The cavern lay before Kopa, abandoned and decayed in the years since he'd last seen it. Row upon row of smaller, deeper caves protruded from the interior walls delving deeper into the darkness below.

A particular cave caught his attention. The glimmering light, pulsing with his heartbeat, intensified as he approached. The cave was ruined, just as he knew it would be. The light rested above a carved stone platform, standing proud and powerfully before the Uasian king.

"Mother?" Trembling in tone, Kopa's voice reverberated around the cave, dispersing the light within a blink of an eye. The Uasian king inhaled sharply, suppressing his heart-pounding emotion whilst a chilling breeze brushed across his back. It whispered past his ear, bringing his attention away from the platform. Before him stood a familiar, rocky figure, humming with ethereal energy.

"Close enough." A deep, masculine voice rumbled from the spectral lion's throat, mixed with the grinding of rock on rock as his throat formed from the ground.

"Father?" Kopa's eyebrow rose with his chest. "What are you doing here?" The spectral lion simply stood before his son, turning to his side with an elegant head swing. The rocky ground hummed, peeling away as Ni raised his paw.

Before Kopa could reply, a blinding light shot across the cave. The sound of space and time crackled, twisting and contorting as a jolt of ethereal energy shot through the Uasian king's fur. He glanced over at his father, standing before a newly opened portal. "Come, we're late..." The spectral lion entered, his rocky, molten body terraforming into a new form. One of fur and muscle, bone and flesh.

Kopa followed suit, though he did not change. As the bright, blinding light faded around them, they found themselves in an open, lush field. Crystallised mountains surrounded them on the horizon.

A small hill rolled down to the edge of a small, crystal-clear lake. Before it, a single lion sat on a boulder surrounded by three others, one male, two females. Kopa recognised most of them instantly, apart from the one female, who sat beside the male. The other female strolled up and down before the other sitting male, her roars echoing across the grasslands.

"He's not ready! He can't be!" The lioness flickered her eyesight up at the lion, who sat calmly, looking down at her with his relaxed brown eyes. Taking a breath in, he spoke calmly, deeply.

"Shwari, Tuli." The mighty lion flopped down, resting his body along the rocky surface. "Your son is ready... it is time." The lioness responded with a heavy, worried sigh. Her facial muscles trembled, barely holding back the tears as Kopa and Ni slowly approached. The Uasian king approached the lioness, sneaking up on her.

"It's okay, mother." The younger lion nuzzled his mother deeply. It was incredible to feel her warm, comforting fur once more, just as he remembered it. Her scent was the exact same, the tinge of sweetness mixed with a slight shallow hardened bitterness.

"K...Kopa?" She nuzzled her son deeply, feeling his strong, scarred body beside her. Her eyes watered, the salty streams rolling down her furry cheeks, brushing into Kopa's thick, dark brown mane. His body trembled at her touch. It had been... too long.

Kopa turned to the great lion nestled before him. The lion smiled down; his booming voice sent rumbles through the air as he spoke. "Welcome, Kopa. We've been expecting you." All the lions looked over at the Uasian king. His mother and father stood beside him, the soft, warm, roaring wind brushing against their bodies and their manes.

"You wished to see me, Mufasa?" Kopa queried, looking up at the proud lion nestled above him. Mufasa arose, sitting before the gathered pride of lions. The two other lions approached the Uasian king. The male Kopa recognised as Mfalme, Karimu's father. But the other?

"So, you're the lion I've heard so much about." The lioness approached with a heartfelt, rather stunned smile. Kopa could see the resemblance, the sweet, mystical hazel eyes, the creamy, sandy fur. It was nearly identical to Karimu's. He smiled at the lioness. A warm, happy smile adorning his muzzle.

"And you must be Karimu's mother?" He bowed slowly, to the surprise of his parents and Mfalme, even Mufasa raised an eyebrow. "It's an honour to finally meet you, your majesty." He continued to bow his head, raising his eyesight as he saw the lioness' figure bow towards him.

"And it's an honour to finally meet you too, Kopa." She chuckled softly as she spoke, friendly and rather sweetly, for such a matured lioness. Their eyes met as they raided their heads, accidentally nuzzling each other gently. "My daughter is lucky to have a mate like you." She looked up into the royal Mlinzi turned Uasian king's eyes. She could sense his power, radiating within him.

