We're of the Same Pride
A/N: Hi, everyone! AnonymousvWriter here. So, I'm super excited to write this particular chapter; this woman is quite a sucker for romance, and that selfsame woman is also a lover of anything Lion King-related, so you can only imagine how delighted I was when I first watched "Journey to the Pridelands" (my chapter is titled "We're of the Same Pride"). Hope you enjoy it, folks!
It had been mere minutes since Rani had asked for Kion to come to the palace. The Queen was looking at herself in the mirror. "It just goes to show how much things can change once you get to know someone,". Rani sighed as she took a brush and started combing her long, dark hair. "I mean, if someone had told me when Kion first arrived at the mountain pass that I would develop romantic feelings for him, I probably would've told them to go and jump in a lake,". Rani took her bobbin and fixed her hair into its usual side braid. Suddenly, she became worried that Kion wouldn't reciprocate her feelings. "What if he insists that we'll never be anything more than friends?" she asked herself. "I love him more than anything else, so I would never force him to do something he doesn't want,". Rani put her earrings in her ears, having taken them out before brushing her hair. "Stop it, Rani!" she said, berating herself. "Kion loves you every bit as much as you love him, and you know it,". She put her drawing back in the drawer and took one final look in the mirror.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Rani, it's Kion," a voice declared. Rani smiled, her love for him was so strong that she felt as though her heart had grown wings and was fluttering within her ribcage. "Come in, Kion," she said. Kion opened the door and entered the Queen's bedroom. "Hi there!" he smiled warmly. "Hi, yourself," Rani grinned pleasantly. "So, have you thought about what I said?" "You mean about never being welcome at the Tree of Life?" he teased. "That was a while ago," Rani chuckled. "We've come a very long way since then,". "Yes, it's true," Kion nodded. "So, what did you want to talk to me about then?" "Well, you see, the thing is that I..." the Queen began, but she was so choked up by her emotions that she couldn't finish. "Maybe it would have easier to show you,".
With that, Rani pressed her lips onto Kion's, wrapping her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her. Kion, though surprised for a split second, happily returned the kiss, placing his hands on Rani's back. The kiss started soft and gentle, but it quickly became long and passionate as Rani opened her mouth slightly to let Kion's tongue touch hers. It must have been at least a minute before they decided to end the kiss. "I love you, Rani," Kion uttered with love in his voice. "I love you too, Kion" Rani smiled with glee, overcome by happiness. "We really do make a good team, don't we?". "Yeah, we do, my love," Kion beamed. Rani ruffled Kion's red hair.
Rani: How are we so different and still so much the same?
Kion gazed into Rani's loving brown eyes, his cheeks turning slightly red as he smiled.
Kion: Why do I start smiling when I hear your name?
They both turned to look at their reflections in the mirror.
Rani: At times, I think you could be (they swapped positions; Kion was now on the left and Rani on the right) a reflection of me.
Kion: Still there's something deeper...
The two lovers turned to face each other. Kion bowed to Rani, and Rani curtsied to Kion.
Both: ...More than what we see...
They both rose. They took each other's hand and snook outside the palace. From their, they explored the kingdom together, their love for one another growing stronger by the second.
Both: There's a feeling of belonging that's deep down inside; a feeling that been growing, now I just can't hide!
Before long, they came to a waterfall, one of the Tree of Life's many natural beauties.
Both: It's a feeling somehow knowing there's nothing to decide.
They approached the waterfall. Kion put his hand into it, parting the water. Rani mischievously pushed her lover's head under the water, soaking his hair.
Both: Cause when I'm with you, it's clear we're of the same pride!
The Queen giggled; Kion looked even more handsome than usual with his wet hair falling into his amber eyes. With an even more mischievous grin, Kion took his lover in his arms and jumped through the waterfall with her, landing in the lake below. The two lovebirds splashed water at each other, laughing at the experience they just had. Eventually, they got out of the water and went to get dry.
A/N: I love that Lion King reference Disney made here!
Kion and Rani then returned to Rani's bedroom, examining the tapestries on the walls.
Kion: Seems like I have grown up so much since I met you.
Rani: It's like it's been forever, but every day is new.
They left the palace, sharing a lovely walk together as the sun shone down on them.
Kion: We had some great adventures.
Rani: We also had some fun.
Kion frowned slightly.
Kion: Shame to think it's ending...
Rani came up from behind him, catching his hand and instantly causing his frown to turn upside down.
