This is my first Lion King fanfic! (Please rate my story! I want to know what you think!) This starts where Simba's Pride left off, but only about a month or so afterward. I hopw it's not too corny! Lol
The golden sun slowly crept over the plentiful grassland with grace and welcome. The beginning of a new day had started. Light entered the lion's cave piercing the dark of night, awakening the sleepy carnivores. On silent paws, Simba arose quickly and walked, with a slight limp, over to the sleeping King-To-Be, Kovu. Simba nudged Kovu with a pink nose, trying to wake him. Indignantly, Kovu shifted his weight, turning away from the impatient annoyance.
"Kovu, wake up. We have much to discuss," said Simba urgently.
Kovu slowly opened up one sleepy eye, and then the other. With a grunt, Kovu was up on four paws, yawning deeply.
"What's the hurry, Simba? We have all day…" noted Kovu, followed by another enormous yawn.
"You weren't raised to know the ways of the kingdom, Kovu, and you must be taught before you accept your Kinghood. The Joining ceremony is just before night fall today, and soon after that you are to take my place as king. You know very well I can't walk as well as I used to. During the battle, I was injured on my hind leg, and I can't walk without a limp. I can't run very fast anymore, either. You are young, and you show the qualities of a worthy king…but your training must begin. There are many laws, you must know them. Otherwise, it would very hard for you to manage a kingdom," Simba stated, looking out of the cave, staring into the distance.
"Oh… I didn't realize I needed to know so much, it doesn't seem so hard."
"Then you have much to learn," said Simba with a stern, yet amused look in his eye.
Kovu and Simba left the cave without another word, anxious to start training.
Nala had been silently listening Simba and Kovu's discussion, smiling at Kovu and Simba's growing bond. After the war between Zira's and Simba's clan, Kovu and Simba had grown to like each other, almost in a father-son sort of way. Simba is like the father Kovu never had, thought Nala. Nala looked around at the other lionesses, which were still asleep, and closed her eyes. Smiling at her thoughts, she put her head on her paws and drifted back into a light sleep.
Kiara yawed and looked out of the cave, watching her mate and her father have an intense discussion about the laws of the grasslands. She shifted her gaze to the Dark Canyon, void of light, or life. The Dark Canyon had once been the home of the hyenas, which were ruled by Scar, her father's malicious uncle. The hyenas had left, and there were no animals or plants occupying the empty space. Evil had left its mark, and it is a reminder of the horrific events that had taken place there…. Kiara shook her head, to clear her thoughts. This is supposed to be a happy day, she reminded herself, thinking of the Joining ritual that was to be performed before nightfall. I've never seen a joining ritual before… Mother says it's the joining of two souls, so they could produce a new life…How does Rafiki perform this ceremony?... I'm so nervous! Mother also says its tradition for the two lions to go to the Mating Cave afterward…Will I like it…? Kiara pondered nervously.
Waking to the light of dawn, Vitani began to think of how wonderful her new life was. She was still adjusting to the pride's way of life, but it was more comfortable than living off of scraps of rotting meat and insects inside a dirty termite mound. Here, she was treated with respect and was loved by her clan. While living with her new pride, Vitani had changed. She was no longer thin and dirty. Her fur was clean and she took on some characteristics of a well fed lioness. Her personality had altered a bit, too. She was more relaxed and calm around other lionesses. She no longer felt hostility toward any of them, like her mother had taught her to feel. She felt like she belonged here, like she was finally home, but something was still missing…..
Kovu and Simba had walked to a small ledge of earth, which out looked the grasslands and the savannah. A herd of gazelle were near by, grazing, barley conscious of the two male lions. "Kovu, I want you to hear the same speech my father said to me, when he told me of the Circle of Life. I am going to pass on my knowledge to you," Simba said knowingly.
"Simba, what ever you need to teach me, I'll listen, and I'll learn..." Kovu said seriously, his eyes held the intense stare Simba had been giving him. Simba looked away and took a breath.
"Kovu, everything exists together, in a delicate balance. As king you need to understand that balance, and respect all the creatures. Like the crawling ant to the leaping antelope…" Simba paused, remembering his mighty and wise father, giving this very same speech to him, "We may eat the antelope, but when we die, our bodies become one with the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so, we are all connected in the great circle of life," Simba finished. Kovu stared at Simba with awe and new understanding of the world around himself.
"I never saw life that way before….it makes everything seem so different…" Kovu said, his brow knit, pondering the knowledge that had been bestowed upon him. Kovu looked to the rising sun, appreciating life in many new ways.
