"Kovu ..." Kiara practically mewled.

The gagged lion shot his head up, wincing as he felt his mother's claw dig further into his throat. But he didn't care.

Kiara was here. Her voice, that beautiful sound that filled his ears with the warmest grace; that face, one of such innocence and kindness, only trying to find the best in those around her. Features that he had believed he would never be able to experience again, not after what happened yesterday. She'd surely want nothing more to do with him, and rightfully so. He might not have gone through with his mission, but even him planning on doing so, alongside the manipulation he'd already committed, was a betrayal she didn't deserve.

And yet, right now, she wasn't looking at him with hurt or hatred. She was looking at him with worry, fear for his safety. And the way she said his name, not an ounce of bitterness or anger for him ...

Their love wasn't lost ... she was still on his side ... Of course she was.

"Gmrrm ..." Kovu whimpered back to her.

"It's okay," Kiara tried her best to soothe the distressed male. "It'll be okay."

Kovu nodded, shakily but with nothing but trust in her.

But Zira wasn't having it. "Silence!!"

He squirmed in vain to get away from her grasp, his bound back legs kicking and sliding uselessly with renewed vigor. In response, Zira took his head and brutally slammed it into the ground, causing him to shout into the gag. "Mmmgh!!"

"STOP!!" Kiara shrieked. "Leave him alone!"

Kiara wanted to cry right now. She was absolutely horrified by what was in front of her, seeing her best friend and love bound and gagged so terribly for herself. It nearly made her throw her intentions of mercy completely aside, in favor of tearing Zira limb from limb. How could she do this her own son?! Because he merely wanted to do the right thing?! It made her sick to her stomach, and she was now more desperate than ever to save him from this unthinkable torment.

Simba and Nala were in shock as well, especially as parents themselves. This was child abuse; there was no way around it in the slightest. They couldn't fathom coming anywhere close to treating their beloved daughter, let alone any lion, this way. But it not only made them realize just how inexcusably brutal Zira had been as a mother, but truly drove home why these outsiders had been so bloodthirsty all this time. Kiara was right; how did they stand a chance with someone like this leading them?

"I've made my orders clear!" Zira exclaimed, fed up with this standstill. "Kovu claims that you Pridelanders have taken him as one of your own. That you aren't the savages we know you to be. Well then, prove it! Lay down your precious throne to save the lion you hold oh so close to your hearts!"

For the Outlanders, none of whom had any idea that Zira was going to pull a stunt like this, there was much to process. Firstly, the gentle manner in which Kiara talked to Kovu, so lovingly that none of them could bring themselves believe that it was being faked. Then there was Zira's crazed proposal. Surely, she had to be bluffing. She would never actually go through with outright killing Kovu. Especially if, as she constantly spouted, these Pridelanders were nothing but heartless monsters only concerned with their own power, and would call her bluff without hesitation.

... Right?

The fact that so many of them couldn't even be sure themselves was worrying enough.

"ZIRA, STOP!!" Vitani screeched. "LET HIM GO!!!" She didn't even realize that she hadn't referred to the lioness as "Mother".

If anyone thought Zira's eyes couldn't get any more savage, any more hate-filled, they were gravely mistaken. As soon as she saw Vitani, her dagger-like irises flared up brightly enough to nearly shine new light upon the cloud-shrouded morning. She then seethed, her nostrils nearly letting out heavy steam with each ominous breath. Her claws tensed up further into Kovu, causing him to groan in pain amidst his continued struggling.

"Vitani ... no ... you couldn't ... not ... not you too ..."

"This has gone far enough!" Vitani shouted again. "I'm not following your lies any more. And neither should you!" she called out to her pride sisters. "Is this who you want to follow?! Huh?!"

"THEN YOU'LL DIE!!!" Zira screamed. The striking of lightning and thunder joined her outburst, as her rage over the second betrayal in a day took over. "With all of them, and with your traitorous brother, you'll die!!"

Gasps emerged among the rogue pride. There was no ultimatum, no indication of any sort of bluff, in what she just said: Zira had just sworn to kill her own daughter. What purpose did she have to lie about that? What could possess her to say such a thing if not out of sincerity? And did this mean that she could possibly be serious about letting Kovu die should she be met with further resistance?

