A pale orange lioness stood next to a brownish-grey one in the Outlands. Safiya was telling her friend Vitani that she was bearing a cub. It would be another mouth for the small, burdened pride to feed. However, Vitani smiled. The lioness was doing her best to lead the band of lionesses and they were doing well together. Times were hard, but they would continue to fight it. Glancing over to where Nailah lay with her Vitani's cubs, Safiya forced a smile. She was close friends with both of them, but she wasn't sure that she could remain in the Outlands. This would be her first cub, and she was afraid it wouldn't survive the hardships the pride was presented with. And so, silently making up her mind, Safiya went on to spend one last day of happiness and laughter with her friends.

Early the next morning, Safiya rose before the pride and made her way to the Pride Lands. She wasn't sure if she would be welcomed, but she wanted to try. Silently slipping across the border, the pale orange lioness made her way towards Pride Rock. However, before she was near it, she heard the sound of two lions walking through the deep grass. Freezing, she bowed her head as Simba and Kovu approached her.

Alert, but welcoming, Simba greeted the lioness. "Why have you come back to the Pride Lands?" he asked her kindly.

"Sire, I am nearing the time to bear my first cub. I do not wish to raise it in the Outlands, nor do I believe it will have the chance to survive. I beg you to let me rejoin your pride."

Simba listened in silence, and then he turned to Kovu. He had spent long hours training the dark lion and he knew that Kovu was nearing the time when he would be able to assume the throne.

"Kovu, I leave this decision in your paws. You may decide the fate of this lioness and her cub."

Kovu took a deep breath and gazed closely at the lioness. She was being honest – he could see by her bulging belly. Quickly, he ran over the things that Simba had taught him in his mind. A king should be fair, just and compassionate. Considering both options, Kovu finally spoke.

"Safiya, you are free to join our pride as you wish. Your cub will be welcomed here."

The lioness bowed her head gratefully, and wound her way through the grass towards Pride Rock. Simba remained with Kovu, and the two continued their walk.

"You made a wise and kind decision, Kovu," Simba told him. In the time that he had begun to teach Kovu, he had seen the lion become more and more ready to be a wonderful king. In fact, sometimes Kovu even reminded Simba of his father, Mufasa. Smiling, he bounded off, with Kovu close behind him.

Deep in the jungle, another creature was teaching an heir. Zira's young cub Vengeance was growing fast and strong. He was handsome and his blue eyes glittered in the sunlight, but as the days went by, his heart began to grow blacker and blacker. Zira spent endless hours telling him stories, and teaching him of hate and power. She told him of Simba and how he stole her pride's lands. She taught of Simba's daughter, who possessed evil powers, and how she cast a spell on Kovu. She even described how Simba's pride had murdered Vengeance's father. As the cub grew older, Zira taught him to fight, hunt and make plans for battle. Any hope that he would one day become good disappeared quickly, and soon he was a well known terror in the jungle.

And still, Zira filled him with hate, anger and the lust for blood.

As time passed, Vengeance's mane grew long and he passed adolescence. Often Zira would send her son out on missions. They involved hunting, killing, and often fighting against other lions and distant prides. Sometimes, Vengeance would be gone for days before he returned after completing the task. And often, Zira would send him right back out again. She wanted him to be strong. She wanted him to be undefeatable.

One day, Vengeance arrived back from a long trip. But he wasn't alone. Zira's eyes narrowed as her son stepped into their clearing with a lioness. She was pure white, and had red eyes. There wasn't a single dark color on her. Zira was wary of the lioness – she had never seen anything like her before. However, she soon realized that Vengeance had made a wise decision in bringing her back with him. The lioness was gentle and quiet, but she was always quick to obey whatever Vengeance told her to do. Zira was curious to know his secret and so one day, when the two were lying near the pond together, Zira crept close to them.

"Halima," she heard Vengeance say, "you are so beautiful. You will make a wonderful Queen one day."

The albino lioness smiled. "Thank you Vengeance. I have always wanted to rule, but my pride feared me. They didn't like that I was so different."

Vengeance laughed. "No one will ever treat you that way now that you are with me," he told her. "Soon, we will take control of all the lands around us. And then, we will start our pride."

Zira smiled. She had done well. Soon, she would be able to lead Vengeance and Halima against Simba. He is getting old now, Zira thought. Soon, we will rule the Pride Lands!

Standing up, Zira made her way to the edge of the jungle. In the far distance, past the Outlands, she could see the rising peak of Pride Rock. Smiling, Zira narrowed her eyes. She could just make out a golden glint, accompanied by dark, on the top of it. Letting out a low growl, her claws dug into the soft ground.

Simba, your end is very near…