Fuli walked back to Pride Rock, followed by her cubs who happily chattered about what had been going on while she was gone. They had been thrilled to see their mother safe and sound but right now the cheetah didn't payed attention to what her cubs were telling her. She was determined to find the king and queen and tell them what was going on before it was too late.

When the sight of Pride Rock emerged, Fuli's smile grew. In there she knew her husband were and the first thing she would do when she saw him was to kiss him and tell him how much she had missed him. He must had been in despair for days, knowing that she was in mortal danger. She entered the cave to Pride Rock with Akisi and the rest of his siblings and were met with surprised and incredulous faces.

"Fuli? You're back!"

Nala and Simba ran over to her and hugged her tightly. "It's so good to see you're back safe. Did they hurt you."

"Simba, Nala, I need to speak to you. It's urgent," Fuli said under her breath. She looked at her cubs. "This is not a talk for cubs to hear."

"Urg, mom, seriously," Amara whined. "I'm the next leader."

"You're not leader just yet, so you do as I tell you, go and find the rest of The Guard with your siblings.

Amara and the rest went outside while they gave their mother mad glares for sending them away so fast after they just had found her.

"Ahardi is behind all of this."

"What are you talking about?" Simba asked as they walked further into the cave, greeting Kiara and Kovu and their cubs.

"What was it you said about Ahardi?" Nala asked when Fuli had hugged Kovu and Kiara.

"Ahardi has planned for a long time to take over the Pride Lands, but he wanted to wait till Kion and Rani had been married. The problem was that I came in the way, so for a long time he has wanted to get rid of me first, and he knew just how."

"What is it you're saying?" Kiara asked puzzled." "Makucha isn't-"

"Exactly," Fuli said. "I had more or less a shock when I saw him. Ahardi really meant it serious because Makucha tried on many occasions to mate with me, but I managed to escape with the help of Tani and Tiifu, so we need to go now if we're going to save them."

"Hold on, Fuli," Simba said. "Were Tani involved in this as well?"

"Yes, come on, we need to hurry," Fuli said hurryingly.

"Fuli, if what you say is true, then we can't just run of with hope that we will be in time to save them," Simba said determined.

"What is it you're saying?" Fuli asked disbelievingly, not understand why they didn't take it as serious as her.

"I say we need to warn the Night Lands before we can make a rescue operational."

"But the Night Lands are armed, they can defend themselves, that is something Tani and Tiifu won't be able to do," Fuli said.

"I know it's hard, Fuli, but we must do what's right-"

"What's right?" Fuli barked. "What's right is to save Tani and Tiifu."

"Ahadi is a part of the night Lands council," Simba said. "He is a cunning lion we know, and he could easily fool Rani and the rest of the council."

"But that's stupid! They possible can't risk that now!" Fuli barked.

"I know it's hard, but a king must do what he finds best, for the safety of others," Simba said firmly. "Get some rest, Fuli, and at dawn you and The Guard will travel towards the Night Lands to warn them."

"How can you say that!" Fuli barked. "Your brother-in-law's sister is out there. Your daughter's friend is out there!"

"Fuli, don't play the emotion card on me."

"I know it's hard, but they knew what they were doing when they chose you to be the messenger," Kiara said, laying a comforting paw around her shoulder.

"How can you agree with your father," Fuli asked disbelieving. "She is your friend, Zuri is going be devastated if anything happens to her!"

"I know it's hard to understand," Kiara said. "But someday I will be put in the same situation-"

"And I hope you will pick the right choice," Fuli hissed, waving of her paw.

"Fuli-"

"No, just forget it! The only one who I can trust here is my husband," Fuli hissed. "Where is he?" she added, noticing he was the only who missed. She looked around the cave and noticed the lion were sleeping in a corner of the cave with a white flower clutched into his paw. Fuli forgot her argument with her family and a smile came over her face, looking at the peacefully sleeping lion. She approached the lion and bended her head down to his, gently licking it.

