Thanks again to a friend, Maddy, and my amazing cousin.

Prologue

"Mufasa you've got to stop making Rafiki do these kinds of things. It's not good for him, nor for you to be so hands-on," said a rather agitated Mandril. Earlier in the day the spirit of Mufasa had ordered him to head southwest. He traveled so far that he left the Pride Lands altogether. He needed to, find the cubs and their mother, he remembered. It had been a long trek, not only had he crossed out of the Pride Lands but he had also crossed the fence that divided the preserve from the tourist park. "I don't like that… oh who Rafiki kidding. He won't give Rafiki answers until he thinks it's time. I–"

BOOM! A loud sounds shattered the silence. It was followed quickly by a defening roar of pain. Three strange primates appeared in the direction the sounds came from.

That sounds like thunder, yet there are no clouds. How could that be, and the roar? What is that about? The curious side of Rafiki kicked in. He lept off the tree he had been hiding in and followed the three primates as they ran across the savanna.

When he finally caught up to the primates he hid. From his hiding spot he, could see a tawny lion body lying almost motionless on the ground. The group of primates looked like they were trying to figure out what was wrong with it. One primate had a hand on the bleeding left flank of the lion while the others were pulling things out of a red carrying bag. Suddenly all three stopped and looked across the grass to a tree. Another two of these strange animals dropped down out of the tree carrying long black sticks that had some wood on one end. They dropped their sticks and ran. The three that had been helping the lion ran after them shouting.

The lion cried out for the help to return but it didn't. Instead Rafiki appeared. "What happened to you?" Rafiki asked. He started to examine the lion, which actually turned out to be a lioness.

"I was looking for something to eat so I can feed my two young cubs. Then those things from the tree hit me with something."

Please don't let this be the mother and the cubs I'm looking for, he thought. "It doesn't look so good. I'm not sure you're going to make it." Rafiki's face was somber. Trying to keep it light he said, "I never caught your name." Silently he thought, I think I already know. She looks very familiar.

"It's Tama. Can I get the–" he words cut short by spike of pain. "Ahh" she growled. She took a moment, trying to catch her breath. She tried to ignore the pain she so she could finish her question. "Can I get the name of my helper before I pass away?"

"It's Rafiki."

Suddenly, at the sound of that name, she remembered he forgotten cubhood packed with fun in a place known as, the Pride Lands. Fun, she had pushed out of her mind when she ran away to find help just like Nala had. The pain was now constant, it was coming from both her wound and her heart. She knew she only had a little bit longer. "Please take my cubs to the Pride Lands and tell Nala… tell Nala that I'm sorry... For never coming back."

"Where would Rafiki find your cubs?" Sadness now filled the Mandrill's heart. "If only Rafiki had gotten here sooner, he could have saved you."

"Do not blame yourself for something you can't control." Her eyes were full of hope yet they did not hide her fear. She wanted so much too live especially for he cubs, but that was not what was in store for her. "My cubs are hidden in a tall clump of grass next to that rock. Their names are Maisha and Omega." She motioned towards the slightly taller grass and the rock that was a few yards from them. Her breathing became heavier and more labored. "Before I die you must tell me something. Did Nala ever find help?"

"She found more than that Tama. She found love. She found Simba and together they saved the Pride Lands." Rafiki smiled to himself. "They have had three Cubs."

Tama smiled. It's was great to know that her best friend had found love just like she had. She started to feel tired. All of her energy was drained out of her. All she could think of doing was taking a nice long rest. "I need to rest now. Thank you Rafiki." She looked him right in the eye, scared, but her her eyes sparkled with happiness. Closing them, she gave Rafiki a slight nuzzle with her nose and then she fell into a sleep which both knew she would not awaken from.

Rafiki put a hand on the lioness. He watched the rising movements of her chest slow, and finally stop. "I give you my word, I will keep your cubs safe and I will see that they make it to the Pride Lands. " With that he left the Lioness to rest in peace.

