"I don't have time to talk to him," Vitani stated dismissively.

"You..." Nala blinked. "I...don't-"

"Kion and Kiara have been training me and the other girls and we don't have time to make a trip to the fountain," she stated blankly.

"Right, but-but I thought you might want to hear what he has to say. Vitani, Nuka might not leave the fountain until he talks to you."

"That's on him."

"Alright." Nala knew better than to argue with Vitani. "Well, when Kovu and Simba do return, will you tell him about Huzuni? I think he should hear it from you."

"Of course."

Nala processed Vitani's unexpected reaction as Vitani sat patiently waiting. Realizing that Vitani would silently wait for further instruction until and unless instructed otherwise, she nodded at the lioness. "That's all I wanted to say, Vitani. Thank you for letting me borrow you."

"Of course, ma'am," Vitani curtly bowed, something Nala had repeatedly asked her not to do, before trotting off to rejoin the others.

"What's up?" She heard Shabaha ask.

"Nothin," Vitani answered casually as she stood before Kion. Malka, Chumvi, Tojo and Mheetu watched as Kion continued explaining the complexities of the upcoming summit meeting. She wondered if Simba had even realized that he might miss it. Not, of course, that anything about the situation he was in had been his idea.

She had to give her mate credit, change was not something Simba handled well, but he'd taken the sudden changes in their lives in stride as well as anyone, neither acting out nor tensing up. He was more quiet, but it was a reserved quiet, not an angry quiet. He wasn't bitter, he was observing. Deciding how he felt about everything. She couldn't blame him, she herself wasn't sure how she felt about much of anything.

"Nala?"

Nala turned, knowing who it was. Sarafina stood behind her.

"Hi, Mom."

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"Nala..." Sarafina sat next to her. Even as she aged, she was beautiful. "I'm not happy that you left the Pride Lands and took such a big risk right now. I want to know why you did it."

"I don't know."

"Nala, I mean it. I'm your mother, I didn't stop you because I trust you, don't I deserve to know why we were both party to a poor decision? I know you, when you make these types of risks, it's for a good reason."

"What did you tell the pride?"

"I told them what you asked me to tell them; that it was just a little trip to take care of something personal. If that was really all it was, I'm going to be a little mad. Why'd you go see Surani?"

"I told you, I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" She frowned. "The entire reason Simba and Surani went alone to the mountain is because the disease is spreading like wildfire, you can't afford to get sick in your state, nor to bring it back to the rest of us, and they've already had it. You haven't. So what was so important that you had to talk to Surani?"

"Mom," Nala took a deep breath. "Honestly, I don't know what came over me. It was stupid, and finding out what I found out doesn't change that fact. I made a poor decision."

"The second Simba leaves, you lose your head, is that what I'm hearing? You know, I think he deserves more credit as the voice of reason in your relationship from time to time. Everyone thinks you hold him back, and you do, but it goes both ways. So, what did you find out?"

"Nuka's in the fountain. And Kovu's biological mother."

"Oh," Sarafina seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. "Those poor things. Hopefully it will give them closure, like Simba had with Mufasa. Knowing his father is at peace made things easier for him, I think. Helped him move on."

"Vitani didn't seem to even care."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

"She said she didn't have time to stop her training to talk to him."

"Please, you married the master of hidden emotions. You know how this works. You're not in Vitani's inner circle, not yet. She wasn't going to reveal her emotions to you any more than Simba reveals them to pretty much anyone but you. That's why Sarabi likes her so much. She's a lot like Simba."

"She is stubborn."

"And driven, and loyal, and if you get to know her, funny. I'm waiting for the cactus-like attitude to drop and reveal a big softie, like we saw with Simba way back. Remember that? When some of the girls were actually a little nervous around him?"

"To be fair, he came across as a little intense at first."

"He did. And so does Vitani. But I know what you're doing, don't change the subject. Why'd you go?"

"Mom," Nala looked at her mother. "I really don't know. I suppose I'm flattered that you think I'm above rash decisions, but as we've established, I'm not. I just...suddenly needed to see her."

"Well," Sarafina looked up. "Hmm. Let's think about this. You did it right after Simba left, that means something."

"It doesn't mean anything."

"It most certainly does. Either you were subconsciously waiting for him to leave, or, something about him leaving struck something in your subconscious."

"The former doesn't make any sense, I'm going to get an earful when he comes back and finds out."

"True. So, it's the latter. Is this about him leaving, or about where he's going?"

"What does that mean?"

"Honey," Sarafina looked at her daughter sadly, "I didn't know much about Simba's life before he came home, none of us did. And now Surani's given us a pretty good look, like it or not. A secret daughter, now a grandson without a mother or father, I've heard hissings about other exes between them, I think I can see the rest pretty clearly. His early life was a little...risqué."

"It was a mess," Nala muttered.

"He was a mess. And I have to give him credit, he told us early on, in his own way. He told us he'd been living like a rogue and wasn't proud of it, but I don't think any of us really thought about the implications because he's such a sweet guy. I can still hardly believe he was capable of it. But he really was living the life of a rogue. Is it at all possible that you feel, on some small level, a little threatened?"

