of pride. Rouges, still calling themselves <Sandy Coalition>, were living on the edge of Golden Land, in mountains behind the Rumble Gorge. In theory. In practise they were almost constantly assisting pride in huntings (it was necessary, due to weaken strength of Golden Ones) and spending a lot of time with lionesses. Kovu intended to save both law and customs and still show his gratitude towards rouges. But he had an impression he failed both tasks.

“What should I have done?” asked evening air over Golden Massif. He was standing alone on plateau, thinking and worrying as it happened often to him that time. He was even without Kauli, trying to comprehend his situation without his help.

“Bro, what a mess!” replied voice in his head. It was Nuka’s voice. Since death of brother, Kovu was sometimes haunted by strong, almost substantial memory of lion. He didn’t believed it was real, it was rather inner call of his reason, manifested in such weird way. Spectre of dead brother wasn’t malicious (or at least not more than real Nuka) nor angry on him. Those were just Kovu’s thoughts expressed by Nuka’s usual irony. “I’m mad.” Thought king, but in the same time he smiled. He was really happy that at least shadow of his brother came to him. “You really failed things up. Do you want me to specify?”

“Go ahead.” Said Kovu to his vision. Just in case, he said it in mind, still calmly looking on night landscape of desert.

“So… Those rouges are a threat for you and pride. It’s all right, if you let lionesses mate, but it’s not a reason top keep your guests so long. What if one of them keeps a grudge against you or just wants to become a king? He will kill you.”

“For what?” asked Kovu. “Girls wouldn’t accept him.”

“I think that’s rather poor comfort if you are dead already.” Noticed Nuka. “But let’s back to your errors. That Lipizi just doesn’t fit here. She is barely obeying any of your orders, spread doubts and questions among lionesses.”

“So what? Should I banish her, separating from her cubs?” yelled Kovu. Again, silently, just to his inner voice.

“If you are too weak to discipline her, maybe it’s only solution. Rouges would take care about her.”

“No! I let her stay and my word is undeniable.”

“Your word to Kiara too?” asked some other voice from Kovu’s mind. And then king noticed another spectre in front of him. It was Yakta, looking on monarch with hard and inquiring stare, just like few moths earlier during their talk on Priderock.

“Yakta? Are you dead?” asked amazed Kovu.

“I have no idea how real Yakta is going, sir.” Replied spectre. “I’m just your thoughts, the words you expect from your former advisor. I’m as real as… no offence… your brother.”

“Stars!” sighed Kovu. “Real rulers talk with real Kings of the Past. I’m just talking to myself on the edge of my sanity.”

“And you even aren’t sure on which side of it.” Smiled Nuka. “But face it: real kings aren’t dorks as you are.”

“Thanks bro, I missed your support.” Snorted monarch.

“Enough of it.” Said Yakta’s spectre. “There is one more problem, the biggest problem, I guess. Kiara and Tetesi.” Kovu nodded his head. “So sir, you impressed me, however not in the good sense of that word. You seem to change your mind. So you no longer love Kiara? Too bad you betray your mother to be with her.”

“Stop it!” called Kovu, this time aloud. He shook his head to dispel ghosts. But it failed.

“Stop what?” asked Yakta with unusually aggressive voice. “I really appreciate that you finally stop to follow the murderer of your mother.”

“No!”

“Hey, buddy, you went a bit too far.” Noticed Nuka. “Leave our mother out of this!”

“I love Kiara and…”

“Really?” snorted Yakta. “Do not lie to me, I’m you! I know that is in your mind… I’m your mind. You regret all this, including your choices on Battle of Reunion. You regret you let your mother and brother die. You regret you mate with their murderess. You discovered that Tetesi is who you had been looking for.” Kovu waved his paw to his spectre, but of course he failed. Kovu was only memory in his mind.

“Ow, don’t listen to him.” Interrupted Nuka. “At least what me is talking about mom.”

“So you understand me?” asked king with hope in his voice.

“I just understand you made some mistakes. It’s not your fault in pride stuff… However…” He came closer and looked right into brother’s eyes. “Tetesi was my friends. I really hate you seeing how you are hurting her.”

“So what should I do?” yelled Kovu. He stopped himself from scream in last moment, so this call turned to silent yell.

“For you are Chosen One, you should know.” Smiled Nuka and disappeared. Yakta was not there too.

“Wait…” gasped Kovu. “Tell me…” But he was alone on plateau in middle of night.

Suddenly he noticed some move on Eastern Path – someone was coming up there. Kovu froze in place, until the silhouette was visible. King cursed silently – it was Tetesi. Lioness came on plateau and walk to centre. In spite that king made no move, sharp senses of brownfurred discovered him next to Funeral Stone.

