PLEASE NOTE: I do not own 'The Lion King'. The following content is mostly fan theory, and the canon articles are all © Disney, as are the canon/semi-canon characters. My characters and theories are © startwinkle450.


 

The History of the Prideland Empire

Ah, a traveller in the dark. The Prideland is a dangerous place, my friend. I would tread lightly if I were you.

Oh, you were wondering my name? My name is Uru, a former queen of this land. And yours? Ah, yours is a lovely name. Why are you so shocked? You are surprised you can hear me? You are surprised that you can understand and speak back to me? Those that have lingered in the Domain of the Great Kings do not leave without knowing some magic, dear one.

This ground you walk has a grand yet dark history, young one. Oh, you wish to know? Oh no, I don't mind at all, young one. The night is young and I have all the time in the world.

Let's begin, shall we?

*****

Malkia and Sadaka

The story of the Pridelands begins with two sisters, Malkia and Sadaka. They were born as rogues, as were most of the lions in the past.

Ancient prides were small, made up of about three to four lionesses with their male leader and some cubs, and would travel often to avoid other prides that would fight to eliminate them. Rogues were killed on sight, unless they were lionesses, which would allow them to be offered a place in the pride.

Malkia and Sadaka's mother abandoned them at birth so that she could be with her mate, the cubs' father, who was a cruel beast and despised his daughters. He told the cubs' mother that if she left the cubs, she could stay with him for the rest of her life. If she didn't, he would kill the cubs and leave never to return.

And so Malkia and Sadaka were left to fend for themselves as soon as they were weaned.

It was clear from the start that Malkia was the more powerful of the sisters. She had a strong build but a reckless head on her shoulders. Sadaka was the voice of reason to her sister; she was smart and eager to learn, but all the while shy and demure. This proved to be both beneficial and problematic when the two were wandering the wilds.

Malkia and Sadaka were survivors though, and they both lived to be healthy young adults. It was only when they were this age that they began to lose their cooperative views.

Malkia began to go off on her own, picking fights with rogues and sometimes, members of neighbouring prides. Sadaka disliked this, but said nothing, for she had her own secrets.

Sadaka was a weaver of words, and had conned two prides into being at her disposal. The two sisters were able to keep their secrets until one day, Malkia began to get territorial.

She would bully other prides into being under her control, for the males of the pride would, more often than not, be weak, in both mind and body. Malkia soon had her own large pride, about twenty-five strong. Sadaka was just the same – her word weaving had given her around the same amount of followers. But when Sadaka told her sister that she wished to leave, neither of them knew it would change the future forever.

Sadaka settled her followers in a large, plentiful land that she named the Herdlands, for there were many prey animals that lived in large herds. She also decided that she would name her pride the Tambuzi Pride.

Malkia and her followers settled (unknowingly) in the other side of the Herdlands, attracted to it because of its plentiful food source. She named her pride the Kali Pride.

The two prides were able to live in harmony, all the while unaware of the other's existence. It was like this until a lone huntress of the Tambuzi Pride stumbled across a patrol made up of Kali pridesisters. The patrol killed the lone huntress and returned her body to Malkia who decided that she would lead her pride to war with the pride that shared her lands.

When Malkia found the Tambuzi Pride, she led the Kali Pride blindly into battle. Sadaka stood on the sidelines while her pride fought, and it was then that she saw her sister, ploughing her way through the pride's defences. She leaped into action, and stopped Malkia before she could kill any more than she already had. The two sisters quarrelled, both of them saying that the Herdlands was theirs. It was then that Malkia suggested a war over it. The winner would take the Herdlands for themselves and the loser would either be killed or be driven with her pride into the wilderness. Sadaka agreed, and Malkia retreated back to her side of the Herdlands.

Over the next Moon Cycle, Malkia amassed an army of forty-two strong that she named the Kali Savages. All forty-two of her warriors could not be supported in her half of the Herdlands, so she used her army to gain control of large spreads of land that she could house her warriors in. Sadaka did the same for her fifty Tambuzi Thorns. Malkia had three other lands under her control and Sadaka had two.

