Chapter 1: Life returns to Pride Lands

It was night and the moon was shining on the grasslands, everything was calm and several of the animals were still resting: elephants, hippos, giraffes, gazelles, zebras, antelopes, cheetahs, birds and so on.

But, in the air, a soft breeze made a call which calmly woke everyone up, telling them to gather in the direction of the great rock. Everyone obeyed, moved by that strange sensation, while, at the same time, the moon finished hiding and gave way to a powerful rising sun that changed darkness into light.

The animals advanced in rows. The biggest ones made the earth move with their footsteps, which also alerted the smallest ones and those who lived underground. Within a minute, a whole huge herd of animals gathered around their destination - the pride rock.

As the rising sun bathed the rock in its powerful light, it became lighter, and when it reached the middle, a mandril with a staff could be seen on top. Then, when everyone seemed to have arrived, he returned to the entrance of the cave, where there was a group of lions waiting:

A male was golden and with a reddish mane; the second, was of a tan brown coat, with a dark mane. On the other hand, there were also two females with a radiant cream color. One of them was lying down and had between its paws a little brown ball that moved: a newborn cub. Last but not least, there was also a slightly older lion cub next to her, who had golden fur and a tuft of hair, indicating that he was male.

"He's very pretty" Nala told Kiara, as she approached her daughter, "He is cute"

"No doubt" Simba said looking at his grandson and Kovu.

"Do you really think so?" Kovu asked, proud.

Kiara noticed that Dan was a little shy looking at the newborn. At that, she motivated him to come to her side.

"Don't be shy, Dan" she told him, "Come to meet him"

Dan hesitated for a moment. Then, he slowly approached the newborn. He was small, cute and curious, since as soon as Dan had approached his nose, the little one tried to touch it.

"That's little Koda," Kiara told him, cleaning him at the same time, "That's your brother."

Kiara's words touched Dan greatly, as he had never had a brother and he never knew that he was to be one. But he didn't have time to keep thinking about it, because at that moment, everyone gathered around Koda, while Rafiki approached with some red roots.

The mandrill broke the roots and a red powder came out of them. Taking some of that powder, Rafiki rubbed it on little Koda's forehead. Then, with Kiara's permission, Rafiki carried him to the top, showing it off to all the assembled animals who squealed with their respective sounds. At the same time, a soft and fresh air was breathed in the environment.

Anyone could only think that they were screaming, but in reality it felt as if they were singing, as all these screams resounded in a harmonious whole of happiness and joy. The next second, they all bowed.

After a few seconds, Rafiki lowered the newborn and returned it to his parents, grandparents, and his brother. However, before they could say anything, Timon an Pumba appeared.

"He's so cute" said Pumba crying with happiness, because he still remembered Bunga "I'd like to adopt him..."

"Look at the little cub" said Timon when he saw Koda, "He's identical to his father... Well, in appearance, not in the fact that he scares defenseless animals..."

"Timon, that day was an accident," Kovu reminded him.

"I know, I know. That is why I propose that we help you take care of him so that no more of those accidents happen… Come on, partner, he will learn very well "

"How to burp, fart, be bossy, and eat bugs?" Dan laughed.

"You see... even your son approves"

"Yeah, sure…" the cub replied sarcastically.

They all laughed and this made even the newborn smile.

(Hours later, at the meadow…)

The wind moved calmly and various herbivores grazed peacefully in the green fields: giraffes stretched their long necks towards the treetops, antelopes and zebras searched for food at ground level. On the other hand, the hippos were having a bath in the oasis; Near these, the elephants also cooled off, moving their ears to ventilate their huge body.

Not far from there, at Matope Lake, Kovu was pacing around the water, not only getting a drink, but he was also sniffing the air for something… or someone.

"He does it well", Kovu thought with pride.

There was a small movement and a sound nearby in the nearby grass and the lion peered into it, as if expecting that what he was looking for was there. However, what he found was a little bird, which was hitting a coconut with its beak. Seeing the lion, he quickly flew out of there.

