KawaiiCutie12: Well...not much to be said...here's part 2 of the final chap! 😭😭😭😭

+RyanSquad: I love you omg😂😂

+ExGeneration35: Ya see...about that...😂no I'm kidding, she surprisingly feels terrible for what she did, plus she held herself accountable, and proved herself to 'Tani

+HydroCOre: Aww, I'm glad you loved that part! Yeah, Nala's finally holding herself accountable (as she should). Yeah, so a little "backstory": She actually wanted to play with Simba that day, but...he was playing with someone else😂. Yesss the hair tuft duo is a thing now! Nothing else will, dw 😉💕and I LOVEEE your long reviews! 💘💘

+TLK Fan on YTB: Thank you so much! Ahh, gotcha😚❤

+Air-Crafter: Aww thanks, I'm glad you liked it! I do that too sometimes XD yeah, poor Vitani. Knowing her best friend was killed already fucked her up, but having to see him ripped from limb to limb? My poor baby😞💔

Chapter 19:

"Ohhh, where is she!"

Back at Pride Rock, the cubs started to panic; Vitani still hadn't returned, and apparently Tama was now missing too.

"Kula, you gotta calm down," Chumvi tried, but to no avail.

"NO! I'm not calming down until I know 'Tani is okay!" she declared.

Though having a neutral expression, Nala was scared as well. So enraged by what Panya said, she didn't even think to go running after Vitani.

"She'll be okay."

Nala looked up to see Beleco staring down at her. She sat down next to her, and Nala continued to stare at her.

"Why don't you hate me?" Nala asked.

Beleco frowned. "I mean, you apologized. Why else would I need to hate you?" She let out a chuckle.

Nala didn't answer to that. "I'm scared."

Beleco turned to her. "Why?"

"Because I messed up everything! I should've been a better friend to 'Tani, and I should've tried to see her side, instead of getting defensive and blowing her off the way I did! Not to mention, I didn't even believe her..."

Nala buried her face in her paws. "I messed up. I messed up real bad. And now I'm gonna lose one of the lioness cubs I considered a sister, because of my own stupidity."

Beleco stared at her for a moment, before placing a paw on her back. "Hey, you don't know that. Look, I don't know her as well as you guys do, but I know she's got the purest heart, and she's a great friend; a great girl in general."

Nala looked up at her. "Ya think so?"

Beleco smiled and nodded. "Come on, why don't we go for a walk? A little bonding never hurts."

Nala smiled, and got up from the ground. The rest of the cubs watched with happy eyes as the two cream cubs walked away.

Pride Rock:

Things weren't going great still. The moon was high in the sky, and at this point even Scar was pacing back and forth.

I have no idea what I'll do if something happened to my little girl. She must be out there, somewhere.

"Scar!"

He turned to see Zazu flying up to him.

"Yes, Zazu?" he answered, not exactly in the mood.

"Eh hem...which one is yours?" Zazu awkwardly asked.

Scar's irritation reached its peak. "The one with a hair tuft! How hard is that?"

"They both have hair tufts!" Zazu shot back.

Surprised by this piece of information, Waziri sat up. "What do you mean, 'both'?"

"Two cubs were spotted with hair tufts, but it's quite hard to tell which one is Vitani." He narrowed his eyes at Scar at that last part.

Scar sighed. "I apologize, Zazu."

Zazu's face softened, and he waved an understanding wing. "They'll be here soon, don't worry."

And with that, Zazu flew away, and Scar went to inform his mate about the news.

"So, what was Kopa like?"

Tama and Vitani still had quite some time before theh made it back to Pride Rock. After leaving the hot springs, they went to Rafiki's tree to treat her injuries. Not in a rush, they took their time getting back, even going as far as to take the long way.

"He was...he was basically another Simba," Vitani answered.

Tama stopped in her tracks. She turned to Vitani. "So you're telling me...you dealt with two Simbas?"

