Chapter XVIII

Kovu and Kiara both stood up beside one another now. Kovu yawned while his mate crouched down and stretched herself out, for most of her body ached from sitting down for so long. As Timon prepared to close the laptop once more, Simba sighed. Turning his attention to Kopa and Vitani now, the lion stood up and gave them both an intellectual look.

"Kopa, Vitani? I need to speak to you outside now." he said.

He motioned for the two them to follow as he started to walk out of the den, carefully making sure not to step on the laptop. The couple exchanged worried looks with each other before Vitani sighed. They very reluctantly followed the king closely behind as they went outside, with the other three watching. It wasn't until now that Kopa noticed that the sun was already well into setting, and the very first of the stars were making themselves known in the dusk sky.

Timon shut the laptop now, putting it in the sleep mode for the night. He turned around and said to them,

"That... that was one hell of a mouthful, then." he said. "So what do you guys say about all of this so far? You like what your fans can do?"

Nala thought for a moment before replying, "Well... it was certainly interesting. I liked a lot of it, even if if some were... better than others."

"I'm guessing The Lost Prince was your favorite story?" Timon speculated, even though he already knew the answer. Nala, Kiara and Kovu all nodded.

"Yeah, that one was good." Nala replied enthusiastically. "It wasn't what really happened with Kopa, but I like how whoever wrote it was thinking with it."

Kiara and Kovu both agreed. "Yeah, the first two stories I really liked." Kiara said. "The first one was cute, and the second one was just... beautiful."

Kovu replied while yawning again, "The second one was my favorite for sure. The first one was nice too, even if it did have problems."

Then Timon said, "So I'd say that finishes up today's stories, then. You guys wanna keep going tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll go for some more." said Kovu.

"Same here, as long as they're good." added Kiara.

"And that they don't have us screwing anyone we wouldn't." Nala jokingly said.

Timon sighed, relieved that he wouldn't have to do any more reading until the next morning. He sat down in front of the laptop and laid on his back, breathing deeply. As the meerkat did this, Kiara looked outside. She saw that Simba, Kopa and Vitani were on the edge of Pride Rock, talking as the sky slowly changed to that of a starry night. Darkness was setting upon the kingdom now. Kiara wondered just what they were saying to each other out there.

Simba sat down on the very edge of Pride Rock, prompting Kopa and Vitani to do the same just behind him. The king's mane flowed in the cool breeze now as he contemplated some things. Neither his son nor his daughter-in-law knew what to expect from him.

"Kopa..." Simba began. "I... I thought we agreed that this wouldn't happen until you became king. That's been the tradition for generations now. What were you thinking?"

The brown maned lion looked over at his mate for a moment before replying timidly, "Look dad, before you say anything, I just want to say now that Vitani's the one who made the first move, okay? She's the one who walked behind me and started to mess around with my-"

"Kopa!" She cut in irritatedly. Realizing what he was about to say, the lion gave her a goofy smile. "Oh. Uh... m-maybe I should've left that part out then?"

Clearly the prince was very nervous about the situation, and the lioness honestly couldn't blame him. Vitani took a deep breath before she looked forth to Simba, trying to ignore her mate's lewd comment. "Even though I'm sure you could've lived the rest of your life without hearing that", she said through gritted teeth before returning to a normal tone of voice. "It was kind of my fault. I was the one who wanted to do... well, you know."

She bowed her head sheepishly. "If you're going to blame anyone, Simba, it's me." she said sadly.

Simba turned around and gave her a sincere look. "I'm not blaming you, Vitani, nor am I blaming Kopa. Both of you should've had self control over yourselves."

Suddenly, Kopa remarked sarcastically, "Oh, you mean the way you had such excellent restraint that night in the jungle, right dad?"

Simba blushed vibrantly just then, even if no one could see it. Vitani held back laughter when Kopa said this. Perking up now, he replied to his son, "That was different, Kopa! We... we were younger than we are now. We didn't know any better."

"But we're not even as old as you were when it happened." Kopa replied, obviously trying desperately to keep a straight face. "And besides, we're actually married. You and mom weren't at the time."

"Look, could you just give me a break here?" Simba said. He tried to make himself sound assertive, but it came off as more whiny than serious. "I just... I can't..."

He sighed and turned away from the couple sitting behind him. He returned his gaze to his vast kingdom. "I'm worried that you're not ready to handle the responsibility of it, Kopa. You're too young. Having cubs like this is gonna be rough, especially early on."

Giving a more serious look and tone now, the prince stood up. He took a step forth before replying, "Dad... I'm ready. I listened to you when you talked about this stuff. Hell, if anything, I think Vitani and I have been ready for a long time now."

