Hi again, everybody!
True to my word, this chapter has been posted 4 days after the previous one. The next one will come in about a week (or more, it depends).
Thank you to Fer444 for your comment, and this chapter has exactly what you wanted!
Anyway, Kion and Neema will have to say a hard goodbye and go on their journey. Enjoy!
"Let's get this straight…" King Mshtuko sputters.
"The whole entire 'being a Prince of the Pride lands' thing." Queen Aina adds.
"Your 'Lion Guard' group." sputters Kipe.
"Your 'real family' and 'Umoja'," adds Kua.
"Everything else that relates to your home." Kupu sputters.
"Your 'thing' with Neema," Hofu adds.
"Your 'Grandfather Mufasa and the Roar of the Elders' situation." sputters Msaidi.
"Your 'Great Kings of the Past and strength' issue," adds Kuko.
"Your 'girlfriend or romantic interest', who is our best friend." Usa sputters.
"Your friend's 'strength issue and the hippo' incident," Ki adds.
"You didn't bother to tell anyone but me these things? Why?" Neema questions.
"I didn't want any of you guys to try to stop me or get me home earlier. I've loved every moment I've spent here, but I must go home. Neema's coming with me, but I promise we'll be back."
"Enough with the sentiment!" Neema interrupts, smiling. "Let's enjoy the time we have together!"
Everyone agrees, and the festivities begin.
Two weeks later, Kion and Neema are ready to leave the place they have called home for 12 years. All 12 of their friends are ready to release them, but many tears have been shed. Group by group, Kion and Neema's caretakes, friends and companions bid them farewell.
"Kion, you were my first friend my age. We've had such great times together, and I hope you return.
"Neema, you were the first sensible person I met. Thank you for all of your wise words and advice."
"Thank you, Kipe. We will miss you as well." Kion answers.
"Kion, you were a great friend and a better person. Neema, you are our sister. We will miss you."
"Thank you, Kua and Kupu. We think of you as sisters as well."
"Kion and Neema, you both accepted me into your group with no question or hesitation. You have changed my life."
"We appreciate everything, Hofu," Kion responds.
"Thank you so much, Hofu!" Neema exclaims.
"You guys are our older siblings. You've taught us so much, and we wouldn't be the amazing teenagers we are today without you." Kuko, Usa, and Ki admit.
"You guys are the younger siblings we've never had. Thank you for everything." Kion and Neema respond affectionately.
"On behalf of all the members of Rehema, we thank you for being part of our pride. Your willingness to help us during this time touched all our hearts. Thank you." Msaidi pronounces.
"We thank the pride for accepting and nourishing us all of these years." Kion and Neema respond.
"As the King and Queen, we formally thank you for associating with Rehema for 12 years. You have proved to be essential parts of the pride and have contributed to its well-being daily. You shall be missed." declare King Mshtuko and Queen Aina, while hugging Kion and Neema.
"We shall miss you as well." Kion and Neema reply.
After waving one final farewell, Kion and Neema begin their two-week journey to the Pride lands.
As Kion and Neema travel, they acknowledge what their relationship has become.
"Hey, Kion?"
"Yes, Neema?"
"Are we dating, mates, or somewhere in between?"
"Well, Neema, I was thinking that we could become mates in the Pride lands (after settling, of course)."
"Makes sense."
As they enter into the Pride Lands, Kion tells Neema to wait around Pride Rock.
"I have to see if Scar has been defeated yet."
"Ok, then. I'll tell you what I find out at Pride Rock."
"Ok. I love you."
"I love you too."
Kion and Neema share a quick, heartfelt nuzzle before going to complete their individual tasks.
As Kion enters into the Outlands, he notices that they are surprisingly empty of one species – lions. All the rest of the animals look at Kion warily before he continues, making sure that no one sees him.
Once Kion returns to Neema, she gives him surprising news as well.
"My family isn't at Pride Rock?"
"No one is. Come on, let's see where they're headed."
"Ok. I didn't see my – or should I say, Fuli's – Guard, so they must be helping a neighboring Pride with something.
"Makes sense. Come on, let's go! I want to meet everyone you've been bragging about for the past 12 years!"
"I'll race you to the border between the Pride Lands and the Outlands!"
"Hey, no fair! I have no idea where that is!"
