Preface

Kiara searched the rushing water for any sign of Zira but the crazy lioness was nowhere to be seen. She could have escaped the water and the broken pieces of the dam but Kiara felt it was very unlikely. If only Zira had taken her paw, this could have been avoided. But Zira had made the choice to be with Scar and Nuka instead of Vitani and Kovu.

"Kiara," came a voice behind the princess causing her to turn and see Simba on the ledge.

"Daddy, I tried," she said taking his paw.

Once at the top of the gorge, Kiara was reunited with her mother and Kovu. The whole pride, both Pride Landers and Outsiders, returned to Pride Rock. Word had spread and all the animals of the Pride Lands were waiting there. Simba and Nala made their way to the edge of Pride Rock followed by Kiara and Kovu. Once there Simba roared followed by Kovu. Then king, queen, crown princess, and new prince roared in unison and were answered by the roars of the two prides now one and all the animals. The wind rustled Simba's main and he looked up to see a bright ray of light shine down on him and his family. He could also hear a voice speaking to him.

"Well done, my son," came the voice of his long dead father Mufasa. "We are one."

♤♤♤

A young lion, the spitting image of Simba, waited for them when they returned to the assembled pride. With him were a young cheetah, a young hippo, a young ingred, and a young honey badger. They were Kiara's younger brother Kion and his friends Fuli, Bestie, Ono, and Bunga also known as the Lion Guard.

"Well done, sis," Kion said. "You and Kovu brought peace to the pride and the Outiders."

"We still don't know where Zira is or if she survived," Kiara said.

"That's why I want you and the Guard to double the patrols, especially at the gorge," Simba said to his son. "We need to make sure that, if she did survive, she doesn't return and cause any more trouble."

"If Zira is alive, she would be foolish to return," Nala said to her husband. "She has no allies. Nuka is dead and Kovu and Vitani have sided with us along with the rest of her supporters."

"Still, I'd rather take precautions than assume she's gone. It's funny, in a way one thing Zira wanted will come to pass. When my time ends, Kovu will rule the Pride Lands as King alongside Kiara."