Epilogue

A soft, cool breeze blew through Kovu's dark manes. It felt remarkably pleasant. He sat and watched as the crowd slowly passed by, and endured their angry stares. Before him walked all remaining Pridelanders, including Kiara and Nala. Each of them carefully held in her mouth a part of Simba, slowly carefully dragging forth his body over the dry savanna-floor. They were on a journey towards Priderock, towards the Tomb of Kings (also known as the green den that had served a a mass-grave for all those fallen at the Battle of Priderock). They would entomb Simba alongside all lionesses that had died defending his pride, near their ancestral home. Of course, Kovu and all other Outlanders had volunteered to help carry the deceased monarch, but their request had been turned down, that of Kovu with a punch to the face from Kiara. They, the cowards and traitors, were not worthy to help carry the fallen hero that was Simba.
Kovu could understand why they were mad at him, but the punch Kiara had given him still hurt, if not physically, then mentally. Simba had not been the only sacrifice Kovu had had to make on the altar of peace – his relationship with Kiara was now purely ceremonial; she'd never forgive him for what he had done (or rather not done; like not saving her father).
For the time being, Kovu tried not to think about it. He felt upset enough already without having to realize he had lost the one thing that had, more than one year ago, reunited the fractured lion-pride: Kiara's love. But if the greater good meant losing Kiara's love... so be it.
In an attempt to divert his thoughts, he turned back to Enyi behind him.

"So, are the hyenas already done moving?"

"Yes, sire. We're free to go anytime."

"Good. Well, what are you waiting for then, get the pride to Priderock," Kovu yawned, "Oh, and Enyi, post some guards outside the tomb, okay? Make sure the Pridelanders don't start messing around inside; it is still a tomb after all."

"Messing around, sir?"

"I'd prefer if they not took the hyena-cadavers that still lie in there out. That'd be in very bad taste... and not in compliance with the new direction we want our pride to head in."

"I will see to it, my liege."

Good, so Enyi was back to her old self – or maybe just not in the mood for joking. For the better.
As Enyi walked away with all other Outlanders, towards Priderock, Kovu couldn't help but feel a bit lost. What to do now? He didn't feel comfortable going to Priderock whilst Simba was being put to rest, and he wasn't really invited either. Well then, why not seek out his sister again? She was probably around the Golden River, and in her current, wounded state, should not be left alone. Plus, she needed someone to clean her wounds. Off to the Golden River then... although off to 'the border' would be a more appropriate term now that the Golden River was what separated the 'Clanlands' from the 'Pridelands'.
Indeed, a new and well defined border between their lands had been the first thing Kovu and Shenya had agreed upon; recognizing a border is recognizing the clan our pride that lives across it. Of course, their first thought had been to simply share the lands, but they had quickly realized their subjects were not at all ready for that, and forcing it on them would do more harm than good, as Taka had already proven in the past. But just returning to the status-quo they had before their latest war was just as folly: it would mean a gross denial of the unjust distribution of lands between them. So they had agreed to partition the Pridelands: the lions got all the lands south of Golden River, the bulk of the Pridelands, as well as the most fertile part. The hyenas in turn got all lands north of it, accounting for about one third of the Pridelands, plus the Outlands. That was about an equal split, which still allowed the lions to retain their precious Priderock. No need for one side to be envious of the other, that was a good start.

Kovu slowly walked over to Golden River with a slack pace. Upon arrival, he noticed the river had already been evacuated, save for three lone figures: Vitani, Shenya and the deceased Vincent. Kovu imagined he saw them trying to drag Vincent's carcass onto the riverbank.

"Might I inquire into what it is you are exactly doing?"

"Huh?" Vitani startled, "Kovu? You startled me. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the very same question. But what I find stranger than your presence is hers," Kovu replied, signing at Shanya, "Hyena, shouldn't you be with your clan?"

"I should. But there is something I have to take care of first..."

"Even so, you shouldn't wander off by yourself. Even now, while we are at peace, you should still avoid coming near some... bitter lions, especially not a matriarch like you..."

"You're right," Shenya admitted, "I shouldn't be out here by myself... But this was something me and Vitani had to do alone... and I can imagine being safe now that you're around around."

"Quite. What exactly are you doing?"

"Vitani thought it'd be best if we laid Vincent to rest somewhere appropriate... so we're taking him there now."

"Ah. And where might that be?" Kovu wondered.

"The tomb near Priderock..." Vitani silently whispered, fearing Kovu wouldn't agree with her decision. But strangely enough, he did.

"That is indeed fitting... more than a Royal Tomb, that green den has become a symbol; in it, lions and hyenas are laid to rest side by side. Your friend fits in perfectly, so to speak," Kovu nodded, "But you'll never get there at this pace. Here, let me help you..."

Kovu slowly knelled down, signaling Vitani and Shenya to put the body over his back; Vincent was only a male hyena, they're not an incredible burden to carry.

"Thanks, Kovu..."

"Don't mention it... we should get going – but let us not make too much haste, for we would want to avoid bumping into Pridelanders... It would be very awkward if we were to interrupt them as they say goodbye to Simba..."

That said, the small group silently set out for Priderock, advancing at very slow peace, hardly ever talking. Eventually, after hours of walking, they reached the vicinity of the Royal Tomb. Not before long, one of the Outlanders patrolling around the Royal Tomb noticed them. She looked a bit confused when she saw the unusual trio.

"Don't ask," Kovu yawned even before the lioness got the chance to open her mouth, "We're heading for the Tomb of Kings. You wouldn't happen to know if there are still Pridelanders present, would you?"

