Chapter 24

The rain fell all around him, soaking his fur and mane causing it to fall into his eyes, eyes that scanned over the barren lands that lay before him, lands that hadn't seen the likes of rain in the majority of two years. The sky above lit up with streaks of lightning, casting light upon the land for the new King's eyes to see the water washing across the now muddy and ashy grounds, flowing down to the dried up riverbanks that would soon be filled once more and with the coming up the river so would the plants and then hopefully the herds once more. It would take months for the Pridelands to resemble that of how Simba had always remembered it…a land of lush green for as far as the eyes could see.

The young King tore his gaze from his Kingdom, toward the sound of paw steps coming up behind him. A grin tugged at his lips at the sight of his friend, "How does she fair?" Simba asked letting his eyes trail to the Main cave where now his mate and Pride rested from the fight. The cave they found had been emptied of the lionesses and cubs that dwelled within shortly after they had stumbled upon Scar's death; they now occupied the caves to the back of Pride Rock much to Simba's knowledge.

Returning the grin, Jaali sat down along side his friend and let his eyes scan over the sight before him then answered Simba's question "Zuri is doing just fine, save for how your mother and the other lionesses are…fussing over her," he chuckled rubbing the back of his head with his paw.

In all truths, the only reason he had ventured back out into the rain was to get away from them, the lionesses from both pride's constantly cooing over the idea of one or two possible royal cubs on the way. Simba's mother and the Rasheda lionesses were the worst, Sarabi excited over the idea of her first grand cubs after the return of her son and the Rasheda's over the idea that a cub they helped raise was going to start a family of her own.

"So…what are you doing out here anyways?" Jaali asked, shaking his head to rid his mane of the rain that was beginning to collect in it, though it did no difference as it fell sopping wet into his eyes once more. "You should be inside….celebrating your victory…even if hyena meat isn't as satisfying as any other, but it's all we got!" after the fight they had gathered what they could of the dead hyenas that scattered Pride Rock. Being the only meal beside the vultures they took their chances with the hyenas.

Turning his head away, a sigh escaped Simba's lips, closing is eyes he took a moment before he spoke "I guess…I just needed some time to be alone…sometime to…really think."

Snorting, Jaali stretched his front legs and rolled his shoulder's, "What's there really to think about?"

"Being King…my plans to return changed so abruptly that I never had time to think what I would do afterwards, I don't even know how to be a King, this just happened so quickly!" opening his eyes Simba looked over his shoulder toward the main cave that lit up when lightning flashed through the sky allowing him to see the two Pride's that lingered inside. His eyes focused on his Mother who stood above Zuri who rested at the back of the cave, around them were various lionesses from both prides. "Hell how can I juggle being King and a soon to be Father?"

With a roll of his eyes, Jaali stepped up along side him and punched his friends shoulder with his paw and grinned when Simba glared in his direction. "You're beating yourself down about this all wrong my friend, you'll be a fine King…"

"But I wasn't trained all that long by my Father!" Simba cut him off. In all truths, Mufasa was just starting his son's first lessons shortly before he died. Simba himself didn't remember very much of what his Father had taught him.

"Again Simba, you're beating yourself up about this all wrong!" Jaali smacked his friend this time across the head. Lowering his paw he looked toward the main cave, "It hasn't just been me that my Father was training these past two years, he was teaching you as well to help along side me rule and protect the lionesses for when he would pass away. And you were around, I know you watched and listened to him when he…lectured me about what it takes to be a good King!" he raised his paw before Simba could cut him off again and continued "Not to mention you'll have your Mother and Zuri to help you along," he chuckled and looked toward the direction he knew home was, "At least you'll have help, as for me all I'll to help me is my father for as long as he's alive and that annoying Jamine…" he grumbled.

"Don't worry you're not the only one with a squawking bird to worry about!" Simba stated, he was surprised to have found Zazu still alive. In all honesty Simba thought the Major-domo would have drove Scar insane, his Uncle never could stand the Hornbill.

"Like I said, you'll do fine!" Jaali nudged him when he strolled by and padded toward the main cave to escape the rain once more "Come on before Zuri sends me out to fetch you next time!" he called over his shoulder.

Rolling his eyes, Simba cast a quick glance over his shoulder toward the barren landscape, then tore his gaze away to follow his friend inside out of the rain. Stopping just inside the cave, Simba shook his body to rid his mane and coat of the rain that had collected in it.

