A/N: Hi all!!!

Wow, I can't believe so many people reviewed this story! Your reviews truly do mean a lot, thank you so much for taking the time to RR my story!

I really hope you'll like this chapter, your comments and suggestions are always appreciated!

Thank you so much for your reviews, here is chapter 2 and I hope you really enjoy it!

--------------

Chapter 2:

-----------------

When Rafiki said those words, Simba halted in his tracks. Mouth open he stared after Kovu who was carrying the lioness on his back.

"Hey," Rafiki said as he turned not seeing Simba behind them, "Hey you, why are you just standing still?"

At this question Kovu stopped as Rafiki walked back towards Simba who was rooted to the spot his eyes focused on the lioness.

"Scar," Simba growled as he turned his gaze on Rafiki, "Scar, she knew Scar."

"No," Rafiki shook his head as he urged Simba to continue walking, "She knew Taka."

"Taka, Scar, what difference?-"

Simba ducked as Rafiki's stick nearly missed his head, "There is a difference," the mandrill snapped as he quickened his pace in order to catch up to where Kovu was standing.

"Rafiki," Simba persisted, "what difference is there? You told me that Taka was Scar's real name. What-ow!"

Simba winced and jumped back, startled for this time the blow from Rafiki's stick landed on his forehead.

"Ah, Simba," he lightly chided as they all began walking towards pride rock again, "You do not learn very well. Trust me, there is a difference."

Simba sighed as he hung his head, "I, I just, how many times must the past be brought up?"

"He has a good point," Kovu muttered as Zazu flew ahead of them.

Rafiki sighed as he lowered his staff, "Ah, however this time I had nothing to do with it."

The king said nothing as they sped up the pace, for pride rock was much closer and Simba knew that the lioness had to be given help. No matter whom she was seeking, or who she once knew Simba was not going to allow her to be tossed aside. With a resolute expression on his face he straightened his posture and headed towards the structure that was his home.

"Very good," he heard the soft voice of Rafiki beside him, "You will truly learn from the past."

The monarch gave Rafiki a questioning look however knew not to inquire of the mandrill what he meant by that statement. The king knew, as well as Kovu that no answer would be given.

-------------------

"Simba, what happened?"

It was Nala who asked this question as the queen, followed by Kiara and Sarabi came down off of pride rock.

"I'm fine," he reassured Nala and his daughter with a quick nuzzle, "It is this Lioness, who isn't so well."

It was then Kovu moved forward, raising his head to meet Kiara's concerned gaze.

"We found her at the northern boarder," Simba explained, "She is very elderly and weak. She needs our help."

"I shall go and fetch her some water," Sarabi said however Simba gave her a look asking for her to stay.

"Nala," Simba began, "Kovu and I will take her up to the cave. Kiara, can you go and get her some water and Nala bring her back some of the zebra that you caught this morning."

Bewildered at her husband's request Nala tilted her head and inquired, "Simba, she is unconscious. How will she be able to eat zebra?"

The king shook his head as if trying to clear his mind, "Just, put some aside for her when she wakes up."

Nala nodded as her and Kiara left and Simba turned towards his mother, "Mom, do you know who she is?"

The former queen fell instep with her son as Kovu slowly made his way up towards the cavern's entrance, "Let Kovu put her down so as I can get a better look at her."

Upon entering the cave, Simba walked ahead and gave her a comfortable spot in the back where the heat of the afternoon wouldn't penetrate as much. Kovu leaned down in order for Simba and Rafiki to gently lay the lioness on the cavern floor.

As Rafiki got out some herbs from one of the gourds on his staff, Sarabi came up to the lioness and sniffed in order to catch a familiar scent. Upon finding none the former queen drew back her head.

"I do not know," Sarabi said after a moment longer studying the lioness, "I don't know her scent, and I have never seen her before."

Taking a step back Sarabi gestured towards Sarafina in the front of the cavern, "Sara, have you seen her before?"