"Pardon for the interruption, Heshima?" Mufasa arose, leaping down for his rocky perch to stand before his gathered followers. "But I require a private audience with Kopa, if you may conclude your conversation?" The lion god tilted his head at the lioness as she stepped back, away from Kopa.

"Of course." She turned back to Kopa, standing beside her mate. "We'd better go and speak to Karimu anyway, deliver your message." Her eyes flickered between Kopa and Mufasa, who had moved to stand beside the current Uasian king. Mufasa lowered his head in respect, before raising it once more, smiling slightly as he did so. Heshima turned to Kopa once more, smiling at her daughter's mate, as Mfalme slowly nuzzled her side. "It's been an honour to finally meet you, Kopa." Kopa returned her smile as the lioness turned around, closely following her mate as the pair wandered off into the foliage nearby.

As Mfalme and Heshima strolled away, Ni and Tuli approached their son, their hearts beating as one, as they always did. As Kopa turned to face his parents, he was met with his mother's cheek brushing against his mane. It was damp, soaked with the salty, watery drops that fell from her eyes.

"We'd better go too, my son." Ni sighed, sitting beside his mate as she nuzzled their son. Kopa felt a drop from in the corner of his own eye. He felt her soft, uncontrollable sobs, rumbling through her strong, ferocious body. Yet, deep down, her heart had been broken, once more...

"T..Take care, Kopa..." She removed her cheek from Kopa's mane, looking her son in his warm, dripping brown eyes. She held his head with her paws, staring into his soul for a few seconds. Kopa felt her love radiate through his body. He hadn't felt it this much since the last few seconds of her life in the physical realm. He turned to his father, exchanging an affirming smile. Tuli broke away from her son, wiping away her tears as she looked back at her son. Her mate softly started to nuzzle her, moving her attention away from their son, as they slowly walked away.

Kopa couldn't help but feel a tear roll down his own cheek. It dropped on the floor, sending a shudder through the ground, the shudder rumbled across the land, even rising up to the bright, crystal peaks surrounding the area, the mountains illuminated as the pulse rumbled across their peaks, shooting across this spiritual land.

"So..." Kopa turned back to Mufasa, the lion god stood firm and strong, staring down at the Uasian king. "What did you want me for?" Kopa sat, his tail swaying slightly in the lush grass beneath him. Hearing his question, Mufasa sighed, before strolling towards Kopa, brushing past the younger lion.

"Come... The other's wish to speak to you." Mufasa led the way, through the low laying foliage nearby. Kopa followed closely, rather concerned about the current proceedings. If Mufasa had summoned him for this, it must be bad.

"Others?" The younger lion trotted beside the lion god, flickering his eyes between him and the path ahead. A small, crystallised structure rested not far, glistening in the bright, star-filled sky. He felt the light glisten on his forehead, the crystalized fur strands on his royal markings warmed softly, the feeling his mate's heart rushing with worry and dread flushing through his mind, until... a bolt of surprise, happiness, rushed through her soul, and into his. He thought about what her parents had said. He didn't quite know what to make of it.

Mufasa chuckled, slowly strolling before Kopa into the small opening surrounding the crystallised structure. A small gap was etched in its facing, just enough for a lion to squeeze through, into... nothingness? Mufasa turned back to Kopa, who stood, rather confused as to what he was seeing. "You'll see." The lion god approached Kopa, placing his paw on Kopa's old royal Mlinzi mark. "Just keep calm and collected, and you'll prevail."

Taking a deep breath, Kopa closed his eyes. He felt Karimu's presence, all the way back in the mortal plane, she had become... calm, rather intrigued by something. He opened his eyes again to find Mufasa staring at him, curious for an answer. "Okay, I'm ready."

Turning back to the structure, Mufasa inhaled after a split second, he let out a soft, barely audible sigh. From his muzzle, a gush of spectral energy rushed towards the structure. Upon stroking the surface, a portal opened, sending out a shockwave in the surrounding area.

