The pride rejoiced at the joining of Kiara and Kovu. They were to become future King and Queen of Pride Rock. As the animals began to leave after the ceremony, Simba and Nala led everyone back inside. It was then when Simba laid down the rules to the newcomers.

“I, Simba, King of Pride Rock and the Pride Lands, welcome you. You do indeed belong here. However, I must lay down the law for those of you who don’t know it. The hunts are led by Nala and Vitani is second in command.”

Vitani gasped. She didn’t think Simba would recognise her talents. She bowed her head towards Simba, thanking him.

“The huntresses will also form part of the battle squad with Kovu and I leading. You are not allowed out of the Pride Lands because you are no longer under my protection when out of bounds. The last rule is: if you see any rouge lions or lionesses please bring them straight to me. Don’t worry, I’ll only use violence if they use violence towards you.”

The lionesses bowed their heads acknowledging the rules. However, there was one lioness, by the name of Ngoma, who didn’t.

“Simba.” She began.

“Yes Ngoma.” He replied

“Simba, I understand all the rules but I just want to ask, are we allowed out of Pride Rock even when we’re not on a hunt?”

“Ngoma, it is alright, as long as you tell either me, Nala, Kovu or Kiara where it is you are going.” Simba answered.

Ngoma then bowed her head. Simba then turned to everyone else.

“Let us celebrate this occasion and have it carved into our minds.

Later in that week, Vitani went out walking alone. She had so much to think about. Leading the hunting party with Nala was one thought, but there were also thoughts about her mother. There was no way she could’ve survived that fall but Vitani wanted proof, to see her one last time to know the truth. Vitani reached the gorge. The river had receeded so she was free to scour it for signs of her mother. It was a desolate place. Bits of broken tree and lots of rocks had been deposited there by the water. Vitani searched for many hours until she finally saw Zira. She was lying by the side of the gorge and appeared unharmed. Vitani bowed her head and started crying. Then out of the corner of her eye she spotted a lion just sitting and watching her.

“Go away!” she shouted.

“Why?” the lion asked.

“I want to be alone.” Vitani sobbed.

“Why would I want to leave the girl you gave me so much joy when I was a cub?” the lion said.

Vitani raised her head and took a good, long look at the lion. He remined her of someone.

“Kopa?” she asked.

Kopa nodded.

“Is it really you?”

“I have returned for the danger had passed and I was missing a part of my life.” He explained.

“What… How… Why… How did you know the danger had passed?” Vitani asked.

“I felt it,” he said, “in here.”

Kopa pointed towards his heart and Vitani ran over and licked his cheek.

“Let’s go home.” She said.  

Whilst Vitani was away, Nala went to the waterhole. She found it more peaceful on her own. On a normal day, she would’ve just sat by the waterside, staring at her reflection, however, this day was different. Nala watched the water. It was being disturbed by something. Something that was also mewing for help.

“Cubs!” Nala cried.

Lions usually hate water but after that episode in the jungle, Simba had taught her to swim. She summond up the courage needed than jumped in. She swum until she found two cubs struggling in the water. Nala scooped them up in her mouth and carried them to safety. The first cub was a greyish, brown colour with a light coloured muzzle. The other cub was white. Completely white except for the tuft of fur on its tail which was greyish brown. Nala looked up and began searching around with her eyes for any sign of their parents. There was no one to be seen. She then scooped the cubs up in her jaws once again and carried them home.

There was chaos at Pride Rock when Nala returned. She almost dropped the cubs when she saw what was causing it.

“Hello mother.” Said Kopa.

Another lioness took the cubs from Nala’s mouth so she could talk.

“Kopa. It isn’t possible. You’re dead.”

Kopa smiled.

“I am not dead mother. I was close to being dead when father found saw me and ran home to tell you.”

Nala started to move closer to her son. Everyone was silent by now.

“Are you real?” Have you come back from the dead?”

“Hush mother.” Kopa whispered. “I am alive. A rouge female called Afya saved me. She licked my wounds clean and looked after me when I was recovering. I would like to welcome her into the pride. She is in our lands now.”

Simba walked up to Kopa and put his head on top of Kopa’s.

“Don’t worry son. I will send Vitani and the other lionesses to go and find her.”

“Wait!” interrupted Nala. “Before you go, does anyone know whose these cubs are?”

Nala pointed towards the small bundles of fur.

A lioness gasped.

