"Prince Kali" An eagle greeted
"What is it?" Kali asked
"The emperor requests for your appearance" The eagle explained "You and Ruudhi will have to attend a meeting"
"I'll keep that in mind" Kali replied "Thanks for informing me"
"It is a pleasure"
"Hey, Matu" Mheetu called "What are you doing, buddy?"
"I don't know, just playing around, I guess," Matu said as he stacked rocks on each other
"Mheetu, why don't you go outside?"
"What for?" Matu asked
"Try making some friends" Mheetu replied,
"But I don't want to…" Matu said
"You have to," Mheetu said "Just go outside and have fun"
"Why should I?" Matu asked "I'm already having fun!"
"It doesn't look that way…" Mheetu replied "Besides, now that we are in a safe place, it would be the perfect time for you to find one, I know it's hard, but I believe in you"
"Okay, dad" Matu hesitantly said
"I can't believe I have to do this" Matu whispered, "It won't be that hard right?"
Matu wandered into the pridelands, a place he wasn't familiar with.
On his way, he found a group of cubs.
"H-hello, C-Can I play with you guys? " Matu greeted
"And who are you?" A male cub asked
"My name is Matu" Matu replied,
"You new here?" A female cub asked
"Y-yeah?"
"He is pretty lame" the female cub whispered
"Don't worry, I have the perfect idea for him" The male cub whispered,
"What are you guys talking about?" Matu asked
"Nothing, And yes you can play with us" The male cub replied
"Really?"
"Yes, My name is Baridi, and this is Kupora and Kubwa" Baridi introduced
"Well it's great to see you" Matu replied,
"So what are going to do with him?" Kubwa whispered,
"You'll see…" Baridi whispered back
Matu stared there silently wondering what was he talking about, but it didn't matter.
"...So, what are we going to play?" Matu asked,
"You see the dark place over there?" Baridi pointed out,
"Yeah?"
"We will go there," Baridi said "It will be fun!"
"Wouldn't it be dangerous?" Matu asked,
"Oh come on don't be lame!" Kupora said
"Yeah! Are you lame?" Kubwa asked,
"No, I'm not!" Matu defended
"Then come with us if you aren't," Baridi said
Matu hesitated, looking back on Pride Rock, but his dad did tell him to go make new friends, he won't be that mad right?
"Hey, Mheetu" Nala greeted,
"Hey there" Mheetu sat adjacent to Nala, "How are you today?"
"I'm fine," Nala replied "You know it's been a while since you left. We thought you were dead"
"Yeah, I know," Mheetu sighed "I'm sorry for leaving you and mom alone under Scar's reign"
"It's fine, I know you did what's best for you and your safety," Nala said "After all, you found a good mate and a son after that"
"No, he isn't my son, and I don't have a mate" Mheetu winced in sadness
"Wait he isn't?" Nala asked, "Then who is Matu's parents?"
"He lost both parents…" Mheetu recalled, "His mother entrusted me with her son… before she-"
"Oh, that's horrible," Nala said "I'm sorry to hear about that"
"It's fine," Mheetu replied, "I've told him already, I don't want to give him false hope"
"That's great, Why did you leave and decided to come back?" Nala asked,
"I moved to a pride that is trying to unite every pride under one kingdom for the sake of achieving peace while they're doing the opposite," Mheetu recalled, "I was such a fool, I believed them"
"Yo-you ran away?" Nala asked,
"Yes"
"Then why didn't you tell us before!? You're a bigger fool than I initially thought!" Nala snapped
"Nala… I…"
"You said that there is a pride that is invading every kingdom, and you didn't inform us about it? How do you know that you aren't being followed, leading them to invade the pridelands?"
"Because if I said so, Simba wouldn't accept me," Mheetu explained irritatedly
"You are my brother, Mheetu! He would accept you even if you told him the truth!" Nala replied, "And you would make a better contribution by warning us about a new threat!"
"And how would I know if the king was not another Scar?" Mheetu argued, "How do I know if I can trust him completely? I…"
Mheetu's voice failed his as Nala stared furiously at her brother
"Look around you, Mheetu," Nala's voice was calm, yet angry "If I recall correctly, the pridelands under Scar had worse conditions, and Simba is the true heir, he is the son of Mufasa! How do you not remember?"
Mheetu bit his tongue, she was right, yet still, he had to be cautious. Who's to say that Simba isn't another tyrant, who's to say he ran straight into the enemy's grasp
"I'll tell him about it myself," Nala said
"Wait!" Mheetu stopped Nala, "Before you tell him, there's something else that you must know."
"What is it?" Nala asked,
"His father is still alive"
"Are you sure that we wouldn't be in trouble for this?" Matu asked
"Nobody has to know," Baridi replied "As long as nobody squeals then we should be fine"
"And you can leave anyway, your choice" Baridi added
"I-I can?"
"Yeah if you are a scaredy cat," Baridi bragged "You aren't a scaredy cat, are ya?"
"No, I'm not!" Matu defended
"Then stay with us," Kubwa said
"I will, where are we going anyway? We have been walking for like forever," Matu asked
"Just a little bit more, Matu," Baridi replied
"So what are we going to do to him?" Kubwa whispered
"Hide and seek" Baridi whispered back
"Oh that's a great idea" Kupora chuckled
"We should be nearby now right?" Matu asked, but no one responded
He looked back, but no one was there. The three cubs have left him in a wasteland.
"Uh, hello?" Matu said as his voice echoed, "This isn't funny! Stop messing around!"
