The Lion King, Lion's Heart

[Deleted]

Plot

Sometime later (a year, possibly), in Pridelands, everything returns to normal after Simba accepted the union of Kovu and Kiara. However, when a lion cub appears out of nowhere, keeping a strange secret, the royal family decides to accept him into the family. But, if this happens, will he be a prince of Pridelands? Or will the cub tell his new family that he is of a ... different species? Or is it all part of an ancient king's plan?


Disclaimer: I do not own the lion king, the characters are from Disney and only they have all copyright.

Note: This is my first fanfiction about the Lion King. I wrote it in Spanish, but here it is in English for you.

[Deleted]

Chapter 1: Wishing for freedom

Danny was not like other children ... because his life had been harder than it seemed: when he only 4 years old, he lost his parents on an excursion to the Rocky Mountains, so he had to go live with his uncle.

His parents had been protectors of nature, protecting endangered species. However, his uncle kept a terrible secret from his brother: he was a taxidermy-loving hunter. When his parents died, Danny was forced by his uncle to help him to dissect animals. This single fact was what he hated most about his life, because he had a deep love for animal life, as his parents had.

There was not much happiness in him, because apart from his neighbors and colleagues they bothered him because of his name, so he himself planned to nickname himself "Dan"... if he had the opportunity, but that did not help him much. He was imprisoned in his own life, and he wanted to be free or to start a new life. That would be impossible, since he was only 9 years old and could not fend for himself. However, his life was about to change, because in the darkest times, there is always hope ...

(The story begins in one day ...)

Danny woke up scared by a scream from his uncle. He couldn't believe they had been family for 5 years! He was a bossy who wanted his whole house to be clean and in order, otherwise he would yell at him and hit him. But really what Danny hated about him is his damn mania: he hunts animals for fun and then decorates his stupid study with his skins or heads! Just thinking that the last thing those animals saw was his relative, he gave her a feeling of disgust and hatred. If only his parents were here ...

"Get up lazy, I have some important news!" the uncle yelled again, "See you in my study in 15 minutes, and bring me a good breakfast."

Danny did so, and although it was not a 'good' breakfast that he brought him, he did not seem to mind, because his uncle had other things in mind than worrying about how he is fed.

"You will come with me; we will see if you are good for something ..." he told him. Danny freaked out, whenever he talked about a man being 'good for something' it meant one thing about him ...

"What do you want to hunt this time?" he asked him in a trying to hide a hateful tone.

"The king of the animals: a lion" he said with a defiant look, "I once hunt one when I was 18 years old. If you are a man, you could be better than that supposed king "

Danny tried to hide his hatred from him, though he couldn't. He didn't like being around a man so cruel to animal life. But the worst part was that he wanted me to kill an innocent lion! He didn't want to kill an animal, he just wanted peace in nature, which his uncle doesn't give a damn about.

"I ... I don't want to ..." he said.

"You must, otherwise you will be food for that lion" he said threateningly and smiling, "Now get ready, we are going to the Africa in a few hours"

Danny was angry: he preferred his trophy to the life of his only relative! That is why he always preferred to be with the neighborhood dogs or cats to be inside the house with that murderer, the animals were more like the family he wanted since his parents died.

Reluctantly enough, he had to pack his luggage, or rather 'his uncle's luggage', Danny didn't have something valuable, but every time his uncle got into his hunting habit, he suffered by preparing all his equipment, while his uncle kept reading the anatomy of the species he was going to dissect later.

After packing, they went with an old friend of his uncle who provided him a plane to transport them. Being a poacher, he made sure that he didn't have problems carrying his 'tools', that's why he didn't travel in first class or anything like that. The flight took two hours.

They arrived on the outskirts of a city, at an abandoned helipad, the "perfect area" for his uncle to avoid being trapped illegally. The plan was to go to the city, get hunting supplies from him, and then quietly enter in the area on foot. Danny had to stay for a few hours in the hot African sun while he went to "ask for information" on the ground and the protectors of nature.

Sometime later, Danny had tired of waiting, and even more, he wanted to abandon at all costs this action that he was going to do: he did not want to kill, not the animals, not the innocent ...

"Welcome, are you new around here?" said a voice. Danny quickly turned to find an old man selling amulets.

"Um ... yes, I'm on a trip" he replied. He shouldn't tell anything about what he came to do there, if his uncle saw him talking, he would spank him for thinking he was saying something about the hunt.

"Good, what do you hope to find on this trip?" asked the old man. Danny hesitated for a few seconds, he couldn't give more information, but he could tell him the only thing he wanted more in his life...

"A new way of thinking and living" he replied, he had always wanted it: to leave this life of being influenced by a poacher uncle and live in a different way, freely.

"Possibly you get it" he said, "I like you, take a memory of what is surely in your heart"

The old man handed him a necklace decorated with a wooden figurine. Danny examined it in his hands: the figurine represented a drawing of a lion cub, it seemed to have been made by a child, as it was not one of those quite detailed figures.

"Thank you, sir, but I couldn't ..." he began to say, but, mysteriously, the man had vanished, "... accept it"

Danny felt a little stupid: who was this man? a ghost? Then, he looked back the amulet. Yes, it was still in his hands, so it was no illusion. He stopped thinking when he turned his gaze to the side and saw his uncle coming back. He quickly put the pendant on and hid it under his shirt.

With the information, his uncle walked with him from the city to a remote area, very close to the reserved area. Then, when the sun was going to hide, he forced Danny to hide until night because at that time he could hunt without being discovered.

(Meanwhile, at the Pride Rock...)

It was beautiful to watch the sunset from the top of the Pride Rock. Kiara, future queen of Pridelands, always liked to visualize all Pridelands from there, even more so with Kovu at her side. It had been a year since Zira disappeared without a trace and Kion married Rani.

Looking at the horizon, everything now looked pretty calm.

Every time she thought about how she and her brother were like since they were cubs, she reminded her of a childhood far away. Now, she was destined to be queen of Pridelands, but the best thing was that she would have Kovu by her side as king. Well, it was not the time yet, her father still had time to fill that position, although he assured her that both would be.

"Do you need company, Kiara?" said Kovu, who had approached very quietly.

"Wow! If you scare your girlfriend int that way, I wonder how you will scare an antelope" she replied jokingly.

"Well, remember that I was the one who taught you to be stealthy"

"Yes, I still owe that" she said, and continued looking at the horizon.

"Everything looks very calm, although only until your hunt tomorrow" Kovu said, after a few seconds of observation.

"You see everything very well… despite your eye"

"Having this scar does not mean being blind, it means being more careful next time" he said laughing, "Anyway, you should sleep early, you will have to lead the hunt tomorrow"

"You can sleep, I'll be there in a moment" she said, licking his nose, "See you tomorrow"

"See you tomorrow," he replied, and went to sleep in the cave. As Kiara continued to watch, night fell more and more.

"I see that my daughter is quite a lioness to send her own boyfriend to sleep" said a voice: Simba, her father, was looking at her, surely for some time, from a corner.

"Dad! I thought you would stop watching me "said his daughter," Remember that I no longer..."

"You are not a cub, and I understand it" he replied, "I was not watching you, I just came back from a supervision, and I found the peculiar moment"

"Oh ... sorry"

"It's okay, but tell me: what are you thinking about?"

There were so many questions in Kiara's head at the time.

"Nothing, just that... the last day I saw Zuri playing with her daughter and well ... I felt a bit of envy... you know"

"Being a father or mother is a great responsibility. You will find out in time, and I am sure you would be good parents. I'm not in a hurry to have grandchildren, but remember that you will be king and queen and you will need a prince"

"Sure... someday dad" she said. Looking again, the sun had almost set and the moon was beginning to rise.

"Let's go to sleep," her father told her.

(Hours later…)

Danny felt a shake from his uncle. He woke up and realized that it was almost dark now. His uncle started yelling at him that it was time for him to check if he was really "a man" and he managed to hunt a lion.

Frankly, after meeting the mysterious old man, Danny resented the mere fact that his uncle destroys everything that his parents once stood for. He didn't want to kill animals for fun, he didn't want that life.

They were walking through a rocky area, when they saw a rhino passing very close to both of them. He forced him to stop. According to him, the horn of a rhino was quite valuable. His uncle prepared his rifle ...

Danny got a strange feeling: he didn't want him to do it, he found it hateful to kill animals just for fun, he didn't want to be his nephew… and he wasn't going to be. Danny grabbed the rifle before he could fire. Noticing that, the animal ran away.

"Drop brat!" yelled his uncle at the same time he thrown a blow to his nephew, which he resisted to prevent him from retrieving the rifle.

"I will not allow you to continue doing this!" he replied, struggling for the weapon, "My parents loved nature, just like me, I don't care that you and I are family!"

"Your parents were useless and that's why they earned little! I'm glad they died, too bad you didn't ... "

He did not complete the sentence, because a shot rang out from the scene. The weapon had gone off. A large quantity of blood was now pouring out of his uncle's body. He dropped the gun, looking at the terrible scene...

"No ... I didn't want to ..."

His uncle didn't answer, he was dying, and they hadn't brought any kind of medicine. After a minute, he stopped squirming and went quiet and in silence.

[Deleted]

Chapter 2: The mysterious cub

Danny didn't believe what he was seeing… his last relative was dead. But he didn't have time to think about what that meant: if the noise was that loud, it might have alerted predators. So he could be considered eaten.

It was already night and the road did not look good at all. Danny began to run towards an unknown direction: he did not care if he went inside or outside the place, what mattered most was really running away. He didn't know where he was really going. What he remembered was climbing some meaningless rocks.

"Help ... I need help" he thought, he was really tired of running and climbing.

Arrived at the top, Danny could not see well where or how high he went. He was too tired, and he fell to his knees. Just then, something slipped from his neck: his amulet. He examined it again and more closely in the little light there was: it was a beautiful amulet.

Out of nowhere, voices filled the air, but Danny couldn't understand what they were saying… it seemed like a strange language. He looked up and saw colored lights, like an aurora borealis or something, but that only happened in the north, where it was very cold, not in a hot place.

Unlike those lights he once saw on television, these were gold and scarlet. But that was not the strangest thing, the strangest thing was when he noticed that those lights were taking an animal shape similar to...

"A lion?" he thought, maybe he was so tired that this must be just an illusion.

The lion smiled at him (or so it seemed he did) and then he was blinded by the lights that surrounded him. Suddenly, he ran out of energy, his body collapsed and the last thing he felt was falling on grass.

(At the same time…)

Elsewhere, in a baobab tree, an old mandrill was eating a couple of fruits while he admired the stars. Beside him, there was a mound of fruit.

"It's been quite a while," Rafiki said as he looked up at the sky, "I'm almost certain that soon Simba will name Kovu and Kiara as the king and queen of Pridelands. You must feel very proud of your granddaughter, Mufasa"

Saying this, he looked down at the area of his tree where he draws pictures. In it, there were two that were quite close to each other: one was from a lion with brown fur and black mane, the other was from a lioness with normal fur.

"Sure they will be good kings ..." he said, but suddenly, a great blizzard of air came from some unknown place, blowing several leaves around.

When the wind calmed down, Rafiki looked around strangely: when something as simple as a blizzard happened, it is because something really important had just happened. His mouth fell open in disbelief as did his eyes when he looked back at the drawing: under Kovu and Kiara's drawings, a third drawing had just appeared, one depicting a lion cub.

"Who…?" Rafiki asked shocked, "It's impossible… A cub hasn't been born yet… How come…? What happens Mufasa? Who and whose cub is this? "

The heavens did not answer him.

"Very good…" he said later, "If you don't want to tell me I understand ... at least tell me how is he here ... I haven't drawn this ... it was you"

A gentle breeze sprayed his face. Then, without warning, a fruit that Rafiki was keeping fell on the rest that he had on the ground.

"Umm, has it become part of Pridelands?" he said thinking, "But what does it have to do with Kovu and Kiara? I'm sure they are not of the same blood as any"

The wind blew again and, again, something fell: a coconut that broke in half. The last time this had happened, it was a sign that Kovu and Kiara were destined to be a couple. But this time, the baboon took the coconut and noticed the difference: it was bigger than before. By holding him in front of the pictures, he could imagine that he could lock the three lions together.

"Family?" Rafiki asked more surprised, "Well Mufasa, now I really think your head has gone crazy: An unknown cub, part of the royal family? If so, how do you know it can be? "

Once again, the wind blew and this time he brought a flower petal. It stuck to the cub's drawing for a moment. Then he took flight again to the other side of the tree. Following his gaze, Rafiki saw that the petal ended up landing on another drawing, one that he had made years ago: Simba's drawing.

"I see ..." Rafiki said, "Simba will guide him... Well, I don't know what you are thinking, but I will trust you again ..."

(The next morning, at Pride Rock…)

It was dawn, it was time to start with the duties of the king. Beside Simba, Nala was still asleep, as was Kiara. But if Kiara was there, where was Kovu? Simba decided to go out to have some fresh air in the morning, he should enjoy it before an hour, in which Zazu would give his report of the day.

Outside the cave, at the top of the rock, Kovu was already awake: he was taking in the whole view of Pridelands in the beautiful sunrise.

"You woke up early Kovu" Simba told him as he turned his eyes him.

"Good morning, Simba" he said, "I just had a lot to think about"

"In what, for example?"

"Well, to begin with, I would like to thank you again for accepting me"

"You must thank Kiara for opening my eyes and believing that I can trust you"

"I already thanked her, but I must also apologize for not having the courage to tell you what my mother was planning."

"The family is sometimes complicated, let's take my uncle as an example, you know what happened ..."

"Yes, and I really hate looking like him because of this scar."

"It does not matter where you are from or how you look, but who you choose to be"

"Thank you for your support Simba, I hope to be as good a king and father as you are"

"You will be, when the time comes" he replied. Then, he realized that the sun was already at a suitable height, "Well, I have to go listen to today's report from Zazu. You should wake up Kiara to prepare the lionesses for their hunt this morning"

"So, I will Simba"

(Later…)

Kiara's hunt was about to begin, she was reunited with the other lionesses, including her mother, Nala, everything seemed to be ready.

"Alright, we're ready," she said, trying to cheer up.

"We follow you Kiara" said her mother. They all went down in the direction of the savanna.

It took them only a few minutes to get there, but it was worth it: they had seen a lonely buffalo. The animal was grazing in the grass without any care and without realizing that it was being watched by the entire group. However, before attacking, it was necessary to review the area to see all the possible escapes that the prey would have, that was the task of the leader.

Everything seemed in order, until Kiara saw something in the distance. She couldn't make it out clearly, but she had to check it out after the hunt had been successful. Letting go of that distraction so that it doesn't miss the hunt, she prepared to attack the target. When she was within striking distance, she pounced on the buffalo's back, biting its back, causing the buffalo to jerk in pain and start to want to escape. That was the signal for the leading team to attack as well. Quickly, the other lionesses also attacked and managed to knock the buffalo down. Within minutes, the buffalo was killed by a long bite on its neck.

With the perfect hunt, the lionesses began to lead their prey towards the Pride Rock. But still remembering what she could not distinguish a few minutes ago, Kiara decided to approach her mother and ask her for a favor:

"Mom, I have to go check something I saw a moment ago, I'll see you all at the Pride Rock later"

"Okay Kiara, just stay safe and come back soon" she said, "Don't take too long, otherwise your father or Kovu may worry too much"

"Yes, I know. Don't worry mom: I'll be fine, I don't think it will take long" she said with a smile.

Nala was much more understandable than Simba, so she allowed Kiara to go. So, they parted ways. Kiara was curious about what she saw, as something told her it was important ...

When she came to the place, she couldn't believe what she was seeing: lying on the ground, there was a lion cub alone and unconscious. She came over to examine him: he was small, with some months old (the same age she was when she met Kovu), he had a light golden pelt and paler golden paws, he also had a short red hair on his head indicating that he was male. Kiara was reminded a lot of Kion when she saw the cub, the difference was that he did not have the small spots that his brother had and his hair shape was like Kovu's when he was a cub.

There was usually nothing unusual about a lion cub. However, what was strange was that she had never seen that cub on Pride Rock, because she knew the rest of the lionesses and her children. She looked around: there were no other lions nearby. And if no one was around, where were his parents? Maybe he was lost?

It was still daylight, but Kiara couldn't risk in leaving him and asking for help. She had to take the cub to Rafiki: he was the only one who could help. Remembering how her mother used to carry her when she was a cub, she picked him up by the neck and headed for Rafiki's tree.

When she arrived, she lowered the cub and shouted:

"Rafiki? are you there? I need some help!"

Rafiki appeared at the top of the tree holding his crosier. Looking down, he recognized Kiara and replied:

"Ah Kiara, how are you? what's going on?"

"I found this cub in the savanna during the hunt I was on" explained Kiara, "He is unconscious and needs help"

There was a moment of doubt on Rafiki, because he remembered what happened last night. However, he snapped out of those thoughts, climbed down from the tree so he could inspect the cub that Kiara brought. When he finally reached the ground, he approached the cub and put his hand on his head. It took a few seconds for Rafiki to say:

"It looks like the cub is just passed out. It also seems that he is somewhat malnourished, which means that he is hungry, so I suggest you keep an eye on him and feed him when you return to home. On the other hand, he is in perfect condition"

"Thank you Rafiki. By the way, there is something that is strange: I have seen the other lionesses with their cubs before the hunt and none of them said anything that they had lost one"

"Umm, yes that is quite strange ..." he replied in a way quite interested in the origin of the cub, "So, possibly, he does not have parents?"

"I don't know, I found him alone and weak ... But I'll ask one of the lionesses if this cub is someone's son"

"In case you can't find his parents, I think you should take care of him for a while."

Kiara made a face of wonder and doubt.

"Me?" she asked, "Are you sure? I don't know ... I mean, maybe I'm already an adult, but taking care of a cub ... "

"Sooner or later you will have to carry that responsibility" Rafiki told him calmly, "In my opinion ... I said that it is a good idea to start early. At least think about it "

Kiara thought more carefully for a few seconds. Seeing the unconscious cub, he reminded her a lot of her and Kion.

"Well, if I managed to convince my father that Kovu was someone good… I guess I can try. I will try Rafiki "

Saying this, she said goodbye to the mandril, took the cub back with her and headed for Pride Rock.

(In the meantime…)

Rafiki watched an adult Kiara leave with the cub that she found. Then, he looked back from him to the heavens.

"So that's your chosen one" he said, "So far, your plan is going well. We hope you're right about him being part of Pridelands... and about 'that' too"

[Deleted]

Chapter 3: A new member

On the way back, Kiara was still intrigued by the provenance of the cub she was carrying. Furthermore, she had worried about the possibility that he did not have parents.

"You should take care of him for a while" Rafiki's words were repeated in her head. Although the idea was good and kind, she did not know if she was ready for that responsibility, although... something in the air told her that it was the right thing to do.

She was still thinking about how her father and Kovu will react when she arrives with the cub… that she did not realize that she finally reached the Pride Rock. She made her way over the rocks, climbing carefully and inside to the cave where her mother and father were waiting for her.

They both saw Kiara arrive, but taking the cub with her. As that scene was strange, Nala and Simba got closer.

"Kiara, good thing you're back. But ... whose cub is that? " asked her father.

Kiara left the cub on the ground; he was still asleep.

"I don't know dad, I found it in very bad condition after the hunt" she replied.

"So... was this cub what you saw?" her mother asked.

Kiara nodded. Nala examined the cub more curiously, as did Simba.

"Give me a moment ..." Nala said, heading towards the exit of the cave, "I'm going to talk to the rest of the lionesses to ask if one of them has lost a cub."

Simba nodded. Then, Nala came out of the cave.

"Oh… I forgot, dad" Kiara said after her mother left, "I took him to Rafiki. He told me that the cub should eat something and, in case of not finding his parents, I should take care of him for a while "

Simba listened carefully. He did not disagree, because he remembered very well the time when Timon and Pumba rescued and raised him. He smiled a little at that idea. Furthermore, he felt something familiar in the cub, but he didn’t realize what it was.

"Well, until we know what happened to him ..." he finally said, "I'll see to it that this cub is protected. You can take care of him"

At that very moment, Kovu entered the cave.

"Simba…" he started to say, "I just talk with Vitani and she reported that the hippos have tried to have a party, but by accident they got mud up to their ears… Huh? What's going on?"

Kiara explained the situation to Kovu, and Kovu listened carefully. At first, he was puzzled, but he found it compassionate to let the cub live with them. Just then, Nala came back.

"There was no luck," she explained, "All the lionesses have checked that their children have not been lost and there has been no problem"

"Well, I suppose we will follow Rafiki's advice" Simba said to Kiara, "You and your mother will take turns taking care of this cub."

"Well ... because I found it ... I guess I'll take care of him first" Kiara said.

"Are you sure Kiara?" Nala asked, "I can do it if you want."