The cubs were asleep when Rafiki found them. He picked them up in his arms, which was a handful for mandril like himself, and held them tightly to his chest. "I made a promise to your mother, but I also have some instruction from an old friend." He whispered to the cubs. "I think it is time that you meet my good friend Mheetu and… ummm… his son" he said to the female cub. He turned to the other cub, the male. "To you, off to the Pride Lands. Do not worry, when the time is right you two will be reunited." spoke those last few words with distaste because only he (and Mheetu of course) would know the truth.
(Line Break)
Chapter 4
Takes place just after the events of chapter 2
(Line break)
"After hearing his story I wish I could have been able to meet him. I really want to-"

"Get to know him better?" Kiara was cut short by the old family friend, Rafiki. He looked straight at Simba and said, "Rafiki has to tell you something."

"Well, what is it?" Asked Simba. He turned towards the Mandrill, who did not start talking straight away.

Rafiki was now curious about the conversation he had walked in on. He spoke softly, "When did you tell her? I thought you had a law the forbid anyone from telling her."

Now thinking to himself, I have to get my facts straight. I know what Mufasa told me to do, but after finding out that she knows about Kopa, I'm not so sure anymore. 'This is why I don't like it when you mess with the physical world. A simple re-directioning is fine, but this, I think it's pushing it.' He mentally yelled at Mufasa. Now, I have to tell them about this threat, and about Kopa–

A Calm breeze blew over the group. Simba recognized it as the spirit of Mufasa, but only Rafiki knew what the spirit was trying to say.

A change of plan? Why would... I shouldn't question why you do things anymore. It's pointless. All you'll ever say is 'it's good' or 'you'll see.' Thought Rafiki

The breeze died down. Simba looked over to Rafiki, who was still standing and looking into the fields, deep in thought. "Hey, Rafiki. What did you want to tell me?" He waved his paw in front of the monkey.

With a less serious expression he turned back towards Simba. "There is a threat to the Pride Lands. You will face it, but only as one complete pride. Kiara–"

"Hey you! How dare you save the King's daughter." Kovu yelled, not realizing he had just disrupted a very important conversation. He was imitating the mandrill's way of speaking. He looked over to see Kiara trying to hold back a fit of laughter. She knew where he got that line from.

"Kovu, that's not very nice to say," retorted Kiara, but she still had a grin plastered to her face. She padded over to Kovu. The couple leaned into each other, Kiara's head in the crook of Kovu's neck, until they both caught the sight of the King's eyes.

"Now now my young cubs," said Simba with a grin. "Is that anyway to treat your Cupid?" Looking back over to Rafiki trying to ignore the laughter coming from the young couple, the king said, "Please continue what you were saying, before we were so rudely interrupted." He put some extra emphasis on the last few words.

Rafiki couldn't help but smile as well. Kiara and Kovu were proof that Mufasa's plans really did work. Restored with confidence in Mufasa he said, "I have other business I must attend too but, before I leave please think about this. Death may seem permanent, but there are those who figured out how to escape it." With that he bowed to Simba, smiled at the up and coming royal couple and left. He didn't want to miss his meeting with Mheetu..

All three of them looked around at each other. The shadows of Pride Rock seemed more ominous than friendly. Kiara couldn't help but think in the back of her mind, what if Rafiki had been talking about Kopa, but the statement sounded more like a warning than a revelation.

Meanwhile in the fields, Vitani was keeping an eye on three active cubs.

"I'm going to get you Asante!" Said Sentari. He jumped up from the grass and tried to pin him. Unfortunately for Sentari, Nala's ability to reverse a pin was passed on to her son. With a quick push, and a little luck, Asante reversed the role and found himself sitting on top of his nephew.

Asante felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned with only enough time to see his other nephew flying towards him. Soon all three where rolling around trying to pin each other. After a while Sentari finally managed to pin a cub but it turned out to be Omega. "Aunt Vitani! Look at me. I'm the best piner out here. Almost as good as you."

Vitani smiled a little. "I'm sure that in time you will be. Why don't you three play with these lovely ladies." She winked at the two female cubs who had just come up besides her. From what she remembered one was named Raina and the other Pamba. They are the cubs of two of her Outlander friends. She pushed them into the group of boys and then suggested. "Why don't you guys go to the 'water hole' or something."

"Hey, we were about to jump in." Said Pamba. "They're our best friends, we don't want to go somewhere romantic."

"Where did you hear that the water hole was romantic?" Asked Vitani. She looked quizzically at the two cubs.

"My mom said that Kovu always took Kiara there for–"

"That's not what I was trying to say. That just happens to be the excuse Simba used to always use when he a cub that went on some sort of mischievous adventure." Vitani looked at them. They were the perfect example of the cubhood she had missed out on. She couldn't help but think about it. It happens every time she spends time with the cubs.

