Sorry for the long wait I took a break and was very busy. I hope you guys understand.
As Matu and his friends departed, unbeknownst to them, Kali embarked on a mission to locate Matu, and is headed towards Kopa's location.
"Oh your friends have left!" Kito pointed out "You didn't come with them?"
"They're not my friends and I will never go with them" Kopa argued "They're trying to pull me back to my old life"
"Kopa..." Pimbi began "In all honesty I think you need to consider a new path"
"What do you mean?!" Kopa exclaimed
"Kopa, we are not sure that your parents have replaced you" Pimbi continued "They might have been sad that you have left, they must have been very worried about you and now they think you're dead"
"You saw it! I saw it!" Kopa argued "They have replaced me! it didn't matter and they were happy!"
Pimbi sighed "I'm suggesting that we could... Do more Kopa, we can't just be thieves forever"
"This is our destiny Pimbi" Kopa replied confidentially "Our purpose in the circle of life as they say..."
While arguing, the tranquility of their surroundings was shattered by an unexpected intrusion. Kali, accompanied by his imposing army of lionesses, stormed towards Kopa's den, their arrival heralded by the thunderous drumming of their paws against the earth.
"Greetings," Kali announced his presence with an air of command. "I've heard rumors that you have something I desire."
"Who in the depths of the savannah are you, and what the hell do you want?" Kopa demanded, his tone edged with suspicion. "Leave my den at once!"
"Wrong answer," Kali retorted with a sudden, aggressive lunge towards Kopa. "Let me reiterate, I believe you possess something I seek."
"What?! The Orb?! The wolves already took it!" Kopa relented
"No, not that close, but close enough," Kali chuckled ominously. "The Prince."
"I have no idea of what you're prattling about!" Kopa lied, his words a shaky attempt at defiance.
"Well, if we must resort to coercion," Kali smirked, signaling to Giza
"I have indeed laid eyes upon the Prince in this location, Sire," Giza affirmed with an air of unwavering loyalty. "These outlaws are indeed lying."
"Well, well, well," Kali sneered. "A liar, as expected, especially from a mere thief!"
"I won't surrender some kid to bastards like you!" Kopa argued fiercely.
"Well we really are doing this the hard way!" Kali grinned
As Kopa adamantly refused to divulge Information, The Lionesses resorted to menacing tactics, threatening the lives of Kopa's friends, Pimbi and Kito, in an attempt to coerce him into revealing the desired information.
"No!" Kopa pleaded desperately.
"Don't give it up, Kopa!" Kito interjected
"Ah, it should be easy this time," Kali smirked "Tell me where the Prince is, or your friends will meet their demise."
"They're on their way to retrieve the Orb!" Kopa conceded, his voice tinged with resignation. "And the Orb is in possession of the wolves!"
"Well, that wasn't so difficult, was it?" Kali grinned wickedly "It's a pity for you, though, as I am not a man of my word."
Before Kopa could retaliate or protest, Kali's claws slashed through the air, striking Kopa with ruthless precision, rendering him unconscious, a trail of darkness engulfing his senses.
As Kopa gradually regained consciousness, the scene that met his eyes was one of devastation. The air was thick with smoke, flames licking voraciously at everything he had toiled tirelessly to build, reducing it to smoldering ruins.
He saw his friends bleeding on the ground, their chests heaving as they struggled to draw breath, each gasp a struggle for survival.
"No!! No!!" Kopa's cries echoed in anguish as he staggered towards his friends amidst the chaos. "Are you guys alright?"
"Kopa, you need to leave," Pimbi pleaded urgently, his voice strained. "You must join Ni."
"You know I can't do that, Pimbi," Kopa replied
"You must, Kopa," Pimbi implored with a sense of urgency. "Kopa... You have to warn them about what's coming."
"It's okay, Kopa," Kito interjected with resolve. "Give em hell."
Tears welled up in Kopa's eyes as he grappled "They will pay for this..."
In the wake of devastation, Kopa found his new purpose and a promise to fulfill, vowing to honor his fallen friends by ensuring their deaths wouldn't be in vain.
Ruudhi retreated, his army following suit in defeat. Mheetu stood in shock, witnessing the Roar of the Elders for the first time.
"They're running away!" Bunga exclaimed. "Haha! What a bunch of losers!"
"We might have won this battle, but not the war," Mheetu interjected. "They'll return sooner or later."
"Mheetu, may I ask you something?" Rani inquired
"What is it?"
"How long has this been going?" Rani continued
"Probably since before you were born, kid," Mheetu replied. "This whole thing started when I was as young as you."
"What's your suggestion? How do we defeat them?" Kion asked.
"There's one possibility... but it won't be easy," Mheetu said.
"What is it? I'm prepared to face any danger," Kion assured.
