Merry Christmas

and have

a Happy New Year

Chapter .4.

Simba didn't know where he was but he hurt all over. What happened too him? Then flashes of fighting filled him mind. He remembered Zira's yell of triumph, Kovu trying to defend him and Kiara. Nala and Kiara's cries of alarm and pain. Then he remembered they screaming his name. Then everything went blank.

Was his wife and children ok? Where they alive? What about his pride and her mother? What had happened after he blacked out? How long had he been out?

He felt his stomach rumble so he knew he had been out a while. But how long? The smells he was smelling were unfamiliar. Some belonged to members of his pride. Other scents of lions were unfamiliar even though two were vaguely familiar.

"When do you think he will wake up?" a voice asks

"It should be soon Queen of Pride Landers", an unfamiliar voice says

Simba drifts off after that but when he remembers what he felt when he woke up before. But now he had to open his eyes he needed to see that his family and pride were ok.

He groans as he struggles with his eyes.

"Simba?" a voice calls

Simba groans again.
"Kiara go and get help! Tell them Simba is waking up!" he hears Nala call

"Yes Mum", he hears his daughter reply

"I'll go you stay with him", he hears his son-in-law tells them leaving

"Come on Simba wake up", Nala says to him

He feels her nuzzle him gently. He starts to open his eyes as he licks Nala's face. He sees her eyes were fun of worry.

"Thank God", she says nuzzling him

"Nala. Are you ok?" Simba rasps as he tries to nuzzle her back

"I'll live. We got good help. Thanks to family", Nala replies

Simba could see something had changed about her. Something looked like it was back in her eyes. He realised he felt like something was back.

"Kiara? Kion? Kala? Keshai?" Simba asks worriedly

"They all are fine. Kiara lead us too safety with Kovu", Nala explains to him

"Daddy!" Kiara exclaims nuzzling her Dad with relief

"Kiara", Simba purrs happy to see his daughter alright

"Dad!" a voice says

Simba winces but turns to see Kion running up too him. Kion nuzzles his father happily.

"Are you both alright?" Simba asks

"We are fine Daddy. We have been well looked after", Kiara tells him

"Are Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu alright?" Simba asks

"We're fine Simba", Timon calls to him from his place next to Pumbaa

"We just have scratches sire. It is good to see you finally awake", Zazu tells him bowing

"Where are we?" Simba asks seeing he wasn't in a place he recognised

"Looks like the King of the Pridelanders has awakened", a voice says

Simba sees a mandrill who carried herself like Rafiki approach him.

"I did tell King Crius that you would awaken soon. And I assured those family members of yours you would awake. I know what I'm doing and the Ancestors didn't want you to join them yet", the mandrill says looking at him
"Who are you?" Simba asks

"I am Alua. Sharman too the Empire Pride. Which your now residing in till the King makes his decision. That will be of course after your well enough to talk to him and discuss everything", Alua the Mandrill tells him

"Empire Pride?" Simba asks confused
"Yes. Yes. You are the honoured guests. Even though a couple of our members have been adamite of you all staying here", Alua replies checking him over making him wince

"When can he move?" Nala asks

"Anytime he wants. But he can't overdo it. But he can make it too the Waterhole and back. But nothing else for now. I will send the two here so they can see for themselves their family member is fine. You won't believe how worried they are", Alua tells them

"I know why one would be. But why is the other?" Nala asks

"He cares more then you realise. And he deeply regrets his past and wants to make amends", Alua tells them leaving the cave

"Who?" Simba asks his wife and daughter

"You will be shocked Simba", Sarabi tells her son

"Who?" Simba asks again

"One of them is Scar", Nala tells her husband gently

Simba tries to jump up but lets out a groan.

