Both Sarabi and Malika managed to find the lionesses. They were hiding from the outsiders in fear of being killed like their prides were.

"Please, you have to help us! If we don't fight now then we allow the outsiders to keep chasing us!" Sarabi tried to convince the scared lionesses to fight.

"We have to think about our young. If we die then they are alone." An older lioness argued. She reminded Malika of Mufasa with her tan coat and bright brown eyes.

"We are thinking about your young. They will never be safe if the outsiders aren't beat here and now. Think of the future they will have if all they do is run." Malika reasoned, pleading with them. Mufasa needed all the help he could get in defeating the outsiders.

"I am sorry but the answer is no." The older lioness said sternly. Malika felt her heart drop at the finality in the lionesses words. There would be no convincing her.

The lionesses turned to leave when an outsider pounced on the eldest lion. Malika was quick to push the outsider off and away from the lioness.

"Get them to safety Sarabi! I'll cover our backs!" Malika yelled, snarling at the lioness in front of her. Sarabi nodded following the few lionesses and their cubs towards the tall rocks.

"I cannot wait to kill Mufasa's lioness." The outsider snarled as she and Malika circled each other.

"I do not plan to die today." Malika simply said before she pounced at the lioness.

Both managed to gain a few good hits on the other. Malika managed to bite the back of the lioness' neck while the lioness managed to scratch her side. Blood trickled from both of them as they panted in exhaustion across from the either.

Both lions leapt towards the other, jaws snapping and biting the other. Both went down, neither moving as the fight finished. The outsider moved, her body being pushed upwards as Malika managed to pry herself from underneath the dead lioness.

Malika looked towards the dead lioness with little remorse in her heart. This lioness followed a lion with bloodlust on his mind and tyranny as a form of leadership.

Malika quickly found and followed her sister's scent and found them on top of the tall rocks, Sarabi protecting the lionesses and cubs behind her. Malika rushed up, pouncing on one of the outsiders before joining her sister's side, teeth bared and hackles raised.

"I've been waiting to finish you all off." An outsider happily snarled. She had a wicked look in her eyes and an evil smile on her face as she stared at the remaining lionesses from prides lost.

"You'll be waiting for a long while." Malika snarled back. As the lioness was about to pounce, the earth shook, the rock cracking down the middle.

"Jump!" Malika screamed towards the others, jumping towards a lower rock off to the side. The outsider lionesses fell through the crack in the earth as the pride lionesses managed to get to safety with their cubs.

"Is everyone okay?" Malika quickly asked scanning everyone over. They all nodded before Malika heard a loud roar from inside the rock they stood on. It sounded like—

"Mufasa!" Malika screamed, worry taking over her face.

"Go! I'll stay with them." Sarabi said, pushing her sister towards the caves within the rock. Malika sent a quick smile towards her sister in appreciation before leaping towards the ground.

She ran as fast as she could through the caves in search for Mufasa. She managed to run into a large opening, the floor a pool of water with no seeable bottom. There, on the side was Mufasa and Taka, breathing heavily.

"Mufasa!" Malika yelled rushing towards the two. Taka looked up and felt his ears flatten to the back of his head; sad she didn't call his name.

Malika froze as she saw Taka's face, a long scar running down his right eye. Taka looked down in guilt before leaving the cave. Malika watched him leave before rushing down to Mufasa.

"Are you alright? I heard you roar. I came as quick as I could." Mufasa just smiled as Malika nuzzled her head into his. "I was so worried when the rock shifted and it started to break apart. I had no idea where you were and it was terrifying to know I wasn't with you. I should have never left your si—"

Mufasa lifted himself up and licked the side of her face. Malika felt her mouth open and face flush.

"Wha–what was that for?" She stuttered. Mufasa only smiled before nuzzling into her.

"You are too good to me. What did I do to deserve you?" He whispered, continuing to rub against her head. Malika smile softly. She nuzzled her head under Mufasa's helping him up before both walked away from the water.

"I don't know, but I'm glad I found you at that river." Mufasa laughed as he thought about the faraway memory. It seemed so long ago that happened when it really happened only a week past.

"Me too, Malika. Me too."

