Gently picking the cub up Rafiki walked out of the cave with Scar and Zira following behind. Reaching the edge of Pride Rock, Rafiki lifted the cub up for the entire kingdom to see. A shaft of light fell onto the cub’s fur, high above Ahadi and Ure looked down proudly. One by one the animals bowed before their new princess, their future queen and the hope for the future. Scar felt his heart fill with love and pride as he watched the animals bow to his daughter.

Lifting the cub down Rafiki allowed a small smile to spread across his face, perhaps there was hope for the future.

“You have a fine daughter your majesties,” Rafiki said as Zira gently took the cub in her mouth.

Together Scar and Zira walked back into the cave, settling down in the rocks Scar and Zira placed their daughter between them. Standing at the cave entrance Rafiki watched the new family.

“Might I ask your majesty, what will you name the cub?”

“Zola (meaning love),” Scar replied his eyes fixed on his daughter.

“A beautiful name,” Rafiki replied, before leaving the new family in peace.

“A perfect name for our daughter, she has brought that to our lives already,” Zira replied softly nuzzling Zola.

“She has indeed, the kingdom has an heir and we have a family,” Scar whispered. “I swear nothing will ever harm her, I will never allow her to be treated the way you were growing up. No lion will lay a paw on her. I will never harm her, I swear.”

“I saw the way you looked at her when you first saw her, I know then you would never harm her. Scar you have given me what I craved as a cub, love and a family.”

“Zola and I will always love you Zira.”

As if understanding her father’s words Zola reached out to touch her parents, her tiny paws brushing their noses. Smiling both nuzzled their daughter, their hearts whole and complete.

As the days passed it become clear Zola’s birth had had a dramatic change on the pride was well as her parents, a sense of optimism and utter joy that had been missing since Mufasa and Simba’s deaths had returned. Scar proved to be a very protective father in the first couple of weeks, rarely leaving Zira’s side and increasing the hyena guard around Pride Rock. Zola was not the only new cub, others who were the off spring of rouge males were born and welcomed. For the older cubs, Nala and her friends such as Chumvi who were two years old, the cubs brought joy and also apprehension about their own futures.

Sitting outside under the trees on Pride Rock, Zira, Scar and Zola watched the sunset on the horizon. Climbing to her paws Zola took her first wobbly steps, walking from Zira over to Scar settling down on his mane. Looking at each other the pair smiled with pride and amazement.

A couple of weeks later Zira, Zola and the other lionesses lay under the shade of the tress along with several hyenas. Around them, cubs of varying ages played, hyenas as well as lions. The two years old, teenagers as they were, ignored the cubs, preferring to play fight between themselves and hyenas of the same age.

Between the rocks Zola scampered after a large purple butterfly, trying the bat it with her paws and to pounce. Fixated on the butterfly she failed to see Nala coming towards her, in an instant the pair collided. Mewing softly Zola looked up at Nala who towered over her. Gently Nala picked Zola up, carrying her to Zira who had been watching the encounter nervously.

“I think she might need more practice walking,” Nala said kindly, placing Zola in Zira’s paws.

“I think she may Nala.”

As Nala walked away with Chumvi, Kula, Tama and Tojo, Scar walked passed in conversation with Shenzi and Zazu. Seeing her father Zola mewed in delight, running over to greet him. The pair nuzzled, Scar’s eyes looking down affectionately on his daughter. Under her tree Zira watched father and daughter together, her heart filling with joy at the sight of Scar taking time out of his duties to play with their daughter.

Time passed and Zola grew into a lively young cup, she became close friends with Aina’s daughter Masika and Shenzi’s youngest daughter Yejida. There were some boundary restrictions and Zola was not allowed to go anywhere without an escort. The escort normally took the form of Nala, Kula, Tama Chumvi or Tojo as Scar though the task would prevent them causing trouble. The teenage lions at first resented the duty thought as time past soon came to see it as a pleasure. The teenagers found they could not hate Zola, her innocence broke through the hatred the teens felt for her parents.

Laying out underneath Pride Rock one afternoon Chumvi watched as Scar passed by accompanied by Zazu and Banzi. A ripple of hate coursed through the teenager's blood, he had never liked Scar when Simba had been alive but those feelings had grown into hatred since Simba's death. Pain coursed through Chumvi's eyes as he thought about Simba, he had been good friends with the former prince.

