Hello again. Well... here it is a new chapter for you, with more developments about Kisasian, and also another more important business. I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Sorry if the song sounds unusual, but... I thought it would fit. Now that is over, let's begin.

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Chapter 42 – Breaking the tension

With the main problem of Arista's illness almost solved, Scar and Zira decided to turn to the other problem that they had to face. However, before they managed to do it, they were approached by Sparthi and Kira. The sandy-maned lion was the first to speak.

"Now that we know that dad will get fine, I think it is time for us to speak about another matter." said Sparthi.

"And what is it?" asked Scar, curiously.

Zira became rather scared. Now, her brother and sister would probably return to the matter of asking her about what she had been doing, and also why she hadn't returned home. But they decided to choose another matter, maybe even more painful.

"About your son." said Kira, speaking directly to Scar. "Why is he so angry and revolted?"

"Well…" said Zira hesitantly. "It's… it's our fault."

"At least partly." said Scar.

"Explain better, please." said one new voice.

They turned around, and noticed Dhalimu coming. He said: "I noticed you were speaking about my grandnephew, and I… heard about his attitude. Please, explain."

"Well…" said Scar very hesitantly. "Some time before… when my brother, Mufasa, was the king… Kisasian's best friend was his cousin. Mufasa's son, named Simba. Other than him, Kisasian's only friend was Tojo. But… Simba died on the same day when Mufasa died."

"How they died on the same day?" asked Kira, confused.

"On a wildebeest stampede." said Zira. Then, she returned to the main theme: "Since that day, well, Tojo became rather lonely, and… all the other cubs kicked out Kisasian… because of that scar."

"The one just like Scar's?" asked Kira, confused.

"Yes…" said Scar. "Here in the Pridelands, there is a legend that scar over left-eye is a mark from evil kings of the past, which means curse for the wounded lion. So… everyone ran away from him. Not us, but…"

"But what?" asked Sparthi, more and more curious.

Unlike what he thought, his sister and brother-in-law's story had only brought him more and more questions, rather than clarifying things.

"Well…" said Scar very hesitantly. "I told him that he, in spite the fact of being the first born… can't be king."

His voice broke on the last word, and Zira's siblings and uncle gasped from surprise. What would be Scar's reasons for not to make his first born son king, just like the tradition said? Kira was the first trying to ask that, but Scar, guessing the question, just replied: "He looks too much like my father."

Sparthi wanted to ask more about that business, but, before he asked, he remembered that, after all, it is the king's decision to choose who will be the heir, and doesn't have to be the king's son. Making the first born the heir is the tradition, but not the law. So, Zira's younger brother decided to turn to another point, asking: "Then who will be the heir?"

"One of my next cubs." said Zira.

"Just for me to ask…" said Dhalimu. "Have you ever tried to reconcile with him?"

"Lots of times." said Scar bitterly. "But he just doesn't let us to come close to him. Eversince that day, he refuses to enter the cave and to eat from our food."

"And he has survived without your food?" asked Kira, amazed.

"He hunts his own food, sis…" said Zira. "I checked that."

But Sparthi said: "However, today he entered the cave. Have you any idea of why he did it?"

"Honestly, no." said Scar, who still couldn't believe that fact. "But now that I think… on the moment when your father was supposed to be dead… he seemed to be conforting a lioness from your pride… she was Hanja's daughter, right?"

"Her name is Adia." said Sparthi. "And… before we got the zebra, Adia said that she went to talk to him, maybe she managed to break the ice that you couldn't."

"We'll talk to him." said Scar, turning to Zira. "Right, my dear?"

"Yes." replied Zira. "Maybe this time it won't be in vain…"

And so, the king and the queen left for their son's ledge.

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Kisasian was again talking to Adia. For a change, the talking theme was again his parents. Adia was trying to help him to do the next step.

"Shouldn't you apologize to your father and mother now?" asked Adia.

"And how do I know that they actually want to reconcile…" tried to ask Kisasian, but then he understood how stupid that question was, so he didn't finish it. His parents surely wanted to reconcile with him, otherwise they wouldn't have done so much attempts. But… would they want to reconcile now, after he had been so evil to them?

"Will… they want to reconcile with me now, after I have been so evil to them?" asked Kisasian, almost crying just for thinking on that.

"Kisasian…" said Adia with her usual patience. "You haven't been evil to them. You were just… heartbroken."

