Disclaimer: I don't own the Lion King, just my own original stuff.

The sun peeked over the edge of the horizon, and spread its pink and orange rays over the awakening continent of Africa. A young lioness crept about the small rocks littered about Pride Rock, and edged around each one carefully, making no sound. Once she was free of sight of the rock, she trotted away to a savanna tree in the middle of the savanna that was surrounded by a lake of water. Rocks were right near the small plot of land that held the savanna tree, and made a pathway for her to hop back and forth from the small island to the savanna.

"Winda?"
Winda turned around quickly, hoping it wasn't one of her parents, and let out a sigh of relief when she realized that it was Sauran, one of her best friends. She rolled her bright green eyes at Winda's reaction.

"You're really scared about your parents finding you here, aren't you?"
She asked. Winda smiled wryly and nodded.

"This is at the edge of the hyena's land, at the edge of the Storm Mountains."
She said. Sauran rolled her eyes.

"I'm glad I'm not a princess, having to be extra safe and careful all of the time, acting like a delicate little lioness, having worry wart parents."
Winda smiled at her.

"You're half lucky. But I get to rule someday."
She yawned, and lay down with her head in her paws. Sauran left her so her friend could have some alone time. Winda stood up and gazed at her reflection.Princess Winda gazed back at her.

"Winda? Winda, where are you!"
"Darn, busted."
She raced back to Pride Rock and skidded to a stop in front of her mother.

"Hey, Mom."
Winda greeted her as casually as possible. Shilark held her close.

"Don't run off without telling us! You worried me!"
Winda sighed, and Shilark did, too.

"Okay, I shouldn't have been. You're my daughter, you have my skills of sneaking off. It's fine...Just try to tell us where you're going next time, okay?"
Winda laughed.

"Right, Mom."
She trotted off inside the den area and spotted her dad's mom and dad, Shenzi and Banzai.

"Hey, Grandma and Grandpa!"
Shenzi rolled her eyes. It still amazed her that she slept in Pride Rock, and had a granddaughter. And she still couldn't believe that she was a grandmother already. It seemed like yesterday when she had Tunya...She glared slightly at her granddaughter.

"I don't know who these Grandma and Grandpa guys are, but Shenzi and Banzai are here."
Winda smiled. Her grandma hated being called Grandma, and her grandpa didn't mind that much. He smiled at her.
"Hello, Winda. Your father's taught you about hyena things, too, right?"
Winda nodded.

"He has, Grandpa Banzai. Don't worry. He's a good dad," she assured him. Banzai seemed slightly relieved.

"Winda!"
Winda smiled at her grandparents.

"Bye, I've gotta go!"
She dashed off towards her father's voice. He sat down at the edge of Pride Rock. Winda leapt down to him.

"What is it, Dad?"
She asked, settling down next to him. Her father motioned for her to sit down next to him. He cleared his throat.

"Winda, you know that one day you will have to take over. That one day your mother and I won't be here."
Winda frowned.

"Actually, Dad, you'll still be here; since great-great-grandmother and grandfather's time, all rulers have been resurrected and have become immortal. Simba and Mufasa are still talking to each other out on the savanna, by the way."
Tunya coughed.

"Um, well, heh, that's not the point, even though it's true..."
"You were getting to the point, Dad?"
"Oh, yes, right. One day you'll have to take over as queen."
Winda nodded.

"I will, Father."
Tunya then began to explain all about ruling and the lands of Africa.

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Princess Winda left her father after a long conversation about everything. She scampered down to the lake, and peered at her reflection.

"How can I be leader? I don't even look like royal blood."
A dark patch of fur was beginning to form on her forehead, black spots were beginning to form on her coat, and her legs from the junction down were turning black. "Why me?" She muttered. The skies began to darken, and before Winda left, she batted at her reflection, letting ripples destroy her image. Suddenly her reflection seemed to glow, and her eyes crossed. It felt like a few minutes, but in reality, it was hours. She felt like she had gone into a trance.

"PRINCESS WINDA!"
Winda sighed, snapped out of her trance, and headed back to Pride Rock, where she was greeted by the entire Prideland pride. All lions, leopards, cheetahs, warthogs, meerkats, hyenas, and dodos, were gazing at her. Winda stepped back. She narrowed her eyes slightly, and she was a bit afraid of what was happening. Every single gaze on her was not a happy one; all were serious.

"What is it?"
She asked, her voice cracking a bit. Her mother and father hesitantly walked to their daughter, accompanied by two lion guards.

'Why do they need guards to see me? Do…No…Do they think I'll attack them? Why would I attack them?'

"Winda…Where were you?"
Winda blinked.

"I was down by the lake…to the south. Why?"

Shilark sighed, and gazed down at the ground, unable to look her daughter in the eye.

"Winda...We have witnesses…About thirty…That saw you attack your uncle, and my brother, Tiko and his mate, Viper. They are in the infirmary, and we aren't sure they will live. And other witnesses…" She stopped, unable to go on. Mosi-oa-Tunya, Tunya, her father stepped in.

"Other witnesses saw you kill one of the lionesses of our pride, Winda."
Winda slowly shook her head, stepping back.

"No…No!" She cast a terrified look around her. "Anyone? I didn't do it…" No one helped her. Not one being stepped in in her defense. Winda's eyes flashed.

"I do not belong to this pride, then!" She growled, and dug her claws into the ground. "Good-bye!" Roaring, former Princess Winda took off in the direction opposite of her former pride, and sprinted off to her new life.

"WINDA!"

Author's Note: Wow. Hn, I'm glad I did a Lion King fic. I've been itching to...

Sasha: Review, or I'll hunt you down...(yawns)