I want to invite You once again to Ograndebatata's Lioniverse. This story is my second attempt to use the great plot of my fellow Author in my own concept. I hope You know Shadows of the Past (of course, You do! Otherwise, You should have read my Sweet Dreams.), but if You somehow missed that story, find Ograndebatata in my favs and enjoy a great piece of epic lionffic. I had an honour and pleasure to watch that story be written and polished, so I came across few ideas that Author decided to leave. I wrote SD to extend my favourite character - Shani and Anotf follows her and Kissasian uneasy story (a tragic and - in a way - damned from the very start romance of cousins). Just imagine that story described 'till chapter 65, and following ones go in a different way. Slightly different, but causing some unexpected effects.

And here is a short foreword from Ograndebatata himself:

[I'd like to introduce to all of You readers, a very special story. "and night of the Future" is both the alternate ending to "Shadows of the Past" a fanfic that I have published on my account, and the sequel to "Sweet Dreams" TakaPL's previous novella that developed Shani's character a little bit more.

Well, this story is a completely alternate ending to my fanfic, that wouldn't fit at all in "Shadows of the Past", but I guess that it's how fanfics are born. When we see some type of work, we normally think that we'd do different things ourselves. What TakaPL did was giving a chance to the Shani-Kisasian romance.

Fairly speaking, I have considered also to give Shani and Kisasian a chance. But I realized that, for such a thing to happen, the outcome of my fanfic would have to be totally different from the outcome of The Lion King, and that is something that I did not want, because I wanted my tale to be as similar to the movie as possible.

But TakaPL decided to try it out, and let me say to all of you, the result was. well, the right word is "interesting". You need to read SotP all the way to "chapter 65: A queen's swearing". After that, some lines of my fanfic are mixed with TakaPL's, but soon everything gives way to his original and very interesting alternate ending. I recommend everyone who liked Shani and Kisasian in my fanfic to read it. "]

So, enjoy the story:

...And Night of the Future

I. Prince's Swearing

"Attack!" roared the queen. "For Scar!"

Kisasian knew that in their condition it was a suicidal move, but he didn't care. In fact he wished to die. "Father…" he thought, repressing tears flowing down from his face. "I failed to be your son. I failed to be your heir and I failed to defend you. At least watch me, as I die for you!"

Golden Ones were exhausted by a long run, some of them were bruised after striking on hyenas. They could win with Pridelanders easily, if they want just to win. But desert lions wished simply to exterminate whole enemy pride that that meant casualties in that murderous quest. That was why Kisasian knew he had to die – as a second leader of Golden Ones and most likely the best warrior there, he was naturally aimed as the first target.

"And let it be!" he snorted. "As Kovu is the heir, I am expendable. But I will bill them with some price for my life!" He rushed ahead, between Rama and Adia.

Mother wagged her tail and that was like a slap in his face. That was a signal to stop. Whole pride froze in place, used to perfect discipline. That gave them a time to look around. With heavy heart Kisasian understood, why Zira forbade him to attack.

Two new parties appeared – one seemed to be a regular pride, under leadership of young, blackish maned lion of creamy fur accompanied by older lioness of orange fur. Due to flashes of flames, Kisasian saw just several lionesses, but undoubtedly there were more. And also the second group came. Pack of rouges, some lionesses with them – Scar's son noticed just a leader, brownmaned and tawnyfurred male of solid constitution, talking something to Simba and Tojo. "They are all against us." Thought Kisasian. "My friends… my traitors!"

But then blackmaned looked around. He saw Rama at his side – huntress was also preparing for strike, ready and deadly. But lion saw her fear. Not that she was scared about own life, because rage burning greyfurred was visible even in that darkness. But she feared of useless death. Charging on enemy – more then twice numerous – was a sheer suicide, granting no sureness about revenge.

And a glance on the other side – Adia. In spite of her injuries, she stood on his right side, sure and ready, but scared as well. She was ready to rush after him into more numerous enemies, not asking why or if it had a purpose. Kisasian then, he couldn't attack. Not like this. Not dooming his pride and his beloved. "Father… You wouldn't allow on this… Am I right?" he asked in his mind, steeping a step back.

Meanwhile Zira gave more detailed orders. With few moves of tail, she commanded an ordered retreat. Whatever felt Kisasian's mother, lion understood that she successfully passed a temptation of rage and again was thinking as a leader and commander.

"Simba, you will be sorry. You will pay for this, I swear! I will depose you, usurper, or die trying! Be prepared!" cried Golden Queen. Then added quieter to her pride. "Follow me. We have no chance to with this battle."

