Kovu frowned as he came up beside his mate.

Kiara put a paw forward, but Kovu stopped her from going further. "Don't, we don't know what's happened."

"My home is destroyed, Kovu!" Kiara snapped.

"You don't think I don't see that?"

Kiara growled. "We have to find out what happened. My family-"

"I'm sure they're fine."

"Wrong."

The two lions jumped and turned to see a familiar monkey sitting close by.

"Mom, who's the creepy monkey?" Uhuru asked, hiding behind her brother.

"A family friend." Kiara said. "Hi, Rafiki, it's been awhile."

"Indeed, it has, princess." Rafiki said. He then smiled and hugged the young lioness.

"What's happened here?" Kovu asked once the two had pulled away.

Rafiki frowned as he looked over the land. "After you left, war broke across the land, the outlanders attacked us without warning. Your parents fought bravely, but... they didn't stand a chance. The pride landers lost and Zira cast out your parents to the Outlands. The land fell into ruins, it was Scar's reign all over again! Most of the herds left, the rains stopped..."

Kiara frowned. "What happened to the rest of the pride? Or Kion or the guard?"

"No one has heard from them and most of the pride have been held captive by Zira's pride."

"Where are my parents?"

"They are living in Zira's old territory."

"Can you take us?"

Rafiki nodded before noticing the two cubs. "Who is dis?"

"Oh, these are our cubs, Ahadi and Uhuru."

"Promise and freedom." Then Rafiki lit up. Grabbing his staff, he broke a fruit that was tied to it and turned to the cubs. He then took his finger and dipped it in the fruit and then smeared the juice upon the foreheads of each cub. "A promise of freedom." He whispered.

Kiara and Kovu exchanges glances as Rafiki stood and motioned them to follow.

The Outlands were as Kovu remembered, barren and wasted, the ground was hard and the termite mounds still hung over him like an evil being.

Finally, they came to a old cave.

Rafiki motioned them to wait whilst he went forward into the den.

Kiara frowned as she glanced at Kovu who nodded and sat with his cubs while Kiara took a step forward.

A few minutes later, a familiar lioness appeared from the den. Her pelt was dirty and a scar lay across her shoulder.

"Kiara..." She whispered.

"Mom!"

The two embraced, both mother and daughter. Tears were falling as Kiara cried. Finally, she pulled back when she saw another familiar being exit the cave.

Simba.

The once proud golden lion, was now skinny with scars over his face and body. His red mane was dirty and tangled. "Kiara."

Kiara sobbed as she embraced her father. "Daddy, I'm so sorry!" She cried.

Simba sighed as he nuzzled her. Then his eyes met Kovu's and he glared until he saw the two cubs at his paws. Stepping away from his daughter, he approached the dark lion.

Kovu winced, waiting for a strike, but none came. Opening his eyes, he saw Simba frowning at him before he bowed his head.

Kovu nodded back.

"Are these my grandchildren?" Simba asked.

"Yes, daddy. Our son, Ahadi and our daughter, Uhuru." Kiara answered.

"A promise to freedom." Rafiki repeated.

Simba scoffed. "Our freedom, perhaps, but what of the pride? Zira has them."

"Zira banished us and kept our pridesisters. They've been starved and beaten." Nala explained.

"Have you heard from Kion?" Kiara asked.

"Zazu went on a search for him two months ago...He never returned."

Kiara whimpered. "Zazu is dead?"

"We don't know." Nala said.

"What about the rest of the guard?"

"They left with the rest of the herds."

"We have to find Kion, he can help us!" Kiara cried.

"What, fight Zira's pride?" Simba snapped. "No, it's too risky, even with Kion." Then he sighed. "Besides, the Pridelands belong to Zira now, she got her wish. It's no use fighting for it."

"But we have friends on the inside!" Kiara said.

"Our once pride sisters are too weak to fight. They wouldn't last long." Nala pointed out. "I hate to say it, but your father is right."

Kiara stared at her mother. "Mom, you risked your life for your pride! You traveled away from your home!"

"That was a long time ago, I was young."

"Then let me go."

The group turned to Kovu, who had spoken for the first time since they had found Simba and Nala.

Simba raised an eyebrow.

"Let me go, I'll find Kion and bring him home."

Kiara frowned as she approached her mate and nuzzled him. "You have no idea where he is. And we need you here."

"Stop arguing, you two. Come, let's celebrate their return, Kiara I will go hunting." Nala said. "There are some herds who have stuck around. We'll have to sneak in the Pridelands, but I know where there are not any guards."

"And I shall get to know our grandchildren." Simba said. "And our new son-in-law."

Kovu swallowed as Rafiki patted his back and the five all went into the cave while Kiara and Nala went hunting.

"So you're our grandpa?" Uhuru asked.

Simba nodded.

"I'm Ahadi!" The male cried jumping towards him.

"Hello, Ahadi."

"And I am Uhuru!"

"It is a pleasure to meet you both." Simba said before turning to Kovu. "My daughter seems well."

"I would never have harm come to her."

Simba nodded. "Smart boy."

"Simba..." Kovu swallowed. "I hope you can forgive me for taking her away. I never wanted this to happen."

