Rafiki looked up at the raising sun and gathering animals before sighing heavily before looking at the royal family. "It is time."

Kion nodded as he stood up, moving to get Mheetu who was whispering with Paka before he saw his father coming into the den. He stood up and greeted his father with a head bow before he noticed how Kion was smiling softly.

"Rafiki says it's time for you to claim the throne. Hatari is waiting for you outside."

Mheetu growled before nodding slowly before looking at Haimati who smiled. "Are they ready?"

"As ready as they'll ever be."

Mheetu sighed heavily before padding out of the den, the plan replaying in his mind. Rafiki was supposed to give him the royal markings after giving his parents and uncle their royal markings as they roared right after, signaling the end of their reign. The rebellion was down below, ready to attack if needed.

The sound of Paka sighing caught his attention.

"Everything will be fine."

Paka nodded at her mate's words before seeing how Alika was in the paws of her mother who was baring her teeth at Kiara. She remembered how they came home that day to see them fighting. After they appeared, the fight suddenly stopped.

She always wondered what it was about.

TLK: DOTNO

Rafiki raised his hand and staff to silent the pride and animals below as he finished the final markings on Kopa's face before approaching the peak, he could sense something. It was of angry and eagerness. Then it hit him. The rebellion Mheetu had joined. They were here in case something went wrong.

No doubt, something would be going wrong.

"Today a reign ends, a sun falls as another raises in its place." Rafiki began as the trio began approaching.

Kion took the step forward to speak for both his siblings and himself. "A new chapter for the Pridelands is about to arise, for prey and predator. Two new rulers are about to claim the throne and guide you in a direction that will make us and our ancestors greatly proude! To start this new beginning, this is us stepping down!"

As the trio roared, Rafiki was finishing up Mheetu's markings before the prince leaned in and began whispering to his friend, halting the baboon's movements.

Mheetu took a deep breath before whispering, "Whatever you do, don't mark Hatari just yet. Wait until I am up at the peak to give my speech about claiming the throne. Only start marking until I am roaring. It'll signal it being too late, won't it?"

The Shaman nodded slowly before seeing how Hatari looked out of the corner of his eye. He was getting angered at how long it was to mark his older brother and Rafiki frowned. Hatari would make a horrible King almost like Scar was.

After making, Mheetu stepped up to the peak and saw his rebellion waiting. With a heavy heart, he began speaking, making a few adjustments to his speech.

"You all know how far these lands have come like I do. You know the tales of the Great Kings and Queens above. We all have our Judgement Day when our time comes. I was once told by a wise king that we are one, and I greatly value that lesson."

Hatari frowned and flicked his tail, wanting Rafiki to hurry up the marking but the baboon was in the middle of cracking a new fruit so he had enough for the markings. Kopa looked angry, Kiara looked confused, but Kion was moving towards Zuri and Tiifu.

Then all went silent as Mheetu finished his speech with a shocking reveal.

"But your trio of rulers have lied to you! They claim King Simba was killed by 'accidentally' falling into the gorge! They claim Queen Nala was 'accidentally' killed on a hunt! But they are the murderers! They have killed their own parents because of their need for power!"

A gasp ran through the crowd of animals and the pride. Kopa's eyes were wide, Kiara's jaw was hanging, and Kion just looked ashamed. The rebellion began moving closer but Mheetu shook his head, signaling for them to stop moving.

"My friends, I reveal to you... the murderers of Great King Simba and Great Queen Nala!"

Kion sighed heavily moving his way up the slope, shocking his siblings. He wasn't going to say some stupid lie anymore. The guilt was enough to carry alone. They shouldn't be left within the dark any longer.

"It is what my son says." Kion began with a heavy heart. "I will not hide the truth any longer. It is like I have told Zuri and Tiifu. My mother's death was no accident. The murderer was not a simple mistake during a hunt, but Kiara."

"What about Simba?" asked a rebellion animal.

Mheetu nuzzled his father as he took a breath. "That was our doing. Kopa had came up with the plan to use the gorge to make it seem like an accident. He and Kiara pushed him down and gave me the final task of silencing him."

"You had a choice!"

"I did not!" roared Kion. "Back then, yes, but now... I see that I didn't. My loyalty for them went beyond than what it should've. I always regretted it."

Out of the corner of his eye, Mheetu saw Hatari snap at Rafiki to hurry it up and he nodded before moving to roar out to the Kingdom. In an instant, Hatari watched as his dream snapped. He knew the law, he what happened if an heir was too late for the crowning or wasn't crowned in time.

