Authors Note: Before we begin let me say that this is my first time doing anything like this, so please be merciful. Also, in Lion King tradition I tried using some Swahili words in a few places, which I looked up with Google Translate. Let the story begin!
The Pride Lands
It's been about a year since the Outsiders rejoined the Pride Lands, and things have finally settled down back to normal. Ever since Kovu married Kiara, Simba has been teaching him the responsibilities of being King and head of the Pride, and Simba even gave him the "everything the light touches" speech Mufasa gave him when he was a cub.
It's early morning without a cloud in the sky, and besides some patrols that left before sunrise most of everyone is lying in the shade of Pride Rock. Simba, having just finished some official business, walks up to Kovu who'd perched himself on a high rock with the other royals, next to Kiara of course.
"I hope you're well rested Kovu" said Simba "because we're going to be doing a patrol today. If we leave now we can make it to closest watering hole before high noon."
"Patrol? I don't want to sound lazy but don't we have a guard for that?" Kovu said while barely lifting his head.
Simba, putting on a dignified air replied "Yes, but as future king it's good to be familiar with your kingdom, and not just from looking down from the top of Pride Rock."
He agreed, though he hated to leave Kiara. "Alright" he groaned with a big stretch after standing. "I'll catch something for dinner on my way home." he said to Kiara with a loving look.
"Oh, that sounds great, I've been craving some water buffalo lately!" Kiara said excitedly.
"Ha, of course it had to be something big and dangerous. Are your cravings trying to kill me?" he said with a lovable sarcasm only he could get away with.
"What? Is the hunting master scared?" Kiara got up to look him in the eyes while she smiled, knowing just how to manipulate her mate.
"No, as long as Grandpa doesn't mind helping." Kovu said while looking at Simba out of the corner of eye.
Simba just sighed and grumbled "I'm not going to get used to that." then a little louder "and I'm not a grandfather until they're born!"
They just lightly laugh, even Nala chuckled, after which she asked "So where will you be going?"
"Where ever our subjects need us!" Simba said proudly.
"Translation: I don't know! Really Simba why do you try to make everything you say so noble and sophisticated." Timon quipped after pulling his head out from under a rock looking for bugs.
"I think it just comes naturally for him, I mean he is royalty!" Pumba replied with a bounce in his step.
Timon rolled his eyes and said "Pumba we raised the kid, there's no reason to suck up to him."
"Just be safe" Nala said to Simba and Kovu. Kovu nuzzled Kiara, then they all said bye, and the two left.
They had been walking for sometime, and Simba took the time to explain the Circle of Life to Kovu, who knew little of it since most of his life was about combat training. "since we are all connected, we need realize that our actions don't just affect ourselves, but those around us as well. As king this responsibility is heavier on us. So we need to do our part to keep the balance, not just in the pride, but in our kingdom. We must be sure to take only what is needed, and use it well." Simba said while looking back on the lessons Mufasa had taught him.
As they made it to the waterhole Kovu thought back to what he was taught when he was small, and feeling downcast he stopped and sat down. "That's a pretty different from what my mother told me. We had nothing in the Outlands, so we took everything we could when we had the chance".
"Zira's loyalty to Scar was why she was banished, but her thirst for revenge kept her in the Outlands preventing her from moving her pride to a more productive place". Simba said sympathetically.
After a short quiet pause Kovu burst out "Well, this conversation took a dark turn!" he said while he laughing trying lighten the mood.
Simba gave a small chuckle and changing the subject asked "So how is everyone adjusting to the Pride Lands?"
"We're all fitting in just fine." Kovu said while sitting down in the shade of a tree to take a short break. "Some of the ones that were raised in the Outlands have been getting hunting lessons. We didn't have much to hunt out there so we could use the help".
Simba joining him in shade asked "I heard about that, how are they doing?"
With his signature smirk he said "We're great with the 'attack' part, but the whole 'patiently stalk' thing is a little more difficult, my sister Vitani especially. She's not that good at sitting still".
"Well you seem to have no trouble with hunting".
Kovu, with a prideful smile, said "Mother always said I was the best hunter in the pride. I guess all that training from her was good for something!" and then he got a little quieter and mumbled "aanndd, truth be told, she... maayy have took me into the Pride Lands a few times to go hunting... possibly." he said.
Simba just smiled and reassured him "Well she trained you well. So, do you want to rest a little more or should we continue on?"
Gazing into the sky seeing a small blue bird heading straight for them, "Well we shouldn't get too comfortable, looks like Zazu is on his way over, it's not time for the morning report so it must be important".
Zazu landed in front of them almost breathless from rushing to them "Afternoon sires, I have some concerning news. There are reports of two unfamiliar lions along the western border. So far nothing has happened, but they appear to be tracking the Kudu herd."
Simba jumped up, and started to give orders "Kovu and I will go meet these 'visitors', Zazu, you bring some lionesses incase we need back up."
"At once sire" then Zazu immediately left.