"No one did." Simba said, twitching his tail and allowing the cubs to bat it. "I'm just glad she is alive and happy."

Kovu sighed. "Simba, about the attack in the gorge... I had nothing to do with it, I never wanted that to happened."

"I know."

"What?"

"Nala explained it to me, made me see things differently. I wanted badly to apologize to you, but... I never got the chance." Simba smiled as he stood. "But I have it now. I am sorry, Kovu. I shouldn't have judged you."

Kovu smiled.

Whilst Simba was getting to know his grandchildren, Kovu had begun walked farther into the den he used to call home. The claw marks upon the wall brought back memories he did not wish to relive.

He could hear his mother's voice in his head as he came upon his old sleeping spot. He put his paw to his scarred eye and frowned. Because of his decision to leave, the Pride Lands fell to an evil lioness.

"Kovu!"

The young lion looked up and raced to the mouth of the cave where Rafiki, the cubs and Simba were standing. Kovu swallowed when he saw the source of the problem.

Kiara was walking up the path supporting a badly beaten Nala.

"What happened!?" Simba cried, racing to assist.

"Zira's pride...a few lionesses attacked us whilst we were taking down a zebra." Nala explained. "We wouldn't have made it if one of our lionesses had not intervened..."

"I'm glad they are still loyal." Simba said, helping his mate walk to the den where Rafiki stood, opening his fruits, ready to help.

"This could mean disaster for that lioness."

The former king frowned.

"Simba, she risked her life for a lioness who she no longer follows."

"And her actions are admirable, but what do you propose we do about this?" Simba asked.

"We need to do something! She wouldn't be in this mess if we hadn't gone to the Pride Lands!"

Kovu turned away and once again retreated back into the den, unable to listen to the bickering.

Walking past his old resting rock, he took his claws and struck a rock, leaving new claw marks beside the old ones.

"Kovu?"

Kovu turned to see Kiara approach.

"Was this your home?" She asked, glancing around.

The dark lion swallowed. "Yeah."

Kiara eyed the claw marks on the wall. "You made these?"

"It was... part of my training." Kovu explained. "To sharpen my claws and build up their strength." Extracting his claws, he placed them on the wall and sighed. "I never wanted to turn into a monster."

Kiara frowned. "Kovu, you are not a monster."

"I am!" Kovu cried. "All my life I've been trained to kill, to follow in Scar's paw prints! Never to love! Look at the wall, Kiara! Their covered in the mark of a murderer!"

"Kovu, those are claw marks of a lion who obeyed his pride, he's gone now, you don't have to worry about him."

"And if he comes back?"

Kiara smiled as she looked into his eyes. "Then we'll fight him together."

Kovu looked away, his eyes falling once more upon the claw marks. "You showed me a life of fun and love, Kiara. You are my upendi, my love." He then turned to Kiara and licked her nose.

Suddenly Kovu lit up and looked around them. "Kiara, I may have an idea..."

TLK

"Are you mad!?"

"Daddy-"

"No! This is not an option. Kovu, you're a father now, you can't just go walking up to the face of death!"

"She's my mother."

"Same thing!"

Nala winced as Rafiki applied more cream to a wound on her paw. "Kovu, Simba's right, it's too dangerous."

Kovu groaned. "Simba, it's our only option. It's simple, I go back to my pride, earn their trust once more and when the time is right, I'll strike!"

"Alone?"

"No. Rafiki?"

"Yes?"

"I need a favour. Kion is part of the Lion Guard and is contact with Mufasa, right?"

Rafiki raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"Kiara explained it to me once." Kovu said. "Listen, if you can contact Mufasa, maybe he can find Kion."

Rafiki smiled. "That just might work!" Grabbing his staffed, he ruffled Kovu's mane. "I will return shortly!" With that, he left.

Ahadi frowned. "Who's Mufasa?" He asked.

Kiara chuckled. "A great lion who ruled over our land for many years."

"Was he better then Daddy?" Uhuru asked.

Kovu laughed. "Yes, he was. He was a gentle, caring king."

"Where is he now?" Ahadi asked, tilting his head.

The couple exchanged glances. "Well, he's dead, sweetie."

"What happened?"

"An evil lion wanted the land for himself... So he killed Mufasa. But then, his son returned and destroyed the evil king and became the rightful king of the Pride Lands."

"Where is the king now?" Uhuru asked.

Kovu looked up and smiled at Simba who was sitting next to Nala. The former king turned and cleared his throat. "That was me, cubs."

"You?! You're the lion?"

"Yes."

Uhuru excitedly stood and bounced. "That's so cool!"

Ahadi nodded. "Yeah!"

Simba smiled before catching Kiara's eye. "What?" He asked.

"We need that lion now. The one who risked his life to take back his father's land."

"Kiara-"

"No, Daddy, that land is your home, it's my home and I am not going to stand by and watch it be destroyed."

Kovu nodded. "Nor am I." He said. "Simba, this is the only way."

Simba frowned. "Kovu, you have a family now."

"And I will do what I must to protect them. All of them."

Simba and Nala exchanged glances.

"Please, Simba, let me do this."

I hope you guys like this chapter!!!