Deep within the Uasian Tower lay the ancient Uasian Throne. The seat of power of the Uasilands. Its chamber hosted the Pride's most celebrated and honourable ceremonies, whilst also housing the royal court in times of need from their subjects.

Right now, however, the courtroom was filled with the slaves of Baya's conquests. Lions and lionesses who had surrendered themselves to his almighty force. Mothers held their newly born cubs close to their chests, conceived from Baya and his follower's obsession with procreation, to spread themselves among the savannah.

The gathering of lions and lionesses could only watch on as a darkened, crystalised, protrusion

collapsed, revealing a dimly lit passageway. A single lioness, followed by two males, slowly shuffled out. Her creamy, scruffled fur faintly glimmered in the corrupted crystal light as the crowds mumbled between themselves.

The males led her through a passageway etched in the crowd, patrolled by those loyal to Baya. As she approached the throne in the court's centre, the sight of her captor sent a chill through her heart. Beside him, Afya stood still, encircled by her sisters with their heads lowered.

"Ah, Karimu!" He couldn't help but grin as he watched his 'queen' approach. "Oh, how glad I am to see you've come to your senses!" He stood tall and proud as she was forced to step up to the throne, led by the aggressive growls from her male guards. She glanced over at Afya, who simply nodded once.

"The only 'sense' I've come to is how much of a crook you are!" Karimu couldn't help but falsely charge at her captor, causing him and his guard to jump slightly. Upon seeing his reaction, she smiled surprisingly, knowing he was the same lion he had always been. Afya and the Sisterhood watched on, glancing between each other through their respectfully bowed heads.

"No!" Baya charged slightly forward as one of his guards attempted to slap Karimu with his paw. A silence fell through the room as he stepped closer to the Uasian princess. "She has a point after all." He took a step to the right, preparing his body to circle around hers. Karimu remained still, strong and resilient to his advances. "But aren't we all a bit crooked nowadays, hmm?" His scarred, battered, brown eyes crept up and around her body, analysing every curve, every shudder, as he nuzzled her harshly.

As he met her face, his tongue slowly caressed her cheek, leaving behind a disgusting slather of drool before he continued, whispering into her ear. "Mmm, I remember a time when you begged for my… 'assistance' when you couldn't help but need me." The creepy, unemotional tone in his voice caused her body to convulse horribly with

bitterness as she remembered that dreadful day. All those years ago. He couldn't help but chuckle ever so slightly as he stepped away from her towards his conquered pride. Before he addressed them though, he turned back to face her, a curious, puzzled look adorning his face. "How are your cubs, by the way?

The ones you had with that Royal Mlinzi of yours?"

"Don't you dare mention them!" Karimu retaliated, only held back by the two strong males standing beside her. Baya smirked as he turned to the gathered pride, their confused, scared whispers filling the room ever so slightly.

"The cubs that could have saved your pride, your kingdom… killed because of your inefficiency!" His words roared into the air, seeping into every ear hole within the encased structure. The lions and lionesses contained before him took in these words; their brains slowly pondering what he was talking about, absorbing it in for lack of anything else to consume.

He glanced an eye back at Karimu for just a second, "Not the first time you failed them, is it your majesty?!" Small rumblings within the gathered pride began to emerge. The seeds of corruption had been planted in their minds, causing them to slowly begin to frown at the Uasian princess, shaking their heads in disgust.

As the many imprisoned prides started to become tainted by Baya's lies and misinformation, a passageway opened once more, revealing a battered and bruised lioness, barely able to walk. Her fur stood rattled and torn, covered in scars that only became visible as she stepped into the light of the courtroom. The crowds around her

parted as a male followed her, leading her to the throne. He seemed all too familiar to Karimu, as did the lioness.

"Wivu!"

As the abused huntress arrived at the throne's steps, she collapsed, her body drained of all energy as the male strolled past her, spitting on her body before approaching his brother.

"Ah, Kifo!" Baya's tone shifted from aggressive and scheming to welcoming as his younger brother approached. The pair shared a gentle, friendly nuzzling as Karimu analysed the scars etched across Wivu's body.

"Wivu…" Karimu's eyes scanned the huntress' body frantically, analysing the damage done to her fur. She knew it all too well, not to mention the stench that stained her fur. The Uasian Princess couldn't help but quiver from the sight before her. "What did they do to you?"