((((( The lands under control of Malkia are now named:

 

The lands under control of Sadaka are now named:

When the day for war came, the two prides gathered under the giant rock formation in the centre of the Herdlands. Malkia and Sadaka climbed to the top with the aid of their lieutenants. The prides were instructed to fight as soon as their leaders reached to top, to prevent any help from their superiors.

Halfway through the battle, the rock formation crumbled. The two sisters were thrown from their position on top and ended up dangling from a ledge halfway down. The ledge was failing under both of their weights and both of them knew that either one of them would have to die. It was Sadaka who poured out her heart to her sister before letting go and plunging down to the sharp rocks below.

Malkia climbed down once she was sure it was safe and stopped the fighting. They had seen the rock formation crumble but had carried on as was ordered. Malkia told them that Sadaka was dead and the Tambuzi Thorns bowed down to their new Queen and Empress. Malkia sent the lions from other lands back to their homes after they'd sworn allegiance to her. This left her own Kali Pride and the original Tambuzi Pride, which she took over.

She was then known as Empress Malkia of the Pride's Lands.

*****

Yes, young one, the ancient prides were as brutal and as territorial as that, but it all changed with the founding of the Pridelands. The Pridelands did actually cover six lands, those being the Grasslands; the Eastlands; the Northlands; the Drylands; the Westlands and the Herdlands.

No, young one, the Herdlands were not known as the Pridelands from the start. The six lands together, however, were. The modern Pridelands were once just the plain old Herdlands.

Yes, Malkia did take the throne of all six lands when her sister died. She was a ruler like none other. What did she do for heirs, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

*****

The Heirs of the Pridelands

After Sadaka's death, a lion named Moyo grieved the most. Sadaka had promised herself to him, saying that after the war was over and when they had won, she would make him her King.

Of course, that was never going to happen now.

Malkia discovered him one day and befriended him and realised that he had loved her sister. She told him that the place of King and Emperor was still open to him. He reluctantly accepted, trying to let go of his past and Sadaka's promises.

Malkia birthed one cub from him, the Princess Binti. Moyo treasured her above all else and said the she was a sign from Sadaka that she approved of his new love for Malkia.

Binti grew to be a fine Queen and Empress, after being taught well how to rule not just one, but multiple lands at a time. She had one son, Hadithi, who was known as legend among the Pridelands.

During Emperor Hadithi's reign, King Kusini from the South, a wild, savage land, tried to claim the Pridelands Empire for himself to be part of his Empire. Kusini was as wild as the land he ruled and wore the bones of his victims as decorations in his mane. It was said that Hadithi went into single combat with Kusini and they fought for three days. Only Hadithi walked free from the battleground.

Hadithi had three daughters, Zima, Nusu and Kirai. Zima was strong like the sun, Nusu was clever like the fleeing hare and Kirai was swift like the racing wind. These three daughters were all legitimate heirs for the throne, but unfortunately, Zima was killed during a skirmish with a hyena and Kirai left the kingdom to travel. This left Nusu to rule alone with help from her ageing father, who died soon after. Nusu disliked the suitor that she was betrothed to, but birthed two heirs for the kingdom. The youngest was killed at an early age, while the oldest lived on. His name was Simba, for Nusu wanted an inspirational name for the next Emperor.

Simba ascended to the throne of the Pridelands at an early age, for Nusu was killed during a skirmish at the watering hole. Simba was good friends with Giza, son of Kirai and Counsellor of the Eastlands. Simba took Ero of the Eastlands as his mate, Queen and Empress. Unfortunately, she died giving birth to Simba's sons, Mohatu and 'Selfish'. Simba refused to name him, as his name had died with Ero. Simba often consulted with Giza on raising cubs, as Giza had his own son, Imara. When it came to choosing the next King and Emperor, Mohatu was fist in line while 'Selfish' wasn't considered.

Mohatu rose to the throne shortly after his father's death, but first had to quell a disagreement with his brother. 'Selfish' was killed, leaving behind his vengeful mate, Kichaa, and their two daughters, Elosa and Sarafina. Mohatu and his betrothed Jaris were in their old age when they finally were able to give the Empire an heir, the Princess Uru.

