A New Generation

Chapter 1

Kopa was loitering in the grass when he heard hasty footsteps. He back to see his sister Kiara running to him unable to control her excitement. "It's a BOY!" She yelled. Kopa jumped up. "A Boy?" he asked. Kiara nodded. He ran into Pride Rock. The new king was born.

They named the boy Jasiri. Kopa expected him to grow up and be a brave king but little did he know that nothing was going to go as he planned. Jasiri grew up to be a lively cub who loved to hang out with Timon and Pumbaa. Though he was small, he was adventurous and brave. Things were finally going right for Kopa. Within days of Jasiri's birth,  Kiara and Kovu had a cub named Kiburi.

Kiburi and Jasiri were inseperable as cubs. They both spent a lot of time with their grandfather Simba and loved to listen to his stories. Simba, like Mufasa, had many adventures and thus had many stories to tell but the story he told most was the story of Scar and Mufasa.

One day, Kopa took Jasiri to the top of Pride Rock. Kiburi insisted on coming to see what the "magnificent surprise" was. Kopa allowed him to tag along. At the summit, Kopa showed the two cubs the Pridelands and told Jasiri that one day he would own all that. "But what if I don't want to own that?" Jasiri asked. "That's like saying you don't wanna be king." Kopa replied. "That's exactly what I mean." Jasiri confirmed. Kopa was taken aback. "Saying you don't wanna be king is like saying you don't wanna be a lion." he said. "But what about Uncle Kovu?" Jasiri argued," He's a lion, isn't he?"

"Jasiri, this is about your future, not Uncle Kovu's." Kopa said."I know, Dad. This is my future. Isn't it right that I get to decide what I wanna be?" Jasiri asked. Kopa was fuming. "Jasiri.............................." he began, but calmed down and continued," You'll understand in time, son." saying so, he walked away.

Immediately, after Kopa walked away, Kiburi caught Jasiri off guard and pinned him down. "What do you mean you don't want to be king?"he asked, slightly fuming, "who's gonna be king if you're not?" Jasiri bluntly replied, "You." Kiburi got off him and yelled," You mean to say you'd give up the throne for me? Oh, I love you bro. I promise I'll take care of the kingdom. I'll ............." Jasiri replied," Good for you. But I just don't want to be king." Kiburi stood open-mouthed. He started," Then bro, if not me, for whom? For what.......?" "For nobody and for nothing. I just don't wanna be king." Jasiri calmly replied." You see, this is your adventure and I don't want it. My adventure is out there." He pointed to the horizon. " Okay, then, I'll just stick with being king." Kiburi said. Jasiri sensed that something was coming up. And his suspicion was right. Kiburi burst out," Please don't leave me bro. I need you...I need you. I can't take care of the king's responsibilities on my own. I need your help." "Relax, Kiburi. I won't be going out on my own until I grow up." Jasiri calmed down his brother. " That's a relief." Kiburi heaved a sigh.

Kiburi ran up to his grandmother, Nala, and aunt, Vitani, who were snoozing on a rock. "Hey Grandma, guess what?" he said. Nala put her head up and looked at her grandson. "I'll guess its something really good for you to come and tell me?" she said. "I'm going to be the next king. Jasiri said that since he doesn't wanna be, I am." Kiburi said. Nala sat up." Jasiri's not gonna be the king?" she asked. "Yep." Kiburi replied. "Atleast he knows the laws of the land. I suppose he knew that you were next in line after him." Nala sighed. "Kiburi, go tell this news to your parents." "Great. Where do I  find them?" he asked." Near those acacia trees over there. Go find them and tell them the good news." Nala said. After Kiburi bounded away, she sighed. "And the bad news." she whispered. She looked at Vitani, who gave her a look of horror. She couldn't believe it. Her son, Jasiri, didn't want to be the king. Vitani decided she would talk to him later.

