The Lion's Shadow
The Lion's Shadow
A famous and powerful lion named King Leo seemed perfect on the outside, but he hurt many animals in secret. When victims bravely spoke up, the truth came out, and even the mighty king had to face justice.
Once upon a time, there was a very rich and famous lion.
Once upon a time, there was a very rich and famous lion.
His name was King Leo.
His name was King Leo.
Everyone knew King Leo.
Everyone knew King Leo.
He made music.
He made music.
He threw big parties.
He threw big parties.
He lived in a golden castle.
He lived in a golden castle.
King Leo was powerful.
King Leo was powerful.
Many young animals wanted to work with him.
Many young animals wanted to work with him.
They thought he could make them famous too.
They thought he could make them famous too.
He smiled a lot.
He smiled a lot.
He wore expensive clothes.
He wore expensive clothes.
People took his picture everywhere he went.
People took his picture everywhere he went.
But King Leo had a dark secret.
But King Leo had a dark secret.
Behind the closed doors of his castle, bad things happened.
Behind the closed doors of his castle, bad things happened.
He hurt people at his parties.
He hurt people at his parties.
He was not kind.
He was not kind.
He was not good.
He was not good.
He used his power in wrong ways.
He used his power in wrong ways.
For many years, nobody said anything.
For many years, nobody said anything.
People were scared of King Leo.
People were scared of King Leo.
He was too powerful.
He was too powerful.
He had too much money.
He had too much money.
Who would believe a small mouse against a big lion?
Who would believe a small mouse against a big lion?
Then one day, a brave bird spoke up.
Then one day, a brave bird spoke up.
Her name was Cassie.
Her name was Cassie.
She said,
She said,
"King Leo hurt me."
"King Leo hurt me."
"For ten years, he was mean to me."
"For ten years, he was mean to me."
"He hit me."
"He hit me."
"He did terrible things."
"He did terrible things."
At first, people did not know what to think.
At first, people did not know what to think.
But then more birds came.
But then more birds came.
More mice came.
More mice came.
More rabbits came.
More rabbits came.
They all said the same thing.
They all said the same thing.
"King Leo hurt us too."
"King Leo hurt us too."
Soon, everyone was talking.
Soon, everyone was talking.
The newspapers wrote about it.
The newspapers wrote about it.
The TV news showed it.
The TV news showed it.
Even other famous animals were worried.
Even other famous animals were worried.
Did they know about King Leo's parties?
Did they know about King Leo's parties?
Were they there too?
Were they there too?
Finally, the forest police came.
Finally, the forest police came.
They put King Leo in a cage.
They put King Leo in a cage.
"You must go to court,"
"You must go to court,"
they said.
they said.
"A judge will decide if you are guilty."
"A judge will decide if you are guilty."
King Leo said,
King Leo said,
"I am not guilty!"
"I am not guilty!"
"I did nothing wrong!"
"I did nothing wrong!"
But he could not leave the cage.
But he could not leave the cage.
The judge said no three times.
The judge said no three times.
Many months passed.
Many months passed.
Then the big day came.
Then the big day came.
The trial started in May.
The trial started in May.
Lawyers talked and talked.
Lawyers talked and talked.
Witnesses came to tell their stories.
Witnesses came to tell their stories.
The whole forest watched.
The whole forest watched.
In July, the judge made a decision.
In July, the judge made a decision.
King Leo was guilty of some crimes.
King Leo was guilty of some crimes.
But not all crimes.
But not all crimes.
He would stay in the cage.
He would stay in the cage.
He would wait for his punishment in October.
He would wait for his punishment in October.
The golden castle was now empty.
The golden castle was now empty.
The music stopped playing.
The music stopped playing.
The big parties were over.
The big parties were over.
King Leo's crown was taken away.
King Leo's crown was taken away.
Even his school took back his diploma.
Even his school took back his diploma.
All the young animals learned an important lesson that day.
All the young animals learned an important lesson that day.
It does not matter how rich you are.
It does not matter how rich you are.
It does not matter how famous you are.
It does not matter how famous you are.
If you hurt others, you will face the consequences.
If you hurt others, you will face the consequences.
No one is above the law.
No one is above the law.
Not even a king.
Not even a king.
And Cassie, the brave bird who spoke first?
And Cassie, the brave bird who spoke first?
She finally felt free.
She finally felt free.
Her voice had been heard.
Her voice had been heard.
Justice was coming, slowly but surely.
Justice was coming, slowly but surely.
The end.
The end.