Chapter 1 Hearts that fall
It's been two weeks since the coronation of the king of the tree of life. Kion and his friends have adapted well into their new roles as apart of the night pride. Fuli and Azaad have grown closer together although they haven't made things official yet. Bunga and Binga however have loved being mates together, Beshte has made friends with everyone, and Ono has taken the role of solving a lot of problems around the tree being the wisest at the tree. However, Kion and Rani were quite disappointed to learn that it is tradition for a king and queen to have a royal marriage ceremony, that it was against the rules of the former kings of the tree of life including Rani's grandfather Jeuri who in Queen Janna's words was a stubborn old king. Simba and Nala along with the rest of the pride landers went home although Kiara and Kovu promised they'd come before the wedding ceremony. However, if you know Kion he isn't one to follow tradition.
The sun rose over the tree of life as the cavern inside the tree was lit up by the lights. As Rani's eyes opened and found Kion's arm around her as she turned over to see if he was awake. She saw his scar and smiled knowing that without that scar she wouldn't have her mate. Rani licked his cheek just below his scar to try and wake him up. But his eyes wouldn't open. So she licked him again and still no movement. Until she realized a little smirk from Kion.
"Are you just trying to get me to kiss you more?" Rani asked chuckling.
"It worked didn't it," Kion replied purring as he kissed her good morning.
"You know we need to get you out of here before Baliyo, Surak and Nirmala get back. My uncle is very high on tradition. And I don't want to be the queen that screws that up," Rani said trying to rush him to get up.
"Look it's not our fault that we didn't know we couldn't be mates yet until a ceremony told us we can be," Kion said kind of irritated over the fact.
"It's the Harusi ceremony Kion. And it's tradition, and as king and queen we are to respect those traditions," Rani said trying to hide away her true feelings on the matter.
Kion didn't have to say anything he just looked at her with a smile.
"Look I'm not happy about it either. But as far as I'm concerned what the queen does with her king when everyone goes to sleep is between us. I love my home and its traditions it's not our fault we opened that door before we knew about it." Rani said hugging Kion.
"Hey I'll tell you what how about until our Harusi ceremony I take the lead on the night patrol? That way you can rest and not feel guilty about the things we're doing," Kion said a bit jokingly.
"That's a good idea but I don't know if I can wait that long for," Rani said going to kick him.
"Your majesty, I mean majesties," Baliyo said walking in seeing Rani about to kiss Kion.
"Baliyo, how was the patrol?" Rani asked blushing a bit but trying to pretend like nothing happened.
"You two? Are you two break the rules?" Baliyo asked knowing about the traditions.
"Baliyo, you know I can't lie to you. We already did before Surak told us about it," Rani confessed to the surprise of Kion.
"Sis, Uncle Surak will be so upset. And if your expecting me to keep a secret you know how bad I am at that," Baliyo said while yawning.
"You don't have too, how about this what if we explain it to Surak, besides I know we're supposed to uphold these things but we are the king and queen," Kion said.
"Yes but any great leader doesn't abuse their power besides my parents didn't, neither did my grandmother, if we just keep it a secret for now, besides it's not that long until the ceremony." Rani said trying to convince herself that what she was doing was right.
"Baliyo go get some rest, I'm sure Surak and Nirmala have already gone to sleep," Kion urged him.
"Yeah good idea," Baliyo said yawning again feeling exhausted.
Rani looked depressed as she realized that she made a mistake.
"Rani it's okay, we didn't know about this law beforehand," Kion said.
"Yes but we haven't stopped, and I don't want to let my parents or my grandmother down," Rani lamented.
"How about this, what if we go talk to makini, explain to her what happened, then maybe she can help us," Kion said.
"Maybe, but after high noon I promised Binga and Bunga I'd hang out with them before I make my rounds," Rani said trying to leaving quickly, but Kion stepped in front of her before she could leave.
"I love you Rani," Kion said smiling.
"I love you too my King Kion," Rani said kissing him before she left to go make her rounds around the tree of life.
Meanwhile in the pride lands things were a bit different since Kion had left. Vitani's guard had some trouble earning the trust and respect of the pride landers so in order to fix the problem Simba decided to surprise Vitani with a gathering of all the animals where he would make a decree.
"Morning sis, you sleep well?" Kovu asked seeing Vitani come out of the lair.
"Yeah I did. Did you?" Vitani smartly replied.
"Nope and that's why I'm smiling. Anyways um Simba needs you to go get Timon and Pumbaa." Kovu said.
"Why?" Vitani asked.
"He personally asked for you to do it," Kovu replied.
"Okay, but what about the guard?" Vitani asked hesitant and a bit suspicious.
