A/N:Thanks WTF123 for the revision and every one for the reviews. It means alot. Now I have a prequel to this called Forced Hate. Go check it out.
Kovu gaped in awe at his mate. He felt his eyes widened with different amounts of emotion in them now, as well as sensing tears beginning to fall from them. Before the expecting queen knew it, the brown-furred lion pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Kiara... you don't know how much this means to me. I love you. I want you to know that."
The queen purred before nuzzling into Kovu's darker brown mane. Rafiki smiled at the couple before he nodded towards the sky. However, the sound of paws approaching them caused the royal couple to release each other and look towards the den's entrance, where they saw Hodari and Vitani.
"I hope we're not interrupting anything?" Vitani began.
Kovu smiled before deciding to tell his father and sister the happy news. "No. You couldn't have come a better time!"
Vitani chuckled, appearing amused by her brother's tone of voice. "What's got you in a good mood all of a sudden?"
Kovu nuzzled Kiara again before he turned back to Hodari and Vitani. He replied, "The Great Kings of the Past blessed us with another cub... Finally one of our own."
That last part he said to Kiara. Hodari smiled before coming over and nuzzling his son and daughter-in-law. "I'm... I'm beyond words, you two. This is amazing news."
Vitani smiled before she nuzzled her brother and sister-in-law as well. "I'm happy for you both too. You deserved this. But Jaali...he needs to know."
Kovu sighed. "I know."
Kiara nuzzled her mate and smiled. "Go ahead. Ditto and Dreama should be getting up soon. I'll tell them while I take them for a walk."
Kovu licked the golden lioness' cheek before turning to his father and sister. He sighed. "Let's get this over with."
Vitani and Hodari nodded before following the king down the rocky slope of Pride Rock, hoping for the best.
/
Jaali woke up to an unusual cooing sound. The cub blinked his green eyes open as his ears flickered. He moved his head towards the sound and walked over to follow it, only to see his mother licking something between her front paws. When Asali saw that her son was awake, she smiled.
"Good morning, my little prince." She said to him.
Jaali yawned before looking at his mother. "What's going on?" He asked.
Asali smiled before opening her paws to reveal, unexpectedly enough, two black bundles of fur. "Jaali, say hi to your brothers, Nyx and Night."
Jaali looked at the cubs with wide eyes, unsure of what to say or think. Wasn't his mother in love with his father still? Wasn't that why she wanted him to avenge her and grandma Zira?
The golden brown prince was knocked out of his thoughts by the voice of his father. He glanced at his mother and his brothers before running out of the cave. He was greeted by a nuzzle from Kovu and his aunt when his eyes landed on the large brown furred lion to the side, who starred at him with keen blue eyes.
"Jaali, I want you to meet my father and your grandfather... Hodari." Said Kovu.
Jaali gaped at the large lion. Hodari was the largest one he has ever seen, and the old lion smiled at the cub before bending down to get to eye level with him."Hello. I'm Hodari. What's your name?"
He looked at his father and aunt, who both smiled and nodded. Jaali smiled at his grandfather, slowly loosening up. "Hi grandpa. I'm Jaali."
Kovu smiled proudly at his son just as Zazu flew over to them, appearing completely out of breath. "Sire!" He shouted frantically.
Kovu frowned before looking at the blue hornbill. "Zazu? Are you okay, what happened?"
The majordomo replied in between breaths, "I was doing my... usual morning... rounds when I came across... an injured lion on... the west border. Sire... he seems to be dead."
Kovu's green eyes widened before he looked at his son. Sighing, he turned to his father and sister. "Father, Tani go with Zazu to see about the lion."
Hodari and Vitani nodded before running off towards the western borders with Zazu flying above, not wanting to waste even a second.
Jaali looked confused when they did."Dad, why didn't you go?" He asked.
Kovu sighed as he ran a paw through his mane. "Jaali... I need to talk to you."
The cub tilted his head with confused eyes, but deep down he had a feeling of what he was about to hear. But he refused to believe it was that. The king inhaled and exhaled before looking at his son.
He said,"Son... Kiara and I are having a cub."
/
Hodari and Vitani followed the majordomo towards the western borders. The father and daughter didn't have to look for very long, because lying in a shadow beneath a tree by the Water Hole was an unconscious, light creamy-beige color furred lion. His light brown mane was soaking wet with blood and water, and his body was covered with vicious scars and bruises.
Vitani looked the lion for a moment before turning to her father. "This guy looks like he's been through hell."
The light tan lioness frowned when her father didn't say anything. She nuzzled his shoulder, causing him to snap out of his brief trance-like stare at the lion, and he looked at his daughter.
"Vitani... I'm not sure, but I think I know who this is."