For the first time, the Outlanders weren't seeing a bold, headstrong queen in Zira as they had before. They were now seeing in her the very thing she'd taught them to see in King Simba: a cruel, heartless, manipulative tyrant.

"Zira ..." an Outlander spoke up, the same who had tried to communicate with Kiara. "What are you-"

"Don't question me, Anzisha! Unless you'd like to join them!"

At that moment, a look of resolve came across Anzisha's features. Her glance went over to Vitani, to all of the lions who had entered this confrontation as the enemy.

But when looking at these developments - and reflecting much further back, if she were honest with herself - she finally recognized the true enemy.

"You know ..." Anzisha said with a deep breath, "I think I'll do just that."

The lioness then did the unthinkable. She proceeded to cross the gap between the two prides, making her way to the supposed enemy. She ignored the stunned looks all around her, instead focusing on one: Vitani.

Anzisha walked up to the other Outlander-turned-Pridelander. The two didn't say a word to one another. They just exchanged a knowing look of understanding, both having finally seen the truth and being ready to fight for it.

Simba's eyes were saucer-wide, as were the eyes of every single Outlander. He looked over to Anzisha. He initially didn't know how to visibly react to her move, but his face slowly eased into an expression of gratitude and respect, which she gladly returned. She caught other approving looks from the rest of the pride, particularly the princess.

In that moment, she knew she had made the right choice.

Every Outlander was, at best, re-thinking everything they thought they knew. They exchanged their own glances, trying to silently gauge the mindsets of one another, all while simultaneously sorting through the battle within their own heads.

"Zira," Kali barked. "We can't let this go on any longer. We must attack now!"

"... Then you'll have to do it without me," an Outlander declared. She then followed Anzisha's lead and walked her way cautiously over to Simba's side.

"Me too," another said, doing the same.

Another Outlander followed suit, breaking away from her old pride. And then another. And another. And all watched in disbelieving silence, Kovu included. An open smile was born on Kiara's face, and grew wider and wider with each turning lioness. Her soul radiated with hope, matching the hearts of the rest of her pride.

This was what she wanted; they were becoming one!

"No! Where are you going?!" Zira shouted. "Come back! Come back at once!!"

But no one listened; her pride was shrinking, soon losing at least one lioness every second.

Despite his situation, Kovu couldn't help but smile under his gag, though his eyes still made his happiness clear. This was beyond what he could have hoped for. And deep within himself, he knew that none of it could have been possible without Kiara. This change started with her and how she had saved him from Zira's influence. And it was her wisdom, her heart, and her initiative that was now ensuring it would carry through.

I knew I loved her, he thought fondly.

Eventually, only three lionesses remained on Zira's side: Kali, Siti, and a faded-tan lioness named Fungua.

Kovu was brought back to his own grim position when Zira pulled his mane back painfully. He clenched his eyes shut and roared out into the moss encircling his mouth. He bucked and writhed violently, desperate to escape the pain and return to his true home, just as the other Outlanders were.

The queen growled lowly, before once again screaming out. "If one more soul betrays me, I will rip this traitor's throat clean out!!"

Kovu was beginning to honestly fear for his life. The pure, unfiltered hatred in her malicious voice sounded far too genuine for his liking. Similarly to most of the lions present, he was beginning to believe that if she had been bluffing before, she no longer was.

"KOVU!!" Kiara screamed.

"Mother, stop!" Vitani joined in.

"Zira ..." Siti said timidly. "M-maybe we should just-"

"Don't!" Zira literally spat, needing extra effort to hold down an increasingly resilient Kovu, who was tossing his powerful body about in any direction he could. "Don't. You. -Agh! - Dare." She slammed Kovu's head down once more.

Siti reeled back. She was bitter over Kovu's choices, and had no desire to side with the lioness he'd fallen for over her. But despite all her mocking, teasing, and enjoyment of his humiliation, she never wished for him to perish, nor did she think he deserved to. And she certainly didn't think she'd ever have to consider that possibility under his punishment.

She eyed the other two remaining in her pride. Kali was shooting her a sharp look of warning, while Fungua appeared just as uncertain as Siti.

Kovu continued his struggles, but now directed a pleading look to Siti. He tried his best to get his urgent message across solely through his eyes, appearing alien to Siti when compared to his usual bold, cocky self.

Please. She's insane. Please help me.

"As I said," Zira returned to face the nearly-doubled pride. "One step closer, and he dies!"

