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Simba was unsure how long they all stood there as Sarabi and Zira comforted each other. The teenage male wouldn’t meet the eyes of anybody and as Zira and Sarabi finally could dry each other’s tears, it was high sun. Zira took a shuddering breath and stood, nodding to Pride Rock. Glancing behind her, her crimson eyes sought out her son and she went to him, gently rubbing under his chin.
“Oh, my Kebehi. My son. Forgive me. I have not comforted you as I should have. Come, we must go home so that we can comfort your brother and be in peace.”
She paused and turned to Simba. She stared at him, calculating and cold. Then, as if it hurt her to do so, she bent down into a bow and flicked her ears. When she spoke, it sounded as if she were swallowing thorns. “My King. Are we still allowed shelter within your kingdom?”
Simba stepped back for a second, looking flustered. He had certainly not gotten used to that title, and even if he had, her question made his mind spin.

Finally, he refocused on her and nodded. “Of course. You are family…” he paused and tried to sound more assuring, like his father would have. Trying to ignore that she was only family because she had been mate to a killer, he forced a smile and added, “I will not turn a mother out to suffer and go hungry. Regardless of your… affiliations… you always have a home here. My mother must not see you as a danger… if my mother did not trust you, she would have told me so. So, come Cousin Zira. We can all go home.” He turned and led the way, missing the look of fury Kebehi sent his way.

Later, he led the ex-queen and her sons to the Royal Burial Grounds, where Scar was to be sent off on his final circle of life. It pained him that only they and his mother attended. Certainly, he understood, but it was only proper Scar be honored.
However, he was not prepared for Zira’s reaction, though perhaps he should have been. When she saw the body, she shrieked and lunged for Scar, curling up into his mane and sobbing wordlessly. Her elder son looked on with tears streaking his own muzzle and Nuka sat away from them all, seeming confused on how to take it.

“I should have been with you. Oh, it should have been me. Oh Spirits, why wasn’t it me…”
Her mourning was finally interrupted, as tradition dictated that a passed-on king should ascend the Eternal Circle before the second nightfall.

Simba thought the entire service was a blur, and as it finally ended he had no words to give the grieving widow, and so he departed with a small nod. He had no idea how to process his uncle’s death, and Zira’s grief was even worse, so he just tried to ignore it. After all, he had a fiancé to satisfy and a kingdom to run.

As days passed, Simba began to get the hang of running a kingdom. He was constantly surrounded by advisors, as his mother Sarabi, Princess Sarafina, his newly wed Consort Nala, and Zazu made sure to stand beside him each step of the way. Slowly, he was relearning the Pridelands’ ways, and he found that though it was no “Hakunnah Matata”, it was certainly an experience all in it’s own. Within only a few weeks, he found a renewed hope and energy in the news of new life—Nala was pregnant.
The twitters of laughter in the pride of how much love was really felt in the jungle made Sima’s ears heat and flinch, and many mothers covered their cubs’ ears when the less tactful pridelanders suggested lewd behavior between the new king and queen.
Regardless, the new royal duo were treated with respect as Nala’S every whim was catered to, and as she and Zira came closer to their cubbing days, the two talked more and Nala told Simba she thought Zira was perhaps a bit unstable, but not somebody to be feared. Although Simba had assumed Zira was very far along in her pregnancy, Zira made it clear that, no, she was only a few weeks along at Scar’s death.

One dawn, Simba awoke and began his daily rituals of greeting the subjects of the land with Kunukia by his side. As time passed and the new king was not joined by his family, Simba tried to decide whether to abandon his duties and search for his family, however the decision was soon made for him when Kebehi came rushing over the plains.
The teenager stopped, lowering his head to his liege.

“My king… Sarabi sent me. Mother… mother had her cubs this morning, and everybody was preoccupied with Mother. And then, the queen said she felt unwell… My king! You’re a father!”

Simba barely heard anything else as he rushed to the Nursery, to be greeted with two smiling females.

“Nala! My queen, how are you?”
An affectionate head rub was exchanged and then she smiled unsurely. “They are so tiny… I am well. Just worried. The land is still healing. We have so little…”

Hearing this, Zira looked up and smiled warmly. “We have plenty, my dear Nala. For your cubs, and mine.” She raised her head to show two small bundles curled up securely, and Kunukia bounded forward from underneath Simba.

“Mother! What are their names?”

“Vitani… For she will fight like a demon to get what she wants… I don’t know what to call the boy. I never thought I would have more cubs… why don’t you choose, Kunukia?”

Kunukia paced in front of his new siblings, looking at the new little boy who looked eerily like Scar, and then grinned, his teeth flashing in pride.
“Kovu! Call him Kovu, name him for Daddy!”
Her warm eyes dimmed at the name, and flinched away. Tears began to run down and Kebehi ushered the child out, anger making the fur betwixt his shoulder blades prickle.
“See what you’ve done! You know she can’t hear anything about Father right now! It hurts her too much. You’ve just as good as slapped her in the face with calling that boy-cub Kovu! He isn’t even Father’s son! How dare you!”

