Matu made the decision to join Ni and Jibu in their cause with his friends with him, bidding a heartfelt farewell to his mother.
As they set off, a whirlwind of questions swirled in Matu's mind.
"So, when my mother passed away, she entrusted me to you," Matu began. "And then you brought me there to keep me safe?"
"Indeed" Ni confirmed with a solemn nod.
"What happened next?" Matu inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What happened to my real parents?"
"Your father was a king, and he had a brother," Ni recalled "You were just an infant at the time. Your father and his brother had differing ideals. While your father sought peace, your uncle craved conquest and war."
Matu listened intently as Ni continued with the story.
"Your uncle's ambition drove him to plot against your father, ultimately leading to a tragic turn of events," Ni explained. "The disagreement between them escalated, resulting in the demise of your parents. Your uncle took the throne and began his reign of conquests."
"And my role now is to overthrow him and restore peace?" Matu asked
"Indeed," Ni replied firmly. "To restore the balance in the circle of life."
"Uh, so... where exactly are we heading?" Dugu interjected, a touch of impatience in his tone. "Not to sound rude, but it's getting quite boring around here."
"I know someone who could help us," Ni responded. "We're heading to his place."
"Where?" Matu asked
"After him!" commanded one of the wolves. "Don't let him escape! He has the Orb!"
"Pimbi, are we losing them?" Kopa asked with a Hyrax riding on his back.
"There are a lot of them, Kopa!" Pimbi replied. "Just keep running."
"Oh, come on… Think! Think!" Kopa pondered.
Kopa observed the rugged, mountainous terrain that surround him, a cascade of cliff faces and steep slopes. His gaze landed on a colossal cliff, its edge dauntingly close.
"Pimbi, are you ready for this?" Kopa inquired, his eyes focused on the imposing rock formation.
"For what exactly?" Pimbi questioned, somewhat puzzled.
"We're going to jump!" Kopa declared. "Off this massive cliff!"
"Wait, hold up... Jump off a what now?!" Pimbi exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Hold on tight!" Kopa shouted, determination in his voice.
With adrenaline coursing through their veins, they leaped, hurtling through the air, a daring plunge off the cliff's edge. Their descent was swift and surprisingly smooth, causing the pursuing wolves to screech to a halt in awe and retreat with resounding howls echoing in the distance.
"You're making a huge mistake!" One of the wolves exclaimed before hastily departing.
"Pimbi, this might just be the most significant leap in our career. What do you say?" Kopa asked with excitement.
"Don't ever do that again" Pimbi replied, clearly shaken.
"The Orb of Fire," Kopa announced, carefully examining the item he had taken. "If this fella fell into the wrong paws, the world would face absolute doom."
"Good thing we're not evil, right?" Pimbi joked
"Let's head back home," Kopa suggested
Kopa returned to his usual place, a scorching desert frequented by outlaws, proudly displaying his newfound acquisition among his collection of treasures.
"Hey, Kito!" Kopa called out, showcasing the Orb to a red-eyed Cougar. "Looking for something like this?"
"Oh, Kopa, you've really outdone yourself this time! You've got the Orb of Fire!" Kito exclaimed.
"What's so special about it anyway?" Kopa inquired, curious about the significance of the item.
"Are you serious?" Kito responded incredulously. "The Orb of Fire is a legend! It grants you the power of the Flames of the Knight!"
"Ah, very intriguing " Kopa remarked sarcastically. "Just another addition to our collection, I suppose."
"Indeed" Kito replied, taking the Orb into their possessions.
"Kopa!" A desert kingsnake approached him urgently. "Someone's here to see you!"
"Who could that be?" Kopa questioned as he followed the snake.
"Kopa," Ni called out in recognition. "We haven't seen each other in ages"
"Ni? What's going on?" Kopa questioned, taken aback. "And why have you brought so many with you?"
"I'm in need of your help," Ni stated urgently.
"Oh great," Kopa sighed. "Let's head to my den. We can talk about it there."
As Ni and the group followed Kopa into his den, Matu couldn't help but ask, "So, who is he?"
"Who am I?" Kopa chuckled. "You really don't know?"
"Uh... Nope?" Matu replied, unsure.
"I'm Kopa! The legendary outlaw!" Kopa announced.
"What antics are you up to now?" Ni inquired.
"Yeah, Kopa, you're such a disgrace to your bloodline! Why are you such a notorious thief now?" Jibu added.
"Oh, you know me, it's just a hobby. What's the big deal? I just pissed off some wolves today," Kopa nonchalantly explained. "And who cares about some random bloodline if I'm enjoying myself? Right, Pimbi?"
"Hell yeah!" Pimbi agreed.