"I was so heartbroken that I was evil!" sobbed Kisasian, this time crying actually. "What if they…"

"You won't know it until you try." repeated the green-eyed lioness, still in the same patient voice.

Kisasian got up, but in the end, he asked fearfully: "Will you… come with me?"

Adia sighed, and said: "No. Sorry, but I'm not your family. I can't interfere with your family's matters. It is a matter that you will have to face alone."

Kisasian wanted to ask to Adia why she didn't come with him, but something stopped him from doing that. He just got up, and walked away very slowly, going to find his parents.

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Shortly after leaving his ledge, Kisasian found Scar and Zira in the middle of the way. He noticed that they had just arrived, but somehow seeing them earlier than expected annoyed him. However he decided not to let his rage to control him this time.

"You weren't eavesdropping my talk with Adia, right?" asked Kisasian in the less enraged way that he managed to.

"No, we weren't." said Scar, who couldn't be more honest. They had arrived on the moment, and now they were seeing Kisasian, who seemed less angry than usual.

"Oh…" said Kisasian.

But then he stopped in his words, rather unsure of what to say.

"Mom… dad…" began the young lion. "I… I… want to say…"

"What, son?" asked Scar. He was feeling a little bit anxious. Maybe his son… no, that would be too good to be true.

"I want to say…" insisted Kisasian, but he didn't advance more. "I need to say… sorry…"

With the last word, his voce seemed to break and his shoulders haunched, as he sat down and looked at the ground, seemingly with shame of facing his parents. Scar and Zira looked like if they didn't believe their ears. After some seconds, the royal couple approached Kisasian very carefully. Scar was the first to speak: "Sorry? But for what?"

"For having been so… brute to you… and to everybody…" said Kisasian. He added: "And for... everything I've done to you."

"Son…" said Zira affectionately. "We are the ones who should apologize, but believe… it's not that…"

"I know." thought Kisasian, with some tears appearing on his eyes. "Just because I won't be king it doesn't mean that you don't love me."

But he didn't dare to say it aloud, now fearful that every wrong gesture or word would break up the already remote chance that he had of reconcilling with his parents. Scar and Zira also didn't dare to talk, but then, at the same time, both of them remembered of a single gesture that they hoped to explain all their feelings.

Scar and Zira hugged their son at the same time. Kisasian seemed surprised, it was the first time in a year and a half that he had been hugged by someone, but he accepted, and even retributed.

They stayed like there for some moments, without speaking, but somehow, the silence spoke for them all. When the hugging finally stopped, Kisasian said: "Well… don't expect me to change so fast, but… is there any room in the cave left for me?"

"Yes, son." replied Scar. "Of course there is room in the cave left for you."

"And…" asked Kisasian, almost hopefully. "I have another question…"

"Make it, son." said Zira.

"Well… now that we got along fine again… will I be king?" asked Kisasian hopefully.

Scar and Zira's happiness disappeared in an instant. They had wanted to reconcile with their son, but that wouldn't mean that they would make him king. And now, they didn't know how to explain that to Kisasian without making him angry again.

Kisasian probably understood that, because he said: "I won't get angry if you don't want… because it's possible that I will be king anyway."

Scar and Zira gasped. Kisasian making such an affirmation… it was almost scary. As if he wanted to use every possible mean to become king. But he only said: "Calm down. What I meant, is that, if I'm not king here, there is the possibility – but for now it's just that – of Adia and me, some years from now, going away to start our pride. I don't know yet… but I won't get angry."

"Well…" said Scar hesitantly. "No, son, we won't make you king."

"Oh…" said Kisasian. It seemed that he was still disappointed, but not angry. "Alright."

Kisasian turned away, maybe a little bit sad, but he said, before deffinetly going away: "Don't worry about that. I love you anyway."

Scar and Zira just couldn't help but to make a refief sigh. At least, the reconciliation hadn't been broken.

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Adia waited for Kisasian patiently, and eventually he came.

"What happened?" asked Adia calmly.

Even before Kisasian gave an answer, Adia guessed it, because her new friend seemed to have a clearly relieved face, which could only mean one thing: he and his parents had actually reconcilled. But, anyway, it seemed that Kisasian wanted to tell her something more.

"Uh… thank you, Adia." said Kisasian.

"Thank you?" asked Adia, confused. "Why do you say that?"

"Because…" said Kisasian shyly. "If not for you, I think that I would still be angry and revolted against everyone… well, maybe I still am a little bit… but I think it will change with time."

