Copyright Notice: I do not own the Lion King it belongs to The Walt Disney Company
Peace at last... after the battle the pride has been united with Kovu as the future King and Kiara as the future Queen, Zira has died Scar's legacy has come to an end and will no longer hunt the Pridelands.
Peace at last... The Pridelands will be at peace with no enemies, no more battles, no more war... But that's what they thought...
"Do you really think I could do it?" Kovu asked "Be the future King?"
"I believe in you Kovu" Kiara replied
"As long as we're together, we can overcome anything," Kiara reassured Kovu, leaning in to nuzzle him affectionately. "You have the heart and strength to be a great king."
"I guess you're right Kiara" Kovu said "As long we are together..."
In a Kingdom far away, there was Mheetu driven by an unyielding desire to break free from the shackles of the Empire, as he ran away to find his old home...
Kali, the blue eyed brown maned lion, roared in fury. "Find him! We cannot let the traitor escape!"
"I'm doing my best!" Ruudhi, his dark mane gleaming, retorted, his amber eyes fixed on the horizon. "Hold your temper, brother. I'll track him down!"
"You trusted that traitor! My patience wears thin for an incompetent fool like you!" Kali bellowed.
"Fine! Just be quiet! He must be hiding somewhere!" Ruudhi grumbled. "Mheetu, I know you're there... Come out or things will get messy!"
Meanwhile, hidden amidst the tangled undergrowth of the jungle, Mheetu wounded from the recent battle crouched, eavesdropping on the heated exchange between his pursuers, his form concealed behind the trees. Sensing an opportunity, he slinked further into the thicket.
Back in the lion's realm, Kali's voice thundered again, "Spread out! He's close! We can't let him slip away!"
"Search every inch! He couldn't have gone far!" Says Ruudhi
Seizing the moment, Mheetu took advantage of the distraction to flee before they discovered his hiding spot.
"That's him! Don't let him get away!" Kali's voice reverberated, urgency cutting through the jungle as the chase wound through winding paths, murky swamps, and dense foliage.
Racing through the verdant maze, Mheetu's heart pounded in sync with the drumming pursuit. Spotting a cascading waterfall ahead, hope sparked within him.
Approaching the edge, Mheetu glimpsed his pursuers closing in. With a determined growl, he leaped, hurtling towards the roaring cascade below.
Kali thundered, "After him! He won't escape!"
As Mheetu dived into the falls, the lions skidded to a stop at the waterfall's edge, frustration evident in Kali's pacing.
"Jump In!" Kali suggested
"I won't risk it brother! It's too dangerous!" Ruudhi argued
"Great! We lost him!" Kali growled
"We'll find another way," Ruudhi assured, gazing at the waterfall where Mheetu had vanished. "He won't be able to hide forever."
"You'd better find him, Ruudhi!" Kali growled. "Father won't tolerate your incompetence."
"When was he ever proud of me? Nothing new," Ruudhi spat. "Let's go. We'll deal with him later."
As the lions departed, Mheetu emerged from the water, drenched but free, having slipped away from their grasp.
Perched high on a branch, a majestic crowned eagle named Tazamo observed the unfolding events in the jungle. With keen eyes, it spotted the looming presence of the two brothers and understood the urgency of alerting a friend.
Taking flight, Tazamo soared through the azure sky, his wings slicing through the air as he came to alert his friend about the recent events.
"Ni... I saw Kali and Ruudhi nearby," Tazamo squawked urgently.
"What were they doing? They cannot find out about our location!" Ni exclaimed, his concern evident in his voice.
"Fortunately, they have left without spotting us," Tazamo confirmed, his feathers ruffled with a sense of relief. "But it appeared that there was a fight."
"What happened?" Ni inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"I saw Mheetu as well," Tazamo revealed. "It seems he has left the empire for good."
"Mheetu... Left..." Ni murmured, a mix of surprise and worry coloring his words. "Where could he be now?"
"I'm afraid we don't have that information at the moment," Tazamo replied
"Ni!!!" Jibu, the Orangutan, called out urgently. "You have to see this!"
"What is it?" Ni inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"They've responded! The Great Kings of the past!" Jibu replied with excitement.
"What?" Ni's interest piqued even more.
"Follow me!" Jibu beckoned, gesturing for Ni to accompany him.
