After the announcement, the pride went their way. Nala took a deep breath before signalling her family to follow her. It wasn't long before the royal family and the lion guard were gathered in the Lion Guard lair.

Before anyone could say anything a small blur rushed by before clinging to Prince Jashua's leg. When everything cleared the pale cream lion was beyond shocked and surprised to see his son.

"Hey Whirlwind," Jashua nuzzled his son to frown when the cub sobbed.

Mheetu was immediately concerned for his grandson before moving his teal eyes to the lion guard. "Can someone please explain what's going on?"

Askari sighed before looking at his parents and brother. "King Wituri of Avaloria escorted Alejandro home where he told us Olisa basically sold him to become queen of Vadronia."

Sarabi who was sitting next to Nala looked up with blown orange eyes as though she seen a ghost. "Vadronia? Did King Wituri say who the king was that Olisa married?"

Ahadi looked over to the dark beige lioness. "Yes, King Kumu."

Sarabi's face paled before she stood and looked at everyone with a extremed worried expression. "Do not underestimate Kumu. He was apart of the pride that my brother was living in during his exile. From my memory, Kumu was Zira and Tama's father's second in command until Mufasa killed King Damza. Most of the former Outsiders are descendants of those lionesses that my brother took over. Just keep your guard up."

Jashua watched his grandmother leave the lair before looking at his son. "I'm terribly sorry, Alejandro. But you don't have to worry now." he wrapped his other paw around the crying cub. "I'm here and I would never let anything happen to you."

Alejandro looked up with uncertain orange eyes. "You promise, dad?"

Jashua smiled before nuzzling his son's head, "Promise,"

~TLK~

After a few days of making sure Alejandro was settled. Jashua took his son out for a walk. He had already talked with Sherise and today he was going to introduce the two most important things in his life. While on their way to meet Sherise they met up with Askari and the little goldish cub that was abandoned that the tawny Prince is now looking after.

For Prince Askari, he remembers the day he found Astra all too well...

The cool rain poured down from the grey skies, damping his tawny pelt and red-brown mane. But that was the least of his problems. It's been a few days since the union of the prides. He's happy for his brother that he can love the lioness he's in love with freely and perhaps Sherise will be his sister-in-law soon enough.

With the union there's peace knowing that at least now there's no looming threat. Mbamba and the other Outsiders who didn't change sides were not in the Outlands and they haven't seen or heard from them since the war.

As he's really happy with the new changes, he feels like he's alone and no self worth. Yes, he's second in command of his sister's lion guard and he has friends but more than not they're busy too with their own lives.

With a heavy sigh, he lowered his head. With a deep breath, Askari walked on, continuing his patrol. It was still early in the morning, some of the pride wasn't up yet.

The animals was starting their day, the herds grazing on the green grass. It was calming to stroll through the Pridelands even he was on the lookout for any trouble. Even if it's pulling a stuck honey badger out of a beehive or assisting a lost zebra who forgot their way.

Askari shook his head to focus on his patrol. He was near one of the large rivers on the south side of the Pridelands when a small cry reached his dark brown rimmed ears. They flickered before he turned and walked towards the bank.

What the second son of Queen Eshe and Prince-Consort Mheetu saw made his green eyes widen, he moved closer and sniffed it. Sure enough, it was a cub. Askari took a paw and wiped away some of the dirt, the cub looked up with fearful purple eyes.

"Hey, sweetie. It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Can you tell me your name?"

"Astra..." the cub replied softly.

The cub was a female, a least a month or a bit less. With a shaky breath Askari bend down and got eye level. "Where's your parents, little one ?"

Astra looked away, the dirt that clung to her fur started to fall. The tawny lion could see freshly given wounds, claw marks on the cub's side and a wound on her light beige muzzle. "My mommy tried to save me but a white lion attacked her. I ran but couldn't see and fell into the water."

Askari looked up as thunder roared, the rain had eased but now started again. He couldn't leave the cub out here, besides the fact she'll die. But it's his duty to help those who are in need of help not only as a member of the lion guard but also as a prince of the Pridelands.

Blinking his eyes to get rid of the clinging water, Askari gently and slowly grabbed the goldish cub and bolted towards Priderock...

Askari shook his head before looking up ahead to see Sherise sitting with a smile on her face as her purple eyes filled with warmth and love towards his nephew.

"Alejandro," Jashua nuzzled his son. "I want you to meet Sherise."

The light cream cub stayed besides his father's side frowned as he was unsure of the situation.

"Hi, Alejandro!" Sherise smiled at the cub. "It's nice to finally meet you. I have heard some much about you."

Jashua cleared his throat before looking at his son. "Alejandro, Sherise is to one day be my mate and queen. I love her but I want you to know that you're not going to be pushed aside."

Alejandro frowned, his black rimmed ears flat against his head, which now had a bit of a black tuff. He was worried if he'd be in the same situation as before when his mother got married.

"Alejandro,"

The light cream cub looked up into his father's orange eyes. "Yes dad?"

"Are you okay, nephew? You seem like you just was told everyone you loved died." Askari tried to joke to ease his nephew to laugh nervously when Sherise growled at him.

"No!" when everyone turned their attention to the light cream cub. He was fearful for a moment before lowering his head. "What will happen to me now?"

Sherise and Jashua shared a concerned look, as the pale cream lion was beyond confused before it dawned on him how much his son was feeling like a burden and afraid of what happened with his mother is going to happen again.

Jashua pulled his son close and nuzzled him. "I'll love you always, no matter what."

Askari even approached, wary of the nasty glare he was receiving from the brownish lioness, said his words.. carefully. "You can train with me and Auntie Nala for the lion guard. There's never enough spots there."

"Really?" Alejandro asked with a new sparkle in his orange eyes.

"Of course!" Sherise smiled, petting the black tuff on the light cream cub's head. "You'll be the finest guard in no time."

Jashua's smile faded as he felt like his son wasn't completely convinced. He looked from Alejandro to the sky and noticed then that the sun had started to set. The stars were beginning to show, and as he looked to them for a moment, he closed his eyes.

"I want to share with you something my mother once told me, your Auntie Nala and Uncle Askari. All the great kings of the past are up there..."

"Uncle Jash, what about the queens?" Astra asked with a small paw on the future king's leg.

Jashua smiled brightly at the goldish cub that might as well be his niece. "The queens are up there, too. They're watching over us, and they'll be there for us when we feel lost. They're there to guide us."

Alejandro looked up at the sky now. The multiple colors of the dusk were quickly changing to dark blue as the stars shone brightly, while the moon began to dominate the night sky. He watched as the tiny dots of light twinkled against the night sky.

He wondered if the great kings and queens of the past are watching over him right at that very moment.