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The animals approached Pride Rock from all over the kingdom, coming from near and far to meet their future king. Everyone was preparing for the presentation of the young Prince Simba, who was curled up in his mother's forelegs at the moment, unaware of his great fate. Sarabi smiled at her son, as Rafiki performed the rites, and moments later, she smiled down at the kingdom as the baboon held her cub up before the entire kingdom. The animals showed their respect, bowing and cheering, and the lionesses of the pride cheered too, those with young newborn cubs holding them close as they looked on. The ceremony wasn't very long, it was only long enough to show off the king-to-be, but it's ending was very bizarre.
As the presentation was wearing down, a loud thundering sound filled the air and drew all eyes upward. Sarabi gaped at the large... thing falling from the sky. What the hell was that? She'd never seen anything like it before. Smoke billowed from its rear as the thing hurtled closer, and the lioness could see that it was headed straight towards them. The prey animals gathered below bellowed in terror and fled the area, the predators following suit, leaving only the lions, Zazu and Rafiki at Pride Rock.
"Mufasa... it's coming right for us...! I have to get Simba away from here!" the lion queen cried out.
"Sire!" Zazu screeched, "It looks like it will hit right behind Pride Rock! Should we evacuate the lionesses?"
Sarabi grasped Simba by his scruff and started to bolt, but the thing was already getting too close. She didn't know if she dared to climb down from the rock's peak. Not knowing what else to do, the lioness bounded into the den in which the lions slept, ducking down and huddling over her cub protectively as the hornbill majordomo remained outside at the king's side waiting for orders.