Author's Note: As promised, a sequel to "Missing You." I suggest you read that before you read this one. I have lots of twists and turns I'm hoping you all will enjoy in this story! I also do not own any of the characters, and in no way at all am I associated with Disney. I'm just a fan. However, I Lisani is my own creation. I couldn't wait to start writing this one because I'm so excited about it, so here's the first chapter up already. Enjoy!

Chapter I: The New Beginning

So much had changed over the months Nala had returned back to Pride Rock, along with Simba. They had their disputes, but in the end, they ended up in love of course. Simba had taken down Scar when he arrived and no one had seen the evil traitor since. Slowly the Pride Lands were being restored, and by now, the grass was much greener and most of the animals had returned. Zira and her followers were banned to the Outlands and they had kept quiet.

Simba had taken his rightful place as King and Nala was his Queen. She had never been happier and sometimes it felt like a dream that the place she had grown up in was finally revived. Yes, days were now much more peaceful, and her stubborn, sharp tongue was finally put to rest. She could smile now more often.

However, when she returned, her old friend Lisani had disappeared. She had asked her mother and Sarabi what happened to him and they simply said he had left the pride. Nala was crestfallen of course, but she never did think she would see him again when she set out to find help. Plus, what would Simba's reaction be? Obviously her and Lisani had felt something for each other and things never would have been the same. And she was happy now, anyway.

Nala watched the sunrise alone that one morning. In shed a little light on the grass that was finally growing again. She smiled in satisfaction that perhaps things would be okay. No, she told herself, they would be okay. Her smile widened.

Some wildebeest, zebras, elephants, giraffes and more greeted the day as well. It was not as plentiful as it had been previously, before Scar's reign, but it was nice to see some life again. It was surreal to her.

Her ears perked and she turned her head as Simba padded out to join her. There was a brief moment of silence before any of them said anything.

"I can't imagine that for most of my life, the Pride Lands looked worse than this," he said, gazing off into the sunrise, as Nala was.

"One thousand times worse," she replied. "I can't believe that I went most of my life thinking you were dead, and thinking that I'd never be able to see another sign of life besides field mice and the pride." Simba smiled, but didn't say anything. "I also can't believe you were raised by a pig and a meerkat," she said with a baffled expression on her face. "It's a wonder that you survived as I did."

Simba chuckled lightly as he turned his head and saw his two friends snoozing in the corner of the cave, still uneasy about being surrounded by lions. There was another silence between the two.

"What exactly was it like while I was gone?" Simba asked softly. "I know I missed so much, and I know that Scar was a horrible leader…" speaking about Scar made Simba cringed. He had thought Scar was such a noble lion until he came back and heard as well as saw what he had been up to.

Nala shrugged. She had an unspeakable hatred for Scar, but she did not say so. "He ordered us around like slaves, and let the hyenas stomp all over us," she said quietly. It was all still so vivid to her. "He brought a wicked lioness and uncrowned your mother. He was so cruel to us." Nala spoke nothing of Lisani, or that she had been struck by Scar several times, or that she had even fought with them and the real reason she left was because Lisani told her to and that she may have lost her life if she'd stayed.

Simba nodded stiffly. He was a curious lion, he had been his whole life, but it was so hard to hear what his own blood relative had done to the pride. It was otherworldly to him.

"Things will never, ever be like that again," he swore. All he had wanted to do was walk in his father's footsteps, and after failing miserable to do so for a good part life, it was all he longed to do.

Nala grinned. She believed every word he said. She sighed quietly and leaned into Simba, who touched the top of her head with his nose.

"What's your favorite name for a cub?" Nala asked calmly.

Simba raised his eyebrows and thought for a moment. "Kiara for a girl and Zikomo for a boy," he replied. He hesitated before asking, "why?"

Nala smiled. "Because soon we will be welcoming a new family member," she said, trying and failing to hide her excitement.

Nala lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him to see his expression. Simba looked down at her, his jaw open, obviously startled by the news. Then his mouth curled into a smile as he nuzzled her sweetly and they returned to gazing out over the Pride Lands peacefully.

It was the most beautiful sunrise that either of them had ever seen.