"I have to find them…" Ruudhi muttered to himself, "I have to find them or else…"
"Why are we following this guy again?" A lioness whispered
"He's already exiled," Another lioness said "Why are we doing what an exiled traitor says?"
"Hey!" The lioness called
"What is it?" Ruudhi asked
"We are leaving," The lioness replied "Go find that brat yourself, traitor!"
"What?! No, I-I order you to stay," Ruudhi snapped
"Your word means nothing, Disgraced Prince!" The lioness argued, "Why do we have to follow you?"
"Yeah! She is right!" Another lioness chimed in
"Please just help me," Ruudhi begged
"We are leaving," The lioness announced
"No… No, No, don't!" Ruudhi begged
But his pleas fell on deaf ears as the lionesses left him
"Who cares?!" Ruudhi tried to convince himself, "I can find them myself!"
Ruudhi still tried to find them as he wandered to the lands that were far away. They have to be there somewhere!
"I'm hungry.." Ruudhi said, "I need to find some food… soon."
Ruudhi spotted a jungle in the distance and staggered towards it; a lush jungle should have some prey to feast on… gosh just thinking about it made his mouth water
"Hey, outsider!" A lion startled him, "What are you doing here?"
"I come in peace, I just need food and water, and I'll be on my way," Ruudhi explained
Ruudhi started to walk away as fast as he could out of that confrontation
"Wait a minute, isn't that Rifalme's son?" A lion called out
"Oh no, I need to run!"
Ruudhi tried to run from this strange pride, cursing his luck. Why would lions even live in the jungle? He had no chance but to surrender, cursing his luck.
"Listen up, Emperor Scum, you have hurt us for too long."
"And what do you plan to do to me?"
"...The king is going to like this" The lion chuckled
"Kiara, Where is Kovu?" Simba asked
"He is at the watering hole. Why?" Kiara asked
"I have to teach him some lessons about being a king, it starts today," Simba replied
"Simba, I need to talk to you and Nala privately," Rafiki said
"What is it about?" Simba asked
"It is urgent business," Rafiki explained "I'm afraid I need you and Nala to talk with me. Alone"
"Later Rafiki, I-"
"It's fine, Dad," Kiara interrupted "I'll tell him."
"Alright, Rafiki, I know where Nala is Just follow me," Simba said
Kiara was curious about this whole private conservation, what exactly is so important about it?
Kiara secretly followed Simba, Rafiki, and Nala to his tree silently.
"So Rafiki, what is it about?" Simba asked, unaware that his daughter was hiding and listening
"Yeah, You seem like you were in a rush," Nala said "What is going on?"
"You would not believe this.." Rafiki said "Kopa is still alive"
"Who's Kopa?" Kiara whispered
"What?! How is it possible?!" Simba exclaimed, "We have searched for him for years!"
"I know it's surprising, But the message came from the great kings of the past. They cannot lie," Rafiki explained "I was just as surprised. Wherever he is, he seems to have lost his way."
"He's been alive all this time…" Simba lamented, "I cannot believe it… I don't know how to react… how the kingdom will react…"
"Simba… We never did find his body, and we didn't know what exactly happened to him!" Nala said, "He might still be alive out there, We just didn't know, And he is lost. Our son is out there he needs us."
"Son?!?" Kiara was shocked
"How am I going to explain this?" Simba asked
"Just tell the truth," Nala replied
"We will try to search for him again! Form a searching party!" Simba said
"No, Simba," Rafiki stopped him "There might be a reason why he still didn't come back yet."
"Yet?" Simba asked, "What do you mean?"
"When you were gone, it was the Great Kings of the past that decided on the right time to reclaim the throne," Rafiki explained "It might be the same case here. The Great Kings of the past haven't decided yet, Only time will tell on when he will come back."
"...If that's the case... We should wait," Simba sighed
"I had an older brother?!? I wasn't the firstborn?!?" Kiara whispered, "I have to know more about this.."
"Hey, Matu!" Baridi called
"What do you want?!?" Matu asked, "I'm minding my own business here."
"Well, we just wanted to have some fun," Kupora chuckled
"What do you want this time!?" Matu growled
"Oh, come on, Matu, This would be fun," Baridi insisted
"And how do I not know that you're going to fool me like last time?!" Matu asked
"It won't be like last time," Kubwa said "Join us if you aren't a loser, Are you?"
"No, I'm not!" Matu defended
"Then join us," Baridi said "This is your chance to be one of the cool guys."
Matu was hesitant, but this might be his chance. It wouldn't be like last time, right?
"F-fine!" Matu said
"Great! Follow me," Baridi said as the rest followed
"So what are we going to do?" Matu asked
"Pranks! See those two?" Baridi pointed out
"A meerkat and a warthog?"
"Steal their bugs!" Baridi said, "And give it to us."
"But what if they get mad?" Matu asked
"That's what pranks are for!" Baridi said, "You run away and escape."
"Why do I have to do it?"
"Do you want to be one of the cool guys or not?" Baridi taunted, "This is like an initiation."
"Alright…"
"Now, what are you waiting for?!? Go for it!" Baridi exclaimed
Matu hid in the bush to remain silent like what his father taught him in his pouncing lessons.
Matu went for it and tried to steal the bugs, however…
"Pumbaa! That cub tried to steal our bugs! Get him!" Timon exclaimed
"He did it, he actually did it, that fool!" Baridi laughed "Run before they could notice us!"
"Where are they?" Matu asked himself as he saw the three cubs abandoning him again "I knew it! Why did I fall for it again?!"