*****

Yes, I am the daughter of Emperor-King Mohatu and yes, I was expected to govern all six lands without fail. My story is a tragic one, my dear. Are you sure you would like to hear it?

Well, if you're so sure...

I fell in love with Kebwetu, a lion cub that my father found on the border with the Outlands, a land that is not part of the Pridelands. We grew up together and I chose him as my King.

When we were adults, we discovered that Kebwetu was part of a plot to assassinate me and my father and put my cousins Elosa and Sarafina on the throne. My father was killed, but I did not hate Kebwetu. I only loved him more and more.

It was then that he too was assassinated.

After his death, I was patrolling alone. I found Elosa, covered in blood. She was dead. I did not know what had killed her until I saw a large incision in her throat. I found Sarafina by her side, blood staining her claws. At her feet, was a little cub. I assumed that this was Elosa's.

Sarafina told me that she had killed Elosa for her crimes and hoped that justice had been served. I told her that I was grateful, but murder does not come without consequence. Sarafina agreed and told me that she would flee the Pridelands never to return. She left the small cub at my feet.

I decided I would call her Sarafina, in honour of my long lost cousin.

She doesn't even walk among the stars with us now, as I hoped she would.

Don't cry, young one. Justice has been served now, and I am eternally happy with my Kebwetu.

After my reign came Mufasa's, a King that I'm sure you know well. He was your great-grandfather after all. The rest of my reign was eventful though, if you'd care to hear.

Alright then, I'll begin.

*****

The End of the Empire

Empress-Queen Uru was forced to take another mate as Prince-Consort, to protect her claim to the throne. She already had an heir, Prince Mufasa, son of the late Kebwetu, but he was a sickly child and if he died, there would be no heir.

Uru sought out Imara, her father's old friend. Counsellor Imara of the Eastlands had two sons, Ukweli and Ahadi. Uru chose Ahadi, because he was powerful and had a smart head on his shoulders. He gave Uru a son and a daughter, Taka and Ishi.

When the cubs were grown, it was Mufasa who took over most of the duties of ruling the Empire. Taka was jealous of his brother's position, but said nothing and sat idly by. Ishi, the youngest of Uru's cubs, left the Empire to seek fortune and found it in a young lion named Dhani. She later took him as her mate.

Uru was killed soon after; she stumbled down the rock pathway up to the promontory and as she was old and frail, did not survive the fall. Ahadi then gave Mufasa the throne after that, as he could not continue in his broken-hearted state. He died soon after, refusing to eat, drink, or leave his cave.

During Emperor-King Mufasa's reign, King Hiros of the Grasslands gave his four daughters to the Pridelands: Sarabi, Naanda, Dwala and Diku. Mufasa took Sarabi as his mate and Taka took Diku. This hurt Sarafina, as she had felt affection for Taka, but she took a mate in a lion named Ashiki, a secret prince of the Eastlands, the youngest son of Counsellor Ukweli.

Sarabi gave Mufasa a son, Prince Simba. Mufasa was doubtful that the Empire could last much longer; it had been many generations since its founding and a few of the lands were becoming restless. So when Simba was old enough to be taught to be King, Mufasa went out into the centre of the Empire and held council with three of the Counsellors: Juu of the Grasslands; Maliki of the Eastlands and Shida of the Drylands. He told them that he thought each land should have independence, instead of being ruled over by an Emperor. They agreed with him, and helped spread the word among the other lands that Mufasa was giving them independence. After five days had come and gone, the Prideland Empire was no more. Mufasa decided that he would rename the Herdlands to the Pridelands, as a memory of the old Empire. And thus, a new era had begun.

*****

I'll bet you know all about what came next, don't you? Taka rose to the throne through Mufasa's murder and Simba ran away, believing that the fault was his. And you probably know all about Simba's return, don't you?

But what about the spaces in-between?

I watched over my son for as long as he sat on the throne, but his actions have not always been so great. Sit, young one, and I will tell of the Reign of the Tyrant King.

