CHAPTER ONE: ONE OF US

The blinding gold of sun broke away from the far horizon and the Pride Lands started to come alive for another day.

Simba stood on top of the Pride Rock, watching his land wake up and the golden beams of light touch everything that was his, his eyes flashing in shades of gold as the sun reflected itself in them. He couldn't really sleep much. He didn't know why, but this went on for a few days in a row now. Sometimes he still dreamed of his father, but his soul was finally at peace. He learned that he didn't have to be Mufasa so Mufasa can live in him. Mufasa simply lived in him. It was just the way it was. And that made it easier for him to accept the new times, the new world that knocked on his door.

It was the moments like these that took him right back to those when he was a cub. To those simpler times. Sure, he had a nice time with Timon and Pumba when they were the ones raising him, but there was always the darkness of his past, lingering inside and going wherever he was going as much as he tried to suppress it. Like a wound that was constantly open, but never healed because he tried to pretend it wasn't there and ignore the pain. On some of his last days with them, before Nala appeared, it was worse than ever and sometimes he could barely find the strength to get up, but Timon and Pumba thought he was just lying around, not worrying. When Nala appeared, it was one of the biggest reliefs in his life. He had something from his past that he held so dear, but he didn't have to confront it. And then Nala started to touch his wound and it hurt. It hurt very bad. And then there was also Rafiki who just wouldn't leave him alone. The whole situation was like a rude awakening. And then he came to his senses. He couldn't take it any longer. He didn't worry if he was strong enough to do the deed; the important thing was that he could go do it. In the end, it felt like the only right thing to do. And he did it. It was very hard, but he did it. All he had to do was remember his father and make him proud. That's what his new purpose was when he became a king.

And then Kovu came barging into his peaceful life. Simba couldn't bring himself to trust him, but for the sake of his father's law, he let him join the pride. Kiara seemed happy around him, but he still didn't like the whole situation very much. He wanted her to know that her father will always be there to protect her, so she never gets to feel the way he felt when he lost his own. Kiara and Kovu looked really happy together and when he saw how isolated Kovu must have felt, he started to feel bad for the young lion and began showing him some warmth. Showing him that he can be so much more than he was expected to be. Something Simba used to need himself. And then Zira showed up. This betrayal, as much as Kovu said he had nothing to with it, devastated him. He felt like he couldn't trust anyone. Like all his overblown anxieties where right. So he exiled Kovu, but soon felt very bad about it. In addition, it caught him completely off-guard when Kiara told him he will never be Mufasa. He didn't show anyone how much it got to him, not even Nala, but he felt awful. He felt like a disappointment. And he felt really bad for Kovu. Being banished for something you very obviously had nothing to do with was a feeling he knew all too well. He didn't even want to imagine what Kovu must have felt like.

But in the end, Kiara and Kovu were the ones who saved them. Kiara ended up being one of those who taught him the most about himself and about true values. He couldn't be more proud of her. And nothing made him happier in a while than telling Kovu he belongs. It was like making peace with himself. He saw Kovu, and no longer saw Scar, but saw a troubled youngster who felt like he didn't belong and Simba understood that. Simba thought he was supposed to be Mufasa, and everyone thought Kovu was supposed to be Scar, but in the end they were just themselves, and that was the best thing they could do to truly be at their most.

Nowadays, Simba felt Mufasa's presence by his side so strongly that he could almost see him. And he knew Mufasa was proud. And more importantly, Simba was proud of himself.

"Morning," a voice said behind him. Simba turned around and saw Nala climbing up to him.

"Morning," Simba responded with a smile.

"How was my king's sleep?" Nala said as she cuddled with her head from his chest up to his neck.

"Been better," said Simba as he cuddled along.

"Well, you did always have a habit of waking up first. I remember when we were cubs how I'd always hear you jumping around and trying to drag poor Mufasa out, but once you were out I'd just go back to sleep."

Simba chuckled. "I guess that's one habit Kiara picked up from you. And Kovu's no better. They are almost always the last ones to get up."

"No wonder. They are such night owls, always fooling around all night. By the time everyone's asleep, there they are. At long last. Sometimes I hear them singing while they are climbing up. I wonder what they do all the time."

"Yeah, I don't think I want to know," Simba responded.

"Aw, come on, don't act like we weren't any different," Nala proceeded to poke fun. "Ah, when I think of those days. Staying up all night, running around, swimming, stargazing..." She exhaled, catching herself dozing off in a romantic fantasy. "I didn't see anything in the world but you."

"And I didn't see anything in the world but you," Simba said and licked her on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Their sweet, quiet moment of nuzzling together was suddenly interrupted by a very loud yawn. Simba and Nala turned around and saw Kovu at the entrance of the cave, with a mane as messy as a wild bush, eyes only half open and mouth open so wide that it looked like he was roaring, dragging himself step by step like he was the very death itself.

