"How's the secret operation Nuka?" Rifalme asked
"Today is the right time to capture the cub and get my revenge" Nuka replied "Matu ran away with the retreating pridelanders"
"Very well, I want no word from this operation be revealed in public you understand?" Rifalme said
"I do..." Nuka grinned
It was late at night, and Matu lay restless in his cave, unable to sleep. The events of the day weighed heavily on his mind. Was all the bloodshed really necessary? Did the Pridelands truly need to suffer for the sake of protecting him? After all, he was the son of Kali, and he felt a responsibility to talk to his father and sort things out.
One problem is Mheetu will never allow him to talk to his own father but he has to, and he needs to.
"I have to go," Matu whispered quietly, hoping the others wouldn't notice his departure.
Silently, Matu slipped out of the cave, determined to find his father and reason with him, perhaps even bring an end to the ongoing war.
As Matu ventured further away from the cave, he realized he might have lost his way. Uncertainty clouded his mind, but he pushed forward, driven by his purpose.
Out of nowhere, Nuka appeared, startling Matu. "I never thought you would be so easy to find," a voice echoed, and Nuka appeared before him.
"W-who are you?" Matu stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
"Rifalme told me to find you and end your life," Nuka grinned maliciously.
"Stay away from me!" Matu resisted, desperation evident in his voice. "Somebody, help!"
"No more running," Nuka hissed as he captured the young cub. "Why is it only you? Where are the others?"
"I don't know... I-I got lost!" Matu lied, hoping to buy himself some time.
"A likely story," Nuka sneered. "Oh well, looks like you'll have to die!"
"Ahh! Stop it! Somebody, help me!" Matu pleaded, feeling the sting of Nuka's blow on his shoulder, leaving a fresh scar.
"No one will come to your aid, little one. It's just you and me," Nuka declared. "And I think I'll make it slow and painful."
Suddenly, a fierce roar echoed in the distance. Kali had arrived, witnessing his son being attacked. He charged forward, pouncing on Nuka with all his might.
"What are you doing to my son?!" Kali thundered, his voice filled with rage.
"Oh, so this is your son? I didn't know," Nuka replied mockingly.
"Why are you here to hurt him?" Kali demanded, his fury seething.
"Well to bad as I will never spill it out!" Nula growled and tried to attack Kali as the two Lions fought
The clash between Kali and Nuka intensified as the two lions fought fiercely. Their roars echoed through the night, creating an eerie symphony amidst the darkness.
Kali, fueled by protectiveness and anger, swiftly dodged l. With a powerful swipe of his paw, he knocked Nuka off balance, forcing him to stumble backward.
After a long fight Kali was finally able to pin Nuka to the ground.
"Who gave you this order? Why do you want to kill my son?" Kali demanded
"It is Rifalme's wish to have him gone! For the good of the empire!" Nuka gave in
Kali's eyes widened with realization. "Rifalme? No, it can't be," he murmured, the weight of betrayal sinking in.
"For the good of the empire, Kali! After that, I will exact my revenge upon Kovu and the traitors!" Nuka's grin twisted with malevolence.
Fury ignited within Kali as he unleashed his full strength, delivering a punishing blow to Nuka. Ending the lion's life.
"Matu... Are you alright?" Kali asked
"I'm fine... But my shoulder hurts" Matu replied as he pointed out his fresh new Scar
"It will be alright, For now I'm going need to some good answers" Kali said "Why are you alone?"
"That's not important! You need to stop the war and give the pridelanders back their land" Matu replied "I am going with you and I will do as you say, I will serve the empire... And I want to be with you, my real father"
"Very well... But you should have said that earlier" Kali pointed out "Now I need answers from Rifalme"
"Rifalme!" Kali showed up with Matu on his side
"What is it Kali? Looks like you finally have Matu on your side" Rifalme said
Kali attacked and pounced on Rifalme pinning him to the ground "Why did you send someone to kill my son? Without telling me?"