"K…Karimu?" Wivu's words wheezed whilst the young huntress raised her head. "I couldn't… They… He…" Before she could continue, a wash of tears began to flow from her eyes, forcing her head to sink deep into Karimu's warm, comforting fur.

"Shh… It's okay…" Karimu knew all too well what Wivu had been through. Kifo was well known for his acts of brutality against lionesses, after all. She still remembered the day he tried to take her, along with his fellow brothers.

At least most of them were dead now.

"I see you've 'welcomed' one of our prisoners, dear brother." Baya smirked; his eyesight drawn over to the nuzzling lionesses beneath him. Kifo couldn't help but chuckle manically, licking his muzzle as he did so.

"Mmm, indeed so brother." His auburn eyes shadowed the crystalised glow of the room whilst he stared down at his prize. "She was… exhilarating."

"You MONSTERS!" Upon seeing the two males smirking down at them, Karimu bolted forward, gnarling her

teeth at them. Their guards quickly leapt into action, encircling the royal lioness, keeping her from advancing on their twisted masters.

Afya and the sisterhood had watched the entirety of events unfold before them. They felt every vibration, not just of the conflict in this court, but outside too. With a shallow inhale of air, the sisters began to hum, chanting a slow, harmonious chorus while the males contained the Uasian princess.

Kopa, Mungu wa moyo,

sikia ombi letu

Macho kupitia bahari

zisizo na mwisho, zilizoharibika

Na acha zamani na za

sasa ziwepo

Ndani ya kila mmoja,

ili tuweze kuwa huru

Karimu's ears flickered up upon hearing her lover's name within the sisterhood's chant. A small glimmer of light sparkled on her forehead just before her heart pulsed with a new, energised flame. The sounds of conflict filled the room, reverberating off every spec of crystal. The sisterhood continued their chant, much to Baya's confusion and dismay.

"What?" He flicked his eyes to Afya, who continued to chant among her fellow sisters. "What are you doing? Stop!" Charging through his bewildered guards, Baya growled, approaching the Sisterhood's leader as she continued her chanting, unmoved by the satanic lion's presence. "Answer me!"

Without a hesitant thought, he swung his razor sharp-clawed paw at the sister. His fit of unbridled rage struck her down where she stood, or it would have. As his paw sliced through her pleasant fur he felt it disintegrate, crumbling into dust as his paw caressed it. Before he knew it, he stood before a pile of crystalised dust, the sound of her chanting echoing across the courtroom's exterior walls as the light spread around Karimu.

"You!" he shot his attention around, spitting a sway of saliva as Kifo gnarled his teeth down at the Uasian princess. "What have you done?" Karimu glanced to the side, watching as the surrounding guards spread out to the outer walls. She felt it, the familiar, heart-thumping sensation creeping through her body and into the crystalised floor. The chants of the sisterhood echoed through her mind even if she couldn't understand most of it.

But his name… it continued to repeat, causing her heart to beat faster as she slowly came to the realisation.

Arising from Kuwinda's side, she turned to face Baya. He leapt down from the throne's platform, charging her before grasping her throat with his claws. "TELL ME!" As he sat to regain a stable posture, Karimu struggled, feeling his claws dig into her throat as the crowds nearby gasped.

"You were always so stupid, Baya." The light burnt brighter as she gulped, feeling his grasp tighten. "Always following your pathetic father like a lost, little cub." Kuwinda looked up at the pair. Her terrified, teary eyes darted over at Kifo, who simply licked his lips once more before turning his attention to Karimu.

The Uasian Princess flicked her eyes between the brothers before continuing. "You never learned from his mistake, did you?" Her breathing became stagnated as his claws dug deeper into her neck. "This pride…is…protected…"

"By whom? Your Royal Mlinzi?" He couldn't help but tut at her words, rolling his eyes as he pulled her closer, lowering his tone to a whisper. "My master made sure your pathetic protector's blood stained the mountaintops red!"

"You might want to check, your 'majesty'!" Karimu's eyes flickered as Baya's grip tightened further, blocking off her air passages. Her chest halted after one final breath. She didn't care though, after all, she trusted Afya. She trusted the sisterhood.

