Breathing heavy, Msia looked on his son with anger
[Don't you think I can beat G'ania?]
[I'm sure you can.] Sakura sent. [But you need your powers at full strength. Stay with mother and D'aryl. I will finish this for all of us.]
As he turned to confront the Regent, Michiyo. grabbed his arm to turn him around.
"We are all with you deep in your heart." She reached up and pulled him into a kiss on his cheek. [Be brave my son.]
After saying Good Bye to his family, Sakura turned and walked out to meet the Regent on the battle field. G'ania stood there waiting looking annoyed by the hold up.
"This cattle does not concern you child."
"Oh but your wrong." Sakura said. "Anything that involves Panthera, involves me. This is my home and it uses to be yours, but that was then. this is now."
"I won't fight you child so step away and let me and your father get on with business."
"You either fight me." Sakura said with a smile. "Or you can fight us all Your choice."
"I'll take your suggestion under one condition." G'ania said smugly.
"And what's that?"
Looking devious as ever, G'ania, gave the Lion pack their choices.
"You can turn around and leave passing the throne over to me. And that include the Queen, or we can finish the battle right here and now."
"You still think of me as a boy." Sakura said annoyed at the way he was being treated. "I passed my rites of adulthood two years ago. But that doesn't matter, does it? You will always see me as the cub playing with his toys on the kings study floor. Let me assure you that is not so. I may only be in my low twenty's, but I have a mate and we will marry when this is all over. So the talking is done, now we battle to the deaths."
"So be it." G'ania pulled his arm as he formed a power ball and let it fly at Sakura. Sakura lifted his sword and let the blade absorb the energy. With a look of contentment, he returned G'ania's powerball double its yield. Like a skilled Warlock, G'ania raised his hands and summoned lightning from the sky. As the lightning flashed strikes charged down all around Sakura. Then as he raised the Lion's claw, a strike came down to hit the sword. As Sakura held it, static made his fur and hairs stand reaching out for the sky. Fully charged with electrical energy, Sakura sent two bolt at G'ania. As the Panther jumped about, Sakura let go with a wave of electricity. As the wave advanced on G'ania, he swept his arm out and dismissed the wave.
"You are talented with magik."G'ania said. "But not as talented as your mate. You should give up and let me have Panthera. I would spare your live and let you leave in peace,"
"You want the truth?" Sakura said. "I never wanted to be king. There's way to much politics for me. But that doesn't mean for a second I'd ever let you have it."
"Then you and your family will die today!!!"
With the wave of his hand, G'ania Gazzini sent a deadly blast of power at Sakura and his family. Sensing what the Regent was up to, Sakura raised his sword and called upon Zakia Manzi to come and protect them. As G'ania let loose with his blast. a voice called to Sakura.
[Sakura, hold your sword high, it will protect you.]
As the wave came at him, Sakura said prayers to his ancestors, kings and pawns. He asked them to come and help him protect his family and the kingdom from falling. Holding his sword high, Sakura looked out to where G'ania was standing as the ground beneath him started to shake. As G'ania tripped and stumbled across the palace floor, the faces of the Dumas line flashed in and out of his mind. Zakia Manzi and Great father Touka with the wide scar across his face. Magasi Duma ad Lady Usla Duma the widowed bride appeared as did all seven of her children who sat on the throne. All calling out to Sakura to pass on their power and knowledge. Looking out at G'ania Gazzini who stood there trembling in fear. Sakura Dumas, the Prince of Panthera called out to G'ania Gazzini.
"This is over and you have lost." Msia Dumas said as he stood up and stepped out to where Sakura stood. "You were a close friend to me. I honor you by putting the most important things in my life in your hands. You thanked me by trying to steal my land and my family. I understand why you did it. You thought I was never coming back. At least that's what the Hyenen Mulu Amin promised you. You put your trust in the wrong one. You gambled everything, your home, your family and your pride. And here you stand before me waiting to see if I'll have you killed. What would you do if I let you live? Can I trust that this is over? I'm sorry but I think you will try again in a few years."
"You are right." G'ania said with a wicked smile. "I'll be back, even death won't hold me, so do what you want. My revenge will be just as sweet."
"Take him away." Msia said. "I will deal with him later. Right now I want to see my children."
With tears in her eyes, the Queen ran to her husband and through her arms around his neck and kissed him. She was glad this was finally over and Aspana would finally have peace. With an order from the king, all the cities bells rang and the front gate opened to let those who fought to keep Panthera safe in. There would be a feast tonight.
Later that evening as the party went on Astan left the party hall for a more private balcony. In his hand he held a bottle of Pink Champagne. He had seen Aggar, Quynn and Sky off and the Gorillas on there way back to Domina. Earlier they did the funeral rites for Deja and Kifedi. All the fighting was over at last, he and Sakura could find a place they could call their home away from all this royal life. As he looked back, he thought royal life wasn't that bad. Thought he did lead a pampered life. He had everything he wanted, all he had to do was asked for it. But that was all behind him. It was kinda exciting. No more footmen setting out his clothes, no maids to clean, no doormen and no butlers they would be alone with only each other to depend on. But maybe that was a good thing.
"It would be a good thing." He heard from behind. "It'll be just you and me. We won't have to deal with anybody's prejudice."
