The Lion King: Dawn of the Nations
Episode 51: Hope
All of the animals of the Pride Lands and the nations around it had gathered under Pride Rock by Kion's request, the caracals of Nandari, the cheetahs of Ferezan, the jackals of the Outlands and many other animals from many lands were sitting on the ground in silence as they waited for King Kion to appear and make his announcement. Fuli, Azaad and Faeze were sitting among their fellow cheetahs, in the first row just under the tip of Pride Rock. "What could this be about?" Azaad asked her mate, who had a gaze of hope on her face.
"I don't know." Fuli kept looking at Pride Rock with the same hopeful eyes, then she switched her gaze towards Azaad. "I feel it's something good."
Azaad shook his head. "When was the last time Kion brought good news to his kingdom?"
Kion arrived, standing tall on the edge of Pride Rock, accompanied by his sister, his two children and his nephews. He looked into the sky then sighed and glared back at the enormous amount of animals that were waiting for his words. "My dear subjects, animals from the neighboring lands, as you have been notified, I have an important announcement to make." Kion maintained his gaze of authority, conviction and hope. "The Council of Kings has been dissolved." He waited for all the mumbling and arguing of the animals to stop. "From now on, things will be as they were always supposed to be, as my father wanted, one King under the sky, living to serve…" A lump formed in his throat, but he managed to fight it. "…to protect and love, to reign with strength, but also with humility." Kion let out a sigh while a tear escaped from his eye. "I haven't done any of those things."
Fuli felt as if a spark had lit up her heart. "Kion…" She mumbled while feeling a lump in her throat.
Kion took a deep breath, glancing down, then he looked back at the animals. "That is why I have an additional announcement to make, and I know it's not enough to compensate all the damage that I have done." His voice was broken. "But it's all I can do now." Kion closed his eyes, then took another deep breath. "My dear animals, of every nation, in this very moment, as the King of the Pride Lands, by the power that has been granted to me from the sky, I declare the permanent abrogation of the decree of exile!"
The animals chirruped, roared, growled, chirped, barked and howled with celebration. Fuli gasped and started to cry with happiness while rubbing her head on Azaad's neck, who was astonished and happy by the announcement, smirking while stroking Fuli's head. Birds of all colors covered the sky with their flight of frolic as the elephants blew their trunks loudly and the zebras neigh with joy and hope. Kiara looked at Kion with a smile and nuzzled him, who nuzzled her back with a couple of tears traveling down through the fur of his face. After the celebration and noise died down and most of the animals dispersed, Fuli, Azaad and Faeze headed to Pride Rock, walking on the sloping path that led to it. Kion looked at his longtime friend with a big smile on his face, Fuli approached him and with a sob she nuzzled his chest, resting her head on it as he stroked her head with his lower jaw.
Emba took a few steps backwards when seeing Faeze poking his head out from his father's front leg. "Oh, I remember you." Faeze said.
"And I remember you, you attacked me." Emba replied, adopting a defensive position instinctively.
"Sorry, I was…just playing." Faeze started to walk towards him, same as Emba. "I'm Faeze."
"Emba." He said, still with mistrust.
"You're a cheetah." Keru said while walking around Faeze, sniffing him.
"Uhm, yes I am?" Faeze replied.
"Cool!" Keru smiled at him while sitting down again. "Is it true that you guys are the fastest?"
"I think so." Faeze answered with a friendly smirk.
"So, are you friends with Emba?" Zale inquired.
"Not yet." Emba took a step to the front, getting closer to Faeze. "Do you promise you won't attack me ever again?"
"Oh, sure." Faeze replied.
"As well as your friends?" Emba raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, they will behave, I am their leader after all." Faeze said pridefully.
"A cheetah club?" Ari asked.
"It's not a club, it's a …" Faeze got interrupted.
"Lifestyle." Azaad completed the phrase for his son, looking at him with pride.
Faeze smiled at his dad then looked back at the lion cubs. "Yes, that."
Fuli and Kion broke their friendly moment, then Fuli cleaned a tear off her face with her paw. "Azaad and I want to make you an invitation." She looked at her mate.
Azaad looked at his sides briefly, then let out a brief sigh, making up a smile while glaring into Kion's eyes. "We would be honored if you came to Ferezan tonight, to…celebrate."
Fuli glanced back at Kion and Kiara. "Your cubs are invited as well, of course."
"Yes, can we go?!" Keru celebrated.
"It sounds like fun." Zale opined.
Kiara smirked at her. "We'll be there, Fuli, thank you." She bowed her head.
"I will show you so many cool stuff!" Azaad said with excitement.
"I like cool stuff!" Keru replied.
"We all do I guess." Ari chuckled, then looked at her brother.
"Alright, Faeze." Emba approached him and placed a paw on his shoulder amicably. "I will trust you for now."
Faeze chuckled. "Sounds fair to me."
Fuli, Azaad and Faeze left. The six lions walked down Pride Rock after so. "I'm gonna see how's Koca doing with the cubs." Kion said while heading towards the caves.
"What cubs?" Emba inquired.
"Newcomers, son." Kion looked at him briefly over his back. "I'm afraid you can't meet them yet."
"And me?" Ari inquired.
"What about us? Can we meet them?" Zale asked.
"No, kids. Not yet, as I just said." Kion replied conclusively.
"Come on, I hunted zebra earlier on." Kiara looked at the cubs and gestured away.
Keru sighed. "I wanted to meet new friends."
"Soon you will, but your uncle has to attend this matter now, come on." Kiara began to walk away, followed by the four cubs reluctantly.
Kion entered the set of tunnels that led to the caves, the sunlight entered through natural windows that had formed on the rocky walls. Kion entered a huge cave were all of the cubs and calves had been located temporarily, it had several levels and also some mounds, the little animals were eating, the cubs having meat from different animals and the calves eating grass and shrubs that Koca had brought for them. Kion looked at them as he approached Koca. "You've done a great job taking care of these younglings, I really appreciate it."
Koca sighed. "It would be easier if Ozel and the others were helping me. I never thought you would ask me to babysit cubs."
Kion chuckled. "It's temporary, Koca, and as peace has returned, you weren't going to have much to do anyway."
Koca let out a brief chuckle. "Peace? Do you think I have peace here?"
Kion laughed briefly again. "You're a warrior, Koca, I'm sure you can handle this." He glared again at all of the children, some of them were still eating while others slept or played. "What do you perceive in their hearts?" Kion's gaze was deeply focused in the young eyes of the little animals.
"Sorry?" Koca raised an eyebrow.
"Is there darkness in them?" Kion looked at him with a straight face. "As it was in Baturu?"
"They are scared, my king." Koca replied, taking a look at them for a moment. "Everything they know is now just a memory, but as you requested, I'm teaching them the ways of our kind, or at least I'm trying to."
Kion thought for a moment, then looked at the children once again, seeing their small paws, horns, spots and claws, their innocent tails wagging by the happiness provoked by a sudden playtime or a well deserved nap. "We must love them…" A small lump formed in his throat, as he remembered Kovu. "…as our own, treat them with mercy and care." He nodded and then looked back at Koca. "You have done just that, Koca." Kion smiled at him. "And now, there is hope for these children." He began to walk away, but then stopped his steps and looked at Koca over his back. "Take them to the Hakuna Matata Falls, they will get cleaned there and also have some fun. That goes for you too." Kion winked at him and chuckled, then kept walking.