Chapter 1: Kovu’s weird dream
Chapter two: The hunt and the lion
All of the lionesses were going out for a hunt. Queen Nala led them down to the grasslands. They saw a group of water buffalo. Vitani, Kovu’s sister looked a bit nervous this was only her fifteenth time hunting with the pride Landers. Nala crept slowly towards the water buffalo. Then she leaped; the other lionesses ran with her. Vitani stayed still and when no one was looking she ran in the opposite direction. She looked back at the group of lionesses attacking the water buffalo’ She suddenly bumped into something. It was a tall grey lion with a black mane. She gulped and stepped back. He came out of the darkness to reveal a handsome lion with a gruff face, the old king who had got killed by Scar the rouge lion that happened to be his brother. He scratched Vitani’s left leg and she roared in pain. Her roar caused all the other lionesses to run towards her. The lion was outnumbered and he ran back into the darkness. Nala and a few other lionesses carried Vitani back to pride rock. The lionesses gave her some of their water buffalo. “That must have been an eventful day for you” she winced. “Well we did catch five buffalo but you’re hurt” Nala reminded her. “If that lion ever crosses my path again I’ll scratch him to shreds” she declared. She stood up and bounded around before collapsing to the ground again. “I don’t think there’ll be any scratching for you Vitani?” Nala’s mother Sarafina told her. Well as soon as my leg’s better I am going out there too do some damage she declared in a croaky voice and she meant it.
Chapter three: Training, training and more training
Kiara and Kovu were strolling out on the savannah grass when they heard shouting. It was Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. A herd of antelope were heading right for them. Kiara and Kovu rushed to them as fast as they could. Kiara let Timon jump on her back and Kovu did the same for Pumbaa.
“Whew you weigh a ton,” Kovu breathed. “What did you eat last night?” He asked.
Half a dozen beetles, six dung beetles and sixteen stag beetles including the stinger” Pumbaa replied. “ Oh heck” Kovu panted. The two lions leaped out of the way of the stampede just in time. “Are you okay?” asked Kiara. “OKAY’…. OKAY” how can we be okay when we nearly got squashed by a herd of horsies”
Timon. Screamed. “Thank you for saving us” thanked Pumbaa in a kind voice. “I think we should just let Timon be angry,” Kovu suggested. “Thanks again” Pumbaa called back as he trotted off with Timon on his back. “Well that was a good job there” came a voice behind them. They turned around it was Simba and Nala coming down a hill. “The way you carried Pumbaa after all that he’d eaten was very impressive”. “You mean you watched the whole thing?” Kovu questioned. “Every single step that you took” Nala added. I think it’s time to do some training” Simba declared. “What training? Asked Kiara. “Training to be king and queen of course”. Nala explained. “I will go with Kovu and you will go with Kiara” Simba informed to Nala. Simba and Kovu went off to a hollow log and sat down on it. For a long time Kovu said nothing. Then Simba spoke. “Come on first things first you have to fight like a king” he told Kovu. “On the count of three I want you to pounce at me”. Simba instructed. “One…. Two…. THREE Simba shouted. Kovu leaped at Simba but he just stepped out of the way sending Kovu flying. “Ouch” Kovu winced rubbing his head with his paw. “Why did you do that?” he complained. “That’s what I’m supposed to do” Simba replied in a confident voice. So I want you to sneak up on me as quietly as you can and then pounce before I move out the way. “Okay” Kovu panted. Kovu went all the way to the back of the savannah and by the time Simba had been laying in the grass for an hour Kovu had only walked a metre from where he started. Kovu gathered speed and ran towards Simba. Kovu pounced at him but he rolled out the way again. “OHHHHH why can’t I do it?” Kovu complained. “Because you’re too noisy,” Simba replied. “Alright lets start again” Simba sighed. Meanwhile on the other side of the savannah Kiara and Nala were doing something very difficult, catching antelope. Kiara was sprinting after one as fast as she could she leaped and missed then she fell flat on her face on the floor. She looked up at her mother she was bleeding around her right eye. She looked up and realised she had scratched the antelopes hind leg. It was dizzy and began to wobble then it fell to the floor. “I did it” Kiara gasped and she began to bound in circles. She walked off. “Kiara where are you going?” asked Nala. “To you “ Kiara answered. “But I’m over here” Nala told her. “Oh” Kiara giggled. “I think that your injured eye is causing you to see things strangely,” Nala explained to her daughter. “We had better take you back to pride rock” Nala comforted. Kovu was still trying to catch Simba. Kovu darted to the tall grass for his eighty-third turn. He sneaked behind a rock then a tree then he stalked Simba and then he pounced on Simba’s back. “You did it” Simba cheered scrambling to his feet. “I guess I did” Kovu smiled. “Come on we have to go back now,” Simba urged. “It’s fresh antelope for dinner” he added. “ I have dibs on one of the legs” Kovu slobbered. Kovu came back to see Kiara asleep with a cut on her eye. “What happened?” Kovu gasped. “Kiara got injured while chasing an antelope,” Nala explained. Kovu lay next to his injured mate and nuzzled her then he put his head on the floor and fell asleep.
Chapter four: how frightening can it get
Kovu dreamed that he was walking through the pride lands when a shadow loomed ahead of him he ran towards it to see Zira sitting near the dead body of Kiara. Zira ran towards him and pounced. She pinned him to the ground then a herd of antelope came hurtling down a path Zira got off of Kovu leaving him to get trampled to death. Kovu woke up and gasped. He looked at Kiara who was breathing and sleeping peacefully next to him there was no sign of Zira or any antelope except the leftovers they had yesterday. Kovu strolled out of the cave and went to Rafiki’s tree. He walked in without knocking and called Rafiki’s name. Rafiki came down from a high branch and answered in a sleepy voice. “Yes master Kovu”. “I’ve had the same dream from the night before only it’s worse!” Kovu panted. “That is not good!” Rafiki gasped. “Not good at all”. “ What is it who is it where is it? Kovu breathed. Rafiki began telling a story. “Decades ago a young lion named Watini moved to the pride lands”. “He came to me and told me exactly what you just said” “Everything?” asked Kovu. “Every word” Rafiki answered. “On Monday when he had the dream he was scared” Rafiki told him. “On Tuesday it got worse” he continued. “On Wednesday he was running around like a maniac. “On Thursday he didn’t walk off pride rock. “On Friday he felt sick”. On Saturday he felt worse. Rafiki paused for a minute and then continued. “Finally on Sunday he died” Rafiki sniffed. “Legend says if anyone had the same dream and felt the same as he did that you will suffer the same fate as he did. Kovu gasped. “No it’s not true” Kovu panted. “I’m afraid it is” Rafiki told him again. Kovu ran out of Rafiki’s tree without another word.