As they set off to run back, heavy rains started to fall down from the sky. Water started to extinguish fires, but maybe even more it fuelled Kisasian's bitterness. Lion looked on the cloud-covered sky. "Father… You let us survive to this rain… You saved Pridelanders and us… They betrayed you and we are too weak to punish them." Moving his head back, he catch also another view.

Shani. Just for short moment, he saw her stare, scared and confused, among others Pridelanders. But as winning pride was cheering the rain and it's victory, she stood alone in the crowd, silent and most likely crying. Or those were just drops of rain. "Shani…" Asked Kisasian in mind. "Perhaps I did hurt you in the past. But was it so severe that you have to punish me with this?" But it was no time to ask the question that no one could answer.

\/\/\/

"This is your sister, Shani." said Tojo. That broke lioness's paralysis. She looked around to see she was among her pride and strange, just newcame lion came to her.

"I have a sister?" asked redmaned male, surprised.

"Looks like the answer is yes." said Shani.

"Well… nice to meet you." He said , nuzzling her.

Shani retributed the nuzzling, but she thought: "I don't know if I can say exactly the same. I admit that I wanted to meet you… but not in this way! Why you had to drive Kisasian away? What will happen to him out there?" She glanced back to the darkness, but of course, she failed to see the running pride.

She just walked aside and laid down on the muddy ground, trying to gather her thoughts. Simba left her, apparently busy with more urgent matters ("Sure." She thought. "He just conquered Kisasian's kingdom!"), fortunately leaving her, alone. She looked around to see wide-spread joy of pridemates, guests and meerkats accompanied by a single warthog ("How those snacks got here?"), leaving no space for any doubt nor guilt. She there was no space for her.

She barely noticed some movement around the main ledge and some lioness with cub, being clearly judged. She thought just: "Cleansing already? My bro doesn't waste his time!" She recognized Shakisa and even knew she should somehow interfere not to let her pride kill lioness, but after she heard the sentence was exile ("How merciful!") she just sighed louder, still looking on the scene without move. And then those Thoughts came.

She thought she was free and even if some of those stayed in her mind, it was so unlike to trigger in her after such a drama. "But if not now, when?" asked a dark Voice in Shani's mind. "That is a perfect moment… perhaps the last moment." To kill Adia. So simple…

Haunted by felinecidal ideas, Shani had been struggled by last half a year with want to kill her rival. Numerous times she was close to do it and only luck and heavy effort of her spirit stopped that urge. Each evening, before she went to sleep, she repeated that she couldn't kill Adia, she couldn't take her beloved's mate. But that night, when the chaos spread on Pridelands and blood was already shed, it was so easy to thing about that. "Order a pursue!" called the Voice in her mind. "Now, before they flee. Take all your friends, chase them. Kill Adia and ask your brother for mercy on Kisasian. That won't be your fault and he will be grateful to you."

"No, no…" whispered Shani into darkness of night. "I must resist…"

She laid still, trying to push those urge away. She had to do something opposite – slow down eventual chase and give Golden Ones time to hide. She had to stop what they were doing with Shakisa. But she couldn't – if she stood up, she would go strait to mother and ask her to chase Golden Ones. "Kisasian… If you only knew, how much I love you." She thought, with heavy effort pressing her paws into the mud and keeping her body down on the ground. She won, she didn't move.

But they came to her and she had no chances to resist them all. Mother, aunt, Nala and Tojo. They stopped next to her and looked down.

"What now?" asked Sarabi to Sarafina, Nala, Tojo, and Shani.

Almost all the Pridelanders were going to rest, followed by Ni's pack and Malka's pride, but they were still waken up, with Simba.

"What do you mean by that, mom?" asked Shani with desperate voice. She perfectly knew what Sarabi had on mind. "Why?" she thought. "Why I had to do this?"

"I mean… what about Golden Ones?" explained Sarabi. "What will they do when they return and find out that their king is dead and Simba is ruler now?"

"They already found out." said Tojo.

Sarabi, Sarafina and Nala looked on him with amazement, as the young lion replied: "Oh, they ran away. When they were about to attack, Malka's pride and Ni's pack came to our help. And Golden Ones aren't crazy. At least not THAT crazy."

"But what about now?" asked Sarafina. "I mean… Zira will surely lead them to avenge Scar."

"And so what?" asked Nala. "We are more numerous than her pride… we can crush them if they return."