The lion began to move unpleasantly. He had just fallen asleep after several days restless nights and now he was being disturbed. "Mom, stop, I need to sleep."

The soft caressing stopped. "Seriously," he heard the female voice say, but it wasn't his mother's. "I have been away for days and you have already replaced me with your mother?"

Kion opened his eyes and looked into the prettiest emerald eyes he knew so well. He touched her cheek and let his paw caress her soft and slick body in disbelief. "Fuli?"

The cheetah smiled and pushed her head against his. "Yes, Kion, I'm home, you don't have to worry."

"I have missed you so much," Kion said, stroking his paw down her spine.

"I have missed you too," Fuli said, touching his cheek.

"How did you escape?" Kion asked in all of a sudden worried tone.

"I tell you, come on. Let's go for a walk," Fuli said, kissing the lion on the cheek and walked out of the cave with him.

"Aren't you going to say hey to the others?"

Fuli bend her head in guilt. "They already know, Kion."

"What, and you didn't wake me up first?"

"Can we please not talk about this, Kion," Fuli sighed. "You're your father's son, and I knew how you would have agreed with your father."

"what are you talking about?" Kion asked puzzled, having no clue on what the cheetah was referring to.

"Your father has agreed in helping the Night Lands over our friends!" Fuli said frustrated.

"What?"

"I wasn't alone, Kion," Fuli sighed. "Tiifu had been captured too, mistaking her for being your mate. But that's not all. Tani came too. She was looking for me and ended up running into Ahardi, ending up as their prisoner, too."

"Tani were by your side?"

"Yes, she was the one who gave me courage to flee," Fuli confessed. "If it wasn't for her, I would still be back there."

"What is it you're saying, that Ahardi is behind this," Kion asked puzzled.

"Yes, he has planned his revenge for some time now," Fuli confessed. "It's no coincidence I'm the one being punished. I'm being punished because I ended up being your wife instead of Rani."

"But of course, I would have chosen you."

"Kion, he wanted to rule the Night Lands. He would have you come out for an accident, if you had been married with Rani. In her despair, he would be the support she needed, married again and then he would rule the Night Lands by himself."

"So, he is ruining our lives just because he can't be king?" Kion asked angrily. "Where is he, I want a word with him."

"You won't," Fuli sighed as they walked further. "None of us will because your father has sent us to the Night Lands to protect them and surely by the time, we realize we're at the wrong place, Tani and Tiifu would be dead."

"You fear he is going to kill them?"

"He is. It's my fault they are there in the first place," Fuli sobbed. "And I will have to live with the guilt, knowing I abandoned them."

Kion pulled his wife in for a hug. "They are not going to die, fool."

"Kion, we are going to be the wrong place tomorrow, your father has sentenced them to death while we waste our time!" Fuli shouted.

"So, you want to abandon the king's orders?" Kion frowned.

"The king? Why aren't you calling him father, besides, you abandoned my rescue," Fuli asked.

"What?"

"You followed your father's command, overlooking me!" Fuli said annoyed, giving her husband a glare. "And you put your cubs in charge of the rescue instead! They told me. How could you?"

"Fuli, I also have a job-"

"Don't you pull the job card on me!" Fuli hissed. "You would never stop blaming yourself if I never returned."

"Yeah, you could just have looked through Azaad, but I guess you enjoyed it," Kion mocked.

"Don't you start blame me, Kion," Fuli hissed.

"was his fur just as soft as yours?" Kion mocked.

"You know what, Kion, if you think I cheated on you with purpose, then fine. I gladly go back to Makucha," Fuli spat.

"Makucha?" Kion asked shocked, completely forgetting his anger.

"Yeah, in case you didn't know he was there as well, trying to mate with me, but at least I know he won't blame me for cheating," Fuli spat and ran away.

Kion was left heartbroken. He hadn't known what had happened to her, and not that Makucha were there as well. How stupid could he be, rounding on her for something she didn't do. And now he had lost her again. He should never had accused her in the first place. She deserved so much better than a stupid lion.

