Hakuna begins to monologue, his voice carrying the serious weight of history. "For most of my life, I was told never to socialize with members of different clans, to keep my identity a complete secret. I had no idea why this secrecy was so paramount, until I found out the true, bloody story..."
Fade in.
The One-Man Army
On a cold autumn morning in Lesotho, seventeen years prior, King Edward, Hakuna's father, is seen standing on a high, wind-swept hill, looking over an entire army of men stretched out below him like tiny, futile dolls.
"Hmm, let's go, Psycha! We don't have all day," The king commands, his voice ringing with absolute, dismissive authority.
Psycha, now residing within Edward's consciousness, voices her usual sarcasm. "Alright, alright, so bossy. Can't a resident demon get a decent cup of coffee before mass murder?"
"Eh... Save the commentary for later," Edward mutters, already leaping from the hill.
Edward storms through the army, a purple-yellow blur of lethal efficiency, decimating their entire fleet. It is absolute destruction. Men are flung hundreds of meters, shields explode into dust, and the ground itself ripples and cracks under the sheer force of his movement. They stand no chance against the speed and power of the Letebele King.
Until...
"Hmm, interesting," King Mopheme, the one who leads the army, voices, watching the annihilation from his raised position with an air of clinical detachment.
His first Attendant questions, "Is there a problem, sire? Your entire vanguard is being annihilated."
"I can't really say that it's a 'problem,' but Lesole is attacking on his own—a genuine one-man army. I am truly intrigued by such audacity and power," the king continues, a predatory glint in his eye.
He jumps down into the battlefield just as Edward knocks out the last remaining man.
"You must be a descendant of Mopheme, kinda weird naming your clan after your own name but okay," Edward says, turning to face the new challenger.
"Hmm? How do you know that, young man?" King Mopheme questions, circling slowly.
"Young man?" Edward flares his energy, the ground briefly buckling under the intense pressure of his aura. "I have lived for over five thousand years. I was there when Jesus decided to walk on water." He declares the ancient truth with a casual, almost bored tone.
"Oh my God, that is so bad, Edward! You don't just drop historical spoilers like that!" Psycha palms her face inside his head, recoiling from the social faux pas.
King Mopheme, shocked but driven by curiosity, launches toward Edward, his own formidable power unleashed. Edward blocks the blow easily. "You look rather young for a 5,000-year-old man, I must say," the king comments, trying to hide his strain.
"Oh? Thank you. I take care of myself," Edward replies non-sarcastically, genuinely appreciating the compliment.
Edward throws a precise, powerful punch, sending King Mopheme tumbling back across the debris-strewn field. King Mopheme thinks to himself, "It's baffling. Such a being exists. Could he be... a God of War, or something more?"
"Sorry, man, but I gotta go. I have a very pregnant wife to get to, and she doesn't like me being late for supper," Edward says, flicking his wrist. He flares his energy even more, channeling it to his hand.
"Kihimurra!"
He fires the blast, not at King Mopheme, but directly to his feet, creating a massive, dense cloud of superheated steam that completely hides his presence. As the steam clears a moment later, Edward vanishes.
"Hmm, interesting indeed. The speed, the power, and the sudden retreat. A fascinating specimen," King Mopheme says to himself, already plotting his next move.
The Naming Debate and the Intrusion
...At the palace...
"You're back," Sehloho says, standing in the hallway, staring daggers at his father. Max is beside him, looking equally annoyed.
"Yep. Is Justina still asleep? I hope she hasn't missed lunch," the king questions, attempting levity.
"No, she just woke up. And she's looking for you," Max chimes in, his voice flat.
"Oh, great," Edward says, his confidence momentarily deflated. Edward heads for the throne room, bracing himself for the inevitable confrontation.
"Edward, where do you come from, smelling like smoke and destruction?" Justina questions, already standing next to the throne, arms crossed.
Edward is terrified. "Uh, I took a walk... to clear my head. That's all. I promise it was a short one," he stammers, instantly dropping his regal facade.