Chapter five: Vitani and the lion
Vitani walked out of the cave on Wednesday morning and went to the waterhole for a drink. Little did she know that the lion from the previous day was watching her, He stepped out of some tall grass and coughed politely.
“You’re up a bit early aren’t you” he said in a gruff voice.
“What do you care you’re the one who scratched me yesterday” Vitani mocked.
“I’m Panthera-Leo,” the lion said.
So am I Vitani growled?
“No that’s my name, Panthera-Leo,” he repeated. Just then Sarafina walked by.
“Hello you two I see spring is in the air”. She giggled.
“No it’s not,” Vitani argued. “Because I can prove it,” she added. She shoved Panthera-Leo into the waterhole. “See” she smirked.
Panthera-Leo climbed out of the water-dripping wet. “I’m going to get you one day and when that day comes I’ll be waiting for you” I’ll skin you alive, put you in the stream and leave you there and hopefully the alligators will come along and eat you” Panthera-Leo plotted. “Plus I’ll be back with friends” he added.
“That took care of him” Vitani sighed.
“Well you heard him he said he’ll be back with friends” Sarafina reminded her.
“Don’t worry about that I’ll get revenge on him before he does with me” Vitani laughed sinisterly.
Chapter six: the race to rule
Kovu walked out of the cave with bags under his eyes from not sleeping. He yawned and went to the top of pride rock. Who would he see but Simba talking to three strange lions? Kovu walked closer until he could hear what they were saying. “No never in a million years are you going to do that?” Simba protested. “Why can’t I be king?” one of the lions complained. “No I will be king,” argued another. The third and joined in. Simba decided he couldn’t take the arguing anymore. “All right but you have to compete with the heir”. Simba turned around to see Kovu standing behind him. “Kovu these three all want to be king so I have decided that you will race each other and the prize will be your place as king. Hopefully you will win Kovu”. Kovu ran down to the cave and woke Kiara up. “Kiara help” he pleaded. Kiara woke up and yawned. “Yes” she sighed. “Some crazy lions want to be king so I have to race against them” Kovu panted. “Well come on we have to get you in shape” Kiara gasped leaping to her feet. The two lions strolled to the grasslands and then Kiara ordered Kovu to do exercise. They went to Timon and Pumbaa’s home and knocked on the wall. Timon leaped up and did some karate poses. “Who’s there?” He screamed. “Only us” Kiara soothed. “Well next time wake Pumbaa”. He panted. “As a matter of fact we were going to wake Pumbaa” Kovu explained. “ Wake up buddy” Timon whispered nudging his stomach. “Pumbaa opened his eyes and looked around. “Come back in eight hours” he mumbled. Timon nudged him again harder. “Alright” he gasped. “These two want to see you” Timon told him. “Okay what is it you want?” he asked. “Kovu has to race some lions to become king but he can’t beat them so we want to ask you a favour” Kiara explained. “First what did you eat last night?” Kovu questioned. “Seventy worms, one thousand trillion and one spiders, eight pond skaters, twenty quadrillion and eighty two dragonflies, and twenty three billion ants” he listed. Kiara’s mouth dropped open. “I won’t be surprised if those poor dragonflies become extinct; Kovu laughed. “That’s great” Kiara cheered. “Pumbaa get on Kovu’s back; she ordered. Pumbaa clambered onto Kovu’s back. Kovu fell to the floor under all the weight. Kiara and Timon giggled. “It’s not funny” Kovu claimed heaving himself to his feet. “I want you to run around pride rock and back here again carrying Pumbaa”. Kiara explained. “WHAT?” Kovu screamed His voice echoed through the pride lands sending a flock of hornbills flying out of a tree. But without another word he plodded down pride rock carrying two thousand pounds of weight on his back. He started to run around pride rock. He was quite slow and when he had ran two metres he began to gather speed. In a few minutes he had ran around pride rock and was back at the warthog and meercat duo’s home. He collapsed to the floor and gasped for breath. “How did I do?” he asked. “You were brilliant” Kiara cheered. “Those lions won’t stand a chance against you”. “Don’t be so sure they’re twice the size of me” Kovu sighed. “Don’t give up” Kiara urged. Suddenly they heard a roar from the top of pride rock. “It’s time for the race” Kiara exclaimed. Kovu, Kiara, Timon and Pumbaa sauntered down the side of pride rock to meet the rest of the pride. Kovu went to stand with the other racers. “ He was right about them being twice his size. “He looks like a cub compared to them; Kiara whispered. Simba came strutting down pride rock with Nala at his side. He climbed onto a huge rock and began to speak. Kovu looked scared he looked at Vitani who was staring at the tall grass. She thought she saw the cryptic eyes of Panthera-Leo and hoped that he was the only other strange lion around. “We have gathered here to see who will be the next king of the pride lands” Simba started. “ The racers are Kovu,” everyone cheered for him. “Micatei” everyone booed him. “ Bonja” everyone hissed. “Last but not least Abando” Simba finished. Everyone stayed silent because Abando was the biggest and most ferocious lion in the crowd. Timon screamed and covered himself with Pumbaa’s ears. “The racers will race around pride rock and finish on this rock” Simba explained. “The first racer to complete three laps wins” Simba finished. “Racers get to your places and no cheating anyone who does will be disqualified,” he continued. Simba began to do the count down. “On your marks…get set…GO” he roared. Everyone began cheering. Abando of course was in the lead, closely followed by Micatei, then Bonja but Kovu was far behind. Suddenly he began to get faster he was nearly ahead of Bonja he leaped and managed to get a few feet ahead of him. He began to get a stitch so he tried to slow down but he couldn’t stop. He started to catch up with Micatei then Micatei tripped leaving Kovu to get in front. He was neck and neck with Abando. Then with no warning everyone watched as Kovu fell to floor and Abando was ahead again. Kovu scrambled to his feet and gathered speed he was a metre away from the rock then he shot forward and onto the rock. Everyone cheered for him and crowded him. Simba came forward and declared. “ We have a winner” Abando’s mouth fell open. “Beaten by a pipsqueak; he gasped. Simba stepped towards Abando, Bonja and Micatei and roared they fled into the savannah and didn’t look back. Kovu didn’t look happy though he remembered what Rafiki had said about running around like a maniac and thought that was the reason he’d won. He drooped back to the cave and plonked himself on a rock near the entrance and wondered what the dream would be like now. “Kovu” a voice boomed behind him. Kovu jumped and ran like a maniac again. It was only Vitani. “Help me” Kovu panted. “Whoa calm down; Vitani giggled. “It’s not funny I am in danger” Kovu shouted. “What?” Vitani gasped. “Look did you ever feel like somebody was going to attack your pride?” Kovu asked “Well…yes” Vitani answered. “Then did you fell like you would die in a week and you felt like there was nothing you could do about it” “Have you ever had that feeling” Kovu finished. “ Actually I haven’t did you ever feel that way?” Vitani questioned. “Of course not” Kovu replied. “ Look I know you’re feeling a bit strange since you won the race but I know you’ll get over it” Vitani comforted. She nuzzled her little brother and went outside the cave.
