As the sun rises, all the animals in the Pride Lands gather from near and far to a large rock called Pride Rock.

Nants ingonyama bagithi baba

Sithi uhhmm ingonyama

Nants ingonyama bagithi baba

Sithi uhhmm ingonyama

Ingonyama

Siyo Nqoba

Ingonyama

Ingonyama nengw' enamabaal

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Se-to-kwa!)

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Asana)

From the day we arrive on the planet

And, blinking, step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

But the sun rolling high

Through the sapphire sky

Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the Circle

The Circle of Life

As the animals gathered, Poseidon, the king lion, stood majestically on Pride Rock, with golden fur and a jet black mane. As he overlooked the animals as they gathered around, he saw the small yellow-billed hornbill Hermes fly up to him. He bowed to the king who nodded back respectfully. Then, the crowd of animals split to make a path for Chiron, the local soothsayer. When he made his way up to the perch, he smiled and Poseidon hugged the old baboon and friend. He led Chiron to where his wife, Sally, was cradling a newborn cub with distinct sea-green eyes.

Chiron smiled and rattled his staff over the cub as a blessing. He then broke a fruit in half and painted a mark on his forehead. Then he took some sand and sprinkled it on the cub's forehead, which caused him to sneeze. Poseidon and Sally smiled as Chiron took the cub and walked to the edge of Pride Rock. He hoisted the cub up to show the crowd of animals, who cheered and whooped with joy, and then bowed in reverence to the new prince.

It's the Circle of Life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the Circle

The Circle of Life

In a cave behind Pride Rock…

A mouse comes out of his hole, but as soon as he gets comfortable, he senses danger. But as he tries to run away, a paw quickly stops him and pulls him up to the face of the dark furred lion Hades, Poseidon's brother.

"Life's not fair, is it?" he asks the mouse, "You see I, well I, will never be king. And you shall never see the light of another day. Adieu."

And just as he is about to eat the mouse a voice said, "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"

The lion followed the voice to a certain hornbill and replied, "What do you want?"

"I'm here to announce that King Poseidon's on his way," he said bowing politely, "So you'd better have a good excuse for missing the ceremony this morning." As Hades' attention was on Hermes, the mouse decided to use this advantage to escape.

"Oh, look Hermes you made me lose my lunch."

"Ha! You'll lose more than that when the king gets through with you. He's as mad as a hippo with a hernia"

"Ooo, I quiver with fear," the lion said with a mischievous smile, advancing toward Hermes.

"Now, Hades, don't look at me that way…Help!" was all he said before Hades pounced and trapped him in his mouth.

"Hades," said a deep voice.

"Mmhmm," he said.

"Drop him."

"Impeccable timing, your majesty," he said before Hades 'released' him.

"Why if it isn't my big brother, descending from on high to mingle with the commoners," Hades said, dripping with sarcasm.

"Sally and I didn't see you at the presentation of Perseus," Poseidon said, getting right to the point.

"That was today? Oh, I feel simply awful," he said, sharpening his claws on the rock, "Must've slipped my mind."

"Yes, well as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother you should have been first in line," Hermes said.

"Well, I was first in line, until the little hairball was born."

"That 'hairball' is my son and your future king-"

"Oh, I shall practice my curtsy," Hades said, turning away from Poseidon.

"Don't turn your back on me, Hades."

"Oh no, Poseidon, perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me." Poseidon roared and ran in front of Hades.

"Is that a challenge?" he asked with bared teeth.

"Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of challenging you."

"Pity, why not?" Hermes asked, disappointed.

"Well, as far as brains go I got the lion's share. But when it comes to brute strength…" he said looking at

Poseidon, "I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool." He passed Poseidon and Hermes and walked away.

Hermes sighed and perched Poseidon's shoulder, "There's one in every family, sire. Two in mine actually, and they always manage to ruin special occasions."

"What am I going to do with him?"

"He'd make a very handsome throw rug," Hermes said smiling.

"Hermes," Poseidon said, trying to hide his smile.

"And just think, whenever he gets dirty you can take him out and beat him." Poseidon laughed at Hermes' amusing comment.

Later that day, a large storm enveloped the Pride Lands. And in a large baobab tree, (A/N: Look it up) Chiron painted a picture of a small lion cub with sea-green eyes. "Percy," he said, painting the final mark on the forehead.