“Chuki! Shaha!”

It was Ngoma.

“Oh my darlings, my poor little darlings. Don’t worry, mother’s here, I will protect you.” She sobbed.

The other lionesses from Zira’s pride looked shocked.

“But Ngoma, we weren’t allowed to have cubs!” said one.

“Did you break our law? Did Zira know?” said another.

“Wait!” shouted Simba. “Let her explain.”

“It was a secret.” Ngoma began. “I met this truly wonderful lion and we fell in love. I used to meet him every few days. Then I fell pregnant and I saw him less and less. I left our pride for a few days whilst I had my cubs. During this time my love visited me. I told him that he should look after our cubs because I was unable to. He suggested we should run away together. I agreed with him. I was stupid, I know, but love can make people do the most stupidest things. We ran away, me with Chuki and my love with Shaha. Zira caught us. She attacked me and I let go of Chuki. She fell to the ground. I thought she was dead but my love ran up and scooped her up with Shaha already in his mouth. He escaped but I was left. I’ve never seen him since.”

Ngoma was crying so hard when she finished that Chuki and Shaha’s heads were damp with tears.

The pride was a t a loss as to what to make of it. Finally, Kiara spoke.

“We are all truly sorry for your loss. We will let you know if we find a rouge lion around, just as the laws say.”

Ngoma raised her head wearily and nodded.

“Thank you Kiara.” She said. “And can I ask you Nala, where did you find them.?”

“I found them drowning in the waterhole. I had just arrived and it looked like the cubs hadn’t been in the water very long. It is almost as if your love had known I was going to be there; like he wanted to give the cubs to you.” Nala answered.

“Mheetu was always a smart lions.” Ngoma sighed.

“Mheetu!” Cried Nala. “My brother. He’s in the Pride Lands. Why didn’t you say sooner?”

“I’m sorry my queen.” Said Ngoma, “I had no idea…”

“Quick!” interrupted Nala. “We must find him. We need to find Mheetu – oh, and Kopa’s Afya!”

With that order the search party went off. There were two parties – one looking for Mheetu and the other looking for Afya.

Nala led the search party for Mheetu. She was overcome with emotion. Her brother was alive and in the Pride Lands! Questions buzzed around her mind. What happened to him? How did he survive on his own? Why did he never come back? She had to push these away and focus on the search.

Vitani and Kopa led the search party for Afya. Vitani wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to find her. She could picture a happy Afya and a happy Kopa living happily in Pride Rock. No Vitani to be seen. Kopa was leading the party in such a heroic way it made Vitani sick with love. She didn’t know how long she could kope without fainting.

Ngoma stayed in Pride Rock with Simba, Kovu and the older lionesses. She was tenderly licking her cubs’ heads when the search parties arrived. Only one of them was successful. Ngoma’s heart fell when Kopa introduced Afya. She was a pretty lioness and a sense of power hung around her. She was also oddly coloured. Her belly was the same colour as her over pelt. Only Ngoma thought she was odd. She didn’t know whether she was upset because of Mheetu or because she had recognised her. Vitani also thought she had seen her before, hanging around the outlands with a cub in her mouth.

Simba stepped forward.

“Afya. I can’t thank you enough for healing Kopa.”

“It was nothing.” Afya replied quickly. She was starting to shake with nerves in front of Simba.

“I wish for you to join my Pride.” Simba said.

Afya swayed on the spot. She most definitely was nervous.

“I must ask you for your name, age, parents, siblings, mate and pride.”

“My age, my parents and my siblings are unknown. I do not have a pride.” Afya replied. “I do not have a mate.”

Afya felt ashamed telling everyone about her life, the fact she doesn’t really know who she was.

“Afya.” Simba said. “Can you give a rough estimate for your age?”

Afya thought for a while. She had been roaming the desert for a very long time before she found Kopa. Then Kopa had grown up when he was in her care.

“I would say that I am about seven years old.”

There was a gasp from the pride. Then a whole bunch of voices started speaking at once.

“But you look so young!”

“You’re older than Simba!”

“You’re the same age as Zira!”

This last comment made everyone go silent. Simba walked up to the lioness who had said it.

“Zira has gone now, Vitani can tell you, so we must remember her only in our minds and not out loud.”

“Simba, it’s okay.” Afya said. “That name reminded me of someone. It was someone from long ago. She used to travel with me. A friend or a sister, I don’t know, but that name makes me think of darkness.”

