"Sir, are you hunry, Sir?"

Ahadi opened his eyes, halfway through a groan before the pain hit him and caused him to keep silent. He eyed young Leo, grinning slightly at the boy with a hunk of meat in his mouth nearly as big as the cub.

"Yes, thank you, Leo. Are you liking it here?"

"Yessir. It's different than home, but I like it."

Ahadi chuckled, staying still as possible so Leo could remove his bandages. "You're very young, Leo. Yet you are very articulate. That is, your speaking ability is very good. Why is that?"

Leo scrunched up his nose, pausing for a moment and then speaking. "My daddy was always too busy being king to be my dad. He didn't come around me and Mom much, and I only remember Mom as this shadow filled with yummies. But Bora stepped in and helped, raising me as if I were hers. It was her family duty; she's my dad's sister-in-law. My aunt. She's always tried to keep me ahead of the other cubs so that I could follow after dad when it was time."

Ahadi hadn't made any family connection between the new mother and young cub, and his eyebrows rose as he contemplated how big Mufasa's family would be once he was of age to marry and settle down. Then he heard it, the slight sniffling. Flicking his eyes to the cub in front of him, his heart melted as he saw the boy with his head hanging low and tears leaking out of his eyes.

"My dear boy…come here, under my paw. It's alright. You miss your daddy terribly, I know, I know. I miss my mother. I can't imagine how it must be for you. I'll always be here for you, Leo. I will never be your father. But I will gladly lend a paw whenever needed. You are as much a part of my family as Taka, Nidini, and Mufasa. Do you hear me? I'll watch out for you as I would my own."

Leo began bawling harder, his small body shuddering under the duress of his emotional pain. Ahadi soothed him into the night, licking away his tears and whispering words of fatherly affection until the cub finally collapsed into a restless sleep from exhaustion.

Days passed, each sun the bane of Ahadi's existence as he awaited his wounds healing. He had always been a very active lion, even as a cub, and to simply lie still without even talking bothered him. Still, he got to watch his boys stutter their first words, Mufasa's being "bird", Nidini's "water" and, his favorite, Taka's. The young boy had squealed out the word during a tiny tickle fight, where both green eyed lions tussled gently. "Daddy!"

Ahadi had frozen, jerking back and staring at the orange colored cub who lay on his back with a huge grin. The cub began chanting the word over and over, earning a loud rumble of laughter from his sire. Mohatu entered quietly, waiting so his son could savor the moment. As the moment began winding down, the older lion sighed and drew his son's attention.

"Son. There is somebody who wishes to speak with you."

Ahadi glanced over to his father, noting the small timid female zebra who shifted from hoof to hoof, obviously nervous at being in the den of her king. She bleated out a shrill cry of alarm as three small boys launched themselves at her, and then she chuckled as they just barely reached her mid-calf. She tossed her mane of ebony and pearl back, enjoying the attention of the princes for a moment before settling herself.

"My Liege. I offer condolences for your health and welfare. I submit to you, oh king of the lands. And I bring a gift of knowledge."

"I beg your pardon? Knowledge? There isn't anything that goes on in this land I do not know about."

His tone caused the filly to flinch, and she shook her head, lifting her ruby eyes to her king. "Nay, I disagree. For I and my mother's herd saw a lion whom we know to be within your pride –he is called Chini- conversing with a male of the free lands. As we are prey, I suppose he thought us harmless. We overheard their conversation. He and this unnamed lion are planning on overthrowing the Pridelands while you are still in recovery! I think the other lion talked Chini into it, though, Sire. He seems…hesitant. I thought it was best you know of it."

"WHAT?!"

Ahadi lifted his head, clenching his teeth and then growling harshly. "Father, go and prepare my lionesses for a possible battle. And bring Chini to me at once! Young lass, thank you for your service. You are excused."

The she-zebra bowed her head and left, her hooves clattering noisily. Mohatu left swiftly after, nodding a quick sign of respect to his son and leaving the king and heirs alone.

Time passed, how much Ahadi did not know, but soon half of his lionesses stood before him, anger causing their furs to bristle and claws to unsheathe.