Vitani burst out laughing. "I sure did. But he was a bit more mature. We always had fun together, whether we were running all across the Pride Lands, or if we were sitting in on of the dens."

"That sounds amazing," Tama commented. She sighed. "Malka and I had a bond like that; I hope we can get it back."

Vitani looked at the saddened Tama, and she stopped walking. "Hey, Malka really cares about you, and I bet he misses you."

Tama was still doubtful, but gave Vitani a small smile. "Thanks, 'Tani."

The two continued walking, and before they knew it, they were near the waterhole.

"That was quick," Vitani commented, wide-eyed.

"I'll say." Tama turned back to Vitani. "So-"

"Tani!"

Both looked up to see Nala sprinting towards them.

"Are you okay?" she demanded upon arriving.

Vitani offered a small smile and nodded. She wasn't prepared for Nala's killer grip.

"I'm so sorry, 'Tani! I don't know what I was thinking! Panya can go rot in a ditch of she thinks she can pull something like that! You're not just my friend, you're the sister I wish I had! Oh, I missed you!"

Vitani blinked, before returning the bear hug. "I missed you too."

Letting go, Nala turned to Tama, then back to Vitani.

"You know I love both-no, all of you equally, right?" Nala asked.

"Well, now I do," Vitani smirked.

They all laughed at that, and Nala turned to Vitani. "Come on, I needa spend time with you."

The two talked as they trotted away. Tama smiled at the two, happy to see them bounce back like best friends should.

"That was nice of you."

She turned to see Malka, and her smile faltered.

"I just felt so terrible for her; she didn't deserve that. Besides, even if I did hate Vitani, I would never say something like that to her."

A small smile formed on Malka's muzzle. A moment of silence passed, before Tama sighed.

"Malka...I'm so sorry. I was being a total brat, when you've been nothing but my rock since day one. You're not just a friend, you're my first, and best friend. Can you ever forgive me for my attitude?" Tama remorsefully questioned.

Malka was wide-eyed. In all honesty, he was expecting one of her usual sarcastic remarks. But this...it was like a whole new Tama.

Malka smiled, and Tama didn't hesitate in putting her head under his. Blushing slightly, Malka nuzzled her head, and they stayed like that for some time.

Pulling away, Malka ran off to play with the other Mountain Lands cubs. Tama watched him go, before lying down by the waterhole.

"Tama."

She turned, and to her surprise, Simba was standing behind.

"Listen...about that day-"

She rose a paw. "Just shut up, okay?"

Simba frowned, but before he could get a word out, Tama beat him to it.

"You didn't do anything wrong, so just shhh, and let me talk."

Simba's frown faded, but he let her talk.

"I'm truly sorry, Simba; I shouldn't have acted the way I did. You were right; I was acting like I was better than everyone. I thought that...maybe if I acted like I was better than everyone, people would think I was cool, and that...I wouldn't be so anxious; especially around you."

Simba's eyes widened. "Me? Why?"

"Because I know you and Nala have this epic friendship; it...made me jealous," she answered.

Simba tossed an incredulous look. "But I was jealous of you!"

The two giggled, and Simba sighed. "And I'm sorry I blew up at you the way I did. I should've just tried to understand why you acted that way, instead of saying those horrible things."

Tama shook her head. "No, I deserved it. If anything, thanks for saying what you did." She offered Simba a shy smile. "You'll make a great king with that bluntness."

Simba's little smile grew as his cheeks turned slightly pink, and he shuffled his paws. "So...you forgive me?"

Tama smirked. "Only if you forgive me," she teased.

Laughing, Simba pulled her into a hug, to which Tama immediately returned.

"Simba! Hey, Simb-Oh...didn't know you were back..."

Simba and Tama lifted their heads to see Tojo, staring at Tama with a questionable look.

Slowly pulling away, Tama shyly padded up to him.

