The next day was just as beautiful as the last. While Kion was out with the Lion Guard patrolling, Sarabi stood by Simba and Nala to help with their royal duties. Sarabi was helping Nala do some hunting exercises with Kiara, when they stumbled upon a lone zebra away from it's heard. "Okay, this is perfect. Watch and learn Kiara." Sarabi said.
Both Kiara and Nala watched intently as Sarabi crouched down in the tall grass slowly making her way toward the zebra. The zebra made no notice of the approaching lioness, that is until Sarabi started to cough and wheeze uncontrollably. She then suddenly passed out flat on her face, causing the zebra to jump and run away. "Grandma!" Kiara cried. Both she and Nala ran down to Sarabi's side, Simba also came over when he saw his mother pass out from a distance.
"What happened here? Mom, can you hear me?" Simba called. Sarabi let out a groan and then opened her eyes, she slowly got back onto her feet. "Wh… What happened?" Sarabi asked. "Mom, you just passed out. Are you okay?" Simba asked. "Yes Simba, I'm alright. I just need to go rest." Sarabi said as she walked away. Simba was now very concerned about his mother, he knew something was going on.
When arriving back at the den, Simba saw Sarabi sitting down all by herself staring into space. "Mom, can I please talk with you?" Simba asked. "Sure Simba, what's on your mind?" Sarabi asked. "Look, ever since you arrived you've been acting a bit strange, like whenever we bring up your health. Is something going on that we should know about?" Sarabi looked down and then back up at her son. "Simba, I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me." Sarabi then walked out onto the tip of Pride Rock, Simba followed her.
"Mom, I know something is going on. Please just tell me." Simba said. This made Sarabi a little irritated. "Simba, just let it go." She demanded. "No. We all saw you pass out just a while ago, and that's not normal." Simba said. "I know but-" "But nothing mom! What's going on, why did you come back here!?" "I just came back to be with my family!" Said Sarabi. "No, it's for something else too, I can just tell! What is it!?" "Nothing!" "MOM!" "IT'S BECAUSE I'M DYING SIMBA!" Sarabi shouted.
Simba sat there frozen, unsure of what to say next. "What do you mean you're dying?" He asked. "Simba, remember when you were a cub, and I told you that as an animal gets older and older, their body eventually starts to break down and stop working? Well, that's happening to me." Sarabi was now ready to explain everything to Simba. "When I was living with my new mate, I suddenly got sick. At first I assumed it was nothing, but I was wrong." Sarabi then showed Simba the weird lump on her chest. "You see this lump here? I came to find out that it's a tumor." Simba's heart sank, he couldn't believe that his own mother had cancer.
"Why didn't you tell us when you first came here?" Simba asked. "Because I needed more time. And that's why I came back to the Pride Lands. I know the end of my life is drawing near, and I want to spend my final days around the ones I love the most." Sarabi said. "Well, you know you're going to have to tell everyone else later. Including Kion." Said Simba. "Oh Simba, he'll be so upset." Sarabi moaned. "Well you don't have any other choice. It's your role to tell him." Simba said. He then went back into the den, leaving Sarabi alone on Pride Rock.