AN: Hey, since this is such a LONG chapter, I split it in half. This is Chapter 14 and it is continued in Chapter 14 ½, which starts out as a short story kind of. You'll see. I'm almost done with this story, yay! My goal is to finish it and post it all before school starts in less than a week! Well, I have started Chapter 15, which will probably be the second to last chapter. I will have either 16 or 17 chapters, so bear with me. Enjoy Chapter 14!

Chapter 14: When the Time is Right

The next morning, Simba and Nala woke the cubs.

Niru groaned and rubbed his eyes, feeling quite rested to his surprise. "Morning Grampa Simba, morning Grama Nala," Niru said letting his arms fall to his sides, hitting Siva and Suvo.

"Hmm?" Suvo asked.

"Hey! What?" Siva exclaimed.

"Sorry guys," Niru apologized, immediately moving his arms.

Suvo looked up at Simba and Nala. "What's going on?"

"Rafiki would like you three to meet him outside right away. He has something important to tell you," Simba replied in a serious voice.

"Yes, but first you must all get a quick bath," Nala added with a smile and a wink.

"Aww," the three of them groaned, rolling over on their stomachs and putting their paws over their eyes.

Simba sighed.

Nala chuckled. "Mom, Sarabi," Nala called out.

Two figures appeared within seconds from the opposite side of the cave, and stood on each side of Nala.

Nala raised her eyebrows to each lioness. "Go ahead," she smiled.

Sarabi bent down and picked up Suvo, who promptly let out a surprised yell and then sighed.

Niru felt Suvo being moved from his side and peered out through his paws just as Sarafina lifted Siva up in her mouth.

Niru groaned and sighed, remembering to obey his grandparents, and uncovered his paws as Nala scooped him up and brought him out of the cave into the cool morning air.

Nala calmly lay down under a medium sized tree a few yards from the cave entrance. She positioned her paws into a "cradle", and plunked Niru down into them. Nala quickly yet carefully began bathing her grandson with long strokes across his back to save time, which Niru didn't seem to mind. It was actually kind of relaxing to him. When she cleaned his arms, underarms, and paws, it tickled Niru and made him laugh out. Niru was just beginning to enjoy getting a bath, when Nala's rough, wet tongue ran across his face and mane tuft. Also getting his rear and underbelly groomed wasn't enjoyable for him either, and made him tense up and squirm. The squirming reflex caused him to almost jump out of her arms. However, she caught him just in time, having had experience with bathing Kiara.

"Calm down, Niru, you're done now," Nala smiled.

"Oh, sorry," he said, and shook off.

"It's alright. Now run along, you don't want to keep Rafiki waiting," she said, and nudged him in the direction where Rafiki was waiting.

Niru nodded and quickly scampered down the slope, leading to the back of Pride Rock.

"Niru, wait up!" Siva called out to him when he was half way to the bottom.

He turned back to look at her while his feet were still gaining speed as he approached the bottom. Still sleepy, he continued to stare at her as she came closer to him, wanting her to be near him.

THUMP! He ran right into Rafiki, startling the both of them.

"Niru, are you OK?" Suvo asked, as he and Siva skidded to a stop in front of Rafiki.

Niru became dazed for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened, when Rafiki picked him up, giving him a wake up call.

"Oh my," the old baboon chuckled, "You are just full of energy Prince Niru."

Niru stared at the old baboon's colorful face and toothy, friendly smile. He chuckled, embarrassed. "Sorry Rafiki, just didn't want to make you wait too long."

"Eets all right. Just make sure to look where you're going next time," he said putting the cub down and patting his head. Then he looked down at Suvo and Siva and patted their heads too.

"You OK?" Suvo asked again.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Niru laughed quietly, still a little embarrassed.

"OK, well now dat everyone's here and awake now, I would like to introduce you to someone. Dis certain someone will help you become all dat you can be. Dis someone will train you in becoming strong and smart lions and lioness. You will learn hunting, self defense, and more about yourselves as you grow and mature into all dat you are to become," Rafiki concluded.

The cubs listened attentively with wide eyes and brains full of questions.