"My first thought is about the orb, but it's in the hands of the wolves in the Mountainlands, fiercely guarded," Mheetu continued. "However, Kion, do you understand the full potential of the roar?"
"Yes, I've learned to wield its full potential. Askari taught me," Kion replied.
"Well, kid, there's more to the roar than meets the eye. It's just one of the four elemental powers," Mheetu explained.
"Four elemental powers?!" Kion exclaimed.
"The Roar of the Elders represents the element of Air bestowed upon the Pridelands' secondborn as a gift from the great kings," Mheetu began. "Then there's the Flames of the Knight, held by the wolves—Formerly in possession of the Umojelands for what we know now as the Empire."
"Hevi Kabisa..." Kion said, clearly shocked.
Mheetu continued "Aside from the Roar of the Elders and the Flames of the Knight, there are two other elemental powers that hold sway over our world."
"The third power," he began solemnly, "is the Might of the Seas, hidden in the oceans guarded by Hungry Sharks. It is said that those who possess it can command the very currents and tides, holding the might of water at their paws. No being has wielded it yet and for good reason.
Kion's expression turned thoughtful. "And the fourth?"
"The last elemental is The Earth's Embrace," Mheetu explained. "For now it's in possession by another Lion Pride that is known as the Northernlands, The Earth's Embrace grants the ability to commune with nature, manipulate plant life, and harness the elements of earth and wood."
As the weight of this newfound knowledge settled upon them, Rani spoke. "If these elementals exist, could they aid us in our struggle against our enemies?"
Mheetu chuckled dryly. "Trying to persuade guards and kingdoms to relinquish the power they hold dear? That's a surefire way to invite trouble."
"So, what's your suggestion?" Rani inquired.
"The Empire's ambition is to harness all the elemental powers and assert dominion over the world," Mheetu explained. "They tout it as their version of 'peace.'"
"Peace?" Kion questioned.
"The Empire preaches that by conquering all, they'll bring about a world free of warring kingdoms, envisioning it as a solution to end war once and for all," Mheetu continued. "I blindly followed them once..."
Kopa sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, desperate to reach Ni's location. He knew he had to warn them about the impending danger.
But this doesn't make any sense... He refused to join them right?
Give em hell
"I'll give them hell!" Kopa yelled while running
Kopa arrived at Ni's location in the Mountainlands, where they were on a mission to retrieve the Orb once and for all. Ni was taken aback to see Kopa suddenly appear.
"Kopa?!" Ni questioned, shocked.
"No time to explain! You have to listen to me!" Kopa interjected urgently.
"Oh, look, looks like Mr. thief changed his mind," Jibu chuckled.
"I think we have to listen to him Jibu" Kubwa chimed in
"They came for me, Ni! They came for me! And you and the kid are next!" Kopa blurted out.
"Calm down, Kopa, what happened?" Matu asked, trying to soothe the tension.
"They killed my friends," Kopa revealed, his voice filled with anguish. "And they're coming for you next"
"I'm sorry to hear about that," Ni offered comfort. "What do you mean they're coming for us?"
"They know where we are, and they're going for the Orb and the kid," Kopa replied with urgency.
"Who's 'they' exactly?" Matu asked, seeking clarification.
"The Empire, kid!" Kopa exclaimed.
"If that's the case, then we have to act quickly," Ni said decisively.
"The wolves have extreme security, Ni! They won't suddenly want the Orb stolen again!" Kopa warned, emphasizing the risks ahead.
"Maybe we could negotiate with the wolves," Matu suggested.
"Sorry, kid, that's impossible!" Kopa replied firmly.
"We have the same enemy. I think they will understand. It's better to give it a try," Matu explained, hoping to reason with Kopa.
"No! I'll do it my way! We'll sneak in and steal the Orb," Kopa insisted adamantly.
"Kopa, no offense, but we should consider Matu's plan," Ni intervened. "Negotiation is our best choice for now. We share a common enemy."
"No! No! No! We'll sneak in anonymously without them finding out," Kopa protested, sticking to his idea.
"Kopa, you have to understand the bigger picture here," Ni argued. "We will negotiate."
"No, we can't!" Kopa pushed back.
"Why?" Ni questioned, trying to understand.
"They know me as an outlaw! They will arrest me," Kopa explained. "You have to understand my situation here!"
"Not if they don't..." Matu suggested
"What do you mean?" Kopa asked, intrigued.
"Let's say... We'll give everyone a disguise," Matu proposed.
"That's a perfect idea!" Kubwa chimed in. "I still have resources here that could do the job."
"Thank you, Kubwa! I knew I could count on you!" Matu expressed his gratitude.
Kubwa prepared a concoction using various fruits, intending to change Kopa's appearance from a golden-furred, brown-maned lion to a brown-furred, black-maned lion.
