In the Pride Lands, the day was the day of the Kumbuka celebration. Makini had traveled to the pride lands because she was now the Royal Majousy for both The Pride Lands and Tree of Life.

Makini got to Pride Rock while Kiara awaited her arrival.

"Makini, it's so good to see you again," Kiara exclaimed hugging Makini as she arrived.

"I'm so thankful that the lions of the past gave me this honor. I know I have big footprints to fill," Makini joyfully said.

"You haven't changed a bit. I've definitely missed you being around here," Kiara said.

"Thank you, your highness. Kion sends his love, he wished he could've stayed for the celebration but something strange is happening at the Tree of Life," Makini said with a sad tone.

"We will talk all about that in a little while, but first. Ono is gathering everyone to come here," Kiara explained.

"Good," Makini said.

Kiara and Makini went to go to Simba and Nala's den, but Kiara stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Malkia crying in a corner.

"Malkia, what's happened? What's wrong?" Kiara frantically asked.

"It's dad, he's dying," Malkia yelled through her tears.

Makini looked at Kiara whose face had turned from joy to devastation.

"Makini, please go get Kovu, he's talking with Njia in the den. I need him and could you maybe keep Njia occupied for me?" Kiara asked.

"Of course Kiara, but don't you want me to see if I can help Simba?" Makini asked.

"Right, right," Kiara said trying to stop her head from spinning.

"Kiara," Kovu said standing behind her knowing there was something wrong based on Malkia's tears.

Kiara ran to Kovu and buried her face and started to weep. Kovu looked at Malkia who now began to cry even more, as Makini hung her head in sadness.

"Your majesty, the crowd is here," Ono said swooping down to see Kovu.

"What are we going to tell them?" Kovu thought to himself.

Simba slowly walked out, looking weaker than ever.

"Dad!" Malkia screamed running up to hug him. As Simba hugged her as much as he could. With Nala by his side helping him walk.

"Kovu, help me to Pride Rock. I need to say goodbye to them," Simba whispered with the little strength he had.

"No, no. Simba we can handle the celebration, you need to rest," Kovu said keeping his emotions under control for Kiara.

"One last time the King of Pride Rock will speak. One last time," Simba whispered forcefully. As he swayed back and forth trying to stay on his feet.

"Go get Kopa and Tani, and go get Kitu. I know he was with Rutger but he needs to be here," Kovu called to Ono.

"Affirmative," Ono said racing to do what Kovu had instructed.

The lions and Makini helped Simba to the peak of Pride Rock. Slowly, as Nala saw flashbacks of when Simba first stood on the peak of pride rock after defeating Scar. Kovu remembered when Simba welcomed him as part of the pride. And Kiara couldn't help but remember all the moments in her life when her father was right there. As they got halfway to the peak, Simba insisted that he would go up on his own. One thing that was not broken was his spirit and his love for the Land he had lived to protect and serve.

Kitu and Rutger arrived as Kitu's face were filled with shock seeing his grandfather like that. The pride landers from the distance they were still could tell that Simba was frail.

"My fellow Pride Landers. It's no secret that this is the Kumbuka celebration. The day we remember when this Pride defeated the force of evil known as Scar. Not just me. But many animals fought with me. My mate who has been my best friend for all my life. The one who has been my rock, and the mother to four beautiful cubs. I will never stop loving Nala, the love of my life. My mother, and the old lionesses of this pride fought alongside Nala against the hyenas. I will never forget the look on my mother's face when she saw me again. I miss her dearly. My friends Rafiki, Zazu, Timon, and Pumbaa. All fought with me to free this land. And all of them helped me revive the Pride Lands from its dormant state. While I am praised as one of the greatest kings this land has ever known. I know that I have failed in many ways. Allowing my pride and fear to stand in the way of my daughter and the love of her life the current King Kovu. Who has become a Son to me, and I am very proud of the lion he is. I didn't search long enough to find my prodigal son Kopa. I'm just glad that I got to spend these last few years with him, and was able to be his father again. Malkia is my miracle cub, after I made the biggest mistake of my life. I look at her and see the beauty of her mother that's within her. And I can't wait to watch over her as my father and mother have over me for all my life. As for all of you, I have attended many funerals for friends who passed. From the Elephants to Zebra, to Gazelle to Hippos. All of you are the next generation of Pride Landers who will carry on in the place of those who sacrificed so much for me, by allowing me the honor of being their king. While I am not perfect, I protected and served this land with an upright zeal. And after my family, you all are my greatest accomplishment. If I could instill one last thing, one last time into all of you. It's this, live your life with the perspective that every day counts. You don't know what each day will bring, you don't know what love or loss you may have. That's something my son Kion taught me, that every day counts. As this is my last time speaking with you all, I can't thank you enough for all the encouragement, love, stress, and hard times that all have brought me. My journey in the Circle of Life is almost complete. Now I will spend the rest of my time with those I love the most," Simba spoke with a booming voice. Almost as if Mufasa was speaking through him, he didn't know where all the strength came from.

