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It had taken him much longer than he anticipated.

The stories his mother had told him when he was younger said that a journey between the Pridelands and the Ashlands was only a week long, but this had taken him at least two- if not three. His mother's body was being carried on the back of one of the guards Kovu had assigned him, and Nuka knew that if he didn't reach his destination soon then his company would be very very displeased. Nuka's mother had appeared in the Outlands in order to say goodbye to her youngest son, and Nuka knew it was the right thing to do to return her body back to the place of her birth. He didn't remember much about the customs of the Ashlands, but what he could recall was that her body would be turned to ash by the shamans and spread along the area where thousands of lions before them were also laid to rest. He remembered his mother telling him and his sister about how that way their ancestors were always surrounding them and protecting them. "Like the Great Kings of the Past!" A young Nuka had shouted, earning a smile from his father whom had been laying in the back of the cave discussing something with his brother Tau.

Tau... Had his brother been spared from the madness of Simba? It was in truth that Tau looked the most like their deceased uncle, but he still was Scar's son. So is Simba... Zira had made it clear to her pride and to Kovu that Scar's children were not to be harmed, Tau and Ari would be protected by their warriors as they took down Simba and his tyranny. Had Sarabi stayed alive for a month or two more, then she could have kept the situation peaceful. But now, now blood would be shed on the lands of his father, and Nuka was not prepared for it at all. Sarabi had told him that she revealed to Simba his parentage, how he had threatened Tau and Ari with exile and Nuka had seethed at that. How dare he! Those were his siblings, and he treated them like dirt, how dare he! Nuka growled at the thought, but his thoughts were interrupted by the gates to the Ashlands appearing in the distance.

Finally!

The gates were more so an opening within the mountain range that encircled the ancient land, one which some would say is the most sacred kingdom of them all. The guards were on the defense as the male, followed by three lionesses, approached the entrance.

"Halt!" The guard spoke in Kusini, the language of the South. "What business do you have here?"

"I am here returning my mother's body." Nuka responded, his Kusini was rough, but his mother had taught him all he knew, and all of his conversations with Zira had been in the language; it was the only thing that kept Sarabi close. "Queen Sarabi of the Pridelands, a princess of the Ashlands."

The guards' breaths hitched and one left his post and approached his mother's body. He seemed, rattled, to say the least. His eyes kept darting between Nuka and Sarabi, almost trying to convince himself that he was her son. Had word not reached these lands? The guard turned to the other, "Stay here and guard, I shall go fetch the king." He turned to Nuka and motioned to the lionesses behind him, "You may enter, but they must stay out here. The smell of the Outlands is heavy on you all, I cannot risk the safety of our kingdom letting you all in."

Nuka nodded and dismissed his guard, taking his mother's body onto his back and following the guard into the lands of his mother's birth. Soon, mother, you will be free.

The Ashlands were, to say the least, beautiful. Even though he had been slipping somewhat regularly on the ash below him, he kept up his pace. On top of a large pillar of stone was what seemed to be the den, which reminded him almost too much of Pride Rock sans the large precipice. "Half Peak." He whispered to himself, that was something he did remember. The guard grunted in acknowledgement and lead the russet lion up the pillar. When they were outside the den, the guard turned. "Stay out here, but I request Princess Sarabi's body."

Nuka almost didn't want to give her up, not after he had just gotten her back in his life, but reluctantly he let his mother slowly drop to the ground which the other male picked her up with ease. He sat in silence outside the den for what seemed like an eternity, but soon two lions appeared with confusion and distrust on their faces. The elder, who must be the king, looked almost a spitting image of his mother while the younger male reminded him so much of Maisha. Were these his uncles?

"Who are you?" the king spoke, "Why have you returned my sister's body here?"

"I am Prince Nukato, son of Queen Sarabi and King Scar." he proclaimed, his true name feeling odd on his tongue after so long. "My mother's dying wish was to return to these lands."

"Sarabi didn't have a son named Nukato, none that we had heard of." The king responded, but the younger male approached and looked deeply into Nuka's eyes. After a few moments, a large grin appeared on his face.

"Aha! Jarabi, look! This one here is definitely our nephew!"

"Kondo," King Jarabi warned, "How would you know?"

"You don't see the resemblance? He looks just like her!"

"He looks nothing like her." The king rolled his eyes and growled, "Besides, King Upendo is our nephew, not... this."

Upendo?!