"Threatened by who, Surani?" Nala scoffed. "Please, Simba can't stand her."

"I don't think he ever could, and yet they had a child together. She seems...difficult, but she is gorgeous. Simba's very handsome, I'm sure all of his partners were attractive. Not as striking as you, though, I'm sure. Nala, it's natural to feel a little jealous."

"What is there to be jealous of?" Nala bristled at the mere idea.

"It doesn't have to make sense, honey. We've all felt a little jealous from time to time. You never seemed to because Simba has never given any lionesses here a second glance, but out there, it's different, isn't it? There's a history. Is it possible that you made up an excuse to yourself so you could size her up? Maybe project some of your feelings about the other lioness he mentioned onto her?"

"Who, Qabi?"

"Mhmm."

"I don't know anything about her, there's nothing to project."

"You know quite a bit about her."

"Like what?"

"The fact that Simba knew exactly who she was and decided that she was the one to come to for help. It means that he still trusts her. I'm guessing they were partners at one time."

"It was just a fling," Nala dismissed, uncomfortable with the subject. She didn't like the idea that she, the former Queen of the Pride Lands, could be irrationally jealous of some common lioness she'd never met. It was childish, petty, and worst of all, possibly correct.

"It's never 'just a fling' when you're the wife, is it?"

That sentence struck her in a way she hadn't expected, but she refused to surrender to the idea. "How I feel about it doesn't change the insignificance of the stupid things my husband did before I found him."

"You know," Sarafina's gaze shifted over to the youngest male, Mheetu, lounging across Chumvi's back. "Your father, Tsaro, I thought he was dead. I grieved him. When Kion brought Mheetu back, my first reaction was that I was happy he was still alive. But you know what my second reaction was?"

"Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. Nala, your father and I broke things off before he disappeared, and what he did after that is none of my business. But I still felt a little jealousy in my gut to see it confirmed that he had felt for another lioness they way he once felt for me. I'm not proud of it, but I accept that I'm a mere mortal. If you just reverse the order of events, well, that's kind of your situation, isn't it?"

"There might be some parallels," Nala huffed. "Fine, I may have possibly made a bad decision based on some subconscious resentment for something childish that needs no further discussion."

"I won't tell anyone," Sarafina assured her calmly. "Oh, my little baby," she rubbed Nala's back. "It'll be okay. Here, I'll stop poking your ego and change the subject. Dwala has retired from hunting, and I think it's time for Sarabi to do the same."

"She'll never do it."

"She has to, she's starting to slow. She's going to get hurt if she doesn't. She's my best friend and like a sister to me, but she's my older sister. And I'm not that far behind her. I want to ease her out of it, before Simba comes back."

"Why?"

"Dwala is adamant that Sarabi won't hear it from anyone but him, but I don't want to place the burden of that conversation on his shoulders. I think with helping Kiara and Kion and dealing with helping Chaka adjust and the new baby on the way, asking him to talk to his mom about being too old to hunt, it's just not fair. Sarabi wouldn't want that for him either, I think."

"I think you're right. Is Tama still leading the hunts?"

"She is, and she's doing very well."

"Good."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"Try again."

"Tired, all the time," she admitted. "It's hitting earlier than it did with the first two."

"Well, you've had quite an eventful year, I think you should consider letting Tama lead the hunts for a few months after the birth and just focus on being a parent with Simba. You two never really got that with Kiara or Kion. Both of you need to rest."

"He'd like that. The being parents together," she clarified, "not the resting."

"Naanda says he won't be able to sit still that long, but I think for his family he'd be happy to," Sarafina finally smiled. "You've got quite a sweet guy. You two make a good team. You always have."

"Usually," Nala was still painfully aware of how poorly she'd handled Simba's insistence that Kovu was plotting to kill him. Even months later, remembering how she'd felt when he'd accused her of dismissing his instincts as irrational paranoia after all the complicated truths had come to light still stung. At first, she'd been adamant that he was just trying to pick a fight. Then, it had sunk in that he was right. Zira's attempts to assassinate him through Kovu had been very real, and if Nala had listened to Simba and believed him, she might not have gotten so frighteningly close to succeeding. And Simba wouldn't have felt so betrayed and hurt. That was the worst part. Realizing that Simba had felt scared and abandoned within their own den. Though he wouldn't admit it, she knew it had been triggering. Simba didn't handle feelings of abandonment well. Then again, who did?

He had seemed to forgive her, but the rockiness of their intimate life and his hesitation to fully expose himself to her physically or emotionally revealed that there might still be lingering resentment. Her own feelings of suspicion and, though she loathed to admit it, jealousy also spoke to wounds that needed to be mended.

"Nobody's perfect," Sarafina shrugged. "You two never give up, though, do you?"

"No, we don't."

Kovu, Simba, and Qabi all stopped short when they came to the small clearing Qabi had described. In the clearing sat a large dark male. Alone.

