"Why didn't your sister come?" asked a young dark yellow lioness.
A light beige teen lioness rolled her dark purple eyes. "Busy training. She's trying to make the Avenger team."
The dark yellow lioness nodded before moving her light brown eyes up front where two creamy pelted lionesses laid down in the tall grass.
"Pss. Tiifu?"
The dark green eye, creamy lioness' ears flickered before she turned her head to look at the dark yellow lioness. "Yes, Joyce?"
The dark yellow lioness was about to say something when the other creamy lioness growled. The three lionesses looked and seen a herd of wildebeest.
"What now?" asked the light beige teen lioness.
"Joyce and Tiifu will give chase to where I am hiding. Where I will get it down, that's where you come in and kill it." Anissa instructed as her bluish eyes were locked on the herd.
The light beige teen gulped but nodded anyway. After taking a few deep breaths, she crawled over to her spot just as the ground began to shake.
Like planned, Tiifu and Joyce chased a large male wildebeest towards Anissa's hiding spot. But just like that the beast changed course and was heading for the border.
The light beige teen had a clear view and her dark purple eyes widen when she saw what was in the beast way. With a new burst of determination, she ran through the plains along side the animal. She looked ahead and jumped on a rock and pounced on the beast, taking him by surprise. She quickly finished him off with a bite to the neck.
After letting her heart return to normal, the light beige teen looked up to see Anissa with Tiifu and Joyce running over.
"What was you thinking? You could have been killed!" Anissa growled her bluish eyes burning.
The light beige teen looked towards where she saw the lion earlier. Following their young friend's gaze, Tiifu and Joyce let out gasps at the sight.
There lying a few feet away was a young tawny pelted lion with a dark brown mane.
The four slowly walked over. To get a better look, and they were amazed at how handsome he looked. Soon the lion's eyes open to reveal amazing green orbs.
"Wow," whispered Tiifu unable to move her dark green eyes from the male.
"You can say that again.." whispered the light beige teen.
A goofy smile formed on Joyce's pale muzzle. "Wow!"
The lion began to stand, Anissa got ready to fight in case. The tawny lion was almost as tall as a full grown adult. He was looking around before his green eyes landed on the four.
"Where am I?"
"Never Lands." Tiifu replied simply.
The lion closed his eyes and sighed. "Take me to your king."
The light beige teen and the dark yellow lioness immediately stepped back and scoffed.
The light beige teen rolled her eyes before growling. "Um.. who are you? You just can't come here and tell others what to do!"
The lion laughed. "Of course I can. I am Prince." but then his face fell. "I was a Prince."
The teen softened. "It's alright. I'm Asteria by the way. These are Anissa, Tiifu and Joyce. What's your name?"
The lion sighed before looking the teen in the eyes. "My parents named me, Kopa."
~O~
Sounds of crying can be heard all through the cave. Queen Kiara laid on her mate's body balling her eyes out. Sarabi nuzzled her daughter, trying to comfort the queen.
Mufasa looked from his mate and daughter to Jesús who was sitting by the cave entrance looking at his paws as tears fell from his eyes. The sound of the prince's sobs reached the queen's ears.
Kiara sniffed up some tears before walking over to Jesús' side.
"I have been living a life of lies."
Kiara sighed as she pinned her ears. Knowing where this conversation was going."I was against telling you but then I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning."
Jesús looked at the queen with tear filled dark brown eyes. "Why?"
Kiara looked over to her mate. "There should be no secrets in a family."
Jesús followed the gold lioness' gaze. "So why did he lie?"
"He kept the truth from you so that you would never feel different. You are in every way our son, Jesús, and we your family. You must know that."
Jesús takes this in as he stares at Simba.
"You can speak to him. He can hear us, even now."
Jesús looks at his mother. "How long will it last?"
Kiara sighed before shaking her head. "I don't know."
Jesús looked back at Simba. "I'll never get used to seeing him like this. The most powerful being in the Nine kingdoms lying helpless until his body is restored."
Kiara nuzzled Jesús tenderly. "You're a good son."
Jesús sits there, uncertain how to react, uncertain how he really feels.
"We mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us. And your brother."
Jesús looks to Kiara, concerned. "What hope is there for Kopa?"
Kiara smiled lightly. "There's always a purpose to everything your father does. Kopa may yet find a way home."
Jesús looks troubled by the revelation. He rises, heads for the exit, when they hear the sounds of paws hurriedly approaching. A few lions, block his way out. l
Jesús tenses, prepared for the worst, but the lions just stand before them. Jesús is baffled.
"Kopa is banished. The line of succession falls to you. Until he awakens, the Pride Lands is yours."
Jesús was stunned at the words. He looks around and see the lions, a few lionesses, Mufasa, Sarabi and Kiara bowing.
The now titled, King Jesús smiled, already liking the feeling of being king.