Author's note: This is the second to last chapter :)

Chapter 33: For Now Only

"Really?" Kivu asked when the announcement was made.

Kovu and Kiara nodded. "Really."

The newly wedded couple looked at each other with excitement.

"Wow!" Ciara said, wrapping her arms around her husband. He squeezed her tight.

After their embrace, Kivu turned to his parents, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, son." Kovu said, putting his large paw on Kivu's shoulder. "You've grown to be so wise and strong. You'll be the best king the Pride Lands ever had."

"And Ciara,"Kiara turned to the orange lioness, "You're a great speaker. You think clearly in front of a crowd. I know you will help lead the pride by always speaking up when you know something isn't right."

"Thank you…" Ciara seemed to be at a loss for words, so she hugged the Queen instead.

The lions of the Pride Lands cheered again, feeling the excitement of having a new King and Queen in one year.

"That's amazing!" Jayden said, turning to Dark.

"Wow." Dark replied, looking stunned.

The ceremony was over, and the animals of the Pride Lands were leaving. They would spread the word about the newly wedded royal couple and the change they'll face in a year's time.

The lions were still gathered, all were conversating about the news.

Afia was awake now, still in Clous's arms. "Is Ciara our sister now?" She asked Clous

"Yes, she is."

"Yay!" She replied, "Can we see her?"

"Sure, let's go." Clous took his sister up the stairs toward the wedded couple. Others already had the same idea, so they'd have to wait their turn.

"Are you and Clous doing better?" Zula asked her sister once Clous was gone.

"Yes we are, thank you for asking. We don't fight anymore."

"Your flower is pretty."

"Thanks! So is yours"

Zula chuckled.

Jayden smiled at her friend. She knew she was still hurt about Clous, but the wounds were healing. She was doing better.

"Wasn't Ciara beautiful?" Zuna asked Zula, Jayden and Dark.

"Very! I wonder where they found that lily." Jayden said.

"Did you see what went on with Jai and Tali?" Dark asked.

"How could I miss that?!" Jayden almost shouted.

"It was so adorable, I almost peed." Zula said.

"I'm gonna go tease Jai, excuse me." Dark got up and moved up the stairs where Jai was already being razzed by Mani. Jai still looked embarrassed. Tali and Tempest had gone to join Ciara and Kivu to give them their congratulations.

When Dark approached Jai and Mani, Jai said, "Not you too!"

"Yes, me! I didn't know you had it in you!" Dark said, clapping him on the back with his paw.

Jayden giggled as she watched them. "Has Dark gotten close to Jai recently? I hadn't noticed." Jayden remarked.

"I wouldn't say close, but they've talked before." Zuna supplied. "Maybe they're getting closer. Even though Jai is older, they get along well. They're sort of similar, since they're both quiet."

Jayden smiled. She'd love it if Dark had close friends. A couple moments later, Kivu broke away from the lions surrounding him to join Jai, Dark and Mani.

"What's this I hear about you giving Tali a flower?" he prodded right away.

"Oh, Shut up."

"When's your wedding?" he teased further.

"Shut up, I said! All of you!" Jai shouted and blushed.

It wasn't much longer after that when Kiara gathered some lionesses to go catch lunch. The hunting party went out more than once that day to catch a feast to celebrate the new couple. Ciara and Kivu moved to the bottom of Pride Rock so more pride members could visit them.

"Aren't they perfect?" Zula murmured, looking at the royal couple.

Jayden and Zuna agreed. Temepst came down the steps and joined them.

"Nice ceremony wasn't it?" she asked.

"Of course! You made Ciara look great." Jayden said.

"She hardly needed it. So what do you think of Koru's date?" Tempest smirked. All four lioness's eyes moved to where Koru stood with Jiyi, Tome, Vitani and Drayden. The new lioness laughed with a high pitch sound at something Drayden said.

"She certainly has a… distinctive voice." Zuna commented.

"I didn't get to meet her yet." Zula said. "Is she nice?"

"Yeah, very nice." Tempest replied.

"Do you think Koru is serious about her?" Zuna asked.

