"Sire, someone is here and wants to meet you," Zazu said
"Who is he?" Simba asked
"He is… Rifalme, the emperor," Zazu replied
"What does the emperor want with me?" Simba asked
"I don't know, sire, but he wants to meet you," Zazu answered
"I see…" Simba said
Simba went outside to look for this guest, steeling himself for the worst outcome.
"Simba, It is nice to finally meet you" Rifalme greeted
"What do you want?!" Simba demanded
"No need for hostilities, this will be a very civil conservation" Rifalme replied
"Civil, huh? Alright, I'm all ears." Simba asked
"Well I am here to offer peace, the Umojelands won't attack the Pridelands under one condition," Rifalme said
"What is it?"
"To surrender Matu, King Simba, would you agree that the pridelands won't take away Matu from his home and family?" Rifalme explained, "We just got him but there are a lot of rumors that pridelanders are trying to get him back, is that true?"
"No… That simply isn't true" Simba replied
"Very well, Would you agree to let Matu go? Would you promise that the pridelands won't try to get him back?" Rifalme said "If you do, we promise that we will never invade the Pridelands"
Simba thought about it briefly, Should he agree? Well, this is his only chance, by agreeing with this deal war will be prevented.
"...Yes I agree" Simba replied "There will be no hostilities between The Umojelands and The Pridelands in exchange for Matu"
"Well, I guess the deal is settled" Rifalme smiled "So long Simba… I wish your kingdom the best"
"Simba, can I talk to you?" Ni requested
"Sure, what is it about?" Simba asked
"I am offering that we need to attack the Empire, to save Matu," Ni said, "We need to get him back before it ge-"
"No, we are not getting him back!" Simba snapped
"What do you mean?" Ni asked
"I recently had an agreement with the Emperor" Simba replied "We recently had an agreement that the Umojelands won't attack if we let Matu go, I agreed"
"Simba, are you saying that you agreed with the Emperor without telling us?!" Nala chimed in
"It is done Nala! And there is nothing you can do about it! The kingdom will be at peace, and we won't have to deal with the empire!" Simba snapped
"If that's the case… Ruudhi we have to go, New plan!" Ni said
"What plan?!" Ruudhi asked
"We have to beat the empire… With only two of us," Ni replied
"Are you insane?! There is no way we will be successful!" Ruudhi said
"I'll go with you guys" Mheetu joined in "I need to get him back"
"I'll go too," Nala said
"Nala! You cannot go there!" Simba interrupted
"And what are you going to do?! This is my choice!" Nala argued
"It will be way too dangerous!" Simba added "Nala please…"
"Simba… You stay here and maintain peace in the Pridelands" Nala said "If you can't help people in need, then I can do it"
"Nala…No…"
The four lions have left the pridelands… fighting the empire on their own
"It is time…" Kali said "I have to get him"
"He better be successful Kali" Rifalme said "If he isn't he might as well be useless"
"He will be successful" Kali replied "And what are you going to do anyway if he isn't?"
"If he isn't successful then he will be nothing but a useless little brat, you know about this Kali, you know what happened to Ruudhi" Rifalme explained
"I will make sure he will be successful, He will be a good warrior," Kali said
"He better be Kali…" Rifalme replied
Kali entered Matu's den finally opening it after being closed overnight, However, he heard cries and sobs.
"Uh… Hello?"
"I hate you! You locked me in here, it was scary!" Matu cried hugging his father "I was here alone…"
"So what? You need to sleep!" Kali replied
"You didn't even sleep with me… I-I'm afraid of the dark, and I had a lot of nightmares and you just left me there alone!" Matu cried
"You're afraid of the Dark?!" Kali asked
"Y-yes" Matu admitted
"Look at you… Get ready, you better not disappoint me" Kali said
"That's it? You're not even going to do anything?" Matu asked
"What am I supposed to do?!? If you are afraid of the dark, the best way to overcome it is to get used to it!" Kali replied
"Just like that?! You're not even helping me?!" Matu said
"Do not raise your voice against me!!" Kali snapped "Are you trying to argue with me?! Are you?!"
