The warm sun began to set over the rolling green hills surrounding the ancient city, casting a long golden light across the stone entrance of the Maximus family estate.
A dozen former soldiers stood near the iron gates, cheering as General Maximus rode up the stone driveway on his white warhorse, with young Leo sitting safely in front of him.
The giant black lion walked proudly alongside the horse, its orange eyes scanning the familiar trees and stone pathways of its old home.
Veteran Soldier: Welcome home, General! Welcome home, little prince!
Leo: Look, Dad! The big fountain in the courtyard is working again!
General Maximus: The men worked hard all afternoon to get the estate ready for your return, son.
Maximus lifted Leo down from the saddle, setting his small feet gently onto the clean stone floor of the main courtyard.
The black lion immediately bounded over to the cold water of the marble fountain, dipping its massive head down to drink deeply under the open sky.
Old Servant: Young Master Leo! Is it really you?
An elderly woman in a blue linen dress hurried out from the house, her eyes filled with tears as she dropped to her knees in front of the boy.
Leo: Martha! You're still here!
Martha: I never left the property, my sweet boy! When the bad men came, I hid in the forest village, praying every night that you were still alive!
General Maximus: Martha, you kept the lower staff safe during the dark years. I owe you a debt of gratitude.
Martha: You owe me nothing, General! Knowing that our true master is back and that wicked Emperor is in chains is all the payment I need!
Leo: Look, Martha! Shadow came back too!
Martha: Merciful heavens! The beast grew so big! But look at him... he still remembers his home.
The lion finished drinking and walked over to Martha, nudging her apron gently with its wet nose before curling up on the sunny stone floor of the porch.
General Maximus: Martha, please prepare the main dining hall. We have much to celebrate tonight.
Martha: Right away, General! I will prepare the boy's favorite roast meats and fresh bread!
Leo: Can Shadow have a big piece of meat too, Dad?
General Maximus: Shadow gets the biggest steak in the kitchen tonight, son. He earned it.
As Martha hurried inside to prepare the meal, General Maximus led Leo to the center of the courtyard, where a large stone statue of the boy's mother stood surrounded by blooming white roses.
Leo: Mom would have been happy to see Shadow again, right Dad?
General Maximus: Your mother loved that lion cub more than anything, Leo. She used to say he had the soul of a guardian protector.
Leo: He saved me today, Dad. When I was scared in the sand, he just licked my arm where I got scratched.
General Maximus: Animals know true innocence, son. Evil men like Marcus think they can force the world to do their bidding through fear, but loyalty is something you can never buy with gold.
Leo: Is Marcus going to stay in the dark cage forever?
General Maximus: The tribunal court will decide his fate tomorrow morning. He will face justice for every law he broke and every life he tried to ruin.
Leo: I'm glad we came back home.
General Maximus: So am I, Leo. So am I.