The dawn was rising, and Fuli had fought her way back to where she just had escaped from. She lowered her body when the scent of the lions caught her nose and she slowly crept closer. If none was going to help her friends, then she would have to do it alone. It was her fault they were here in the first place. She could hear the lions argue.

"What do you expect us to do, Ahardi," said one of the lions. "Your plan has failed. Makucha didn't catch the cheetah in time as you heard, that horny git, and now she has probably told everyone about your so genius plan."

"It was genius if you three just had watched her," Ahardi threatened.

"It was the leopard's job and he failed," said another lion. "He was sleeping. I said we should had finished her when we had the chance. Keeping her alive was a risk and look where it has taken us."

"I won't give up that easy," Ahardi hissed.

"What do you want to do? It would be suicide to try and take over the Night Lands when the cheetah has gossiped to everyone about your plan," hissed Mbaya.

"No, we can't continue the plan, are strategy must change but we can clean the table first," he said, and a wicked smile grew on his face as he turned towards their prisoners. He approached them. "So, who should we kill first? The beauty or the beast."

Tiifu hesitated and stepped back while Tani looked fiercely into Ahardi's eyes.

"Yeah, killing you will defiantly be as satisfying as killing the cheetah," Ahardi said and lifted his paw.

"Then why don't you!"

Ahardi turned his head with a satisfied smile. He looked upon the king cheetah who had been so foolish to return. "Fuli, always shows up when you're least wanted, but in this case, it's fine." "Want me dead, then do it yourself instead of keeping your paws clean," Fuli hissed. "Show what monster you really are."

"Oh, don't make this too easy, Fuli, you're literally begging me to kill you," Ahardi said mockingly.

Fuli looked fiercely back at the lion. "If a leopard couldn't catch me, why should you have a chance."

"Oh, it's not that," Ahardi mocked, his wicked smile growing. "You returned on your own, clearly help is not coming and your precious husband don't trust you. Am I correct?"

Fuli snarled.

"So, what was your fight about this time?" he mocked. "Aren't you allowed to go on patrol on your own anymore? Does he think you're to incapable of handling danger, or does he think you're a dirty whore who cheats behind his back?"

"Shut up," she snarled, looking to both sides. The three black maned lions were approaching her.

"No, don't," Ahardi said carelessly to them. "This is a satisfaction I want on my own," he said and pounced towards her. Fuli stepped out of the way, giving the lion a judging look when he passed her.

"Is that your best?" she mocked. "Even Kion could do that better in his sleep."

Ahardi pounced again but Fuli stepped aside once more. "Don't make this easy."

The lion snarled at her. He changed strategy and approached her slowly. Fuli turned around and ran toward one of the black maned lions. The lion stared mockingly at her and raised his paw to hit her, but Fuli leapt and jumped over him. Ahardi didn't bothered to run around the lion and instead hit him in the face with his paw, slapping him to the ground and continuing without a care. The two remaining lions snarled at him and walked threateningly toward him. "Out of my way," he snarled, looking determined.

"No, Ahardi, we're done with you," said Mbaya. "You have used us to do your dirty work while keeping yourself in the shadows and what's the thank? You don't even respect us, look at what you did to Dhaifu."

"He was in my way and now you are in my way," Ahardi snarled. "So, step aside if you don't want to lay down beside your brother."

Mbaya pounced and so did the other lion, colliding with Ahardi. The three fighting lions were so preoccupied that they hadn't noticed Fuli sneaking over to Tiifu and Tani.

"Now is our chance," Fuli whispered. "Go!"

Tiifu began to creep away, but Tani stared at the cheetah, incredulous. "Fuli, why did you come back, you could have been killed, we did this so you could-"

"Get help," Fuli said annoyed. "I get it, but does it look like it came? No, we are on our own."

A loud roar echoed through the air, attracting everyone attention. The fighting lions stopped their fight to look at who had interrupted them. A red maned lion was running determinedly towards them.

"Oh, look who comes," Tani said annoyed. "The prince has once again come to save the day."

