Disclaimer: Did you read the one last chapter or did you skip over it already knowing what it'd say? :D Anyways... here's the next part!

"Heshima, would you like to come with me and Jana today?" King Radi asked. The young lion nodded. He bounded forward to catch up with the prince and king. They walked paths away from the hunting grounds of the testing lioness. King Radi showed them many places and told them many stories. Some of which Heshima knew and most Jana did too. King Radi let them lay down to watch the sky as the sun began to sink.

"The sun is beginning to sink faster." The king said. Heshima and Jana shared a confused look.

"Father?"

"Son, I mean the sun of my life. I can feel it. You will be king soon my prince." Jana stood and shook his head.

"I was second born! Maji will be queen."

"No my son. I choose my heir and it is you. You will be a strong king and you will find a good mate." Heshima began to back away. He did not want to witness a family argument.

"No!" Growled Jana. "We will not argue. Today has been a good day and the Kings are almost ready to show themselves. The huntress' will have brought back dinner and they are now waiting on us for our praise. They're probably hungry so lets go. We will speak nothing of this to anyone!"

Heshima smile. Prince Jana would make a good king for someone but he knew it was not for this pride. He wasn't ready to be king and he had a wanderer's heart. His sister would and wanted the throne. To lead her people in to greatness and she'd do it in all the right ways. This would not be a Mufasa and Scar. These siblings cared for each other over everything else.

The huntress' were indeed waiting. They had a gazelle and two antelope with them. The king nodded to all of them but did not look his daughter in the eyes. He dragged Nyoka's kill toward his queen and the older lioness to let the rambunctious young ones eat. Imani nudged her gazelle over to several hungry lionesses.

"You eat. I'd rather the antelope Maji has caught."

"Assuming she shares with us!" Nyoka joked walking over. Maji smiled she knew her eyes showed the pain she felt when her father refused to congratulate her. She loved her friends like family. She would share her victory with them tonight.

"Of course my loves I am going to share with you. I wouldn't have it any other way." She purred and called over her shoulder. "Jana and Heshima!"

The lions carried the kill own the slope and they lay under a tree to eat. A few yards from them was the rock that sealed the friendship and set it in stone. They cleaned the kill to the bone and then played tag until they exhausted themselves.

Maji stopped to get water while the rest of them got situated to sleep. They wanted to spend the night with each other only. Maji walked back and saw Imani lying across Heshima's front paws with his head on her back. Nyoka lay on her side with Jana leaning against her back. His head raised waiting for his sister. Maji's ears lowered and she walked back to the pond. She stared down at her reflection.

"Maybe father's right."

"Right about what?"

"I'd be the fall of the kingdom."

"He's not right." Spinning Maji growled softly.

"How would you know Heshima?"

"Because I'm one of your friends. We know you better than he does!" Maji flinched. She wasn't angry with him. This wasn't even about being queen! Watching Heshima with Imani hurt. She knew this would happen. He called her a friend when they first meet but things change. Especially when they were all each other had out here.

"Go back to Imani!" She said turning to face the pond again.

"So this is really about Imani?" He said walking up next to her. He watched the tears fall from her eyes and in to the water. They caused small ripples in the water but they were silent. He listened to her quiet voice.

"You'll be leaving soon. I know it! You and Imani are leaving."

"You'll still have Nyoka and Jana."

"You don't get it! You are my best friends..." She trailed off. She would not tell him how she felt. She wouldn't be the rift between him and Imani. She cared too much about both of them to let her jealousy consume her. "Just forget it. I'm being silly. Let's go to sleep."

Vitani was the one chosen to find the five friends the next morning. She walked down by guess to the pond she pushed Heshima in to. She knew they considered this their place… the place where everything began to them. She felt her heartache knowing this is also where things would end. In order to save his pride Heshima had stayed. In response he formed bonds tougher then anyone would have imagined and now those bonds were going to be severed. It would hurt them all.

She got ready to roar and rudely awaken the cubs whose parents were worried about them but stopped. She swallowed her roar and choked back tears as memories flashed through her head. Her thoughts traveled back in time to various moments with them when they were cubs and then to memories with her son, and finally her brothers. She was back in the outlands. It was then she realized just how close they were. She blinked and the picture perfect moment was engraved in her head.

Imani lay across Heshima's front paws and his head rested on her back while hers rested on Jana. Her right front paw was under his muzzle and her left one was on his back next to her head. On her back propped up against Imani's shoulder was Nyoka. Her tail was flung over Heshima's back. She smile when she saw Maji laying back to back with Imani, her muzzle pressed against Heshima's as she too rested her head on the other lioness back.