Justina then reprimands him, her voice laced with maternal fear. "Your sons, who are more than adept, can take care of war-related nonsense! You need to be here with your pregnant wife, ensuring the safety and peace of our future! You know how dangerous this is!"
"I have the perfect name for the baby!" Edward says effortlessly, deploying the nuclear option and changing the subject entirely.
Uh oh... Distraction technique, level Master.
"Please don't let it be a weird, aggressively masculine Letebele name," the queen says, massaging her temples.
"Huh? Like what? What names could possibly be weird?" Edward questions, feigning ignorance.
Justina then continues, listing the family history. "Ehem, your name is Lesole; it literally translates to Soldier. And not to mention, your first son, Sehloho, his name means Ruthless. No such names implying violence or a life of combat would be given to my son!"
"You've had complete rein over our daughters for almost fifteen years! You named them all after flowers and concepts of peace. Let me have this one, pleeeeaaase! This is my last chance!" The king begs, dropping to his knees.
"Alright, fine. But it has to be a compromise," Justina relents, her frustration giving way to exhaustion.
Edward then speaks, rising with renewed excitement. "Listen, we'll call him, Hakuna..."
"What?! What kind of name is Hakuna?" The queen jerks in confusion.
"Let me explain," Edward says, pulling a scroll out of nowhere. "His name would actually be Akekhomunyeofananae."
"Huh? That's... a lot of letters. I'm still lost," Justina is still baffled.
Edward then continues, explaining the brilliance of the deception. "It would appear like that on his birth certificate, translating roughly to 'He is not like the others.' But everyone will call him Hakuna for short, which translates to 'Definitely' or 'Certainly' in our old dialect. It's an affirmation."
"It has happened again. I give you an inch, and you take a mile," Justina palms her face once again, recognizing his manipulative genius.
"Think about it: Prince Hakuna. That screams: Awesome! It's short, punchy, and utterly unique," Edward rambles, this time with a genuine, paternal passion.
"So, you don't want him to be made fun of at school, and you want a name that protects him from the fate of 'Soldier' or 'Ruthless'?" The queen asks, finally understanding the complex logic.
"Of course, I don't! Which is why I aimed for his name being unique and powerful at the same time. He will be different," Edward says, already proud of the soon-to-come baby boy.
"Oh my God," the queen palms her face once again.
Psycha chimes in, "Not bad, actually. Sounds like the name of a warrior who chooses his own path. I approve."
Justina then says, sighing but smiling, "Okay then, our son will be named..."
King Mopheme busts the reinforced door open, interrupting the touching, pivotal moment, shattering the quiet room.
"Tch! You knew you were outmatched and running away, and yet you still have the nerve to attack my home while I'm deciding the name for my unborn son?" Edward snarls, snapping his head to look to the intruding man, his calm breaking into pure fury.
"I come in peace, Lord Lesole of the Letebele clan," King Mopheme says, raising his hands, though his stance is clearly aggressive.
"What do you want? State it quickly, before I lose my temper," Edward asks dismissively.
King Mopheme then continues, launching his outrageous proposal. "Regarding your unborn son, I have a daughter who was born earlier this year. With your son on the way, it would be perfect for the two children to wed in the future, would it not? The joining of our two great houses would ensure global dominance."
"Eh... A creepy arranged marriage?" Psycha mutters in Edward's mind.
Edward's head tilts in confusion, the sheer audacity of the demand stunning him. "You must be out of your f***ing mind," he says, his voice low and dangerous.
Justina reprimands, "Language, Edward!"
"Sorry. I enforce one thing above all else in my family, and that is free will. So you want me to arrange marriage for my son who hasn't even taken his first breath?" Edward says, utterly appalled.
King Mopheme persists his proposal, "Think about it, the joining of the two most powerful clans in Lesotho—a union of strength and peace!"
"We don't care for such trivial political things, Mopheme. Just leave, and don't return," Edward says, turning his back.
King Mopheme then sighs dramatically. "I really didn't want things to get to this, however..." He flies towards Justina with terrifying speed and grabs her neck, slamming her onto the wall with brutal force. "I only enforce one thing in my family: do whatever it takes to ensure success for the clan."
