A/N: Well, here goes. First fanfic ever! This story is based on the movie canon only; i.e., there's nothing in here from the musical or TLK6NA or anything like that. I tried figuring out a way to incorporate those into the story, but it just wouldn't work (which you'll probably see later). Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Reviews and/or criticisms are greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer: Any characters, events, places, or other miscellaneous things that you recognize don't belong to me.

Return to the Past

The two lions stood near the tip of Pride Rock as the sun set, casting long shadows over the Pridelands. As they looked over their territory, the wind blew gently, stirring the mane of the lion and the fur of his mate. Since the unification of his pride with the one from the Outlands, Simba was pleased to see that the Pridelands had enjoyed peace for several weeks. His mate Nala nuzzled his shoulder gently, her turquoise eyes bright with pleasure. "Look down there," she said playfully. "Remind you of anything?"

Simba looked downward and saw what Nala had pointed out. On a large rock several feet from the base of Pride Rock, his daughter Kiara lay next to her mate Kovu, his dark fur almost invisible in the fading light. Although it was difficult to make them out and impossible to hear them at all, he was sure they were gazing at one another with love in their eyes and talking endlessly about nothing in particular. Simba knew, for he had done the same thing with Nala after they had first been married. The two had been oblivious to the rest of the world; they simply wanted to learn all they could about each other and enjoy just being together.

"I'm glad they love each other so much," Simba said, turning back to Nala. "I just wish that I hadn't been so hard on her when she was growing up." Nala saw regret in the eyes of her mate, yet happiness for the future. She shook her head.

"You were only doing what you thought was right," she said. She swatted him gently with her paw, smiling. "Just try to relax a little, okay? You know everything's fine now."

"I know," Simba said, turning his gaze to the night sky. Above him were the great kings of the past, watching over him and his pride. He was sure his father Mufasa was watching him, and could only hope that he was proud. Nala lifted her head up as well, although Simba couldn't tell whether she was thinking the same thing he was or if she was just enjoying the view. He looked at his mate again, the light from the stars and the moon illuminating her pale fur. She seemed to glow almost silver in the dim light. And for what he was sure was the thousandth time since he had reunited with her in the jungle so long ago, he was struck again with how beautiful she was.

Noticing Simba's silence, Nala looked away from the sky and turned to her mate. His red eyes showed that he was deep in thought, and he seemed detached from everything around him. "What is it?" she asked.

He shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. "Remember how we found each other again? In the jungle?"

Nala laughed. "You mean, when I found you?" Before he could move out of the way, she had pounced on him playfully and pinned him to the rock. "I remember it happening a little something like this."

"Yeah," Simba said. "I was just thinking about that day. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here. I'd still be in the jungle, I wouldn't have a pride...." He rubbed his head against hers. "I wouldn't have you...."

"And Scar would still be king," Nala said, making a face. "That is, assuming we were all still alive." Simba placed a paw on top of hers. Nala didn't often talk about those days, the same way he didn't tell her everything about the jungle. She did this because of the painful memories from her past, while he did it because he knew it would be cruel to talk about the fun he was having while the Pridelanders were suffering. Sometimes he thought about how strange it was that, although they seemed to know each other as well as they knew themselves, there was still so much in their pasts that they hadn't even begun to touch on. Nala smiled again. "That day was the greatest of my life."

"I agree," Simba said. "But there was another reason I was thinking of that." He paused for a second, trying to think of the best way to say this. "Seeing those two together made me think that maybe we should, well, go back there. You know, relive that day. Just the two of us. It would be great."

"That's a great idea!" Nala said excitedly. "We could start out tomorrow and...." She frowned. "But who's going to rule while we're there?"

Simba lifted a paw toward his daughter's general direction. "Kiara and Kovu, of course. You know I've been kind of unfair to her, to both of them really, so let's give them some responsibility this time. They've earned it."

"Don't you think they're a little young?" Nala asked.

"Not much younger than I was when I became king," he replied. "Besides, Zazu and my mother will be there to help."

"I guess you're right," Nala said. "I know Kiara'll be happy, anyway." She looked down at the rock where her daughter was reclining, now a formless shadow. "When should we tell them?"

"I was thinking first thing tomorrow morning," Simba said. "Then we can leave right away. I know it'll take a while to get there."

Nala leaned into him, memories of the past flooding back to her. Deserting her hunting party as they searched for whatever could be found, sneaking past the hyenas appointed to guard the borders, and then running from the parched, desolate lands that she had once considered paradise. She had hated to stop for anything at all, seeking only someone who could help her, defeat Scar, and return the Pridelands to their former glory. And then she had found Simba again, and fallen in love. That was the day that she began to live again. That was the day her life had begun to turn around. She nuzzled her mate, her vivid eyes alive with joy and expectation. "I can hardly wait."

Kiara looked up at the silhouettes of the two lions on Pride Rock. "They've been there for a while, Kovu," she remarked. "What do you think they're doing?"

