The Lion King 3: The Queen of the Shadowlands Many years after Simba and Nala had passed into the spirit world to join their parents, Kiara and Kovu had two twin cubs, a girl named Tialli (Tee-ah-lee), and a son named Kiroku (Ker-oe-koo). Tialli was a dark princess, with a white muzzle and paws much like her father, her eyes crystal blue. She was second born, with her brother being the first born. Kiroku had golden-red fur and dark paws and muzzle, looking much like both of his parents, his eyes a warm, understanding brown. Both were healthy and happy cubs. Only days before Tialli and Kiroku were to be presented to the other animals in the kingdom of Pride Rock, one of the lionesses that had originally been an Outlander gave birth to a daughter also. Her name was Laylia (Lai-lee-ah), a creamy, almost white lioness and she was a good friend to Kiara. She died during childbirth, using her last breath to beg Kiara and Kovu to take care of her daughter, Lonalas (Lone-ah-las). Kiara, overcome with the sadness she had for her dying friend, agreed immediately to adopt the child as her own. Laylia died with a peaceful smile on her face, her thin, weak body finally resting. Kiara waited for her body to materialize into the heavens, then picked up the frail and weak cub. The cub was a dark gray, even darker than Kovu or Tialli, with black paws and a white muzzle. She had one silver eye and the other dark green. Kiara, though, thought of her fondly as her godchild, and nursed her into proper health. It had been three days after Kiroku and Tialli had been presented that a hungry and mad hyena came into the kingdom, when it had been years since any of them had been seen. It climbed the rock in the night, slinking quietly into the lion’s den and grabbing the smallest cub; Lonalas. She stirred in her sleep but stayed in her dreamland while the hyena chuckled softly and galloped toward the Shadowlands. Just when the hyena had almost made it to the border, he saw glowing eyes sparking from the bushes, and lean, gray bodies come out. They weren’t his kind, though, but bigger and superior. “What are you doing with that lion cub?” the alpha female roared, her blue eyes flashing in anger. “I was hungry, Sheara (Shee-air-ah), I had no choice-” the hyena sputtered on, and Sheara hit him roughly across his jaw. “Silence, you fool! We’ll take the cub from here, and if you value your life, we’ll never see you near the Pridelands or Shadowlands again,” Zookra, the alpha male with golden eyes growled, his voice deep with digust. The hyena yipped and squealed as it ran away. The pack turned to Sheara and Zookra, their faces blank, without emotion. “She will live with us,” Sheara said, “Until one of the lion kind comes for her, then we will return her. Until then, she is my daughter,” Sheara picked up the cub gently by it’s loose neck skin, and the cub stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Where I am?” she cooed, her voice squeaking with fear at the strange animals around her. “With friends, daughter,” the alpha male named Zookro answered, nuzzling the cub gently. “You are our daughter now, child. What is your name?” Lonalas’s eyes drooped with sleep, but she stayed awake long enough to say, “Lonalas.” ****************************************************************************** Many years had passed, and Kiara had long since given up that frantic search for the cub she had given her word to protect. She had spent years crying at night from shame, with Kovu nuzzling her gently to comfort her. Now, she had faced that Lonalas was gone forever, and she would have to move on with her life. Kiroku and Tialli were teenagers now, strong and mature young adults. Kiroku’s blood red mane had become thick and fine, making the prince seem more and more like a king everyday. Tialli was the envy of all the lionesses, her long, lean body silent on the daily hunts, and her fur magnificently dark and shiny. Her eyes were a lighter blue than when she was born, but they were still stunning none the less. Lonalas, though, had been fully adopted by the wolf pack. Sheara, having lost her own wolf daughter when she had been born early and died, now glowed with pride at her new lion daughter as she grew. Lonalas, unlike the other wolf children, had taught herself to hunt and kill alone in the barren Shadowlands, sometimes even crossing borders into the Pridelands to find a sick water buffalo or elephant that was thin and weak. Her body was powerful, able to drag anything across the long miles, stopping only once to pick off a few pieces of meat for energy. The wolf pack ate better than ever because of her strength and daring. “Mother, why aren’t you eating?” Lonalas asked after she had come