"The pleasure was all mine." said Adia, smiling.

"She has a really beautiful smile." thought Kisasian, smiling to her, eventhough he had tensed muscles on his muzzle, like if they had forgotten how to smile.

On that moment, surprisingly, Adia pounced on him and pinned him on his back. In normal circunstances, probably Kisasian would have reacted faster, but he was still feeling too focused on Adia's smile to make any dodge.

"Pinned ya!" said Adia, laughing.

And then, she jumped again, releasing Kisasian. He got up, and saw Adia running away from him, still laughing. Her laughter was like the sweetest music to Kisasian's ears.

"Come here!" said Kisasian with a vaguely naughty voice, chasing Adia with all the speed that he was able to give.

The playing couple passed by Scar and Zira almost without noticing it, and then they left Pride Rock. Suddenly, Hanja and Imani came out of the cave, right on time to see Kisasian and Adia descending Pride Rock, and Hanja heard Adia's voice shouting playfully: "You missed again!"

For some moments, Hanja seemed like if a heavy rock had hit him on the head. When he managed to recover, he shook his head, and asked to Imani, still with hesitant voice: "My dear… is it just me… or our daughter is friend of the prince?"

"You could say so." said Imani, who, unlike Hanja, didn't seem surprised, and smiled at the sight of her daughter and Kisasian playing.

Hanja sighed, and lowered his head, again with a sad expression: "It's only a pity… that Jambazi and Nduli are dead…"

"My dear…" said Imani, nuzzling Hanja's muzzle. "I know it is hard… but… I don't say they deserved… but you must admit that they caused many trouble…"

Hanja's eyes seemed to darken, and he said: "I never said that they didn't cause anything. But why they had to die? I lost my brothers and cousin too fast! My best friends all at once!"

Hanja's voice broke again, and two tears came out of his eyes. Imani hugged her mate gently. Eventually, Hanja stopped sobbing, but in the end, he said: "I just wonder what happened to Bovu. If he's still alive somewhere."

"Don't care about Bovu." said Imani gently. "He's strong. I'm sure he is well. Be more concerned about us."

Hanja sighed, and again looked at the savannah of the Pride Lands.

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On that night, the Golden Pride stayed on the back chambers of Pride Rock, and, for once in many days, they slept peacefully. Eventhough Arista was almost healed, Uzuri stayed guarding him, accompanied by Zira and Scar.

But, of all the Pridelanders, almost no one was sleeping at all. When they realized that all the desert lions were sleeping normally, Sarabi gathered the whole pride (except Uzuri, who was still guarding Arista) on the eastern zone of Pride Rock, and they began another of their now typical secret meetings to discuss one problem.

"Pride…" said Sarabi. "I assume that now all of you know of our most recent problem that has appeared on Pride Rock. Specifically, those dammed desert lions, the pride of that outsider Zira."

"So far, they've done nothing wrong." said Nala thoughtfully.

"I don't call "nothing wrong", at devouring large portions of kill." said Sarabi.

"But…" said Kula, a little bit hesitantly. "They devoured as much meat as we… and surely less than the hyenas."

On that moment, Kula's stomach gurgled loudly. It was always like that eversince the beginning of the drought. Kula wasn't any thinner, but with the food being carefully distributed, she was always hungry. A large appetite had always been her greatest weakness.

"We don't need more lectures about your appetite, fat Kula!" said Kilia mockingly.

"Kula isn't fat!" said Tojo. "At least not more than you!"

"What are you calling me…" said Kilia, baring slightly her teeth.

"You are equal on that point." said Chumvi calmly.

"We are not here to speak about that." said Sarabi, and the young members got silenced. "Our problem are those outsiders! We can't feed them! We will most likely starve."

"That's right." said Moyo. "Scar only kept them here because they are the original pride of his mate. He's not acting logically."

"I'm not so sure of that." said Mega, interrupting the golden-maned lion.

All the pride looked at him, and Mega, and, sensing that all were paying attention to him, the old lion kept speaking: "Quite by the contrast, the desert pride may be exactly the help that we needed in order to survive. The drought isn't yet coming too hard…"

"But when it will, we will starve, alongside those outsiders, dad!" said Jani, somewhat desperate.

"I haven't finished speaking yet!" said Mega, in a surprisingly decisive voice.

Amazed by the decisiveness in Mega's voice, all the pride reverted to silence, and Mega kept speaking: "They are desert lions. They can stand the drought much better than we do. They will surely be a good help when it comes to look for preys. Scar probably understands this."

