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~~~

There was hardly a moment of rest for Simba and Nala in the first weeks of their reign. Their pride (along with a few close associates in Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, and Zazu) were the only animals inhabiting the Pridelands anymore. Though water was plentiful again, and along with some carrion would keep them alive for a while, starvation was still a looming threat. No migrating herd would choose to enter the Pridelands anymore, with the reputation that it had gained during Scar’s reign—their best option was to send Zazu out to track down the native herds of the Pridelands (as well as the several lost members of the pride) who had fled, and hopefully convince them to return.

Though his majordomo’s task was immense, Simba rather envied him. His own task was to reestablish connections between his kingdom and those that surrounded it, as they had greatly deteriorated when Scar was king. That meant traveling to the lion kingdoms of the Grasslands, the Riverlands, the Khazimla Canyons... and the gorilla kingdom of the Theluji Mountains, directly beside the Pridelands. Though the other journeys were more dangerous, it was this one that scared Simba the most, for one big, intimidating reason.

“Tell me, your highness,” King Sokwe said, stretching out the word, “While you relaxed for years in your glorious oasis, did you ever spare a thought for the animals wasting away in your homeland?”

“I—“

“Did it occur to you,” he interrupted, “That even outside of the Pridelands’ borders there were animals suffering from Scar’s mismanagement? When my kingdom began to feel the effects of the drought we turned to the Pridelands for support, as we have done since the reign of your second monarch. For the first time, we were turned away.”

“I am sorry that that happened, King Sokwe,” said Simba.

“I accepted that this was the way it had to be,” the gorilla added, “Until his followers were found hunting in my kingdom!”

“Your majesty,” Simba pleaded, “I am not like—!”

“They would not help us and yet they would happily poach our subjects, even the young, time and time again! Until we returned their hunters dead. The Backlanders have had their territories pillaged by Scar’s pride and hyenas as well. Why, your highness, should I want to shake the paw of another Pridelander?”

Simba stayed quiet, his head held low.

“Why,” Sokwe continued, stepping closer to the lion on a massive fist, “Should I conclude that a little runaway prince is worthy of my help?” He let out a cold, barking laugh. “I have no reason to believe that you are any better than your uncle was!”

Simba closed his eyes tight, and took a deep, slow breath of the cold mountain air. Finally, he looked up and met Sokwe’s gaze.

“You’re right that I haven’t proven myself as a king,” he said, “But I’ve done nothing that would prove I’m a tyrant, either. I can only hope you’ll believe me when I tell you that I care about the Pridelands, and I’m going to do everything in my power to heal them and save my subjects. I’ll do my best with or without your help... but your help would be invaluable, and I would personally be in your debt. We hope you will allow us to hunt in your kingdom, until more animals have returned to ours.”

“Did you not hear what I just told you?” Sokwe growled.

“I did,” said Simba, calmly, “And with what you experienced, I don’t expect you to agree. But whether or not you want to help my pride now, I can promise you that as the true king of the Pridelands I will honor our kingdoms’ history together, and always be open to helping your troop.”

Silence descended, and the gorilla king stretched his massive shoulders, shaking a wave of snow off of his fur. When he didn’t speak, Simba sighed, and began to turn away.

“In the future,” he said, “I hope that our two lands can work someth—“

He was shocked into silence when a fistfull of snow crashed down on his head, nearly knocking him off of his paws. Baffled, Simba spun around to find the gorilla king cackling with laughter.

“You remind me of your father, the few times that I met him,” said Sokwe, with a warm smile, “Humble enough for diplomacy, but with the tenacity and backbone to command.” Simba just stared up in surprise, as he continued: “I hope you’ll forgive the prodding, King Simba, but it is not easy to know a true leader when you see one.”

“Are you saying—are you willing to help us?” Simba asked.

“I’ll still have my eye on you,” Sokwe said, playfully, “But I think that you will prove yourself a true lion king, your majesty. The Theluji Mountains would welcome a renewed alliance with your kingdom, and, when you need us, we will be there to help you. As the Pridelands will be there for us.”

~~~

Disclaimer: I know that, even standing on a rock, a gorilla shouldn’t be that much bigger than a lion. ...But I really wanted him to look scary

I absolutely adore that it’s canon that lions are not the only animals who act as leaders of whole kingdoms—makes it feel like a much more equal world, with there being monarchs of various species. I honestly wish we’d seen more of the gorilla royalty (particularly a momma for Hafifu and Majinuni!), but it’s fun to write about them anyway Side note: Sokwe calling Simba 'your highness' was a deliberate sign of disrespect, as that is used for princes and princess, with his switching to 'your majesty' at the end showing that he's accepted him as a king.

Description
Previous

~~~

There was hardly a moment of rest for Simba and Nala in the first weeks of their reign. Their pride (along with a few close associates in Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, and Zazu) were the only animals inhabiting the Pridelands anymore. Though water was plentiful again, and along with some carrion would keep them alive for a while, starvation was still a looming threat. No migrating herd would choose to enter the Pridelands anymore, with the reputation that it had gained during Scar’s reign—their best option was to send Zazu out to track down the native herds of the Pridelands (as well as the several lost members of the pride) who had fled, and hopefully convince them to return.