"Come, Kopa..." Mufasa approached the portal, only stopping before entering, "Your destiny awaits..." He stood at the side of the portal, looking over at the younger lion. Kopa's ears folded down instantly. He hated to think about it. He felt a jolt of pain shoot across his scar, causing him to reel slightly, placing his paw across his eye. The pain resided quickly, allowing him to focus once more.

With a nervous, stumbling series of steps, Kopa walked forward. He could smell a fresh, slightly salty scent bursting from the portal, instantly causing his head to relax. He seemed to lose all aggression, the ebb and flow of peace washing over his body.

Stepping forward, he felt the light engulf his fur. A roaring rush of gentle, sweet air blew his mane up as he stepped into the newly opened realm. Mufasa followed soon after, just before the portal destabilised, closing off behind them.

Katikati awaited...

Karimu stood firm, overlooking her land. The Uasian Queen wasn't alone. Her parents sat beside her; their soul-lit rocky bodies flickering in the shallow breeze. They had come to speak with her and deliver a message from Mufasa himself.

"I...I had no idea it was this bad." The Uasian Queen bowed her head slightly. The warmth from the sun glistened on her marked forehead. The crystallised mark of the queen hummed softly as she sat there, pondering the knowledge she had just been gifted. The slight shudder of the crystallised monument beneath her paws fluctuated with her heartbeat. She had sensed something was wrong for so long.

And she had been right...

"Kopa's carried... a lot lately..." Karimu's father continued. The rough, almost worried tone rumbled in his rocky, spiritual voice. He looked over at his daughter, knowing all too well the burden he was about to place on her shoulders. "For years now, Kopa has carried the burden."

"And now, he needs you..." Heshima nervously turned to her daughter. The air around them had become thick with concern. A bubbling, heated mess of trepidation and, deep inside, panic. They all knew where this was heading. Karimu surprisingly calmed, collecting her thoughts as she stood proud, alert even. There was silence. The only sounds heard coming from the land beneath them, the herds and the distant roars of the prides that patrolled them. Karimu thought for a moment, before turning to her parents once more.

"He has my aid." The Uasian queen continued to stand strong, her parents frowned slightly, unsure as to what their daughter was saying. Their rocky, spectral bodies shuddering slightly in the rising breeze. "He always has, and he always will. '' She walked to the edge of the overhang before turning back. "He is my king, my mate..." As she spoke, Karimu's head lowered, her heart beating faster and faster as she thought of her Kopa. "My love..."

"I'm sorry." Mfalme whispered, slowly approaching his daughter before nuzzling her. She shook him off after a few seconds though, standing firm and confident on her own. The previous Uasian king sighed, looking out at the land he once ruled. "The future is so very dark, so much is yet to happen that will test you both. " Karimu sat beside her father looking out at the land with him. Her mother strolled forward, sitting beside her daughter, welcomed with a comforting, loving nuzzle.

"But we know you'll do just fine." Heshima smiled, looking into her daughter's beautiful eyes. A warming, comforting smile adorning her muzzle as the trio looked out at the land once more. A sense of pride rushed through both Mfalme and Heshima as they stood forward, turning back around to face their daughter.

"We're so very proud of you." Karimu's eyes started to water as her father spoke calmly, his own eyes watering once more. "Both of you." A warm, uncontrollable smile erupted across the Uasian Queen's muzzle. He moved closer, placing a single paw on hers. "Together, you can do anything."

"And we'll always be here for you when you need us." Heshima smiled lovingly at her daughter and mate, her eyes sparkling with pride and maternal love. The winds intensified, brushing atop the ancient, crystallised monument's lower peak violently. Karimu barely held her footing, as did her spectral parents. Their bodies flickered slightly as if starting to fade from this plain of existence.

"Thanks mum, thanks dad." The Uasian Queen barely held back her tears as her parents, now stable once more, stood before her. Their loving smiles warming her heart with so much love. The breeze intensified once more, causing her parent's spectral bodies to flicker once more. As a sliver of a salty liquid rolled down her cheek, she smiled, rather warmed by her parent's loving, comforting words. "We're gonna make you proud."

"We know you will..." and with that, the spectral, rocky bodies of the former Uasian king and queen faded in the wind, the dusty stone brushing off into the open air as the rocky boulders that had formed their bodies fell off the edge of the Uasian Tower's overhang. Karimu froze, her face consumed in tears as she watched her parent's physical form dissipate before her.

