Pride Rock
A myriad of thoughts, sounds, and images swam through Kopa's head: a small lion cub abandoned near the edge of a river; a large albino crocodile scaring off an angry lioness; the crocodile's soothing voice saying, "You are safe now, my little prince. I won't let anything hurt you;" the crocodile doing his best to teach the growing cub how to hunt—using his much faster mammalian legs on land while his father relied on the river, the art of using shadow for stealth which both ion and crocodile could employ; his first successful kill as an adolescent lion with the first hints of his red mane growing out; his father listening to the Egyptian plovers bring him news from the Swamplands' neighbors; his hearing of the death of Zira, the lioness who had tried to hurt him as a baby; his father hearing of the birth of new heirs to the Pridelands' throne; his father's words, "You are ready."
"He is getting ready to wake up," an old mandril with an accent said. Kopa blinked his eyes as his surroundings came into focus. He was in a cave, surrounded by lioness. He could not tell how many, but he could see that they were keeping a respectful distance from four lions a few feet away from him: a mature male, with a thick red mane and golden fur—much like Kopa himself, a cream-furred mature lioness, a younger golden-furred lioness, and a younger brownish-red furred male with a black mane and a scar.
"You look like me," Kopa addressed the mature male.
"I am King Simba of the Pridelands. This is my mate, Nala; our daughter, Kiara; and her mate, Kovu. Is your name Kopa?"
"Yes," Kopa said. "Simba and Nala were my parents' names."
"We had a cub named Kopa," Nala said, "Our first born. We thought he was killed by our enemy Zira as a cub. We were devastated," Nala said, her face contorted as if tears were about to spill from her eyes."
"I have faint memories of being kidnapped by angry lioness as a cub," Kopa said. "But I was saved by an albino crocodile from the swamplands. He raised me."
"We owe him a great deal of thanks," Simba said. "What is his name?"
"The other crocodiles call him Pepo Mzungu."
"Doesn't sound like a demon if he rescued and cared for a defenseless lion cub," Kiara said.
"No," Kopa shook his head. "He isn't. But the other crocodiles don't like him because of his white scales."
"A shame," Simba said. He shook his head. "You must have a lot of questions for us."
"Yes, are you…"Kopa hesitated before letting, "Are you my parents?"
"We think so, son," Nala said.
Kopa then looked to Kiara.
"I'm your little sister, Kiara." She looked to her mate, "And this is your brother-in-law, Kovu."
"Nice to meet you, Kopa," the dark lion said.
"You also have a little brother named Kion, but he is presently at the Tree of Life, ruling with his mate, Queen Rani. I'll have to send word to him that his big brother has been found at last," Simba said.
"I have more family than I thought," Kopa said.
"And you'll never lose us again," Nala said, walking over to Kopa and licking his cheek.
Kopa closed his eyes and smiled, and then looked to Simba who was smiling back.
"Welcome home, son."
Simba had dispatched Zazu to find Hadithi the eagle within minutes of leaving Kopa to meet the rest of the Pride. When Zazu returned with Hadithi, Simba immediately diately dispatched the eagle to the Tree of Life to tell Kion and Rani that Kopa was still alive and had returned to them.
As soon as the eagle flew away, the hornbill said, "I suspect I should begin preparing the Pridelands for a royal visit by the Queen and King of the Tree of Life and their entourage."
"Naturally, Zazu," Simba said. "An event as important as the birth of a new heir or a royal marriage has just happened! A Prince of the Pridelands has returned!" Simba said triumphantly, and in a quitter more personal tone, "I got my son back."
"The whole of the Pridelands rejoices with you, Sire," The majordomo said.
Simba gazed back at the den where Kiara was introducing Kopa to his little nephew and niece. A warm feeling swelled in Simba's heart.
"I still can't believe he's really alive, Zazu!" Simba said happily, looking in his eyes as if could bound into the den to play with his son, as though Kopa were still a cub, but…Simba shook his head. He had missed that part of Kopa's life…which just meant the time that he had with him now was even more precious.
"Zazu," Simba said, still looking at Kopa playing with Kiara and Kovu's cubs, "Cancel all of my appointments for today. I'm taking some much-needed family time."
Zazu bowed and spread his wings. "Very well, Your Majesty," Zazu said and swallowed nervously, but did not depart.
Simba was brought out of his own thoughts by his trusted advisor's obvious discomfort.
"What's wrong, Zazu?" Simba asked.
"It was not that long ago that Rafiki proclaimed your grandson Mohatu as the next heir to the Pridelands after your daughter. Now that Kiara is no longer your eldest surviving cub…"
Simba shook his head. "Zazu, you worry too much. Kiara is still going to be queen when I die or step down, whichever comes first."
Zazu dropped the lower half of his beak. For Kion to break tradition would have been expected, but not Simba. The hornbill could not believe what he was hearing. "But, Sire, Kopa is your firstborn!"
"I know," Simba said. "But she has been trained for the job ever since she was born and Kopa hasn't."
"But, Sire, Pridelands law clearly states that the monarch's firstborn cub is to be their successor. When we thought Kopa was dead, that was indeed Kiara, but now that he is alive…"
"He still does not have the training to be king. His adopted father taught him how to hunt and survive- which is difficult for a lion living in a crocodile's habitat—but he did not teach him anything about how to rule."
Zazu cleared his throat.
Simba silenced himself.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, how is being raised by a non-royal crocodile any different than being raised by a non-royal warthog and meerkat?"