As Ni followed the Orangutan to its tree, Jibu began, "The Prophecy!"
"The Prophecy?" Ni's brow furrowed in confusion.
"It holds the key to defeating the empire," Jibu explained eagerly.
"What do you mean by key?" Ni echoed, intrigued.
"They've given me clues!" Jibu exclaimed. "The Answer is within reach!"
"Jibu, are you absolutely certain about this?" Ni asked, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.
"Look!" Jibu pointed to his tree, now in disarray from the powerful winds. "I've had contact with the great kings!"
"I'm quite bewildered at the moment," Ni admitted.
"You have to trust me! I swear I'm not losing my mind!" Jibu insisted. "The message came from the great king of the Pridelands, Mufasa!"
"Mufasa?! Hold on, he passed away a long time ago," Ni remarked, skepticism clouding his thoughts.
"Yes, but his spirit lives on!" Jibu retorted with fervor.
Suddenly, the winds intensified, swirling fiercely, coalescing into a spectral form—a majestic figure that appeared to be Mufasa himself.
Ni's eyes widened in disbelief as the ghostly figure materialized before them, the very essence of the great king hovering amidst the tempest.
"Ni..." Mufasa's voice resonated through the winds.
"Mufasa? How..." Ni's words trailed off in astonishment.
"I remember you well," Mufasa continued, his spiritual presence radiating wisdom. "It's been a while, Ni, and I admire your dedication to your cause."
"What's happening? How does this concern you?" Ni's voice trembled with a mixture of awe and confusion.
"My kingdom, the Pridelands, faces great danger that they aren't aware of," Mufasa explained. "I require your assistance."
"What for?" Ni questioned, trying to comprehend the situation.
"It is time, I need you to bring him" Mufasa implored. "You knew him"
"Who? I do not know who you are talking about" Ni inquired eagerly.
"We need him before everything is too late!" Mufasa's ethereal form conveyed a solemn urgency. "The true Prince and heir of the Umojelands."
"The true Prince and heir of the Umojelands..." Ni mused aloud, thoughts racing. "Matu..."
Mufasa nodded before fading away into the ethereal winds.
"See!" Jibu exclaimed fervently. "The True Heir! We must find Matu immediately!"
"What? Have you lost your mind?" Ni exclaimed. "He's too young for such a perilous task! It's far too risky."
"But this is our only chance!" Jibu persisted. "What else can we do?"
"Fine! I'll get him," Ni conceded reluctantly. "It's been a while; he might not recognize us."
As Ni and Jibu made their way to Matu's location, It had indeed been a considerable amount of time since he last saw the young lion.
Matu is the true Prince and Heir of the Umojelands that is now known as the Empire. Entrusted by his mother to keep the cub safe from the empire's reach, Ni had ensured Matu's well-being by placing him under the guardianship of a caring family. Since then, their lives had taken separate paths.
"We're here!" Jibu's exuberant call broke the jungle's silence.
"Alright..." Ni sighed deeply. "This won't be easy. How on earth do we convince a kid that he has to fight an empire and is a prince?"
Jibu burst out enthusiastically. "Just trust yourself Ni!"
"Yeah whatever," Ni responded
In the heart of the vast jungle, Matu, a lively adolescent lion, rested atop a tree, his tan coat glinting in the scattered sunlight filtering through the foliage.
Nearby, Dugu, the grey parrot, squawked energetically from a branch, trying to rouse Matu from his nap. "Hey, Matu! Wake up! It's time for some fun," Dugu chattered with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Matu stretched lazily, acknowledging Dugu's efforts. "Okay, okay, Dugu. What's for today?" Matu responded, green eyes brightening with curiosity.
Meanwhile, a rustle in the bushes signaled the arrival of Kubwa. His perceptive gaze observed the playful interaction between Matu and Dugu.
"Matu, Dugu," Kubwa called out, joining the pair.
"Kubwa!" Matu bounded over to greet the gorilla with enthusiasm.
"So, what's on today's agenda?" Matu asked his friends, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You didn't wake me from my nap for nothing!"
"Well..." Dugu began but was swiftly interrupted.
"Matu!" His mother's call interrupted the conversation, her voice carrying a mix of concern and urgency.
As Matu's mother's urgent call resonated through the jungle, Matu's playful demeanor shifted to one of concern. His ears twitched as he turned his gaze toward the direction of her call.
