The Lion King: Heir to the Throne Book One: Decisions

Chapter One-Kings are Born

"Oh, Ahadi, it's-it's-it's-"

"Spit it out, Zuzu! This is my child!"

"Boys." The little bird hopped around. "Boys boys boys!"

Ahadi gasped. "B-Boys? As in-in plural boys?"

"Yes, yes, two boys, boys boys boys." Zuzu hopped about aimlessly.

Ahadi sprinted off, slamming to a stop when he reached Uru. "U...ru...it's..."

Uru moved so Ahadi could see his two sons. Two sons. "They're...wonderful.." He murmured, at a loss for words. "Wonderful..."

"Meet Taka and Mufasa." Uru purred.

"Wait-doesn't Taka mean trash?"

"Remember the strange animals? They told us Taka means tall and honorable in their language." Uru nuzzled Ahadi.

"They're perfect, then." Ahadi murmured, his gaze clouded with countless emotions. "Diku! Dwala! Naanda! Come in. You too, Sarabi."

The four cubs shambled in, still growing used to their long legs. Sarabi picked her way to the little Mufasa, poking him. "He's cute."

Diku and Dwala quickly joined in, letting the little newborns bat their paws.

Only Naanda didn't make her way to the cubs. She had a different question in mind than names.

"Who will be the next king?"

"Taka."

Taka turned to see Mufasa, Dwala, Diku, Naanda, and Sarabi. He grinned, hopping up. "Hey, Mufasa through Sarabi!" He greeted.

Naanda sneered. "Do we have to take him with us? This is supposed to be special. He'll just ruin it."

"Don't be mean, Naanda." Mufasa scolded. "It's not his fault he's a little crybaby."

Taka frowned. "Where are you going, anyway?"

"To the Watering Hole. First time there!" Sarabi exclaimed. Taka shook his head, turned, and collapsed on the cliff's edge.

"I'd rather stay here." He closed his eyes and let the afternoon sun warm his fur. Suddenly, something jabbed him in the side, hard. "Ow!"

"Don't be a baby, Trash." Amaziah stood over Taka. Aiysha pushed her annoying brother aside. 

"Don't be mean, Amaz."

"He's just speaking the truth." Sauda leaned down and shoved Taka.

Zuberi trotted over. "Aww, wittwe Rubbish is awl awone."

"Would you stop it, guys? Taka means tall and honorable, not trash." Aiysha pushed Taka to his feet. "C'mon, Taka. Let's go play somewhere else."

Taka and Aiysha trotted off, eventually finding their way onto Pride Rock.

"Help! Help me!"

Taka and Aiysha instantly recognized the voice of Russom. They hurried over and saw the pregnant lioness on the floor, roaring in agony.

"Russom! Are you having your cubs?" Taka asked. Russom's roars were his answer. The two of them raced away, trying to find anyone.

"Taka? Aiysha? Russom would like you to be the first to see her cubs."

Taka and Aiysha bounded into the cave, excitement pulsing through them. They skidded to a halt in front of Russom, eyes lighting up at the sight of their kits.

"Taka, Aiysha, meet Sikudhani, Asani, Amana, Mosiya, and Djimon."

"They're adorable!" Aiysha licked them, one lick per cub. "You must be so glad, Russom!"

Russom nodded weakly. "W-woah...I'm...rea...lly..."

Suddenly, Russom's head dropped. Taka and Aiysha let out calls of terror, soon making the entire pride appear. Zuzu flew up, her eyes wide. She landed on Russom and sighed sadly. "I'm sorry. She's gone."

Sora and Kuendi, two of Russom's first litter, dashed forward. "Mom! No!"

"What-what killed her?" Mohatu stepped forward. "She seemed...seemed healthy."

"Cubs, what happened before her death?" Salima, the official healer of the Pride Lands, pushed her way past the crowd.

"She-she was fi-fine...then..." Aiysha looked down. "She seemed really weak, and said...she was really..."

"Her head collapsed before she could finish the se-sentence." Taka murmured. Salima closed her eyes.

"Mohatu, Ahadi, when was the last time you..." Salima trailed off.

"Few years ago." Mohatu replied.

"Um...when I first became king."

"I knew it. She got a disease from a rogue that she...the father of these cubs."

"Poor Sikudhani, Asani, Amana, Mosiya, and Djimon." Taka murmured. "Do they have it too?"

"I believe they do. Luckily, lionesses can only spread it through birth. And that's a slim chance. If the lioness dies right after giving birth, though, that's a sign that the cubs have it. Only Asani, Mosiya, and Djimon can spread it."

Ahadi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Well, it's getting late. Everyone, go to sleep. Especially cubs. We'll deal with this later."

Taka and Mufasa grew quickly. Mufasa always was the loved, amazing, wonderful heir, and Taka was the garbage. Mufasa often tried to be kind to Taka, but when the tests and training began, Mufasa taunted and bullied Taka. Taka quickly grew distant, ignoring Naanda, Diku, Dwala, Sarabi, Amaziah, and Sauda. Only Aiysha was his true friend, and Sikudhani, Asani, Amana, Mosiya, and Djimon were too young to have an opinion. Eventually, they grew old enough, and Amana and Sikudhani started to befriend him. Mosiya, Djimon, and Asani fell in with the other group of cubs, soon becoming the adorable children that everyone lightly tussled with. 

One day, Mufasa jabbed Taka in the side. "Wake up, bro. It's time for us to have another test."

Taka groaned. "Coming, brother."

Recently, Mufasa had been nicer to Taka. Instead of letting Naanda bully him, he often intercepted. Taka, in turn, had been nicer and more welcoming to Mufasa, though he vowed his first act as king would be to force Mufasa to eat warthog dung.

Eventually, the two brothers reached the spot where they would be having their next test. After a bit, Uru emerged from the bushes.

"My sons." She licked their heads lovingly. "You are growing."

Ahadi emerged. "Welcome, my sons, to the hardest test you'll ever take." Ahadi paused. "Ever."