"Wait!" Nuka exclaimed at the mention of his elder brother that he had missed so dearly, "Upendo is a king? How is that possible? I thought Princess Nyota was next in line?"

Jarabi's eyes widened, how would this runt know that information? Kondo laughed and smacked Nuka on the shoulder, "I told you Jar! He's our nephew, through and through!" The eyes that they shared looked at the king and narrowed, "I will get Zahra, and she'll believe him."

At the mention of what Nuka could only assume was the queen, King Jarabi of the Ashlands grimaced and shook his head. "Fine, but we'll have to send word to the Lowlands." He turned to Nuka, "And how long will you be staying here?"

He was about to say only for a night, but something tugged in the back of his mind, a voice shouted at him to do something else entirely.

"If it's alright with you, your majesty," he sputtered out, "I would like to join your pride."

Kondo's eyes lit up and another large smile crossed his face, "Come on Jarabi you have to say yes!"

The king's eyes narrowed again at Nuka, but Nuka cut him off before he would say anything, "Please, your majesty, I renounce any claim to the throne that I may or may not have through my mother. I simply wish to have a safe haven, a place to grow old, a place to remind me of my mother."

Jarabi thought for a moment, "The last time a Pridelander came into my kingdom, it cost me the life of my son. But you are not necessarily a Pridelander, now are you?" Another moment of thought, "Very well, you may stay until King Upendo arrives, and if he confirms what you say is true; then I will accept you into my pride."

The king turned and walked back into the den, but Kondo stayed outside and pressed his paw into Nuka's forehead, "Come now, nephew, I have a lot to show you!"

Nuka smiled, finally he would have a home. Zira would understand, and he would have to send word to Tau that he was safe, but would Kovu? What of Obasi and Nkiru? Vitani? No, that was his old life, and now this was his new one. Not the one that his father had thought of for him, but a better life than living in the Outlands for all eternity.

No, Nuka was now an outcast no more.

Woooo! First art piece on return! I've decided to say fuck all to shading, because that's what seems to take me the longest and make it look not so good in my opinion. Backgrounds still look as shit as they did a year ago, but oh well. I'll have refs up for Jarabi and Kondo soon, as well as Nuka's ref sheet within a week! Hope you all enjoy the art/story!

Description
It had taken him much longer than he anticipated.

The stories his mother had told him when he was younger said that a journey between the Pridelands and the Ashlands was only a week long, but this had taken him at least two- if not three. His mother's body was being carried on the back of one of the guards Kovu had assigned him, and Nuka knew that if he didn't reach his destination soon then his company would be very very displeased. Nuka's mother had appeared in the Outlands in order to say goodbye to her youngest son, and Nuka knew it was the right thing to do to return her body back to the place of her birth. He didn't remember much about the customs of the Ashlands, but what he could recall was that her body would be turned to ash by the shamans and spread along the area where thousands of lions before them were also laid to rest. He remembered his mother telling him and his sister about how that way their ancestors were always surrounding them and protecting them. "Like the Great Kings of the Past!" A young Nuka had shouted, earning a smile from his father whom had been laying in the back of the cave discussing something with his brother Tau.

Tau... Had his brother been spared from the madness of Simba? It was in truth that Tau looked the most like their deceased uncle, but he still was Scar's son. So is Simba... Zira had made it clear to her pride and to Kovu that Scar's children were not to be harmed, Tau and Ari would be protected by their warriors as they took down Simba and his tyranny. Had Sarabi stayed alive for a month or two more, then she could have kept the situation peaceful. But now, now blood would be shed on the lands of his father, and Nuka was not prepared for it at all. Sarabi had told him that she revealed to Simba his parentage, how he had threatened Tau and Ari with exile and Nuka had seethed at that. How dare he! Those were his siblings, and he treated them like dirt, how dare he! Nuka growled at the thought, but his thoughts were interrupted by the gates to the Ashlands appearing in the distance.

Finally!

The gates were more so an opening within the mountain range that encircled the ancient land, one which some would say is the most sacred kingdom of them all. The guards were on the defense as the male, followed by three lionesses, approached the entrance.

"Halt!" The guard spoke in Kusini, the language of the South. "What business do you have here?"

"I am here returning my mother's body." Nuka responded, his Kusini was rough, but his mother had taught him all he knew, and all of his conversations with Zira had been in the language; it was the only thing that kept Sarabi close. "Queen Sarabi of the Pridelands, a princess of the Ashlands."

