“Quite. What exactly are you doing?”

“Vitani thought it'd be best if we laid Vincent to rest somewhere appropriate... so we're taking him there now.”

“Ah. And where might that be?” Kovu wondered.

“The tomb near Priderock...” Vitani silently whispered, fearing Kovu wouldn't agree with her decision. But strangely enough, he did.

“That is indeed fitting... more than a Royal Tomb, that green den has become a symbol; in it, lions and hyenas are laid to rest side by side. Your friend fits in perfectly, so to speak,” Kovu nodded, “But you'll never get there at this pace. Here, let me help you...”

“Don't ask,” Kovu yawned even before the lioness got the chance to open her mouth, “We're heading for the Tomb of Kings. You wouldn't happen to know if there are still Pridelanders present, would you?”

“Eh... no, sire. Most left after an hour or so spent mourning... Queen Nala and princes Kiara were the last ones to leave, 'bout half an hour ago...”

“For the better... all right then, let's go. And you,” Kovu instructed looking at the lioness, “Make sure no-one interrupts us, all right?”

“Will do.”ike you...”

“You're right,” Shenya admitted, “I shouldn't be out here by myself... But this was something me and Vitani had to do alone... and I can imagine being safe now that you're around around.”

“Quite. What exactly are you doing?”

“Vitani thought it'd be best if we laid Vincent to rest somewhere appropriate... so we're taking him there now.”

“Ah. And where might that be?” Kovu wondered.

“The tomb near Priderock...” Vitani silently whispered, fearing Kovu wouldn't agree with her decision. But strangely enough, he did.

“That is indeed fitting... more than a Royal Tomb, that green den has become a symbol; in it, lions and hyenas are laid to rest side by side. Your friend fits in perfectly, so to speak,” Kovu nodded, “But you'll never get there at this pace. Here, let me help you...”

The Outlander stepped aside and let Kovu, Vitani and Shenya pass. They slowly neared the Tomb. Strangely enough, no eerie smells cluttered the air. Not yet anyhow. Maybe that was because the Tomb always stayed quite cool, the warmth kept out by the lush vegetation surrounding the cave.

“Did she just say Queen Nala and Princes Kiara?” Vitani suddenly asked, “Shouldn't that by now be Queen-mother and Queen?”

“No, not until I'm inaugurated as the new king,” Kovy replied, “And that might take a while; Rafiki isn't too motivated. Word has it he wont even make me king, but just name me regent until Kiara's son is born...”

“The actual tomb is further down; I'll go alone. You girls shouldn't have to see what's down there...”

How patronizing, Vitani considered, like she hadn't seen anything gruesome before... then again, if she could help it, she'd indeed rather not see what was down there... she'd have trouble enough sleeping as it was.

“Your probably right,” Shenya agreed as well, staring at the ground, sounding a somehow what sad, “Just let me say goodbye one last time...”

To accommodate Shenya's wish, Kovu walked over to her and ducked a bit. Now, Vincent's head and paws that hung down Kovu's flank were on equal hight with Senya. She carefully moved closer, and once again, teras sprung to her eyes as she talked.

“Bye, baby brother... I-I know we didn't always get along... I know you did some terrible things. But so did I. Just know... know that I never stopped loving you, even though it didn't always show, “she sniveled quietly, carefully stroking her brother. Right after the Battle of Golden River, she had groomed him up a bit, licking away most blood. It made him look peaceful, hanging over Kovu's back. Shenya gently kissed her brother on the forehead.

“Bye...”

Kovu understood Shenya was finished, so just before heading towards the tomb, he addressed his own sister.

“Vitani, you want to say something?”

But Vitani had her back turned at Kovu, and she shook her head. She too way crying, and the tears getting in her wounded eye hurt her, making her cry even more. She wasn't saying anything. She wasn't good at farewells anyhow. Looking at Vitani, Shenya smiled, and bowed her head towards her brother one last time.

“The lioness says 'hi'...” she whispered. With those last words, Kovu walked away, des="MsoNormal">To accommodate Shenya's wish, Kovu walked over to her and ducked a bit. Now, Vincent's head and paws that hung down Kovu's flank were on equal hight with Senya. She carefully moved closer, and once again, teras sprung to her eyes as she talked.

“Bye, baby brother... I-I know we didn't always get along... I know you did some terrible things. But so did I. Just know... know that I never stopped loving you, even though it didn't always show, “she sniveled quietly, carefully stroking her brother. Right after the Battle of Golden River, she had groomed him up a bit, licking away most blood. It made him look peaceful, hanging over Kovu's back. Shenya gently kissed her brother on the forehead.

“Bye...”

“Bye, baby brother... I-I know we didn't always get along... I know you did some terrible things. But so did I. Just know... know that I never stopped loving you, even though it didn't always show, “she sniveled quietly, carefully stroking her brother. Right after the Battle of Golden River, she had groomed him up a bit, licking away most blood. It made him look peaceful, hanging over Kovu's back. Shenya gently kissed her brother on the forehead.

“Bye...”

“Congratulations,” Kovu replied, “I'm expecting my first kids too... well, not me, Kiara. But you get the point...”

“”What magnificent coincidence...”

“Indeed... Maybe it means something.”

“Ah?”

“Well... I don't know,” Kovu mumbled, “I mean, maybe our kids will be the first to carry on what we started here...”

“That'll be up to us, and that can only be agood thing.”

“Yeah... you know, hyena... or no, Shenya, was it? You know Shenya, really not so long ago, I still looked upon your kind as a nuisance... a nuisance we had to take into consideration, sure, but only if that were in the best interest of our Pride. But above all a nuisance. But now...”

Kovu sighed, and took a big breath, looking at Shenya.

“But now... you're so much like us. But then again, you're not. True, we are different. But even so, that didn't stop us from talking to one another, befriending and even helping one another, as my sister and your brother have proven. Both our races belong here, on these lands, at the same time... wouldn't it only be logical then if both our races belonged here together?”

“That's an encouraging thought...”

“You've said it,” Kovu grinned, “Maybe one day, the children of our children will sit side by side at Priderock, listening to the stories of our time style="text-align: justify;"> 

“Well... I don't know,” Kovu mumbled, “I mean, maybe our kids will be the first to carry on what we started here...”

“That'll be up to us, and that can only be agood thing.”

“Yeah... you know, hyena... or no, Shenya, was it? You know Shenya, really not so long ago, I still looked upon your kind as a nuisance... a nuisance we had to take into consideration, sure, but only if that were in the best interest of our Pride. But above all a nuisance. But now...”

“Well... I don't know,” Kovu mumbled, “I mean, maybe our kids will be the first to carry on what we started here...”

“That'll be up to us, and that can only be agood thing.”

“Yeah... you know, hyena... or no, Shenya, was it? You know Shenya, really not so long ago, I still looked upon your kind as a nuisance... a nuisance we had to take into consideration, sure, but only if that were in the best interest of our Pride. But above all a nuisance. But now...”