alone.” Disagreed queen. “He has whole pride to guard him. And I have to go there, someday you will understand why. If I leave memory of my parents uncelebrated, there will be no real peace in our heart. Queen of Prideland have to salute her family and royal line. We are one, not only with those who are around, but also with those who died and will come after us.”

“I know that.” Nodded cub, looking in mother’s eyes. Tears partially dried and his voice became more certain. He started to behave as a prince, at least Vitani hoped that. “But if you go… and pride stays with dad here… Aren’t you afraid that something would happen here? Something bad?”

“No, it’s…” started queen, but then she froze. In eyes of her son she read that he was talking not only about health of his father, but also about… condition of queen. Not lioness Vitani, but monarchess.

“It’s very bad moment to leave.” Said cub.

“Still, I have no choice.” Replied lioness and stroked motionless body of her mate. “It will took just few days. I’ll go, ask my mother for help and return here.”

“I’m going with you.” Said cub suddenly.

In mind of Vitani sparked two thoughts. One was: <What? It’s madness! That is not a trip for a small cub>. But the second said: <It would be… very wise. You can’t leave prince… because yoss="MsoNormal">“Of course, I want and I will. My son is hurt, my kingdom is in chaos.”

“Queen…” started Vinia.

“Queen is chaos!” replied Nala with gasp. “As grandparents of prince Dhahabu, Simba and I will take custody over kingdom’s heir.”

“But queen…” sobbed Sorphi, finally understanding what was going on.

“She isn’t Pridelander!” snorted ex-queen. “All her mandate to rule was approval of Tanabi. If king can’t oversee her actions… We must!” finished with growling voice.

“I think sir Simba could not share your…” noticed Umeme.

“So find him now and ask yourself.” Smiled Nala. “But then join together to us on Priderock.” She came closer to lioness and whispered to her ear. “Quick. Tanabi needs you.” Eyes of goldenfurred extended.

“For what?” she asked, also with whisper.

“To… live. To rule.” Replied ex-queen. “In that point vital interest of pride meets your will.” Finished. She stepped back to look again in eyes of Umeme. She saw what she expected to – a fight between duty… she hated and possible duty she loved. “Do not be afraid.” Added Nala. “Trust your old queen… ma’am… child…”

Umeme blinked with shock. It must be mishearing, but… Nala had to say: <my child>. Or she really addressed goldenfurred as future queen? Lioness shook her head and helplessly looked on older friend.

“Please… ma’am. Do not do anything we could regret in future!”

“Only thing we could regret in future, is today’s passivity!” replied ex-monarchess with soft yet wilful voice. “Go for Simba. It’s time for king to return!”

u could never regain him!>. Vitani shivered inside, for the very first time thinking about possible mutiny against “reign of Outlandress”.

“But no!” she thought. “Pride wouldn’t dare… Now, without any leader. Thank Stars I sent Nala to Green Den with Simba!”

“Mom, could I go?” asked cub with inquiring voice.

“No, I can’t risk your health.” Said monarchess. Then a malicious voice in her mind asked. “But you could risk your health? Your and…” paused in that moment, but queen knew what her inner voice wanted to say. To risk life of another cub. Vitani was pregnant again. The most reasonable way of solving this, was to take at least four lionesses of pride to assist queen and hunt for her. But it wasn’t sure, if Vitani could afford on giving such an order.

“I think I should go.” Said prince with sudden decisiveness in his voice.

“No, that would be…”

“MA’AM!” called voice in doorstep of chamber. Kucha and Maitha entered room without warning, but on their faces was written fear and other signs that interruption was unavoidable. “Ma’am, she is coming here!” cried Maitha with shock in her voice.

“Who?” asked Vitani.

“Whatever will happen from now on…” said Kucha with sudden grave tone. “…I assure you, I will obey you as rightful queen of this land, mate of king and mother of kingdom’s heir. Maitha will do the same.”

“Stars sake!” gasped Vitani. “What happened!?”

“Lady Nala… is back.” Panted Maitha.

Vitani instinctively hugged Dhahabu, realising that he had to go with her on the Outlands. Because if she would go alone, there was possibility she wouldn’t ever return.

 

V. …always a king

 

It took lots of time for Tanabi to understand what happened. His senses returned slowly and additionally returned not to the place they had been. Namely – king was somehow back, but definitely not back in his own body. If one-eyed had to guess where he was, the shot was simple. An afterworld.

