As much as this chapter is also a sad chapter, I am really pleased with the way it turned out! I think its one of my best so far. Anyways, just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who have been writing me awesome reviews, and have been supporting me through this. Its been great so far! hugs all around 3

Time passed, and Halima grew weaker, as Vengeance raised their son in hate and bloodlust. Each day, father and son spent hours hunting and fighting. Vengeance had taught Redeye well, and he had grown to be strong and vicious. Already, the pride feared him, even though he was barely an adolescent, Vengeance could see the potential his son had for becoming a fearless and ruthless leader. Vengeance could feel victory in their grasp.

However, the black lion had also begun to notice a change in his mate's eyes. Before, she had been submissive and frightened – now there was a burning of hate whenever she looked at him. Although the lioness was ill-treated, malnourished and in no physical state to put up a fight, Vengeance felt strangely suspicious of her. There was something in her mannerism that had changed – in some strange way; she no longer seemed to fear him.

One evening, as the sun was setting, Vengeance was walking through the thick grass when he noticed Halima, sitting alone near a rocky outcropping. Stepping closer, the lion realized that it was the entrance to the cave where Redeye had been born so long before. As the lion stepped forwards, he noticed dark smears on the grass where Halima was sitting. Wanting to ask, but rather deciding to force out an answer, Vengeance paused in surprise as his mate turned, as if to answer him.

A flash of white he had not seen in years, met his eyes.

Halima's face, chest and front legs seemed to shine in the dimming daylight, while the rest of her body remained coated with the black paint. Snarling, Vengeance leapt forward, and came crashing down on Halima, forcing her to the ground.

"What have you done?" he snarled.

Halima gazed up at him in silence, and for a moment, the black lion thought she was ready to back down. But then, the blaze of hatred in her eyes bore into his soul, and he stepped back. Pulling herself to her paws, Halima stood facing him.

"I am tired of following you. I have hated every moment, but I never had the strength to fight back. But now…"

"What now?" spat Vengeance. "You are so weak, there is nothing you can do. And if you run, I'll send the pride after you. There is no way that you can win."

Halima nodded. "I won't run – this is where I will die – I've always known that. But I also know something that you don't. I have had a dream, countless times. It is about your mother, Zira. She has visited me and spoken of a king who will rise – and defeat you and your black pride."

Vengeance's eyes widened in anger and he was about to speak when another voice stopped him.

"Father, does she speak the truth?"

Turning, Vengeance looked down at his young son. The black paint lay heavy on his soft fur, and the only color was his glistening, blood red eye. The young lion seemed anxious – almost worried that what Halima said might somehow come true. Glancing around him, he looked back at Vengeance, waiting for his answer. Vengeance shook his head, the familiar evil smile creeping across his face.

"Of course not Redeye. You see, tomorrow is when we will go to plan our attack. Tomorrow, you and I will go to the Pride Lands, and find their weaknesses. There is no king, no matter how great, who could challenge us. Now come."

Redeye obediently fell into step beside his father, but paused as Vengeance turned to look back at Halima.

"This is not your home, but if you try to leave, we will kill you." Narrowing his eyes, Vengeance continued. "Your days are numbered, Halima."

As the two black lions disappeared into the growing darkness, Halima sank into the grass, breathing heavily with sorrow.

"Oh Zira, I have put my trust in you and the stars that shine above these dreadful lands. Please, help me. I have nothing left. Please."

As she pleaded with the sky, sleep slowly crept in on the exhausted lioness, her body still shaking with grief.

Early the next morning, Vengeance and Redeye crept silently into the Outlands. They had been traveling together all night, and their strength had carried them speedily towards the Pride Lands. Finally pausing to rest, Vengeance sat thinking as Redeye wandered through the surrounding rocks. Suddenly, a soft, wheezing cough caught Redeye's attention. Peering down over a large boulder, he looked down on a lioness and her small cub, lying on the dusty ground. But there was something strange about the lioness – and he noticed a different scent on the air.

Padding back to Vengeance, Redeye told him what he had seen. He knew from his father's teaching that no being seen was one of the most important things. But Vengeance's answer surprised him.

"Well son, why don't we go and help her? From the way you describe her, she must be very sick."

Redeye looked in astonishment at his father, but when he noticed the smile playing across Vengeance's face, he nodded.

"But keep your nose high in the air," warned Vengeance. "Don't breathe in the scent you spoke of."

Together, the two black lions climbed up on the boulder, and looked down at the lioness. Her fur was ragged, and her body racked with coughing. A small cub lay in her paws, its tiny eyes glazed over.

"I think you will find the pride in the lands bordering these ones to be welcoming," said Vengeance, looking down at the sick pair.