"Kopa, I need to talk to you," Ni interjected.
"About what?" Kopa asked.
"I need your help to take down the empire," Ni revealed.
"You're still on that? They're getting stronger! They recently attacked the wolves so I stole the Orb while the wolves were busy" Kopa said dismissively
"You took what?" Ni asked, astonished.
"The Orb of Fire!" Kopa confirmed.
"How convenient! We need it for Matu!" Jibu interjected
"Uhh... What?" Matu asked, confused.
"What the hell are you thinking?!" Ni exclaimed.
"Relax, the wolves are busy fighting some empire dudes" Kopa replied "It's not like they can survive a desert!"
"Kopa... We need the Orb but we didn't expect it like this" Ni explained "If it's true that the empire is attacking the wolves then they need our help! We shouldn't be making more enemies!"
"Am I missing something? What the hell is the Orb? !" Matu asked
"The Orb contains the flames of the Knight" Ni explained "A power wielded by the Prince of the Umojelands"
"Wow..."
"How the hell would I know? you just came out of nowhere!" Kopa argued "And I don't really care about this empire thing I'm more of a middle ground guy myself, who the hell cares?"
"Because we have the heir! The true Prince of the Umojelands!" Ni confirmed "I need you Kopa, I really do, you can help us a lot and I can help you, you can do more than just steal things!"
"So you have a prince?" Kopa grinned "Nothing Special! He will have a replacement! He is probably already replaced already"
"What is he talking about?" Matu asked
"Trust me kid you're not at all special!" Kopa argued "Your parents will just replace you, well your parents are probably dead but that's besides the point! Rifalme has taken over the Umojelands and he is the true king whether you like or or not"
"i am the heir and I still am the heir!" Matu argued back "Nothing can change what I am, and I joined to make my mother proud because she believed in me I left her alone for this to fight for a better world, what do you know about being Prince?"
"Well because he is a Prince!" Ni interjected "Right Kopa?"
"Dont tell me about it!" Kopa exclaimed "I left that life since I was a cub!"
"You... You are a Prince?" Matu asked, confused
"Was" Kopa corrected "Was a Prince I'm not like that anymore I left that life years ago"
"Yeah he enjoyed leaving his family and his only home" Ni argued
"Well what about you? You didn't leave? last time I checked you left everyone behind in the Pridelands when everyone was suffering!" Kopa argued back
"That's different! Scar exiled me because he didn't want competition!" Ni countered "I didn't leave! I was exiled!"
"Yet you didn't come back when everything was finally fixed!" Kopa argued
"I was busy! I had a new purpose! I need to take down the empire" Ni argued back
"Yeah right because it's your only purpose in life because you felt bad on some random cubs" Kopa chuckled "Way to go Ni! You proved yourself to be a way better person than me!"
"You know what? I don't care anymore, I am here to give you another chance and do something instead of just stealing everything you touch!" Ni exclaimed "We just need the Orb and we will go!"
"Fine! If it shuts you up then take it!" Kopa snapped
"Kopa! Kopa!" Kito called urgently.
"What?!?" Kopa responded, turning his attention to Kito.
"The wolves! They're here!" Kito replied, his tone filled with alarm.
The wolves stormed into Kopa's den, their menacing growls echoing in the confined space.
"Oh, here you are," Kopa retorted with a hint of sarcasm. "I almost forgot about you."
"Stop playing games, Kopa!" A female wolf's stern voice filled the room. "You know precisely why we're here. Hand over the Orb!"
"That's the problem I don't have the Orb anymore!" Kopa replied "I gave it to this guy!"
"What?!?" Ni exclaimed "Don't bring me into this!"
"Get the Orb!" The Female Wolf commanded
"So what are we going to do now?" Kubwa asked
"We fight!" Kopa declared
The clash erupted, a whirlwind of fury and desperation. Kopa and the rest fought valiantly, every move calculated, every strike executed with precision.
However, the wolves proved relentless, their coordinated attacks overpowering the outnumbered group. Amidst the struggle, the wolves, driven by their unwavering determination, gained the upper hand and secured the Orb back.
Kopa was pinned down trying to breathe.
"Do you even comprehend the significance of the item you've just stolen?!" inquired the Female Wolf, her voice laced with incredulity and anger.
"The Orb! Yeah! The one with flamey powers!" Kopa joked
"You are lucky that we are at war today!" The Female wolf said "Or else your neck would be hanging by now, you thief!"
"Wait!" Ni interjected. "We need the Orb to defeat the empire! We're fighting for the same cause as yours!"
"I care not about your needs!" The Female Wolf replied sternly. "The Orb should always be under our protection!"
"No, please, you don't understand!" Ni argued desperately.