"Tojo, I'm seriously sorry about teasing you. I was just..." She sighed. "I was just trying to be cool, but really I made myself look like a total fool. You love birds, and that's what makes you unique. It doesn't make you any less masculine than any of the other lion cubs; if anything, that proves even more how much of a sweet guy you are."

Tojo's blue eyes shone. "Ya think so?"

Tama smiled and nodded.

"Well...I guess I forgive you," Tojo said with a weak smile.

Tama smiled and pulled him into a hug. Simba smiled at the two, and he looked over to see Nala and Vitani talking, while Beleco, Malka, Kula, and Chumvi were with the other Mountain Lands cubs.

"Hey, let's join everyone else!" Simba stated.

Gleefully agreeing, Tojo raced over to join them. Tama, however, hesitantly made her way over. Simba looked back and noticed this.

He moved alongside Tama. "Hey, come on, it's okay."

Tama weakly smiled as she sped up to match Simba's speed.

Upon arriving there, Tama slowed down the minute Simba reached the other cubs. Tama sighed. She knew they were nice cubs, but would they really forgive her?

"Hey, Tama."

Tama turned to see Beleco shyly smiling at her.

"Oh, uh...hey, Beleco," a confused Tama greeted her.

"I heard what you did to 'Tani. That was really sweet of you," Beleco complimented.

Tama gave a teensy smile, but soon dropped it. "Listen, Beleco, I-"

She held her paw out. "I know, I know. You like Malka, and that day that him and I were talking you got jealous," Beleco understandably grinned, though there was a certain glint in her eyes.

Tama, completely taken aback at the statement, blinked multiple times. "W-What? I-no, that's not-"

Beleco laughed. "Come on, nobody gets that possessive over a friend."

Cheeks now reddening, Tama puffed out her tuft. "I mean, that's not...entirely true...I just..."

Beleco giggled. "It's okay, really. I get it; who knows? You just might make a great queen."

"Shut it!"

The lioness cubs cracked up, and Beleco turned to look at the rest of the group.

"Come on, let's join Nina and the rest." Beleco motioned with her head.

Tama slowly followed after Beleco. Upon arriving, the cubs turned to greet Beleco, but fell silent upon seeing Tama.

Tama stepped forward. "Guys, I-"

"We know. You weren't in the best state and you were hurting. Now shut up and give me a hug." Nina pulled her into a tight hug.

Surprised, Tama chuckled and returned the hug.

"I missed you guys," she whispered.

Joining them, they all socialized and made up for the lost time together.

Panya didn't see anyone in sight. She knew someone would be coming for her, so she had to act fast.

Okay, here I go. One, two-

"Hello, Panya."

To this day, she still recognized that voice. Turning, she saw not just King Mufasa, but Queen Sarabi as well. Both of them wore equally stern expressions.

Well, at least it's not Scar and Zira. Sheesh those two scare me.

"Hello, your majesties," she forced out as normally as possible.

"Where are you headed off to?" Sarabi feigned curiosity. "Don't you wanna play with my son and his friends?"

"Eh he he, no, I uh, I don't think that that's a good idea right now-"

"Well why not? You sure seemed to have a lot to say to them earlier. Especially Vitani."

Panya's heart dropped, but she kept her facade. "I-I d-don't know w-what you're t-talking ab-bout."

Mufasa stepped forward. "Maybe this will help freshen your memory: Like how you basically killed Kopa?"

Panya didn't have anything else to say. Not that she needed to, because he didn't even give her a chance to open her mouth.

"I don't know what's happen to you, but you are not going to come in here and disrespect my niece like so!" Mufasa roared.

"You have not one clue what that girl has gone through, and for you to make a comment like that towards her is absolutely disgusting!" Sarabi added in, just as furious.

Panya surprisingly found her voice. "Well she shouldn't have-"

"Panya!"

"Panya honey, where are you?"

All three turned to see Panya's parents, and they trotted over the minute they turned their heads.

"What's going on?" Panya's mother asked, sensing the tension.