Being dead has its advantages and most of us would admit that if we have already die and took all unpleasantnesses connected with it, the further going could seems quite nice. Not to fell anymore hunger, fear, sorrow nor weariness. Not to worry about usual life-duties, about survival. Excluding case that one is really scared about his or her eternal punishment (Tanabi was rather convinced that in his life he hadn’t deserve anything like that), being dead isn’t a bad perspective itself. However awareness of ones left on earth could be a problem. For Tanabi it was.

“Vitani…” he whispered. “Dhahabu…” Then in his mind awoke strange thought that wasn’t all his family. “Vitani is pregnant.” He said quietly. “I’m a father for second time… this is a girl.”

He had no idea from where he got this knowledge and he even didn’t care. He just took a look… well, saying <around> would suggest that there was some <around> and dimensions in normal sense of that word. But it wasn’t so easy.

Around lion there was a darkness, somewhere farther blinking with stars. “Souls of my ancestors.” Thought Tanabi and with cubbish curiosity wondered if he was also shining. He tried to look at his body and noticed he had one, however he couldn’t tell much about reality of that. He sense no effort moving his paws. He wasn’t breathing, not he couldn’t but he just didn’t have to.

“All right.” He called into darkness. “I’m dead. I guess now should come here one of you.” He hoped that at least one of <them> was listening and those <them> were creatures somehow friendly to him.

“What for such a rush?” asked voice from outside.

Tanabi recognised him hardly in first moment, but then understood with who he was talking. Skinny and fragile lion emerged from dim space before king and walked closer with ironic half-smile. About two metres – if that place was subdued to earthly measures – he nodded his head, playing respectful bow.

“Good day Your Majesty.”

“Good day, prince of Golden Sands.” Replied Tanabi, being not sure if Nuka was serious or just pranking.

“Long time not to see, huh?” asked Outlander. “We met about year ago. You know… after your argument with father.”

“So now we will spend more time together?” asked Tanabi.

“Oh, no!” Nuka shook his head. “Fortunately for both of us, again you are still not dead. Just again… indisposed.”

Tanabi noticed more and more details of his state/location. He seemed to float in the air, somewhere high above the ground. There was dark around, what suggested that it was already night, or his knowledge about astronomy and cosmology was very, very wrong. “World below us doesn’t resemble the real one. It’s looks like earth is round. It’s ridicules!” But next Nuka’s words interrupted his wondering.

“Ow, look if you like. We have more time than during our last meeting.”

“Time…” murmured king. “Well, so tell me few things.” Nuka looked on his brother-in-law with ironic disbelief, as if he was saying <Just few?>. “How are Dhahabu and Vitani?”

“Alive.” Replied Nuka. “I can’t say <and well>, because they both are scared to death about you. You know… your state is stabile, but they had no idea how long it would last.”

“And how long it would?”

“I have no idea too.” Confessed Outlander. “But to the point. I’m here to assist you in your time here.”

“Won’t I see Scar nor Zira?” asked Tanabi. Then he added with pleading voice. “I wish to see grandma Sarabi and grandma Sarafina.”

“I’m afraid it’s impossible.” Replied Nuka and turned back. He started to walk ahead and somehow down, however king saw no ground he could descend. But he followed Outlander to feel he was descending too. Down to the earth. “You are not dead, so we have no right to show you things you shouldn’t see. You know too much already. Not many lions talked with Ancient Ones and walked the Earth again.”

“Is Earth really round?” Tanabi didn’t resist and asked.

“Let’s go lower and you will stop asking such stupid questions.” Murmured Nuka and speeded his steps.

After several minutes (if there were still minutes) they reached altitude proper to observe world below. Tanabi saw whole Prideland, from Green Den to foot of Green Hills. He know it was impossible, but he could see perfectly everything in that range. He had just to focus his attention on some part of kingdom to recognise every shape of it. Of course as first to watch he chose Priderock.

Then he cursed badly.

Such a behaviour was really seldom on the sky.

“Relax, bro.” Said Nuka. “Now you can’t do anything. They have to settle this on their own.”

“Mother!” he gasped, seeing Nala ascending on the ledge of rock. “What she is doing there?”

“Most likely going to see her ill son.” Said Nuka. “Although she has also some other reasons, she is really concerned about you.”

“I know, but edict…” yelled king. “If she broke it that means she also broke Vitani’s will.” Then he looked on Nuka. “Where is my father?” But he localised Simba on his own.

Lion was going with Umeme, clearly in Priderock direction. But king noticed on face of his father

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