AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fanfic is a first for me since I'll be writing in a first-person narrative. Even though this story might stick close to the original ending of the movie, with the dialogue and such, it will have alterations ranging from minor to major that will make this story an interesting take on the movie, and how it could've been at bit more better- though many fans of the franchise might disagree with me. That's enough talking for now. It's time for another alternate ending.
DISCLAIMER: Characters and story elements of "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride" are property of DisneyToon Studios; all other elements of "The Lion King" are property of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
If I could ever recall and rank every occurrence I've been through throughout my life from lowest to highest, they all would not stand a chance against what had happened today. The events on this day alone has never triggered so many emotions within me. I've never felt so much anger, so much betrayal, so much disgust by what had happened. One thing is for sure, though- it will never happen again.
It seemed like everything happened just one moment ago. It was all still fresh in my memory- it was possibly embedded in my mind and couldn't be erased; that's how bad it was.
Everything was normal at first- whenever something bad happens, there's always a strong sense of tranquility in the air. I was with another lion at the time, we were both walking and conversing in a dry land between the Pride Lands and the Outlands. If only I had known sooner that the lions who resided in the Outlands had plotted an ambush to have me killed. I was able to escape of course, immensely hurt but alive.
I could've lost my life back there, and the Pride Lands could've lost their king. Considering every fact of the conflict between the Pridelanders and the Outlanders, every animal of my kingdom is grateful that I am still alive.
The schism that separated the Pride Lands and the Outlands began with the murder of the previous king, my father Mufasa. He was killed by my Uncle Scar so he could seize the throne since he believed he was destined to be king and not me. Scar then forced me to flee the Pride Lands by convincing me that I was responsible for my father's murder and sending hyenas to chase me until I was gone.
Years later, while I was living with a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa, a lioness discovered me and explained what Scar had done, and I returned home to reclaim my role as king. The Pride Lands was reduced to nothing but misery; the beauty of the land was gone and all of the animals were starving. I confronted Scar with every lioness of the pride as backup. He put up a great fight, but I defeated him and became king; and the lioness who brought me back, my cub-hood friend Nala, became queen. At the same time the Pride Lands got its splendor back, we had a cub of our own; we named her Kiara.
Just by the sound of it, everything seemed fine- but even the most beautiful places has a dark spot hidden from everyone else.
Long before Kiara was born, a lioness approached me with others behind her. They were not like the other lionesses- they appeared more malicious with evil in their eyes and voices. It didn't take long to figure out and comprehend what their motives were. The lionesses that had confronted me were those still loyal to Scar. As such, their leader, a vile animal named Zira, wanted me dead for killing their "true" king. They were exiled once they were outnumbered.
When the lioness and her followers went away to live in the Outlands forever, I thought that was the end of it. Unfortunately, it wasn't. That abominable Zira had not given up her plot to kill me and she has vowed not to stop until her diabolical desires are met; and she had just the perfect method of executing her plan, and it all counted on the actions of her son Kovu, who was Scar's heir, as stated clearly by Zira herself.
I can easily admit that I always had a strong grudge against the young lion; everyone who has heard my reasons behind my opinions understood without hesitation. Kovu was unlike the other lions of the Outlands. While the majority of the exiled lions obtained horrendous appearances, Kovu was a bit more muscular and had a much more handsome image that would attract every lioness around him. Out of every lioness in the Pride Lands, though, it was only Kiara, my own daughter, who found herself attracted to the young Outlander.
I desired to send that lion back to the Outlands where he belonged, but Nala and Rafiki, a mandrill who had lived in the Pride Lands longer than any of us could've guessed, convinced me to give Kovu a chance, and I reluctantly agreed. There was a raging inferno near the border of the kingdom and Rafiki said that it was Kovu who had rescued Kiara before she could've been engulfed by the fire.
Somewhere in my mind, I knew something was up- that Kovu was secretly pondering about how to bringing me to Zira and her pride to kill me. Sure enough, I was right. That walk in the dry land in between the Pride Lands and the Outlands was the perfect place for an ambush. The lionesses surrounded me and sent me fighting for my life. Like I stated earlier, I was able to escape. I limped my way back to the Pride Lands where Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa, carried me the rest of the way to Pride Rock.
Everyone who heard my story was partially stunned and immensely angry. I'm certain that every animal of the Pride Lands knew that when Kovu first came here, he was in league with his mother to have me dead. He had one chance to prove us that he was one of us- he failed greatly.