back from her latest kill. Her mother was lying in the cave, her head on her paws, exhaustion written all over her face. “I am not hungry, daughter,” she sighed, turning on her side. Lonalas sighed also and brought a small piece of the antelope she had killed to her mother, dropping it in front of her. Sheara turned away from it. “Lonalas, it is time that you know your heritage,” Sheara said. Zookro, hearing Sheara, jumped away from the meat and stepped in front of Sheara. “Sheara, no!” he roared, his eyes pleading with her, “She is our daughter-” “But she is a lion, Zookro, and she needs to know what her own kind are!” Sheara said, standing up. “We’re getting old, and she will soon rule the Shadowlands in our place. If she knows how her own kind rule, then maybe the animals there will come here, then my mother Akliali (Ah-klee-ah-lee) will smile upon us and make the land as beautiful as the Pridelands, as it used to be in the ancient days of Ahadi and Uru. I want our pack to know what it is like to feast for days and not starve in the winter, shivering and fighting like hyenas.” Zookro dropped his head, then nuzzled Sheara on her neck gently. “You’re right, my love,” he said quietly, sighing. He looked with sadness at Lonalas. “My daughter, it is time you rejoin your own clan, in Pride Rock.” Lonalas’s jaw dropped. “But father, I live here, my home-” “You know that we saved you from that hyena, you were old enough to talk. You understood. You have to go back now,” Zookro rubbed heads with Lonalas, then left, leaving mother and daughter alone. Lonalas’s silver and green eyes filled with tears. “Mother, I-” Sheara smiled softly. “Don’t think of this as good-bye, Lonalas, for we will see each other again soon. This is the road to your destiny, my Lone Wolf, the road to your place as queen of our kingdom. You must follow it, or we will all die out soon, no matter how stubborn our kind are,” Lonalas laughed softly, then buried her head in her mother’s neck. Sheara nuzzled her softly, then looked into her eyes. “No matter where you are, you will always be my daughter, Lonalas,” she said softly. Lonalas sniffed, then with a last farewell nod, she set off toward the Pridelands. ****************************************************************************** Kiroku lay in the sun near the watering hole, staring at the clouds. He was lazy some of the time, but a very smart and handsome lion. He looked for shapes in the clouds, seeing lions, rabbits and antelopes. He turned over, stretching out his long limbs and walking to the watering hole. He lowered his head, lapping up water with his tongue for a few minutes, before seeing a dark shape lower it’s head beside him. He looked up, and saw the darkest lion he had ever seen in his life lapping up water. She wasn’t anyone in his pride. He roared, angry that some trespassing lioness would dare set foot in his father’s kingdom. The lioness looked up, a spark of fearlessness in her green and silver eyes, cutting through the fog of sadness. He marveled at her eyes before remembering why he had challenged her. “Who are you, and why are you in my father’s land?” he growled, his voice deep and thick. “I am rogue from my own pack, out to seek my own kind, Pridelander,” she snarled at him, “Attack me now if you wish, but be warned, you will not win.” Kiroku roared and ran toward her, and she easily dodged him quickly and effectively. She clawed his shoulderblade, creating a huge gash. He cried out in pain, and knocked her across the jaw. She stood firm, and both raised their arms to strike a blow- “Kiroku, no!” Kiara called, jumping in between the fighting lions. She turned to Lonalas, her eyes angry before widening in surprise, seeing the lioness’s odd eyes and coloring. “It can’t be,” she gasped, her eyes filling with tears, “It just can’t be...” “What is it, mom?” Kiroku said, standing beside his weeping mother, glaring at the lioness. “It’s Lonalas,” she gasped, finally looking up at the lioness, her eyes shining with tears. “She’s alive.” Kiroku stared at the lioness. Kiara had told him many times about Laylia’s daughter, Lonalas, that was his god sister, but not related to him in blood. He had spent many years of his childhood playing with an imaginary friend named Lonalas, but now she was here, in flesh and blood. “Kiara!” Kovu called out, sprinting as fast as he could, followed by Tialli and Vitalani, his sister. He nuzzled his wife worriedly before noticing the lioness, whom he immediately looked at with hatred, multiplied by his scarred eye. