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Summary: Kiara has given birth to a cub named Ithemba, the future king, who is playfull and happy in his world. He meets another cub called Esaba, and the two get along very well. But then Simba dies, and a dark shadow is now able to attack, one who has a good reason to hate Kovu, Kiara and Ithemba. Will Love prevail?

Disclaimer: All the characters starring in or referred to in this fan fiction that were created by Disney belong to Disney. Inzondo, Ithemba and Esaba belong to me, but feel free to contact me if you want to use them. Any of the songs that featured in TLK or TLK2 that I used belong to Disney. The songs that were not featured in TLK or TLK 2 but that I have used belong to and were created by me, again, contact me if you want to use it.

I'll make the first post soon. Stay tuned![/b]

Im not quite sure what you mean. If you mean 'this should be put on the roleplaying board', then no because it is a story not an RP. If you mean 'hey, turning this into an RpP would be a good idea!', then, nice try but i'm not that big a fan of RP. Unless i've got it wrong and you mean something else

Ok, here is the first chapter! Short, but its basically a sort of proloque anyway. These chapters vary in size, so don't expect anything constant Oh and, when the story is finished, you'll be able to view the whole thing on TLK source ff's aswell.

Chapter One: Taking Pride



A ray of moonlight swept through the branches of Rafiki’s tree like a supernatural wind, enlightening the wizened baboon as he lay there. It woke him, and he climbed to the tree canopy far faster than could be though possible for one of his age. He sniffed the breeze flowing past, and saw a hair floating along on the wind. He caught it between his long fingers, and smelt it.

“Ah, it is time!” he chuckled.

Grabbing his staff, he set out towards Pride Rock.



Meanwhile, at the Rock, as the fingers of sunlight begun to grasp at the savannah, a great horde of animals were gathered around the base, waiting. Outside the cave entrance, two male lions paced back and forth, one, large with a glimmering golden coat and a scarlet mane with a few hints of grey, the other, large but slightly smaller, with dark brown fur and a black mane, a scar across his left eye.

“You know, Simba,” said the dark one. “You would think you were the one having kids, not me, the way you act so worried.”

Simba sighed.

“I know, Kovu. I’m just not sure what to make of it all. You and Kiara are still quite young, and I have only begun to teach you both about how to rule the Kingdom when I am gone. And I don’t want you and Kiara to make the same mistakes I made when Nala and I brought Kiara up.”

“True. But you are still the king, and we have at least four years to go during which you can advise us. Five if you take care of yourself. And even then, we need but look to the stars. What about Kiara and me? We’re the ones who have to raise a child, betroth him or her, and in turn pass on the knowledge you give us onto them. Not to mention keep it out of trouble!”

Simba laughed and was about to reply when a Lioness with sparkling sapphire eyes and a smooth, silky white fur that had traces of grey stepped out of the cave entrance. Nala. She smiled, first at Simba, lovingly, then at Kovu, proudly.

“It is done.” She said softly.

His heart fluttering, Kovu walked slowly into the cave, his father and mother in law close behind.

In a corner on a small pile of dry grass, lay Kiara. Between her forelegs was a small cub, neither white like Kiara nor black like Kovu…but some colour that was indefinable. Not grey, but his fur was light with streaks of black running lengthways across it like a zebra. Kiara was licking him clean, nuzzling him. Her face was happy but tired, as is to be expected after giving birth. Kovu stepped up to her. She looked at him, her eyes shining, and pushed the cub toward him. He lowered his face down, gazing at its small frame. It licked his nose, and he nuzzled it. Simba and Nala looked on proudly. Just then, Rafiki stepped through the cave entrance, and smiled.

“And so the circle comes round again!” He gently lifted the young cub from the floor and carried it outside. It was getting lighter now. If you looked hard, you might have seen the clouds forming unusual patterns with the light…like a great lion, watching down on his newly born great-grandson. But maybe it was just the light. The baboon slowly walked his way to the peak of the Rocks formation, where all the animals could see him. Kovu followed. Kiara struggled up, and he supported her. Her parents walked behind them. They stopped as Rafiki reached the edge, and thrusted the cub into the air.