"Maybe." said Sarabi. "But I still think that we should find some way to neutralize them. Shani, go to speak with Simba."

"Why me?" asked Shani. She added in thought: "You want me to suggest my brother to kill Kisasian's pride, maybe Kisasian himself? I can't do that. But… I must." And of course the Voice added: "Yes, you must. How else you could get rid of her?"

"Because you must know your big brother better." said Sarabi. "After all… he's your brother."

Due to quite obvious reasons, Shani wasn't so convinced of how much she actually wanted to meet her brother, but she went anyway. Simba was still woken up, trying to find out something unusual on his domain before going to sleep, when he heard Shani coming to him.

"Hi, Shani." said Simba.

"Hello… Simba." said Shani hesitantly. A hard part started. "Well…" began Shani. "I never thought that my brother would be still alive."

"At least you know you had a brother." said Simba. "I never knew I had a sister."

"Well…" said Shani. "So now we both have one new member in our family." Added awkwardly.

The two giggled for a short moment, but when they stopped, goldenfurred said: "Now… Simba… I am... worried."

"About what, Shani?" asked Simba with concerned voice.

"Well…" began the golden lioness. "Do you remember that pride, led by Zira? I fear… that they might to back to avenge Scar… shouldn't we… do something about them?"

"Do something?" asked Simba, confused. "Do what? I mean… they aren't crazy. Pridelanders alone outnumber them, and now we have a pride and a pack visiting us. They won't come close."

"But Malka's pride and Ni's pack won't be here forever." said Shani.

"Oh, look, Shani." said Simba. "They may have supported Scar, but they don't have the right to suffer because of his sins. If they are smart, they will go away. If they return… I'll give them a chance. If they don't accept… I'll be harder. But only if they don't accept. Look, now we're all tired, let's go to sleep. Tomorrow we will think better about that."

"No, now!" called the Voice from Shani's mouth. Lioness was almost glad that her brother postponed the decision, but in fact her murderous craving took full control of her. "We must find them now, when they are confused and scattered."

"She is completely right." Said Ni, entering the cave. "Sorry, I didn't want to eavesdrop, but I was going here with the same idea. Simba, you can't close you eyes on problems. Those problems might back and hurt you."

"But now?" asked confused king. "Well…"

"Malka already gave his agree." Added Ni.

"Yes, I did." Said mountain prince, entering the cave. He went closer to lions and stopped before Shani. He looked in her eyes. "My lady, don't worry, we will make sure those rascals won't bother you again."

She was shocked by that stare. In normal conditions she would read just a ordinary gaze of young lion, looking on a beautiful lioness. Not more than hour on Priderock was long enough for mountain price to enamour in his friend's sister. He was looking on her as on rainbow, trying to perceive every move of her, listen to every word that came from her lips and breather the air she exhaled. Romantic stuff.

But Shani read it completely different. Malka had on his fur spots of blood ("Hyena's blood? Or lion's?"), including a mark on his beard. With excited expression on his muzzle, it gave a result that goldenfurred saw as the mixture of the lowest possible instincts. He craved blood. He craved her as a female, or perhaps just a war-spoil. His smile was disgusting. Shani thought that she not only betrayed her beloved, but did it, supporting most hideous creatures she knew. The bargain turned out to be not just wrong, but also highly non aesthetical.

"S--t!" she yelled in mind. "No, I don't want this! I can't let them catch Kisasian!" Then added aloud. "No, wait, Simba." Three males looked on her. "Well… if Malka and Ni want to help us, we could wait. I mean… we will go tomorrow…" Her voice trailed off and she asked herself silently if twelve hours would be enough to warn Kisasian and his family.

"No, my child. We will do it now." Said Ni. "It's the safest way, as they are still in real trouble."

"Right, thank you, Shani." Said Simba. "You really helped us. Thanks to you, we would get rid of the problem now."

"No…" yelled lioness in mind. Meanwhile Simba nudged her.

"Sorry to ask you for that, but we will go with full number. You prefer to stay here, to look over Hawaa or go with us and…"

"I… I am going with you." Uttered Shani, barely opening her mouth. "Just give me a minute…"

"All right. Could you call Tojo here?" Smiled Simba, then looked on Ni. "So, what's the plan?"

"As far as I know Pridelands, I think we should form a wide fan-formation and march north…"

Shani withdrew from the main chamber to meet Sarabi, Sarafina, Nala and Tojo. The four almost pounced on lioness physically and actually attacked her with questions.

"So… what is happening. Did you succeed?" asked Sarabi. For the very first time in her life, Shani wanted to hit her mother. But she repressed that urge, knowing she had something much more important to do.

