A/N: Hello all! this is PrideLandsPrincess reporting to you from somewhere on planet earth! I have been absent from fanction for a while, but I wanted to let you know that I am back with brand new stories! I had a bad case of writers block, however it is over, and now I can get back to doing what I love! I will be realising new stories in my new Lion King series periodically. I will try to update every week, however I can make no promises, as I have other responsibilties to attend to. With that being said, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

~ PrideLandsPrincess

Fatshe Leso,

Lea Halalela

In the early morning hours, as the sun began to rise, casting its long shadow over the sleeping savannah, King Mufasa slowly led his son Simba, and his youngest child Shani out of the royal den to the top of Pride rock, which had been home to many generations of kings and Queens, since the dawn of the ancient kingdom hundreds of years before.

Fatshe leso,

Lea Halalela,

As the the king ascended the steps of Pride rock leading towards the summit, Simba followed closely behind on his father's heels, taking in each step that his father took and attempting to imitate his regal stature. On the way up, he tripped when he failed to notice a rock in his path, causing his sister to chuckle. The young prince made a mental note to prank his sister later for laughing at him.

Uli-buse le lizwe

Izwe lethu

When The king and his children reached the summit, they sat at their father's right side, and waited for him to speak.

"Look children," Mufasa began," everything the light touches is our kingdom."

"Woah!" both children breathed in unison, causing their father to smile.

"A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun, " Mufasa coninued, "one day the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king Simba."

"And this will all be mine? " Simba said in astonishment, with his eyes fixed on the landscape eclipsed by the rising sun.

"Everything, " Mufasa nodded.

"Could I share some of it with Shani?" Simba asked innocently," that way she won't feel left out!"

"No, I'm afraid not, " Mufasa said, laughing at his son innocence, "but Shani, you will have a very important job too."

"Really? " Shani said, hear ears perking up with curiosity," what will I do?"

"You'll be the leader of the hunting party, and you will be Simba's advisor."

"Neat! " Shani said, satisfied with the idea," but will I ever be queen daddy?"

"Well...you will be queen if...if anything happens to Simba, " Mufasa said slowly, dreading this part of their morning lesson.

"Oh..."Shani said, looking down at her paws in regret for asking, "I didn't think of it that way."

"Don't worry Shani, " Simba whispered, "when I'm king we'll split the kingdom 50/50."

Mhabla wethu

Uli pathe khale

"Everything you see exists in a delecate balance," Mufasa said, "and as king you need to understand that balance, and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant, to the leaping antelope."

"But dad don't we eat the antelope?" Simba questioned.

"Yeah, " Shani chimed in, "how can we respect animals that we eat?"

"Now, now, let me explain, " Mufasa said patiently," when we die our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass, therefore we are all connected, in the great circle of life."

There was a long pause, before Simba posed his next question.

"What does the grass eat then?"

"Ha ha, Simba!"

Izwe lethu

Izwe lethu

Suddenly, Shani noticed something strange in the distance. It looked as if birds with a grey tint to their feathers and long beaks were swarming around a recently deceased creature, and beginning to feast upon its flesh.

"Daddy? " Shani said, moving closer to her father, "what are those birds over there?"

"Those a buzzards." Mufasa said, his smile fading.

"Why don't you chase them away? " Simba asked, grimacing at the sight.

"I don't have to, they are doing what they are supposed to do. Mufasa explained.

"It doesn't look good to me, " Shani said, turning away.

"Everything exists in a delicate balance, " Mufasa said, while pulling his children into a comforting embrace.

Uzo libusa

Le lizwe

"It's just as I said before," the king continued, echoing the very words his father uttered to him years before, "when we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass, just as the sun rises from night, and winter becomes the spring, so life rises from death."

Uzo libusa

Le lizwe

Uli buse kahle

Uzo libusa

Le Lizwe

Fatshe leso

Lea halalela

Simba was distracted from his lessons when a grasshopper zipped by him and disappeared into the tall grass. Being an adventerous cub who couldn't resist a challange, he lept after the unsuspecting tiny creature, and attempte to capture it to show his father what a good hunter he was.

As if on que, Zazu descended from the sky and landed atop a rock in front of Mufasa and Shani, who were still engaged in thoughtful conversation.

"Good morning sire!" Zazu said, bowing repsectfully, "and good morning to you princess!"

"Good morning Zazu! " Mufasa said, bowing back, causing Shani to do the same.

"Checking in with the morning report!" Zazu said dutifly.

"Fire away! " Mufasa said, giving Zazu his full attention.

"As you know, It is an honour, a duty, and a privilage for me to preform, I regard my duties of filling you in with all of the happenings of your majestic kingdom in truplicate, with the upmost espect, decourm and pride! As it stands, the chimps are going ape and the giraffes are above it all!"

As Zazu prattled on with his findings, Mufasa noticed out of the corner of his eye that Simba was attempting to catch a grass hopper, and was failing miserbly.

"What are you doing son?" Mufasa asked, with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Pouncing, " Simba said, as the grasshopper escaped his grasp for the umptenth time.

"Let an old pro show you how its done! " Mufasa said, with a mischivious glint in his auburn eyes.

"Stay low to the ground, " he whispered, lowering Simba's bottom half," try not to make a sound-"

"What's going on?" Zazu said, ceasing with his infernal speech.

"A pouncing lesson, " Mufasa replied.

"Oh yes, very good pouncing-pouncing?!" Zazu said, his eyes wide with realization, "oh sire please!"

Mufasa said nothing in reply, instead he motioned for Zazu to turn around, as he did frequently.

"This is worse than darts!" Zazu shuttered, as he recalled the numerous family game nights that he had been 'invited' to. Pin the stick on Zazu and coconut bowling happened to be the royal childrens favorite games along with pouncing, much to Zazu's dismey.

"Now get ready, " Mufasa whispered to Simba.

"What are you telling him Mufasa?!" Zazu inquired," Mufasa? Simba?"

Suddenly, Simba attacked Zazu from behind and sent him crashing to the ground, causing Mufasa and Shani to laugh until their bellies hurt.

"Oh sire, you sense of humor never ceases to abuse me! " Zazu moaned, as he collected himself.

As Zazu dusted himself off, his second in command gopher, popped up from the underground.

"Zazu sir!" gopher said dutifly, "I have recieved news from the underground."

"That was very good! " Mufasa said proudly, "now, this time-"

"Sire! "Zazu called," I've recieved word that there is trouble brewing at the river banks between the hippos and the crocodiles!"

"Zazu, watch Simba and Shani!" Mufasa said, immediatly springing into action.

"Awe dad! can't we come? " Simba groaned.

"No son. " Mufasa said, shaking his head, before leaping off.

"We never get to go anywhere fun!" Simba frowned.

"Oh don't fret young master! I'm sure that there are other things you can do!"

"Hey, maybe we could go to the water hole!" Simba said, perking up, "you haven't really met the other cubs yet."

Shani's eyes lit up at the idea, the only cubs she really knew were her brother, and his closest friend Nala. Being so young, she had not had the chance to spend much time outside the den.

"Race ya!"

Lea halalela

A/N: Please let me know if you are enjoying the story so far, reviews are appreciated and welcomed!