after TLK II, Simba’s Pride ends, and it deals with certain things left unanswered in volume one. (All characters not of my own design are created by Disney and used without their permission or consent. I use them here with the utmost respect and admiration. Those characters not found in Disney’s greatest animated movie of all time that will be seen in subsequent sections, such as the dark lion, Kisasi are of my own design. Fabana was created by John Burkitt and David Morris and is used once again with permission and many thanks.) It is highly recommended that one should read volume one first, or the second volume will make little sense, if any at all. I have decided to stress reader discretion for volume two due to primal violence and adult themes. For this to make more sense, if volume two were to be made into a movie it would be rated PG-13. Remember this as you venture into the following chapters. Any questions, comments, or concerns, can be addressed to scarcasm@yahoo.com. And now the long awaited follow up to volume one… Enter Tales from the Outlands: Volume II – Legacies…
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Part One: In a Perfect World
Light, pale, white, warm, and of a luminous glare
shone in his eyes. Scar raised his head
slowly, and gazed towards the dazzling light.
Its splendor was brighter than the sun, but it was not painful to the
eyes as an intense sunbeam could be.
Instead it filled him with a deep sense of peace and serenity. It flowed through his veins, and caused his
mind to feel more at ease than it ever was.
But he could not remember where he was, what had happened, how he got there,
or for that matter, where there even was.
All he knew was that he felt a deep sense of love that caused him to
spread his muzzle into a massive grin.
Slowly, he rose to his paws and shook violently, marveling at how his
pelt and mane shined in the light, and how perfect each strand of hair seemed
to be. His pelt was usually matted and
hung close to his flanks, but in this light it gleamed and swayed like it was
caught in a gentle breeze.
Eyes slowly taking a bearing on where he was, the
lion looked in all directions, but all he saw was a pale mist illuminated by
the light. He took a moment to consider
this light. It did not seem to shine
from a source far above him, as the sun did, rather it permeated throughout the
mist, moving with it, as if the light and the mist were one and the same. Suddenly a feeling between his paws felt
like he was standing on something softer than the freshest moss. It was a luminous, fluffy surface and it
massaged his paws to the point of causing his entire body to relax. It filled him with the same sense of
pleasure and peace as everything else in this place did, and for some reason he
suddenly felt like walking on it.
Shaking his head, dizzy by the pure sensations surging through his very
being, Scar began to follow a path, that just seemed be there, even if it
wasn't a second ago. Shrugging his
shoulders he decided to follow it.
After all what other direction could he go in these constant changing
mists?
The path took him through a mist like valley, and in
a definite northern direction. All the
while, Scar felt better than he ever had.
All thoughts were centered on happiness and no gloomy thoughts pierced
this wall of peace. It seemed to him
all he could think about was the sheer beauty of this realm and not about
anything else. All the grief and sorrow
of his past, seemed to melt away. Suddenly, a clear lagoon caught his attention a far ways off the
path. Scar was curious, and since he
wouldn't mind a cool drink, he took a slight ways off the path and headed
towards the shimmering pool. When at
last he reached the quiet lagoon, he was amazed at how the light reflected off
its surface, and the water was so blue.
He had never seen so pure a shade of blue in all his life. It made the brackish water hole back at
Pride Rock become just another distant memory. Confused but curiosity quickly
overcoming this confusion in a mere second, Scar plodded towards the edge of
the water. He was about drink the azure
water, but then noticed his reflection was beginning to be cast upon the pool's
clear surface.
Scar's eyes spread wider than they had ever been when he saw the image that was
cast before him, and he jumped back in absolute shock, praying to the gods that
he hadn’t seen what he thought he saw.
CHAPTER
TWO: THE ULTIMATE DREAM INTO REALITY
No it could not be true! Scar kept telling himself over and over again that he was only
seeing things. He shook his head,
screaming at his mind to tell him what he just thought he had seen, reflected
by the azure waters was a devious lie.