"Yes, I did." She replied. "We are going to hunt them. Tojo, you are expected."

"Great!" smiled aunt Sarafina. "So are we…"

"Yes, we are." Cut Shani and ran away, before that could ask anymore question.

She got to side chamber where Hawaa slept. With cub there were Sakia and Uzuri, watching the kitty. But Shani knew that lionesses were aside of events on the Priderock. They wished to stay away from the murderous haze around. "Yeah, they are helpless and weak…" thought goldenfurred. "But at least they didn't seal Golden Ones fate, as I did." She looked on two lioness and said with decisive voice.

"You must help me!"

"Shh…" said a bit confused Uzuri. "Hawaa is asleep."

"Your queen is still alive." Replied goldenfurred. "Both those states are fragile in the same degree."

"What…" Started Sakia, but Shani interrupted her.

"We are guilty too… but you must gather all your courage and help he to stop the worse. Understand?"

"But what is happening?" asked Sakia and Shani believed that she didn't know. Lioness was so shocked, after seeing Scar dead that she stayed in some kind of emotional catatonia. "Yet, I must use you." Thought Sarabi's daughter. "Or we are doomed… doomed even more, if that's possible."

Then Mega entered the chamber. Old lion had been suffering insomnia for passing weeks. He was tired and confused – such a crisis couldn't struck him in worse moment. However crises usually strike in worse possible moments. He looked on three lionesses there and instantly understood what was going on. He looked on goldenfurred, hoping she had a power to stop the bloodshed – the power he lacked.

"They launch the chase." Said Shani. "If I'm thinking right, Zira fled to Cubs Sanctuary. But if she finds out she is chased, she would risk crossing the Border River. We must give them time to do that."

"You… you…" started Sakia.

"We failed our duties anyway. As… subjects." Said Shani. "Just… try don't fail your duty as an animal being, right?"

\/\/\/

Just a quarter later the chase was ready. Simba, still confused about events of passing evening, was not the best leader out there. Ni quickly took the preparation under his own care. Experienced rogue knew exactly what had to be done. Malka was perfectly willing to help Simba… or Shani, but it didn't matter. He gladly accepted Ni's leadership, making his pride to obey brownmaned's orders. Pridelandres were tired, but adrenaline rush that deluged them during fight with hyenas didn't stopped. They seemed to be ready to follow Ni into darkness in search for enemies.

Shani exited the cave when it was all ready. She ordered Mega to stay on Priderock and try to appease Sarabi's anger, if any more Golden Ones appeared there. Goldenfurred wished to have experienced lion with her, but she understood that Mega was unable to run as fast as chase would, so she ordered other duties to lionesses.

With Sakia and Uzuri at her sides, she observed two prides and a coalition formed to the search. Ni, Malka and Simba stood on Priderock ledge, commanding – or in case of king and prince, supporting rogue's commands. Malka turned back to see Shani.

"Lady, we are ready." He said with smile. "We could set off any minute."

Just behind him was standing an orange, or yellowish-orange furred lioness with pale-brown eyes. Her noble features, carved by time and dignified pose somehow told Shani she was the queen of assisting pride. Her name was Sura and she kept watching her son. Apparently she didn't share Malka's zeal.

Rain didn't stop and savannah – dried just few hours back – started to become a swamp. Of course it was just effect of destroyed soil – after some time earth would able to absorb much more water. But for a while, most of rain floated to ravines and beds of once dried torrents, to speed down to the Border River. Shani hoped that would make at least some excuse for postponing 'the hunt'.

"But Malka… look on the plains." She called, trying to overcome the sound of rain. "Can't we wait as it stops?"

"No, ma'am." Replied the prince. "You know… the sooner the better."

"Yeah." Added Ni. "Especially that we don't know if they want to cross the Border River. If they do, they will drown, I hope." Shani shivered inside. "But if they somehow succeed, we can't risk following them."

"Hope!" thought goldenfurred. "If I manage to stall the chase, for them to cross river, they will be safe." But then she added with terror. "If Kisasian drowns then, I'm as good as his killer. It's all my fault." But also the Voice added its opinion. "Cheer up, baby! Perhaps only Adia will drown."

"So… if that's necessary, I will go with you." Said Shani, thinking how she would slow the array down. Faking broken paw? Maybe she should actually broke one? But in that option she wouldn't be able to follow those who decide go further and Kisasian would be alone against them.

"Me too." Added Sakia, coming to the ledge.