*****

The Tyrant King

After Taka's ascension to the throne, he made it known that Mufasa was a fading memory not to be brought back up. He banned saying his name under pain of severe punishment, which outraged most of the pridesisters.

Taka chose Diku as his Queen, for she was his comfort, the light in his ever growing darkness. He gave her a son, Cheka, but as soon as he set eyes on him, Taka hated him. He dethroned Diku and disowned Cheka, making Zira, a lowly but scheming pridesister, his queen.

A little while after Cheka's birth, Naanda gave birth to a daughter, Shari, and Dwala gave birth to a son and a daughter, Arufu and Rehema. Cheka took a liking to Rehema straight away and vowed that she would be his mate when the time came.

During the new generation's adolescence, Zira gave birth to Taka's daughter, Raziya. Taka loved her from the first moment he saw her, and when she was old enough, he named her as his heir.

During Cheka's generation's adolescence, a drought settled in the Pridelands. Taka refused to let anyone leave the Pridelands for water. Cheka and Arufu decided to host a gathering that would decide what to do about the drought. The lions that attended were; Cheka, Arufu, Shari, Rehema, Naanda, Dwala, Diku, Tama, Tojo, Malka, Chumvi and Kula. They decided that they would leave the Pridelands to start a new pride, far away.

When the night came to leave, Malka was killed and Cheka and Arufu severely wounded. Tojo led the group to a small valley and settled them there. They now still thrive as the Valley Pride.

Back in the Pridelands, a lioness named Furahalia, formerly Furaha, requested to join, bringing with her her infant son. Furahalia gave her son, Nuka, to Zira so that the Pridelands had a male heir.

Nala found a mate in the rogue Ni, but was discovered by Taka. She then gave birth to Vitani, Taka's daughter, whom she gave to Zira. She then conceived with Ni, before fleeing the Pridelands.

A while later, when the drought began to get worse, Sarabi approached Taka about leaving the Pridelands. Taka refused and struck at her, but she was defended by Simba, who had returned to the Pridelands with the aid of Nala.

Taka was killed by the hyenas that rebelled against him, and Simba took his rightful place on the throne. He also exiled Zira and Taka's most loyal followers so that there would be no uprising.

Raziya later presented her son to her mother, a dark furred cub with Scar's green eyes. Zira took him in as her own, and Raziya left.

Zira then vowed that she would have revenge for what she had lost.

*****

Yes, my son was all that bad, young one. Does he walk among us in the stars? Well, only the good spirit. If a bad lion dies, their good spirit goes to the stars and the evil spirit goes to the Valley of No Sunrise. It occurred the same way for Taka.

Now, what came next, you wonder? A whole lot of things came next, I can tell you.

Do you remember the Outsider Rebellion? Well, you probably wont remember it, but your parents or relatives must have told you in stories, eh?

Oh, they thought it was too dark for you, did they? I can see their point though, it is a tale of death, despair, suffering and of love.

Well, sit, young one, and let me shed light on the darkness.

*****

The Outsider Rebellion

After Simba's ascension to the throne, Nala gave birth to Adui, which Simba believed to be his son. But he was not; he was the son of Ni, and Simba was outraged when he found out.

Ni came to claim his son soon after, leaving Adui angry and confused about his real parentage. Nala also gave birth to Simba's firstborn, Siri, who had the eyes of Taka himself. Fearing for her mate and how he would react, she led him to the border with a neighbouring land and left him there.

Nala gave birth to Simba's second son, Kopa, a while after. Kopa was bright and definitely 'King material'. He was betrothed to a lioness named Baridi, who adored the Prince in every way.

One evening, Kopa and Baridi were playing late when Zira tricked them into walking with her. She set a group of hyenas onto them and they were both severely injured, Baridi more than Kopa, and Kopa led them away. Baridi managed to get back to Pride Rock, where she told the story. The pride could not find the Prince after, and they reluctantly assumed he was dead.

A long while after, Kiara was birthed. Simba was protective of her, especially when she eluded his grasp and met with the Outsider Kovu. She grew into a restless and rebellious adolescent, and when Kovu saved her from a fire on her first hunt, she fell in love with him, as he did with her. Simba was less trusting of the newcomer, who claimed that he was no threat.