“Hi Chumvi!”

The voice broke Chumvi out of his thoughts sending him back to reality with a sharp jolt. Looking down he saw Zola and her friend Masika gazing up at him, their eyes sparkling with mischief. Though Zola was Scar's daughter Chumvi smiled, he quite liked the young princess and her friend.

“Hi Princess, Masika what are you both doing here?” Chumvi asked yawing.

“Zola and I want to go play,” Masika replied jumping onto Chumvi's back.

“So you want me to play babysitter,” Chumvi yawed rolling his eyes.

“No we want you to come play with us,” Masika replied biting his grinning ear.

“Besides Nala was telling me you fight good,” Zola said flicking her tail.

“You little, ow!” Chumvi cried as Zola bit his tail.

In a flash Masika jumped off his back, with a nod to Zola the pair ran off as the teenager set off in pursuit. The young cubs scrambled over the rocks, jumping down into the long grass. With a smirk they split both darting back to Chumvi and attacking him. While Zola held onto his tail Masika darted forward, tapping him slightly with her paws. Chumvi eyed the young cubs with a glare that would have made Scar proud, using his full strength he leaped forward, the force causing Zola to lose her grip in his tail. Masika fell onto the ground near a small slope with a thud, a tremor of nervousness running down her spine as Chumvi stood over her.

“Well now,” Chumvu began, placing a paw on Masika's chest.

Seconds later he let out a yowl as Zola pounced onto his back, her claws just brushing his skin. Unprepared Chumvi staggered forward in a cloud of dirt, falling on top of Masika with Zola falling onto him. The trio rolled down the slope in a cloud of dust, landing in a jumbled heap of paws and tails at the bottom. The dust cleared to reveal all three lying upside down, Masika half trapped under Chumvi's head while Zola was laid with diagonally across his body.

“Ah my head,” Chumvi groaned his eyes swimming into focus.

“Chumvi could you let me up?” Masika asked with a groan.

“Sure,” Chumvi replied lifting his head so the young cub could crawl out.

“We won didn't we?” Zola asked, a mischievous look on her face.

“Go on I'll give you this one,” Chumvi laughed, a smile on his face.

Together the trio lay side by side on the grass looking up at the clouds, the sounds of their merry laughter drifting through the air. Looking at Zola laying beside him, Chumvi could help but think that she might make a pretty good queen some day.

A few weeks later Zola, Masika and Yejida looked out across the savannah one morning. The sky was clear blue with flocks of birds soaring on the wind. It was the perfect day for an adventure, something which the cubs were very keen to have.

“Let’s go the Elephants Graveyard,” Yejida said with a wicked grin on her face. “I can show you the fire pits and we...”

“That is the past the Watering Hole, we might not be allowed,” Masika replied glumly. “It would be a great adventure though.”

“Well I’ve never been told I can’t go,” Zola replied mischievously, catching sight of Scar and Zazu.

Running over Zola heard the tail end of the morning report, amused at the actions of the monkeys. Seeing her approach the pair looked down, Zazu bowing in respect.

“Dad, can I go with Masika and Yejida to the Elephants Graveyard?”

“You are just like Sim,” Zazu began, before catching the glare on Scar’s face. “I mean just like Nala when she was young.”

“I am not too sure you are very little yet.”

“Daaaddddyyyyyy I’m six months old, I’m not little, I just want to have fun with my friends.”

“Provided someone goes with you, Zazu make sure they are safe.”

“Oh Daddy not Zazu, he can’t protect me. Anyway, Yejida told me that her Mum, Uncle Banzi and Uncle Edd nearly cooked him.”

“Sire the princess is right,” Zazu stammered. “Surely a lion would be a better choice.”

“You are right Zazu,” Scar replied as Nala walked passed with Kula. “Nala come here.”

“Yes Scar,” Nala asked bowing.

“Where were you going?”

“To drink at the Water Hole.”

“Excellent then I have a job for you. My daughter and her friends wish to play in the Elephant’s Graveyard. You will accompany and protect them at all costs. All of you are to be home by sunset.”

“As you