"My answer to that is... Your son is a threat to the empire and with him gone we can beat everyone standing on our way" Rifalme replied
"Do you know what the hell are you talking about?" Kali asked
"We have been together for a long time, Kali. We conquered and killed together for the name of the empire. Certainly, you wouldn't just turn your back now like that coward, Ruudhi!" Rifalme hissed. "So you have to pick a side: your son or serve the home that raised you since you were a pathetic, scar-ridden cub!"
"I will not give up my son!" Kali growled. "If you want to harm him, then I will die fighting you."
"When I first saw you floating on that river, you were nothing but a cub about to die in seconds!" Rifalme spat, his words cutting like daggers. "Like a piece of garbage floating, but then I came in and fixed it, turning garbage into a useful resource."
"That doesn't justify you plotting to kill my son," Kali replied, refusing to be swayed by Rifalme's twisted reasoning.
"Your old life has ended, and I gave you a new life. You're not the same person as before. Whoever is wielding that body of yours is not the same person as your past. Kopa is dead... and it gave birth to Kali," Rifalme grinned, savoring the revelation.
"Kopa? Yo-You knew?" Kali was shocked, his past catching up with him. "I-it's true?"
"When I first saw you, I came back to the river where you were spotted, and I researched where your origins could possibly be. And then I found it: you were Prince Kopa of the Pridelands, and King Simba himself formed a search party dedicated to finding you," Rifalme recalled, his dark intentions laid bare. "After finding out about your origins, I refused to give you back, since I thought having a literal royal prince on my side while building an empire sounds pretty cool."
"No, it can't be! That's impossible!" Kali was in denial, trying to process the overwhelming truth.
"And yes, you aren't Kopa. You are a whole different person with a purpose of only serving me," Rifalme chuckled, taking delight in Kali's turmoil.
Before Kali could even react, Rifalme attacked, turning the tide of the battle. He pinned Kali to the ground, his grip tightening around Kali's throat.
"I gave you this life and this body, and that soul inside you belongs to me. I think it's pretty fair if I ended it," Rifalme said coldly, his cruelty on full display.
"You are insane! I should have known," Kali retaliated, managing to strike Rifalme and leave a scar across his left eye.
"Oh, we are getting serious, eh?! Bring it on!" Rifalme thundered, his thirst for dominance unabated.
The clash between Kali and Rifalme intensified, and their struggle reached a critical point. Both lions fought with every ounce of strength they possessed, their roars echoing through the vast landscape.
"I have really taught you well, Kali. Unfortunately, I will prevail, and the empire will continue to rise even with your absence!" Rifalme taunted.
"The empire will be destroyed, and it will be under my paws!" Kali countered, refusing to yield.
"Speak for yourself!" Rifalme retorted, pushing Kali to the edge of a cliff.
"Oh, Kali, this could have ended differently, but now you will meet your true end!" Rifalme hissed, delivering a final blow that sent Kali hurtling over the cliff's edge.
"DAD! NOOO!" Matu's anguished cry pierced the air as he witnessed his father's fall.
Kali woke up, feeling numb and wet, as if he had been drenched in water. Confused and disoriented, he found himself in a cave on dry land. It was a miracle that he had survived, but questions swirled in his mind about how he got there.
"Looks like you're finally awake" a familiar voice echoed through the cave.
"What the? Ruudhi?!" Kali couldn't believe his eyes. "I thought you were dead!"
"Well, you thought wrong. Fortunately, I managed to escape before that rock fell," Ruudhi replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "But why on earth were you floating in a river?"
"Oh no... Matu!" The realization hit Kali like a ton of bricks. "I'm sorry, Ruudhi. You were right, and... They were right."
Ruudhi's expression softened, surprised by Kali's sudden change of heart. "The Empire has taken over the Pridelands, and those lands are where I originally belong. Rifalme has Matu," Kali continued, a sense of urgency in his voice. "We need to go back and save him!"
"Before we do that, we have to prepare," Ruudhi said firmly. "We cannot just attack outright. The odds are against us, and we need a plan."
"Wait... I have to remember," Kali said, frustration evident in his voice.