Jayden answered, "He's never introduced a girl to our parents. Ever. So he must have some real feelings for her. It's pretty amazing."

"It's very sweet…" Tempest said in a baby talk voice. She and Jayden laughed.

"I wonder if she will go with your group when you leave." Zuna added.

"Maybe, if Koru asks her.

"When are you going again?" Zula asked.

"In two days."

"So soon?"

"Yes, I'm certain Torrent is old enough. We'll miss this place." Tempest turned her eyes on Jayden. "Will you be coming?"

Jayden hesitated, then answered, "I will be announcing my decision soon…" Then looked up the steps to glance at Dark where he was still joshing with Jai and Mani.

The rest of the day was spent in celebration. When the feast arrived, Ciara and Kivu ate first with the entire pride watching. They shared a few bites, then Ciara licked Kivu's cheek. The pride let out a collective, awwww.

"She was just getting food off my cheek, everyone!" Kivu said, then the pride broke out in laughter.

"No I wasn't!" Ciara protested, and blushed.

"Now let me get you!" he wrapped one arm over her shoulders and licked her muzzle and mouth all over.

"Ew no!" Ciara shouted and pushed him. "Kivu!"

The pride laughed on.

That night, Jayden lay with Dark in their usual setting. Dark was already snoozing. Jayden watched him for a while, soaking in his image. She touched his bangs gently with her paw. His mane was so soft. She was thinking a lot about the day after tomorrow, when she'd be announcing her decision to either go back home with her mother and siblings, or to stay there in the Pride Lands. It scared her. But she knew it had to be done.

The next two days passed. Koru's girlfriend, Jiyi stayed in the pride with him. Jayden hears someone say he had asked Kovu and Kiara if it was okay if she stayed for the short period they remained there. They had said yes, of course. Jayden wondered if he'd asked Jiyi to join him and his family back home. Or were they planning something different?

During these two days, Dayya and Jayden got to talk alone together. As far as she could tell, Dayya was coping well with what happened between them. Especially when Dayya started talking about a lion that had a crush on her.

"Malowa told me he likes me." She said with a tiny smile.

"Oh my kings… he did?" Jayden said with wide eyes.

Dayya nodded, looking happy about it. "It was adorable. He kept shifting his weight on his paws and stuttering. The only thing worse than a boy that talks too much is a boy that talks too much and stutters."

Jayden laughed. "What did you say to him?"

"I think I said, um… thanks?"

"THANKS?!"

Dayya burst out laughing. "I know! I'm awful! He caught me off guard, what was I suppose to say? I wasn't expecting it at all."

"You two have been getting closer. Don't' tell me you haven't noticed anything."

"Well maybe." She said, looking reflective.

"How do you feel about him? Do you like him back?"

"Hmm… sure I like him. But as more than a friend? I'm not really sure. He's cute and funny and all. And have you noticed how nice his hair is?"

"Um, sure."

"But I don't know how I feel about him. I guess it's going to be one of those to be continued sort of things. I'm fine with being just friends for now."

"But what about when you leave?" Jayden asked. Dayya looked at her sister. She caught how Jayden had said 'When you leave' and not, 'When we leave," but didn't say anything about it.

"Like I said: To be continued." was all Dayya said.

The big day was rainy and dreary. When Vitani woke up and gathered her family, Kovu came down the steps and tried to convince her to stay until the weather was nicer.

"I'm not afraid of getting sprinkled on, brother." Vitani smirked. "Every time I leave here, you always have some reason for me to stay."

"Of course I do. You're my sister."

Vitani smiled warmly at him.

Kovu sighed. "I'll get everyone up to see you off." He went to the cave and let out a series of short roars to wake the pride.

Jayden could hear him calling from where she and Dark slept. She rose to her feet nervously. Dark woke from her movements and stood too. He yawned hugely.

"It's time." Jayden said. He nodded in response.

