The Lion King 3:

Invasion of the Other Kind

Chapter One: Love conquers all

"We are all connected in the great Circle of Life". It is the motto which all animals live by, especially those who dwell within the Pride Lands. It is a motto which inspires life, hope and above all freedom. A motto that can reunite a father and a son after all hope seems lost. And it is the motto which one king lives by, which has governed his entire life and which he will never forget.

Three days had passed since the ferocious battle against the Outlanders which laid Scar's evil legacy to rest and many of the lionesses were still getting back to the usual swing of life. King Simba usually spent his days taking walks throughout his kingdom with his beloved wife Nala. Nala had been injured during the battle and still walked around with a slight limp, occasionally letting out whimpers of pain which Simba would immediately respond to by nuzzling up to her and licking the wound on her leg. Yet even though Rafiki had advised Nala that taking walks was the only way to ensure a quick recovery Simba couldn't help but notice the constant mutterings of annoyance whenever the old baboon's name was mentioned.

"You know Simba; I think my leg is finally starting to get better." It was noon and both the King and Queen were taking their usual walk throughout the kingdom. Simba turned to face his wife and smiled, "Of course it is it'd take a lot more than a couple of bites to bring down a lioness like you!" Nala smiled at him and kissed his cheek, she loved it when he said things like that to her, it made her feel special, like the best lioness around. "So how's your training Kovu-to-be-king going?" Nala asked. "Well…it is...err…going great," replied Simba. Nala frowned at him and Simba knew he was caught, "Well, actually, it's not going as good as I had hoped. I mean Kovu's learning well but the only way to really prove that he's ready to be King when I step-" but Nala placed her paws on his mouth and licked his face affectionately. "When the time comes Kovu will prove that he's ready to be king and he will be a great one."

"You're right Nala, let's head back."

Simba nuzzled his queen and turned to face Pride Rock but, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two streaks running at full speed across the plains. One he knew as his son in-law Kovu, as he was the only other male in the pride. The other was his daughter Kiara for she was the most beautiful in his eyes, save Nala; both were running side by side through the grass. Simba looked at them and smiled, "Where are they going in such a hurry?" Nala moved his head so that he was facing Pride Rock again. "They're young and in love, let them enjoy some time alone together," said Nala as she started to walk towards Pride Rock. Simba looked at the two lovers, who were now distant blurs, and smiled again as he followed Nala home.

"Do you think he saw us?" Kiara asked.

"Of course," replied Kovu. Both Kovu and Kiara were now strolling towards the same sandy field where they had first kissed. Kovu nudged Kiara and they both smiled at each other, "You know Kiara, I've finally mastered how to play tag," with that he tapped her on the leg and ran off laughing. "You won't get away from me that easily. I've been playing this game for months," Kiara replied as she bounded off after Kovu laughing. The sun was setting and both lovers were enjoying trying to pin each other down until finally Kiara was lying beneath her lover.

Kiara looked into Kovu's eyes and smiled as she licked his face, which Kovu responded to by nuzzling into her. Then Kovu whispered into her ear, "Are you ready?" Kiara stared into his eyes and smiled.

"Yes," she replied.

Two hours had passed since sunset, night had fallen, and Simba was frantically pacing up and down upon Pride Rock. "Where are they? They've never been this late before. Something's wrong, maybe I should organize a search party."

"Ummm…sire," Zazu began.

"What is it Zazu?" Simba cut in.

"Sire, Sarabi wishes to speak with you," stated Zazu. Frowning at Zazu Simba turned and made his way into the cave, wondering as to what his mother could want. Sarabi looked up and smiled as Simba came in, "Mother? Zazu said you wanted to speak to me, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong," Sarabi answered, giving him an I-know-it's-you look, "It's just that, Simba, you worry too much!" Simba looked stung.

"What! Me! Worry!" He spluttered. But Sarabi shook her head, "Simba, you're my son, I know you better than anyone else and I advise you not to get involved in Kovu and Kiara's love affairs." She gave him a serious look. Simba just stood there, staring at his mother, at a complete loss for anything to say. "I'm being serious Simba; if you keep interfering in their love life you're really going to regret it."

"How do you know all this?" Simba asked her suspiciously.

"Because-", Sarabi smiled mischievously, "your grandfather interfered between your father and I and we made his life a living hell until he stopped getting involved." Simba laughed as he thought about this. Sarabi got up and walked over to her son and nuzzled him, "I'm serious Simba, you'd do well not to forget what I'm telling you." Simba nuzzled his mother in return and smiled at her. "Don't worry mother. I won't."

Meanwhile back at the sandy plains both Kovu and Kiara were enjoying their time alone together; Kiara was lying in Kovu's paws and Kovu had his legs wrapped around hers, they were both watching the stars moving overhead in the sky. "Kiara that was incredible." Kovu stated.

"Yeah it was, for our first time." Kiara giggled mischievously as she licked Kovu's paw. "So you think we should get back home?" asked Kovu.

"I guess we'd better before mum and dad gets worried," replied Kiara.

Kovu kissed Kiara and the two got to their paws, with a soft nuzzle the two made their way back towards Pride Rock.

Meanwhile, hidden in the night's darkness, a mighty figure was crouching on top of a hill watching the two lions heading back towards their rocky home. He was a striped figure, of an incredible build. He was a tiger. He was staring now at the two lions, and then he looked up and beheld Pride Rock and a look of deepest anger burned in his eyes. Just then another figure of a far lesser build appeared beside the dark figure, "Well we've finally made it but I'm still not one hundred percent sure why we're here," the lesser figure said.

"You know perfectly well why we are here; we are here to reclaim that which is ours, and," the large tiger narrowed his eyes as he looked at Pride Rock, "to exact our revenge upon those who wronged us."

"But Khan, I mean Sire—"; he had broken off by a warning look from the leader, Khan. "I thought Mufassa was killed years ago in a wildebeest stampede."

"He was. But his son, Simba, rules now and our revenge is not solely ordained on Mufassa, or his progeny, but on every single lion and lioness of these lands." Khan answered.

"So what's our next move sire?" the weaker tiger asked.

"Why it's very simple. We make ourselves at home," replied Khan. "I'm sure the King will welcome us in the morning," he added menacingly. With that he swiftly pounced down the hill, followed by an army of twenty vicious tigers.