Nala's mother took a few steps forward in order to come closer towards her friend as she peered down at the large cat. Taking a sniff and gazing at her for a moment Sarafina spoke, "No, I don't know who she is as well. I don't recognize the scent or her face."

From where he stood the king looked perplexed, "With all do respect, you two are the oldest lionesses in our pride. I thought that since she looked older than you that…"

The king's voice trailed off as the lioness moved in her sleep, while Rafiki finished placing the last of the heeling herbs onto the various cuts on her pelt.

"Rafiki," the king turned his gaze on the monkey, "Please, do you know her? You must know who she is."

"I'll stay here at pride rock until she wakes up," Rafiki answered, "I shall know more in the morning."

"Rafiki," Simba snapped, "You know everything. What is she doing here? She knows Scar-"

"Taka," came the soft voice of the sleeping lioness that made Simba stop speaking.

Sarabi and Sarafina each looked surprised as the two of them gazed at Simba. As Sarabi, Sarafina, Zazu, Rafiki and Kovu stood around to see what if anything else she'd say Kiara came in with a shell full of water.

"What's goin' on here?" came a small voice from behind Kiara. As the princess moved forward in order to place down the shell Timon and Pumbaa came forward each carefully carrying a shell of water.

"Woh," Timon started as he glimpsed the lioness, "Who's the old lady?"

"Timon!" Simba exclaimed as he faced his two friends; the king wishing he could give them an answer.

"I don't know," he said after a moment of thought, "I would very much like if Rafiki-"

Simba ducked as the mandrill swung his stick, "Give it time," he said before walking outside and heading back to his tree in order to get more herbs for later that evening.

"Oi," Timon said as he leaned back on Pumbaa's head, "What's with the monkey?"

"So Simba," Pumbaa said after a moment, "Where did you come across her?"

"The northern boarder," Simba answered as he told everyone everything that he knew.

"Wow," Kiara said after a moment's pause, "Rafiki says there is a difference, and he has never been wrong. We need to trust him."

The king gazed around his family, gazed around his pride for a long moment before turning and walking out of the cave. Simba made his way towards the edge of pride rock and sat down, letting the wind move through his mane.

"Daddy?"

The king turned to see Kiara walking towards him, her paws not even making a sound on the rock as she sat next to him.

"She's really old," Kiara said as Simba looked over to her.

"I know," he replied, "I will help her but the fact that she's bringing up Scar again worries me."

"Daddy," Kiara asked, "Why does it worry you? She's an elderly lioness; she can't do anything to us or to you. Why are you finding it so hard to trust Rafiki? He's never steered us wrong."

Simba gawked at his daughter in amazement, "Kiara, when did you become so wise?"

The future queen smiled as she stood up, "I learned from my father. He told me that we are one."

Simba fondly nuzzled his daughter, "You're still my little cub," he said as Kiara chuckled.

After nuzzling her father in return she went back in to the cavern as the sun began to set. Turning towards the pink and purple colors that streaked across the sky Simba gave a deep sigh. He knew his daughter was right in what she had said, regardless of who this lioness once knew he would try and help her and to trust Rafiki. The lion had always done so before, and he couldn't work out as to why this bothered him so much that he was losing faith in the shaman. The king tilted his head back and closed his eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of the wind as it washed over him. It was times like these when the world settled down from the day and the air became quiet that the king liked to think.

With most nights came the musing of how to run the pride lands, solving disputes between animals, if he was spending enough time with his family as well as many other things. He tried not to dwell on the past to much, for it took him to places in his mind that he did not wish to venture.

Unfortunately, this quiet night was different. The king had thought that the past could finally rest in peace, however he was wrong. It seemed to the lion that when things would settle in his mind, when the nightmares would stop something would happen to bring them up again. It had only been a few months after Kovu and the outlander's arrival in to the pride lands and Simba was just getting used to events calming down and then she came along.

As Simba got to his paws in order to head in to the cavern, he prayed that tonight's sleep would be different and that the nightmares would not come.

---------End of Chapter 2.----------