She trusted him…

"I think you underestimate my power!" Baya chuckled as he weakened his grasp slightly, letting Karimu take a breath once more. After all, if he was to fulfil his task, he would need her alive. The tower hummed once more whilst the splintering light spread across the outer wall. The guards held their position as the sound of a heavenly roar started to seep in. "Scar will have his grasp on this realm and you will be my queen, whether you like it or not!"

"Do you hear that?" Karimu replied, smirking as the sound of the almighty roar seeped past them. Kuwinda looked up, her head swayed to the side as its familiar tone echoed through the court. "You shouldn't have underestimated the sisterhood." The crack started to spread, causing the crystalised wall to melt as something or someone continued to roar their way through the crystal. "You shouldn't have underestimated me, but more importantly…"

The sisterhood's chanting immediately halted in Karimu's mind as she smirked at Baya, who responded by tightening his grasp once more, choking her. The light shining upon them burnt their fur as the roar reached its peak.

"You shouldn't… Have… Underestimated…"

"Him!"

The walls shattered as the light burnt through. The sound of his roar bellowed through the courtroom sending molten shards of Uasian crystal raining down before Baya's loyal guard. They screeched in pain as the liquified crystal disintegrated their fur and souls. Terrified cries etched through the air whilst the prides of lions watched their captors fall. Before the invaders could transcend the shattered wall, the surviving prides charged out, leaving only a few males and females behind, eager to fight their enslavers until their dying breath.

"Kill them!" Baya roared, ordering his forces to attack the rising rebellion. As the dust settled and the last of the enslaved lions and lionesses escaped, multiple figures emerged through the dust, walking proud and aloof, ready for anything. One, in particular, caught both Baya and Karimu's eyes. The figure of a lion, his mane bloomed with an aura of ethereal power. His eyes focused on Baya, before turning to Karimu.

She couldn't help but smile wildly, her heart racing as she witnessed the sight of her dearly beloved. The pain in her body ebbed away, both mentally and physically.

"Baya!" The figure roared, rushing towards the Uasian throne that Baya stood proudly before. The tower's interior hummed and twisted with every step he took, the corrupted green hue dissipating slightly as he approached his long-conflicted foe. He remembered when they were cubs, how they'd play and laugh. Oh, how times had changed.

"Get away from my mate!" He stared cold heartedly at his foes. Both Baya and Kifo smirked, turning to each other as if to converse. Within seconds, Kifo leapt down in front of Karimu and Baya, seemingly defending them from Kopa and his team's advance. By now, Kwaheri, King Sokwe and his gorillas assisted the free males, fighting off the guards and keeping them away from Kopa. Shujaa stepped forwards through the flames, his claws scraping across the crystalised floor as he stared directly at Kifo.

"I'll take him." Shujaa mumbled. His eyes locked with a deathly stare on the smirking lion before him. He felt the rage start to burn through his fur, the horrors of his past slowly seeping back through. The sounds of their voices etched across his mind whilst he began to encircle Kifo's position.

Meanwhile, Baya approached Kopa, standing before him as the roaring conflict continued. Shrapnel of Uasian crystals flew through the air as the pair stared at each other, preparing their bodies and minds for the battle ahead. Baya took an offensive stance, lowering his muscular body closer to the ground and moving a single paw forward. Kopa stretched his hind legs back, causing the muscles to contract, preparing them for his opponent's charge.

Within a blink of an eye, their battle began. Baya charged forward, leaping into the air just like Kopa knew he would. Before they made contact, Kopa swayed out of the way, using the power built up in his legs to divert himself to the right. Baya flew past but quickly regained control of his form, landing on the crystallised ground with a claw-clicking thud.

Not too far away, Kifo came face to face with an aggressively charging Shujaa. Before too long, they connected, fighting just as savagely as Kopa and Baya were. They sliced through each other's fur and flesh with ease. Kifo found himself tiring quickly, drained from the wild, uncontrollable flurry of attacks dished out by Shujaa. With one, effortless pounce, Kifo found himself on his back, with Shujaa on top.