But the other half of his mind screamed back at him to walk backs
towards the lagoon and see, if what he thought he’d seen, was indeed true. Scar hung his head low, not quite sure what
to do, terrified that if it was truth it would be even worse than if it was a
lie. Slowly, Scar managed to regain his
composure, and his head began to nod, deciding that he must know the truth,
even if it will break down his nerves.
He placed his shaking paws onto the ground, one after the other, and
methodically as if he was stalking prey, Scar trudged back towards the water's
edge. Breathing in a deep breath, he
suddenly ran towards the lagoon and gazed upon the waters, then watched his
reflection begin to take form once again.
It was true!
Dear gods, it was completely true!
The image was cast before him in a reflection that he never thought he
would see. Scar’s face carried its
entire commanding demeanor that it always had, but now he saw the image of a
lion staring back at him that was never there before. His scar, the mark that defined his entire being, the symbol that
was he in every meaning of the word, it was gone! Where it once had been was now just as radiant as the rest of his
fur. All blemishes had been erased!
He was Taka again! (Taka, the name he was given at
birth. He was that pure, innocent lion once again! From this point forward, he would never to be called Scar again.)
Taka suddenly bellowed a roar of absolute happiness, and he couldn't help but
look back down upon his reflection once again.
Of course now it was cast as a handsome lion with a huge, content grin
on his face. Emotions of joy began to
course through his veins, and he turned from the water's edge with a mighty
leap. He began to dance and laugh like
a cub, finally feeling the effects of his eternal symbol drain from his nature
and erase from his mind. All of his
pain was eradicated and all the denial was obliterated, he was at last
free! At last, the one thing holding
him back was gone, and now his life could begin anew!
Suddenly, reality hit him like a thunderbolt, as his
eyes gazed upon the misty surroundings.
Life begin anew… His head swung
left and he viewed the white mists; his head swung right and he saw the radiant
light permeating the clouds, and then finally realized the ironic error of his
statement. If this notion wasn't
enough, a female voice behind him, suddenly told him the truth.
“Welcome, Scar.
I have waited for so long, at last we are finally reunited! I knew we
would meet here one day, and now, my love we shall spend the rest of eternity
together.” Taka knew that voice so well, but the frightened lashing of his
tail, gave proof that he did not want to turn around. Somehow, after a long while, and hearing the calm breathing
behind him, the lioness no doubt waiting patiently for Taka to look at her,
Taka somehow summoned the courage to turn.
However, his eyes remained focused on the wispy ground he was standing
upon.
“Scar look at me!
I know you know where we are, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is we are together!”
Taka slowly allowed his gaze to travel up his
companion's body. His jaw opened even
wider every inch his eyes traveled up their route towards the face. When at
last Taka's gaze met the face of the lioness, he already knew who it was, but
by the time he made contact with those alluring eyes, it was still too much and
he thought he would surely faint from shock. The lioness grinned back at him
and then nuzzled his face,
“Hello, my love!
I've waited so long!” Taka couldn't find words to express the emotions
that were now flooding his brain. The
only thing he could say was her name.
She was the lioness who had healed his heart, the lioness who pulled him
from the depths of depression, and gave him a purpose for living. She was his mate, his one and only love.
“Zira!”
Taka could not believe his eyes. It was she!
She was here and standing before his widespread eyes!
“Zira, this cannot be real!”
“But it is, my love.”
“How can you be here? You didn’t...”
“It doesn't matter what happened, all that matters
is we are here together.” Zira began to nuzzle Taka once more, but looked back
with a look of confusion when Taka failed to return the caress.
“Scar, what is wrong?”
“This is so... strange. You must tell me what happened to you.” Zira lowered her head and
kept her eyes focused upon the pallid ground, but nodded her head.
“Scar… when I lost you, I lost my life, I lost my
goodness, and I lost everything that mattered to me. The lioness you fell in
love with died the day she learned of your murder. In her place, remained a lioness that was the exact opposite of
all the things you fell in love with.
The only thing I lived for was an eternal lust for revenge, and an
undying hunger that would never be sated.