"Do you think we lost him?" Kupora asked
"Yes, there is no way he can find us," Baridi chuckled "Let's go home"
"I think we might be in trouble after this.." Kubwa said,
"Nah, we won't" Baridi replied, "They will never know"
"Guys! Come on, don't leave me here!" Matu yelled, "Please...Don't leave me"
"I-I'm not lost here right?" Matu stuttered, "I don't need them. I can go back on my own!"
"It has to be this way right?" Matu asked himself,
"Hey, are you lost?" A voice called out
"Wh-who is that?!?" Matu stammered
"Relax, I won't hurt you," Jasiri comforted "What's your name, little one?"
"M-Matu…"
"So, what exactly are you doing here?" Jasiri asked, "Are you lost?"
"Yes, three cubs brought me here, and they left me," Matu explained
"I can help you," Jasiri replied "Where are you from?"
"The Pridelands... Well, I'm kinda new there," Matu replied
"Great! I can show you the way to the Pridelands," Jasiri said
"You can?" Matu asked
"Yes, one of my friends lives there" Jasiri explained "I can show you the way"
Matu understood and followed her hesitantly.
"Where is Matu? Mheetu thought "the sun is about to go down every cub must be home now"
"Hey Zazu" Mheetu called
"Yes Mheetu? What can I do for you today?" Zazu asked,
"Can you find Matu somewhere?" Mheetu asked, "He should go home by now"
"As you wish"
Zazu flew and observed the pridelands however there is no sign of Matu, Could it Be? Did that cub go beyond the pridelands?
And he did as Zazu spotted him with Jasiri.
"Here you go," Jasiri said "We are now in the pridelands"
"Thanks a lot" Matu replied
"Matu!" Zazu called, "Your father is worried sick! Why did you go to the outlands?"
"I-Ill explain it's not just m-"
"No, no," Zazu interrupted "Explain it to your father"
"O-Okay," Matu replied as he followed Zazu
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Mheetu scolded,
"Dad, I can explain… " Matu replied, "I tried to find friends, and they brought me into the dark shadowy place"
"You were in the outlands?!?" Mheetu snapped,
"It was not my fault… I didn't want to" Matu explained "I met three cubs and they suggested that I should go to the outlands or else I'll be a scaredy cat"
Mheetu sighed "Don't worry about that, I know you will find friends… someday,"
"Dad, am I lame?" Matu asked, "Maybe that's the reason why I can't find friends"
"Matu, you're not lame" Mheetu comforted, "Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
"Then why does nobody like me? Every time I try to be friendly, they always try to make fun of me…" Matu asked
"Matu, I know that one day you will find someone that cares for you," Mheetu replied
"Father... I was informed that you requested for my appearance," Kali said
"Same as me," Ruudhi added
"Yes.. It is true that I have summoned you both," Rifalme replied "I'm here to discuss the huge threat to the empire, and the task that one of you is incompetent enough to do"
"Father, may I ask, What is the threat?" Kali asked
"The cub," Rifalme said "Ruudhi is an incompetent fool who can't get his job done, so I'm giving you this task"
"Finding Mheetu and that brat?", Kali asked
"Father, you can't be serious!" Ruudhi snapped
"Oh, I almost forgot," Rifalme chuckled "Ruudhi will be exiled until he finally finds the cub!"
"What?!? What have I done wrong? Mheetu and that cub will be found! Just give me time!" Ruudhi insisted,
"Silence!" Rifalme snapped, "Let's play a game here, shall we? if Kali finds the brat and the traitor first Ruudhi will be exiled for eternity, and if Ruudhi finds it first, He will be promoted as my second in command replacing Kali"
"Do we have a deal here?" Rifalme added,
"I understood, I will do as you wish" Kali replied,
"Father, you know that you cannot do this! Kali is… unsuitable for this mission!" Ruudhi said, "We'll have to talk about this in private!"
"Who do you think you ar-"
"Yes, we can talk about it privately" Rifalme replied, "Kali, you can leave us"
Kali doesn't like this one bit, something is going on behind his back, but he can't disrespect a direct order from his father "...As you wish"
"You know this is a mistake, you are sending Kali to find his son!" Ruudhi snapped
"Yes...yes, I know," Rifalme replied "And it's your duty to prevent him from finding out"
"What?!"
"It's all on your paws, Ruudhi," Rifalme explained "The moment Kali finds out about the truth, he will be executed immediately"
"A-are you serious?!?" Ruudhi snapped
"Like again, it's all on your paws" Rifalme continued "If your brother gets to the cub first it will lead to his inevitable death, and I know you'll do everything to prevent that from happening"
"And what happens to me?" Ruudhi asked
"Oh don't worry you will be spared" Rifalme chuckled "You will just be exiled for eternity and will be known as the fool that is incompetent enough to let it happen"
"I don't understand... Why are you doing this when you can just let me find the cub without the risks?!?" Ruudhi asked
"Without risks?" Rifalme roared in laughter, "You are an incompetent fool, Ruudhi, you've hunted and searched Mheetu and that cub for years and yet, you still fail to find them. It's only a matter of time before Kali himself learns the truth."
"You…"
"Well, this time you'll have a better motivation than loyalty towards me, yes? Well chop chop"
"If that's how it is, I'll just have to get to that cub first," Ruudhi said
"Oh you really have to Ruudhi" Rifalme chuckled "For your brother's sake"
Co written by Rheo Elpis