The animals cheered, ecstatic about the new life and love that had come into the land. The cub sniffed the air that blew about him, and swiped playfully at the dust that floated past, as his mother had done the same and so had her father.

A ray of light shined down on to the cub, and Nala sniffed, wiping away a tear.

“Welcome to the world,” Said Kiara. “Ithemba.”

Hmm....no1 appears to be reading...sigh.... Still, musnt give up hope....may have some silent readers...

Chapter Two: Lessons

“Come on mom, wake up, wake up!”

Ithemba tugged at Kiara’s ear, but she just groaned and rolled over.

“Can’t your Father go with you?” She said sleepily.

“You promised!” he protested.

“Kovu, can’t you…”

“Hey, I can’t give him any lessons!”

“Why not?”

“Because I was never taught any! You were!”

Kiara started to tickle him.

“Ooh, who’s a stupid, untaught, yet rather handsome boy then?” she said in a playful voice.

“Oh yeah?” Kovu flipped her over and pinned her down. This time, he was doing the tickling. Kiara started giggling uncontrollably.

“Stop…get off! Hahaha!” she squealed.

“Eeew! Gross, stop it!” said Ithemba.

Panting heavily, Kiara pushed Kovu off her, and looked at her son amusedly.

“Ah, But that’s part of the lesson. Here, come with me.” And she set out of the cave at a brisk pace, tiredness forgotten. Ithemba followed.

She led him to the top of pride rock, where the sun rose in a magnificent spectacle. She sat beside him, as her granddad had done for her father.

“Look, Son.”

“Its…beautiful.”

“Everything the light touches is my fathers Kingdom. It belongs to my parents, Simba and Nala, and soon, in a day or two, they are going to pass it on to your father and me, and one day, it will be yours. This is as it should and always will be, as I Kiara, guide you, as Simba guided, and still guides, me, as Mufassa guided, and still guides, Simba. This is the circle of life.”

For a moment Ithemba didn’t know what to say as he took in these words. But then, curious as ever, he bounced back with a question.

“What about dad? Who guides him?”

“We all do. Kovu never had a father, only a mother whose soul had been tainted, incapable of passing on any proper advice. So now, I, as his wife, am obliged to guide and love him. Simba and Nala, as his Parents-in-law, are obliged to guide and love him. Mufassa is never obliged, but guides and loves everyone anyway.”

“Who is this Mufassa you keep mentioning?”

“He is my Grandfather, and your Great-Grandfather. He-died…in a terrible event that happened before your Father and I were born, when my father was but a cub. But he still guides us from the stars, as all the Great Kings do. I will tell you that story one day, and the story of Kovu and me. But not now.”

“What about when you were playing with dad just now? How is that part of the lesson?”

Kiara looked at him.

“That is neither a lesson of guidance, or balance in the great circle, but of love.”

“Aww, man…”

“You may get embarrassed about it now, but when you grow up, you too will fall in love. And the lesson is this: do not let that love slip through your fingers. Your father and I almost lost our love once, as did our parents. You have to keep it going, not just when you are lovers but when you are parents too.”

“Mom…”

Kiara sighed and got up, walking to the edge.



Kiara: Listen, child, and listen hard

There’s a lesson that must be taught.

One day soon

Under the moon

You must learn to control your heart



Kiara: Oh, love is blinding,

Love is fraught with danger

Love is the path unwinding

But when your time comes, don’t treat it like a stranger.

Embrace the love; turn it to your whim

And your mate will think ‘how lucky I am!”

To be with him…



Kiara: Be with him! Be with her!

Treat love like no stranger.

Embrace the love, when your are older.

So much stronger, so much smarter, so much bolder

So much more romantical!

Isn’t it just fantastical?

Embracing the love within your heart.


Kiara went into the cave and nudged Kovu. He woke up and walked side by side with Kiara, Ithemba following.


Kovu: Love is so amazing

It cannot be described.