Chapter seven: the mysterious antidote
That night when everyone had settled down to sleep Kovu was trying to stay awake. He thought about what Rafiki had said again and he just drifted off to dreamland. He dreamed he woke up in Timon and Pumbaa’s home and went outside. Then a lioness grabbed him. It was Zira. Abando stepped forward and put Pumbaa on Kovu’s back and pushed. Eventually Kovu was squashed to death. Kovu woke up and tiptoed outside making sure he didn’t wake anyone up and went to Rafiki’s tree again. He went in to see Rafiki mixing something in his bowl. “Hello” Kovu greeted. “I thought I’d see you again tonight” he sighed. “I came to ask you if there is anyway that can stop me from dying” Kovu explained. “Only one” Rafiki told him. “But I failed to succeed during Watini’s time” “But what if I did it Kovu offered. “Okay but you have to do four very difficult tasks: Rafiki instructed. “First you have to get some dirt from the very top of mount fare” Rafiki ordered. “Okay I’ll set off first thing in the morning” Kovu declared. So he bounded out of Rafiki’s tree and back to the cave where he thought all about what he would face on his quest to find the dirt on top of mount fare.
Chapter eight: Vitani’s ridiculous mistake
Sarafina woke up early and took a breath of fresh air. She sauntered down to the grasslands where she heard groaning. She followed the sound to some trees. She saw Vitani pulling a vine that was tied to a tree. “What are you doing?” Sarafina laughed. “What do you think of my trap?” Vitani asked with a mouthful of vine. She began to tie it to another tree. “When Panthera-Leo comes walking through here I’ll be hiding behind this tree and when he walks onto that tree I’ve bent whoosh he’ll be catapulted out of it” She plotted. “Like this” she explained. She walked onto the camouflaged tree and cut the vine with her claw. She got catapulted out of it. Sarafina sprinted after the flying Vitani and eventually she caught up to her. Panthera-Leo and another lion were tying her to a tree. “Nice doing business with you” laughed Panthera-Leo and the other lion walked into the bushes. “You rotten, mean fool!” Vitani screamed. “I’ll only let you free on one condition” Panthera-Leo smirked. “What’s that?” asked Vitani. “You ask your leader to let me be part of your pride,” he ordered. “Okay but what if he says no?” Vitani questioned. “Kill him,” he growled. “Alright” Vitani saluted. Vitani told Sarafina about her deal. “You aren’t really going to kill Simba if he says no are you?” Sarafina gasped. “Of course not I’d never kill Simba if my life depended on it” Vitani exclaimed. She and Sarafina went to pride rock and hurtled to Simba’s sleeping place. “Simba” Vitani whispered. Simba began to stir and he opened his eyes. “What is it?” groaned Simba, “A lone lion named Panthera-Leo wants to live in our pride” Sarafina explained. “So he sent us to ask you” Vitani added. “No he most certainly can not join our pride” Simba hissed. “Okay” Vitani whispered and she strolled outside to find Panthera-Leo. She found him sitting on a hollow log. “Well what did he say?” he asked. Vitani gulped and answered, “He said no” Vitani replied,
“Well did you kill him then?” Panthera-Leo questioned. Vitani hesitated to answer and then spoke again.
“I would never kill Simba,” she shouted.
Panthera-Leo lashed out at Vitani and clawed her chest she collapsed to the ground. Panthera-Leo ran away. Sarafina, who had watched the whole thing, carried Vitani back to the cave on her back.
Chapter nine: the journey up Mount Fare
Kovu woke up from his doze and remembered what he was supposed to do. So he sprinted out of pride rock not caring if he woke anyone up and raced towards mount fare. He darted past the waterhole and the jungle all the way to the foot of the towering mountain. He took his first step onto the mountain. He felt a chill run down his spine as he took his second step. He ignored it and plodded up the steep mountain. Kovu looked around and then looked up he saw that the top of mount fare must be fifty- four feet high. Suddenly he felt his instincts urging him to go back to pride rock but he pushed on. Every step of the way felt more painful each time. He looked up to the tip of the mountain he thought he saw Zira staring down at him which made him go swifter. He heard some whimpering from behind a tree. Kovu looked behind it and saw a white wolf cub all alone. “Hello” soothed Kovu. The wolf cub backed away. “Don’t worry I won’t hurt you” he comforted. The wolf cub stepped forward a sniffed Kovu. He looked up and licked his face then snuggled up into his fur. Kovu hoped no one was watching this, he wasn’t known for being a softie. “I’m Kovu” Kovu whispered to the wolf cub. “ M-m-my name I-is Tosibu” the wolf cub squeaked. “I’m lost and I can’t find my family,” he cried. “Where do you live?” asked Kovu. “Right up at the top of the mountain” Tosibu replied. “Jump on my back and I’ll help you get back home,” Kovu declared. “Oh thank you” Tosiubu cheered in his squeaky voice. Tosibu leaped on Kovu’s back and curled up into a small ball of fur. Kovu started to plod up the mountain. He stopped when he felt his instincts again; he ignored it and went on. Kovu heard the pounding of paws behind him. He swung around to see a hungry pack of hyenas. Kovu raced ahead trying not to slow down. The hyenas seemed ten times faster than him. Tosibu screamed with horror as he looked behind at the drawling dogs. The terrified Kovu raced on until he hit a dead end. The hyenas were prowling closer. Kovu looked at the wall of rock and then had an idea. “Tosibu hold onto my mane” Kovu blurted out. “Why?” Tosibu shouted. “Trust me!” urged Kovu. Tosibu clung onto his mane using his teeth and little paws. Kovu clambered up the huge wall of stone not daring to let go. After a few seconds of dread and fear he pulled himself up and sprinted away from the edge of the wall as fast as he could. “Those stupid hyenas wouldn’t make it up that wall, come on lets get you home” Kovu breathed. Tosibu was shuddering with fear and didn’t answer. Kovu nuzzled Tosibu hoping he would calm down and then carried on. He carried on until he thought he couldn’t go on any more the fell to the floor in pain. Tosibu tumbled off Kovu’s back and rolled into a pile of snow. He rushed over to Kovu. “Kovu are you alright” he squeaked. “Yeah