Chronicles Of The Pride Lands.

A story by John Burkitt and David Morris.

FOREWORD:.

John H. Burkitt: With stirred emotions I watched the pagentry and color that was The Lion King. Secretly I harbored the desire to meet these characters, to lavish upon them in person the great love I felt inside and share the joy that lit my countenance.

My wish was granted here in The Chronicles. I have lived for a moment in the company of great lives and experienced through my pen their triumphs and tragedies. Humbly, I submit this work, holding it up on the pinnacle of Pride Rock. Behold my son, for it truly is my son, and the end of the writing process is a form of saying farewell. Asante sana!

July 15, 1996, Nashville, Tennessee David A. Morris: Back in late 1994 when I first saw The Lion King, the effect it had upon me was astounding. Never before or since have I been so totally captivated by a story like this. The magic, the splendor, the wonder of it all swept me away.

Within this work, I was presented with the opportunity to give something back to it, to express with the written word my love for a story which has deeply affected me in so many ways. The paternal guidance of Mufasa, the wisdom of Rafiki, and the selfless friendship of Simba all have made a significant impact on my life, and so I set out to return a little of the magic, and maybe learn something about myself along the way.

And once again, I got more than I bargained for.

July 15, 1996, Wilmington, North Carolin.

CHRONICLES OF THE PRIDE LANDS.

PRELUDE:.

The early morning sun reflected in Queen Akase's eyes. King Ahadi looked into their fire and whispered the word "beloved." She smiled and nuzzled him, then kissed her new twin sons as if the four of them were alone in a private kingdom of love.

But they were not alone. Next to them Shaka, the King's brother, his wife Avina, and their twin daughters Sarabi and Elanna welcomed in the dawn. And spread out across the plain in their tribes were the works of Aiheu the Beautiful in all their splendora"the solemn elephants, the tall giraffes, the lithe zebras with stripes more joyous than the brightest bird. Side by side they stood, rank on rank, row on row. And never was the fang shown, nor the claw bared. They had come to celebrate the mystery of life through the presentation of the new Prince. For that one day, death did not walk among them.

ZAZU: Spread the tidings far and wide,

Shout them from the mountainside!

Cry Ai-heu a-ba-ma-mi all, because the Prince is born!

AKASE: Our love, at last, has found its pure embodiment in you,

(TO TAKA) Our love, at last, is visible in everything you do;

The way you feel, the way you smile, the way you look at me,

Will prove to all, beyond a doubt, how great a love can be.

And how I love you! You make the morning start.

Joy streaming from my heart as I repeat your name:

You are my treasure, you came into my world,

Whatever Fate may hold, my life won't be the same.

AHADI: You will be King, you will be great, your dreams will all come true,

(TO MUFASA) But just for now remain my son, and let me comfort you.

I want the best to give my sons, I offer all I own;

What good is wealth and lands or health if one must live alone?

And how I love you! You make the morning start.

Joy streaming from my heart as I repeat your name:

You are my treasure, you came into my world,

Whatever Fate may hold, my life won't be the same.

Through the gathered hosts walked Makedde, the mandrill. Those near him drew back and cleared the way. He blessed them with signs of Aiheu's love, touching the very young with outstretched fingers, and also the very old.

Makedde forded the boulders that protected the base of Pride Rock, a warm shaft of stone whose sheltering arms protected lions from the uncertainties of night. Up, up the winding trail he climbed until he reached the promontory of stone where destiny awaited. As the world held its breath, Makedde approached the two sons of Akase. Ahadi lay his paw on small Mufasa and nodded gravely.

"I touch your mane, " Makedde said with deep respect. "Incosi aka Incosi, Great King." He sprinkled Mufasa with powdered Alba and anointed his brow with Chrisum. Then he picked up the small golden treasure and held him up. A shaft of light broke through the morning clouds and lit the cub like a kiss of joy. A child born of love who had known nothing but love in his short life looked over the admiring throng. Through the shouts, through the clamor of the transformed crowd a voice of sweetness whispered through the light, "Makedde, will you protect him?"

"With your help, Aiheu, I will not fail."

Below, the crowd in respect and awe felt the presence of G.o.d, and they fell to the ground bowing, sc.r.a.ping and calling in their own tongues the words of worship each according to their own belief. But Makedde did not hear them. Taking the tender baby to his arms, he kissed him. "May the wind blow kindly on you. May the sun shine brightly on you. May the G.o.ds take you to their heart." A tear of joy ran down his face.

Reluctantly, he lay the cub down by Akase. Small Taka looked up expectantly, his eyes full of innocent curiosity. With a smile, but some regret, Makedde cuddled the cub under the chin and felt the hum of his happy purr. "This will be the wise one, " Makedde whispered. "He would have made a great king."

SCENE: LEARNING THEIR LESSON.

Ahadi loved to play with his young sons. But he also took time to see to their education. Some lessons were naturally fun--like stalking and pouncing. Others were less fun, but equally important.

Mufasa was always good at stalking and pouncing, and he held his own wrestling with his brother Taka whom he almost always beat. But Taka could listen to hours of the Chronicles of the Kings and the Law of the Pride while Mufasa would start to squirm and follow the distant herds with his eyes.