Sentari was already liking this idea. He immediately offered to lead such an expedition. He walked up to the two young lionesses. "Come on you two. I shall lead this noble quest" he said

"He's always got to be moving doesn't he." Asante said to Omega. They just looked at each other and laughed, because they knew it was true. Asante thought, it is Sentari who always convinces us to go on adventures, he just never had a good cover story for when they came back late and dirty.

"Unfortunately for us now he does," replied Omega. It wasn't strange that Omega finished the thoughts of Asante. In Fact it happens all the time. They started off towards the water hold and were quickly followed by the other three cubs. They had almost made it out of Vitani's range of hearing when a certain meerkat and warthog duo found them.

"Where do you think your going without an escort?" Pumba asked Asnate, who had rolled his eyes at the question.

"An adventure!" Answered Sentari.

"Oh man, just like old times. We'll let me tell you, when simba young he would..." Timon started as they disappeared over the hill.

Vitani saw the cubs life, a life she never had. Damnit there I am, thinking about it again. It has to be because of what happened earlier today, that flash back. It had brought a memory from the back of her mind and refreshed it. She felt almost as bad as when she lost him the first time.

Because she had Kopa taken from her, Vitani promised herself that she would help give her nephews, and brother-in-law, an amazing cubhood. That's why she was more comfortable with being caring towards them. No one else would catch her being kind and gentle. A thought that she could not get out of her mind was her cubhood. Watching those your cubs made her constantly think about her's. Stolen by her mother, Vitani could help but think, even if my cubhood was made rough by Zira, he could have made it bearable, but of course she took Kopa from me as well. All I want to do is live one more day with him. All Vitani really needed was to mourn. However, she never learned how. When Kopa died she just bottled up her feelings. She had to be tough. Showing emotions meant you were weak and weakness was was not acceptable if you wanted revenge on the Pride Lands, that is what Zira taught.

As Vitani's thoughts kept flowing they happened along her about the conversation she had with Kiara, just a week after she'd joined the Pride Lands, "I can tell that there's more than just an order-following lioness inside of you. If it's about Zira you can always talk to me about it." Kiara had said. There it was, she was already trying to open up to me. She was so much like Kopa, free spirited and independent and loving.. Knowing that I would have to get to know her anyway, I mean she is married to my brother, I opened up to her. Kiara was the first lion since Kopa that I ever let see the more vulnerable side of me. It was almost as if Kopa was with her again. Just the thought of it made her heart sting with pain.

I decided to tell her that it bothered me that she was always happy. I just couldn't understand how. And that's when she asked, "Have you ever let any emotions out, had a good cry, a good laugh, a good angry roar? I've always seen you as... Well just Vitani. Not happy Vitani or sad Vitani, just Vitani. Those things are important. Keeping them inside you is not a good thing. The only thing about built up emotions is they will come out at some point. I am always here if you need to let them out."

Since then Kiara has become her best and only friend other than Kopa, when he was alive. Still feeling her sentiment from her flashback earlier and now remembering the conversation with Kiara, Vitani had finally struck something deep inside herself that she finally understood as an emotion, at least it matches Kiara's description. It was sadness. She collapsed on the rock she was sitting on while her eyes filled with tears. Her heart felt heavy and breathing became hard and labored, but just as the first tear hit the ground she heard the hunting party off in the distance. "Oh great, perfect timing." She sighed. Wiping away the tears from her eyes she stood up regained her strong, ruthless-hunter composure and padded out to meet them. She hopped, in the back of mind, that Kiara would help her sort through her emotions later.

When the party made their way up to Vitani they would never know how troubled the lioness was. To her surprise a soft gentle voice said, "Hello, Vitani.". It was none-other than the Queen of the Pride Lands. "I hope you enjoyed your sleep this morning ."

Oops, I forgot I was supposed to be hunting today. She turned to the queen and replied in her gruff voice, "Yes ma'am, I'm sorry that I overslept. I hope that it didn't cause trouble with the hunt."

"Please, call me Nala. Don't worry, it didn't cause any trouble." The queen had been around long enough and she was able to tell that there was something up with Vitani. But, she decided to let it go for now.

"Ok, sorry ma... Umm, I mean Nala. Old habits die hard."