Despite this, she could still feel them, the soft, warm beating of her heart, acting as a beacon across the planes of life and death itself. They were still with her, and she would never forget that.

"Your majesty!" a sudden squawk shook the Uasian Queen out of her emotional, tearful trance. Wiping her dripping, wet cheeks, Karimu looked up to see two eagles slowly descending from the sky.

"Jicho?" she stared up at the larger one, instantly recognising it as her loyal, feathery advisor. "What's wrong?" She looked over at the seemingly younger eagle. Her sharp blue eyes stared forward at Karimu, seemingly locked in awe of the regal lioness. "And who's this?"

"Oh..." The older eagle spread her wing slightly as if waving towards her younger counterpart. "This is Anga, she's been helping me get the eagles on our side." As a shudder of relief brushed through Karimu's body, she couldn't help but be drawn to the younger eagle. Her eyes scanned her darker, almost purple feathered body.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Anga." She smiled softly at the eagle to only be met with a focused, rather sinister stare. Anga didn't flinch, didn't even blink as Karimu lowered her head slightly, still staring at the eagle.

"I also noticed that the herds are on the move again, your majesty." Jicho interrupted, seeing the two stare each other down out of curiosity. Karimu instantly shot back to her regal, stable stance as the older eagle hopped forward. The lioness' tail swayed side to side across the crystallised ground, the sun gleaming on her forehead, warming the gleaming mark woven into her fur.

"Indeed." The queen stepped forward, nearly to the edge of the overlooking monument. She looked over her land once more, watching as a sway of herd animals strolled across the thick grasslands, slowly disappearing over the horizon. "They're heading home, until we are ready to launch our attack on the Pridelands." Karimu explained, turning slowly to her feathery advisor, and her quiet friend. "A few of the prides are staying though, for tonight's... festivities." A sudden whimper brushed her voice as she spoke.

Karimu took a deep breath, calming once more. Turning to her feathery friend, she spoke her mind, of the question she needed an answer for. "Have you seen Kopa? I need to talk to him about something."

"Not since this morning." The eagle replied, lowering her head slightly. "But I'm sure he'll come back." She knew the king too well. Her heart sank slightly as she remembered the dear old friend they had both lost. "He wouldn't dare miss saying goodbye to Kwaheri." Looking out at the land beyond, Karimu couldn't help but hope her advisor was right.

She already missed her love, even if he'd only been away for a few hours. Closing her eyes, she could sense his worry, the ache laying on his soul. Her parents were right. How could she have not seen it before? A small tear rolled down her cheek, as his presence in her heart sank.

"We have to find him." Karimu turned, looking back at the Uasian tower. Her eyes caught sight of the younger eagle before her, still deathly silent, just staring at her as if waiting for orders. She flickered her sight to Jicho, who stood by her side. The eagle smiled calmly. Whilst most of the pride were busy caring for the visiting prides and herds, she turned to Anga. It reminded her of the Pridelanders, and a certain group within their ranks.

"Well, perhaps the Lion Guard could help?" upon hearing Jicho's solution, Karimu's ears flickered up, her eyes widened. A slight glimmer of hope rushed through her heart, through her very veins.

"Of course!" The lioness turned to Anga, smiling a hopeful gaze at the keen-eyed eagle. "Anga, can you find the Lion Guard, tell them to look for Kopa?" She placed her paws together as she sat, practically pleading to Anga. The eagle's eyes remained locked, seemingly emotionless as she stared at the queen. The eagle remained silent as Karimu and Jicho stared at her, seemingly waiting for any sign of understanding or acceptance.

"Erm... Anga?" Jicho nervously asked, her own set of pale blue eyes locked on her younger Pridelander friend. Without warning, Anga rustled her feathers, spreading her wings slightly as she stared at Jicho and Karimu.

"Yup..." Anga flapped her wings, lifting her strong feathery body into the sky. Without a deathly, yet focused stare the eagle stared at the Uasian queen, seemingly accepting her commands. Karimu smiled, though she couldn't help but feel slightly uncertain as to Anga's intentions. The proud young eagle took another strong, agile flap of her mighty wings, bursting off into the sky with a mighty cry of "Anga lenga!", she flew off, leaving behind a gush of wind in her wake.