"How dare he!" "We let him in!" "Traitor!" "Danger!" "He will kill our cubs, we have to protect them!" "What of the others who were with him? Do we hold them accountable too?" "Yes, cast them all out!" "No, they're innocent, surely. Think of the children with the newcomers…"

"SILENCE!" Ahadi's roar quieted the rambling of his warriors. His jaw ached, but it had healed enough he could function well enough. "We will not do anything until he arrives and I can pass judgement, which I will do after questioning him."

"But, Ahadi! If he is a danger he must leave now!"

"No, Kusema. My father's law will stand true. I will see what he says."

"What who says?"

Every eye in the room went to Chini, who entered and looked about nervously. "Ahadi? Mohatu said you wished to see me…"

"Correct, Chini. I have heard from a source that you have been conversing with an outsider, one not of the pride. Is this true?"

"Is that a crime?" Chini sneered, looking around and tossing his mane haughtily. "Is it?"

Ahadi circled the lion, anger blazing in his emerald eyes. "It is if you and that other lion are plotting against my kingdom, yes. Care to explain?"

Chini's eyes widened and he stuttered, shaking his head and stepping back in shock. "It isn't so!"

"A young zebra felt you were cause for alarm, enough so that she alone came up to my den. That takes brains and guts, Chini. Something must be up."

"He's family. He is my daughter's mate. He is a wanderer, and I told him about what had happened to the land we came from. And he and I were plotting revenge against the usurper. I want my kingdom back, and I want to see if my daughter is still there. I alone couldn't think of turning back and going against Badabi, since we had cubs to deal with. But, now I can leave the females here. They are safe, and their children all have futures here. I only want to live where I always have."

Ahadi launched his right brow up, deciding whether to believe the lion or not. He growled and shook his head, doubt heavy in his mind. "I disbelieve this, Chini. That is a bit…convenient, don't you think? How did he randomly show up, eh? Why is it now, weeks after your arrival, that he is just getting the news? And, if he is as good a soul as you would have me believe, why have you not simply introduced him to me? I would have taken his character into consideration and helped in any way I could. You should have come to me first. This with your recent abuse of the Waterhole Act, it doesn't look good for you, Chini. Nor does it encourage me to allow you to have a future here. I would advise you to tread carefully if you want to stay here…"

Ahadi turned around, aiming to go and stand beside his lionesses, but Chini's rage had peaked. "If you're going to exile me, then do so! Otherwise, do not accuse me of something you've no proof of. Everything is circumstantial, and I've done nothing!"

Angrily, the lion stormed out, muttering obscene things under his breath. Ahadi watched him go, a feeling of dread settling like a rock in the pit of his stomach. Everyone stayed in silence for a few moments and then as one, the females turned to their ruler.

"What're ya gonna do? Does he get the toss?"

"I don't know, Mvula. He seemed honest, yet when I listed why I wasn't totally buying it, he got offensive. And offense, after all, is the best defense. I say we all keep eyes on him. If anyone sees anything suspicious, then report it to me immediately."

Everyone agreed to do as he asked and dispersed, thoughts of protecting the pride and the pride's cubs deep on the minds of all.

A week later, Mufasa's health seemed to finally stabilize completely, and as the cubs were told they had to eat more, it seemed as though the trio only gained more and more strength as each were weaned from Bora and Ngoma's milk. With them, Sarafina and Sarabi were weaned as well and all the cubs began being more rambunctious as their parents were more keen to leave them in the den with a cubsitter for extended periods. After all, the cubs no longer required milk and could eat regurgitated meat. Life became a tad simpler for Ahadi and Mohatu, the latter of whom took the boys on an occasional walk through his former kingdom after borders had been checked. Each one would come back brimming with excitement, yelling out what they had learned and seen to their father, who was well on the mend.

Yet another three weeks passed without an Uru, and Ahadi was given clearance to begin his normal duties again, though he was reprimanded to keep it slow and gentle. It was on this day he decided to take his three sons and explain the circle of life to them, as in depth as he could. Gathering his sons at the break of dawn, he nosed young Leo up and lead all four boys to the summit of their home. Chuckling, he watched as the four curious youngsters took in the gorgeous landscape beneath them. As the rays of the sun slowly rose to set the valleys and gorges aflame in perfect orange light, he spoke, allowing his deep voice to seem as if it were merely background noise.