In front of Pride Rock, the pride had gathered. Together with Vitani's family, they walked to the border. Vitani's family still mingled with the Pridelanders, enjoying their last moments together. Jayden still stayed by Dark. When they got to the border, Jayden saw Dayya give Taeliss, Mebala, Zuna and Zula each a big hug. She watched as her sister went over to Malowa after that. They didn't touch, but Jayden could see the affection in their wyes. She felt a little sad for them. Who knows what their relationship could have blossomed into if they'd had more time together?

Something strange in the corner of her eye caught Jayden's attention. She sharply turned her head to the right and saw Ahila hugging Drayden. Jayden's eyes widened. When did those two get close? Jayden nudged Dark with her paw and pointed at them. He followed her gesture with his eyes, then shrugged. I guess it's 'to be continued' with those two too! Jayden thought.

Then she heard crying. Nearby, Afia and Torrent were embracing each other by Kiara's feet. Both cubs had tears in their eyes and were sniffling. Jayden's heart broke. The two had become such close friends during their short time together. Kiara had tears in her eyes as she watched them.

"I want you to stay…" Afia said quietly. "You're my only friend."

"Yermai friend." Torrent replied in a small voice.

To Jayden's left, she heard lionesses talking to her mother.

"I can't believe you're leaving us again!" The old scarred lioness, Jika was saying to her.

Vitani nuzzled her old friend. "I'll miss you too, Sly-Eye."

"You know I hate that name." Jika snarled but nuzzled her back with force.

"Where's Dotty?" Vitani smirked.

"You know she hates that name too. All the names you gave us as a cub are obnoxious. She's over there with her daughters." Jika pointed at Sanu who was sitting with Zula and Zuna. Vitani grinned and went to her.

Mother is different with her friends. She's actually sort of funny. Jayden thought.

Other goodbyes were going on too. Tali and Mani were saying a few words to each other. Their mother Kanai was there too, a little teary, but all smiles. Kivu and Jai roughly patted Mani on his shoulder as a goodbye. Mani clawed their manes affectionately.

Larne was saying goodbye to Mairu and going over any last minute healing herbs and general first aid knowledge. Larne had learned a lot from the old brown lioness.

Tempest was with Ciara saying their tearful farewells. Jayden heard Tempest say, "I'm so happy for you!"

After most of the goodbyes were finishing, Jayden thought now would be a good time to announce her intentions. Before she could open her mouth, Koru said loudly,

"I have an announcement to make."

All eyes turned to Vitani's son and Jiyi who was standing and smiling beside him.

"What is it son?" Tome asked.

"I won't be going with you as you head home. I want to roam outside the Pridelands with Jiyi, on our own. Until we find a place we want to stay and call home. We want to start a family." Koru's cheeks turned red as Jiyi nuzzled his mane happily and the crowd let out awwws.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Koru?" Vitani asked her only son, stepping closer.

"Yes." He said firmly. "I love her."

More awwws.

"I hope you and dad accept." He said looking Vitani in the eyes.

"Of course we do." Tome said, moving beside his mate. "We've always wanted you to settle down. And we adore the lioness you've chosen.

Jiyi smiled. "Thank you!" she said sweetly.

"You've grown so fast." She said, nuzzling her son shortly. "We do accept."

"That's great!" Koru smiled hugely and hugged his mom, then his dad. They had warm smiles of their own.

Vitani turned to Jiyi. The young lioness stood before her mate's mother with legs shaking with nervousness.

"I-I promise to take care of him. I'll be a good wife always." She said using a voice that wasn't her usual high-pitched sound. It sounded more adult and serious.

Vitani smiled at her. "You better. Welcome to the family."

"I'm so happy to be in it. Your family is wonderful. I would love to see your home one day! I hear it's beautiful."

"We'd love to have you." Tome said, "But you two go ahead and find your own home and get settled first." Tome winked at Jiyi.

"We're planning on staying nearby the Pridelands. We'll go outside the lands to the west." Koru added. Then turned to Kovu and Kiara who were standing nearby, listening. "I mean… if that's okay…?"

"Of course, Koru, you don't have to ask." Kovu replied. "You and Jiyi are always welcome back anytime. And in a couple weeks, I can have Kudzu fly out to check for you guys so we know your location."

"That'd be great."