It was then he took notice that any conversation that had been going on within the cave ceased the moment he entered. Lifting his head, he shook his mane from his eyes, letting them travel over each and every lioness and lion in the cave landing at last on his mate who climbed to her paws when he finally looked her way. Grinning, he padded his way over and rubbed his head affectionately against hers, "How do you feel?"

"Simba I just bumped my head, no serious damage even that Mandrill said so. And the cubs are fine before you ask!" Zuri added when she saw he was about to open his mouth to ask the obvious question. "So stop worrying already!" chuckling she batted him playfully on the leg with her paw, she looked to her side and took a step to the left as Sarabi made her way toward her son.

"I've been keeping an eye on her Simba, she is just fine, you really should stop worrying," Sarabi stated clearly watching Zuri from the corner of her eyes as her new daughter-in-law gave her a smile in thanks. Though she saw it right to look after her now that Zuri was family and caring for cubs, she was also seeking information from the brown lioness about where she was from, how she was raised and everything about Simba and the youth she wasn't apart of. To her relief Zuri was more then welcome to tell Sarabi anything she wanted to know.

"Seem" Zuri pointed out giving her mate a stern look and bopped it gently on the nose. "So relax and dry off and get warm before you catch a cold from being out in the rain."

"Coming from the lioness who as a cub loved to play around in the rain despite her own mother telling her to come in before she herself could catch a cold?" Simba rose an eyebrow ducking as she swung her paw at him, chuckling he licked her cheek and ducked away as she took another swing at him and missed. With a cheeky grin he sat beside her and nuzzled her, his grin broadening when she turned her head into his mane, closing his eyes he laid his head down upon hers.

"Simba?"

Opening his eyes, Simba caught sight of Nala and Sarafina stepping through the crowd to stand in front of them. The look in their eyes resembled that of many of the Pridelander's behind them, "Yes?"

The mother, daughter duo shared a look, and stepping forward Nala spoke, "We are all wondering what will become Zira and the others?"

Taken back by the question, Simba pulled away from his mate and looked around, many of the lionesses were leaning forward to know what he would do to the lionesses and cubs that followed Scar. To be completely honest with himself, Simba never really gave any real thought into what he would do about them, in all truth Zira's cubs were his cousins even if the Pridelander's thought Vitani and Kovu were not anywhere closely related to Scar. Taking a look around he could almost read his pride's thoughts, they wanted them gone, kicked out of Pride Rock out of the Pridelands all together for the crime of following a tyrant such as Scar.

However with no food, or water and three young cubs Simba couldn't possibly think of throwing them out. There was no guarantee the cubs would survive if he did, he cast a glance toward his mate's stomach, and as a future father-to-be he didn't see fit to throw a mother with cubs into the world without any possible way to survive without food.

Sighing, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before standing firmly on his paws and looked toward his Pride. "I will see to them, if they agree to follow rules, and accept the outcome of what has occurred tonight I will let them stay!" he fell silent as gasps and mutters came from the Pridelander's.

Sarafina stepped up and looked Simba in the eyes, "But they…"

"They're only crime is that they were misled into following Scar. They fought us in battle for the obvious reason that they were protecting the lioness they saw as their Queen and her cubs," Simba stated, that was how he saw it, the lionesses never left the protection of the cave only when the battle was getting too close did they finally join the fight.

"And if I remember correctly I heard Zira has three young cubs, one being newborn. Without food they'd likely die out there and I won't have that on my conscience!"

"My son is this really wise?" Sarabi moved toward her son and looked him in the eyes, "There is no promise that Zira and the others will listen and follow, to Zira…Scar was the rightful King…and in Zira's mind he still forever will be!"

Zuri who stood aside, looked between her mate and mother-in-law to each and every member of her new Pride. With her eyes lingering on Simba, she could see the confusion and pain of having to make a decision his pride could hate him for in the future, or if he should just do as they asked. Planting her paws firmly on the ground, she shifted her shoulders and lifted her head "I stand behind my mate on his decision!"

The young Queen fell silent as eyes turned on her, swallowing a small gulp she stepped forward "As a mother-to-be I can't allow a mother with cubs to be thrown out into the world without food or water. If the cubs were old enough to defend themselves that would be another story but these cubs are not and need a mother and protection that only a Pride can offer them!" she stood still as she felt the judging eyes of the pride on her but relaxed when Simba nudged his head against her own both catching each others eyes for a moment.

The Pridelander's shared a look, though they shared different views from experience with the other lionesses they could see the truth through their new King's and Queen's words. A Pride was a family, through one bloodline or another, and these lionesses were all Pride sisters even if they shared different views on leadership. And maybe Simba and Zuri was right, maybe they could come to accept the new King and Queen if given the chance.