After Kopa, Kubwa initiated a series of transformations, gradually altering the physical appearances of Matu, Dugu, Jibu, and Ni.
"Tada!" Kubwa presented the mixture with a flourish.
"Well... This better work," Kopa remarked skeptically.
"It's this or nothing Kopa" Ni replied
As they entered the Mountainlands, a guard intercepted their path. Matu, aiming to conceal their true intentions, feigned innocence and introduced his companions.
"Greetings! We're here merely as tourists, admiring the splendor of this majestic land," Matu explained, ushering his disguised friends forward.
The Wolf Guard growled suspiciously. "And how long do you plan to stay here?"
"Just a brief visit, my lige. Merely two days," Matu replied, maintaining a calm demeanor.
The guard observed them all with a scrutinizing gaze, clearly skeptical of their intentions.
"You may proceed," the guard grumbled
As they finally entered the Mountainlands, a collective sigh of relief escaped them, signaling the success of Matu's plan.
"I can't believe that worked," Kopa exclaimed, a mix of surprise and disbelief evident in his voice.
"Now our mission is to meet the King and Queen to negotiate," Matu declared confidently.
"Correction," Ni intervened, offering clarification. "The wolves don't have a King or Queen; they refer to their leader as the Alpha."
"How does that work?" Matu asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The pack's higher-ups must compete for dominance if the previous Alpha passes away," Ni explained. "The victor becomes the new Alpha."
"In that case, we have to meet the Alpha," Matu asserted, determined to proceed.
"Just a reminder, Matu, dealing with the wolves is no joke," Dugu cautioned. "To speak with the Alpha, you must prove yourself worthy; that you won't be a waste of time for the Alpha."
"It won't be a waste; my intentions are for their own good," Matu reassured, confident in his purpose.
"Let's hope it turns out that way," Dugu replied, a note of caution in his voice.
"Look, Kopa! It's your dad!" Jibu exclaimed, pointing to a figure.
"What?!!" Kopa exclaimed, only to realize it was merely a statue of his father "Oh come on!"
"So... Where are you?" Matu inquired, observing the statue depicting the entire Pridelands royal family.
"They didn't include me!" Kopa grumbled. "At this point, I'm used to it."
"Well, this one looks like you," Matu observed, pointing to a younger male lion. "Kion... Simba's son."
"What?! I don't even know him! Another p
Prince?!? Son of Simba?!" Kopa protested. "Besides, why is there a statue of Pridelander royals in this place?"
"Maybe they had a diplomatic meeting?" Ni speculated.
"Whatever, let's move on," Kopa said as he walked away but then glanced back. "My dad isn't that tall," he muttered, noticing an inconsistency in the statue's depiction.
"War! We're winning the war!!" the wolf celebrated with gusto.
"War..." Matu mused, processing the information. "They're engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Empire."
"What?!" Ni exclaimed in surprise.
"Ni I already told you about that don't you remember?" Kopa recalled "That's why I was able to take advantage of it and stole the Orb"
"Now, we have to act swiftly, my way!" Kopa proposed eagerly.
"Kopa... we must meet the Alpha and negotiate first," Matu reminded, emphasizing their initial objective.
"Where can we find him exactly?!" Kopa inquired, eager to move forward with their mission.
"Follow me," Dugu instructed. "I might be able to track him."
Matu and his friends trailed behind Dugu, their curiosity piqued. They halted when they arrived at a colossal rock formation that featured an enormous cave.
"This could be it," Dugu suggested, pointing towards the cave entrance.
Matu ventured into the cave, leading his friends to encounter the higher-ranking members of the pack, including the Alpha himself.
"Alright, there he is," Kopa observed. "Any ideas on how to make an introduction?"
Meanwhile, they overheard the heated conversation among the wolves.
"We're losing! We cannot succumb to the Empire!" the Alpha raged, his frustration palpable as Matu and his friends eavesdropped. "We cannot falter before that Rifalme Bastard."
"We might have to consider using the Orb," suggested another male wolf. "It's what they desire. Let's turn their weapon against them."
"But the risks! It could bring destruction to everyone!" the Alpha argued vehemently.
"We're left with no other options, sire," countered the other wolf. "It's this or nothing."
"They're planning to use the Orb..." Matu whispered urgently to his friends.
"And they're losing the war, despite what was claimed earlier," Dugu recalled, revealing the wolves' deceitful tactics.
"The wolves are notorious for spreading false propaganda to increase war morale," Ni remarked, nodding in agreement.
"So, what's our move now, kid? Negotiation seems unlikely; they're set on using the Orb for their own purposes," Kopa said, expressing his doubts. "I always thought negotiating was a bad idea besides... We have already sneaked in"
"I still have to try..." Matu asserted, determined to attempt negotiation despite the odds.