"Ayn hu?" Qabi asked nervously. Where is he? The lion, short, stocky, and almost leopard-like in build, calmly looked the three over. Sensing Qabi's anxiety, Simba and Kovu tensed, still careful to keep their body language neutral and non-threatening. This did not come easily to either of them. The male calmly answered back in the language of the Pride Lands.

"The boy ran off, again," he stood, his cool eyes settling over the males. "Who are they?"

"Aisha's father has come to take him," she explained stiffly.

"That would be you, I assume," his gaze fell on Simba.

"Yes," was all Simba felt inclined to say. He didn't like the lion, there was something about him that was strange, and Simba didn't like strange. Furthermore, they were not in anyone's territory, he and Simba had equal footing. However, Simba did notice a strange pattern on his shoulder, a sort of mark of the Guard, but he couldn't make out what the shape was. Did the jungle pride now have their own Lion Guard?

"There was quite a stir about her very beginnings," the lion looked Simba over more closely. "Surani made some strong claims, then later took them back. You're the lion my father vowed to kill upon return, aren't you?"

Kovu felt his heart skip a beat. Simba hadn't said anything about anyone vowing to kill him on sight. His mind raced, but Simba's voice stayed level.

"Surani joined our pride, we've taken care of her. Chaka belongs there, with her. I've taken care to not set paw in your territory and I'd kindly ask you to suspend a vow made on baseless accusations for his sake."

"Relax," the male was unbothered. "I know you didn't do it. I see you have the marks of your pride," he gestured to his shoulder. "So do I, as well as a gift from the gods last season. I can read auras now, detect lies. I know you come in peace. If you didn't, I'd have killed you on sight, old vows notwithstanding."

There was no way to respond to this.

"But, he sat again. "You're both liars, I can sense it from here. I don't like that. You've both lived false lives for long times, each for different reasons. I don't know why, and I don't care, everyone thinks they have a reason. We should all be truthful, don't you think?" Simba chose not to say a word, and Kovu opted to follow his example. He didn't understand what was expected of them in this situation, Zira had not prepared him for standoffs of this nature, nor had it come up when Kiara had briefed him of the Pride Lands royal customs. He felt frustratingly ill-equipped, and figured his best course of action would be to follow Simba's lead. The male seemed odd, even a little threatening, but he lacked the sinister edge that would make him seem violent or scary. He was too calm and overtly disinterested. "How do I know that you'll care for the cub? Be a shame to simply hand him over to strangers with ill-intent, wouldn't it? Let me touch your mark and read your intentions more clearly."

"You'll not lay a paw on either of us," Simba stated with a force that Kovu had come to learn meant be was debating retaliation. For someone who had a reputation for being a peaceful leader, Simba personally was something of an instigator.

"You'll let me because it's the only way you'll be allowed to leave with the boy. If you let me and I see that your intentions are good, then you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you don't, I must assume it's because you have dark intentions, either towards Chaka or me."

"Threaten us and then fish for ill feelings towards you as a means of trial in which you are judge and jury and presumably executioner," Simba observed darkly. "Interesting method."

"No trial," he shrugged. "Qabi, introduce me and puts our guests at ease, they have nothing to fear, do they?"

"Almanii is the king's protector," she explained. "Just let him, he will see that we can trust you and then we can find Chaka." Simba weighed the situation.

"Fine," he narrowed his eyes at Almanii, "but just me, don't touch Kovu."

"That's fair," Almanii maintained eye contact with Simba. "It's you I'm worried about." Simba and Kovu both braced themselves as Almanii stepped forward and placed a paw on Simba's shoulder. Instantly, Simba's face went calm, as if he were in a trance. He stared blankly ahead as Almanii frowned. "Hmm. A dangerous animal, but he'll look after Chaka as his own, the way he looks after you," he glanced at Kovu. "But still a liar." He stepped back. "Fine, go after the boy, take him, then leave. And stay away from our kingdom, you're both trouble."

"We plan to," Simba's face had snapped back to its former antagonistic glower.

"Don't spend too long with them," Almanii warned Qabi. "Hasaan won't like them, especially the big one. Find Chaka and send them all away."

"Of course, Almanii."

The three of them watched Almanii leave silently. When he was gone, Qabi turned to Simba.

"Why so aggressive?"

"'Why so aggressive?'" Simba balked. "Are you serious?"

"He only wanted to tap your shoulder, he's a fair and just lion, you did not have to be so harsh."

"He's a male lion."

"And?"

"There is no 'and,' that's my reason, it'd be good enough for anyone else."

"You need to learn to play better with others," she shook her head with a sigh. "Come, Chaka usually goes this way."

"You good?" Kovu asked Simba, seeing that he looked uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Simba muttered. "Thanks. So, who was watching him?"

"Nobody, he spends much of his time alone."

"Any friends?"

"Not really."

"Neighbors, anyone to keep an eye on him?"

"I think you found the only prey willing to take in a predator," she looked at him pointedly.

"How old is he?"

"Oh, about the age you were when you arrived, he can fend for himself, his mane should be coming in in about six months."

"Wait, no, that's not right," Simba stopped. "When I came here, I was this high," he gestured to the size of a cub.

"What can we do? Hasaan won't let him into the pride."