(Lime break)

Kopa and Maisha are heading northwest, crossing mile after mile. "I can't believe that Dad thought this was a good idea." Said Maisha to Kopa. "I never thought that dad would let us do something like This. He even gave us information on where to look."

"It is hard to believe that he would let us do such a thing." Kopa smiled back at his sister. This was her idea. She had suggested it because it only seemed fitting that they try to understand what was causing their dreams. Just taking the journey was a new experience for the two. They had always stayed relatively close to home.

"Maisha?" Asked Kopa. "Can you tell me what your dream was about?" He looked over to see Maisha staring off into the distance. She was obviously trying to avoid his question. "You don't have to tell me…" he hesitated trying to think of an easy way to put it, "what I already know, it's just you mentioned that you saw another cub in the dream. One by the name of Asante. Do you know who he is?"

Maisha didn't reply so the two kept on moving in silence for quite some time. When she finally turned to answer his question her expression was fragile, maybe even hurt. Kopa wasn't very good at judging how another was feeling. It just didn't come naturally. However, he had lived with her long enough to tell that it was sadness. He knew from last night that just thinking about it had pained her. "He looked a lot like you." She said. "But smaller. He had red tuff of fur on top of his head and the rest of him was a nice deep golden color, just like you. I was playing with him and then you came around and told both of us to follow you. We got to this cave and you told us to stay hidden." She turned to Kopa her eyes pleading with him not to make her go on.

He figured she didn't need to continue. He already knew what came next and it bother her so, he just left it at that.

"After that is what I told you last night. Speaking of last night you were too hard to wake up. For the past month you would wake up with when the wind blew the grass too hard."

"Well, I did have a better night of sleep."

"Why? Did your dream finally go away?" Maisha asked hopefully.

"No, but it changed." He smiled just thinking about it. He explained, to his very attentive sister, what was different about last night's dream: He had seen a cub. She had vivid blue eyes that were the only way past her stoic expression. She had sported a little tuft of fur on her head. Her coat was a tan color. "We must have been best friends. We could share anything with each other. She was there the night I got my scars."

They walked in silence for a while. A slight breeze kept them cool as the walked on the Savannah for mile after mile. The quiet was good. It gave Kopa sometime to really think about what was changing in his life. A few days ago it was the normal. Nothing ever changed and that was good. He knew what to do every second of the day, what made him happy and sometimes "It must be nice to have a friend like that." Said Maisha. "I– What's that?" The two had arrived at a fence, though neither of them knew what it was called.

"I'm not sure. I think we have to cross it though." The two walked along the fence looking for an opening. Suddenly Kopa yelled out, "Show yourself! I know you're out there." He move a little closer to Maisha. Then he got low to the ground, in a pouncing position. The grass off to there right moved and it sounded like an animal was trying to move closer, probably to investigate who they were. The grass parted for the mystery animal as it got a little too close for Kopa's liking. He pounced on whatever it was.

"Hey, could you get off! I was just trying to get a closer look." Kopa looked down at source of the voice. Under his right paw was a cheetah cub, most likely not much older than Maisha.

"Who are you and what were you doing?" Growled Kopa.

"I told you. I wanted to get a better look. Those scars on you side are pretty wicked. How'd you get them?"

"Kopa, I don't think she means to hurt us." Murmured Maisha. "I doubt a young cheetah like herself would try to attack a lion as big as you."

"Hey! I'm not a kid anymore." Retorted the Cheetah. Kopa cautiously took his paw off her. "I think before you eat me you should at least learn my name." Ribbed the cheetah.

"Well, what is your name? I'm Kopa, and this is my sister Maisha." He gestured to sister who was sitting next to him.

"My name's Avery." Said the Cheetah.

"What are you doing out here all alone? It's awfully dangerous for a young Cheetah to be out here alone."

Avery looked like she didn't want to tell, but she started to explain anyway. "I see that you have been looking for an opening in the border here," she said padding over to the fence. "I must warn you bad things happen to animals who cross it. Many never return."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Asked Kopa.

Avery hesitated, "well it has to do with why I am alone… I just don't think I'm ready to tell some lions that I just met." She looked up at Kopa for sign of approval.

He nodded. "Well we are not going to get anywhere tonight. It's harrying to dark to travel and if the that land is really as bad as Avery says it is then we have no place being in there at night."

"Maisha(Line Break)

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