Return of Kopa and Imoo

Prologue: Setting the scene

   Once upon the kingdom of the Pridelands was ruled by King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi. They had a son called Simba, a fun loving cub with a mischievous spirit and hidden kind heart. Simba’s best friend was a lioness cub named Nala. The kingdom was peaceful through the wise rule of Mufasa and Sarabi and the royal family was loved by all.

     Mufasa had a brother called Scar once known as Taka. Scar hated his brother and saw Simba as a rival. One day Scar led Simba to the Gorge then had the hyenas cause a stampede of wildebeest. Scar then ran and told Mufasa that Simba was in danger. Though Mufasa was able to save his son he lost his life, thrown from the cliff face by Scar himself. Scar then convinced to young Simba that he was to blame. In terror and sorrow Simba fled only to be pursued by the hyenas. Through luck Simba escaped with his life while the hyenas lied to Scar saying they had killed the young prince.

    In a jungle paradise Simba grew up in exile living with his new friends Timon and Pumba. In the Pridelands Scar fell in love with a rouge lioness named Zira. In time Zira became Scar’s queen. Their daughter Zola brought joy to all and for a time the kingdom was at peace.

    Times changed turning Scar and Zira into tyrants and bringing ruin to the land through the combination of misrule, overhunting and drought. Now an adult Nala was seen by both as a threat. Zira hatched a plan to bind Nala to them, Scar was to make her believe he loved her so that Nala would bare his cubs. Now a teenager Zola discovered the plot before it could be enacted and told Nala. Out of desperation Nala left the Pridelands to find help.

    Rocked by her parents plot and the revelation they considered her unworthy of ruling, Zola began to undercover the truth of the past. From Scar’s own lips she heard of his murder of Mufasa. In shock Zola fled to Rafiki seeking guidance. On that same day the wind had brought news of Simba to the old baboon, Zola’s news only confirmed his belief. Rafiki left the kingdom while a pride of rouges entered it.

     With Nala and Rafiki away Zola took centre stage. Befriending the rouges and their leader a male called Wanderer, Zola started to see a different world. Caught between the shadows of her parents Zola cried out for a way to escape. As the days passed what had begun as friendship depend, Zola and Wanderer fell in love. Confronted with the reality of what Simba’s return would mean Zola made the brave choice to leave the kingdom with Wanderer. On the very nigh Simba retuned Zola left with her best friend Masika. As Zola was leaving Pride Rock she was met by Nala. It was at that point the future took a surprising turn. Nala promised to keep her existence a secret from Simba, for Nala saw the truth of who Zola was and could be. Without looking back Zola left the kingdom at the very moment Simba retook it.

     As king Simba began to rebuild the land. Scar survived and was thus exiled with Zira and all those who supported him to the Outlands. True to her world Nala was silent on what had happened to Zola resulting in Outsiders and Pridelanders to assume her dead. In time Kopa was born to Simba and Nala. At the same time Zira gave birth to twins who she and Scar named Imoo for the eldest and Nuka for the youngest.

   Growing up Kopa became friend with Timon’s son Sudi, Akil son of Zazu and a wild dog called Dumisa. One a fateful day Kopa and Imoo met. The meeting led to friendship that broke down the hatred. The return of Ni with his young daughter Aketch began a new chapter in the history of the kingdom. Ni had lost his mate during the drought and his older daughter Majani had left when Aketch was a couple of months old. Time allowed Ni and Aketch to heal, and Aketch become close friends with Kopa, Dumisa, Imoo, Akil and Sudi. Known as the Children of the Savannah the youngsters had many adventures while growing up in the immediate aftermath of the past.

   As teenagers life took on a harder turn as the lions began to take on adult roles. Forced to fight yet still friends Imoo and Kopa began to wish it were possible for Imoo to be accepted. The news of Zira’s mating with a lion other than Scar shook Imoo to his core and the birth of his half siblings altered things even more. At the same time Kiara was born to Simba and Nala while Nassor was born to Ni and his new mate Kula.