"Don't worry mom, I want to try. But, could you take it upon yourself to lead the lionesses for the rest of the day?"

Nala smiled because, with the responsibility that her daughter showed, she knew that one day she would be a good mother… perhaps for that cub.

"Don't worry, I will" she said.

Simba turned to Kovu.

"Kovu" he said, "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Of course, Simba" he told him and accompanied him out of the cave. Once there, he explained the situation to him again.

"Since that cub seems to have no parents" he told him, "Rafiki considers it better for him to stay with us. His origin is strange, but… there is something about him that reminds me a lot of myself… "

"What do you mean?" Kovu asked him.

"He's like me. When I ran away from my uncle, I was lost and alone, quite unconscious as that cub is. There is something in which he is perceived ... as if he had not had an easy life"

"I guess then there are three of us. He, you, me... none of us had it. But I think this time we can do something for that cub "

"That's the way how a king think. Very well, Kovu"

"Well ... you've taught me a lot”

When they returned to the cave, they saw Kiara lying with the cub still asleep on her front paws. Beside her was Nala.

"That way, he will feel warm until he wakes up ..." Nala told him.

"Everything's fine? Simba asked.

"Yeah, he's just not awake yet" Kiara said, "It's ... worrisome"

"Well, if he wakes up you can send Zazu when he finishes his search of Pridelands" Nala said.

"Talking about Zazu," Simba commented, "His report said that some scavengers had appeared, devouring a strange creature… it looked like a human"

"Human? In Pridelands? It's not very common" Nala said.

"That’s right. When Simba and I arrived at the place that Zazu reported, it was too late: the creature was in the bones" said Kovu," It seems that the scavengers were faster this time"

"Majesty!" said a voice in the distance. The next second, a blue hornbill entered to the cave.

"Zazu, lower your voice a bit" Kiara said.

Zazu looked at Kiara and saw her with a sleeping cub. He immediately understood and apologized.

"Sorry princess" said the bird, then he turned to Simba, "Excuse me, your majesty, but a new report indicates that there is possibly one more human in Pridelands."

"Seriously? Where?" Simba asked.

"We don't know sir. According to a lost rhino, the night before two humans entered to a place far away from Outlands, they looked like hunters. However, they had a fight and one killed the other. That was the one the scavengers found this morning"

"And the other?"

"There is no trace of him sir. I have been exploring the Pridelands, Outlands and Backlands from the sky several times for hours and there is no trace of him "

Simba was thoughtful and worried for a while.

"He may have run away but we cannot be sure, we must reinforce security" proposed Kovu.

"Em… your majesty…" said Zazu looking at the cub that Kiara was taking care of, "I can ask if his daughter...?"

"Zazu, it's not what you think ..." Kiara told him, "I found him weak and abandoned during the morning hunt"

"We have thought about him staying with us until we find out if he has parents or not" Simba said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, your majesty" the hornbill apologized.

"Do not worry. Now, I want you to explore Pridelands once more from the sky, alert for anything out of the ordinary. If that human is around, let us know immediately. If you don't see anything unusual, return to home"

"I'll do it, sir" said the bird and flew off. Then, Simba turned to Kovu.

"Kovu, go tell Vitani and the lion’s guard to be more vigilant than ever, but don't make decisions without consulting me first."

"So, I will Simba" he said and left the cave.

"Nala" Simba continued, "You will lead the lionesses for the rest of the day. Likewise, be alert, we do not want anything bad to happen "

"Don't worry Simba" she told him, "we will be"

And she went out to meet the rest of the pride. Before Simba or Kiara could say anything, there was a murmur. They looked down: the cub was waking up.

[Deleted]

Chapter 4: Waking up on all fours

Danny was horribly tired. He had never taken a good nap because he always had a very difficult life, but he kept fighting to wake up. The last thing his mind remembered were the events that had happened to him: his parents had died when he was a child, he arrived to Africa, he had met a strange man who gave him a very curious amulet, he had accidentally killed his uncle to defend an animal, he had run several kilometers for fear, he had seen some kind of spirit in the form of a lion and had become unconscious.

Danny's body seemed to continue not wanting to respond to him; it seemed as if it were not his. With extreme difficulty, and with his eyes still closed, he tried to stand up. It was not very successful, as his hindquarters seemed still asleep. He tried to turn with his hands. They seemed to respond a little better, but feeling something ... different. Not having much choice, he turned his body onto his back, hoping that maybe he could reach his legs with his arms and stimulate them to obey. Forcibly, he had to open his eyes.

Perhaps he should not have done it, because what his eyes found was a somewhat dark cave, in which even an elephant could fit. But what his eyes managed to focus better, were two lions looking at him: one was clearly male, as he had golden fur and red mane; and the other was female and had a pale golden-orange fur, and amber-brown eyes.

"You finally wake up" Kiara told him, "Are you okay little one?"

Danny's head was very confused now. He was in front of two lions, very afraid that they would attack him. However, the lioness had asked about his welfare… Wait a minute, did he just hear them speak?

"Am I dead or dreaming?" those words came out of his mouth without being able to stop them.

"Well… no, you're not dreaming," Simba calmed him, "And I doubt you're dead, otherwise you wouldn't be talking. I think you are confused little cub. Well let's start over, I'm Simba, what's your name?"

"Cub?" Danny thought and quickly stared from him to his own body.

He couldn't believe what he saw: he had turned into a lion cub! What used to be his arms and legs were now four paws covered in golden fur; he also had a tail at the back, with a tuft of hair at the end; his face now felt like a snout with some whiskers; and he, too, could feel a pair of hairy, round ears. Finally, it seems that he had regressed as well, since before he was 9 years old and now, he was a cub approximately of months old.

Then, he remembered the vision he had... Danny was almost certain that that kind of lion of lights was the one that transformed him, that would explain why he was among lions, why he could talk to them...

"Are you okay?" Simba asked when he saw the expression on Danny's face.

Danny snapped out of his thoughts, quickly returned to his reality (if it was), and was quick to reply with the first name that came to mind:

"Dan… my name is Dan" he said, trying to stand up and get out of Kiara's paws.

"Nice to meet you Dan" Kiara said, "My name is Kiara, and he is my father Simba"

"Welcome to the Pride Rock, Dan," Simba said.

Pride Rock? Now his head was about to spin and he was knocked unconscious again. However, before he fell, Kiara's mouth stopped him from touching the ground grabbing him by the back of the neck.

"You seem to be still weak" Simba said, once Kiara put it in a proper place, "Wait a minute…"

Simba hurriedly left. He returned after a few seconds, with a piece of meat in his mouth, and next to another lioness.

"So, he's already awake" she said, "Hello little one, my name is Nala"

"H-hi" Danny (or now Dan) said nervously.

"Here, we brought you a part of today's hunt" said Simba, leaving the piece of meat in front of Dan, "I'll come back later to see how you are doing"

Then he turned to Kiara and said: "Ok Kiara, you should take care of it"

"Don't worry dad, I'll keep an eye on him"

"Good" then, he turned to Nala, "Nala, while Kiara takes care of Dan, continues to lead the lionesses"

She nodded. Then both of them left the cave leaving Dan alone with Kiara. Dan thought of the leadership scene he had seen.

"Is he the leader of the pride?" said Dan, a little calmer now.

"Of course, it is the duty of the king" Kiara pointed out, "As such, it is his duty to ensure the safety of his family and the other pride landers.

Kiara's words were slow to reach Dan's ears.

"King?" he said impressed, "Is he a king?"

"Yes" Kiara said looking at Dan, it seemed that he did not know anything about the King of Pride lands or the Pride Rock.

"But... if he is the king... you are..."

"The princess? Yes, but I like that they only call me Kiara, it is not necessary so much recognition "

"Oh, sorry"

"It's okay," he said quietly, "Well, what do you think if you eat something before another faint?"

Dan went back to his real problem: eating. He looked at the piece of raw meat and hesitated. A human was not used to eating raw meat, but his hunger and weakness forced him, at least, to try. He steeled himself, got back to his paws, reached over, and licked the meat. The taste of it was not so bad, moreover, it seemed that an instinct told him to eat. Dan began to chew on the meat, and for some strange reason, he loved it.

After finishing his meal, he became aware of his situation: had he just walked like a quadruped and ate like a carnivore? The funny thing about it is that it was not a dream: that was true.

"Are you feeling better now?" Kiara asked.

"Yes" he replied cheerfully, "Thank you very much, Mrs.Kiara"

"I'm glad you're feeling better. Dan… I have to ask you a question: where are your parents? "

Dan's face was saddened, because he hadn't had parents for years.

"They ... died" he said sadly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry" Kiara said, sorry for making him sad, "How did it happen?"

Dan had to come up with a quick and believable story: if they found out that he had been human, he would surely be in big trouble.

"They were near a mountain, and there was a landslide" he said, remembering how they originally died.

"Oh, I'm so sorry" Kiara apologized, "I didn't want to remind you of sad things."

"Okay, you're not to blame for anything" Dan said, getting up and trying to head for the exit.

"Wait, where are you going?" Kiara said standing up.

"Thanks for the food ... and the hospitality" he replied, "But ... I'm not from here, and I don't want to cause problems, I'd better go"

He was about to leave when Kiara suddenly grabbed him like a disobedient cub. Then she put him back on the ground.

"I can't let you go in that state" she told him, "You are still very weak. Besides, it doesn't matter that you are not from here, you are a lion, and we are one"

"We are one?" Dan asked puzzled.

"That's right" Kiara told him, "All lions are equal, which makes us a pride, a great family"

"Family?" Dan thought. Since the death of her parents, he did not remember the love of a family, because his uncle instead of being his family was more like his boss.

Kiara looked closely at the cub, who seemed engrossed in thoughts. It was so cute to see Dan in that form. He had no parents; he was alone and still weak. He seemed like he didn't know the meaning of 'we are one' ...

"If you wish" she finally said with a smile, "you can be part of our family"

Dan looked at Kiara, unable to believe what he had just heard: being part of a lion's family?

"This ... thank you, but I don't have what it takes" he said insecure.

"I doubted like that too" she said with a smile, "But it was my family who helped me to be. Let us be your new family, Dan "

A tear ran down Dan's furry face. No one in his life had ever offered to be part of his family, and that was something he wanted with all his heart. Then, unaware of what he was doing, he hugged Kiara.

"Thank you, I have never been so happy that someone accepted me" he said.

Kiara hugged him back. Dan wiped tears from his eyes. He was happy again, starting a new life, with a new family, perhaps one that he would never have believed, but he was happy to be part of one.

(But his adventure had only just begun ...)

[Deleted]

Chapter 5: Memories of the king

Dan woke up the next day after fainting. Despite his obvious state of weakness, he was strong enough to take walks around the cave. In the past, he had studied feline movement reading old books about their anatomy. However, the study was very different from putting it into practice, so his first exercise was to learn to move on all fours.

To Kiara, who had stayed in the cave looking after him, it seemed very strange that Dan moved awkwardly, because, at that age, any cub would move very simply.

"You must move one paw at a time" she said looking at him and encouraging him, “Keep three paws on the ground”

Dan tried that for a few minutes, although the effort finally paid off: he learned to walk on all fours.

"I see you're better Dan" said Kovu, who had just arrived with something in his mouth, "Well, breakfast!"

Kovu deposited a few pieces of what looked, while it was alive, an antelope. Like the day before, Dan was still quite hungry, and, getting carried away by his instinct again, he began to devour some of the meat quite willingly.

"Ummm, it was really delicious" said Dan when he finished, "Thanks"

"There's no need to give them" Kovu said. Dan breathed a little relieved.

"By the way, I'll take over Simba's duties today" Kovu added, "If you're feeling better, you should go out, Simba wants to talk to you."

Nervousness ran through Dan's furry body as he replied:

"Why does he want to see me?"

"I don't know, he just told me that he wanted to get to know you better" he replied, and then left the cave.

'Knowing him better' sounded more like 'questions' to the cub. However, he must not disobey if he wanted to stay there for a while.

"Don't worry about my dad" Kiara said trying to calm him, "He can be a bit strict or overprotective at times, but he has a good heart"

"Okay, I'll see him" Dan replied a little more relieved. Completely recovered, he headed out of the cave.

Simba was already there, watching the beautiful view of Pridelands from the top of the Pride Rock. He seemed happy about what he saw. Slowly, Dan walked towards him.

"I was waiting for you, Dan" said Simba without even turning around, it seemed as if he had felt the presence of the cub, "Sit next to me, please"

Without wanting to disobey, he did so. There was a brief moment of silence. Dan turned his attention to what Simba was looking at: Pridelands. A vast area with a large amount of plant and animal life. If someone asked, it was something worth trying to draw.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Simba asked.

"Yes, it is" Dan replied, he was completely agreed.

"However, not all kings always enjoy these views: A king's time rises and falls like the sun" explained Simba, "Do you know what it means, don't you?"

Dan thought it for a while, but something similar came to his head, it is something that happened in all lives:

"You mean… because they die?"

"That's right, it's part of the cycle of life" Simba said looking at him.

For a moment, Simba remembered the moments he shared with his father and everything he learned from him. He felt like he was in Mufasa's place. Then, an idea came to his mind:

"Dan… what would you think of being a prince of Pridelands?"

"Me?" Dan said with a face between scared and nervous, "No, I don't think I'm capable of being something like that..."

"Hahaha, calm down: I was joking" Simba laughed, but at the same time, he was surprised at Dan's humility "Wow ... Contrary to me, you are humbler than I was"

"Humble?"

"Yes ... when I was a cub, I wanted to be king, I wanted to be seen throughout the Pridelands..." said Simba, but he fell silent at one point.

"Are you okay?" the cub asked out of curiosity.

Simba took a deep breath and then said:

"Yes, I only remembered what happened next: my father, Mufasa, was betrayed by my Uncle Scar, he killed him. Then, he made me feel like I was the one responsible for my father having died because of me"

Dan felt bad about that revelation, he did not believe that such a good family of lions could have suffered such a betrayal from one of his members. He felt just like him.

"Oh, sorry" said Dan, "But, what did you do?"

"I went very far, I wanted to escape out of fear" replied the lion, "Until a couple of friends helped me and raised me"

Dan was interested in that part of the story: it was very much like his own.

"I learned to eat differently. Well, as a carnivore I did not fit among the insectivores" continued Simba, "After years, Nala went to seek help, finding us after years"

"And then you came back, didn't you?"

"At first no, I was still afraid of being blamed. But then, my father appeared in the sky and told me to remember who I really was. And then I knew: I was his son and the next king"

Dan was paying close attention to the story Simba was telling. The way in which he related that his father appeared to him from heaven… does it have something to do with the vision he experienced before waking up transformed?

"And then, I came back and faced my uncle" Simba continued, waking Dan from his imagination, "At first, I was scared. But then I remembered that he was the killer. So, I fought against him and he was defeated"

"Did you kill him?" Dan asked.

"No, his allies betrayed him and killed him" Simba replied, "When we faced each other, he blamed the hyenas saying that it was all their plan to take the Pridelands. The hyenas heard him and betrayed him when he fell from the Pride Rock"

"So, they killed him ... I understand"

There was at least a minute of silence. Then Simba said:

"Now you know my story: it's good to get to know each other by being honest. It is the best way to gain confidence"

"Woah," Dan said, "You seem to have had a tough family..."

"Yes, that's how it is. But you always have to forget the bad past, even with the family"

Dan was more self-righteous than he ever was after hearing Simba's story. If he really wanted to live there, he had to be honest… he had to tell Simba at least. He prayed that everything would work out for him and that the king would keep his secret from him.

"Simba" Dan said fearfully, "You said we must be honest ..."

"I said so" said Simba looking at the cub with a smile.

"Well then, I… I have to tell you something. Please, I need you to hear it"

"I'm all ears"

"Well ... I am, or at least before I was ... human"

[Deleted]

Chapter 6:The Secret of the Drawing

Simba stared at Dan trying to find the sincerity of his words and his face. On the other hand, Dan was he got more nervous the more the seconds passed in which Simba looked at him. Then, the lion got up.


"Come with me, we must go see an old friend" said Simba, "He will be able to understand this better"


Dan did not know what his fate would bring him now: he had just told the truth to Simba and he did not know how to answer. Also, he had no idea how that 'friend' could be of help at the time. However, he couldn't stay all day thinking about it, so he got up too.


Simba helped Dan down from the king's rock. The cub seemed surprised that rocks could form such steps, and he thought how Kiara carried him up when he was unconscious. Once down, Simba picked him up and they ran over to a large baobab tree. When they arrived, Simba climbed from branch to branch to the top of the tree with all the dexterity of a feline, Dan had to hold on tight enough to avoid falling.


Once they reached the top, they saw that a mandrill greeted them happily.


"Simba!" Rafiki said, "I am pleased that the king is coming to visit me"


"Hello Rafiki" said Simba leaving Dan on the tree’s floor, "Actually, I came to ask for advice"


Rafiki turned his attention to the cub that Simba had brought.


"I see you come with the same cub that your daughter brought home" he said, "Do you still feel bad ...? Uh... what is your name little one?"


"Dan" the cub replied a little nervous.


"Dan has already recovered, at least most of him. But he must tell us something " explained Simba.


Dan looked at Simba blankly. He didn't know how Rafiki could help to his story. Yet he had to regain the courage to say it again:


"I was... human before"


There was a minute's silence from all three, in which Dan waited fearfully about what they were going to tell him.


"That ... makes sense" Rafiki finally said.


Dan looked at him puzzled:


"Does it make sense?" he thought.


"Look at this, little one" Rafiki said, pointing to one of the branches of the tree, "That's you"


Rafiki pointed a drawing of a lion cub quite similar to the amulet that that strange man in town gave him before reaching Pridelands, it was under the pictures of two other adult lions. However, he still did not understand why that drawing was his.


"And you've seen that drawing before, haven't you?" Rafiki asked him.


"A strange man gave me an amulet with this same drawing" said Dan nodding, "It was before ... well ... transformed ..."


"I understand. Dan, please, if you still remember something, I would like you to tell us your story "


Dan looked at Simba as if asking if he was in trouble. But the lion simply told him:


"Go ahead, I already told you my story. Now is the time for you to tell us yours "


Dan had to. He told them how he grew up without parents, with a cruel and ambitious uncle, about his trip to Africa, the encounter with the strange old man, his uncle's death, and the strange vision he had before waking up as a cub.


"I see" said Simba after listening carefully, "But can you try to describe that lion in your vision?"


Dan tried to strain his memory, trying to remember...


"I think that it was your father Mufasa" Rafiki interrupted. Simba looked at him strangely.


"Rafiki..." he said "What do you mean?"


"Last night, your father told me that he found someone with great fear, but with great potential, who brought him to Pridelands and..." he said looking at Dan, "... he would be part of your pride and family, Simba"


Simba focused his gaze on Dan, trying to understand his father's plan. In the past, he did not understand that Kovu was not following Scar's will, and later, he regretted about exiling him. But this time, his father had sent Dan, could he trust his father's judgment?


On the other hand, Dan was more nervous and puzzled while he was listening.


"Are you talking about me?" Dan asked, very surprised, "No ... I don't think I have that great potential, I just ... I was very afraid of what had happened. You see... my uncle was bad, but ..."


"It was your family" Simba interrupted, "And even though you didn't like him… you care that a part of your family had been killed by you. I understand you Dan"


Dan looked at Simba's face and saw the kind and understanding face of the lion king.


"But" continued Simba, "If you had the courage to stand up for others, it shows you have great potential."


"Stand up for others?"


"Zazu was informed that a rhino contemplated the scene of conflict with your uncle: you exposed your life to defend others from a selfish mentality. You are not a murderer, and you are not in trouble"


"Thank you, but ... I'm also sorry for hiding all that from you" he said sadly, "Thanks for everything Simba ... but I'd better go, I wouldn't want something like that to happen again"


"You cannot go, you must stay" said Rafiki, approaching to the drawing. Then, he ran his hand over it and, amazingly, it wasn't erased or damaged.


"This drawing was not made by me. It just appeared last night, Mufasa must have drawn it. In my tree I draw all the beings that have or have had their history in Pridelands. And the fact that you have appeared here ... means that you have a story to live in Pridelands"


Dan still didn't understand why fate brought him there. On the other hand, Simba calmly approached him and said:


"You can stay with us until we find out your true reason in Pridelands. If my father was the one who did all this, we must listen to him. And I promise you that I will help you in everything you need"


Dan felt happy inside: although he did not know his fate, he was happy to have a family again.



"I'm not sure yet what this all means" said Dan, "But I'll try..."


"Well said, Dan" Rafiki told him.


"Thank you Rafiki, for everything" Simba said goodbye.


"Thank you, Mr. Rafiki" Dan said.


"No problem," he replied, "Maybe we'll see each other tomorrow, be very lucky."


Simba raised up the cub with his mouth and then, he jumped off the tree. Fortunately, the lion also knows how to land on his paws. Then, he put Dan back on the ground to walk around for a while as they headed back to the Pride Rock.