“Sir?” asked into darkness. “I’m sorry, I’m, leaving now.” She stopped and turned back to path.

“No, wait.” Ordered Kovu. „I’m going down now. It’s your turn to take this… seclusion. I’m not claiming that only I have some problems to face them alone.”

“Excuse me, sir?” asked Tetesi with tensed voice. She came to her ruler and stopped in front.

“Ow, nevermind.” Murmured Kovu.

He wanted to stop her then hug her and kiss her lips. Looking on lioness he was slowly realising his true wants. Tetesi was beautiful, in her own sense of beauty. But it wasn’t the point. For Kovu Kiara was definitely beautiful too, but it was something completely different. Brownfurred was sparking with some kind of inner strength of mysterious energy and queen lacked in that. That energy was radiating on Kovu and urging him to step ahead. Then kiss her lips and… He shook his head, but that daemon was ten times harder to cast away that his memories.

“Sir… Kovu… Could you tell me what is on your mind.”

Suddenly king just burst inside. He knew he was on the edge of temper and every second more there was closing him to surrender.

“You know what!” called aloud. “And you know why I can’t!” then he ran to path and disappeared on was down.

Tetesi was standing in place, frozen and shocked by that explosion. So, her deepest dreams were coming true. Too late and in awkward way, but true. She smiled, although in the same time she wanted to cry and laughed with triumphal laughter, however she was feeling her misery. And then she called her own dead ones.

“Tetesi, I warn you.” Said memory of Hawaa. “You are walking on quicksand. Can’t you see what you already have? He loves you and cares for you as for no one here. But you could destroy it so easily… If you kill Kiara… Do you think he could associate with murderer of his mate… mother of his child?”

“That is not the reason you can’t kill him.” Murmured another voice. Sandymaned lion was lying on funeral stone and looking on Tetesi. “It’s just a reason to kill him discreetly.” Seeing her amaze, he nodded her head and added. “Yes, that’s I. Ghibu. I hope you remember, you killed me three months ago.”

“You are not real.” Whispered brownfurred.

“Of course I’m not!” snorted dead lion. “Hawaa is just a memory too. But you still listen to us and decide which part of your crazy mind is… more reasonable.”

“That’s right.” Nodded Hawaa. “I mean about us, not about what he talks on Kiara.”

“So, I’m insane?” smiled Tetesi.

„It depends what you will decide.” Replied Ghibu. “If you let that foreign stray to run your boyfriend, you definitely are!”

“Don’t listen to him!” interrupted Hawaa. Her fur had sandy colour, similar to coat of lion. In every inch she was looking the same as year earlier in moment of death. “Just hear yourself! Do you remember what you said to Kiara about being mate and being subject?”

“She remembers.” Threw Ghibu. “Being just subject is definitely worse.”

“I mean what you believe!” called Hawaa’s memory with emotional tone. “You are walking a hard path but so beautiful. By being obedient to your king… and queen, you show how deeply you really love him.” Ghibu made a grimace and showed Hawaa his tongue. “He loves you and nothing would change it. Isn’t it what you told Kiara about? Perfect bond of ruler and subject? You are not queen, but somehow you are queen more than Kiara…”

“Ow, cease it!” interrupted Ghibu. “You are pathetic! Is that the way you understand love? Elevated sighs of pure, spiritual union? Well, nice but I guess you want to have some joy with that. Kovu.

He wanted to stop her then hug her and kiss her lips. Looking on lioness he was slowly realising his true wants. Tetesi was beautiful, in her own sense of beauty. But it wasn’t the point. For Kovu Kiara was definitely beautiful too, but it was something completely different. Brownfurred was sparking with some kind of inner strength of mysterious energy and queen lacked in that. That energy was radiating on Kovu and urging him to step ahead. Then kiss her lips and… He shook his head, but that daemon was ten times harder to cast away that his memories.

“Sir… Kovu… Could you tell me what is on your mind.”

Suddenly king just burst inside. He knew he was on the edge of temper and every second more there was closing him to surrender.

“You know what!” called aloud. “And you know why I can’t!” then he ran to path and disappeared on was down.

Tetesi was standing in place, frozen and shocked by that explosion. So, her deepest dreams were coming true. Too late and in awkward way, but true. She smiled, although in the same time she wanted to cry and laughed with triumphal laughter, however she was feeling her misery. And then she called her own dead ones.

“Tetesi, I warn you.” Said memory of Hawaa. “You are walking on quicksand. Can’t you see what you already