This beautiful mate of mine

And the cub that fills my heart with pride!



Kiara and Kovu: Oh! Be with him! And be with her!

Treat love like no stranger.

Embrace the love, when your are older.

So much stronger, so much smarter, so much bolder

So much more romantical!

Isn’t it just fantastical?

Embracing the love within your heart.



Ithemba: What must I do?

Love is so confusing

But, second nature to you

It’s so uprooting.



Ithemba: You tell

Me that I’ll understand when I’m older

Yet aren’t you growing still as well?

Climb

Every mountain

Drink

From the fountain

The fountain of attraction

What is?

This infatuation

That I must grasp?

How can I accomplish

Such an impossible task?



Kiara, Kovu and Ithemba: Oh! Be with him! Be with her!

Treat love like no stranger.

Embrace the love, when your are older.

So much stronger, so much smarter, so much bolder

So much more romantical!

Isn’t it just fantastical?

Embracing the love within your heart.



Kiara, Kovu and Ithemba: Oh, love is blinding,

Love is fraught with danger

Love is the path unwinding

But when your time comes, don’t treat it like a stranger.

Embrace the love; turn it to your whim

And your mate will think ‘how lucky I am!”

Kiara: To be with him… Kovu: To be with her…



Kiara and Kovu nuzzled Kovu. He looked at them, bewildered.

“You’ll understand some day.” Whispered Kiara, and walked back to the cave.

The songs rubbish, I know, and I'm not saying any of it is good...please, if you have anything to sya about my fic, good or bad, come forth. Or I am leaving this topic, and never return! Mhuhahahaha!


....

Why am I laughing at my own misfortune?

....

It's very well written........ENCORE!....ENCORE!

W00! A reader! Thanks for the compliment

I need to make a couple of alterations to my next chapter(another short). Cya round

And as a vote casting,I prefer both The Lion King and Balto.

Your vote has been noted! I will be making another chapter soon

It's not that goood at the moment...but wait till the enourmous cliffhanger at the end o chapter six!

Chapter Three: The Passing of the Torches

Dawn broke over Pride Rock, illuminating it in a ring of light. The animals were gathered yet again, and Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kovu and Ithemba were assembled on the peak again. Rafiki was standing a way behind them: it was not his job to announce the new king. Next to him were the royal babysitters, Timon, a Meerkat, and Pumba, a Warthog.

Simba and Nala turned to face their daughter. They smiled. The crowd fell silent.

“I Simba, King Regent of the Pride lands, renounce my title and power. I pass it forth to my daughter and heir, Kiara. You are now the Queen Regent of the Pride Lands.”

Tears in her eyes, Kiara replied as ceremony bound her to do.

“I Kiara, accept my new position from my father, Simba. I will use this power neither for evil nor good, but for fairness and equality, as ones good is another’s evil. I will use this power for the good of the Kingdom, and to the benefit of my family, my friends, my subjects and me. I will not intentionally start an unprovoked conflict with any other faction. This is as the Circle demands.”

Simba nodded approvingly, and passed over to Nala, who turned to Kovu.

“I Nala, Queen Consort of the Pride lands, renounce my title and power. I pass it forth to my son in-law, Kovu. You are now the King Consort of the Pride Lands.”

“I Kovu, accept my new position from my mother in-law, Nala. I will use this power neither for evil nor good, but for fairness and equality, as ones good is another’s evil. I will use this power for the good of the Kingdom, and to the benefit of my family, my friends, my subjects and me. I will not intentionally start an unprovoked conflict with any other faction. This is as the Circle demands.”



Far away, on the banks of the river, far away from Pride Rock, a lioness lay in the mud. She was cut and scratched all over, and her left ear was torn, but not from the fall into the river. She had had that tear for many years. As she lay there, falling into labour, the only thought that went through her mind was that one day, one day, her cub would grow strong. So strong…he would avenge her…yes. Avenge. The pain was terrible, but she kept thinking to herself, where her two other sons, and her daughter, had failed... her newborn would succeed.