"Remember what?" Ruudhi asked, puzzled.
"My past memories. I want to know everything... but how?!" Kali's irritation was palpable.
"We will worry about that later" Ruudhi said "For now let's focus on how will we take down Rifalme"
"I guess you're right..."
"We have been attacked! Everyone, run!" a lioness screamed, her voice filled with terror.
"The Empire is here! They're here to burn our homes!" panic and fear spread among the inhabitants of the once peaceful kingdom.
"Our conquest shall continue, Kali," Rifalme declared, his voice cold and merciless. "For peace and prosperity."
"As you wish, father," Kali replied confidently
The Empire invaded with ruthless force, leaving destruction and death in its wake. Innocent lives were lost, homes reduced to ashes, and the once vibrant kingdom lay in ruins.
"Conquest after conquest, our goal will be a reality," Kali proclaimed, his words empty and hollow. "Leave no prisoners!"
In the midst of the chaos, a lost cub cried out for its mother. Kali, drawn to the sound, approached the frightened cub.
"Oh, little one, where are you going?" Kali asked, his voice masked with false kindness.
"My mother, sir... where is my mother?" the cub whimpered, tears streaming down her face.
"Well, I certainly don't know, little one," Kali replied, trying to comfort the young one. "Just keep looking at those flowers while I find your mother."
"Thank you, sir," the cub replied, unaware of the imminent danger that lurked in Kali's intentions.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the conquered kingdom, Giza delivered a chilling message. "We have captured all civilians. Is it time to execute them?"
"Yes, it is," Kali confirmed with his cold voice without mercy.
"Very well," Giza acknowledged, following the brutal order.
"Now go on peace and meet the spirits!" Giza coldly declared, sealing the prisoners' fate.
As the innocent prisoners faced their grim fate, Kali carried out his own acts of cruelty. He approached the trusting cub, who gazed at a flower, oblivious to the impending tragedy.
"Alright, little one, just keep looking at that flower," Kali whispered, his voice laced with deceit. And in a moment of darkness, he swiftly ended the young cub's life. Breaking it's neck before it could even react.
"We conquered and killed together for the name of the empire. Certainly, you wouldn't just turn your back now like that coward, Ruudhi!" Rifalme's laughter echoed in Kali's mind, a haunting reminder of the darkness that surrounded him.
"AHHHH!!" Screamed Kali awoken from his nightmares, but unfortunately such events did happen.
"I need rest..."
Kali ventured outside of the cave on a starry night. The serene beauty of the heavens above contrasted sharply with the darkness within him.
"Oh, Thamani, I was such a fool. I was blind to the truth," Kali lamented, his voice heavy with regret. "I don't even know what I am supposed to be anymore. They have our son, and I'll do everything in my power to get him back."
He paused, his thoughts drifting to his past. "But for now, I have to focus on our current mission. Then, maybe... I'll try to confront my past."
"You need to remember"
"Wha-who's that?!" Kali tried to find the source of the voice
"I am your grandfather," The ghost who appeared in the clouds declared. "You must remember, Kopa, as you are the real heir of the kingdom."
Kali's heart pounded, torn between the weight of his past and the fear of what the future as king would entail. "Be a king? I'm not ready for that," he protested, feeling the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders.
"You are the only one who can reverse the damage, Kopa," Mufasa insisted, using Kali's true name. "You have to do what is right, for the Pridelands and for yourself."
Kali's mind swirled with uncertainty and doubt, but a sense of purpose began to stir within him. He couldn't ignore the truth any longer. Deep down, he knew that the only way to bring lasting peace to the Pridelands was to face his past and embrace his destiny.
"But my past, how do I remember it?" Kali implored, seeking guidance from his grandfather.
"You will remember it," Mufasa assured him, his ghostly presence enveloping Kali with warmth and reassurance. "As the memory is still there, deep in your mind, waiting to be unlocked."
With newfound determination, Kali closed his eyes and delved into the depths of his memories. He allowed himself to embrace the pain and sorrow that had kept him from acknowledging his true self.