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” he demanded, advancing toward her angrily. Kiara, though, rushed in front of him. “No, Kovu, it’s Lonalas!” she replied, her voice expressing her joy. “She’s alive!” Kovu’s face changed into shock. “Alive? But we searched everywhere for years....” “I’ve been in the Shadowlands with my pack, the royal family of the Shadowlands, since a hyena took me as a newborn. My parents, Sheara and Zookro, raised me from the start. after I was taken,” Lonalas said, looking at Kiroku with her clear, cold eyes. “Why have you come back?” Tawny growled, “Finally get bored of the wolves?” “I came back so that I could find out who I am, from you,” she replied, her voice even and emotionless. Kiara went up to her quickly and nuzzled her, tears still running down her face. “Your mother told me to take care of you, Lonalas, and I will do it. Laylia would be proud of you, as I am sure Sheara and Zookro are,” she looked at Kovu beseechingly, her eyes begging him to let her stay with them. Kovu sighed. “All debts must be payed, and we owe your mother a debt, Lonalas. You will stay with us until you learn what you need to know. Kiroku will personally see to your needs,” he said, raising an eyebrow at Kiroku, who sighed as if in pain and nodded at his father. Kovu lowered his head briefly at Lonalas and began walking toward Pride Rock. Kiara, smiling at Lonalas, followed him, then it was Tialli, Tawny, and Lonalas and Kiroku staying behind. “So, you must be my god sister then,” Kiroku said quietly. “Yes, I am,” Lonalas said, “And I’m sorry about fighting you earlier, force of habit.” “No, no, it was my fault,” Kiroku said, looking up at Lonalas, meeting her eyes. A small spark was felt by both of them, and Lonalas looked quickly away. “It’s dark, and we’d better go,” she said quietly. Kiroku nodded and led the way towards Pride Rock. ****************************************************************************** “Lonalas!” Sheara cried, running towards the plains, but at an unusually slow pace, “Scar, he’s inside of-” “HA!” Scar’s lanky body jumped and landed right on top of Sheara, and Lonalas couldn’t move to stop it. Scar slashed right where Sheara’s heart was, then left her on the ground, advancing towards Lonalas. “You, my little heir, will be what Kovu was not, the true heir to my throne of evil and chaos. Don’t fight it, because now I am in you!” He raised his evil snout and laughed viciously, his eyes burning red from evil. “NEVER!” roared Lonalas, and there was someone else beside her. She turned to look, and there was Kiroku in front of her, protecting her. “Scar, you’ve been dead since my grandfather Simba came back to the Pridelands and destroyed your tyranny. You have no power over her,” Kiroku looked at Lonalas. “Lon (Loe-n), this is only a dream, you’ve got to wake up. Somehow our dreams are one, but only you can stop it.” “But how?” Lonalas asked, still staring fearfully at Scar, who was advancing step by step. “I know how,” a voice said. Lonalas turned and saw a thin lioness with many features that Scar had. But her voice was soothing, and her face showed kindness. “I am Xera, a friend,” she said. She looked at Scar with pure hatred. “I followed you once, but I will not make that mistake again. Go to the Shadowland border, there you wil see a portal into the world of the waking,” Xera snarled and hurled herself at Scar, clawing him with all her fury and pain. He snarled back, trying to kick her off. The two young lions ran off, trying to reach the portal. All around them, glowing eyes of hatred burned at them, but the creatures that possessed them did not move. The lions leaped over a tree branch, then saw the portal. “Hurry!” Lonalas said, jumping just in front of it, urging Kiroku on. “Hea!” Kiroku jumped through the portal, quicky followed by Lonalas. The world faded as Lonalas woke up. ****************************************************************************** Lonalas’s head ached as her eyes opened. Kiroku stood over her, a worried look on his face. “Are you ok?” he asked, his voice depicting the worry on his face. Lonalas nodded. She stood up and stretched. “How does Scar know how to get into my dreams?” she asked, a single tear falling from her silver eye. Kiroku gently nuzzled her neck, which caught her by surprise. “Scar is an evil and mailicous thing, Lonalas, he can get into everyone’s minds. Come with me, we’ll go to Rafiki.” Kiroku led the way to Rafiki’s tree, followed by the dark pawed Lonalas. The wind blew strongly, making the way hard and difficult, but it died down as soon as the tree was in sight. “Ah, Kiroku, Lonalas, I have been expecting you,” Rafiki said, holding a bowl full of soil, feathers, and other things that depicted the news of the spirit world. “Come, Lonalas, and do as I say.” Lonalas nodded, leaping up into the tree and sitting on the widest part just where it