“But… he’s Mother’s son? So, isn’t he Daddy’s son too?”

The innocent question caused a pause outside the Nursery and Zira’s eyes sharpened to the shadows of her children.
“He wouldn’t…”
She croaked, her voice suddenly dry and filled with fear. She shuddered and looked to the wall as her newborns nipped and moved around in her paws.
Nala placed a paw on Zira and her blue eyes watered. “Who is their father, Zira?”
Glancing to Simba’s confusion, she verified that which so many had speculated.

“Kebehi came upon it, in the end. One of Scar’s new Guard… Jamba. He was always around, making me nervous, but Scar swore he was fine. Just over-protective of the queen. Until the night I fell ill from nightcap… and in my dream-induced haze, I thought he was Scar and accepted his advances… until I realized he was not.” Zira winced and dug her claws into the earth. “By then it was too late, and after Scar was told what Jamba had done, the hyenas took care of him. I was found with cub a short time later, and Scar said any who didn’t know, would not be told. I would never have lived it down…. And what respect I had in the pride would have been gone.”

Pity clenched Simba, and he sighed. “I… we all… judged you. I apologize, Zira.”

Zira’s eyes sharpened and she smiled thinly. “It is not your fault, my king. I let them believe as they will. Rumors flew anyway. Please, go and get my sons.”

Simba did as she wished, and when the three males came back in, Zira smiled at Kunukia. The smile didn’t reach her eyes, but her ears flipped forward and she motioned him to come to her. When he did so, she took the boy-cub and placed him in Kunukia’s paws.

“His name will be Kovu… your father only ever wanted to protect me. And so you will return that favor and protect your little brother with your life, do you understand? You will be his guard.”

She then looked to her queen and dipped her head low, submission clear in her mannerisms.

"My queen, what of your cubs? What are they to be called? We must celebrate our new Princess and Prince!"

Nala started, and then she and Simba looked down at the twin golden bodies within Nala's paws. "We wanted the cubs to sound similar... We were thinking something like Chaka and Aisha..."

Zira shook her head as she craned her head to the newborn royalty.

"I don't think she looks like an Aisha, my queen. What about Kiara? Kiara and....er... Kopa? For out of the Darkness came your heart."

Nala jolted and grinned, rolling the new names around her mouth. "Kiara... Kopa. I like it!"

Description
Simba was unsure how long they all stood there as Sarabi and Zira comforted each other. The teenage male wouldn’t meet the eyes of anybody and as Zira and Sarabi finally could dry each other’s tears, it was high sun. Zira took a shuddering breath and stood, nodding to Pride Rock. Glancing behind her, her crimson eyes sought out her son and she went to him, gently rubbing under his chin.
“Oh, my Kebehi. My son. Forgive me. I have not comforted you as I should have. Come, we must go home so that we can comfort your brother and be in peace.”
She paused and turned to Simba. She stared at him, calculating and cold. Then, as if it hurt her to do so, she bent down into a bow and flicked her ears. When she spoke, it sounded as if she were swallowing thorns. “My King. Are we still allowed shelter within your kingdom?”
Simba stepped back for a second, looking flustered. He had certainly not gotten used to that title, and even if he had, her question made his mind spin.

Finally, he refocused on her and nodded. “Of course. You are family…” he paused and tried to sound more assuring, like his father would have. Trying to ignore that she was only family because she had been mate to a killer, he forced a smile and added, “I will not turn a mother out to suffer and go hungry. Regardless of your… affiliations… you always have a home here. My mother must not see you as a danger… if my mother did not trust you, she would have told me so. So, come Cousin Zira. We can all go home.” He turned and led the way, missing the look of fury Kebehi sent his way.

Later, he led the ex-queen and her sons to the Royal Burial Grounds, where Scar was to be sent off on his final circle of life. It pained him that only they and his mother attended. Certainly, he understood, but it was only proper Scar be honored.
However, he was not prepared for Zira’s reaction, though perhaps he should have been. When she saw the body, she shrieked and lunged for Scar, curling up into his mane and sobbing wordlessly. Her elder son looked on with tears streaking his own muzzle and Nuka sat away from them all, seeming confused on how to take it.

“I should have been with you. Oh, it should have been me. Oh Spirits, why wasn’t it me…”
Her mourning was finally interrupted, as tradition dictated that a passed-on king should ascend the Eternal Circle before the second nightfall.

Simba thought the entire service was a blur, and as it finally ended he had no words to give the grieving widow, and so he departed with a small nod. He had no idea how to process his uncle’s death, and Zira’s grief was even worse, so he just tried to ignore it. After all, he had a fiancé to satisfy and a kingdom to run.