"Mornin'," he muttered.

"Third one awake," Simba said. "I have to say, I'm pretty impressed."

"Mhm," Kovu exhaled through his nose which was probably meant to be some sort of a laugh. "I don't know what's happening to me. Must be the end of the world." he said as he strecthed and shook his whole body, pulling his mane together.

"Anyone else awake?" Nala asked.

"A few," Kovu said as he finally began approaching them.

"Kiara?"

"Snoring."

"Reminds me of someone," Nala said and playfully pushed Simba on the chest with her paw. Simba shushed at her.

"Okay, well, I think I'm gonna go for a walk. She won't wake up for another eternity," Kovu said in a low, scratchy, still sleepy voice.

"Alright, try to be useful and catch something on the way, will you?" Simba said.

"Sure."

Kovu slowly got down the Pride Rock, barely looking capable enough for walking, let alone hunting, and Simba and Nala were left alone in their little personal paradise again.

"I'll go later anyway. He doesn't really look like he will catch anything," Simba told Nala.

"Well, he's just woken up, give him a little time. Although I really look forward to hunting with you," Nala responded.

"In that case I hope he remains groggy," Simba said, winking at Nala.

Nala smiled and after a short pause said: "He does have a lot of respect for you, you know. Now you're like a father he never had."

"He's a nice lion," Simba said as he turned to Nala. "But I'm better."

"You're the best," Nala said and swiftly pinned Simba down just like in their old days. "But maybe I'm a little bit better."

"I'll think about it."

...

Kovu finally started to come to his senses. Before hunting, however, he just wanted to roam around a little. He loved being a part of this land and its inhabitants. The landscapes sparked particular satisfaction inside of him. He never felt this safe and calm in his life before. Even though he was used to being attentive a lot of time, sometimes for no reason, but maybe that was for the better. This was everything he never knew he needed so much. Being a part of something. Being one with them.

Sometimes, he still felt bad about Nuka and Zira. Even though they never treated him right, they were still a part of him. They were his family. He still felt a sting of guilt when thinking of them, as much as he was told he shouldn't. Being hated by the ones he loved was eating him alive. Well, at least he still had Vitani. She seemed to have let it go. It took a couple of months for the adjustment period, but the pride managed to find its center with the newcomers. Everyone from the Outlander pride seemed more than fine with the whole situation. Maybe because they were finally in a proper, stable pride, feeling safe. Besides, no greater plans were ever made for them.

As for Kovu, he was happy where he was, but he was going to be a king one day. And it made him feel a little conflicted to say the least. He didn't feel nearly capable enough. Of course, there was Kiara, but he just wanted to fool around with her forever. He just wasn't liked enough to be a leader. His exile was short, but not forgotten. Sometimes he would still get a judgmental look from some other animal here and there, or a monkey would fling a small rock in Kovu's direction. All this didn't happen often, but it happened. And it was enough to make him wonder how he would manage to be a proper king. Kiara was going to be a great queen; there was no doubt about that. She would say she doesn't feel ready either, but Kovu knew that when the moment comes, she will be a true queen. Kovu, on the other hand, shivered at the very thought of having to rule all that. And having to rule all those who didn't want him.

Still, Kovu didn't want to think much about it. It wasn't the right time. But in the pride itself, everything was stable and he felt accepted. Even Simba warmed up to him a lot. Sometimes they'd go hunting together, talking as if they have been friends for a while. As present as some troubles still were, most of them were gone. And Kovu was thankful for what he had.

Kovu was snapped out of his mind when, on the path in between the tall grass, he heard a shushing noise on his left. He turned his glance to the left and stared into the grass, carefully preparing for defense in case someone attacked him. He wasn't worried, just focused and tense. Out of the blue, something hit him from his right and within seconds, he was lying on his back with Kiara pinning him down.

"Gotcha!" Kiara yelled and triumphantly stared into Kovu's surprised expression.

"Wow, you're getting better. A lot better," Kovu said, breathing heavily.

Kiara started laughing and got down from him. "You looked so terrified."

"Yeah, I was," Kovu said and got up. "Terrified, but impressed."

"And dad sent "you" for a hunt," Kiara began to poke fun.

Kovu smiled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, I don't know. Race you to the waterhole?"

Kovu's gaze once again leaned to the left, wondering what the thing he heard on the left was.

"Kiara, you didn't happen to throw anything to the other side?" Kovu asked her.

"What? No, what do you mean?"

"Something was moving there. It made quite a noise."

"Now you're just trying to make it seem as if I won because you were distracted."

"Oh, I didn't hear you at all," Kovu answered. "But I swear there was something over there."

For a few seconds, they just stared into the grass, now completely still.

"Well," Kiara broke the silence. "Whatever it is, it's gone now.

"Yeah, you're right," Kovu quietly said and suddenly started running, turning his head back with a mischievous grin. "The race is on!"