As Anga disappeared in the bright, sunlit sky, Jicho took to the air, perching herself on Karimu's shoulder. The Uasian queen sighed, the thought of her king still plaguing her mind.

"It'll be okay, Karimu, Jicho nuzzled Karimu's cheek, brushing her feathery face against Karimu's fur. The lioness couldn't help but hum softly, feeling the loving, calming sensation from her advisor. She turned to the tower before her, knowing all too well the duties that stood before her.

"Well, we'd better go and check up on Maarifa." Karimu began to slowly walk, her powerful, feline shoulders rolling up and down as she walked, causing Jicho to bounce. The pair strolled down the declining ramp, leading down to the land beneath the magnificent tower. Before. The coming hours would be busy, for both of them. Preparations would need to be made for Kwaheri's funeral. But knowing that the Lion Guard would be searching for Kopa, Karimu couldn't help but feel slightly relieved at least.

After all, she knew just how hard this would be for him. But no matter what, she would stay by his side. He was her king, her mate, her love.

And nothing was going to change that...

The blinding light faded when Kopa stepped forward. The once soft, lush sensation of grass beneath his paws had been replaced with the rough, harsh cold feeling of rock and stone. As the light faded, he found himself in a large, softly lit cave. Large, humming crystals hung from the ceiling, illuminating with a light blue hue. As he stepped into this strange new area, Mufasa brushed up beside him, taking the lead. He turned around, facing the Uasian king with a focussed, seemingly uncertain look. But why? Surely, he knew what was to come.

Taking a short breath, Kopa looked around the cave. A small body of water lay at the edge, softly rippling as small, bead-like droplets fell from seemingly endless darkness above it. To his far-right, a gleam of light burst through the cave followed quickly with a gush of shallow, cool wind.

"This way." Mufasa spoke calmly, slowly stepping towards what seemed to be the exit to the cave. With a curious look, Kopa followed, quickly trotting up beside the majestic lion god's side. The breeze quickened, blowing gently through their mighty, bulky manes as they transcended out into the open air. Once more, they were met with light, but also a hint of darkness.

As they pierced the exit of the cavern, both Mufasa and Kopa were met with a breath-taking sight. A sphere of land filled with all the biomes you could possibly imagine. Grasslands, desert, tundra, jungles, swamplands, mountains. All lay beneath a bright, warm sun, floating some distance away from where they stood. This was true for one side of the sphere at least. On the other, a cracked, decaying, landscape lay. Thunderous, crackling clouds covered most of that area, making it hard to see what was truly beneath the moonlit land beneath them.

"This is Katikati." Mufasa spoke. His deep, rough yet still warm voice boomed. "The centre of the Circle of Life." Kopa froze, truly mesmerized by the sights, sounds, even smells before him. The calls of a thousand herds, the smell of the sweetest, ripened fruits and flowers. This was heaven. He looked over to Mufasa, who stood still and firm. The lion god turned to Kopa, strolling past him as he continued. "Come, they wait for us ahead."

Kopa followed, only then realising the ground beneath him. With a small dig of his claw, the seemingly soil coated ground gave way to reveal the light blue crystal beneath. It resonated with the same beat as his heart, the same beat as the crystallised marking on his forehead. It seems the Uasian Tower wasn't the only one of its kind. The Uasian king continued to follow, rather curious as to why he had been summoned in this manner, and by whom.

Clambering up the mountainous structure to its peak, the pair were met with the sight of two more lions, sitting upon crystallised, elaborate thrones. One of them Kopa recognised instantly. He was Askari, the first leader of the Lion Guard, and the first to discover and master the Roar of the Elders. Memories of his time as royal Mlinzi flooded Kopa's brain, of his time training under Potea, Askari's daughter. A shallowness entered his heart as thought of her. She didn't deserve the fate Scar had most likely given her.

The other lion was a mystery to Kopa, however. Beneath them, another throne lay empty, at least until Mufasa approached the godly duo. Resting himself upon the empty crystallised throne, Mufasa ushered Kopa closer, to sit at a circle embedded into the ground. As the Uasian king did, the ground rumbled softly, illuminating at his touch.

