First of all, this story is the continuation of the previous story: The Lion King, Lion's Heart. So you should read it to better understand the plot.
It was night, and the moon was shining over Pridelands, everything was calm and several of the animals were still resting: elephants, hippos, giraffes, gazelles, zebras, antelopes, cheetahs, birds and others.
But, in the air, a gentle breeze made a call which quietly woke everyone up, telling them to gather in the direction of the Pride Rock. Everyone obeyed, moved by that strange sensation, while, at the same time, the moon had finished hiding and gave way to a powerful rising sun that changed darkness for light.
The animals advanced in rows. The biggest (like elephants), made the earth move with their footsteps, which also alerted the smallest and those who lived underground. In a minute, a pack of animals gathered around their destination: the Pride Rock.
As the rising sun bathed the rock with its powerful light, it was getting lighter and, when it reached the middle part, Rafiki could be seen with his cane, on top of the rock. Then, when everyone seemed to have arrived, he returned to the entrance of the cave, where there was a group of lions waiting:
A male, it was golden and with reddish mane; the second, was of a dark brown fur, with a dark mane. On the other hand, there were also two females with a radiant cream color. One of them was lying down with a small brown ball between its legs that moved: a newborn cub. Last but not least, there was also another lion cub, un poco mayor que el anterior, who had golden fur and a tuft of reddish hair.
"It's very cute" Nala said to Kiara, as she approached her daughter, "He looks like Kovu"
"Without a doubt" said Simba looking at his grandson, "But I understand that if he looks like one, he has the character of another"
"Do you really believe it?" Kovu asked, "If so, who knows... he might impress me sometimes"
Kiara noticed that the other cub was a little shy looking at the newborn. Given that, he motivated him to come to his side.
"Don't be shy, Dan" Kiara said, "Come and meet him"
Dan hesitated for a moment. Then, he slowly approached the newborn. He was small, cute and curious, since as soon as Dan had approached his snout, the little one tried to touch his nose.
"That's little Koda" Kiara told him, cleaning him at the same time, "That's your brother: Dan"
Kiara's words touched Dan very much, because he had never had a brother... and he never knew what it was to have one. But he did not have time to think about it, because at that moment, everyone gathered around Koda, while Rafiki approached with his fruits with paint.
The baboon broke the fruit and taking some of the paint, Rafiki rubbed it on little Koda's forehead. Then, with Kiara's permission, the baboon took him to the top, showing it to all the animals who screamed with their respective sound. At the same time, a soft and fresh was breathed in the environment.
Anyone would think only that they were screaming, but in reality, it felt as if they were singing, for all these screams resonated in a harmonious ensemble of happiness and joy. The next second, they all bowed in reverence.
After a few seconds, Rafiki lowered the newborn and handed them back to his parents, grandparents, and brother. However, before they could say anything, a possum and a wild boar made an appearance.
"It's so cute" said Pumbaa crying with happiness, because he still remembered Bunga "I would like to adopt him..."
"Look at the little boy" said Timon when he saw Koda, "He is identical to his father ... Well, in appearance, not in the fact of scaring defenseless opossums..."
"Timon, that day was an accident," Kovu reminded him .
"I know, I know. That is why I propose that we help you take care of it so that no more of these accidents occur... Come on partner, you will learn very well "
"Like burp, gasp, be bossy, and eat bugs?" Dan laughed.
"You see ... even your other son. Remember our lessons"
"Sure..." replied the cub sarcastically. The true was, Dan didn't like Timon and Pumba's 'lessons'.
Everyone laughed and this made even the newborn smile.
(Hours later, in Pridelands...)
The wind moved calmly and several herbivores grazing peacefully in the green fields: giraffes stretched their necks long into the treetops, antelopes and zebras looking for food to the flush with the floor. On the other hand, the hippos were having a bath in the; near these, the elephants also cooled off, moving their ears to ventilate their enormous body.
In the distance, the Pride Rock looked quite imposing and was colored by the brilliance of the sun. Not far from this wonder, a small scene was shown: a pair of lion cubs were running trying to catch each other.
"Cheater" laughed Dan.
"Slow" laughed Shany.
They both ran across a stream; then between the rocks and finally between the tall grass. It was then that Shany hid in hopes of catching his friend.
"Umm" said this, when he saw that his friend had hidden, "Where is she?"