I’m okay I’m just tired” Kovu whispered. “Come on we’re almost at the top of the mountain we can’t stop now,” Tosibu urged. “You’re right lets keep going” Kovu declared. Tosibu clambered onto Kovu’s back and they rushed off to the top of the mountain. They eventually reached the top and stopped in front of an old cave. “That’s my home” Tosibu yelled. “Mum dad I’m home” he shouted. Two wolves came out of the cave and smiled. “Tosibu where have you been?” asked Tosibu’s mum. “Where haven’t I been?” laughed Tosibu. “My new friend Kovu found me and brought me back” the wolf cub explained. “How can we ever thank you?” questioned Tosibu’s dad. “Well there is one way you can thank me” Kovu told them. “Would you mind telling me where the soil is up here?” Kovu asked. “It’s inside the cave” Tosibu’s mum told Kovu. “Thank you” Kovu cheered. He rushed inside the cave and came back out with a leaf full of soil. “Now Tosibu isn’t there something you have to say to Kovu?” Tosibu’s dad asked. “Thank you for helping me find my way back home” Tosibu squeaked. He scampered over to Kovu and snuggled up against his fur. “Okay I have to go now” Kovu declared. “Goodbye” Tosibu yelled and Kovu left mount fare with his soil and his happiness. When he got back he ran straight to Rafiki’s tree and gave him the dirt. “Brilliant” Rafiki laughed. “Now I think you should go and get some rest” Rafiki instructed. “But what’s the next ingredient?” Kovu asked. “The next ingredient is the hair of another prides king, and it has to be the hair of his mane” Rafiki explained. “WHAT?” Kovu screamed. “That’s impossible,” he gasped. “There is no such word as impossible,” Rafiki told him in his wise voice. Once Kovu had got back to pride rock he decided that he wanted to know if Rafiki’s story about Watini not going off of pride rock was true. He put his paw on the grass off of pride rock. Kovu felt pain and lifted his paw back off of the grass. Then he walked up to the peak of pride rock and wondered, how could he get the hair of a lion’s mane without being noticed.
Chapter ten: the sticky situation
Vitani had woke up from her painful sleep and ran outside and to the edge of pride rock. She looked around and soon enough she spotted Panthera-Leo strolling around the jungle. She sprinted towards him and stopped in front of him. “If you dare scratch me again then I’ll…” she began. “Don’t start because even if I do you’ll never be able to catch me” Panthera-Leo laughed. “Oh yeah?” Vitani challenged she chased Panthera Leo through the jungle but couldn’t catch up with him. They soon came to a narrow ledge of a cliff. Panthera-Leo did some fancy footwork across it. Vitani struggled to keep her balance but managed to get across. “Vitani leaped on Panthera-Leo. He pushed her off but she wasn’t badly harmed. Panthera-Leo put his head against Vitani’s and started to push her towards the edge of a cliff. Vitani rolled out of the way. They started to fight seriously. After a few minutes of clawing, kicking, scratching and biting. Panthera-Leo and Vitani both tumbled into a thorn bush and screamed. “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Panthera-Leo emerged unhurt and ran away from Vitani. He wasn’t looking where he was going and slammed his head into a wall and fell off a cliff unconscious. He landed on a narrow ledge of a gorge. A dam close to it broke and the water started to rise.
Chapter eleven: the moonbeam pride
Kovu dreamed he was at the summit of Mount Fare. He saw the soil, which had a golden light shining on it. Kovu sprinted towards it but was blocked by three familiar looking wolves. Tosibu was there with his mum and dad and the gang of hyenas behind him. Zira emerged from the shadows. Tosibu prowled towards him then pounced at Kovu knocking him off the side of the mountain. Zira roared with pride while Tosibu his parents and the hyenas howled along with her. That was all Kovu heard.
***
Kovu woke up with a look of courage on his face. Forgetting about his dream he crept out of the cave and began to walk through the savannah. He walked slower than usual and he felt a bit queasy. Kovu suddenly remembered what Rafiki had told him about the legend of Watini and about him feeling sick on Friday. He quickly decided it would be better to walk slowly today. The brave lion started to walk through the jungle and by the time he had walked a mile he started coughing. “’Cough, cough, cough’ I have to keep going; he said to himself. After a few more minutes of walking he spotted a river and made a mad dash for it. He drank some of the water to heal his cough. Kovu gulped some of the water down and sighed. Then he carried on strolling through the jungle. He emerged from the jungle and collapsed on the dessert-like ground. Kovu looked straight ahead and in the distance he could see a small dot. He grudgingly got up and walked towards it. As he got closer he could see the dot was really a rock just like Pride Rock. “Could it be a mirage?” he whispered to himself. He then forgot about his sickness and darted towards it (For a lion running in a burning hot dessert this was impressive.) After five minutes or so he reached the rock. He started climbing the slope. When he reached the top of the slope two lions jumped out from nowhere. “AHH” Kovu screamed. “What do you want stranger?” the first one asked in a gruff voice. “Well not much just a bit of fur from your kings mane” Kovu explained hoping for the best. “WELL YOU’RE NOT GETTING IT!” the second one yelled, and with that the lions chased Kovu up to the point of the rock and right to the edge. “Back off or I’ll jump” Kovu growled. He looked down at the ground he must have been two storeys high. “On second thought” Kovu improvised. Then he ran towards the two lions and took the leap of his life. He leaped right over the two lions he closed his eyes as he hit the ground. He gave a sigh of relief as he raced forward again. Kovu sprinted up the spiral slope to the summit of the rock. He looked around there was nowhere to hide he was done for. He’d be pulverised in a matter of seconds. The two lions were in hot pursuit. Without thinking Kovu leaped right off the summit just as the two lions came into sight. “Where did he go?” the first lion questioned. “It’s obvious you lost him” “What do you mean I lost him you were the one who saw him first” The two lions