She stopped suddenly, staring at the cub she now held.

No!

How could this happen?

It was a girl.

And with that last, despairing thought, she died, leaving the bawling cub alone, all alone in the world.



Chapter Four: A new friend

“Pumba, don’t you just hate this babysitting job? Seriously! Like, every single trip we end up losing the kid! I mean- ooh! A blue one!”

Timon snatched up the blue grub, sniffed it, and swallowed it whole.

“Ah, that’s the spot! My favourite kind!”

“Timon?”

“Yeah, what is?”

“Perhaps we’re not good at babysitting because we keep getting distracted.”

“Yeah right, as if we ever get distracted…hey! Where did the kid go! If I don’t get that beeper delivery soon, I’m gonna…”

Ithemba giggled, listening to Timon and Pumba argue. It was so easy to lose them!

He ran off through the grass, still giggling. He could smell something...something odd he couldn't quite place. He bowled through the undergrowht, following the new scent. He ran head first into another cub, and both of them were bowled over. He lept up and started giggling uncontrollably.

“Woo hoo ha ha…s-s-sorry…wa ha ha hah!” he rolled around on the floor, pawing at the air.

The other cub just stared at him.

Ithemba got up, and stared back. The cub he had bowled into was a girl, silvery and with sapphire eyes like his grandmother. He felt he couldn’t look away from her.


“No one” she said in a croaky voice. “Has spoke to me since I was born.”

Explains the bad voice, thought Ithemba. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that.

“Who are you? And how did you get here?”

“I have no name. But I gave myself the name ‘Esaba’ My mother died in labour. She was alone. I don’t know who my father was. I have been living on my own, living off bugs. My life is awful.”

“Esaba…that’s a nice name.”

“It means ‘afraid’, because I am.”

“Don’t be,” said Ithemba, surprising himself by nuzzling her. “I’ll help you.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Ithemba, meaning hope. I am your hope.”

He pulled away from her and jumped about on the ground playfully, inviting her to join him. She just watched. He frowned. He ran up to her.

“Tag, you're it!”

Silence.

“Tag, you're it!”

Still silence.

“What’s the matter, don’t you know how to have fun?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

Just then, Kiara’s voice came from the long grass.

“Timon, Pumba, I can’t believe you lost him!”

“Hey, we’re not as young as were!”

“Timon is right, we can’t keep up! We had to follow your dad everywhere when he was a cub, and then you…you were even worse! And now…”

“Just tell me which way he went!”

“Err…that way!”

Kiara bounded through the grass, and landed right in the middle of Ithemba and Esaba.

“Ithemba, your all right!”

“Of course I am mum, I was only a couple of metres away from Timon and Pumba.”

“And who’s this?”

“This is Esaba, she lives here.”

“Here?” Kiara looked at Esaba curiously. Where is your family?”

“I don’t have one.”

Kiara stood up in surprise.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Ithemba’s mother.”

“Apart from that.”

“No.”

“I am the Queen of the Pride lands.” This time it was Esaba’s turn to look surprised.

“There…there is a queen?” She turned to Ithemba. "That would make you a Prince!"

“Yes."Said Kiara."We live at Pride Rock, not far from here. Stunning views. Fresh water and meat in abundance. Respect from all the other species…”

“Can I come?”

Kiara smiled, and walked away. Ithemba followed suit, and Esaba trailed along behind them.

Pride Rock came into sight, and Esaba gasped.

“You live there? Its beautiful.”

“Yes. We need to find you something to eat…”

They came to the cave entrance of Pride Rock, and Kovu came out to meet them.

“Hi Kiara darling. Zazu says that the Elephants are…oh! Who’s this?”

Kiara grinned at him.

“A…friend…of Ithemba’s.” she winked at him. Ithemba's faced turned crimson. “She needs something to eat, and pretty soon.”

“Well then,” said Kovu teasingly “Why don’t you go hunt something for her?”

Kiara laughed. “You know I can’t hunt, Kovu, ever since that incidence with the fire! Which a certain big strong lion saved me from…” She purred and nuzzled him.