The crowd looked at each other, thinking about what he had just said.

"Good King Simba, takes care of everything. Good King Simba, the true and rightful king. Hail, hail, hail to the King," The crowd softly sang. Which made Simba cry knowing that his journey was complete.

Simba limped to where his family was, they hugged him as a group.

"Someone has to go tell Kion," Simba whispered.

"I'll have Kasi go," Vitani said.

"Thank you, my daughter," Simba said hugging Vitani.

"I wish you could meet your other grand cub," Vitani said trying not to cry.

"I will enjoy watching him or her grow, from whatever perspective I have," Simba said.

{

At the tree of life. Near Sunset

Kion, Rani, and Kishindo went to a remote area of the Tree of Life's territory

"What is this place? I've never been here?" Kishindo asked with almost cub-like wonder.

"This is me and your mother's secret hideout. We came here mainly to get away and be together," Kion said trying to collect his thoughts, and rain in his temper.

"Kishindo, we need to talk to you about yesterday. I'm not okay with you trying to attack Muhasi after he accidentally hit you. I know you two were roughhousing, but some lines shouldn't be crossed," Rani instructed sternly.

"Oh, so that's what this is about. You didn't want to spend time with me, you wanted to scold me," Kishindo retorted.

"Kishindo, we are trying to correct you. You know the difference between right and wrong when you and your siblings are wrestling around," Kion sternly said with a little force behind it.

"Yeah, and so does Muhasi. And yet he hit me! I reacted, so freaking what," Kishinrdo snipped back looking at his mother.

"Kishindo! I will not have you disrespect your mother! So watch your tone," Kion yelled trying to internalize his anger but he was losing control quickly.

"It's amazing to me that you are not talking with the tattle tale himself. Muhasi is the one who started this in the first place. I didn't hit him, as I'm sure both my sisters told you. So why are you making me the sacrificial lamb here?" Kishindo argued.

"Because when me and your father are gone, it's going to be up to you four to protect the tree of life. And for you and your sisters to support Muhasi as King, as your uncle does for me," Rani shouted.

"What if I don't want to protect the Tree of Life?" Kishindo said getting up and walking away shaking his head.

Both Kion and Rani were stunned by his response.

Kishindo walked past a den he had not ever noticed before. Still mad but a bit curious about what could be inside the den. He looked around and sniffed trying to see if there was a scent. He smelled someone familiar to him, but it was mixed with a different smell.

"Kishindo?" Muhasi yelled seeing his brother.

"Muhasi what the hell are you doing?" Kishindo yelled back.

"Come here, Kaela is stuck," Muhasi said trying to pull a few big branches away so she could get free.

"Why were you here in the first place?" Kishindo asked.

"We can talk about that later, right now let's just get her out," Muhasi said.

"Please Kishindo, help me out," Kaela said.

"Not until I know why you both were in here alone?" Kishindo snarled.

"Oh yes Kish, we were in here mating. For God's sake man I was showing her around the Tree of Life, and I didn't know this den was here," Muhasi sarcastically yelled.

"Fine," Kishindo said. Lifting the branch up off of Kaela.

"Thank you Kishindo," Kaela said then she froze looking over his shoulder.