"Kopa? Kopa time to go to sleep!" Simba called
"... Coming!" Kopa reluctantly said
"Oh finally it's over!" Timon said as he is tired at being played like a toy by Kopa
"Dad... But I'm not sleepy yet!" Kopa complained
"Well your mother will tell you a bedtime's story before you fall asleep" Simba said
"But Dad she always has the same story!" Kopa complained
"Well I guess it is time to tell him your story" Nala said
"Is it?" Simba whispered
"It is time Simba, He needs to know about it" Nala insisted
Simba smiled "Kopa do you want to know the story how I became King?"
"I want to Dad! Tell me! Tell me!" Kopa begged
Simba chuckled warmly at Kopa's enthusiasm. "Alright, my son. Gather around, and I'll tell you the story of how I became King."
As Kopa settled down, his eyes wide with anticipation, Simba began his tale. He recounted the adventures of his youth, growing up as a carefree cub with his mischievous friends, Timon and Pumbaa, in the lush savannah of the Pridelands. He described how his eagerness to explore beyond the boundaries of his home led him into trouble.
"I strayed into the forbidden Outlands, where my Uncle Scar, who had always been envious of my position, led a clan of hyenas," Simba explained. "I didn't understand the danger I was in until it was too late."
With captivating storytelling, Simba recounted how Scar manipulated events to lead him into a stampede, resulting in Mufasa's tragic death. He spoke of the guilt and grief that consumed him, causing him to flee the Pridelands, leaving everything behind.
"But then, as I wandered the vast wilderness, I met new friends who showed me a different way of life," Simba continued. "Timon and Pumbaa taught me to embrace the philosophy of Hakuna Matata, which means 'no worries.'"
Kopa listened intently, captivated by his father's experiences and the lessons he had learned.
"However," Simba's voice became more solemn, "I couldn't run from my responsibilities forever. One day, my childhood friend, Nala, found me and told me about the suffering in the Pridelands. Scar's tyranny had turned our once-bountiful home into a barren wasteland."
Nala joined in, describing how she convinced Simba to return and reclaim his rightful place as king. She told Kopa about their daring battle against Scar and the hyenas, where the circle of life was restored, and harmony was brought back to the Pridelands.
"By facing my past and embracing my true identity, I reclaimed the kingdom and restored it to its former glory," Simba concluded. "It wasn't easy, but with the support of friends and the people around me, I became the king I was meant to be."
Kopa was wide-eyed, taking in every detail of his father's incredible journey. "Wow, Dad! That's amazing!" he exclaimed. "I want to be just like you!"
Simba smiled, his heart swelling with pride. "You already have a good heart, Kopa. One day, when the time is right, you'll find your own path and be a great leader."
Nala added, "And remember, Kopa, it's essential to learn from both the triumphs and the mistakes of the past. Embrace who you are and follow your heart."
"Follow my heart" Kali whispered "I know now... I remember everything... The attack... Before Rifalme took me on the river"
"So Kopa what is your mission?" Mufasa asked
"To save the Pridelands from the Empire's grip" Kali confidently said
"I can't go back to being Kopa, I cant reverse the animals I slaughtered, the destruction I did, the families I rend apart. I need to right my wrongs as Kali, one step at a time, and it starts with the fall of the empire" Kali declared
"Very well, Good luck on your journey" Mufasa said as he finally vanished
"Wait, where is Matu?!" Mheetu said in fear, his voice trembling.
"We might have left him in the Pridelands," Nala said, concern etched on her face. "We have to save him."
"No, he was with me," Mheetu replied, worry growing. "The Empire took him."
"If the Empire took him, we would have all been dead by now," Kion chimed in. "He might have left on his own."
"Where would he go?!" Mheetu's fear intensified. "There is something wrong about this I can feel it"
"We have to find him, and without me, he might have been harmed if not worse," Kali showed up, appearing with a sense of urgency.
"Kali... Where is Matu?!" Mheetu demanded, his emotions running high.
