The Lion King: Rise of the White Pride

Chapter 3: The New King

The next day came. The sun slowly rose from the horizon shining its light down on the savannah of Pride Lands. Kovu woke up early. He slowly moved his mane away from Kiara and stood up. He slowly walked outside as quiet as he could while avoiding the lionesses and their cubs. Along the way he thought, Quiet for a few minutes. It wouldn't be so quiet soon.

When he was at the entrance he looked back over his shoulder to make sure Kiara was not disturbed. But as his head turned back half way he realized that Simba's nowhere near Nala. When he finished turning back the bright sunlight ray hit his eyes and as he turned away from the light he saw Simba in front of him, glaring.

"It is time," Simba said before roaring, waking up the entire pride in the den.

Nala was the first one to get on her feet followed by Kiara and walked towards Simba.

"What is it, Simba?" she asked while rubbing her eyes.

Simba approached her, nuzzled her, and answered, "Wake up and gather the pride. I have something to say," he said and then walked away with Kovu.

The rest of the pride woke up on Simba's order and the lionesses carried their cubs to the king. After the entire pride arrived, they glanced at the king of Pride Lands stood atop a rock.

"What is it that you want to say for waking us all up this early, my king?" Chumvi called out with a still sleepy face.

He was reddish-brown coated. His underbelly and muzzle was pale in color and the same color of his coat for eyes.

"I see you're all here. Now listen to what's I'm going to say," Simba said with a serious face.

Kiara's face straightened, Nala seemed to know what was going to happen, and Kovu's face looked odd. The other lionesses getting their ears sharp and so do the cubs. Kovu glanced at Simba trying to make him reconsider his choice, but what he got was a calm look signifying I've made my mind straight. There he goes. Nothing he could do about it now.

"I, Simba, hereby stepped down and retire! And Kovu here will take the position. As the King of the Pride Lands!" his voice soared through the pride. Kovu's entire muscle tensed, he was sweating cold but he managed to keep his composure

An almost unison of what by the lionesses echoed through the Pride Rock and was loud enough to take the attention of Timon and Pumbaa that was eating some breakfast grubs not too far away.

Kiara's jaw dropped. She could think of a hundred things her father would say but none of them turned out. Nala, on the other paw, scoffed. She knew exactly what Simba's going to say as he already talked about it a few days back. She knew Simba wouldn't budge whoever talked to him so she could only agree. Kovu sighed. There he goes. Nothing I can do about it he thinks.

"What do you mean, Dad?" Kiara hastily asked, fluttered with worry.

"I believe through these past years, I'm not being able to lead the Pride Lands properly, so I have Kovu to replace me," Simba explained to the pride. "He's smarter, stronger, and most of all, he's reliable and a leader."

"That means . . . !"

Rafiki suddenly appeared on Kiara's back and said, "Simba and Nala will be some sort of elder now, hehheheheh," he stated.

"Since when . . . ?! Hey!" Kiara startled and tried to shake Rafiki off but he was already off her back.

Rafiki jumped and landed near Simba and teasingly told Kiara, "I'm here,"

"Ack! You sneaky old monkey!" she snapped.

Zazu appeared out of nowhere and say, "The coronation will be held now," Simba nodded.

Simba ran to the promontory of the rock and roared; a roar so loud that every single animal in the Pride Lands could hear it. With no time to waste, they hurried to the summit. In matter of minutes, almost all animals were lined up in front of the Pride Rock enthusiastic about what was going to happen. Are the king and the queen having another child? That was the first thing that crossed their mind.

After all the animals have gathered and have their attention locked onto him, he started the coronation. First he stood steadfast edge and then he lowered his head a bit and walked back a little. This signified his retire as the king. The herds below looked surprised and started talking to one another, making noises. Simba's stepped down?! What's going on? Who'll be the king now? Various comments were heard from the crowds.

Simba shook his head at Kovu for him to move forward. Kovu was still behind, gathering his courage.

He closed his eyes in fear. "I-I think I'm not ready for this," Kovu staggered.

He backed up shuddering. He was not and probably would not ready for this. He was glad that Simba acknowledged him qualified to be king but he thought that he wasn't good enough to lead such kingdom as big as Pride Lands.

