A/N: That's it folks! I (finally) finished this story! Thank you to all those who have taken their time to read it! It may be tweaked to edit for mistakes etc, but no more chapters. However, once I finish my exams for my degree, I will most likely write some more Lion King fanfiction.
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Sarabi
Chapter 24 - Epilogue - Forever

How much time has passed? How much is still to come? Time chimes on, the endless galloping of hooves that will slow only with the end of the world, incessant since its beginning. But there were moments when it froze, for her, and there were memories which allowed her to look back over her life.

She was with Dusk now, and sometimes, she thought that no time had passed at all: it was as though they were reliving that evening when he had told her he had to leave Star Pride or fight King Storm – it was her birthday then, they had just filled their hungry stomachs with a young gazelle – and that she had convinced him to stay with her. That she had woken up to see him at her side. But that moment happened many years ago. Sarabi leaned into Dusk's side as the feeble rays of the rising sun gained their strength, and the sky was of a rosy hue.

The lands of the Star Pride were currently under the ruling of Sarabi's brother King Sky, ever gentle and ever wise. He had seen enough to understand that the rigid laws governing the Pride from his father's time had to change, and he was liked enough to be able to do so without opposition. Sky and his Queen had two cubs, daughters, adult lionesses now, and they would rule the lands after Sky's time would end. How long ago was it that Sarabi left those acacia gardens? When her father sent her and Eve and Dawn to the Pridelands, the leaves were yellow and sickly looking, the animal herds sparse and the lions hungry. Now the Star Pride had returned to its former status, King Sky made sure to treasure and cultivate the resources. He was widely regarded as a very successful king; birds spread snippets of his praise across the neighbouring lion prides.

Meanwhile in the Pridelands Simba and Nala had played their part in returning life to the Kingdom after the drought. Simba had taken back everything he had said against Dusk, and had offered the lion to stay. But Sarabi knew that her son and Nala were quite capable of looking after themselves. She and Dusk remained with the young lions until the heir to the Pridelands throne was born, and then they took their leave. Memories. She recalled her last days there very clearly.

"Must you go?" asked Simba, as he rested his head under her chin, "After all this time apart?"
"Cub," Sarabi said, "You and I both know that this is the way that it must be."

He missed her when he needed her the most, when he was across the sandy dunes, and she missed him, trapped in a tyrannical regime. They were reconciled, but lost time was not made up – and how could it be? She licked his nose in a reassuring gesture. Perhaps – another life, another world, and there the mother and son would have never been separated. But this was merely wishful thinking. She had remained cold toward the meercat and warthog, despite herself, considering them to have replaced her role in Simba's life. To them she was grateful for his return – alive – that they had found him near death in the desert and raised him, for if not, and she shuddered, then things may have developed very differently. But she would feel sad seeing Simba with them because it reminded her that they knew her son better than she.

In Nala's pale coloured paws, a yellow cub nested, safe and warm, and Sarabi was inadvertently reminded of Simba's first morning. She let a sigh escape her chest and joined Dusk for their rest, apprehensive about their journey in the morning. A dream of Mufasa calmed her. There used to be so many dreams: some in which she lay beside him, and slowly the stomach-churning dread chilled her when his deathly coldness crept onto her skin. Or, she saw him atop Pride Rock silent as the dead. She'd call to him, but he would only look at her, and not make a sound. Not Simba, no dreams of him. He was never there. But this night, she felt Mufasa's presence though she could not see him. The sunrise saw a smiling lioness. She kissed Dusk awake,
"Today we leave."
Eve and Dawn joined them, never to abandon the Star Pride Princess. More goodbyes, oh so difficult.

Zazu bowed his head to the lionesses, and Sarabi bowed to him. They had both grown together in their new roles in the Pridelands, as the Queen and as the Majordomo. Together, they suffered under Scar. Zazu had become quite the expert advisor, having worked with four Kings. Major Zeek would have been proud, Sarabi acknowledged, and Zazu wiped at his eye with a feather.

A little to the side of the animals, Sarabi spotted Rafiki. He was looking at the commotion with a mischievous glance, leaning on his stick. She walked to him, sparing a few looks over her shoulder.
"My Queen," he smiled, "How it has all unravelled."
"You witch-doctor!" she chided, "Did you know all along?"
He shrugged,
"It is not for me to know."
"I'm not a Queen," she corrected absently. Nala was.
"No," explained Rafiki, "I said you were my Queen. You are, Sarabi. Extraordinary."
He wrapped his long arms around the lioness's neck. She swallowed, touched.
"Watch over them," she asked.
His goodbye was a twinkle in his eye.

Simba nodded to his mother. Sarabi was so pleased to see how he had grown. And so happy for him, too, for Nala was a treasure. She wished them happiness. The lion let his mother comb his mane.

But Nala, the sweet, charming lioness, was distraught to see Sarabi go. She smiled, tear streaked fur glittering as it caught the light.
"So much you have done for me," said Nala in a low, unsteady voice, "I could almost call you Mother."
"And to me you are a daughter," murmured Sarabi, because when her son was lost that dreadful day, Nala remained as a living, growing memory. Together with Sarafina, Sarabi looked out for this child, and after Sarafina left the Pridelands, Nala remained close to Sarabi, especially as she needed advice about raising her first cub.
"Sarabi," she widened her eyes, "How shall I cope without you?"
The older lioness smiled, and flicked her ears,
"Just you watch and see how things will sort themselves out."

That was some time ago. Now, settled by the river delta, Sarabi and Dusk's small pride made a comfortable home. The soil was fertile and a herd of impala grazed nearby. It was a haven. Tired legs could rest on the soft grass in the shade of a papaya tree. Endless skies ahead. Her son was with his family now and she knew that all would be alright with him. The birds carried news on their wings to reassure her. A mother, of course, never stops to worry for her children, no matter how old they grow. Being away from the Pridelands, however, liberated her from other motherly duties. She was no longer the hunting leader either - Dawn's daughter took over fast and strong.

But to be finally free, Sarabi thought as she gazed across the open plains, how wonderful it is. The air thrilled, vibrating. She shook her body to expel the age from her bones. Old or young, here or there? Dusk was further ahead, his eyes calling her.

"Mirage!" he urged.

A leap, and she joined him into the electrifying evening of thunderstorms and beating rain.

Forever.