"When will you speak with them?" Nala asked.

Simba closed his eyes for a moment and thought then spoke up again "I will see to them when the rains finally begin to slow and then we will take a bit of the food we have here to them for them and the cubs we have plenty to last us until the herds come back." he stated looking toward the piles of hyenas that would soon need to be moved to a separate cave once they started to rot but he hopped by then there would be food for them to hunt and wouldn't have to worry about sparing the meat they had along.

Without another word, he nudged Zuri to move her to the back of the cave for her to lie back down. He looked up when he heard Jaali approach, together the trio sat down in a small triangle "See I told you, you could handle this King stuff!" Jaali chuckled nudging Simba then messed up his mane with his paw.

With a roll of his eyes, Simba fixed his mane and scoffed "Yeah, and lets hope this decision I don't end up regretting in the future!" he cast a look over his shoulder at his Pride. Sighing he hung his head, closing his eyes for a moment then opened them looking at the faces of his mate and friend "I have a bad feeling I might end up regretting it for sure…"

Smiling softly Zuri placed her paw on her mate's "Whatever happens, will happen Simba but you shouldn't put yourself down over this you are new at this. I think this decision is a good one, they are members of this Pride just like they are!" she looked toward the Pridelander's who were speaking among themselves. Turning her eyes back to Simba she looked him in the eyes pressing her nose up against his own "And every Pride member must be given a chance to prove themselves worthy."

Simba grinned and licked her nose "You are exactly right my Queen."

The pair turned their heads when they heard a sudden gagging noise, Zuri's eyes squinted into a glare which was directed upon her cousin who gave her a foolish grin in return "What, you two are too mushy for my liking!" he sat back and took a good look at the two he may never see again once he became King unless he dared to stake the life of his Pride to travel to see them. "But you two can continue that or we can enjoy our last few days together!" Jaali and the rest of the Rasheda's had decided to stay until the rain lessened.

Zuri's shoulders slumped at the thought that this was indeed the last possible time she may see her cousin. She hadn't even had time to say goodbye to her Aunt and Uncle or her young cousins or any of the other lionesses back at the Jungle, sensing her sudden change in mood Jaali made his way over and wrapped his arm around his cousin and let her tuck her head into his mane.

"Hey!" he pushed her away and looked her in the eyes when an idea came to him, "At least we won't completely be out of touch. At anything you can send that Major-domo to the Jungle with word from you as well as I can send Jamine since I'll be King soon that bird will have no choice but to listen to me!"

"Bet he's retiring the moment you're crowned from all the things you put him through!" Zuri snorted in laughter.

Placing a paw over his chest, Jaali faked a look of hurt and scoffed "Hey it wasn't only me you know!" he grinned eyeing the pair. "If I recall you both were right along side me when it came to tormenting him."

"More Simba, then I!" Zuri laughed lying down on the floor of the cave beside her sitting mate and laid her head down on her paws. "And that was when you weren't playing pranks on me!" she glowered at the memories of all the pranks they managed to pull on her alone growing up. While she glowered, the males just chuckled at the memories of their pranks back to when they were cubs neither paying attention to the set of eyes that was watching them from across the den.

From where she sat along side her Mother, Nala watched the trio with careful eyes, they were the youngest of the two Pride's in the cave beside's herself and for some reason she didn't feel apart of them at all even if Simba had been her friend while she was a cub. Both of them had grown up in two completely different environments while she was forced to grow up fast as a cub in order to learn how to survive during the bleak and dreadful day's the Pridelander's experienced. Simba grew up with Zuri and Jaali, two carefree cubs who helped him with the death of his father and she could see it in his eyes.

Where she was too grown for her own good, Simba still held every last bit of the cub he always was at heart or so she assumed.

"You should join them dear."

Nala looked up to find her mother watching her, sighing she shook her head "No, I don't belong there," she muttered to her and watched the trio from the corner of her eyes. They were all laughing about something that didn't reach her ears, yes she didn't belong there, looking toward Sarafina she spoke "I'm going to take a walk!" taking another peek at the trio she caught Zuri looking in her direction. Ignoring her stares, she turned and padded out of the den into the rain not paying attention to the brown lioness that climbed to her paws and followed her out.

Sitting herself out side, Nala heard a set of paws scratching along the wet stone "Why did you follow me out here?" she asked.

Stopping only when Nala spoke, Zuri padded her way over and sat beside her "Came to join you for a refreshing walk in the rain, much needed after those days in the desert I would have to say, don't you agree?" Zuri looked toward the lioness beside her a gentle smile on her face.