Kiara's ears were pinned against her skull, and her pridemates, new and old, didn't look much happier. They made no move, only standing there anxiously as the rain kept falling. They tried to come up with something, some way to get around this without jeopardizing Kovu even further. But Zira's grasp on him was too secure, and Kali was keeping a watchful eye to make sure none of the Pridelanders could try anything.

"Enough of this charade!" Zira snarled. "I know the truth! This boy means nothing to you! So go on then, attack! Do it!"

She shoved her claw deeper into her son's throat. "DO IT!!"

"NNMM!!" Kovu cried, reeling his head back as far as possible. "MMMHH!! HRRMMMGH!!"

"Kovu, don't listen to her!" Kiara shouted.

Simba caught something in Zira's eye. A glint, a single window inside her head that spoke of patience about run out. Her muscles twitched, and her lips curled back just the slightest bit.

It all told him that she was ready to strike where it hurt. But they could do nothing to stop it.

Fortunately, they didn't have to.

For Zira and Kali's focused attention on the Pridelanders allowed their remaining two allies to tackle them.

Zira yelled out as she was tossed off of her son and sent several feet away. Fungua now stood between the two, while Kali and Siti found themselves grappling with each other.

"Kovu!" Kiara cried. Now that he was no longer under Zira's hold, Kiara took this as her chance and bolted over to her tied-up love.

"Kiara, don't!" Simba shouted, but she ignored him.

"BACK AWAY!!" Zira roared as she saw the princess approaching. Kiara took pause, but the Outlander queen was then tackled by Fungua.

"What is this?!" Kali yelled. "Siti, have you lost your mind?!"

"What can I say?" Siti responded. "Guess I'm just tired of pretending we're friends."

"Ooh, you irritating little-!"

With that, the two lionesses faced off, while Zira and Fungua still wrestled for victory over one another. They weren't alone, however, as the remainder of the lions now on the Pridelands' side joined in. With their sheer numbers, they hoped to make quick and easy work of the two beings still devoted to Scar's cause.

Kiara, meanwhile, was finally able to reach Kovu, who wiggled a little with glee as the two young lovers were finally together.

"... Oh my ..." she gasped, looking down in horror at the tight, constricting vines mercilessly squeezing his hard form. The gold princess nuzzled his gagged-up face tenderly, and he was eager to return it despite the aches triggered by such movement.

"Kovu, I ... I'm so sorry," Kiara whispered into his wet mane. Her eyes were squeezed shut to prevent tears from escaping.

"Mmphnmmn phrrmm." Kovu tried to tell her it was his own fault, but as always, it was only a grunt thanks to the putrid moss.

Unsheathing her claws, Kiara proceeded to make work of all the bindings on Kovu's forelegs. It was a bit tricky trying not to accidentally scratch him with how deeply the vines were embedded in his skin, but she was successful. As she went to get his back legs free, Kovu immediately tried to remove the gag. His forelegs were shaky and trembling, not used to the newfound freedom or blood flowing back through them. He could wedge his claws underneath the plant, but the sap had hardened so much that it was glued very effectively to his lips and face. Not even the rain was helping to loosen it. "Gmmn, grrmph."

As soon as he felt his hind legs finally separate, Kiara rushed back to his front. "Here, let me help," she offered when she noticed his troubles.

"NO!!"

The lions' heads swiftly swiveled to Zira, who had screeched out upon seeing her son freed. Fungua had been brutally beaten, laying in a bruised mess a few feet away. Thankfully, Kali hadn't been able to do too much damage to Siti before several Pridelanders boxed her in, preventing her from fighting any longer.

"You've done more than enough to him!" Zira roared at the princess. "And I'll tear you apart for it!"

"Grrrmmm ..." Kovu growled menacingly at the threat to his love. He rose to all fours, finally getting enough feeling back in his legs to do so. He went to stand in front of Kiara protectively, narrowing his eyes and lowering into a fighting stance.

You will never hurt her. Not while I'm around, he thought, unable to state so verbally. He wished he had time to remove his gag, but would make do with what he had.

"And when I'm done with her," Zira turned to Kovu, "I will make you suffer for the rest of your life! You cowardly, miserable traitor! You're weak! You were always weak!"