"Now, follow me and I will take you to meet dis special lion," Rafiki said as he got up and turned to the fields with a mountain in the far off distance. He set his walking stick an inch in front of him firmly on the ground, steadying himself. Then he stood up straight and began walking into the fields. The cubs obediently rose and followed behind him.

Once they were well into the fields, the cubs began whispering amongst themselves.

"What do you think he's like?" Siva asked.

"How often are we going to go see him? Every day do you think?" Suvo exclaimed, nervously.

"I wonder if we've seen him before?" Niru pondered.

Siva and Suvo gasped.

"Yeah! I didn't think about that!" Siva realized.

" Wonder what he looks like?" Suvo asked his sister.

"Yeah and what his name is!" Siva piped up.

The questions continued amongst the cubs for about fifteen minutes. Then the cubs began getting tired again, and lagged behind, having not eaten breakfast yet.

Rafiki sensed this and turned around to check on them. "Come on, keep up cubs, only a little more walking!" Rafiki encouraged.

The three cubs quickly picked up speed again, yearning for rest, and wanting to get to where they were going sooner so they could rest sooner. They whispered encouragement to each other to keep going, and just when they were about to collapse from hunger, thirst, and walking, their paws felt different. No, the earth beneath them felt different-it was different. It wasn't dry dirt anymore; it was soft, comforting grass, short bright green grass. There was a blanket of it all across the land in front of them. There was also a skinny, sinuous river that ran through the land, and beyond that, a tall, snow-capped mountain. Niru looked behind him quickly and gasped.

"Siva, Suvo, look!" he whispered.

They all stopped and turned.

"Whoa, we're-outside of the Pridelands," Siva said.

"I've never been this far before," Niru said partially worried and partially excited, as his eyes widened.

"Yeah I know. Look how far away Pride Rock is from here!" Suvo pointed.

"Come on, we're almost dere," Rafiki beckoned.

"It's OK, Rafiki. They can stop to rest here," a new strange voice called out.

The cubs gasped and turned around.

In front of them stood a strong, majestic, yet gentle looking lion. He had a bright golden yellow coat, which glistened in the sun, peach colored paws and underbelly, and rich, bright blue eyes accompanied by a light brown mane with golden streaks.

Niru cocked his head and looked from the lion to Suvo and Siva. He gaped at the resemblance between his best friends and the strange new lion.

Siva and Suvo were in more of a shock than Niru. Siva looked at her brother as she realized he was a miniature version of the lion that stood above them. Suvo continued to gape at the lion.

The lion, in return, gazed into Siva and Suvo's eyes his own widening, and a smile spreading across his face. "Suvo, Siva-is it really you?" he asked in awe.

"Uh," they both nodded, unsure of what to do or say.

"And Prince Niru, I presume?" he said in a gentle voice as he looked kindly at Niru.

"Yes. How'd you know my name? Why do you look exactly like Siva and Suvo? Who are you?" Niru prompted.

"Dis is who I told you about, Prince Niru," Rafiki spoke up, smiling to the new lion.

"So many questions young prince," the lion smiled down at him. "I came to pay homage to you at your ceremony, and Rafiki has told me all about you. I am related to Siva and Suvo because I am their father. My name is Kunta," he said.

Siva and Suvo let out a small, surprised noise and then fainted.

Niru turned to them and cried out. "Siva! Suvo!" He rushed to their aide, sniffing them to see what was wrong and was about to lick them to wake them up, when Kunta swiftly bent down and lifted Suvo by the scruff of his neck.

"Oh good heavens," Rafiki said and rushed over and scooped up Siva.

Kunta motioned for them to follow him to the river. Once there, he laid Suvo down under the shade of a tree on the riverbank. Rafiki did the same with Siva as Kunta trotted to the edge of the bank, stuck his paw in the fast moving current, and splashed his two cubs, along with Niru, who had just caught up with them and ran over by his two best friends.

Siva and Suvo awoke with a start, and sat up immediately. "Whoa, what happened?" they exclaimed at the same time, rubbing their foreheads and looking around. They gasped as the new lion came towards them.

Siva huddled next to her brother.

