A few days had passed since Khali met the pride. He was very popular among the lions there, being very polite and having made an effort to speak to everyone in the pride. And yet, he seemed a little formal in everything he said, like it was his duty to befriend the pride, not his pleasure. His behavior around Zira was different, however. With her, he was more warm, more open, more real. They walked through the Pride Lands together almost every day, and Zira found herself admiring him more and more. He was kind, he was intelligent, he was brave... the list went on in her mind. But she would never admit it to anyone.

Khali told her stories of life in his kingdom, though he made no mention of his father, except to say that they weren't very close. But he described his pridemates with pride and respect, and Zira could see how much he cared about all of them, especially his sister, Nuia. She in turn told him of her life and showed him around the Pride Lands. He expressed sympathy over the deaths of Dania and Nyeusi, but she tried to mention them as little as possible. The pain was still too close. But whenever she was around Khali, the pain seemed to fade away to a dull throb. She felt safe in his presence, protected.

Scar, who had been gruff at best before Khali's arrival, was now moody and angry, especially when the visiting prince was near. Zira couldn't understand it, unless it had something to do with the fact that Khali would soon be a king, and Scar would never become king. Zira decided to disregard his moodiness and try to act like he wasn't being any different. She tried to spend as much time with him as before, but as she found herself spending more and more time with Khali, this became increasingly harder.

Sarafina was naturally the first to comment on her affections for the prince. The two lionesses were sitting by the Water Hole drinking their fill, when Sarafina commented, "I noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Khali lately." Her voice was casual, but the smirk on her face gave her away. "Found a new friend, have we?"

Zira recognized the words she herself had spoken only a few months ago and groaned inwardly. Thisis payback for putting you on the spot about Runju, isn't it? She asked silently. Aloud, she replied guardedly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sarafina's smirk widened. "Come on Zira. You didn't seriously think that I wouldn't suspect you like him, did you?"

Zira's ears went back, and her tail swished irritably. "Who said anything about me liking him?" She demanded defensively.

The former rogue rolled her eyes. "I'm your best friend, Zira. I know these things." When Zira didn't reply, she took this as surrender and asked, "Have you talked to him about it?"

Zira shook her head. "I wouldn't know what to say." She admitted quietly.

Sarafina's smirk softened to a smile. "I remember feeling the same way about Runju. I was always so nervous around him. But when we started going out, I realized there was never anything to be nervous about. Either he would say he cared for me, or he wouldn't. Don't be so nervous; just tell him how you feel." She and Runju had started dating in secret about a month ago.

Zira looked away, her head lowered dejectedly. "But what if he laughs at me?"

Sarafina answered firmly, "Then he's not worth it." When Zira stilled looked uncertain, the cream-colored lioness said gently, "Zira, he's leaving in a little over a week. If you don't tell him how, you feel, regardless of what his answer might be, you're going to regret it forever." She stood. "I've got to head back, Runju and I are going hunting later." She padded away, leaving Zira with her thoughts.

Zira found herself agreeing with what Sarafina had said. No matter what he said, she had to tell him. Otherwise she would lose him forever, and she would never forgive herself for letting him go without a fight.

For the next few days, Zira tried to summon the courage to tell the prince how she felt. But everytime she tried, she panicked and changed the subject. If Khali noticed her strange behavior, he made no mention of it. That only made her admire him more. But soon the days began to slip by, and Zira began to panic. If she didn't speak soon, she would lose him forever.

Finally, on the day before his last day in the Pride Lands, Zira forced herself to walk over to him in the cave and ask him to go on a walk. He looked at her, a smile on his face. "That sounds great. Let's go." He followed her out into the Pride Lands, although he had become quite familiar with the territory in his few days there.

Khali spoke first. "I'm going to miss this place when I leave." He was looking around at the savanah surrounding them, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Of all the other prides I've visited, this place is the closest to home I've felt."

Zira, her heart beating rapidly, forced herself to say, "I'm sure you'll be glad to be home, though."

The prince smiled softly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. After all, there's no place like home." He repeated what he had said the first time they met.

Zira closed her eyes. Great Kings above, why am I such a coward around him? She replied with forced cheerfulness, "And you'll get to see your family again."

He nodded. "Yes, it'll be good to see them again. But I'll miss the lions here as well."