"Mr. Simba ..." Dan said nervously while they walked.


“You will be part of the pride and my family, so you don’t need to be so formal. You can call me Simba”


"Oh, okay… Simba, should I tell someone else what I am ...?"


"You better save it for now" Simba told him, "This is not the time yet. You see ... humans are unknown creatures in Pridelands, Outlands, Backlands and far away, animals only talk about them as rumors. I think you better get along with the other animals first, do you understand?"


"Okay, I understand…"


Simba looked at the cub and then put a paw on his head.


"Don't worry about your past" he said smiling, "I'm sure you will like being part of the pride"



Dan smiled back, glad to be part of the family.


"But if you're going to be part of our family…" Simba continued, "There is a tradition that must be respected… You may be a little older by now, but it still has to be done. And it must be done before you grow any more..."


"Which tradition?" Dan asked.


Simba smiled, but he didn't say anything.

[Deleted]

Chapter 7: New life, old ways

It was night in Pridelands, and the moon was still shining on it. However, that would not be for long: dawn was already near. After only a few minutes, the sun was clearly showing on the horizon and a voice in the wind was calling all Pride landers to an important meeting.


Several animals came to the call: birds, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, etc. They all gathered around their destination: The Pride Rock. The atmosphere was full of joy and excitement, all of they waiting for something important.


(Meanwhile, at the top...)


"Well ... this is strange" Dan thought at the same time he felt Kiara's rough tongue go over the rest of his cub body, "Is this really necessary?"


"Well, you must look presentable" Kiara said stopping for a moment. Hearing that phrase, Dan felt like it was his mother speaking to him.


"Well, if it's necessary ..."


He didn't finish the sentence, as Kiara ran his tongue over his head again.



"Rafiki is coming" Simba said looking towards the crowd that gathered around the Pride Rock.


Rafiki was walking in a space that the rest of the animals had left, probably out of respect. Once he reached the base of the rock, the mandrill began to climb it and managed to reach the lions. Dan could see that Rafiki had some kind of fruit.


"Are you ready Dan?" Rafiki asked.


"I think so ..." he replied looking at the fruit, "What is ...?"


Again, he did not finish speaking. He just said that he was ready, the mandrill broke the fruit. Inside was a thick, somewhat reddish substance that looked like paint. Then, Rafiki take some of that paint with his hand and rubbed it on Dan's forehead.


"Now come," said the mandrill, grasping it with both hands.


Despite not being a newborn cub, it seemed that Rafiki had enough strength to carry even an adult lion. Dan gave no sign of looking so heavy. Slowly, Rafiki carried him to the top of the rock and then lifted him into the air in full view of all the animals gathered there.


"Woah…" Dan thought as he looked at the large crowd that lay below, "It's amazing"


When he was barely lifted into the air, all the animals screamed according to their respective sound. However, it was not a rough or wild sound, rather they sounded like shouts of happiness and joy, resounding in a harmonious whole, almost as if they were singing. Then, as Dan looked at them in great fascination, they bowed in reverence.


Dan felt really… weird: were they really bowing down to him? Was he really him like some kind of royal member now? Just thinking about it, he only feels nervous and a little embarrassed.


(A few hours later, at the top of the Pride Rock ...)


The ceremony was long over, but to Dan it felt like it had only been a minute ago. The feeling of vertigo that he had suffered was nothing compared to the feeling that now, he was like some kind of lion prince. If that was a dream, it was the best he had ever had.


But there he was: lying like a cat on the same rock’s top where he had been presented, admiring all Pridelands while it was still daylight. To say that his life was impressive was truly an understatement.


But, at the same time, Dan had quite a few doubts if it was a good idea to be part of the family, as he was originally just a transformed human child. He kept thinking: Why did that lion, Mufasa, choose him?


"Is something wrong Dan?" asked Simba's voice behind him. Dan turned to see the lion walking towards him.


"Well, I don't know ..." Dan said in a low voice.


"Well, I suppose for a newborn cub the presentation does not concern him so much" said Simba, "But for you, it sure was a strange experience, wasn't it?"


"Yes… it's just… it's the idea of belonging to the pride and your family. I am not ... of your lineage"


"It doesn't matter whether or not you are. If my father trusted that you should be here, I trust that you will achieve it"


Dan looked at Simba in great dismay. Seriously, the king was willing to trust him: an ex-human, from out of Pridelands, with no royal lineage or blood, to be part of his pride and family?


"Tell me what you think," said Simba.


"I just… I don't know if I can do it, I'm scared" Dan said, "And I don't want to kill an animal and eat it later. That reminds me… how, if you are the king, can you eat and protect the rest of the animals that live in Pridelands?"


"Hum…" Simba said as if that question filled him with memories, "My father taught me that… You will see that when we die, our bodies feed the grass. And then, the herbivores eat the grass. In that way, we are all connected. That is the cycle of life"


"The cycle of life ..." Dan repeated in his mind.


"Come with me" Simba said, heading for the path that leads down to the Pride Rock.


They both went out to the meadow. Dan was more confident after the lesson he had just received, now he felt more excited to explore and see what he had missed since he arrived. A few meters away from the Pride Rock, Dan could see various animals: antelope, zebra, giraffe, etc. Simba looked at Dan with happiness, it seems that he was enjoying everything he saw.


As they walked, a blue hornbill came flying in and perched on a rock in front of Simba and Dan.


"Good morning, Majesty" said Zazú, "I come to present my report for today"


“Good morning, Zazu” said Simba.


"Good morning Mr. Hornbill" Dan said, "Nice feathers"


"Oh. Wow "said Zazú feeling respected," I think the first time that someone flatter me like this"


"Dan, I don't think you had to know each other better" said Simba, pointing to the bird, "He is Zazu, the mayordomo and the trusted royal advisor"


"Nice to meet you, young Dan" said Zazu.


"Nice to meet you, Mr. Zazu," Dan said.


"Wow, you are quite polite, but you don't need that much formality. After all, you are now a member of the royal family. And please, I beg you not to get into trouble from such a young age" said Zazú glancing at Simba "Many cubs tend to get into problems due to their antics"


"Problems?"


"Uh ... let's leave that to talk later" Simba interrupted, "Now Zazu, what is your report?"


"Well, you will see, your majesty: I have checked all Pridelands again and there were no problems, the lion guard is patrolling the border with Outlands at the moment" began Zazú, "On the other hand, an elephant has a slight pain in the tusk, the flamingos are they are taking a bath in the oasis like the hippos, and the birds ... "


"It's quite a bit to take in ..." Simba thought and then looked at Dan. At that moment, a memory came to Simba...


"Dan, do you like to play?" Simba told him, while Zazu continued speaking.


Dan was also getting a little bored while he listened to Zazu, but the mere mention of the word 'play' had restored his spirits. Besides, he hadn't heard that word for a long time.


"Okay. But, what do we play? " Dan said.


"With Zazu" Simba said softly, as he stealthily led Dan as Zazu continued speaking. They got behind the bird, who didn't notice any of his movements, "Don't be afraid, you won't eat him, you're just going to scare it a little bit. Now stay crouched ... "


"Okay, crouch ..." Dan repeated as he tried to get low enough, without touching the grass.


"Study the wind, the shadows ..."


Dan felt the wind rush as he approached the chattering hornbill.


"And wait for the perfect moment to attack…"


As he waited, Dan felt a little strange: as if his blood was running faster, as if a wild state of him was waking up ...


"... the bees have built a new honeycomb in ..." continued the bird. However, he was unable to continue. At that precise moment, Dan lunged at Zazu with a roar like a lion cub. The bird screamed in fright.


Dan and Zazu fell to the grass. The cub was laughing at the joke made, but it seemed that Zazu did not like that kind of joke.


"Not again!" said the hornbill, "If I already said it was too good to be true! I wouldn't be surprised if he's like a second Simba"


"Hahaha" Simba laughed, while Dan came back to him, "You are definitely a lion"


"Thank you, I did not expect to do so well" said Dan, "I think I'm better than I expected"


"Well ... let's save the rest of the lessons for another day, I have to attend to certain matters. Don't worry, it will be soon"


"Okay ... thank you very much" Dan laughed.


"Ok" Simba turned to Zazu, "Zazu, take Dan back to the Pride Rock. I will meet with Vitani's guard, I need to talk to them"


"Right away, sir" said Zazú, "Come little one, time to return"


Dan said a smiling goodbye to Simba and then walked with the hornbill back to the rock.

[Deleted]

Chapter 8: Unexpected Friendship

"Seriously, I didn't get a scare like that from a cub in years" Zazu said while he was accompanying the smiling Dan, "Did you think it was funny?"


"A little" laughed Dan, still happy at the mischief made.


"Well, you wouldn't like it if you had been almost eaten a couple of times"


Hearing that, Dan feels a little bad about Zazu.


"Has it happened to you before, sir? Who tried to eat you? "


"Not many really" Zazu said sarcastically, "Just a few hyenas, a crocodile, some exiles, and a couple more predators"


"Wow, I'm sorry…"


"Do not apologize. Let's say ... I'm the children's favorite toy"


Dan laughed at Zazu's sense of humor. Then, remembering something they had discussed earlier, he asked him:


"Mr. Zazu, what did he mean by 'many cubs tend to get into problems because of their antics'?"


"Although you see Simba as a noble and just king, the truth is that it was not always like this: once he got into trouble when he was a cub" said the bird, "He disobeyed and went to the elephant's graveyard, where hyenas lived, and that was not all, he convinced Nala to go too"


"Woah, what happened?"


"Because I enlisted King Mufasa's help in time, they were saved. Otherwise, I don't want to know what would have happened. That is why, you must obey and never go to areas that are prohibited"


"Don't worry sir, I don't think I'm that brave or crazy enough to go somewhere like this"


"Zazu!" shouted two voices.


Dan turned to see who had spoken. For a moment, he wanted to laugh: a brown boar was carrying a meerkat on its back.


"You two" Zazu reproached them, "The ceremony has already ended hours ago, where have you been? Simba didn't see you anywhere"


"I'm sorry, I think it was ..." the boar began.


"The alarm!" the meerkat said quickly.


"Did we have an alarm clock Timon?" said the boar.


"Of course, Pumba!" Timon said, although it seemed only an excuse, "Just that you fell asleep on it and you messed it up"


"Wow, sorry," said Pumba.


"In any case, where is our new little friend?" Timon said, "We knew he was a boy"


"Well, I'm sorry, but I have to take him back to the Pride Rock" said Zazu, "Come on young Dan"


Timon and Pumba saw Dan.


"He's not as small as I thought him..." Pumba said.


"Hey, come on, so we won't have to wait until he's old enough" said Timon, "It's more fun, and we can have more parties of bug treats to eat ...!"


Hearing about eating bugs, Dan was disgusted and pushed Zazu to give him the message that he wanted to return to the Pride Rock. The hornbill seemed to understand quickly. Fortunately, either Timon and Pumba were dumb or just distracted, not noticing the escape of the cub or the hornbill.


"Timon and Pumba: they are a couple of crazy ones, but with a good heart" explained Zazú back on the road, "Since their adoptive nephew Bunga left, they are looking for someone to replace his place"


"Where did that 'Bunga' go?" Dan asked out of curiosity.


"He was part of the previous lion's guard, he was the bravest" explained the bird, "When the previous leader, Kion, decided to stay as king of the tree of life, the members of our guard became those from there, including Bunga. Then, Vitani and her lionesses became the new guard"


"And how long have you not seen them?"


"They left a year ago. Sometimes they come to visit or we go there. But the problem is that the tree of life are miles from here, so there would rarely be visits"


"I understand…"


"We are here"


They had reached the Pride Rock. However, Zazu guided him to the back of it. In it, there were quite a few lionesses with their respective cubs, some were playing, while others were receiving a 'bath'.


"Have fun Dan, make friends" said Zazu and flew away.


'Have friends' was what Dan had never achieved. But now everything was different, including himself, so he had to try. With that mentality in mind, Dan climbed up to the part of the rock where everyone was. However, before reaching where a group of cubs was talking, a familiar face met him: she was Nala, she was lying on one side of the rocks, looking at the other females.


"Good morning, Mrs. Nala" Dan said, trying to be as polite as possible.


"Good morning Dan" she said, "Where have you been?"


"I was with Simba and then we played with Zazu" he said laughing.


"Haha. And I suppose you did well scaring old Zazú"


Dan looked back at the group of cubs that was talking in the corner. He still wondered if there was a good idea to try to make some friends...


"You need to gain a little confidence" Nala told him as if she were reading his mind, "You can make friends if you go and introduce yourself."


"Will they accept me?" he asked quite shyly.


"Well of course. Although…" Nala said as she checked all his body, "I think it would be better if you were a little cleaner"


And it was true: the ambush he gave Zazu had left a couple of leaves of grass and some dirt on his furry body.


"Come here" Nala said. Before Dan said anything, she grabbed him with her mouth and deposited it between his front paws. Then, she started licking him like Kiara did that morning.


"Is it really necessary?" Dan said: he was already feeling a bit stressed from the cat bathing.


"Well, my mother always told me that the moment of a cub's bath was extremely important, and that it is good to always be clean" Nala replied.


After a few minutes, Dan finally freed himself from the bath and got ready to go over to the group of cubs he had seen earlier. However, these were gone, surely to play elsewhere. A little disappointed that he had been late, he sat under the shade of a miniature tree that was nearby.


"I only want a friend…" he thought.


Just then, something or someone suddenly fell on him, apart from a few leaves. Thanks to that, he had gotten dirty again. Dan was upset by the blow.


"Hey, be more careful with ..." he started, but then stopped when he saw who she was: a female cub about his age and with blue-green eyes, "... that"


"Oh, I'm really sorry" she said, "I didn't mean to, I was just testing balance when… the branch gave way and then… I'm really sorry. By the way, my name is Shany"


"Uh… Don't worry, my name is Dan" he replied, "Nice to meet you, Shany"


"Dan? That name sounds familiar to me…" she said thoughtfully, "Hey! You are the cub that was introduced this morning, aren't you?"


"Uh… Yes"


"Wow, I can't believe I'm looking at you so closely" Shany said, "Are you Kiara's son?"


"I… I think there is a misunderstanding: I am not Kiara's son. I mean… I'm part of the family now, but… exactly royal blood, I'm not…"


"Aaaa ... what a pity, my mother Zuri is one of Kiara's best friends"


"I'm sorry, but I'm just getting familiar with this ... I don't know much about those who live here ..."


"You don't know much? Where are you from, then?”


Dan felt trapped and tried to come up with something to say to her. But just then, Shany started laughing.


“I was joking” she said, “Well, if you want, I can give you a scouting tour, would you like it?"


"Well ..." Dan said as he looked at her. For some reason, he saw her as quite kind and funny and he needed to make friends, so he thought it was a good way to start, "Yes, thank you"


"But first ..." said a voice, and Nala appreciated listening to the pair of new friends, seeing Dan with leaves and dirt again, "You will need another bath, Dan"


Dan only thought about his luck as he said to himself:


"This is going to be a long day ..."

[Deleted]

Chapter 9: The Value of a Friendship

After being bathed again, Dan was finally able to accompany Shany on a short walk. Together, they stepped away from the Pride Rock to show him the locations of the Pridelands, starting with Lake Shangaza.


“This is Lake Shangaza” explained Shany, “Although… there is not much to see here: just a few rocks and acacias”


Dan was paying attention to what Shany was saying. However, she was right: that place just looked like a normal lake. Only with the difference that the brightness of the sun made the lake sparkle.


"Hey, I want to ask you something" Shany said, "If you're not Kiara's son, are you Queen Nala's?"


"Uh, no, either," Dan replied, fearing that he would have to tell her the truth.


Shany stared at him for a while, hoping he would answer. Feeling that she had almost no choice, Dan could only say:


"My parents died in a landslide" he told his new friend, "A couple of days before I was unconscious and Mrs. Kiara picked me up and brought me here, the royal family has been taking care of me ever since ..."


"Oh, sorry if it was a bad question ..." she apologized, "I didn't want to make you feel bad."


She lowered her ears, regretful. Dan felt sorry for this and replied:


"Don't worry, now ... I don't feel so bad now that I know I can have friends like you"


Shany felt better hearing that ... rather, she was moved by herself.


"Well, if we are friends, let's continue with the tour" she said.


And they do it like that; Shany took Dan to other places in the pridelands: the Mbali fields, the Misty Falls and the Big springs. This one was quite a bit more crowded than the others, as it was full of hippos that were taking a long bath to clean themselves from the mud.


"They tend to get dirty very often" Shany laughed when they left there, "Come, let's go to Hakuna Matata waterfalls"


At her next stop, the place was bordered on one side by large cliffs; while a broad serine waterfall cascaded down these cliffs and formed a river at the bottom. The trees were covered with moss and ferns.


"It's ... very nice" said Dan looking around, "It's like a little paradise"


"Aha!" said a voice that Dan recognized because he had recently heard it, “Wow! Who would say that you would come instead of us looking for you! "


It was Timon and, as always, next to Pumba.


"Nice to see you again" said Pumba, "Uh ..."


"Dan" answered this knowing that they were asking him what his name was.


"That name is perfect" declared Timon, "And..."


And then he became aware of Shany's presence.


"Oh no ... do you already have a girlfriend? This will make you less fun "


"What…?" said both cubs blushing a little.


"No, she's just my friend" Dan replied.


"Yes, of course... just friend" said Timon as if he was sure of what he was saying, "Anyway ... better enjoy life when is young. Well, are you ready for your first round?"


Dan and Shany looked at each other very puzzled. Then, Pumba picked up a log and Timon pulled out a leaf on which various insects were scampering: earthworms, beetles, a ladybug, etc.


“Your first round of worms, of course” he told him, “You don't know how long we wait to share our treats with another cub. Simba is too busy for these things"


Both cubs recoiled when they saw how bad the insects looked. However, Timon caught one of the beetles and ate it. Then, Pumba licked his tongue and ate several in a single moment.


"Go ahead, try" Timon told him, holding out the insect leaf.


"Uh ... I think won’t" said Dan, "Shany, can't we just continue the tour?"


"It will be my pleasure ..." she answered and together they left.


As they watched them leave, Pumba couldn't help but say:


"They always grow so fast..."


"Yes Pumba..." Timon replied with a bored face, "In a few years and it will be a night to love again..."


(In the meantime…)


"Uff, thank goodness we were able to get out of there" Dan said to Shany, "It's been a fantastic tour"


"Eh, but we're not done yet" she replied, "You know, now that you're here, I think I can have the courage to explore a place I wanted to go..."


"Which place…?"


(A few minutes later…)


Shany and Dan were walking through a rocky environment. The ground was not as green a place as the previous ones: the place was somewhat dark and several cracks in the ground gave off gas or steam. Dan had enjoyed the rest of the trip up to that very moment.


"Shany… where are we?" Dan asked a little nervous.


"Only the brave come to this place" Shany laughed, "Don't tell me you're afraid"


“Well no, but… I feel like we shouldn't be here… Huh? That's…?"


Among the vapors that emanated from the place, the shadow of something strange appeared. At first you couldn't make it out clearly, but when the smoke cleared a bit, you could see it better: a huge skull of a dead elephant. Then, Dan remembered what Zazu had said to him.


"This is the elephant graveyard!" he yelled, "Shany, this place is supposed to be off-limits"


"Don't worry, there is no danger here since the hyenas went to live to the Outlands" she replied, "This is everyone's best hiding place ..."


She did not finish speaking, for the moment she put a paw forward, the ground sank. Quickly, Shany stepped aside as a fiery steam escaped from the crack that had formed.


"You see it?" Dan remarked, “It's dangerous. Come on, we must return to the Pridelands"



Shany was about to say "okay" when more vapors began to escape in geysers from the ground. Wasting no time, Dan yelled at her:


"Run!"


Shany and Dan ran as fast as they could as the ground around them became more and more unstable. Now it was understandable why the hyenas had withdrawn from the place: the environment was not unstable at all. However, if they wanted to live, it was not the time to think about that detail.


Both cubs ran without knowing where to exit. The vapors and smoke prevented a clear view of the road and on more than one occasion they were on the verge of losing each other.


"Shany, where was the exit?" Dan asked, seeing that they hadn't reached the Pridelands yet.


"Eh ... I don't know ..." she said trying to remember, "It should be going up, but it's too high..."


They were trapped and the ground below them would not hold until it erupted into yet another geyser. The only way out was up and there was no way up. Dan tried to think of something as he looked around and found an answer: an elephant's skull bone.


"Shany, help me with this ..." he said as he run towards the bone and tried to move it.


"What comes to your mind?" Shany asked, helping him.


"We must turn around and get on this bone ..."


It was difficult, but they managed to roll the skull at the exact point where the ground was going to erupt with steam. Then, turning it around, Dan motioned for Shany to get on.