That night, Kiburi and Jasiri settled down for another story from Simba. He told them the story of Scar and Mufasa. Kiburi listened intendly till Simba got to the part where Scar threw Mufasa off the cliff. Kiburi put up his ears. "Really?" he asked. "Yes, Kiburi. Scar pushed Mufasa off the cliff after whispering the words 'Long Live The King' in his ear. He made me believe that I had killed my father and made me run away. I didn't know the truth until Nala found me. She told me the state of the Pridelands and I returned to reclaim what was rightfully mine." Simba said. "Simba, it wasn't all that easy." Nala piped up." He didn't rush back as soon as I told him to go back. It took his father's ghost appearing in the sky to get some sense knocked into him. Don't you remember?" "Nala, take it easy. I'm trying to be a hero for these kids." Simba whispered. "Bed-time." Vitani said, sending the cubs to bed. Kiburi' head was buzzing with thoughts: Was Scar really that cruel even as a cub? Are brothers also evil? What if I have a brother? Would he throw me off a cliff too?

Chapter 2

Kiburi ran looking for his parents. He found them near the water-hole. They seemed really happy about something. He was going to them to tell them about the way he felt about brothers. "Ah, there you are, Kiburi." his father said. "We have good news for you." "Um...Dad, there's something I need to tell you and Mom." Kiburi said. "That can wait for later, I suppose." Kovu replied. "The news first. Your mother is pregnant with another cub." Kiburi jumped. "So it means that I'll be getting a brother or sister?" he asked, weakly. "That's right." Kiara replied. "Isn't it good news? You'll finally have a brother or sister to take care of." "Yeah, Mom, its great news." Kiburi's worst fears were confirmed. He deperately hoped hat it would be a girl who couldn't push him off a cliff.

"This is great news, Kiburi." Jasiri exclaimed. "We'll finally have a new playmate." The two cubs were with the other lionesses. Vitani was giving Jasiri a bath as the two cubs talked. Kiburi had just told him the news of his new sibling. "Oh, and you get to be a big brother. I wish I could too." "I'd gladly give the new cub to you if I could." Kiburi said, sulkily. "Hey, Bro, what's wrong? You don't look to happy." Jasiri noticed. "I'll tell you when we get out of earshot." Kiburi whispered. "Oh." Jasiri realised. "Um, Mom, can I go with Kiburi?" he asked. Vitani considered. "Sure." The two cubs ran onto the plains.

"So, what's the catch?" Jasiri asked. "You know the story of Scar and Mufasa?" Kiburi asked. "Sure." Jasiri replied. "Shhhh. Not so loud." Kiburi whispered. "Oh." Jasiri said in a whisper. Their conversation from then was a whisper. "So, what about Scar and Mufasa?" Jasiri asked. "He was Mufasa's brother, right?" Kiburi asked. "Yeah." "And he killed Mufasa, right?" "Right." "So, what if the cub turns out to be a boy?" "So, what if he's a boy?" "He might kill me too." "Kiburi, are you crazy?!!?" "I'm not." "Then why do you think brothers are evil?" "Well, Scar did kill Mufasa......" "So you expect your little brother to kill you? You are crazy." "Jasiri, listen to me...." "Why would I want to listen to a guy who is afraid of being a big brother?" "Jasiri, you don't understand. Brothers...." "Your dad and Nuka were brothers. Nuka didn't kill him, did he?" "But...." Jasiri shook his head and walked away. "What have I done?" Kiburi wondered.

Jasiri seemed really angry with Kiburi that day, so he took a walk along the water-hole. Kiburi was so rngrossed in thought that he didn't see where he was going and bumped into something. "Hey! Watch it!" said a female voice. Kiburi looked up to see that he had bumped into a brown lioness cub. She looked really mad at him. "Can't you see I'm here?" she yelled at him. "I'm sorry. i wasn't looking." he mumbled, avoiding her eyes as he still was upset about the arguement. "Then better start looking." she growled. "One question," Kiburi said. "Who are you? These are the Pridelands. Outlanders aren't allowed." "I'm a Pridelander alright." she said. "My name's Kuona. I'm technically a part of your pride." "Sorry. I thought you weren't part of the Pridelanders." Kiburi said. Kuona seemed to notice something wrong with him. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked him. "And who are you?" "I'm Kiburi, next in line to be king." He said. "My cousin's super-mad at me right now." "Your cousin's the future king?" "Yeah." "So, why's he mad at you?" Kiburi told her the whole story.

"Wow. That's some conversation. But he's right, you shouldn't be afraid of being a big brother." She said.