Rani: Or has it just begun?
Kion knew immediately where he and his beloved should go next. With a grin on his face, he took Rani by the hand and led her to the River of Patience.
Both: There's a feeling of belonging that's deep down inside.
Rani smiled, knowing what Kion was planning. Two logs came along. Kion jumped onto one, and Rani onto the other.
Both: A feeling that's been growing; now I just can't hide!
Kion parked his log, allowing Rani to pass him, and then jumped onto her log. To them, it felt as though they were going on a romantic boat journey, and they both agreed that that was their favourite part of their adventure throughout the kingdom. When they eventually hopped of the log, Rani planted a kiss on Kion's cheek, with him immediately pulling her in for another passionate kiss on the lips, which they both very much enjoyed.
Both: It's a feeling somehow knowing there's nothing to decide cause when I'm with you, it's clear we're of the same pride.
As they were walking through the forests together, Kion and Rani noticed a child trapped in a hole, and a tree had fallen down on the hole. Working together, they managed to rescue the child and return him to his mother.
Rani: You've got the energy and drive to take command.
Kion: You've got the patience I always wish I had.
Once the child and his mother had gone home safe and sound, Rani and Kion then went to the palace balcony, overlooking the entire kingdom.
Rani: Working together, I finally understand that having you here by my side will help me rule this land.
The two of them then ran through a grassy field holding hands, and a flock of birds flew above them.
Both: There's a feeling of belonging that's deep down inside.
They came to a hill. They grabbed onto each other and rolled down it together.
Both: A feeling that's been growing; now I just can't hide!
When they reached the bottom, Rani landed on top of Kion. The Queen resisted the urge to make love to him there and then, deciding that it would be better to do so in a more intimate atmosphere when they were officially married. Instead, she ran her fingers through his hair, silently admiring how handsome he was. She then kissed him on the lips, enjoying the warmth of his mouth as their tongues touched one another. In response, Kion wrapped his arms around his love, pulling her closer to him. When they broke away, they gazed into each other's eyes, hardly believing how lucky they were.
Both: It's a feeling somehow knowing there's nothing to decide.
They both got up.
Kion: Cause when I'm with you it's clear...
Rani: Cause when I'm with you it's clear...
Both: We're of the same pride.
They pressed their foreheads together, enjoying the sensation. Kion then brought Rani into a deep, loving hug as she took in the smell of his shirt. The two closed their eyes, feeling happy and safe in each other's arms. After a minute, they decided to go and sit beside a nearby lake, holding hands. Rani sighed happily; it was as if God had designed her hand to fit into his. They fit perfectly together. The Queen rested her head on Kion's shoulder as he kissed her dark hair.
"I bought something for you," Kion told Rani. "Well, so did I," she beamed. "You did?" he asked. "Yep," Rani nodded. "As the old saying goes, "great minds think alike"" Kion mused, causing Rani to nod in agreement. "Well, on the count of three, how about we exchange gifts?" "Great idea, my darling," Rani smiled. "One..." "Two..." Kion continued. "Three!" they said together as they took their gifts from their pockets and showed them to each other. The young couple were awestruck as they discovered what they had bought each other. Rani had bought Kion a pendant of a golden sun with darker yellow rays, while Kion had bought Rani a pendant of a silver moon with diamonds on it. Rani attached the pendant around her love's neck. "Like the sun, you're handsome, energetic, courageous and warm-hearted," she said. Kion smiled as he made sure Rani's hair was out of the way before attaching her pendant around her neck. "Like the moon, you're beautiful, gentle, patient and wise," he said.
A/N: Also, Rani is leader of the Night Pride, and the moon is most prominent at night.
Obviously, the sun and the moon are rather different. The most notable feature that the pendants had in common was that they were both halves; it was as though someone had sliced a pendant of the full moon and a pendant of the whole sun in half. As Kion and Rani brought their pendants together, they realised that, just as their hands fit perfectly together, so too did Kion's half-sun and Rani's half-moon. The lovers couldn't help but smile at each other again. "Kion, this is the best gift anyone has ever given me," Rani said happily. "Thanks so much,". "Well, just like the moon and sun, we may seem different, but we're the same inside,". Kion stated. "Very true, my angel," Rani smiled before frowning slightly. "You know, being Queen has been more work than I expected; I really could use your help keeping the Tree of Life at peace,". "If I've learned anything about you, Rani," Kion said with that smile that never failed to make the Queen weak in the knees. "It's that you don't need my help; you don't need anyone's help. You're a great leader, my beloved,".
