The Lion King III

**The Lion King III** is a sequel to the original Lion King 2 and stars Kovu and Kiara's offspring.

Artwork was released on April 22, 2016 at Deviantart.

## Story

> Kovu and Kiara are king and queen of the Pride Lands and have a litter of three cubs who each start to show off worrisome behaviour as they grow older. The elderly Simba's last spoken words stick with Kovu; a remark concerning the eldest behaving much like Scar, as he had already perceived another child to have traits of his equally troublesome mother. Kiara is less pessimistic and insists it's too early to have these kind of worries, since they're still children.
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> Things don't improve and the two eldest terrorize the land with their games, while the youngest is all play and no work, even in their late teenage years. Kovu contemplates having a private talk with them and Kiara wants to know his intentions. He argues the Pride Lands won't benefit from rulers who don't know Mufasa's teachings and they should be quizzed.
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> The two eldest, Mjanja and Msukumizi, are quick to pick up on what their father is trying to do and do their best to act interested. The youngest, Moyoni, thinks it's random chatter and doesn't hide her disinterest for the questions asked. As her hunting skills are abysmal as well, Kovu sees no future as queen for her.
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> Kiara thinks he's making a mistake discarding her this quickly, though can't say she's superior to her sisters, either.
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> But the kind-hearted Moyoni is fine with the decision and keeps living life like normal, whilst her sisters are prepared for the throne. One day she grabs the attention of a scouting prince, Bahati, who's not given the knowledge she's a princess upon meeting her, thus speaks to her like she's a commoner. Since Moyoni never paid attention to her education; his name and that of his suffering kingdom tells her nothing, resulting to their first interaction being a bit inappropriate. Though he wants to focus on his scouting job, her invitations to simple games like "a race through the water" equally distracts and charms Bahati, and he's quick to fall for her.
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> Before his own crowning ceremony, he asks her for marriage, which she accepts. She becomes queen of his tribe, which spawns jealousy within Msukumizi; as no handsome lions ever approached her. Mjanja isn't concerned with things like that and is more annoyed she has to share the throne.
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> When their parents and Moyoni are no longer around, the two sisters stop caring about keeping up appearances and begin their ruthless reign. Msukumizi terrorizes all animals and treats them like peasants, while Mjanja wants to collaborate with the hyenas and other unwanted predators. The Pride Lands changes into a familiar grey land and its queens don't consider it a sign of their failure. The lionesses in their pride complain, but are met with Msukumizi's physical and Mjanja's mental abuse. The blame is put on their bad hunting skills and refusal to accept the hyenas. As the tribe is young, they're convinced it to be their fault.
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> Msukumizi argues to her sister that the dead soil has to be thanks to the hot seasons, which urged the animals to move away. She agrees and wants to expand their kingdom until food is found.
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> Msukumizi then plans to recruit the hyenas as soldiers and send them out to neighbouring kingdoms to conquer for them, one of these being Bahati and Moyoni's.
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> One hyena -Mjanja's right-hand man- asks her if her sister knows about this plan, but is met with violence for questioning her. Despite her claim she's been informed and her threats, he visits Mjanja to tell her about the planned slaughtering of Moyoni and her pride. Mjanja confirms she wasn't informed and has never approved of this attack on their little sister.
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> She challenges Msukumizi, who tries to play innocent, but soon drops the act and reveals to think she's an unnecessary addition to the throne. She adds that Mjanja's embrace of lesser predators doesn't sit well with her and she questions her relationship with her hyena companion, Jiwe. Mjanja responds insulted and insists her way of ruling is superior. When she wants to ask the hyenas and their pride who they want as their leader, Msukumizi becomes nervous and attacks her.
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> Mjanja tries to fight her off, but stands no chance against the muscle mass. Jiwe finds the sisters fighting and calls over his brethren, but they express uncertainty on who to help, as they're both their queen. Jiwe argues Mjanja is their real ally, but some of the hyenas think Msukumizi better reflects their wishes.
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> While they're wasting time watching on, Jiwe throws himself into the fight, resulting to his death. Because Mjanja is hurt by this, Msukumizi lets her live to suffer her loss and public failure as a leader. She threatens the hyenas who contemplated defending Mjanja into obeying her, then leaves.
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> Later that day, Mjanja convinces some of Jiwe's friends to join her on her trip to Moyoni's kingdom, but they're stopped at the Pride Lands border by hyenas loyal to Msukimizi. The hyenas start to bicker with each other about their differing alliances, so one of them suggests Mjanja to go by herself now the "guards" are distracted.
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> She reaches her sister's kingdom, where she learns she's given birth to a daughter a short while ago. Moyoni says her messenger informed Msukimizi of this, but as she never brought it up to her, Mjanja understands her love for their little sister has withered in more ways than one.
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> A few hyenas then show up and Bahati greets them with alarmed suspicion. Mjanja vouches for them and asks him not to initiate an attack. Moyoni decides to trust her sister's claims and let's them approach.
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> Mjanja asks the hyenas if more are coming, but they're unable to say. Bahati is baffled by their companionship, and she replies it was her first goal and achievement as queen. Wanting to go back to the point, she states Msukimizi has gone mad and the Pride Lands are suffering, admittedly thanks to her as well. Moyoni doesn't believe her chosen sisters could mess things up so badly, but Mjanja insists on it and adds Msukimizi murdered a friend of hers, someone she loved greatly. The listening hyenas know what it entails and look on with bewilderment, while Moyoni is saddened to hear the one friend in her life was taken away.
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> But Bahati doesn't think it'll do his once struggling pride any good starting a war against a pride of brainwashed, yet devoted lionesses and many hyenas, and expresses reluctance to help out. Moyoni is upset and says this concerns her home and that of the great Mufasa, to which he reminds her his kingdom is now her home and Mufasa a local legend his family has nothing to do with and shouldn't sacrifice themselves over. When she wants to argue with him further, Mjanja intervenes and agrees with Bahati's logic, asking her little sister to consider her child's future as well.
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> Before she can clarify Msukimizi has it out for them and they should flee the land, Bahati is distracted by the large group of hyenas coming their way. Mjanja tries to make everyone remain calm by heading out alone to see if they're enemies or allies.
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> When she reaches them, one of the hyenas states to have been informed about the situation with Jiwe, whereafter they all bow to her. The queen of hyenas releases a careful smile of relief, then asks how many more stayed at the Pride Lands. The hyenas guess about half, and confirm that the lionesses have remained convinced that their loyalty should always be with the Pride Lands. Mjanja curses the psychological damage she's caused them.
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> *<under construction>*
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## Characters

