I'm back again!

This is the sequel to Pride of the Red Snow, so if you haven't read that, you may be lost. Thanks for reading, now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Lion King, but I do own my own characters. Deal with it.

Life in the Pridelands adjusted nicely to the new rule of Gunab and Ibzimai. Though Obassi and Boniko aided in Gunab's attack, Obassi decided to let the younger lion rule, so him and the rest of their pride, excluding Gunab and Ibzimai, returned to the Outlands.

Gunab was still in slight shock that he was now ruling a new kingdom. He didn't know what kind of alliances or enemies the Pridelands had, or what unfinished business Kovu had left. One mystery that all the lions wondered about, but paid no mind to, was the disappearance of Falai, the former queen. It was many, many days later that the aging Vitani approached her nephew to discuss what has went on.

Gunab was sitting at the end of Pride Rock, admiring the golden view once again as the lionesses were on a hunt without Vitani. The old girl walked slowly out of the den and laid down by Gunab, also admiring the view until she turned to give Gunab a serious look, "You, my friend, are going to have a rough break-in as king."

The young king blinked in slight confusion at Vitani, "What do you mean, rough? It seems peaceful enough here, there's plenty of food, water.." He paused for a moment, shaking his head, "Tell me, what do you mean?"

Vitani sat up and looked up north, not focusing on anything in particular, just letting her eyes wander as far as they could see. "There is a rival pride far up north that is much stronger and sly than us. Even if you called on your old pride's help, we'd still be dead."

He thought for a second, in an unnoticeable panic. Rival pride? Stronger and slyer? Dead? "There ... there has to be a way to keep them away for a while, doesn't there? They can't just wander in and attack us with no purpose." Gunab growled in frustration, already facing an important duty.

"I believe Nugdi said," Vitani began again, watching Gunab carefully, "that the first born cub would keep them away from us for a while."

"First born cub? .. But how did they know the Pridelands were under new rule already?"

She sighed at Gunab and stood up, blocking his path that he was beginning to pace, "I usually meet with Nugdi once or twice a week to negotiate our lives. Yesterday he came and I told him that we had a new, young king and a new queen."

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner, Vitani!" Gunab yelled, furious that he was left in the dark about such an important issue.

Vitani replied coolly and quickly, in an exhaled whisper, "I didn't want to trouble you so soon, is all." and with that she turned her back to Gunab.

Gunab growled and sprang over Vitani, roaring in her face, "Troubling me is not telling me what's going on in my own kingdom!"

The old girl just stared in emptiness at him before speaking, "Nugdi and Kovu had a secret battle going on before you took over. I don't know all the details still, but he has some deep rooted issues about the Pridelands. If you want to know what's going on, go see him yourself," she paused for a second to observe Gunab's expression of intrigue and anger then continued, ".. with your first born cub. Or he'll kill you."

"Why does he want our first born cub!" Gunab growled, "What's he going to do with them? And we don't even know if we have cubs on the way yet.."

Vitani shook her head and sighed, "Then you can't go see him. You have to have the cub. I suggest after Ibzimai has the cub, that you take it away as quick as you can so that she doesn't get attached to it, then it would be very heartbreaking to her to see it go." She paused and glanced at Gunab once again.

"Very well then." Gunab said slowly after an extended pause, "But how could I tell Ibzimai? I don't even know the whole story.."

"Don't worry about it, Gu-"

Vitani began before being cut off by the Queen's sweet but strong voice, "Worry about what?" Ibzimai looked from Gunab to Vitani, returning from the hunt silently as she let the lionesses feed first.

Gunab looked at Ibzimai then to Vitani with a cold, shocked, and surprised glare, but she just shook her head, "Ibzimai, tell me-Do you know if you're carrying cubs or not?"

"I..uh.." She was taken by surprise at the question and looked at Gunab, who's expression had softened, "I'm not completely positive.. but I think so.."

Gunab clenched his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut quickly as if he were to be hit. Vitani sighed and walked toward Ibzimai to comfort her friend as she broke the news to her, "There is a rival pride that wants to take over the Pridelands, but for reasons I don't know, they say that they would refrain from attacking us if we gave them your first born."

Ibzimai swallowed a lump in her throat quickly, feeling weak and queasy, "I suppose.. if it is for the sake of the Pridelands.." She looked up at Gunab and he nodded, approving her choice.

Vitani gave Ibzimai a quick, comforting embrace, "It'll be okay, don't worry." Then paced slowly down the path of Pride Rock to join the other lionesses to eat, leaving Gunab and Ibzimai alone.

"Our first cub, Gunab?" Ibzimai yelled, half in shock, half in sadness for the cub she'll lose already.

"Shh.." Gunab put his head on hers and whispered, "It's better than a war. We don't know what they'll do to the cub, but it's better than fighting." He paused for a second as Ibzimai looked up at him in awe, wondering how he could be so calm. "We still need to rebuild the Pridelands." Gunab continued, "My father didn't do a good job, sadly, but we can rebuild it and make it even better. That's our duty for now."

The queen nodded and buried her face in Gunab's mane. He smiled softly at her before looking out over the Pridelands once again in wonder. There would be cubs soon, minus one, playing in the lands. He could see himself and Ibzimai watching over the peaceful lands as their cubs grew up. But that wasn't where the future of the Pridelands were heading. No one, not Gunab, not Ibzimai, not Vitani, Nugdi, or any other creature could predict the outcome of the tradeoff of a cub for peace.

Like? Don't like? I know it's short, but my first chapters are always short. I need to get into the story more, yes. So, Nugdi, what kind of fellow he be and what does he and his pride plan to do with that cub? Only I know because I'm great like that! Ahem.. it'll get better as it goes along. Any type of comment appreciated, just don't be to vile and evil with your insults and criticism. n.n C'ya next chapter.