Kovu stepped forward.

“She’s gone now.” Was all he said. There was a long pause.

“Oh Simba!” Afya shouted, “I’m sorry but I forgot to say that would love to join your pride!”

And with that, the Pride settled down for the night.

It was a few months later when the pride rejoiced but mourned in the same day. Nala and Vitani began their hunt, their plans formed around a herd of zebra. Nala crept forward; she was to make the first move. As she readied herself for the sprint, something startled the herd. She ran after them but they were too fast. She roared to call the hunters in.

“Did any of you disobey my orders?” she snarled.

“No Nala.” They all replied.

“They who chased the heard?” Nala whispered to herself. She sat down to think.

“There are no other prides in this land so it must be a rouge.”

“A rouge or someone who wants to return.” Said a voice.

Nala spun round to face a lion with a dead zebra at his feet. She gazed inquisitively at his face.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Do you really not recognise me?” the lion asked back.

Nala shook her head.

“It’s me, Mheetu.”

Nala stopped where she was. She found it hard to breathe. Her brother was alive. Mheetu was alive and facing her this very moment.

“Quick!” Nala shouted. “Let’s get you home!”

Back in Pride Rock, Sarafina was ill. She had been ill for a long time and everyone was sure she was on her way out. Sarabi stayed by her side every minute of the day. At night, they both went out to drink and be themselves once more. Sarabi thought of all the good time the two of them had had. Sitting in the sun, chatting like nobody else could’ve. Sarabi sighed. It wasn’t like that any more. Afya (the healer as people liked to call her) had tried to help Sarafina but her healing tongue did not work. It seemed she was only good at healing wounds. Sarafina had fallen into a fitful sleep when the hunting party arrived. As soon as she saw Mheetu, Sarabi woke Sarafina up. Sarafina immediately recognised her son. Ngoma, who was entertaining Shaha and Chuki, smiled.

“Mheetu?” asked a shocked Sarafina.

“It is me, mother.” Replied Mheetu.

“My son.” said Sarafina.

She then went up to him and collapsed on the floor. Afya and Sarabi rushed to her side.

“My son.” She repeated.

As if she was satisfied with seeing her son again, her eyes closer and she drew her last breath.

Everyone started crying.

A few months after Sarafina’s death, the pride began to realise that someone was turning against them. Their hunts were disturbed, the waterholes were taken and roaring was heard almost every night. It was the Moutain Pride with Malka at its lead. Simba decided to talk with his old friend and form an agreement.

“Why are you in the Pride Lands?” he asked.

“Because someone has taken over and someone told us that you had moved out.” Replied Malka.

“Who had told you we had gone?” Simba growled.

“A young lioness by the name of Chuki.” Malka said.

Simba recognised the name as Ngoma and Mheetu’s daughter.

“Thank-you old friend. You have helped us and now we will help you in return. We will help you claim back your kingdom from whoever has taken it.”

That night, Simba called forward Chuki. He grilled her with all sorts of questions to find out why she betrayed her pride. Chuki wouldn’t go down without a fight. Her answers proved that she hated Simba, hated her pride and hated her family. After a while, Simba gave up.

“You leave me no choice.” He sighed. “You must be exiled. You must leave tonight and never return.”

“Of course, your majesty.” Chuki said evilly.

She then swiped her paw at Simba’s face, luckily missing, then ran off.

“And good riddance too!” shouted a voice.

Simba turned around to see Shaha, Chuki’s brother. Simba was surprised.

“Didn’t you love your sister?” he asked.

“No.” replied Shaha simply. Then he began teeling stories about what she had done behind Simba’s back, either to him, or other people. Simba found himself being caught up in Shaha’s words and an idea formed in his mind. When Shaha finished Simba asked him whether he would like to be a storyteller for the pride. Shaha’s spirits lifted from being pressed down by the tales of his sister. He replied positively. He felt honoured at being asked.

The next day, Simba rallied the fighting troops and went out to help Malka. They met at the boundaries of the Pride Lands. Several members of Simba’s Pride were worried about going out of bounds and breaking the law.

“It’s alright.” Malka assured them. “I am the leader of this land and I grant you access this moment in time.”

After crossing the border they all headed for the mountain with Simba and Malka leading.

“Thank you dear friend for all your help.” Whispered Malka.

“It’s no problem.” Simba replied. “Know you would’ve done the same for me.”