started to walk down the rock arguing. Kovu had managed to cling on to a narrow ledge on the side of the rock. Once the sound of the two lions arguing had faded Kovu heaved himself up and looked around. He knew where a king’s chamber was because Simba had told him during his training. He tiptoed down the slope and with every corner he saw he peeked round before carrying on. Thoughts raced through his mind. Maybe the lions were going to ambush him at any moment. Maybe they were watching him. Maybe they had left the rock for a while. Kovu just carried on. It seemed he was so busy running away from the lions he had forgot about being ill. He peeked into a cave where he saw the king chewing on a tasty looking zebra leg. The king was twice the size of him and he looked ferocious. “There you are” screamed a voice from behind him. Kovu turned around and saw the two lions. “You’re not getting away this time,” hissed the first lion. Kovu had to make a choice, don’t go in the cave and meet his doom or run into the cave and risk being seen by every lion in there. Cave or doom. Kovu darted into the cave while all the lions and lionesses stared at him. The two lions dashed after him. The king stood up and roared. “Who is this stranger?” he asked. “We don’t know he said he wanted some of your mane,” the second lion explained. “I’ll handle him; the king told them in a deep velvety growl. The two lions left the cave. “So you want some hair off my mane do you?” the king questioned. Kovu nodded slowly. “What pride are you from?” The king asked. “The pride lands” Kovu answered. The king’s eyes widened with surprise. “Do you know a lioness named Sarafina?” he questioned. “Yes she’s my mates grandmother, why do you want to know that?” Kovu told him. “Sarafina is my sister” the king replied. Then he held his paw to his mane and ripped some hair off. “Any friend of my sister is a friend of mine. “Thank you” Kovu thanked. “If you need any help just call the Moonbeam pride,” the king offered. “Hey I didn’t catch your name” he finished. “It’s Kovu” Kovu told him. “My name is king Lamunu if you need to know” the king replied. Kovu picked up the hair in his mouth and started to walk towards the cave. “Goodbye” Kovu called with a mouth full of hair then he walked past the two lions that were sleeping peacefully. When he made it back to pride rock he went to Rafiki’s tree to show him the hair. “I found ve fair” (I found the hair) Kovu spluttered with the hair still in his mouth. “Put it in the shell” Rafiki instructed. Kovu put the hair into the tortoise shell with the soil of Mount Fare. Kovu spat out a few hairs that got stuck on his tongue then watched as Rafiki mixed the soil and the hair together. “Now the last thing you need to do is add water-,” Rafiki told him. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week” Kovu exclaimed bounding around. “. From the dessert” Rafiki finished. Kovu froze mid-bound. “WHAT!” he screamed so loud that the ground shook. Rafiki thought he was going to faint. “There’s no water in the dessert” Kovu gasped. “No one knows that for sure,” Rafiki explained. Kovu left the tree and walked to the top of pride rock where he looked at the dessert and tried to spot water. He knew his life depended on it so he decided he would go back to the dessert in the morning.
Chapter twelve: the choice
Vitani crawled out from the thorn bush and pulled some of the thorns out. She spotted Panthera-Leo on the ledge still knocked out. The water was less than a foot away from him. “Hopefully he’ll be washed away,” Vitani laughed to herself. She looked down at the unconscious lion again and stared. Then an angel and a devil popped up on Vitani’s shoulders. “Don’t leave him help him” the angel pleaded. “Don’t listen to her, that jerk scratched you twice and tied you to a tree so just leave him” the devil instructed her. “No be kind Vitani he’s helpless look at him?” the angel continued. “Just go back to the pride lands he’ll be dead before he wakes up, just think he won’t be around to hurt you anymore” the devil begged. “Guy’s I’ll sort it out myself” Vitani told them. Then with a puff of smoke the devil and angel were gone. Vitani thought for a few moments then said to herself. “Never do this again”. She started climbing down the gorge. Once she reached the helpless lion she grabbed Panthera-Leo’s scruff with her teeth and started to drag him up the gorge. But he was too heavy for her and they tumbled into the water. Vitani was clinging onto Panthera-Leo and for some reason hoping he was alive. “This is just like one of the story’s mum used to tell us; Vitani breathed. “Wait this isn’t a story it’s REEEAAAL!” Vitani screamed as the two rivals tumbled over a waterfall. Vitani and Panthera-Leo were underwater, and with her mothers screams ringing in her ears Vitani blacked out and she knew no more. Minutes later Panthera-Leo washed up on the shore and Vitani ended up on top of him with her head resting on his chest. Vitani was alive and breathing. She heard some faint thumping in her painful sleep, which woke her up immediately. Vitani found out that the noise was Panthera-Leo’s heartbeat. The drenched lioness shook him. In a few seconds Panthera-Leo’s eyes began to open. He spotted Vitani on his stomach and sneered. “Did you do this; he growled. “No you fell into the gorge don’t you remember” Vitani urged. “The last thing I remember was a wall and then-” He paused for a while and looked at Vitani. “You saved me” Then for the first time ever Vitani thought she saw him smile. They set off through the jungle together. “I didn’t catch your name” Panthera-Leo claimed in a more cheery voice. “I’m Vitani” Vitani told him. “Nice name” Panthera-Leo exclaimed, and do you know what, he meant it.
Chapter thirteen: The deserted place in the deserted desert.
This time Kovu dreamed he was being chased by the two lions up to the peak of Moonbeam Rock and up at the top Zira was waiting for him. Zira pushed Kovu off the peak and once again he clung on to the very same narrow ledge as before. Lamanu towered over him and allowed Zira to pull out some of his mane hair. Zira tickled Kovu’s nose with the hair and Kovu sneezed causing him to fall off the ledge and to his doom. Kovu immediately woke up and trotted out of pride rock. He was used to the dreams now so he didn’t care about how frightening they were.