"But how can the Pride Lands feed at the same time two prides and a hyena clan, grandpa?" asked Tojo, whose claws were extended when he thought about the hyenas.

"If the hyenas obey the rules that Scar kept, there will be no problems." said Mega calmly.

But all the pride noticed that, after speaking, Mega extended his claws, and his eyes seemed to say: "But since when hyenas obey the rules?"

Sarabi noticed that, and said, in the calmer voice that she could have: "Mega may be right. But there is always the problem of the hyenas. However… we have a problem now. With those lions around here, it will sound too suspicious for them if Tojo challenges Scar and takes over. We must think if another thing."

The pride was amazed, and Sarabi just said: "For now, we will simply focuse on training until all the younger members are full-grown. Please… and this is important for all of you… try not to have cubs until this drought is finished."

Sensing that such a request seemed extremely impertinent, she added: "It is just because having cubs during such a time it is extremely hard and dangerous. When you are full-grown… well, we have to look for a rogue who will take down Scar."

Almost everyone gasped, and Tojo said: "So… I won't be doing the training with Rafiki more?"

"You will." said Sarabi trustfully. "If the rogue becomes too aggressive, we will also need someone to take him down."

"This is becoming more and more complicated." said Sakia, and everyone looked at her. The greyfurred lioness kept speaking: "We are plotting against the king! That is a crime! We should all know of that. Why don't we just let them to rule?"

"Sakia…" said Sarabi with the more patient voice that she could have. "Do you honestly think that Scar will keep everything under control? Things are growing more and more complicated! So… when all of the young ones are full-grown, or almost, we find the rogue. If we decide that he's nice enough to rule, he will take down Scar. I mean, the Golden Pride would never suspect of a rogue being in league with us. And, if the rogue challenges Scar, only Scar can kill him. Alone."

Sakia still insisted that it was all unnecessary, but Sarabi replied with her now-usual quote: "Caution is never too much."

Everyone was forced to agree with that. Caution was never too much. So, all the members of the pride returned to their sleeping places. All, except one.

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Shani came out of the cave, and lied down, looking at the stars, trying to notice her father's star among there, but that wasn't exactly what worried her.

Kisasian was what worried her. All the members of her pride were driven away by her heartbroken cousin, and yet Adia managed to do in one day what everyone there failed in doing for a year and a half.

"Why should I complain?" asked Shani in mind. "Kisasian is happy with his new friend, and I should be happy about that."

Shani inhaled deeply, like if speaking in mind made her tired, and then, she thought: "But for some reason, I am not. Is it because that stranger stole Kisasian from me? Well, technically he wasn't mine, because I drove him away on the day after becoming friends with him. But… I was counting that when I became mature, I and Kisasian would leave and start our pride! But… how could I be so stupid to the point of thinking that he would stand four or five years being kicked out by everyone?"

But on that moment, some voice on her mind shouted: "It's everything because of that outsider Adia! If not for her, Kisasian would still be free, maybe even until you were mature."

Shani seemed to accept that thought. She knew that Adia wouldn't be driven away by Scar, because the king already had said that she and her pride would stay… which meant Adia and Kisasian becoming closer and closer… and probably, if they kept there for long, maybe they even would become mates…

"Well, I lost my cousin because of my stupidity, but that doesn't mean I will accept this peacefully!" said Shani in mind.

Shani got up and walked to the cave, to her sleeping place. Kisasian was even sleeping in the cave now, like she noticed. Adia even had managed to reconcile him with his parents. But that wasn't one of Shani's biggest worries.

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Arista recovered just some days after arriving to Pride Rock. Thanks to Uzuri's constant care, soon the old king was as strong and healthy as before of his illness. Probably even better, because, as everyone on the desert pride noticed, he was unusually happy, like some of the younger members didn't even remember of seeing him.

Uzuri also seemed unusually happy, and, among the Pridelanders, no one had actually seen her being happy. But it seemed that, with the return of her best cubhood friend, happiness almost exploded in the heart of the old lioness.

Some of the younger members of both prides even began feeding the rumor that the old lion was in love with Uzuri, but those rumors weren't taken too seriously.

Finally, when Arista had recovered completely, he decided to pass to his most important priority: speak with Zira about everything that had happened to her during all the years when she wasn't home. Misteriously, she was trying to delay that subject the most that she could, but now that Arista had recovered completely, there was no excuse for delays.

