A/N: I'll add in one more chapter and this will be done. Remember I don't own The Lion King.

Kovu's legs gave out and he fell to the ground in a heap. He rested for a few minutes before standing up again. I can do this. He thought to himself before he began running. Once Kovu reached pride rock, he collapsed from exhaustion near the base. He let his sleep overtake him as he was too tired to fight it. Kovu hoped he would wake up earlier than the other lions, but he doubted that. He fell asleep as soon as he laid his head on his paws.

Kovu raised his head quickly when he heard his name being shouted. He saw a familiar lioness. She ran towards him and nuzzled his head.

"Kiara, I never want to be separated from you ever again," He said to her.

She smiled at him, tears lining the rims of her eyes. Kiara nuzzled closer into him as if at any moment he would disappear. The two were so absorbed in each other's presence that they failed to notice the pride surrounding them. Kovu looked up to see wide eyes from most of the pride. He separated from Kiara and stood before them.

"I'm back," He said with a grin.

Kovu was bombarded with questions from the other lions.

"Where did they take you?"

"Are you hurt?"

"What happened?"

"Did they do anything to you?"

Simba's roar made all talking cease immediately. He told the lions to arrange themselves in a circle, before he sat besides Kovu, Nala at his side. Simba motioned for Kovu begin telling his story. He started from when he woke up in the cage with Leona. The pride was silent as he told his story, interested in where he was taken. When he finished talking, silence filled the air as the lions thought of his tale and what he had gone through. The silence was broken when Simba cleared his throat.

"How about we get some real meat in you?" Simba said, looking at Kovu.

Kovu's eyes brightened at the thought of getting to eat actual meat. Simba smiled at his reaction before he turned to Nala. He whispered something in her ear. She nodded her head and stood, gathering some lionesses from the pride and instructing them to follow her. Kovu and Kiara walked off to sit under a tree.

"I'm so happy that you're back," Kiara murmured to Kovu, rubbing her head affectionately into his shoulder. He smiled at her as he returned the gesture.

"I am too," Kovu replied.

They stayed under the tree for a while. The sun had risen higher in the sky when Nala came back with her hunting group. She was dragging the buffalo they had caught by its throat. When she dropped it near the base of pride rock, Simba walked over to Kiara and Kovu and motioned with his head for them to follow him.

"Dig in," he said before he dipped his head to take a chunk out of its torso.

Kovu and Kiara both followed Simba's example and grabbed a piece of the buffalo to eat. Kovu savored the taste of the meat. The meat that he was fed at Remington Mansion didn't compare to the meat he was eating right then. Kovu made sure to eat his fill before sitting to the side with Kiara while the other lions began to eat. He had a content smile on his face. He thought of how happy he was to be back with the pride and glad to see everyone again. Also, he thought of how he never wanted to be captured again.

"What's on your mind?" Kiara asked, looking at Kovu.

He blinked several times; Kiara's questioned broke him out of the trance he was previously in.

"Nothing really, just some thoughts," He answered.

Kiara smiled warmly before resting her head onto his side. It wasn't long before the pair fell asleep. Some lionesses who passed by the pair would smile at the young love and be on their way. The tension and worry which was on the pride from the start of Kovu's capture went away, the air around them filled with peace. The days after Kovu returned went back to normal. Kovu continued to receive lessons from Simba on being a good king.

He would sometimes wake from his sleep still thinking he was at Remington Mansion, but after several days he was used to being back at pride rock. As the days went by, his thoughts were less preoccupied by thoughts of his friends from the mansion and more on what Simba told him. Though when he let his mind wander, he would think of how his friends were doing.

Back at Remington Mansion things also went back to normal. The animals were kept in their cages while the hole was being filled and Mr. Remington added some more security to prevent any more escapes. After those days the animals were able to go back to their routine of going out into the field. They did wonder how he was doing and if he was able to find his way back to pride rock, but one day their questions were answered.

A blue bird with a large orange beak flew into the field at the mansion. It flew in circles over the field like they were looking for someone. Betty noticed the strange bird before any of the others. She flew from her tree towards the bird.

"Excuse me, what are you doing?" She asked.

The bird squawked in surprise. He regained his composure before answering.

"I am looking for a lioness with the name Leona; could you possibly show me where she is?" He said.

Betty gave the bird a questioning glance but nodded and told him to follow her none the less. They found her with Shuja at his tree. Betty landed on the ground near her. Both Leona and Shuja turned their attention towards the bird that was with Betty.

"Who's this?" Leona asked.

The bird stepped forward and bowed before introducing himself.

"I am Zazu, I come from pride rock to deliver a message from Prince Kovu," He answered.

When he finished his answer, Leona, Shuja and Betty were all interested in what he was going to say. They waited silently while they waited for Zazu to give them the message.

"He wanted me to tell you that he made it back to his pride safely and is fine. He's having lessons from King Simba on how to become a good king and he also says that he misses all of you, his friends, which he will never forget."

All three of the animals grinned at the short message.

"Do you want me to give him a message from you all?" Zazu asked.

Leona nodded her head, along with Betty and Shuja.

"Tell him that we all wish him well and are glad he made is safely back to his pride, also tell him that we won't forget him either," She said.

Before Zazu had a chance to fly off Shuja stopped him.

"Could you also ask Kovu if he can name a cub he has after me?" Shuja asked with a sheepish smile on his face.

Zazu nodded before flying off and away from the manor. When Zazu left Betty and Leona laughed at Shuja's request for Kovu to name a future cub after him, Shuja just rolled his eyes and climbed his tree, leaving the two laughing animals at the bottom.

By evening Zazu returned to pride rock. He flew around pride rock in search of Kovu. The bird found Kovu on the incline of pride rock. He told Kovu the message he received from Leona and Shuja. Kovu laughed when Zazu told him that Shuja wanted a cub named after him. He thanked Zazu and dismissed him. He looked out into the horizon, watching the kingdom that will one day be his responsibility to rule over.

A/N: Thanks for reading, and don't be afraid to review.