"YOU MURDERED BY MATE!" Shujaa clawed at Kifo's face; his paws soaking in the lion's blood as his victim gaggled in pure shock at his attacker's ferocity. "YOU MURDERED MY CUBS!" The once proud, vile lion tried his best to break free from Shujaa's flesh-ripping attack but to no avail. He felt his body start to give away, slowly ceasing under the emotionally driven lion's attacks. "YOU... DON'T... DESERVE... TO... LIVE!"

Kifo's body fell to the ground. All traces of his corrupted, sadistic soul ebbed from its husk of a body. He was gone. Shujaa had finally ended months of suffering, not just for his family, his pride. But for all those who fell victim to Kifo's vile, sadistic hobbies.

Kopa and Baya continued to fight, struggling with each other. Upon hearing and seeing his brother's death, Baya bulked up his attacks, violently slashing and biting into Kopa with his flesh-piercing teeth. Both lions were covered in each other's blood, slowly weakening from their injuries.

Before he knew it, Kopa found himself on his back, pinned to the ground by his adversaries' weight, not to mention his foul breath. Baya took the opportunity to strike at him repeatedly, clawing away at his fur before firing his teeth to Kopa's neck.

From out of nowhere though, a sudden squawk pieced the air surrounding them. Before Baya could finish off his opponent, his eyes picked up the sight of Jicho, swooping in. This gave Kopa just enough time to unbalance the false king. With one sudden kick to his chest. Baya rolled off Kopa, letting the Royal Mlinzi take advantage in their duel to the death.

Karimu held her ground beside the Uasian throne, holding off a few of the guards that had once held her prisoner. It had felt so relieving to finally be able to beat their souls out of their body, leaving them a broken, weeping mess beneath her paws. From her stance of victory, she looked out to the cracked wall from which Kopa had entered.

A large, prominent crack had ruptured up the side of the tower, leading high into the sky. She followed the crack to the roof before beholding the sight of a large, hanging crystal. She knew it well as the main crystal: the source for the tower's magical energies, harmonising with her own heartbeat as she stared up at it.

The cracked crystal ruptured, dislodging it from its holding. As she stared at it, its supports gave way, falling rapidly to the earth below. Turning to see Kopa again, she realised that the crystal was falling directly in his area.

In a blind panic, she lunged up to the throne's edge, her heart racing with the beat of a lightning storm.

"KOPA!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, her head spinning like crazy as she did so. Kopa shook from his sense of shock, immediately turning to his mate. She looked upwards at the crystal plummeting at vast speeds now. Its shadow grew and grew around Kopa and Baya.

Kopa refrained from looking up, however. His attention was focussed too much on Baya. The despicable lion attacked his captor, slashing away once more at Kopa. Karimu, seeing the crystal nearly crash into the ground, sprinted towards the now fighting males, lunging for her mate as the crystal neared the ground, knocking him off of his attacker. The crystal fell onto the evil lion, harmonised with a pain-ridden scream of agony, before... silence.

Baya had been crushed by the very power he craved for…

Kopa looked up to find Karimu staring down at him, her eyes slightly watering as they met. She moved her muzzle down to his, licking away the blood that covered him. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you." She spoke softly, her tears welling in the corner of her eye. He couldn't help but feel his own eyes watering whilst his mate's tongue and cheek caressed his face, licking and nuzzling him.

"I can tell..." He nuzzled her back, licking her tears away before rolling her off his scarred, battered body. The pair arose together, just as the remaining members of Baya's forces either ran out of the Uasian Tower or surrendered themselves to Kopa's forces. The now free lions and lionesses rounded them up before turning to Kopa and Karimu, eagerly awaiting the Royal Mlinzi's orders. He ignored them, however, instead choosing to turn towards the crystal throne, not far from where he rested. He took the moment to glance back at the mangled, crushed body of Baya. The crystal glowed with a dark, twisted hue as if it was absorbing the demonic lion's soul. He couldn't help but be surprised that Baya had one, considering the things the dark lion had done.

Karimu leapt up to stand in front of the throne, her ears spiking up as she turned back to Kopa. He slowly followed her, limping on one of his front paws as he walked. His chest covered in blood, gleaming in the light from outside.

Kopa tripped as he ascended the throne's steps, falling onto his stomach. He started to crawl, struggling to find breath as his scars and starches stung. Karimu waited for him there, tears pouring from her eyes. It had been years since she had seen him in a state like this, not since the last conflict he had with Baya and his brothers. He had sacrificed much to get them here.