Mheetu was King of the Pridelands and he was not.

"No!"

TLK: DOTNO

"No!"

Everyone looked over at Kopa, who had his claws unleashed with his eyes burning with rage and anger. Anger for his son not being crowned, and rage for the truth coming to light.

Kion sighed as he looked at his brother. "Kopa, enough."

Kopa shook his head with rage. "No! It's not 'enough'! It'll never be! You little brat...!"

Mheetu barely had time to think before his uncle pounced on him, and just like that the lionesses blocked the path so Kiara and Hatari couldn't get in the fight. Mheetu barely shook off his uncle to shake out his red and brown mane while Kopa glared heavily with his blue eyes burning with hatred.

"How could you? How could you kill your own flesh and blood?" growled Mheetu.

Kopa scoffed. "Why wouldn't I? They were weak!"

Mheetu growled darkly as his tail flicked. "But your own parents?"

"Enough! I'll end you!"

The newly crowned king roared with pain as he was tackled into the ground, feeling Kopa's claws. He felt his head clearing up as he gave his uncle a mighty swipe to the head. When Kopa was stunned, he kicked him off before standing up, unleashing his own claws. The old king shook out his mane before jumping at his nephew, landing two blows.

Mheetu snarled as he tried his best to attack back at his uncle, silently cursing at how much stronger his uncle was. The light golden king jumped and landed onto his uncle's back, and sank his teeth into Kopa's golden fur and slammed his claws into the back, digging in deep. The younger lion tried to ignore the fact his uncle's blood was starting to ooze out onto his claws and onto the ground of Priderock.

The pride and animals winced when they heard Kopa yowl in pain.

Kopa began to roll around, trying to get Mheetu off of him, but the younger lion held on tightly. Sinking his claws deeper if he needed to do so. Mheetu heard Kopa's breathing becoming more and more uneven and for a split second, the king awakened from the rage his suddenly felt.

What was he doing?

Without thinking, he flipped them over and landed on top of Kopa, and looked at his uncle's uneven breathing body, trying to catch whatever breath it would allow. He raised his paw, claws unleashed, and delivered the final blow.

Kopa went still.

Mheetu jumped away, his claws dripping with blood. He barely heard Hatari's cry and Kiara's yowl of Kopa's name, all he could do was stare.

"Uncle..."

TLK: DOTNO

Time seemed to past by quickly as Mheetu stared down at the body of his uncle before slowly regaining himself as he heard his rebellion shout with joy but then he knew he had to deal with his remaining family. His mother was crying, his father had his eyes shut as he tightly held onto Alika, and Hatari was growling.

The newly crowned king cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention and cast a glare at his remaining family members.

The golden prince rushed over to his brother, his blue eyes burning with rage. "You call them a murderer? What about yourself!?"

Mheetu glared and narrowed his eyes. "His Judgement Day had came. It was his decision to fight, not mine. You of all lions should know what rage is like!"

Hatari unleashed his own claws. "I should kill you!"

Mheetu frowned before easily dogging his brother's attack and it wasn't long before a flash of fur went by and the king blinked to see Paka holding down his younger brother with a snarl. With a glance towards his love, he nodded and Paka sighed before getting off of the younger lion.

Kion stood up, handed Alika to Zuri before waltzing over to his son. "Mheetu, though I wish Kopa hadn't attacked you nor you killing him... I'll accept whatever fate you wish upon me."

Mheetu was torn. On the one side, he knew he should order his father's demise and put him out of his misery. But on the other, Alika needed at least one parent alive. He had already made up his mind on his mother and brother's fate.

Which was why Kion was taken back when his son nuzzled him. "Mheetu?"

The light golden king smiled before walking over to his mother and brother, ordering them to stand before him. Once they were, he frowned heavily. "I once thought you two could've been redeemed, but now I see how wrong I was. You're too far gone! The both of you!"

Kiara shook her head. "Son... please..."

"Silence!" Mheetu roared. "We all have our Judgement Day. Whether it be from a Pride or by the Great Kings and Queens. Kopa has his judgement to be in the paws of our ancestors, yours however falls down to me! I've made up my mind!"

Hatari flicked his tail. "You can't do anything to us!"

"I can and I will you brat!" snapped Mheetu. Hatari frowned but didn't say anything. "I pass your judgement now..."

Kiara closed her eyes, praying it wouldn't be death. She didn't want to die. She felt so scared. She shouldn't have done this, shouldn't have listened to Kopa and this is where it got her! It was far too late to turn back now.

"Exile!"

She ran.