Simba grew irritated and growled at Zazu. He may have been a kind ruler, but he could throw his weight around when the situation called for it.
"Timon and Pumbaa were my adopted brothers, who took care of me during my adolescence and exile. What I learned about being a king, I learned from my father, Mufasa the Wise. I also picked up a few lessons on what not to do from my uncle, Scar. And I had Nala with me. She had as much training as I did. Kiara has grown up with my lessons and she has Kovu, who I have spent a year training. And if I step down soon, Nala and I can still guide them through the first part of their reign. Is that understood?" He said in anger.
Zazu bowed again, quivering. "Very well," he gulped, "Sire. But Rafiki will want to speak to you."
"And he will remind you that a reigning king has the right to disinherit his successor and appoint a new one if he deems it to be in the Kingdom's best interest."
Zazu nodded. That was indeed Pridelands law. He hesitantly added, "But, Sire, Kopa had done nothing to be disinherited for."
"My son has had a hard enough life." Simba replied. "He doesn't deserve to be thrust into a tremendous responsibility he's not prepared for." Simba glared at Zazu icily.
The majordomo knew that he had overstepped his place.
The Tree of Life
A new day dawned outside the cave's opening at the Tree of Life as King Consort Kion arose from his slumber, his recently grown in red mane brushing against his brown-furred mate, Rani, Queen Regnant of the Tree of Life. He nuzzled his mate, gently licking her cheek. Slowly, she inhaled. Kion stopped licking her.
Rani, wanting him to continue, said longingly, "I dreamed a golden-furred lion with a red mane came to my kingdom from a far away land." Her eyes were still closed.
Kion, being the only lion at the Tree of Life to fit that description said, "And what did he do to you, this strange lion?"
"You woke me before the best part," she said returning his lick.
"How do you know you are awake, moyo mpendwa?"
As Kion and Rani enjoyed the caress of each other's tongues on their cheeks, a familiar voice that at any other time would have been welcome, but at this moment was especially annoying, cut into their private time.
"Hey Kion!"
The King Consort moaned in frustration as he untangled himself from the embrace with his mate in the on the cavern floor.
"What is it, Bunga?" Kion asked his honey badger friend, trying and, for the most part, succeeding in keeping the irritation out of his voice.
"Hadithi just got here from the Pridelands," Bunga said. "He has news that he only wants to share with you."
Rani cleared her throat as she also arose, glaring at the honey badger.
"And Rani, of course," Bunga said nervously.
"Do you think it could be trouble?" Rani asked her mate.
"We'll only know once we talk to him," Kion replied.
The king and queen emerged from the cavern just beneath the Tree. Kion inhaled the pleasant-smelling air as he took in his idyllic surroundings: blue skies, a clear river, tress with distinct leaves that grew in no other part of Africa—it was an idyllic setting—once which Kion was happy to call home. Things had been peaceful here ever since Mama Binturong's hoard had been defeated well over a year ago. Kion sincerely hoped that nothing was amiss in his father's kingdom either.
Kion saw Hadithi perched on a rock not very far away. He realized the eagle had never been formally introduced to his mate before.
"Hadithi, welcome to the Tree of Life. Allow me to introduce our queen, my mate, Rani."
Rani nodded as Hadithi bowed.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty," the eagle said.
"The honor is mine," Rani said, further inclining her nod.
"Hadithi, is everything well in the Pridelands?" Kion asked, just a touch of concern in his voice.
"Why yes, Majesty. In fact, I come joyful news. Your family has been reunited with your long-lost elder brother and want you to meet him."
"Long-lost elder brother?" Rani asked Kion.
"Kopa's alive?" Bunga enquired.
Kion, however, momentarily speechless. He held his mouth open as he searched for the words to express himself.
"Kopa? Alive?"
"Apparently a crocodile rescued him from Zira when your parents thought he was lost. He has just recently returned to the Pridelands."
"You have an older brother, Kion?" Rani asked, having met Simba, Nala, Kiara, and Kovu at the Tree of Life during her wedding to Kion.
"Before Kiara and I were born, Mom and Dad had another cub, but we thought Zira killed him." Kion paused. He looked at Hadithi. "Are you sure its really him?"
"He remembered your parent's names as the names of his own parents, and he looks like you and King Simba—golden fur and a red mane."
"I want to meet him," Kion said—but then looking back to the Tree, he said, "But I have responsibilities here."
"Please Kion, can we go? My uncles are back there and Beshte's parents. We don't have to stay long," Bunga pleaded.
"Kion," Rani said, "Your family came here for our wedding, even though they had duties in the Pridelands. We can leave Surak and Nirmala in charge for a while." Kion looked at Rani, hope brimming behind his eyes. "All members of the Lion Guard have friends or family there that they'd like to see again. Besides, I'd like to meet my new brother-in-law and see where my mate grew up."
Kion already wanted to go, but as the rightful occupant of the throne, final decisions at the Tree of Life belonged to Rani. However, she'd had just given him permission, and better still, wanted to come along.
"All right, the entire Lion Guard along with Queen Rani and me will be making a royal visit to the Pridelands."
"Very well. I shall inform King Simba." Hadithi spread his wings and prepared to set of but Kion stopped him by holding up a paw.
"Wait, Hadithi!"
The eagle paused.
"Ono and Anga would be hurt if you didn't visit them while you were here."
Hadithi smiled, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Hadithi took off at a much lower altitude and flew deeper into the Tree of Life's territory.
Rani nuzzled her mate. "Well, Kion, I always wanted to see where you grew up."