"Where do you think he went?" The change in Simba's tone was suddenly cold. He clearly did not care for her reasoning and did not see it as an excuse to leave a cub to fend for himself. Simba hadn't even met the cub, he didn't even know if the cub would like him, yet he was protective of him. Fleetingly, Kovu wished that he'd had such a figure swoop into his life at that age. Why hadn't someone? Was it because of Zira, or him?

Kiara had shared something that had surprised him weeks ago; there had, at some point, been a discussion between the lionesses shortly after the two of them had met. There had been, at the time, rumors that Zira would return, and that Simba would kill her. There was less of a question of 'if' but 'when.' The lionesses were concerned and wanted to know what would happen to Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu. It was slightly comforting to hear that some concern had been tossed his way, but it had done nothing to cushion him from the harshness of life under Zira's claws. Their conclusion had been that there was nothing they could do; they'd hate Simba for killing their mother, and reject the pride. Zira's lionesses would raise them. Kovu didn't blame them for thinking this, and admitted that had Zira died much earlier, before he'd really gotten to know Kiara and even her pride, he likely would have hated them. Zira was cruel, but she was all he'd known. He now wished that hadn't been the case.

Almanii's line about Simba looking after Kovu as if he were his own still echoed in his head.

Did Simba...care about him?

It was hard to tell. Would Kovu even recognize the affection if he saw it? He wasn't sure.

Before long, a protective snarl erupted from the brush. Kovu and Simba stopped short. It sounded like a lioness.

"Hadha ana," Qabi reassured the being in the brush. "Ahdarat asdiqa."

"Ana araa," a lioness stepped forward, eyeing the males with bared teeth.

"Afdalia," Simba's eyes widened a little. Surprised to hear her name, the lioness cocked her head.

"Iinaha Red," Qabi explained. "Iinah huna min ajl Chaka."

"Red?" the lioness smiled, "Laqad kanat sanawat qalila."

"Qad kan," Simba remarked as she approached.

The three of them began conversing hesitantly in the local language, of which Kovu didn't understand a word. He heard his name once or twice as Simba nodded at him, but he couldn't make any gist of what was being said. Soon, Simba's gaze shifted up towards one of the trees. Kovu glanced up to see what Simba was looking at, but couldn't see anything.

"Iina hunak?" Simba asked.

"Ah, walakun la yumkinuni alwusul iilayh, fahu murtafie lilghaya," Afdalia nodded up at the tree. Simba turned to Kovu.

"She says Chaka climbed this tree and he's stuck, it's too high for her to get him, he's been up there for hours."

"What do we do?"

"You just keep an eye out," Simba stated calmly before leaping into the lowest branch, immediately reaching higher and began to climb.

"Be careful!" Kovu warned as the lionesses shouted similar sentiments.

As Simba climbed, he saw something dark and small peering at him from far above. Afdalia had been right, the branches were too thin for anyone to reach the cub, they wouldn't support their weight. Before climbing any higher, Simba stopped, catching his breath. He hadn't been down long after his leg had broken, but the muscle atrophy had happened quickly, and he still wasn't used to his new limits. The cub snarled at him.

"Chaka," he greeted calmly, continuing to speak in the local tongue as best he could. "Afdalia said you might need help."

"I'm not coming down," the cub insisted. He was young, but his voice had already just started to deepen. He sounded like Kion had at his age.

"Why not?"

"I don't want to."

"Okay," Simba sat. "Can I stay?"

The cub considered the question. "Do what you want," he finally relented.

"Hard day?"

The cub shrugged. "Almanii said strangers were coming to take me away. Is that why you're here?"

"He said that?" Simba wasn't sure what was more disturbing, that Almanii had known they were coming, or that he'd said such a thing to a cub. Chaka hiding in a tree made much more sense just then.

"Well, are you?"

Simba wasn't prepared to answer this question. He thought for a moment. "Surani's living with my pride now, did she tell you why she left?"

"Who, Rani? She said she had something to take care of, whatever that means."

"Well, that something was, in part, telling me about Aisha. I never met her, but I am her father."

"I don't really remember my mom."

"She remembers you. She came to Surani in a vision and told her that you were lonely here. Is that true?"

"I'm okay." Simba could tell he was lying.

"Well, she thought you might want to come live with our pride. Sleep in the den, play with friends."

"My mom knows I'm here?"

"She does, she's always been with you, you just can't see her. She still loves you."

"How come she's never talked to me?"

"Well," Simba sighed with a wisp of pain, "visions are...tricky, sometimes. I don't know if she can talk to anyone outside of where the great kings say she can. We don't really know much about the afterlife. Have you ever dreamed about her?"

"A few times."

"Were they nice dreams?"

"Yeah," the cub admitted.

"I'm sure that was her coming to visit you, the only way she could."

"Huh," the cub considered this. "So, is Surani your mate?"

"She used to be, a long time ago."

"She's never talked about you."

"I wasn't very nice to her, I don't blame her."

"She's not always very nice, I don't blame you."

"Oh yeah?"