The lioness stood up on all fours beside him. She said to Simba now, "Think about it, Simba. Kopa was able to live out on his own most of his life, and I was able to put up with Zira's abuse for most of mine. There's not a chance in hell that any cub can put us thorough anything worse than that."

"And remember what mom said?" Kopa added. "She wants to see cubs around here again, to be like old times. And... I know you do too."

Upon hearing these words, Simba turned around now, facing them directly. He had a very earnest look on his face, as though taking in what was just said to him. He thought for a bit on the subject matter.

"I want to take the responsibilities, dad." Kopa said, breaking the brief silence. "I want to be able to have my own cubs and watch them grow up, maybe see them react to the fanfiction themselves when they're ready."

That last part he added in as a joke, and he snickered as a result. Not wanting to lose his credibility however, Kopa cleared his throat. "But seriously, though... I want to have my own cubs, dad."

Vitani then added, "I do too. The reason I... did what I did," That last part she said while glaring at Kopa. "...was because I wanted to have them too. To be completely honest, Simba... I did it so I would be able to be the mother I never had."

Kopa added, "And so I could be the father I was missing for so long."

That did it for Simba. The king contemplated these thoughts for a moment, taking in their words. Even though his fears of them not being ready to raise a family remained, he did in fact find a newfound confidence for them. If they could survive what they each did, then certainly they were capable of raising a child. Simba thought about how both of them were younger than he or Nala were when Kopa was first born, but that concerned him little. And he could not deny his son's words: He did in fact desire to have grandchildren, as did Nala. The lion wanted with all his heart to become a grandfather. He had forgotten what it was even like to have younglings running around Pride Rock at early hours in the morning, energetic and full of life as he himself had been at one point. Even though he didn't expect it to happen so soon, he would've given anything to see children like those around him just one more time, and watch them grow as long as his life would permit.

Kopa placed his paw over his mate's forepaw, anxious as to what the king would say about the situation. Vitani put her head against his neck, warmly positioning herself against his brown mane.

Finally, Simba broke the silence with the quiet winds ruffling his mane still. Facing them both, he gave them a warm and comforting look. He said, "Although I wish you could've told me sooner, and even though it's happening earlier than I expected... you two have my support."

Kopa and Vitani's faces lit up when he said this, and the two gasped in happiness. The couple now went up to Simba and embraced him warmly, thankful that they now had his blessing. Simba placed both of his front paws on their backs while they did so.

"Thank you, Simba... thank you." Vitani said, doing her best to hold back tears of joy. Kopa was the same with that.

"I'm so glad... so glad that you..." He tried to say. But Simba attempted to finish for him. "It's alright, Kopa. I'll help you out as long as I can once they're born. If they make you happy... that's good enough for me."

"No, I mean I'm glad you didn't do what you did when Kiara asked." Kopa said casually. Simba gave him an odd look before taking a deep breath.

"You're never going to let that go, are you?" He asked flatly. Vitani now said to him, "Remember what Kovu said before... Zira will be back from the dead before we let that go."

The king groaned before releasing his light grip on the couple, trying his best to ignore the comment from his son. When he did, Kopa and Vitani affectionately nuzzled there in front of him, not caring in the least if he was watching. As they did, Kopa gently placed his paw upon Vitani's lower stomach region. He could already feel something firm within her that wasn't there before, and did not need an explanation as to what it could have been. He smiled at her before he lovingly licked her muzzle, making her giggle softly.

Just then, they saw Nala, Kiara, and Kovu emerge from the den, with Timon and Pumbaa watching from inside. Every one of them had radiant and caring looks on their faces.

"So how'd it go?" Kiara asked, even though she already knew by the happy looks Kopa and Vitani had right then. Simba exhaled loudly.

"Kiara, Nala... it's going to be like old times."

Elated didn't even begin to cover what the two lionesses looked like at that moment. Kovu and the other two ran over to Kopa and Vitani through the breeze and nuzzled them both affectionately, supportively hugging them for what they had just been told.

"Oh, congratulations you two!" Nala cooed. "This is wonderful!"

Kiara shot a glance at Simba, silently thankful that his reaction to this had been light-years more tame than what it was before. In fact right then, Kiara considered that he would go easier on her and Kovu if she were to ask again. She brought her face in closer to her brother's.

"Congratulations, Kopa." She said softly. "I'm so happy for you two. You'll be a great father for them, I just know it."

Kopa smiled at her. "Coming from you, now I know I will be." he said comfortingly, complimenting her keen intelligence. She laughed in a friendly tone for a bit.

