Zira and Simba circled each other; both were waiting for the other to make the first move. Both raised their claws ready to strike each other when suddenly.

A huge muscular lion leapt in between the two and looked at Simba. Simbas jaw immediately dropped with the shock of the sight. For the lion he saw standing in front of him was none other than Mufasa.

'Father?!' Simba gasped.

Mufasa smiled at his gob smacked son. 'It's good to finally see you all grown up son.'

Simba was confused. 'I thought you were...'

'Dead? No; you see I was fortunate enough to survive the plummet into the gorge; I was unconscious when you found me and didn't regain consciousness until after Scar took over the pride lands; I knew I couldn't return immediately otherwise I'd be killed instantly; I only just got the word that Scars reign was over.'

'But Rafiki showed me your spirit in the clouds?'

Mufasa shrugged his shoulders. 'Probably just your mind playing tricks on you. Everyone knows Rafiki's a bit of a nut case.'

Sarabi immediately appeared from the crowd of pride landers and ran over to her husband. Both nuzzled each other affectionately as Sarabi began to cry with joy. 'I'm so happy you're alive.'

'Enough of this twaddle!' Zira shouted. 'Atta...'

'Wait!' A familiar voice shouted to Zira from behind.

Zira turned around to see who would dare interrupt her; but when she saw the lion calling out to her, she became equally as gob smacked as Simba. It was none other than Scar.

Scar immediately ran over to Zira. 'Leave them alone.' Scar said to Zira calmly. 'They're not worth the effort.'

Zira was practically speechless, but still managed to only just speak. 'Aushi? Is it really you?'

Scar smiled at Zira affectionately. 'Yes Laini it's me.'

The outsiders became confused. Vitani suddenly became involved; 'Aushi and Laini are their pet names for each other.' She said to the confused lionesses.

'But...' Zira began to ask.

'You thought I was dead?' Scar added. 'Nah! It takes more than a pack of mangy hyenas to make me roll over and play dead. I had to stay into hiding to avoid Simba; when I heard you were finally going to take over the pride lands I came out of hiding to deliver some great news.'

'What?' Zira asked.

'You don't have to try and take the pride lands any more. I've found a place out in the jungle that's much better than this place; there's plenty of good food, and there's room for the entire pride.'

Zira leapt at Scar, pinned him to the ground and tightly caressed him affectionately. 'I'm never letting you go again!' She said with tears of joy.

Scar smiled as he to caressed his mate. Vitani approached her father and nuzzled him affectionately. 'It's so good to have you back; I wish Nuka was here to see this.'

'He is!' Scar said as he looked at Vitani. 'He didn't die; he was only knocked unconscious; I found him trapped under all those logs and let him out; he's waiting for us in the jungle.'

Zira kissed Scar. 'I'm glad we can start over. New home, new life, and no more wars.'

And so Mufasa returned to pride rock and took his rightful place as king back; Simba and Nala were a little annoyed at being demoted back to prince and princess; but they were both happy that their rightful ruler was alive and well.

Scar took Zira and her pride to the jungle and Zira was amazed to find that Scar was right, it was much better than the pride lands. Scar, Zira, Nuka, Vitani and their pride lived as one big happy family.

Kovu and Kiara had both left the pride lands all together to start a family of their own elsewhere. They were unsuccessful at becoming the rulers of their own pride, but did manage to join another pride. They would never be king and queen but neither cared; the point was that they were both together, and no one could take that away from them.

The End