him since he was a cub, but there were happier matters to think about now: the pride was now one again, and Kovu was allowed to stay within the pride. Together at last, the King gave Rafiki the order to give the princess and her beloved the blessing of their union to one other and the four lions roared to their subjects, announcing the union of the two prides as one.

“Yeah,” Simba murmured to his queen. “You’re right. She will be fine.” His voice wasn’t too convincing as usual. 

Nala softly chuckled as she pushed him to the ground, surprising him by her sudden show of force. “Just like I told you when she was a cub. She may be just like you, but she’s still her own lion. Trust her, and she’ll make you proud once she’s Queen.”

“You think so?” Simba was still a slight bit unsure. “She’s still too playful, too naïve. I don’t think she’s ready—” 

“Simba, listen to yourself,” Nala growled softly; she meant to be furious but the Queen tried to contain her calm composure. “You may have been a little older when you accepted the throne, but days ago, she showed true courage and wisdom when she stood up to you, understood your words to her when she was a cub and saved your life from Zira’s attack. Look at her now,” She turned their attention to the love-struck lions, gently grooming each other with their tongues and muzzles. “She’s no longer a baby anymore, Simba; Kiara’s a grown lioness now, and you’ve got to let her made her own decisions. She and Kovu have grown rather close recently . . . actually, I haven’t seen the two of them apart from each other since you put Kovu into exile.”

“I know about that, but what if she wants a cub of her own, Nala?” Simba sighed before speaking. “By the way they’re acting, Kiara could be with cub before she’s ready. It would be hard for the child though, especially since there’s probably no chance that he or she would ever reach the crown in their lifetime.” 

“Well, maybe we should let them make that decision on their own,” the Queen airily replied as she separated from her mate’s side and walked closer to the other lionesses.

“Maybe I should . . .” Simba muttered aloud to himself as he sat down and looked above him. The stars glinted and twinkled like diamonds, dodging the gray clouds that tried to cover them. He had remembered the words of his father as he looked up: 

“Look at the stars -The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars . . . So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you . . . and so will I . . .”

Where are you, Father?Simba wanted to whine and cry out to the stars. You can see me, right? You can see the problems that I face, and right now, I feel so lost and alone . . . What should I do with Kiara, with Kovu, with myself? 

The stars remained silent, only twinkling and shining brightly in the twilight evening sky.

“Again, silent as stars.” Simba sighed. “I only want what’s best for the pride and the Pridelands, Father. I know I’m trying hard to follow the path that’s destined for me, but . . . I’m still worried about Kiara’s path and what may happen if she has a cub. The child may never see the throne within its lifetime . . .” He sighed again. “But I guess Nala’s right – I should just let Kiara choose her own future. She chose Kovu after all, and if they want a cub, I should allow them to do it. Besides, she’ll have to look to the stars one day for me when I leave the throne to her and Kovu . . .” A shooting star streaked through the sky, disappearing a few seconds later. He gasped at the sight, for he had never seen one before. Thinking it was a sign from Mufasa, Simba smiled. “I think so too, Father. I’ll trust her choice with him. Thanks.” He stood up and left the scene, allowing Kiara and Kovu some privacy to show their love for each other. 

Meanwhile, the two young lions were still on the soft tall grass. Kiara sighed as she rested her head on Kovu’s mane-covered chest, listening to the sound of him breathing. Kovu was tantalized by his lover’s scent on him, but his gaze was at the stars.

“Kovu,” Kiara moaned out lightly. She was slightly asleep, but something inside her made her want to wake up. “Kovu, are you asleep?” 

“No,” he replied. “I’m just looking at the stars.” Kovu let out a happy breath. “You know, the stars look more clearly than when you first showed me.” He gasped and pointed a paw above him. “Look there, I can see a heart! It’s sparkling . . . and so beautiful!”

“Hmm?” Kiara rolled off of him and belly-up on; font-family: Arial;">“I know about that, but what if she wants a cub of her own, Nala?” Simba sighed before speaking. “By the way they’re acting, Kiara could be with cub before she’s ready. It would be hard for the child though, especially since there’s probably no chance that he or she would ever reach the crown in their lifetime.” 

“Well, maybe we should let them make that decision on their own,” the Queen airily replied as she separated from her mate’s side and walked closer to the other lionesses.