The lion came to a halt and roared again, not giving his wife a single glance.

"Step aside," he threatened.

"Not your business, lion. He is ours," Mbaya said.

"He hurt my wife the most wicked way possible," Kion threatened. "I'm going to make him wish he never stepped on my wife."

"There you are wrong again, Kion," Ahardi mocked. "Your wife didn't look very happy when she came back. You two had obviously an argument. Did you tell her what pathetic guard member she is or that she is a whore? So, who do you think again have hurt her more, you or me?"

The lion looked beyond madness at Ahardi.

"Both," Fuli said angrily, approaching them, giving her husband a stern look. "Lions, Ahardi needs to be punished for what he has done and for what he was about to do."

"And you think we're obediently going to follow?"

"We promise you won't be punished if you just repent and promise to stay out of the Pride Lands and the Night Lands," Fuli assured, which caused the lions to frown.

"You don't think we are so thick, do you?" Mbaya mocked. "we got some unfinished business with Ahardi, don't we brothers?" he added, looking hungrily at the lion.

Ahardi's wicked smile faded and turned into fear. "Friends - you're not going to do this - we got things to do - we can easily take on them," he said for the first time with a quiver in his voice.

"Yeah, like we're going to bite on that again," Dhaifu hissed. "face it, Ahardi. You have lost."

"You can't – we're friends!"

The three lions pounced but Ahardi were faster and ran away. The three lions ran after him, determined to catch him. Kion were also reading himself to sprint but his wife placed a paw on his cheek pulling his face towards hers.

"Let them have him. Forget him," she said, looking determined into his amber eyes. "I know you want to punish him for what he has put me trough, but now I'm here. He can't hurt me," she gently said, stroking a paw against his cheek.

The lion's anger melted away and looked guiltily into her emerald eyes. "Fuli, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, Kion," Fuli said letting go of his cheek, but Kion stopped her and placed it back on.

"Please don't let go," the lion said tearfully.

"I should have known Azaad was up to no good, when he wanted to be alone with me," Fuli sighed turning her gaze away from the lion. "Apparently I'm an easy prey. I didn't saw through Makucha and neither Azaad."

"It's not your fault, fool," Kion comforted, pulling her face up towards hers. "It's mine. I was a moron to blame you for anything. I was a coward for not going after you myself-"

Fuli had leaned in, placing her lips on the lion's mouth, kissing him. Kion replied the kiss by affectionately grubbing his paws in her fur.

"Urg, while you at it, why don't you just make out?" Tani said annoyed. "Don't mind me, I'm fine."

Fuli broke the kiss with a smile across her face. "Admitting you were wrong is the rightest thing you have done in a long time."

"hey," Kion said, pulling her in for another passionate kiss.

"Oaky, I just find my way back home alone," Tani said annoyed, beginning to walk.

Fuli broke the kiss again. "Give me a moment with Tani, hon," Fuli said, stroking his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't go being abducted again," she added by his longing look. She gave him a kiss on his cheek and ran after Tani.

"Tani, wait up!" Fuli called.

Tani stopped and looked annoyed at the cheetah. "What?"

"You are going to return with us, aren't you," Fuli said a bit nervous.

The lioness signed and looked down into the ground. "How can I? I failed you, my family, and worst, my own cubs."

"Tani, they will forgive you," Fuli comforted.

"I can't, I can't face my brother, I can't face my cubs – I – I – I can't produce milk anymore," Tani sobbed.

"Tani, Kovu will not blame you, he is your brother," Fuli comforted. "And your cubs can barely walk, I'm sure Kiara will be willing to give you a chance to take care of them."

"I highly doubt that. I failed the first time being a mother, so why should I not let them down again?"

"Tani, they are yours. You got the right to claim them."

"But I don't want to," Tani sobbed, looking at the cheetah. "They are far better of without me. It's best I'm not a part of their life."

Fuli looked determined at the lioness. "Now you listen to me, Tani. Once a wise lioness told me I was their only hope and that I should have courage," Fuli said firmly. "That lioness was you."