"That's where Nala comes in. She feels like you and the girls should have a day off every now and then, unless something major happens," Kovu said.
"Alright, but just know I'll ask them about all of this," Vitani said heading toward Hakuna Matata falls.
"How did that go?" Simba asked emerging from the darkness.
"She's on to us. You really think this is going to work?" Kovu asked.
"Of course it will, and I want you right by my side when I make this decree. Besides it will be you one day to make decree's," Simba said.
"Yeah," Kovu replied not to sure about being king.
"What's the matter?" Simba asked.
"It's just that. Zira always wanted me to be king, I'm afraid that if I become king those demons might come back," Kovu said.
"Your afraid Kovu. I get it, I was scared too when I climbed up that peak for the first time, but then I only had a pride to protect. I had to go find the other herds," simba said.
"I don't know how you did it. Did Nala go with you for those trips?" Kovu asked.
"Not every time, besides she was.." Simba said just before Zazu swooped down.
"Sire. Oh sorry for interrupting, I'm the herds will be here at high noon." Zazu said.
"Excellent, now Kovu go spend the some time with your love, I'll see you later today," simba said.
"Alright," Kovu said.
"And by the way Kovu. The next time you both decide to sleep in the den please actually sleep," Simba said.
"You didn't see anything," Kovu said.
"Oh good heavens," Zazu said.
"No. But I will have a surprise for you two later," simba replied as he walked off to go for his morning walk.
"Don't worry Kovu, I'm sure you and Kiara's time together wasn't disturbing anyone else's sleep," Zazu said flying onto his shoulder.
"Morning Kovu," Kiara said walking up to him still dripping from her bath. Which left Kovu speechless.
"Well I must be going I'm sure an Ostrich is stuck in sand somewhere in Africa," Zazu said flying away.
"Down boy, I wanted to know how Vitani took the decoy?" Kiara said shaking to dry off.
"She's on to us, she doesn't get surprised often. Even when we were cubs I could never scare her," Kovu said laughing thinking of some of his fond childhood memories.
"Well, my dad want's to give us something later, I don't know what though?" Kiara said not knowing what it might be.
"Yeah he told me about that. Hey when are we going to go back to the tree of life?" Kovu asked.
"Soon, maybe tomorrow or the next day. Why? Do you miss my brother that much?" Kiara laughed.
"I don't even know your brother, plus that would give us time to ourselves," Kovu said giving her a kiss.
"Then maybe after dad's decree, and his gift whatever it maybe," Kiara said walking away from him gliding her tail under his chin.
Back at the tree of life. Beshte was all by himself in a pool trying to cool off when Kion found him all alone.
"Hey Big B, your all by yourself?" Kion asked knowing Beshte didn't like being alone.
"Yeah its okay, I think some of the tree of lifers are still getting used to seeing a hippo splashing around on a hot sunny day," Beshte said.
"Well how about you come with me, I have to complete my rounds and then I'm meeting with Makini and Rani later," Kion said.
"That would be great, thanks for letting me tag along. So how are you and Rani?" Beshte asked.
"Beshte you know how we used to joke about always being single, and just patrolling the pride lands together," Kion said.
"Yeah, we were pretty young then," Beshte said.
"As opposed to now? I don't even have my full mane yet," Kion replied.
"I'm sure you'll get it eventually. Although as Rani said she likes you without a full mane," Beshte said.
"Beshte can I let you in on a secret?" Kion asked.
"What that you and Rani meet secretly in the tree almost every night?" Beshte asked smiling.
"How did you know?" Kion asked.
"My dad always said you can tell when two love birds are together, cause even the people around them can hear their song. Although I don't think he meant it literally," Beshte said.
"Surak told us about a tradition this place has. That before the Herusi ceremony we can't mate, and when he told us, we already did," Kion confessed knowing he could trust beshte.
"Well just talk to Surak, I'm sure he'd understand," Beshte said.
"That's what I think, but I also know Rani says that Surak upholds a lot of the traditions of this place. And I wouldn't want to cause problems being virtually an outsider coming in and disrupting things all because of love," Kion said.
"But you just said it. You love each other Kion. And there's nothing wrong with that. I remember seeing my dad and mom so happy together before she passed. They were so cute together. Kion I don't condemn you or Rani, besides your going to be mates anyway so what's it matter?" Beshte responded.
By this point they had reached the mountain pass where the Lion Guard had entered the tree of life.
"Hey do you see that?" Kion said now on high alert seeing Lion paw prints in the snow, however the prints only were walking away.
"Someone must have been here? It doesn't look like yours or Surak's," Beshte said trying to figure out who was in his new home as well.
Then all of the sudden, Kion and Beshte heard something, a little sneeze.