"He's stronger than you'll ever know!" Kiara fired back. She moved to stand side-by-side with her friend. He wouldn't face this lioness alone. She'd make sure he would never face anything alone again.

With a piercing cry, Zira lunged for Kiara, who was unable to dodge in time.

"Gmrmmh!" Kovu shouted.

The two lionesses snarled as their claws came out, rolling across the desolate ground. They scratched and bit at each other, trying to do as much damage as they could as their allies ran towards them as well.

Zira and Kiara ultimately ended up close to the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the river. Kiara, having very little fighting experience, was quickly pinned down. She tried to keep Zira at bay as the mad lioness tried for a finishing blow, but her efforts wouldn't last long. That was when Kovu came charging and knocked his mother clean off her. Unable to use his teeth to attack, he made use of his paws to shove her down and claw at her. Zira bit into Kovu's neck, causing him to roar into the gag. Kiara then did the same to Zira, who now found herself in a two-way battle. Every time she made a move against one lion, the other was quick to counter it. Kovu was putting up a great fight even with his jaws sealed, and Kiara found herself able to get in enough hits to be useful.

It didn't go on for too long, however. By this point, Simba's attention was now turned to the outsider ruler. Nala and Vitani joined him as well, while the rest of the pride stood by in case extra protection was needed.

As the trio came alongside Kiara and Kovu, the five lions formed a circle around Zira, entrapping her with no way out. They were all different beings, from their appearances to their characteristics. But now, they were one team, one family, united against a being whose life's work had been to keep them apart.

"Zira," Simba said calmly. "It's over."

She looked at each of them. With her head darting rapidly and her crazed eyes twitching, the lioness resembled a rabid hyena as she was cornered.

"So ... this is what it's come to? My dear family and sworn enemies, now acting as one ... pathetic!"

She slashed at Simba, missing but eliciting a roar from the remaining four lions (the closest Kovu could muster in his case). She tried again, prompting Nala to rush in and pin her down swiftly. Zira tried to resist, but as usual, it was barely even a contest when going up against the powerful Pridelander queen.

"Enough!" Nala roared in her face. "We're done!"

No. Zira would not let this be how her conquest ended. She would not let them win. She would not fail Scar.

Her chest expanded in and out dramatically. She looked around, seeing no way past the lions who had cornered her. They all stared her down as a unit, prepared to cancel out any move she tried against the lioness keeping her subdued. Simba appeared headstrong, while the pitiful princess, of course, displayed clear apprehension at the prospect of having to fight further. Sheltered little flower, Zira hissed internally.

Then she looked into the eyes of her daughter and still-gagged son. And she saw lions unfamiliar to her. They had resolve in their features that she had never seen even in their most grueling training, their most faithful pledges to her. In that moment, Zira realized, finally, that she had lost her family and would never get them back.

These weren't her children. Simba had killed her children, one by one. First Nuka, then Kovu, and now Vitani.

And she would show him what that felt like.

This is for you, Scar.

In a flexible move, the evil lioness slyly snuck her back legs underneath Nala and delivered a powerful kick to her stomach. Nala was sent flying off with a grunt, setting Zira free. Without any strategy, only bloodlust, she then charged at Kiara. The young princess tried to fight back, but the momentum of the attack was great enough to send them rolling.

And they couldn't stop themselves when they ended up getting tossed over the cliff.

"NO!!!" Simba screamed.

The remaining four lions rushed over to the edge, looking over with great anxiety and panic.

But much to their relief, in the skirmish, Kiara had managed to land on a wide ledge protruding out from the cliff side. Zira, however, wasn't so lucky. She was dangling over the river, her front paws remaining locked onto the ledge as her back legs swung uselessly. She kicked and pulled with all her might to launch herself back up, but to no avail.

"Zira!" Kiara shouted. "Let me help you up!" She extended a paw over the edge for the Outlander to take.

The other lions above looked on, even more stunned than before, the former Outlanders in particular. She was going to save her enemy? A lioness who had just sworn to kill her and everyone she loved?

Is there no end to this lioness's mercy? Anzisha thought.

However, even after many seconds passed, Zira still didn't take the help. She was not about to let this wretched child have this over her. After taking away her family, her pride, her power ... she would not take her integrity. To accept the princess's paw would be to submit herself to her, and to the mercy of the Pridelanders. All while she was left with nothing. Nothing but failure.

She would rather die before letting that happen.