"I don't have him, but we can work on getting him back!" Kali defended himself, wanting to help.
"Kali! You have the nerve to come here after what you've done!" Kion said, leaping forward and pinning him to the ground.
"Wait! Let him finish!" Ruudhi intervened. "He has switched sides. We will help you find Matu."
"How do we know this isn't some trap?" Kion asked, his suspicion evident.
"Please, I just need to speak to Simba," Kali begged, seeking a chance to explain.
"What do you want from him!?" Kion demanded, wary of Kali's intentions.
"All right, enough!" Simba appeared, sensing the tension. "What do you want?"
"We need to end Rifalme's reign of terror once and for all... Father," Kali said, finally revealing his true identity. "We will do it together."
"Kopa? Do you remember?" Simba asked, his heart heavy with memories.
"Yes, I do..." Kali replied, remorse in his voice. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was doing..."
"It's alright... Kion, let him go," Simba ordered, trying to find a path forward.
"Dad... He killed Rafiki and took my roar," Kion said, torn between emotions.
"I'll just talk to him," Simba replied, seeking to understand Kali's intentions. "I hope you understand."
Kion reluctantly released Kali, still uncertain about trusting him.
Simba led Kali and Kopa into the cave, with others not entirely approving of Kali's presence.
"I'm sorry if Kion was hostile. He is your brother," Simba said, trying to ease the tension.
"It's fine, I understand," Kali replied, grateful for the opportunity to speak. "For now, I have to focus on the objective."
"I will take down Rifalme and put an end to this madness," Kali asserted, his determination unwavering. "After that, the Empire will be under my paws."
"Why only you? We need to deal with him too," Simba said, concerned for Kali's safety.
"It is my responsibility to take him down. I brought this upon myself, and I have unfinished business with him," Kali explained. "Do you object?"
"Kopa, we cannot lose you again!" Simba pleaded.
"I'm not the Kopa you know, everything is never going to be what it was, but... I have to make things right, I have to end this madness and stop the empire." Regret seeped in Kali's voice, "Because it was me who gave the empire so much power."
"Alright, you go do it" Simba relented, "But know that I don'tâ I will not lose you again."
"You won't" Kali assured
"Son... We can help you" Simba said
"You don't have to, This is my fight you and shouldn't be involved in this" Kali replied "I will put an end to his reign!"
"Well looks like I cannot stop you" Simba sighed "Kopa... Stay safe"
"I will as I will be successful on my goal" Kali replied
Ruudhi and Kali stood at the edge of the Pridelands, The brothers were finally united against one enemy after a long rivalry.
"Are you sure that you will deal with him alone?" Ruudhi asked, concern etched on his face.
"I am pretty sure," Kali replied confidently, his gaze unwavering.
"Very well." Ruudhi said, realizing the importance of the mission, "I mean this is our chance to fight together and take him by surprise, side by side, and we're not taking it?"
"He must know I'm alive somehow, I've survived worse, and I'm used to falling off great heights and surviving nasty battles." Kali recalled "But you, you have a chance to take Rifalme by surprise. You will be the new king"
Ruudhi was taken aback, trying to process the weight of his responsibility. "I... I will?"
"That's why I will send you there," Kali explained. "You will lead the remaining rebels and liberate our home, while I will end Rifalme's reign here in the Pridelands."
Ruudhi smiled, grateful for his brother's faith in him. "You really are full of surprises, brother. But why me?"
"Because you have the strength and the spirit to make it work. I believe in you," Kali assured him.
As the two brothers parted ways, Ruudhi carried with him a newfound sense of purpose and the weight of leadership. Meanwhile, Kali confronted Rifalme seeking a battle that will finally end it all.
"I never knew we would go this far, Your Highness," Giza said
"This is our goal, Giza," Rifalme said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Conquest after conquest, peace and prosperity will be achieved."
"Those goals will never be achieved, Rifalme," Kali's voice echoed through the landscape as he emerged from the shadows.