He made off for the desert. Kovu was one hundred percent sure that he wouldn’t find water in the Swahili desert. The bold lion plodded through the grasslands and the jungle until he finally reached the desert. He sauntered along the sandy path with only the sound of the grains of sand moving on the warm breeze. Kovu suddenly heard rustling behind him. A ferocious rouge lion shot out of the bushes. Kovu backed away. The lion bared his long pointy teeth. Kovu gulped hard. He would rather die by a curse than get chewed up by rouge. Kovu’s life flashed before his eyes. The day he met Kiara, the moment Zira died, Tosibu, his mum and dad, Simba Nala, Rafiki, Sarafina, Lamanu, Abando and the others, everyone he’d met. “STOP,” yelled a familiar sounding voice. Kovu looked behind the rouge to see Vitani staring at him. Kovu ran towards his sister and nuzzled her. “Who is this stranger?” asked the rouge. “This is my brother: Kovu. The rouge bowed down before Kovu. “So you’re the famous Kovu; growled the rouge. “My mate has told me all about you” he finished. “Mate?” questioned Kovu glancing at Vitani. “Oh Kovu this is my mate: Panthera-Leo” Vitani introduced. “Nice to meet you” claimed Kovu. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “Well it’s a long story but I’ll just cut to the chase” Vitani told him. “She actually means cut to the chase” Panthera-Leo joked. “Well as I was saying: I chased him around the jungle and…” she began. “I think you liked him already” Kovu giggled. “As I was saying; Vitani said again. We started fighting and fell into a spikey bush and then…” she started. “Now here’s the good part,” Panthera-Leo added. “Be quiet and listen to me!” shouted Vitani. “Okay woman” soothed Panthera-Leo. “Well this idiot hit a wall and fell into the gorge where mum died and then…” Here comes my favourite part” Panthera-Leo said aloud. “THAT’S IT, THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW,” screamed Vitani. “I jumped in after him (even though I didn’t want to) and saved him…” Panthera-Leo was about to say something, again, but Vitani stuck her tail in his mouth. “Then we mated” she finished giving a sigh of relief and then tugging her tail out of Panthera-Leo’s mouth. Panthera-Leo started spitting out the last hairs. “Trust me you’re not the only one who’s had another lions hair in their mouth” Kovu laughed. “Well what are you doing here?” asked Vitani. “Well I don’t know how to tell you this but I’m…er…DOOMED!” Kovu wailed. “What are you talking about?” posed Vitani. “I’m going to die!” he sobbed. “I had a dream about Zira attacking and Rafiki told me I’d die in a week unless I made this antidote thing,” he cried. “So this is what you were talking about after the race. “ Oh yeah now I remember the race” Panthera-Leo recalled. “So it was you I saw in that bush what were you doing in there?” Vitani nagged. “I was looking at your pride all together as one cheering for Kovu,” he explained. “Well if you want a family why don’t you go back to your own?” requested Vitani. “Because I don’t have one” Panthera-Leo answered. Vitani gasped. My mother died when I was only six months old and my father drowned when he fell into some rapids. “Guys stop all the babbling and listen” Kovu barged in. I found dirt, from Mount Fare, got some hair off the Moonbeam Prides king and now I have to find water in this sandy place” he sulked. “You went to the top of mount Fare?” gasped Vitani. “I’ve never heard of the Moonbeam Pride,” exclaimed Panthera-Leo. “I’ll get to that later but right now we have to find water,” Kovu told them. “Well come on there’s no time to waste” urged Vitani. The three lions sauntered through the desert. They had walked for an hour and they had reached the centre of the desert. Panthera-Leo collapsed to the floor. I can’t go on any more I need to eat NOW!” Panthera-Leo gasped. “The only food around here is yourself, you idiot,” Vitani screamed. “ I don’t care I’ll eat myself if I have to” he replied. “Well if you’re to lazy to get off your rump then I guess we’ll have to carry you” Kovu suggested. “Are you crazy he weighs more than three zebras put together?” Vitani explained. “ Well if he climbs on top of us we might be able to heave him somewhere” Kovu planned. “Come on PL, do you mind if I call you PL?” Kovu asked. “Sure, I need to shorten my name anyway” Panthera-Leo agreed. Panthera-Leo grudgingly got up and put his front half on Kovu and his hind half on Vitani. “How come I’m the one who gets to have your butt in my face?” Vitani groaned. Kovu and Panthera-Leo ignored this. Kovu and Vitani, with Panthera-Leo on their backs, went on until Kovu saw a pyramid in the distance. “Hey guys maybe we can rest by that pyramid?” Kovu wondered. “They traipsed until they reached the pyramid. “Panthera-Leo slid off Vitani and Kovu’s backs. He leaned against a wall to support his weak body. “Hey I think I see something written on this wall?” Panthera-Leo sighed. “It says: this way to the water” he read out loud. The three lions stepped back and stared up at some writing on the side of the pyramid.
THE TEMPLE OF WATINI
The name of the lion that started the curse had his own temple! “This is it guys this is where the water is” Kovu cheered bounding up and down. “But how do we get in?” Panthera-Leo questioned. “I think I see some more writing?” Vitani told them. “It says: What’s the password?” Vitani declared. Kovu fell to the floor in horror. “That’s it, it’s been nice knowing you guys” Kovu wept. “Hold on a minute, I think there’s something else written on here” Vitani soothed. “I think you have to unscramble the letters?” Vitani carried on. “The letters are: R, M, A, D, E,” Vitani explained. “I’m terrible at this” Kovu complained. “All this because of an antidote and a stupid dream!” He screamed. Suddenly the door to the pyramid opened. “Kovu stood there with his mouth wide open. “You did it little bro, DREAM that was the password,” Vitani chanted. “Well what are we waiting for, new years eve? We have to get in there” Panthera-Leo persuaded. They trudged through the ancient pyramid. Vitani kept really close to Panthera-Leo. “You big cub” Kovu laughed. Vitani stuck her tongue out at Kovu. “ At least you didn’t jump into a flooding gorge to save him,” she boasted turning her head to face Panthera-Leo. “Hey what’s that supposed to mean?” Panthera-Leo snarled. “No offence” Vitani quickly reacted. “Oh no!” Kovu shouted making Vitani spin round to face him. “We need another password” Kovu sighed. “Well you figured the last one out you can do it again,” Vitani pointed out. “What kind of pyramid has two passwords in it? I bet the answer is…” Panthera-Leo didn’t finish his sentence because he crashed into a wall with writing on it. “I think I found the clue,” He grunted. “Really, you think? Vitani said rolling her eyes. “Kovu scanned the wall and then spoke. “ I think it says we need the other ingredients to get past?” Kovu explained. “Luckily I’ve had a hairball stuck in my throat since I went to the moon beam pride and I still have some dirt on my paws” Kovu sighed in relief. He scraped some of the leftover dirt off his paws and coughed up a hairball much to Vitani’s disgust. He put them on a podium next to the clue and a door appeared in the wall. Kovu led his companions through the door and to his delight in front of him was water. Kovu ran towards the water but he didn’t see the line in front of him saying in big bold letters that you can’t miss
DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE
Kovu fell down a trap door and into a pitch-black passage. Vitani and Panthera-Leo slid down after him. Kovu scratched his paw against the wall just above a torch and a spark appeared and fell onto the ash making it catch fire and showing a little bit of light. Vitani looked down and shrieked at the top of her voice. They were surrounded by thousands of serpents. Kovu turned around to climb back out but the trap door was gone. They were trapped with ten thousand snakes. Kovu slipped and fell into some of the snakes. One of them bit his hind leg (Luckily this type of serpent wasn’t poisonous) and Kovu roared in pain. His roar was so mighty that the walls began to shake. The walls began to crumble and the whole pyramid crashed down on top of everyone. The serpents slithered away. Kovu emerged from the pile of debris. Out of the corner of his eye he saw water dribbling out of a pile of stone. Kovu quickly grabbed a dry leaf (one that didn’t have any holes in it) and scooped up some of the water. “What was that crunching noise? Asked Panthera-Leo. Suddenly Vitani poked her head out from underneath Panthera-Leo. “MY SPINE!” she winced. Panthera-Leo, Vitani and Kovu set off back to the pride lands and to Rafiki’s tree. “Ah you have found the water, you must be the first lions in history to get through the pyramid” Rafiki told them “And last” Vitani added. “Rafiki mixed the water with the hair and dirt. “ You must drink it Kovu” Rafiki urged. Kovu stared at the murky brown liquid in disgust but dunked his face into the antidote and swallowed the water. Then much to Kovu’s disappointment Rafiki said something else. “To make it work you must do a good deed that will affect the whole pride, in a good way” “Hold on a moment, either the monkey just said he has to do a good deed, or I must still have sand in my ears!” Panthera-Leo panted as he hit the side of his head trying to knock some sand out of them. “ But what good deed shall I do” Kovu asked desperately. “Well that is entirely up to you” Rafiki told him. That night Kovu and Vitani slept outside with Panthera-Leo. Kovu began to churn up and he ran away into a bush. His footsteps woke Vitani up and she saw him being violently sick. “What’s the matter with you” she said loudly enough so that Panthera-Leo didn’t wake up. There’s this thing that says Watini gets sicker every day,” Kovu explained. “Oh then I don’t need to worry about you then” Vitani sighed and she plonked her head down and fell asleep then Kovu followed her.