The lion's face became sad. "I'm sorry. My own cubs don't even know me, and worse, they're afraid of me," he muttered to himself and hung his head.

Niru came over and sat behind Suvo and Siva.

Suvo stood up. "Wait, so, are you really our father?"

The lion looked up as his face brightened. "Yes I am, and I'll prove it to you. You're mother is Vitani, and we met days after the Pridelanders and Outsiders became one pride again. She was hunting right about at the end of the field right there," he said pointing. "We caught each other's scents and introduced ourselves. We got to know each other better and wanted to become mates, and so we did, and then you two were born almost four months ago. It was the happiest day of my life, for I had never yet mated with anyone else more to the matter had cubs that had descended from me. It was a whole new experience, but since my duty was here, guarding the border of the savanna, I only got to see you once. But that was enough joy to last me forever," he smiled, his eyes tearing.

"What was it like seeing us as babies?" Siva asked suddenly.

"I remember looking into your sweet, innocent, beautiful sky blue eyes, seeing your fuzzy, golden colored fur dry as you became used to the world you are now in. Then your mother needed her rest, and I had to leave Pride Rock, as she had allowed me to come see you once, quickly, after she had given birth to you behind Pride Rock. I held you two in my gaze as long as I possibly could, and then I had to return to my duty on the border of the savanna. I knew though, that I would see you again one day. Today is that day," he said as tears of joy flowed from his eyes and fell to the ground to let his cubs embrace him.

Siva and Suvo gasped and began to cry too. "Daddy!" they cried together, and ran to him. They embraced, nuzzled, and licked each other for about five minutes.

"It's a blessing to see you two again, but we must get to your first lesson. That's the real reason why you're here after all," Kunta said lifting his head.

Near the jungle.

It was official. The pride had been walking for an entire day, as Queen Kiara's undying love and perseverance was generated throughout the pride and everyone fed off of each other's perseverance and energy to stay awake until they reached the jungle. Naturally, everyone felt and looked like zombies, but they continued to push on and burn up the fat calories from their 2-day meal of gazelle and antelope. They were now wandering in the same desert where young Simba had run through when he was chased away from his home by the hyenas. The sun beat down on their sleep-deprived bodies and soon began to "play" with their minds.

"How much longer do we have to walk?" a young lioness in the back of the pride groaned to herself.

Kiara, ears erect as always, spun around and growled. "We don't rest until we find Kovu, you know that, Bally!"

"But shouldn't we rest someplace cool and shady with water so we can be more alert?" Bally asked.

"She's got a point, your highness. Besides, if Kovu is with Uvok and his pride, we'll fall asleep trying to fight them," Vitani said.

"Yeah," the rest of the pride agreed.

Kiara blinked a couple times and shook her fur off to keep herself awake. "Vitani and Bally are right-we can't fall apart now. Now that we are one, we must stay that way and do what is best for our pride. I wasn't thinking about that earlier; I was too focused on getting Kovu back, but now I know that I can't get him back alone. Only all of us together can," Kiara smiled to her pride.

"Wow, you're a great queen, Kiara," a random lioness spoke up.

"Yeah!" the entire pride roared in agreement.

"Thanks everyone, I try. Now let's go find someplace shady to sleep," Kiara sighed happily.

"Hey look! A water hole!" a lioness shouted.

"Where?" Kiara shouted back.

"There!" Bally pointed excitedly ahead of them.

Kiara's face brightened. "Charge!" she yelled relieved.

Everyone roared happily as they ran towards the water hole.

Sanari was wandering through the borders of the jungle thinking about how to save her son, when she heard the Pridelander's roars. She gasped and ran out of the jungle and onto the scorching desert sand. She watched as the pride all leapt forward, one after another onto the sand.

"It's Kovu's pride!" Sanari said aloud, happily. Then she realized she must lead them out of the desert before Uvok and his pride sensed they were near. She ran across the dry, cracked earth, kicking up sand clouds as she ran towards the Pridelanders.

"Oww, what happened to the water?" Bally asked.

"Oh no, it was a mirage," Vitani realized.

"It wasn't real?" one lioness asked.

"No, it wasn't real," Sanari answered.

