Third to last chapter. Will Leela survive? Time to find out.

Chapter 25

Kiara put her paw around Leela's neck and gently turned her head towards her. Her eyes were closed and there were no signs of breathing.

"Leela..." Kiara whimpered.

"Is she..." Kovu began but couldn't finish.

"Y... Yes, she is." Kiara replied, now crying.

Kovu hugged Kiara, his paw over her shoulder, and he looked down on Leela. He couldn't believe she was dead. He'd gotten to know her pretty well over the past year actually. More than he thought it seemed.

Simba and Nala came to stand with them, but they didn't cry. Then again they hadn't gotten to know Leela as much as Kiara and Kovu had.

"Hey. If it helps, we do have certain..." Simba said, trying to find the right word to say next. "...Abilities that come from living here."

"Like what?" Asked Kovu.

"Like this for instance." Nala answered as she moved closer to Leela's body.

Nala raised her paw and held it over Leela's head. After a few moments there was a light shining from seemingly nowhere under Nala's paw. Kiara and Kovu watched on in amazement as Leela began to stir back to life, but she still looked very weak and close to death.

"Ki... Kiara?" She muttered.

Her eyes adjusted to reopening after they never should have done again. She saw Kiara and Kovu in front of her with Simba and Nala stood over her.

"Kiara? How am I..." Leela trailed off.

"What are you doing? And how?" Kiara asked her mother.

"It's a little trick we've learned up here. People that live here can concentrate unneeded life energy into other living, or in most cases post-living, things. It won't cure death but it'll at least give you the chance to say a proper goodbye." Nala explained.

Kiara now had a couple of minutes to say her farewells to one of the best friends she'd ever had. Part of her was thinking 'a couple minutes is nowhere near enough' but another part said 'take the chance. You'll never get another one like this.'

"You'd better make it quick. We can usually only maintain it for around two minutes, at the most." Simba said.

"Thank you." Kiara said quietly. She couldn't speak any louder right now as there was a lump in her throat. But she wasn't sure why.

Kiara lowered her head to talk with Leela, one last time.

"Hey. Leela." She began.

Leela seemed confused. No surprise. It wasn't everyday that you came back from the dead.

"Is that you, Kiara?" The fading lioness asked.

"Yes. It's me. I'm... I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be. It wasn't your fault. At least... I won't have to spend the afterlife... In this battleground for... The rest of eternity, aye. You're going to destroy it. Good luck."

"Wait, Leela. Do you know of a way out?"

"No, sorry. Ask... Ask Simba. He'll know." Leela's voice was hoarse and she coughed. "Goodbye Kiara. Goodbye Kovu. I'll miss you..."

Kiara was struggling to see now through all the tears that had built up in her eyes. Kovu was choosing to mourn in silence but he was just as upset as Kiara was.

"Goodbye." Kiara whispered as she closed her eyes and lowered her head even more.

"Goodbye, Leela." Kovu said also.

Leela took one last breath as her eyes closed for the last time. Nala's hand moved away and the light faded until there were no signs of life remaining.

Kovu turned to Simba who was keeping his head low in respect.

"So, Simba. Do you know how we can get back home?" He asked.

"Yeah. As you exit this chamber take a left turn instead of a right. Carry on down the passageway until you find a deep chasm. Jump in and you'll be transported back to the Pridelands."

"By jumping into a chasm? Seriously?"

"Yes, Kovu. I'm sure you've done stranger things before. So this won't be too much trouble will it?"

"Well, no. Alright." Kovu then turned to Kiara. "Hey, Kiara. You hear that? The way out is just down the corridor."

"Finally some good news." Kiara responded, sniffling. "You go on ahead. I have something to finish off here first."

"If you're going to destroy the Zote Kuona then you'll have no more than a minute to escape before this whole world collapses without it." Nala informed them.

"OK." Kiara replied.

"Are you sure about this?" Simba asked. "I mean, just five minutes ago you were refusing to leave us."

"I'm sure. It's what I have to do to save the pride. If I don't then there'll be nothing left to go back to. I know you'll die as well. But I've accepted that."

Kiara turned to face Nala.

"Goodbye, mum. I'll never forget all those times we were together in the Pridelands having fun. I'll never forget."

"Goodbye Kiara. Good luck with your future too."

Kiara then returned to her father. Looking him straight in the eye just like she did last time she said farewell to him. And just like last time, tears began to make an appearance.

"Goodbye, daddy. Thank you for the best childhood any cub could have asked for."

"You're welcome. And don't forget us, will you?"

"Of course not. I could never do that." Kiara said as she felt a slight hint of happiness in amongst all that sadness she was currently feeling.

"We'll be on our way then. Farewell, Kiara, our daughter." The last thing Simba said.

Simba and Nala began to fade away and in only a matter of seconds they were gone. Forever. Kiara sighed and moved on to examining the Zote Kuona, which she had completely forgotten about after all of that. Right at the base of the 'creature' were a clump of root like appendages. Kiara was sure she could severe them with her claws easily. And that would kill the black mess in front of her. Kill this whole place that she now regarded as more of a hell than a heaven.

"Kiara. As soon as you do it, follow me to the exit. Don't stop until you jump into the chasm, OK. We're both going to make it back home. I promise." Kovu said from behind.

"Alright. Go. I'll be with you in a minute."

Kovu, without saying anything further, turned and took off down the left passageway as fast as he could. It didn't feel right leaving his wife like this, but it had to be done.

Kiara was now steadying her paw with her claws extended next to the roots of the Zote Kuona creature. One swift flick of the wrist and this would all be over.

One. Swift. Flick.

All. Over.

Kinda sad really. Leela's dead and now Simba and Nala are gone forever. But there's still time for Kiara and Kovu to make it out. Next chapter up soon. Just two more to go now.