Having seen that motherly like smile on her own mothers face, Nala only resumed it was from carrying cubs that she established such a look. Giving a small smile in return, Nala nodded and looked over the horizon "Yes it does relief from days of traveling, but most importantly this is the first time I've seen rain in two years since the drought appeared when Scar became King!"

"It was like a curse had lain upon this land."

"What?" Nala turned her head toward her new Queen and looked at her confused.

"My mother would tell me stories when I was a cub, when I couldn't sleep, she told me tales of how lands would die under the ruling of Kings who bring great misfortune to their lands or if they were never meant to be the rightful King. Some believe it as old wise tales but we Rasheda's believe everything is given from the Kings and Queens, especially Queens from the oldest tale in our Pride. I'll tell it to you one day, just like I will my own cubs!" Zuri lowered her head to look down at her stomach and placed a paw against it.

"A curse…" Nala muttered under her breath and looked out over the barren wet lands, she guessed that was what it could have been. The land had surely changed quickly after Scar had taken the throne, no rain had fallen since three days before Mufasa's death. Lifting her head she stared up at the clouds and rain that pelted down on her, she closed her eyes enjoying the feel of the rain and opened her mouth to let the water trickle down her throat.

Thunder cracked loudly in the sky, causing both lionesses to jump looking at each other they chuckled and smiled at one another "I never did thank you for convincing Simba to return," Nala stated with gratitude.

"You don't have to thank me, it wasn't really me that convinced him to come back. I just agreed to follow my mate wherever he chose to go." Seeing the confused look on Nala's face Zuri continued "It was the spirit of his father that convinced him to come back!"

"Mu…Mufasa's spirit convinced him? But…that's impossible spirits do not come back to the land of the living!" Nala gasped, it went beyond all common nature for the souls of the great Kings or any lion to come back from the land of the dead.

"No it is not impossible, for not only did Mufasa convince him, Mohatu also appeared to us to help guide us back to the Pridelands." Zuri lifted her head and gazed up through the rain at the clouds, "He also gave me the message that my mother is up there looking out for me!" lowering her head Zuri gazed at Nala, "Just because you don't always see them doesn't mean they aren't there."

"But if he could visit from the afterlife why didn't he convince Simba to return sooner?"

"Maybe he thought Simba wasn't ready to return just yet? Simba blamed himself for Mufasa's death all these years, I myself believe Simba needed time to think life over when he was in the Jungle with us," Zuri explained, "I bet Mufasa didn't mean to keep him away for too long while things got worse here but Simba needed his time or he may have never healed."

Nala sighed, she hated to admit that Zuri was right, however some part of her wished Simba had learned to heal sooner and had returned before everything had gotten any worse then it had before he had. Lifting her head she stared toward the sky, "you said you're mother was up there…how did she die?'

"Hyenas."

Nala looked at Zuri in surprise, "Hyenas?"

"Yes…they came to our lands not that long ago. They had trespassed into our territory so we had all been advised to stay within the grove for protection of the pride…one night I was so foolish I got up for a drink and followed a source of noise and ran into their ambush. I had run from the grove, with them following, I had managed to kill one but the rest had cornered me that was when my mother had arrived. She told me to run while she fended them off…she didn't make it. Our king had to bring her body back…" head lowering toward the ground, Zuri heaved a shaky sigh. "She shouldn't have died that way…my mother was too proud a lioness to have died the way she did, especially by those fifthly things!" she growled out.

"No good respecting lion deserves that," Nala agreed with a nod of her head.

Nodding Zuri lifted her head to speak again when a voice was heard behind both of them, "Ah there you are I was beginning to worry, come on you shouldn't be out in the rain too must."

Both lionesses turned their heads to spot Simba approaching them with a concerned look on his face when he laid his eyes upon Zuri. The brown lioness rolled her eyes and approached her mate rubbing her head against his. "You worry too much!" she whispered to him.

"I worry the right amount."

"Too much," she repeated licking his cheek.

"Fine, but come on, you need your rest!" Simba began guiding Zuri back to the cave when she stopped and looked back at Nala who was watching the pair in silence and smiled "Just don't sit there Nala, come on, it'll be nice for some company around Simba and Jaali especially one around my own age and someone who is female to gossip with!"

Watching the two for a moment, Nala hesitated before bounding over and standing along side Zuri who flashed another smile. Unable to resist smiling back, Nala padded along side Zuri with Simba following right behind them as the three of them back their way back into the cave that was alight with voices of victory from their fight.