"This is safe?" Shany asked.


"As sure as coming here…" Dan joked.


“Wait, what do you mean…?


Just then, the new geyser erupted, releasing steam at such a high pressure that he lifted the skull with the cubs in it and lifted them to such an extent that they fell with a heavy impact on the Pridelands ground. It took Shany and Dan a few seconds to recover, but when they did, they looked at each other and started laughing that they were saved.


"That was spectacular!" Shany laughed, "I don't believe how high we went up and then ..."


"And then you two fell in front of two lionesses who were worried,” said a voice.


The laugh stopped, Shany fell silent and Dan glanced to see that they had indeed returned to the high Pridelands and, in front of them, were two lionesses: one was Kiara, and the other (for what he could guess) it was Zuri, Shany's mother.


"Uh ... hi mom" Shany said trying to hide.


"Shany, what were you and your friend doing at the elephant graveyard?" Zuri asked with all the authority of a mother, "Maybe there are no hyenas there anymore, but it's a hellish trap"


"Well ... I ..."


“It was my fault,” Dan accused himself, “I… wanted to see the elephant graveyard because Zazu had told me about it and… I convinced Shany to take me. I am responsible"


Shany was dumbfounded. On the other hand, Zuri and Kiara looked at each other.


"Dan…" Kiara mused. Then she turned to Zuri, “Zuri, take Shany back to the Pride Rock. I'll talk to Dan"


Zuri seemed to understand and turned to Shany: "Let's go, I have to bathe you again"


Shany could only say goodbye to Dan saying:


"See you later. Thanks"


When they were far enough away, Kiara told Dan:


"Come with me"


Without disobeying, Dan accompanied him for a spin before returning to Pride Rock. However, after a few minutes of walking, Kiara asked him:


"First day of freedom and you've already got into trouble, right?"


Dan did not answer because it was the truth: Zazu had warned him not to go to the elephant graveyard. He might not have done it intentionally, but he had been there and Kiara and Zuri had seen him leave there with Shany. He didn't have an excuse to save himself this time. However, Kiara stopped.


"Something tells me that there is a little lie here" she told him, "Can you tell me: whose idea was it really?"


Dan's mouth tightened: he wanted to tell the truth, but it would be accusing Shany of the idea. He tried to hide it again:


"It was my idea ..."


"Umm" Kiara said thoughtfully, "Is that true? Or did you accuse yourself to support her? "



It was done: she had caught Dan's lie. He just lowered his head to hers and closed his eyes as he waited for the reprimand. Instead, however, he again felt the touch of a rough tongue on his furry head.


"It seems like it runs in the family to get into trouble since you were a cub," Kiara told him, “Don't worry, everything will be fine. Nothing will happen to Shany either, I'll talk about that with Zuri. But be more careful next time, okay? "


"Okay ..." Dan answered relieved, but somewhat puzzled: it seemed as if Kiara was behaving more maternally towards him.


"Good" Kiara replied looking at the sun, "It is already sunset, let's go back. You have a special training with Kovu tomorrow"


"With Kovu?" Dan thought, but he didn't say. He just hoped everything would be better the next day.

[Deleted]

Chapter 10: Learning to be a lion

The day after meeting Shany, Dan got up very early to see the sunrise over the Pridelands. The view was always great, because everything looked so free and wild. There was something in the air… something that made one feel free from worry. In other words, like a paradise.

"Good morning, Dan" said a voice behind him. Turning around, he saw Kovu, who was approaching him to admire the views with him.

"Good morning, Mr. Kovu" replied the cub.

"Wow, you're quite polite. That's fine… nice view, isn't it? "

"Yeah…" Dan said looking back at the views of Pridelands at sunrise, "Everything looks so beautiful… I can't believe I has never seen it before"

Kovu paid his attention on Dan as if reminding him of himself. The truth was, he had felt that way the first time he woke up on the Pride Rock after saving Kiara from the fire.

"Dan" he said, "Kiara told me what you told her about your parents, but... what do you remember about them?"

Dan lowered his head sadly: despite having spent only a few days in Pridelands, those memories seemed so far and near at the same time. But, at the same time, they were very painful.

"They were very affectionate, I do remember that" he finally replied, "They were like you... they protected animals because they believed in the cycle of life"

"So, it is clear that your parents' affection was really unique ..." Kovu said. However, he seemed to be saying it to himself as he touched the eye with the scar on it. Dan, by noticing what he was doing. He dared to ask:

"How did you get that scar?"

Kovu didn't want to talk about it, but he had to say it:

"Unlike you, I didn't have much affection from my family. My mother was close to Scar and when I was born, he had named me next in line to the throne. But when Simba defeated Scar, my mother, myself and the rest of my brothers were exiled for having supported him"

Dan listened carefully to Kovu's story.

"In an act of revenge, my mother trained me to kill Simba" Kovu continued, "But… I fell in love with Kiara and that made me leave my desire for revenge. When I tried to save Simba from an ambush, my brother Nuka died, and my mother make me as a traitor and responsible of Nuka's death. In punishment, she scratched my face, making me the scar"

"Wow ... he also had a complicated family" thought Dan, "Like me, he was being brought up to fulfill selfish desires"

"And what happened to your mother?" Dan asked, "Is she..."

"She ended her way in the cycle of life" declared Kovu, "Simba forgave me and all the exiles. But my mother still wanted revenge and that led to the end of her: she disappeared after falling into the river. If she had survived, I would have told her that... I forgive her"

"Family is complicated" said Dan, making Kovu change his face, "Possibly she would have accepted forgiveness if she had had more time…"

Then, Dan stopped and asked something he wanted to know:

"Can I ask you a question? What was it that made you feel sure to be part of this family?"

Kovu looked at Dan with quite a bit of fascination: for just being a cub, he was very understanding and intelligent. Dan, on the other hand, wanted to know the answer to that question, because it was the one he needed.

"The love, that made me feel sure" replied Kovu, "It was Kiara who gave me confidence that I could be good, that it was not necessary to fight, that ... I was not so different from she"

Dan looked at Kovu for a few moments and then he smiled at him.

"Thank you for sharing all that with me" he said cheerfully, "I think I feel better now."

"It was my pleasure" Kovu replied, "Hey, would you like to go somewhere fun?"

Dan thought for a moment: he liked to have fun; for example, yesterday he had a great time with Simba. But later, he almost got into trouble the day before.

“Don’t worry” Kovu said, “This time, I know the perfect place”

So, they both came down from the Pride Rock and walked for a while through Pridelands. Kovu led Dan to a small field of ground and grass full of birds. The birds were pecking trying to get worms out of the ground.

"This was where I had fun for the first time" said Kovu, "You can do it too. By the way, how is your roar?"

"Roar?" Dan asked nervously, "No, I can't do it. What's more, I don't even know how…

"Come on, it's easy: let your scream be heard in the air, you pretend to release your repressed feelings. Try it and scare a couple of birds "

"Well… I can try…."

Dan took some air. Then, he roared… but as anyone can guess, he didn't turn out the way one expected. His roar was not enough to scare even the closest bird to them.

"Wow, I'm pathetic," Dan said, disappointed.

"Don't worry, for your age it's fine" Kovu encouraged, "Listen to this"

This time, it was Kovu who roared, the noise was quite audible that scared all the birds and it had also left an echo in Dan's head.

"Woah" said Dan once recovered from the echo, "That was incredible!"

"Thanks, but it's a matter of practice" Kovu said, "Let's see if you can try again."

For about 30 minutes, Dan was trying his best to roar. At first it sounded the same as the first time, but the cub did not give up: the encouragement to learn from him was giving him more strength, although he barely managed to make a couple of birds fly.

"Well, I think you've improved for today" Kovu said after a while, "Let's try something else ... let's see ... How about a hunting class?"

"Hunting? But…"

"We are not disturbing the cycle of life. We only live hunting for live, not for gluttony. Have you understood?"

"Um… all right. Teach me"

So Kovu led Dan to another area, one with tall grass, with perfect hiding places. Kovu positioned himself in an uncovered area of it and he closed his eyes.

"Your mission is to surprise me," he said, "You must be quite stealthy. I'll close my eyes for a few minutes. Now, hide yourself "

So did Dan, he ducked behind Kovu's back, hoping to make a good attack.

"Well, I'm ready!" shouted Kovu.

Dan remembered what Simba taught him: keep crouched and study around him, waiting for the ideal moment. He approached Kovu very slowly, listening to the sound of his own breathing and when he was close enough to him… he jumped.

It didn't work out, as Kovu crouched down just then. Dan rolled over on the ground until he stopped.

"Almost" Kovu told him as he helped him up, "You hide and study the environment well. But you are like Kiara: your breathing gives you away, and a sound like that is enough to scare away your prey"

"But ... yesterday I did well with Zazu" said Dan, remembering what happened the day before.

"Uh… let's say that Zazu is easy prey when he talks a lot. But, with another animal it is not the same"

"So, what should I do to lower the sound of my breathing?"

"Relax a bit, feel the coolness of the ground under your paws and calm down. And the most important thing: don't be afraid"

'Not being afraid' was easy for Kovu to say, but for Dan, who previously didn't like hunting, it was very difficult. However, this wasn't like what his uncle made him do… it was totally different; as complying with the 'cycle of life'.

Dan tried again. After the third try, Kovu thought it was enough.

"Well done" he said, "You did very well for your first day"

"I have a good teacher"

A few meters from them, a pigeon had landed. Dan did the stealth test with it. The bird got away from him, but it left a pair of feathers that confirmed that Dan had reached it.

"Very good!" Kovu said, "You're making progress. Well come on, it's almost time to eat "

"I'm following you" Dan told him.

Kovu looked at Dan with pride… it seemed to him that he was giving the cub a life that he could not have. Suddenly, Dan rushed forward.

"I challenge you to a race!" said Dan, "Or are you very old?"

"Hey!" Kovu demanded laughing, "Don't call me old, little one!"

They both ran in the direction of the Pride Rock. Despite Kovu giving him a great advantage, Dan's paws were unable to keep up with the speed of an adult lion. Upon arrival, Dan regretted challenging him to the race.

"Uff, I think I should practice speed" said Dan, already tired.

"Yes, that will be your next lesson" said Kovu.

"Wow, where had you two been?" Kiara laughed when she saw them arrive tired, "I can see the fatigue on your faces"

"We were practicing Kiara" he replied to his partner, "And some fun too"

"Well, but I think you need to recharge your energies... come in, today we have a great hunt"

So, the three of them went up and entered the cave.

[Deleted]

Chapter 11: A new danger

(One week later…)


It had been a week since Dan woke up a lion cub and had learned to be one of the lion family. Learning about him wasn't easy: Simba and Kovu had taught him a lot about animal instinct and the cycle of life. For anyone in his situation, it was a lot to take in, because he was beginning to learn to be something he was not before.


On the other hand, he felt so good to have family again. Also, he had a new friend: Shany. It was reliving his entire childhood all over again, but in quite a different way.


(But, one day…)


Dan went for a walk, enjoying the cool grass air. Suddenly, Shany jumped on him. However, Dan reacted instinctively, following what he had learned about stealth from and dodging. Shany fell to the ground after failing.


"Oh no!" Dan yelled when he saw who she was, "Shany, I'm so sorry"


"No, it's my fault" she said getting up, "I wanted to play with you and it seems like it went wrong. Anyway, where were you going? "


"To the watering hole, to swim a little. I prefer have that bath instead of the other type of bath"


"You won't mind me accompanying you, will you?"


"No... unless you are afraid of water, kitty"


At that precise moment, Shany jumped on him, and this time, Dan didn't have time to react.


"If you call me kitty again, it will be very bad for you" Shany said.


"Okay ... okay" Dan said somewhat scared, and sitting up from the downed he took.


Then, she circled around him and hit Dan across the face with her tail. Dan realized that she was playing with him.


"Hey!" Dan said, "You'll see, I'll catch you!"


She laughed and ran. Dan chased her through the field, but when he caught up with her, she gave him a surprise and they both fell… or at least, Dan fell and Shany pinned him.


"Pinned" she told him with a smile on her face.


"Well ... I guess I didn't have time to react this time ..." Dan said smiling too.


"Wow, I'm glad to see another couple having their first fight,” said a voice. It was Zazu, "Very lovely, like Simba and Nala"


“Hey… What do you mean, Zazu?” asked Dan.


(After some days, Dan stopped calling the hornbill 'sir' and now he only called him Zazu)


Zazu approached them with a smile on his beak.


"Of course, I mean when they were cubs" he told them, "You are so much like them. You will surely share the rest of your life together too."


Dan and Shany looked at each other: they quickly understood the meaning of those words and denied each other.


"Zazu! Don't you think that's a bit of an exaggeration?" Dan claimed, "We are friends"


"Yeah, we're not dating or something. We are just friends" supported Shany.


"And so, it begins… from 'just friends'. Sooner or later, you will be one" said Zazu.


"Why have you come Zazu? Or did you just come to talk about it? " Dan asked somewhat annoyed by the Zazu's comments.


"Of course not, it is my royal duty to watch over you Dan. As you already know, you can't go..."


"… To areas beyond the Pridelands and much less to the Elephant Graveyard or the Outlands" Dan completed, "Yes, I know"


The hornbill approached and stared into the lion cub's eyes.


"Wow, you are definitely more prudent" said Zazu, "Well, but I still have to keep an eye on you"



"As you wish ..." Dan said, as he resumed his march towards the lake with Shany at his side and Zazu flying over his head.


“Uff, at least he didn't find out that we went unauthorized to the elephant graveyard” Dan whispered to Shany.


“Yes, it was a luck” she replied.


The day could not be more beautiful: the sun was very hot, the freshness of the air pleasing the lungs. But all that changed when...


"Hey!" Zazu said suddenly, "Someone is running over here."


Both cubs looked in the direction the hornbill was facing them and, sure enough, a quadruped being was running towards them: it had a thin body and thin legs, and its skin was gray with dark spots and stripes.


"A hyena" said Zazú, "Be quiet cubs, we do not know if they are from our allies. Although that appearance reminds me of... "


When the hyena was close enough, he could see her better.


"Jasiri?" Zazu said, "Wow, what a surprise! But why are you running so hastily?"


"Zazu!" said the hyena when she saw the hornbill, "Thank goodness, I need to find Simba or the guard: it is urgent"


"Calm down, what happened?"


"Some strange creatures came and captured various animals from Outlands" Jasiri explained, "We were at the waterhole when suddenly some kind of lianas fell on the vultures, jackals... and when we realized it, there were those creatures with two legs..."


Dan's throat tightened when he heard what the hyena was saying.


"Wait ... Jasiri, right?" he said interrupting the narration, "Were the lianas black and strong?"


"Uh ... yes" she answered seeing Dan, because she still did not know him "And you are ..."


"His name is Dan" explained Zazú, "He is new in the royal family. But go on, what did they do with your friends?"


"They made them drop those lianas. Cheezi, Janja, Reirei, Goigoi and the others tried to put up resistance and attack them, but then they took out some gray sticks and threw a kind of thorn ... when it hit someone, it weakened him and then, he fell unconscious. Madoa and I ran with some cubs and jackal cubs towards the border with the Pridelands, but since there were too many to carry, they hid in a hollow tree and I had to come alone"


"It looks creepy ..." Shany commented.


"It's serious…" said Zazu, "We must alert all Pridelands and tell Vitani's guard: they will be in charge of saving them for sure. Wait ... have those creatures followed you here? "


"No, at least I think so ..."


Throughout the explanation, the lump in Dan's throat grew even more: he had no doubt that they were humans and hunters.


"Come on" Zazu's words woke him up from his thoughts, "Come back all you can, I'll go ahead with Simba"


So Jasiri, Dan and Shany back to Pride Rock. But before they could get there, Timon and Pumba crossed their path.


"Wow!" said Pumbaa, "Here you are little one, and I see that you bring friends"


"Well now if we can start with a worm competition ..." Timon began.


"I'm sorry ..." said Dan, "But it's urgent: we can't stay ..."


"Come on, Hakuna Matata, boy" said Timon, making a detour around the three of them, "Nothing can be so serious"


"It is really serious!" said Jasiri some desperate, "My clan was captured and we need to go see the king and the lion guard immediately"


"This looks serious Timon" said Pumbaa approaching the meerkat.


"There we go ... as in all stories: the good guys always win ... there's no reason for... Ouch!"


"There is no reason for 'Ouch 'Timon?" said the boar when he saw the expression of his friend, "Ouch!"


Timon and Pumbaa collapsed, they weren't hurt at all, just asleep. However, Dan saw the pair with great fright, for the cry of 'ouch' was the pain of a needle behind them: the needle of a tranquilizer dart.

[Deleted]

Chapter 12: Saved by the Lion's Guard

Not far from where Timon and Pumba lay asleep, were two humans: one of them was holding a dart gun; the other had a hanging stick (those used to grab wild or uncontrolled animals by the neck). They wore hiking clothes and dark glasses, making it look like they were pretty tough or bad. Dan, Shany, and Jasiri were frozen in shock and wondering if they should move or not. However, Jasiri was scared, as she moved quickly and took cover behind a rock as a dart fired by one of the men collided with the stone.


Seeing Jasiri's reaction, Dan and Shany quickly also ran to avoid being captured. Out of nowhere, a thick black net fell on the female cub. Dan seeing that, stopped.


"Dan!" Shany shouted, "Save yourself!"


"I will not abandon you" he replied, trying to bite the net to get his friend out of him. This didn't work, so he tried to use his claws. However, the sound of a gun near his ear forced him to look ahead. One of the men, the one with the broadest shoulders, was pointing at him.


"Wow... that cute kitty" said the man, looking at a scared Dan from head to tail "I think you will be worth a good amount for my business"


"Hey, do you have the lion cubs?" the other man said at the same time he held Jasiri with a hanging stick.


"Don't worry, these two are not going anywhere" he replied, smiling.


Suddenly, something very fast crossed and bit the hand of the hunter causing him to drop his rifle. The man screams in pain and the gun went off, but the dart hit nothing but the ground. Dan looked at his savior: it was a teenage lioness with gray fur and she was thinner than another lioness he had seen before; on one side of her body, Dan could see that she had a mark with the figure of a roaring lion.


"Haraka Haraka!" the lioness mused, taking the gun from the subject.


"Damn!" the man yelled.


"Ahhh!" the scream of the other subject was heard.


Dan turned to see what had happened: the other subject had been knocked down by another gray lioness, but with more build and muscles than the first. Thanks to this, the other man released the stick with which he was holding Jasiri.


"Everyone, take cover!" the second lioness yelled at Shany, Dan and Jasiri.


Dan didn't know what he meant by 'take cover', but he obeyed assuming that this was the rescue tea, that Zazu had said he would go looking for. Then, something happened:



The air had filled with wind and a great hurricane was beginning to form, but what was really surprising was that it was accompanied by a loud sound: the roar of a lion. It was as if that roar had such power that it could wipe out an entire forest or blow-up rocks.


With the wind on his face, Dan looked up to see the wielder of such power: it was another lioness, one with pale golden fur and a somewhat messy lock of hair. To one side of her, Dan could see that she had a tattoo with the drawing of a lion.


Returning to the situation, the roar was so powerful that it sent the hunters flying to the other side of the field and raised the net that had Shany trapped. Once everything calmed down, both men got up with scared faces and ran quickly. They were out of sight after a few seconds.


"That's it! Don't come back!" said the lioness who roared at the men. Then, she turned to the cubs, "Are you both okay? Sorry, but I had to act fast"


"We're right, uh..." Dan said, but he stopped because he didn't know his name.


"My name is Vitani" said the lioness, "We did not meet before, but your name is Dan, isn't it? I saw you in your presentation days ago"


"A ... I understand, thank you very much Vitani"


"Yes, thank you very much, Lion's Guard" Shany said, standing up again.


"Lion's Guard?" Dan thought until someone shouted.


"Vitani! We have a couple of fallen: they are not dead just ... asleep"


"One moment!" Vitani replied, "Kasi, go help Shabaha. Imara, help me get this thing out of Jasiri"


Kasi nodded and then ran quickly in the direction where Shabaha's voice was coming from. Meanwhile, Vitani and Imara tried to help Jasiri.


"Thank you Vitani,” said the hyena.


"Do not worry. Wow, how does this work? " Vitani asked seeing how complicated that object was that she had never seen before.


"I don't know, but this can't seem to be broken" Imara replied, "Try not to move, Jasiri"


"Okay ..." Jasiri said, fearing they couldn't get it out of her.


For a few seconds and despite the efforts of both lionesses, the rope did not break and they feared that, if they tried something else, they could harm Jasiri. Faced with such a situation, Dan moved closer to get a better view of that instrument.


It was a stick with a rope at one end to hold animals. Dan had only seen it once in his life: once when a rather wild dog was taken to the dog's pound. From what he could guess that day, there must be some kind of button to adjust the rope.


"Excuse me, can I help you?" he told them.


