A/N alrighty then folks I'm back with another chapter. The usual thanks are in order here. Enjoy ch 23

CH 23 All Coming Back

"That's not possible!" Kiara exclaimed, running into the cave with the rest of the group behind her. The golden brown Princess ran to the spot where she, Zuri and Tiifu had tied up Janja and his cohorts and sure enough the rope they had used had been chewed through and there were no signs of the hyenas.

"Well this sucks!" Zuri cried out. "We did all that work for nothing!"

"Not for nothing Zu'," Kion declared, causing his peachy coated girlfriend to look at him with surprise. "You, Tiifu and Kiara did a really brave thing," the Guard leader continued. "You stood up to four full grown hyenas and won. You saved my Dad's life. You guys should be really proud of yourselves."

"I know I am very proud of you," Baridi said, giving her daughter a nuzzle.

"As am I," Ziva chimed in as she too nuzzled her daughter.

"Thanks Mom," Tiifu said with a smile. But her smile quickly vanished as she said, "I just wish we could have save Asha too."

"Yeah," Utata said, taking in a shaky breath. "Me too. This is worse than the time when Grandma Sarabi died when she got kicked in the head by a zebra during a hunting trip."

"Wait you remember that?" Nala asked, surprised at Utata's words.

"Yeah I do," Utata said, his own blue eyes wide with surprise. "I remember a lot of things. Like the time when I got stuck in a mud pit when I was playing and almost died. Luckily Dad came and rescued me in time. And the time when Mom found out she was pregnant with Kiara and how happy everyone was including me. I remember it all!"

"Oh honey your memories are back!" Nala cried out, embracing her oldest son.

"How the heck did that happen?" Bunga wondered, scratching his head in confusion.

"It must've happened when I hit my head," Utata said. "That hit must've jog my memory."

"Is that even possible?" Fuli wondered. "I mean it seams pretty far fetched to me."

"That's how I got my memory back," Kion reminded his friend.

"Yeah and its been know to happen in the past too," Ono chimed in. "I mean it makes sense if you think about it. A sharp blow to the head causes you to lose your memory so another sharp blow can cause you to regain your memory as well."

"Well whatever caused it to happen I'm glad it did," Utata said with a smile. But his smile quickly turned into a frown. "I just wish Dad was awake to hear this. Or that my Mom was still here to celebrate with us."

"She's still here Utata," Kion said, nuzzling against Utata's side. "Dad once told me that even if someone's passes away they're still watching over us along with..."

"The Great Kings of the Past," Utata finished with a small smile. Kion nodded and looked at his older brother with a smile of his own. But Kion's expression quickly turned serious.

"We need to make sure everyone is alright," the youngest Prince said. "Mom you and Utata took some pretty serious hits. You both need to be checked out."

"Oh honey I'm fine," Nala said with a smile.

"Still its better to be safe than sorry," Kion declared. "And we need to make sure Dad is still doing alright. Then we need to have a proper funeral for Asha."

"Den it is a good ting we are here," Rafiki said, suddenly appearing with Makini right behind him. "Now den," the old mandrill said. "I will examine de Queen and den I will make sure dat de King has not gotten any worse."

"And I'll take care of you," Makini said, looking at Utata with a smile.

"That's really not..." Utata began. But he will silenced by Makini putting her hand over his mouth and gently pushing him down.

"Just let me work," was all she said as she began to examine the golden lion. After a few minutes she looked at Utata with a smile. "Well aside from some scrapes and bruises and a pretty good bump on the head you're perfectly fine."

"Well that's a relief," Kiara said with a sigh.

"So what you actually care what happens to me now?" Utata asked, giving his sister a look.

"Look Utata I'm sorry about what I said before," Kiara said, avoiding eye contact. "I was angry about what was happening with Daddy. I still am actually. And I needed someone to blame and take it out on. And I choose you and that was wrong of me. I'm really sorry."

"So you don't think I'm a fake?" Utata asked.

"No I don't," Kiara said. "After what you did today proved to me that you really do care about us and really do want to be apart of this family."

"Thanks sis," Utata said with a smile. Just then Rafiki approached the group, a strange look on his face. "Rafiki?" Utata began. But the old monkey merely held up his hand. Utata exchanged looks of concern with Nala, Kiara and Kion. "Rafiki," Utata repeated. "How's my father?" Rafiki said nothing. He merely motioned for Makini to follow him. The two mandrills began to talk quietly, which worried the group even more. After speaking for what seamed like forever the pair approached the group, who were all looking at them anxiously.

"Rafiki," Utata tried again. "Please tell us what's going on."

"Yeah," Kiara chimed in. "Daddy's not worse is he?"

"No he's not worse," Makini said, a sort of smile going across her face.

"Whew that's a relief," Bunga said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Then why all the secrecy?" Kion asked, giving the mandrills looks. "Its not like you two to be secretive."

"Well Kion there's some weird things going on," Makini informed her friend.

"Weird?" Kion repeated, wrinkling his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Come wit us," Rafiki said, motioning for the group to follow him. "We will show you." With that the group followed Rafiki and Makini all of them thoroughly confused to what was going on.

TLKTLKTLK

The group approached the area where Simba was laying. Asha's body had been moved next to him so as not to be in full view of the Pride. When Utata saw his mother he stopped dead in his tracks. "Oh Mom," the golden lion whispered, the tears going down his face. Utata ran up to his adoptive mother and buried his face in her fur. "Oh Mom," Utata sobbed as he sank down beside Asha. "I'm so sorry Mom. This is all my fault. I'll never be able to forgive myself for doing this to you." Utata was sobbing harder and all the guilty feelings took over. Nala, Kion and Kiara ran up to Utata and comforted him the best they could.

"Utata please don't blame yourself," Kion said softly. "This wasn't your fault."

"Your brother is right honey," Nala said, giving Utata's cheek a lick. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening."

"Yeah," Kiara chimed in, trying to sound as encouraging as possible. "This is no one's fault but Janja and Zira's."

"I know," Utata said with a sniffle as he looked at his family with tear filled eyes. "But this just hurts so damn bad. She didn't deserve this."

"Hey at least she died a hero," Bunga said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," Ono chimed in. "You should be proud."

"I am," Utata said, wiping his eyes. "And that does make me feel better. I just wish..." But Utata was interrupted by a voice saying, "Please don't be so sad my sweet Utata." The group gasped when they recognized the voice. They turned their heads and saw that...

A/N well folks there you have it ch 23 complete. I really didn't intend for this story to be as long as it is but what can I say? I just love writing this story. I also love reading reviews so please leave me one.