A/N The final story in the King of the Sanctuary trilogy. This story shows Little Rose and her friends growing up; other characters will join them. Some I made up; some are canon/sub-canon.

You know the drill; I do not own Scar or any canon/sub-canon characters that appear in this story. I own everything else though.

Reldor: Yeah, she's a spunky girl XD She'll be living in the sanctuary, so unfortunately, she won't be able to.

The Soviet Colonel: Thank you :)

kate: Yeah, she's a bit like her dad :)

Cool2001: Thanks XD

Chapter 10

It was several days after Zoe made herself at home. Scar made it clear that no one was to hurt her. He told the pride she would be able to help with Little Rose's handicap by helping to answer questions and introduce her to new lions. Everyone agreed immensely; they were delighted Little Rose finally had someone who could help her…well, almost everyone.

Devil couldn't care either way. For all he cared, Little Rose could just sit around and do nothing. That was all she was good for. She may become a huntress, but she could never be queen in his eyes.

Anyway, he sometimes couldn't bear to look at the cub. When he saw her smile, he saw Rose; his beloved Rose, who was never his. When he saw the cub's eyes, however, he saw Scar, his forever rival.

Unaware of Devil's secret hatred for her, Little Rose was a happy cub. She and her best friends spent the days with Zoe, helping her get to know the cub. She learned what Little Rose liked, what she disliked, and how she may react to a certain situation.

She also saw a great deal of friendship between Little Rose and Dogo. The twins often said he liked her. "She's all he talks about." Binti said.

"We're not saying we're jealous, though." Bora assured.

"It's just funny to see him talking about her."

"We think he's got a crush on her."

"Of course, he always denies it." Binti rolled her eyes.

"But we know the truth." They concluded simultaneously.

Zoe laughed. She liked the twins. She also saw Dogo's affection for Little Rose. Her father often talked of cases of that; one good example had been Simba and Nala. And look at them now.

Now, Scar was walking with Little Rose through the savannah again. Little Rose looked at every little thing, and pounced on every bug. She tried to catch little lizards, but they were always too fast. Scar chuckled at her frustrated expression. "Don't worry, little princess," He said, laying down and rubbing her head with his paw. "You'll be an excellent huntress someday. Just like your mother."

Smiling proudly, Little Rose began to wander around, exploring. "Don't wander off too far." Scar called out.

Nodding, she continued on. Soon she found the electric borders again. She sat down and just stared off into the distance. It didn't look any different outside of the sanctuary than it did inside. But her father said there was a tall rock called Pride Rock, where he used to live. He told her all kinds of stories about it, and about her uncle, Mufasa, and her cousin, Simba.

She always wanted to see the Pridelands. Scar said her mother did as well. Now that she was with the Spirits of the Past, she may visit whenever she wished. Little Rose hoped her mother met with the cub's Uncle Mufasa, and grandparents, Uru and Ahadi, and told them how much Scar had changed. If only she could tell Little Rose's cousin, Simba.

A rustle in the grass snapped Little Rose out of her thoughts. She stood up, arched her back, extended her black claws, and bared her teeth. A young cub about her age came out. She had a peach pelt, with a cream underbelly, chest, throat, snout and toes, cream and brown eyelids, brown ear linings, a pink nose, a brown tail tuft, and reddish-brown eyes. She smiled friendlily. "Hi. I'm Kiara."

Little Rose relaxed, and just smiled in response. "What's your name?" Kiara asked. When Little Rose didn't answer, she frowned, "What's the matter? Can'tcha talk?"

Little Rose shook her head. Kiara's eyes widened, and her ears perked up curiously. "Really?"

Little Rose nodded. "Oh…can you play?"

She rolled her eyes and nodded, crouching down and wagging her tail. She snapped her teeth, grinning. Kiara giggled and crouched down, jumping around and growling playfully. Suddenly, a large lion appeared behind her, roaring loudly. It was a male. He was golden brown, with a cream underbelly, chest, snout, toes, and eyelids, brown ear linings, a full red mane and tail, and reddish brown eyes. He stood over Kiara, glaring at Little Rose, who cringed back in fright.

Then, Scar leapt up so he was standing over her and roared loudly as well. He glared at the golden lion through the electric borders. "Scar." The young male scowled.

"Simba." Scar growled back. Little Rose's eyes widened. This was her cousin, Simba? Scar glanced down at her and said, "I see you've met my daughter, Little Rose. Remember when Kafil said she was just opening her eyes, and Rose wished for me to be the first thing she saw?"

Simba's ears perked up curiously. "This is your daughter?" He curled his nose slightly. "I see she takes after you; especially the scar, seeing how scars aren't even genetic."

"Yes, except for one unfortunate thing: she cannot speak. She is mute."

Simba kept an emotionless expression. "I see. So, where is her mother?"

Scar noticeably cringed as his heart was pained momentarily. "About two months ago…she…I found her injured in the Rock Pit. She…she didn't make it."

Simba's eyes widened, but then they hardened. "Well, now you know how it feels to find someone you love lying dead! Now you know how it feels to have someone you love dearly ripped away from you!"

"I know bloody well how it feels!" Scar roared. "And I know! It feels awful!" He took a deep breath to calm himself. "There doesn't go a day I don't miss her dearly. She saw through my hard shell, and shattered it, changing me for the better. When I find the lion who took her from me, they will pay!"

"Surely it was an accident?" Simba asked.

"No." Scar shook his head. "I just know someone pushed her in." He looked down at Kiara, who looked back at him, frightened. "This is Kiara, I presume?"

"Yes." Simba answered, then his ears perked up. "How did you know?"

"A little bird told me." Scar answered simply. "I presume Nala is Kiara's mother?"

"Yes." Simba growled.

Nodding, Scar smiled kindly at his grandniece. Seeing he didn't mean any harm, she smiled back. Glancing from her to his uncle, Simba finally said, "I think we've outstayed our welcome."

"Indeed." Scar said as Simba picked Kiara up by the scruff. "Oh, and Simba?" The young lion paused as Scar looked at him sympathetically. "I'm so sorry about Kopa. You may not know it, but I know how it feels to lose a cub. But you're lucky. You had Kopa a few months after his birth; Rose and I lost our cub before it was born. We never knew whether it was a boy or girl, or what it even looked like."

Simba just stared at his uncle before turning and walking through the savannah.

Scar sighed and looked down at Little Rose, raising one eyebrow at her guilty expression. "So, you think you're in trouble, hm?"

She nodded. "Well, I did tell you to not wander off, but I only told you to not wander off too far. And you didn't; I could see your tail tuft through the grass."

Little Rose finally smiled. "At any rate, it was time you met your cousin anyway. I am only sorry you had to meet him that way. For now, it is time we got home as well." He nudged her and led her back to camp. She trotted along, smiling. He chuckled and walked faster. This only made her start running. Laughing, Scar ran alongside her. The lion and his cub raced all the way to camp.

A/N I thought it'd be cute that Dogo liked Little Rose, but always denied it :3 Of course, our friends, Binti, Bora and Zoe, know better than that.

I decided a good way for Little Rose to meet her cousin, Simba, would to first run into her cousin-once-removed (I think that's how it goes): Kiara :D I thought it was cute how she asked what Little Rose's name was, and when she didn't answer, she asked, "What's the matter? Can'tcha talk?" I know, the scene is like the one between Simba and Zira, but I made it different: Scar wasn't nearly as upset with Kiara running into Little Rose, he wasn't hostile like Zira was, and he was definitely friendlier. I also thought since he changed, he'd feel sorry for Simba about what happened to Kopa; especially when he lost a cub himself.