They both had.

Regaining his breath. Kopa approached the throne. His body shot with a strange, warm feeling, relaxing and relieving. He felt all pain ebb away from his body. He turned to Karimu, still tearful, as she sat at the other side of the throne. Their eyes froze in place as the Sister of Mponyaji rested before them, sitting in their presence.

"I love you." Karimu brushed up to her mate, licking the blood off of his chest. She knew it all too well. Kopa returned the favour, licking Karimu's scars, removing their physical strain on her body. Her internal, emotional scars though would take time.

"I love you too." The Royal Mlinzi continued to lick and nuzzle his mate, comforting her as he felt a single tear roll down his cheek. As the pair continued their loving embrace, a strong wind blew through the gaping wound in the tower, bringing with it a crystalised gleam. They both smiled, raising their heads out from their chests as the form of six lionesses formed before them, standing behind a crystalised chalice.

"We knew you would succeed, my lord." Afya bowed her head, closely followed by her fellow sisters. Their marking glimmered with a Uasian blue tint, illuminating the entire court as the sickly green walls started to cloud over. Where once there was corruption, now stood clarity.

Now all that remained was to solidify it…

"Kopa!" Before Afya could continue to speak, another well familiar tone graced Kopa's ear. As the sisterhood stepped away, the sight of a single lioness warmed Kopa and Karimu's hearts. Kuwinda smiled at the two, before revealing the two furry lumps of playful fur behind her.

Her heart started racing as soon as she saw Kopa, sitting before a crystal throne with Karimu. She couldn't believe it! Kopa and Karimu, heirs of the Uasian Throne, where they should be. She trotted up to the throne, a look of certainty adorning her muzzle.

As they playfully rushed forward, both Ulinzi and Amani noticed their mother, sitting proudly next to their father. They called out to her, rushing like cheetahs to her side.

"Ulinzi! Amani!" Karimu's heart sank once more as the cubs rushed to her pouncing into her lap, she started to affectionately lick and nuzzle them, tears pouring out of the trio's eyes.

Kopa, on the other hand, turned his attention to the rapidly approaching Kuwinda. Upon reaching a reasonable distance, Kopa tried to welcome the young lioness, before being, rather randomly, smacked across the face with her paw. Her stern, almost deadly look shot straight through his heart.

"Hey! What was that fo-" He felt the wave in his heart depart, only halted by Kuwinda pushing him onto his back. Their muzzles collided as her tongue slithered into his mouth, keeping up the pressure on his muzzle for some time before releasing from their kiss for air.

"We've missed you!" Kuwinda smiled down at her mate. The lions and lionesses behind them leapt into a defensive position as they watched the lioness 'attack' their leader, relaxing as She started to nuzzle and lick his cheek.

The other lions and lionesses waited patiently for Kopa and Karimu to sit back down. Many of the lionesses cooed at seeing Ulinzi and Amani. Kuwinda wandered off away from the throne, sitting not too far away from Kopa, just by the side. At that moment, Kion and the guard peered into the tower's entrance seeing Kopa and Karimu sitting before the Uasian throne, their cubs before them. It was as it should be. The new Uasian Royal Family, together as one.

Afya sat in front of the Royal family, bowing in their presence. She had waited for this day for so long. They all had. The Sisterhood joined her, bowing in the majesty of Kopa and Karimu's presence as they spread outwards around the throne, creating an arrow-shaped formation. As they did so, a pair of spectral lions, one male and one female, slowly approached. They both wore marks on their foreheads, both of which were well known to both Kopa and Karimu.

"Mum?... Dad?" Karimu whimpered, barely able to hold her emotions in. She felt her tears well once more as they approached, bowing their heads softly. She knew what this meant. Karimu shuddered slightly, looking over at Kopa, who stared at the lioness, completely locked in a sense of professionalism, even if his eyes were watering.

Whilst the pair shared a loving glance, the chalice, he stared towards his mate confidently. Taking a deep breath, Karimu raised her paw, dunking it in the bowl, just as Kopa had done mere moments prior. "Kopa, Son of Ni and Tuli..." Removing her paw from the bowl, she looked her mate in the eye, sensing his uncertainty through his strong exterior. Taking a sudden glance over to her parents, she was met with a single combined nod by both of them. This was the way it had to be.

