Chapter Twelve: Aftermath, Part III: The Birth

Guest: All right, I've had enough of you! Simba's not a main point in this fic! He was for awhile, but this story is Tama's, not Simba's.

CSIMentalistTLK Lover: Well, you're thinking along the right track that I'm going to use canon cubs. And yes, it's nice to have Zira being a good guy. She's actually pleasant once you get over the craziness, believe it or not! Enjoy the chapter!

Elven Silver Power Ranger: I'm glad you think that way! Enjoy the chapter.

Tama got up from the cave one morning. Her pregnant belly was obvious she was due any day. She shook her body then felt the cub dropkick her in the ribs and she grunted.

"Oh, not that I don't love you, but I can't wait until you're out of me." Tama whispered to her belly. She trotted down to the waterhole and got a drink of water. She lifted her golden gaze through the hazy morn.

In her gaze she caught the form of a dark lioness. Tama growled.

"Well, Tama. We meet again." Kula said.

"Kula…" Tama said.

"What're you doing here, alone?" Kula said.

"You're as alone as I am." Tama pointed out.

"Good point," Kula gazed at Tama's pregnant belly, "when are you due?"

"Why do you care? Get out of the Pridelands. I don't want to have to kill family." Tama growled.

"You already did. My father, forget him?" Kula demanded.

"Kula, leave. Now." Tama said.

"I'd rather not." Kula lunged at Tama.

Tama woke up from her nightmare with a gasp. She looked beside her, seeing Tojo. Tojo woke up.

"Tama? Is it the cub?" Tojo asked sleepily.

"No. A nightmare." Tama said, but then she felt her water break, "scratch that. Water broke." Tama said.

Tojo shot up and started dancing around on his feet.

"What should I do? What should I do?" Tojo asked.

"Tell Zazu to get Rafiki. Then get my mother. I'm headed for the nursery cave." Tama panted. She stood up and slowly walked to the nursery cave just off the path to the top of Pride Rock. She grunted when a contraction hit her hard. She made it to the nursery to see Sarafina and Nala in there with a golden ball of fluff beside Nala. Tama smiled and lied down by Nala.

"Is it time for you to have your cub too?" Nala asked.

"Yep. Had a nightmare then my water broke." Tama said.

"That's no fun. But trust me, you'll be happier when you're cub's out." Nala said, licking her golden cub's head.

"Boy or girl?" Tama asked.

"A boy." Sarafina answered proudly. Tama smiled.

"My little nephew. What're you naming him?" Tama asked.

"If you don't mind… Kopa. I like that name." Nala smiled sheepishly. Tama smiled.

"You can use it. I don't mind." Another contraction overcame Tama and she groaned. Sarafina chuckled.

"Sarabi is on her way?" Sarafina asked.

"She is," Tama said as the contraction hit it's peak, "and I hope it's soon. I think this'll be a quick birth."

"Those are always fun." Sarafina said.

"Not for Mommy. Not for Mommy." Tama said. Sarafina and Nala laughed aloud.

"True." Nala said.

Sarabi and Tojo burst into the nursery. Sarabi walked to Tama's side and bumped heads with Tama.

"The contractions?" Sarabi asked.

"Not that far apart. It hurts." Tama said. Another contraction rolled over Tama and she groaned.

"I see. Tojo, you might want to leave." Sarabi announced.

"I'm not going to. I know it's tradition for the King not to see their Prince or Princess until after they're licked clean, but I want to see this." Tojo said proudly.

"In that case, help me with the contractions." Tama begged. Tojo lied down beside his mate.

A few contractions later, Tama birthed a beautiful girl cub. Tama licked her daughter clean. She looked at her cub with intrigue. Her baby had some features that belonged to her Grandma Uru, like dark eyeshades and a sharp nose. But besides that, her cub had her fur color and her hairtuft, and Tojo's pink nose.

"She's beautiful, Tama." Tojo said softly.

"She is. Hi, baby." Tama said. The cub opened its eyes and they were Tojo's electric blue. Tama gasped and smiled.

"She has my eyes." Tojo said, licking his cub. He bumped heads with Tama. They looked at their daughter together and Tama licked her.

"What should her name be?" Tojo asked.

"I don't know. All I know is she's the light of my life." Tama said.

"How about Ashaki?" Nala suggested. Tama smiled at her sister-in-law.

"Ashaki." Tama said licking her daughter's head.

"I like it." Tojo said. Sarabi smiled at her granddaughter. She looked at the cub curiously.

"She has some traits from Uru, that's for sure." Sarabi said.

"I don't care. She's my baby and I'm protecting her." Tama said.

"As am I. Hi, Ashaki." Tojo said softly. Ashaki mewled and batted at her father's mane. Tojo laughed.

"She's lively." Tama said.

"Very." Tojo said. He nuzzled Tama.

Tama left Ashaki with Nala as she and Tojo stood above all the other animals. They looked at each other in pure love and adoration, Timon and Pumbaa alongside them. They nuzzled and laughed.

"I love you. I love our daughter." Tojo said.

"I love you, too. And Ashaki will be raised well." Tama said.

Rafiki brought out Ashaki in his arms. Tama and Tojo looked at Rafiki and smiled. Rafiki raised Ashaki for all the animals to see their new Princess, the indicator of the Circle of Life returning for another term.

Kula saw as another of her lionesses, Dotty, returned from the Pridelands. She trotted up to Dotty.

"What is it? What is the cub?" Kula demanded of her underling. Dotty laughed.

"Kula, calm. The cub is female. Looks like Tama, only with blue eyes, a sharp nose and dark eyeshades." Dotty said.

"Sounds like she inherited some of Grandmother Uru's traits. Good. Her name? The cub's name?" Kula asked.

"I think I heard Ashaki. Could've been something else, but I'm sure it was that." Dotty said.

"'What a good choice, Tama. You chose my daughter's name well." Kula chuckled.

"Kula!" Amani called. She was alongside one of her pride sisters who had a pure white cub in her mouth. The pride sister dropped the cub in front of Kula.

"Male or female?" Kula asked.

"Male. He was alone." Amani said.

"I see. Hello there, little one. You're going to help me get Ashaki. What should I name you? I know. Hello there, little Myota." Kula nuzzled the white cub.

Any guess of who Ashaki is? She has dark eyeshades, blue eyes and a sharp pink nose. Therefore, which canon cub is she? Go ahead and guess, you probably won't be wrong. (Note: IT IS NOT KIARA!)

On another note, looks like Kula's got another little cub. A white cub named Myota. Myota also means "star" in Swahili.

So, I guess this fic is done. Completed. So, if you have any doubt of me starting the sequel, don't worry. It'll start up soon. Review for the last chapter!

SCM115 is OUT! See ya!