The Lion King

Kiara & Kovu's Circle of Life

Chapter 1: Another Circle Of Life

The great circle of the sun rose up over the African plain, hot and brilliant, just as it had done since the beginning of time. All around the animals of the Pride Lands gazed up at the sun as it bathed them all in its golden light. They sensed a stirring in the air as a gentle, cool breeze blew. They all knew that something special had happened in the Pride Lands. It was time.

Together, as one, all the animals moved in great herds, heading for a single destination. Elephants plodded along steadily. Antelope leaped through the grass. Giraffes loped. Cheetahs raced. Ants marched in a single line, while huge flocks of flamingos winged across the sky. They were all journeying towards Pride Rock to celebrate the birth of Queen Kiara and King Kovu's new family.

Above the gathering on the top the majestic Pride Rock, Rafiki, the wise, old baboon, watched as the animals gathered around. Beside Rafiki stood a younger baboon. This young baboon was Rafiki's apprentice, Yodara. Rafiki knew that one day his spirit would join Mufasa's and that Yodara would have to take his place. Yodara looked a lot like Rafiki, but his hair always stuck up and his beard wasn't nearly as long as Rafiki's.

Rafiki looked up at the sun. A gentle breeze blew by and ruffled his white beard. The old baboon smiled to himself as he felt a familiar presence in the air. He felt the presence of his old friend's spirit, Mufasa.

Mufasa watched from the heavens with a smile. Another circle of life was complete.

An old lion approached Rafiki's side. The two old friends smiled at each other and looked up at the sun. The lion was Simba. Simba was now many moons old now. His once bright red mane had tinges of grey and he was white around his nose. The elderly lion king felt a great sense of pride within himself. He was now a grandfather. He smiled as the gentle breeze blew through his mane. Simba felt his father, Mufasa, calling out to him, telling him that he was proud of him. Simba smiled with gratitude.

Simba turned slightly as an equally old lioness walked up to his side. It was his queen, Nala. He looked at Nala lovingly with his ruby red eyes. Nala was an old lioness now. Her once peach colored fur was now grayish, but she still untainted the grace that she had when she was young.

Just then a blue and white hornbill flew up and landed in front of the elders. It was Simba's majordomo, Zazu. The bird smiled and bowed to them. The four friends bowed they're heads at the bird.

The five friends walked up to the cave entrance of Pride Rock, where a handsome young lion and a beautiful young lioness rested.

The lion had brown and cream colored fur, a black mane, emerald green eyes and a scar across his left eye. It was none – other – than Kovu, King of the Pridelands.

Now a mature adult lion, Kovu was now a few inches larger than Simba and the strongest lion within the pride. His dark mane had grown considerably over the last few seasons. Although he was still young, his incredible strength, stanima and battle tactics were legendary. All animals of the Pridelands were greatful to have such an able leader as king.

The lioness had sandy colored fur and ruby red eyes. It was Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, and now Queen of the Pridelands.

Kiara was no longer a childish and carefree teenager, but now a responsible young adult. She had grown into a lean, sleek and beautiful lioness. Through Kovu's rigorous training, Kiara had become the prides greatest hunter, even outstanding her mate. And with her father's teachings she had become very level headed and wise. The Pridelands could not have been blessed with a better queen.

Rafiki and Yodara bowed a little to the king and queen. Kiara and Kovu bowed they're heads to the baboons.

Kiara looked down at a small bundle that was curled up in her arms. She gently licked the little bundle of fur. The tiny infant moved, raised its head and blinked its eyes several times. The infant had sandy colored fur just like its mother, but it had green eyes just like its father.

Kovu looked down at the tiny bundle of fur he held in his own arms. He nuzzled it gently with his muzzle. The little infant twitched, raised its head and yawned. The infant had brown and cream colored fur just like its father, but it had ruby red eyes just like its mother.

Rafiki smiled kindly as he looked at the two new borns. Never before had he ever seen such a healthier pair of twins.

Both Rafiki and Yodara cracked open a gourd, dipped they're fingers in the liquid, and made a special mark on the two infants foreheads. Then Rafiki took the sandy colored cub from Kiara and Yodara took the brown cub from Kovu, they carried them over to the edge of the rock and held them high.

Mufasa looked down from the heavens at the infants and smiled. He knew that these young cubs were one day destined to be the next great Lion King or Queen. He made a beam of sunlight shine down from the heavens onto the infants as a sign to all the animals that these cubs would be their future King or Queen.

A loud cheer rose from the plain. Elephants trumpeted. Monkeys screeched. Zebra's, rhinos, and a host of other animals stamped their hooves. Then a hush fell over the gathering. Together, the animals of the Pride Lands knelt before the infants.

Kiara and Kovu walked up to the baboons sides. Rafiki gave the sandy colored infant back to Kiara and Yodara gave the brown cub back to Kovu. The king and queen cradled the infants lovingly in their arms.

Simba and Nala walked up to their daughter and nuzzled their grandchild.

A lioness walked up to Kovu's side. She had brownish – cream colored fur and was a lighter cream colour around her muzzle, underbelly and toes. She had amethyst blue eyes and the fur on her head was rather scruffy. It was Kovu's sister, Vitani. She smiled at her brother and gently licked the infant.

A lion also walked up to Kovu's side. He had cream couloured fur. He was white around his muzzle, underbelly and paws. He had a white mane, and scars on his legs and shoulders. He had golden markings on his face and sapphire blue eyes. He was Vitani's mate, Shantu. He smiled at his mate and friend, and gave the infant a gentle nuzzle.

To the side of the lion family, a meerkat and a warthog watched happily. Timon, the meerkat, sat on the warthog's head. Pumbaa, the warthog, watched his friends with a big smile on his face.

"Ha, Pumbaa!" Timon sighed. "Look at those little guys. Like I said before: a chip of the old block!"

"Yup!" Pumbaa nodded. "And we're gonna raise them the same way we raised Simba and Kiara."

"That's right!" Timon agreed. "We're gonna teach em' everything we know. How ta bleach!" The little meerkat burped loudly into the air. "And dig for grubs!" He hopped off of Pumbaa's head, "It's gonna be just like the old days, buddy. You, me and the little guys."

Kiara giggled. "This little one is a boy." She looked down at the sandy colored infant.

"And this one is a girl." Kovu said, looking down at the brown infant.

"A girl and a boy!" Pumbaa cried, looking near faint.

Timon scratched the back of his head, "Boy, have we got our work cut out..."