The whole pride turned their attention in the direction of the voice. When they saw Sanari, they leapt into defense position.

"Who are you?" Kiara asked, suspiciously.

Please, don't hurt me," Sanari began.

"Give us one good reason why?" Vitani growled.

"I'm not with Uvok's pride. I know where Uvok has taken your King Kovu. I can show you," Sanari spoke, standing her ground.

"How do you know who Kovu is?" Kiara asked.

"I'm his birthmother," Sanari replied. "I'll tell you the whole story, but you must follow me into the jungle for water so Uvok and his pride won't find you in this condition," Sanari said.

"Alright. Lead the way," Kiara nodded.

"Your majesty, is it really wise to believe her?" Vitani asked.

"She's our only hope of rescuing Kovu now. We have no other choice but to trust her. Besides, she's outnumbered," Kiara explained as she began walking.

The rest of the pride followed wearily.

"But what if she's leading us into a trap?" Bally shouted, becoming scared.

A quick rush of adrenaline flew through Kiara. She stopped, took a breath, and replied, "We have no other choice right now. Besides, we've got to have faith in the great kings to protect and guide us on our journey," Kiara encouraged her pride, and they continued walking.

Upon reaching the jungle, Sanari led them to a cold, clear water pond. After they all had a drink and splashed around to cool off, they all lay down in the soft cool grass on the bank of the pool protected by the shade of the tall, bountiful leaves of the large tropical trees.

Sanari began the story of Uvok.

Back in the Pridelands.

"Lesson?" Niru asked.

"What kind of lesson?" Siva question.

"What for?" Suvo piped up.

The trio was curious to know what Kunta would teach them and was eager to learn.

"Wow, so eager to learn this trio," Kunta said to Rafiki.

Rafiki chuckled. "Well, I see you can take it from here. Bye cubs, good day, Kunta," Rafiki said.

"Good day, Rafiki," Kunta said.

"Bye Rafiki!" the trio shouted together.

The wise old baboon once again disappeared into the grass to return to the Pridelands.

Kunta smiled as Rafiki left and turned back to the cubs sitting before him.

"Well, now that you're all here, let's get started. Stand up please," Kunta instructed.

The cubs' faces were bright and enthusiastic as they stood up, looking at their new mentor obediently.

"Today is your first lesson in learning to become successful lions and lioness. I will teach you everything you need to know as you grow from cubs to adolescents to adults. You will report here once a week, and during the week of your lesson you will be expected to practice what you have learned in the lesson that week," Kunta said in a calm yet serious voice.

"Also, every week when you come for your lesson, you will have five minutes before your lesson to relax, warm-up, or talk to me about something if you like. When the five minutes is over, I will call your names and you will line up in front of me like you are now, standing until I tell you otherwise. Alright?" Kunta finished.

"Yes sir," they answered.

"Good. Now let's get started!" Kunta smiled, invigorated, and walked over to a large boulder in the grass.

The cubs remained in their spots standing, and looked at Kunta.

He smiled. "You can come over now."

They quickly trotted over in front of him again.

"Now then, today's lesson is pouncing. One of the most important things us lions," he paused and looked at Siva. "And lionesses should know. Especially lionesses because they are the ones who do most of the hunting for a pride. Today we will start out with the basics and then repeat the lessons again when you are ready to move on to the next level of skill. Suvo, come up here on this boulder, please," Kunta asked.

"Ok," Suvo replied and crouched down, and sprung from the ground onto the boulder. Since its sides were smooth, it was hard to grab onto to climb up. Yet Suvo dug his claws into the rock and tightened his muscles to maintain his hold on it, and forced himself onto the flat top of it.

"Good job, Suvo. I'm glad to see you didn't give up and automatically look to me to lift you up, although I would if you couldn't have handled it, but I knew you could," Kunta congratulated him.

Suvo smiled proudly and sat up straight.

"Now Niru come over behind the rock," Kunta pointed to a spot a few feet away from the rock, so Niru was facing Suvo's back.

"Now, I want you to try to knock Suvo off the rock and onto the ground.

