| The Circle Continues | |
|---|---|
| |
| Attribution information | |
| Author |
Sarah E. Heller |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher |
Disney Press |
| Published |
2000 |
| Collection |
Disney Animal Stories |
| Pages |
49-64 |
| Guide | |
| Next | |
The Circle Continues is a short story inspired by The Lion King. It was published by Disney Press in 2000 as part of Disney Animal Stories.
Synopsis[]
One morning, the Pride Landers gathered to welcome Simba, the newborn son of Mufasa and Sarabi, the rulers of Pride Rock. However, Scar, Mufasa's younger brother, resented Simba for taking his place as second in line to the throne. One day, when Simba bragged to Scar about being the future king, Scar tricked Simba into visiting an Elephant Graveyard, asserting that only the bravest lions visited that place.
Simba recruited his best friend, Nala, to visit the elephant graveyard with him. Suddenly, the cubs were attacked by a gang of hyenas. Simba tried to scare the hyenas away, but to no avail. Luckily, Mufasa arrived and routed the hyenas. On the way back to the Pride Lands, Simba realized how much he still needed his father and asked him if they would always be together. In response, Mufasa asserted that the great kings of the past, who resided among the stars, would always be there to guide Simba.
Meanwhile, Scar plotted with the hyenas to finish off both Mufasa and Simba. Although Scar and his cronies succeeded in killing Mufasa, Simba managed to escape. He fled the Pride Lands and was rescued by a meerkat, Timon, and a warthog, Pumbaa. Simba adopted his new friends' "no worries" philosophy and grew up living a carefree life with them in the jungle.
One day, Simba had to rescue Pumbaa from a lioness hunter. When the lioness flipped Simba over on his back, Simba realized she was his childhood friend, Nala. The two friends spent some time together, but when Nala tried to convince Simba to return to the Pride Lands, asserting that the kingdom was in a state of famine, Simba fled from her. Sulking alone, Simba was approached by Rafiki, a wise old baboon, who led him to a pool. There, in his reflection, Simba contemplated his resemblance to his father.
Suddenly, the image of Mufasa appeared in the sky. The spirit urged Simba to remember his true identity. Emboldened by his father's support, Simba hurried back to the Pride Lands. There, he engaged Scar while Nala and the lionesses took on the hyenas. Finally, Simba defeated Scar and reclaimed the Pride Lands by roaring over them. Simba proceeded to rule over the Pride Lands justly, and the kingdom gradually returned to a state of prosperity. One day, Simba and Nala summoned the Pride Landers to Pride Rock to welcome their new daughter, Kiara, into the Circle of Life.
Appearances[]
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