“Maybe I should . . .” Simba muttered aloud to himself as he sat down and looked above him. The stars glinted and twinkled like diamonds, dodging the gray clouds that tried to cover them. He had remembered the words of his father as he looked up: 

the grass to see what he had found. “Oh, I see it too! It is a heart . . . Ooh, look beside it! It’s a lion family . . . See the baby cub?” She gasped with joy as she realized what it was. 

“Yeah, I see,” Kovu’s voice was soft but slightly sad. Just seeing an image of a cub with both of its parents reminded him of what he never had: a loving mother and a father to be proud of him. I don’t even know who my father is, he thought. Zira . . . was she even my mother? I mean, she raised me for as long as I can possibly remember, but she wasn’t as nurturing and caring as Kiara or her mother have been to me. Oh, it’s just so many bad memories just to think about it . . .

“Hey, Kovu,” Kiara turned her head towards her mate. “What do you think about starting a family of our own?” 

“Huh?” Kovu was so focused on his thoughts that he was having that he was nearly oblivious to Kiara’s question. “A family?”

“Yeah, you know, like us having a cub to take care of and all,” the golden lioness explained. “We’ll be King and Queen one day, and if anything happens to us, we’ll have to have a cub . . . an heir to follow after us.” 

“I guess, but now?” Kovu hesitated as he asked. “We’re lucky to have time together like this right now; why should we tie ourselves down with a cub? Besides,” he added. “I might not be a good father for our cub, especially after everything that I’ve been taught.”

“You’ll be a great father, Kovu – I’m sure of it,” Kiara cheered him up with a purr. “You know what Zira taught you, but now you know it’s the wrong things to do. My father showed you the errors of her ways and how to make things better for yourself.” She nuzzled him gently, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sure you’ll be as great of a father as my father is.” 

“You think so?” Kovu’s eyes widened. “You really trust me to do that?”

“With all my heart,” Kiara lovingly stood above him than laid on his stomach, sighing as her head stroked back and forth against the black mane of her lover. She let out a light moan. “Of course I know you will do what’s right.ove him. “Look there, I can see a heart! It’s sparkling . . . and so beautiful!”

“Hmm?” Kiara rolled off of him and belly-up on; font-family: Arial;">“I know about that, but what if she wants a cub of her own, Nala?” Simba sighed before speaking. “By the way they’re acting, Kiara could be with cub before she’s ready. It would be hard for the child though, especially since there’s probably no chance that he or she would ever reach the crown in their lifetime.” 

“Well, maybe we should let them make that decision on their own,” the Queen airily replied as she separated from her mate’s side and walked closer to the other lionesses.

“Maybe I should . . .” Simba muttered aloud to himself as he sat down and looked above him. The stars glinted and twinkled like diamonds, dodging the gray clouds that tried to cover them. He had remembered the words of his father as he looked up: 

” 

Surprised by the new sensation that the two of them were feeling beneath the starlight, Kovu flipped Kiara onto her back once more; this time, she was overpowered by the young lion . . . and by the love that they felt for one another.

“Oh!” Kiara’s surprise of her mate’s actions made her gasp. Her face was flushed pink as she felt her heartbeat race and her breathing quicken. “Kovu! What are you –” 

“Shh,” Kovu hushed her with a kiss to the lips. “ I’m doing what’s right, Kiara . . . now, watch the master . . . and enjoy.” Closing his eyes, he murmured into her ear. “I’m going to make you the happiest lioness in the Pridelands, I promise.”

“Oh, Kovu,” A thin stream of tears fell from Kiara’s face as she felt her body loosen up and felt the truest emotions of love emanate from him. “I love you so much.” She returned the kiss with a lick to the cheek.  

Kovu gasped at the touch of her tongue to his skin, much to the delight of the lioness. He gazed at her once more, but something about Kiara was different – she was more mature, more elegant, . . . more in love with him than ever. He smiled softly back at her as they began to move onto the next level from which they would never be able to return.

----------------------- 

About a mile or so from where the lovey-dovey youngsters eloped, an old yet wise mandrill was inside his large baobab tree home. There were gourds and paintings everywhere, each told a different story of the circle of life and the lives that they lived. This baboon was more focused on a

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