"N-No…" Matu stammered
"Good, Now let's continue shall we?" Kali replied
"Y-yes…"
"Your cub better win Kali," Rifalme said
"I know…" Kali replied "He was in a better state than me when I was in this! I was a scar-ridden cub for crying out loud, If I can win then he can win!"
"We'll see"
"D-Dad what is this about?" Matu asked
"You fight the other cubs for dominance" Kali replied
"Wh-what?!" Matu stammered
"You can do it right??" Kali asked
"N-No I can't! I don't know how to fight!" Matu replied
"I didn't even have a memory when I was in this! If I can win then you can win!" Kali said
"B-bu-"
"No buts! It's about to start go on!" Kali interrupted
Matu stepped into the Arena just like what his father did when he was a cub, however the moment it started he was already down when some random cub pinned him.
The cub bit him and beat him up leaving him bruised, it was painful, he cried in pain, it was crystal clear, he has been defeated…
"Well there it goes," Rifalme said "You have to support your son after this, he has experienced a lot of pain during this event"
Kali stared there, dumbfounded he can't believe it, his son lost!
"What will we do to him after this?" Kali asked
"You know what happened to Ruudhi when he lost during his training Kali" Rifalme replied "He will be considered as a weakling and unfit to serve the empire"
"However since he is related to you there is a second chance" Rifalme continued "Just like what Ruudhi did he has to be trained in different areas, he cannot be trained here"
"I understand," Kali said
"Very well"
"Dad…" Matu sobbed
"Tell me about it" Kali sighed in disappointment
"It hurts… Please ju-"
"Yeah I'm bringing you to a healer," Kali said "Let's talk about this soon"
Kali left Matu with a healer and waited for him until his wounds were finally treated.
"Are you okay?" Kali asked
"I'm fine… it still hurts a little…" Matu replied
"I'm very disappointed in you! You didn't even try to fight, you just stood there!" Kali snapped "A lot of cubs have beaten you up and you did nothing!"
"I told you earlier that I don't know how to fight…" Matu responded
"Did Mheetu raised you to be some weakling?!" Kali asked
"I'm not a weakling… You just don't understand!" Matu replied
"What do I not understand?! I have seen enough!" Kali argued
"Dad pleas-"
"Hey there Kali, good to see you today" Ganaji greeted "And about your son, that sucks"
"Tell me about it" Kali spat "Why are you here?"
"Well Rifalme just told me that you are looking for different areas to train your cub," Ganaji said "And I can help you"
"How?"
"I will be the one that would train him" Ganaji explained "However this training will be harsh, your son might not be able to handle it"
"Let me think…" Kali replied
"Dad please… I can't handle it!" Matu begged
"You don't get to decide!" Kali snapped "I will bring him to you"
"Excellent"
"No please don't!" Matu Stammered "please…Reconsider I can't do it… Please"
"You better be ready" Kali replied "I'll bring you to your den"
"Dad, can I at least sleep with you? I don't want to be there again… Alone" Matu begged
"Aww, would you look at that, the kid needs his daddy at night" Ganaji chuckled "You better say yes"
"...Fine! Follow me" Kali said
Matu followed his father, Thankful that his real dad finally listened to him
"Dad…"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?" Matu said
"What is it?" Kali replied
"What was mom like?" Matu asked
"She was… She was great" Kali replied "Why do you ask?"
"I need to know… How she died" Matu said
"She was killed by Hyenas while I was away, and then someone took you and gave you too Mheetu" Kali recalled, "It was the worst day of my life, and I was so happy when I found out that you're still alive, and I will protect you no matter what, they shall never get you again!"
Matu listened to his story and felt bad for his father, his father might be treating him harshly for now but he felt bad for him
"I'm sorry about that…" Matu said
"You don't have to" Kali replied
"Why do I have to be locked up and sleep in an empty den?" Matu asked
"So you would be safe, And you might run away," Kali said "And they might take you again"
"I will not run away… I-i promise!" Matu promised, Reluctantly
"You wouldn't?"
"Just promise me that you wouldn't lock me in there again! And I won't" Matu replied "Promise?"
"Sure, I promise…"