Ahadi found Taka a thirsty sponge, and flattered by the rapt attention he got, he drew on all the learning of a lifetime and told him many wonderful and strange things on the inspiring setting of the promontory.

"The words of wisdom are sometimes hardest to hear, " Ahadi said. "N'ga and Sufa, the sons of Ramalah ignored their father's teachings, and it would bring them to grief. For a father teaches out of love, and to reject his teachings is to refuse his love. It's the same with us, my sons. I would not have you come to grief...." Ahadi paused, glanced at Mufasa who was wrapped up in his own daydream, winked at Taka, and kept right on going in the same voice. "And it was in this time that a certain lion cub watched the plains for wildebeests, dreaming of the day when he would have no more lessons to learn. And doing so, he stuffed his head with dead gra.s.s instead of knowledge." He added with some emphasis: "Isn't that so, Mufasa??"

"Yes, father."

Taka laughed and rolled about, singing, "Dead gra.s.s, dead gra.s.s, nyah-nyah-na-nyah-nyah! "

"What's so funny??" Mufasa looked at Taka with irritation, but his father scowled, and he looked down embarra.s.sed.

"Taka, what were we talking about?" Ahadi knew he could rely on him.

"There were these two brothers N'ga and Sufa. They were very famous. One day N'ga got into this fight with Sufa over this girl. Not just any girl, because she was white as clouds and magic, see, and if one of them married her, their kingdom would be great. But she was one swell number, and they both wanted her to marry them. So they went down by this lake (and this is the really neat part)--they fought all day and all night without stopping. And they fought the second day."

He began walking around Mufasa as he talked. "They fought all the third day. They didn't sleep either. They fought for five whole days and nights, cause she was such a babe, and they were so stubborn that neither one would give in. And on the fifth day, they both fell asleep at the same time. And while they were asleep, the girl sneaked out and married a magic lion with powers like hers, and boy did N'ga and Sufa feel like a couple of idiots! "

"Good job! " Ahadi nuzzled Taka. "And such a unique interpretation."

Mufasa looked dejected.

"Come here, m.u.f.fy." Ahadi pulled Mufasa over with his paw and nuzzled him. "I wish you could play all the time if that's what you really want. But you need to learn the skills of leadership. Besides, while I learned these lessons from my father it was a special time for us to spend together. Enjoy this time while it lasts, and make the most of it."

"I try. Really I do."

"I know. But remember that I don't love you for how smart you are or how strong you are. I love you because you're my sons. Whatever gifts Aiheu gives you, you need to make the most of them, and that takes education. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad."

Ahadi smiled indulgently. "Why don't you two go play for a while."

The cubs gamboled away, but Ahadi shouted, "Whoa! Aren't you forgetting something?"

m.u.f.fy and Taka ran back and gave their dad a quick kiss.

SCENE: WHATEVER THE LIGHT TOUCHES.

The next morning, Ahadi rose earlier than was his custom. Stealthily, he crept over to where his twin sons lay side by side, and with the most careful nudge touched Mufasa. The cub shifted but did not rouse. He pressed again, a little harder, and stirred Mufasa from his sleep. m.u.f.fy looked up a little surprised and irritated, but Ahadi touched his mouth with his paw and silently jerked his head about to say "follow me." His interest piqued, m.u.f.fy struggled to his feet quietly and began to follow his father out of the cave.

Taka, who was a light sleeper, felt a cold place on his back where it was warm before. He grunted and pushed himself back toward a brother that was not there. Sleepily he felt around with a paw, then looked about and just caught a glimpse that he was missing something important.

On stealthy paws, he stirred himself and crept out onto the platform that served as his spectacular front porch. There in the light of the early morning sun sat father and son. Mufasa leaned against his father, gold rimmed in the splendor of daybreak.

"Why wasn't I invited?" Taka wondered. He wanted to bury himself in the fragrant softness of his father's mane and enjoy the sunrise. For a moment, he considered snuggling up on the other side. Then m.u.f.fy said, "What's up, Dad?"

"Shhh! You'll wake Taka."

Taka enjoyed secrets, so he crouched in the doorway where he could see and not be seen.

"See what the light touches, " Ahadi purred softly. "That is the boundary of my kingdom. I sit here sometimes and look at it and it humbles me. So many peoples depend on me, and I must put their needs above my own. But it has been wonderful. It is always wonderful to be needed, especially when you always do your best to meet those needs. Someday you will know that feeling when I am gone, for I have chosen you to follow me."

"Me?" m.u.f.fy looked genuinely surprised. "Whoa, neat! "

Taka gasped. "No! It's not fair! " formed on his lips, but no sound came out.

m.u.f.fy said, with some difficulty, "But Taka has always been the smart one. I thought sure he'd be King. He knows everything."

"Not everything, son, though he is very bright. You're bright too, though you need to apply yourself more in your studies. I brought you out here in the hope that you would work harder if you knew what was at stake. What you are learning is the wisdom of our people. You are the future king. As long as you know how to be a good king, you will have lionesses who can chase wildebeests." Ahadi sighed deeply. "The decision was not easy. Don't tell Taka just yet. Right now, it's our little secret."

"Why is it a secret, Dad?"