Rifalme was taken aback, not expecting Kali to be alive. "Oh, of course, you're still alive. Someone like you won't die that easy. So, this is how it ends? You're willing to die for that brat?!"
"No, that's not how it ends," Kali spat back, his eyes fierce with determination. "It will end with you dead!"
Rifalme smirked, confident in his abilities. "Well, let's see," he said, readying himself for the inevitable battle.
"Bring it on!" Kali roared, ready to face his enemy.
Their roars echoed through Priderock, signaling the beginning of the showdown. the two adversaries collided, claws unsheathed and teeth bared. Each blow they exchanged reverberated across the land, leaving wounds and scars as testimony to the ferocity of their fight.
Meanwhile, Kali struggled to find the strength to continue the fight. His body ached, and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him.
"It's over, Kali!" Rifalme's menacing voice echoed throughout Priderock. "You will die, and every rebel will die, and the Empire will remain triumphant!"
Kali, though weakened and battered, refused to yield. "You... Cannot win," he hissed defiantly.
"I already did! Do you really think you can defeat me alone without an army?!" Rifalme's grin showed his arrogance. "Well, you are wrong, and you will meet your end!"
Ruudhi suddenly appeared, standing tall beside his brother. "He... Is not alone," Ruudhi declared.
"What?!? Ruudhi?!?" Ruudhi gasped in surprise "You're alive?!"
"I told you to leave, Ruudhi," Kali said.
"Help is coming" Ruudhi announced
The pridelanders returned to reclaim their home, a renewed strength surged through Kali and Ruudhi. Simba, Nala, Kovu, Kiara, Kion, and the others had come back to stand with them, facing Rifalme and his remaining forces.
"Well, this is going to be more fun than I thought," Rifalme chuckled. "Two on one, huh?"
"Trust me, Kali," Ruudhi assured his brother.
"Alright... We will beat him together," Kali replied, a flicker of a smile crossing his face.
The battle raged on, and Kali and Ruudhi fought with unparalleled valor. Rifalme, overwhelmed by the two brothers, found himself struggling to maintain his composure.
Amidst the fierce combat, the sky opened up, releasing a torrential downpour that doused the flames engulfing Priderock. A clap of thunder struck a tree, igniting a brilliant blaze in the midst of the chaos.
"You... two... little brats!" With Rifalme frustrated he gave a huge blow to Ruudhi kicking him out of Priderock, leaving Kali alone to face him.
"Kali!" Ruudhi's desperate call rang out as he tried to recover from the impact.
"Where is he?" Simba questioned, trying to help.
"Up there!" Ruudhi pointed towards Priderock.
"Help!" Matu's voice joined the chaos, adding to the urgency.
"That's Matu!" Mheetu exclaimed, filled with concern. "I need to get him!"
As the struggle continued in Priderock, the fire raged on, making it an even more perilous battlefield. Rifalme confronted Kali with a mix of fury and desperation.
"It is only the two of us, Kali," Rifalme sneered. "It's over!"
But Kali refused to back down. The lion's eyes burned with determination as he unleashed his last reserves of strength. The two combatants clashed fiercely, neither willing to give in.
In one final, decisive moment, Rifalme fought Kali with his remaining strength as he gave a huge blow to him leaving Kali hanging in the tip of priderock, with the fire's flames below him as it would consume his form if he ever fell.
"Oh, would you look at that, you fall, and then you will burn to crisps, killing you in an instant!" Rifalme's voice was filled with interest. "Any last words, Kali? You will never win!"
"I don't have to win..." Kali replied, his voice firm and resolute. "You will just have to lose!"
In a final act of bravery and determination, Kali ensured Rifalme went down with him, dropping both of them into the engulfing inferno.
"No! This can't be happening!" Rifalme yelled his last words
"I'm sorry... dad" Kopa's final thoughts echoed in his mind, as he closes his eyes, ready for his death.
The deafening sound of raindrops beating against the scorched earth echoed through the Pridelands. The once-blazing inferno that had engulfed the battlefield now lay extinguished, revealing the aftermath of the battle.