“Yeah well, I was kind of evil at the time…anyway, yeah we have some fresh zebras, Vitani caught some while you were out. Come on.”

And so Ithemba met Esaba, and the Circle was set in motion.

This also is a very heart-warming,and a very moving fanfic.

Thanks...the ideas sort of pop into my head, really, and I write it. I never expect it to be that good, 'cos I'm not really that good at english(as in the school lesson: my english speaking is just fine 'cos I live in england lol), but people always seem to think its good. Thanks!

Sort but emotional chapter...

Chapter Five: Meet You There
Three years had passed, and Ithemba and Esaba were growing up now. They were teenagers, and got on well, and despite Esaba’s first confusion as to how to enjoy herself, she was very lively and often had mock wrestling matches with Ithemba. He was much stronger than her and could easily beat her, though he always let her win.
“Pinned you again Ith!”
Kiara laughed as she watched the two playing, and sighed happily as Kovu sat down next to her, licking her face.
“You know what?” he whispered.
“What?”
“I think Ithemba is getting rather fond of a certain lioness”
“What?” said Kiara rather loudly. The two playing youngsters looked up at her in bewilderment.
“What is it mom?” asked Ithemba.
“Oh, err, nothing, nothing. Could, umm…me and your father need to go talk about some err…some…”
Ithemba just shrugged.
“No problem” he said, and he rolled Esaba off him and ran off, Esaba chasing him and giggling. Kiara waited until they were out of earshot, and turned to Kovu.
“You think they’re in love?”
“Not yet maybe. But it always starts with playfulness, then snuggles, and so on. That’s how it started with you and me, and how it started with your mother and father.”
“Well, mom and dad didn’t start quite like that. They were friends as cubs, then got separated for 5 years and then met by chance again, and found out that they loved each other”
“Yeah, well…same difference.”
“By the way, where are my parents?”
Just then, as in answer to he question, Simba’s voice could be heard calling from the cave, asking Kiara and Kovu to come.
“Be right there dad!”
As they entered the cave, they saw it was empty except for Simba and Nala curled up on the floor.
“Dad? You called us?”
Nala looked up from the floor.
“It is time.” She said softly.
Kiara’s heart stopped beating for a second, and then set up again at double pace.
“No! Not now! Please!”
“Kiara, my daughter,” Said Simba “We are quite old now. We have to go sometime.” Tears were flowing down Kiara’s cheek. Kovu stood awkwardly to the side. “And we won’t be entirely gone. All you must do is look to the stars.” Simba turned to Nala and put his paw on her face.
“You remember when we met in the Jungle?”
“Yes. I hadn’t seen you for years. It was then I knew I loved you.”
“I loved you long before that. When I was away from Pride Rock, I couldn’t stop thinking of you. I had wanted to dance with you like we danced in the Jungle that night for years. But we are too old to do that now. What has happened to the headstrong, wild Nala I knew?”
“She is still here,” said Nala, putting her paw on her stomach. “Waiting for another chance to dance.”
Simba smiled. “Shall we go then, to the jungle of eternal youth, where we can dance forever?”
Nala grinned, and for a moment, her eyes shone with a childlike light, full of energy, and her voice was many years younger, like that of a cubs.
“Meet you there”
And so Simba and Nala died in each other’s arms.
Kiara wailed, and nuzzled her father and mother in turn. She licked them on the nose.
“Come back,” she sobbed. “I’m not ready…”
Kovu went to her and comforted her, but he could not restrain himself. They both burst out into tears, and soon the whole pride was there to see what had happened, crying their eyes out.

Ithemba and Esaba were oblivious to it, for they were watching the sunset from the top of Pride Rock. As the stars came out, they could see two new stars, that shone brighter than any others, and that seemed to dance around each other. If you looked close enough, you could see the forms of a Lion and Lioness embracing…or maybe it was just the light.

The boards have been quiet lately...time for another chapter.

Chapter Six: The Relationship Grows

“Ithemba! Come quickly!”

