The Pride Lands, once green and full of life now was as dry as the Outlands.

A stick broke under Kovu's paws and practically crumbled into dust as he walked the land.

It was a difficult decision, leaving his family alone in the Outlands, but it was for the best, besides, he did not expect to be with his old pride long.

Skeletons of animals long dead sat, sadly as Kovu passed.

Pride Rock was in his sights as he scanned the area for his mother or any other pride members he once knew.

Suddenly, he was attacked and landed painfully on the ground as he felt claws dig into his fur, holding him down.

"Where do you think you're going, rogue?"

Kovu recognized that voice.

"Vitani!" He cried.

The lioness halted and retracted her claws before stepping off.

Kovu stood and stared into familiar eyes.

Vitani growled as she circled her brother. "What makes you think you can show up here all of sudden?"

Kovu cleared his throat. "Vitani, I need to speak to Mother." He said.

"Maybe she doesn't want to speak with you!"

"Vitani, this is important. I want back in the Pride."

Vitani laughed. "Do you really think you can just walk up and ask to rejoin? Don't forget that you killed our brother!"

"That was a long time ago! The past is the past."

"Mother would disagree!"

Kovu took a deep breath. "Vitani, please, just take me to her."

The lioness glared once more before motioning her brother to follow.

As they neared Pride Rock, Kovu began to notice members of Simba's Pride. They appeared weak, but strong enough to stand on their own.

Kovu swallowed. It was his fault that they now lived the life they did.

Avoiding their gaze, Kovu began to recogize his old pride, including Nuka's friend, Dotty. The gray lioness glared as he passed.

Finally, they arrived at Pride Rock. Vitani led her brother into the den where a chill hit him.

"Vitani, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding the west border."

Kovu frowned as he recogized the cold voice.

"I found someone." Vitani answered.

The owner of the voice made herself known as she walked put of the darkness, familiar eyes locking with Kovu's.

The lioness growled as she straightened. "Kovu."

"Mother." Kovu bowed, crouching low.

Zira frowned as she circled her son. "You've grown." She said.

"Mother, I humbly ask for you your forgiveness." Kovu said. "I was a stupid fool and I never should have betrayed you."

Zira turned as she went back to large slab she was sitting upon, the same slab where Simba and Nala spent their nights. "What happened to the princess you ran off with?"

Kovu cleared his throat as he remembered what he, Simba and Kiara had discussed what he should say. "Dead. I... realized that you had been right all along, so a few nights after I had... run off, I destroyed her." Kovu found it impossible to say he had killed her, the very word made his blood run cold.

Zira smiled. "Good, perhaps you are smarter then I realized. But if you had killed her, why haven't you returned?"

Kovu frowned. He had expected this question. "I feared Simba would find me and... I did not think I would be welcome."

"Got that right." Vitani rolled her eyes.

"Silence!" Zira growled at her daughter. Then she turned to her son, the smile returning. "Of course you are welcome, you did what was asked. Scar's ways run through your mind."

It took all Kovu had not to open his mouth to argue, instead he nodded.

"Vitani, have the Pride go on a hunt, we will celebrate Kovu's return."

Vitani nodded as she glared at her brother before exiting the cave.

Kovu smiled before noticing Zira approaching.

He winced, expected a strike, but instead, Zira nuzzled him. "Well done, my son." She said.

Kovu nodded, nervously.

TLK

Vitani did as she was told and the Outlanders brought back a meal, though the feast was nothing more then a skinny zebra and a few rodents. Kovu tried hard to hide his sympathy as Zira pushed the Pride Landers away, ordering them to hunt for their own.

Vitani chewed off one of the zebra's legs and dropped it at Kovu's paws before going to take her own portion.

"It is good to have you back and soon, you shall take your place as the King of the Pride Lands." Zira said as she placed a paw on her own meal.

Kovu glanced around. What was there to be proud of? The lands were in ruins.

"What happened... after I left?"

Zira frowned. "After your betrayal, we attacked the Pride Lands. The fools didn't know what hit them. Simba was injured and weak and unable to protect his kingdom. Nala was the one to fight, but she failed miserably. I defeated both of them and claimed the throne, banishing the two."