"The Emperor is dead!" Giza announced, signalling the retreat of the Empire's army.
"You will be fine, Matu. I'm here. You're safe now," Mheetu assured the young cub.
"Where's dad?" Matu asked, worried about his father.
"We have to find him," Ruudhi said, a sense of urgency in his voice.
They rushed to find Kali, hoping he had survived the battle, but their hearts sank as they discovered his burnt and lifeless body.
"Dad?" Matu tried to wake him up, but there was no response.
"Kopa... No..." Simba mourned, grief evident in his voice.
"He can finally rest in peace now," Ruudhi said, trying to find some solace in the fact that Kali's struggles were over.
The death of both Rifalme and Kopa brough the end of the empire. Without it's head and it's sword, nobody is left to lead such a massive empire, and so the kingdoms once lost flourished into new kingdoms, the reign under the empire was brutal, but it also brought animals from different Prides and Kingdoms together. Nobody seemed to mourn the deaths of both the emperor and his right-hand lion, nobody except the royal family.
"We're here to gather for the passing of Kopa, the first-born child of the King." Zazu announced, "Though he's been known by many as Kali, the empire's weapon..."
Simba zoned out, how could he have failed to save his son again...? Why didn't he try and stop him. He finally found Kopa, but he also has lost him just as fast as he found him. Hasn't he suffered enough? Maybe if he hadn't thought only of the Pride, he might've defeated the emperor sooner, maybe his son would still be alive...
"Simba?" Nala nudged his shoulder, "Are you... okay?"
"I'm fine" Simba lied
"You don't have to be strong for my sake." Nala reassured him
Simba let a tear roll down his cheek, "I... I failed him, Nala, And he is gone, because I was not there to watch over him."
"It's not your fault, Simba. You couldn't have known," Nala comforted. "All we know is that he is at rest now after all the suffering he experienced."
"Kiara and Kion refused to attend. Maybe it's just us now," Zazu announced.
"It's fine, Zazu." Nala replied.
Very few have mourned for the death of the prince in the Pride Lands also. However, the one who was the saddest about the whole thing was his son, Matu.
"I don't really care about the bad things he has done," Matu sobbed. "He was my dad."
"I understand how you feel," Simba comforted. "But for now, he will be known as a good prince and the one who sacrificed himself for his land."
"And a brother," Ruudhi joined in.
"And Matu... You are the son of the firstborn prince," Simba said. "That also makes you a royal... And an heir."
"Yo-you think I can do it?!" Matu said. "I don't know if I would be a good King."
"You will, as I will teach you the ways," Simba replied as Matu reluctantly nodded.
Finally, the gathering concluded, and Kopa's body was sent into the river, following the Royal way â a tradition reserved for respected members of the pride. The water carried Kopa's spirit away, leaving behind memories and a legacy that would forever shape the future of the pridelands.
The Pridelands began to recover and flourish once more, the circle of life finally restored to its natural harmony. The wounds of war slowly healed, and the pride found renewed hope in the future.
However, amidst this newfound peace, Simba announced his resignation as king of the Pridelands. He believed it was time for a new era, and he saw the potential in Kovu, the lion who had once been an outcast but had proven his loyalty and love for the pride. Kovu, with the support of Kiara, assumed the throne as the new king of the Pridelands, and the pride welcomed their new ruler with open hearts.
Matu, Kali's son, now had a clear identity as the prince of the Pridelands and the heir to the throne. He would grow up with the knowledge of his father's courage and the legacy he had left behind, becoming a symbol of hope and unity for the pride.
Meanwhile, Ruudhi returned to the Umojelands, where he was rightfully crowned as king after Rifalme's defeat. With wisdom and compassion, he led the Umojelands back to its former glory, restoring the lands that were conquered under Rifalme's tyranny to their rightful owners. The balance of the kingdom was finally restored.
The battle had been a tragic and challenging chapter in the history of both the Pridelands and the Umojelands. However, in the end, the circle of life prevailed, and the forces of good overcame the enemy. The memory of the fallen would be honored, and their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
THE END