They both looked at a nearby rock as Kion went in closer he found that there was a little infant lioness cub. With a dark tan coat of fur, and light green eyes.
"Beshte it's a cub," Kion said looking at her in disbelief that someone would leave their cub out here to die.
"Hoo, Hoo, Kion do you need me to get Queen Rani?" Olo asked waking up from her nap in her outside the mountain pass.
"Yes thanks, Olo," Kion said still in shock at what he just found.
He carefully touched the cub with his nose, and the cub opened her eyes and touched his nose with her paw.
"Aw. I think she likes you Kion," Beshte said.
At Makini's tree. Rani told Makini of the situation that her and Kion found themselves in, as Makini was racing through the caverns and tunnels in her tree looking at all the paintings trying to find if this had happened before.
"Find anything?" Rani yelled out?"
"Hold on, Ow." Makini said hitting her head on one of the branches.
"All I can find in here is the story of a hurt rhino, he was hurt pretty bad," Makini said.
"That's great, and I'm happy he was healed, but what about me and Kion?" Rani asked a bit frustrated it was taking so long.
"Actually the rhino tragically died," Makini corrected her on the story.
"Oh dear, well that's sad," Rani said.
"Rani, I've looked everywhere and this tradition your talking about is not mentioned here. Every royal majousy in history has written all the traditions and celebrations and events in this tree. But that one isn't in here," Makini said.
"Really?" Rani smiled.
"Well don't sound to excited geez," Makini joked.
"Queen Rani, Kion needs you at the mountain pass," Olo said flying into the tree.
"Oh, Okay. Thanks Makini, could you double check for me though?" Rani asked.
"No problem, just a couple thousand paintings to go over again," Makini said to herself as she looked around.
Rani started to head for the mountain pass, but was stopped by Bunga and Binga.
"Hey Rani," Bunga said.
"Bunga?" Binga nudged him.
"Oh right, Queen Rani. We were wondering how are you on eating slugs?" Bunga asked.
"Um, I've never tried that. But I wouldn't mind trying it once. Um I don't mean to be rude guys but Kion needs me at the mountain pass real quick then I'll be at your den later," Rani graciously said, although she was in a hurry she refused to make any of her pride or people feel like she doesn't have time for them.
Rani made to the pass as Kion had pulled the cub from out of the rocks where she was put.
"Kion?" Rani said seeing the little cub next to him.
"Me and Big B found those paw prints and they lead us to her," Kion said wondering what Rani's reaction would be.
"Okay," Rani hesitated but leaned her head down as she looked at the little cub and the cub did the same thing to her as she did to Kion.
"She's adorable, did you find where the prints went too?" Rani asked.
"I looked. Beshte stayed with the cub and I saw the prints went to the ice, but nothing passed it," Kion said.
The cub sneezed again.
"Well, bless you. Um, Kion we've got a problem I'm not pregnant," Rani said.
Beshte looked awkwardly as did Kion as they both looked at each other.
"Wrong choice of words, I can't nurse this cub, and she's too young to eat meat. And I don't see a pregnant lioness around here either," Rani said.
"Oh. Thank the stars I was feeling awkward," Beshte said.
"He knows," Kion said.
"Your secret is safe with me you two. But Rani's right this cub needs to eat," Beshte said.
"I got it. There's a pride not to far from here, the water pride. Hopefully they have a mother who can help," Rani said.
"Then we need to go now in order to find them," Kion said.
"Your right, oh but I promised Bunga and Binga I'd hang out with them today," Rani realized.
"I know little B, when he sees this cub he'll understand," Beshte replied.
The three of them came through the mountain pass with Kion gently holding the cub in his mouth. As Bunga and Binga saw them.
"Queen Rani, holy crap is that yours?" Bunga asked.
"Not how it works Bunga. But good God she's so cute," Binga said.
"I know, um I'm going to have to push our time off a bit, we've got to leave and find this cub a mother who can nurse her," Rani said.
"Say no more, Slugs can wait, but something that cute can't wait," Bunga said.
The three went on their way toward the home of the water pride.
At pride rock, the animal herds gathered at pride rock, as Vitani was arriving with Timon and Pumbaa as they were telling her a story of Simba when he was younger.
"He was fearless kid, he would float down the river off the edge of a waterfall with no worry," Timon said.
"As Mr. Mom over here decided to swim after him," Pumbaa joked.
"Yeah, yeah and who saved him?" Timon replied.
Vitani laughed at the two of them, but then realized that all the herds were at pride rock.
"Day off my butt, why are they all here?" Vitani said a little upset that Kovu made something up.
"Well it could be the great celebration of togetherness," Pumbaa said seeing that she was upset.