"Eh... no, sire. Most left after an hour or so spent mourning... Queen Nala and princes Kiara were the last ones to leave, 'bout half an hour ago..."

"For the better... all right then, let's go. And you," Kovu instructed looking at the lioness, "Make sure no-one interrupts us, all right?"

"Will do."

The Outlander stepped aside and let Kovu, Vitani and Shenya pass. They slowly neared the Tomb. Strangely enough, no eerie smells cluttered the air. Not yet anyhow. Maybe that was because the Tomb always stayed quite cool, the warmth kept out by the lush vegetation surrounding the cave.

"Did she just say Queen Nala and Princes Kiara?" Vitani suddenly asked, "Shouldn't that by now be Queen-mother and Queen?"

"No, not until I'm inaugurated as the new king," Kovy replied, "And that might take a while; Rafiki isn't too motivated. Word has it he wont even make me king, but just name me regent until Kiara's son is born..."

"Oh..."

"I care little; I'm not in it for the titles. Well, here's the place..."

Vitani carefully pushed aside the vines that obscured the low, rocky entrance to the den they now called Royal Tomb. She more or less expected to be greeted by files of corpses all around her, and swarms of flies as well. But to her surprise, she entered a small, empty antechamber. The air felt cool, dry and cool. Still, despite feeling pleasant at first, it was impossible not to recognize the faint yet ever-present atmosphere of death all around her; the place gave her the creeps. Kovu requested both his companions stopped.

"The actual tomb is further down; I'll go alone. You girls shouldn't have to see what's down there..."

How patronizing, Vitani considered, like she hadn't seen anything gruesome before... then again, if she could help it, she'd indeed rather not see what was down there... she'd have trouble enough sleeping as it was.

"Your probably right," Shenya agreed as well, staring at the ground, sounding a somehow what sad, "Just let me say goodbye one last time..."

To accommodate Shenya's wish, Kovu walked over to her and ducked a bit. Now, Vincent's head and paws that hung down Kovu's flank were on equal hight with Senya. She carefully moved closer, and once again, teras sprung to her eyes as she talked.

"Bye, baby brother... I-I know we didn't always get along... I know you did some terrible things. But so did I. Just know... know that I never stopped loving you, even though it didn't always show," she sniveled quietly, carefully stroking her brother. Right after the Battle of Golden River, she had groomed him up a bit, licking away most blood. It made him look peaceful, hanging over Kovu's back. Shenya gently kissed her brother on the forehead.

"Bye..."

Kovu understood Shenya was finished, so just before heading towards the tomb, he addressed his own sister.

"Vitani, you want to say something?"

But Vitani had her back turned at Kovu, and she shook her head. She too way crying, and the tears getting in her wounded eye hurt her, making her cry even more. She wasn't saying anything. She wasn't good at farewells anyhow. Looking at Vitani, Shenya smiled, and bowed her head towards her brother one last time.

"The lioness says 'hi'..." she whispered.
With those last words, Kovu walked away, deeper into the cave. Shenya and Vitani stared as he disappeared into the darkness, reappearing a few minutes later, now without Vincent's body hanging over his back.

"Let's go..."

the trio silently walked out of the cave again, into the starlit night outside. They all took a deep breath once out, feeling much more comfortable in the warmth they had previously experienced as unpleasant.

"Do you have kids, hyena?" Kovu suddenly asked.

"It shows that bad already?" Shenya smiled absently, "I'm expecting..."

"Congratulations," Kovu replied, "I'm expecting my first kids too... well, not me, Kiara. But you get the point..."

""What magnificent coincidence..."

"Indeed... Maybe it means something."

"Ah?"

"Well... I don't know," Kovu mumbled, "I mean, maybe our kids will be the first to carry on what we started here..."

"That'll be up to us, and that can only be agood thing."

"Yeah... you know, hyena... or no, Shenya, was it? You know Shenya, really not so long ago, I still looked upon your kind as a nuisance... a nuisance we had to take into consideration, sure, but only if that were in the best interest of our Pride. But above all a nuisance. But now..."

Kovu sighed, and took a big breath, looking at Shenya.

"But now... you're so much like us. But then again, you're not. True, we are different. But even so, that didn't stop us from talking to one another, befriending and even helping one another, as my sister and your brother have proven. Both our races belong here, on these lands, at the same time... wouldn't it only be logical then if both our races belonged here together?"

"That's an encouraging thought..."

"You've said it," Kovu grinned, "Maybe one day, the children of our children will sit side by side at Priderock, listening to the stories of our time being told, considering them nothing but a bad nightmare, unable to conceive how it could have ever happened... but I guess that's just a naive dream..."

"Maybe it is," Vitani smiled, with hope glistering in the one still mesmerizing blue eye she had left, "But even so, we should still try to accomplish such future, naive and impossible as it may be. You both owe that to your children, for only in fulfilling that seemingly impossible dream will we be able to assure lasting peace. Only by fulfilling that dream will our children be spared from all the tragedies to have befallen us. That, and that alone is the single greatest achievement our races could ever amount to..."

Looking at his sister and Shenya, sitting together, having heard Vitani's passionate plea of hope, Kovu cast a fond smile at both of them. With their help, Kovu's dream might just come true...
The dark-maned lion looked up at the by now star-spangled night sky, his head full of thoughts. Were his parents looking down on him from there? Had Simba already joined them? Impossible to say, the stars numbered in the thousands, it was impossible to see if Simba's star had already joined them. Were they proud, both Taka and Simba, despite all Kovu's flaws and wrongs he had wrecked upon them? No-one to walk in the world of the living can tell. But as for me... I choose to believe so.