The prince turned and saw Kovu now, who also looked rather supportive on the matter. Currently he was gently hugging Vitani for comfort, genuinely happy for his sister on the matter. Vitani shed but a single tear of joy, something she rarely ever did. The scene with the three lions and the three lionesses supporting and caring for one another went on like that for a while before the night had completely overtaken the kingdom. The stars were shining vibrantly against the dark blue skies of night by the time any had realized it. Simba cleared his throat.

"Well, it's getting late. I think it's time we got our rest now, especially you two."

Agreeing, the six of them stood back up and began to walk back into the den. Kovu yawned while he said, "I'm proud of you, Vitani... you too Kopa. You'll do fine."

"Yes. I just want to wish you both luck now with the cubs." Simba said. He then whispered to himself, "You're sure gonna need it."

They went inside now, watching as Timon was moving the closed laptop over to the side of the den so that no one would step on it, effectively putting it away for the night. The meerkat gave them all an odd look for a moment once they came in one at a time.

"So I'm guessing that went well?" He asked. Kopa nodded.

"We're gonna have them, Timon. I'm going to be a father!"

Timon snickered. "Really, you're gonna have the cubs? Well, uh... good for you kid, I'm proud of ya'."

He then added under his breath, "Welcome to hell, buddy."

Yawning from exhaustion during the day she had, Vitani was the first one to lay herself down on the side of the den where Kopa promptly rested just beside her. The two of them rubbed their heads together affectionately. "I love you, Vitani." The lion said sincerely. Vitani licked his muzzle. "I love you too, Kopa."

Gently, Kopa placed his paw over Vitani's stomach again, just barely able to feel the forms within her again. As he did, he trembled with excitement. It was not until recently that he ever contemplated the thought of becoming a father, and Vitani had virtually given up on the prospect entirely up until the prides became one. Both were extremely excited to become parents in the near future, and neither of them could wait to give them the best lives that they could once they were born.

Kiara and Kovu had laid down against one another on the opposite side of the cave from them, with Kiara digging her head into her mate's black mane, warmly comforted by its smoothness. Kovu purred as she did so.

"Hey Kovu?" She said softly. The lion looked down to her.

"Thank you... thanks for standing up for me this morning, and saying what you did. You were just what I needed right then."

Kovu rubbed his head against her cheek now, and he wrapped his arm around her body in a comfortable way for her. He noticed that the flower he had gotten for her at sunrise was still there upon her ear, appearing as vibrant and alive as it did the moment he found it. He happily replied, "I would do anything for you, Kiara. No matter what those idiots say about you, you'll always be the most lovable and smart person that I know."

"Thank you... so much... I love you." She replied, holding back the urge to shed tears of loving joy.

"I love you too, Kiara. I always will." The lion replied sincerely.

Kovu's benevolent words made Kiara feel soothed, comforted and loved right to her very heart, something she truly did need from what she had seen and heard on the Internet about herself. The two heartfelt lovers nuzzled and purred again, pleasantly drifting ever nearer to deep and comfortable sleep as Kiara dug her head comfortably into Kovu's warm black mane, where she purred lovingly against his muzzle. Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa got situated around them as this went down. Simba and Nala laid down beside one another like they always had, and Timon and Pumbaa decided to stay at the back of the den this time. They were the first ones to officially pass out. A few minutes went by, and soon they were all asleep together in the den as well, calmly resting after another day of experiencing fan material.

But then, in the middle of the night, Simba suddenly roused from his sleep, having been startled by another horrifically perverted dream caused by the smut art. Tiredly, he stood up and made an effort to stay quiet as he left Pride Rock and went out to the Water Hole for a drink. For he had not drank much since the day before, given that he spent nearly the whole day in front of the computer.

When he returned to the den in the silent night, he had an absolutely horrified look on his face, shivering with fear of something only he knew at that moment. Not bothering to whisper, Simba suddenly uttered aloud, "Uh, Timon?"

The meerkat woke up suddenly, barely able to keep himself from screaming in shock. In the dark he turned to Simba and said,

"Huh? W-what is it, Simba?"

Although he had already figured it out for himself, he asked, "What the hell did you mean when you said I couldn't drink from the Water Hole because of Kopa?"

Author's Note: Sorry about the delayed update, I've had virtually no time at all to type these out lately. And I apologize if this chapter seemed a bit more serious toned than the others, it wasn't for any real reason or to make a point this time like Chapter 12 was. I just wanted this story as a whole to have some serious moments in addition to the comedy, for I would like for there to be a balance with that in doing chapters like this.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, and please review! Expect the next chapter soon, because I've already decided which fanfic for them to start with next.