- A few months later -

Two lion cubs ran up to the edge of Pride Rock to gaze over the vast landscape. The female cub had beige pelt resembling her mother's and amber brown eyes just like her father and brother.

The male cub, however, resembled his father in more ways than one. He had his father's golden pelt and had a small red tail tuft. If there was one thing the siblings had in common, was that they both loved to explore and meet other animals.

The beige lioness cub looked over the horizon, admiring it's beauty. "Looks amazing, doesn't it Simba?".

"Sure does, let's go wake up Dad!" Her brother smiled. He turned tail and ran into the sleep cave.

The two cubs then ran inside Pride rock to wake up their Dad. Zafira accidentally tripped over a lioness's paw. Said lioness growled lightly in annoyance.

"Sorry!" She apologized as the lioness glared at her. She eventually came to her sleeping father.

"Dad! Dad! Wake up!" Simba said, tugging on Mufasa's ear. Zafira laughed at her brother's antics.

"Your children are awake" Sarabi sleepily said to her mate.

"Before Sunrise they're your cubs" Mufasa muttered.

Zafira headbutted her father and glared at him. "you promised!".

"All right, I'm up! I'm up!" Mufasa chuckled. He got to his feet and padded towards the entrance.

"Awesome!" Zafira giggled as she and Simba ran to the entrance of the cave.

Simba nuzzled his mother and ran off to go play with his and Zafira's friends. Zafira watched him for a moment before running to catch up with her father.

The sun had just started to shine on the top of Pride Rock when the two lions got there.

"Look Zafira, everything the light touches is our kingdom" Her father softly told her.

"Wow..." the lioness cub whispered, amazed by vastness of the kingdom.

"A Monarch's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Zafira, the sun will set on my time here and will rise with you as the new queen". Mufasa stood silent, letting his words resonate within his daughter.

"And all of this will be mine?" Zafira questioned, turning to look at her father.

"Everything..."

"But, what about Simba? What happens to him?" Zafira asked, concerned for her brother.

"He will have an important part to play in the circle of life as well, you'll see" Mufasa chuckled lightly.

"Hey dad, what's that shadowy place?" Zafira asked her father, looking towards the south. Mufasa's expression turned harder.

"That is beyond our boarders Zafira, it is not safe for you, your brother, or any of your friends". He didn't want to tell her the truth as to why, however.

"But I thought a queen can do whatever they want?" Zafira questioned.

"Zafira sweetie, there's more to being queen than getting your way all the time. Follow me". Her father beckoned her down Pride rock and to a grassy field.

"Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As queen, Zafira, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant, to the leaping antelope" Mufasa explained.

"But Dad, don't we eat the antelope?" Zafira questioned. Mufasa chuckled lightly.

"Yes, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. So, we are all connected, in the great circle of life". Zafira was amazed, she still had so many things to learn.

Just then Zazu swooped down and started talking to Mufasa.

"Good morning sire".

"Good morning Zazu".

"Checking in, with the morning report".

"Fire away".

"Well, the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of spot".

"Oh really?".

Meanwhile Zafira got distracted from Zazu's chatting by a small grasshopper.

"- the baboons are going ape".

"What are you doing?" Mufasa questioned, noticing his daughter jumping around.

"Pouncing" Zafira muttered, failing to catch the grasshopper as it leapt away.

"Let an old pro show you how it's done". Her father helped her into a crouching position.

"- I told the elephants to forget it, but they can't" Zazu continued.

"Zazu, would you turn around" The king asked.

"Yes, sire" Zazu said, turning around.

"Stay low to the ground...".

"- Cheetahs never prosper!" Zazu continued.

"Ok stay low to the ground, Right" Zafira whispered.

"What's going on?" Zazu asked, looking over his shoulder.

"A pounching lesson" Mufasa informed him.

"Oh, Very good. Pouching..." Zazu then realized what they had said, "P-Pouching?! Oh no, Sire! You can't be serious..." he trailed off as Mufasa gestured for him to turn back around.

"Oh, this is so humiliating..." Zazu said, turning back around.

"Try not to make a sound..." Mufasa whispered to his daughter.

"What are you telling her Mufasa?" Zazu worryingly said."Mufasa? Zafi-" Zazu couldn't get the last word out before he was pounced on by Zafira.

Both Mufasa and Zafira burst into laughter as the lioness cub pinned down Zazu.

"That's very good" Mufasa chuckled as his daughter walked towards him, beaming proudly.

"Zazu!" A groundhog said, appearing behind Zazu. "Yes?" Zazu asked. "Sir! News from the underground!" He reported.

"Sire! Hyenas! In the Pridelands!" Zazu warned the two lions.

"Huh?" Zafira questioned. "Dad, what's going on?".

"Zazu, take Zafira home!" Mufasa told him, already running ahead.

"Wait! Dad! Can't I come?" Zafira asked her father.

"No sweetie" And with that, he ran off to deal with the hyenas.

"Awe, I never get to go anywhere..." Zafira walked away with a scoff.

"Oh young Mistress, one day you'll be queen and then you can chase those slobbering, mangy, stupid, poachers from dawn until dusk" Zazu said as Zafira giggled at the thought.