Peace for the Soul ~ A Lion King Fanfiction

Chapter 17: You and No Other

All credit for this music goes to the film Braveheart. I always imagined this would be a beautiful song for the occasion.

The countdown of days had taken an toll on my nerves. Sure, I had fought in arduous conditions, facing death on more that one occasion. I had journeyed to a far away land to seek peace, but today for some reason scared me the most of all of them, my wedding day.

"Stop twitching Kion! Your making the process harder!" Ono griped as he groomed me,

"Sorry, just got lost in thought again..." I say as my vision wanders.

"Lost in thought again? What is it this time?" Ono asked, I flinch ever so slightly, dreading my answer,

Umeme,

I still had yet to tell anyone here about her, except for Fuli that is. She held a lot of sympathy in that we both lost someone we cared about, but no matter how many times she told me "Your not a bad Lion." it still pained me just to think of how I failed her so long ago, and what she would see I have become. The selfish act to leave my home, my pride and my duty? The horrible nightmares? Living amongst a different species? A Lion and a Cheetah?

She was my best friend for as long as I can remember, and she never left my side.

"...you forgot that we promised to stay by each other's sides when we formed the guard together."

That promise, that covenant we had to stand strong by each other's sides as long as we lived. Of course we weren't yet of age to be mates, but we knew we wanted to pursue each other as long as we lived, and she fulfilled that to the furthest extent...

"Is it something you are willing to talk about?" Ono asked with his usual curious expression,

I sigh deeply, though I confronted scar twice, it didn't change the pit of hurt that day caused me.

"Ono, have you ever known what it's like to have a special bond to someone? Someone who was so special you would face any hardship willingly with them?" I ask,

He shakes his head, I begin explaining me and Umemes adventures in the Pridelands, forming the guard together, all leading up to that fateful day...

"Ushari, now!"

An Egyptian cobra slithers over to my body,

"I will enjoy this." He lunges to me and leaves me scarred, and in the searing pain as if my eye was flayed,

Scar then makes his way over to me,

"As will I Ushari..." he raises his paw to strike me down,

"No Kion!"

I flinch my eyes, awaiting to join the circle of life. Until a sudden body puts itself between me and scars attempt to strike me down. I open my eyes horrified to see Umeme lying down on her side in front of me, her face having three distinct deep gashes starting at her eye and down her muzzle.

My blood begins to boil as hot tears stream my face,

"Please, please be alright, I need you..."

Ono stands perfectly still, but his eyes remain wide open, slowly he shakes his head, finally seeing my perspective of what my life had become.

"Kion, are you afraid that you wouldn't do the same for Fuli?" He questions, already knowing where I'm getting at,

I open my mouth, but my voice fails me. Not knowing what to say, I sag my head, slowly nodding as I do so.

"Kion... you've got a kind of courage that few could ever comprehend. It's because of the fact that your worried about holding up your end of your marriage, that I believe you WILL hold it up." Ono said, putting his wing over my shoulder,

"Thank you Ono, it's just... what do you believe she would think? About a lion and a cheetah?" I ask, only for Ono to be slightly amused,

"Kion, if she gave her life for you, she would trust your decision making. This is supposed to be the greatest day of your life, don't let it go to waste! Now go out there and get her, while the day is still yours." He ushers me onward.

After hearing a foreign opinion on the matter, I can't help but wonder why I was so worried in the first place. Umeme would want me to be happy, and shockingly she bore a lot of similarities to Fuli, their competitive snarky attitude, the will to help others, their soft and almost motherly nature...

"Here we are!" Ono exclaimed, in front of a large acacia tree,

Bunga and Beshte were already waiting, as we're Fuli's bridesmaids, and nearly the whole coalition ready to see the joining of two different animals. A mixture of my nerves, plus the warm weather, I already sweating and the sun wasn't even halfway through its journey!

The whole crowd suddenly stood up and patted down the middle, revealing Fuli, being walked down by Heshima. Her eyes are bright and gleaming with happiness, sending me into a trance of bliss. She walks up, parting with her father and standing in front of me.

The beauty of not scripting things is seeing the truth behind a person. As we say our vows, we make it our covenant to never abandon each other, that through whatever pain, frustration and worry, we will always be one in flesh and spirit.

'I do.'

'I do!'

"I pronounce you two, the first Lion and Cheetah! You may now kiss your mate!" Bunga says in his optimistic voice,

Without a second though, we close the gap between our lips. I have never seen the look of pure, 'almost' innocent joy as when we released and looked into each other's eyes, the joy that flooded our bodies as our hearts raced. We embraced a second time, relishing in our presence. I take to Fuli's side and we make our way down the aisle of cheering cheetahs.

I walk her to an open field where everyone gathers to watch, and I take the lead in our dance. Her grace was on full view as she danced, relieving our nerves into the air we stained with sweat. We take to our hind legs, supporting each other, and with all my strength, I hold her up with my forepaws. Slowly descending into my embrace, out nuzzles trace each other once again, and we hold each other close.

"I will love you. You and no other." I whisper into her ear, her eyes close,

"And I will pursue you until the end of the circle of life." She whispers back.

As I opened my eyes, I swore I could see Umeme off in the crowd, giving a genuine, happy smile. I guess she was grateful after all that I found someone.