A Great Calling (Chapter 14)

Go, go, go! I yelled as Kiara and I raced towards the pridelands, with it heavily raining and water rapids consuming entire canyons. I looked around and saw herds of animals fleeing a particular area of the pridelands, We need to find them and fast!

After a few more minutes of searching, Kiara saw two prides of lions standing across from each other. I saw Kiara gasp in the corner of my eye and turned to her.

What's wrong? I asked and Kiara pointed at the prides.

They're about to fight! Kiara screamed, We need to hurry!

Kiara sped up, with me following her towards the two prides...who were now charging at each other! CRAP!

However, we managed to land between the two prides before they could kill each other, Kiara facing Simba and me facing Zira, Kovu, Nuka and Ni.

Hello, Zira. I said with a smirk, Nice to see you on this fine rainy night.

Shujaa? Zira balked, You're with the daughter?

Yes, Zira… I sighed, ''Now, if you please, back away from the pridelands. I don't want any of you hurt...but Ni.''

Tch, nice to know you care about me. Ni said sarcastically.

NEVER! Zira yelled, causing me to frown,  We came to avenge Scar!

For what, Zira? I asked, ''What do you hope to accomplish by this? Putting Kovu on the throne!? He's just a mere tool in your plan to avenge your dead tyrant!''

Stand aside. Simba warned Kiara, but she stood her ground.

Daddy, this has to stop! Kiara barked.

You're even weaker than I imagined, Shujaa. Zira told me, Get...out...of...the...way!

''And let you kill Kiara? Let you kill the pride I spent all of my time on this world thinking of as a second family? As if!'' I replied, crouching down as Zira growled.

Stay out of this! Simba said to Kiara, who softened.

A wise king once told me…'we are one'...I didn't understand what he meant….now I do. Kiara said and Simba' s eyes widened, then turned to the outsiders and I.

But...they….he… Simba started, but Kiara interrupted them.

''Them...us. Look at them...they are us...what differences do you see? Kiara asked, And in Shujaa's case, he's someone from another world looking for a fresh life away from oppression….are you wanting to give that to him?''

Slowly, Simba looked at the softened glares of the outsiders and the hardened glare of myself, seeing that I was still angry at him for exiling me. And perhaps by common sense alone, most of the outsiders and even Ni ended up leaving the pridelands, leaving only Zira, Kovu, Nuka and Vitani.

''Vitani! Attack!'' Zira ordered her daughter, who looked at her.

No, mother! Vitani spat, Shujaa and Kiara...through their words….made me realize your personal goals are not as important as those who want to change you….I will not attack them.

Vitani then walked over by my side as Nuka and Kovu growled, but Nuka quickly grinned madly.

''H-Hey, mother! Let me take the male!'' Nuka said and Zira turned to him.

Which one? Zira asked and Nuka gestured to me, causing me to scoff, ''Fine. I have Simba!''

Zira lept towards Simba, only to be tackled by Kiara, sending them both off a cliff as I smacked Nuka to the ground.

KIARA! Simba, Nala and I all screamed in horror at the same time as Kiara and Zira were falling, but Kiara managed to regain her footing on a steep ledge, similar to how I was four years ago.

I'll get hi- Nuka started as he charged to me, but I easily pinned him down and roared, causing him to go pale, -on second thought, maybe I don't.

I quickly threw Nuka into the water as Simba lept to try to get Kiara, causing me to jump after him.

What are you doing?! Simba asked, baffled.

I caused this mess and it's my job to fix it! I replied as I lept ahead of him and was getting closer to Kiara, who was reaching for Zira with her paw.

Zira...grab my paw! Kiara begged the crazed lioness, who looked back at the raging water with fear, only to look up at her with a crazed grin.

No… Zira said before letting go, to the horror of Kiara and the shock of everyone else, and willingly falling into the water...she committed suicide. I leaped to a platform above Kiara and reached out my paw, causing Kiara to look up and see me.

I-I tried to help her.. Kiara stammered, grabbing my paw and letting me help her up to the platform before we nuzzled each other, I tried...to change her.

Not everyone can be changed, Kiara… I said to her before smiling, Now...I just have one question...or...rather a request.

What is it? Kiara asked.