"Well, your daughter here has been incredibly rude to our niece, Vitani, once again," Mufasa explained.

Panya's father looked down at her. "Panya, is that true?"

Panya fumbled with her paws for a moment, but sighed. "Sure."

Panya's mother looked at the king and queen. "Oh come on, surely what she said couldn't have been that serious."

Mufasa and Sarabi blinked at each other. Are they serious right now?

"Your daughter flat-out accused her of the murder of Kopa," Sarabi voiced, clearly upset. "Do you have a damn idea how broken she was? He was her best friend."

"And he was also Panya's friend, but you don't see her getting any sympathy. Maybe if the girl had listened to her parents-"

"Silence!" Mufasa demanded. "I hereby exile you from the Pride Lands. If you set foot in here ever again-or if you ever approach any of the cubs again-I will see to it that you are rightfully punished..Understood?"

Glaring at the king, they turned to leave. "Let's go, Panya."

A weight was lifted off their shoulders watching them leave.

"I do not believe them," Sarabi commented, still appalled at their words.

"I can. They've been snooty since cubhood," Mufasa resentfully reminded her.

"Well, at least none of us will have to deal with them again." Sarabi cracked a smile.

Mufasa couldn't help but smile back. Laughing, the two shared a deep, affectionate nuzzle.

"Come on, let's return home.

The royal couple walked side-by-side, now at peace knowing their niece will never have to deal with that.

"Don't be mad but...I probably won't be able to leave the den tomorrow."

Nala and Vitani caught up faster than either expected, and Vitani was-or, had been-looking forward to spending the day with her tomorrow.

"What, why?" Vitani immediately asked.

She was surprised to see Nala's face turn red. "I, uh...well, after you ran off, I was so angry at Panya for saying that to you, so instead of running after you, I might've...lashed out on her as well..."

Catching on, Vitani's mouth dropped. "Nala, why!"

"Because that was mean!" Nala shot back. "Even if you had killed Kopa, you clearly feel bad about it, and she shouldn't have said that, especially in front of everyone else."

Vitani couldn't help but smile at that. Pulling Nala into a hug, she nuzzled her. "Well, thanks for that."

Pulling away, Nala locked eyes with Vitani. "And to make it up to you, I'm taking you to the hot springs as many times as you want!"

Her purple-blue eyes lit up. "I can't wait! Tama and I had a pretty good time there."

Nala turned to her. "That's why you guys were gone for so long! I thought you guys had gotten lost."

Vitani laughed. "No, we were just spending some time together."

The two talked a little more before, they turned to Pride Rock.

"Well...guess we better head back," Nala noted.

The two trotted back to Pride Rock, where Scar and Zira were still frantic.

"What if she's in danger?" Scar demanded.

"Oh, she probably broke something and is stranded out there!" Zira cried.

"I'm a little woozy, but I'm fine."

Everyone turned to see Vitani, sheepishly smiling. Scar and Zira lunged for her.

"Oh, thank Kings you're okay!" Zira cried.

"Princess, we were so worried!" Scar added in.

"I-I'm f-fine," Vitani choked out.

Letting her go, they studied her face.

"Are you okay, Vitani?" Zira worriedly asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Vitani answered.

"Are you sure?" Scar pushed further.

"Yes, Daddy, I'm sure," Vitani rolled her eyes while smiling.

Scar grinned and rubbed her head. "If you say so, princess."

She returned to Nala, who had waited for her down at Pride Rock.

"Come on, let's join the others," Nala gestured her head.

Trotting over, they saw everyone laughing and talking, and everything was as light as air.

Simba turned and saw them coming. "Hey, you two!"

"Hey! So what should we do now?" Nala asked.

Everyone looked to one another, seeing if they had any suggestions.

Suddenly, Tama prodded Beleco in the shoulder. "Tag, you're it!"

Everyone laughed and ran from Beleco, who stood there dumbfounded for a moment.