"And me." said Uzuri.

"Who stays with Hawaa?" asked Nala, passing next to them.

"Hm… Kilia?" asked Sakia. "She is her mother, last time I checked."

"So, could we go?" suggested Ni.

When set off north. Quickly the wide fan-formation of chasers split into three parts, what of course was quite natural. Pridelanders, led by Simba, were marching on western edge of array, securing path to Elephant Ford. In the middle was going Malka and his pride, while Ni took a right flank. There was limited probability that Golden Ones would risk a fording river on Waterfall Stones, but rogue wished to check also that possibility. However all hoped to catch runaways in Cubs Sanctuary.

As Ni took a leadership among chasers, Shani did it among saboteurs. She ordered Sakia to follow Simba and Tojo, Uzuri to go with Ni, while she went with Malka. She gave her companions no specified orders, but they all knew what was to be done. To slow hunters down and if that turned out to be necessary, physically stop Pridelanders and their allies from hurting Golden Ones.

Shani was focused on her own task. Slowly regaining some cold reason, she wondered what she could do to stop Malka. She noticed that she was fascinating young prince and if there was no other way, she was ready to use any means to score her goal. But even ways of feminine sway should be used with some carefulness… and as the last resort. So goldenfurred started with the easiest possible sabotage – leading her group astray.

One needs a talent to sidetrack on the straight line, but Shani did it. Persuading Malka, she knew the way better – what was in general true – she often chose 'better path', making from straight line very sophisticated curve. She also few times thought about simulating some injure, but that was too risky. They all watched and Malka gazed on her even when he should watch the path he was running.

They got to Cubs Sanctuary. Shani almost cried with relief, seeing that is empty. She ordered her group to stop and started another spectacle. She entered a small den, sniffing the air. Meanwhile Highlanders waited outside, a bit surprised by guide's behaviour.

"Shani… ma'am…" said Malka, entering the den.

"It's Shani." Said lioness, smiling. If such a cheap talk could buy Kisasian some time, she could flirt with Mountain Price up to the Judgementday. Lion seemed to have similar inclination, but still he promised something to Simba. He wanted to find runaways quickly.

"Yes, Shani…" he said with stupid smile. Then added with more serious tone. "But what you are doing? Should we go?"

"Just a second." She replied. "I must…" she sniffed again. "Yes, they were all here."

"Oh, I see." Said darkmaned prince. "You are smart, my lady. Do you sense any wounded ones?"

"Stars!" yelled lioness in mind. "He has right." She made another breathe in. "Yes, there are at least three wounded lionesses. They can't be too fast, we don't have to hurry so much." In spite of calm expression of face, she was at the edge of panic.

"That's good." Nodded Malka. "With wounded ones they won't risk crossing the river in rough place, but they could look for a ford. You know the wounded lionesses? Maybe we know something about their fighting potential."

"Yes, I recognise at least one." Said Shani and smiled.

Honestly, she smiled with all her heart. That was scent of Adia's blood. In the second, the Voice came to her, singing a song off the triumph. So, the original plan was still in motion, she could take that desert b---h away and…

"Stars, no!" thought desperate Shani. "It can't be… That's the end!"

She was well aware that Kisasian wouldn't leave Adia alone. So if she was unable to swim… her mate was to stay on southern side. If just moment earlier Shani could fool herself with alternative: Kisasian with Adia or just Kisasian, then she understood that the choice was obvious: they both alive or they both dead.

"Malka, command your lions to rest for a while, I will search for tracks and pawprints." She ordered with tone, not accepting any objection. Perhaps it was her decisiveness, or maybe prince was too dimmed by lioness's beauty to think rationally, but he agreed, not asking what kind of pawprints could stayed in swamp like that.

So Shani exited the den without answering any question. She went not more than hundred metres aside, just to disappear from Highlanders sight. She wished just to wait few minutes… quarter maybe. But in fact she knew that playing for time was useless anyway. Adia was wounded, according to what she sensed, severely. Most likely it was a injure after battle with hyenas, but it didn't matter. Kisasian would die because of that.

"But there is still a chance she dies and he…" started the Voice.

"Shut up!" sobbed lioness, hitting mud with muzzle.

She cried into the wet ground, feeling helpless as never before. She stayed with mouth submerged into swampy ground for a longer moment, before fire in her lungs made her lift her head. She was in pain, but she knew she deserved.

