DISCLAIMER – I do not own The Lion King or any of its characters. They belong to Disney. However, all the characters and names in this fanfic not appearing in the Lion King movies by Disney belong to me. Do not use them without my permission. I sure hope I don't use any names already existing in other fanfics. :)

AUTHOR'S NOTE – English is not my native language. So, don't be mad at me if I made any mistakes. This is my first Lion King fanfic. It's my version of The Lion King 3, set after The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, i.e. about Kovu's and Kiara's reign. I hope you enjoy. ;)

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THE LION KING 3: DON'T DEFY DESTINY

CHAPTER 1: Goodbyes and Welcomes

The time of war has long been over. Years have passed since the downfall of Zira and the reconciliation between the Pride Lands and the Outlands. Those have been peaceful years. Only few rebellions by those who deep in their hearts still bore loyalty to Zira had happened in the beginning. But they were easily settled, and so the Outlanders began to accept the Pride Lands as their home. They actually started to feel at home.

As the years passed by, King Simba became more and more content with his reign. Yet some day, he noticed that something was not right. Something was out of balance. He sensed that not everyone in his kingdom felt the same contentedness he did. So he started to observe his Pride with close attention to each and every one. He proudly observed that his daughter, Princess Kiara, had grown to a very strong and beautiful lioness ever since she had stopped the war between the two Prides. She was an adult now. Very soon, she would be able to take his place, Simba thought. Together with her mate Kovu from the Outlands. Simba felt deep respect for his son-in-law for he as well contributed much to the peace they now live in. And with relief, he observed that Kovu's scar he once got from his evil mother Zira, was no longer as visible as it used to be. Kovu's resemblance with the Pride Lands' doom, the former and unlawful king Scar, slowly faded.

There was nothing wrong with Kiara or Kovu, Simba concluded. They were happy which made Simba sigh in relief. His Queen, Nala, also had nothing to complain about. Who might it be that made Simba feel out of balance? He decided to check the lionesses from the Outlands. Most of them were lying in the sun, enjoying the warm day. He slowly walked towards the water hole, trying not to overlook anything. There he spotted some other lionesses who all looked very content. But then he knew who it was that apparently didn't feel happy: Near the water hole, on top of a big stone, there lay a warthog and a meerkat. They looked quite slack and out of energy, staring at the water with sadness in their eyes. Simba sighed and approached his old friends.

"Timon? Pumbaa? What's wrong?" he asked

Timon didn't even turn around as he spoke. "Oh, nothing. We always lie around like that."

"I noticed that." Simba said. Indeed, he had seen them like this quite often recently. But he was never really aware of the sad looks in their eyes. "Come on, tell me what's up. If there's anything I can do for you, just say it."

Timon shook his head. "Nah, we don't need anything. Everything's just fine."

"I know you. One day without you two joking around is just not right. Whatever happened to 'Hakuna matata'?" Simba tried.

"I think I lost it the day I tried to dance with a rhinoceros."

Pumbaa looked at his little pal in surprise. "I never knew you danced with a rhinoceros, Timon. Well, then it's not surprising..."

"Pumbaa... it's always surprising how the warthog's brain works."

"Thanks."

"Guys," Simba interrupted, "please be serious. I know something's eating you. And I can't do anything about it if you don't tell me. I wanna help you. That's what kingsand friends are for."

"Alright." Timon got up from the stone, while Pumbaa just turned around from his back onto his belly. "Well, how can I put this? Simba... it's not that we don't..."

"Dad!" Suddenly Kiara came running towards them in excitement. Kovu was with her, and they both had a joyous look in their eyes.

Simba turned as they stopped beside him. "I'm sorry, Kiara, can you wait one second? Timon was just about to tell me something." Simba nuzzled her shortly, before he turned to Timon again, and all three of them listened to the meerkat.

Timon started again: "Okay, this is not easy. Simba, Kiara,... uh, Kiara's guy. It's not that we don't like it here any more. But see,... it's been a while since we've last been to the jungle, and we kinda... really miss it."

The three lions gasped. Simba was the first to ask: "I see. So you guys want to go back home, right?"

All of a sudden, Pumbaa started to cry heavily, so that Timon quickly ran to hide under Kovu, trying to shield himself from the warthog's tears. "Pumbaa!" The meerkat shouted. "You're only making things worse! And wet." It still took Pumbaa a little while to stop crying, but finally he calmed down, sniffed a little and stood up from the stone as well to face them. Timon stood beside his dissimilar friend again.

"Guys, I understand that." Simba smiled. "One day you almost had to feel lonely here, as you are the only warthog and meerkat around. It must be hard to be the only one of a kind. And of course, you miss your home and want to see your families again."

"And just to be thorough, we're not the youngest anymore, either." Timon added.

Kiara spoke up: "You can't just leave now. Don't you guys wanna stay at least for... another few months?" There was this shine of joy in her eyes again.

"What for, Kiara? Is there anything special going to happen? I bet not." Timon said. Simba had noticed the look in her eyes and looked at her inquiringly.

Kiara looked down shortly and hesitated a bit. "I... I already told Mom. Dad, Kovu and I are going to have a cub. We just found out."

Simba, Timon and Pumbaa looked quite surprised. Then Simba nuzzled his daughter and said: "Kiara, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for you two." After he let go, Kovu began to nuzzle his mate. Kiara nuzzled back and smiled down at Timon and Pumbaa. The warthog had tears in his eyes again, but he tried to hold them back, as Timon stared at him warningly.

"You have to stay here for our cub's ceremony." Kiara begged. "It would mean so much to me."

Timon seemed unsure. He opened his mouth to say something. "Uh... nnn... uh, well... oh, alright. As you wish, Princess Kiara."

