The early sun rises as Kion was the early one up as the young lion stretches out his entire body and shakes his red mane. 

He was still unsure of trusting Kovu, even though he's the new King of the Pridelands and being mate to his sister. 

The lion went down from Pride Rock, to get some water to drink before going on morning patrol with the Guard and Kovu. 

He stares at his own reflection, as he said, "Am I really going to trust Kovu, with everything that happened when we were cubs? 

Will I be a burden to him?" 

"Kion?" A voice asks , as he turns around to see it was his own father, Simba. 

"Oh, hey, Dad. " He said to the former King of the Pridelands. It was a special moment between the two lions , because they never had a proper talk since Kion decided to leave the Pridelands. 

"So, I guess you and the Guard are going to be busy, I suppose." Simba said, as the young lion nods at the former King's guess. 

"Probably, it's been a while since the Lion Guard are together on a morning patrol , and this would an awkward one since it's going to be with Kovu." Kion explained. 

Simba sees how uneasy his son is been since he saw Kovu again after being gone for so long, and having the Outsiders being with the pride in peace instead of being enemies. 

"Still having doubts about Kovu, are you? I was just like you, Kion." Simba said, which amazes the young lion, but he remembered the story that Kovu told him about exiling him before he can explain to Simba.  

"Kovu told me about you exiled him without letting him explain the situation. Seriously, Dad, that is so uncool and Kiara had to spell it out to you that made her irate and had to stop the war. How dense are you?"

Simba sweats as he said, "I um, I guess that I may be too protective of Kiara." 

Kion raises an eyebrow, as if he wasn't too convinced, as Simba notices it and sighs, "Ok, overprotective. 

I guess that I don't want Kiara to have anything bad happened to her, like you had to go through." 

The red lion was silent at first, but then he begins to laugh at the former king of his explanation. 

"What I say?" Simba asks his son, as the lion finally calms down, as he said, "Kiara can handle herself , Dad. 

I have to go , the Guard's waiting." 

He left the former king as Kovu and the Guard were waiting on his arrival. 

"Hey, Kion!" Bunga greeted him as Kion said, "Hey, Lion Guard, I'm sorry that I'm late." 

Kovu gave him an reassuring smile, "Kion, you don't have to apologize . We just arrived earlier and we waited for you. I never been on a patrol before with anyone else besides Nala , so we should get going." 

The group began their route on looking for anything suspious onto the Pridelands as Kion asks, "Ono, see anything dangerous?"

The Egret looks with his eyes, trying to get the view of the Pridelands, as Kion was waiting on his result. 

"Nothing yet." Ono reported as Fuli suggested, "Kovu, Beshte, you go to the Elephants field, you can ask Ma Tembo for anything she needs for her herd. Ono , Kion, Bunga and I will continue onward." 

Kion was glad that he has a second-in-command like Fuli, she helps him in many scenarios that he can't do alone. 

"Ok, got it." Kovu said, agreeing with Fuli's suggestion as they parted ways. 

Kion was silent as he thought about his night with Vitani. He smiles a bit as Fuli looks at him, "Kion, what's with the smile? Did something happen?"

The lion said, trying to hide it, "O-Oh, it's um, nothing, really! You don' t have to be so serious, Fuli." 

The cheetah seems to be skeptical about it, as she knew that she wants to know, but the feeling she has was jealousy. 

Zira and her clan made it to the Pridelands as Afua was beaming with pure excitement . It was the first time she explored somewhere new , and she couldn't believe of all the animals that lived there. 

Jata beams at his little girl, as he ask, "You're excited , aren't you, Afua?"

The lion cub nods, "Yes! There is so many animals that I never seen before, Papa! It's so exciting!" 

Zira laughs at her daughter, "I know it's your first trip with the Pride, but you have to listen to Atiena, all right?"

"Yes, Mama. " Afua said. 

Atiena said, "Nightfall Pride, you should explore the Pridelands , but be respectful to the Circle of life, understand? Be on Pride Rock by sunset." 

The lioness explores their new surroundings as Afua plays with a butterfly. 

"Come back! I just want to play!" She said, but then she collapses , to a dangerous cliff and she was stuck on the ledge!

"Ah! Help me! Mama, Papa!" She cries. 

The cry was so loud that her parents can hear her. "Afua?"

The lions rushed over to their child's side as Jata notices his daughter's dangerous situation. 

"She's far below, I can't climb down, the rocks might crush her and she'll fall to the river." Jata said to his mate. 

"I know exactly who we can enlist help. Try to make our daughter stay calm as I go seek help." Zira said to him. 

"Papa, I'm scared." Afua said, as Jata reassure his daughter, "Shwari, Afua. Your mother will come back. " 

Zira looks around to see Kion, as he notices her completely. 

"Zira! Why you come to the Pridelands?" Kion said, trying to protect himself from her tricks. 

"Kion, you have to believe me, I came to see you and the Guard. My daughter's in trouble." She said, which causes the lion to be stunned . 

"Your daughter? You mean Vitani?" 

"No, not my older daughter, my younger one. She's trapped on a ledge and can't get out." Zira explains as Ono uses his eyesight to see what Zira was talking about. 