So, Arista asked to Rama to lead the hunting team of the desert pride, and Zira decided to ask to Uzuri to lead the hunting team of Pridelanders. Both the lionesses were surprised with that request, but they noticed the actual reason behind those requests, so they took the dutie.

After both hunting teams had gone away, Arista and Zira began speaking in a calm and peaceful place. Scar, Sparthi, Kira, and Dhalimu were also there. The old lion with sandy mane began speaking first: "My dear… now that I've recovered I believe that we can talk about all those years when you weren't here…"

"Yes, dad." said Zira with breaking voice.

"My dear…" began Arista. "First… well, you've really grown… but you're so thin, you probably had many problems… and why that missing piece on your right ear?"

"Oh, this?" asked Zira, almost too casually. "Don't worry. This is just the result of the treatment that the Pridelanders give to an outsider."

Arista didn't know what was worst, if the things that Zira said, or if the casual tone of her voice.

"But…" asked Kira, suddenly interrupting her father. "Why have you stayed here being treated so badly?"

"I thought that Uzuri took good care of you!" said Dhalimu with shocked voice.

"It's not Uzuri's fault." said Zira. "She tried to take care of me in the best possible way, but the pride refused to give her food to feed me. Her food had to be divided by me, by Sakia, and by herself. That's one of the reasons why I grew up so thin."

"However, Sakia didn't grow up thin." said Sparthi. "You did. Why?"

"Oh…" said Zira, again in her casual voice. "This is just the result of King Ahadi's punishments. Periods of exile, if you get what I mean. During that time, I had to hunt alone… with Scar's help. We were frequently exiled together."

Things were getting more and more confusing by the second. Sparthi asked: "I thought Scar was a prince. Why was he exiled?"

"My father hated me." said Scar, in the same casual voice of Zira. "In fact, my original name was Taka. Scar was my name after I got this…"

He pointed to the scar over his left eye, and said, again casually: "My father gave it to me when I was six months old cub. I was exiled for a month after that."

"One day after the beginning of his exile, Scar saved me of drowing in the Border River." said Zira, and everyone noticed the loving look that she gave to her mate.

"Hold on a second." said Dhalimu, waving his paw to Zira, but turning to Scar. "Your father, the king, treated you like that? Why? That behaviour is unproper for a king. And mainly, of Mohatu's son! I mean, I never knew Mohatu, but Arista, and King Ananias, when he lived, told me many great things about him. I thought that a good king like Mohatu was would raise his son properly!"

"My father was the king, but, according to Mega, he was a rogue. Mega also was. He and my father grew up together, but don't ask him more, because he won't tell you. He promised to my father that he wouldn't tell anyone about the life that they had before coming to the Pride Lands. My mother, Uru, was the actual heir. My father just became king because he became her mate." said Scar, and for once he left the casual tone.

"Oh…" said Dhalimu, with an understanding voice. "I see…"

"But that still doesn't explain why you kept here standing those awful things when you could return home!" said Arista to Zira with sad voice. "Didn't you love us anymore? Or did you love Scar so much that you wanted to stay here with him? We would accept him, and I'm sure that, eventually, he would want to come."

"Well…" said Scar, with a sad tone. "While my mother lived, I had to be here, I couldn't leave her. In fact, after her and my grandmother's deaths… I had no reason to be here, but Zira didn't want to return."

"Why, my dear?" asked Arista, looking at Zira, seemingly on the edge of bursting in tears. "We would accept you and him."

And then, Zira just couldn't stand. She burst in tears, that she had been repressing for many years. This was the moment that she feared the most. However, she had to tell the truth. She spoke: "Well… when I and mom were almost arriving at the Pride Lands… she said that we had to rest in the shade of a rock… but I didn't want to rest… I climbed the rock to the top… I went to the edge to look down at mom… and when I turned around… I incidentally pushed a small stone… it fell… when I climbed down I heard the sound of stones falling… and my mom… was…"

Sparthi, Kira, Dhalimu and Arista gasped. So that explained everything. They had found Malkha's body in the shade of a rock, covered by heavy stones, and someone had to push them. Maybe the someone had also taken Zira… but now…

"It was all my fault." sobbed Zira. "I killed… my own mother… I'm a monster…"

Zira just kept crying, but then she looked at her siblings and uncle's face. They seemed too surprised to speak, but Zira was sure that they wouldn't forgive her. She tried to look at her father, whose expression seemed undisturbable. But then, surprisingly, he hugged Zira. Zira was too shocked by that, so she didn't even react.