"Well, if you know of something ... then try it" said Vitani somewhat annoyed at not being able to find a solution.


Dan took a closer look at the stick again and found it: there was a button to adjust the rope. Using his right paw, he pressed the button and the rope enlarged, allowing both lionesses to remove it from Jasiri's neck.


"Sensational, you're really smart Dan" Shany told him.


"Thank you very much Dan" Jasiri told him, "You too, Lion Guard"


"Well, now we have to help Kasi and Shabaha" declared Vitani, and together with Imara, he ran to where Timon and Pumbaa were asleep.


The cubs and the hyena followed them and found the pair of friends deeply sleep. Beside them, were Kasi and another lioness, who must be Shabaha. They were both shaking Timon and Pumba, but they were not reacting, although they were making faces as if they were quite happy in their dream.


"Maybe they are sick ..." Kasi said as she looked at them.


"Having that face is not a sign of being sick" Shabaha said as she saw the silly face that Timon had, "They are only asleep ... but it is rare that they do not wake up. They also had this in them..."


The lioness showed a couple of objects on the ground. The others didn't know what they were, but a human did: Dan could see that they were darts and, from what he could guess from seeing the effects on the sleeping pair, they were anesthetics.


"So, they're not hunters ..." he thought, remembering something, "Maybe ... animal dealers?"


"We must take them to Rafiki" said Vitani, "But first, we have to wait for Tazama"


"I'm here!" a voice yelled, and they all turned to see a fourth lioness heading their way. Beside her, she was accompanied by another hyena and a pair of hyena cubs and jackals’ cubs.


"Madoa!" yelled Jasiri happily, "Sister, I'm glad you're okay!"


"I'm fine, Tazama found us" said Madoa.


"It was not very difficult" said Tazama, "But how did it go for you? I heard Vitani's roar and we came immediately"


"Jasiri, Dan and Shany are safe" Vitani replied, "Those guys ran away from Pridelands, but I had a strange feeling that they'll come back"


At that moment, a sound of rapid footsteps was heard and everyone saw Kovu and Simba running towards them. On top of both, was Zazu.


"Is everybody okay?" Simba asked.


"We are okay, your Majesty" replied Vitani, "Dan and his friend are safe, as are Jasiri, Madoa and these hyena cubs"


"All right. Please, I want you to take Timon and Pumba with Rafiki: he will attend them"



Vitani and her lionesses nodded and got to it.


Then, he looked back at the hyenas.


"Jasiri, Madoa" he told them, "Zazu explained the situation to us: we will help them. But first, I want us all to go back to the Pride Rock, it's safer and you can tell us more about this situation"

[Deleted]

Chapter 13: Listening secretly

After a while of walking, Vitani and her team separated from Simba and the others: they went with Rafiki to check on Timon and Pumba's condition. As they all walked back towards the Pride Rock, Dan noticed Shany quite dizzy and with the face that she was still terrified.


"Are you okay?" he asked her.


"Not much" she said taking a breath, "I still feel bad about such danger, but thank you for not leaving me behind"


Dan smiled at her, but after a few moments he thought again of all the danger threatening his new life and family. Like his parents, he had a kind and loving heart for all animals in general. Perhaps that was the reason why he was given that new opportunity.


"Dan" Kovu said before arriving, "Can I talk to you for a second?"


The cub nodded and together with Kovu, they walked for a moment apart from Simba, Zazu, Shany and Jasiri.


"I'm glad you're okay" he told him, "When Zazu arrived alarmed, Kiara and Nala were very worried about you"


"Wow... really?" Dan asked. Possibly, it was the first time someone in a family cared so much about him.


"That's right… You see Dan… Kiara and I have been talking about it: I had a lot of fun the other day when we practiced and ran. It was the second time that I felt like a cub again"


"I liked playing that day. I never thought he could have someone to play with ... "


"Except your friend… Shany, isn't it?" laughed Kovu looking at Dan's flushed face.


"Uh... yes" replied this somewhat shy to say it.


"Well, to the point that I wanted to get: Kiara has spoken with her parents and with me. You are the youngest of the family, and we do not know if you are like the brother or the nephew... Also, Rafiki told Kira to take care of you, so…"


Dan was listening carefully to Kovu.


"... we wonder if you wanted to be like ... our son"


Dan froze at those words: no one in his old life had offered him such a gift. But he hesitated to answer for a few seconds. In general, he was already a member of the lion family, but… being something closer… a son?


"Really?" Dan said between joy and doubt, "Are you sure?"


"Of course. Well, if you want it" Kovu replied.


"Uh ... can I think about it?"


"Take the rest of the day and tell me when you're ready"


"I'll do that" Dan said smiling kindly, "And ... thank you, for everything"


"Don't thank it, little one"


They continued the walk with Dan quite thoughtful about Kovu and Kiara's proposal. However, he had to get out of his thoughts when he reached the Pride Rock and climbed into the cave.


"Dad! Kovu! " They were greeted by Kiara who was worried. Then she looked at the two cubs, "Are they all okay? Dan? Shany? "


"Yes, they are fine" Kovu replied calmly.


"Thank goodness" said Zuri who came out behind Kiara and hugged Shany.


"Simba ..." said Nala, who also appeared from inside the cave.


"I'm sorry, but we'll talk inside" he interrupted, "We must make an urgent meeting, could you gather the rest of the lionesses? Vitani and her lion's guard will soon also arrive to discuss the situation"


"Okay ... I hope it's not serious"


"Unfortunately, it is very serious"


(Later, that day ...)


Vitani and her team had returned a while ago, with the news that the effects of the shots would only affect Timon and Pumba until tomorrow. Despite the good news, the rest of the lionesses did not show much happiness, fearing that, just as they captured the animals from Outlands, they would be next. Meanwhile, Dan and Shany had stayed in the rest area behind the Pride Rock.


"Shany, are you feeling better?" Dan asked as they waited for the adults to finish the meeting.


"Yes ... a little" she replied, "It's just ... I'm afraid of them"


"To the humans…?"


"Yes. You see ... according to my mom, a long time ago, one of my grandparents was killed by a human"


Dan froze at that revelation and again, he began to think about his uncle and the comment he said to him before the trip:


"I once hunted one at the age of 18"


Could it be that the old relative of Shany was the same as the one his uncle mentioned? It made his stomach turn to think it was true. Slowly, he got to his paws.


"Dan… are you okay?" Shany asked when he saw that change.


"I ... I need to walk a bit alone" he replied, "I'll be back later"


Leaving his friend so that she would not notice the fear and sadness that reflected his face, he began to walk around the outside of the cave. At one point, he noticed a small hole between the rocks and began to see what he was hiding, great was his surprise when he noticed a second entrance in which a cub would fit well.


Out of curiosity, he stepped into the hole. However, the journey did not last long, because the next minute, he was at a dead end. But before he decided to turn around to go back, he heard voices on the other side of the wall.


"What will happen to our friends? Or with our families? " Jasiri's voice asked.


"Don't fear: we will find a way to save them" replied Simba's voice, "Have you saw the Outlands Zazu?"


"Yes, Your Majesty" answered Zazu's voice, "Unfortunately, when I flew over the watering hole, those guys were moving transporting the animals they caught to another place"


"Oh no" said Madoa's worried voice, "Do you know where?"


"That's right: they have a kind of wooden refuge to the south of the Outlands, very far. It was huge, it was near a little river"


"If you wish, your majesty" said Vitani's voice, "The lion's guard can take care of those subjects and save the other trapped animals"


"With all due respect, your majesty" Zuri intervened, "Considering what has happened today, we cannot allow these creatures to remain in Pridelands any longer. They are highly dangerous. If the lion's guard had not arrived on time, they could have taken my daughter"


"I agree that they represent a serious threat to the cycle of life" said Simba after listening to the opinions of others, "But ... waging a war against them is not convenient: we still do not know much about them"


"Dad," Kiara said to her father, "I don't agree with the fights, but this time it's different: none of those creatures belong to Pridelands"


There was a silence of a few seconds in which Dan could hear his own heart pounding with fear. Finally, Simba said:


"It is true, Kiara; they do not belong to Pridelands ..."


It was all for Dan: he couldn't listen anymore. Disappointed, hurt and sad, he came out as discreetly as he entered that hiding place. When he finally got out into the air, he lay down on a nearby rock and quietly began to cry himself to sleep.


When he woke up, it was already dark and he was inside the cave again. Maybe someone carried him into the cave when he was slept.


At one side, he could see Shany and her mother. Very close to her, were Simba and Nala asleep. When he looked at himself, he noticed he was next to Kiara and Kovu. But they were not so asleep at all, because they spoke in low voices. Once again out of curiosity, Dan crept a little and sharpened his ears.


"So ... is what you told me true?" whispered Kovu.


"Yes, it looks like we will be parents"


“And… what about Dan?”


“I think that I have an idea… I’ll tell you tomorrow…”


There was a silence in which Dan could feel his heart sinking into more sadness than before. Then, he again turned away and went back to sleep hoping that all his suffering was nothing more than a nightmare.

[Deleted]

Chapter 14: Looking at the Stars

He didn't know if it was insomnia or his sadness, but something was keeping Dan from sleeping. It had been only a few minutes but seemed like hours since he heard conversations that pointed to that he thought the first time he arrived: he did not belong there.


In the first place, although on the outside he now looked like a lion cub, on the inside he felt like a human, and everyone believed that a human did not belong to Pridelands: Shany, Zuri, Jasiri, Madoa, Kovu, Kiara and even Simba agreed.


For a second, even though he might forget his past and think that he was now a lion, his hopes for a new family had been dashed: if Kovu and Kiara were to have a child of their own, Dan would have no reason to be there since the was not of the same blood. Also, he had no intention of fighting over it, because with all of Simba's teachings, he was someone with a good heart.


"So ... why not just leave?" he thought.


Dan got up very quietly and went to the entrance of the cave. Outside, the cold night air greeted him, accompanied by a dim moonlight and several star lights, everything was so calm that he could hear his inner sorrow.


Then, he noticed something in a patch of grass grown between a couple of rocks: three white flowers that together made a beautiful set. Very sorry for what he was going to do, he walked over to them and took them with his mouth one by one. Then, he went back into the cave.



With the best stealth, he left a flower for each of those he had known best: Simba and Nala, Kovu and Kiara, and Shany. When he was near his best friend, he said to himself:


"I'm sorry Shany, but if you knew what I am what everyone is afraid of... you wouldn't even look at me"


With the signal of his farewell made, Dan left the cave, lowered the rocks and began to walk south. A cloud had slightly covered the moonlight and Pridelands looked a bit darker, but he still went on his way.


"I don't belong here" he said to himself again, "But there is something I can still try… I cannot allow those hunters to trap animals that live as one big family. I must try something"


Thinking like that is crazy, of course. However, he no longer had anything to lose: if he could die, he did not care, because that means resting eternally with his family in heaven, and dying for a just cause. Thinking that way, he looked up at the sky and gazed at the stars in the sky wondering if his parents would be proud of what he was going to do.


The path seemed endless to him, because the now meager light did not help to distinguish where he was going, and after a few seconds, he found himself lost. However, before he could take a few dubious steps, the sky uncovered and the moonlight saved him from taking a misstep near a ravine.


"That was so close…" Dan thought somewhat annoyed at his fate, "Why is my life so complicated?"


Then, he changed his way towards a small lake in a small oasis that shone altogether in the light of the night sky. He stopped and took some cold but crystal-clear water. Looking the reflection of the lake, he looked up and started looking at the sky again. However, when he lowered his head back to the lake, he noticed a blurred figure in the water. It was familiar ...


With one claw, he touched the image of the water and fixed it as if by magic. It was then that he saw Simba reflected in the lake, but… he was behind his reflect.


"You shouldn't be out and about so far at night" Simba's voice said sternly behind him.


Dan did not respond: he was a little scared, but his discouragement prevented him from showing fear when he saw that the lion king had followed him there. Not paying attention to what he was saying, he looked back up at the sky. Simba noticed sadness on his face and then said in a calmer voice:


"You miss the ones who have already left, don't you?"


"Yes... quite a bit" Dan replied without looking at him.


Suddenly, he was drawn into a furry hug with the adult lion. For some reason, he felt so good and he was regretted about he tried to do before.


"Dan, they are always with you" Simba said softly, "Look at the sky for a moment, please"


He did so and the only thing he could see is the stars and the moon.


"My father told me that all the kings of the past are looking us from the sky…" said Simba.


"But my parents were not…" tried to say Dan.


"I know. But it means too that our loved ones never leave us" explained Simba, "They are always looking out for us from heaven, always giving us their wisdom and support for those of us who are still alive. And we always see them in the stars"


Dan continued to stare up at the sky sadly, waiting for some sign that what he was told was true.


"Now, can you tell me why you left without saying?" asked the lion king.


Dan didn't want to answer, but he must have:


"You said it yourself…" Dan said, "I mean… I heard what you said in the afternoon: humans are dangerous and they don't belong on Pridelands. I'm sorry, but everyone is scared at the mere presence of them here, and I am one of them"


"Maybe, you are... and you are not" replied Simba to Dan's amazement, "Dan ... maybe you think you are a human inside, but... didn't you wonder what you were inside before you were a lion?"


"I…" Dan began, but he stopped: the truth was, he hadn't asked himself that.


"Also, you shouldn't judge if you don't listen well. Tell me, did you stay after you heard that?


"Uh… I did not"


"I see... well what I said is that 'those humans' did not belong to Pridelands... but I also said that not all humans are like that: there are those who respect the cycle of life and other species. The ones you faced hours ago are very different than you, and you know that, don't you? "


"Yes ... I think so, but not everyone sees it that way ..."


"Of course, they know that you are someone good… what they don't know is that you are an example of a good human. You must show it to them"


"But... Shany is afraid of humans ... and she is the best friend I've had for a long time... I'm afraid that she won't accept me anymore"


Dan lowered his head as he said that. Simba, looking at the cub's expression, tried to make him understand.


"Dan" he said, "Let me show you something... give me your paw"


The cub obeyed with considerable hesitation. When he did, Simba guided Dan's paw to his chest. Dan could feel the beating of the lion's heart.


"Tell me, what do you feel there?" asked Simba.


"Your heart"


"Well said" Simba smiled at the answer. Then, he guided Dan's paw to his own chest, "And what do you feel here?"


"My heart" replied Dan quite confused.


"So, we are not that different. You must not listen to your mind to know what you are; you must listen to your heart. Tell me, where does our actions come from? From our past, or from our decisions?"


"Uh..." Dan said thinking about it, "From our decisions?"


"And where should you make those decisions from?"


Dan thought about it a bit, but he found the answer:


"From the heart"


"That's right" Simba replied, "Both humans and animals have hearts, and each one is what his heart shows him. You should not look back, but inside yourself"


Dan reflected on this. It was true, those last days he had felt in his heart that he stopped being a human and had turned into a lion. He barely remembered the past. But there was still something bothering his on his mind:


"Simba ..." he started to say.


However, he was unable to continue: at that moment, a noise was heard near the trees. Then, the lion king changed his attitude from wise to stealth: he crouched down putting his paw in Dan's mouth to shut him up.


"Make no noise" he said in a low voice as he looked towards the trees around him, voices could clearly be heard: human voices, "Those hunters are close"

[Deleted]

Chapter 15: The fall of the King

Dan's heart beat fast at the same time he and Simba moved in the shadows of the night. If it was true that the hunters had entered Pridelands even further, they must be stealthy. Also, they were going close to the ravine, which meant that if they didn't go well, they would end up dead.


"I'm an idiot" he said to himself, "I shouldn't have left, what could I do against these hunters? Now we are trapped"


"Keep your head down and walk slowly without making noise" Simba told him almost in a whisper, "The night will give us a little head start. Let's get ready to move when the time is right"


They waited for a few minutes behind a tree. A little later, when a cloud covered the moon and with it its scarce light, they began to move quickly, but without running, because despite having the soft paws of a lion, the noise of the speed could make them find them even in the dark.


The cloud was larger and thicker than it had first appeared, and it didn't take long for the night to turn almost completely dark. For a moment, it looked like they were succeeding and they were already moving away from the hunters. However, Dan's heart skipped a beat when a light from another direction illuminated them both.


Before either of them turned to see where that light was coming from, a shot whizzed past his ears. Due to the light (which was surely a flashlight), they could both see that something happened shining next to them with great speed: a tranquilizer dart, used by hunters few hours ago.


Dan didn't even have time to move, as he quickly felt himself grabbed by Simba from his neck: soft but fast. Immediately, the lion began to run as fast as he could, swerving and away from the hunters. They ran and ran until they heard the lapping of a wide shallow stream, in which the lion king got his paws a little wet, but the cub got water right in the face. On the other side, Simba lowered Dan feeling safe. The cloud moved away and they could see each other better.


"Are you okay?" he said, "I'm sorry, I had to think fast"


"Yes..." Dan said, recovering from his shock and wiping his face a bit, "Thank you very much..."


There was a silence of a few minutes in which neither of them said anything.


"Simba" Dan said regretful of his actions, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run away. It's all my fault"


"Do not torment yourself", he consoled him, "You are not the only one who is afraid to face his past. I know how it feels"


Again, there was an awkward silence in which Dan didn't know if he could tell him about the conversation, he had overheard between Kovu and Kiara. However, the possibility of talking about it was interrupted by another shot: they had been found.


Again, unannounced, Simba took Dan in his mouth and ran. As he did so, Dan realized that they were not heading back to the Pride Rock, but were heading in an unknown direction. Then, he realized why: Simba, he couldn't allow the hunters to put the rest of the pride at risk, that's why he was taking them to another direction.


But their nightly chase went from bad to worse: before they could get to safety, Simba stopped, and Dan's heart skipped a beat when he saw they had reached a canyon. Inside, the bottom is a little dark but, in short, they were trapped.


"The wildebeest valley…" said Simba.


"Over there!" yelled a voice, no doubt from one of the hunters.


Dan had to prepare for the biggest risk in his life. Simba doubted if it was a good idea, but with the hunters behind them he couldn't think of another escape route. Then, having made up his mind, he jumped onto a ledge which they managed to reach with some difficulty. They seemed to have escaped, but again the sound of a gunshot made them shiver in fear.


Without thinking twice, Simba jumped onto another ledge. Even though he had a cub between his jaws, he was quite skilled. Dan couldn't believe that the effort the lion king made to keep him safe, did he really care that much? The only thing he could do to help was hold on tight to be careful from falling. But when Simba jumped onto a third rock, the worst came:


The lion had jumped unbelievably, and he held on with his claws hard enough to climb. However, a new shot was heard. It didn't hurt an animal either, but it did hit the rock, breaking it and knocking both lions down. Simba used his claws against the wall for support and they managed to hold onto a cleft.


They seemed to have been saved, but the sound of a crack gave Simba a single thought: the rock wasn't going to last long. The problem was, there was nowhere else to hold onto, except for a small ledge a bit away from them. With no other options, he threw Dan with his mouth there. Fortunately for the cub, he was unhurt when he fell there. Once safe, he turned to try to help Simba. However, the rock gave way and Simba rolled down the canyon.


For a few seconds, Dan froze in fear when he saw what had happened. Then, not caring how he was doing it, he jumped from rock to rock until he reached the bottom where Simba was.


The cub wished for everything that he was not dead. In such a way that he began to shake it.


"Simba?" he told him, trying to pick him up, "Please don't die... get up"


There was no answer. Dan, fearing the worst, stayed with him for a few minutes wondering if he would wake up or not. After a while, he didn't hear a sound, not even that of the hunters behind them.


Surely, they would have been left thinking that they were dead with the falling… and that was what worried the cub as he saw the unconscious lion next to him. Dan got up not knowing what to do or where he was; he was more scared than ever. It was a big surprise when he heard a moan from next to him.


"Ughhh..."


"Simba!" Dan was glad when he saw that the lion was moving. He was hurt, but miraculously alive, "Are you okay?"


Simba did not respond, but he moaned at the pain he felt in his body. Dan was relieved, but he knew he must try to do something for him: he must get out of the canyon and return as quickly as possible to the Pride Rock for help. That was his plan, but the question was whether he should leave Simba alone and go find help somewhere. Also, even if the hunters were gone, no one assured him that they weren't still hovering nearby. But what option did he have? "


"Do not worry…. I'll get help" he told him without knowing if Simba heard him or not, "Somehow..."


Dan looked back at the wall in front of him, wondering how he would climb if he should go get help. At first, he found no solution. However, looking a little more to the right of him, he could visualize a somewhat steep but ascending path: perhaps it was the only way out of it. With no time to waste, Dan climbed the way he could and, before he knew it, he was able to climb out of the canyon.


Night still covered Pride lands and, thanks to the moonlight, the cub could see the Pride Rock in the distance.

[Deleted]

Chapter 16: Captured

As Dan ran as hard as he could back to the Pride Rock, he was just rolling something in his head: the need to find someone to help Simba.