The three lions, alongside with Timon and Pumbaa, returned to Pride Rock to meet Nala and to talk about the ceremony. Preparations were to be made. They also informed Nala about the departure of Timon and Pumbaa. She felt sad about it as well. But Simba had an idea. He asked his daughter and his son-in-law to wait while he and Nala talked to their two old friends. Kiara wondered what this conversation was all about. It seemed like her parents had some important decisions to make. She sat outside the cave of Pride Rock, together with Kovu, but both of them were unable to speak. They just couldn't wait until the discussion was over, which seemed like forever. Kiara stood up and began to walk back and forth in front of the cave.

"Kiara, calm down. I think there's nothing to be worried about," Kovu said.

Finally, Kiara saw her parents and the two friends coming out of the cave. She joined Kovu as he sat up, and both looked at them impatiently.

Simba looked at Nala, who nodded at him, and then began: "Your mother and I just decided we can't let Timon and Pumbaa go back home on their own. The distance is too far and too dangerous for them. So, we are going to accompany them to make sure they will be safe."

Kiara looked confused as her father paused. Kovu exchanged a look with his mate and then said to Simba: "But... you can't go both. You cannot leave your kingdom."

Simba smiled. "First, we are not going to leave forever. We will return as soon as we can. And second, this is also your kingdom. And as you are soon going to have a cub yourself, Nala and I decided it is time for you two to take our places."

Kiara and Kovu smiled in astonishment. "You mean...?"

Simba nodded. "After the ceremony for your cub, you will be King and Queen of the Pride Lands."

Kiara and Kovu were about to thank him, but Timon suddenly lifted his hands and shouted: "Hang on a second! Who is supposed to be the babysitter then? I mean, we won't be there, Simba and Nala won't be there, and – no offence, Simba, but that hornbill of yours doesn't seem to be right for the job."

"Yeah, right," Pumbaa agreed. "Where are you gonna find such fantastic babysitters as we were?"

"Like you were such a good choice," Kiara chuckled, remembering the time Pumbaa literally 'sat' on her.

"That's not a problem," Kovu said. "I'm sure my sister Vitani will do great as babysitter. Let's ask her right away, dear."

"Sure, let's ask her," Kiara answered. "I also thought of her." But before they went to look for her, Kiara inquired: "Dad? Are you sure we can take your places? Are you sure we can do it without you?"

Simba nodded with a warm smile on his face. "I'm sure of that. I know you, and I know you will be a wonderful King and Queen." Kiara nuzzled her parents and then went off with Kovu to look for Vitani.

Of course, Vitani was glad to hear about Kiara's pregnancy and agreed to be the babysitter of their cub. Vitani hadn't found a mate yet. She really wanted to be a mother, though she never uttered that wish loudly. But she did great as babysitter for other lionesses of the Pride and also back in the Outlands already. As the weeks passed by and turned into months, Timon and Pumbaa cheered up a bit again. And it became also obvious that Kiara was expecting twins which made her and Kovu twice as happy. And then the day Kiara gave birth to her cubs was finally there...

They were all there to support her: Rafiki the wise mandrill, Simba and Nala, Timon and Pumbaa, Vitani and Kovu. Kovu was beside her to comfort her, while Rafiki helped her through the birth and the others stood further around them. It wasn't easy for Kiara, but finally, the first cub was born. Kiara breathed heavily, and then Rafiki put the small bundle into her paws. A few tears ran down Kiara's cheeks as she licked her newborn daughter.

"Kiara, she's beautiful." Kovu said nuzzling his mate. "She has your eyes."

Kiara nodded. "The ruby eyes of the Kings." The same ruby eyes as those of Simba and of his father Mufasa and of his father... The cub's fur had a rust color, but unlike Kovu's a little more to the orange, and her pawtips, belly and muzzle were golden. The tuft of fur on the tip of her tail was chocolate brown. "I'd like to call her Lina." Kiara suggested.

"That's a wonderful name." As soon as Kovu had said these words, another contraction reminded Kiara that she still bore another cub. This time it seemed even more painful and harder. When she almost feared she couldn't do it, she already had given birth to her second cub. Kiara was exhausted. Rafiki picked up the small cub and gave it to her.

"This is a male." Rafiki smiled. "You've done well, Kiara. You have two healthy cubs."

Now everyone got a little closer. Kovu looked at his little son as Kiara licked him clean. He looked so much like him. His fur was also rust, darker than his sister's and less to the orange. He had a tan belly and muzzle and a very small tuft of dark brown fur was growing on his little head. Kovu discovered his eyes had the same saphire blue color as his own.

"I'm so proud of you, Kiara." Nala smiled as she looked over Kovu's left shoulder at the two tiny cubs. Simba was standing beside her smiling at his grandchildren. "They're so beautiful." He said. Timon and Pumbaa couldn't find words.

Vitani was standing on the right next to Kovu. "He looks almost like you, Kovu." She remarked. The only difference was his tan belly, while Kovu's was more cream, and his pawtips had the same rust color as the rest of his fur. "How are you gonna call him?" Vitani asked.

Kiara looked up at her mate and saw the proud smile on his face. He then answered: "Let's call him Ari. That's the right name for him. It means 'pride'."

End of Chapter One

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AUTHOR'S NOTE – I hope you liked it. It was hard to describe the two cubs. I'm not sure if you imagine them the same way I do, maybe I used the wrong color words. I don't know if my next chapters will be that long as well. But I just wanted to get all this into the first chapter. :) I'll try to update as soon as I can, but it could really take some time as it is not that easy for me to write in English. I hope to get at least chapter two done before I'm away (from July 29th to August 4th). But I can't promise. Please review! ;)