He was about to turn back when Kiara held his fore left paw and says, "Come on. I know you can do it," she said tenderly.

Kovu looked back and sees Vitani stared at him with a go for it look. Finally gained courage through Kiara's words, Kovu walked toward the promontory where he stood straight and roared. His roar quickly made the crowds go silent as they glanced up to see the new king.

It's Kovu! So he's the king now. I know it! The crowd quietly commented.

Kiara came up beside Kovu and nuzzled him. Then, they roared in unison. Kovu and Kiara continued roaring followed by the lionesses. The herds bowed down in respect of their new rulers. After all of that, the crowd dispersed and Kovu walked back to the pride.

Vitani couldn't hold herself and hugged her brother. "Congratulations. Mother would be proud . . . the other way around," she laughed.

"Yeah," he smiled at his sister.

Kovu turned to Simba and asked, "Phew. Did . . . did I do it right?" he said nervously.

"You did great," he answered calmly.

"Wow. I surprised myself."

Rafiki appeared in front of him, "And! The surprise didn't end there!"

Kovu's eyebrow rise in confusion, "What surprise?"

"I'm pregnant!" Kiara spatted. Zazu almost fell unconscious at the sudden shout.

Another what!? volley echoed, but this time in unison with Kovu and Simba. Both jaws were dropped. Simba pointed out that Rafiki wasn't usually being around so close to a ceremony unless invited.

Simba gaped. "D-did you two . . .?" he staggered. "What!?"

"Kiara?" Nala piped up.

Kiara's face suddenly frowned. "So you . . .," Kovu choked in the back of the pride.

"Don't want you to have cubs? It's the other way around!" Simba exclaimed. "I've been wondering on when you'll have cubs," he smiled and nuzzled her.

"Congratulation, Kiara!" Nala took turn nuzzling her.

Kiara said that she felt odd last night so she had Timon and Pumbaa do her a favor to fetch Rafiki this morning. Rafiki checked on her while Kovu's roaring and confirmed that she was pregnant. Another joy had crossed the minds of the Pride Landers as they congratulated Kovu on his coronation and his new status as a father. Kovu could tell that Kiara need to rest so his first command as the king is for Kiara to rest up.

Simba asked a thoughtful Rafiki, for the mandrill to be a little confused. The mandrill said that another surprise might be waiting.

Later that night, Simba was still up. Ones that didn't sleep either were Nala, Chumvi and his cream coated mate, Tama, and Vitani. They were lounging around on the stone steps.

"It's so peaceful," Simba noted, taking a glance at the silent night view.

"True," the four lionesses replied in unison. Each look at each other before giggling.

Tojo and Kula joined the five after a while. Both liked to stay up late and were surprised when they found the five.

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Tojo, the dark gold lion with light red mane sad.

His caramel brown mate, Kula also commented. "It's not like you guys to stay up late."

"Can't sleep," Chumvi answered simply.

The seven Pride Landers keep stargazing before Simbe spoke, "A lot more peace after Scar and Zira . . ."

Tama lay on her back. "Now that we're all together, there wouldn't be any more tyrants, would it?"

Vitani rose on her paws. "I've just remembered something."

"What is it?" Simba asked. The rest perked up.

"Zira trained some rogues that she met, but . . .," she stopped. "They disappeared when Zira's eyes were off them."

"Now that I've mentioned it. They say they knew Scar and wanted to take his revenge," she continued. "There were two light peach lionesses."

"There's a lion I saw. He's tan. I think his mane was a bit dark peach. He's brawny, but there's something in his crooked smile that sent chills on my back," she shivered at the memory. "He was skilled too. I think he's even with me, maybe better," she admitted.

Simba thought for a while. "You think they'll come back?" he got serious.

Silence was on the air.

"If they do, then he'll have to face the Pride Landers first," Nala finally spoke.

"She's right," Tama said, earning a nod from each lion.

"Let's sleep," Nala said while standing up. "We'll don't want to look sleepy in front of the others tomorrow," she entered the den.

Simba went in followed by the others a few moments after. Simba took a place beside Nala and lay down carefully, trying not to wake others up. Nala nuzzled her mate and they drifted off.

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