Vitani made it to pride rock and saw her brother standing with Simba about to walk up the peak with him, as her guard stood with Kiara and Nala.
"What the heck Kovu," Vitani snipped.
"Don't be mad at him, I'm the one who told him to tell you all of that. You came to me a few days ago and told me that these herds weren't giving you a fair shot. And as King I'm about to change that," Simba said making his way to the peak.
Vitani stood there confused as Kovu smiled and followed behind Simba.
"Pride landers, I called you all here today to make a decree," Simba said.
"Oh a decree that sounds important," Thurston the Zebra said to his herd.
"It's come to my attention that you all collectively haven't given the new Lion Guard a fair chance. As king I remember bringing all of you here to bring our kingdom back together. I know my son did a wonderful job protecting you, and leading you into battle against scar's fiery face. But Vitani won the battle of the Lion guards. Which allowed Kion to leave and be with his love Rani and become King of the tree of life. Vitani has worked her tail off to defend you all, she has the roar of the elders and her guard is the best in the pride lands. My decree is that you all respect and cherish Vitani and her guard the same way you did my son when he was only a cub." Simba decreed.
The herds were in a bit of shock but realized that they had treated Vitani unfairly.
"Your highness, if fair is what you want for them, then that's what we'll give." Makku replied to the king.
"Also one other thing, if you see my son-in law. Be kind to him, don't look at his scar or his past and believe that he is Scar, because he is far from that monster. He loves my daughter just as she deserves to be loved, and I will be honored when the sun sets on my time here, and rises with him as the new king." Simba called out to all the herds.
"Can I say something?" Kovu asked.
"Of course," Simba said stepping back so the attention would be on Kovu.
Kovu took a breath and looked behind him at Kiara who simply smiled at him which gave him just what he needed.
"Pride landers. I understand you might be confused about me. First your encouraged to exile me, then your encouraged to welcome me as your new king. While I only wish to be half the king Simba is, I want to make one thing clear. I love this land, and I love your princess. Kiara means everything to me, and without her in my life I'd be lost. Just as you all were until Simba welcomed you back to the land all those years ago. I implore you all to give me a chance. And yeah, I'll mess up along the way. Just as all kings did. (Simba nodded to that as he said that.) I want to earn your trust and your gratitude. If anything I learned growing up was this, you must earn every inch you have in life. If someone just gives it to you or you manipulate your way into it, then your inch isn't valid. I look to earn every last one of you's love, trust, and your respect," Kovu spoke.
The crowd applauded Kovu much to his amazement. He looked back to Simba who nodded in approval as Kiara was a bit emotional seeing her love get the approval of the herds.
Later on after all the herds left and had their time speaking to Simba and Nala. Kovu and Kiara were talking with Vitani.
"Thanks for that, you didn't have to do that for me," Vitani said.
"Yes I did," Simba said walking over to them.
"Oh and that reminds me, I believe I had a gift for you two," Simba said.
"Vitani, would you and the guard like to join me for the rest of the day?" Nala asked.
"Of course, what are you going to do?" Vitani asked.
"Spa day," Nala said.
"I've never had that, in fact I don't think the guard has either." Vitani replied.
"You'll have fun its relaxing," Kiara said.
"We'd be honored," Vitani said.
"Now you two follow me," Simba said walking around to the back of the pride rock.
"Where are we going dad?" Kiara asked.
"Well I realized that you two need your own space. Your own den, and there's one back here," Simba said.
"Wait is that where?" Kovu asked.
"Oh, Kovu I'm so sorry. Oh God I'm so stupid," Simba remembered that it was the den that Scar had when Mufasa was king.
"Wait dad. Kovu, Don't think about who lived in here at one time, think of who will live in here now," Kiara said kissing his cheek.
"Simba I'm not mad, I'm thankful you'd give us our own den." Kovu said.
"Well, you two need your privacy, besides I'm not getting any younger, and I miss seeing little cubs running around," Simba joked.
"Dad!" Kiara yelled.
"I'm not stupid Kiara, I know why you two are tired all the time during the day. It's okay your young and in love. Me and your mother were the same way, and I bet your brother and Rani are the same way," Simba said.
"Speaking of which are we going to go there today?" Kovu asked.
"We'll start that journey tomorrow, besides I want to sleep in our den tonight. Thanks dad," Kiara said hugging her father.
"Your welcome, and hey you both don't have to wait for us in the morning. Just tell Kion and Rani hello for us," Simba said.
Simba walked away happy that his cubs were now all grown up, but still missed his son a lot. As did Nala. But he knew eventually he'd be able to go see his son again.
Author's Note.
I want to thank every reader of my previous story The Night Pride. This story is going to be a new fresh story, with no connection to the The Night Pride story. I hope you enjoy.