Tear-Stained Land (Chapter 1)

Oh, my head...where am I?
Last thing I remember is going to seventh period, then suddenly blacking out. I don’t know how or why that happened, but it did. I have a headache, too, so that’s never a good thing. Odd...I feel...warmer. Now granted, I always felt warm, but something is off about this. 
Nonetheless, I opened my eyes, just to be greeted by pure white eyes. Freaking out, I backed up with my...paws....? Whatever, I see dead people! The lion wasn’t recognizable, that’s for sure. All around me was like a whole other dimension...heaven, almost. Birds were chirping as they flew around, the entire land peaceful. I felt like I had no weight, too, but at the same time, the gravity held me down. ‘’Who are you?’’
‘’In due time, young one.’’ He smiled. ‘’The journey ahead will test your abilities to their fullest. Your intelligence, strength and love for those around you will be sought after and pushed to the limit. However, I do have faith in you.’’
‘’Where am I going?’’
‘’Watch and find out.’’ He said before his eyes glowed, blinding me and making me black out again.
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Slowly waking up again, I was somewhere else entirely. The sky was dark and cloudy, the ground felt rough and it felt...dry. Rolling over on my stomach, I looked around, nothing in sight, the wind, however faint it may be, brushing against my walnut brown fur as I examined the terrain. It was gray and almost disgusting to look at, looking like it hasn’t been treated in years.
Managing to get up on all fours, which may have been done easier due to my tendency to be on all fours as a child, I began to walk towards what appeared to be a big, pointy rock. Pride Rock, to be exact! Around me, I saw skulls and even full on skeletons of animals long dead, most likely from either hunting or dying of a combination of dehydration and starvation.
Looks less like a lush and beautiful landscape and more like post-war Germany, which I suppose is what Disney based this off of. 
Something caught my eye, immediately getting my attention. Lionesses all the way out here in this environment. I did recognize two of them, however: Sarabi and Nala. My two favorite female Lion King characters not named Zira or Kiara. Gulping, I headed towards them, licking my paw and sliding it across my chocolate brown mane. The hunting party looked like they were trying to find something, presumably food. After all, in this state of The Pridelands, food is scarcer than the possibilities of Shia Labeouf’s career being revived. 
The lionesses were all talking to each other, looking to Sarabi for guidance, the former Queen of Pride Rock struggling to come up with solutions for their current situation.
‘’Greetings, ladies.’’ I cleared my throat as they looked towards me, confusion on their faces as I bit my lip, cursing to myself. Stupid, I exposed myself too early.
‘’Hello there.’’ Sarabi gave me a tired smile, her aging eyes providing almost radiating wisdom. ‘’What’s your name?’'
...Come to think of it, I hadn’t come up with a name...think, Connor, think! Ah, I know.
‘’Name’s Jabori.’’ I said, finally coming up with my temporary name. ‘’Nice to meet you all.’’
‘’Likewise.’’ The mother of Simba nodded before looking at her hunting party, then to Nala. ‘’Nala.’’
‘’Yes, Sarabi?’’ Nala asked, discipline in her tone.
‘’Take Jabori somewhere safe for now. Hyenas should be patrolling all over at this hour.’’ Sarabi frowned with intent, seriousness evident. ‘’We don’t want trouble.’’
‘’Understood.’’ The younger lioness replied before heading towards me. ‘’Come with me.’’
Ah, I intend to. I would call this a dream come true, but as of now, I am not really getting good vibes from this place.
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‘’This is The Pridelands, or at least what’s left of it.’’ Nala sighed as we walked through the Kingdom, the damage to it clear. ‘’Ever since Scar let the hyenas into The Pridelands, everything has changed for the worse.’’
‘’Change is good.’’
‘’Not in this case.’’ Nala looked away. ‘’It’s been about a year since Scar gained the throne and our home, our once precious and beautiful home filled with animals of all shapes and sizes...is no more. Replaced with a barren wasteland outside of the population at Pride Rock.’’
‘’I’m sorry…’’
‘’A year ago, King Mufasa and Prince Simba-’’ She choked on Simba’s name. ‘’Died in a stampede, leaving the pride vulnerable. Scar promised that a new era of glorious future would be brought by uniting the lions and hyenas...he lied.’’
‘’Oh…’’ I thought of a backstory for me in order to make it seem like I wasn’t from another world. ‘’Well, you see, I was born to a pride that was engaged in a war. Nobody but the royalty knew how or why the war started, but it did. The warring prides did back and forth invasions until our enemy decided to do a full scale invasion on us. Everyone, from lionesses to males to cubs, charged on us. And after everything ended...I was the only one left from either pride.’’
That made Nala gasp in horror. ‘’I can’t imagine how that feels.’’
‘’Don’t worry, I’ve come to accept it.’’ I looked down. ‘’Besides, what’s done in the past shouldn’t ruin futures on a personal level.’’
‘’We’re near Pride Rock now.’’ She said suddenly, looking at the rock in particular, giving me an idea on where I could stay. 
‘’Hey, Nala, I think I know a place where I could sleep...I don’t think Scar would want another male sleeping in the same den as him. So instead, I have an idea.’’ I sure hope this works. ‘’You see, I have been hearing about this old, abandoned part of Pride Rock that hasn’t been touched in what feels like hundreds of years. I just need your help in finding it.’’
‘’Why my help?’’
‘’Why wouldn’t I? You’re the only one near me.’’
‘’....Fine.’’
‘’Splendid!’’ I grinned before heading towards where I remember where it was or is...The Lair of The Lion Guard. ‘’The place I am trying to find will be great.’’
‘’Any clues as to what it looks like?’’ She asked, raising an eyebrow as I nodded.
‘’It’s a cave covered in vines.’’ I said, causing her to deadpan. ‘’...What?’’
‘’Everything died out. Plants, animals, everything.’’
‘’Well, that just makes it easier.’’
‘’You have GOT to be kidding me.’’
‘’Nope.’’
FIRST CHAPTER OF A NEW SERIES! WOOO!!
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Think of this as an alternate timeline, as to where instead of being sent to the time of The Lion Guard or The Lion king 2, the would-be-Shujaa is sent to the time of Scar’s Reign and be forced to give himself a different name. I will do something that I haven’t tried and allow people to make fan made chapters and one-shots based on what occurs in this story.
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NEXT: When Jabori and Nala manage to find the old Lair of The Lion Guard, some odd events happen that may influence Jabori in the long run as his new lioness companion finds a desire for more answers about him.
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Category:Tear-Stained Land
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