Much time had passed since the exile of Kiara and Hatari, Kion had been allowed to stay within the Pridelands for the sake of Alika and due to the fact he had confessed his crimes. Mheetu and Paka had been crowned together and been wedded. They were expecting a little cub of their own as well, and Alika could barely hide her joy at the thought of being an aunt.

When Paka's due date finally arrived, everyone was rushed out of the den so the Queen could have the space. Zuri, Tiifu, and Rafiki were inside trying to help the queen out while Mheetu padded in a circle nervously. So much that Mpole had commented he might burn a circle into the rock.

He thought back to the exile. Hatari had wanted Mpole to go with them, but she had shook her head, she wasn't going with murderers, especially the son of two. It had no doubt hurt his baby brother and Mheetu felt bad, but didn't exactly care enough to comfort him. Hatari had to learn he couldn't have everything he ever wanted.

When Rafiki appeared out of the den, Mheetu wasted no time and rushed to his friend's side.

"Is Paka and the cub okay?"

Rafiki smiled warmly and patted his friend's back before sharing a look with Kion who smiled weakly in return to his friend's warm smile.

"Paka and the cubs are just fine." Rafiki corrected.

Mheetu's jaw dropped at the correction. "Cubs?" he mumbled before rushing into the den. The others laughed and Alika nuzzled her father happily before getting a pat on the head from Rafiki as he wondered off.

Zuri walked out of the cave and chuckled as Mheetu passed her within a few minutes. She waltzed over to the former king and grinned tiredly.

"Your son is going to have his paws full."

Kion chuckled as he stood up. "I don't doubt it."

TLK: DOTNO

Paka laid with two small bundles of fur between her paws. One of the cubs had tawny orange fur like its mother while its littermate had light golden fur. When she licked their heads, both cubs revealed their orangey amber eyes to their father and Mheetu melted instantly.

The queen looked up at her mate and smiled with warmth in her eyes. "We have a son and daughter. Rafiki says they're both healthy."

Mheetu purred and nuzzled his mate. "Paka... they're so beautiful."

"What do you want to name them?" asked Paka as she smiled down at her cubs. "Before you ask, our son is the one with the tawny orange fur and our daughter as the light golden fur, just so you know."

Mheetu chuckled as he looked down. "I want to name our daughter Leta."

Paka nodded as she looked down at her son with love. "Then our son can be named Bakura."

The rest of the pride slowly came in, and when asked who was the future crowned heir, Mheetu replied with a simple answer of they would see who showed better skills at being the crowned heir. But until then, they would allow them to have a peaceful cubhood.

Kion smiled at his grandcubs. "Beautiful."

Alika gazed at her nephew and niece before nuzzling them. "We're going to have so much fun!"

Life was perfect.

TLK: DOTNO

Hatari grumbled as he watched his mother tried to hunt for the millionth time before storming off. Life in the Outlands wasn't easy. They had been accepted into a pride who was lead by a lion named Kovu, who quickly took interest in his mother.

He didn't know why but he didn't care.

"Stupid Mheetu! Graahhh!" Hatari roared out. "I could kill him with my claws."

A sound of a crying cub reached his ears and Hatari was quick on his paws before seeing a dead lion and lioness on the ground with some hyenas happily chewing on the flesh. With a roar, the hyenas went running and Hatari winced at the sight.

"Can't even fight." he clicked his tongue before seeing a bundle of small fur next to the lioness's stomach. "What's this? A cub?"

Upon looking more closely at the cub, Hatari saw the little had dark red fur, tan underbelly and paws, and the tail tip had a very light brown color. The exiled prince smiled as he picked the cub up and placed it within his paws.

The cub eased its cry at it looked at the young adult lion with the brown mane. Cocking its head to the side in questioning.

"Aren't you a strong, male? You survived hyenas while they ate at your parents' flesh," Hatari mumbled in a sicking sweet tone. "Don't worry. I'll take you in. Raise you as if you were my own. As my adoptive son..."

Hatari bent down and nuzzled him before grinning with all the evil his father once had.

"You'll be the key to taking back my father's Kingdom... Gallus."