Chapter 2

Kion and Kopa are now young adults, now growing a small mane. They are now more mature and responsible.

One time Kion and Kopa were exploring the edge of the Pride Lands, until they saw strange creatures holding strange objects.

"Get down." Kopa quietly said to Kion and hid in between the grass. "These creatures might be hostile."

"Then lets follow them so we'll know about their intentions." Kion said quietly.

They followed the 'creatures' they didn't know about. Then they saw them eye a deer. They observed as they pointed their unknown objects at it, then they heard a loud bang, and saw the deer get knocked off its feet. Then they saw the creatures carry off the dead deer away.

"What did they just do?" Kopa said.

"Lets go to the spot where the deer just fell off its feet." Kion said.

They went to the spot, and observed there was blood.

"They...they...killed it. How, why?" Kion said.

"It must be the mysterious objects they were pointing with. But we do the same thing: we kill deer as well." Kopa said.

"Yeah, but, I don't think they killed it for food."

"They could. We don't know. Do we know anyone who knows these creatures?" Kopa asked.

"How about that monkey with the stick?" Kion said.

"You mean Rafiki?...Oh..."

The two boys arrives at the Tree of Life.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! A wonderful afternoon, isn't it?" Rafiki said.

"Rafiki, we have seen mysterious creatures with unknown intent and objects. They just killed a deer." Kopa explained.

Rafiki's smile turned to a face of worry.

"Uh...Rafiki? Are those creatures hostile?" Kion asked.

"They are worse, young Kion. They tried to destroy the Pride Lands once." Rafiki said, continuing to a flashback.

"Their first strike was after your father became king. They set fires to the grass..."

'So that was the reason the fire started years ago.' Kion said in his mind.

"They used weapons to kill other animals just for their hide to make a trophy. Others want to get these silver round objects."

The scene is set. They set fire to the grass with burning wood. They spread across the rim of the Pride Lands AND Former Outlands. The fire roared and spread quickly, killing many. Then other men with weapons started to shoot at other animals. But Simba and the pride were able to drive them away. But lost some lives of there own...

"And they were the reason, friends, family, and the other members of the savannah died. Even your grandmother, Sarabi." Rafiki said, sadly.

"These creatures are called 'humans'. And they are dangerous. And they will stop at nothing just to make them feel above all else." Rafiki continued.

"But when they caused the fire that started years ago, why was my granduncle's face seen through the smoke of the fire?" Kion asked.

"You already know, young Kion." Rafiki said.

That night, Kion was struggling in his sleep. He was having a nightmare.

Kion was running from a raging fire these 'humans' started. He tried his best to run as fast as he could.

But once he looked back, he saw his granduncle's face once again.

Scar was cackling, and he was chanting, "Be prepared."

Then his minions, the hyenas, were laughing with him, and were also chanting "Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared!"

Kion was 'haunted'. It was so scary, he closed his eyes, forcing himself to believe this wasn't real.

Scar opened his eyes, and charged at him, he was going to kill him. But just before he even felt the pain, Kion woke up, sweating and panting.

Kion was relieved that it was just a dream... but was crying. He worried, 'Would this happen?'.

The sun rose, and Kion was the first to exit. Since that nightmare, we wouldn't get back to sleep.

So Kion exited Pride Rock to drink from the watering hole.

Then he stared at his reflection after a drink, and saw his mane was shifting from big to small, his face from his face to someone else's. Then the reflection started to speak.

"Kion." The reflection said.

"Oh, my..." Kion said in surprise.

"You are troubled, I see. It is the humans, yes?" The reflection then chuckled, softly. "The fear of the unknown is always present in our hearts, but inside, there's always hope. Sometimes, you don't call to Hope, but Hope calls to you. All you have to do is listen and hear its Word..." Then the reflection started to disappear.

"Wait, who are you?" Kion asked before it could completely disappear.

"Lets just say, I am your grandfather..." The reflection now completely disappeared.

That was weird yet astonishing experience. His grandfather just appeared to him. He couldn't wait to tell his father.

As the sun rises higher, one by one, each member of the Pride wakes up.

Kion walks through the hallway, but the problem is, all the pride members are walking the opposite direction. He tried his best not to bump someone, but failed.

Just as we was about to pass through the crowd, he bumped to a young woman, about his age.

"I am so sorry." Kion said.

"Its okay.." The young woman said shyly. Then she just passed through Kion.

Kion was struck. He just bumped into the most beautiful lioness he ever saw (Besides his mom, though). But he quickly got over it and ran to his dad.

