Remember Who You Are

Chapter 21: Happy Ending

Once Kion and Kiara were inside the cave they found Makini waiting for them. "Kion!" she exclaimed, running over to her friend and embracing him. "I heard you got your memory back!"

"Yeah I did Makini," Kion said with a smile.

"That's great!" Makini exclaimed. "Rafiki and I were worried that might not happen after you were dosed with that hydro piper."

"Hydro what?" Kion asked.

"Hydro piper," Makini repeated. "It caused memories to be erased and sometimes it can be permanent."

"Can it also cause dizziness?" Kion asked. "Cause I'm feeling really dizzy right now."

"Here lie down," Makini said, guiding Kion over to his spot. Simba and Nala noticed their son being helped and ran over to see what was going on.

"Kion honey are you feeling ok?" Nala asked with concern.

"Just a little dizzy Mom," Kion explained.

"Ah yes that is definitely a side effect from the hydro piper," Makini said with a nod.

"Hydro piper?" Simba said with surprise. "Isn't that the plant that causes amnesia?"

"It is indeed," Makini confirmed. "And it looks like that's what Reirei was using to wipe out any good memories Kion had. Luckily the effects only last for a little while. And I have just the thing for it." Makini reached inside her pouch and pulled out a small vile. "Here drink this Kion," she instructed, opening the vile. "It'll make you feel better."

"Yuck," Kion gagged as Makini poured the contents into his mouth. "That stuff is disgusting."

"Yeah I know," Makini said with a frown. "But it works wonders."

"If you say so," Kion said with a yawn.

"Why don't we let you rest honey?" Nala suggested. "You look really tired."

"Thanks Mom," Kion said with another yawn. With that the group dispersed, leaving Kion to get some much needed rest. Makini left saying she'd check on Kion in the morning.

The next morning Kion was awakened by someone gently tapping his shoulder. Opening his eyes Kion was surprised to see Zuri in front of him. "What do you want Zuri?" Kion demanded, irritated that the tan coated cub had woke him up.

"Can we talk for a minute Kion?" Zuri asked, her voice coming out surprisingly soft.

"I guess so," Kion said as he stood and stretched. "What do you wanna talk about?"

"My attitude," Zuri said, looking at the ground. "Look Kion I'm really sorry for the way I've been acting lately. I was really mean."

"Zuri you're always a little mean," Kion said, rolling his amber eyes.

"Yeah I know I am," Zuri said. Kion blinked in surprise not expecting Zuri to actually admit it. "And that's going to stop. I just wanted to let you know why I've been acting the way I have been."

"Go on," Kion said.

"Well I..." Zuri began, not quite sure how to say it. "I..well I kind of...like you."

"Like me?" Kion repeated, the confusion clear in his voice. "The way you've been acting I could swear you hated me."

"Yeah well maybe at first I did," Zuri explained. "But I've been thinking about it a lot lately. And the more I thought about it the more I realized that I don't really hate you. I...like you. I just didn't want to admit it." Zuri was looking down, to embarrassed to make eye contact.

"Zuri don't be embarrassed," Kion said with a smile.

"I know you don't feel the same about me," Zuri said quickly. "And after the way I've treated you I don't blame you. I just wanted you to know how I feel." With that Zuri began to walk away.

"Zuri wait!" Kion called out, running over to the tan coated lioness cub. Zuri stopped and looked back at Kion. "Uh would you like to go for a walk with me?" Kion asked. "You know so we can talk some more."

"Sure," Zuri said with a smile. "I'd like that." With that the two cubs were gone."

A little while later Zuri and Kion were enjoying a nice walk together and laughing about something that was said when they ran into Kion's Guard. "Hey guys," Kion said with a smile.

"Hey Ky," Bunga said with a smile of his own. Then he noticed Zuri. "You're walking with her?" he asked, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Yeah," Kion said with a nod. "Zuri and I have been talking and she's apologized for her behavior."

"So you guys are friends now?" Fuli asked, eyeing Zuri.

"Yeah we are," Kion confirmed. "So please guys try and get along with each other."

"I can get along with her," Fuli said. "As long as she keeps her nasty comments to herself."

"Yeah same here," Bunga said. Ono and Beshte both nodded in agreement.

"Oh you won't here any nasty comments from me again," Zuri promised. "I promise you that."

"Well ok then," Fuli said, looking at her other friends who nodded.

"But we'd better get on our patrol," Beshte said. "That is if you're feeling up to it Ky."

"Lets do this," Kion said with determination. After bidding Zuri goodbye the Guard went off to do their usual patrol.

A few weeks past and things were going much better in the Pride Lands. After a few treatments from Makini and Rafiki the effects of the hydro piper were completely gone and Kion was back to his normal self. His relationship with Kiara had greatly improved although they still sometime fought as normal siblings do. But what surprised everyone was Kion's new budding relationship with Zuri. The pair had gotten really close after their talk and were spending a lot of time together. Kion's relationship with Simba had also improved and the King was making an effort to spend equal time with both his children. There had been no sign of Reirei or her jackals since they were blown away. But Janja and his hyenas were still causing trouble from time to time but it wasn't anything Kion and his Guard couldn't handle. On this particular day Kion was walking with his Guard after successfully sending Janja back to the Outlands. On their way back they came across Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri, who were getting ready to do their hunting lessons with their mothers. "Hey guys," Kion said, smiling at the girls.

"Hey Kion," Zuri said with a smile of her own. "Busy day?"

"Yeah," Kion said with a nod. "Janja always seams to keep us busy. We were just heading back."

"We'll come with you," Kiara said. "Mom and Tiifu and Zuri's moms are waiting for us anyway." With that the group of young animals headed off towards Pride Rock, all of them in great moods and looking forward to a bright future.