"I promise to uphold the traditions and honours of the Uasilands, to provide wisdom and insight to its residents, and to bear the future of the pride, and the land." She raised her paw to Kopa's forehead, a sudden breeze blowing up his mane softly, allowing her paw to rest against his entire forehead. As she spoke, she started to paint two lines down his forehead. "Without Hope... Without Fear... Without Consequences..." On the final promise, she connected the lines, forming a V-shape across his forehead. The mark of the king, across the savannah and beyond. Just like Karimu's, the crystal replaced the fur, creating a permanent connection to the structure around them. The sheer power of the Uasian tower pulsed around them, in the walls and floors, let alone through their blood. They could feel it, their love fuelling the immense, world-breaking power now rushing through their bodies and their souls.

As Kopa raised his head, he dipped his paw in the crystalised chalice, soaking his paw tips with the humming fluid. His warm brown eyes locked with Karimu's, slowly preparing himself to take his new oath.

"Karimu, Daughter of Mfalme and Heshima, Heir of the Uasian Throne…" His voice trembled, a mixture of trepidation and unaccountable love for the lioness standing before him. "I promise to uphold the traditions and honours of the Uasilands, to provide wisdom and protection to its residence, to provide peace, providence and the needs for all to prosper." As his words filled the air, he moved his paw up to her forehead, spreading the liquidised crystal onto her forehead in three droplet forms. "Without hope… Without fear…Without consequences…" Within seconds, it had become one with her, humming brightly as she smiled at her love.

As the pair calmed, the Sisters of Mponyaji all moved in, standing before the gathered crowds. Afya stood before Kopa and Karimu, turning to face the crowds. She inhaled as she did so, flickering her eyes at the two newly crowned royals. They both nodded slightly at her, giving her their blessing. Turning back to the crowds, she raised her head, ready to declare the start of a new era.

"Animals of the Uasilands, friends and allies from near and far..." The lioness spoke firmly yet calmly. A rather wise smile adorned her muzzle as she looked out to the amazed crowd before her. The light from the outside world gleaming onto her and the royal couple slightly behind her.

"As Elder of the Sisters Mponyaji, it is my honour to present to you..." She moved slightly out of the way, revealing the Uasian King and queen, who had moved backwards, sitting in the Uasian throne, for the first time. "King Kopa and Queen Karimu!"

Every lion and lioness bowed in their presence. It was official. Kopa and Karimu had both proven themselves as perfect rulers for the Uasilands. As their subjects bowed towards them, Karimu turned to Kopa, a loving smile adorning her muzzle.

A series of roars boomed from the gathered prides, celebratory hums and roars booming across the courtroom, welcoming the new king and queen to power. Within this gathering, Kwaheri and Jicho stood, surrounded by Kwaheri's clan. The eagle watched as her mistress stood proud and strong next to her mate. She couldn't help but feel her sense of pride boiling away inside her, causing her eyes to water heavily.

"Aww, they're so... so...!" She couldn't form her words, her tears consuming his face as she tried to wipe them with her feathery wings. With a mischievous, yet smiling face, Kwaheri raised his arms, approaching the eagle quickly.

"Oh come here you!" Without delay, he hugged the eagle tightly, squeezing her soft feathered body tightly. Jicho wheezed slightly, wiggling whilst Kwaheri huddled her tightly.

"Kwaheri!" The eagle squawked. "Watch the feathers!" She tried to fight back against the rather annoying monkey, to no avail. Eventually, she surrendered, letting him cuddle her deeply.

At the same time, Kuwinda watched the proceedings. Ulinzi and Amani nuzzled up to her, watching whilst their parents looked out to the roaring crowds. Their little hearts pumped with pride. Kuwinda couldn't help but shed a tear. They had done it.

Kopa was now king, and she was... She didn't really know. She knew that she would become the lead huntress, as Kopa had asked her. But, as the King's second mate. Could she be considered... A princess? Her mind rumbled with such a revelation, tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she saw Kopa's eyesight shoot towards her, smiling warmly, and rather handsomely, before returning to Karimu's.

