The sun began to rise, its red and yellow light beaming over the horizon of the pridelands. As its light enveloped the pride lands, animals from flamingo to giraffes began to stir. The news was given to them yesterday, that the new heir of the kingdom had been born! Of course, they were always excited at the birth of the next lion king or queen! Many of the animals began to make their way towards the legendary and historic pride rock! It was there that Scar had been over thrown after his horrible reign, and Simba had taken the reigns of his kingdom once more! It was there, that every royal cub was presented to the animals of the kingdom.
Speaking of pride rock, Simba, Nala and of course Kovu were eagerly awaiting outside when Kiara was giving birth the day before. Kovu seemed worried, and Simba assured him the cub and Kiara would both be fine. Of course, the worry and doubt was still there. When the cub was born as Simba had predicted, Kovu could say there was no happier day then the birth of his cub. Now, it was the time of the ceremony. The day after the cub was born Rafiki was waiting outside the den, whilst many of the other animals eagerly waited below. Kiara smiled at her own little ball of fluff that nuzzled into her golden fur for comfort. For security. For love. Rafiki held his hands out for the cub, and Kiara gently picked it up by the scruff and handed it to Rafiki.
"So this is done for all the royal cubs?" Kovu whispered, sort of worried about his cub. Kiara nodded.
"It's completely safe Kovu...Don't worry." Kiara assured with a smile. Kovu sighed as he nuzzled his mate in both pride and happiness. Nothing could ruin his life now. Zira was gone. The outlands and the past were behind him.
"Sssh you two." Simba said in a stern tone. He had grown a bit older in age, and was not the young lion he used to be. He still however, held onto his kingly aspects and sternness with Kiara and Kovu.
Rafiki rubbed the symbolic juice of one of the fruit onto the cubs forehead, per custom, and blew some dust in its' face. The cub sneezed and Rafiki chuckled. "Just like her grandfather..." Rafiki cackled, looking to Simba with a smile. He then approached the edge of pride rock, cub in hand. The animals all had their heads bowed to their new princess, awaiting her presentation. Rafiki held her out for them to see, and they all began to cheer in their various vocals.
Meanwhile, sitting near the base of pride rock was the rest of the lionesses all roaring in pride. Included within that group of course was Timon, Pumba, and the vicious straggler Baya. Baya and Vitani had gotten a bit closer ever since their first encounters in the outlands. Baya and Tupa were easily the most vicious fighters Zira had recruited to both Nuka and Vitani's disdain. However, Tupa and Nuka grew so close, that Baya found it very difficult to try and leave with her. She was his adopted daughter after all. It was hard to let go. Though within her little love story, Baya found his own when he continously fought Vitani for simple things like food. Though the irony was, he didn't even want it.
Whenever he won fights against Vitani, he felt far more special than he did normally . When she defeated him, it was another story. Baya could see downright murder in her eyes. After all, he had humiliated her many times. Murder being there, never did she express it through action. That is what drew them so close. They would beat each other to near death, but never would they take the finishing blow. Instead, they would just lay there. Basking in their victory or defeat. Sometimes, Baya would even open up to her with regards to his life in the desert. Sometimes she would open up to him, about how she felt about the war and her mother. Long story short, they grew attracted to each other through countless fights, verbal AND physical.
Now Baya sat right next to Vitani, who was roaring with the rest of the pride. She was happy for her brother, Baya knew. Though he wasn't roaring. All he cared for was Vitani. He always saw Kovu as weak and over-compassionate. Then again, Baya was under-compassionate, so perhaps it was all subjective. When the roaring stopped, Baya held no expression. Not even one of happiness. "Is this pointless ceremony over?" Baya murmured, looking to Vitani. He didn't know if he could call her his mate yet, since they didn't really...mate.
"Pointless? This is to show our respect for our new QUEEN! You need to open your eyes kid!" Timon shouted angrily, shaking his little fist. Baya's muzzle burst into a smirk, and he looked down to Timon. "Big words for such a small, old thing. Why don't you run along before you get hurt" Baya stated with a cackle as he let a burst of air out of his nostrils, sending Timon falling backwards. Baya then looked to Vitani once more.