Though his majordomo’s task was immense, Simba rather envied him. His own task was to reestablish connections between his kingdom and those that surrounded it, as they had greatly deteriorated when Scar was king. That meant traveling to the lion kingdoms of the Grasslands, the Riverlands, the Khazimla Canyons... and the gorilla kingdom of the Theluji Mountains, directly beside the Pridelands. Though the other journeys were more dangerous, it was this one that scared Simba the most, for one big, intimidating reason.

“Tell me, your highness,” King Sokwe said, stretching out the word, “While you relaxed for years in your glorious oasis, did you ever spare a thought for the animals wasting away in your homeland?”

“I—“

“Did it occur to you,” he interrupted, “That even outside of the Pridelands’ borders there were animals suffering from Scar’s mismanagement? When my kingdom began to feel the effects of the drought we turned to the Pridelands for support, as we have done since the reign of your second monarch. For the first time, we were turned away.”

“I am sorry that that happened, King Sokwe,” said Simba.

“I accepted that this was the way it had to be,” the gorilla added, “Until his followers were found hunting in my kingdom!”

“Your majesty,” Simba pleaded, “I am not like—!”

“They would not help us and yet they would happily poach our subjects, even the young, time and time again! Until we returned their hunters dead. The Backlanders have had their territories pillaged by Scar’s pride and hyenas as well. Why, your highness, should I want to shake the paw of another Pridelander?”

Simba stayed quiet, his head held low.

“Why,” Sokwe continued, stepping closer to the lion on a massive fist, “Should I conclude that a little runaway prince is worthy of my help?” He let out a cold, barking laugh. “I have no reason to believe that you are any better than your uncle was!”

Simba closed his eyes tight, and took a deep, slow breath of the cold mountain air. Finally, he looked up and met Sokwe’s gaze.

“You’re right that I haven’t proven myself as a king,” he said, “But I’ve done nothing that would prove I’m a tyrant, either. I can only hope you’ll believe me when I tell you that I care about the Pridelands, and I’m going to do everything in my power to heal them and save my subjects. I’ll do my best with or without your help... but your help would be invaluable, and I would personally be in your debt. We hope you will allow us to hunt in your kingdom, until more animals have returned to ours.”

“Did you not hear what I just told you?” Sokwe growled.

“I did,” said Simba, calmly, “And with what you experienced, I don’t expect you to agree. But whether or not you want to help my pride now, I can promise you that as the true king of the Pridelands I will honor our kingdoms’ history together, and always be open to helping your troop.”

Silence descended, and the gorilla king stretched his massive shoulders, shaking a wave of snow off of his fur. When he didn’t speak, Simba sighed, and began to turn away.

“In the future,” he said, “I hope that our two lands can work someth—“

He was shocked into silence when a fistfull of snow crashed down on his head, nearly knocking him off of his paws. Baffled, Simba spun around to find the gorilla king cackling with laughter.

“You remind me of your father, the few times that I met him,” said Sokwe, with a warm smile, “Humble enough for diplomacy, but with the tenacity and backbone to command.” Simba just stared up in surprise, as he continued: “I hope you’ll forgive the prodding, King Simba, but it is not easy to know a true leader when you see one.”

“Are you saying—are you willing to help us?” Simba asked.

“I’ll still have my eye on you,” Sokwe said, playfully, “But I think that you will prove yourself a true lion king, your majesty. The Theluji Mountains would welcome a renewed alliance with your kingdom, and, when you need us, we will be there to help you. As the Pridelands will be there for us.”

~~~

Disclaimer: I know that, even standing on a rock, a gorilla shouldn’t be that much bigger than a lion. ...But I really wanted him to look scary

I absolutely adore that it’s canon that lions are not the only animals who act as leaders of whole kingdoms—makes it feel like a much more equal world, with there being monarchs of various species. I honestly wish we’d seen more of the gorilla royalty (particularly a momma for Hafifu and Majinuni!), but it’s fun to write about them anyway Side note: Sokwe calling Simba 'your highness' was a deliberate sign of disrespect, as that is used for princes and princess, with his switching to 'your majesty' at the end showing that he's accepted him as a king.