Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King or any of its characters.

I do not own the following characters but have prior permission from the author, Nala-Nay to use them:

Hasani

Hiassen

The characters I do own are as follows (For now):

Kali/Uhami (Fierce/exile)

Usafi

Kusudi (Purpose)

Ufisa (Variation of Ufisadi which means Mischief)

The Sun and the Moon

Kali was running at full speed towards the sound which had alerted him, and his two spotted friends. He was determined to deal with this problem and would not let it beat him. He had come too far, fought too hard and lost too much to let death or some unknown enemy take him away from what he had reclaimed. He was distracted from his thoughts when he heard the struggle and he knew he was in the right place.

He moved silently through the forest and peeked to see the situation. What he saw made his eyes grow wide. There were two lionesses going up against a fully grown male lion, who appeared to be battling each other. They all had an eerily similar appearance to them. He searched the lionesses to see if he could recognize any facial features, but the male lion that greatly resembled his father kept blocking his view. All he could tell was that one had a cream colored pelt, and the other had ruby red fur. Not wanting to see another lion die, Kali roared and leaped into the fray. He separated the male from the lionesses and began to battle viciously. However, the male was strong and nimble as far as Kali could tell because he immediately leaped out of the way.

"Nice try." Kali roared as he quickly adjusted himself and redirected himself towards his golden foe.

Upon landing the golden warrior retaliated with a quick jab with his paw which Kali expertly caught with his own. His opponent took it as an opportunity to quickly sweep his hind legs and Kali quickly used the paw he had restrained and parried the sweep. He then moved to strike his opponent.

The stunned lionesses, who had just fled their lands, watch in horror as the two males launched themselves against one another. They needed a lion to help them overthrow their king, and were now watching a violent battle, with neither lion showing any signs of hesitation. Their words could be faintly heard over the roars.

"Nala, let's get the warthog while these two keep each other distracted." Said the red lioness, as she could feel her stomach growl.

"But Usafi, if we can't get these two on our side, the pride stands no chance. Besides, they may hurt us while trying to get to our kill."

" That's a good point. But doesn't this look like Simba and Kali when they fought as cubs…"

"Oh Kings! What's if that's them?" Nala said in horror. "Think about it! Their bodies were never found."

"I don't know but we have to do something."

As Kali made to raise his own paw to knock his opponent unconscious, he looked into his eyes and what he saw made him hesitate. His opponent's scarlet eyes were staring at him with such determination and courage that he had only seen twice in his life. The look was identical to those of his father's and his brother's. He immediately began to shake his head when he thought this could be his father, as he would be much older by now. But when his thoughts turned to Simba, he could easily picture his brother as this young male. He gasped, as the idea of gaining another lost family member. The fur was what really drew his gaze. When the sun began to creep through the trees, his opponents fur to have a sun like glow, that mirrored by his own by the night stars. Could it be? He thought to himself.

As the other lion prepared to pounce, blocking all three of their path to the prey who were hiding in the bush, he worked up the courage to address this mind shattering question that would change everything.

"Hey, is your name Si.." as Kali began to ask, but was cut off by the red lioness just as the golden male was tackled by the cream one.

This one's a tough one Kali thought as he focused on his opponent. The lioness he faced was strong and stared intensely at the male, as if she was searching for something. As the two rolled around, using a technique he remembered from Nala, combined with his enormous strength was more than a match for her, and instantly pinning her down firmly. He turned to see that cream lioness had succeeded in pinning down the gold male. He turned his attention back to the female he was holding down and met her eyes. He knew his suspicions were right when he saw her deep violet color eyes that reminded him of the sky as the sun would set.

"Usafi?" As he asked her this her eyes went wide and pushed away from him.

"Nala?" the other male asked with curiosity and this also made Kali gasp. As he met the cream lionesses eyes, he saw the colors of green and blue mixed in a way where they were an entirely different color and yet both colors at the same time. I found my love and her sister, but does this confirm the fact my brother is standing just a few strides away? If not, who else could it be? Kali asked himself, as he could feel is stomach turn inside out

"Is it really you?" The gold male asked to Nala.