"Thank you, Kion," Rani beamed, touched by Kion's compliment. "I want to be a great Queen someday as well... and that brings me to a very important question, which I would've asked you yesterday had Bunga not insisted on accompanying me," she sighed. "I know that boy means well, but, golly, he can be a pain in the backside at times,". "We'll you're not wrong there," Kion admitted. "But you'll learn to love him,". "Well, I've certainly learned to love you, my sweetheart, which is why I need to ask you something. Kion, would you make me the happiest woman in the world by marrying me and ruling the Tree of Life together as King and Queen?".
Kion barely had a chance to process Rani's question in his mind when a voice shouted "Kion!". It was Bunga, with the rest of the Lion Guard walking behind him. It took every ounce of patience in Rani's body to not beat the living daylights out of the Lion Guard's bravest. "Seriously, Bunga?!" the Queen thought to herself. "First, you nearly jeopardised the rest of the group's chance of getting to the Tree of Life by creating that rock slide, then you prevented me from speaking to Kion alone, and now, you've ruined my proposal to the man I love. Can you do nothing right?". Kion was also upset at Bunga wrecking Rani's marriage proposal. He had realised just how much he loved this beautiful woman who was a great leader and a compassionate soul on top of that, and now, thanks to Bunga, he didn't get a chance to respond to his love's question. He gave his oldest friend a look as if to say "Hi, Bunga! The Queen just asked me to marry her; what's new with you?".
"Hi, Kion!" Bunga said pleasantly. "What's up?". "You're all healed now, and the bad guys are gone," Ono noted. "Time to go home, I guess?" Fuli asked. Rani then explained that she had told Kion that they were all welcome to stay, and, as a result of this, the rest of the Lion Guard considered it a lot more heavily than they had previously. Just then, a Middle Eastern man named Azzad, with whom Fuli was visibly infatuated, ran up to the Queen and announced that two travellers had come to the Tree of Life. At that moment, Queen Jasiri of the Outlands and her boyfriend Janja (that's right, boys and girls; Janja x Jasiri is real in this fanfic =) ) entered, looking as though they had been travelling for weeks. Jasiri told the group that Zira and her pride of evil lions were planning an attack on the Pridelands and that her son Kovu and daughter Vitani were now fully grown. Kion and his friends knew that this meant that, as members of the current Lion Guard, they were obliged to return home to defend the Pridelands.
"I'm so sorry, Rani," Kion frowned. "No, it's fine," Rani replied, trying her hardest to hold back her tears. "You have to go if the Pridelands are in danger. But, Lion Guard, know that you will always be welcome at the Tree of Life,". She gave all five remaining members of the Lion Guard a ribbon with the mark of the Night Pride and a sword. Kion took her hand as they locked eyeswith each other again. "Rani, you and the Night Pride have done so much for my friends and I already, but could I ask one more favour before we go?" "Anything, my love," she replied. Kionpressed his lips onto the Queen's as they shared their most passionate kiss yet. For a minute, it was just the two of them, like it had been not even five minutes previously. The rest of the group stared in astonishment. "Anga, are you seeing this too?" Bunga inquired, with the others immediately telling him to be quiet.
Rani and Kion didn't want to let go of each other, but they knew that they had no choice in the matter. With one final kiss, Kion and his friends left for the Pridelands. "I wonder when they'll return," Rani thought. "More to the point, I wonder when he will return. My one true love," Rani looked at her pendant and held tightly onto it, feeling as though it was a piece of Kion to cling to. Taking a deep breath, she decided to begin her daily duties as Queen.
Kion used the Roar to ensure that he and his friends could get to the Pridelands as quickly as possible. When they got there, however, they discovered that not only had the conflict between the Pridelanders and the Outsiders ended and Zira died, but her son Kovu had fallen in love with and married Kion's sister Kiara, with the couple set to become the next King and Queen of the Pridelands. Even more surprising was that Kovu's older sister Vitani had assembled her own Lion Guard during the absence of Kion and his friends. The old Lion Guard spent the entire day with their family and friends, who they hadn't seen in months. However, as the royal family sat down for dinner, there was something not right with Kion. He looked down at his plate and then up at the ceiling before letting out a sigh. "If you'll excuse me, I need to leave the table," he said suddenly as he got up from his seat and left. Kiara frowned upon noticing that her younger brother had not touched his dinner at all; he hadn't even taken a sip out of his drink. "I need to be excused as well," she stated, giving her husband a kiss on the cheek before leaving to look for Kion.
