Chapter 1

Kiara rested in the cool shade of Pride Rock's cave; her belly was already beginning to swell with the litter of cubs she was carrying. In just a few short weeks, she and Kovu were going to be parents.

"How are you feeling?" Kovu asked entering the cave.

"Very pregnant," Kiara said looking at her mate. "I can't wait for the cubs to be born. How are things in the Pride Lands?"

"Your brother and his friends had to chase of Janja and his clan back to the Outlands but other than that things have been quiet."

Janja and his clan of hyenas were constantly causing problems for the Lion Guard. The only hyenas that were allowed in the Pride Lands were Jasiri and her clan because they respected the Circle of Life. They had moved into the Pride Lands not long before the Outsiders rejoined the pride and helped maintain the delicate balance by cleaning up after the messier eaters.

"So no sign of..."

"No. No one's seen her since the battle."

Kovu walked up to his mate and nuzzled her belly.

"How are the cubs?" he asked.

"Restless," Kiara answered. "They're ready to be born, too."

Several weeks later...

Kiara roared in pain. She had been in labor since late last night and would soon meet her cubs. The pain was unbearable but it would be worth it to see her children. Most of the females of the pride where there to help her as was Fuli. Simba, Kovu, the rest of the pride, and the rest of the Lion Guard were waiting outside.

"This is so exciting," Kiara's friend Tiifu said. "Soon there's going to be three new members of the Royal Family!"

"I wish they'd hurry up and get here," said Zuri, Kiara's other friend.

Kiara roared in pain again. This was getting to be too much.

"Tiifu. Zuri. Either help or wait outside," Nala said. "You're getting in the way just standing there."

The two lioness opted to wait outside. There wasn't much they could do and Kiara had all the lionesses who had given birth to help her.

"Alright, Kiara," Nala said to her daughter, "push on the next contraction."

When the contraction came, Kiara pushed. It didn't feel like anything had happened but her mother and the other lionesses kept telling her she was doing a good job and she trusted them. Soon she heard the mewing of a new born cub. One of her children had entered the Circle of Life. That left just two more to go.

Several hours later...

Kovu paced nervously. When Tiifu and Zuri had exited the den, he had thought that they were bringing news that the cubs had been born but they said they had only come out to give the other lionesses room to help Kiara. Now they were both over by Kion; each one vying for his attention.

"I know how you feel," Simba said to his son-in-law. "I was a nervous wreck when Nala had Kiara and then again when Kion was born. But don't worry. Kiara and the cubs are in good paws."

Just then Fuli came out. She walked passed Simba, Kion, Tiifu, and Zuri and right up to an anxious Kovu.

"There are three someones waiting to meet you," she said.

Kovu hurried into the cave closely followed by Simba and Kion. The lionesses parted, creating a path for them. Near Throne Rock was Kiara; Nala sitting next to her. Snuggled in Kiara's forepaws were three newborn cubs, one boy and two girls. One girl was golden brown like her mother, uncle, and grandfather, the other was tan like her grandmother, and the boy was dark brown like his father.

"They're beautiful, Kiara," Kovu said.

Kiara nuzzled the golden brown one.

"This one's the oldest," she said. "She'll be queen one day."

"We'll call her Laiya," Kovu said.

"This one," Kiara said nuzzling her only boy (so far), "will be T'Challa. He'll be the next leader of the Lion Guard."

"I'll start training him when he's old enough," Kion said.

"And this one," Kovu said nuzzling the last of the cubs, "will be Shuri."

"We'll find a role for her," Simba said.

"Who knows," said Nala. "Maybe she'll join the Lion Guard like her brother."

Both parents nuzzled their cubs. They were so tiny but so full of potential. Once their eyes were opened, there would be a presentation ceremony so the rest of the Pride Lands could see the new members of the Royal Family. But for now all the cubs (and their mother) wanted was sleep.

Author's Notes: So some of you may recognize the cubs' names. Laiya is Leo's wife from Leo the Lion (the follow up to Kimba the White Lion). I wanted to do kind of a tribute to this show since it's one of my favorites and some people compare The Lion King with Kimba the White Lion. T'Challa and Shuri are from Marvel's Black Panther, one of my favorite movies in the Avengers Universe. I thought it would be cute to name two of the cubs after them since they're royalty in the movie.