Wanna be my wife? I asked her, causing Kiara to look at me with a stunned look.

I...what? Kiara asked, tears leaked from her eyes.

I may not have that much time left on this world, so I need to make the most of it….why not end it by getting married? I asked, It makes both of us happy.

I...OF COURSE I WILL! Kiara yelled in glee before hugging me, causing me to chuckle.

Well, i'm back at pride rock with the outsiders who joined the pride, including Vitani, and all of the pridelanders...like...every animal in the pridelands came for this god forsaken ceremony...just kidding, I love it!

It's not because you're getting married, right?

Well, that's one of the reasons.

Kiara walked out wearing a necklace I had asked Rafiki to create for her, which was made out of flowers and had a light stone with one of my claw marks on it and it looked absolutely stunning on her. As I sighed and looked to Simba, who nodded at me, I looked back and saw Kiara walk to where me, Timon and Pumbaa were and nuzzle me.

I love moments like this! Pumbaa said as Timon sniffled.

Yeah… Timon replied before they looked each other.

Love...NOT LIKE...LOVE! The two of them said before they hugged each other, crying tears of joy as Rafiki waved his stick over the heads of me and Kiara, declaring us mates as Simba approached me.

I...am sorry, Shujaa. Simba sighed, If I had known earlier, I would have been more calm about the attack.

I forgot to tell you about it, so it's my fault. I replied before putting a paw on him, But why be all gloomy when we have a ceremony to conduct!?

Good point… Simba agreed before turning his head towards the edge of pride rock, Follow us, you two.

I nodded and the two of us began following Simba before Nala came in front of us.

I'm just wanting to say...i'm so proud of how far the two of you have come since Shujaa arrived here. Nala congratulated, And I hope that when you eventually ascend the throne, you will be the greatest rulers the pridelands have ever seen.

Well, I wouldn't be that optimistic, but thanks anyway, Nala. I said before hugging her, causing the queen to hug back, leading to us continuing our walk up to the edge. When we reached there, Kiara and I smiled at the crowd of cheering animals, causing us to roar, marking our victory and marriage...well, this is nice...marrying into a royal family.

Tch...Uru did the same thing.

Eh, that worked out in the end, did it not?

Perhaps...but it is time for you to go.

Go whe-oh...now I see. Yes, it was all too evident as I started glowing, to the bafflement of everyone in the area.

Everyone...as much as i'd love to celebrate, it is time for me to go back to my world. I revealed, causing gasps from everyone and a horrified expression from Kiara, It has been a blast...ups...downs...all arounds...all evident in the place I called my home when transported out of my world.

Everyone was silent, the other royals stepping off of the edge as I began to make a speech.

I came here from the will of the great kings, the magic of rulers long since dead...but out of that, I met friends...I met enemies...I changed others like they changed me...heck, I even married the very lioness I was tasked with keeping happy by the king himself. I spoke, But out of that...the pridelands became happier...no brutal wars fought...no conflict too big or too small for the pridelanders to handle and we became stronger!

The crowd cheered as I raised a paw up, eager to continue.

''I would like to thank my now wife Kiara for bringing me joy and happiness I never thought possible...as I would like to thank Simba and Nala for although Simba and I have had our ups and downs, they have been the figures I go to whenever I need help. And then there's Sarabi, the former queen who has been a mother figure for over four years now and doesn't look like she's ready to stop yet! I said as Kiara started crying, Simba and Nala went to comfort her and Sarabi shed a tear, And...I would like to thank everyone else...while I didn't meet all of the pridelanders, what you guys have done to defend the circle of life and defend your home have earned you my respect...and I hope...sometime...when I hopefully come back...your respect will be earned by me.''

I turned to Kiara and nuzzled her as she hugged me.

I'm gonna miss you, Connor… Kiara whispered through tears and I sighed.

Kiara...that necklace...I got it because I knew my time here was coming and I wanted something for you to remember me by…but...I love you. I admitted, I always will...goodbye, my princess of the pridelands.

I then looked up as Kiara went back to her parents, causing a lightning strike to hit me and envelop me in a bright light...certain to be back at my world...because for every world a man finds happiness in...there's always one where he needs to be.

THE END OF SEASON 2