"She's right! There's a cub , and she's on a rock ledge, if the rocks surround her, she'll be crushed and fall to the ravine!" Ono said, as Kion looks at his friends. 

"So, what shall we do?" Fuli asks Kion. 

"Bunga, you will go down and get the cub out safely, with Ono as your guide. Fuli, if the rocks collapse on them, grab them head on ." 

Zira asks, "You're not going to use the Roar?"

"Not in this situation, Zira. It'll be way too dangerous. I have to be careful." Kion said, as Jata looks at him, asking Zira, "Zira, you know these animals?"

"We crossed paths before. " Zira reassures him, "Kion knows what to do, am I right?"

Kion nods as he turns to his friends, "It's been a while since we said these words. Till the Prideland's end-" 

"Lion Guard, Defend!" The Guard finishes the sentence, as Bunga went to Afua. 

"Hiya! I'm Bunga, I came to help." Bunga said to the young cub , as Afua grabs his paw as the mud rocks begin to collapse on her feet. 

"Bunga! " Kion yells at the honey badger as he said, "Just hang tight. Zuka  Zama! " 

They made it safely as Fuli notices the injury on the lion cub's leg. "Kion, her leg , it's bruised badly."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make all this trouble." Afua said, apologizing to the Guard. 

"Hey, it's all right." Ono said, "We all make mistakes. " 

"Ono's right, little one. I guess you're new to the Pridelands, so it's your first day." Bunga said. 

Rafiki treated the cub's injury, "She's going to be fine, she just have to take it slow until her foot is completely healed." 

"Asante, Rafiki. " Zira said, relieved of the situation of her daughter. 

Afua turns to the Lion Guard as she bows her head, "Thank you for saving me, Lion Guard. I should introduce myself. 

My name is Afua, I'm the daughter of Jata and Zira. It's a pleasure to meet you." 

Makini said, "She's so polite, i'm amazed of how she can be calm after all of that." 

"Afua, this is Kion and the Lion Guard. They're friends of Mama's so, be on your best behavior, ok?" Zira asks. 

"All right." Afua said as she leaves with her father as Kion went to have a private talk with Zira alone. 

"I never suspect you would be here, with a new family." Kion said, as Zira sighs, "I wanted Afua to enjoy herself. She's a bit shy with the other cubs in our pride, so I asked Atiena, the leader of the Nightfall Pride to make a trip to the Pridelands, to get her out of her shell.

I kind of anxious of seeing Kovu and Vitani again. I don't know if they would happy to see me." 

"You're their mother, I know they want to see you again. I haven't told Kovu about your arrival, and I bet Simba and Nala would be shocked to see you have changed. " 

The lioness sighs, "I don't know. It's so weird. Having a child again, I get to be the mother that Afua needed, She's my new hope now." 

Kion said, "You named her, "Afua" What does her name mean?"

"Her name means, "Forgiveness." That is what I wanted from the Royal family, to my former Pride, and to my children." Zira said. 

The way that Zira spoke, it amazes Kion with pure amazement as he smiles at the lioness, "I like it. A fresh new start for the both of us. I'll be your escort for you and your new Pride. " 

"Kion, I.. I don't know what to say." Zira said.  

Simba and the Royal Family were waiting for Kion and the Guard to return. 

"What's keeping Kion? It's not like him." Vitani said, which Kiara reassures her, "I'm sure my brother would be back soon. He said that he had some issues he need to attend to first." 

"I'm sure Kion would explain smoothly." Nala said, still wondering why Kion summoned them to come together in the Lion Guard lair. 

Kovu walks to his family as Kiara muzzles him, "How was your patrol with the Guard? Anything exciting?"

"I don't know for sure. Kion went to Rafiki's tree in a hurry that I forgot to ask him on the way back to Pride Rock." The black lion said. 

Kion walks in the lair as Simba asks, "Kion, why you summon us here?"

"Before you get angry, I met a lioness. She's a familiar one that you'll be surprise to see. Come on, this is your chance." 

Vitani and Kovu looked of who was coming in, to their greatest surprise it was a familiar face indeed. 

Simba was first to react as he tries to leap into the lioness, as he knew that she would attack them, as he notices someone was hiding behind her leg. 

"Afua, it's all right, sweetie. There is nothing to be afraid of." Zira reassure the young cub as Afua peeked out from Zira. 

"Zira. You have a cub with you. " Nala stutters in pure shock. 

"Afua is a little shy. This is her first land she went to and got a little bit of trouble." Kion explains to the shocked family. 

Afua didn't say a word to the royal family, as Zira gently pushes the young cub towards Kovu and Kiara. 

"Afua, this is Kiara and Kovu. They're your aunt and uncle. This is Afua. She's my daughter." Zira explained, "Also , I'm not joining your Pride, Simba if you're wondering. I already have a Pride of my own. 

You will meet my leader later. " 

Kovu ran after her, "Mother! We need to talk." 

"Of course, Kovu. I think we do . "  

AN: 

This is what Afua looks like : 

I'll post another chapter tomorrow . So , stay tuned for that, and will Kovu forgive Zira for everything that happens in the past?

Also, will Kion and Vitani have a proper date? 

Comment below and vote!