"WHAT!" he yells

"Easy Simba", Nala says nuzzling him to calm him

"How is he even alive?" Simba growls

"He really hasn't explained it all. Just said basically said he escaped the hyenas with scars", Kiara tells her Dad

"But he seems to have changed Simba. We have been here for days and he had been over every day making sure we had everything we needed and you were recovering", Sarafina tells them, "He even checked on Nala at the same time"

"I didn't know that", Nala states with a frown

"You haven't been awake long enough to know daughter", Sarafina replies

"Scar is not to be trusted", Simba growls

"Dad he told us to call him Taka", Kion informs him

"He has cubs that have grown and have cubs of their own. It might seem crazy Simba but he appears to have changed", Nala tells him

"Would you trust him?" Simba asks

"I don't know. But this version of him is better then who we once knew", Nala informs him truthfully

Simba didn't know how to reply to that. All he knew of Scar was how evil he was. And how he killed his father. And made HIM believe that it was all his fault when it had all been Scars. He also remembers the Great Pridelands in despair. All because of him.

Could he put the past behind them? He did say a long time ago he had put the past behind him. But was that true with his Uncle and himself. Did Scar deserve forgiveness?

Suddenly they hear two lions approaching. One was identified as Kovu. But the other Simba didn't recognise.

The male lion had lots of scars on his body. A long healthy read mane. Golden, black and brown coat. Brown-reddish eyes which were looking at him with concern and nervousness. This male felt familiar to Simba.

Like he had seen him before. A long time ago.

The lion was dragging a antelope carcass.

"I thought he might he hungry", the Lion says looking at Simba

"You came back", Nala says nuzzling him

The shocked Simba why was Nala nuzzling him. Then he sees Kiara do it too. Who was this lion?

"Who are you?" Simba asks trying to sound stronger then he was

The Lion comes over to him and looks him in the eyes. Simba looked at him those eyes were familiar. That's when it hit him those were his eyes reflected back at him.

"It is me. I'm alive", the Lion says softly

Simba looks at him then it clicks. The Lion in front of him was a grown up version of a little cub he lost so many years ago. A cub that he thought died.
"Kopa? How can it be?" Simba asks repeating his mothers words from so long ago and his mates from not even a day ago

"Yes it is me. And how well. Luck and our Ancestors where on my side. As well as Grandfather finding me", Kopa replies smiling

"Kopa", Simba says struggling to his feet and nuzzling his son

Simba couldn't believe he was alive. All this time.
"All this time?" Simba asks questioningly

"I know it was a long time. But I found a place were I belong here. As well as a mate and a Grandfather/Uncle who I couldn't help worrying over", Kopa replies

"Grandfather? Uncle?" Simba asks confused

"Taka. Dad. Didn't anyone tell you?" Kopa asks confused

"They told me about Scar…", Simba starts
"He prefers Taka. He decided to reclaim the name he was born with", Kopa says interrupting

"…but I can't believe he has changed after all he has done. You where born when the Pridelands were trying to get back to their glory. You know how bad it was!" Simba exclaims to him

"What did you mean by Sc…Taka finding you?" Nala asks interrupting Simba

Kopa looks at the group they all looked curious. He knew they all wanted to know. He had seen how much they wanted to ask him how he survived. He thought he gave them enough hits.

Kopa sighs, "Isn't it obvious?"

"What is obvious?" Kion asks

"Taka was the one that saved my life and nursed me back to health after Zira's attack landed me in the river. Taka saw me and pulled me out. He tells me I was near death when he got me here. If you want the other details you will have to ask him", Kopa explains to them

"Where is he?" Simba asks

"He is giving you space to sink in that he is alive. But he wants me to tell him how you all our once I'm done here. I decided you need to eat Dad. You haven't eaten for a while from what Mum, Kiara and the others have told me", Kopa explains gesturing to the carcass

Simba had to admit he was very hungry. His stomach growls and he looks sheepish at Kopa.
"Don't worry Dad. The King here knows you all need to feed but are not up to hunting even if you were allowed to in his territory. So he has been sending out lionesses to bring back food. I decided to bring this one back I hunted for myself to you when I heard you awoke", Kopa explains smiling kindly

"Thank you my son", Simba says smiling at him going over to the carcass

Simba sits down to eat it. Nala, Kiara, Kovu and Kion start to eat with him.