Chapter fourteen: The battle of Zira
Kovu had a dream very different from the other ones. Zira was in it of course but this time Kovu didn’t die! Kovu was walking through the desert and Zira set snakes on him. Vitani and Panthera-Leo roared and scared all the snakes away. The pyramid fell down and it squashed Zira. Then Kovu looked up. A cloud in the shape of a crown was floating in the sky. Then Kovu knew exactly what he was supposed to do.
***
Kovu woke up before sunrise and went to Rafiki’s tree. Rafiki, who was known to be lazy, was still up. “ Ah Kovu I sensed you coming” Rafiki mumbled. “How?” asked Kovu “ I am obviously used to your scent by now” He sighed. “ Young Kovu I have some interesting news for you, if you don’t do a good deed by six O clock in the afternoon you will die,” Rafiki explained. “ I don’t need to worry about that because I know what my good deed is going to be” Kovu whispered. He looked around and then whispered something into Rafiki’s ear. “Oh I like the way you think” Rafiki howled. Suddenly an ear-shattering roar filled the air. “Oh no, it is a war cry” the wise baboon gasped. “Go young one” Rafiki shouted. Kovu sprinted out of the tree and ran to Panthera-Leo and Vitani. He shook them awake. “What’s your problem I was dreaming about meat?” Vitani yawned. Suddenly another roar pierced the air. “Does that answer your question?” Kovu answered. “Panthera-Leo sprung up into the air. “AHH what are we going to do we’ll die or get hurt or WORSE” He panicked. “Calm down you big cub” Vitani shouted grabbing him by the tail. “You don’t exactly look tranquil yourself,” Panthera-Leo argued. “Break it up you two!” Kovu yelled. “He’s right, let’s go and tell Simba” Vitani declared. “There’s no need for that,” Kovu said as he saw Simba prowling down Pride Rock. Simba lumbered past the trio of lions and stopped a few feet ahead of them. He saw Panthera-Leo out of the corner of his eye. “Who’s that?” he growled. Vitani stepped back and gulped. Then she began to speak. “This is my mate, Panthera-Leo and I saved him from drowning in a gorge and he’s that rouge that we were talking about a few days back!” She panted. “What are you talking about?” Simba asked. “Vitani hid behind Panthera-Leo. Simba pushed him aside and cornered Vitani. He huffed out a warm breath, which was his own way of saying: You’re in big trouble now. Vitani’s eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted. Panthera- Leo tried to revive Vitani by whomping her chest with his paw. “You come with me, I need you to complete the last of your training,” Simba mumbled at Kovu. “ Kovu hesitated but then followed the great king to the peak of Pride Rock. “Kovu, as king it’s your job to see what pride is attacking,” he explained calmly. Kovu plodded up to the front of the rock and looked across the plain at the approaching pride. His eyes widened with fear as he suddenly realised who it was. It was a lioness with a straight face, a hunched body, evil eyes and sandy fur. It was the dreaded, and very much alive, Zira! “It’s Zi-Zir-Z-Z,” Kovu stuttered. “What?” Simba asked. “ZIRA!” Kovu screamed. “What are you talking about, Zira’s dead?” Simba reminded him. “Look for yourself,” Kovu panicked. Simba stared over at the pride that was about to attack. He turned around and shot down the rock. Simba rushed through the cave where everyone slept and roared until the whole pride was awake. “What’s the matter, Simba?” yawned Nala. “ZIRA’S ATTACKING, EVERYONE SO GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT, LEAVE YOUR CUBS HERE AND I’LL HANDLE THE REST!” Simba commanded. The adults sprung up and dashed outside. Kovu appeared at the entrance. “Who’s going to watch the cubs?” he questioned. “I didn’t think of that!” Simba gasped. “We will!” boomed a voice from the outside of the cave. Panthera-Leo walked in with Vitani. “Alright I’ll trust you this once, but if I see a single dead cub on the floor then…” Simba raised his paw to his neck and slid it across. “Sir yes sir” Panthera-Leo saluted. Simba rushed outside to help his pride. Kovu reluctantly followed him. As he reached the exit he heard Vitani mumbling something under her breath. He looked round to see her shaking. “Just relax,” he told her. “What do you mean relax of course I’m relaxing if I was any more relaxed I’d be dead!” she panicked. Kovu ignored her and trotted outside. He couldn’t believe who was fighting along side Zira. He was tough he was rough he was with his two friends. Yes it was Abando, Micatei and Bonja. Also the hyena pack from mount fare was there. A few of the snakes from the desert slithered at the back. The two guards from the moonbeam pride had come along too. Kovu felt like his bones had turned to water. He hadn’t been this scared since he first met Simba when he was a cub. He knew that he had to fight for the sake of the pride. He ran towards the others. “Well if it isn’t my son” Zira mocked. “How dare you call yourself my mother, when have you ever acted like one!” Kovu screamed. “Any way if you want to live then all you have to do is ask that stupid monkey of yours to make an antidote to make Scar return from the dead. Rafiki heard this and came out of his tree. “I’m sorry Zira, no magic can do that,” Rafiki apologised. “He lies, whoever wins this battle gets the monkey as their servant,” Zira declared. “We’d never treat Rafiki like a servant!” Kovu argued. Rafiki ran back to his tree and hid. “Let the battle commence!” Zira roared. Zira ran straight for Simba who fought back. Kovu leapt at Zira and knocked her away. Abando started to wrestle him off of Zira. He might have been able to beat him in a race but he couldn’t at wrestling. Kovu pushed Abando off him and ran towards Kiara who was lying down injured. Kovu grabbed her and dragged her towards Pride Rock. Kovu placed Kiara gently on the rock where they slept. “What happened?” asked Vitani who was trying to pull one of the cubs off her back. “I didn’t see” Kovu answered. “Well now that she’s here can we go fight now?” questioned Panthera-Leo. “Whoa let me get this straight, you could stay in here with cubs biting your tail every five seconds or you could go out there with all the ferocious lions and Zira, Oh what shall I choose?” Vitani choked. “I think