"Hey, not okay!" Kiara shouted and ran after him.

...

Damu let out a sigh of relief as the lion and the lioness finally went racing away. It was close, but he managed to stay put. He knew he would. That was probably why Warithi had sent him to go do this in the first place. Though, he did scold himself for making that one bit of noise that made the lion stop and listen.

Getting the lions this close, Damu instantly recognized that the lion he saw must have been Kovu. The apparent resemblance to Scar at first glance, but once you look harder, you notice more and more that they don't look all that much alike. That meant the lioness with him must have been Kiara.

As the sounds of their laughter and enthusiastic exclamations faded away, he decided it was finally time to start moving. He didn't think he would see much more than this. On top of that, he didn't see much point in the mission they sent him for. Everyone that they managed to get to talk on their way told them about the current state of the Pride Lands. This was really nothing more other than making sure all these claims were true, even though it would be too big of a coincidence if all those animals said the same lie.

So Damu walked through the grass, heading back to the hideout, shaking his head off of occasional fleas that would fly around, content about at least not having to get too close to the Pride Rock yet.

...

As the day met the night, Kiara and Kovu were, once again, lying on the grass, looking at the stars. This became sort of a routine for them, but it never stopped being fun. Every night, their laughter could be heard just as loudly. And this time was no different.

"Hey, remember that time I showed you a little rabbit formation I noticed in the sky and then you showed a formation of two lions killing each other for a scrap of meat and said it like it was this most amazing thing ever?" Kiara said through laughter.

"What can I say? I'm obviously a hopeless romantic at heart," Kovu replied.

"Well, that you are, no need for sarcasm. One day, you will be known as The Cuddly King."

"Hah, yeah," Kovu tried to laugh, but signs of worrying showed up on his face.

"Something wrong?" Kiara asked. Even with all the joking around, she knew how to get serious when necessary. The compassion and stability she inherited from her mother did her a lot of good when necessary.

"Something's been going through my mind lately. I mean, I know I should be thankful for what I have. This is something beyond anything I've ever dreamed of. I have a stable life, I live somewhere nice and I have the love of my life," Kovu explained himself, winking at the last part.

Kiara smiled warmly at Kovu, but didn't interrupt him, allowing him to proceed.

"But, you see, I'm not sure if I'm ready for the whole king thing. It's not that I feel like an outcast anymore, it's just that I don't feel like I deserved that title," Kovu said and sighed. "It's stupid, I know, I'll come around."

"Kovu, it's not stupid. Remember my dad's story? I'm pretty sure he felt the exact same way," Kiara consoled Kovu, approaching even closer to him.

"Yes, but he was wanted. As much as he thought he wasn't. And he was also a royal. I'm like a polar opposite, I don't even know who my father is and Simba's father was Mufasa. Mufasa! Hearing that name alone gives me chills. The only father I know of is my adoptive father and that's Scar. Does it really get any worse?" As Kovu's repressed worries began pouring out of him, he sounded more and more upset as he was talking.

"Kovu, you are not Scar," Kiara calmly said. "And it doesn't matter where you came from, what matters is who you are. And you are one of us. We are one, Kovu. Remember?"

A large smile turned up on Kovu's face. She just used Kovu's own words against him in the best way possible. Kiara had a way of doing that. It worked on her father remarkably well.

"Of course," he responded and began nuzzling with Kiara.

"Oh, you big cuddler," Kiara murmured and nuzzled back.

...

After another long night getaway, Kiara and Kovu got back to the Pride Rock. As expected, everyone else was already asleep.

"Let's just take one more look at our land before we drift off," Kiara suggested.

"Of course," Kovu said and they walked together to the top of the Pride Rock.

"Ah, one day this will all be ours," Kiara proudly said.

"Yup." That was the only thing Kovu could say about it. Talking to Kiara did put him at ease, but his fear still refused to go away.

For a moment they stood completely silent in the heat of the night, with the only sound being the night's song of the chirping crickets.

"Wait, what's that?" Kiara wondered, focusing her glance on a particular dot in the distance.

"What's what?" Kovu asked.

"That," Kiara said as she tilted her head towards the west. "Looks like...smoke? Smoke!" Kiara got tense and started moving towards the entrance to the cave. "I have to wake dad up."

"What's going on?" Kovu asked as he tried to keep up.

"It's coming from the Tree of Life. That means Rafiki could be in danger. I can't know for sure, but we can't just let this slide. It's too suspicious. I'll go in and try to quietly wake dad up, I don't want to cause distress. Wait for me out here," Kiara explained, trying to appear calm.

"Okay," Kovu responded as Kiara went into the cave.

...

Simba heard voices outside. It was Kiara and Kovu again. He didn't want to open his eyes. He thought it would wake him up too much. Not that he was wide awake anyway, but he was trying hard to fall asleep and he felt like even opening one eye just a tiny bit would ruin any chance he had of falling asleep. Soon after, he felt someone nudging him.