And, she realized with sour resolve, she now had to make that choice.

"No," she hissed quietly. She looked at Kiara with the most narrow, hateful leer she could muster, a final expression to leave her with. "Never."

With that, the crazed queen released her hold on the ledge.

"ZIRA!!" Kali roared for her queen.

Kiara tried to grab her, but was too late. She was forced to watch as her foe fell, making her descent into the water below, and ultimately being swallowed up in the current.

Just like that, Zira was no more.

Kovu and Vitani could only watch in solemn silence. They were helpless to do anything else, only process and force themselves to accept what had just happened. The death of their mother. A lioness who they had come to realize was their enemy. A lioness who had raised them terribly and abusively, twisting their minds to become heartless killers. A lioness who likely deserved death.

But their mother nonetheless.

As Simba and Nala went to help Kiara back up, Kovu sighed through his gag, both in sadness and relief. Vitani, in a rare display of public affection, rubbed her head into his neck. He returned the gesture, the two siblings finding solace in this confusing, bittersweet moment. To have lost both a brother and a mother in so little time would undoubtedly take a toll on them. But despite everything they had been through, this act of sibling love was their way of reaffirming that they would be there for each other, now and always. Their last interaction had been tragically restricted and somber, but now they were back together, they felt stronger in their bond than ever before. What lay ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in their lives, it was for them to decide.

Vitani could feel the moss on Kovu's face running through her fur, though, and so proceeded to work on cutting it off. Like him, she had a difficult time getting it dislodged thanks to the hardened sap. But Kovu joined her in digging a claw underneath the material. Together, they slowly felt the encrusted material begin to give, at the cost of the slow, bitter sting of it being removed from his fur. He winced and gasped, but they kept at it, until the gag was finally split up.

From there, the dreaded task came of peeling it off of his face.

Vitani took the moss between her teeth and began pulling. Kovu grunted, causing Vitani to jab, "Suck it up," through clenched teeth. Painfully slowly but surely, the gag was unwound, and the young lion's dashing face was finally revealed for the first time in so many hours. Kovu gasped for the precious air his mouth had been cruelly denied. He twisted, stretched, and adjusted his sore, arid muzzle and lips. Vitani smirked at the act, only very lightly considering their recent losses, but it was enough to serve as a sign that they would be okay.

"I'm sorry," Vitani said, bravely looking her brother in the eye. "I should've trusted you. You were right. I should've listened sooner."

"Hey, you listened. And you went to the Pridelanders ... that took a lot of guts," Kovu consoled, his newly-freed voice still raspy. "Thank you."

The slightest hint of a cocky grin came upon the female sibling's face at the compliment, and Kovu chuckled as he leaned in to embrace her once more.

Out of the corner of his eye, however, Kovu spotted the bright, beautiful lioness who had allowed him to see the light to begin with. She was smiling more radiantly than ever at him, overjoyed and relieved to see her dear love safe and free.

Similarly filled with joy, Kovu dashed over to her and passionately wrapped a foreleg around her neck. He smothered her cheek with loving licks, fully embracing the newfound freedom of his mouth, smiling even more when he heard her giggling at his kisses. Kiara leaned into the strong embrace and buried her head in his dark mane. She never wanted to leave this feeling, and hoped that never would another day come where she might have to.

Kovu pressed his face against hers and whispered into her ear, "I love you."

Those three words, so liberating to tell her. After what he had nearly done to her, he needed her to know just how much she meant to him. He was no longer the scheming lion who had saved her from that fire. From now on, his one and only mission was her.

As he felt her muzzle against his cheek, he could feel her own smile widen. "I love you too," she whispered. The wave of emotion renewed, Kovu held her closer, and she pressed herself deeper into his broad shoulder and warm chest.

Kiara didn't care what his past was. Right now, as the young lions held and nuzzled each other dearly, they knew that their future was together.

An overly-loud cough snapped the lovers out of their reverie. They turned to see Simba looking at them. Kiara shot him back an annoyed yet amused face, while Kovu's ears folded back, and he tensed up with a flustered look that Kiara found far too cute.

"Simba- er, King Simba, I ... I-I don't know-"

"Kovu," the mighty king cut the younger male off. "It's okay." He walked over, and the former outsider was finding it ironic that the lion he'd been bred to kill was now intimidating him with such a passive gait.

