Hello ladies and gentlemen, my fellow readers and writers. This idea struck me while I was thinking of the next chapter for Innocence II. I may not get much reviews besides flames for this story but I had to write it. Now here's the first chapter of Shadow Star.

Prologue: Taken

Princess. The word has a lot of meaning. In many ways, princess is the short term for future queen. But many princesses were born but wasn't destined to be queen. Like Princess Kitra, but the reason why she wasn't destined to be queen happened months before she and her brother was born. Her aunt watched with a warm smile on her muzzle. Her half brother and cousin was now king and welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. But a smile fell from the young brownish lioness' dusty brown muzzle when her and her half sister's older half sister arrived with a small rich brown cub trailing behind as she carried a young dark brown cub by it's midsection.

"Zira." the peachy cream lioness said bluntly as the pale tan lioness walked in the cave.

"Nala." then she turned her red eyes on the brownish lioness. "Amani."

Both of the lionesses narrowed their green eyes. The golden king stepped between his half sister and mate.

"What is it, Zira?"

Zira grinned, "Just came to see the little sun spot. What's her name?"

Amani glared as she lowered her head. "Why do you care!"

Zira growled lowly, she looked at her sister who was looking down at the little bundle of fur in between her colorless paws as their father's murderer nuzzled the peachy cream lioness. She had to get rid of the blasted cub...but how. Zira grinned before grabbing the mewing dark brown cub and left the cave with the rich brown cub scampering after her.

That grin was the alarm that needed to be set. Amani spent a lot of time with the pale tan lioness. Her father made her a working lioness that kept the title princess. Zira as the eldest, was given the task of giving their father a male heir. But since their tasks were important, had to work together. That's when she saw that grin. Unfortunately, a rogue got pass the hyena patrol and it wasn't pretty for Nala. The male was killed but...Nala gave birth to a healthy, strong male. A decent heir in their father's eyes. But Zira wanted her cub to be the next ruler, she planned on killing her nephew. But she gave the cub to the queen of the neighbouring kingdom. That's when she got a idea. It was best this way.

OoOoo

Night had apporched the Pridelands, casting dozens of stars across the dark sky. Amani quickly and quietly grabbed the princess from Nala's side and bolted from the cave and into the tall greenery. She had a very good hiding spot as she travel through the savannah. As she reached the west border a pair of greenish-blue eyes stared from the darkness before a young tawny cream lion stepped out of the night.

"Auntie Amani. It's a lovely pleasure to see you again."

Amani placed the cub down before looking up with sorrow eyes. "Callum...things are not safe here. Please you must take her. I need to return so no more cubs would be in danger."

Callum nodded, "What's her name?"

"Kiara..." Amani nuzzled the newborn before looking up at her nephew. "Now go."

Callum lowered his head before he quickly and gently picked up his sister before running off into the darkness of the wilderness. Amani sighed, at least Kiara was safe. But before she could return she had to do one last thing.