A few days later...
Kopa and Simba sat at the edge of Pride Rock's overlook, admiring the view laid out before them. The Pridelands had started to heal once more, its residents returning to their lives before the conflict.
The herds were smaller, as was the pride. The savannah had lost so much, but it survived. And now, it had room to flourish.
"With their connection to the spirit realms cut, Scar's forces are now weakened." The Uasian King decreed, his tail swaying side to side against the cool rock. He flicked an eye to Simba, who stared at the younger male.
"I sure hope so." The Pridelander replied, exhaling softly. He glanced out at his kingdom, a hint of regret staining his voice. "Far too many have died to bring us here."
"Indeed, but that is my burden to bear, not yours." The younger male remained vigilant, watching as a small herd began to graze below. A pair of bucks had started to fight, a ritual of life's renewal. "But we must remain vigilant." Simba sighed as a small grouping of animals appeared from below Pride Rock, slowly strolling around the side of the monument. "There are still scars yet to heal."
"Like Kion's?" Simba shuddered, his voice croaking. The king's eyes focused on the small group. Especially at the young, pale-golden furred lion leading them. Kopa noticed this, joining the Pridelands' king in watching Kion and his friends. "Why couldn't you help him? Heal his scars?"
"We could, but it would not last." A shallow warming breeze spread from behind them, cascading downward from the peak. Kopa placed his paw on Simba's shoulder. "But trust me when I say that Rafiki is right. The Tree of Life will heal him, forever." Simba sighed at this, his hesitation of letting his son go nibbling deep at his soul.
"I hope so..." Simba lowered his head, the weight of his son's troubled future playing havoc on his mind. It wouldn't be the first time. He still remembered when Kion became the leader of the Lion Guard, the uncertainty in his choices for members of the guard. Now they were to face their biggest challenge yet.
Maturity...
Just as Simba's fears seeped deeper, a flurry of fur and giggles pounced at the pair. Kopa chuckled, flopping to the ground as his son, Ulinzi, pounced on him. Simba watched as the father and son duo play wrestled, giggling and chuckling the entire time. Not far behind, Nala, Karimu and Amani strolled across the overhang, a series of maternal giggles pouring from the two queen's muzzles.
"Ulinzi, let your father be!" Karimu smiled, her tail swiping the ground with its tufted tip. Amani trotted up to her brother, swiping him with her paw. The young Uasian prince left a small lick on his father's chest before hopping off him, allowing Kopa to rise once more.
"My, your cubs are a pawful, huh?" Nala smirked, her blue calming eyes blinking towards Kopa. The Uasian King replied with a laugh as the two cubs rushed back to their mother's embrace. Their cheeks reddened by the adults' compliments.
"Well, they are my cubs." Kopa responded, causing a swath of laughs between the adults. As the gathering calmed, an avian shadow swooped from the sky, meeting the ground right at the tip of the overlook.
"Morning Jicho!" The Uasian King greeted the eagle as she landed. Her wings spread outwards, stretching as she bowed in the gathered royal's presence. As she arose, Jicho tucked her wings in, her beak perfectly sharpened.
"Morning sire, the rest of the pride are ready to leave. As soon as you are, of course." She clawed at the rock beneath her, leaving a shallow mark on the ancient monument. Karimu glanced at Kopa, seeing the Uasian King give one final look at the Pridelands.
"Very well Jicho, tell them to go on ahead, we'll catch up." Without speaking, Jicho bowed again before taking off. Within seconds, the eagle had become but a blip on the horizon.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye, your majesty." Kopa gave Simba a slow, respectful bow. Simba, with an acknowledging grin, repaid the favour. Karimu nuzzled up to Nala, who simply nuzzled back. The two cubs beneath them nuzzled the Pridelands' queen's paws, causing her to chuckle sweetly.
"Thank you Kopa, for everything you and your pride have done." Simba grinned, his mane gently blowing in the gentle breeze. As Karimu and the cubs finished snuggling Nala, the Pridelands' queen stepped forward, sitting beside her king before nuzzling up to him. She met Kopa's eyes, wearing a lovable, maternal smile across her muzzle.
"You will always be welcome here, as a Pridelander, as a friend." She placed a paw forward, which Kopa mirrored with his own. "As our nephew." Feeling his chest well up, Kopa couldn't help but step closer, nuzzling into both Nala and Simba's fur. Karimu also struggled to hold back her emotions, a small dribble of happy tears rolling down her cheek.
They were one. All of them.
Departing from his uncle and aunt's fur, Kopa simply smiled before bowing slightly. Simba, agreeably pleased to be shown such courtesy. Arisen once more, Kopa rejoined his small pride, who rushed to snuggle him. The cubs darted to his hunky legs whilst Karimu left a single lick across his cheek. With a humming aura of affection, the Uasian Royal Family started to stroll away, beginning their journey home. Simba and Nala smiled, nuzzling up to each other as their royal neighbours left.
As Kopa led his family down the winding rocky path, Ulinzi lunged from an overhead rock onto his father's back. The young male nuzzled into his dad's mane, giggling the whole time.
"When are you gonna show me how to roar like you, daddy? It'll be so awesome!" His innocent, energetic tone warmed the young adult's heart. To have that innocence again...
"Patience, little cub." Kopa advised, swaying his tail side to side in a casual walking motion. "You will learn in time..."
"But I wanna learn now!" Ulinzi whined, ruffing up his father's mane. Kopa simply sighed., This was gonna be a long journey.
But with his son's eagerness, Kopa couldn't help but feel proud. His son would grow to be a strong warrior, just like he had. With this level of determination, one thing was for certain...
The Royal Mlinzi... would return...
