After Le Roi Lion
As Ke and Radhi's love for each other grew, Sarifa grew jealous. Although one day, her cries were answered.
"Hello," Closphir said to her one day.
"Er, bonjour, Closphir," Sarifa shrugged.
"Listen, uh, Ke found the Radhi dude, and I saw you moping, and I was wondering if you would like to, uh..."
"Yeah... yeah... I like zebras more than antelope." Sarifa grinned.
Closphir did too, in response. "Okay then," He said, unsurely.
He loped off. Sarifa wanted so much to follow him, but she kept herself from it. In interest, she watched him tackle and bring down a zebra, then rip out it's throat. Sarifa watched in desbelief as he loped back toward her, blood dripping from his jaws, dragging the zebra with him.
"Impressive," She said. "You're a good hunter, for a male."
"Thanks." Closphir tore a considerable hunk from the zebra, and held it toward Sarifa. Sarifa looked confused and yet pleased.
"Thank you," She said, taking the zebra hunk, spitting it on the ground, and tearing a mouthful of it.
It was a fresh zebra; the best the young lioness had had for long. Because she had been the best hunter in the pride, the loss of her ability had hurt the pride greatly.
"Why didn't you tell my father you could hunt?" Sarifa giggled.
In these recent nights, Vitani had retired to leaving the den at night, taking residence in the side of Pride Rock that once belonged to Scar. Her previous life seemed to have returned. Vitani had thought that if she had her mother, everything would be perfect again. But no. It was all the same. Now, she mourned again. Ke had Radhi... her love. Her best friend. The one who comforted her through hard times. And Sarifa had Closphir. But she had no one! Who did she have to lean on; to count on to love? No one. Holding her head low, she broke into sobs.
Soon after, Vitani disappeared from the pride.
"Where has Vitani gone?" Ke asked.
"Shh..." Radhi soothed, nuzzling his best friend. "If she'd stayed here any longer, she would've gone mad."
"I suppose you're right," Ke said with a despair-filled sigh.
After a time, Rafiki announced that, indeed, Ke was pregnant with Radhi's daughter. Soon after, she began having stomach pain, and knew that Rafiki's assumptions were correct.
"So uh..." Radhi said one day, awkwardly. "Now that we're gonna be parents..."
Ke could tell his next question. "I know. We probably should -"
"Get married?" Radhi suggested.
Ke gazed upon her lover, her eyes falling deep within his. "Yes."
The two had their arguments, but after a few days together... they had fallen in love, and realized that their rift had no reason.
The very next day, Radhi and Ke were joined. Soon, rain was falling and Rafiki could tell, today was the day.
"Young Master," He said to Radhi.
Radhi looked toward the tribal shaman. "Huh?"
"Today is de day for you to take your place. Mufasa, he tell me dat today is de day for you to become King of Pride Rock."
Ke and Radhi exchanged cheerful glances. Ke was pregnant, the king and queen were dead - why not?
Filled with both happiness for his triumph and for his queen and despair for his lover, who never had this chance, Radhi mounted Pride Rock. And there he stood, drenched in rain, roaring outward to the crowd. To hear their cheerful, enthusiastic roars back at him filled the young lion with joy. From the sky, he could hear others roaring as well. The kings of the past. Mufasa. Scar. Simba. Even Ahadi, stubborn and self-centered as he was, roared outward to the crowd; and to Radhi.
"Well done," Came the voice of Mohatu. "Scar would be proud."
Radhi could see Scar's ghost... smiling at him from the sky. Forming in the clouds. And he let the strong wind blow his wildly colored mane, feeling it deep within it's roots.
Epilogue
As Rafiki predicted, Ke soon gave birth to a female cub. The cub was golden colored, and resembled Simba and her father, Radhi. In delight, the two young lovers called their child Remba. Soon, Sarifa announced pregnancy with Closphir. Radhi and Ke were outrageously proud of their little sister and three days later the two lovers were married.
For long, Radhi, Ke, and Sarifa wondered what had become of Vitani. But alas, when in a vision they saw two lovestruck lions bounding through the fields, they no longer wondered. Remba quickly grew into a nimble young cub. And just as Radhi, she was very interested in literature. And Radhi taught her everything he knew.