"It will be nice having you as our neighbors!" Kiara said cheerily.

"Thank you." Jiyi returned.

"We will be looking out for Kudzu and make sure he can find us."

"I'm certain I can find you." The bird said, suddenly appearing and landing on Kovu's back. "I can see your bright pelt from miles away."

"Oh, um thanks." Koru replied awkwardly.

Dayya ran up to her brother and threw her arms around him. "I'll miss you!"

"Oof! Some warning would have been nice, Dayya." Koru said, sounding cross until he heard her start to sniffle. His expression softened and her put a paw around her back. "I'll miss you too."

When they separated, Tempest came over and gave him a hug too. "We'll come visit you." She promised.

Jayden was next, as she hugged him, she whispered, "I'm so happy for you."

"I'm happy for you too." He said, glancing at Dark, then back at her. She smiled and felt a warmth inside, knowing he approved of her and Dark. "Don't you have an announcement too?" Koru prodded.

"Oh, yes, I should probably… how did..? Never mind," She turned to the crowd and spoke up, "I have an announcement too." Now all eyes turned to Jayden. She moved back to Dark's side. She looked at him, and he nodded encouragingly at her.

Jayden turned to face her mother who was still standing close. She was watching her daughter with her violet eyes. This would be the first time she spoke to Vitani since the Dayya-incident. Jayden gulped.

"I'm staying here. At the Pridelands, with Dark."

The crowd stayed silent. Vitani stared at Jayden with an expression she couldn't read. Jayden had no idea what her mom would do. Explode? Yell? Not yell? Not say anything? Forbid her, disown her? There were many possibilities, but it was looking like it was going to be nothing until Tome, still standing beside his mate, nudged her shoulder as if he knew it should be Vitani who spoke first. The light shove seemed to wake her up.

"Jayden." She said.

The dark brown lioness gulped again.

"You are my youngest daughter and by far the one who has questioned me, fought me and challenged me the most."

Jayden winced.

"But this doesn't mean you can't make your own decisions. You're a grown lioness now. Know that if Dayya hadn't grown to accept this…development between you and Dark, I wouldn't be okay with this. But since that is not the case…I do accept your decision to stay."

Jayden sighed, visibly relieved. "Thank you."

"I support you too." Tome said, "I want you to be happy, no matter what."

Dayya suddenly threw her arms around Jayden this time. "Ohhh Jayden!" she squeezed really tight. "This is so not fair, losing both my only brother and my only twin on the same day!"

Jayden held her, "I'm sorry Dayya, but we'll all be together again. I … um.. I also hope you accept me too. I know I hurt you with the secrets…" Jayden felt tears spring to her eyes and her throat shut tight. It may have been harder to ask Dayya to accept the decision than it had to ask her own mother.

Dayya still held Jayden hard. She was sniffling again. "I do accept you. It still hurts, but please know that I forgive you. And I want you to be happy."

Tears fell freely from Jayden's eyes now. She squeezed her eyes shut and embrased her twin. "Thank you, thank you so much and I'm so sorry." The two stayed like that for a while until they eventually parted. They looked each other in the eyes. One set green; one set purple; both sets teary.

"I hope you have a long and happy life together." She said loudly for everyone to hear.

There were growls of approval from the crowd.

"We'll be glad to add you to our ranks permanently, Jayden." Kiara spoke up. "But you are always free to return home if that becomes your wish."

"Thank you." Jayden said to the queen, and quickly wiped her eyes with her paw.

Dayya went to Dark, then smiled at him. He surprised her by pulling her into a hug. He said something to her that Jayden didn't hear. She only heard Dayya's sniffles. She hugged him fiercely.

Tome went to Koru and Jayden and gave each of his children long hugs. He told both he was proud of them and would visit soon. Jayden got a hug from Tempest and Larne as well. Drayden nuzzled her quickly, smiled and wished her luck. As it seemed like the last goodbyes were being said, Vitani went to Koru and hugged him.

"I love you." She said. He returned the phrase and held his skinny mother. The scene made Jayden nervous. Would she hug Jayden too? She didn't feel the need to hear her mother say, "I love you," which would be the first time that had happened anyway, but did she?

