many tales and stories about lions of pride rock have been told. The one that mother tell to their cubs the most is the one about the great family. This tale tells of a great king being betrayed and killed by his own brother. Just being referred to as the Dark king. The kingdom went into ruin with the circle of life being thrown off course with the old king's death and the heir to pride rock seemingly dead.
For years the dark king ruled over his own perfect kingdom with the help of the hyenas. The pride was on the verge of death until one day the son of the great king returned. King Simba rose up to bring justice and peace to pride rock. The dark king fell and a new era began with the king's three cubs.
The lost prince, Kopa. The future queen, Kiara. and The hero of the lion guard, Kion. No one knows what happened to Kopa in the years that followed, but for Kiara and Kion the pride lands fluished because of these brave and wise lions. Warring prides united by king Kovu and queen Kiara. Her younger brother, kion, brought back an ancient order lost in the days of the dark king. He went on to become the greatest leader of the lion guard. Thanks to Simba years in the pride lands became paradise
This is where most of the story ends. It became history for the pride lands which animals told in stories. however a particular fairy tale began to seep it's way onto the end of story.
At the tail end of this era a warning from the kings of the past was told to the royal family. The pride lands will return to rune when a dark furred lion is born. With the teachings of The Dark King. Hatred in his heart and cruelty in his soul. The royal family will be brought to their kneels and end the era of Simba till a lion of light comes fourth to bring pack that peace.
The royal family of the past prepared for this lion of dark lion to be appear but He never arrived. The litters to come were born kind, strong, wise and lions of yellow, brown, and light colors. All wonderful kings but no dark furred lion. The tales of the great rulers became legend and the tale of woe became that, A chilly ghost tale. Animals told each other about it to spook their friends. That was until Thimba was born, A cub fourth born son of king Kova and queen Waters of pride rock. 5th generation grand son of king kovu and kiara. Cub born with black fur and a Dark mane.
Present day King Kova of Pride rock, 4th generation grandson of king Kovu and Kiara, sat at the peak of pride rock. It was beginning of the wet season and his queen, Waters, was giving birth. Kova was nervous about this event, being his first litter, he didn't know what to expect.
The King scraped his claw in the rock, a quirk he did when he was on edge with nerves. A voice spoke up, "have no fear your majesty, I'm sure waters is doing fine." It was Pumbaa, a small warthog. The kings most trusted majordomo. Pumbaa's mother wanted a big success to come from her son as hugs were always seen as lesser animals. So she named him Pumbaa, a note worthy warthog who was mentioned to have raised king simba along with meerkat. She got her wish when Pumbaa became friends with kova during their childhood.
"I'm sure your right, pumbaa, perhaps I am being a nervous wreck...but I can't shake this feeling that something will go horribly wrong.." Kova told his small friend. "You know I'm almost always right with these gut feelings.."
They sat still for a long time after that, looking down at the pride lands. Animals were surely stirring with excitement of the newest members of the royal family. He saw his aunt Thorn, leader of the lion guard climbing over.
"Are the Cubs born yet?" Thorn asked
Kova shook his head at his aunt.
"No.."
Thorn sat side her nephew, with a concern look. "I keep getting this feeling that something is going to happened and I'm not sure what it is yet.." she said
"What a coincidence... " Kova replied in a low tone. "So have I.."
Just then a figure came out of the den, a female kinda baboon named Star came out. "Your majesty, she is ready to see you." She said excitedly
Kova's head rose in a spin towards the den at the sound of the news. Immediately he sprung up and ran towards the den. The lionesses waited outside, eager to greet the new cubs.
One little cub wasn't so happy. Amana, a dark yellow cub with sprouts of a red mane spoke up. "Dont know why these cubs are so special.."
"Hush!" Said his mother "This is the king's first litter,That means the crown prince will be announced shortly.
In the cave Kova walked over to his mate laying down exhausted and smiling. She breathed slowly as she opened her eyes "Love? Is that you?" Waters asked
"It's me," Kova answered, smiling widely. He bumped his head into hers, purring madly.
Waters returned the nuzzle.
"Come, See your children." She cooed
Kova was more then happy to see his cubs for the first time. To his surprise there were three cubs. He made a light grasp, "Three cubs? Man, I have good aim." He praised himself. Waters gave him a swat.
"Dont make those jokes at a time like this, Kova." She scolded then returned to a soft voice "we actually have four cubs. "
Kova blinked in confusion before looking back. Looking a bit harder this time, he noticed that the cubs in a pile were on something furry. Realizing that it was the fourth cub, he lightly fixed the cubs to reveal the last cub. This cub looked very different, his fur as dark as a cool night without stars. with a dark gray under belly. His nose was the only thing you can see, tiny and pink.
