I wouldn't have been the king I was, if it wasn't for what happened when I was a cub.
I remember precisely when it all began, when I was a small cub, crouching down behind the front stone of the cave dwelling of Pride Rock. I was trying to remain hidden while peaking out unto the Pride Lands to see my mother at the edge, gazing upon her domain.
The week after I became a father when the messenger from the Outland Kingdom flew to me. Sitting under a tree, listening to the bird's words, I knew it wasn't just King Kovu summoning to meet with me. I was being called to atone for past sins and weave severed lines.
Sarabi was in her maternity period, in which a lioness spends six weeks in isolation with her cub, our new prince. Afterwards, she would introduce our son to me. I wanted to be a good father to him and to look forward to a bright future, I needed to remove the shadows of the past.
I remembered gazing out on the watering hole, watching the sun raise causing the water to shimmer. It was then I saw the ghost of two cubs frolicking beside it, when the one playfully pinned the other. I knew it was about my old cubhood friend.
I spoke with the neighboring majordodo, she had a message from the King Kovu of the Outland Pride, whom was known well known and revered across the Savanna. I have met him several times during my father's reign when I served as diplomat. He reigned over the Outland Pride. He was tall, mighty, and majestic. He wasn't the King you ignored.
"What does King Kovu wish to inform me?" I asked, knowing the answer. I planned to answer his summons no matter what in order took keep positive relations with the Outlanders. But I knew the old King's summons was much deeper than any political motive.
I knew it was about my old friend, Bakari. I thought about my father who bravely fought the hyena wars and I thought of my mother and the choices she made during her regency. For none of this has happened, than I wouldn't be in debt to Bakari.