"Today is much like the morning you three were born. The day of the greatest blessings I will ever receive."

Taka turned, his green eyes sparkling in wonder and delight, and he turned to hug his father's leg. Patting the cub on the shoulder, Ahadi kept his gaze level to the lands below him and his heirs, allowing himself a moment to get his thoughts in order.

"How much has Granddad Mohatu told you of your heritage? And of traditions regarding multiple heirs?"

Mufasa hesitated and spoke, scrunching up his nose adorably. "Uhm, we gotta fight when we're older, right?"

"Correct, Mufasa. Good boy. Yes, normally, you three would enter into a battle betwixt the three of you, and the winner would be king. However, there are special circumstances to you three. You came early into this world, and Mufasa had poor health. You almost died, you were so sickly. That's why Granddad and I are so insistent you eat, little one." He gave Mufasa a pointed look and the cub grinned cheekily. He had been found to be spitting up some of his food recently, for no reason other than not wanting to eat. Ahadi rolled his eyes and continued.

"A ceremony was done to get you better. I will tell you the details when you get older, but for now know that you will not fight each other. Not when each have given so much to each other. Brothers have died from the other's claws in the Battle of Kings, boys. I will not have one of you become a murderer because tradition dictates it to be so. Thus, today, I break tradition. I have foretold this to your grandfather, and he has given his approval seal on it."

"What's gonna happen, Dad?"

Ahadi frowned as Nidini interrupted, but he overlooked it and sighed. "Today, I choose the future king. I have put a great deal of thought into what my words are, so hear me when I say I love you all equally, and until you all have your coming of age, you each have equal say in this kingdom. You do not have much power as princes, but there is no harm in stretching your boundaries." The king chuckled, leaving the four cubs confused. Leo was sitting quietly, trying to figure out why he had even been brought up here, but the three princes were paying rapt attention to their father and king.

"Mufasa, you will be king. As king, you have a great many responsibilities, and I expect you to uphold the values and traditions I will instill in you."

He had seen Taka and Nidini deflate out of the corner of his eye, and now he turned to them.

"Taka, you will lead the lion guard. It is a sacred position, one which is in charge of keeping the Pridelands' safe. You, and those you choose to accompany you, are the backbone of this land. Without you, Mufasa will be nothing. And, in addition, you will be king when Mufasa is my age. He is to yield his kingship to you in honor of your sacrifices when you were but both babes. And this will be upheld by all. You may not have cubs, Mufasa. Else, this vow will be broken. And broken vows are a dangerous thing to tamper with. The Past Kings hold them sacred above all."

Nidini had been getting angrier and angrier, and now Ahadi turned to his palest cub. "Nidini, you are a good son. A wise cub. You will serve as Mufasa's advisor. If you do not wish to uphold this, you may simply have a role as a simple pridemember."

Nidini snarled, anger rushing through his veins. "Oh, so Muf gets to be king, and Taka the Guard, and I get to tell Muf what I think while he ignores it? That isn't fair at all!"

"Hey, Dad, I get to choose my other guards at any time, right?"

Ahadi sighed as the angry cub and excited one talked over each other, and his eyes roved to his green-eyed cub first. "Yes, Taka. From now on."

"Nidini. He can be my right-paw."

Nidini's head swiveled and he stared at his brother in shock. "Huh?"

"Yeah! I choose you for my first team member. You gotta be strong. And you can help me defend Muf's kingdom. When I take over as king, you can be the new Guard. By my Prince's Oath and by mane, and blood, and flesh and paw, I swear this to thee, and to all who hear. I swear this as an unbreakable vow."

Ahadi could only stare. Whether Taka truly knew what he had just done, he couldn't tell. But his boy had just made an irreversible oath to make his brother a guard. He tried to understand this turn of events, when Leo grumbled and questioned why he had been brought there. Ahadi's eyes wandered to the fatherless cub and smiled at last, warmth in his paw as he brought the cub into a friendly hug. "Dear boy. I want you to learn alongside my boys so you can help them in difficult times. You'll be their council, the one they turn to when their own wisdoms fail them. You are also to be a border patrol, one who checks to make certain those banned from the Pridelands stay away. Do you like that?"