As days passed, Simba began to get the hang of running a kingdom. He was constantly surrounded by advisors, as his mother Sarabi, Princess Sarafina, his newly wed Consort Nala, and Zazu made sure to stand beside him each step of the way. Slowly, he was relearning the Pridelands’ ways, and he found that though it was no “Hakunnah Matata”, it was certainly an experience all in it’s own. Within only a few weeks, he found a renewed hope and energy in the news of new life—Nala was pregnant.
The twitters of laughter in the pride of how much love was really felt in the jungle made Sima’s ears heat and flinch, and many mothers covered their cubs’ ears when the less tactful pridelanders suggested lewd behavior between the new king and queen.
Regardless, the new royal duo were treated with respect as Nala’S every whim was catered to, and as she and Zira came closer to their cubbing days, the two talked more and Nala told Simba she thought Zira was perhaps a bit unstable, but not somebody to be feared. Although Simba had assumed Zira was very far along in her pregnancy, Zira made it clear that, no, she was only a few weeks along at Scar’s death.

One dawn, Simba awoke and began his daily rituals of greeting the subjects of the land with Kunukia by his side. As time passed and the new king was not joined by his family, Simba tried to decide whether to abandon his duties and search for his family, however the decision was soon made for him when Kebehi came rushing over the plains.
The teenager stopped, lowering his head to his liege.

“My king… Sarabi sent me. Mother… mother had her cubs this morning, and everybody was preoccupied with Mother. And then, the queen said she felt unwell… My king! You’re a father!”

Simba barely heard anything else as he rushed to the Nursery, to be greeted with two smiling females.

“Nala! My queen, how are you?”
An affectionate head rub was exchanged and then she smiled unsurely. “They are so tiny… I am well. Just worried. The land is still healing. We have so little…”

Hearing this, Zira looked up and smiled warmly. “We have plenty, my dear Nala. For your cubs, and mine.” She raised her head to show two small bundles curled up securely, and Kunukia bounded forward from underneath Simba.

“Mother! What are their names?”

“Vitani… For she will fight like a demon to get what she wants… I don’t know what to call the boy. I never thought I would have more cubs… why don’t you choose, Kunukia?”

Kunukia paced in front of his new siblings, looking at the new little boy who looked eerily like Scar, and then grinned, his teeth flashing in pride.
“Kovu! Call him Kovu, name him for Daddy!”
Her warm eyes dimmed at the name, and flinched away. Tears began to run down and Kebehi ushered the child out, anger making the fur betwixt his shoulder blades prickle.
“See what you’ve done! You know she can’t hear anything about Father right now! It hurts her too much. You’ve just as good as slapped her in the face with calling that boy-cub Kovu! He isn’t even Father’s son! How dare you!”

“But… he’s Mother’s son? So, isn’t he Daddy’s son too?”

The innocent question caused a pause outside the Nursery and Zira’s eyes sharpened to the shadows of her children.
“He wouldn’t…”
She croaked, her voice suddenly dry and filled with fear. She shuddered and looked to the wall as her newborns nipped and moved around in her paws.
Nala placed a paw on Zira and her blue eyes watered. “Who is their father, Zira?”
Glancing to Simba’s confusion, she verified that which so many had speculated.

“Kebehi came upon it, in the end. One of Scar’s new Guard… Jamba. He was always around, making me nervous, but Scar swore he was fine. Just over-protective of the queen. Until the night I fell ill from nightcap… and in my dream-induced haze, I thought he was Scar and accepted his advances… until I realized he was not.” Zira winced and dug her claws into the earth. “By then it was too late, and after Scar was told what Jamba had done, the hyenas took care of him. I was found with cub a short time later, and Scar said any who didn’t know, would not be told. I would never have lived it down…. And what respect I had in the pride would have been gone.”

Pity clenched Simba, and he sighed. “I… we all… judged you. I apologize, Zira.”

Zira’s eyes sharpened and she smiled thinly. “It is not your fault, my king. I let them believe as they will. Rumors flew anyway. Please, go and get my sons.”

Simba did as she wished, and when the three males came back in, Zira smiled at Kunukia. The smile didn’t reach her eyes, but her ears flipped forward and she motioned him to come to her. When he did so, she took the boy-cub and placed him in Kunukia’s paws.

“His name will be Kovu… your father only ever wanted to protect me. And so you will return that favor and protect your little brother with your life, do you understand? You will be his guard.”

She then looked to her queen and dipped her head low, submission clear in her mannerisms.

"My queen, what of your cubs? What are they to be called? We must celebrate our new Princess and Prince!"

Nala started, and then she and Simba looked down at the twin golden bodies within Nala's paws. "We wanted the cubs to sound similar... We were thinking something like Chaka and Aisha..."

Zira shook her head as she craned her head to the newborn royalty.

"I don't think she looks like an Aisha, my queen. What about Kiara? Kiara and....er... Kopa? For out of the Darkness came your heart."

Nala jolted and grinned, rolling the new names around her mouth. "Kiara... Kopa. I like it!"