"I know everything," Simba said. "Vitani told us."

Kovu's heart raced, as he stood there unknowing what to expect.

"But I'm not mad ... not anymore."

"... I-I don't understand," a confused Kovu uttered. "Y-you're forgiving me?"

"We all are," Nala joined in. "All of you, actually. We meant what we said earlier. We're ready to end this fighting."

Simba took joy in how Kovu's face gradually lit up. Kovu had seen for himself that things had turned around since the last bitter experience he and Simba had shared. But to hear, now, the king and queen formally declare that bad blood as being in the past, was the reassurance that let him breathe deeply in relief.

Yesterday, Kovu was certain that his chances at finding happiness with this pride had been forever squashed. But now ... he didn't think he'd ever be able to repay them for this.

Upon hearing Nala's words, several former Outlanders walked up to the red-maned lion king, observing him in the flesh truly for the first time. But they weren't seeing the self-serving, brutish dictator that Zira had taught them to see. They were seeing a flawed yet just ruler, who simply wanted to right the wrongs of the past and provide the best life possible for his subjects.

And with the look of newfound respect he returned to each and every one of them, they were reassured of their own willingness to be his subjects as well.

All except for one.

Kali was brought before Simba, lionesses around her to keep her from trying anything. Her stance and movements were defeated, hollow, of a being whose reason for fighting had been swiftly and brutally crushed.

"Well, Kali?" Simba asked, despite being able to guess the answer. "Do you still disagree?"

Kali leered down the monarch long and hard. She looked around her for any support from her old pridemates, but none was found. They only stared back at her with disappointment, yet also a spark of hope that she might not force them to abandon her as they had Zira.

But sadly, Kali's response was to turn back to Simba and answer, through gritted teeth, "Over my dead body."

Several hearts deflated as they received confirmation that this lioness would not be joining them in their new home. It seemed that the influence of Zira was too strong for her to overcome.

With a terse roar, the lioness slashed one of her guards across the face. Before the others could get at her, she then darted her way through the opening this provided, weaving past anyone who tried to stop her.

The pride was only able to watch as Kali sped away, disgraced from her old family and left to a new life as a solo rogue exile.

"We'll have to keep our eyes peeled for her," Nala said grimly, her mate nodding in agreement. Kovu looked down sadly, receiving nuzzles of comfort from the princess who had returned snugly into his side.

It was a shame that Kali seemed to remain lost. But there were other things to think about now. Better, happier things.

"But for now," Simba said, "Let's go home."

He turned to face the many new additions to his pride. "All of us."On their way back to Pride Rock, the converted outsiders explained to their new pridemates that Kali had been Zira's first recruit to her cause. The two had been friends going as far back as Scar's reign, and so Zira, already under Scar's wing, had plenty of time to get inside the head of the younger, impressionable Kali and mold her perception of reality to her will. Knowing that, it was no surprise that Kali had failed to see reason even when all of her peers turned to the other side. She had been under Zira's grip for too long, and couldn't fathom a new way of thinking so suddenly.

Many hoped she could one day come around. But until then, Simba had no choice but to maintain her exile, a decision no one liked but everyone agreed was necessary for now.

The weeks following the merge weren't the smoothest. The two prides had been previously living under starkly different circumstances, and those differences still carried over. Their contrasting customs, mannerisms, schedules, and even senses of humor, put several lionesses at odds with one another multiple times. A few of the former Outlanders even decided to leave, including Siti, who wasn't willing to watch the lion of her desires frolic around with the princess. Gratefully, they all still remained on good terms with the Pridelanders in their departures, and were told that they'd be welcome to come back should they choose.

As for everyone else, it was never forgotten what they had to go through to get where they were, or the lives that were lost. They kept their resolve to maintain their new lives, unwilling to break this hard-won peace over a few petty squabbles. And with the consistent help of Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kovu, and Vitani, everyone was working towards a stronger understanding and respect towards one another, adapting to each other while keeping their own identities intact. It wasn't easy, but they were moving forward, and that was all they could ask for.

For everything, they had to thank the brave couple who had seen the similarities between them when all they had been taught were differences. Which was why, three months into the merge, every Pridelander new and old came together for the most special day of the couple's lives so far: their marriage ceremony.