branches out. Kiroku followed, and the two lions sat quietly, waiting for Rafiki to tell Lonalas her fate. “Look into the water, my child,” he said, holding out a bowl of water, “And tell me what you see with your heart.” Lonalas stared hard at the water, reading her reflection with her heart. She gasped at the vision she saw in the ripples. “I see a kingdom once dead and lifeless live again,” she said, her eyes glowing, “An outsider and a queen rule together this land.” Rafiki nodded. “Your great grandfather, Kiroku, and your grandfather have told me of a great joining, when all of the Outlands and Shadowlands will be as plentiful as the Pridelands when the true queen and king step forward to rule it. Lonalas is that queen.” Kiroku’s curiousity was burning. “Who is the king?” he asked impatiently. “She will find him herself,” Rafiki replied, “Her heart will show her the way.” Lonalas and Kiroku nodded, then jumped from the tree. They began to slowly make their way to Pride Rock. ****************************************************************************** Kiara saw Lonalas and Kiroku climb up to the den. She saw their sad faces and sighed. She went up quietly to them, rubbing foreheads with Kiroku and Lonalas. “Kiroku, I want to talk with Lonalas alone,” she said, “Your father wants to talk with you.” Kiroku nodded. He walked inside the den, his heart heavy and his mind full of troubles. “Kiroku,” Kovu said. He motioned for the lionesses to wait outside, and they nodded. Kovu sat beside his son as Simba had sat beside him many years before. “Rafiki told us about this before you took Lonalas to him,” he said. “Lonalas is the one true queen of the Shadowlands. Years ago, before Simba or Mufasa, it was a part of the Pridelands, just as lush and green as the plains you see before you. When the hyenas took over that part, one kingdom was split into three; the Pridelands, the Shadowlands, and the Outlands. “Lonalas could restore the kingdoms, if she chooses the proper king. Your mother and I know who that king is, but she must find out for herself.” Kiroku sighed. “Yes father, I know, but it’s just- I-” “Love her?” Kovu smiled in a fatherly way. Kiroku looked up. “How did you-?” “Just because I am your father doesn’t mean that I don’t know how love works, Kiroku,” he laughed, “And you have to wait and see if she will choose you.” Outside, Kiara and Lonalas were having the same conversation. “Your Highness, I know that I must choose carefully the king for my kingdom, but it’s just that Kiroku-” “You love him?” Kiara smiled knowlingly as Lonalas’s head shot up, a look of astonishment on her face. “How could you know?” she gasped. “I know what it’s like to be in love, my god daughter. Before you choose Kiroku, though, know that soon there will be a test of your love for him and his for you. I don’t know how soon, but the winds have foretold it,” she smiled at Lonalas. “Your mother was a great lion, and I know that she’d be proud of you if she were here today.” Lonalas smiled sadly, knowing that there was nothing else that she could ask. ****************************************************************************** In the night, an army of dark, sniveling shapes began to cross the border from the Outlands into the Pridelands. They laughed menacingly at each other. One especially vile creature that led the army was licking his lips. “This time,” he thought savagely, “No one will be able to save you, lion.” Lonalas woke up with a start, hearing something calling her outside. She felt it move her, making her run from the den outside into the night. She kept running, not noticing that dark shapes were closing in behind her and all around her. She stopped when she reached the watering hole, trying to see what was around her. “Ah, lion meat, good,” a high pitched voice laughed. Suddenly, she was surrounded by hyenas. She turned every which way, but they pressed her in. There was no way out. One single hyena, skinny, with his mouth dripping saliva, his teeth bared, stepped in front of her. “You...” memories were swarming Lonalas’s mind... a hyena, taking her away... a wolf pack saving her... a wolf mother and father taking claim on her as their daughter. “Yes, me,” the hyena shot back, “I stole you fair and square, and those sniveling wolves took you from me, a prefectly good piece of meat,” his eyes looked at her hungrily, “Now, my pretty, you’re big enough to feed my entire family, and I’l get my revenge on YOU!” he snarled, then leapt at her. Lonalas could easily fight off ten hyenas, but a thousand? There was no way. She batted away every hyena that leapt at her, but her strength was draining fast. She gasped for breath as she kept batting them away, but after twenty