"Greetings Kopa." The mysterious lion spoke with as much pride and authority as if it were possible. "I am Yeye, The Head of Prides." A bewildered, shocked sensation rushed through Kopa. Was he dreaming? Or was this real?

"Yeye? The real Yeye!?" His breathing intensified as he looked at the proud lion god. "The first lion king Yeye!?" Kopa stood, completely shocked as to who stood before him. He had heard the legends of course, but to stand in the presence of such a legend! Kopa couldn't help but bow.

"Indeed I am, Kopa." Yeye smiled, rather humbled by Kopa's bewilderment. "We've been watching your progress with... curiosity." He turned to his fellow elders, a pair of rather accepting, wise smiles adoring their faces as he addressed the Uasian king.

"You have?" Kopa's ears flickered, his entire head turning to the side as he questioned the lion god's reasoning. He thought for a moment, looking up as the three lion gods seemingly conversed silently between each other. "Why did you summon me here then?" He couldn't help but ponder this as his heartbeats intensified, a slight trickle of worry brushing through his proud, surprising calm voice. "What's going on?"

Askari was the first to face Kopa. A stern, yet slightly troubled look adorned his muzzle. "We've heard from Potea..." His voice trailed off as he spoke, his mind consumed with worry over his daughter.

"Potea! She's alive?!" Kopa gasped. The last time he had seen her she had been taken by Scar. As a smile started to spread across his muzzle, he stared forward, waiting for Askari to continue.

"She's trapped in Scar's realm." Mufasa took over, seeing Askari's shrunken presence in the conversation. "But she's been able to contact us." Yeye approached Askari, softly nuzzling his friend as he sighed, trying to regain control of himself.

"What did she say?" Kopa sat, curiosity filling his mind, let alone soul. He couldn't help but worry about Potea, even slightly. She had taught him everything he knew after all. As he did, Askari regained himself, standing firm and strong once more, even in the face of the troubling news he and his fellow gods possessed.

"Things have changed, Kopa." Askari spoke firmly, locking eyes with the Uasian king. At his every word, a shudder rushed through the air, whispers in the breeze. The four lions looked up, tasting the slight hint of decay and misery in the air. The darkness was spreading, slowly and gently.

Yeye turned back to the Uasian king, clearing his throat before he spoke. "The path is set for Scar's fall, but we've learned he has... a secret." As the head of prides spoke. Mufasa surprisingly shrunk into his throne. His ears folding down as he heard his brother's name.

"What kind of secret?" Kopa's curiosity only grew with every second. As his muzzle rippled with words, he felt a sharp pain claw across his mind, his sight slowly hazing his sight. The whispers grew slowly, barely noticeable to the Uasian king at first.

"We... Don't know..." Askari sighed, turning his attention down to his paws. As he did, Yeye turned to Mufasa, staring at the previous prideland's king with a stern gaze. Mufasa looked up at him, his brown eyes soaked in an uncertain fear.

"Well, most of us don't..." Yeye growled softly, snarling towards his much younger friend. Mufasa shot up, a sudden burst of pride empowering him to stand up once more. "Isn't that right, Mufasa..."

"It doesn't matter about that." Mufasa snarled back, standing his ground. He may not be as superior as Yeye, but he was still a god. He deserved some respect at least. Mufasa sighed slightly, looking away from his tense, agitated friend. "He is my responsibility, my problem..."

"He's all our problem, Mufasa," Askari joined the fray, holding his ground between the two mighty lions. All three continued to ignore Kopa, too lost in their internal conflicts as the Uasian king nearly collapsed, clawing away at the ground to reveal the crystallised surface beneath.

The shining reflection that shot back at him told the Uasian king everything. A crackling, humming scar had begun to spread across his left eye once more, crackling with a greenish hue. The gnashing laughter grew and grew, before a single, spitting demonic voice spoke.

"Listen to me, my scarred king..." The rough voice boomed through Kopa's mind. "You are mine, and you know it." As Scar's twisted words grounded through Kopa's mind, his clouded vision gave way to a different sight than before. A series of sharp, cracked islands, resting in a void of greenish flame. The stench of rotting, burning, decaying flesh clung to his muzzle. The very stench consumed his mind, only heightening the rupturing pain clawing across his mind.

