A/N: There used to be a foreword roughly the size of the Chrysler Building right here. It's gone now. You're welcome.

Prologue

Mufasa

I stared down at the little ball of fur curled up next to Sarabi, and my heart seemed ready to burst with pride. Finally, I had a son to succeed me as ruler of the Pridelands, but that wasn't the only reason why I was so ecstatic. Simply being the father of the fragile new being that lay before my feet was enough to set my heart ablaze with excitement. I knew that I had other responsibilities as king that I would soon need to attend to, but for the moment I was utterly entranced by my own lifeblood, and the problems and worries of my pride seemed to be a thousand miles away.

"My little Simba," I said happily as I tickled my son under his chin. Simba cooed and squirmed, and I grinned back at him.

"Our little Simba," my wife Sarabi replied as she licked me on the cheek.

I laughed, and for a moment I wished with all my heart that I could spend all my days like this one, just me and my family without a care in the world. Unfortunately, a king's own desires can only take precedence for so long, and I was brought out of my reverie by the call of a small blue hornbill that practically sprinted through the mouth of the cave.

"Sire!" the panicked bird, whose name was Zazu, panted. "A rogue! In the Pridelands!"

I rolled my eyes. Rogues were never good news, but I could never understand why Zazu always got so worked up about them. Usually, it was a simple enough matter to chase them away or fight them off.

"Well, I suppose I'd better go intercept him," I sighed as I glanced back longingly at the little cub snoring between my wife's forepaws. With a burst of willpower I managed to tear my gaze away and focus on the task at hand. "Zazu, find a couple lionesses to accompany me. I'd like for this to end quickly and quietly if at all possible."

"Yes, sire. Right away," Zazu said as he bowed, then without another word he flew off to summon the aid I had requested.

"I wonder if Zazu has a family somewhere," Sarabi mused as I watched my majordomo flap off into the distance.

"I doubt it," I answered with a sigh. "Not the way I overwork him."

Sarabi rubbed her head under my neck. "I wouldn't worry about him. He's been your right-hand man for years, and I haven't heard him complain yet."

"I know. Still, I can't help but feel sorry for him." I turned to look at my mate. "Maybe I could give him the day off after we deal with the rogue. I'm sure he'd appreciate that."

"You're too kind, Mufasa," Sarabi laughed. "But that's what I've always loved about you." I smiled and rubbed my head over Sarabi's, and I could feel her purr with content.

"Sire?" Zazu said as he poked his head back into the cave. "I've brought Tumani and Sarafina…are you ready to go?"

"Sarafina?" Sarabi asked in a puzzled voice. "But she should still be resting! Nala's barely a week old!"

"You shouldn't underestimate me so much, Sarabi," a light tan lioness said as she walked somewhat gingerly into the cave, followed by another darker lioness with stunningly bright blue eyes. "I'm perfectly all right."

Sarabi gave me a pleading look. "Please don't make her go, Mufasa. If there's a fight-"

"If there's a fight, I will be the only one that gets involved," I interrupted as I gave Sarabi an encouraging smile. "I promise." I then turned to face Sarafina. "If you would rather not go, now is the time to tell me, Sarafina. Are you sure you're all right?"

Sarafina smiled confidently. "I'm fine, Mufasa. But thank you for your concern." She turned to Sarabi and gave the same smile. "And thank you for yours as well, Sarabi."

Sarabi returned the smile, and Zazu cleared his throat impatiently, growing more worried by the second. "Well, I'm glad that's settled," he said, not sounding happy as much as relieved. "Now could we please go deal with the rogue before he starts attacking the herds?"

I chuckled again. "If you insist, Zazu."

Sarafina, Tumani, and I followed Zazu out into the grasslands, moving quickly to keep up with the tiny blue speck floating high above us. Soon, we arrived at a small clearing, where a female lion was being guarded by half a dozen lionesses from my pride.

"You forgot to mention that this rogue was a female, Zazu," I said dryly as Zazu landed beside the king. As the lionesses parted to let me pass, I was able to see a small mound of fur nestled against the rogue's legs. "Or that she had a child."

Zazu looked flustered. "Well, I…um…didn't think it was important…sire," he stammered.

I smiled and gave Zazu a friendly nudge on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. "I'm not angry at you, Zazu. I just wish you wouldn't act like the grasslands are on fire every time a wanderer shows up unnoticed. Someday, your little banana beak'll fall right off with all the strain it takes."

The tiny bird puffed out his chest and scowled. "Banana beak?" he scoffed. "I'll have you know that..."

