Chapter Five

With Simba as ruler and king, the PrideLands slowly started to come back to their former glory. Former for everyone else, except for Indigo. News spread fast across all of the lands, and from far and wide hopeful herds started to migrate into the PrideLands. 

Within the pride itself, Simba assigned roles to everyone. A small group of lionesses were the hunting party, another group of three were assigned to be messengers to other prides, and the rest were to take up two roles each. Simba also gave Zira and her clan things to do, however resentful they were towards him. Even Indigo received a role, however it was on a more personal level. One day, while Indigo was sunbathing, Nala came up to her and laid down beside her.

“Hey Indie.” Nala said cheerfully. Indigo opened one eye and smiled, stretching out her stiff muscles.

“Hi Nala, how's the royal duties going?” Indigo asked. 

“Oh, they're fine, except I'm exhausted.” Indigo laughed.

“No wonder, you've been running around non-stop!” Nala nodded in agreement.

“Well, I talked with Simba, and he agrees that I need an advisor, someone to help me with the load.” Indigo sat up and gave a yawn. She glanced over at her sister.

“What about Zazu?” she asked. Nala shrugged.

“It's complicated. The majordomos are assigned to the direct descendants of the royal family, so he's not really my advisor.” Indigo nodded. All of this official royal stuff was confusing. Indigo frowned, her father had never explained this to her. Nala grinned, playfully bumping into Indigo. Indigo shook her head, trying to eliminate the thought of her dad.

“So what are you saying?” Indigo wondered. Nala got up, looking out over the PrideLands.

“I was wondering if you wanted to be my advisor.” she said. Indigo gazed at Nala, trying to contain her excitement.

“Of course I will sis.” Indigo replied, although Nala probably already knew the answer.

“Great, I'll go tell Simba.” Nala said, and walked off to Pride Rock. Indigo took a breath in, this was the first step towards moving forward.


The next few weeks passed blissfully over the PrideLands. Green was showing up everywhere, herds were plentiful and the trees looked alive. The pride was in a good mood, and soon they would be in an even better mood.

Indigo wandered into Pride Rock, and Nala and Simba were whispering to one another, and Nala let out a giggle. Indigo waltzed over, smiling at them.

“So what's got you two into such a happy mood?” Indigo asked, sitting down in front of them. Simba winked at Nala, and walked out of Pride Rock.

“Why don't you tell her Nala? I'm sure you will anyway.” he said jokingly. Nala laughed, sticking out her tongue. Indigo cocked her head to one side, slightly confused.

“Tell me what, Nala?” she inquired. Nala went up to Indigo, and whispered in her ear.

“I'm pregnant.” she said. Indigo shot back, her eyes wide.

“What?!” she partially shouted.

“Shh!” Nala hushed her. “I want to keep it a surprise for a while longer.” Indigo gazed around, she couldn't believe what she just heard. It seemed like yesterday she and Nala were playing around as cubs.

“When are you due?” she asked, being sure to keep her voice low.

“In the next few weeks.” Nala said. Indigo nodded, she couldn't believe it, in a while she would be an aunt.


The next week, Nala and Simba announced to the pride that they were due to have a cub in the next couple of weeks. Everyone was excited, they started gathering extra food for Nala so that she would have a healthy cub. And, sure enough, in the middle of the night during the rainy season, Nala gave birth to a cub, a male cub to be exact. Indigo, Sarabi, and Sarafina were all by her during the process, including Rafiki. Indigo was proud of both her sister and her nephew. She looked over at Simba, who was looking down lovingly at his small family. Indigo knew he would make a great father, just as he was making a great king. Greater than her own father had been...admittedly.

Simba ordered Zazu to make arrangements for his son's ceremony the next morning. Zazu nodded and promptly flew out, making his way to tell each herd the good news, and to pass it along. Simba left with Rafiki, who was explaining to him exactly how to care for Nala and the cub during the first few weeks. Indigo thought that this was the perfect time to bond with her sister and little nephew, and she quietly laid down beside them.

“Hey sis.” Indigo said softly. Nala had her eyes closed, but she opened them at the sound of Indigo's voice.

“Oh, hi Indie.” she responded, letting out a yawn. She looked down, and gave the cub a lick. Indigo smiled at them.

“So do you know what you're going to name him?” she asked. Nala shrugged, looking lovingly at her golden boy.

“I'm thinking of naming him Kopa.” she said.

“That's a wonderful name, you should tell Simba.” Indigo said. Nala nodded, agreeing.

“I think I will, when he gets back.” Nala yawned again, and put her head down, ready for another nap. Indigo laughed, such a small cub taking a lot out of everyone. Indigo got up and left Pride Rock, which was already surrounded by a few herd of antelope and elephants, all wanting to see the new prince.


Kopa's ceremony was nothing short of a success. Almost everyone showed up, including a few lionesses from neighbouring prides. Everyone was happy that he was born, for it sealed the fact that the era of Scar was over. Indigo found this moment to be bittersweet. She loved her sister, her family, and her pride, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel jealous of Kopa. She was next in line, but that didn't bother her, not now. Scar was a pathological liar, who knew what else he lied to her about?

Kopa grew in leaps and bounds, and with his auntie Indigo there to look after him, he was very spoiled indeed. Months passed, and Indigo decided to take Kopa out for his first hunting lesson. She walked with him to the plains, teaching him how to hunt for field mice. 

“Alright Kopa, first thing you want to do is to keep as low to the ground as possible.” she whispered. But Kopa was off chasing a locust. 

“Kopa, I thought you wanted to learn how to hunt.” Indigo sighed, Kopa was a handful, she wondered how her sister managed to keep up with him all the time. Kopa bounced over to Indigo, and attempted to tackle her hind paws.

“Grr! I caught you auntie Indie!” Kopa said, using his hind legs to kick hers. Indigo laughed, shaking her head. Obviously the hunting lesson would have to be postponed until later. Kopa pounced on her back, and as dramatically as she could, Indigo fell to the ground, letting out a roar. 

“Ah! I'm dying!” she yelled out. Then, she laid on the ground, motionless, her eyes tightly shut. She felt Kopa climb over to her, and peered down. 

“Auntie...?” he put his face close to hers, and then she opened an eye, and tackled him to the ground instead. She took her paws and placed them on his sides, tickling him.

“Auntie! That tickles!” he shouted. She laughed, that was the one thing everyone said about Kopa, he had a very contagious laugh.

Nala and Simba walked over, both exchanging smiles. They both thought the same thing; Indigo didn't have one ounce of Scar in her. Nala laughed, looking over her sister and her son.

“Alright you two, it's time for dinner.” she said. Both Kopa and Indigo groaned, standing up. Simba shook his head, a wide grin on his face.

“Honestly, sometimes I forget that you're almost an adult Indie.” he said jokingly. Nala huffed.

“Look who's talking.” she said under her breath, but Simba still heard her, and pushed her down. But Nala did her infamous flip, the one she used to practice on Indigo when they were little. Suddenly, all four of them were in giggles, and as Indigo looked around, she felt truly happy, as though she final;ly found where she belonged.