The lioness looked up and nodded with gratitude. "Thank you – you are very kind," she whispered, climbing to the paws and lifting the cub. Slowly, she began to make her way towards the Pride Lands. Turning, Vengeance nodded to Redeye, and the two hurried off in the opposite way.

When they had gone far enough, Redeye stopped. "Father, why did you offer help to them?"

Vengeance chuckled. "They are carrying a disease – one that will surely wipe out the lions in the Pride Lands. We will have conquered them, without laying a single paw on them."

Redeye nodded in awe at his father's quick thinking. It was the kind of leader he was aspiring to become. Slowly, the black lions began their journey back home.

As Kiara sat in the sun, she closed her eyes, happily listening to the sounds of the morning. A small smile rested on her face and her fur moved gently in the wind. After a moment, she realized she had heard a sound, and opened her eyes to see what it was. Two big eyes peered back at her, and she leapt up in surprise to see Kimoni, lying in front of her, his chin resting on the ground.

"Kimoni!" she exclaimed, "you startled me!"

The prince laughed and sat up, his strong muscles rippling as he moved. "Sorry mom."

Kiara smiled, and sat down next to her son. The pair sat in silence for a moment, and then Kiara looked over at Kimoni. She was so proud of him – how he was growing, and the sincerity he gave in his training. Truly, he would be a king one day that all the Great Kings would look down upon, and bless.

"Have I told you what a handsome lion you are becoming, Kimoni?" said Kiara, her eyes sparkling. "Why, you're almost as handsome as your father!"

Kimoni blushed, but sat a little straighter on the soft grass. He was an adolescent, and his mane was starting to grow in. It would be thick and dark – not as dark as his father's but rather a rich, brown color.

Mother and son were sitting together in silence, the sun shining brightly around them and the birds chirping, when they heard the approach of an animal through the grass. The sick lioness stepped out of it, carrying her cub. Her face lit up for a moment when she saw Kiara and Kimoni. Then, she collapsed out of sheer exhaustion. Kiara stepped forwards immediately, and then turned to her son.

"Kimoni, run for help!"

The prince nodded, and bolted off towards Pride Rock. Changing his mind part way, he turned towards Rafiki's tree. The baboon had always been a great healer. He would be able to help. Once he had spoken to Rafiki, Kimoni continued back to Pride Rock to fetch his father. Together, they hurried back to where Kimoni had left his mother with the lioness. Rafiki was already hard at work, but after a while, he stepped back and shook his head with sadness.

He had lost the cub.

Hours passed, as Rafiki tried every remedy he could mix, to try and save the lioness. Late into the night, as he sat, his head hanging in frustration, a cough broke the silence. Looking up, he wondered if the lioness had finally gained consciousness, but noticed that the cough was coming instead, from Nala. Turning to Kimoni, the baboon requested the prince take her back to Pride Rock. Nodding, Kimoni helped Nala off through the grass.

Again, a cough broke the silence, and this time, it was the lioness. She barely had the strength to open her eyes, but when she did, she smiled.

"Thank you for your help," she whispered, looking up at Kiara. The queen smiled back, with Kovu sitting close to her.

"Where did you come from?" Kiara asked the lioness. The group waited as the lioness's breathing continued to get shallower and raspier. Then she looked up, her eyes glazed. Forcing out the words, her breathing began to slow, until her head finally fell.

"Black lions."

At her whispered words, Kiara looked up in shock at Kovu. His expression was the same. Had the Black Pride that attacked the floxes caused the lioness's death? Glancing around them, the king and queen looked down at Rafiki. The baboon nodded quietly – he had thought of the same thing.

Turning to the few lionesses that had stayed with the group, Rafiki lowered his head. The lionesses proceeded to silently dig a grave, and then helped to lay the lioness and her cub in it. Then, the group slowly made its way back to Pride Rock, where the rest of the lionesses and Nala were fast asleep. Kimoni had waited anxiously to hear what had happened, and he bowed his head with sorrow as he heard of the deaths. There had been something about seeing the weak lioness, carrying her cub – trying anything to save it, that had touched him deeply. As the group went in to sleep, Kimoni remained out under the stars. For the first time in his life, he understood the importance of having a mate – of loving another. He realized how silly his words as a cub sounded to him now. And looking out across the dark lands, he realized that there, deep within his heart, was a longing for someone to love him – someone he could love in return.

The next morning, as the sun broke into the cave, Kimoni stood and looked around. The cave seemed quiet. As he turned to walk towards the entrance, he noticed an empty space near where his parents slept.

Nala was gone.