minutes of fighting them off, she had no choice but to succumb to her exhaustion. She dropped to the ground, bleeding and bruised in many places. She gasped for air as she heard the hyenas begin to close in, ready to eat her. It was over now. Suddenly, she heard many roars and growls, and the hyenas began to yip and growl and attack someone else. Kiroku, Kovu, Kiara, Tialli, Tawny and the other lionesses had come to her rescue. Kiroku had also brought along the wolves who had heard her cries of pain and run as quickly as they could to the battle scene. Now the hyenas were outnumbered, and they trembled fiercely as their army shrank more and more as the lions and wolves continued to decrease their numbers. Finally, less than twenty remained alive, and they yipped cowardly and began to run to the Outlands. Kiroku ran over to the bleeding Lonalas, who was unconscious. Sheara and Zookro stood behind him, knowing that something was different with this lion, the way he frantically tried to wake Lonalas. She opened her eyes, and smiled at Kiroku. He nuzzled her forehead gently. Kovu had sent Tialli to get one of the elephants to carry Lonalas to the lion’s den. Bita, a large silver elephant, came with her, kneeling down so that Kiroku could carry Lonalas up her back. Lonalas was unconscious again, her body limp. Bita stood up and began to walk towards Pride Rock as quickly as she could, miraculously not dropping Lonalas on her way. She made it to Pride Rock before the lions and wolves did, and she knelt down and turned slightly onto her side, making Lonalas slide gently off. She trumpeted once and went back to her family by the waterhole. ****************************************************************************** Kiroku stayed by Lonalas’s side for days on end, never leaving the den. It wasn’t until almost a week after the attack that she woke up. “Kiroku?” she whispered, seeing his face. “Lonalas!” he said, relieved that she was ok. She smiled, then shakily began to get up. “Kiroku, I know who I want to be the king of my kingdom,” Lonalas said, finally steady on her feet. Kiroku’s face fell. “Who?” he mumbled depressingly. Lonalas went up to him and nuzzled him under his chin with her head. “You.” Kiroku backed away. “Me?!” he was surprised to say the least. Lonalas laughed, then coughed lightly before speaking. “Yes, you. You stayed by me when I was hurt, and you cared so much for me. And you love me,” she nuzzled him, “Just as I love you.” He rubbed his chin on her shoulder. “I do, very much,” he whispered. Kiara and Kovu were watching from the cave entrance, both smiling. “Is she really Scar’s great grandaughter?” Kiara asked worriedly. Kovu nodded. “Yes, but though she is his true heir, unlike me, she knows how to handle her burden as queen of the Shadowlands and as a lion of pure heart.” Kiara smiled and nuzzled Kovu gently. “Dad and mom would have been proud of you both,” she whispered. Kovu’s eyes smiled his gratefullness to Simba and his queen. ****************************************************************************** The day before Kiroku and Lonalas were to be crowned the King and Queen of the Shadowlands, renamed the Moon Lands in honor of the wolves, Lonalas saw her mother in a vision. She was lying outside, looking at the stars, thinking of her mother when she saw a bright light from somewhere near the den. She looked and saw the angel of a lioness, snow white with blue eyes. “Hello Lonalas,” she said, her voice full of pride and love. Lonalas only had to look at her and know who she was. “Mother?” she said incredulously. Laylia nodded. “You’ve grown so much, my daughter,” she said, tears in her eyes, “And I’m very proud of you.” Lonalas’s eyes shone with tears. She went up to her mother and gently nuzzled her. Incredibly, she could feel her mother as though she were flesh and blood. The two embraced for a moment, then Laylia broke away. “You will be a fine queen, Lonalas,” she said, her voice cracking a little, “And I’ll be in to check on you and that son of Kovu’s. Xera and I will help you when we can when Scar tries to interfere, and so will Mufasa, Sarabi, Simba and Nala,” she took one last look before she faded away. “I love you.” Lonalas nodded. “Good-bye mother,” she said softly. ****************************************************************************** The next day, Kiroku and Lonalas roared as the new King and Queen of the Moon Lands. Already from where Lonalas could see, green was beginning to grow on the barren hills, and a few trees. She smiled. “Let’s go home, Kiroku,” she said. He nodded, and the two climbed down the rock and began to make their way to their new kingdom. Look for the sequel to this, Tialli and the Heir to Evil.