"It's my fault" he repeated to himself from time to time in his head, "But, I must stop thinking about it now. Simba is still alive and needs urgent medical attention"


He still had to get there, but the effort and the scares that he went through when they escaped from the hunters, added to the fact that he had not slept, made him tire easily. Despite his best efforts, he was getting exhausted.


"No please" he said to himself, while he saw his vision somewhat blurred with exhaustion. Even the Pride Rock seemed quite far away for him, "Don't faint: Simba needs you"


His vision was failing him so much that he didn't realize it until he bumped into someone.


"Ouch" he said, touching his head "Who's there?"


"Dan?" said a voice that he recognized easily. Rubbing his eyes, he realized it was Shany.


"Shany?" Dan asked strangely, "What are you doing here?"


"I could ask you the same! The whole royal family got quite worried when they noticed that you had disappeared. So, they and the lion’s guard came out looking for you"


"I'm sorry Shany, but ..."


"Why did you do that?" Shany continued somewhat annoyed with her attitude, "I had to escape from my mom very carefully to look for you too. Not only did they worry about you; I also worried about you..."


Shany fell silent as if she had said something inappropriate. Dan looked at her as if he didn't believe what he had heard.


"Seriously?" he asked her, "Did I worry you?"


"Uh… of course," Shany said, embarrassed by what she said before, "You see: you are my best friend, that's why I worried"


Dan felt pretty good that Shany worried about him. However, he remembered why he had left in the first place.


"Shany ..." he said, "You are also my best friend and... but I couldn't stay because... Shany if you knew everything about me... you wouldn't like me as a friend"


"Dan ..." Shany looked at him, "With everything that's going on, it can't be that bad..."


"Exactly for that reason it's why I ran away from. Shany, I was… a human before"


Shany was silent for a moment, very confused.


"What do you mean?" she asked.


Dan proceeded to tell him everything that had happened to him thus far.


"... And that's why I'm here" he explained, "I'm sorry to keep that from you Shany, but Simba felt it was necessary for me to get along with others. I also thought that you would walk away from me if you found out the truth"


There was an awkward moment of silence until Dan remembered that...


"Simba!" he said of reminding him, "I must return to the Pride Rock: Simba is..."


But before he could continue, a net covered them both. Both Dan and Shany recognized it immediately.


"My, my" said a voice, and they both could see one of the hunters who almost captured them in the afternoon, "What a coincidence: the pair of lion cubs that escaped from us. Better take them before their strange friends arrive"


The last thing both cubs could see was the man's face before everything went dark.


(A few minutes later…)


Dan woke up with a jolt. He was regaining his sight and the first thing he saw in front of him were some steel bars. It didn't take him long to deduce that he was inside a cage that was tied up with ropes. Next to him, already awake and in another cage, was Shany.


"Are you okay Shany?" Dan asked her.


"Yes, I'm fine ..." she replied in a low voice.


Aside from being in a cage, they were on a truck. Apparently, the hunters decided to go on a night hunt, perhaps due to the fact that they were driven off during the day by the lion’s guard. However, it was not moving, as the driver was complaining that his vehicle was not working.


"Oh no" thought Dan, "I must get out of here and go for help ... I don't know how much longer Simba will endure"


"Psst, kids, are you okay?" said a voice quite familiar to him. The next second, he heard something settling on his cage.


"Zazu!" Dan said as he recognized the hornbill, "Good to see you!"


"Me too. Don't worry, I'll go for help ... "


"Don't worry about us Zazu" Dan stopped him when he saw that the bird spread its wings, "Simba is injured: he fell into the canyon trying to save me, but he needs help. He is in the wildebeest valley"


"For god's sake! Okay, I'll go get the guard and report that. I will also try to get someone to help you"


Zazu launched himself into the air flying in the direction of the Pride Rock. As he watched it go, suddenly, the vehicle shook, giving a clear indication that it was already on. It was clear to Dan that by the time the hornbill returned, the truck would have taken them to the hunters' hideout.


(Meanwhile, in the Pride Rock…)


"I'm telling you Kiara: Shany isn't anywhere either" Zuri said to her friend, "I think she also ran away to find her friend"


"Oh my God, it's too dangerous to go out" Kiara said as she paced around worrying about her father and Dan.


"Calm down both of you" Nala calmed them, "Simba, Kovu and the lion’s guard will find them"


"I know mom, but ..."


Kiara was cut off, because at that moment, Kovu and Vitani returned.


"Have you found them?" Kiara asked.


Kovu shook his head. He was thinking it was his fault that Dan had run away from him. He had really made a very great friendship with that cub: as a father and son. Did the conversation they had earlier have had something to do with this situation?


"Shabaha, Kasi, Imara and Tazama are still in search" explained Vitani, "Where is king Simba?"


"I parted ways with Simba to cover more area" Kovu said, "Maybe he's still looking for"


"Well, now we must also look for my daughter" said Zuri, "She has also disappeared..."


"Your majesties!" Zazu said as he hurriedly entered the cave in search of Nala and the others, "I bring news"


"What's wrong Zazu?" Nala asked.


"I found Dan and Shany: they have been captured by those hunters" explained Zazu, "Dan told me that Simba was wounded in the wildebeest valley"


"Simba injured?! We must help him immediately!"


"But what about the children?" Zuri said, "We can't let them take them away."


"Vitani, you and the lion’s guard go help Simba. Then, take him to Rafiki" said Kovu," I will go help the cubs"


"I'll go with you..." Kiara said.


"Kiara, it could be very dangerous..."


"I don't care, Dan is just a cub and he needs a family. He hasn't been with us long, but I feel him like a son. Besides, I can't allow you to go alone"


Kovu looked into Kiara's eyes: even though he said no, she would still follow him.


"Ok, let's go"

[Deleted]

Chapter 17: Lion's Heart

Dan was worried as the hunter's truck took him and his friend to the snake's lair. He thought of Simba: Has Zazu managed to return and bring help for him?


Another point that concerned him more than his own fate was Shany's: he could only see her lying in the cage in which they had placed her, watching how they were taken away from her home.


"Shany…" Dan said feeling guilty for everything that had happened, "I'm sorry, I got you in trouble: you and the whole pride. And... I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you before..."


"Okay," she replied, "It wasn't your fault. I got you in trouble when I took you to the elephant graveyard. And you blamed yourself for it. I still have to thank you. "


Dan was speechless upon hearing those words.


"From the day I saw you at the presentation, I became interested in you" explained Shany looking at him with her blue-green eyes, "At first, I thought that if you were Kiara's son, we could become good friends like she and my mom... but I was wrong: you became my friend because I just liked you. I was afraid to make a friend because I was a little shy. I was not like my mom"


"I felt that way too" Dan told her, "I was afraid they would consider me a 'weirdo' or something like that. Many human children already told me. I didn't want to be considered like that again… so I didn't tell you anything"


"I have something to tell you if we get out of here: I used to think that humans were bad and that they did not belong to Pridelands. But now I realize that not all of them are bad... and you are the proof of that, and I am glad that you are here. Thank you very much for letting me see and be my friend, Dan"


"I have to thank you for being the best and only friend I had after so long alone. I regret having lied to you Shany"


"You didn't 'lie to me', you just didn't tell me what you were. But do not worry, I know that you are someone good both on the outside and on the inside"



They both smiled at each other until a bump (probably from a rock) made them shake.


"What am I doing here without doing anything?" Dan thought as he felt more motivated and moved by the desire to help his friend, "I must get us out of here."


He looked back at the cage: it was definitely unbreakable (at least for a lion cub). However, when he saw the lock again, he noticed that it looked like a simple one. Maybe he could stick something in there.


He remembered that, once, he managed to leave the house when his uncle left him locked up, to feed a starving dog on the street. That time, he had used a safety pin as a pick, and… what if he used a claw? How hard could it be? It was worth a try.


Not long ago, Kiara had taught him to pull the retractable claws out of him: he just needed to exert some force on his paw, like a person who needs to exert force on his fist to squeeze something. Once he got his claws out of him, he walked to the door, ran his right paw through the bars, and tried to reach for the lock.


"Dan, what are you doing?" Shany asked him.


"Trying something to get us out of here ..." he tried to say she, because he had his face tight with the bars while he was doing that operation.


*Clack*


He did it: he had opened the lock with one claw. Dan was glad of his accomplishment, but he had to hurry before the driver noticed his escape. Very carefully, he opened the door and walked over to Shany's cage.


"Don't worry, I'll get you out of here" he told her.


"Thank you..." she replied.


Suddenly, a huge pothole shook the entire vehicle. With extreme strength and no stability, Dan rose into the air.


"Dan!" shouted Shany.


He did not answer: when he descended, he fell on the grass and hit a rock, becoming unconscious. While that was happening, the truck in which Shany was driving drove away without realizing that one had escaped them.


(Meanwhile…)


Kovu and Kiara had reached the place where Zazu had last seen Dan and Shany. However, it was too late: the hunters had already taken them both and there was no trace of them.


"We must return to the Pride Rock" Kovu said, "We will gather the lion’s guard and search for them as soon as we know about Simba's condition. Vitani and her guard should have taken him home by now"


Kiara was only upset by the cubs, but she had no options.


(A few minutes later…)


Dan woke up rubbing his head from the fall. Opening his eyes, he found himself alone again, in a rocky and lonely environment (perhaps the Outlands or maybe further away them), and without any trace of Shany or her abductor.


"Oh man" he said to himself, "I'm useless. I can't believe it… Shany is in trouble and I can't help her"


Tears fell from his eyes. Not only because of the loss of his best friend, but also because his arrival to Pridelands had caused all that he had experienced until now. For a moment, he regretted being a lion, having come… perhaps having existed.


Looking up from him to the stars, he thought of his deceased family from him. Surely his parents would have done a better job, which is why he loved them so much: his idea of defending animals, of respecting the cycle of life, had been transmitted to him. But, under these circumstances, what could he do?


"I don't know what to do..." he said crying, "I don't have the strength to do it..."


"Of course, you have it" a voice told him.


Dan was scared for a moment, but then his eyes widened when he saw something unexpected: from the starry sky, several lights came together and came down in the form of small luminous balls that looked more like spirits. Then, they came together and together they formed a figure of an adult lion.


The ghost lion smiled at him. For a moment, Dan didn't know what to think or say; he was really shocked. But then, a strange memory crossed the idea of who that lion was: he was the same one who had turned him into a lion cub and, from what he remembered from Simba and Rafiki, his name was Mufasa.


"Are you... Mr. Mufasa?" he asked when he finally managed to articulate a few words.


"That's right," Mufasa replied, "And you don't have to call me 'Mr. Mufasa', Dan. You are part of my family"


Dan lowered his head.


"You are wrong" he replied, "I am nobody. I am not a king, a prince, a member of his royal family, or a lion cub… I am just… a human: a weak and orphan child"


"Maybe. But tell me, don't all humans have a heart?"


"Well ..." Dan started to say. But he did not continue. However, something sounded like the same lesson Simba gave him before they parted ways.


"All humans also have hearts" Mufasa explained, "Some get rid of it because of their malice, vanity, desire, anger or greed and little by little they lose their wisdom and cannot be called human beings. But those who do, are real human beings"


Dan listened carefully.


"On the contrary, animals have hearts" he continued, "Some decide to harden them, as happened to Scar or Zira, but they will always have them, it just takes a good heart to illuminate it back. I don't hold a grudge against Scar. Just as you stopped holding a grudge against your uncle "


Dan thought of his uncle: it was true, he no longer held a grudge against him. In fact, it was thanks to him that he had reached Pridelands at first.


"Dan, that you have defended others makes you someone as brave as a lion" Mufasa told him as he put a soft paw on the cub's head. Despite being like a ghost, Dan could feel it as if he were real.


"And the fact that you know how to forgive, deserves you a place in our family. But there is something that moves you to want to help and forgive... "


Saying this, he touched the cub's chest. Suddenly Dan felt refreshed: as if he had slept and eaten for a whole day and had just woken up with his energies replenished.


"And that something is your heart ... which is as strong as a lion's heart"


"But..." said Dan trying to ask something that had been in his head since his first day as a lion, "I'm sure I'm not the only human like that in the world, why me?"


"Because ... your parents asked me to"


"My parents?" he asked surprised.


"Yes. They were watching you from the stars, just like I saw my descendants from there. When you arrived, they asked me to give you a chance to make a new family. I have to admit, at first, I was hesitant. However, to help you I gave you a gift: a part of my spirit lives with you in your heart since you were transformed"


"A part of you?"


"Yes, that makes you better as a lion than as a human, and that makes you part of the family. In addition, it gives you the strength to help your friends"


"But how can I help Shany? What's more, I don't even know where she is "


Mufasa pointed to the horizon, and Dan stared where he was pointing.


The moon was beginning to set, but it was still a few hours away. Not far from they, a couple of kilometers perhaps, there was a kind of human construction in the middle of nowhere: a very old vault or warehouse. It was big enough to house a good number of animals. Next to it, were a few tents that might as well be where the hunters slept. To the right, there was the same truck that the hunters used.


"Your friend and many others are waiting for help" said Mufasa, "Also, there is someone else trapped there whose cold hard heart needs a soft heart like yours to help her see that she can be forgiven"


"Who?" asked Dan puzzled.


"You will recognize her when you see it" he replied, "Now, I must go ..."


"But Mufasa, how will I do it alone?"


"You will not do it alone. A very special and familiar help will come. At the moment, he has gone to bring medicine to Simba to cure him. He will soon be on his way. But until he arrives, everything depends on you"


"But ... are you sure I can do it?"


Mufasa was beginning to vanish. However, he replied:


"Of course, you can: you have the heart of a lion. By the way, a relative of ours from beyond, Askari, gave you a gift too. It will only work once because it is not your destiny to have it"


"What kind of gift? And how will I know how to use it? "


"You will see and know at the right time. I can only tell you that it is something incredible but you should be wise to use it... and you must remember this: it will only work once because it is not your destiny to have it …"


And, saying these last words Mufasa vanished.


Dan turned to see himself alone again. He was still somewhat puzzled by those last words: What kind of gift? he was repeating himself in his head. However, leaving that thought behind, he turned to see his next stop and the only chance to save his best friend.


"I just hope that help comes very soon" he said as he walked to the place, "Who will it be?

[Deleted]

Chapter 18: Return of the Roar

(An hour before, at the Pride Rock ...)


Vitani and the lion guard had returned with Simba. The king was wounded, seriously perhaps, but happily alive. Just then, seconds later, Rafiki had arrived to tend to the Simba's wounds. After a few seconds, Rafiki announced:


"Simba is no longer at risk of dying, but quite injured" he said, "I have treated him with a variety of medicinal plants, but ... he may not be the same again for a long time"


"What do you mean by that Rafiki?" Nala asked worried.


"I mean it could take years for him to fully recover. My medicines have been able to save him, but they cannot help him at completely"


"And isn't there something we can do?" asked Vitani, "Any medicine you can use to heal him?"


Rafiki put a hand on his jaw thinking of a possibility.


"Maybe" he said after a few seconds, "Maybe ..."


At that moment, Kovu, Kiara, and Zazu entered to the cave.


"We are late" Kovu said, delivering the bad news, "The hunters have already left"


"Oh no ..." said Zuri, who had been silent until now, "And my daughter and her friend?"


"I'm very afraid that they have taken the cubs" added Zazu, saddened by not being able to help them earlier.


"Do not torment yourself Zazu" Nala consoled him, "Dan asked you to inform us about Simba, you did the best you could"


"About my dad…" Kiara said looking at her father, "Will he be okay?"


"Aaaa ..." a groan was heard.


Everyone fell silent and watched. Slowly, Simba opened his eyes.


"Father!" Kiara exclaimed happily that he had awakened, "Are you okay?"


"I'll be fine Kiara" said tired Simba, "My time in the cycle of life is not over yet, I can assure you. But what happened to Dan? The last thing I remember was..."


"He saved you" explained Nala, "He was heading here to ask for help, but hunters caught him, so he sent Zazu"


"It is true, majesty" clarified Zazu, "Dan was very brave to ask that they help you instead of him"


"Very brave without a doubt ..." said Simba trying to get up, but being unable to do so, "Oh my..."


"Simba" Rafiki stopped him, "Don't strain: your body will take a long time to recover and if you try harder, it could take more"


"Rafiki" Vitani told him, "You were about to say that maybe there is a medicinal plant that you can use to cure him. So, does it exist or not? "


"That's right: it's a willow tree that grows north of here, at the Backlands. It has white leaves" he explained, "If I had a good amount of those leaves and some of the healing sap, I could make a strong enough medicine for Simba to recover. Without it, it could take years for him to walk again"


"We have a problem with that" Kovu opined, "I'm not saying no, but we can't go too far as Dan and Shany need our help"


"And the lion guard must take care of Pridelands more than ever now that our king is wounded" added Vitani, "Those hunters could return and, without the roar or the guard, we will be more vulnerable"


"Maybe I should go alone..." Kiara said quietly, "Rafiki, besides the leaves, what kind of tree's sap do you need?"


"How about the tree of life's sap?" said a voice at the entrance. Everyone gathered was shocked, because that voice was quite familiar. Then, they looked at the entrance.


At it, was an adolescent lion with golden fur and somewhat overgrown reddish mane, which was beginning to cover him around his head. In addition to that, he had the mark of a lion on his side, and a scar on his left eye. Around his neck, hanging with a rope, he carried a small pumpkin.


"Kion!" they all shouted happily.


"Kion" Nala said, happy to see him after a while.


"Brother" Kiara said very happy to see him, "I'm glad to see you again"


"Us too" Kovu said next to Vitani.


"I'm glad to see you all again" Kion said, "I missed you so much."


Simba, who had seen him too, tried to stand up to greet him. But Kion stopped him.


"It's a pride to be able to see you again, dad" he told him, "But you don't have to make an effort"


"It is proudest to see how much you have grown, Kion" Simba replied, "You are a real king"


"It's true, you've grown quite a bit, Kion" Rafiki said, "Are Rani and Makini okay?"


"Yes, very good. By the way, Makini asked me to give you this"


Kion pointed to the pumpkin he was carrying. Rafiki took it and inspected its contents.


"Wow, that's the medicine I was going to make!" he exclaimed quite cheerfully, "Makini has progressed a lot without a doubt"


"But Kion…" Kiara said to her brother, "How did you know we needed the medicine?"


"My grandfather appeared to me a few nights ago" Kion explained, "he explained to me everything that was happening at Pridelands and that you would need that medicine. So, we got the ingredients for Makini and she made the medicine. Rani stayed, but she understood that they needed us and she wished us luck. Then we came across the river like last time"


"That´s right: it was an UnBungalieveable trip through the water" exclaimed another voice, and then, a blue honey badger entered along with a cheetah, an egret and an eagle.


"Bunga! Ono! Anga!" Kiara exclaimed, "Guys, so good to see you all again"


"Yeah, it's great that everyone is back" said Vitani, "Hey, wait... where is Beshte?"


"He's outside," said Ono, "Let's just say, he doesn't want to bother because he gained a little weight and because this space is somewhat reduced for him"


"Sure, it was things of growth" explained Fuli, "But in the same way, it has been a while and he does not believe that he can go up to the top"


"We all came to accompany Kion" Anga said.


" You don't know how happy I feel that you are all here " Kiara said, "You see ..."


Kiara proceeded to explain about the hunters and about Dan and Shany's kidnapping.


"You are right, because of the situation the lion's guard must stay" Kion declared once he had heard everything, "But don't worry, we'll take care of finding and freeing them, right guys?"


"There is no doubt" said Anga, "Zazu, did you say that the other animals were taken south from Outlands?"


"That's right" replied he.


"So Anga and Ono, go through the air" Kion said, "Anga, use your sight to look for any unusual traces at the end of Outlands. If you find something, Ono will be in charge of letting us know while the rest of us go by land to there.


"Understood" said Bunga, Fuli, Ono and Anga.


"Well then... Night Pride, go ahead!"

[Deleted]

Chapter 19: A face from the past

Nervousness ran through Dan's furry body as he got closer to the hunters' lair. He was still shining the moon, but it would only be about an hour until the dawn. That surprised him quite a bit: he never believed he would see such a long night. Fortunately, thanks to Mufasa, he felt new energy to continue running and now he was already only a few meters away.


However, his attitude of wanting to help Shany and the rest of the animals tried to ward off all thoughts of fear or nerves about sneaking into the snake's lair, although they still persisted. Outside the place, he analyzed everything around him:


There were only two tents where the hunters slept, which were only one meter away from the warehouse where the animals would be. For a moment, he was frightened by a noise, but calmed down when he realized that it was a snoring (maybe from one of the hunters). Taking precaution, he was sneaking up to where the truck from which he had fallen rested. Upon inspecting it, Dan found it empty; then he could guess, that Shany would be inside.