"She's weird," the cub inched closer so that Simba could see him more clearly. His fur was not dark and not light, his eyes a pale brown, not golden like Kiara and Kion. Nothing about him looked familiar, he held no discernable traits from himself or Surani, and in fact he was a plain cub, but he had a sweet face.

"We're all a little weird."

"Yeah, I guess so. Who's that?" He looked down at Kovu.

"That's Kovu, he's...a friend of my daughter's. He came here to keep an eye on me."

"Is he weird, too?"

"Very."

"I can tell from here."

Simba laughed.

"How's the summit training going?" Kiara sighed as she sat next to her brother, who was resting under the moonlight on a boulder near Pride Rock.

"Fine, I guess," Kion shrugged.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there, Anga and I were doing damage control," she hopped up and laid next to him.

"What happened?"

"Zebra stampede, we never figured out what started it."

"The important thing is that nobody got hurt."

"Dad would have gotten to the bottom of it. I just gave up, nobody would come forward. I don't get it," she frowned. "It was a stampede, someone in the herd was the first to run, but they blatantly wouldn't say anything. Nobody would do that to Dad."

"Don't say that, Dad didn't always figure stuff out, he gave up sometimes, too."

"Not because nobody would cooperate, he only gave up when nobody knew, or when it was impossible to tell what happened. This wasn't one of those times. They don't respect me like they do him. They still see him as the king."

"He's going to be so pissed when he gets back," Kion shook his head. "Mom running off for some weird reason, the herds not listening to you, the summit's..." he caught himself. "Sorry, I'm sure it'll be fine, you'll do great, you're always great at those things."

"No, the summit is going to suck," Kiara slumped against him. "Without Dad there and everyone nervous about the chaos in the mountains, it's going to get out of control. Plus the herds don't like the girls or the boys. Mom said she'd be there to help, but, you know, Dad won't. I guess that's something."

"I know the great kings have a plan and everything," Kion looked at his paws, "but I can't make sense of any of this. I mean, making the former Outsiders your Guard? Making some random males plus Dad and me some other Guard? This whole thing about putting lost souls to peace, Surani...What, do they expect us to take over the mountains?"

"I'll never do that."

"I know. It's just weird. Have you had any visions lately?"

"No. Just the same one."

"Again?"

"And again and again."

"I'm sorry."

"Honestly, being the queen isn't as hard as I thought it would be," Kiara admitted. "I mean, I know I'm failing miserably-"

"Don't say that."

"And I know I'm not doing as well as Dad would," she continued, "but, it's okay. I think everything is going to be okay. I just miss Kovu and Dad. It's weird not having them around."

"I'm actually pretty used to not having Kovu around," Kion smirked.

"Shut up monk boy, you don't know what it's like to care about someone like that."

"You don't know everything about me."

"Wait," Kiara perked up. "Hold up, what are you implying?"

"Nothing."

"Ohoho no," she put him in a headlock, "I heard that, spill it!"

"Get off!" Kion wrestled her. They both fell off the rock, landing in the grass. "Gods, you're turning into Dad!"

"Tell me what you meant!"

"Let me go first! Ugh, when did you get so strong?!"

"Tell meeeeee!" Kiara called in a singsong voice, grinning as Kion was trapped under her.

"Fine, fine, just, just don't tell anyone, okay? Especially not Mom."

"Deal," she released him. He coughed and shook the grass from his mane.

"Been training with Mom, huh?"

"And Dad. And Tani and Kovu."

"And not a peaceful one among them," Kion rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm serious, I was gonna tell you, but, it's a secret. Nobody can know. You swear?"

"I swear."

"How do I know you won't say anything?"

"Because Mom and Dad still don't know about the time I found out about your-"

"Please don't bring that up," he cringed.

"Fine. Come on, whatever it is, I won't say a word to anyone. What is it?"

"I sortaaaaa," Kion rubbed the back of his neck. "I sorta met someone."

"You met someone?" Kiara grinned. "Oooh, what's their name?"

"Easy sis, her name is-wait, hey!" He balked. "What's with the gender-neutral 'their'?"

"Mom and Dad told me to be open-minded in case you were-"

"Mom and Dad think I'm gay?!"

"No no no, just, you know, we kinda didn't know, you know?"

"What, just because I didn't fall in love with the first lion of the opposite sex that falls into my lap like you and Mom, that must mean I'm gay? Is that how it works?"

"Relax," she lightly shoved him. "It doesn't matter one way or the other, just be glad that if you'd brought home some hunky guy they wouldn't care."

"How comforting."

"So what's her name?"

"I'm not letting go of that," he shook his head with a reluctant smile. "But fine, fine, her name is Rani. Queen Rani, now, actually."

"No. Way." Kiara crouched, wide-eyed. "Tell me everything."

"I can't believe the pride has their own Guard," Simba said almost to himself as they rested in the thick of the jungle. Chaka slept soundly beside him. Kovu didn't know what to think of Chaka, it was hard to judge a cub who didn't speak a word of his language. Simba, however, seemed fond of him, having brought him down from the tree rather easily. The cub had quickly warmed up to Simba, chatting with him willingly, but seemed ambivalent about Kovu. The lionesses had chastised Simba for climbing, which he had ignored, and they had parted ways after a curt conversation. Though their mission was technically complete, all they had to do was bring Chaka home, Kovu had the sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be so easy. "He said that his power was a gift from the gods last season. I've never heard of anything like that, have you?"