It took them a while, but as Simba and Kovu neared the area where Zazu said the lions were, they sniffed the air to catch any unfamiliar scent. Then they were on their trail. When they first saw them from a distance they could see they had killed two kudu, which was not a good sign. One would've been more than enough for the two of them, so either they are over hunting or there's more of them.
Before they got closer Simba told Kovu "Let's not go in aggressive, we'll try to get a feel for them, see what they want or if they're a threat. But don't let your guard down."
As they got closer, the two strangers notice them and put themselves between them and the food, one already prepared to fight. They were pale tan like some of the former Outsiders. They were a little younger than Kovu, their brownish manes not quite full, and they looked like twins. One was slightly shorter but bulkier, the other was Simbas height though sleeker. Both had scars from fights past over their bodies.
"I don't know who you are but back off! We don't share, and we don't back down" the bulky one bellowed as the blood dripped from his teeth.
"We're not here to take your kill. I am Simba, King of the Pride Lands, and this is prince Kovu." he said in a calm yet firm tone, though inside he was ready to fight. "We heard some new comers had entered our lands and simply wanted to meet our arrivals."
The other lion waved his paw, signaling his companion to calm down. "Forgive my brother, he roars first and thinks... well actually that's my job." then with a slight head bow, though he never took his eye of them, he introduced themselves "My name is Mgeni, and this is my younger twin, Mpinzani. We're rogues, or perhaps nomads sounds less like a threat. We are simply looking for place stay after all our wandering."
Simba calmed a little and welcomed them "Well we welcome you to the Pride Lands. Your permitted to stay, however if you do we have some laws when it comes to hunting. We noticed you killed more than you need, and here we do our best to keep the balance of the Circle of Life."
Mpinzani just laughed at the kings words "Really!? Mgeni are we really going to listen to this hippie pushover? How could we ignore such an easy target? After we caught the first they stopped running, probably because of your lazy hunting, so why not?" then his brother jumped in "He has a point, living a nomadic life, full of uncertainty, we appreciate the value of such opportunities. We take what we can so that we do not lack. Besides as lions, we are all 'kings' over all others? So who's to stop us?" they both had a chillingly familiar grin as they spoke, one that reminded Simba of Scar.
Kovu, who was a bit conflicted yet bursting to talk, finally spoke up "Appreciation! If you hunt every chance you get even if your not hungry, your not being "appreciative", you're just bloodthirsty! Satisfying your own greed!"
Mpinzani took a leap forward not taking the insult lightly "Watch it, ya princess, I still have enough room for a cub like you in my stomach!" Even Mgeni, who had been the sensible one, was visibly upset "You two better leave... now, before I lose what little respect I have left for you." he growled and unsheathed his claws.
The open threats didn't sit well with the king and prince, they knew there was only one way this would end. "These are our lands, and if you will not show us or our subjects the deserved respect, then it's you that will leave! If you do so now then there will be no problems." Simba stood tall as he gave them the chance to leave in peace.
The brothers aren't willing to leave, the royals can't allow them to stay, all knew these things. Mgeni sighed and with a toothy grin said "It seems we are at an impasse, I guess there is only way to settle this." immediately Mpinzani roared as he charged at Kovu, still burning with anger at what he said. Mgeni and Simba jumped forward and began to circle.
Kovu quickly got the advantage, after Mpinzani lunged at his neck, Kovu moved back then quickly wrapped his thick arms around his neck and threw him to the ground, both exchanging blows as he tried to get up. Mgeni and Simba however were on more equal ground, as they tried to pin each they clawed and battered each other. As the fight went on, though the brothers savagery and unyielding attitiude kept them in the fight, their youth and inexpreiece started to catch-up with them. Mpinzani finally manage to get up, but his head was ringing from Kovus blows, and as Mgeni, who had began to tire, leaped high and tried to use his weight to pin Simba, but Simba jumped, grabed him by the neck and threw him into his distracted brother. As they lie in a heap, the royals stood over them.
"Enough! It's over!" Simba and Kovu said. And off in the distance, a group of lionesses guided by Zazu approched.
"We are done, leave and never come back." Simba said with a powerful voice.
Knowing they are beaten Mgeni hissed "very well, your highness."
Turning to Kovu, Simba said "Take two lionesses and escourt them to the boarder. I'll take the others and continue our patrol."
Simba and the guard that was with him finally made it back after they had finished their patrol. He flops to the ground next to Nala, who'd been watching the fire red sky of the African sunset. She nuzzled him as she lyed against him, "long day dear?" she said, her soft voice helping him relax.
"Nothing we couldn't handle." He said confidently. Nala asked him "and where did Kovu go, he's not with you?"
"He took a small group to escort a few rouges out of the Pride Lands. They haven't come back? I figured they would've come back here or at least met up with us." he replied.
She reassured him "Don't worry, he probably went to bring back the dinner he promised Kiara."
As they enjoyed the sunset, they saw of in the distance a few lions making their way back home. But as they got closer, they could tell something was wrong, the lionesses were obviously injured.
And Kovu was missing.
Hope you enjoyed the story so far. My next chapter will focus on Tarzan. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I have a bad habit of procrastinating so I don't know when I'll finish it, so please be patient.