"Once we lived in an enchanted world. A world of kings and princesses and beautiful kingdoms... and grand hunts, beautiful queens... That would soon be gone forever..."

Sarabi smiled at her family, calling her youngest granddaughter, Kiara over.

"Oh grandmamma! Do you have to return to the Southern Lands?" Kiara pouted, crawling into her grandmother's paws, "You could stay here! With us at Pride Rock!"

Sarabi chuckled, licking Kiara's cheek, "I would love to, but my sister is ill, I will return and we'll be together in the Pridelands again, my dear."

The youngest princess purred as she rubbed her cheek along Sarabi's chest, "Ok, Grandmamma," Glancing up at the older lioness, Kiara pouted, "Well you better be back soon!"

The dowager queen laughed, "Of course, my darling, cub." Sarabi laughed as her son, the current king, Simba, played with his young son who was also Kiara's twin, Kopa.

"Aw c'mon dad!" The young cub whined, batting at his father's paws, "Your way bigger! No fair!"

"If your gonna be king someday then your gonna have to defend the kingdom," Simba laughed, winking at his mother, "Now be a lion and fight this old timer!"

Sarabi smiled sadly, oh how this scene reminded her of her late mate, who was murdered by his evil brother, Scar. Pushing all bad thoughts out of her mind, the ex queen padded over to where Kiara had run too.

Sitting where the current queen, Nala, was talking with her eldest daughter, Shani about her betrothal. "So who's the lucky lion?" Sarabi asked her granddaughter, sitting next to her.

"Oh, Grandmamma! He's Malka's second youngest, Ali." Shani sighed, her blue eyes sparkling, "He should be here soon, in fact." Shani was an clone of her mother, her dull coloured coat and blue eyes, though she inherited some her father's facial features.

"Oh please," Sarabi's second granddaughter, Zuri, scoffed, "The last you saw him was four moons ago, he probably picks his nose now." The young teen rolled her amber eyes. Sarabi shook her head, smiling at the young lionesses.

"Now that's enough now," Nala said, shaking her head, "Malka and his sons will be here soon, Zuri I want you to be on your best behaviour." The queen said, glaring at her second daughter, the 'rebel' as the family likes to call her, "Also, Tama and Tojo are coming with their sons."

Zuri groaned.

"The other royals soon arrived, Tojo and Tama's youngest son, Dogo, who had fancied my granddaughter, Zuri, had offered to take her back to his pride, she declined, of course."

"I'm sorry, Dogo. Your a nice guy and all, but I can't..."

Dogo, Tama and Tojo's son, nodded sadly, "I understand, Zuri." He forced a smile, "Excuse me."

"The night went off without a hitch, Shani and Ali announced their engagement and there was a fabulous kill brought back, thanks to Nala and the other queens. I was offered to go but declined, choosing to stay with my Kiara."

Sarabi watched from the shadows, as Shani, who was hanging off a strapping young lion's arms, was congratulated.

"Kovu! Get back here!"

Sarabi glanced behind her where a small cub sat, his green eyes shined brightly as he looked at all the animals gathered for the princess's betrothal. Watching a lioness grab him by the scruff of the neck, dragging back to the den, muttering, "You belong in the shadows!"

"But little did we know that a dark force was coming..."

A dark lion made his way up the rocks that served as stairs, his green eyes glowed evilly in the setting sun. Sarabi watched as her son got up and approached the lion.

"Scar! Why have you returned?!" Simba roared, "You were banished! You and Zira!"

The lioness behind Scar scoffed, glaring at Nala and Sarabi, while Scar smirked at Simba, "Is that anyway to greet your uncle?" He cooed.

"Uncle? Ha!" Simba threw his head back, "You killed my father, the king! You were banished years ago for treason!"

Kiara pressed herself against Sarabi, who welcomed her with open arms, "Grandmamma? Who's that?"

"A horrible lion, darling." Sarabi pulled the cub closer, listening to her son and the lion that was once her brother in-law.