"Who are you?" She asked with a sparkle of hope in her eyes.

"It's me, Simba." He replied with a smile.

Kali's heart melted as he heard those words. Simba, his brother was alive and well. Both lionesses looked at him for a moment and when they saw that he was indeed their best friend, they pounced at him in a friendly manner while shouting with joy. "SIMBA!"

Simba and Nala immediately began nuzzling each other affectionately and this caused Kali to smirk. He remembered when he was a cub and he and Simba had just come back from the Graveyard. Simba had told him about how their parents had betrothed him to Nala and how he could not do this because she was his best friend. He knew his brother always liked Nala in a way that went beyond friendship. You can't marry her cause she's your friend. YEAH RIGHT Simba. Who are you trying to fool? Kali thought to himself.

He also saw Usafi rush forward to embrace him and then look toward him. The embrace ended as he found that all eyes were now on him. Usafi who was looking at him with an almost knowing look, broke the silence by asking. "Kali?"

Kali noticed the other two were also curious about the strange, large silver that had jumped into the fray so suddenly. He responded by saying.

"It's me, Ajabu." With an added playful wink at her.

She began looking over him in a scrutinizing manner that made Kali remember the day he did the same with Usafi as cubs so many years ago. At first, she was hesitant as her eyes went across his chest. "Shujaa?"

Hearing his own nickname made him smile and he answered her with a nod. She burst into tears of joy and pounced while saying "KALI.". They rolled into a loving embrace and nuzzled each other affectionately while never letting their eyes leave the others. They remained this way for until they all heard a rustle behind them. From the shadows came Ufisa and Kusudi, who had run to the scene after hearing Kali's roar. Upon seeing who was hugging their friend and brother they ran forward and joined in the embrace.

"USAFI" They yelled in unison.

"FISA! Kusudi!" She cried back as she let her lover and her adopted brother and her friend embrace her as one. The happily group of four friends maintained their embrace for another ten minutes until Nala came forward and demanded a chance to embrace her childhood friend.

"I can't believe you're alive as well. We all heard you were dead." Nala said happily with disbelief to the males.

"Really? Could a dead lion do…this!" Kali said jokingly and then pounced on Nala. They rolled around for a few minutes and once again Nala was about to pin him when he used her own famous trick on her and reversed their positions. He slowly let her up and stared into the eyes of his cub hood friend.

She got the biggest smile on her face and embraced him in a friendly gesture. He happily returned the gesture and whispered into her ear with a bit of payback in his voice.

"Pinned Ya'."

They broke their embrace and she stared at him with a challenging look on her face that said 'I will get you back for that' and he replied with a look of his own that said 'Keep Dreaming'.

Once he had finished his embrace with his friends and lover, Kali's white eyes turned to Simba's scarlet ones. He saw the same love and disbelief in his brother's eyes that he felt in his own heart. His brother then asked him a question.

"How do I know it is really you?" He asked with hope in his voice and eyes.

Kali simply smiled at his brother and said. "Well, Tembo Kinyesi, how do you know I am not your brother?" Simba's face immediately got embarrassed because Kali had just reminded him of the time when the four of them were playing tag with Kusudi and Ufisa, and Simba had tried to pounce on Nala, but overshot and landed in elephant poop. The moment that memory was brought up all six of those gathered burst into laughter and cried tears of humor. Once they finished laughing the two brothers once again locked eyes.

Their feelings brought them in sync with one another and they both rushed forward and embraced each other with such force that it seemed the earth itself had moved. They whispered simultaneously to the other and said "I missed you."

All at once, the other four who had been watching the brothers of day and night embrace, had run over and joined into an embrace that made Kali burst into tears. He now knew why his reflection had only shown half of who he is. His great-grandparents had been right. He had found his other half and now they could conquer the darkness that is destroying their home. It was because without Simba, his twin, he would never be whole. After all, what is day without night?

Swahili:

Jua na mwezi daima vita katika anga.

Lakini hakuna mshindi.

Kwa maana wao wote daima kuanguka na kuinuka ukomo.

Translation:

Sun and moon always fought in the sky.

But there is no winner.

For both of them always fall and rise endlessly.