"Ah, I see you now." The voice continued, chuckling softly in-between sentences. "Let me through into their pitiful world..." The whispers grew in strength as Kopa fell to the ground, the pain ripping him apart from within. He couldn't hold back much longer. Gnarling his teeth, he tried to fight it, but the pain was too much. Yeye, Askari and Mufasa were too caught up in their bittersweet argument to even notice the Uasian king's suffering as the skies around them darkened.

"N...Never..." Kopa could only barely talk as he clawed the crystallised ground. Every cell in his body was screaming in agony, and yet he remained quiet. The clawing, tearing shots of agony gnashing his mind as he fought for control.

But Scar was having none of it...

"Listen to me Kopa..." Scar's voice continued to stare at the Uasian king. "Surely you wouldn't want your precious mates and cubs to meet an..." The scarred god-like entity chuckled softly between his passive aggressive words. "...unfortunate end." The storm surrounding the area intensified, bubbling above the godly gathering. Kopa struggled, feeling his will subside with every millisecond that he lay on the ground, curled up as the pain consumed him.

As Scar consumed him.

"I may have created him the monster he became..." Mufasa held his ground, turning his attention between the two mighty gods beside him. "But that doesn't mean I know everything he has planned." As the previous Prideland's king spoke, he couldn't help but analyse the air around him. The storms had intensified, wrapping themselves around the tower in which they rested on.

"LISTEN TO ME!" a crackle of green hinted lightning shot through the thick, cone shaped cloud above, disbursing beside the godly trio. The swirling, volatile bolts of corrupting lightning crackled to the crystallised peak, sending a greenish hue deep within the soul charged ground.

Looking over at the source of the explosive outburst, Mufasa saw the snarling, practically roaring face of Kopa staring back at him, scarred with a green cut across his left eye. The roaring blast shot up from his paws to the sky, quickly dispersing the thick cloud layer, halting the thunderous bombardment from up high.

Within second's Kopa's senses returned to him, the humming scar adoring his left eye dimmed as he felt his will return to him. A calmness seemed to hum across the skies, letting the sunlight glisten back on the Uasian king's tear ridden face.

"That... That wasn't me..." The reality of what happened ruptured Kopa's heart. His entire body shuddered as reality took hold in the Uasian king's mind. He was met with the shocked, rather aggressive stares of the three Lion gods. Yeye snarled, staring down Kopa with a deathly gaze.

"It's started..." Mufasa began, still rather shaken by the sheer explosive outburst emanating from Kopa. He watched as the blast cascaded over the spherical boundaries of the land surrounding them, spreading a blast of darkness until it dissipated, dying in the presence of the light from the single, encapsulated sun hanging in the air.

Yeye continued to stare down Kopa, holding his ground aggressively "Get him out of he-"

"No!" From out of nowhere, Askari lunged slowly at Yeye before turning to Kopa. Mufasa had slowly strolled to the Uasian King, standing before him as he collapsed, drained both physically and emotionally. He couldn't feel Scar's influence anymore. Not a single demonic chuckle or pain. And yet as he stared down at his paws, he noticed the faint, seemingly spectral scar, etched across his eye.

"Kopa!" Mufasa sat before the Uasian king, staring him in the eye as he moved his paw to his marked shoulder. "You're okay..." He moves his paw across Kopa's eyes, wiping away the salty tears that stained the Uasian king's fur. To his surprise, the scar across Kopa's left eye seemed to disappear at his touch, before returning as he swept his claw aside. The lion god knew what this meant all too well. Looking down at the rather shocked, shuddering lion before him, Mufasa calmly spoke.

"Scar has scarred your soul..." Mufasa sighed softly, letting go of Kopa. The Uasian king seemed to calm, waiting for the previous Prideland's king to continue. Meanwhile, Askari started to approach them, leaving Yeye to sit and watch.

"Don't be afraid." Askari spoke calmly as he approached the two. Kopa looked over at the mighty lion god, taken in by his calming, yet grandiose voice. The very holy land beneath them seemed to resonate at his words. "The path ahead is clear now..." He slowly strolled to the edge of the mountain top, looking out into the darkened half of the sphere.