Time stops.
With tremendous, unimaginable speed, Edward covers the distance, grabs King Mopheme's hair, and throws him back across the room, catches Justina mid-air, and takes her to safety in the furthest corner. He reappeared instantly in front of King Mopheme just as time resumed.
"What the...?! What are you, a demon?!" King Mopheme stammers, unable to comprehend the speed.
Edward charges a destructive blast in his hand, a volatile mix of purple and yellow energy. "Nope, I have one inside me," he says, delivering the final, cold truth. He blasts King Mopheme into oblivion, the destructive force vaporizing the king and leaving a massive hole in the palace wall.
Edward runs towards where he put Justina. "I told you, stop this nonsense! Stop these wars! I want my son to live in a peaceful world, free from this violence! I can't do this anymore!" Justina cries, in shock, tears running down her face, the trauma of the day breaking her resolve.
Hakuna continues his narration, his voice softening with sorrow. "It turned from there. My father saw the damage he was doing. He put my mom in hiding and announced that she had a miscarriage on the next Citadel of Crowns, breaking the hearts of the nation. He withdrew from the war entirely and travelled to the North West. He built a small house where he would raise me after he retired as king. No one expected him to lose his life five years after I was born, and so, for the next twelve years, I still stayed in this palace. I was homeschooled, and I spent all my time here. At times I would go outside, but that was it, nothing more, nothing less. No one from other clans knew I even existed..."
The Citadel of Crowns
Present day.
Hakuna grabs his ceremonial Jacket, wraps his Seanamarena (the traditional Basotho blanket) around himself, and places his Mokorotlo (the conical hat) on his head. He walks toward the grand room where the Citadel of Crowns takes place.
"I guess now it's time to reveal: I never died," he says, the weight of the secret finally lifting.
Sehloho chimes in, "Well, it was due to happen someday. Time to face the music, little brother."
They both walk in, the atmosphere electric. Every Clan is there with their kings and princes, a stunning array of power and wealth.
The room is silent as the Letebele King and his brother enter. The Mokhethiwa clan is there with King Tshenolo and Prince Tshepo. The Lewotla clan is represented by King Kutlwano and Prince Junior. The Mofokeng clan has King Pheello and Prince Katleho. The Motaung clan, however, while with their King Thuto, has no prince present. We also have the Kgauhelo clan, a powerful house ruled by women, with their Queen Tharollo. There's the Mokoena clan with their King Lerumo and Prince Tebello. And finally, we have a visiting clan from the Tswana tribe, the Tshabadira clan, with their King Thlomamo and Princess Rorisang.
These are all the present clans in the 20th Citadel of Crowns, hosted by the Letebele Clan, with their current King Sehloho and newly revealed Prince Hakuna.
Hakuna comes from behind to stand beside Sehloho. The shock is immediate and palpable. Everyone is stunned. The last born prince lives? How? Everyone thought Justina had a miscarriage.
"What madness is this, Sehloho?" King Thuto shouts, standing up violently.
"Pardon me, King Thuto?" Sehloho asks, his hand resting on Hakuna's shoulder.
"Isn't this the famously dead son of the Prime King? The child whose demise was announced to end the war!" King Thuto questions, his voice echoing with incredulity.
"Well, yes, yes, it is. However, as you can see, he isn't dead. He is very much alive and well," Sehloho replies calmly.
"Elaborate immediately, Sehloho!" King Thuto demands, slamming his fist on the table.
Queen Tharollo sighs, a dramatic sound that carries through the tension. "Oh, this isn't even your Kingdom, King Thuto, and already you're making demands and shouting. How very masculine of you."
"Be quiet, woman! Now, son of Edward, explain your father's sins!" the king barks, ignoring the Queen.