### Mjanja

The first of the litter. Her name is Swahili for "sly".

She's a cunning and gracious smooth-talker who wishes to be the sole ruler of the Pride Lands, though was willing to share it with previously unwelcome predators; the hyenas. Unlike her sister, Msukumizi, she respects all predators and her indifference is only targeted at prey animals.

When she learned of her father's plans to give the crown to the "most motivated" daughter instead of the firstborn, she felt angered, but understood what created his doubt and was self-aware enough to lie her way to the throne. Because she's somewhat psychically weak, Msukumizi was asked to share the leadership role with her.

She had no friends for the longest time and even her sisters weren't considered to be. She finds Msukumizi a bother and always treated Moyoni as a simple-minded daughter. In her teenage years, she meets up with a hyena named Jiwe, and their friendship inspired her to involve the discarded hyenas in her plans.

Because of the Pride Land's past, their close relationship isn't all that appreciated and even Msukimizi shudders at the thought the two are more than friends. Mjanja has always denied there's romantic interest. The other hyenas needed time to trust the genderswapped Scar as well, but her friendship with Jiwe helped her earn their trust and keep it.

When Msukimizi plans to take over their younger sister's kingdom as an attempt to save theirs, the two queens instantly become enemies, though it's made clear they've had unflattering opinions about each other for a long time.

Mjanja grows up to look exactly like Kovu's late mother, Zira, though with brown fur, green eyes, and a black stripe on her head. In addition to that, her mannerisms are like Scar's.

### Msukumizi

The second of the litter, usually called Mizi. Her name is Swahili for "troublemaker".