When Simba was ambushed by Zira's Outsiders, he exiled Kovu, who had apparently led him into the ambush. Kiara followed him and brought him back, where they stopped a war between the Outsiders and the Pridelanders. When Kiara and Kovu explained to them that fighting was not the way, and that they were 'one', the Outsiders left their ruthless leader and joined the Pridelanders. Zira, outraged, tried to attack Simba, but Kiara defended him and the battle ended with Zira's supposed death.

Kiara rose to the throne in her adulthood, with Kovu as her Prince-Consort. A while later, Kopa returned with his friend, Iba, who Kiara befriended. Kopa rose to the throne with Baridi as his mate, and Kiara fled the Pridelands with Iba.

*****

And what about Siri, you ask? Well, he returned eventually, but he was not interested in the throne. He decided to become a wanderer, roaming the Pridelands' neighbouring lands.

Thus concludes my tale about your homeland, young one. Oh, you want to know about Tojo's Pride? Well, they are a part of the Pridelands, after all.

Sit tight, young one, and let me begin about the woes, the joys and the legacy of the Valley Pride.

Let's begin, shall we?

*****

Tojo's Pride

A while after the group had reached the valley, Tojo, now a fine young adult, took the 'throne'. He and Kula had a son and daughter, Hasara and Faida. The pride was littered with cubs: the lioness Kamili was born to Chumvi and Tama; a son, Parara, and daughter, Tulia, were born to Arufu and Shari and a daughter, Angalia, and a son, Rindimo, were born to Cheka and Rehema.

The new generation grew to be adolescents when the adult Adui stumbled upon their land. His eyes fell immediately onto Faida, who was smitten with him. When the new generation were adults, they chose mates from within the pride, as there were no rogues around.

Hasara chose Kamili as his mate; Parara took Angalia as his mate and Rindimo took Tulia as his mate. Faida however, took Adui, who had other plans. He was loyal to Raziya, who had stolen him from his father one night and moulded him into an evil beast. He was planning to turn over the entire pride to aid the Outsiders in their current war against the Pridelands. Faida was blind to his intentions, but Hasara was not.

Soon after, Kula was killed by Adui. Faida was distraught and chased Adui from the land herself. But Cheka was happy that his sister was alive, and he began to hear whispers of unseen hatred and menace in his dreams. His tortured past under Taka's reign would haunt him and soon, Cheka began to follow his father's pawprints. He scarred himself and began to lose himself on some days. He was exiled when Tojo realised that he was a threat, but he returned and almost killed Parara when he tried to stop him.

Rehema, who had helped Cheka forget his past to embrace the light, was heartbroken and died trying to stop him in one of his attacks. It was then that Cheka realised what he'd done and begged for them to put him down so that he could be with his mate.

A while after Cheka's death, Angalia gave birth to Parara's son and daughter, Erevu and Ishara. Tulia was barren and could not have cubs, but one a patrol, Rindimo found a dying lioness who begged him to care for her daughter, Hiari. Rindimo took her in as his and Tulia's own.

The pride thrived after, and was surprisingly never troubled by invaders, rogues or other prey animals.

*****

Hiari, Erevu and Ishara are your age, young one. They are out there right now, perhaps sleeping, perhaps being rebellious and taking a walk in the moonlight.

The moon is setting, young one. Would you like to return to your home? Ah, I'm tired as well. I must return to my star realm before the sun rises.

It was nice to talk with you, Anasikia, and may fortune bless your every step.

THE END

Uru, Mohatu, 'Selfish Lion', Ahadi, Mufasa, Taka/Scar, Sarabi, Naanda, Dwala, Diku, Sarafina, Simba, Nala, Zira, Tojo, Tama, Malka, Chumvi, Kula, Nuka, Vitani, Ni, Kovu, Kopa, Kiara © Disney

All others © startwinkle450

*****

I hope you liked this! If you did, please leave a comment, and if you want more info on my characters, maybe you want to see them in a fanfic or something, please just request it and I'll see what I can do!

Thank you!