Peace for the Soul ~ A Lion King Fanfiction

Chapter 30: Kion's Strength

(Kiara's POV)

I waited desperately at the foot Pride Rock with a few other lionesses to hear back from the pride. I indeed knew that Kion and Kovu had survived and escaped, but My Dads relentless pursuit for the cheetah coalition would not rest until he would find them, and kill them.

No, I can't think like that. Can I?

It feels as if my whole world is caving in on itself. They have been gone for two months, more than enough time to get there and back. I can't help but feel the weight of my heart, my brother, my love, my Father, all of which are locked in some kind of conflict that I cannot see, and I could loose them all.

The rising sun ignites the land, bringing a sense of warmth to my rather uncomfortable situation. As the suns rays light up every crevice of the Pridelands, it reminds me that this will be the land the I am destined to rule over. But far off in the distance, a group of creatures could be seen, and they were getting bigger, meaning they were getting closer. I take to my paws and race to meet these people, only to recognize who is in front of them...

"Kovu!"

"Kiara!"

I rush to embrace my lover, feeling the comfort of his fur on mine,

"Kovu, I... I thought I would loose you!"

"It's okay Kiara, I'm home." He whispers calmly in my ear, as he gives a gentle lick on my neck.

Home

"Home?" I ask,

He tensed up almost instantly,

"Kiara..." he started,

Lionesses and cheetahs then caught my attention, slowly walking to pride rock, and past me and Kovu. They look tired, no, exhausted. But they all carry a hint of relief, as if they had won, but the cheetahs are all with them...

That's when I notice my fathers absence,

"Is he?" I look up to Kovu, his expression already telling me everything I need to know.
"Yes Kiara. Your father, Kion and Heshima, have joined the circle of life." His rough voice spoke, carrying so much hurt, while his eyes were so sorrowful, but still had their usual gleam.

I cannot articulate my thoughts and feelings, it just seems like everything comes tumbling down. I cry into his mane, he doesn't stop me, just letting me soak his fur for what feels like an endless amount of time. Eventually, his firm forearms find their way under my chin, tilting my gaze to meet his. He gently licks my cheek and turns his allegiance to my eyes again.

"Walk with me, please." He asks, and thus, we turn to walk back to pride rock.

He led me, explaining every detail of what happened. From the start of Kion leading the coalition away, up until Kovu returned with all of the survivors. It's all so much to take in at once, Scar's spirit was alive this whole time? It would explain my Fathers rash actions, but how couldn't I have seen it coming? Could I have done anything if I did?

"What if Kion is alive?" I ask quietly,

"Kiara, I hate breaking your heart. But there's no way he could've survived with the injuries he sustained, let alone the freezing and fast current." He's clearly aggravated, but seemingly out of sadness rather than anger. He then turns to face me, while my attention focused off in the distance.

"You think he's still out there, don't you?"

"No, I know he is." I say calmly,

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just know." My gaze leaning back to his.

We continue walking to the peak of pride rock, the details of the world seemingly crashing down on me. The realization that the throne is now mine and Kovu is to rule with me, the war between the Lions and the Cheetahs ending as quickly as it finished, but there still was more.

"Kiara, there's one more thing you need to know. Actually, a few people you need to meet." He says as he send a low pitched roar towards the rear of pride rock, and two figures emerge from the rocks.

Rafiki is easily recognizable, with his long bakora staff in hand, and his signature smile. The other figure was someone I haven't yet met. It was obviously a male, but he carried something or somethings in his mouth that threw me off briefly. As the cheetah makes his way closer to us. It is now clear that he is holding a small pair of cubs by the scruff in his mouth, a lion and a cheetah. Kovu then takes a few steps backwards, giving me and this cheetahs each other's full attention. Rafiki walks to stand side by side with Kovu, is this some sort of birth ceremony?

When he is a mere few steps away from me, he pauses his march and sets the two fur balls down at his paws. Then breaking into a bow, raising his gaze again to meet mine. He looks back down to the cubs,

"These are Kion's daughters, he would've wanted you to know them. May his ferocity and courage be exemplified in them and your bloodline forever." He says in his breaking voice.

I step closer to the cubs, picking up their scent. They definitely smell like Kion, that's when I noticed the lion looked almost identical to my mother, Nala. Her cream colored fur, and her blue eyes, she was beautiful. My eyes wander to the cheetah, her spots were bold and she had a slim frame, but what got my attention were her eyes, they had Kion's unique amber color. My gaze wanders back to the cheetah,

"He told me, before he drew his final breath, that he hoped you would see the truth in the ancestry of both of these cubs, and the sacrifices they made so that these cubs may live in peace." He said, now tears starting to form in his eyes. He then looks up to me, diverting his attention from the cubs,

"Kiara, if I knew one thing about Kion, it was how much he wanted peace between our species, if you claim me as an enemy, I will leave and never return."

He must've really meant something to Kion for him to be the one to present his cubs.

"Kovu," I say to my mate, as he turns to me.

"If Scar's reign was able to cause this much trauma after his death, then we will bring an era of peace that hasn't been seen since his existence. A Pridelands in which all animals respect the circle of life. Kion's wish will come true, and we shall both see to it." Kovu nods and steps forward to nuzzle me,

"And we'll do it together." He states.

I look back to the cubs, then to the cheetah that presented them.

"What are they're names?" My voice getting heavy,

"The cheetah is Noelle, and the Lion," he pauses,

"Is Hope." He says with a voice full of emotion,

Rafiki steps forward, bakora in hand. He smiles over the cubs, like he was looking at an old friend. He breaks the fruit and looks to the cheetah daughter.

"Noelle, beautiful and pleasant, will be destined to one day lead the cheetahs established in the Pridelands." He then traces the juice over her forehead, essentially crowning her. His focus then turns to Hope,

"And you, dear Hope. You are destined to one day return to the great valley in which your ancestors settled, bringing love and freedom to a scarred land." He traces the juice over her too, then lightly dusting them both, making them sneeze adorably. My attention turns to the male cheetah, who is still bowing,

"What is your name?" My head starring straight to him, my gaze full of sympathy,

"I am Azaad, your majesty." His head still bowed,

"What could you tell me about my brother during his absence?" My head tilting,

"It would be an honor, to have Kion's story written in the caves of Priderock forever." Rafiki says,

He raises from his bow, a single tear escaping his eyes.

"And it would be an honor, to tell his story."