     Seeking to provoke a fight Scar kidnapped Kiara and Nassor while they were under the care of Sarabi. This forced Imoo’s paw, he showed his true colours, helping Kopa and Aktech to rescue the cubs and siding with the Priderlanders in the battle that followed. In that fight Scar died. In his dying moment he declared Kovu his new heir. Scar had forgiven Zira for what she had done and despite her actions Zira had still loved Scar deeply. In the aftermath of the battle Imoo was accepted by Simba into the pride. The battle had closed a chapter of history, as the sun had set that night Sarabi had joined Mufasa. 

    In a time of relative peace the news cub began to grow, the meeting of Kiara and Kovu opening the recent wounds. Racked by guilt of his birth Imoo struggled to fit into Simba’s pride. The betrothal of Kopa to Aketch brought joy to all despite mixed feelings from the former.

  With the arrival of an injured leopard prince named Bakari the past was once more brought to the fore. Bakari was prince of the jungle, son of Simba’s former best friend Tafari. Bakari’s kingdom had been taken over by lions. Years before Simba had promised Tafari help should it ever be needed. In a brave move Imoo and Kopa decided to help Bakari retake his birth right.

    Leaving the only home they had known the lions travelled to the jungle to begin a rebellion. What they found was a kingdom torn apart, rebel leopards hiding in the mountain while others suffered under tyrants. On a rain soaked night Imoo met a white lioness Kamaria who was allied to the rebels. Kamaria’s own past was a tale of neglect and ill treatment by her pride. Days later Kopa saved the life of Bakarai’s cousin Enitan from lions who were perusing her. Both separate meetings were to have lasting consequences. After weeks of planning the rebels attacked, taking back the jungle kingdom by brute force. In the battle many lions died and Kamaris betrayed the lions, siding with the rebels thus freeing herself.

    In the aftermath the survivors were sent to exile though not before Kopa received a shock. The leading male and Kamaria’s father was none other than Malka, the former friend of Simba who had been exiled by Scar many years before. Once again the past had foreshadowed the future still. Seeing the devastation Imoo and Kopa decided to staying in the jungle paradise to help their Bakari friend rebuild his kingdom.  

C1: News from the Pridelands

    Over a year had passed since Kopa and Imoo had helped the leopard Bakari had retake his jungle kingdom from a pride of lion invaders. Over time the wounds that had been inflicted had healed. In the jungle paradise once home to Simba, Kopa and Imoo had reached adulthood. The jungle kingdom had recovered emerging greater than before.   

    One morning down by the river Bakari, Kopa, Kamaria and Imoo stood discussing the issues of the day. Then through along a path they saw a leopard named Anan walking towards them. Kopa and Imoo’s eyes widened as they caught site of his companion. Walking next to him was Kiara. Only it was not the mischievous scruffy cub they remembered. Kiara had grown into a beautiful teenager. 

“Kiara it’s so great to see you!” Kopa roared running forward.

“Kopa it’s been so long, wow you’ve changed,” Kiara replied hugging her brother.

“I’ve changed! What happened to my scrawny cub sister?”

“He’s right Kiara we nearly didn’t recognise you,” Imoo replied licking her cheek.

“I agree, you’ve grown into a beautiful lioness Kiara,” Bakari said smiling kindly.

“Imoo, Bakari I’m so happy to see you both,” Kiara replied, hugging them both.

“Kiara not that I’m not delighted to see you but what are you doing here?” Kopa asked, his voice laced with an edge of unease.

 “Things have changed dramatically at home, things that you need to know,” Kiara replied, her voice betraying her apprehension.

“This sounds serious,” Bakari said worriedly.

     Sitting down Kiara slowly related the events surrounding Kovu, Nuka and Zira’s death and the ending of hostility. Kopa and Imoo listened in amazement, Imoo’s eyes filling with pain at new of his brother and mother’s deaths. As the story ended Kopa and Imoo looked at Kiara in a new light. She had grown into an insightful and brave lioness who was willing to see past existing perceptions to the true animal inside.

“Mom and Daddy decided both of you need to come back. They were not angry about you not being there but they need you. Daddy is still recovering from his injuries. Ni can only do so much and Nassor is only my age.”

    Kiara’s voice was full of a gravity and maturity that betrayed the seriousness of the situation the situation, while her entire body language further empathised the fact.

“They were right Kiara. Why were you chosen?” Kopa asked with a sense of foreboding in his heart.

“I volunteered. I’ve missed you and