"Are we really not going to talk about how you dragged me to the edge of a pride's territory who had sworn to kill you on sight?" Kovu couldn't contain his frustration. "Why didn't you tell me?! I thought we went over this, how can I trust you?" He hissed.

"Madha yahduth huna?" Chaka's eyes opened groggily.

"La shai, kula shai ealaa ma yaram," Simba reassured the cub calmly. "Nahn natahadath faqat, we're just talking." The cub shrugged this off, but did not go back to sleep, listening warily. "Kovu," Simba sighed, "you're right."

"'You're right' doesn't help, sir, I know I'm right. You're keeping me in the dark so I have no choice but to follow, I've seen that tactic before."

"That wasn't my intention."

"Let me guess. It was just easier, wasn't it? Easier not to tell me? You know," he looked away, "it doesn't matter, I don't know why I care. Forget it, it's fine. Nothing happened, let's just forget I said anything."

"You were right, Kovu," Simba admitted. "I made a poor decision that took advantage of you without even thinking about it, probably because there's no one out here to hold me accountable but you. And frankly, I didn't expect you to call me out. You're probably right. I'm so used to being in charge, I've forgotten how to be part of a team. I guess that's part of why I stepped down."

"You made up for it though," Kovu thought back, his anger quickly cooling. "When you told Almanii not to touch me. That looked weird, what did it feel like?"

"Peaceful, but in a creepy way," Simba made a face. "You know how some frogs are hypnotized by snakes?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I imagine that's what it's like."

"Eugh," Kovu shuddered.

"We should get some rest," Simba commented, glancing up at the moon. "Whose turn is it to keep first watch?"

"I'll do it, you rest, I'm not tired."

As Simba rested, Kovu thought over the day with mixed emotions. It was true that Simba had kept his strife with the pride hidden from Kovu, and Kovu was angered by this, but it was also true that Simba had apologized, and, at the end of the day, hadn't allowed anything to happen to him. He didn't know how to feel. He was frustrated at himself for being so forgiving, but it was hard to stay mad at Simba. Unlike Zira, Simba genuinely seemed to want to do better, and to do right by Kovu. Or was that just a lie Kovu was falling for? Were his initial feelings of anger just a habitual gut reaction, or the only reasonable response? Why couldn't he stay mad at Simba? Was this what peace and trust looked like, or was he just spineless? While it was true that Simba did seem to have a hard time allowing others around him to make decisions, Kovu didn't believe it was intentional, or that Simba was controlling. Simba was just used to being the unquestioned leader and had made a bad call, right? Or was he manipulating Kovu like Zira always had? Kovu was the angriest that he couldn't seem to tell the difference between the two. What was wrong with him?

The thought also occurred to Kovu that he was ruminating over this while in an exotic, strange land that should be fascinating, but instead he was too tired to really take in. The humidity was suffocating and the mist made him feel closed in. He also didn't enjoy the loud drone of insects. However, there was something mystical and certainly beautiful about this land.

A rustle in the foliage was all the warning Kovu had before he realized that they were being approached.

"Simba!" He hissed, but heard that Simba was already standing. He'd heard it, too. The two males stood together, teeth bared, with Chaka slinking under Simba nervously.

"Relax," Kovu recognized Qabi's voice as she stepped out. "We just want to talk."

"'We,' huh?" Simba regarded her with suspicion as Afdalia and several other lionesses revealed themselves. They weren't the only ones.

"Red, please cooperate," she whispered as two males stepped into view. One was Almanii, the other was new, but had the same short and staunch build as him.

"King Hasaaan, I presume," Simba greeted them stiffly. "What can we do for you so far outside your borders?"

"I don't need Almanii to read your aura to know that you are trouble," Hasaan remarked dryly. "Rumor around these parts has it that you are a king, I'd like to know a bit more about that."

"I'm not," Simba answered. "A king doesn't just leave his kingdom on a whim."

"A good one would not, no. You are outnumbered but I swear no harm will come to you if you cooperate."

"Outnumbered," Simba glared at the lionesses. "I see."

"Please do as he says," Qabi repeated calmly. Simba's face did not soften.

"I'm willing to negotiate," Simba turned back to Hasaan. "But with all due respect, this is not your kingdom and you have no authority here."

"On the contrary, my loyal pride will do as I say and take their old flame down in a heartbeat if I so wish," Hasaan responded calmly. "That's right, I know about your little history. It's cute. But I'd say that still gives me the same power as if these were my lands, wouldn't it?"

"Chaka stays with me," Simba growled, the hairs on the back of his neck rising threateningly. Kovu's heart beat faster.

"I don't want him, he's your blood, not mine. I just want to know some details first. Consider it a trade. Information for the boy. You're not stealing him, are you? That wouldn't be very wise."

