Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King or any of the characters from that story. Besides references Vitani should be the only one who plays an actual role in my story :) All others are property of my wild imagination.

Notes: Sorry it took so long for me to update this. I didn't know if it was getting any hits so it wasn't high on my priority list. You know how life is... anyways, if I see interest I will update quickly. This story is completely finished.

Maji had sat as far from her father in the den as possible to hear the whole story of the newcomers. In fact she sat in the mouth of the cave and listened from there. Her cousin's words touched her ears as he gave his view on the situation. Even if they went back with the young prince to over throw the rogue males he was too young to take over. With no other males to step up it'd be a wasted effort since in no time another rogue would challenge him.

"I believe, it's best if you spend some time here, build up your strength and learn to be king along side the heir of our throne. When the time is right you will go back ready. It will come as a shock, you returning after such time. The rogues will have begun to think you were dead."

"I can't leave my family for that long! They need me! Don't you understand?" She couldn't see his face but she could hear the plea in his voice. This lion looked nearly half grown but he was still a cub!

"We understand, some of us more than other." The speaker was Vitani. She looked at Milele before she continued. "There was a time, before I was born when a king was given two sons. These sons couldn't have been any more different. I know my pride members have heard the take of King Mufasa and Scar."

As the lioness nodded Maji lay down. She had heard the story, though not all of it. She pricked her ears to listen. It was Milele who spoke. She had been alive during times that followed soon after.

"Taka was a thin cub with mahogany fur while Mufasa was gold. As they grew Taka was proven to be extremely smart but lacked the strength need to defend his kingdom. Not to mention some of the lioness did not like him. They all enjoy Mufasa's company however. He was a happy cub and well mannered. Many things happened that changed Taka to Scar. One was the event that gave him the physical proof about his name. His father, King Ahadi, had hit him. They argued again and again about why Taka couldn't get along with the other cubs. Then came the argument about hyenas. Taka had found three pups and King Ahadi forbid him from seeing them. Taka was caught again and punished."

"Not long after Taka began to drift away in to his own world. The only other living soul that seemed to be in his world was his mother. She was a gentle lioness who ruled lovingly beside her mate. She did however love her cubs above all else, like any good lioness. Watching her son dwindle away, she slowly got sick and died. This was the end of Taka. His nickname of Scar became permanent. When King Ahadi passed on and Mufasa rose to king, the pride thought things would be fine. After all Mufasa always loved his younger brother.

"But Scar was a jealous being. Yes he wanted to be king but that wasn't it. He wanted to be loved by his father the way Mufasa was. Since he couldn't have that any longer his main focus was to get the kingdom. With Mufasa having no heir this would be easy. But it wasn't. Queen Sarabi bore him a son name Simba. Scar tried to kill the young cub in an elephant graveyard with his assassins being hyenas but King Mufasa saved his son along with young Nala - Simba's best friend. Scar knew that if Simba were to be in danger Mufasa would risk his every being to save him. So he led Simba in to the gorge promising for a surprise and while his hyenas began a stampede he fetched the king. When the king died by his own brother's paws Simba was still alive. He assumed the throne that night after sending his hyena's to kill the cub. Years later Nala grew and fled for help. The Pride Lands were in ruins and there was no food. Hyena's scavenged the land everywhere. She came back with none other than Simba. The hyena's saw Scar for what he was and tore the lion to pieces. Simba assumed the thrown."

All was quiet while she spoke. Then Vitani took over. She stared at the floor and stroked the rock with her front paws as she did. Maji never heard this part of the story before. She turned to look at the lioness as she told the story.

"Zira was in the battle but had fought to defend Scar. He had become her mate and thanks to him she had a son. His name was Nuka but he was scrawny and Scar didn't see him fit to be a king. Zira was pregnant with another cub when she last spoke to Scar. He told her the male in her womb would the heir to his throne. Zira could not risk losing the cub so pleaded with Simba to allow her a pass. She said she fought for the King as ordered and Simba, bought it. King Simba had Queen Nala by his side and she gave him his first child, Prince Kopa. The cub was to be heir but Zira would not let this happen. She slaughtered the cub one night and with that death she sealed her fate. She was banished from the pride along with her three cubs and followers. For she had birth a female and then a male." Vitani looked at a wall past everyone's head. She was lost in memory.

"Kovu, the male, had snuck away from Nuka one day and meet Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara. They had a wild adventure but the hate between their parents ceased this, for the time being. I watched Zira train my little brother day and night. He was always under her watch and soon the childish light died from his eyes. We never knew how to play cub games or how to socialize with large groups. We knew only to fight and hunt. That's all we could ever do. Kovu learned his role well and managed to slip and worm his way in to the Pride Lands intent on killing the king. Yet something stopped him. He fell in love with the princess and found the father he always wanted in Simba. He turned his back on his mother and in turn Nuka was killed. Now, this wasn't Kovu's fault. I know deep down he felt this way. Nuka wanted nothing more than to please mother and died doing so. As he died it was the second time in his life mother showed love and affection toward him, the first being when he was first born, before Scar foretold his future. I was the first to leave my mother's side for my twin brother. I would have risked everything for him. It was hard watching him become King and a father to my troubled nephew. I still saw him as the mischievous cub that was my best friend in the Outlands."