Kiara and Kovu had grown up. Kiara's body was filled out into its prime, and her lovely face was more mature, bearing a slight resemblance to her grandmother Sarabi. Kovu's stylish mane was now full and complete, and while he had already been well-muscled, the resources that came from life in the Pridelands enhanced his build even further. The same could be said for all of his old friends and family; after going years without proper nourishment, the lionesses once a part of the Outlands had gone from skinny, scraggily beings to heathy, sturdy, and powerful figures. Vitani's legs now looked sleek and fit, and her coat had a new shine to it, finally allowing her exotic beauty to be fully realized.

The happy couple sat together on Pride Rock, eager to be wedlocked in the eyes of the Great Kings. As Rafiki came to bless them, Kiara nestled herself into Kovu's chest with a smile of pure contentment, while Kovu brushed his muzzle against her head. Simba felt his own mate lean into his scarlet mane, remembering their own ceremony and grateful to be able to witness that of her child.

Those who could attend on the magnificent rock looked on, their hearts moved by the image of these two. While they had already joined together as a single pride, this moment felt like the official signifier of the prosperity that was, hopefully, to come for generations. Two lions, born and raised as enemies, coming together in matrimony. Not through tradition or force of will, but through pure, genuine love that fought against all odds to find a way.

Simba certainly wouldn't have expected any of this for his daughter's wedding, particularly not the male she was marrying. But as he reflected on everything he had learned and observed how happy Kiara was in the committed embrace of her new mate, he knew that he wouldn't have wanted it to turn out any differently. He felt a gentle breeze wash over him, and believed it to be his passed-onfather's way of blessing his decisions.

The road here hadn't been easy, or victimless. But as the union of his daughter and new son-in-law was completed, the lion king could truly say, without any doubt, that they were one.The Lion King franchise, the named lion characters (except Siti, Kali, Anzisha, and Fungua), and the image used to make the photo edit above, all belong to Disney.Well, plot twist, only four parts after all! While this is longer than what I now typically have for a chapter, the final segment wasn't long enough to warrant its own epilogue, so I just decided to attach it to Part 4 and call it a longer chapter.

But a lot had to be covered here, and I hope I succeeded in giving everything ample enough time. I left it intentionally unclear on whether Zira was ever going to actually kill Kovu should the Pridelanders attack, especially after the reactions the last part got from some of you. ;P From there, it was just a matter of her control slipping away, and what little remained of her sanity following suit. And yes, I gave her the death from the deleted scene, where rather than swipe at Kiara and accidentally fall to her death, she willingly lets go and commits suicide. Considering what these movies have already shown us, I don't think it's too much for kids to handle. And it just fits her character much more.

Also, I had fun keeping Kovu's gag on even once he was untied. It wasn't initially planned, but when I thought of how tricky it'd be to take off, and realized how the situation offered no time to do so, I decided to roll with it! XD It was also nice to allow Vitani to take the gag off after she had been stopped from doing so earlier.

Kali remains an enemy of the pride. In addition to it seeming like too big a stretch to have someone so devoted to Zira turn, I also liked having a case where not every single Outlander was able to see the light. This also could have been an interesting setup for a Lion King 3 ... because oh man, we needed a follow-up better than the one we got. I also decided to not have every one stay, but still be on good terms. Including Siti, which again, I didn't think it was in-character for her to be able to live the way she would've had to.

So that's it for this story. It was one of the most fascinating for me to write purely because of what came to me easily and what didn't, as well as giving Kovu a much better bondage story than what I did for him way back in An Outlander Outmatched. I still look at that story fondly, but some of my early writing flaws really showed there. Plus, this pandemic is starting to really eat away at me, so much so that writing these fics has become a comfort in a way they've never been before. Which also means that the feedback I get on them is even more appreciated than it usually is (which was already quite high! ;) )

I hope everyone enjoyed this! It's obviously far from the last I'll ever do with TLK, but I won't go straight into the CiD I had promised quite yet. First, I have a oneshot story I owe to someone as a trade. Then, as I said in a journal, my priority is on one thing: completing the two stories I have yet to finish. Then, it'll be time for some new damsel work! :DKovu's gag speech translated:

"Gmrrm ..." - "Kiara ..."

"Mmphnmmn phrrmm," - "I should be sorry,"

"Gmmn, grrmph." - "C'mon, get off."

"Gmrmmh!" - "Kiara!"