{"sf1_id":504333,"sf2_id":"yndPy7Pn","title":"A King's Time","author":"PSLion","words":653,"posted_at":"2013-02-21T04:09:00.000Z","tags":["Disney","Fanfiction","Lion","Lion King","nuka"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/504333-a-king-s-time","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/yndPy7Pn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/09/dc/09dc0898-8d9a-4bbe-99cf-e74dbf0a3ce5","description":"#1 of Lion King Fan Fiction\n\nA piece of Lion King fiction I wrote back in 2002 (yes, I am really fishing the archives) because I thought that the character of Nuka from the second Lion King film was really given a raw deal. In the film he comes across as a bumbling fool, but in the scenes that didn't make it in to the final film, you find out he knew exactly what he was doing the whole time. So I thought I'd try and redress the balance by letting Nuka lament over his actions, and inactions.","content":" **A King's Time**\n\n_By Thomas King_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"Mother, if only you could see me now,\" sighed a scruffy lion as he rested his head between his paws.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm king of the world and leader of the pack.\"\u0026nbsp; The lion's short fuzzed-up mane fluttered gently in a passing breeze.\u0026nbsp; \"You would be so proud.\"\u0026nbsp; The sound of silence was all that greeted him.\u0026nbsp; No motherly call from a doting parent, no excitable shout from a cub and certainly no praise or affection.\u0026nbsp; The loudness of the silence was almost offensive.\u0026nbsp;  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The lion rolled over onto his back, letting his skinny figure sag to even thinner proportions.\u0026nbsp; He looked as if he had suffered years of neglect, possibly of his own doing.\u0026nbsp; His coat was tatty, his mane was a mess, and he looked in bad shape and ill health.\u0026nbsp; Even his tail was limp and lifeless.\u0026nbsp; Yet he was the king.\u0026nbsp; He was the ruler and he was the number one.\u0026nbsp;  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"I know you did not mean to always overlook me, mother,\" he continued to himself.\u0026nbsp; \"You were busy with my brother and sister too.\u0026nbsp; Especially my brother, though what you saw in him I have no idea.\u0026nbsp; I was older; I could have been the one to fulfil our destiny.\u0026nbsp; I tried to please you, really, I did and I know my efforts were not wasted, I am sure of it.\u0026nbsp; Why else did you let me stay with you for so long?\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The lion shed a small tear, which he brushed away with a heavy paw.\u0026nbsp; It was not the done thing to see a king cry.\u0026nbsp; Rolling back over and picking his head up, the lion shook his mane in a vain attempt to shed the sorrow filled feelings.\u0026nbsp; The feelings remained so the lion went back to his state of rest.  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"Even at my birth I hear you ignored me.\u0026nbsp; Cast me aside in the hope to breathe life into my stillborn older brother.\u0026nbsp; Even back then I was never given a real go at things.\u0026nbsp; However, I still loved you.\u0026nbsp; I wanted, more than nothing, to make you happy.\u0026nbsp; I know, deep down, you loved me for it and that, despite your harsh exterior, you had a soft spot in your heart for your special 'little fool'.\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"Nuka,\"\u0026nbsp;a voice called inside the lion's mind. \u0026nbsp;\"Don't be such a fool.\"\u0026nbsp; The lion seemed to melt with guilt at the thought.  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"Mother,\" he sobbed.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm sorry.\u0026nbsp; All the things I have done that upset you.\u0026nbsp; I did not mean to make you mad.\u0026nbsp; Honestly.\u0026nbsp; I tried my best; all I wanted was your attention.\u0026nbsp; I admit I was envious.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to be the chosen one, and I wanted to be the hero in your eyes. \u0026nbsp;I never wanted to have to compete with Kovu all the time, all I wanted was to be loved.\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The lion buried his face under his paws as he realised what he had just said.\u0026nbsp; \"It was all me, me, me.\u0026nbsp; No wonder you did not want to know me.\u0026nbsp; What a selfish little brat I was.\u0026nbsp; I was not worthy of your love. \u0026nbsp;Puh, some hero I turned out to be, crying like a cub that has hurt his paw.\u0026nbsp; Maybe those logs were a blessing after all.\u0026nbsp; I mean, I finally got your attention thanks to them.\" \u0026nbsp;A look of warmth spread over the lion's face as he figured out what his final moments alive had meant. \u0026nbsp;\"Working my whole life for your love, and it was the last thing I ever saw. \u0026nbsp;Oh, thank you mother.\u0026nbsp; You were the greatest.\"  \n \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;The sun began to rise over the savannah as the ghostly image of the lion vanished in the light, for it is true, a king's time as ruler rises and falls, like the sun.\n\nCharacters belong to Disney.  \nStory by: Thomas King, © 2002.  \n28th April 2002 - Edited 21st February 2013.  \n \u0026nbsp;\n\n  \n  \n\n"}