You deemed him old enough to be cast out, is he not old enough to make his own choices?" Simba countered sarcastically.

"Qabi," Hasaan looked at the lioness. "Take Chaka. For collateral. He'll get him back when we get what we want." Chaka growled nervously, Kovu could hear the fear in his voice.

Qabi looked at Simba with a torn expression. "Red," she began softly, "I-"

"No," Simba put a paw protectively around Chaka. "Not a step closer."

"Please, if you don't-"

"You'll what?" He challenged. "Take him by force? He's a child! A child that all of you left on his own! How DARE you come to be about bargaining?"

"You're bold for a simple rogue," Hasaan observed. "Too bold. Red isn't your real name, it's a nickname for your mane and temper, but what is? Who here," he surveyed the lionesses, "knows his real name?"

Nobody spoke. Simba, Kovu noted, looked nervous suddenly.

"Qabi knows," Almanii stared at the lioness sharply. Everyone looked at her.

"Is this true?" Hasaan narrowed his eyes at her. Qabi took a deep breath.

"You said it yourself, Almanii, he is dishonest."

"Humor us," Hasaan deadpanned.

"His name is Simba," Qabi looked at the ground.

"Oh that does sound familiar," Hasaan looked at Simba with fresh interest. "You couldn't pooooossibly be King Simba of the savanna, could you? A lion who is about your age, your temperament, I'm sure, a lion scarred from years of relentless rule come to collect a lost piece of your family at the behest of a spirit? You've been having visions too, haven't you? Visions of things changing? Visions of the dead, wailing for their loved ones? It seems every kingdom has been touched by the dead, something is in the air."

"Word travels faster than it used to," was all Simba had to say. "But not fast enough. I stepped down, I'm no longer the king."

"Were you defeated?"

"In a way."

"He wasn't," Almanii observed. "I'm sensing his heir has taken his place."

"Your queen is your daughter," Qabi realized aloud.

"My my my, Prince Chaka does have a nice sound to it," Hasaan smiled. "You really are going to give him a better life."

"So what's the problem?" Simba asked tersely.

"No problem. Like I said, I just want information."

"Kovu," Simba looked at the younger male. "While I chat with King Hasaan, take Chaka and get a head start, I'll catch up. Chaka, adhab mae' Kovu, sa'andum illay'kum."

Kovu's first instinct was to protest, to demand that Simba be allowed to leave unharmed. But he didn't detect fear in Simba's face, rather something different. He decided to trust Simba and do as he was told.

"Yes, sir," he took a tense step back as Chaka anxiously slid under him. Together, they walked away from the scene. When Kovu and Chaka were gone, Simba turned back to the king.

"So, what do you want to know?"

"Tell me a bit about your kingdom."

"Oh, looking for a new home?" Simba chuckled bitterly. "Be my guest, our pride outnumbers yours nearly three to one."

"Hardly, but an alliance couldn't hurt."

"One can never have too many friends, but I'm afraid that's a relationship I don't have the authority to authorize."

"Hmm," King Hasaan looked Simba over again. "Perhaps one day I'll pay a visit."

"Any time."

"You have no reason to fear me, your highness. It is still 'your highness,' isn't it? Since you are the father of the Queen and, given your mark, I assume you hold a high-ranking office in your little battalion as well."

"'Simba' is fine."

"That's really want I wanted to talk to you about, actually. Almanii," Hasaan looked to his brother, "does he intend to harm me?"

"No," Almanii answered rather easily. "He wants something from you."

"Oh, that is interesting," King Hasaan smiled. "Everyone, give us a moment, then. Alone."

Simba watched as Almanii and the lionesses retreated obediently. The moment they were truly alone, Hasaan lowered his voice.

"It's happening in your lands too, isn't it?" He asked. "The dead appearing in dreams, granting visions, and powers."

"Yes," Simba answered carefully. "Though for us it isn't new, the dead have always chosen one to hold their forces."

"Almanii is the chosen one amongst us, he can read auras, detect lies, even force the truth from an unwilling mouth. It's like he has the power to expose a soul. It's incredible. What do you know of Queen Hamamat?"

"Nothing."

"I'm not surprised, her pride is small, skirting the desert. Her eldest daughter, Princess Noor, can pull water from the clouds. Not rain, a small ocean. She can drown someone where they stand. Word is spreading, the dead are waking up, descending from the clouds and speaking when they so rarely did before. Asking favors. Granting powers. What can your chosen one do?"

"His roar can split mountains," Simba admitted, overwhelmed with intrigue. Whatever was happening in the Pride Lands was happening everywhere, and he wanted to know more.

"And you live in the savanna," Hasaan thought aloud, "You know, I see a pattern, don't you?"

"The power of wind in the savanna, the power of rain the desert, and the power of truth in the jungle?" Simba frowned.

"Not just truth, information," the king clarified. "The lands here are a dense crossroads, information is the most valuable currency we have. That and trust."

"I can understand that."

"I just wish I understood the visions," he looked more closely at Simba. "What do you know of them?"

"What, visions of the walking snakes or something different?"