"He's all dark compared to his siblings, " kova noted. Two cubs were red brown like him with one taking the bright orange of his great great grandmother, kiara. The fourth cub really was the black sheep. Kova was happy, truly, but apart of his memory dug up the story he heard as a cub. A paw touching his leg paused his thoughts.
"You ok?" Waters asked
Kova nodded "yea, everything's fine. So did you get their genders?" He asked
A smile returned to waters "We have three boys and one girl. The big red one is our first son. Followed by the yellow cub, then the female red. The last born is the dark male." She explained.
Kova smile widened with glee "Oh waters, Their all beautiful..what will we name them?"
"I named our daughter Barika." Waters mentioned softly "That was the name of my mother..."
Kova smiled as he rubbed his head on waters "That's perfect. "
"Then how about we name the first male Jua?" He asked, waters thought for a moment then nodded "Jua, I like that." She commented
Their was a loud mew coming from the cubs. The parents looked to see the orange cub arching his back at a mouse that snuck it's way in the den. It was impossible for the orange one to stand but he was still facing the mouse.
"That one is sure full of Valor." Waters laughed.
Kova brightened at the word "That's it, Valor. Let's name this one Valor. "
Waters could only take another laugh "Your aunt will sure have a field day with that one. Being second born that means he's the next to lead the gaurd."
With three cubs named there was just the last one left. The dark cub had found a spot to nap peacefully and undisturbed by his siblings. So far this one was loving his sleep. Waters thought as she looked at her sleeping son. "All this one has done so far is sleep. His coat is as dark as night.. so it makes sense to name him after the night..so we'll name him Night-"
"Thimba." A voice cut through the calm air like a shoot gun.
"I'm sorry your majesty, she wouldn't listen to us.." pumbaa squeaked with Star beside him. Thorn was marching in. "You will name that one Thimba."
"Thimba..that's a terrible name, Auntie! How could you suggest that!" Kova asked in anger.
Thorn huffed "Sorry nephew. However this can't be overlooked. I'm the leader of the lion guard. My job is to look after the pride lands. That Thimba might be the biggest danger we had." she pointed at the cub
"What are you taking about?" Waters asked
Kova made a sigh "It's a cubs story..something about a dark lion being born that will ruined the pride lands.."
"Never underestimate folk legends, nephew, sometimes they are all to real." Thorn said sourly. "I don't under why a dark lion appeared now...None of our ancestors were born a pitch dark" she pondered looming down at the dark cub. "Neither are you both."
Kova was rad dark brown like the warrior king Kovu was. His mane was red however. All their manes in the past were red expect for a couple of brown manes. Dark brown was as dark as manes got. Waters was light grey with a white belly.
Waters sigh, "sorry to tell you this,Thorn, but it's not shocking for me...My father had a black mane and grey fur and my mother had black fur. In fact my whole pride were dark furred lions..."
This was news to both thorn and Kova "you never mentioned that to me.." he said
"I didn't think my parents fur color was THAT important." she admitted
Thorn wasn't pleased but Kova pushed passed his aunt to nuzzle Waters "It's not, waters, It's just a folk tale. Most of them aren't true..." he assured her
Thorn rolled her eyes "Mark my words, that Thimba will damage this kingdom.."
"We aren't calling him, Thimba!" Kova exclamed. A small mew was then heard from the cubs. It was the dark cub and he was responding to what Thorn and Kova were calling him. "Oh no! Hes already use to Thimba!" water exclaimed
"Thanks alot auntie!" Kova said irrated as he literally pushed Thorn out with his head. "It was nice for you to see the cubs...suspicious old coot." he whispered that last part so Thorn wouldn't here him. Once Thorn was gone, Kova came back to waters who was cleaning her son.
Kova sighed "I'll talk to Thorn about this...cause it seems Thimba is his new name.." he said with a tint of sadness.
For that whole day animals gathered to celebrate the presentation of Jua the next ruler of the pride lands. The animals cheered as Star held the cub in the air. The suns rays shown down upon the brown cub. The other cubs were in the back with their parents to show the remaining cubs. The cheers were numerous, Then Thimba was presented. The cheers were still there but some of the older animals had stopped. The dark fur didn't sit well with half the population. waters and kova looked at each other with worry.
That was how Thimba's first day went and it was only gonna get harder.
Author's note: This is a story I wanted to do for a while. I love the lion king and it's francise. I tend to read the comics and stories of the lion king but when I do look for some fiction to read the stories all seem to take place ether with kovu and kiara's cubs, or on Ahadi and Uru or how scar became scar. The best ones were of different prides but took place in the same location.
I became curious on the lions or the future and how they viewed their history when Scar and simba ruled and what impact it would have on them. So I made this story to explore that.
If your wondering why Kova and waters didn't want to name Thimba...Thimba, It was cause Thimba means Lion hunter or one who hunts lions. connecting him to the ruin of the royal lion family.