"I catch you!" shouted Dan, who had come out of the bushes and was climbing on Kovu's back.

Kovu began to shake as he laughed, until finally Dan fell on his back.

"I did it well? Ko… I mean, dad?" Dan asked.

"Hahaha, you surprised me this time" Kovu said, "You learn fast, and I'm glad you call me dad"

Dan got up and sat down somewhat sadly, reminiscing.

"It's been a while since I called someone that..." he muttered, "It feels... good."

Kovu sat next to him, just like a father with his child.

"I never knew my father," he told him, "My brother and sister didn't know anything either, and my mother never mentioned it. When I met Scar, at first I thought he was my father, but...I didn't feel a bond with him...something that told me he wasn't my father and that something about him was...evil."

"That Scar..." Dan mentioned, remembering what Mufasa had told him, "I've heard of him... he must be very evil"

"Yes…they told me that he lived here, at the Pride Rock; he and his brother had a very bad relationship. Although the king put up with him..."

"But his brother betrayed him..." finished Dan, "Simba told me..."

"I see… Well, as I was saying… I didn't feel any father-son relationship with him. But with you, I feel like you are my real son, just like with Koda"

That made Dan feel good for a few seconds. Then, having a doubt in his heart, he asked him:

"Dad...you said you had a brother besides Aunt Vitani...how did you get along with him?"

Kovu thought for a moment, and then answered.

"He wasn't exactly the nicest of brothers," he said, "He was the only one my mother valued the least, so he'd gone a bit crazy since my mother preferred me as the successor instead of him. When they tried to ambush Simba... well, he was crazy for wanting my mother to accept him and... his madness led to his end. That was the day my mother gave me this scar."

Dan was so hesitant with this story that he kept quiet. This did not go unnoticed by his adoptive father.

"Hey, buddy" he told him, while he ruffled his hair, "If it's your little brother Koda that worries you, don't worry: you'll be a great brother to him"

"Hahaha, are you really sure?"

"Well, you have a good heart and you helped my mother to regret her actions. For me, you have great power to reach the hearts of others and I am proud to be your new dad"

And so, the father and son spent an entire afternoon playing, running and laughing, until, when night fell, the cub felt extremely tired and fell asleep. Kovu then took him in his mouth and carried him back to the Pride Rock cave, where Kiara awaited him with a sleeping, newborn Koda.

"Put him next to me, please," Kiara told him as she saw Dan exhausted, "It looks like you've played a lot."

"So I hope he gets along with his brother as same as with me" Kovu said as he set Dan down by Kiara's side.

"I'm sure he will," Kiara told him as she caressed the sleeping Dan with her tongue, "Sleep calm, Dan"

"Kovu" said Simba, who was waiting at the entrance of the cave, "Can we talk for a moment?"

"Right away, Simba," Kovu replied, ushering the previous king out of the cave.

Both lions sat on top of Pride Rock, looking out over the Pride Lands at dusk.

"Excuse me if I've ignored King's responsibilities today, but I wanted to have some quality time with my son..."

"Don't worry, I know that anyone would like to have that time with their children It happened to me sometimes with Kiara or Kion, but I was very busy most of the time. Anyway, that's why I want to talk to you about it..."

"Well, I hear you..."

Simba took a breath before speaking.

"Rafiki and I have discussed," she told him, "We have turned out that, despite the fact that Dan is your adopted son, he has proven to be valuable to the family and, also because he is the eldest, we believe that he should be the one to become into king someday"

"Oh, well..." Kovu mused, "The truth is that... I was thinking about the same thing, but I didn't know if I should ask you or not"

"The king trusts his judgment, but he knows how to listen to others. That is a quality that your adopted son has also demonstrated, as has Kiara. She's also okay with Dan being king."

"For me there is no problem, I'm agree. He will take it as a surprise, for sure"

"Time will tell. And, like the two of us, he will have a lot of difficulties, but he and Koda are the future of the Pride Lands and, we will be proud of them…"