"Ok," Niru answered with a smile. This would be just like when they played together, he thought. He crouched down with his bottom sticking up in the air, and began to step forward when Kunta put a paw in front of him.

"Uh uh, Niru. I want you to pounce on him from where you're standing," he gently corrected him.

Niru got a worried look on his face and looked up at Kunta. "But it's too far in one jump," he said.

"Just try, Niru," Kunta said stepping aside again.

"Ok," Niru gulped. He took a deep breath, dug his claws into the ground, tensed his muscles, focused on Suvo, and sprang forward. He landed on the side of the rock and slid off onto the ground. He grunted and got up.

Suvo looked back at Niru, and sighed, relieved he hadn't gotten knocked off the rock yet.

"That was a good try for a cub without any previous training," Kunta smiled at Niru. "Now, let's try that again, only this time, I'll help you," he said.

Niru walked back over to his spot and got into his original pouncing position.

However, Kunta pressed Niru's protruding bottom down so it leveled with the rest of his body. This way, Niru would have more power and thrust to his pounce and would be able to hit his target.

"Stay low to the ground, Niru. Keep quiet," Kunta whispered to Niru. "And, pounce!"

Niru's eyes widened at the command and he sprang forward. Limbs and arms outstretched as he flew through the air, Niru felt himself collide into Suvo's back and they both fell to the ground. Niru gasped, amazed at how far he had pounced and how well he had done it. "Wow," he whispered to himself.

"Yeah I'll say, now could you get off me, Niru?" Suvo groaned as he panted to recover from getting the wind knocked out of him.

"See? That is the proper way to pounce. That was great, Niru. Practice that way and you'll be hunting in no time," Kunta smiled and congratulated the cub.

Niru smiled proudly. He was on his way to becoming a true king.

The lesson continued as Suvo and Siva had their turns to pounce and Niru and Siva had their turns being pounced.

Worn out from the first day of training, the cubs headed home to eat and rest up the remainder of the day. When they returned, Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa were waiting for them and asked them how they liked it.

"Well, let's just say it was a work-out," Siva sighed.

"Don't worry, you'll all get better with practice, and the lessons will get easier as the weeks go on," Simba comforted them.

"Wow, you cubs are really strong and dedicated. Makes me proud to know you," Timon complimented.

"Me too," Pumbaa sniffled proudly.

Back in the jungle: Sanari had finished her story at the part where she sneaked into the Pridelands and distracted Niru and Nahara in an attempt to protect them when Uvok was attacking Kovu.

"So that's why you have those four slashes across your cheek," Kiara gasped.

"Yes. I know your son only did it out of self-defense and to try to protect my daughter, Nahara," Sanari nodded sadly, thinking of that horrible day.

"So that explains what happened to Nahara," Vitani said.

"I wish Niru knew this," Kiara sighed.

"Yes. I disguised my scent that day, so Uvok wouldn't know it was I when I came into the Pridelands the day Kovu was attacked. After he took Nahara from me and drove me from the pride, I ran away because he threatened to kill me if I ever came back. He took Nahara as revenge for letting Scar take Kovu from us years ago as his hand-chosen heir. A few days after I was exiled, I spied on his pride to see my baby one last time before I left the Savannah, and heard they were headed for the Pridelands now that Kovu was indeed king and Zira was gone. He planned to take back what was rightfully his that Scar had stolen from him so long ago, and make Kovu be king of our pride again, as he was originally destined to be. However, fate changed his life, and I heard you and Kovu's triumphant story from some animals, and I knew that he had a new home now and he was happy. News spread fast when you and Kovu had a son that was to be the new heir to the Pridelands. Uvok planned for his pride to cover themselves in mud and sneak into the Pridelands. Once there, they would use Nahara as a decoy so your son would find her and go tell Kovu, so he would walk right into Uvok's trap."

"Well not everything went according to his plan," Kiara said.

"Yes, I realized that when I saw Uvok, Kovu, Niru, and Nahara in the 'Shadowlands'," Sanari nodded.

"Wow," Vitani gasped. "I guess you are who you say you are if you know all this about Uvok tracing it back to the days of when Scar was in power."

Sanari sighed and nodded.

"So, how do we get Kovu back?" Kiara asked.

