Disclaimer: I do not own The Lion King. Nope. Disney does. However, I do own some of the characters that will feature in this story, including: Tumba, Kri, Mandu, Situ, and others that you won't recognize from any of the films.

Full Summary: Simba and Nala have passed on the throne, and Kovu and Kiara now reign as King and Queen of the Pridelands. But this is not about them. This is about their children and their adventures. Read about Tumba (Toomb-ah) and Kri (Kree) as they journey into adulthood. I know, this sounds corney, but I promise it'll be good! My first fic; please R&R! Flames will be used for a barbecue.

Just so you know: Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu, as well as most characters in this fic that are from the first TLK movie, and from the sequel, have passed away... so, there may be mentioning of them, but you won't be seeing them here... and if you dislike stories where a main character dies, or a character from the movie dies, then you probably shouldn't read this.
For a picture of the cubs, Tumba and Kri, visit my gallery...

"Speech is in quotation marks."
'This is a thought.'

Ok, I've wasted enough time here. On to the story!

A sliver of pale light sliced through the air as the sun's first glorious rays shone upon the Pridelands. The sky itself was lit up with crimson and the clouds reflected a similar glow. Pride Rock, in all its beauty, shone pale orange with the first light.

Then started a sound, a soft, slow and steady sound. And thus did they approach, animals from all over Africa, from all over the Pridelands, just coming to see something thought more wonderful than even the beauty of the rising sun: the birth of a child.

Standing on the peak of the great Rock were two lions. They were well-known throughout the Pridelands. Kovu, son of Zira, and Kiara, daughter of Simba. They were now proclaimed King and Queen, and their first children, who had been born days ago, were now being shown to the world for the first time. Kovu stood quietly by Kiara's side as he looked down upon her face where she was laying. Gathered at her side, suckling greedily, were a pair of cubs, twins. One was slightly smaller than the other, and their colors were both different, but they were clearly twins.

Both mother and father looked adoringly upon their new children, before a voice disturbed them from their dreamy looks.

"Kiara, Kovu..." it was Nala, now an old lioness. She and Simba had since stepped down from the throne, old age having gotten the best of them.

"Hey Mom, Dad..." Kiara greeted her mother softly, and her father, as he came slowly into view with a slight limp. Both of the former monarchs' muzzles were grizzled with white hairs, a sure sign of their age.

"Kiara..." Simba's voice was soft, his eyes kind as he looked on his daughter. Then rusty eyes lifted to look upon his son-in-law, "Kovu." and then he gave them both a smile and a nod as greeting as well, before he and Nala slowly approached the two. A pair of young lionesses aided them at either side, helping them as they walked forward.

It was all purring and nuzzling before Kovu said anything. "Nala, Simba. It is so good to have you here..." he said, his green eyes unable to hide the extreme pride he felt right now. No one could blame the new king and queen, they were parents now! With that, Simba settled beside Kovu, and Kovu beside Kiara, and Nala upon her other side.

"What have you named them, Kiara?" inquired Nala. Nala's voice had begun to crack with age some time ago, but still was very calming and peaceful. Kiara's eyes lit up, and all heads turned to look at Nala before the new mother started to answer.

"Kri, the firstborn," Kiara gently nuzzled the female, who heavily resembled her grandmother, aside from the reddish brown tuft on her head and tail, and those dark masks above her eyes.

Nala smiled. "A good name, Kiara, a good name."

Kiara grinned and looked at her daughter proudly.

"And that one," said Kovu as he reached over to nuzzle the male cub. "is our little runt. Tumbo, secondborn." he smiled fondly. Tumbo was darker than his sister. He had fur that was a dirty-looking gold color, and had a creamy tail tuft, and tuft on his head. He resembled both his father and grandfather in many ways, though his face was like Kiara's, just as his sister's was.

The four lions and lionesses looked down upon the two cubs fondly, love shining in their eyes.

Then, there was a soft rattle behind them, the clinking of gords as someone more came into view. The familiar face of the old shaman, Rafiki, the mandrill. None but Kovu rose and slowly moved in to greet the old monkey with a gentle hug.

"Two cubs, a blessing within the pride..." the mandrill said with a large smile as he pulled back to look Kovu in the eye.

Meanwhile, below, the herds gathered. Elephants, zebras, gazelle, impalas, antelope... even the tall giraffe and the fun-loving monkeys. Birds of all sorts, hornbills, cranes, storks... all here to celebrate the birth of the twins, Kri and Tumbo. Rafiki slowly made his way to Kiara's side, and with one hand, gently stroked each cub's back until they stirred. Kri turned first, and quickest, her eyes opening slowly, they were the same green as Nala's. The female revealed a toothless, yet no less sweet smile while her brother turned a little more timidly and looked up at the mandrill with curious rust-colored eyes.

Then, Rafiki reached to his walking stick and carefully removed one of the gords there, and broke it open... mixing the dust of the ground and some strange powder from within the gord, he blessed each child, then lifted up Kri. Firstborn... Heir to the Throne. The cub, like her mother before her had, reached out a paw and squealed excitedly as she was suddenly so much higher into the air than she was used to.

Excitement gave way to curiousity as the cub was carried to the Rock's peak, and suddenly, she was thrust into the air. The animals below bowed. This was their princess. Kri looked down upon the animals with wondering eyes, while Rafiki looked into the sky. The sun had risen fully above the horizon, and filled the land with golden light. Suddenly, the animals below lifted their heads and rejoiced. The elephants trumpeted, the zebras cried out, the antelope leapt. Joy filled the kingdom that day, the day the twins were introduced to the lands...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so does the prologue end. :) So... what do you think? I really hope you like this...

Again, any characters that are not familiar to you, are probably mine... and since I don't like writing disclaimers, just know the same goes for all chapters in this whole story. n.n Anyway, TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!