"Coming!!! " Matu Responded
"Matu, you should go. We'll catch up later," Kubwa said with reassuring authority, giving Matu an encouraging nudge in the direction of his mother's call.
"Yeah, go see what's happening. We'll be here when you get back," Dugu chimed in, his eyes conveying a silent assurance.
Matu nodded, darting a quick glance back at his friends before bounding off in the direction of his mother's urgent summons.
As Matu sprinted through the dense foliage, as he is on his way to their den, Matu skidded to a halt at the sight of his mother. She stood at the entrance to their den, her expression a mix of relief and worry upon seeing her son's swift arrival.
"Mom, what's happening?" Matu's voice quivered with a mix of confusion and concern.
"Matu, this is important," his mother replied solemnly. "These two need your help."
"You're the chosen one! You'll be the one to defeat the empire! You're the heir!!!" Jibu interjected
"What?!?" Matu's astonishment was palpable.
"Alright, Jibu, let me handle this," Ni intervened calmly.
"Matu," Ni began, his tone serious, "I was the one who brought you here."
"What do you mean?" Matu's curiosity peaked again.
"Your mother... Your real mother the Queen of the Umojelands... She brought you to me to keep you safe from the new regime. But I couldn't take care of a cub, so I brought you here," Ni explained gently.
Matu's voice trembled with shock and confusion. "Wait, what?"
"You're the true Prince and Heir of the Umojelands and it is time to retake your throne before it is too late!" Jibu interjected
Matu struggled to process the weight of Ni's revelation, his emotions spiraling into a whirlwind of disbelief and realization.
"My real mother?" Matu's voice quivered with emotions he couldn't quite place.
"Yes, Matu," Ni confirmed gently. "She trusted me to keep you safe, and that's what I've done since the day you arrived here. This place is under my protection since day one"
"I know this is difficult," his mother added, her voice filled with sorrow. "Your father and I should have told you earlier, but circumstances prevented it. I can't risk losing you, too."
Matu's heart swelled with a mix of understanding and a flood of questions. "But why now?"
"The threat has escalated, Matu," Ni explained, his gaze softening. "It's time for you to fulfill your destiny. You're the key to bringing about change before it is too late."
"You've got it, Matu! You can do this!" Jibu chimed in with uncontainable excitement.
"But why me?" Matu asked, overwhelmed by the weight of his newfound fate.
"Because it is in your blood Matu" Ni replied "It's your role at the Circle of Life"
"My Role?" Matu's voice echoed with disbelief.
"I know this is overwhelming, but you have to come with us," Ni said, urging Matu to join them.
"It's okay Matu" His mother encouraged him "It's time for you to learn about your true origins"
"I'll think about it" Matu said
"Take your time" Ni replied
Matu bid a brief, heartfelt farewell to his mother, Ni, and Jibu. He turned and headed swiftly back through the dense foliage, his paws thudding against the soft jungle floor.
Emerging from the solemn conversation, Matu sought solace and counsel from his closest companions. He found Dugu perched on a low-hanging branch, preening his grey feathers, while Kubwa sat in his usual spot, contemplating among the verdant leaves.
"Hey, guys," Matu called out as he approached, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and determination.
Dugu turned his head, sharp eyes locking onto Matu. "Matu! You're back. What's going on?"
"Yeah, you seemed troubled," Kubwa added, his deep voice rumbling softly.
Matu took a moment to catch his breath before delving into the weighty news he'd just received. With fervor and sincerity, he relayed the astounding tale of his true origins, the daunting responsibility placed upon him.
As the tale unfolded, Matu's friends exchanged glances, their expressions mirroring a spectrum of emotions from astonishment to concern, and finally, a steadfast determination.
"I don't know what to do, guys," Matu admitted, uncertainty lacing his voice. "They want me to go with them"
Dugu fluffed up his feathers in an unmistakable display of resolve. "Matu, you've always been there for us. We're not letting you face this alone."
Kubwa nodded, his eyes reflecting unwavering loyalty. "We're a team, Matu. We stick together and join you, through thick and thin."
"I'm not sure where this path leads," Matu admitted, his voice filled with determination, "But we will go through this... Together."