Leo's eyes widened and he squealed, squirming to the edge of the cliff. "Yes! Yes, I do! I accept. Can Cuzzie Sarabi help me? That'd be fun!"

"Actually, she has a different part to play in the pride. She will be Mufasa's guide when they grow older. She is his betrothed. Her position will be only slightly lesser than his. Rest assured, she will have her own fun organizing the hunting parties and leading the daily hunts. Now, all of you, what do you see out there? One day, the sun will set on my time…and will rise with you three; no, you four, as the new rulers. Each in your own way, you will help the Pridelands to grow and expand. I trust you all to keep the wellbeing of your families and pride members in the forefront of your minds. Do you all understand?"

Three voices chorused their affirmative answer, and Ahadi turned to question why Leo had said nothing, and then he looked out to where Leo's gaze was trained on. As he tried to make out what the shapes were that he was seeing, clattering hooves met his ears and he turned to see a large male zebra angrily scraping against pride rock. It whinnied, and then snorted, doing a hairpin turn as it begged Ahadi to follow him. Without a need for words, Ahadi leapt away and the four cubs followed without a word.

"STOP! What are you doing? Stay away from the former king!"

The battle cries reached Ahadi's ears long before his eyes saw the miniature war. Chini and a lion Ahadi had never seen were fighting Mohatu full force, with what had to be twenty hyenas surrounding him. Panic filled Ahadi's heart, and the Lion King jumped into the fray, ignoring the stinging of his side injury from the 'accidental' stampede.

Alongside him, zebras fought for their pride. It was well known the alliance of the zebras and giraffe herds were the ones closest to the kingdom. Bleats from the hoofed animals filled the air just as much as Ahadi's angry roars did. For a few moments, the four cubs watched in shock and horror at the scene in front of them, and then Mufasa turned to his brothers and friends, tears streaming down his face.

"Nidini! Go get Bora and the others! Hurry!"

Without a word, the cub turned tail and ran to the safety of his home. As a unit, the three cubs charged and took on a smaller hyena, their tiny teeth and claws piercing enough to be a nuisance but not a danger. As the hyena tore the three off of him, he growled and chased them. The boys looked at each other and screamed, rushing for a tree.

"GRAAAAAAWWWRR!"

Loud snarls erupted from the sky, and as the hyena went to pounce, clouds came together in a sharp burst of light. The song of the gods rang out loudly, though it sounded like bells in the wind, and a large brown lioness stood in front of the cubs, baring her teeth to the hyena. The afore mentioned hyena was not as stupid as one might think, for he had seen the lion appear out of thin air and he yelped, braking and turning tail to go across the plains. She snorted, tossing her head proudly, and then turned, making direct eye contact with Taka. Her mouth did not open, yet they all heard her voice, soft and sweet as honey.

"I am a past queen. With this mark, Taka, you are gifted a roar most powerful. Go now, protect your family. Not all are beyond help, child…"

Wind lifted her into the sky, and with that, the cubs looked over to see hyenas tearing into their father. And a great rage came upon Taka with gale-force winds, his eyes glowing an eerie, infuriated green. Behind his grassy orbs, lightning flashed and he store forward at a canter, head held high.

"I am Prince Taka. Get AWAY from him! GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Throwing his head back and planting his feet, it was as though someone else was in control of him. He let loose a roar unlike which Ahadi had ever heard, one which sent hyenas scattering. A sharp mark the color of the Savannah's brightest flame sat upon his left shoulder blade, turned so that the toes of the paw print shape were nearest his ear and the heel of the mark was near his elbow hairs. He snarled defiantly, fear well hidden behind this amazing roar from the heavens.

As the hyenas lessened and finally only a few stranglers left, the lionesses of the pride came onto the scene to see their king staring at his son in shock. As Ngoma spoke her liege's name in worry, it seemed to snap him out of his stupor and he turned to his father, who was collapsed onto the ground.

"Dad!"

A/N: At least this is nice and long. More to come. Happy New Year, everyone!