I somehow survived and assembled a pride of Outsiders. I suffered so much, but somehow I continued
to survive. My mad obsession with
vengeance was the only thing that kept me going, but in the end, it was the
thing that destroyed me. I was slain by
this hate that consumed me, because I couldn't let it go. I fiercely fought any help that was offered
to me, and I chose death by my own paws, rather than live in a world without
you.
I chose death, in hopes to be finally reunited with
you, for I knew I could no longer carry on being separated from you. However, my vengeance was never completed,
my ultimate goal was never reached, and all those who I tried to raise in your
name, turned against me in the end.
They all betrayed you, betrayed me, and betrayed your memory! This thought burning in my mind, was too
much to take, and there was only one choice left. Death by my own paws, in hopes that I would be with you in
eternity someday! Please tell me you
understand why I had to make this choice, and please tell me you forgive me.”
Zira kept her eyes locked onto the ground, and did
not look up, praying that Taka understood why she had to make the ultimate
choice, and why it was the only choice left.
She felt her muzzle being lifted with his gentle paws, and the two lions
gazed into each other's eyes for many moments.
“Oh, my love!
Zira, I am so sorry. I do understand!
Through all your suffering, all your grief, and all your pain, your love
for me still remained! And… committing
the ultimate sacrifice to be with me... what can I say but this.” Taka's lips met
Zira's and he kissed her with so much passion and love, that Zira's eyes spread
wide. Zira tried to grin, eyes filling
with tears, but then immediately returned the passionate kiss. The love the shared burned brighter than the
radiant light that fell upon the two lions.
The soft light illuminated the two in an embrace that was as warm as the
love the two lions felt deep in their hearts. The two lions continued their
caresses as they sat there, nuzzling each other as only lions can.
******
After many moments, Taka broke the long merging of
hearts and gazed into his love’s eyes.
“I cannot remember anything, my love. I am still astounded that you are here with
me now. I mean it seems like an
eternity since I last saw you.” The two cats met in another passionate nuzzle,
a fevered purring flowed from both of their throats. The two cats nuzzled for what seemed like an eternity. But time meant nothing to the two mates, for
time was nothing in this world. Zira
finally looked up to Taka.
“My love, how long have you been here?” Taka looked
down and his eyes locked into Zira's.
“All I remember is a darkness consumed me after I
felt Shenzi's jaws close around my throat.
Darkness was all I could see and I can plainly remember it. It was a soundless void, cold, black,
nothing. Then after about an eternity
of this, I could feel a deep pain pulsate throughout my body, it was worse than
anything I have ever felt. It felt like
it was ripping me from the inside out.
Ripping my very soul from the body it was housed in! I cried out in fear and anguish, but no
voice escaped my lips, no sound echoed in that cold, dark world, only more pain
answered my futile screams.
Then all at once the pain left me in an
instant. I began to grow warm, and a
deep sense of calmness washed over me.
All at once a light shone in my eyes, and as I looked into it, it began
to move as if in a gesture for me to follow.
Something was pulling me, and my body responded before my mind, and I
found myself walking towards it. It
opened up to this world, and the next thing I knew I found you. Strange isn't
it?” Taka looked down and his eyes spread wide as he saw Zira had tears in her
eyes, and had the happiest grin on her face he had ever seen.
“Oh, Scar, that is so beautiful!” Zira's eyes gazed
at her love as if she was looking at him for the first time. The two cats were always passionate lovers
ever since that first glorious night under the stars. Nevertheless, here in this place it seemed their love had
increased ten fold, and as her eyes scanned all corners of his body, she felt
the fires of passion begin burn in her blood.
“Scar, I….” Taka placed a claw on her lips and shook
his head.
“My name is Taka now,” he pointed to his left eye,
“Wouldn’t you agree?” Zira grinned and nuzzled him once more.
“Then I am Ushandra once more. Do you remember, Sca… Taka? Do you remember my real name when we first
met? Do you remember that glorious
night we shared together?”
“Every night in my dreams, Zir… I mean,
Ushandra.”
“Taka, here in this place I feel like I could tell
you anything, and I've been so lonely without you.”