"Don't worry everyone the hunting party will be back soon with more food", Kopa tells the other lions of the Pridelands

"Thank you your Highness", a lioness says

"It is just Kopa. I don't care about all those your Highnesses", Kopa replies

Kopa goes over and sits down watching his family. He was happy to be reunited with them after all these years. But he didn't know how they would handle finding out he was so close to their ex-enemy. To Kopa, Taka was his Grandfather and Uncle all rolled into one. He was the one who nursed him back to health and hunted for him and proved him comfort.

And he helped Kopa decide what to do. Taka had told him to look at the stars and ask his Grandfather Mufusa which way he should choose.

Kopa had taken his Uncle's advice and asked the stars, especially his Grandfather what he should do. And the wind had blown towards the Empire Pride. That was answer all enough for Kopa. So he stayed. And he hadn't regrated his decision as he felt in his heart he would be reunited with his family in the Pridelands again one day. He just didn't expect it to be like this. Them running for their lives from the very lioness who nearly killed him.

He knew that his Uncle/Grandfather was furious with Zira when the Pridelanders had told him and Kopa about Zira. Kopa knew that Taka wanted to help. But didn't think his help would be accepted. Maybe after his family met the Empire Pride they could come up with a plan to get the Pridelanders back their territory. Kopa just hoped that his father wasn't too proud enough to accept help from the Uncle who betrayed him…

Taka sighed he was nervous he had heard that his nephew was awake and doing better. Which did make Taka happy. But he knew Simba might try and kill him when he saw him. Which Taka wasn't going to stop him as Taka felt like he deserved everything Simba did too him an more. He was a horrible lion back then.

He had taken a knew lease on life after being nearly killed. Mufusa had come to him and guided him to the Empire Pride. To his mate. Who nursed him back to health.

When he was well enough he begged to the night sky to Mufusa that he was sorry. So sorry for what he did. He also begged for forgiveness. He didn't expect for Mufusa's ghost to appear before him.

Mufusa had looked at him and said, 'I forgive you brother'

Take could still hear those words and could still feel were Mufusa had hugged and nuzzled him. He about collapsed well his brothers words fully registered.

'Look after our family. Have a good life my brother. Know I don't blame you. We are one. I just wished I had showed you that in life. Know I love you brother'. Mufusa had told him before he disappeared in the wind.

Taka remembered those words and him shouting he loved him too. After that Taka had been committed to making amends and being a different Lion to the bitter one he once had been. And Kopa had helped with that.

Now his family had been forced from their home. Because of a Lioness he had once loved! He couldn't believe she had the nerve to take over the Pridelands and try to kill his nephew! His Niece-in-law. His Great-Nephew and Great-Nieces. And his own daughter!

He knew when Simba went back to reclaim the Pridelands he would go with him and fight by his nephews side like where he should have been all along.

But also he was going to kill those who threatened his family! Nobody did that and got away with it. This time he WAS going to kill Zira. He should have done that after Kopa told him what she did. But Kopa needed him more then going after her.

Not this time. This time she wasn't going to get away with it. And Taka would make sure of that even if it killed him. He WOULD make amends to his family. He would be there by their side in the fight ahead.

He didn't care if someone tried to stop him. He wouldn't let them. It was time he stood next to Simba in unity and they showed they would fight together for their home. Even if Simba didn't want him to come Taka would he had a family worth fighting for and a family he deeply owed a debt too.

The wind blows in his mane at those thoughts.

"Mufusa be with us in these times of needs. Help guide us to do what is right. Guide your son in the right direction", Taka says to the sky

The wind blows through his mane again. Taka smiles as he feels Mufusa with him. Just as it always should have been…

Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)