It was the following morning in the Pride Lands the day after Vitani had trained Kiara to hunt and fight and Simba had educated Kovu about how to become a good and wise king. 

On this day it started out overcast: the sky was completely covered by thick white clouds, which also provided a cooler air temperature, and most of the animals that inhabited the land would not mind this change as it would provide some much needed relief from the constant heat that was persistent within this tropical grassland.

This would also give the owners of this kingdom an excuse to spend the day undercover inside their vast rock den, which was the heart of this great land. Inside Pride Rock, the lionesses who belonged to the Royals lay around sleeping and resting. Most of them were still a little banged up from the war that the original members and the former outsiders from this pride had fought against each other when they were enemies three days ago. They were all still giving their wounds time to heal.

Near one of the walls of the den, Simba and his royal mate, Nala, were sleeping next to each other.  It would not be too long before the Lion King opened his eyes and caught sight of the dim morning light coming through the den's entrance. He had always found it a good way to wake up in the morning because he believed that light was a good welcome to another wonderful day in paradise, and a reminder of the peace that he and his pride had been blessed with through the recent hard times. He wished that every start to the day could be like this.

He yawned and slowly got up so as not to wake his mate, whom he thought might want to sleep on, and made his way towards the opening to enter into the early morning. He then made his way along the long rock path of Pride Rock and eventually reached the edge, where he sat down and gazed out at the vast grassland savannah, which was the entire kingdom he owned. 

He was mainly thinking about the previous day's education for Kovu, as well as the story from the young lion's mouth about the dark and corrupted upbringing that he had experienced. But from scanning the sights of the savannah at this moment, he also thought himself lucky to have the honour of being the King of so many miles of land, but how that was also tough on him at times. He had to ensure that the safety, well-being and appropriate behaviour of so many animals complied with the Royal standards and regulations in order to keep peace within the Pride Lands. There was only so much wildlife that he could keep his eyes on and he sometimes had to attain assistance from some of the higher ranked lionesses of his pride. Not just Nala. But their successful teamwork over time made a lot of difference and it certainly made Simba's job a lot easier, so it all turned out fine. This also counted for the fact that Simba had claimed the throne from a young age and, while his father had taught him about good and wise leadership when he was a cub, the adaptation of abnormal behaviour from his outcast life had taken his mind away his main responsibility, and so further added to the pressure of his leadership. But Nala had helped him to adapt back into the normal lion living and gave him some very wise advice to further contribute to improving his status as a great Lion King. So with all of this, Simba was able to reach the level that he was at now, and he could not have been more appreciative of those who gave him that help.

"Good morning, Simba." A familiar voice came from behind the king.

Simba snapped out of his thoughts when he heard this and turned his head slowly round to catch sight of his beautiful mate walking towards him. He got the impression that Nala might have noticed him awaken because it wasn't too long after Simba went out that he was now being accompanied at this very moment, but he didn't mind because he had always enjoyed the loving company of his Queen mate. He therefore gave a smile as she came up and sat beside him.

"Good morning, Nala." He responded happily. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well, thank you, my love." She replied, likewise delighted but also intrigued. "What brings you out here on a cloudy day like this; just out of curiosity? You had a big day yesterday and I would have expected you to get some well-earned rest." 

"I know. I was just thinking about everything that Kovu had told me about his upbringing. And I have to saythat it wasn't nice at all. Zira had told him about how it was assumed that I killed Scar and that I was brutal and nasty, and because of these reasons I was a fierce enemy who would cause havoc to the name of the lion if I remained on the throne. Therefore I had to be gotten rid of, and as the Chosen One, it was Kovu's destiny to ensure that it happened. He believed it and it turned his heart black."

"Zira said THOSE words to him?!" Nala disgracefully but quietly exclaimed so as not to have her fellow pride hear. "All of his life he had been brought up by lies and manipulation?"

"Yes." Simba replied in quiet fury. "She was willing to do anything it took to make Kovu's heart so evil that it would assist him psychologically in defeating me. She trained him to hunt and fight and he learned well along with getting him fit and strong, but she wanted to keep his mind focused further by saying those brainwashing words."

"Something I know that she would have done." Nala replied, slightly more than before as she understood Zira's evil side. "She would have done anything to avenge her mate's death and take ownership of the Pride Lands."

"That is right." Simba affirmed, knowing likewise.

"But what did Kovu say that Zira had done for him to keep him in good shape?" She asked, intrigued as to how the outsiders would have got a sufficient supply of food and water when these vital resources were supposed to be scarce in the barren Outlands.

*

"There were many days that we constantly observed the Pride Lands from the border of the Outlands for any sign of the King's lionesses watching to ensure that we would not illegally cross back into their habitable territory. Once it was clear, we would sneak in and search ever so carefully for leftover scraps and bones and take it back to feed ourselves, but on the odd occasion some antelope would be roaming near the border and we were able to catch and kill a few every now and then without your dad's pride ever knowing that we were in the vicinity of the Pride Lands. The kill would then be dragged back into the Outlands and our pride would be able to get a sufficient feed. This luck would not come around very often, so we had to make the most of it. There was also a river near the border, so we were able to get our essential daily fluids. So, bottom line, we really had to kind of scratch and claw and take risks in order to keep our bodies and health in good condition, and on top of that, Mother trained us to hunt and fight. But she spent more time with me than anyone else because I was the Chosen One and I needed to learn the essential skills in order to earn my lead at the front."

These words was Kovu telling the exact same story to his mate, Kiara, as Simba was telling Nala back at Pride Rock at this very moment. The two young lions were out a couple of miles west of the Royal ancestral home getting some alone morning time together. They had managed to sneak away an hour earlier while everyone else was still asleep in the den.

"So I assume that it was all training and learning to hate your supposed enemies?" Kiara asked after Kovu's words were spoken. "You had no time for any fun whatsoever?"

"That did not seem to exist with all that we were doing to prepare for the forthcoming ambush. Zira was absolutely determined to get us as physically and mentally prepared as possible; and this would not be possible if we did not commit. But I really believe that we overcommitted. And when you overcommit to something, you do not have time for much else."

"It must have been very tiring; all that work and no play." Kiara responded with a look of disapproval at the thought of extra workload.

"It was at times, and the heat was especially on me to perform because of my destiny to become their leader; so I really had to learn harder and get fitter than the others. But I eventually found out that it all wasn't so bad because in the end I got into such fantastic shape and physically I had never felt better in my life. Plus I was learning so much that my education kept improving immensely, and therefore mentally and psychologically I felt even better. The point is, as I found out, that every pride needs not only a leader who is respected for what he does, but also for how well he is able to set his mind on how he can keep performing well. If he can do that, he will earn the respect of his fellow pride and they will believe that he indeed does deserve to lead."

"That makes sense." Kiara replied. "So in all fairness it was good for you because you learned a little bit about leadership and vital survival skills."

"Exactly. The lies and manipulation certainly made me cold-hearted, but the fitness and education did my mind and body a lot of good; likewise with the rest of the pride."

*

"I could certainly see that in the battle three days ago." Nala was saying to Simba back at Pride Rock, where the same conversation was happening between them at this moment. "Their tough fighting style and ability to defend and counter our moves certainly showed that their strength and speed had really been worked hard for. They were a fine unit if you ask me."

"And to have