“Ushandra, through all the pain of the purging, my
thoughts remained focused on you! I
love you so much! I always have and
always will! You were the one, who
carried me through it all. You were the one who eliminated my pain, you were
the one who healed my heart, and you were the...” Any more words from Taka were
unable to be spoken as Ushandra swiftly pressed her lips against his. The two
cats kissed each other fully; their muzzles locked together in a sweet caress.
Taka's tail began to slide and brush across
Ushandra's flanks and the melodic purring of the lioness told him that he was
making her happy. Keeping her eyes
closed, since the only sense needed was touch, Ushandra caressed Taka's own
body with her own tail, moving it equally across his back and then down across
his underside. Taka shivered as the
sensations wracked his body and ignited the fires within him, soon becoming as
consumed into the dance as Ushandra was.
Ushandra sensually walked away, then as she walked back, she rubbed her
body across his, spreading her musky scent all through his pelt as she
passed. She continued her passes, until
the scent was intoxicating, and she occasionally painted Taka’s face with her
tail. The preludes ended, she looked
back with a sly grin.
Taka needed no further urging and ran to her lips
kissing them fully and deeply. Ushandra suddenly broke the kiss and nuzzled
Taka's mane much more fiercely, a grin, larger than it had ever been plastered
across her face. Her tongue shot out of
her mouth and ran it along his lips then traveled down his neck. She quickly fell to her belly and then Taka
almost roared in pleasure as her tongue began to touch every section of him. Her roving tongue missed no inch as Zira
continued her sweet, maddening torture.
It was only a matter of time, before Taka's roar filled the realm with
resounding resonance.
Ushandra then rolled to her back and allowed Taka to
do whatever he liked to her, and Ushandra's melodic purrs changed to yowls as
Taka's own tongue and tail painted her body in all the right places. After an eternity of blissful attention,
Ushandra rolled to her side and then rose to her paws after another sly
grin. She then proceeded to stand in
the "presentation stance," looking back over her shoulder with a
seductive smile. Taka needed no words, as his actions alone caused Zira's grin
to widen as he joined her in perfect union.
Their song began, soft and slow at first, then gaining momentum and
fervor, then the crescendo finally arriving at a grand finale. Twin roars ended the dance, and an intense
kiss upon each muzzle of the lovers was the encore. Taka and Ushandra lay in each other's paws for an untold amount
of time after the dance was over. Each
held the other tight and promised never to let the other go again. Still, each knew that in this place, they
were finally together and would never be torn apart again! There was no time; the only time was with
each other.
Ushandra's eyes slowly opened as she gazed upon Taka
sleeping peacefully. Her lips became a
grin, and she softly nudged her love with her nose. After about seven attempts
she finally made him open his eyes.
“Mmmmm, what?
Oh, my love. Why did you wake me up? I was enjoying this perfect dream.”
“That dream is a reality now, Taka.” Taka smiled,
and licked Ushandra’s face. Ushandra looked up to the pallid light and the vast
clouds and sighed. “It looks like we are going to be here for a long time.”
Taka’s words calmed her.
“Ushandra, I couldn't ask for anything else.”
“You're are so sweet, you know that?”
“You have no idea.”
“I am sure I can grasp most of it, after all I fell
in love with you didn't I, and that was the best decision I ever made. Still,
do you think there is any one else here?”
“I do not know, my love. Are we in the place that my mother and father told me of? Is this the land beyond the stars? Are we
with the kings of the past? Are we…”
Taka was forced to stop, as he saw Ushandra's face
was frozen in shock, as if she had seen a ghost. Taka saw a huge shadow pass over her form, and he slowly turned
his head. When he saw what Ushandra had
seen, his mouth dropped and his face became the same mask of shock as
Ushandra's was, only Taka's was worse..."
******
The shadow fell upon the two lovers,
then an insane laugh was heard, and a strange looking lion with a huge grin was
suddenly running towards them.
“Mother, mother, mother! Look I’m back! Did ya miss me?” Ushandra could only stare in shock at the lion
that was now standing and speaking before her.