"Hey, get back here!" Beleco chased after her friends. After a good thirty minutes of playing tag, it was time for them to head to bed.

"Night, guys!" Vitani called out to them.

"Night!"

"Goodnight!"

Kovu followed after her, and went into their private den.

Simba turned to his group of friends. "Okay, well, the prince needs some beauty sleep."

"Guess you'll be sleeping forever," Tama teased.

Everyone laughed as Simba blew a raspberry at her, before laughing along as well.

"Goodnight, guys," he stated before climbing up Pride Rock.

The rest of the cubs all said goodnight to one another, and each went into their dens to fall asleep.

A week later:

The lions were all lying by Pride Rock, talking and lounging about.

"Does anyone know where the cubs went?" Waziri suddenly piped up.

Everyone looked at one another, all undure of the cubs' whereabouts.

"Should we go look for them?" Sarabi questioned.

"I think it's best," Scar sided with her.

Getting up, they went to look for the cubs. They searched high and low, but the cubs were nowhere to be found.

"Where could they have gone?" Jahi wondered

No one could answer that question. They all scanned the area, but oddly enough, there was absolutely no trace of the cubs.

"Maybe if we-"

The sounds of fruits being pelted at the adults soon rang through, and they all looked around trying to figure out where they were coming from.

"What just happened?" Sarafina wondered.

Childlike laughter soon erupted, and the adults turned to see the Pride Lands cubs and Mountain Lands cubs laughing and high-fiving one another.

"Yeah, who did that? We did that!" Simba boasted, while the cubs laughed even harder.

The adults soon joined in the laughter before cleaning themselves up and getting ready for the hunt.

After dinner, the cubs basked in the setting sun.

"That was the best meal ever!" Kula cried.

All the other cubs agreed with her statement.

"I had such a fun time as well," Nina agreed with a smile.

Kula turned to her. "Can't wait 'til we vacation in the Mountain Lands!"

"Ohmigosh, you are so gonna love it!" Nina exclaimed. "You've gotta come soon!"

"Dang right I will! Even if I have to run away from home!" Kula declared.

Everyone laughed, Nina and Kula louder than the rest.

"I hope we visit soon," Nala commented.

"Yeah, I've never been to the Mountain Lands before," Vitani noted.

"I can't wait for you guys to stay over," Tama smiled.

"Same here," Beleco said, high-fiving Tama.

Nala smiled. Everything was okay now.

"Okay guys, time for bed!" They heard the adults call out. "We're heading out tomorrow!"

At this, the cubs saddened, but nonetheless they all walked into their respective dens.

The cubs played all morning, but the minute they ate leftovers for lunch, reality set in.

"I'm gonna miss you guys!" Kula cried.

"Same here," Beleco sadly agreed.

They went around giving each other hugs and saying their goodbyes. Once Vitani and Tama got to each other, they stopped for a minute, locking eyes with each other. It was almost as if they were telepathically communicating. After what felt like forever, they engulfed each other in a long, bear hug.

"Okay, we get it! You two love each other!" Beleco teased.

Pulling away, they laughed and Tama pulled Nala into a tight hug.

"I'm gonna miss you girly," she whispered.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Tam'," Nala answered.

Within the next few hours, the Mountain Landers gathered together and headed off for their home land.

"These were the craziest weeks ever," Chumvi stated.

"Yeah, but at least it ended well," Tojo pointed out.

"That's true, Chumvi agreed.

Simba turned to his friends. "So, how about a good ol' game of gazelles and lions?"

Laughing, they ran off into the fields, and play for hours on end.

KawaiiCutie12: AHHHH the story's finished! Thanks to everyone that supported this story, and I hope you guys stick around for more adventures in the Pride Lands!

Should I make a sequel to this story? It'll definitely be set in the Mountain Lands, but what should go down?

As always, leave your opinions down below and once again, thank you all for everything!

KawaiiCutie12 signing off! ✌