Kion was sitting on his bed. It was the first time that he had been in his room in months, but it felt completely foreign to him in that moment. He pulled his pendant that Rani had given him out from inside his shirt. A couple of tears rolled down his cheeks as he thought back to the intimate moments that he and his beloved had shared only yesterday morning. "I miss you so much, my love," he uttered as he clutched onto the pendant. Just then, Kiara opened the door a fraction. "Kion, can I come in please?" she asked. "Yeah," Kion sighed. Kiara came in and sat down next to her brother. "Are you alright?" she inquired, pulling him in for a sympathetic hug. "I guess,"Kion frowned. "You know, sis, seeing you with Kovu reminded me of a friend I made at the Tree of Life,". "A friend? What's her name?" Kiara asked excitedly, instantly realising that this woman was more than just a friend to Kion. "Rani," Kion answered. "Queen Rani. She's smart, brave, but also kind; she's a great leader. You'd like her a lot,". "Well, it definitely sounds like you do," Kiara chuckled before turning serious. "You miss her, don't you?" Choked up by his feelings, Kion could only nod. "Maybe you could go back to the Tree of Life someday," Kiara suggested. "I hope so," Kion sighed as he and his sister looked at the stars in the sky from Kion's window.
The next day, Kion and his guard were surprised to discover that Vitani and her guard had occupied the Lion Guard lair. In order to determine which guard was better suited to protect the Pridelands, both teams competed in a series of contests, with it ultimately coming down to the fiercest. However, Kion willingly surrendered leadership of the Lion Guard to Vitani after she proved that she was fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard by claiming that she didn't need the Roar of the Elders. This meant that her guard was now the official Lion Guard, and it also meant that, having a freed of their obligations to the Pridelands, the old Lion Guard could now go wherever they chose. Of course, Kion knew immediately where his heart and destiny belonged.
It was evening time at the Tree of Life, and Queen Rani had decided to take an early night, not sure if she could cope with Kion's absence for much longer. As she lay on the bed, tears started to roll down her cheeks. "There's a feeling of belonging that's deep down inside," she sang quietly and full of sorrow. "A feeling that's been growing; now I just... can't hide. It's a feeling somehow knowing there's nothing to decide,". She took a pause as she sniffed. "Cause when I'm with you, it's clear..." Rani jumped; she didn't sing that bit. She could tell that voice from a mile away. She got up from her bed and walked towards the door. When she opened it, she saw her true love standing there with his deep, loving amber eyes and the smile that always set the Queen's heart a flutter. The tears coming from Rani's eyes accelerated, but this time from joy. "We're of the same pride," they sang the last part together. Kion pulled out a tissue for Rani to dry her eyes.
"Please don't cry, beautiful," Kion pleaded. "It's okay, darling," Rani replied, putting her hand to his cheek to make sure this was real. Much to her relief, it was. "They're nothing more than tears of happiness at seeing you return,". "And this time," Kion assured her as he kissed her on the cheek. "I'm not going anywhere; I'm here to stay,". They both grinned at each other. "In that case, shall we continue from where we left off then?" Rani inquired. "Absolutely," Kion nodded. Rani gazed into Kion's eyes as she brushed his hair away from them. "Kion, would you do the honour of marrying me and becoming the King of the Tree of Life?" "Yes," Kion smiled, tears of happiness forming in his eyes. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life; I love you so much, my love," "I love you too, my angel, more than you could ever know," Rani uttered.
"In fact," Kion continued as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a gold ring with a diamond in the shape of a heart in it. "I bought this for you," Rani gasped, speechless that Kion had bought such her such a beautiful token of his love for her. She had so many things to say to him, but all that came out was "Thank you so much, you special man,". This was enough for Kion, to know that she loved her new engagement ring. Rani then took her pendant out from inside her dress. "I never took this off by the way," she stated. "Me neither," Kion replied, pulling out his from inside his shirt. As they leaned in for a kiss, they felt their pendants getting attached to each other. They giggled slightly as they kissed each other, delighted to be together again, this time until their dying day. Preparations for the wedding and coronation began immediately.
Kion: Cause when I'm with you, it's clear...
Rani: Cause when I'm with you, it's clear...
Both: We're of the same pride.
And they always would be.
To be continued...