"Well, you could confront him with an ambush," Sanari suggested.

"But they already over powered us once, they can do it again," Bally cried.

"Well, all I know is where he is. I don't have a battle plan. I was trying to think of a way to rescue Kovu earlier before I heard your roars, but I couldn't come up with anything," Sanari frowned.

"Hmm," the pride looked at the ground and thought for a minute.

"If we stand together as one, we won't be overpowered. We've got to believe in each other and ourselves that together, we can triumph. Remember Rafiki's blessing," Kiara said.

All the lionesses nodded.

Just then the leaves around them rustled.

Kiara gasped.

"What is it your highness?" Sanari asked.

"Did you hear leaves rustling?" Kiara asked suspiciously.

Just then a monkey screeched and jumped out of a tree and into another. Kiara sighed relieved.

At Uvok's jungle kingdom.

A young lioness named Shetani ran up to Uvok, panting.

"Your Majesty!"

"What is it, Shetani?" Uvok asked alarmed. He looked over at his son who was sleeping peacefully in the warm, sunlit grass.

"The Pridelanders are in the jungle, with Sanari!" she yelled.

Kovu made a noise and turned over in his sleep.

"Will you keep it down?" he glared at her. He glanced at Kovu as he stirred in his sleep. "Sanari," he growled. "I know she's helping them. I should've known they'd come here, which is why I have a plan of attack," he said in a hushed tone.

"Ooh, very good your Majesty," Shetani grinned evilly.

"Yes. Quick, round up the lionesses for a meeting here, and be quiet about it! We don't want to wake the prince now, do we?" he glared at Kovu.

"Yes sire!" Shetani said and ran off.

The Pridelanders with Sanari planned to sleep where they were in the jungle. At dawn the next morning, they would put their plan into action. The Pridelanders would stand guard in an ambush set-up around Uvok's pride to distract them while Kiara found Kovu and got him to escape in the jungle where Sanari would lead him to safety. Then Kiara would signal to her pride to escape.

The next morning, they were in for quite a shock. Uvok's pride had the same attack plan as them, only they were surrounded first!

Kiara opened her eyes and saw narrow bright green eyes above her. She smiled and yawned sleepily. "K-Kovu?"

"Good morning," a sinister voice chuckled.

Kiara gasped and then her eyes widened. Before she could yell for help, Uvok knocked her unconscious. At that moment, the rest of the lionesses in Uvok's pride struck a Pridelander until all the Pridelanders were unconscious. Then their bodies were dragged to the same field of flowers Kovu had been dragged to when he awoke in the jungle a day ago.

When they awoke, they all looked around curiously and inhaled the intoxicating scent of the "hypnotizing flower" as it was commonly called by everyone who knew it's name. Fortunately it only grew in a small field in a particular part of the jungle, and it only caused temporary memory loss if inhaled once for a number of hours. However, the blows the Pridelanders took to their heads while they were asleep or half-asleep caused them to have mild concussions plus the scent of the flower would affect their memory loss for about a month. By that time, Uvok would already have them living in his jungle kingdom and they would be kept prisoners there until they died-that was his revenge on everyone who kept his son from him all these years.

Uvok and Kovu stood above them, looking down at them. "Come into my jungle kingdom," Uvok said.

"Yeah it's really cool! It's got a waterfall and pool and everything you want!" Kovu said eagerly, his memory blurred for about a month also.

The Pridelanders were intrigued and eagerly followed, also acting like cubs once again.

During the next month, Niru, Suvo, and Siva grew stronger with practice everyday from their lessons with Kunta. They were also coping a lot better, especially Niru, with the absence of their mothers and father for Niru.

In the jungle, the Pridelanders and Kovu's memories were coming back and Uvok wasn't about to let his son and the pride who kept Kovu from him get away. He'd lost Kovu once, and he wasn't about to lose him again.

"Good morning enemies," Uvok said sarcastically to Kiara's pride one morning.

They all groaned and rubbed their heads.

Uvok chuckled malevolently and walked around them casually.

"Hey, where am I again?" Bally asked, looking around the jungle kingdom.