"And their pride? Why did you let them stay?" Kovu asked.

"I thought they would be of use to me, but they stayed loyal to their old rulers. Only this morning, Nala attacked a herd of zebra that has stayed in the land, one of her lionesses went to help. Vitani has made sure that this lioness has learned her lesson. What was odd was that Nala was not alone."

Kovu swallowed a piece of meat.

"It seems that she was with another lioness, one I did not recogize. Anyway, where have you been these last few years?"

Kovu nearly choked. "Uh...well, nothing, just traveling..."

Vitani raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

Zira smiled. "Ah! You were trying to get on touch with Scar, were you not?"

Kovu frowned. Odd question, he thought, but decided not to argue. "Yes."

"And did you?" Dotty asked.

"Yes." It wasn't a lie, Scar did appear to Kovu more than once.

"My son is finally following in the pawprints that have been set before him! Wonderful! Now let us retire to our den."

Kovu cleared his throat. "I'm going to take a walk, get to know the kingdom a bit..."

"Very well."

TLK

Kiara sighed as she glanced at her cubs who were listening to one of Rafiki's stories. They were not sure what was going on, or why their father had gone to the next pride, but they knew better then to question.

"What's wrong?"

Kiara looked up as her father approached. "I'm worried about Kovu." She replied.

"He's a strong lion, I'm sure he can handle himself." Simba assured.

The former king frowned as his daughter stood. "Father, I am so sorry. Running away was a weak move and selfish one. I should have stayed, perhaps none of this would have happened. You and Mom would still be king and queen.

Simba nodded. "You did worry us greatly, but... you followed your heart and in doing so lived your life and gave us these beautiful grandchildren."

"But your life was ruined because of me!"

"Kiara, that was in the past. What's done is done. The Pride Lands were taken from us yes, but they did take our spirit. My father once told me that the Pride Lands were a part of us. It took me some time to realize what he meant, but now that I am older I know." Simba sighed as he continued. "And besides, all is not lost. We still have a chance to get back our home."

Kiara nodded as Simba placed his paw on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug.

TLK

The moon was shining upon the land and had been for a few hours. Kovu carefully made his way out of the den, after making sure the Outlanders were asleep. He had been told that the Pride Landers had made a small home for themselves in a small cave not far from Pride Rock and that was Kovu's destination.

He was nearly there when he was suddenly attacked and pinned to the ground. I really need to pay attention, he thought to himself.

"What do you think you're doing out here, Outlander?" A lioness growled.

"And so alone?" Another chuckled coldly, most likely the one who had Kovu pinned.

"How fitting. Since they took away our king and queen, we'll just have to take theirs."

"Listen, I'm trying to help you!" Kovu said.

"We don't want your help!" Another lioness snarled.

"Listen, I met with Simba and Nala! They're alive! They're living in my old den."

Kovu winced as he felt the claws upon his back slightly retract.

"They're okay...?" The lioness above him asked.

"Don't listen to him, Duma!"

But Duma ignored. "How is Queen Nala? We heard she was attacked this morning."

"She's all right." Kovu assured. "May I stand?"

"Oh, sorry." Duma quickly jumped off and Kovu sat up.

"What about the princess, Kiara?" One lioness asked. "You said you destroyed her."

"I lied." Kovu explained. "Kiara is alive and well. We have two cubs. Now, please listen to me. I'm going to help you get back your land. I promise. First off, are you all here?"

One Lioness frowned. "All except for Mosi."

"Who's Mosi?"

"She's the lioness who tried to help Nala this morning." Duma said.

"Where is she?"

"The thorn patch. They threw her in this afternoon."

Kovu's eyes widened. "Is she alive?!"

Duma swallowed. "She won't be when the sun rises."

Kovu frowned. "I'm going after her, but I'll need someone to guide me. Duma?"

Before the lioness could agree, her friend, Diku, stopped her. "How can we trust you?"

The dark lion stepped forward. "I'm your only hope."

TLK

"It's this way." Duma whispered as she and Diku together led Kovu through a gorge. As they were walking, Kovu noticed a broken tree with a patch of grass growing. He watched as the lionesses each bowed before continuing.

It was a tight squeeze, but Kovu managed to follow them to a cliff path.

