omg, im sorry that this took so long. school's just been getting heavy!!!

i must say, that i LOVE THE ENDING.....it may be not what you were expecting, but i hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 20 : Better than Fine

Duma stared into Kovu's eyes. "What are you gonna do?"

Kovu kept glaring at Duma. Should I kill him? He would be better off dead. Kovu turned his gaze over to Kiara. It would keep her and our cubs safe. Not to mention the pridelands.

Kovu opened his mouth to speak.

*

Simba roared and the pride started out, following Kovu's trail. They moved as rapidly as they could in the cold, hurrying so that they could save the Prince and Princess.

"Hurry!" Nala cried. "We must make it there in time!" The pride quickened their pace at Nala's words.

Simba and the pride had been running for a few minutes when they heard screeches of fighting. Simba rushed toward where he saw five lions in a dried out river bed; two were rolling around in the dirt, two were bleeding heavily and waiting to leap back into the fight and one was crouching over two furred blobs, holding a bleeding for-leg above the ground.

"Kiara!" Nala shrieked and rushed over to her crippled daughter just as Kovu was stopped by Duma's words..

"Kovu!" Kiara yelped. "Don't!" Kiara turned towards her mother. "Take care of Ihana and Njano." After that, she moved as quickly as her injured leg would allow, over to her mate.

Kovu turned to look at his mate, still holding Duma down with all of his strength. "Kiara?"

"Kovu! Don't do it!" Kiara whispered. "Listen to me."

"But, Kiara, he's a threat to you, our family and the pridelands!"

"Please. If you killed him, you would be just like him. I can't let that happen." Kiara hung her head.

Kovu got off of Duma and the pride circled him. "Kiara, I'm only trying to protect my family."

"I know, and I'm grateful. He would have killed me, but…I just can't be responsible for his death." They nuzzled each other; the others scent was comforting after all of the distress and horror that had taken place over the past day.

"Where are our cubs?" Kovu asked, worried for their safety.

"Mother has them." Kiara said, and nodded toward where Nala and Vitani where keeping the cubs warm.

Kovu stood and took a few steps toward them. He waited for Kiara to catch up with him, and the two limped toward Nala and Vitani. Kovu leaned down and nuzzled each cub as did Kiara. Nala and Vitani watched the separated family reunite.

"Kiara, we were so worried about you." Nala said and nuzzled her daughter.

Kiara leaned into her mother's chest and closed her eyes. The adrenaline had kept the exhaustion from having a reaction with her body until now. "Mother, I'm so glad that Kovu found me. If he didn't show up, we I believe that the cubs and I would have died." Kiara whispered and lied down on her side, the cubs curling up in her fur and falling asleep. Kiara rested her head on her paws and fell asleep herself with Kovu purring and licking her ears.

*

"You two saved my daughter and her cubs. I am very grateful and I am going to change my past judgment on you. You two may join my pride." Simba said and smiled.

Yakedo and Chi were ecstatic and purred with delight.

"Oh, thank you, Simba!" Chi whispered, her injuries making her weary.

Yakedo saw that Chi was about faint and sidled up beside her, letting Chi put all of her weight upon Yakedo's injury racked body. "Simba, thank you. This means so much to us."

Simba grinned slightly and turned towards where his pride had circled Duma. "Duma, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Duma looked up at the King. "Nothing to say to you!" He growled, still showing defiance.

Simba smirked. "Fine then, have it your way." Simba signaled the pride to jump on Duma. "I won't kill you, but you'll wish that I had." Duma's eyes grew round in fear as Simba opened his mouth. He bit down hard in Duma's for-leg and held it there. Then he twisted his fangs while they were still embedded in Duma's flesh, tearing the muscles and tissues in his leg. Letting go, Simba performed the same bite on each of Duma's legs, making Duma unable to walk. Duma cried out in agony every time Simba ripped at his flesh. The pride got off of Duma and they all stood back as they watched him try to move.

"You haven't won yet, Simba!" Duma said between gasps of pain. "I will return, and you and all that you love will die!" he vowed as his energy slowly died away and he fell into unconsciousness.

Tsume was about to leap onto him when Simba's roar stopped her.

"Leave him. I told him that I wasn't going to kill him, and I won't go back on my promise." Simba turned away. "We're going home."

Simba padded over to where Kiara, Kovu and the cubs were sleeping. Nala came up beside him. "Are we leaving now?" Simba nodded. "They need to rest, but they also need to see Rafiki." Nala sighed and awoke Kiara and Kovu.

"Mother?" Kiara said, groggily. "What -- "

"Hush, we're leaving now. Can you walk?" Nala asked in a very soft, motherly tone.

Kiara tried to stand, but couldn't. Kovu got up and helped her to her feet. "I'll help you." He whispered in her ear.

"What about Ihana and Njano?" Kiara asked, looking down at her sleeping cubs.

"We'll carry them." Vitani said as she and Nala each grabbed a cub by their scruff's.

"We must hurry." Simba called and trotted off toward the pridelands.

*

Kiara winced as Rafiki rubbed some goop on her for-leg. Kovu licked her ear comfortingly and Rafiki wiped more into the gaping wound, making her shudder in pain.

"Your turn now." Rafiki said, looking at Kovu after he had wrapped a leaf around Kiara's leg.

Sighing, Kovu lied down and waited for Rafiki to put the goop on his many wounds. He gritted his teeth and made no sound as the goop seeped into his wounds, burning and stinging as it went.

After he was finished, Kovu stood and sat down beside Kiara and their cubs. Kiara looked up at him from where she was lying down. She was bout to ask a question when Kovu spoke, knowing exactly what she was going ask.

"Everything is fine now and always will be." He purred and the two nuzzled each other before Kovu padded out into the sunshine.

"Kovu, come here." Simba said and Kovu walked over to where he and Nala were sitting.

"Yes?"

"Nala and I have been talking, and it is time to present Ihana and Njano." Simba stated.

Kovu smiled, not being able to contain his joy. "That's great!"

Simba chuckled. "And before that, we are stepping down and making you and Kiara, King and Queen."

Kovu was at a loss for words, and just stared back at Simba, his mouth open.

Nala giggled. "We know that this comes at a shock to you, but after last night, we realized that until you both have a permanent place in this pride together, we will have lions trying to take over, with Kiara as their Queen."

Kovu still stared at his parents-in-law. "R-really?"

"Yes, really." Simba grinned, amused at the less experienced lions awe.

Kovu jumped up and after saying many thank you's, rushed off to the den. "Kiara!"

She stood and gently padded over to her mate. "What is it?"

"Your mother and father are making us King and Queen! And then we are going to present Ihana and Njano as the Prince and Princess!"

Kiara just stared at Kovu in awe until Njano cried out. Shaking her head, Kiara nuzzled Kovu briefly before going back to her cubs. "That's great!" Kiara purred as Ihana and Njano started to suckle.

Kovu beamed at his family. "I told you that everything was fine. Wait, better than fine."

there it is, the final chapter!!

and if you want to know more, just ask me nicely and i might make a sequel!!

R&R

waiting2beRESCUED