She suddenly felt tears of joy in her eyes as she rose to her paws and
nuzzled him. But this lion was so full
of zeal that he threw his paws over Ushandra’s back in a huge hug and toppled
onto her. Through the laughter, nuzzles
and kisses, Ushandra tried to speak.
“Oh, dear gods, Nuka! It’s you!
I thought I would never see you again.” The lion laughed and could not
stop his tongue from giving his mother an uncountable number of licks.
“Well, finally I have your
attention!”
“Oh, Nuka, I missed you so
much! I can not believe this is true,
all three of us finally reunited.” The lion curled his features into a confused
look.
“All three of us?” Suddenly Nuka’s
head swung towards the male with a shocked expression of his face. “You mean
this is….”
Taka suddenly backed up to his paws,
and could not stop shaking his head, as he looked up and down at this
abomination of a lion. No…. it wasn’t
possible, he and Fabana, he thought it was not conceivable, she promised him it
could not work…. No, she lied, this was…. It had to be true as his gaze fell on
this half lion, half hyena, proof that love can exist between a lion and hyena. Taka could only gasp as he though of that
night, when he had nothing and Fabana, the only creature who could see the lion
as he truly was both of them engaged in…. no it could not be possible. Taka backed up and started shaking, trying
not to look at what was trying to look at him.
“Uh… mother, why won’t Dad look at
me?” Ushandra bit her lip, knowing how naïve Nuka was. She never knew if he
learned the truth about his heritage, for she never told him. Fabana told Nuka
when he was a cub that Ushandra was his mother, to try and not confuse the
young lion. Years passed and Ushandra tried to teach Nuka how to be a killer,
but everything backfired or went terribly wrong. Nuka was killed as he tried
one last time to prove himself to her, and the moment before his eyes closed
was the most painful of her life. Thinking these sad thoughts, she was suddenly
drawn to the light. She looked to the light once more for some time and it
seemed to calm her. She suddenly nodded and sauntered towards her love, placing
a paw on his shoulder. She looked down and smiled.
“Taka, this is your son, Nuka. Nuka, behold your father.” The two lions only stared at each
other. Ushandra lowered her head. It was the truth and Fabana would be so
proud if she was here. Ushandra
suddenly looked around in wonder, maybe she somewhere she was. Scar suddenly broke the silence, and
wrapping one paw around Nuka’s neck he hugged him close.
“My son…. I don’t know what to say.”
Nuka only grinned once more, and hugged back fiercely.
“It doesn’t matter all that matters is my ultimate
dream has come true. All four of us are
finally together.” Taka narrowed his
eyes.
“All, four of us?”
“Yes, I am sure my closest friend
Fabana is around here somewhere.” Taka looked up to Ushandra but the lioness
only shook her head. Nuka looked at
both of their faces and his face fell.
“She is here…. Isn’t she?” Ushandra
placed a paw on Nuka’s shoulders.
“I haven’t seen her…. Nor has your
father.” Nuka could feel his lips begin to quiver.
“But… but she promised me she would
be here with me. She said all four of us would be together, a long time from
now, and this is what she meant isn’t it?” Taka nodded.
“We will find out! Come on, my son, let’s find out what this
place has to offer and if this place is the place we think it is.” Nuka grinned
at Taka’s words and hugged his father once more, then walked in the middle of
Ushandra and Taka, as they disappeared into the mists.
CHAPTER FIVE: TRANSFORMED SOULS
The trio wandered along the wispy paths, seemingly
going in a northern direction, but the pallid clouds and the changing mists
could give no real sense of direction.
Nuka kept chatting to Taka and Ushandra constantly, but in this place
for once Ushandra listened to every word and felt no annoyance, it seemed as if
all her negativity was no longer a part of her. She was finally happy, for she had her love, and Nuka only made
her happiness increase. What more could the lioness ask for?