After his escape, Mheetu ran for a long time until he stumbled upon the Tree of Life. Exhausted, he collapsed and lost consciousness.
"He is still alive" A voice said as it seems to be a female
"He seems to be wounded and battered, it seems like he got into a fight" Another voice said but this time it's a male
"Wake him up"
As Mheetu regained consciousness, his blurry vision slowly cleared, revealing the ones who saved him.
"Wh-Who the hell are you guys?" Mheetu asked
"We're the Night Pride. You're safe here," Rani assured Mheetu.
"The Night Pride?!?" Mheetu exclaimed. "Where am I?"
"You're at the Tree of Life. We help those in need," Kion explained. "You seemed to have lost consciousness."
"What happened to you? Did you get into a fight?" Rani inquired.
"I...escaped," Mheetu replied. "Thanks for the help, but I have to go."
"You're not stable yet," Kion intervened. "Tell us what happened. We can help you."
"Are you guys really this clueless?" Mheetu chuckled.
"What?" Kion questioned.
"I escaped the empire after finally refusing to serve them," Mheetu explained. "They're still hunting me! If you want your land to be safe, you have to get me out!"
"We never back down," Kion insisted. "And whoever they are, we'll stand up to them!"
"Yeah! Kion's right! Whoever they are we will beat them!" Bunga said
Mheetu chuckled "You silly little Racoon! They're a formidable force, stronger than you think"
"Racoon?!?" Bunga exclaimed
"If this threat is severe, we need more information," Rani interjected. "Who's to say they won't target us next?"
"They'll come for you if you keep me here," Mheetu insisted. "I have to go!"
"Where exactly?" Kion asked.
"The Pridelands. My old home. I have to warn them and I have to meet my sister after a long time," Mheetu replied.
"You're from the Pridelands? We are, too. We're the Lion Guard," Kion revealed.
"The Lion Guard?!?" Mheetu was taken aback.
"Well... Former," Ono clarified.
"If you're from the Pridelands, then it's our job to protect you," Kion asserted.
"It's not your Job!" Mheetu exclaimed as he tried to walk but fell.
"My legs hurt a lot... Fine! I'll stay. Just don't blame me if it comes back to bite your tail!" Mheetu conceded.
"Don't worry, we won't," Rani smirked.
Kali and Ruudhi cautiously made their way back to the Umojelands, their home and the heart of the empire as they are summoned by the King.
"You better be ready" Kali warned "We all know that our Father isn't as forgiving as I am"
"Yeah right..." Ruudhi Spat
"Here we go again..." Kali sighed
"Father... We've returned," Ruudhi announced, bowing slightly before Rifalme, their father and the ruler of the Empire.
Rifalme's expression soured upon their return. "You incompetent fool! You trusted Mheetu! And now everything is at risk!"
"I will find him! We're making real progress," Ruudhi defended, trying to retain his composure.
"Where is he?" Rifalme demanded, his voice laced with a mix of fury and concern.
"He jumped into a waterfall, Father," Kali explained with a hint of unease. "I suggested we follow, but he refused."
"It was too risky!" Ruudhi argued in his defense, though his father's rage was unmistakable.
"You idiot! You coward!" Rifalme's words dripped with disdain. "You couldn't even jump into a waterfall?"
"Father, it was a very risky move," Ruudhi responded
"I've had enough!" Rifalme's anger echoed through the chamber, his temper flaring.
"So, sire, what do we do now?" Giza, a black crow, dared to question. "Your son once again made such an incompetent move."
"He will be exiled," Rifalme declared firmly.
"Wait, what?!" Ruudhi interjected, a mix of disbelief and alarm in his voice.
"It is final! You will be exiled until you find Mheetu," Rifalme reiterated with an ironclad tone.
"And what about me?" Kali inquired.
"Well, you have actually done something positive, so you're safe," Rifalme responded. "You will stay here."
"Father, this is unacceptable!" Ruudhi protested with fervor.
"Who are you to question? Who holds the throne? You have no authority over me!" Rifalme asserted. "Find Mheetu, or your exile will become permanent! Effective immediately."
"As you wish... I won't disappoint you, Father," Ruudhi said, trying to reassure, but his father's words lingered heavily.
"Every time you have said that, you always disappointed me," Rifalme retorted, a tinge of frustration evident in his voice. "You'd better be true to your words this time!"