When Vitani and Koru parted, she went to Jayden.

"Mother." Jayden said, nodding formally. "I know we haven't exactly been very close, so I'm really glad you've accepted my decision. Thank you."

"Maybe I was hard on you… and that could be why we didn't establish a bond. But I was pushing you to make you great. And now look at you. You're a strong independent lioness."

Jayden's eyes grew wide, and couldn't think of what to say. Her heart was thrashing about in her chest. Vitani went on, "I'm very proud of you and I do love you." She smiled softly. "I'm sorry if I made you believe otherwise with how harsh I may have been and how we haven't talked in the last few days."

"The brown lioness felt choked up. It took all she could to say, "I love you too" back. Tears fell from her eyes when she said it. She did love her mom. Very much. And she didn't realize how much she needed her mom's love and pride until that exact moment. She hasn't expected all that.

Vitani smiled, then said "I think it's about time for us to be going."

"Nooo!" A voice wailed. It was Afia. She was still clutching Torrent.

Kiara was trying to separate them. "Torrent has to go home with his mom."

"But he's my only friend!"

"You'll have new friends someday."

"NOOO!" she wailed more. Torrent was crying and upset too, and saying "No…" but quieter. Kiara finally got them apart and picked Afia up in her mouth.

"It's your last chance to say goodbye." Kiara told her.

"I will not say goodbye, ever!" she started to struggle when a little voice came from below.

"Af… It not goobye forever." Torrent said, looking up at her with big blue eyes. "It goobye for now. Bye for now only."

Afia stopped struggling and wailing. She sniffled. "For now only…" she muttered. "Goodbye for now only."

Torrent nodded happily, just in time for Tempest to come behind him and pick him up in her mouth. "We'll visit Afia really soon." Tempest promised.

Kivu approached them with Ciara at his side. "Please come for our coronation." Kivu said.

"You must come, I need you there." Ciara pleaded her.

"Of course I'll be there." Tempest said around Torrent's scruff.

"I wonder how big you'll get in one year." Ciara said to the cub with a smile. He only looked at her with his big eyes.

Even though they'd already said their goodbyes, Ciara couldn't help but nuzzle Tempest one more time. The three groups were separating. Vitani's group: Vitani, Tome, Larne, Drayden, Dayya, Mani, and Tempest with Torrent moved off on their own. Koru and Jiyi moved to the west in the direction they'd head to find a new home. The Pridelanders, and newly adopted Pridelander, Jayden, stood on their side of the border.

"We'll see you all again in one year." Kovu said to the parting groups, "I'll send Kudzu your way some time before the coronation so you will have enough time to travel." Then he turned to Koru and Jiyi. "You'll see Kudzu when I send him in a couple weeks just to check your location."

Koru and Jiyi nodded.

"Thanks again for having us." Tome said to Kiara and Kovu.

"As always, it's a pleasure." Kiara replied. Simba and Nala who stood beside her nodded.

"See you soon." Nala said kindly.

"Thank you for teaching me more about healing." Larne spoke up, her thanks directed to Mairu and Tali.

"And thank you for healing me, of course!" Tempest said with a laugh.

"No thanks needed." Tali grinned.

"Now get outta here, all of you!" Kivu shouted playfully to the group. Everyone laughed.

Vitani gave Kovu one last nuzzle. "Goodbye, Kovu."

"Bye Tani. I guess I should be getting used to watching you go, but I'm not."

"I'm not used to it either. But I believe it is my fate."

"Then go, and may the kings watch over you closely as you travel." He smiled. They parted, and Vitani's group moved away.

"Goodbye!" Someone from the Pridelands shouted.

"We'll miss you!"

"Bye Koru!" Malowa was heard calling to the young lion and his new mate.

"Be careful!"

"We will!" Koru called back. He and Jiyi headed Westward. Many more goodbyes were exchanged until Vitani was almost out of sight. The last thing any of the Pridelanders heard from the group as they disappeared was a small voice calling,

"Bye for now only."