He wandered through the undergrowth, detecting every movement and trying to listen for any noise that would give her away. Twisting and turning, he scoured every inch trying to find her. Out of nowhere, the cub leaped towards him.
"I have you!" she yelled, pouncing on her friend.
They both rolled across the grass, fighting to be the winner. When they stopped, it was the male who was on top of her.
"No, I have you Shany" he said.
"Impressive, Dan" she told him, "You've improved"
"Well, after losing twice in a row before… the third time is the charm, isn't it?"
"Ha, yeah… this, can you…?"
"Oh, I'm sorry"
Dan got off Shany, somewhat embarrassed about that. There was a minute of silence from both of them, until they were interrupted by a shout in the distance:
"Young prince!" it said, "Wait!"
Then Zazu came flying somewhat exhausted, as if it had followed them for hours.
"Uff, I'm not as young as before..." he muttered tiredly.
"Zazu, it was not necessary for you to make an effort to follow us" said Dan.
"Forgive me prince, but I must make sure that I do not go to..."
"... the elephant graveyard or to areas beyond the kingdom" recited Dan as in a song, "Zazu, after what we went through, you know that I would never disobey"
"Ah, what a joy! At last, a young prince who is as noble as he is prudent will surely be a wonderful king"
"Zazu, don't say that ... " Dan finished, somewhat uncomfortable, "For me, the one who is a true heir is Koda, I... I don't think I can"
Then Dan ducked into the tall grass, not looking back.
"Well done, Zazu" Shany said annoyed, and ran after Dan.
"What did I say?" the bird wondered, as he watched her go.
Shany went through the grass looking for Dan. After going a bit, the grass ran out: she had reached a small oasis; to one side, there was a small tree, and beneath it rested a rather large rock. At the top, Dan was lying down and looking at his own reflection.
"Dan, are you feeling okay?" Shany asked him, stepping closer to him.
"Yes, I'm sorry for leaving you behind" he replied, looking at the cub's reflection, "But... I must fix my mind"
Shany sat next to him.
"Are you still thinking about it?" she asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Something like that ... I don't know how to explain myself, but ... I don't feel like I should be the heir, what should I choose?"
"Didn't you tell me you carried it in your lion's heart?"
"Yes, but..."
"It's Koda, isn't it?"
"Yes. Frankly, he would be a better king than me. I mean ... it's truly family. I am adopted, why do I have to be first in line? I don't think I deserve it and… I don't think I'm capable of so much…"
"Dan, I think you can do it. Come on… you saved me, your grandfather, your uncle and many more of the hunters, who else could do that?"
"Yes, I know. But they were there because I had escaped in the first place… I caused it"
There was another minute of silence in which Shany thought it best to consult with someone. It couldn't be Simba, since he would be far away, back on the Pride Rock. But they were close to someone else...
"What if we go see Rafiki?" Shany asked him, "Maybe he understands this better..."
"Well ... I wouldn't do any harm to ask" Dan replied, "I just hope he's not too busy"
When the two cubs were about to leave, Zazu came flying.
" Please wait" the tired Zazu shouted, but they were already leaving. Then, he said to himself: "There is no doubt that these are for each other"
(Near the baobab tree…)
Dan and Shany were running in a who came first competition. The two were very evenly matched, moving with skill and agility across the field, until… Dan bumped into someone.
"Ouch" he told himself. Then, he turned against the one who crashed, "Sorry, I should have looked before ..."
"I'm sorry too" said the individual: it was a baboon smaller than Rafiki. He was standing on two legs and he has a red nose. Maybe he was not much older than Dan or Shany.
"I should have been more attentive... I was looking for some herbs and..." he said.
"Yes, well ... then let it be forgotten... eh ..." said Dan.
"Oh yeah, how rude I am. My name is Rahisi, I came here to learn from Rafiki... my uncles know him, he taught my cousin Makini before"
"Are you a cousin of Makini?" Shany asked, reaching where they were both, "The real Mjuzi of the Tree of life? It's great!"
"Yes, although being Mjuzi here I don't think it's going to be my thing… I only came to learn because my uncles advised me. The truth is, I don't think I'm capable of so much..."
Dan looked at Rahisi's sincere face, realizing that she felt the same way he did.
"The only one who doubts yourself is you, Rahisi" said a voice, and Rafiki appeared at the top of his tree, "Hello everyone, I am glad to receive visitors"