"That's him, Pumbaa! Teach him a lesson!" Timon said
"Wait, I-I can explain!" Matu begged
"I don't wanna hear it, little guy. Why did you try to steal our bugs?!? Who are your parents?" Timon demanded
"Please, I'll do anything. Just don't tell dad! You can have your bugs back!" Matu begged
"Timon, I think we need to give this kid a chance to explain," Pumbaa said
"What do you mean, Pumbaa? You know what kids are. They lie to save their skin!" Timon replied, "But his dad is not going to be happy…"
"No, don't!" Matu begged, "Please just let me explain."
"Alright, alright, jeez, Tell us about it," Timon said
"I was tricked and bullied, They made me steal the bugs, or else they would call me a loser," Matu explained
"And who are they?" Timon asked
"I won't tell…They will hurt me.." Matu said
"That's horrible, You should tell," Pumbaa said
"Pumbaa, he just said that he would be hurt if he did tell," Timon replied "You know, kid, If that's the case… we can help you."
"Y-you can?"
"Yes, We will help you fight back," Timon said
"How?" Matu asked
"Yeah, How?" Pumbaa asked
"Well, you see…"
"Where the hell am I?" Ruudhi asked
"Ruudhi, Son Of Rifalme, Secondborn prince of the Umojelands, What brings you here?" The lion asked
"Who are you?"
"My name is Ni, I am the king of this place," Ni replied
"Wait.. You're the lion Kali was talking about," Ruudhi chuckled "Kali's embarrassment and the only one that can stop him."
"He recently just took over the Tree of Life," Ni said "But that's not what we are talking about here! I am asking again, Why are you here? Especially that you don't have an army with you."
"None of your business! I was just hungry and happened to stop by!" Ruudhi replied
"You're not making this easy, Prince Ruudhi" Ni's voice was calm yet full of anger, "Now tell me your true intentions!"
"I just answered that question! I was finding some food to eat!" Ruudhi snapped
"What is your duty? What were you trying to do? What did the emperor order you to do?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ruudhi spat
"Acting dumb, are we?" Ni chuckled, "I suppose if you're unwilling to cooperate, we could simply just… kill you."
Ruudhi thought he had Ni's guard down, he was very wrong. As soon as he lunged, he realised his mistake. He ended up having his face between the dirt and Ni's paw
"You were following an order. That's why you are here, someone must've forced you to do it. Was it from the emperor?" Ni demanded
"None of your business! What's the purpose of this place anyway?" Ruudhi asked
"Well, Glad you asked," Ni released his paw from Ruudhi's face "Ever since the empire started pillaging every kingdom, the survivors of those kingdoms came here as a refuge. We are rebels against your tyrannical empire, We lost our homes because of your father's ambitions!"
"His goal is something that needs to be achieved!" Ruudhi argued, "Peace and prosperity for all!"
"A noble goal," Ni said, "But the ends do not justify the means."
"Rifalme's just taking action for what he believes to be the right thing" Ruudhi snapped, "I don't see you cowards doing something to bring peace and end all wars"
"I do not object to his goals, only his methods" Ni answered, "But you are no longer part of the empire, didn't your father exile you?"
"How did you…!"
"We were listening when your army left," Ni explained "You are now nothing but a lost puppy trying to get back home."
"It's none of your business! I'm here to do my job," Ruudhi replied
"Ruudhi, one day you're going to realize that your father is manipulating you and using you," Ni said "Your brother always overshadows you. You always try your best, but your brother still gets the spotlight. The fact that you haven't realized yet, even after he willingly exiled you is a mystery."
"You take that back!" Ruudhi snapped, "You don't know who I am!"
"I very well do, Ruudhi it's not too late to change, And one day you're going to regret how you blindly followed him after all these years," Ni replied as he left Ruudhi alone, Trapped in a dark den
"Do you think I don't know that?" Ruudhi whispered dejectedly, "Do you think I want to do this?"
"Sire, The rebels at the northwest have been successfully pacified," The black crow majordomo announced "Everything is now going well."
"Very well, Giza, Off you go," Rifalme said
"Sire, may I ask a question?" Giza requested
"What is it?"
"Why did you not exile Prince Ruudhi permanently?" Giza said, "We also shouldn't let Kali know the truth by sending him to find his own son."
"Yes, Yes, I know," Rifalme noted "We cannot lose Kali, And Ruudhi will be permanently exiled."
"If that's the case… Then why do you pit them against each other?" Giza asked
"Oh, Giza… You'll see.." Rifalme chuckled
"It is time to prove yourself… Nuka," Rifalme announced, "I need a replacement for Ruudhi, and I need you to do something."
Nuka is now a shadow of his former self, He is now an average strong male lion with a grown mane, After years of training from Rifalme.
"What is it?" Nuka asked, "All I want is revenge… revenge against him…"
"You have been trained for years, I think you are ready," Rifalme replied "It is time to prove yourself, Nuka…. And to have your revenge against him…"
"What should I do?" Nuka asked, "Is this going to be another game?"
"A game that you would want to take," Rifalme said "You have to get a Brat and a Traitor, And bring them to me… Alive, I'll depose them myself."
"Any info?" Nuka asked
"The cub's name is Matu, and the father's name is Mheetu, Mheetu used to be Ruudhi's friend that turned his back on us, And knows about information that needs to be kept privately.." Rifalme explained, "The cub is, well... Kali's son that needs to be disposed of"
"Very well," Nuka replied "I'll try my best."
"I know you will," Rifalme chuckled
Co-Written by Rheo Elpis