Chapter Two - Life as a Cub
Simba nuzzled Nala. The couple was aging, now too old to remain rulers of the Pridelands, but grateful to live long enough to see their granddaughter. "She'll make a wonderful queen," Nala said proudly. "I hope," sighed Simba. "Kovu is a great King...but he hasn't lived here all his life. He took his training to be King fine, but I wonder if he can teach Sadiki to be a good Queen."
"Don't forget, Kiara can help too," Nala said. Simba nodded. They sat silent, watching Sadiki play with a butterfly a few feet away. The cub's body was a cream color that resembled Nala's. Her lower jaw and underbelly were a lighter cream, as were her toes. The tip of her tail was a dark brown, the same color as a stripe that started at her forehead and continued down her back. This stripe matched that of Zira, Kovu's deceased mother. Sadiki had never been told the story of Zira and the Outlanders, but she had secretly wondered why some of the lions in her pride, like Vitani, looked slightly different from the others.
After awhile, the butterfly flew off. As Sadiki was about to go find another to chase, Kiara approached her. "Hey, Mom!" the cub said excitedly. Kiara nuzzled her daughter. "Good morning," she replied. "Follow me." Sadiki was curious and followed her mother. They climbed down the rocky steps of the side of their home, Pride Rock. "Where are we going?" Sadiki asked. "To the top of Pride Rock," Kiara replied. Sadiki was confused. "You mean where I was just playing?" Kiara shook her head. "No, not the tip...the very top."
Sadiki looked up. She saw the large, jutting section of Pride Rock, its back full of grass and small trees, the top looming high above the ground. It was the very spot Simba had been taken years ago by Mufasa to watch the sunrise and learn about the Pridelands.
Eventually mother and daughter climbed to the top. Sadiki gasped at the sight. The Pridelands in their entirety lay before her, every inch coated in sunlight, aside from the dark areas near the border. Kiara began to explain to Sadiki. "Everything the light touches is our kingdom. One day, you will find a King, and this land will be yours."
Sadiki smiled. "All that stuff?" she asked, "All of it?" Kiara nodded. "Everything will be yours. But you have to take care of it, Sadiki. Fatshe leso lea halalea - our land is holy." Sadiki stared. Kiara laughed. "You'll understand when you're older," she said with a chuckle. She turned and began to make the descent to the ground. A curious Sadiki followed, her mind busy thinking of her power in the future.
Sadiki and Kiara met Kovu at the bottom. Kovu and Kiara nuzzled. "I'm going to teach you something your great grandfather Mufasa taught to your grandfather Simba," Kovu said, nuzzling Sadiki. Sadiki nuzzled back. Kovu smiled at Kiara and walked away towards the grassy plains. Sadiki followed. They soon arrived near many herds of antelope and other animals. Kovu began the speech Simba had helped him to learn and understand. "Sadiki...everything you see exists in a delicate balance. As Queen, you need to understand that balance, and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope."
"Mmm, antelope," Sadiki laughed. Kovu chuckled and continued the traditional speech. "When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so...we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." Kovu stared forward, examining the lands and the animals. He turned to Sadiki. "You can go along and play, if you want." Sadiki nodded and ran off in hopes of finding an interesting insect to chase.
Kovu smiled and flopped down in the grass to rest a bit. Soon he'd have to teach her more about the history of the Pridelands...and that would mean fully explaining the stories of Scar, Zira, and the Outlanders. "Kovu," a female voice said. Kovu turned his head to see his sister Vitani heading towards him. They nuzzled in greeting. "How's the lesson going?" she asked. Kovu nodded. "Good, good...but a history lesson will have to come soon." Vitani knew what he meant and sighed. "It's okay, Kovu. She should know. She's got a big job ahead of her, she needs to know what can happen...and that there is some bad in the world." Kovu nodded in agreement. "I don't want her to feel too overwhelmed. She's still a cub, there's only good in her world right now." Vitani looked at the far away form of Sadiki, bounding through the grasses after a bug or bird. "She won't be a cub forever."