———

Both lions exited the cave, walking towards Rafiki and Sarabi, both waiting for the two.

"Malika! I'm glad you're okay." Sarabi rushed to her sister's side, nuzzling her sister's head. Malika smiled and playful pushed her sister.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." She joked. Sarabi only smiled before backing away from the two. Malika looked towards her in confusion before seeing the others.

Animals of all species formed two lines, creating a center path of grass for Mufasa to walk down. Each bowed their heads in appreciation and respect for Mufasa.

Malika slowly backed towards her sister, "What happened?" Sarabi smiled and whispered back.

"Apparently Mufasa gave a very compelling speech to the other animals about fighting with us against the outsiders. It's the only reason we managed to win." Malika felt her heart about to burst at Mufasa's ability to rally others. Those who had no part in the fight but helped because they saw Mufasa as he was. A leader and protector to all species, not just lions.

"Stop please, don't bow your heads. I'm no king." Mufasa denied as he looked towards the animals.

"You saved them Mufasa." Rafiki simply said.

"We are all equal. We all have a place in the circle of life." Mufasa argued back.

"You protected them and their home." Malika said approaching the lion. "You rallied them to help defeat the outsiders like a true king would."

Mufasa still felt the bowing was too much but he found his heart swelling at the animals around him. His dreams and ideals of all animals being apart of the circle of life and treated as such, finally becoming true.

"Okay but no bowing please." Mufasa said accepting that the others looked to him now as a king, protector, and leader of Milele.

"There is someone here to see you." Rafiki said, gesturing towards the base of the cracked open rock. It now had a piece of the rock jutting out, forming a large ledge with a tall strong rock behind it.

Mufasa sent a confused look before walking towards the rock he and Malika left from. As the animals moved to the side, the older lioness from before appeared looking at Mufasa with grief and longing.

"Mufasa? I had a son named Mufasa. I lost him in a great flood." The lioness spoke, tears in her eyes. Malika felt her heart race as she realized who this lioness was.

"Mom?" Mufasa whispered, afraid this was all a dream. Mufasa's mother, Afia cried out before rushing to Mufasa. Mufasa set his head atop his mother's while they cried in relief at finding each other.

"Father?" Mufasa said as he stepped back to look at his mother. She looked down as tears fell from her eyes. Mufasa knew what that meant and felt a pang of grief at never seeing his father again.

"Mufasa." Rafiki gently called, gesturing towards the jutted out rock. Malika walked up to Afia, a smile on her face as she stood next to her. Afia smiled back before rubbing against Malika's side, a sign of acceptance and love towards her. She knew about her sons and Malika's relationship, she could smell her son's scent on the lioness.

Malika felt her smile widen as both followed Mufasa to the end of the ledge. Rafiki standing slightly in front of them but behind Mufasa.

Mufasa looked out at the many animals looking towards him, a smile on his face as he let out a roar. The other animals letting their own sounds out at Mufasa taking leadership of Milele.

Feeling a presence behind her, Malika turned to see Taka approaching them. A guiltily look on his face. Mufasa turned to see what everyone was looking at only to see his brother.

"My king." Taka said, bowing down to Mufasa. Zazu flew down from the sky towards Mufasa and the others.

"I say we exile him from the pride lands. He caused the outsiders to find us, posed a threat to these animals and their homes." Malika felt her eyes widen, not knowing about Taka's betrayal to them.

"Taka." She whispered, sorrow on her face. She knew Taka was insecure about Mufasa but to betray them and offer them, his friends and brother, to the outsiders? That's a different kind of betrayal.

"My brother will stay here. But I will not call you by name. You are no longer the brother I once knew." Taka bowed further to the ground.

"Then call me Scar. So I never forget how I wronged you." Mufasa nodded in agreement. Taka, now known as Scar, turned and walked away into pride rock.

"Malika." Malika turned and saw Mufasa already looking at her. "Join me, please." Malika felt her face soften as she slowly approached Mufasa.

"I told you on those mountains you looked like a queen. How would you like to be one?" Mufasa asked nuzzling her head.

"Only if I'm yours, Mufasa." Malika whispered back nuzzling into his neck.

"Only if I'm yours."