Msukumizi has a short temper and sadistic mind like Zira. She's a burden to have in the peaceful Pride Lands that worships balance, as she sees everything that moves as prey. When she was young, she was able to convince her parents it was just play, even though she's an unconvincing actor.

Of the three daughters, she memorized Mufasa's teachings the best, as she was lectured the most. This helped her get the other half of the throne when her father came to interrogate her. To disobey these teachings is seen as entertainment to her, though she did so privately in order to ensure her inheritance. After the passing of their parents, she no longer cared to keep up appearances.

The power she wields ends up not being enough for her and her wish to expand the kingdom and kill Moyoni for it is not received well by the calmer Mjanja.

Msukumizi is a brown lioness with green eyes and a dark-red stripe on her head. As an adult, she has a large and muscular body, much like her grandmother Sarabi.

### Moyoni

The last of the litter. Her name is Swahili for "heart".

Moyoni is inexhaustibly kind and playful, but with a one-track mind. She never paid attention or listened to her parents' teachings and gets easily distracted by minor things. She had no wishes for the future, lacks creativity, and is a bad hunter.

Despite this, Mjanja and Msukumizi loved her, though treated her more like a daughter than their sister.

When Kovu broke the news she lost her chance of becoming queen, she felt no resentment and had already accepted that this was going to be the case as the youngest sibling. She cheered on her sisters and was fine living a basic life of not doing anything important. Despite this, she met and married a prince from another tribe and became their queen, forcing responsibility on her she never studied for.

As an adult, she recognizes her flaws and admitted to her husband she doesn't know what is expected from her, though needed little guidance on making important decisions when push came to shove.

She looks alot like Kiara, but has Kovu's sharp features. Her fur is light, her eyes green, and she has a bright-yellow stripe on her head.

### Bahati

Bahati is Moyoni's future husband. His name is Swahili for "luck"/"chance".

He met her when he was still a proper etiquette prince, concerned for his parents' kingdom. He told Moyoni that food had become scarce and he wanted to inspect the surrounding areas for clues, even though his family was blind for their struggles and insisted there was no need to worry. Bahati felt urged to go out on his own and was willing to risk his life to the journey.

His kingdom can only be reached by crossing the Outlands and has never been in contact with Simba's pride before.

He didn't learn Moyoni was a princess until long after they had already married, as she didn't thought it was important information to share. Their friendship and love was built with the believe she was a commoner.

In their first few meetings, Bahati would condescendingly address her with terms like "young lady" and "cub", though they later learn he's a year younger than her. Because of this, his wife decided to make the word "cub" his nickname.

After they married and Kovu and Kiara passed away, Moyoni's sisters officially began to implement their new reign, causing the Pride Lands wildlife to take refuge in Bahati's once empty kingdom, bringing it back to its past glory.

He has golden fur, thick white eyebrows, a white upper muzzle, slanted yellow eyes, and long, sleek black manes with blond bangs going far down. His build is similar to that of Mufasa.

In his first design he had a more youthful look with messy, short manes.

### Jiwe

Jiwe is Mjanja's most loyal friend and lackey. His name is Swahili for "stone".

He's a dark-grey hyena with little patience for tomfoolery, much like the lioness he chose to follow. He was a strong and quick hunter who apparently never scavenged for his food, which is one of the many reasons Mjanja respected him. He said old scraps made him nauseous.

He was willing to battle and sacrifice himself for the promised better life his kind was never given under Scar's reign, but Mjanja wished for him to stay by her side and not join the army. He called himself her majordomo, like Zazu was to Mufasa, and was the mediator between her and his fellow hyenas. The two had a fondness for each other that's unusual for a lioness and a hyena to have.

When Mjanja got attacked by the physically superior Msukumizi, he threw himself onto her to give her time to escape and paid for it with his life.

### Kovu

The father of Mjanja, Msukumizi and Moyoni, and a canon character from The Lion King 2.

### Kiara

The mother of Mjanja, Msukumizi and Moyoni, and a canon character from The Lion King 2.

## Trivia

* Since the first two Lion King movies were based on stories by Shakespeare, this one borrows from his "King Lear" stage play; a story about a king who asks his three daughters to prove their love for him in exchange for land and power.