"What you must learn from this, Heshima, is everything takes time. In the end everything turns out like it was meant to be. You will see." Milele finished.

King Radi said nothing. He simply nodded at his son, the pride, rubbed against his Queen and walked off to go to bed. Vitani looked to the cave entrance before going to lie down and saw her great niece. She padded over and stood next to the lying lioness.

"Maji, your father loves you. He will remember in time. And don't fear, you are what the pride needs so be ready to claim your title when your time arises."

Heshima and Imani dragged the zebra they had been hunting yesterday up the incline to the cave where the Pridelander's slept. They wanted to thank them for letting them reside within their territory. Heshima watched with pride as the King and Queen came from the cave. The Queen immediately saw them and smiled. The king stretched like a house cat but noticed them.

"What's this?"

"We caught it, sir. To thank you and the pride." Imani spoke up.

"You two hunted that yourselves?" Imani nodded. The were young but strong. Not to experienced but skilled. "Very well, thank you. Please leave the hunting to the Pride's hunter from now one. They know what's to be hunted and when."

Heshima walked down the slop to a small pond with Imani by his side. She said nothing until they walked on to a long rock and lay down. Her paw rested lightly on his shoulder and she nuzzled him.

"Heshima, we can't save them not even if we went back."

"I miss them so much!" He said. His strength was breaking. He was so far from home and he would be for much longer than he expected. "I should never have left."

"Can we join you?"

Heshima turned to see Nyoka, the grand daughter of Vitani. She was a pretty lioness with an unusual Mohawk of hair down her neck. It ended at her shoulders and was an inch or two long. It ran between her ears the front stuck out front in spikes. It was like a military horses cut. She was the same color as her grandmother and bright blue eyes. With her were the prince and princess.

Maji had liquid blue eyes and a red brown pelt. Her creamy belly, and muzzle made the rest stand out. Yet Jana had the same color pelt as Nala. His mane was growing in to a golden brown.

Heshima nodded and the three walked over. Jana lay down next to Heshima on the left while Nyoka lay between Imani and Maji. They talked simple talk, getting to know each other. Then suddenly Maji's eyes closed. She stretched out putting her paws on Nyoka. The lioness shifted away and Maji's paws became entangled with hers. Maji's eyes shot open and she rolled. A splash came as Maji threw both of them in the water. Nyoke sprung up gasping. She growled and jumped to the side of Maji splashing a wave of water on her.

"Come on!" Jana said jumping in as well. Imani looked at Heshima and both were hesitant. Their pride could be dying and they were going to play? Heshima stood to walk away but a figure shoved him in. It was Vitani. She walked away leaving him to pull Imani in and the young lions fought in the water for hours.

Kikomo had gotten back from yet another patrol around the Fallen Pride's territory. He was to be exiled as soon as his mane was thick. For now, with the rogues believing he wasn't royalty he was safe. He walked over to Hodari and shook his head. They hadn't seen their siblings in months. Hodari wouldn't admit it but they were long dead. Kikomo silently hated his brother. He left the pride to die!

Hodari walked away and was stopped by the only young member in the rogue pride, a male slightly older then Kikomo. His name was Hai. He was a brown lion with a darker mane and light under belly. His eyes were cold and glinted evil when they passed over anyone. Yet him and Hodari spoke often.

Kikomo shook his head. He would wait until they exiled him for help. If none came then he would find a way to save his pride. He would not watch them all go one by one from starvation, heartache or murder. He growled deep in his throat. This would all end.

Maji ran and pounced on Heshima. She tugged his ear and he shook her off. She touched her nose to his and then pranced around excitedly. She was telling him to get up and hurry.

"What?" He half roared as he yawned. Lioness looked over and laughed. They all walked out of the den leaving them.

"It's mine and Nyoka's hunting test today!" Heshima smiled. He knew the two did everything together. They were born on the same days hours apart and now they faced a big day in a lioness life. "Of course we can't team up but still!"

"You'll do perfect." He purred. He smiled when Maji ran over to him and wrapped around him.

"Thank you." She stopped when she was back in front of him. "Will you escort me the last few steps of cub hood?"

He nodded yet thoughts were flying through his head. He was going to hurt so bad when he returned home. He would be leaving this beautiful lioness behind and he feared then when he did he would leave his heart as well. He shook off such thoughts and stepped up to her side. As they excited the cave they meet up with Nyoka and Imani. They dipped their heads to the princess and went through the line of lioness' first.

"King Radi." Nyoka spoke. "May Imani have her test as well? She is close enough to our age."

The king hesitated but looked at his queen who nodded instantly. She knew that was one cub that was beyond ready for this test. Smiling the two thanked the king and sat off to the side waiting for their friend.

Everyone's eyes shot up as Maji walked down her ears flicked with the nervousness that shone in her eyes but her light steps showed she as excited. She nuzzled her mother as she wished her luck.

"It is up to at least one of these lioness' to bring the pride dinner of they will face horrible grumbling tonight in the den." The king teased. He was in a good mood and was excited for the hunt "Knowing these three however, they will return with a buffet for us and the pride will eat well. Good luck pride cubs."

Nyoka was first to bound down the steps and Imani quickly followed. As she did she brushed by Heshima who lowered his head to trail it against her back. Maji turned and touched her nose to her brother and then Heshima.

"Be ready to eat well my friend and brother."