Hey everyone! My apologies for such a delay in posting...as I've noted before, I am a 36 year old full-time working mom of 2 young boys, ages 7.5 and 5.5. I teach elementary school ESL full time and then come home to spend time with/parent/raise my two boys along with my husband. Having young kids means homework at times for the eldest and also weekly activities and Occupational Therapy and counseling for my oldest who has ADHD and some challenges that go along with that. So, just a note if anyone feels the need to come at me and leave rude reviews, think before you type and perhaps try to have compassion and put yourself in my shoes for a moment and imagine all the things I deal with on a daily basis. I try to be a very positive person and turn the other cheek, but sometimes things must be said to stand up for oneself. Most all of you have been wonderful and kind with your reviews...anyway, please enjoy the long-awaited chapter 9 of my LK3 fanfic! :)

Chapter 9: Reunion at Pride Rock

The four cubs bounded through the grasslands until they reached the summit of Pride Rock.

"Zuka Zama! Hang on, you cubs!" Bunga yelled as he sailed through the air and landed in front of the cubs, causing them to skid to a stop and topple into one another like bowling pins. The cubs groaned as they picked themselves up from the ground.

"Ugh…Bunga!" Nahara growled, glaring at him.

The blue honey badger backed up and chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry…I gotta work on that, hehe."

As the cubs got up and shook themselves off, Nahara noticed what was in front of them and gasped! "This…this is…" she stammered.

"Welcome to Pride Rock!" Niru interjected, extending a paw towards the timeless royal structure before them.

Nahara continued to stare wide-eyed, mouth agape. "Pride…Rock! My dad grew up here! Like, he was BORN here! Oh wow, oh wow, I can't believe we're HERE!" Nahara exclaimed, jumping up and down, laughing.

The trio stared in shock at her, as this was the first time they had witnessed this side of their new friend.

Siva giggled. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Just then Bunga popped up in front of Siva. "Hooollld on a second, princess! None of you are going anywhere until your parents get here-King Kion's orders," Bunga said triumphantly, crossing his arms.

The four cubs groaned.

"Aww c'mon, Bunga! Niru knows the way! Why can't he just lead us up?" Nahara groaned, exasperated.

"Because…if anything happens to you or any of the royal cubs, your dad will blast me from here back to the Tree of Life with The Roar!" Bunga whispered sharply to Nahara.

The three Pridelander cubs looked from Bunga to one another, confused. "The…Roar?" Suvo asked, quizzically.

"What's that mean?" Siva piped up.

Bunga froze as he realized his slip up. "Uh…hehe! Well…uhh.."

Before he could fabricate an explanation, Queen Rani appeared, followed shortly after by Kion and Kiara.

"Wow, you cubs sure are fast!" Queen Rani chuckled.

Nahara scampered over to her mom and rubbed up against her leg. "Mom! Can we please go see Pride Rock now? Pleeeease?!"

Queen Rani chuckled. "Now Nahara, we are guests. We must wait for the royal family to go first," Rani explained, giving her daughter a look of empathy yet firmness.

Nahara's ears pinned back to her head and chuckled nervously, "Yes, Mom," she nodded.

"Your majesty," Queen Rani nodded at Kiara and stepped aside to allow her to lead the group to the landing outside of the den.

Queen Kiara padded to the front of the group and motioned for Niru, Siva, and Suvo to follow behind her. Nahara, Kion, and Rani went next, followed by Bunga bringing up the rear.

As the group of lions and Bunga made their way up to the top of the majestic rock, they looked around and noticed the Pride Landers weren't anywhere to be seen.

Suvo scanned from left to right. "Hey! Where is everybody?"

Before anyone could answer, there came a squawk from above them. It was Ono. The royal egret landed in front of the group and bowed.

"Your majesties, it is wonderful to see you, Queen Kiara and King Kovu," Ono exclaimed.

Kiara smiled warmly at the egret she had known since cubhood. "Likewise, Ono."

Kiara then turned her gaze towards the cave entrance. She took a deep breath and let out a powerful roar. The four cubs jumped up and shrieked in unison, startled at the sudden roar from their queen and taken aback by the sheer volume and power of it. Bunga trotted over to them and chuckled. "Aww you cubs were startled by that?! Pssht! Queen Kiara's roar ain't got nothin' on her brother's roar! Nahara you know what I'm talkin' about-' ' Bunga stopped short as a large shadow overcame him, none other than that of his oldest friend and King of the Tree of Life. Kion cleared his throat and glared at Bunga. The honey badger shrunk and laughed nervously. Before either Kion or Bunga could speak, Pride Rock erupted in a chorus of elated roars! Former King Simba and Queen Nala came racing out to greet their son and daughter-in-law, followed by King Kovu, who ran over to greet his in-laws and family. The rest of the pride, including Vitani, Tiifu, Zuri, and the other lionesses and cubs scampered out of the cave in excitement. Now it was Kovu's turn to let out a regal roar. All heads turned toward the King of the Pridelands and proceeded to form a giant circle, including the prince and his friends.

"Come sit by us!" Siva beckoned.

Nahara smiled and took a step forward but was intercepted by her father, who scooped her up by the nape of her neck and carried her to the opening of the circle at the start of Pride Rock.

Siva's ears drooped in disappointment but suddenly, she too found herself swooped up. Her mother, Vitani, with Suvo riding on her back, swiftly trotted over to where Simba and Nala were seated. She gently yet quickly set her daughter down in front of her, as Suvo hopped off of his mother's back. Vitani whispered, "King Kovu and Queen Kiara are about to announce the arrival of our royal guests. You two need to sit quietly and watch," Vitani instructed in a sharp whisper.

Both cubs' ears flattened against their heads as they shrunk slightly. "Yes, Mom," they whispered back, nodding quickly before turning their full attention to the royal guests.

By now, all of the Pridelanders were seated in a circle, smiling warmly at Kion, Rani, and Nahara.

Kiara cleared her throat. "Everyone, it is with great joy that I welcome back to Pride Rock the king and queen of the Night Pride, my brother, King Kion and sister-in-law, Queen Rani. And, it is with great joy that I also welcome, for the first time to Pride Rock and the Pridelands, their daughter and future queen of the Night Pride, Princess Nahara!" Kiara beamed and let forth a joyful roar of welcome. Kovu roared in succession, followed by Simba, Nala, and then a chorus of roars from the other Prideland members. Nahara blushed and leaned into her mom's leg, embarrassed to have so many new faces looking at her along with the sheer volume of the welcoming roars. When the roars quieted down, Kion spoke.

"Thank you all for the warm welcome back! It is a great honor and joy to be back visiting the Pridelands, my homeland. I look forward to visiting with all of you during our stay here at Pride Rock," Kion smiled.

"We look forward to our time with you," Kovu smiled warmly, looking at each member of the royal family. Nahara looked from each member of the royal family and all of the Pridelanders in awe. She couldn't believe that she was actually in the Pridelands. She'd heard so many stories in her short life about her father's cubhood and adventures growing up in the Pridelands and becoming the new Lion Guard. Every night before she went to bed, her dad and mom would take turns telling her stories of their cubhood. While Nahara enjoyed hearing about her mom's upbringing at the Tree of Life, she lived there and knew the land well. The Pridelands, however, had been a land of wonder and mystery that she would often dream about. Now, she was finally here and couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited her and her new friends!