She finally asked: "So… you forgive me?"

/"Forgiveness" song. Tune is rather melancholic, but also grave, and somehow a little bit happy on the chrous bits. Zira is looking on Arista still with sad eyes, and Arista still seems somewhat shocked, but he hugs Zira. We see Sparthi, Kira, and Dhalimu recovering from the surprise. Scar seems somewhat ready to jump in./

First verse: Arista

I think I know how could you feel

And what has kept you long away

What made all your years so ill

But time has come to cure this strain

/Zira seems surprised, but Arista steps back, and Dhalimu steps in. Zira looks even more scared, but Dhalimu doesn't seem too angry, only surprised. We also see Sparthi and Kira, who are still somewhat surprised./

Dhalimu:

And so we are – all you have known

To forgive, forget, never back

Is that so strange we let it go

And clear tomorrow from past's black?

/Zira seems slightly relieved, but still a little bit uncertain. Scar comes to her and hugs her. Then, camera focuses on Arista and Dhalimu./

Chorus: Arista and Dhalimu

We forgive you all what's wrong

Knowing it was a mistake

Price you might pay as you grow

One false step for lots you take

/Camera focuses temporarially on Zira, who looks somewhat surprised, and opens her mouth to reply, but Scar closes it with his paw. Camera focuses on Arista and Dhalimu again./

And we ask you for the same

Your forgiveness for our fall

As we failed to keep you safe

Cause our care was much too small

/Camera shows Sparthi and Kira coming forward, while Arista and Dhalimu step back. They face Zira, with a begging look./

Second verse: Sparthi

We've lost hope and we've lost faith

So we never tried to find you

And that is where we have failed

Shouldn't leave your kins behind you

/Zira seems very surprised, but, on that moment, the three siblings hug each other. Camera turns around them, and we see that all are crying./

Kira:

But you're here, alive and well

We were given second chance

If some apologies are to tell

We should speak them all at once

/Zira whispers something to them, and Sparthi and Kira reply at the same time. We see that Arista and Dhalimu have aproached, and they also say somehing. From lips movement we assume that they all said: "You're forgiven". The three lions and the two lionesses join in a "family hug". We see Scar smiling on the background./

Chorus: Sparthi, Kira, Arista, and Dhalimu

We forgave you all what's wrong

Knowing it was a mistake

Price you might pay as you grow

One false step for lots you take

/Camera turns around the hugging lions, and some wind blows around them. The five lions smile as the wind blows on them./

And we asked you for the same

Your forgiveness for our fall

Knowing we won't fail again

As our love will keep us all

/They separate from the hug. Zira goes back to Scar. Song finishes./

"See?" whispered Scar to his mate, in a way that only she could hear. "I always told you that your family would understand that it was an accident."

Arista heard that, but this time he pretended he didn't listen, and came to his daughter..

"My dear… and you too, Scar… I want to ask you a favour…"

"What is it, dad?" asked Zira, intrigued.

"Well… I'm getting old… so… I want to ask you and Scar… to take my place… I'm getting too old to rule…"

"What?" asked Scar and Zira at the same time, and with the same amazed expression.

Sparthi, Kira and Dhalimu didn't seem so amazed, but Zira was shocked: "I… I can't… I wish I was half of the leader that you were…"

"Please…" said Arista, with slightly begging voice. "Anyway… you were originally meant to be my heir, Zira… I know it will be hard… but… it would be a good way of unite the two prides. We must be as united as we could if we want to survive this drought."

"Alright." said Zira, eventhough she was still uncertain. "I accept. If Scar also accepts, that is."

They all looked at Scar, who seemed even more uncertain that Zira. But finally, he said, bowing at Arista: "I would feel very honoured. I don't think I deserve it, but if you trust me…"

"Then, I assume it is settled." said Arista.

Sparthi, Dhalimu and Kira nodded.

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But Arista had another unfinished business to solve. And he decided to do it when the hunting teams returned. After the meal, the former king of the Golden Pride decided to go to Uzuri, who was lying down on her usual place of the cave, to rest.

"Hi, Uzuri." said the lion.

"Hello… sir." said Uzuri a little bit confused.

When they had seen for the last time, the lion was just a six months old cub, and she used to call him just by his name. But now… he was, or at least had been, a king. While she was still an ordinary lioness.