How to get in? It was a very good question. He looked up and down: there was no possible entrance… but it seems that his luck helped him this time, as he found a half-open window a little off the ground. He got into the vehicle and prepared to jump as he said to himself:


"I can do it ... come on ... flex your body well for the jump ..."


It was another lesson Simba had taught him before the hunters arrived. For a moment, remembering this reminded Simba: was it true that they had brought him medicine? And who is the help that Mufasa had told him would be coming? But quickly those thoughts left his head because he needed to focus on what he was doing.


Dan jumped. His front paws successfully held onto the window, but the rest of his body was still dangling. Using his claws, he tried to climb up for support and managed to get the rest of the body in. With great care, he lowered himself with the grace of a feline towards a box. Then, he looked around him.


It was a fairly large place, no doubt: it had a gray checkered floor. In several places, apart from boxes, there were cages covered with white blankets, in which the animals were supposed to be but there was no noise... maybe they were sleeping? Cautiously, he approached the first cage there was and lifted the cloth.


"Ah!" a hyena inside yelled. He had a male voice and was clearly taller than Jasiri. Also, there was a hole in one ear, "Wait… what…? Who are you?"


"Hi, I'm Dan" he introduced himself, but then he remembered something: "Um... are you friends with Jasiri by any chance?"


"Jasiri sent help?" replied the hyena looking at the cub, "Wow... I thought the help would be a little more... adult, or are you from the lion's guard?"


"I… no, I'm not from the guard. But there are reinforcements on the way. At least that's what they told me. I'm here to help a little while I can"


"Hahaha" the hyena laughed, "Come on, be realistic: How could you help?"


Dan smiled and said:


"You would be surprised" The hyena kept chuckling. But as he did so, Dan again used one of his claws and drove it into the lock.


*Clack*


The hyena stopped laughing and watched in amazement as the door to her cage was opened by a simple lion cub.


"I think I underestimated you boy" he told her once outside, "My name is Janja by the way"


"A pleasure" he replied, "Could you help me with the rest of the cages, please? It's easy: just introduce a claw in the lock and turn to the right"


"Wow, if I had known, I would have done it sooner" Janja laughed and turned to the closest cage he had.


“Umm… I’m getting bored of being in here…” said another voice from another cage.


“Don’t worry Dogo” said other, “We will escape soon…”


Dan lifted the cloth and revealed a cage full of jackals.


“Hey! Who are you?” asked the female.


“Believe me or not Reirei, but he is the help” said Janja.


“Hey! How do you escape?” asked Reirei.


“Show her, boy”


Dan used the same trick and he free all jackal’s family.


“Thanks” said Reirei, “I must to said that you are better than Kion, don’t you think…? Hey! Goigoi!”


The male jackal was still sleeping in the cage, but Reirei kick him with her paw and he got up in a hurry.


"Dan, is it you?" came a voice that Dan could easily recognize.


"Shany?" he asked in the direction of the covered cage from which the sound was coming. Lifting the cloth up, he found Shany.


"Dan" said Shany quite cheerfully, "I thought something bad happened to you when you fell down"


"Actually, a lot of things happened to me. But it is not time to speak"


Dan went through the procedure again on the cage's lock.


"Didn't they notice that I had disappeared when I fell?" he asked.


"No, but when he noticed. That human just started screaming like crazy..." she replied.


"I can imagine…"


*Clack*


With extreme ease, he released her from her cage. What's more, it seemed like he was becoming an expert locksmith.


"Well boy, you freed your girlfriend" interrupted Janja approaching, "But if you don't mind, we should save my other friends"


"What did you say? Listen to me, I don't know what you imagined, but we are not couple, just… friends" replied Shany looking at Janja," I prefer Jasiri, she is friendlier"


"Hehe. Jasiri has a better gift for getting along with everyone. Always saying Sisinisawa. But enough of talking, we have to get out of here"


Leaving aside the interpretation of Janja's comment, Dan taught Shany how to open cage locks. Therefore, in a few minutes, they had a big pack of animals, within which they included: the rest of Janja's pack, all the jackals, and five vultures.


"We only have this one to open..." Dan declared as he approached the last cage.


However, Janja noticed that and warned Dan.


"Wait kid!" he said.


But Dan had already discovered the cage and revealed the animal inside. A roar of a lion was heard and the cub had to quickly move away from the cage at the threat of claws. When he fell back, he saw that the animal in the cage was a lioness much like Vitani, but noticeably older and with a look of quite hatred.


"Don't bother me" she said as she glared at Dan quite furiously, "Unless you want me to kill you"


"Hey, we're just trying to help you," Dan explained as he got up.


"I do not need help. I'd rather die than be helped by a lion cub that is surely from the lion's guard or Simba's clan. "


"I told you boy, you must not approach that crazy" said Janja to Dan as he approached too, "Zira has become more unhinged than before"


"Is she Zira?" Shany asked incredulously: her mother had told her all about Scar's followers, "She wasn't dead?"


"That's what I would have wanted" Zira said annoyed as she looked at Janja, "But I survived the river, and everything… for what? To continue living in a world of weak and traitors "


"Your 'king' was the traitor with us, Zira", Janja replied, "He betrayed us trying to burn us in the lion’s guard lair and then trying to flood all Pridelands and Outlands with lava, including his servants"


"I remind you Janja, that you first wanted to betray him"


"Maybe because I no longer wanted to follow orders from a fire-headed lunatic..."


"Janja, there is no time for this" interrupted a vulture, "I would suggest getting out of here"


Janja stopped and thought about it.


"Okay Mzingo" he replied. And then, he turned to Dan "Come on boy, show us the way out"


"Well..." Dan said.


Before he could tell them that the only way out was the window, a sound alerted all the animals present: the growl of a man getting up.


"I tell you I heard the lioness roar!" said a voice outside, "Something is happening in there"


They all looked at each other wondering what was going to happen. Dan on the other hand, walked towards the door and, using one of the empty cages, he prepared to move it towards the laying while he said:


"I need help, this will stop them for a moment"


Thanks to everyone's support, the door was blocked. When one of the hunters tried to open the door, it did not budge.


"What a…? Hey, something's going on in there!"


Then there was a heavy knock against the door. Without hesitation, they all rushed to the window one by one. But, for some strange reason, Dan felt something was missing.


Then he remembered what Mufasa had told him:


"There is someone else trapped there whose cold hard heart needs a soft heart like yours to help her see that she can be forgiven"


"Zira" he said to himself, "It's her. I can't… I shouldn't leave her"


So, Dan quickly made his way to the lioness cage. However, the lioness did not receive him very well, but rather she tried to scratch him with her claws from inside her confinement.


"Don't bother me kid" she growled at him.


"I'm trying to save you, Zira" Dan replied, "I can't leave you here to be taken away, dissected or worse; nobody deserves an ending like this"


"First I prefer death to disgrace. I already heard those words once: "I'm just trying to help you" and I didn't care. You do not get it? I no longer care what happens to me, I have no reason to exist"


As Dan continued to observe his attitude towards kindness, the vultures had already come out and now the jackals and Janja's pack were coming out.


"Dan" Shany told him as she tried to push him away to escape, "We should go"


"One moment Shany. I can't explain it to you, but I have to help her too" he replied. And then he turned to Zira, "Why are you like this? Why do you think you no longer deserve life? You can still be forgiven, Zira "


"And what is that worth to me? Scar and Nuka are dead, Kovu and Vitani betrayed me and the rest of my pride went with them, what good is being alive if I no longer have a reason to exist? What if I have nothing else to help me in my revenge?"


Dan just looked at Zira's angry yellow eyes as they heard another slam on the door. Meanwhile, almost all the jackals had left, and now Janja's pack was getting away.


"Why can't you put your revenge aside?" Dan said, "You have family that still lives and forgives you for how you treated and raised them. Everyone deserves a second chance, even you"


"You lie" Zira replied angrily, "They are the ones who should apologize to me, for betraying me, for betraying my King Scar..."


"If you prefer someone like your king over your family, you should never have been a mother then. Maybe the family is complicated, maybe they don't always have the same ideas, but they always put themselves before admiration for others"


Zira raised her right paw, but she stopped when she saw Dan's determined eyes, who didn't move. For a moment, a memory came to her mind:


"You ... you!" she said to her son Kovu as she approached threateningly. Then, she clawed him in his left eye.


Kovu screamed in pain. But he turned to look at her with determined eyes and without remorse from her blow. On his left eye, he had a scar that she had made.


"Enough... let me" said Zira after returning to the present, "I don't care what you do, I don't care about anything..."


And saying that, she lay down on the floor of the cage looking at the opposite side of the cage door. However, the next second a clear sound was heard.


*Clack*


Zira turned her head to see what had happened: the cage door was open and in front of her was the lion cub who had freed her. However, she was reluctant to even stand up.


"No one deserves to be caged," Dan said, "Kovu told me that if you were alive, he would have forgiven you. Well, I don't know you ... I hardly know what you've done and what happened to you, but I tell you as if I were him: I forgive you "


And saying that, he returned with the rest of the animals while Janja and one more hyena were leaving.

[Deleted]

Chapter 20: The Night Pride

Janja, Shany and Dan were the last to leave. The lion cub was still worried about what he had done: although Zira was once an enemy of Pridelands and an ally of Scar, had he done the right thing by freeing her from her? Even so, he didn't know if she would accept her help and break out of her cage or give up on the hunters. Something inside him told him that he had done everything he could.


However, things got complicated when they heard some sounds outside: they were no longer banging noises at the door, but rather the sounds of animal growling, mixed with some human screaming.


"I got them!" said the voice of one of the hunters, "Haha! So, you are thinking of escaping?"


Janja, Shany, and Dan froze. Slowly, Dan looked around the corner of the place and, amid heavy black nets, both Janja's clan and the jackal’s family were fighting to escape from their captors again. Apparently, they had not been as cautious as they had anticipated.


"So, what can we do now?" asked Shany who had also seen what happened.


"Ahh!" yelled Janja suddenly.


When Dan and Shany saw him, he was trapped by a hanging stick, in the same way that the hunters did with Jasiri.


"Hey! Here is the cub that I lost last night" said the hunter who was holding the stick, "What luck I have, I thought I had lost a lot of money"


The other hunters (there were 4 more) went there, armed with anesthetizing rifles, nets, and hanging sticks. Soon, both lion cubs found themselves surrounded by the entire gang: their escape plan had been thwarted.


"Please ..." Dan thought in his mind, "The reinforcements ..."


"Well, well, they sure give us a good amount of money for both of us," said one, apparently the boss because of the big mustache he had on his face. Which, if not in such a situation, any child would have laughed, "Just in case, one is only worth a fortune, then ... oh!"


The chief's pain was due to the fact that something white and fast flew and pecked him in the face, causing no injuries, but pain. From what Dan could see, that white something was some kind of bird: an egret.


"Angalenga!" shouted a voice.


Another bird (this time a blue eagle) snatched the nets from the subject holding them and dropped them on two others. Seeing this, the one holding a rifle, he aimed at the eagle.


But just in time, something very fast moved the target making the hunter change the target to another of his partners: to the one who was holding the stick that was holding Janja. When the target was shot, the man fell unconscious. From the spots and the yellow color, Dan could saw that the animal was a cheetah.


“Huwezi!”


"Wow, good aim Fuli" said Janja happy to see his captor fall.


"You'll never change, Janja?" Fuli smiled.


The rifle hunter had reloaded another dart when he saw that he had missed the last shot. Just then, either the earth was starting to shake or something big was happening.


"Twende kiboko!"


Before he knew it, the hunter was hit by something big and gray: a hippopotamus.


"Haha, I'm sorry" laughed the newcomer.


"Thanks for saving us" Dan thanked him, "Uh ..."


"My name is Beshte, little one" he said, "She is Fuli"


"And I'm Bunga" said a voice behind him: it was a blue badger.


*Bang! *


The most stunning sound filled the atmosphere. Almost everyone in the group did not know what it was, but an ex-human like Dan knew what it was: the sound of a shot, and not one of darts, the smell of gunpowder in the environment and the object that the chief of the hunters was holding, it was clear that it was from a revolver. So, three things happened at once.


The first was that, fortunately, he had not hit any animals. Yet something told Dan it wouldn't be for long. The second was that the noise of the weapon was so deafening that it resounded in the ears of each of the animals, as if it were a very annoying buzzing noise.


Third, the boss's eyes… was it Dan's imagination or had they turned red and crazed? Either he was quite upset now, or something had caused him enough pain that had made him lose his sanity. What he was sure of was that he was now staring at them as he held the gun towards the animals...


A loud roar resounded in the place and interrupted the shot, sending the boss flying and crashing into the wall of the place. At the same time, the nets that trapped the animals again flew through the air, although the same did not happen with those of the hunters. Dan immediately recognized it as the same roar that Vitani had used when she scared off the rest of the hunters, but this time, when he saw who was roaring, he was astonished:


It was a golden lion with some reddish mane fur around its neck, his left eye bore a slightly different scar than the one he had seen on Kovu. Behind him, the clouds were formed into large lions roaring at the same time as him.


When he finished roaring, he immediately went with them.


"Wow, that was close" said Bunga, "Very well done, Kion"


"It was a quick act" Kion said smiling. Then he turned to the egret and the eagle, "Are you both okay? Anga? Ono?"


"I'm still a bit confused with that sound he made ..." Anga said.


"I... I think it was my fault" said Ono, "While I was trying to distract him, I made a mistake and hit him in the eye... and I think that's why he got furious"


"Don't apologize Ono, you tried to do your best to distract him" Kion said. Then, he turned to Janja, "Is your clan okay, Janja?"


"Thanks to your arrival" he replied, "Although we also received a little help ..."


Kion then looked at Dan and Shany.


"You must be Zuri's daughter, right?" he asked Shany.


"Yes" she replied.


"And you must be Dan, right? My name is Kion"


"A... Kion" Janja interrupted, "Could you help me take this off so we can go?"


"Wow ... and how are we going to do it?" Bunga asked just seeing how complicated it seemed.


"Let me help you, Janja" Dan said approaching him.


"Hey, I agree you know how to open those cages..." Janja said laughing, "But, this thing is ..."


Just then, Dan pressed the button that regulated the rope around his neck and Janja was free.


"... different" he finished the sentence, incredulous.


"Wow, how clever" Ono said to Dan, "When did you learn to do that?"


"It's a long story," Dan replied, "But how about we better get out of here first?"


They all looked at Kion, waiting for him to give an order.


"That's right, we must go back to Pride lands before these guys recover" Kion finally declared, "Come on, Night Pride. But first, let's get the outlanders back to their home"


So, the Night Pride and the rest of the animals ran in the direction to the Outlands.

[Deleted]

Chapter 21: Teamwork

As dawn approached, the group consisting of the Night Pride, the freed outlanders and the pair of cubs, walked with much joy and relief that their kidnapping is over. After everything they had lived, it was obvious that they wanted to go home. As they walked back, Kion told his friends:


"Um... guys, can you jump ahead a moment?" he asked. Then he turned to Shany, "Shany, go with them, please. I would like to speak with Dan for a moment"


Shany nodded. The rest of the Night Pride agreed and advanced with Janja and the rest of outlanders. From his side, Kion moved closer to Dan.


"So, Dan… how long have you been in the Pridelands?" he asked him, "We heard news about the new member of the family and I was quite happy about that"


"Well... I arrived more than a week ago" Dan replied looking at him. Dan remembered that according to stories from Kiara and Simba, Kion was the youngest son and the previous leader of the Lion’s Guard.


They continued for a moment without saying anything.


"Um... only you and Vitani can roar like that?" asked Dan curious, because it was the second time that he could see that roar.


"That's right, only the leaders of the Lion Guard have the roar of the elders " Dan explained, "The first leader, Askari, had it ... and it was passed down for generations"


"Askari ..." Dan repeated in his head, "Where did that name sound to me from?"


"Dan, where were your original parents?"


"I ... don't want to talk about it," Dan replied, turning from pensive to nostalgic.


"Oh, I'm sorry…"


"Don't apologize, Simba told me that…" At that moment, a thought hit his head, "Simba! Wow, I forgot..."


"My father is fine" Kion reassured him, "It may take a few days for him to move well, but he will get it thanks to the medicine we brought him"


Dan took a long breath of relief


"I am glad that he is fine... I would like to thank him for saving me"


"You can tell him when we get back to the Pride Rock. Besides him and my mother, Kiara and Kovu have worried a lot for you. I think even all Pridelands did it"


"Seriously?" asked Dan very amazed that they had worried about him.


"Seriously" Kion replied smiling, "You know, when my sister told me about you… for a moment, I thought you were something like my nephew or something like that. That is to say, the feeling that she showed for you... is as if she were already a mother who cares about her son"


"Aha ..." Dan said somewhat thoughtfully, as he still had a thought that wandered through his mind, "Kion, if Kiara had an own cub, I..."


Dan fell silent, because not wanting to continue. On the other hand, Kion understood.


"I once regarded my sister as conceited and vain" Kion said, "I also regarded Kovu as an enemy. But now… they have both changed, and they have become so different that they would surely accept you, even if they had a child of their own"


As they spoke, they were quite close to the distance, as large rocky areas were already beginning to form in which there were quite a few caves, in addition to the semi-dry trees.


"I'm sorry, I just don't feel so safe. You see, I…" Dan started to say, but he broke off.


"A... Kion, we have problems" Anga said suddenly as she looked behind her.


"What's wrong, Anga?" asked Fuli.


"The boss of the hunters, I think that he does not give up" she replied as he stared back, "He comes in something that has great speed"


"The truck…" Dan thought to himself.


They all turned to see a dark green dot heading towards them followed by a cloud of dust that it kicked up. Murmurs began to be heard and some of fear from everyone.


"Humans ... I thought Scar was the one who never gave up, but they?" Janja asked.


"Kion, can you roar again?" Beshte asked.


"I don't think so," Kion replied, "The roar would be too loud. If I do it near the canyon, I will cause a landslide on all of us"


"Landslide ..." Dan thought again, glancing at the cliffs of the canyon near them. It was then that he had an idea.


"Kion ... if we can get him into the canyon, we can throw a few rocks at him from on top of his vehicle, without causing a major disaster"


"You know? it could work" said Ono.


"Umm, that's a very good idea Dan. Janja, take your clan back to the watering hole through another way, Anga will escort them" said Kion, "Anga, when they are safe, look for us with your eyes"


"Okay Kion, what are you going to do?" Anga asked.


Kion turned to Fuli.


"Fuli, you are the fastest, could you distract him and lead him into the outland's canyon, where the path becomes quite narrow?" he asked her.


"Serve as bait? It will be fun" said Fuli cheerfully, it seemed that she was not afraid.


"Excellent" Kion said, "Beshte, Bunga, and I will be ready to throw a rock from above. Dan and Shany will be with us. Ono, you will be in charge of letting us know when it is in the correct position"


"Affirmative" replied Ono.


Having everything assimilated, Fuli ran in the direction of the hunting truck. Anga, who was observing from an extraordinary distance, said after a few seconds:


"It works, it's time to get going. Angalenga!"


Dan and Shany followed Beshte, Bunga, and Kion up a path to the top of the cliff, at a point where the lower path was narrow enough to trap the chief hunter and his vehicle. Once, there, just as they had foreseen, was a rock big enough to throw.


"Wow, that's a rock" said Beshte, "I don't think I could have moved it alone"


"That is why we are all here" Bunga opined, "This will be UnBungalieveable"


"That's right" Kion said approaching the rock, "Come, all together when Ono gives us the signal"


Everyone got ready. After a few seconds, Dan could see something yellow moving with incredible speed under the cliffs. It must be Fuli. Right behind her, the hunting truck was accelerating in order not to lose an animal again.


"Hapana!" Ono said, "Now"


Using their strength, all of them pushed the rock over the edge and after a few seconds, an avalanche of rocks crashed down on those below. The bad part about it was that the movement also caused the ground above them to come off as well. The Night Pride was quick to get out of the way, but...


"Dan!" Kion yelled as he tried to launch himself for the cub, who had slipped and was hurtling to the bottom.


"Kion!" Dan heard from Beshte and Ono before the last thing he saw was Kion trying to save him.

[Deleted]

Chapter 22: The Gift

"Are you okay?" asked a voice.


Dan opened his eyes and saw Kion's face glad that he was okay.


"Yes, I think I'm fine" answered this one. However, he noticed Kion a bit beaten, "Are you the one who's okay?"


"A bit beaten, but it's nothing that doesn't disappear with a little time"


"Well, it was a bit risky" said Fuli, who was close to them, "But I think the plan worked. Well done to you both"


"Hey!" shouted Ono, who came flying to where they were, "All okay? You worried us"


"More or less" Kion replied, "Ono, please go back with Beshte, Bunga and Shany. Told them to go around the canyon and have them find us on the other side"


"Affirmative"


With some difficulty, Kion stood up: he was not seriously injured, and that was a relief. Then he, Fuli, and Dan walked for a while through the canyon.