"Wake up my sweets. You have missed the sunrise and the king would like to see you." She said in a leveled tone. She put her nose against the tips of her daughters belly fur and blew out gentle. Her daughter twitched. She repeated herself and her daughter leapt up to see what was tickling her. As she moved Heshima fell over because he was leaning over her. Nyoka roared right in Jana's ear and he leapt up making Imani half raise and drop to the ground. The commotion woke the princess whose head had slipped from Imani's back and hit the ground. Vitani was the only one laughing as everyone grumbled and her daughter muttered an apology.

"I said the king would like to see you."

They arrived back at Pride Rock shortly after. The pride was lounging outside the entrance of the den looking out across the savannah. At the base of the peak was King Radi. They all rose to sit when Vitani walked up with the young members. Vitani sat next to Nafsi who beckoned his daughter over. The queen walked over to her place by Radi's side and flicked her tail at her cubs. The crossed the open area and sat, Jana at his father's side and Maji at her mothers. Imani pressed herself against Heshima. For the first time since they were found by the pride she felt like an outsider.

"It is time. The youngest lioness have been successful in their hunts and the males manes are almost fully grown." Maji looked to her brother and saw this was true. He was well built and his mane was still thinner than their father's but it was fully connected. She looked at Heshima and saw the same as true for him. She sighed. She knew what was happening. "Months ago I told a young cub I would help his pride and today I keep to my word. Prince Heshima, you will finally be returning home."

Heshima closed his eyes and his tail flicked happily. How he waited so long to hear that. He opened his eyes and looked at Imani who was smiling. They could finally see their families! Heshima had long ago told himself his parent's were probably dead but he had not given up hope for his brother.

"I will be tacking many of the pride. Vitani, I wish you to stay behind."

"I may be old but -"

"I want you to stay and protect the rest of the pride. Several lioness' are pregnant and there are a few small cubs." Vitani understanding simply nodded.

"I would like those I named before to eat from the kills caught today first and as soon as you've finished prepare to leave. Now I ask you three," He said looking at his cubs and Nyoka. "Are you coming or staying?"

"I am coming." Nyoka responded instantly. Jana nodded as well. Maji stepped forward. Her gaze level with her father looking him in the eyes. Her stance showed all the pride that flowed through her. The scars across her muzzle and cheek from her father were obvious in their bright white fur.

"I am staying." Everyone looked shocked. They expected her to fight by her friends' side. "The pride will be vulnerable with so many missing. If someone was to come and find none from the royal family it's a red flag for trouble. I will remain behind and watch over the pride alongside Vitani. Jana has always been the better fighter and Nyoka fights so well she'd get bored with to many of us there taking her opponents."

Many nodded including the queen. The king looked at his daughter as she walked away with deep thoughts in his head. He shook them away and dismissed everyone.

Jana walked over to Maji and rubbed against her. She turned her head in to his mane and inhaled deeply. He was her younger brother and she loved him beyond words. If she lost him... she stopped those thoughts quickly.

"I love you Jana. Come home to me baby brother."

"I love you too Maji and this isn't goodbye. I will see you soon enough." He moved and before her was Imani. They smiled sweetly at each other then wound around each other. Heshima came over and nuzzled his friend.

"You two watch each other's back out there. Don't ever change, you hear?" Imani's eyes sparkled and she nodded.

"We'll miss you Princess. More than you ever know." Imani said softly before walking to stand with the other lioness.

"Princess Maji." Heshima said bowing slightly.

"Prince Heshima." They said nothing more and Maji shook with strain to keep from running after Heshima. Nyoka eased this strain when she stepped before her.

"Cousin, friend, all will be well. You'll see. Give it time. Look to the Kings and pray for our safe return. I will be praying for you guys as well." Nyoka walked away. Maji bolted up the ramp Simba had climbed to claim his kingdom and watched them leave. Her father would lead until they were beyond the borders. She saw Jana, Nyoka pause next to Imani and Heshima who looked back one last time. Heshima let out a roar that shook the air. The hair on Maji's neck rose. She released a roar that echoed through out the Pride Lands. Behind her the remaining lioness took up the roar in farewell.

"Good bye Prince Heshima. May you rest with the great kings one day, but no time soon."

It's amazing how posting my writing on this website makes my stories feel short XP

Who's you're favorite character?