"We're done here!" said the Female Wolf as she and the pack finally left.
"Great... Just great!" Ni exclaimed with frustration "Now we have to face the wolves to get the Orb!"
"We can get it back!" Kopa argued
"I'm not doing it your way!" Ni argued back
"Listen guys, I do not know what is going on" Matu interjected "Whatever that Orb is we will need it"
"Fun's over kid you heard him!" Kopa replied "The only way to get that Orb back is by stealing it again"
"Then we will steal it!" Says Matu confidently
"Wow! You hear that Ni?! I like this kid!" Kopa grinned
"We're not stealing anything!" Ni argued
"What can we do?" Dugu pointed out "Those wolves will never give it to us!"
"Dugu is right" Matu said "There is no other way"
"Alright fine!" Ni gave in "But I won't be doing this again"
"Kopa..." Matu called "You said you were a prince, how did you end up like this?"
"You wouldn't wanna know kid" Kopa responded
"I want to know! Someone here knows what it is like to be a Prince! And it's you" Matu argued
Kopa sighed "I was just a little cub..."
"It was a beautiful morning in the Pridelands and I was the heir the future king, nothing can stop me! My purpose in the circle of life!
But one day everything changed... Since then I was a whole different lion" Kopa recalled
"Of course you know I was a stupid cub I didn't know any better!" Kopa continued "My parents said No yet I still went on for it"
"Wow!" A young Kopa said "The Outlands!"
Dad never wanted me to go there, but I always did I met a hyena who became a friend, her name is Asante ever since then I thought that the outlands is a safe place
Until it wasn't, well it never was a never a safe place to begin with.
"Asante?" Kopa called "Where are you?"
"Looking for someone little cub?" Zira inquired with a menacing tone "You lost?"
"Where's Asante?" Kopa asked
"The Hyenas betrayed Scar" Zira growled in frustration "So I went for them, I didn't expect I will also have the little prince!"
I didn't know what was happening but then it turns out, that thing... That maniac killed my friend
The Lioness attacked me, I was beaten up, bruised, I was losing a lot of blood, I could have died that day.
But I didn't.
"Kopa?" Pimbi called "Where are you?!"
Pimbi was there and without him I could have died.
He brought me to a place called the Tree of Life I was healed there, my injuries were very severe to the point that it took months for me to be fully healed.
I was fully healed but I lost my left eye... And I was covered with nothing but Scars
And then I decided to go back.
"It's good to see you back Kopa" Says Pimbi "Your parents will be very surprised!"
And there I was I came back home but something was wrong...
There was a presentation... for what?!? I was very curious and climbed in top of a tree then there it was...
My parents and their new cub
Kiara! The Future Queen! They say
The crowd cheered as a princess was born
My parents were very happy... It was very clear to me they have replaced me!
And then, tears streaming from my lone eye as I descended from the tree.
"Kopa... It's not what it looks like" Says Pimbi trying to comfort his friend "We should at least talk to them"
"No! It's Over Pimbi!" Kopa snapped "We're leaving!"
"Where are we going?" Pimbi asked
"Far Away..." Kopa sobbed "Far away from here"
Pimbi followed me like a true friend would.
Ever since then I became what I am, A cub cannot hunt so I just stole meat from the ones who have already hunted!
Thievery became my thing it was my way to survive, I stole and stole, from food to valuable and important items.
And so yeah there I was from the future king to a notorious outlaw. Kopa the thief! They say.
But I was happy that's what matters right?
"That's..." Matu began "I don't know what to say"
"Kid this is how real life works!" Kopa replied "Things change for the better and it worked out for me"
"You didn't even think of visiting your parents?" Matu asked
"No, They do not even care about me!" Kopa argued "They have already replaced me don't worry about it"
"That's the thing about being a royal kid" Kopa added "It's businesses, if you die they will just replace you for the sake of conserving the bloodline!"
"I never met my real parents" Matu recalled "I have my mother who is waiting for me and my father died when I was very young"
"Yeah that's just life kid" Kopa pointed "I'm sorry about that by the way, The Umojelands is under some narcissistic war mongering king who needs to be removed, yeah I agree that it needs to be changed but it's not like I can change it"
"You can Kopa, We can" Ni chimed in "We will change the world for the better"
"I can't, Ni," Kopa argued adamantly. "You can get the Orb from the wolves, but I won't be a part of it."
Ni sighed in resignation, acknowledging Kopa's stance. "Kopa, I hope you understand that this is the best path for you, but I cannot force you. Farewell."
Unbeknownst to them, a black crow silently observed the unfolding scene—a loyal servant to the empire. "Interesting," murmured Giza, observing the events with a watchful eye.
As Mheetu took a rest while his wounds were being treated, Kion had many questions, but those could wait for the time being.