"Oh, My God!" Muhasi said seeing what Kaela saw a big splatter of blood on the wall.

"That's just like the splatter that was in the den halfway here," Kishindo said wondering what it could be.

"Could it be those predators your parents keep talking about?" Kaela asked.

"Possibly, but no matter what we got to get the hell away from here. Come on," Kishindo said.

The three walked out of the den to find Kion and Rani standing at the entrance.

"Boys, what were you doing?" Kion asked sternly.

"Relax dad, Kaela was stuck in between a couple of branches. And Muhasi needed my help to get her out," Kishindo said.

"I wasn't asking you," Kion snipped at Kishindo which ticked Kishindo off.

"Dad, that's what happened. Kaela wanted to see the place, and one off the beaten path later we wound up here," Muhasi said.

"I don't understand why you were here," Kion said glaring back at Kishindo. Kishindo was so angry at how his father was treating him he was ready to fight him.

"KION! Enough! I know you are upset but control yourself. Both our boys are fine, now calm the heck down," Rani yelled at him.

Kion shook his head trying to calm down. But then locked eyes with Kishindo again.

"I'm sorry your majesties, I just wanted to walk around here, and Muhasi was free. So he took me with him, and without Kishindo I would still be stuck," Kaela said trying to settle the matter.

"Thank you, Kaela, we will see you three back for dinner?" Rani asked.

"Sure, although am I welcome?" Kishindo asked trying to make a point.

Kion stopped dead in his tracks and took a deep breath.

"Kishindo I don't know what's gotten into you, but you wonder why you won't be king. This is why!" Kion sternly said, then walked away.

Leaving Kishindo devastated as if his father had just disowned him. Rani looked at her son kindly but knew that those words just tore him to pieces. Then Rani went with Kion.

"Why didn't you both tell them about the blood?" Kaela asked.

"Why would they listen to me? You heard him, I'm second rate anyway," Kishindo said running off trying to clear his head.

"Kishindo!" Muhasi yelled trying to get his brother to come back, but Muhasi was angry at his father for overreacting.

"Kaela. Go find Jala and Maisha tell them to go to our spot, I'll be there shortly," Muhasi said as he ran off in the direction his parents went.

As Kion and Rani walked both of them were silent. But then Muhasi slid past them blocking their path.

"Muhasi?" Kion said unsure whether to be mad or curious.

"Dad, how could you say that to Kishindo? You just called him second-rate! Like he's beneath me. I don't care what happened yesterday, or what he said to you earlier. But you just acted exactly like you told us Great-Grandfather Ahadi did to Scar. And I refuse to let my brother be mistreated by anyone including you," Muhasi said standing up to Kion.

Kion's eyes blazed with fire at the level of disrespect Muhasi just showed him. But he quickly realized his mistake.

"Oh God, what have I done?" Kion yelled at himself.

"You're the only one who can fix this, but the damage is already done now, cause you can't take those words back," Muhasi said firmly.

"Kion I'm still upset you said that to him. No matter what he said or did to us, he was right, we ambushed him and attacked him like he was the problem," Rani said.

"No, no. That's why you guys took him out today? Well, no wonder he's pissed. He talked all morning that you guys wanted to hang out with him today," Muhasi said.

"Where is he?" Kion asked.

"Where he always goes, to our spot. But that's why Jala and Maisha are on their way. We will handle this, but then you've got to do what only you can do dad," Muhasi said.

"You are going to make a great king one-day Muhasi," Kion said.

"It's not about that this time. It's about that is my brother, and I will be there for him no matter what," Muhasi said running passed his parents.

Kion and Rani went quickly back to the Tree of Life, to see Kasi there.

"Kasi?" What's wrong," Kion asked.

"I'll tell him," Bunga said putting his claw on Kasi's shoulder.

"Kion, it's your dad," Bunga said.

Coming Up

The next few chapters will be emotional so get your tissues ready.

Author's Note.

I want to make something clear with these chapters. Kishindo's actions shouldn't be taken as if he is turning evil. He is a teenager, and we all said and did things as teens that made us seem like horrible individuals at that time. Kishindo is trying to find his place, and hopefully, soon he will.