"Wait, weren't we suppose to be looking for something?" one lioness asked.

Vitani whispered nervously to Kiara. "Kiara, your highness, what's going on?"

"I don't know, Vitani. I'm trying to remember something, but I can't remember what it is," Kiara said worriedly, rubbing her head.

"Good morning, la-

Kovu paused as Vitani and Kiara turned to look at him.

"There's something very familiar about you," Vitani gasped as her memory began to come back.

"Yes, there is. You remind me of this time I." Kiara trailed off as her memory too came back. She was reminded of when she met Kovu again as an adult in the Pridelands when he rescued her from the fire. She gasped as more memories that came after that meeting flooded back to her, up to when she fell asleep in the jungle a month ago after Sanari had told them the story about Uvok. "Kovu!" she cried and pounced on him, nuzzling and licking him joyfully.

Kovu's memory was also re-awakened by seeing Kiara's face and her pouncing on him. The memory of them looking into a pool and their reflections merging flashed in his mind. "We are one," he said softly. "Kiara!" he began returning her nuzzles and licks immediately.

"It's King Kovu!" Bally yelled and ran over to him and Kiara.

"Kovu!" Vitani cried out and followed Bally.

Soon all the Pridelander lionesses were crowded around Kovu and Kiara.

"What?" Uvok glared at the scene and snarled.

"Their memories have returned. They're going to take him away again. Not if I can help it," he growled to himself.

The lionesses of Uvok's pride also saw the scene and realized that the Pridelanders memories had come back.

Uvok ran over to them. "Quick, attack them now while they're off guard! And be sure to guard Kovu from them!" he commanded. "Now go!" he snarled.

The lionesses charged and took the Pridelanders by surprise. However, they quickly got on their paws again and fought back.

Kovu cried out as Kiara was knocked away from him and a circle was formed around him. He roared and lashed out at the lionesses while the Pridelanders lashed out on the outside of the circle.

As the lionesses that were guarding Kovu were being attacked on both sides of their bodies, it was too much, and slowly they began to go down.

Uvok stood on top of the waterfall, watching and shouting out attacks, when suddenly, he was shoved from the top and fell into the pond, splashing everyone, causing the battle to come to a halt. Along with him fell his attacker, Sanari.

Uvok growled, coughed up water, and looked into the face of his attacker. He froze and his eyes widened as his former mate glared at him with dark orange eyes. He growled, "Sanari."

"You really have gone off the edge this time, Uvok. First you yell at me, hurt me, and drive me from my own pride, me, your own queen! Then, when we finally have a second cub after 4 years, you take her away from me, and now you've taken your own son away from his pride, home, and family. Don't you see what you're doing? You're taking what means most to your own son and destroying it. Or your taking your own son away from what he loves. It's a vicious cycle you've created, Uvok. Only you can end it, make it right," her voice softened. "Don't blame yourself for something you didn't do," Sanari said, referring to when Scar hand chose Kovu.

Uvok was silent for a moment. All the lionesses watched him to see what he would do.

"You're right, Sanari," he began softly. " I will make things right, I won't blame myself for something I didn't do, and I will end this vicious cycle," suddenly he began to glare at her and bared his teeth. "Starting with getting rid of you!" he lunged at Sanari in the water before she had time to try to swim away. He dug his claws into her shoulders.

She roared in pain as Uvok shoved her under the water, drowning her quickly.

"No!" Kovu cried out as he ran towards the water.

"Kovu no it's a trap!" Kiara yelled.

Then Uvok pulled Sanari's body out of the water and dragged it onto the bank. He dropped it in front of Kovu.

"She got what she deserved," Uvok said.

Kovu gaped at the sight. Then he felt like puking as he fell to the ground and mourned his birth mother's death.

The rest of the Pridelanders hung their heads in sorrow, and the remainder of Uvok's pride did the same. Only Uvok himself remained standing still with a blank stare on his face as he looked at his ex-mate's lifeless body.

Back in the Pridelands.

The days turned to weeks, weeks to months, until one full year had passed. Niru, Siva, and Suvo had grown a lot, but were still cubs for another year. However, some changes were in store for them, as they would soon find out.