Fan art of Kion, Rani and their sons. I've wanted to make another "screenshot" of their time at the Tree of Life for a while, also write another part of their story. It's a bit longer today, but I'm also bit more proud of the result, with some interesting foreshadowed twist in the end... or not? :D

Note: Timba and Asani are my made up characters. :)

Previous arts with stories about them:
"Not Like You" - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/34401796/
"Five Minutes Can Change Your Fate" - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/34459919/


English isn't my native language, but I still hope you understand. ^^
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This morning was very different. The problems that Timba has been getting into lately have made his parents think. Asani was also worried, his brother no longer played or laughed with him anymore. It was suspicious, and it was clear that Timba was bothered by something.

Everyone knew the story of Scar and the cause of his tragic fate through and through, and naturally no one wanted to repeat it. Since Asani was the "big brother", he did not hesitate to inform his parents about everything that had rustled at the Tree of Life as far as Timba was concerned. Asani was the future king and was proud of it, but he had a quality that Mufasa himself lacked at young age. Empathy. But Asani's empathy was developed in a remarkable way, making him sense subtle nuances in the behavior of others, and was able and happy to get into it.

It had already occurred to him that his cheerful and optimistic approach would not affect Timba, but rather provoke him. He had to do it differently.

Kion decided to take whole family on patrol this morning. Maybe his son won't feel pushed away then? He was afraid it was too late. Timba didn't even want to talk to mother... And then Asani decided to do something he hadn't done before. He walked away to his brother far behind, who was obviously uninterested in anything.

"You don't like Uzuri, do you?" Asani asked calmly.

"What do you mean?" Timba raised his head in confusion.

"I mean... if you tease someone, then it's not like you are evil. It just has to be the other cub."
Timba looked up at him in surprise. What he just said didn't make much sense to him, so he stayed quiet.

"I know you. You're in pain, trying to hide it. And a terrible liar," Asani chuckled when he saw little smile on the cub's face, "I... just wanted to say I believe in you. It's not just you're my only brother, but I really do. We don't even play fight anymore and I know, you probably think that being serious and grumpy will make you appear older..."

Asani decided to make important but risky step forward, "and you maybe think... you could be better king, right?"

For a moment, Timba was like frozen to the ground. But the most surprising thing has yet to come. His brother still continued, and both suddenly felt like they were going down the rabbit hole.

"Did you ever think about... killing me?"

Timba was almost frightened now, he looked into his brother's eyes, but these seemed completely calm and serious with the question, which scared him even more. But the question itself was so absurd for these two little cubs that Asani almost burst out laughing. He knew that it was real story in the past and that it might not be fair to joke about it, but also he needed to see Timba's reaction first.

"So that's it," Timba shrugged suddenly, "I am the new Scar now. If that's what you all think... I have only one thing for you, brother."

For a little moment, less than a blink of an eye, Asani hesitated if he had done the right thing.

"DIEEE!" Timba roared and attacked him, Asani would jump in fright if he wasn't on his back right away. How happy he was to find out that it was just a game!

Kion with Rani looked back, and when they saw their cubs play again, they began to laugh, perhaps out of great relief. Rani nuzzled to Kion, both glad that things might turn better now.

Asani defeated Timba this time, he tried kicking with his hind legs, but failed to free himself. "Okay, okay, you're the winner!"

After that, they all finished the morning patrol more or less together. Before returning to the Tree, Timba stopped his brother for the last time: "Asani, you know... it's not like I think I am better than you. The point is I think the exact opposite." He almost started to cry, but trying to hide it so no one would've really noticed, but Asani saw it very well. His response was surprisingly honest and reassuring for our dark-haired lion cub:

"I'm really sorry to hear that. We don't think this about you, no one here does."

Timba just nodded.

"But you can't really force emotions with your brain, huh? I know... And as long as you know we love you as you are, and at some point, you'll find out your place in the Circle of Life... you'll be really happy."

Kion and Rani just walked by, went to the den, and then Asani came closer to Timba, continuing his thoughts:

"Dad forces you to be someone you don't like, that hurts. And my opinion is Scar wasn't born evil. He was just hurt too and nobody cared. Everyone just acts like the Circle of Life is destiny, therefore safety, everything is always as it should be... But do you know what I believe? I believe we have a choice, and much more freedom than we realize. Traditions suck."

Timba smiled back, and when Asani walked closer to the den, he turned one last time with a strange expression that Timba couldn't read: "You're not the only one who has secrets, brother." and with this sentence he disappeared in the dark.


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Please do not use my art or stories. Do not repost my artwork, if you want to, as me first and give proper credits. Thank you!