Zira turned her head away, steeling herself against the words she said next. "Will you miss me?" She asked softly.

Khali looked at her, confused. "What?"

She turned to look at him, a nervous expression on her face. "I asked if you'll miss me when you leave. If you care about me the way I care about you. If..." She hesitated, then continued, "If you love me like I love you."

Khali looked surprised. "You're saying you...?"

Zira cut him off. "I understand if you say no. I'm not here for your sympathy, I just couldn't let you leave without-"

She fell silent as Khali rubbed his muzzle against her cheek. "But I do love you, Zira." He murmured, his voice soft.

Zira stiffened in surprise, a feeling fierce joy in her heart. "You mean it?"

The prince pulled back and smiled softly at her. "Of course." He sat down and put his paw on her should, and pulled her close, so she was sitting directly beside him. She hesitated, then laid her head against his chest, his chin coming to rest on her head. She closed her eyes, never having felt so safe, so happy, so loved. Khali loved her, and she loved him. All was right with the world.

They stayed like that for a minute or so, until Khali pulled back. "Zira, come with me." He said, his eyes shining.

Zira tipped her head. "What?"

Khali repeated, "Come to my pride with me. Be my queen."

The princess's eyes widened. "Me, a queen?" She'd never even considered it before. Leave her home? Become a queen? Just the thought was overwhelming, but when she looked into Khali's eyes, when she saw the affection in his eyes, she knew there was only one answer she could give. "Yes."

The next day, Ahadi summoned a meeting for the pride. He and Uru stood on Pride Rock, looking down at Khali. "Prince Khali, your time in our pride is up, and you have proved yourself to be a friend. We will assist you in the future, should you ever require it." The king told him.

Khali dipped his head respectfully. "Thank you, King Ahadi. There is only one thing I ask of you. I request that you allow me to bring Princess Zira with me, to become my queen."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd at the prince's bold request. Ahadi turned away from Khali and looked down at Zira. "Is this what you want?" He asked the princess quietly.

Zira nodded. "It is." She said firmly.

Ahadi nodded a little sadly. "So be it. May you two be happy together. Khali, Zira, may the Great Kings bless your path." With that, he descended from Pride Rock, the signal for the rest of the pride to say their goodbyes. Uru and Ahadi came to Zira first. "Goodbye, my niece. You've grown to be so much like your father." Ahadi said sadly. "I hope you're happy where you're going."

Zira dipped her head. "Thank you, Uncle Ahadi."

Uru said sadly, "I wish your mother could see this." Zira remembered that Uru had once been good friends with Shari, before the lioness's bout of depression.

Zira bid both of them farewell, only to be greeted by their son. Scar looked far more solemn then usual, and Zira saw sadness in his eyes as he said stiffly, "Goodbye, Zira. Good luck with your new kingdom."

Zira rolled her eyes and touched noses with the prince, who stiffened. "I'll miss you, Scar." The dark prince didn't reply, just slunk away silently. Before she could reflect on his strange behavior, she was confronted by her sisters and Sarafina. Vunja stepped forward first. "I'm going to miss you, sister."

Zira felt a lump in her throat. "You too, Vunja." This was the hardest part of leaving with Khali. She almost wished she had decided to stay, but imediatly pushed the thought away. Wherever Khali went was where she wanted to be.

Kuuma came forward next. "Ever since Father died, I've been trying to protect you and Vunja. And now... now you're protecting yourself." Zira could see the sadness in Kuuma's eyes, and felt guilt for being the cause. Kuuma touched noses with her sister for a moment. "Safe travels, my sister."

The last one to come forward was Sarafina. The cream-colored lioness looked happy for her friend, but sad at the same time. Before she could speak, Zira said, "I just wanted to thank you. You've been the best friend a lioness could ask for, and you helped me find the courage to tell Khali that I loved him. I'm really going to miss you."

A tear rolled down Sarafina's cheek. "I'll never forget you, my friend." The two touched noses for a moment, each one crying silently. Sarafina smiled and said, "Remember when I told you that you would make a great queen? And now it's really happening."

Zira smiled sadly. "Who'd have believed it?" She knew it was time to go, so she pulled back and said, "Goodbye, all of you." She turned away, following Khali away into the unknown future.