Meanwhile, Mheetu found himself overwhelmed with curiosity about the new place he had entered, sparking numerous questions in his mind.
"The Lion Guard huh?" Mheetu began as he spoke to the red maned lion "I heard those stories when I was just a little cub, How are you not in the Pridelands?"
"We are now part of the Night Pride and vowed to protect the Tree of Life" Kion explained
"Then what about the Pridelands?" Mheetu inquired
"The Pridelands is under the protection of Vitani, the new leader of the Lion Guard" Kion continued
"So two lions now possess the roar of the elders?" Mheetu asked
"Indeed" Kion confirmed
"What about you?" Mheetu inquired "What is going over there? What have I missed? Who's the new King?"
"My father, Simba" Kion replied
"And the Queen?" Mheetu pushed further
"Nala"
Mheetu was surprised after hearing "Wait... You're the Prince right?"
"Yes... I am and my sister is the future queen" Kion explained
"Nala..." Mheetu pondered "If she's your mother that makes you my nephew"
"What?!?"
"She haven't told you about me? Has she ever told anyone?" Mheetu asked "She has a brother, I'm her brother"
"She did mention a brother" Says Kion "That's all she said, She never mentioned a name"
Mheetu chuckled "Well that's kinda fair, I kinda left her there to rot under Scar"
"Why? That means you could have helped!" Kion argued
"Well I was very young and I needed to leave or else Scar will kill me" Mheetu defended himself "He was exiling very male, he didn't want competition its either I die or I leave"
"Well I'm sorry about that" Kion apologized
"Kid if you only know what is it like to suffer under Scar you would have done the same" Mheetu pointed out "There was no other way"
"Kion!" Ullu called, urgently
"What is it?" Kion asked
"An Army of Lions! They're headed here!" Ullu continued
"It's the empire they're here!" Mheetu exclaimed urgently "I told you this will happen I had to leave! They want me"
"You're not leaving anything!" Kion argued "We can handle them"
"Well after you" Mheetu said with a sarcastic remark "Your highness"
The Night Pride arrived with Mheetu and encountered the Army of Lions, confirming Mheetu's earlier assumption—Ruudhi and his army stood before them.
"I have come here at peace" Ruudhi began "We believe we have someone we are looking for"
"We are not giving up anything" Kion argued "Every animal in the Tree of Life is under my protection!"
"You certainly wouldn't want war with us young Lion!" Ruudhi warned "Now give him up or things will get messy!"
"So what do we do now?" Mheetu asked
"We fight" Kion replied
The clash between the two groups was intense, As the Night Pride proved itself to be a more formidable force and gained the upper hand.
Ruudhi was bewildered he never expected that he will face such a formidable enemy at this location, however nothing will stop him until he finishes his mission.
"Leave now!" Kion warned "Or else"
"We will not give up without him!" Ruudhi growled
"Oh boy here it goes!" Bunga cheered
As Kion unleashed the mighty roar of the elders, Ruudhi's army was swiftly scattered, sent flying in disarray, they never expected such power. As the rest simply gave up and ran away.
Ruudhi realized he had to retreat.
"They have such formidable power," Ruudhi began with a sense of urgency. "I must inform Father about this immediately."
With swift wings, Giza flew to deliver the crucial news to the empire, gracefully landing as he approached the king with an air of importance and urgency.
"Sire... You may want to hear about this" Giza began
"What is it?" Rifalme inquired with curiosity etched in his voice.
"Sire... Matu is alive," Giza conveyed with a mix of surprise and certainty.
"No, it can't be!" Rifalme exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his response.
"Your nephew is alive and well" Giza continued "And he is with Ni and the rebels"
"It cannot be! I made sure all of my brother's bloodline are dead!" Rifalme exclaimed
"And now we have to get the job done" Giza suggested "We kill Matu and you will be the legitimate king of the Umojelands"
Rifalme chuckled softly. "Bring Kali in here, I will require his assistance."
The crow promptly followed his command. As Kali entered the scene, a sense of bewilderment marked his expression.
"What is it, Father?" Kali asked, seeking clarification
"I need you to do something," Rifalme stated with determination. "You will find Matu and bring him here... Alive."
"Matu is still alive?!" Kali exclaimed in disbelief.
"That's precisely why I brought you here!" Rifalme retorted urgently. "He is with Ni and the rebels. I need you to hunt him down."
"As you wish, Father," Kali replied, resolve in his voice. "I won't disappoint you."
"You've never disappointed me," Rifalme acknowledged with a hint of pride. "Now go on. Remember, bring him back alive."
Kali obeyed his father, leaving the scene with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, his focus solely fixed on the new mission at hand.