"Case in point..." Sarafina muttered with a roll of her eyes as Zazu continued to elaborate on the grand and noble history of his brightly-hued mandible. I bit my lip to keep from laughing again and turned back to face the newcomer, a chocolate brown and slightly built lioness whom Zazu had already completely forgotten about.

I walked calmly up to the rogue, who bowed her head in respect but didn't look at all afraid. "Greetings, stranger," I said. "What brings you to our Pridelands?"

"My name is Maji, and I come in search of a new home," answered the lioness. "My pride has been broken apart, and I have nowhere else to go. I humbly ask to be allowed into your pride, if you would be so kind."

I leaned down and gazed at the small cub that lay at Maji's feet. He quivered slightly, but then set his eyes and held himself steady, determined to be brave for his mother. I chuckled at the child's fortitude and gave him a comforting smile, which he gradually returned. "And who is this courageous little one?" I asked the lioness.

"His name is Tama," she replied. "He's only a couple weeks old, and his father is…gone now. I don't know if I'll be able to care for him alone in the wild, which is why I've come to you. I know you to be a just and fair ruler, and I hope that you will find room in your Pridelands to admit one more lioness."

I brought my eyes back up to gaze into Maji's, searching the deep brown orbs for any ill will towards myself or any of my lionesses. Though I didn't find any malice in the dark lioness's eyes, what I did find was no less surprising. On the outside Maji looked a bit frail and unsure of herself, but in those eyes I saw a fiery determination and a will to do whatever it took to protect herself and her son. She respected me, but she didn't fear me in the least. Immediately, I knew that she would be a valuable asset to my kingdom. A lioness with that kind of fire inside her might rival even Sarafina's hunting prowess.

I stood up tall and smiled at the nervous-looking lioness. "I understand. I too have a newly born son, and I see no reason why you should be forced to live as a rogue any longer," I proclaimed warmly. "I would gladly welcome you into my pride, if you would accept my invitation."

Maji sighed heavily and looked blissfully relieved. "Oh gods above...thank you, your highness!" she gushed, dropping any pretense of modesty the moment my acceptance was made . "You don't know how much this means..."

"Please, just Mufasa will do fine." I interrupted with another smile. "Now come. You must be tired after your journey."

The lioness nodded wearily as she picked up Tama and held him tightly in her jaws, and I quickly ordered the rest of my lionesses to return to Pride Rock and inform the rest of the pride about our newest member. The lionesses obeyed, and I led Maji and Tama away from the clearing, with Zazu flying overhead.

"You said you had a young son as well, Mufasa," she mumbled through the mound of fur between her teeth. "If you don't mind me asking, what's his name?"

"His name is Simba," I replied. "And he is the sun that lights up my world."

"You must love him a lot to speak of him like that."

"I don't see how a father cannot love his own son like I do." Yet another smile broke across my lips as the thought of Simba filled my head. Maji didn't seem as excited as I was, though, and as I glanced over at her I noticed that her eyes were filling up with tears. I realized that Tama's father, whoever he was, did not feel the same way about his child as I did about mine, and I wisely dropped the subject.

As we neared Pride Rock, I could see Sarabi nudging Simba out of our den, and I could barely contain my glee as I saw my son take his first wobbly steps. Tama must have seen Simba too, for his eyes were wide and already sparkling with curiosity. I could tell that he was eager to meet another lion cub.

"Tama seems happy to be here," I remarked with a laugh. Maji didn't smile since she was still holding Tama in her mouth, but I could see her eyes light up as well as she took in her surroundings. She put Tama down and sighed in amazement.

"You live here?" she whispered awefully.

"Welcome to the Pridelands," I answered. "The most beautiful place in all of Africa."

"It's hard to argue with that," Maji said, still entranced by the lush terrain laid out before her. Pride Rock dominated the view as it rose majestically in the background, and scattered around it were dozens of grazing animal herds, as well as a myriad of lakes and watering holes. The water in the lakes sparkled in the midday sun like diamonds were bobbing in between the bright blue ripples extending from the thirsty animals standing by their banks, and the vibrant green grass swayed gently in the breeze. To me, it looked like home, but to Maji, I could tell that it looked like paradise.

"Later, I'll help you find a spot in the den for you and Tama to live comfortably," I told Maji as she gazed at her new home. I then leaned down to Tama's level and smiled. "You ready to meet Simba, little one?"

Tama grinned and giggled, and after a moment Maji laughed with him. "Look how excited he is already!"

"Yeah," I said as we entered the shadow of Pride Rock. "He's a feisty one. I think he and Simba are going to be good friends."

Enter Tama...a bit younger than I had originally planned out, but whatever. Oh, and if the whole backstory with Tama's father seems important, that's because it is. Very much so. Anyway, keep reading and REVIEW!