Below they heard sobbing and peered over to see the said lioness, Mosi, tangled in thorns with her own blood staining her fur.

"Mosi!" Duma whispered.

Mosi looked up and relief appeared in her eyes, but that relief quickly turned to fear when she saw Kovu. "Behind you!" She cried.

"It's okay!" Diku said. "He's with us!" Then have turned to Kovu. "Aren't you?"

But Kovu ignored as he turned to the two lionesses. "Grab my back legs with your paws, Duma and Diku you grab Duma's. You're going to lower me down so that I may grab Mosi."

Diku and Duma did as they were told and lowered the lion down. Mosi whimpered, unsure to trust him as he reached out his paw.

"Mosi, I'm here to help!" Kovu cried.

Mosi sniffed as she grabbed his paw and the two were pulled up. Exhausted and in pain, Mosi hugged her pride sisters who took her into a safe embrace.

"We would have come sooner, Mosi, but the guards-" But Diku was interrupted by Kovu.

"Keep it down. We have to get back. Mosi, can you walk?"

"A little."

"We'll support her." Duma assured.

"Good, get her back to the den and hide her so the Outlanders don't know what we did."

"Kovu." Duma said, stopping him. "When will we have our home back...?" She asked.

Kovu managed a small smile. "Soon." He said before racing back for Pride Rock. He couldn't risk getting caught after dark. He'd already risked too much in saving Mosi.

Once he was back, he carefully made his way into the den before he was stopped by a set of familiar glowing eyes.

"Little late to be roaming, isn't it?"

"Vitani? I was getting a drink..." Kovu said. quietly.

"Oh? Where?"

Kovu thought quick. "I found a small puddle with some water..."

Vitani glared but didn't press any farther. Instead, she growled and walked back to the den.

Kovu let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and followed.

Early the next morning, Zira and Kovu were walking the land.

"The circle of life is a tale told to young cubs so that they will learn respect. But you and I know the truth, don't we, Kovu?"

Kovu frowned. "We do?"

"Of course! The circle of life is a fake! When we die we do not become the grass! We go to a higher power. Life is just a game, a survival of the fittest, where the strong prey upon the weak!"

Kovu swallowed as Zira grabbed a beetle that was crawling near her paw and crushed it. "And the weak beg for mercy."

Zira smiled as she licked her paw and turned to face the once beautiful land. "I learned long ago that to survive, you must stand firm, be strong. Show no mercy. And now look at me, Queen of the Pride Lands!"

Doesn't look so prideful to me, Kovu thought.

"And you, my son, will one day take my place as king. Something your father and I have been waiting on for some time."

Scar wasn't my father, Kovu wanted to scream.

"You will be in charge, your word will be obeyed! And perhaps, once you are ruler, we shall, with our pride together, rid this land of the Pride Landers and the old rulers."

No!

"Come, Kovu, your glorious future awaits you!"

And it's covered in the blood of everyone I hold dear.

Together, mother and son returned to Pride Rock.

That night, Kovu once more snuck off, this time for the Outlands.

He was surprised to see Kiara waiting for him, her eyes full of love and relief.

"Oh, Kovu, you're safe!" She cried nuzzling him.

"I don't have much time." Kovu said as he explained his day.

"But-"

"I have to do it tomorrow night." Kovu said. "When my mother is gone, the Pride will run in fear and you and your family can return to Pride Rock."

Kiara sighed. "I know this is the only thing, but what if we talked to Zira?"

"Kiara, she's gone! Out of her mind!" Kovu sighed. "Believe me, if there were another way, I'd take it. But she's too dangerous."

Kiara nodded before taking a deep breath. "You won't be alone." She said.

"Kovu raised an eyebrow before noticing four figures standing behind her.

"Hello, Kovu."

Kovu frowned as he recogized the golden fur and red mane. "Kion."

"We're behind you all the way, Outlander." Fuli winked and Kovu smiled.

"So what's the plan?" Simba asked.

Kovu straightened. "Tomorrow, we will save Pride Landers and together, we will destroy Zira and her pride and claim your land back."

Kion smiled. "To the Pride Land's end..."

"Lion Guard defend." The others finished.

Sorry it's late! But Kion's back!