"I don't care about them anymore." Astan said as he took Sakura in his arms. "All I ever wanted is to be with you."
The end.
"We are all with you deep in your heart." She reached up and pulled him into a kiss on his cheek. [Be brave my son.]
After saying Good Bye to his family, Sakura turned and walked out to meet the Regent on the battle field. G'ania stood there waiting looking annoyed by the hold up.
"This cattle does not concern you child."
"Oh but your wrong." Sakura said. "Anything that involves Panthera, involves me. This is my home and it uses to be yours, but that was then. this is now."
"I won't fight you child so step away and let me and your father get on with business."
"You either fight me." Sakura said with a smile. "Or you can fight us all Your choice."
"I'll take your suggestion under one condition." G'ania said smugly.
"And what's that?"
Looking devious as ever, G'ania, gave the Lion pack their choices.
"You can turn around and leave passing the throne over to me. And that include the Queen, or we can finish the battle right here and now."
"You still think of me as a boy." Sakura said annoyed at the way he was being treated. "I passed my rites of adulthood two years ago. But that doesn't matter, does it? You will always see me as the cub playing with his toys on the kings study floor. Let me assure you that is not so. I may only be in my low twenty's, but I have a mate and we will marry when this is all over. So the talking is done, now we battle to the deaths."
"So be it." G'ania pulled his arm as he formed a power ball and let it fly at Sakura. Sakura lifted his sword and let the blade absorb the energy. With a look of contentment, he returned G'ania's powerball double its yield. Like a skilled Warlock, G'ania raised his hands and summoned lightning from the sky. As the lightning flashed strikes charged down all around Sakura. Then as he raised the Lion's claw, a strike came down to hit the sword. As Sakura held it, static made his fur and hairs stand reaching out for the sky. Fully charged with electrical energy, Sakura sent two bolt at G'ania. As the Panther jumped about, Sakura let go with a wave of electricity. As the wave advanced on G'ania, he swept his arm out and dismissed the wave.
"You are talented with magik."G'ania said. "But not as talented as your mate. You should give up and let me have Panthera. I would spare your live and let you leave in peace,"
"You want the truth?" Sakura said. "I never wanted to be king. There's way to much politics for me. But that doesn't mean for a second I'd ever let you have it."
"Then you and your family will die today!!!"
With the wave of his hand, G'ania Gazzini sent a deadly blast of power at Sakura and his family. Sensing what the Regent was up to, Sakura raised his sword and called upon Zakia Manzi to come and protect them. As G'ania let loose with his blast. a voice called to Sakura.
[Sakura, hold your sword high, it will protect you.]
As the wave came at him, Sakura said prayers to his ancestors, kings and pawns. He asked them to come and help him protect his family and the kingdom from falling. Holding his sword high, Sakura looked out to where G'ania was standing as the ground beneath him started to shake. As G'ania tripped and stumbled across the palace floor, the faces of the Dumas line flashed in and out of his mind. Zakia Manzi and Great father Touka with the wide scar across his face. Magasi Duma ad Lady Usla Duma the widowed bride appeared as did all seven of her children who sat on the throne. All calling out to Sakura to pass on their power and knowledge. Looking out at G'ania Gazzini who stood there trembling in fear. Sakura Dumas, the Prince of Panthera called out to G'ania Gazzini.
"This is over and you have lost." Msia Dumas said as he stood up and stepped out to where Sakura stood. "You were a close friend to me. I honor you by putting the most important things in my life in your hands. You thanked me by trying to steal my land and my family. I understand why you did it. You thought I was never coming back. At least that's what the Hyenen Mulu Amin promised you. You put your trust in the wrong one. You gambled everything, your home, your family and your pride. And here you stand before me waiting to see if I'll have you killed. What would you do if I let you live? Can I trust that this is over? I'm sorry but I think you will try again in a few years."
"You are right." G'ania said with a wicked smile. "I'll be back, even death won't hold me, so do what you want. My revenge will be just as sweet."
"Take him away." Msia said. "I will deal with him later. Right now I want to see my children."
With tears in her eyes, the Queen ran to her husband and through her arms around his neck and kissed him. She was glad this was finally over and Aspana would finally have peace. With an order from the king, all the cities bells rang and the front gate opened to let those who fought to keep Panthera safe in. There would be a feast tonight.
Later that evening as the party went on Astan left the party hall for a more private balcony. In his hand he held a bottle of Pink Champagne. He had seen Aggar, Quynn and Sky off and the Gorillas on there way back to Domina. Earlier they did the funeral rites for Deja and Kifedi. All the fighting was over at last, he and Sakura could find a place they could call their home away from all this royal life. As he looked back, he thought royal life wasn't that bad. Thought he did lead a pampered life. He had everything he wanted, all he had to do was asked for it. But that was all behind him. It was kinda exciting. No more footmen setting out his clothes, no maids to clean, no doormen and no butlers they would be alone with only each other to depend on. But maybe that was a good thing.
"It would be a good thing." He heard from behind. "It'll be just you and me. We won't have to deal with anybody's prejudice."
"I don't care about them anymore." Astan said as he took Sakura in his arms. "All I ever wanted is to be with you."
The end.