"Could I talk with you for a moment?" asked Arista. "Privately?"

"Sure… sir." said the lioness, getting up.

"Sir?" asked Arista. "We are still friends, aren't we? You can still call me Arista… at least when we are alone."

"Alright, Arista." replied Uzuri instantly.

The two went to the eastern side of Pride Rock, followed by the looks of the whole pride. What could have Arista to tell Uzuri that he wanted to speak with her privately? But, when the two arrived there, they just sat down.

The two stayed in silence for a while… until the lion said: "Uh… thank you."

"For what?" replied the lioness, confused.

"For taking care of Zira." explained Arista. "I mean… she was my daughter… like you most likely already know…"

"You shouldn't thank me." said Uzuri sadly. "I guess I didn't manage to protect her completely from King Ahadi's wrath or Sarabi's hatred, among other things. Only Scar managed to protect her completely."

"But still, it's thanks to you that she's alive." said the lion. "And… I thank you for that."

"You're welcome." said the blue-eyed lioness back.

The two just sat in silence for a longer while, until the former desert king said: "Oh well… you've grown since I last saw you."

"I could say the same." replied Uzuri. "But I guess you aren't that different from when you were a cub. I mean… on some more… particular details."

Arista just couldn't help but to groan. He knew what were the particular details that Uzuri was talking about. But then… he smiled naughtily, and said: "Oh yeah? Now you don't have that advantage! Now I'm bigger than you."

"That doesn't change a thing." replied Uzuri, making the same kind of naughty smile.

"We'll see about that!" replied the lion.

And then… with some kind of a behaviour rather unproper for a king and a lion of that age, Arista pounced on Uzuri playfully. The lioness wasn't exactly prepared for that, but her response was the same that she used to do on their cubhood. Rolling backwards, she managed to pin Arista on his back, and smiled naughtily at him. The lion just couldn't help but to groan. It had been exactly like in their cubhood, in spite of the fact that now he dominated over Uzuri in body constitution.

The lioness placed her paws on Arista's neck in a sign of victory, but then Arista said: "Uh… no, I'm ticklish, OK?"

"You are?" asked Uzuri with naughty voice.

It was too late for the lion to mend his mistake. Before he could do anything to avoid it, Uzuri was with her head and paws buried in his mane, blowing and tickling. The former desert king just laughed uncontrollably as he tried to get rid of Uzuri.

How much time they passed doing that, none of them could tell, but they stooped when a voice said: "Uh… Arista?

The lion and the lioness looked around, and saw Dhalimu and at least half of the Golden Pride and Pridelanders looking at them with confused stares.

Blushing so much that their faces got red, Arista and Uzuri just let go of each other, slightly ashamed of a behaviour so unproper for their age.

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The ceremony happened a few days later. It was short, because of the hard times, and the only ones who truly assisted were the members of both prides. The Golden Pride was very shocked when they heard that their king was going to step down, but it wouldn't be too bad if her place would be taken over by his daughter and her mate. In normal conditions, Kisasian would also be proclaimed heir, but because of Scar's decision of not making him to rule after him, that didn't happen. However, his son wasn't angry anymore.

"Scar and Zira, monarchs of the Pride Lands and the Golden Pride!" proclaimed Zazu on the end of the ceremony.

All the members of both prides bowed, but not all of them did it respectfully, and not all of them did it so fast. The last one bowing was Sarabi, but the time-difference wasn't too obvious.

"Looks like I was right." thought Sarabi. "We have to keep the training, and go forward with the plan of the rogue. I will tell them that tonight."

On the end, Zira walked to Sarabi, and began speaking, in the less cold voice that she managed to use.

"Sarabi…" said Zira very slowly. "I want to ask you a favour. It's for the interest of both prides. I want to ask you to lead the Pridelander hunting team. In that way, we will be able to spread through a bigger area, and the chances of success are most likely. So, do you accept? It's for the interest of your own pride."

Sarabi looked at Zira with an angry look, clearly implying that she thought that Zira was trying to buy her trust. But she said, trying not to sound too poisonous: "As you wish… my lady."

Zira bared slightly her teeth, but she just turned back to Scar, and replied with hollow voice: "She accepted. But this will be hard. I don't think our prides accept each other well. At least for now."

"That will change in time." said Scar. "At least that's what I believe."

But somehow both of them already knew that relationship between the two prides wasn't going to be peaceful.

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Well... what do you think? Was this chapter good? Review, please! I still need opinions.