The guards' breaths hitched and one left his post and approached his mother's body. He seemed, rattled, to say the least. His eyes kept darting between Nuka and Sarabi, almost trying to convince himself that he was her son. Had word not reached these lands? The guard turned to the other, "Stay here and guard, I shall go fetch the king." He turned to Nuka and motioned to the lionesses behind him, "You may enter, but they must stay out here. The smell of the Outlands is heavy on you all, I cannot risk the safety of our kingdom letting you all in."

Nuka nodded and dismissed his guard, taking his mother's body onto his back and following the guard into the lands of his mother's birth. Soon, mother, you will be free.

The Ashlands were, to say the least, beautiful. Even though he had been slipping somewhat regularly on the ash below him, he kept up his pace. On top of a large pillar of stone was what seemed to be the den, which reminded him almost too much of Pride Rock sans the large precipice. "Half Peak." He whispered to himself, that was something he did remember. The guard grunted in acknowledgement and lead the russet lion up the pillar. When they were outside the den, the guard turned. "Stay out here, but I request Princess Sarabi's body."

Nuka almost didn't want to give her up, not after he had just gotten her back in his life, but reluctantly he let his mother slowly drop to the ground which the other male picked her up with ease. He sat in silence outside the den for what seemed like an eternity, but soon two lions appeared with confusion and distrust on their faces. The elder, who must be the king, looked almost a spitting image of his mother while the younger male reminded him so much of Maisha. Were these his uncles?

"Who are you?" the king spoke, "Why have you returned my sister's body here?"

"I am Prince Nukato, son of Queen Sarabi and King Scar." he proclaimed, his true name feeling odd on his tongue after so long. "My mother's dying wish was to return to these lands."

"Sarabi didn't have a son named Nukato, none that we had heard of." The king responded, but the younger male approached and looked deeply into Nuka's eyes. After a few moments, a large grin appeared on his face.

"Aha! Jarabi, look! This one here is definitely our nephew!"

"Kondo," King Jarabi warned, "How would you know?"

"You don't see the resemblance? He looks just like her!"

"He looks nothing like her." The king rolled his eyes and growled, "Besides, King Upendo is our nephew, not... this."

Upendo?!

"Wait!" Nuka exclaimed at the mention of his elder brother that he had missed so dearly, "Upendo is a king? How is that possible? I thought Princess Nyota was next in line?"

Jarabi's eyes widened, how would this runt know that information? Kondo laughed and smacked Nuka on the shoulder, "I told you Jar! He's our nephew, through and through!" The eyes that they shared looked at the king and narrowed, "I will get Zahra, and she'll believe him."

At the mention of what Nuka could only assume was the queen, King Jarabi of the Ashlands grimaced and shook his head. "Fine, but we'll have to send word to the Lowlands." He turned to Nuka, "And how long will you be staying here?"

He was about to say only for a night, but something tugged in the back of his mind, a voice shouted at him to do something else entirely.

"If it's alright with you, your majesty," he sputtered out, "I would like to join your pride."

Kondo's eyes lit up and another large smile crossed his face, "Come on Jarabi you have to say yes!"

The king's eyes narrowed again at Nuka, but Nuka cut him off before he would say anything, "Please, your majesty, I renounce any claim to the throne that I may or may not have through my mother. I simply wish to have a safe haven, a place to grow old, a place to remind me of my mother."

Jarabi thought for a moment, "The last time a Pridelander came into my kingdom, it cost me the life of my son. But you are not necessarily a Pridelander, now are you?" Another moment of thought, "Very well, you may stay until King Upendo arrives, and if he confirms what you say is true; then I will accept you into my pride."

The king turned and walked back into the den, but Kondo stayed outside and pressed his paw into Nuka's forehead, "Come now, nephew, I have a lot to show you!"

Nuka smiled, finally he would have a home. Zira would understand, and he would have to send word to Tau that he was safe, but would Kovu? What of Obasi and Nkiru? Vitani? No, that was his old life, and now this was his new one. Not the one that his father had thought of for him, but a better life than living in the Outlands for all eternity.

No, Nuka was now an outcast no more.

Woooo! First art piece on return! I've decided to say fuck all to shading, because that's what seems to take me the longest and make it look not so good in my opinion. Backgrounds still look as shit as they did a year ago, but oh well. I'll have refs up for Jarabi and Kondo soon, as well as Nuka's ref sheet within a week! Hope you all enjoy the art/story!