Kimoni frowned. His grandmother hadn't been well the night before, so it was odd that she was gone already. Walking out into the bright sunshine, Kimoni decided to go and look for her. As he walked down towards the waterhole, he noticed something lying in the grass ahead of him. As he moved closer, his heart sank, as he realized what it was. Breaking into a run, he rushed forwards to Nala's side. Lowering his head to touch her, he felt that she was cold. Pushing her over, Kimoni placed his head against her chest to listen for a heartbeat. Letting out a sob, Kimoni sank to the grass. He sat in silence for a moment, grieving, before letting out a bellowing roar that brought the pride thundering towards him.

As they approached, Kiara threw herself against her mother's cold body. Rafiki hurried forwards from his tree, and hung his head with sadness as he saw the mourning group. Turning, he noticed a lioness, lying to the side of the trail from Pride Rock. Moving closer to her, Rafiki realized that she was dead too. A horrifying thought came into the baboon's mind.

The lioness had been carrying a disease.

A royal burial was held for Nala, and another burial for the lioness that had fallen that morning. As the day wore on, more and more lionesses began to fall ill. Rafiki spent all his time trying to find a way to cure it. He worked with fury, trying every medicine he knew to exist. As he worked, Kiara fell sick. And a few hours later, Kovu, King of the Pride Lands, also fell ill.

Kimoni paced back and forth between Pride Rock and Rafiki's tree. Watching as his parents' health diminished was the worst thing he felt he could ever experience. Finally, Rafiki entered the cave at Pride Rock, and declared that he believed he had found a cure. He quickly gave it to Kimoni and as many of the lionesses as he could. After a few minutes, Kimoni realized that Rafiki had failed to give his parents the herb. Turning on the baboon, the prince challenged his decision.

Lowering his head, Rafiki gave his reply. "Even if I try to treat them now, I won't be able to save them. It's too late, Kimoni."

Although the prince didn't want to believe it, Kimoni knew it was true. His parents were dying and as heir to the throne, the weight of the Pride Lands now rested on him. His heart sank as he tried to go over the many things Kovu had taught him, but he felt overwhelmed. He could hardly bear to think of himself standing at the peak of Pride Rock – something he had always dreamed of before, but now, he would give anything to shun it.

As his mind sank into troubled thoughts, he looked up to see his father gazing at him. The king was dying, but still, he had strength. Slowly standing, he motioned to his son.

"Come Kimoni. Let's go look take a walk together one last time."

"I'd like that," replied Kimoni, his young heart breaking. Bending, he brushed his head against Kiara. "I'll be back soon, Mom," he whispered to her. The queen smiled back, and nodded slightly.

Kimoni slowly followed Kovu out of the cave, and down the rocks. They walked towards the place they always liked to sit together and watch the stars. Looking up at the night sky, Kovu sighed.

"Let me tell you something Kimoni, something your mother once told me. All the Great Kings of the past dwell amongst the stars. It is an honor to be allowed to join them. I want you to be a good king – a wise king. Someone who will be worthy to watch over the Pride Lands one day. I cannot promise that I will be there to meet you, but I can assure you, that Simba and Mufasa will welcome you with pride."

Kimoni nodded in silence, his father's speech touching him. "I will do my best father, I promise."

Kovu smiled. Kimoni had become everything he had always hoped he would become. And Kovu no longer felt the fear that he would be refused a place with the Kings. Perhaps, he had lived well enough to belong. It seemed a far away place to go, but Kovu found himself anxious to see the lion he had looked up to for so long again. Looking up at the stars one last time, Kovu closed his eyes for a moment, and took in the soft breeze and the gentle night sounds.

Simba, I have done everything in my power to live to be worthy to join the Great Kings in the stars. I pray our paths cross again.

Turning, Kovu smiled sadly at his son. "Come Kimoni, your mother's time is near, as is my own."

Kimoni nodded, and followed his father back to the cave. They joined Kiara in a corner and lay together, whispering quietly. It was sad, but at the same time, happy, for they were able to spend time together. Finally, as the hours grew late, Kovu and Kiara, King and Queen of the Pride Lands, who had brought together the divided prides, closed their eyes for the last time.

Kimoni stayed for a while in silence, until he finally left the cave, and climbed to the peak of Pride Rock. Standing out under the stars, Kimoni broke down in sorrow. His life had been torn apart, his family gone. In those few moments under the stars, Kimoni suddenly grew up. He was no longer the young prince who had laughed with his mother the morning before. Instead, as he raised his eyes to the stars, he stood as a king, tall and ready to lead.

As he stood on the rocks, shaking with grief, a soft breeze brushed past him and a warm, comforting feeling flooded over his entire body. And as he listened, Kimoni heard a soft voice, which spoke to him with compassion and love.

Kimoni, we are watching over you…