"Too bad, then!"
A grinning Kion's smirk is wiped off when Neema pushes him out of her way.
As Kion and Neema approach the border, they are met by rain.
"Great, just great! My fur!"
…
"Kion? What's going on?"
Kion is staring in shock at the scene before him.
"Mom? Dad? Kiara?"
"Kion?" Simba asks.
"You're home!" exclaims Kiara, running up to nuzzle him. "Well, hello there. Who are you?"
"I'm Neema, your brother's…"
"Love interest?" Kion suggests.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I've heard a lot about you from Kion."
"Well, I haven't heard anything about you! After this is over, we should get to know each other."
"Sure, why not?"
"Kion! Did you find out what 'Umoja' means?" Nala asks while embracing him.
"Unity, because to survive as a Pride, we need to stick together."
"That lesson will help you once we tell you about what you missed while you were gone," adds Simba, also embracing his son.
Kion finally notices the scene before him. Kovu, Vitani, and the Outlanders are standing right next to the Pride Landers, talking.
"What happened?"
"We'll fill you in later. First, some people want to talk to you," explains Kiara.
"You're starting to act like a Queen again!" Kion warns Kiara.
"Oops, I can't help it! Any month now!"
While rolling his eyes, Kion notices Vitani approaching.
"Hello, Vitani. Let me guess, we're family now?"
"You could say that." she grinned. "Especially since Kovu and Kiara are going to be mates soon."
"What?" Kion gasps. "Kovu, is that true?"
"Yep." Kovu answers. "Do you approve?"
"Sure. I know you and Kiara can make the right decisions."
Neema heard a grumble of,
"I leave for 12 years and the world's turned upside-down!", which sent her into spontaneous giggles.
"Oh, hello." Vitani greets Neema.
"Who are you?" Kovu asks.
"I'm Neema- "
"-Kion's love interest. Seriously, he leaves for 12 years and I miss everything!" grumps Kiara.
"Great minds think alike…Kion just said the same thing." Neema says, giggling.
The group lets out a hearty laugh as they start to head back to Pride Rock. All of a sudden two lionesses run towards Kion and nuzzle him.
"Tiifu? Zuri?"
"Oh, hello, Kion!" Tiifu giggles.
"We thought you'd never come back at this rate!" exclaims Zuri.
Neema notices their affection towards him and wraps her tail around Kion's. He returns the gesture and smiles at her, with Neema returning the gesture.
"Who are you?" scoffs Tiifu.
"We haven't seen you around these parts!" sneers Zuri.
"I'm Neema, Kion's love interest."
"Hmph!" Tiifu and Zuri exclaim.
As they walk away from the new couple, they bump into two males.
Tiifu gasps,
"Oh, he's so handsome!", gesturing to the one with a honey-colored body, a wax-colored mane, tan paws, and orange sunset eyes.
"What's his name?" Zuri whispers about the one with a peanut-colored body, a copper mane, penny-colored paws, and fire-colored eyes.
The aforementioned lions had been staring at Zuri and Tiifu as well, and Zuri was the first one to break out of her trance.
"I'm Zuri. What's your name?" she asks the copper-maned lion.
"My name's Piga."
"'Scrape?' Interesting."
Meanwhile, Tiifu is having a similar conversation with the wax-maned lion.
"I'm Tiifu, and you're..."
"…Alama."
"'Mark'…I like your name."
"Didn't think a Pride lander would."
"We're all Pride landers now…"
"Thanks for reminding me," Alama states warmly.
"You're welcome."
Their conversations continue as the Pride continues to walk. Upon arriving at Pride Rock, Rafiki greets Kion and Neema ("Ah, finally, I get to see you two together! Mufasa was so excited about both of you!") and announces Kovu and Kiara as mates. Simba, Nala, Kiara, and Kovu roar to the new Pride, who respond by roaring. Then, Kion performs the Roar of the Elders to a cheering crowd, as everyone celebrates his arrival.
After 12 years of struggles and suffering, Kiongozi has returned.
14 chapters into the story and the first main part is over. This will mainly be falling action that goes on for four months in the Pride Lands, and a sequel once this is over with. I'll start delving into different fandoms afterward, but The Lion King is my first FanFiction love.
See you soon,
Jane the fan.