Ithemba started, jumping away from Esaba as his mother came up to the top with them.

“Oh err, I was just…”

“Never mind that now!” said Kiara. Ithemba looked at her and saw her face was streaked with tears.

“Mom?”

She broke down, and huddled on the floor, sobbing. Ithemba didn’t know what to do. He had never seen his mother like this before; it was she who comforted him.

He went to her and licked her face.

“Hey, it can’t be that bad. What happened?”

“He’s dead, that’s what! Your Grandparents are dead!”

Those words chilled Ithemba to his bone marrow. He had seen Simba and Nala as a pair of heroes, people to look up at for advice. He could…had…imagined them staying with them forever…for everyone to stay here forever. But deep in his heart, he had always known it would not be the case. He felt his eyes swell with tears.

No, he thought. Not in front of Esaba…

He tried to turn his head away, but she saw his grief all the same.

“There’s nothing wrong with mourning, Ith.” She said. “Valuing life is not weakness.”

“I know…it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“I don’t know…I need some time to think by myself…”

Kiara looked up, sniffing.

“We all do,” she said hoarsely. “You two go…”

“I don’t want to leave you mom…”

“Just go!”

Ithemba looked at her, hurt. She this and burst out in tears again.

“I-I-I’m sorry! It’s just that…that I was always s-so troublesome for my dad when I was a cub and I never made it up to him a-a-and he never really gave me much advice on how to raise kids…a-a-and I’m a lousy mother and a t-t-terrible daughter and…and…” her eyes were red round the edges now, and an enormous puddle had gathered around her. “…And everyone’s gone now, Sarabi, Sarafina, Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumba, Zazu…they’re all gone! Dad always said to look to the stars, but I can’t bear to even lift my head…”

“Ssh, Ssh, it’s alright…” Ithemba nuzzled her, and she calmed down.

“Just leave me on my own for a bit please…” she snuffled.

Ithemba walked down the rock and out kept walking. He went to the field, the field of grass where he lay on his back and looked up at the stars. He could see those two shining ones again, and he understood who they were now. He smiled.

“Hi gramps” he whispered. A small breeze blew about him, tickling him, he giggled, rolling over, but the tickling didn’t stop. He looked up and saw it wasn’t Simba at all, but Esaba.

“Esaba!” he said jumping up. “What are you…”

“Ssh, Ssh…”

She nuzzled him and licked him on the cheek. He wasn’t quite sure what to do…she had never been as open with him like this before. He licked her back. She grinned and pounced on him playfully. Surprisingly, she could pin him down even if he did struggle now. He couldn’t get her off.

“Get off!” he said, laughing.

“Oh yeah? Make me.”

“Alright” and he flipped her over the way he had seen Kovu do to his mom, and started tickling her. She burst out laughing.

“Woo ha ha…stop…stop it! Hahaha…”

He obliged, licking her muzzle instead. And there they lay, cuddling and playing under the stars.

"I love you" Esaba whispered in Ithemba's ear. His heart beat double pace and he was about to reply...when someone jumped him from behind!

He was pinned to ground. He heard Esaba scream, and he looked up into the face of his attacker. It was a large male lion, completely black all over. His mane and his fur were like coals, but held none of their warmth. His eyes were dark as onyx gemstones, just about visible by their shine, and holding in a malicious, deadly killer stare. It was at this moment, for the first time in his life, Ithemba experienced pure terror.. This was the kind of lion that mothers told their cubs about when they had been naughty, to scare them. This was a nightmare. A NightLion. How could he, and the rest of his Pride, possibly stand against such a demonic…thing? For a moment, there was silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Esaba huddled on the ground, trembling. Esaba! He couldn’t bear it any longer…he practically screamed at the lion, crying out…

“Kill me then, but please, don’t kill her!” he spat at the Lion.

“NO!” Esaba sobbed. Things couldn’t get any worse…



The Lion just looked at him curiously.

“Why would I kill my own daughter?”

And Ithemba realised that it just had.

Wait, there's no Chapter 4. O.o