"Ready, my king?" She couldn't help but smirk at his loving, happy face. He grinned back, moving his head closer towards hers. The breeze that blew in through the large crack in the tower's wall intensified, small shards of crystal becoming airborne in the breeze.

"Of course, my queen." With a short, loving chuckle, Kopa began to nuzzle his new queen deeply. Karimu snuggled him back just as hard, their furs igniting with ethereal energy as the winds intensified to their peak. Shards of the Uasian Tower began to fly through the air, over the heads of the gathered prides. Slowly but surely, the tower began to repair itself, restructuring itself in the warm, loving embrace between its king and queen. They were one, a beating heart of the pride.

As the tower repaired itself in the supernaturally powerful, crystal-filled wind, the gathered pride stood shocked and bewildered. Many gave off murmurs and gasps of complete amazement, but none more so than Kion. The young lion sat, mouth agape, as he watched the Uasian tower's main crystal fly back up to the sky, fusing back with the tower high above them.

"Hevi kabisa!" He and the guard had seen many amazing things in their lives, but this? This had beaten everything by far.

For Kopa and Karimu, nothing else mattered at this moment. They had become lost in their embrace, the feeling of their love bursting from their bodies was far too much to contain. The crystalised throne surrounding them hummed at their loving embrace. As they did, a flutter of birds swayed above them, dropping a chain of small Uasian crystals over their heads, causing both of them to chuckle gently before continuing their affectionate nuzzling.

In time, they calmed, slowly returning to a normalised state. Opening their eyes, the newly crowned Uasian king and Queen found each other, just as they were. Together. They had but mere moments before their loving moment were... interrupted...

"Mum! Dad!" The sound of their sweet, adorable cubs forced Kopa and Karimu's attention over to the corner of the courtroom. As they did, they saw the two-small fluffy balls rushing towards them, beginning their pounce. Without delay, Ulinzi and Amani lept into their parent's warming embrace, nuzzling them the entire time as Kopa and Karimu nuzzled them softly.

Kuwinda followed slowly after, a look of pure heart warmed affection adorning her muzzle. A smile of pure love, for Kopa, Karimu, the cubs. The entire Uasian Royal Family. They were her family now. She placed a paw on her stomach as she smiled at them. She was honoured to bear the future of the pride.

Kopa noticed the younger lioness. With a wave of his paw, he ushered her to the snuggle. She rushed in, nuzzling up to her love, her mate, her king. Karimu wrapped her paw around her friend, welcoming her to the pride as a series of coos erupted from the gathered prides surrounding them.

Shujaa, Kwaheri and Jicho all stood at the side-lines, watching as their friends and leaders enjoyed their moment. Jicho brushed her eyes with her wings, soaking them with her eagle-eyed tears. She couldn't be prouder to see the two lions she had nurtured and taught, for all these years, finally reach their destiny. Kwaheri also felt a tear roll down his cheek as he watched Kopa, his friend, brother even, finally reaching his peak. Their mother would have been proud of him, proud of all of them.

A light shone from higher up the tower, the light of day seemingly beaming upon the crystallised structure, illuminating the Uasian Royal Family in ethereal light. The gathered prides bowed in their presence once more, feeling the majestic power flow through the structure in which they stood.

The Uasian throne had been reclaimed. Peace was now possible. And the power to defeat Scar was within their fur. Though each of them had to sacrifice so much, the corruption of the Uasilands had been cleansed. And now, Kopa and Karimu had taken their places as queen and king. The land, once corrupted from the presence of Baya and Kifo's demonic consumption of life itself, had been cleansed. But something still worried Kopa. Baya talked about a Dark Lord. Kopa could only think of one being that could cause such mischief, such chaos. After all, he had done it before, only a few months prior.

Kopa was sure. Scar must have been behind this. But his plan had failed. They were in control now. The Uasian tower, glittering with the energies of the world, would be their key once its energies had settled. And when it was, they could call the entirety of the savanna to assist in their attack on the Pridelands.

As the tower's powers reached its peak, it sent out an almighty pulse of energy, expanding outwards into the savannah at a remarkable rate. As it passed the land below, it cleansed the corruption in its wake, restoring it to its original state. The land was cleaned once more. But its corrupted conquerors were still out there.

The Scarred War... Was only just beginning…