Epilogue

Months passed since the birth of the Sakina's cubs. During which, the pride had gone through the birth of a new prince born of Kiara and Kovu but also the pain of losing Sarabi and Sarafina who had succumbed to their old age. Though they had taken it hard, they knew it was there time, and knew Sarabi was where she wanted to be, with her old mate. She had lived to see her son return, too see the Pridelands return to their former glory, to watch her grand cubs be born and great grand cub, as well as watching the cub she raised become a vital member of the pride as well as birth cubs of her own. She died happily, that Sakina knew.

Laughter was heard throughout pride rock as four cubs came racing from the den and around pride rock in a game of chase as their mother watched them with a careful eyes from where she saw atop the ledge looking down upon them. Sakina smiled at her cub, she watched them proudly as they chased, tackled and wrestled with one another.

"OW!"

Shaking her head, Sakina walked down the ramp and over to her cubs that all looked at her with sheepish grins. She turned her head down to Enzi who had tripped and hit her head, she bend her head and licked the top of her daughters, "You should be for careful" she helped her cub back to her paws.

Enzi smiled and licked her cheek, "Thank you Mama" she giggled rubbing her body against her mother's legs before taking after her brothers and sisters as they started a game of hide and seek.

Sakina laughed when she heard Annan whine.

"That's not fair I don't want to be it first!"

Sakina sighed as she watched them, though it had been wonderful to raise her cubs, it was hard without a Father. Though, it made her smile whenever they wanted to hear about him from herself or Vitani.

"Oh Nuka I wish you could see them" she sighed; she closed her eyes as the wind picked up and ruffled her fur.

"But I can see them"

Sakina's eyes snapped open, she turned around and gasped, "Nuka!?" her heart was pounding, for there right in front of her was the mate she had watched die. Whom she had seen dead not short after that…but here he was standing in front of her as if he had never left.

The gray lion nodded, "Yes but I'm not alive Sakina" he approached her and stared down at her with sad eyes. "I'm still dead…but I've been watching over you every step of the way. I can't explain how sorry I am for not being here for you or our cubs…I knew that, that day when Vitani had come to get me to ambush Simba. I wouldn't come back, some part of me told me, yet I still went against better judgment on my part…" he sighed.

Sakina stared at him; tears ran down her cheeks, "Why are you here?"

"To give you the proper goodbye I never got too give. I still remember the look of horror on your face as I fell, the pain in your voice as you cried my name…and it pains me. But now I'm being given the chance to say goodbye to you…but sadly only you can see me. The cubs can't. But you can give them my message on how much I love them…and for you to know how much I love you and always will" Nuka moved closer and rubbed his head against his mates as Sakina buried her face in his mane more tears falling from her eyes and soaking her fur.

"Please don't go Nuka…I can't bare to see you leave again!" the young lioness pleaded against her mates mane.

The gray lion closed his eyes and rubbed his head against hers, "I know…and I wish I could stay. But remember I'm always with you. Remember what Sarabi said you to years ago. I'm never truly gone, no one is truly gone if you still love and remember them. Only when you forget them are they truly gone. So don't ever forget me," he whispered to her. The wind began to pick up once again, and his body began to fade. "Never forget"

Sakina closed her eyes, "I won't ever forget you Nuka. I could never forget you. I love you too much" she opened her eyes and stared at his amber ones as he gave her is old cocky grin as his body faded from sight, "Goodbye my mate". The wind blowing around her body as she closed her eyes, "I'll never forget and never stop loving you" she whispered as the wind began to die down. A few more tears fell despite the smile on her face as she opened her eyes and looked toward the sky.

"Goodbye Nuka" she whispered.

"MAMA! COME PLAY WITH US!"

Sakina turned her head to her four cubs who giggled and looked up at their mother, a wide smile appeared on her face, letting out a playful roar she jumped down and chased after her cubs who squealed and ran as fast as they could to avoid their mother catching them.

Over the laughter, from the very top of pride rock, five ghostly figures stood looking down at the family, as they were shortly joined by, Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kovu and their new cub and along with Vitani in a large game of tag.

The figures of Mufasa, Sarabi, Sarafina, Akili and Nuka grinned at the sight of their families all brought together. Looking at one another they nodded to one another and then turned their heads back to those down below who were oblivious to those who watched over them. Sarabi, Akili and Sarafina looking lovingly down at their grandcubs and children, Nuka watching his brother, sister, nephew and mate with their cubs play with a loving proud grin on his face.

Mufasa was looking proudly down at his son, "Well done my son. We are one at last"

THE END!