"Don't you think I can remember what I said," Tani sobbed. "It's less than a day ago."

"I say the same to you, have courage, we all miss you, mostly your brother, but I also miss your company," Fuli confessed.

Tani looked amazed at her. "Why? You're better off without me as well. Then you don't have someone who will betray your friendship all the time."

"Please Tain, I miss you," Fuli confessed. "I miss someone to go on patrol with."

"What about The Guard?" Tani asked suspiciously.

"It's not the same, Tani, you're a different friend, the only girlfriend I have," Fuli said.

"Me? Your girlfriend? What about Tiifu and Zuri," Tani questioned.

"Beauty, grace, not really my type, I need someone who's fierce and fun to mock."

Tani sighed. "Look, Fuli, I would love to return, but my guilt will just grow, knowing what a failure I am."

"Listen up, Tani, you're not a failure, you're one of the bravest I know. You risked your life for my sake."

"that was so you could escape and get help."

"But still you figured that Ahardi was behind this. Show the same courage and return, please," Fuli begged.

Tani bit her lip. "Okay, but I don't want to see my cubs at first. I have to get used to the feeling that every time I look at them, I see what a failure I am."

Fuli smiled comfortingly at her. "You are not a failure, you're perfectly ordinary. We all make mistakes."

Tani wiped away her tears and gave the cheetah a smile for the first time in a while. "Fuli, thank you for giving me a what – third chance."

"Anytime," Fuli said and began to walk home, followed by the lioness.

By the time they reached the Pride Lands had Kion joined them which made Tani awkward, being together with two lovebirds. Fuli were gently purring while she walked close up against the lion and even now and then they would kiss. Tani rolled eyes every time they did so.

"Would you two stop doing that?" she said annoyed.

"Come on, Tani," Fuli laughed. "Don't tell me you didn't do this with Ahardi."

Tani blushed a little. "We just talked and we both had enough dignity to not walk up against each other like we were glued together.

Fuli let out a giggle while she nuzzled her head against the lion's body.

Tani kept quiet for the rest of the trip. She had to admit she missed her home, though it hadn't been her home for the longest time, but it was the one that felt like one the most.

Tani looked up and came to a halt. In front of them were a brown lion followed by a honey badger, an egret and a hippo running towards them. The brown lion embraced Tani and kept her in a tight hug.

"Tani, I'm so glad you decided to return," the lion sobbed.

"Pull it together, brother," Tani said annoyed, patting the lion awkwardly. "You're being embarrassing."

"Fuli, you're home too."

The Guard pulled their friend into a tight hug as well.

"Yeah, I'm okay, no need to worry," Fuli said, feeling a little guilty for not visiting them when she returned.

"Your cubs told us you were back, but when we came to Pride Rock you were gone. Kion shortly met up with us, telling us he had been searching for you as well. But you were gone. Where?" Bunga questioned.

"Yeah, we had some unfinished business," Fuli said drying her paw in the lion's mane. "I had to take care of something on my own."

"Simba wants to send us to the Night Lands right away, so we better get going," Ono said.

"Oh, that won't be necessary anymore," Fuli said.

"What?"

"We won't be seeing Ahardi and those black maned lions for a long time," Kion said.

"What are you talking about?"

"We'll explain it on the way," Fuli said. "If Tani can come free of her brother," Fuli added, looking teasingly at the lioness who awkwardly patted her brother.

"Just let go brother, I'm home, I won't run away again," Tani said annoyed, finally freeing herself of her brother's grip.

"I thought I would never see you again, after what Fuli told us," Kovu sobbed, beaming at his sister.

"Well I'm not hurt," Tani said. "Can we go now?"

They continued the walk but while Fuli went in depth with what had happened in the early hours, but it wasn't long after that they were interrupted again. Fuli and Kion's cubs were running toward them. Fuli ran ahead to greet them, and hugged each of them tightly, licking their faces.

"Mom, stop," Shida whined, getting free of her mother's grip.

