Author's Acknowledgments: Characters Copyright to the Walt Disney Company. Also, the last scene (marked with an ) is based from and contains parts from the deleted scene in TLK 2. Please visit the TLK WWW Archive at and look at the scripts if you'd like to know specifically what was used.
Zira ran to her son the instant she saw him. She looked him over and was relieved to see that he was merely scratched up from running. She quickly took him back to the den to find Simba waiting for them.
"I found my son," Zira growled. With no help from you, she thought bitterly.
"Your son got my son killed!" Simba bellowed.
"What?"
"He should have known better and the two should have never left your care in the first place!"
"You can't honestly pin that on my son, can you?"
"Your son killed Kopa!"
Zira roared. "You can't prove anything!"
"And you didn't watch the cubs closely enough! It is because of you and Nuka that my son is dead! Furthermore, because of your lack of vigilance, my mother is also hurt!"
"You can't blame this all on Nuka and me!"
"It is your fault! I should have never trusted Scar's mate and cub! Get out!"
"Excuse me?"
"I said 'get out!' Take your cubs with you and go far away from the Pride Lands and never return!"
Zira shook her head in disgust. She stormed into the den and forced the two cubs out. Then, she snarled as she made her way down Pride Rock.
Some of the females that had helped her find Nuka followed her as she escorted the cubs out of the Pride Lands.
Simba roared as he watched her leave. "Good riddance," he growled. "We don't need Scar's family here."
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
Sarabi kicked in her sleep as if she were running. The others watched on in fear as her wounds appeared to get worse.
The mandrill Rafiki shook his head. "They're infected."
"Can you do anything?" Simba inquired.
"We shall see."
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
"Mother?" Nuka said.
"Shut up!" Zira roared. She dug her nails in the dirt in frustration. Her new pride had been forced to the outskirts of the land. Several other prides bordered their new land and so did the land that belonged to a pack of hyenas. The food was scarce in their new home, and she was bitter towards Simba and his pride for everything.
Scar was right, she thought. Simba is cruel and needs to die. He does not deserve to be king. Kovu should be king.
Nuka looked back up at Zira. "Mother, why don't we-"
"No!" Zira bellowed. "You are stupid and worthless! You will never be a king because you aren't fit enough. The fact that you have even lived this long is miraculous enough! Now shut up and leave me alone!"
Kovu and Vitani glanced at one another as Nuka sulked away. His mother had blamed him for their exile just as much as she blamed Simba it seemed.
"She doesn't say anything to him anymore," Vitani said. "And if she does, it's always something hateful."
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
Several days later, Sarabi's condition had continued to worsen. The lionesses and Simba were out hunting for her in hopes that fresh food might help her condition. She stood up weakly and made her way out of the den, each step painful though she did her best to ignore it.
"Is it time?" he asked her as he glanced up at the stars.
"Yes," she replied. "Tell my son?"
"Of course, Queen Sarabi." He hugged her and watched as she limped down the path.
Before long, she reached the canyon Mufasa had died in. She found the tree stump he had died under. She scratched at the earth and found a young seedling growing. She smiled as she remembered the words he had told her long, long ago.
"When we die, our bodies become the grass. And the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life."
She smiled. He had told Simba that too, she was sure. She limped off towards a secluded area in the savannah. She smiled again. She had met Mufasa at the stream just ahead and here where she stood now was where he had asked her to be his mate.
She lied down in the grass and looked up at the stars in the sky. "That is your star," she whispered to the heavens. "I don't know if queens are in the heavens too, but I hope they are. I miss you, Mufasa. I'm coming home."
She let out a deep sigh and lied down in the thick grass. Then, she closed her eyes.
Simba looked up as a shooting star zoomed across the sky. He smiled at it, feeling warm inside from its presence. Nala felt it too as did the other lionesses.
Back at Pride Rock, Rafiki saw it too and felt its warmth. However, he simply smiled and said, "Rest now Queen Sarabi. Mufasa shall be with you again shortly once your star finds his."
-- -- -- -- Several Weeks Later -- -- -- --
"It's been a crazy half a year, hasn't it? Scar dying, finding Zira with cubs, Kopa being born … he lived a short life," Simba whispered.
"Yes," Nala replied. "And your mother…"
"Yeah." The king glanced down at the small female cub between Nala's front paws. "I'll do it right this time. I'll protect Kiara and watch over her myself if I have to. Nothing will tear her away from us as a cub. She will not suffer the same fate as Kopa."
"Simba…"
"Yes?"
"I can't be reminded of him … it hurts still…."
"I know," he whispered as he licked her. "He's a flower now, swaying in the savannah as he romps around and plays. He's part of the circle of life… he's a star in the heavens beside my parents. He's never far away."
She nodded as she nuzzled him, the small life between her paws kicking excitedly.
Timon and Pumbaa stood outside the cave, each ready to give Simba and Nala the help they would need in raising the cub.
Rafiki however sat troubled in his tree. "Two females from two now different prides." He glanced toward the outlands were Zira's pride was most likely lurking. "One will continue to raise her cubs in hate" – he glanced at Pride Rock – "and one in love. Oh Mufasa, help Zira's cubs. Don't let her taint them as Scar tainted this land. And help this new cub of the Pride Lands grow up strong and old!"
He glanced back at the pride lands and smiled as the wind blew in his face. Then, he headed towards Pride Rock to check on the queen.
-- -- -- -- SCENE CHANGE -- -- -- -- --
"Simba's new cub is a girl!" Vitani announced.
"A girl? Ha! Oh Scar, did you hear that? It couldn't be more perfect!" Zira purred.
Nuka tilted his head. "Who is she talking to?"
"Scar," Vitani whispered.
"Where?"
"He's dead!"
"Yes," Zira hissed. "Because of Simba! If not for Simba we would be in the Pride Lands right now. Scar would be king still and I would be his queen!"
"That would be nice," Vitani said with a sigh of longing.
"Don't worry. We will claim back our throne! Kovu shall be the new king of the Pride Lands and we will no longer have to call this flea invested, famine ridden filth home!"
"Mother," Nuka interrupted. "Shouldn't I be king since I'm the oldest?"
"No!" Zira snarled. "It was Scar's wish that Kovu should be king."
"But he wasn't even Kovu's father!"
"It doesn't matter! Scar chose Kovu!"
"But I-"
"You are the reason we're exiled, imbecile!" Zira roared.
Nuka cowered. "It was just a thought…."
Zira turned around and snarled bitterly as she glanced at the Pride Lands. "Just look at the Pride Lands … everything is so green and inviting. It is our rightful home, and soon, my beloved Scar, we shall reclaim your kingdom."