intently. After a while Rafiki walked into their mist, greeting Zola with a warm hug before turning to face all.

“The last secret of the past has been revealed. Simba, Zola blood ties you together. Peace must exist between you. The shadows of the past must be banished.”

“Rafiki I want peace…it is going to take time……I want,” Simba began hesitantly.

“We are unknown to each other,” Zola broke in. “Simba the choices made long ago were my own. This land is not my home. I only returned so Nala could learn of my fate and so the past could be laid to rest.”

“We need to spend time as a family,” Nala said gently.

         The lions nodded the Nala’s wise worlds. In a fluid motion the group split, Masika, Hasina, Zola and Arjana going with Aine to join the other former Outsiders while Majani allowed herself to be lead away be Ni.

      A short time later Ni, Aketch, Nassor and Majani stood together in a quiet cave well away from prying ears. Kula stood outside, having seen the need for the four to talk alone first before she joined them. The lions stared at each other taking in the changes in one another’s appearance and unsure where to begin. Looking at his eldest cub Ni broke the silence by telling her what had happened to him and Aketch then asking Majani about her life. Utterly cool and composed Majani answered her father’s questions, Ni feeling a spike of sadness when he heard she did not have cubs. Listening to the exchange the anger Aketch had been feeling boiled to the surface fuelled by her sister’s cool almost icy demeanour.

“How can you stand there acting as if nothing has happened?” Aketch cried angrily.

“Aketch there is no need,” Ni implored.

“I have no done nothing,” Majani shot back.

“You abandoned me when I needed you most! For months I blamed myself. Do you even care?” Aketch stammered angrily.

“Akerch that is enough!” Ni roared.

“Dad she left…..she comes excepting me to…..”

“I expect nothing” Majani roared, her eyes flashing dangerously. “If you wish to hate me then so be it. Do not try to make me feel guilty over the past. I acted to survive.”

“You don’t care at all!”

“Accept me as I am or not Aketch that is your choice,” Majani spat.

      Aketch turned away unable to face her sister.  Calmly Nassor walked over to join Majani taking her point of view on the past to the astonishment of Ni and Aketch. Stepping into the midst he tried to the ease the tensions.

“Use this time to make peace with Majani,” Nassor said.

“She isn’t even sorry for what she caused! I hate her,” Aketch half screamed.

“Aketch relax will you. Majani has explained why she left. Whatever happened back then just accept it.”

“You are taking her side in all this, Nassor how?” Aketch hissed.

“There are not sides in this Aketch. Look this isn’t why we came here,” Nassor said.

“Leave it Nassor no worlds will make a difference, Aketch has clearly decided to hate me,” Majani snapped angrily.

“ENOUGH,” Ni roared glaring at his cubs. “We are a family. Aketch you are soon to be a mother. Accept Majani has changed, accepted her reasons for leaving just as I had to.”

__________________________________________________________________________ 

        Meanwhile Zola, Masika, their cubs and Vitani had gathered with the former Outsiders on some rocks in the small wooded area. Vitani and Zola had just recounted their tales of their separate adventures and their time spent together in Zola’s kingdom. The news of his father meant very little to Kovu though the news of Zira’s birth pride had been like a knife through his heart. To all it was clear why Zira had become the lioness that she had. Sitting there Zola told them about life in her kingdom, making it quite clear that she intended to go home. At the same time Masika chipped in, adding her own views on the situation and sharing her own experiences.   

“The pair of you have caused us all no end of worry,” Aine said glaring murderously at the pair.

“Aunt Aine we had little choice. Death would have been involved if we had stayed,” Zola said frostily.

“You are both happy. Now introduce me to your cubs,” Aina replied.

     The tension broke. The cubs began to chatter. With a smirk at her daughter Aina asked just Masika to explain just how she and Chumvi got together. Blushing from ear to ear Masika began to relate the tale. Looking at her daughter Aina saw a very different lioness to the one she remembered.

___________________________________________________________________________     

      That evening the pride and their guests hunted together, the native lions surprised by the different style and strategies of the travellers. As they ate Simba looked over to where Zola was sat. Catching Simba’s look Nassor felt a shiver of tension.

“So what had been happening here while Vitani and I have been away?” Nassor asked casually.

“Plenty, where do you want us to start?” Kopa laughed.

“We can start with your and Aketch’s news,” Simba replied smiling.

“Awe Dad did you have to bring that up! They have only just got back, I’d have thought after all the drama of today you’d want to keep that quiet,” Kopa replied with a trace of anger.

“Er not to be rude but what is so important?” Nassor asked looking between father and sun.

     Kula, Aketch, Ni, Simba, Nala and Kopa exchanged a look, the latter not looking all that happy while Aketch had a radiant smile on her face.

“Kopa and I are expecting a cub,” Aketch said.

“What!” Nassor said.

“Oh Nassor don’t be so shocked,” Aketch replied.

“Okay I’m just having trouble picturing my tough sister as a mother.”

“Nassor, Majarni are you no going to congratulate your sister,” Ni asked with disappointment.

“Congrats,” Nassor replied coolly.

“Likewise,” Mjani said coolly.

     Looking over at their cubs the adults were disappointed by the reactions to the news, especially those of Nassor and how Kopa had handled the situation. In that moment it had become clear that Kopa was still getting used to the idea. Watching from the side-lines Imoo and Kamaria suddenly spoke up, adding to the surprise further by announcing he and Kamaria were expecting a cub. At this Vitani and Nassor just looked stunned, one piece of cub news was a surprise but two was a pretty big shock. Gasping for breath Vitani congratulated Imoo and Kamaria, delight evident on her face. Next to her Nassor began to talk to Kopa about hunting, eager to change topic was quickly as possible. Smiling with ease Zola and Masika moved closer to Aketch and Kamaria, eager to share their own knowledge. Looking at them Kamaria began to chat with utter ease yet the moment Zola say next to her Aketch walked away with a look of resentment on her face.

“There was no need for that, I have not done anything to you,” Zola snapped angrily.

“It is my choice who I associate with. Given the history……” Aketch replied haughtily.

    Before either lioness could say another word Simba walked between them with his eyes firmly fixed on Zola.

“Zola at sunset tomorrow you will accompany Nala and I on a patrol of the kingdom. Until we have spoken the fear that divide our prides with remain……I will not risk the security of this kingdom,” Simba said in a firm tone.

“I look forward to it Simba. I am a queen am my own right so treat me with the respect that is due. I refuse to apologise for the circumstances of my birth,” Zola replied in a sly, silky tone that carried a threat.

   Look at one another Simba and Zola realized they had reached the point of no return and that their actions in the following 24 hours would decide the fate of both prides for ever.

   

                  Midnight Sun    

  The following sunset Zola and her cubs stood on the edge of Pride Rock looking out across the kingdom. All three felt the weight of the past. For Zola being there brought back bitter sweet memories of her parents, many times she had stood with them on that very spot. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined standing on Pride Rock with her own cub. Yet the feelings were different, she did not feel the sense of belonging anymore.

     Walking out of the main cave Simba and Nala stopped in their tracks at the sight of the trio. In that moment they had a glimmer of how different the future could have been if Zola had fought. In image in front of them was that of a queen and her heir. Hearing their approach the trio turned around, a smirk of delight on Zola’s face as she saw the looks on Nala and Simba’s faces.

“Arjana go now, what has to be said is for me alone,” Zola whispered nuzzling her son.

“Mum be careful,” Arjana said. “Simba if you hurt her….”

       At that moment Vitani appeared, her eyes cold, calculating and full of suspicion and something

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