They talked no more until they reached the mountain. At once they could see it was in use.

“Why would someone take over a mountain but pile it up with bones of dead animals?” asked Kovu

“Rituals.” Replied Shaha. “The higher you are to the sky the neared you are to reaching the souls in heaven.”

“It doesn’t matter what they’re doing!” growled Malka. “They shouldn’t be here!”

With that, everyone ran up the mountain, ready for attack. They were met with a group of lionesses and a rather old lion.

“Why are you in my lands?” roared Malka.

The old lion looked at Simba, then to Malka, then to Simba again.

“You killed my daughter.” He said accusingly.

“I did not.” Replied Simba, calmly. “I fought her, yes. When the rest of her pride admitted defeat she did not. When she leapt at me my daughter was there to fight back. Zira fell down the cliff. My daughter tried to save her but Zira refused. I am now ruler of the Outlands as well as the Pride Lands. If you would leave this place then I would give them to you and your pride.”

“But why would I want to leave here?” snarled the old lion.

“If you don’t leave, I’ll make you want to leave.” Growled Malka.

“So be it.” Replied the lion, evilly.

Bth sides leapt for attack. Simba and Malka fought against the old lion’s protectors – well trained lionesses – until they were exhausted. The old lion had no more protectors now. They ran up the mountain side, following the scent of the old lion. They finally cornered him at the very top.

“Step down.” Ordered Malka.

“I will.” Replied the old lion. “My time has come for me to enter the spirit world. All you have to do is kill me.”

“We do not kill without a good reason.” Replied Malka.

“Then you leave me no choice.” The old lion said as he stepped calmly off the edge of the cliff.

“Your kingdom has been returned old friend.” Said Simba

“Thank you Simba” Replied Malka. “I couldn’t have done it without you!”

Simba turned towards Malka.

“Roar. Take your kingdom back!” he urged Malka.

Malka took at deep breath and roared. A few seconds later a reply was heard from far down the mountain. Malka’s Pride was successful.

Vitani was back at Pride Rock. She had convinced Simba she was ill but really she wasn’t. She was pregnant – nearly due. Tonight was the night she would tell Kopa and the rest of the pride. She thought about different names to call her cub. When the fighting crew came back she called Kopa over to her. She got closer and whispered in his ear.

“I’m pregnant.” She said.

Kopa was overjoyed. He licked her face and started crying with happiness.

“Vitani’s pregnant!” he announced to the pride.

That evening was an evening of celebration. Vitani and Kopa were congratulated so many times that they eventually lost count. When the celebrations ceased, Kopa took Vitani outside into the cool night air.

“I wish for you to be alone for when the time comes.” He whispered.

“I am never alone in Pride Rock.” Vitani added.

“Then go to Scar’s Cave. You know the place.”

Vitani did know the place. A little rocky outcrop near to Pride Rock. She wanted to be alone but with him beside her.

“But Kopa…” she began.

“No buts!”

“Okay.” She said. “I know you’re doing this to keep me safe.”

Kopa nuzzled her and Vitani licked his cheek.

“I love you.” They said.

Vitani left for Scar’s Cave the following day. Kopa brought her food and comforted her at certain times during the day. Other than Kopa, Vitani had no visitors.

Kopa stayed in Pride Rock when he wasn’t caring for Vitani. Simba and Mheetu were giving him parenting tips and Shaha and Kovu gave him encouraging words. Kopa was over the moon. He was going to be a father!

Three days later, Vitani emerged from Scar’s Cave with a bundle of bright yellow fur in her mouth. Kopa greeted her at the bottom of Pride Rock and helped her up the steep slope. At the top she layed down and put her new born cub in her arms.

“She’s beautiful Vitani.” Gasped Kopa. “She’s got your eyes.”

“Do you want to name her?” asked Vitani.

“No. She is going to be like her mother so you should choose her name.” Kopa replied.

“Kurudi.” She said at the point Simba and Nala arrived.

“Kurudi is a beautiful name Vitani.” Said Simba “Congratulations!”

“Thank you Simba.” Replied Vitani.

She started licking Kurudi clean.

“May the rest of the pride visit?” asked Nala.

“Of course!” replied Kopa and Vitani at once.

That morning, the pride visited Kurudi and her parents to say congratulations. In the afternoon, Rafiki was called for the ceremony and the animal of the Pride Lands rejoiced at the King’s grandchild.