After a few seconds, they saw the end of the canyon, and near it, there was a rise that led to the border between the Outlands and Pridelands.


"This way we'll get to Pridelands" Kion said, watching the rise.


"Wow, finally ... I thought this would never end" said Dan cheerfully.


"Well, let's go…" Fuli began.


Before she continued speaking, a net fell on her, preventing her from moving. Kion, realizing this, turned, but just then, the sound of a shot echoed from the place, at the same time that Kion felt incredible pain in his right shoulder. Dan panicked for a few moments: the bullet had grazed him and some blood was beginning to show.


In pain, Kion fell to a crouch as he looked at the chief hunter, who now looked horrible: much of his clothes were torn, covered in dirt and a few scratches, his eyes were filled with hatred and his hand was holding a revolver.


"If I can't take you alive..." he said hoarsely, "I'll take you dead..."


The man pointed at Kion who was injured.


"No... I can't allow it!" Dan said as he lunged for the boss' arm.


The cub bit the human's arm, making him miss the shot. However, despite his efforts, the human's body was much stronger than his, and the next second, he was caught by one hand and thrown against the rocks, leaving him semi-conscious.


"I'm getting sick of this cub..." the man said as he pointed his gun at Dan.


Dan braced himself for the worst. Just then, the sound of the shot was heard, but something else happened: out of nowhere, a lion got into the bullet's path and was shot in midair. Dan, who believed he had seen his final in front of his eyes, hesitated for a moment, but then recognized who she was: Zira.


Zira collapsed after the shot and fell dejectedly to the ground.


"Zira ...?" Dan said as he looked at what had happened. Then, somewhat annoyed, he turned to the assassin.


The man seemed to have been in shock as well, as he never expected such a thing to happen. Such was the impression and madness of him, that he had not realized that he had no bullets left in the gun. On the other hand, something happened in Dan's head:


"…a relative of ours from beyond, Askari, gave you a gift too. It will only work once because it is not your destiny to have it"


"Askari ..." Dan thought, "Please show me that gift, I need it now..."


Dan was very angry for what happened and he didn't notice that the clouds behind him were moving and taking shape. Then, he roared with all his animal instinct and the lions of the past appeared in the clouds. Instantly, the air became a powerful storm, which became a whirlwind that sent the man flying through the air and hitting him against a wall. Just then, the roar caused another rockfall that fell and buried the man, crushing and killing him.


Dan was dizzy for a moment, and stopped roaring. Fuli, who had come out of the nets, approached Kion and helped him to stand up. Then they all walked over to Zira's body together. To their surprise, she was still alive, but she was breathing heavily.


"Zira..." Kion said.


"Kion... it's been a long time" she said breathing and speaking sharply, "You and your Lion's Guard keep... helping other... even though you can't always save everyone..."


"Zira, hold on, we will get you help" Fuli said, "We will bring Rafiki"


"It's too late for that ape to come..." Zira said. Then, she looked at Dan, "Hey kid... come closer a moment..."


Dan complied, staring at a dying Zira.


"I told you I wanted to die..." said Zira, "It's strange ... I hated the pride landers, and now I die saving your life"


"Don't die, we can still save you. You can be forgiven" Dan told him, "You can still see Kovu or Vitani"


"It is no longer necessary... you have already forgiven me and... I am satisfied with that..."


And, saying this, Zira closed her eyes and never opened them again.


(Hours later…)


The outlanders and Janja's clan were reunited with Jasiri, Madoa and the others, who had returned to the Outlands and were waiting for them at the watering hole. Meanwhile, Beshte, Ono, Bunga, Anga and Shany, met with Fuli, Kion and Dan, who informed them about everything that happened.


Altogether, the Night Pride buried Zira in a field between Pridelands and Outlands. Then, they headed back towards the Pride Rock, but first they had to go through Rafiki's tree, to tend to Kion's wounds.


As they walked, Kion asked Dan:


"Dan, how did you…?"


"Roar?" he replied, "Well... I talked to your grandfather Mufasa and... he told me that Askari had given me a gift that would only work once..."


"Askari…" Kion repeated, "And my grandfather Mufasa, I understand… Wow, I didn't expect it… Dan, from what you have demonstrated today, you could become a great leader of the Lion Guard, if Vitani allows it of course"


The cub thought for a moment: if he had great power, he could use it to protect others, as did Kion and Vitani. But then, he remembered the rest of the sentence:


"It will only work once, because is not your destiny to have it"


"Kion, that would be a great honor" Dan replied after thinking about it for a while, "But Mufasa also told me that it was not my destiny to have it... and I believe him"


Kion looked at Dan and saw a noble and sincere face.


"Well, that's your decision" he told him, "And I think you have every right to make it"


They got back on the road, but before seeing the Pride Rock, Shany approached Dan.


"Dan" she said shyly, "I have to thank you for saving me ..."


"Well, the Night Pride actually saved us..." he replied.


"Yes, but you… you never gave up. After I saw you fall, I felt alone and hopeless. But when I saw you taking me out of that cage, well... I felt happy again "


"I could not abandon you... we are friends"


Shany looked at him with a smiling face.


“I’m happy that we always be friends, Dan”


Dan felt the same, but was not sure of it, as he still knew that, despite looking like a lion on the outside and having the heart of one, he was originally a human. And if what Rafiki had told him was true, he came to Pridelands for a reason: what if all that conflict was the reason for being on the Pride lands? What if it was all over, what was going to happen to him?


As he thought about it, a shout from on high was heard. To everyone's relief, it was Zazu's voice:


"Majesties!" he shouted, "Here they come!"

[Deleted]

Chapter 23: Back to Home

As they saw Zazu flying in the sky, they noticed that running towards them, were Nala, Zuri, Kiara and Kovu.


"Kion!" Nala said as she ran to her youngest son, seeing him somewhat hurt, "Are you okay?"


"A little hurt, but I trust I will feel better in a few days" Kion replied.


"I'm glad you're still optimistic Kion" Kiara told him.


"And… I think these kids are yours" he said pointing to Dan and Shany.


"Shany!" Zuri said hugging her daughter, "My little one... you worried me a lot, don't do that again, please"


"I'm sorry for worrying you, mom" Shany replied hugging her back.


"Dan" Kiara said hugging him too, "You worried us a lot too"


"I'm fine..." he replied in a low voice. He was sorry for what he had done and the danger he had faced, but he was also a little uncomfortable going back.


"It seems that way, little one" said Kovu, coming closer as well, "At least I'm glad you and everyone is alive"


With those words, Dan felt a bit guilty: Simba nearly died, Kion was injured, and Zira had sacrificed herself for him. That last thought was the worst of all, because he didn't know how he was going to explain it, but he had to.


However, as if he foresaw what he was going to do, Kion said:


"Don't worry about what happened, I'll take care of telling Kovu"


Leaving the rest of the Night Pride to meet their families and friends once more (Timon and Pumba were already awake and they were glad to see Bunga again, Beshte went to meet his father, Ono was reunited with his flock and Anga accompanied him), Kion, Fuli, Kiara, Kovu and Nala headed to Rafiki's tree. Dan also accompanied them, not without first promising Shany that, this time, they would see each other later.


Upon arrival, they saw Rafiki talking with Simba at the base of the baobab. The lion already seemed to be in better: he was standing and his senses were in order as he saw them arrive. As he walked towards them, it was clear that he was slightly limping.


"Your majesty, I am glad to see that you are better" Fuli told him.


"Dad, how are you feeling?" Kion asked him.


"I'll be fine, Kion" he replied calmly. Then he noticed that Dan was with them, "I'm glad you came back Dan, I was hoping it was"


"Thank you, Simba and... I'm sorry " he replied, sorry that thanks to him he is like this.


Simba saw the cub's repentant face.


"I told you before: it's not your fault what happened, it just happened" he consoled him as he was hugging him, "Don't worry, I'm still in the cycle of life, and I don't hold a grudge. What matters to me is having my family's cubs safe"


Hearing Simba say that, he felt much safer and much more of the family than he did before his entire adventure.


(A few minutes later...)


Rafiki took it upon himself to treat Kion's wounds with his natural arts. Dan watched in amazement at Rafiki's ability to heal, because he had never seen a doctor before.


"Done" Rafiki said while bandaging Kion's injured shoulder with sheets, "It will hurt a little, but it will disappear in a few days"


"Thank you Rafiki" Kion told him, "You will always be the best friend of the lion’s guard and the family"


"That's my duty to my royal family" he laughed, "By the way, how is…?"


"Don't worry. There's no problem with the scar"


"So, will you go back to the Tree of Life, Kion?" Nala asked.


"Not now..." he said as he looked at the rest of his body.


"We can wait" said Fuli, "Our other friends are enjoying the return to Pridelands"


"It is true. Also, I think you'd better wait at least one more day for your wounds to heal" added Rafiki, "By then, you will have enough strength to travel"


"And I thought you wanted to go back" Kion laughed, "I thought you surely missed Azaad"


They all laughed. For a moment, Dan could tell that Fuli blushed at that comment, but he didn't say anything out of happiness. If there was one thing that would ease his mind after being chased by maniacal hunters, it was family and friends. Then, they said goodbye to Rafiki and headed to home: The Pride Rock.


During the short walk, Dan could notice that Kion and Fuli were talking to Simba and Nala. Then Kovu joined the conversation. However, he couldn't hear anything as Kiara spoke to him in a calm voice:


"Dan, why did you leave without telling us anything? You worried me a lot"


The time came for him to speak. Before, he had enough courage to rescue his friends and face death. Now he had to face his own internal fear: that of not belonging to such a wonderful family.


"Kiara, what you did for me…" he said, "I have no words to describe it. You are a beautiful family and I am glad you accepted me before, but… I am not like you: I was a human before"


That was it: he had said it. He felt so free to say it that he would feel better if he stopped thinking about the consequences those words would bring. However, he would never have imagined what happened next: Dan felt Kiara's rough but caring tongue.


"I know ... my dad told me after we argued the previous afternoon" he said, "I'm really sorry, it was then what I said that hurt you and that's why you ran away, right?"


Dan was partly relieved to hear that, but then lowered his ears. Now he had to confess that he overheard her and Kovu's conversation.


"That and… I also heard you talking the night before" he replied, "I know you will have an own cub. That is why I left... and you will be able to deposit all your happiness with him "


Kiara looked at him, but then, she smiled:


"Yes, I’m going to have a cub" Kiara told him, “But he is not the first, there is another who has already lived with us as a family”


Dan looked at her very confused.


“Another?” he asked.


“I'm talking about you” Kiara explained, “Dan, do you want to be my son and have a little brother?


For a moment, Dan couldn't believe what he was hearing. Although he wanted to cry with happiness, he resisted it.


"Seriously?" he asked.


"Well of course, little one" Kiara said as they passed a rough tongue at him again, which Dan rarely felt pleasant. "We would love them equally and you would become older brother. My father was the one who taught me that: we are one, we are all one family"


Dan didn't ask to hold out any longer and finally burst into tears. Simba, Nala, Kion, Fuli, Kovu and Zazu, turned around when they heard him and were worried when they saw him cry.


"It's nothing" said Dan, "I'm just glad to be home"

[Deleted]

Chapter 24: A decision of fate

The sun fell on Pridelands, bathing the environment in shades of orange. It was surprising that everything turned out well, despite the danger to the pridelanders and the outlanders.


At the top of the Pride Rock, Simba was looking at the horizon and he began to think that Dan's arrival was predestined for these events and that is why his father sent him.


"Father" he said as he looked up to the skies, "I have to confess that I had some concern when Dan told me that he was human. But now, I see that he has proven to be braver than I thought"


He took a long breath to continue.


"I don't know what will happen from now on, but with everything we've been through, the future of Pridelands doesn't seem so dark anymore: Kion is king with Rani at the Tree of Life, all the outlanders were forgiven and they are part of the pack, Kiara has Kovu, and now they both have Dan… I just think that one day I can have the happiness of seeing them all as you see us now"


He was silent for a moment, while he breathed in a soft breeze of peace.


"But there is still something to do..." he thought.


"Simba ... did you need to talk to me?" asked Kovu, who had reached the top of the Pride Rock.


"Yes, Kovu..." he replied at the same time that he turned with difficulty.


"You are still somewhat weak. Rafiki said that it would take you a few days to be like before"


"I'll be fine. But I wanted to talk about that precisely. You see... finally the time has come for you and Kiara to be the new kings"


Kovu looked at him as if he hadn't heard well.


"Are you sure? As soon?" he asked him.


"Well... Kion is already king of the Tree of Life at his age" Simba replied, "And, as you can see, I am a little too old to continue taking care of my family, although of course I will continue to do so... but you are younger and have proven to take care of Pridelands when I was hurt. And I thank you for it"


"Don't thank me, we all cooperate"


"And so, a king unites everyone to work together for a common good. Kovu, when I first saw you, I have to admit I saw you like Scar. But seeing how you are now; I can only say that it fills me with pride to call you my son and heir"


Kovu bowed proudly.


"It is a pride to be" he told him.


After the tilt was over, Simba added:


"There is something else that we must take into account: it's about Dan..."


(Later…)


Dan was sleeping peacefully inside the cave. To say that all the scares, blows and other things that he had experienced were enough, was really an understatement. His cub's body needed to rest. However, while he thought about it, he still had a question in his head:


"I finished my role here, right? Will the rest of the hunters have given up? Or is this moment just a respite? I am afraid that they will return"


As he continued to sleep, he noticed that he was dreaming something strange: he was in a place very similar to Pridelands, and he was on the top of the Pride Rock. It was already night and the sky was just as starry. He was... like he was awake in real life, but aware that you were sleeping and dreaming.


"How much have you grown, my son," said a voice from behind him, which seemed distantly familiar.


Dan turned to see the most surprising thing that had happened to him: in front of him, was his father.


"Father?" he asked, incredulous and wanting to cry, "Is it really you?"


"That depends on you, what does your heart feel?" his father told him.


Dan did not hesitate for a moment and went to hug him, because his heart told him that he was really his father. That moment was very strange, because the father hugs his son like a human a dog.


"I missed you so much... but what about my mom?" he told him.


"She's watching you from the stars, like I did" he replied, "Wow, I see that you have change quite a bit since the last time I saw you"


"Well ... several things happened to me"


"I know…"


It was then that memories filled Dan's head.


"Wait ... is it true?" he asked, "Did you ask Mufasa to let me enter to Pridelands?"


"Yes…" his father replied, "We think that maybe… you would like to live in that new family. You're not upset about it, are you?"


"Well, I have to say… at first I wasn't very comfortable with being a lion cub. But now, I have friends and a place in this family. I'm just saying, I didn't expect something like this"


"Life gives us many surprises Danny, but only special things happen to special people..."


There was a long pause in which neither said anything.


"But ... what will happen if the hunters return?" Dan recalled, "I wouldn't know what to do ..."


"They won't cause any more damage" explained his father, "When they escaped and returned to the human towns, they were found by authorities who took them out for crazy because they said things that animals had powers, that they organized, etc. They are all arrested"


Dan breathed easy at that.


"But... Rafiki told me that he had a story to live here" he said, "And if it's all over, will I have to go?"


"You were turned into a lion to fulfill your destiny" said a voice, and Mufasa appeared next to his father, "Despite what you've live this situation, do you really think that is the end? No Dan, you still have a life to live"


"Mufasa ..."


"But it's a matter of what you decide from now on ..."


"Dan, Mufasa is right" said his father, "Although this chapter of your life is over, the book of your life still has many pages to fill, but from here on, it is your decision whether you decide to do it as a human or as a lion..."


There was a moment of silence. Then, Mufasa said:


"Dont worry, you will be always part of my family..."


Dan smiled.


"For my part" he continued, "It is time to stop observing the Pride lands from the sky: life can always be reborn. Earlier, I told you that a part of me was in your heart. But now, my whole being will always be with you..."


Mufasa put his paw on Dan's chest. The cub felt something different about him: as if he was now complete or ... as if something or someone had entered him.


"Dan…?" a voice asked, and then, he woke up.


Night had already fallen, and the moonlight was showing through the entrance of the cave.



There, in front of him, was Kovu.


"What's going on?" Dan asked, still dozed.


"Come with me a moment" he replied, and left the cave.


Dan got up and followed him wondering what he was going to say. Outside, the night was starry again, just as it was the night he tried to escape. At the edge of the Pride Rock, Kovu sat waiting for him, looking out over Pridelands. Slowly, he approached him.


"Dan" he said once he was by his side, "Have you decided?"


Then, the cub understood what he wanted to ask.


"A few moments ago, I had a very strange dream" commented Dan, "In it, my father and Mufasa told me that even though all the danger ended, my life still continues, and it is my decision to leave and become human again, or stay and always be a lion"


There was an awkward silence.


"I think… no one would have a happier life than this. I really want to stay. And by the way, it would be great to have mom and dad again. Thanks a lot"


Kovu smiled at him.


"I'm the one who should thank you" he said, "Kion told me about my mother… thank you for making her see how wrong she was. And don't worry about what happened to her, no one is to blame for it. For me, it would be an honor if you were my son"


"The honor would be mine... Dad" replied Dan.


Kovu smiled to the cub an put his paw on his head, like a father to his son.


"Hey, you're messing up my future mane!"


(Later. That same night ...)


Kovu had gone to sleep with the happiness that he had to tell Kiara the next day that Dan had agreed to be their son. On the other hand, as soon as he had closed his eyes, Dan slipped out of the cave and he sat down on the top of the Pride Rock. He had no intention of escaping this time, he just couldn't sleep.


"You won't be planning to run away again, do you Dan?" asked Simba, who had approached silently.


"No, I just can't sleep" Dan replied, "There's something going on in my head, or… in my heart?"


"About that are you part of our family now?"


"How…?"


"Kiara told me about it a few days ago" explained Simba, "And, from the expression that Kovu had before going to sleep, you agreed to be their son, didn't you?"


"A, well ... yeah" Dan said, "And I think, from now on, I should call you Grandpa, right?"


"Ouch, that makes me feel older"


They both laughed at it. The next second, there was silence. And after a few minutes, Simba spoke again:


"A few hours ago, I told Kovu and Kiara that, starting tomorrow, they will be the new kings"


Dan was silent at that. He didn't know what to do with that information.


"And by law, the son of both must be the heir and the next king" Simba continued.


Now, Dan was really impressed.


"However, there is one more thing: as you are adopted, you have a decision to make"


"A decision?" he asked. Really that day, it was to make several decisions.


"That's right: you can choose to be the prince and next in line, or be the leader of the next lion guard. It is your free decision "


"It's not a joke this time, is it?"


"No, it is not"


"Well... I ..."


Alright… that was the hardest decision he had made in his life. Although he had decided to stay as a lion, he never thought of being a leader or prince. Both ideas were great to him, because it meant making sense of his life again. What would someone else do in his place?


And then he remembered:


"It is not your destiny to have it…"


"Simba… I mean, Grandpa Simba" Dan told him, "Your father Mufasa, told me that I could not have the roar, because it was not my destiny to have it… This time, I am sure that I cannot be leader of the lion guard"


Simba looked at him and saw a face full of humility and righteousness, a face he had only seen twice more: on Kiara and Kion.


"And then…?" he asked him.


"I guess… that I'll be prince" he finally said, although he didn't seem very convinced or comfortable with those words, "Although, I haven't been here long, so I don't know to do it. And for that... I want you to teach me more about that, please"


"Wow" said Simba glad to hear that, "Even though you are hardly a cub, you have as much wisdom and humility as a real lion king..."


Dan was glad to hear those words.


"Well, I suppose it is because I have the heart of one" he said smiling.


(The next day…)


All the animals gathered in celebration of the coronation of Kovu and Kiara, including those who lived at the Outlands. Kion and his friends from the Night Pride also stayed long enough to celebrate before their return to the tree of life.


Amid the joyous shouting of the animals, Kovu and Kiara went up to the top of the Pride Rock to make the traditional famous roar, while Dan stood aside alongside Simba, Nala, and of course Shany and her mother.


Just as they reached the top, Kiara stopped: she turned, and call Dan to join them. Dan, a little puzzled, looked at Simba for an answer.


"Of course, you can go" he replied, as if he were reading his mind.


"Don't worry" Nala added, "You can go, you are part of the family"


"Go Dan" Shany said to him, "They're waiting for you"


Dan thought about it for a moment and said:


"Okay, but I want you to come too"


"Me…?"


Shany was quite nervous at that proposition.


"Go ahead Shany" Zuri told her, "Go with your friend"


Shany smiled at her mother and accompanied Dan to the top of the rock where the new kings were waiting for them. Once all together, they roared so loud that it resounded for several kilometers.


Dan saw quite a few things as he roared: his new friends, his new family, the Pridelands, and a hopeful future. Then, one thing became clear to him: he was at home, and he knew that... deep down in his lion's heart.