"Probably the same thing we are," he replied. "Talking, looking at the stars. Why?" He turned to face her, his green eyes glinting in the dark.

"I don't know," she said. "I guess it's because they haven't done this in a while." Kovu looked at her curiously. She continued, "Back when I was a cub, I used to see them like that all the time. Then, when I got older, they just kind of... stopped. I guess it just seems weird to see them like this again."

"Maybe it's because it's all over, you know?" He looked toward the cave further back on Pride Rock where the others were sleeping. "I mean, we're all together now. No one has to worry about what's going to happen. We can just... relax. Even Vitani said so, and you know how active she is," Kovu said, nudging her.

Kiara smiled. The former Outsider was a very active hunter and had quickly become one of the most important lionesses in her hunting party. It embarrassed her slightly that Kovu's sister was so skilled, while she still hadn't brought down her first kill. Thinking about this and the hunt that she was going to be a part of the next day made her tired. "Maybe we should go to bed now, Kovu," she murmured. "I'm not sure I can keep my eyes open much longer."

The lions stood up from the rock they had been lounging on and walked toward Pride Rock. Kiara glanced up at the tip and saw that her parents were gone. Her last thoughts were of Kovu and the impending hunt before she drifted off to sleep.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, bathing the Pridelands in shades of red and orange, Simba and Nala exited the communal cave. They had made a point to get up early so they could announce to the pride what they were going to do. As they looked over their land, Simba saw Zazu the hornbill flying over the waterhole, already finishing his morning report. "Do you think he'll have a problem with them in charge?" Simba asked.

Nala shook her head. "I doubt it. In fact," she added, "he'll probably enjoy it. This will be the first time they've been in charge. I bet they'll need his help on a lot of things."

They both turned around as the other lions exited the cave. At the same time, Zazu landed next to them and Timon and Pumbaa made their way up the side of Pride Rock. "Everyone, I have something to announce," Simba began. Nala nodded in approval.

"What is it, Daddy?" Kiara asked, wondering if it had anything to do with the night before.

"Nala and I have decided to visit the place where we were reunited," Simba said. "We really shouldn't be gone for more than two weeks, and we know that the pride is going to be in capable paws."

"That's because while we're gone, Kovu and Kiara will be ruling," Nala finished. "If you need any help, I'm sure Zazu or Sarabi will be happy to assist you."

Sarabi was one of the older lionesses in the pride, but was still young in spirit and very knowledgeable in the affairs of running a kingdom. She had helped Simba numerous times after he had taken the throne, and had helped several of the younger lionesses learn to hunt under Scar's reign. "Just ask me if you have any problems," she said.

"Do you really mean it?" Kiara asked. At a nod from her father she joyfully ran up to him, rubbing her head against his. "Thank you so much!"

"That's really great of you," said Kovu appreciatively. He was relieved to see that Simba finally respected and trusted him enough to let him have control of the kingdom. "I'm sure we won't have any trouble."

"Does anyone have a problem with this?" Simba asked. When his question was met with silence from the pride, he turned to Nala. "Great. Then we can set out now."

"Wait just a minute!" Timon suddenly shouted. "You mean to tell us that you're just packing up and going to our jungle right now, without us, without even giving us one word of warning, and you expect us to be okay with that?" The meerkat shook his head. "C'mon, Pumbaa, give me some backup here. We should be coming too!"

"Come on, guys, the last time you went there at all was before Kiara was born," Simba said, knowing that this applied to him as well. "I thought you said you liked the Pridelands better anyway."

"He has a point, you know," Pumbaa said. "I've always said the Pridelands had a wider variety of grubs...."

"All right, all right, go ahead," Timon said, cutting the warthog off. "But don't even think of taking any of the bugs from my personal stores." He looked at the lions accusingly. "I'll know!"

"What's gotten into him?" Nala muttered, shaking her head.

"I guess he thinks I should've asked him and Pumbaa to go before I asked you," Simba whispered to her. Nala rolled her eyes slightly. "Remember how in the jungle they didn't trust you that much at first?"

"I guess so," she answered. Speaking loud enough for the rest of the pride to hear, she said, "I guess we're leaving now. Goodbye, everyone!"

As the rest of the pride said their goodbyes, Simba and Nala descended from Pride Rock. Although neither of them looked back, they were both sure that Kiara and Kovu were stepping up to take the spots they had formerly vacated. That was to show that they accepted the position as temporary rulers. "They'll do fine," Nala said reassuringly. "How about we walk for an hour or two, and then go hunt?"

Simba nodded. Both lions were on edge with anticipation. They were finally returning to the jungle where they had realized their love for each other, and knew that beautiful memories of the past were waiting for them. Without a word they walked on, knowing that the sooner they reached the jungle, the longer they could stay.

A/N: I know not that much happened in this chapter, but I needed to set the stage for the actual story. I'm sure some of you know what's coming. As I said back at the beginning, any reviews would be great. Well, see ya next chapter!