Taka likewise absorbed every word
Nuka had to say, and Nuka told him everything, about Fabana, and all about the
things Taka had missed. Nevertheless,
it seemed Nuka could not think of any of the things that had caused him
pain. Those things were behind him
now. He felt completely content, and as
he grinned at the white clouds and warm radiance, as he knew why. Nuka skipped and pranced about, so happy for
once that in this place of wonder, those damned insects could no longer bite
him. That was enough of a heaven for him. Being with Taka and Ushandra just
made it more wondrous, but if he could see Fabana all would be perfect. Still it seemed like it was only the three
of them in the realm of peace, and Nuka was beginning to think it would have to
be enough.
Meanwhile, Ushandra’s thoughts went
to Vitani, and Kovu. She wondered about
her cub’s well being, and then her thoughts traveled to the father of these
cubs. She suddenly stopped, remembering
the inferno she saw him plunge into and then she wondered if he too could be in
this place. She looked to Taka and Nuka who had turned and looked back at her
with confused glances, but Ushandra only grinned and rejoined there sides,
thinking if the dark lion, Kisasi, was here, they would find him eventually.
“Taka, do you think that this is where the Kings of
the Past are?”
“I do not know, my love. All I see is an vast expanse of nothingness, though I do not mind
too much, being with you, is all I need to make me happy.” Ushandra grinned and nuzzled Taka, a few
licks by their tongues ensued, but Nuka suddenly gasped and nudged the two lovers,
breaking up the kisses. Ushandra and Taka looked down to the lion and he
suddenly pointed to a place where the clouds were breaking up. Six eyes spread
wide and three mouths hung agape when the saw what lay before them.
******
The cloud like mists parted, and the luminescent
rays fell upon scenery from Taka’s most beautiful dreams. There in the distance
was a rocky outcropping, a small mountain rising up from the savanna like a
natural throne. It was Pride Rock, only
cast in a magnificence that he could only dream of. The rock itself shown with a brilliance it never had before,
gleaming in the sun’s golden rays. Trees and vegetation grew in abundance
around it, and every beast of prey grazed on the surrounding lands. It seemed
to be a pure paradise untouched by the forces of evil. Standing atop the huge rock that was ten
times bigger than it ever used to be, was every lion Taka ever knew and all his
ancestors that he did not. He couldn’t
believe it was possible. He had finally
made it! Taka’s shocked expression looked to equally bewildered looks of Nuka
and Ushandra; no one could find words to begin to explain what they were
looking at.
“My brother, you have arrived.” The
trio spun and all ended up face to face with Mufasa. The benevolent King of
Pride Rock, smiled down at all three of them.
“Welcome to what you all have waited
for.” Taka, Ushandra, and Nuka, could
only look at Mufasa with awe, but then suddenly Ushandra felt tear in her eyes,
Nuka felt like laughing with joy, and Taka could only do one thing. He padded up to his brother and looked into
his eyes for a long time until he finally nodded. He dropped to his haunches
before his brother and bowed to him, then, looking up with a grin, he wrapped
both of his paws around Mufasa’s neck and hugged him as he always wanted
to. Mufasa joy in his heart and he
embraced back, this moment he has longed for his whole life.
“Mufasa, I… I…”
“No, Taka, it doesn’t matter
now. Here in this place the only things
that do matter are each other.” Taka
looked up with tears in his eyes and saw everyone looking down at him. All creatures great or small were filled
with joy to see him. This was the moment he has waited his whole life for. At last he had found his happiness.
Taka let his embrace end and he looked up to Mufasa
and nodded. The past would no longer be
dwelled on. This was the future he had
held in his heart forever and now it was a glorious dream come true. He turned to Ushandra and nuzzles her
fiercely, knowing that she too feels the same joyous thoughts as he does. At
last they are reunited, together for all time and among those that they can
finally accept. It is all they ever
wanted and now it is theirs.
Mufasa smiles and motions to Pride
Rock where the others wait. All three of
them see whatever or whoever brought them happiness on earth is there. Nuka will have Fabana and his love, Usiyahi,
and Taka and Ushandra will have each other.
Everything is at last perfect. At last the three transformed souls have
their perfect world!