it’s better if you go out there, Vitani” Kiara breathed. “I’ll watch the cubs,” she decided. Panthera-Leo and Kovu walked outside. Vitani ran in front of them, put her paws against their chests and pushed. But they were too strong for her. Kovu sped back to the scene of the battle and leapt on Zira again. She pushed him off once more. Kovu pounced on one of the hyenas and killed it. Half of the pack ran away. “COWARDS!” screamed Zira. Kovu looked around at all the mangled dead bodies. Snakes, lions, hyenas there were more on Zira’s side then there were on Simba’s. “Face it, Simba, I think we should give up,” Nala suggested sadly. “Yes, Simba, listen to her,” Zira urged. “Well unless we get backup we’re doomed,” Simba replied. “Well where are we going to find ten zillion more attackers at a time like this?” Sarafina wondered. “HERE!” yelled a familiar voice. It was Tosibu and his parents and Lamanu and the good members of his pride. Sarafina and Lamanu embraced while Tosibu nipped Kovu playfully. “We’re ready to fight!” declared Lamanu. Kovu smiled with pride. “ATTACK!” shouted Zira. The two sides charged at eachother. Kovu leapt at Abando and with the help of Vitani and Panthera-Leo they managed to kill him. Abando’s friend shot out of sight As Zira watched her followers she began to sing a song to herself to make her more excited.
This lioness is back to take her wrath upon the land. So Simba can’t get rid of me. Not that easily…
Simba interrupted her song by leaping on her. Zira struggled her way out of the young lions grasp and lashed out at Nala. Kovu leapt in front of her and ended up getting scratched himself. Zira leapt on a rock and watched over her attackers. As she watched Simba attacking a nest of snakes (A group of snakes) she continued her song.
…What a feeble lion. No I can’t believe my eyes. Such a stubborn royal who is fighting for his pride…
Simba leapt on Zira again and Kovu and Nala helped to claw her chest. Zira knocked Nala to the ground and she did the same to Simba. Kovu tried to claw the evil lioness but she leapt out of the way. Panthera-Leo and Vitani roared and scared all of the snakes away. Then they started on the hyenas. “Hey you numbskulls don’t just sit there, GET THEM!” Zira shrieked. “Sorry Zira your numbskulls are toast,” Kovu laughed. Zira gazed at all the dead bodies of her followers and for the first time since Nuka died she shed a tear. She had lost a battle her followers and her chance of getting to see the one person that mattered most in the world. “Well it looks like we won!” Kovu cheered. Zira hunched her back and walked away. Kovu felt sorry for Zira and didn’t want her to loose sight of her dream. So he made the weirdest choice of his life. “Hey, Zira…”
“Mother to you,” Zira pouted. “You know you’re welcome to stay, if you want?” Kovu offered. Simba’s mouth dropped open and Sarafina almost fainted. “What, are you crazy” Nala murmured. “Nope,” Kovu answered. “Who knows it might be the best thing that we can do”. “We’ll see” Simba grunted. So the pride of lions, along with Panthera-Leo and Zira strolled up to pride rock.
Chapter fifteen: The adventure ends… for now
The pride stepped inside pride rock. “I have an announcement to make!” Simba declared. “I, Simba have decided to step down as your leader,” he continued. There were a numerous amounts of gasps from the pride. “So your new king and queen will be crowned today, everybody will meet outside at half past five sharp, and don’t be late!” Simba instructed. Kovu sat down next to Zira on a nearby rock. She had her head hidden between her legs, trying to hide her face. “Zira?” Kovu soothed. “I told you to call me mother,” The battered lioness replied. “Whatever, I need to ask you a favour,” Kovu finished. He started to whisper into his mother’s ear. Zira smiled and nodded
***
Later on, everyone gathered around pride rock. Every animal from the smallest ant to the largest elephant stared up to the point of pride rock. Simba and Nala stood proudly awaiting the arrival of the new king and queen. Kiara and Vitani looked worried. Kovu hadn’t appeared yet. “Where is he?” Kiara whispered to Vitani. “I don’t know, the last time I saw him he was with Zira,” Vitani replied. Just then Zazu the hornbill swooped in and panted. “ The ceremony is about to begin,” Simba roared and all the animals drew their attention to him. Simba cleared his throats. “My loyal kingdom, I know I have been good to you all but I’ve decided to step down as your leader. There were many shrieks and gasps as he said those terrible words. “But not to worry I’m sure that your next rulers will be just as good as me and Nala, so your new king is… “STOP!” came a voice from behind Simba. Kovu came rushing on to the scene. “I’m not your king!” he declared. “I know some lions who will make much better rulers than me, they saved my life, and so your new rulers are… Vitani and Panthera-Leo!” Vitani nearly fainted clean away and Panthera-Leo’s mouth dropped open. “Thanks little brother!” Vitani squealed as she gave her brother a rib-crushing hug. “Don’t mention it!” Suddenly a huge cheer came from the crowd and the whole pride. Then the clouds opened up and the sun shone its light on Kovu. The young lion was lifted into the air and spun around several times. He was finally returned to the ground. He had done a good deed that affected the whole pride. Rafiki came walking up to the proud lion. “Master Kovu, you have done it, I knew you would!” the wise baboon laughed. “Look at your mane. Kovu’s mane had got much bushier and had a glittering bronze sparkle in it. Suddenly a lion shaped ghost came towards Kovu. He bowed down before him and then faded away. “What was that?” asked Kovu. “That was the ghost of Watini,” Rafiki explained. “I would also like to announce that Zira has promised me that she will be part of our pride and she will never do anything bad to us again!” Kovu declared. The respond was horrendous. The zebra’s brayed, the elephant’s trumpeted, the monkeys howled and the birds chirped. That day Kovu had changed the whole of Africa. He changed the bad to the good; he had saved the day and himself. He made the kindest deed ever and most of all, he kept the Great Circle going. That’s right, the Great Circle of life.