There was a vast cloud of resentment hanging over the Pride Lands long before the ambush, and it became stronger when it happened. It gained strength when Kovu- against the fact that he betrayed us all -returned. I will admit that it must've took a lot of courage for a monster like him to come back, but it was not his bravery that caught my attention; it was the scar over his left eye, much like the one Scar had that completed his immoral image. The shock I felt faded away and allowed anger to return, as it was clear that there was only one thing I had to do to make sure history doesn't repeat itself ever again.
Kovu looked up at me and begged me for forgiveness- I always knew deep down that he was a coward. Kiara tried to convince me that he was being truthful, but I was not going to fall for any of it. I didn't know what she saw in that lion; it didn't even matter now. Kovu had betrayed us and, much like his mother so many years ago, his sentence was simple but rightful for an animal of his kind.
I can also admit without hesitation that I enjoyed watching Kovu run out of the Pride Lands into exile as all of the animals scared him, threatening him never to return. I didn't show my delight to anyone; I kept a stern expression on my face as I continued to watch him scurry to a river where he stopped for one last look at the Pride Lands before walking slowly out of sight.
That was moments ago. It's all over now. Kovu's gone for good and he won't be showing his face in the kingdom now or ever- unless he wanted to face the ultimate penalty for violating his sentence. For now, peace has been restored.
I now stand on the edge of Pride Rock, looking out to the horizon directly where Kovu had vanished to. It wasn't the route back to the Outlands but I couldn't care less. Wherever he was going, he was sure to stay there.
Earlier, Kiara approached me. She was obviously upset of Kovu's exile which increased my anger. "Father, please reconsider," she begged.
To this very moment I still don't know what she saw in Kovu that made her attracted to him, but since he is banished for good, I had to open her eyes to the truth I see. "You will not go anywhere without an escort from now on," I told her firmly.
It was easy to hear the rise of indignation in my daughter's voice as she said, "No, that's not-"
"He used you to get to me!" I stated with a great amount of rage.
"No!" Kiara cried, struggling to control her own anger. "He loves me for me!"
"Because you are my daughter!" I roared. By that very moment, I didn't want to hear any more lies. I knew that I had to be more strict because of it.
I stepped in front of Kiara and proclaimed the law she was to follow. "You will not leave Pride Rock. You will stay where I can keep an eye on you- away from him!"
"You don't know him!" Kiara objected, her rage was beginning to show.
"I know he is following in Scar's paw prints!" I said. I then turned away from her and strolled back to my previous position by the edge. With narrow eyes, I stared back out into the Pride Lands as I said in a more confident voice: "And I must follow in my father's."
At that point, I was self-confident that I would be able to end the conflict between the Pride Lands and the Outlands once and for all. With the right amount of knowledge and strength, the Outlanders would not stand a chance against us, and they will forever remain where they currently live. In my self-made optimism, I was also certain that I could withstand any mock or threat that came out of Zira's mouth.
However, I was unprepared for what I heard next. Just the way it was said and what was said left me in shock; but the fact that got me hurt most of all was who said it- my own daughter Kiara.
Her voice was filled with betrayal, sadness, and fury as she cried out, "YOU WILL NEVER BE MUFASA!"
My jaw dropped in a silent gasp as I glanced back at her. Kiara's face held an expression of total anger for a brief moment before changing into utter misery as she dashed away, sobbing profusely. The other lionesses watched as she fled into the cave that gave us shelter; they too were appalled by her final statement.
I turned my head back to face the Pride Lands and the lands beyond it. I tried to keep a solemn expression on my face, but it slowly faded away. All emotions I felt during the vile events on this day drowned as new feelings arose in my thoughts- I felt guilty and bewildered. Not too long after I first sensed it, it took over me and I became incredibly uneasy as if I had become completely and incurably paranoid.
That all happened moments ago. Much like the ambush and my escape, it was all fresh in my mind; but unlike the events in and near the Outlands, Kiara's bitter phrase continued to repeat itself in my thoughts. It's like a untreatable disease, once caught, it can't be cured.
The guilt and confusion I'm feeling is getting stronger as I continue to think about it. I don't know why this is happening to me. Maybe Kiara was right about Kovu being good at heart; maybe he is a monster like his mother; but truthfully, I haven't any idea of how to resolve the new conflict between me and my daughter.
I simply don't know what to do and why this had to happen.