"Within the fortnight you and your family will die!" There were horrified gasps, Scar just smirked and continued on, "It will be the end of Mohatu's bloodline! I here by set a curse on this wretched rock!"

Sarabi gasped, the ex queen looked down at Simba, who stood over his son, "Get out! Both of you!" Simba snarled and took a step forward but stopped when a rock fell, the den covered in a layer of dust. When it cleared Scar and Zira were nowhere to be found.

"Scar and his mate, Zira were gone... Some say they sold their souls to the devil, being hell bent on revenge to my son, who dethroned them."

"Grandmamma?" Kopa asked from his place next to sister, "Are we really going to die?"

Sarabi smiled at the two cubs, "Of course not, Scar is a very ill lion," The dowager queen nuzzled her youngest grandcubs, "Now off to sleep."

Yawning, Kopa nodded and padded over to his mother, who was waiting for him. Kiara stayed in her grandmother's arms through, "Grandmamma? Can I please come with you?"

"No sweetheart, everything's going to fine. In fact, I have something for you." Sarabi nuzzled the cub with her nose before grabbing a small piece of grass weaved together so it held a small red stone, in Sarabi's other paw was an identical one, only this one held a orange stone, "Here, so when I leave for the Southern Pride you can look at this and remember that we'll be back together soon."

Kiara held the small bracelet close to her chest, "Oh, Grandmama! Do you really have to go?"

Sarabi nodded, "I'm afraid so. But don't worry, look here," The old lioness gently grabbed the smaller bracelet and hooked it around her own, "Even though we are apart, we are joined at the heart...We are one."

Kiara nodded, yawning sleepily, "I think I get it..." The young princess curled into Sarabi's chest, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, darling." Sarabi licked Kiara's ear, "Sweet dreams... We'll be together soon.."

"But we would never be together... As Scar had gathered his army of hyenas and attacked when we least expected it..."

"Quickly! Nala! Take the children!"

Sarabi ran through Pride Rock's main entrance, following her daughter in-law, who was carrying Kopa in her mouth while Kiara sat in her own.

"Grandmama! My bracelet!" Kiara squirmed out of her mouth and raced back to the far corner where Sarabi had left their belongings.

"Kiara! Come back!" Sarabi crouched over her granddaughter when she heard laughing at the main entrance, her eyes wide she searched for a way out.

"Your highness!" Sarabi looked up where a young cub poked his head through a gap behind a rock, "Come through here!"

Not willing to take the chance and have herself and her granddaughter killed she followed the cub, who fell through the crack. Turning around the old queen looked down to see him, "Go! I'll be fine!" He insisted, smiling at Sarabi, who nodded her head in thanks.

Scooping Kiara up in her jaws, Sarabi ran towards the river that served as the Prideland's border. Stopping to look at the strong river below, Sarabi heard chuckling behind her. Fearfully looking behind, she saw Zira.

"Looks like it's a dead end, your highness. Now give me the cub and you'll live." The evil lioness sneered, prowling forward.

Sarabi stood in front of Kiara protectively, "Never!" The dowager queen snarled.

Zira gazed at her with mock symphony, "Well you and the brat can die, either way the curse will happen." With that said, the crazed lioness leapt at Sarabi, who fought back Tooth and Claw.

Sarabi swiped at Zira, who bit down on her paw. Yelping loudly, Sarabi backhanded Zira. Panting loudly, Sarabi turned to Kiara, who was shaking. The dowager Queen didn't see Zira get back up, or see her approach. She only felt her leap on her back and knock Kiara away, into the strong currents. "KIARA!" Quickly knocking Zira off of her, Sarabi bounded down to the water, hoping to find her granddaughter.

"So many lives were lost that fateful day, including my Kiara... Who I never saw again..."

~O~

So this idea came to me the other day when we were watching Anastasia, such a wicked movie. Anyway don't be afraid to check out my other stories( And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Brave Heart, Season of Change or Farm Boy and Moon Child)

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