"Walking snakes?"

"The hairless apes that have tried to encroach on our territory from beyond the mountains."

"So you've seen them. Are they dangerous?"

"Very. They've got powers, too. Difficult to kill, you can't get close to them easily. They can kill without contact."

"How?"

"Their staffs, it's difficult to explain. It's like a small, controlled violent burst of energy. If they're able to point it at you, you're as good as gone. Without the staffs, though, I hear they're fairly helpless."

"Good to know," Hasaan looked down, processing this. "Hmm. Thank you, Simba. But, Almanii sensed that you wanted something from me. You've just given me a great deal of insight, it's only fair that I return the favor."

"I need to know," Simba's voice darkened, "who Chaka's 'father' is."

"Already taken care of," Hasaan dismissed.

"What does that mean?"

"You know what it means. With Almanii's power, you think I don't know when a member of my pride has been attacked? I sent Almanii out to find him and take care of the problem. I normally oppose such action, but given Almanii can detect lies, well, we knew he wasn't executed in error. Keeps things neat. I take care of my pride. But, about the sickness, there was nothing we could do. I'm sorry."

"Nothing you could have done," Simba wasn't interested in having an emotional conversation with the king, for whom he held little trust and even less interest in familiarizing himself with him. The information he has was worth listening to, but he was still a male who had failed to look after an orphan born into his pride, and a potential threat against his pride, should he have the motivation to make his proposed visit.

"Well," Hasaan shrugged, "I'll let you be on your way, then."

"I'll step out of your fur," Simba turned, but noticed that Qabi had slunk back, and was waiting in the shadows. He elected to ignore her. He had nothing to say to her, his mission was complete. The protocol was to bow to the king. Simba did not, instead turning and keeping his shoulders squared, and bounded away without looking back. If King Hasaan had a problem with this, he knew where to find him.

"Simba," Kovu breathed a sigh of relief when Simba joined them. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," Simba cast a small encouraging smile at Chaka, who seemed anxious. "But we should head back to the Pride Lands. Walk through the night, just like we did crossing over, and sleep in the morning after we reach the small oasis. First, we need to find a piece of fruit, something for Chaka to suck on when he's thirsty, I don't want him going that long without water, it nearly killed me at his age."

"We'd better start looking before it gets dark then," Kovu took a deep breath. Simba looked down at Chaka and remembered that Chaka only spoke one language. He explained the situation as best he could in the cub's tongue.

"So, we have to go across the sands?" Chaka asked nervously. "I'm not supposed to go out there."

"We'll keep you safe," he assured Chaka. "When you get tired of walking, I'll carry you. I promise."

"Yeah," the cub took a deep breath. "I'm grown enough."

He was anything but, still small with no mane to speak of, not even a tuft. His confidence wasn't rooted in arrogance and naïvety as his own had been, but rather out of self-protection. He was too young to have been forced to look after himself, and he'd never understood why the lionesses had allowed it, but decided to brush the issue aside and focus on leading them home.

"So, Kovu cleared his throat. "Any idea where to look?"

"Let's ask Chaka," Simba smiled. "Chaka, hal taerif 'ayn alfakiha?"

"Hnak alkthyr ealaa difaf alnahr," the cub perked up.

"'Aerad lana, show us."

From the shadows, Qabi and Afdalia watched the boys as they followed Chaka towards the river.

"He didn't say goodbye again," Afdalia noted with a hint of disappointment. "Do you think he'll ever be back?"

"No," Qabi cocked her head. "But, I think that's a good thing. I think he's going where he belongs. He never belonged here."

Author's Note,

There's been a lot of turnover at my job, a lot of late hours and overtime, etc., but that's about to change, so I'll be able to write the next five or so chapters in a timely manner even if it kills me. You guys make it fun, you're the reason I post what I write at all. I hope everyone is staying safe and finding little ways to stay happy despite everything going on. Hugs!

Corderbollie [AO3]: Your comments give me life. Was it crazy? I don't know, I've known where things are going for over a year now, I've lost perspective, but I'm still having fun and I'm so glad you are, too!"

Venomous_Flames: Kovu and Kiara are perfect, honestly.

little_sloth: Thank you! I thought I messaged you on Tumblr but in case not I'll answer again here; I use the "snowflake" method, meaning I write down a concept first, basically what the story is about. Then I write a sentence for act 1, act 2, and act 3. Then I decide about how many chapters I want and write a one-sentence summary of each chapter, and then I write each chapter. So yes, I've known how this was going to end from the start, but this is just the method for me, not everyone likes to plot it out like that.

miraestrellxs: Thank you! I agree completely, Kovu deserves the world.

LadyKeren: I think we have pretty similar opinions on Simba's portrayal in TLG, and you know what? You're absolutely right, Nala loves Simba's mane, she likes to snuggle in it, especially when it's chilly.

Arika Koski: That might be true!

Spotteddoggo: I'm so glad you've enjoyed it! But you know, I get that comment enough that I wonder if I should retrofit this fic to make it T, I'll think about it.

bravesfan6: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed that little moment!

Cheers!

- Dieren