"There is a land... far to the east..." Askari continued to speak, sitting at the summit of the crystallised mountain. High above, three, gleaming stars started to hum, high at the peak of the sphere, as if they were on the other side. "A land that is crucial to the preservation of the Circle of Life itself." He turned around, staring towards Kopa and Mufasa, his eyes shot to Kopa's, who now stood strong, ears spiking upwards as he listened.

Mufasa turned back to Kopa too, sitting proud and strong in the king's presence. "The means to find Scar's secret lies there." The mighty lion god sighed, looking down slightly. "The secret to our success lies with you now, Kopa."

What... What do you mean?" Kopa finally spoke, a rather confused, stressed look adorning his muzzle. Askari approached., sitting beside Mufasa, who had shrunk once more.

"Scar's possession of you is... special." He cleared his throat, his eyes meeting with Kopa's, once more. "Your souls are... entwined."

"Oh..." Kopa looked down at his paws. He could feel it, the slight numbing feeling of Scar's presence deep down, now contained yet still there, brewing... waiting... As Kopa thought, the ground shuddered, causing small shards of crystal to fling into the air. Turning to face them, Kopa found the shards floating, forming a circle of sharp, glowing shards, humming with the very power of life itself. A circle, humming as one, as everything did.

With a soft breath, askari and Mufasa strolled forward, standing either side of the Uasian king. They faced the crystallised circle, a stern, concentrated look adorning their muzzles. The soft, rather proud sound of footsteps reverberated behind them, causing Kopa's attention to turn once more.

Before him stood Yeye, a rather sympathetic look spreading across his face, very much to Kopa's bewilderment. As he did, Mufasa and Askari hummed a breath-filled roar, humming the very fabric of reality apart. As their roars collided with the circle, a bright, cyan blue portal ruptured into existence, humming loudly like an army of lions charging into battle.

"Go..." The highest of the lion gods spoke rather calmly, his mighty voice rattling every fibre of fur on Kopa's body, forcing his ears to fling up rather surprisingly. As he spoke, the portal stabilised, allowing Mufasa and Askari to halt their roars. They turned to Kopa and Yeye, comforting smiles adorning their faces as they sat on either side of the portal.

Yeye continued. "Conclude your business, our fair king..." he moved closer to Kopa, sitting before the Uasian king. "When you are ready, bring your queen to us, and we will guide you to destiny." Kopa stared into the portal. With a short intake of breath. Kopa stepped forward, only turning around once more as he reached within whiskers distance of the stabilised tear in reality.

"Thank you, all of you..." The ex-Royal Mlinzi's pleasantries were met with a trio of warm, loving smiles. The three gods lowered their heads slightly in acceptance. The Uasian king turned back to the portal, slowly strolling through it as he continued his calm, slow breathing.

Just as he left, Mufasa and Askari arose, slowly moving back over to Yeye. As they did, the portal collapsed, allowing the crystallised frame to fall to the ground, slowly bubbling back into the small grooves from which it came.

"I hope he can make it..." Mufasa sighed, slowly strolling back to his throne. Askari followed, softly nuzzling up to his friend as they walked.

"I'm sure he will, my young friend." The ex-lion guard leader's mind flashed with images of his daughter. He could feel her expertise, her knowledge and training in every strand of fur whilst he was in Kopa's presence. "He's strong, stronger than any of us."

"And his queen is strong too." Yeye spoke up, slowly sitting back in his crystallised throne beside his friends. He looked over at them, paying attention to Mufasa especially. The previous Prideland's king sighed, looking back over the land before them. His eyes scanning the slowly growing infestation of his brother's demonic presence in this peaceful, holy land.

"I hope so." Mufasa's eyes closed. He still remembered that day. The day where all this started. The sound of Sarabi's tearful pleas for him to halt his attack scarred his mind as images of his brother's bloody, pain-ridden face. The fresh, crimson painted scar across his left eye. The very vision of this moment had haunted the previous Lion king for so long now.

He had created Scar. From a simple feud, a true horror had been unleashed on the savannah, on everything and everyone. This was his problem. And he would do anything to fix it.

Mufasa's eyes opened once more, staring out once more at the land.

"They are our last hope..."

...