"Dad! Dad!" Kion was trying to shake his father.

"What is it, Kion?" Simba said sleepily.

"You are not gonna believe this. I was drinking water this early morning and saw a reflection. It wasn't mine. He told me he was my grandfather." Kion explained.

By the sound of 'grandfather', Simba stood his head up and looked at Kion, surprised.

"Grandfather?" Simba asked.

"Uh-huh. He told me sometimes when we don't call to Hope, Hope calls to us." Kion said.

Hope? Grandfather? It was definitely...

'Mufasa...' Nala pretended to be still asleep, but she heard the whole thing. She even tried to hold back a smile.

Shocked, Simba remembers the wise sayings of his father's spirit in a shape of a cloud. He smiled and said to Kion:

"Kion...Now you know how amazed I was when your grandfather appeared to me as a ghost." Simba smiled.

"Also, while I was trying to get here, I bumped into the most beautiful lioness I have ever seen!" Kion said.

"Well someone sounds in love." Kopa teased.

"Hey!" Kion said.

"Kion, this is just a stage of life. You once will feel love inside, then eventually, you'll get married." Simba said.

"Like me and Kovu." Kiara entered.

"Hey, look. The sleepyheads are up." Kopa said.

Everyone laughed.

Later...

Kion was wandering around the Pride Lands. Then he saw her again. He wanted to approach her again.

"Uh, hey uh, sorry for what happened a while ago." Kion said shyly.

"Its okay, it was just an accident."

"So uh, whats your name?" Kion asked.

"My name is Zuri."

"My name is Kion. Prince of Pride Rock." Kion said as he bowed to her beauty.

Zuri blushed hard. She bowed back.

"What are you doing here alone?" Kion asked.

"I was about to say the same thing. I was just walking around, you?" Zuri said.

"Same as you."

Kion couldn't stand it. He was blushing hard. He really wanted to say she was beautiful in front of her.

But his mind quickly cleared as he saw another one of those 'humans' approach with the same weapon that killed the deer.

"Zuri, run!" Kion shouted.

Zuri noticed the human an ran for her life.

The human was trying to shoot Zuri and Kion to death. The human was using a shotgun, so it wasn't rapid.

"Shoot them!" The human said. Then others came with other different-looking weapons.

Bullets whizzed beside Kion and Zuri. They tried their best not to get hit. So they did a zig-zag strategy.

"Keep up, Zuri!" Kion shouted.

"I can't!" Zuri was getting tired and was slowing down.

Kion had no choice. He carried Zuri, and ran as fast as he could, despite the weight.

Close calls happened here and there. But they managed to escape.

Kion put Zuri down, panting.

"You okay?" Kion asked.

"I'm fine. Just a little exhausted." Zuri said.

"Kion..." Kopa came out of nowhere.

"Kopa, what is it this time?" Kion asked.

"Oh...so this is the 'most beautiful lioness' you were talking about, yes?" Kopa said.

Both Kion and Zuri blushed hard.

"Kopa, a word please?" Kion said.

Dragging Kopa behind a rock, Kion quietly ranted.

"What are you doing?" Kion said angrily, still blushing.

"You're hanging out with her. Are you a couple already?" Kopa said.

"Are you kidding?! We just met today! We just got ourselves a close call to being shot by those humans."

"Kion? Is everything alright here?" Zuri asked.

"Kion is just afraid to tell you that you're the most beautiful lioness he has ever seen." Kopa spilled.

That was it. Kion attacked Kopa out of embarassment.

Zuri blushed and left slowly.

"Great, shes gone. Because of you." Kion angrily blamed his brother.

"C'mon, you were gonna tell her anyway." Kopa said.

Later...

The sun was setting. Kion was going to get one last drink of water then its off to Pride Rock.

Kion was about to drink the water, until Mufasa appeared again.

"Oh, thank goodness, you're here, grandfather. I'm in deep trouble." Kion said.

"I know, I was there the whole time. Zuri is her name, isn't it? She is quite beautiful. Ah, I remember the time when I first met my wife, Sarabi. She was gorgeous. But I felt the same feeling you had. I was afraid to confess it. But then eventually, I did. Just wait. I have prepared a special someone for you. Once you feel and know its Zuri, you'll feel better. Trust me. You'll be fine." Mufasa said.

"Thanks, grandfather. I look forward to speaking to you again. Oh, and do me a favor?" Kion said.

"And what is that favor?" Mufasa asked.

"Once I will bring my father to see you, please appear." Kion pleaded.

"Anything for my son and grandson." Mufasa smiled.