Sehloho then sighs, gathering his thoughts. "For the sake of peace and to end this rumor once and for all, I'll tell you all what took place. My father had just returned from decimating King Mopheme's army, and was in the middle of picking out a name for my younger brother here. King Mopheme was so fascinated with the power we possess as individuals, so much so that he offered my father a deal in which my younger brother, who was unborn at the time, would marry his infant daughter. My father refused, enforcing his rule of free will. King Mopheme did not like that, so he threatened to kill the boy's mother. Father inevitably killed him in defense. Mother Justina did not want to live that kind of life anymore, and so, it led to his withdrawal from war and him putting Hakuna into hiding, announcing a miscarriage to protect the boy."
King Lerumo then asks, his voice calm and sharp. "Might I ask, what changed? I mean, all this time you've hid this boy from the rest of the world. What's so different about now?"
"Well, let's just say, we don't need to anymore. The time for hiding is over," Sehloho states, meeting the King's gaze.
Psycha chimes in, now comfortably in Hakuna's head. "You're awfully quiet, what's on your mind? The tension is thick enough to chew."
"That girl, the Tshabadira princess, Rorisang. She hasn't taken her eyes off me since I showed up. It's nerve-wracking," Hakuna says, trying his hardest to ignore the intense, curious gaze.
"Oh, she is rather cute. It's understandable if you're a little shy. Maybe go say hi," Psycha comments teasingly.
"There is only one girl that I can make eye contact with, and you know who that is. So no, you're wrong," the prince states firmly, dismissing the other princess.
"Sheesh. Commitment issues, much? Oh, by the way, some of these guys wanna fight you, so be on the lookout," the demon says, shifting to a warning tone.
King Tshenollo chimes in, "Seemingly, the boy must be well adept at fighting to warrant such secrecy. So why don't we have a little test? Tshepo, have some fun."
"Gladly, Father," Tshepo says, clasping his fist with a confident grin.
King Kutlwano then speaks, a grim smile on his face. "Go ahead, son. Show them what you're made of, Junior."
"I don't plan on disappointing, Father," Junior says, his eyes already locked on Hakuna.
King Pheello then beckons, "Katleho, do as you please, my son. Let's see the young upstart's moves."
"I'll entertain this, for now. It seems better than watching more arguing," the boy voices, stepping forward lazily.
King Thuto then speaks, "Seeing as you seem confident in your brother's skills, Sehloho, let him take on these princes."
"Son, Tebello, you may join, if you want to stretch your legs," King Lerumo offers, though without much enthusiasm.
"Nah, it doesn't seem necessary to me," the prince says, shrugging off the challenge.
Rorisang then speaks, "Father, I'll sit back and observe, for now. I want to see what this 'dead' prince is capable of."
King Thlomamo replies, "I never intended for you to join at all, princess. Your power is reserved for more important matters."
"Hmm, go ahead, Hakuna. Show them the truth," Sehloho says, beckoning Hakuna forward.
Hakuna then sighs, a sound of resignation. "This'll probably be boring, but fine."
He takes his Mokorotlo and Seanamarena off, folding the expensive attire neatly and placing them next to Sehloho's throne. He then roars, filling the entire hall with his voice. "Alright, my name is Hakuna Ntlamele, I am the son rumored to be dead before I was even born, but as it turns out, I'm alive."
He jumps to the center of the floor, landing with a thud that shakes the ancient stone. He then continues, his voice switching to the ominous, reverberating boom of a demon, layered with crushing power. "You guys want to test my strength? GO AHEAD!"
Immediately, a pressure shrouded the entire palace, a palpable, heavy blanket of invisible force that made the air gasp.
"What is this? Such raw, unrefined power!" King Thuto questions in awe, completely forgetting his anger.
King Tshenollo thinks to himself, "So the boy lives. Interesting. His power as well, astounding. This will be intriguing, indeed."
"It's about to go down. Popcorn time," Psycha says, settling in for the show.
"Yup. Time to teach some history," Hakuna says.
Everyone prepares to attack, the princes surging with power, their challenge accepted. But then, before any of the princes can move, the floor under Hakuna explodes, and a blinding light erupts from the epicenter.
"KIHIMURRA!"
A searing, blinding light covers the entire room, forcing all the powerful royals to shield their eyes from the devastating intensity.
Fadeout...
End of Episode 24.