"What's got into you," Amara asked puzzled.

"I'm just so happy to see you again," Fuli said relived.

"You saw us yesterday."

"Yeah, but I didn't realize how grateful I should be, having such wonderful cubs," Fuli said.

"Mom, you're embarrassing us," Tasha said.

The others followed up and Kion hugged his cubs too.

"Dad, stop," Shida said annoyed. "It's like you haven't seen us for a month."

"I was just following your mother's example," he teased.

"Ono, would you be so kindly to warn the Night Lands about their traitor?" Fuli questioned. "we need to finish this as soon as possible."

"On it," Ono replied and flew of.

"Wait, where is Tani?"

"She continued with her brother," Bunga replied.

"Oh no, the cubs," Fuli said alarmed and ran off towards Pride Rock without looking back. She ran inside the cave and to her surprise, Tani laid calmly down with her two cubs in her paws, looking a bit startled. Kiara seemed to have started a little early on her second chance.

"Right, you just have to nurse and love them, Tani," Kiara said. "You'll be doing fine."

"O – okay," Tani said a little surprised, while one of her cubs reached a paw up to her face.

Fuli sighed in relief to find Tani not on the run but taking up her duties as a mother again. She approached them. "Is everything going all right?"

"I think they are happy to have their mother back," Kiara said and got up from hers. "Well, I think I want to go hunting."

"So, I suppose I'm the babysitter?" Fuli frowned.

"Course," she winked and left the cave.

Fuli laid down beside the cubs and began giving each of them a bath.

"Fuli, thanks for coming back and giving me a chance again," Tani said, looking adoringly at her cubs.

"You know, I was almost tempted to chase you off but that would be too cruel to Kiara. She has really been managing it fine with the four of them, but I think she will be happy to have you get your cubs back."

Tani gave the cheetah weak smile before she as well gave her cubs a bath.

000

Fuli, why is it you don't want to tell me," Kion asked. He and her had wandered off at nighttime to get some privacy, but Kion still felt he didn't know the whole story about his wife's adventure.

The cheetah turned to face her husband. "Because I just don't want to."

"Fuli, you're hiding something. What is it I can't know?"

"Because I'm disgusted!" Fuli bellowed. "Not at him, but at myself."

"It's not you who's going to feel bad, it's him," Kion said angrily. "Honestly, how can you talk down to yourself like that?"

"Because I feel disgraceful, I'm supposed to be your wife, but I have let too many males get close on me when I was supposed to stay true to you," Fuli confessed. "I'm pathetic!"

Kion leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. "No, you're not," he comforted. "You're the best cheetah a lion could wish for."

"I just don't feel like I deserve this."

"You're right, Makucha and Azaad should have known better," Kion said.

"No, I don't feel like I deserve this life with you, I'm a cheetah, not a royal," Fuli confessed.

"Fool, how close did he get?" Kion urged. "This doesn't feel like you. You appreciate your life. You don't look back at the time where I had to convince you."

Fuli turned around, not facing the lion and sighed deeply. It was the moment of truth. "The second time he came to close," she confessed. "I could feel his cock touching me."

Kion looked shocked at her. "And he didn't-"

"No, Kion," Fuli sighed, facing him. "if you don't believe me, you can smell."

"I believe you, fool," he quickly said. "I just wanted to know in what way he hurt you."

"Eh, threatening to let the lions' rape Tiifu if I didn't do what Makucha asked me to, almost succeeding in it," she said in a fast talk. "anything else you want to know."

"Yes," Kion confessed. "Are you still mad on me?"

Fuli gave hm a teasing smile and walked closer to him, touching noses, forcing the lion backwards. "How could I? My innocent boy, who so obediently follows his dad's order and sending our cubs out in the field at night, looking for me. You really know how to charm me, don't you?"

Fuli had walked him up against a tree, now forcing their heads together. Kion blushed madly and felt a little insecure with where the cheetah's mind was heading. She pushed her body up against his chest and purred gently. "Want to mate?"