"I could have stopped it long time ago." She thought. "If I stopped mother, helped my uncle and was never blinded by my pride it would never happened. It's all my fault." She waited as the Voice tell her something bad and soothing. But it was silent. "No, I have to make my own decision." She thought decisively. "It's time to face it – I lost Kisasian. I lost him, because he loves Adia and I lost him, because I wronged him, letting his father die. I can't change it, but I have to take all consequences of it."

And she recalled what Adia said just several days earlier. As she asked her for help. "If something like this hypothetical mutiny happens… Remember that is your duty to protect Kisasian." Said silverfurred once. "F---ing great!" smiled Shani through tears. "I'm doing my best, ain't I?"

But there still wasn't too late – Kisasian was alive. Adia… most likely too. Shani stood up and clenched her jaws in final decision. She had done a mess, but she still was responsible for cleaning it up. A lighting roared on the sky and goldenfurred knew what was her quest.

"I will be your lighting, Kisasian." She whispered. "If my only purpose is to light your way for a while, I will do it and perish just after. But I won't let you die. And I won't let Adia die. It's your mate, I will protect her!"

She turned back and walked to Cubs Sanctuary. Mountain Pride waited, as Malka paced nervously. Shani heard as prince said. "She should be back. I'm coming to look for her." She stopped, looking on the scene. Queen Sura and the only male lion assisting the pride seemed to persuade something to the prince.

"My son, I'm not sure why are you doing it." Said yellowfurred monarchess.

"Listen to your mother." Added goldenfurred and sandymaned lion. He was few years older than the prince, and he acted like a kind of big brother or that reasonable uncle, stopping all his nephew's follies. His fur was spotted and with additional spits made of mud he looked almost like leopard. His voice was decisive and stern, however Malka seemed to pay very limited attention to his second in command. "Whoever is right here, I know who is stupid – the ones who chase the unknown enemy on the unknown terrain. It's worse than…"

"Cut it, Jiwe." Snorted the prince. "We must help lady Shani… I mean Simba."

"Son. This lioness has a terrible influence on you and…" Started Sura, but then Malka sighed.

"Shh! She's here!" Denounced in this way Shani had no other option than go closer to the pride.

"I'm here. If you are ready, we could go."

And not waiting for any answer, she set off to march north. Pride followed her and Malka quickly catch up to her. For long minutes they were going in silence. Shani tried to think about her mission, while Highlanders thought that they were already sneaking. But finally Malka broke that silence.

"Shani… what are we doing?"

"Setting a trap." She replied. "Golden Pride went more west, to the area where Ni is searching."

"So… should we alarm them?" asked prince.

"We would alarm Zira too." Noticed Shani. Actually once she wanted to roar with warning, but then discarded that idea, being sure that Golden Ones already knew they were chased. "And they won't risk a fight with Ni's pack. When they meet them, they would surely run in opposite direction… to us, namely."

"Oh, I see." Smiled darkmaned. "You are very smart, my lady."

"Deadly." Thought lioness. Then added. "We will get to the bank and you will order your lions to hide and wait. We can't show Zira we are here."

"Won't Ni have any problems?" asked Malka.

"Stars, I pray he will!" thought lioness, but aloud she replied. "No, don't worry. They will manage."

Pride came to the bank, where canes and slopes of nearby hills already turned to the swamp. In darkness of night, enlightened only by lightings, hiding in ambush was easy. What goldenfurred hoped was that observing the surroundings from ambush was on the contrary, extremely difficult. "I will put you here." She thought. "And for me, you could stay here to the dawn."

"Malka." She stopped prince. "Hide your lions and wait for my signal."

"Yes, ma'am!" he nodded with smile. But then asked a bit confused. "And you?"

"I will go to Ni." Replied Shani. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"I should go with you." Protested lions.

"No, you should command your pride." Shani shook her head. "Just stay here, whatever happens. Do move, until I say you so. Even if Simba is going this way, don't break your camouflage."

"But…"

"No 'buts'." She hissed. "You must trust me, my prince."

"Ok, I will." Replied Malka, still a bit confused. But is she was asking…

"It will be fine." Said Shani and turned back.

As she started to run east, accompanied by roars of the storm. She prayed she was right.

'The inefficacy is hell. From the skies I watched many tragedies, deaths and misfortunes, but perhaps I never felt so helplessly, as gazing down that night. It is my role – watch the earth and help, but any of powers I had didn't allowed me to change the fate. In times of war, hatred and vengeance no one listen to voices from above. Even when I cried, I was crying with rain, my children ignored it. That was the longest night I even saw, both living on the Earth and after, guarding my pride as the Ancient One.'