"Take notes, Kopa! A true Prince will always choose peace!" Jibu exclaimed optimistically.
"Whatever..." Kopa responded dismissively, unconvinced of the potential for a peaceful resolution.
Matu took the initiative, revealing himself as he entered the scene. "Greetings..."
"Who are you?! How did you get here?!" the Alpha exclaimed, startled by Matu's sudden appearance.
"This is such a bad idea..." Kopa muttered to himself, observing the tense situation. "Come on, Kopa, do your thing!" he pondered, as he sneaked in to steal the Orb, disobeying Matu's plan.
"I mean no harm. I am the true heir of the Umojelands," Matu explained, trying to ease the tension. "I'm here to negotiate."
"What kind of negotiation exactly?!" the Alpha exclaimed in disbelief. "The Heir of the Umojelands?! You mean Kali."
"Kali is a pretender, and Rifalme stole the throne," Matu clarified.
"He is the son of King Wenye and Queen Ukweli, the legitimate heirs of the Umojelands," Ni joined in, revealing the true lineage.
Matu was shocked to hear his parents' real names, having never known them before. The Alpha, understanding the significance, opened up for negotiation.
"I see..." said the Alpha. "So, his son is alive?"
"Indeed," Ni confirmed.
"So, what are you trying to negotiate for?" the Alpha inquired, curious about their intentions.
"The Orb. We need it to stop the empire and end this madness, to restore balance to the circle of life," Matu explained earnestly.
"I understand your ambitions, but I cannot give you the Orb. The Great Kings stripped the Umojelands' ability to wield such power even before Rifalme," the Alpha regretfully revealed.
"I... I understand," Matu replied, disappointed but respectful of the decision.
"We could help you reclaim the throne and put an end to this madness without resorting to such dangerous power," the Alpha offered, extending a helping hand.
"I'm afraid that won't be happening, Aleksei," Rifalme's voice cut through as he entered the scene, acknowledging the Alpha's name. "The Orb rightfully belongs to me."
"Rifalme!" Aleksei growled in response.
"Your defenses are falling like flies" Rifalme chuckled. "It's rather embarrassing."
"Ni! We meet again!" Kali chuckled, his tone sly and mocking.
"Kali..." Ni growled in response, a mix of anger and frustration evident in his voice.
"Aleksei, your kingdom is on the brink of collapse. No one is coming to save it," Rifalme began, his tone filled with an air of superiority. "I suggest you hand over the Orb, and I might consider sparing you."
"You know that's not going to happen," Aleksei growled, his resolve unwavering.
"Oh, well," Rifalme chuckled dismissively. "It is what it is..." his voice trailed off, leaving an ominous air hanging over the conversation.
Rifalme lunged at Aleksei pinning him down, swiftly overpowering him with the superior strength of a lion. Aleksei, unable to resist, found himself pinned down under Rifalme's dominating force.
Chuckling softly, Rifalme taunted, "Is this what they call an Alpha?"
Fear gripped the onlooking pack members as they witnessed their leader who was seen as the strongest ended up being rendered helpless by the superior might of a dominant male Lion.
"Hand me the Orb, now!" Rifalme's demand echoed through the pack, his authority unquestionable.
"About the Orb," Kopa announced dramatically as he entered, holding the Orb in his mouth. "You won't be having it, old man."
"Kopa! You freak!" Kali exclaimed in frustration.
"Come on, guys, run!" Kopa ordered urgently.
As Matu and his friends followed Kopa, he hesitated and questioned, "What about him?" pointing to Alexei.
"Don't worry about us! We'll slow them down and keep the Orb safe from Rifalme!" A male wolf urged
"Let's go!" Kopa exclaimed, urging them to hurry on.
Alexei and the pack bravely confronted Rifalme and his army, slowing them down giving Matu and his friends a chance to escape with the Orb. However, this valiant effort ultimately led to the wolves' inevitable defeat against the empire.
Matu looked back with a heavy heart, witnessing the downfall of a once-free kingdom with a rich and unique culture as it succumbed to the growing power of the empire.
"We did what was necessary, Matu," Kopa offered comfortingly. "We have the Orb."
"I guess you're right Kopa," Matu replied, trying to find solace.
"I don't know how to activate the Orb! It should have worked by now, but it didn't," Jibu interjected, voicing his concern. "It's been ages since the Flames of the Knight were wielded. We might need more professional help..."
"And where do we find that?" Kubwa inquired. "Who can assist us?"
"I know who could," Jibu said confidently. "Rafiki."
"Rafiki... It's been a while since then..." Ni recalled. "Seems like... We're headed to the Pridelands!"
"The Pridelands?!? Oh, hell no!" Kopa exclaimed
To be Continued! And again sorry for the long wait I hope this chapter was worth it