"What's going on here?" Mufasa asked looking from his mother to Nina.

Eshe glared at the creamy lioness before smiling at her son. "Nothing dear. We were just talking. Nothing to worry about."

"Hmmph." Sarabi scoffed ignoring the glares from Mufasa and Eshe before looking at the creamy lioness. "Gather Athalia and Sarafina and meet me by the hunting fields."

Nina bowed her head before heading towards the den. Sarabi glanced at her mate and mother-in-law briefly before turning and stalked down the rocky slope. Mufasa watched Sarabi run into the plains as Eshe sighed in relief.

Mufasa took a deep breath before facing his mother who smiled at him. The golden lion shook his head just as a small figure flew towards priderock.

Mufasa looked and seen it was none other than his friend and majordomo. "Zazu, what is it?"

The blue hornbill landed with a bow before looking up with wide eyes. "Rogues in the Pridelands!"

Mufasa sighed heavily as he rubbed his head under his thick red mane. "I'll be there. Get Kondo, Nalin and Ajira."

"Of course, sire." Zazu said before taking flight.

-Western Borders of the Pridelands-

A four month dark brown cub with a scruffy darker brown cub sat on a ledge watching a dark gold lioness pace in a tight circle with wondering dark green eyes. "Mom...are you okay?"

A rich brown teen that was lying under a shaded tree, rolled his dark orange eyes. "Shut up idiot!"

The dark gold lioness stopped pacing and looked at the teen with narrowed bright green eyes. "Casen! What have I told you about being mean to your brother?"

Casen lowered his head, his small dark red mane fell in between his eyes. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

The lioness gave a short nod before looking into the Pridelands when she heard a loud roar. Her bright green eyes widen when she saw three males running over with one lioness following close behind. She took a deep breath before meeting the group, which stopped with the large golden lion stepping forward.

"What are you doing in my kingdom, trespassing!"

The dark gold lioness looked at the dark brown cub that ran between her front legs before looking up while bowing her head. "Your kinglyness. I am from the kingdom of the Mountain Region."

When the lioness said that Nalin looked up and at the dark gold lioness. He gasped when he saw her bright green eyes. "Baraka!"

The dark gold lioness looked up as Mufasa turned to look at the pale white lion. "Nalin? You know her?"

Nalin nodded walking from Kondo's side over to Baraka. "Yeah. She came to our pride with her mother when she was a few weeks old. Kondo and Ajira know her, she's actually Kondo's sister-in-law. Sarafina, Sanora and Masika knows her as well."

Mufasa turned his dark red eyes on the younger lioness, that seemed a half of year younger which was three and a half years. "Regardless, I will let you stay on judgment and because you have a young cub with you. But you will be closely watched. Now I believe introduction is in order, I am King Mufasa and I welcome you to the Pridelands."

Baraka looked at the teen that was a bit older than eleven months before turning her eyes to the king. "As you know my name is Baraka and these are my sons Casen and Kovu."

-TLKTLKTLKTLK-

A month has passed and Baraka has been accepted fully into the pride. Sarabi hasn't been wondering too much about Eshe since she had been showing Baraka around, which the two had become quite close.

Another thing why the queen wasn't paying attention to her mother-in-law or her obvious lies was that she hasn't been feeling too well the past few weeks. She has been planning on seeing Rafiki but she had been completely busy. Exspecially now that Mufasa had started Simba's royal lessons.

"Good afternoon, Sarabi. How are you feeling today?"

Sarabi took a deep breath before looking at the apporching dark gokd lioness. "Actually Baraka, I'm not sure. But it would be great to have someone go with me to see the mujzi."

Baraka smiled and nodded her head. "Of course."

Sarabi and Baraka headed down the rocky slope. The walk to Rafiki's tree was quiet but before they thought about starting a conversation they had reached the baobab tree. Lucky for them the mandrill was sitting on the grass under the tree, meditating.

Sarabi shared a look with Baraka before clearing her throat. "Um...Rafiki."

The mandrill looked up and smiled brightly. "Ah Queen Sarabi. What can I do for you?"

Sarabi sighed heavily before smiling lightly. "I haven't been feeling too well lately."

Rafiki stood and motioned for Sarabi to lay down. The queen followed through and laid down, she was prepared for Rafiki's check up. After all, she been here before. After a moment Rafiki stepped back with a laugh.

"Ah ha! Congratulations my queen! Another royal cub is on their way!"

Sarabi was actually shocked. She was pregnant? How did that happen? Her orange eyes widen when she realized that the cub was conceived that day on the ledge over the border. Sarabi smiled gratefully before running off.

"Thank you Rafiki but I have to go!"

Rafiki laughed before climbing up his tree as Baraka ran after the queen and her friend.

-Under Priderock-

Mufasa watched Simba run off to be pounced on by Nala. The golden lion smiled before turning to finish his rounds when he seen Sarabi run over. When the dark beige lioness reached him he was confused and worried.

"Sarabi, is everything alright?"

Sarabi looked behind her at the dark gold lioness and dipped her head to dismiss her new friend. Baraka nodded before turning and walked away.

Sarabi closed her eyes before inhaling and exhaled deeply. "Mufasa...I'm pregnant."

Mufasa's dark red eyes grew wide before a smile formed. He walked over and embraced Sarabi. "This is amazing news. Now you can forget this nonsense that my mother is mis-treating Askari and let's announce the news to the pride."

Sarabi glared but breathed through her nose. With a deep breath she put on a force smile and nodded. With a lash of her tail, Sarabi headed for the watering hole where most of the pride and her sons would be.