"Sade! Mufasa!" Sarabi called as she ran up to the two lions. Sade sent a smile to the lioness and nudged her head with her own.

"The lionesses?" Sade questioned, Mufasa listening to Sarabi too.

"All fine. The earth shaking helped us out. They have some cubs too! Cute little things." Sarabi said as Sade laughed in surprise. Sade never thought Sarabi would be so excited about cubs, but she did suppose they were cute little things.

"Rafiki!" Mufasa yelled as the mandrill approached the three lions. Rafikia smiled at the trio as Mufasa looked him over for any inury.

"Did you get hurt?" Rafiki shook his head before he took a step back to reveal the many animals behind him, all heads bowed.

"What are they doing?" Mufasa asked as Sade felt a smile grow on her face.

"Recognizing their king." Mufasa whipped his head to Sade, eyes wide in confusion.

"Me? No, I'm not a king." Mufasa walked to the animals, asking them to lift their heads as he didn't deserve it.

"You saved us from the outsiders, showed us that you value the circle of life. You lead us to victory and kept our home safe. We are honored to have you as our king." The giraffe from before stated to Mufasa.

"But, I have no royalty in my blood, I'm nothing but a stray." Rafiki approached Mufasa's side with Sade on the other.

"A stray can be king just as well as a prince can, if not better." Rafiki wisely spoke.

"This is your destiny, Mufasa. You saw them as equals to you, you rallied them together and fought against the evil in the lands. You deserve this." Mufasa had a soft look in his eyes as he looked to Sade. A proud look on her face at Mufasa finally finding his place in life.

"Mufasa? There is someone here for you." Sarabi said approaching the lion. Mufasa sent her a confused look before a scent hit his nose. It smelt like...

Mufasa raced towards the source of the smell, animals moving to let him pass. Sade and the others walked behind him to let him have his moment.

The final row of animals parted leaving an older lioness facing Mufasa. She looked just like him, just female and older.

"Mufasa? I had a son named Mufasa. I lost him in a great flood." The lioness, named Afia according to Sarabi, sadly spoke.

Mufasa felt his breath leave his lungs before he said, "Mom?"

"Oh Mufasa." Mufasa rushed to his mom, his head instantly snuggling under hers. Tears falling down his face at finding his family in Milele.

Sade felt her heart burst in her chest at the touching scene before her. Mufasa questioned about his dads whereabouts only to realize he didn't make it to Milele. Mufasa looked down in grief with his mother.

"Mufasa." Rafiki soft called, sitting on a rock. He was gesturing Mufasa towards the platform. Sade approached Mufasa and nuzzled into his side, happy to see all his dreams coming true. Just as hers did on this journey.

Mufasa approached Rafiki and turned back around to see his mother and Sade standing next to each other, smiles on their faces as they watched him accept his destiny.

A smile formed on his face at seeing the two most important females in his life together, smiling at him with love.

Mufasa approached the edge of the rocky platform, looking towards the snowy mountains and letting out a roar. A roar heard by all the animals in the pride lands, a roar from their new king and leader of Milele.

"Taka..." Sade said from behind Mufasa. Turning around, Mufasa saw Taka approaching Sade.

Mufasa quickly stood in front of Sade and growled a warning.

"Sire, might I suggest exile for him?" Zazu said as he landed in front of Mufasa. Sade felt bad for Taka, he just witnessed his brother take all his dreams away from him. Even if Taka doesn't deserve them.

"My brother stays here, with me. But I can't call you by name, you aren't the brother I once had anymore." Taka bowed to the new king in apology.

"Then call me Scar, so I may never forget my actions against you, your highness." Taka, now known as Scar, turned and leapt behind the rocks, hidden from sight.

"Join me?" Sade turned to see Mufasa now looking at her, a nervous expression on his face.

"Where?"

"Here, to rule. Be my queen just as you are my mate." Sade felt her face burn at Mufasa's question. While she loved Mufasa and didn't doubt she would do anything for him, she wasn't sure being queen was for her.

"Queen? Me? Mufasa, please. I can't... I'm not you." Mufasa smiled back at her words before nuzzling into her.

"That's why I want you to rule with me. You've shown compassion towards others, selflessness and courage. You'd make the perfect queen. Please, stand by my side. I can't do this without you." Sade felt her worries and concerns melt at Mufasa's words.

"Okay." Sade whispered back as Mufasa let out a cheer. Together, the duo walked up to the edge of pride rock and let out a joint roar. The king and queen of Milele, or the pride lands for those living there.

———

Years have passed since then, Sade and Mufasa had a son, Simba, whom they loved dearly. He was a rambunctious cub with lots of ideas of what being king meant. He had a lot of lessons to learn before he took over the pride lands.

There was an accident where Simba ran away as a cub because he thought he killed Mufasa. Mufasa was gravely injured, but fortunately managed to survive. Scar was exiled for trying to murder the king and was never seen again. Years later, a young lioness by the name of Nala managed to find Simba hiding out far past the pride lands, friends with a warthog and meerkat.

Nala brought Simba home much to Sade and Mufasa's thanks and the family became whole again.

Simba and Nala eventually mated themselves and had a two children named Kiara and Kion. Sade found the young cubs to be so similar to Simba and Mufasa it was scary.

One night Mufasa and Sade looked up to the night sky, stars twinkling above them.

"Can you believe it?" Sade questioned Mufasa.

"What?" Mufasa asked back, his eyes never leaving the skies.

"All this, all because of a flood." Mufasa felt a chuckle leave his mouth before he turned to focus on his mate.

"Would you do anything differently?" Mufasa instantly shook his head no at his mate.

"I meet you because of that flood. Found my purpose, family, and destiny because of it. I would take that flood and more if it meant I got to meet you in every life." Sade felt a smile grow on her face as she turned to look at Mufasa.

"Hmm, even the next one?"

"Even then."

"I think I'm ready for that." Mufasa smiled sadly in agreement with his mate. Both took one final glance towards the starry sky before they walked into the cave carved into pride rock.

"I love you my dear son. I wish you the best of luck. Keep watch over those precious balls of joy you have." Sade whispered to her son as she and Mufasa passed by.

Both Mufasa and Sade found a spot to lie down in. Cuddled together, never to be without the other, fell asleep for the last time.

The stars in their mind and love in their heart.

The End