Chapter 1: A New Reign
Pride Rock was rejoiceful once again as the former Outsiders had now rejoined Simba's Pride. Everyone realized the truth that Kiara had spoken on the fateful day of the war between the Pridelanders and tnen-Outsiders: We are one.
(Flashback) "A wise king once told me 'We are one.' I didn't understand him then…now I do. Them? Us? Look at them-they ARE US! What differences do you see?"
While Zira unfortunately was unwilling to let go of the past and let go of her hatred for Simba and the Pridelanders, the rest of the former Outsiders were, thus healing the broken circle between the two prides. Kiara and Kovu had, indeed, brought peace to their pride. Knowing that the Circle of Life never ends, when one circle is complete, another one begins. Rafiki knew Kiara had proven herself to be a wise princess and it was time for her to take her place as queen of the Pridelands and Kovu to be her king. Seated beside her loving and devoted mate, Kovu, Kiara and the rest of the pride watched as the sun set that night and Simba and Nala stepped down from their positions as King and Queen of the Pridelands. All the animals bowed one last time as the sun set on King Simba and Queen Nala's reign.
The next morning at dawn, the animals of the Pridelands returned to Pride Rock once again to watch the presentation of their new king and queen. As the sun began to rise, Rafiki nodded at Kiara and Kovu and motioned with his staff towards the edge of Pride Rock. Kiara and Kovu smiled nervously at each other and then looked toward Simba and Nala, who in exchange, gave them reassuring smiles, albeit with tears in their eyes. As Kiara put one paw in front of the other, her entire cubhood of memories flashed before her eyes-from the many times she had scampered out of the cave in attempts to ditch her bumbling babysitters, Timon and Pumbaa, to that fateful day when she ventured to the Outlands and met Kovu-the day that changed the course of their lives forever.
Kovu tried his best to put on a brave face and to walk tall and confidently, even though he was both terrified and overwhelmed with emotion inside. To think, that day that Kiara had, quite literally, bumped into him, had set his life into a whirlwind of intense, regimented training by Zira for the purpose of one day murdering his now father-in-law, the former King of the entire Pridelands and Pride Rock. To think that after all he had been through as cub, reuniting with Kiara through a disingenuous staged rescue, journeying to Upendi and realizing his love for his "enemy", Kiara, to being blamed for Simba's ambush, exiled in front of the entire Pridelands, and finally, reuniting with his one true love, Princess Kiara, and ultimately, joining Simba's Pride and being crowned Prince Kovu, future King. Kovu was about to receive the great responsibility and title of King: but not just any king, but the King of Pride Rock and the Pridelands!
Both Kovu and Kiara came back to reality upon arriving at the edge of the famous Pride Rock. The vastness of the Pridelands, the sun rise, and the animals froze in awe of their new queen and king. Kiara and Kovu gazed into each other's eyes, lovingly, and then furrowed their brows in a determined expression. Kovu drew a deep breath as he felt the winds of the great kings of the past, particularly Mufasa, swirl around his mane. Then, he released a thunderous roar, followed closely by Kiara. The rest of the pride returned their roars as all the creatures exploded in thunderous cheering and then one by one they bowed before Queen Kiara and King Kovu. Kovu and Kiara beamed proudly at their new kingdom and Kiara looked skyward and her eyes lit up upon seeing her grandfather, Mufasa. She glanced towards Kovu and motioned with her eyes for him to look up as well, which he did in awe. Mufasa's spirit smiled down upon the kingdom, his beloved son, and of course, his granddaughter and her beloved mate. Then, Kovu turned and nuzzled his queen. Queen Kiara returned the nuzzle before turning back and looking out at their kingdom.