"Dad, wake up," Kiara whispered.

"What is it?" Simba said with his eyes still closed.

"There's smoke in the distance. I think it's coming from the Tree of Life."

"Rafiki?" Simba exclaimed as he immediately opened his eyes and got up.

"Come," Kiara said and they both ran outside as quietly as they could.

Simba ran past Kovu and to the top of the Pride Rock, looking at the smoke wriggling in the distance. "This must be it. It's right in his direction."

"What are we going to do?" Kiara asked.

"I'll start running to him right now."

"You can't go alone, it could be dangerous, let me come with you," Kiara proposed.

"That's exactly why there's no way I'm taking you there."

"I'm getting better. When are you finally going to start believing in me?"

"I do believe in you, Kiara, I just don't want you to ever have to be put into a dangerous situation. You're my daughter. One day, you'll understand," Simba persisted.

"Fine," Kiara finally settled. "But don't go alone."

"I'd bring your mother, but she needs to stay to keep the pride stable. No one does that like her. And that's especially what we need these days when we're all just trying to get used to each other."

"I'll go," Kovu spoke out. Simba and Kiara both turned their heads away from one another and towards Kovu.

"Kovu..." Kiara muttered.

"I don't know," Simba said. "You will be the king and..."

"And I really need to learn some things from one," Kovu finished.

"Kovu, are you sure about this?" Kiara said with a worried look on her face.

"Kiara, I'll be fine. We'll be back by tomorrow night. I promise. I think this could really help with, you know, the whole king thing," Kovu told Kiara and turned to Simba. "Besides, Rafiki helped me through my dark times just as much as he helped you through yours, Simba. Or at least as far as I've heard. If he's in danger, I owe him this much."

"Dad, what do you say?" Kiara asked Simba.

"Well, you didn't exactly prove yourself much in fights, but you're agile enough for this. Besides, I like the way you think about this and I agree that it's necessary." Simba exhaled. "Okay, you'll go with me."

"Thanks, Simba," Kovu said.

"Just be careful not to get knocked out in the middle of the fight again, okay?"

"Of course," Kovu promised, embarrassed.

Simba began to approach the cave again. "I'm just going to tell Nala and we move."

"Okay," Kovu said as Simba got in.

"Oh, Kovu." Kiara muttered and nuzzled with him. "Don't you dare not come back. Last time you two went out a little further was disastrous."

"What, you think we'll come across another pride that will try to set me up but will end up friendly in the end?" Kovu joked to ease Kiara.

"Shut up," Kiara said and gently bumped him with her paw, but he did manage to put a smile on her face.

"Hey, don't worry," Kovu assured her. "We'll be fine. I really think I need this, it should be a very good thing for me."

"Just come back to me."

"Of course I will." Kovu smiled at her and gave her a lick on the cheek. They enjoyed a quiet moment together as Simba made his exit out of the cave.

"Ready?" he asked Kovu.

"Ready," Kovu replied, nodding his head and making way for Simba to approach Kiara.

"Also, Kiara," Simba added. "Keep in mind that we might go all the way across the desert and into the jungle if we don't find him around here, but we will come back as soon as possible."

Kiara nodded. "Okay, dad."

"Bye, Kiara," Simba said, placing his head on her neck as a sign of affection. "We will come back soon, so don't you worry."

Kiara smiled. "Hakuna matata, dad. Do what you have to do."

Simba smiled at her and turned around, quickening his pace. Kovu mouthed a mute "love you" to Kiara before he turned around and started running with Simba. And even though Kiara said "Hakuna matata", she really didn't feel at ease. She kept watching until they got lost in the dark of the night, becoming no more than two faint dots that Kiara at some point suspected just became her imagination.

...

Farther, on the other side of the Pride Rock, two lions were standing, looking ahead. One was bigger and a lot more strong-looking with darker fur while the other one was scrawny with a lighter body but a darker mane. Both had their father's eyes, but only with a half of their menace within.

"So, are we waiting for dawn now?" Damu, the smaller one, asked.

"No," Warithi responded. "We wait until the sun is higher up. Father's work will have to be done by then."

"Aren't you relying a bit too much on luck with this plan?"

"Look, if you are going to doubt father's plan, go ahead. But I believe in him. His brain got him where he is. What could go wrong?"

"Heh, yeah, right. What could possibly go wrong?" asked Damu sarcastically.

"If you have so many complaints, maybe you should have said that earlier, when father was here. But no, you're too afraid to face him and you decide to get on my nerves instead. Sit here and shut up. This will work," Warithi snapped, but not yelling. His anger was more calm and collected.

Damu appeared calm and collected too, but in a way that looked like he could explode any second. "Sure. Whatever you say."