My dad always said that I was bound to do great things when I was old enough. That I was once going to take his place as ruler of the Pridelands. I was going to be known as the QUEEN of the pridelands. Well, with the current weather, I couldn't be any less confident with that statement.

Who am I? Well, my name is Sarabi, or Sara, Princess of the Pridelands and granddaughter of Simba, one of the greatest kings in the history of the Pridelands itself. The only problem is that my dad, King Shujaa, is a bit...weird. You see, months before I was born, my great-grandmother who I was named after ended up dying at the hands of an evil lioness named Niagh. It really never left my dad until a couple of months ago, when he finally got over it and accepted the past.

Now, I am walking through the Pridelands as the dry ground is starting to harden. Yes, it's the dry season, my first one in fact. My dad said that it would be the month of June where he comes from, as the dry season starts around that time. In the meantime, I am looking for my Uncle Kion, leader of The Lion Guard.

''Uncle Kion?'' I asked to nobody, ''Uncle Kion!?''

I growled in frustration before sighing. My Uncle is probably fulfilling his duties with The Lion Guard right now and I am just going to keep walking my merry wa-

''Hello there!'' A voice said, causing me to look up and see a young mandrill, leading to me jumping back in surprise.

''AH!'' I shouted, falling on my hind as the mandrill looked starstruck.

''You're the King's daughter, aren't you?'' The mandrill asked and I slowly nodded, ''Cool!''

''And you are…?'' I asked in confusion and the mandril smiled.

''I'm Makini, Rafiki's new apprentice!'' The mandrill, apparently named Makini, replied, ''You must be Sarabi!''

''Yeah..'' I said, ''But everyone calls me Sara and I honestly prefer that over my birth name.''

''Why?''

''I…'' I started, but sighed, ''I don't know.''

But to my confusion, Makini started hopping around.

''Well, no need to be sad! I'm heading to Rafiki's tree right now to begin my training! Wanna come?'' Makini asked, ''I'm gonna be training to be a Royal Mjuzi! A knowledge keeper of the Pride Lands, just like him!''

As Makini squealed in excitement, I rolled my eyes with a smile. The two of us might get along after all…

''It's so cool how Rafiki can talk to the lions of the past.'' Makini said admirably as we approached Rafiki's tree, ''What if everyone finds out?''

''Then they won't leave the guy alone.'' I answered, ''The animals are rather...sensitive. If they learned that Rafiki can talk to the lions of the past, they'll come seeking advice twice as much as they already do.''

''Oh..'' Makini said before putting her arms behind her back, ''That may be true.''

When we managed to reach Rafiki's tree, the mandrill in question dropped down and greeted us.

''Ahah!'' Rafiki shouted, ''Makini! Sarabi!''

''Hey, Rafiki.'' I said as I accepted the hug he gave me before he went to Makini, ''She won't stop bugging me about being your apprentice.''

''It's just so exciting!'' She shouted in joy before going all hyperactive, ''So when are we starting?''

''We are starting soon, young one.'' Rafiki said, but raised a finger, ''But first...you must find a staff.''

''A...staff?'' I asked as Makini grinned.

''A bakora staff.'' Makini explained, ''It's what Rafiki has in his hand!''

''It aids in de speaking of the lions of the past.'' Rafiki added, ''Though more often den not, I use it for ceremonies, including your birth ceremony.''

Rafiki said 'including your birth ceremony' while poking my chest with the staff, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

''It looks so..insignificant.'' I pointed out, ''It looks like a normal stick.''

''No more talking!'' Rafiki said, cutting me off before looking at Makini, ''Now, go find a staff!''

''You got it!'' She said before running off.

''Hey, wait up!'' I said, chasing after her.

Well, I can safely say Makini likes to be picky with the staffs she wants.

I say that because we are currently in what feels like a field of broken off branches and sticks that she could use as a staff.

"Are you my staff?" She asked a rather large stick before shrugging and throwing it, then grabbing an even bigger one and almost falling until I managed to stop her with a paw, "Huh?"

"Makini." I said with a chuckle as the mandrill looked at me, "You might want to find a smaller staff. Those sticks are much taller than you are."

''Oh...right.'' Makini said, laughing nervously.

''Besides, there are plenty of smaller sticks over there.'' I added, gesturing towards a pile of small sticks.

As Makini walked over to it, I heard rustling in the bushes. Curious, I stopped her by stopping her tail with my paw.

"Ow! Sara…" She said disappointingly, "What's the big deal?"

''Be quiet for a minute.'' I whispered. When she opened her mouth, I gave her a stern look, causing her to stop, ''I heard something.''

As the two of us were silent, a cobra came out of the bushes with a curious look.

''Who are you?'' I asked the cobra, who did a bow that cobras do, apparently.

''I am Ushari, Princess Sara.'' He said, ''And I come with quite an...interesting question...for your mandrill friend.''

This introduction caused me and Makini to look at each other.

''What do you need her for?'' I asked him as he chuckled.

''I am wondering if it is possible to speak with dark lions of the past. As I have heard that Rafiki has the ability to speak with the lions of past eras.'' Ushari explained.

''I mean…'' Makini started, but was doubtful, ''I could…''

I put a paw on the mandrill's small left shoulder with a smile.

''Just try it, Makini.'' I said, ''What can go wrong?''

After a few moments, Makini smiled.

''Okay!'' She said, ''I'll go ask him right now!''

As she ran off with her staff to find Rafiki, I decided to take a trip to the waterhole...or at least, what's left of it since the dry season gutted the waterhole quite badly.

As I reached the waterhole, I noticed a group of animals, which included my mother, Kiara, Tiffu, Zuri and other species. I looked at what used to be the waterhole, seeing animals drink what was left of the water. Saddened by all of this, I walked over to my mom and sat down.

"Dry season is hitting us hard, huh mom?" I asked her as she nodded.

"We've had several dry seasons in our history, but we haven't had one like this since the days of Mohatu." She explained, "Though ours wasn't as bad."

"Yeah…" I sighed before looking at her, "Do you ever feel overshadowed by our family?"

"You tend to be depending on the significance of their rules and jobs, Sara." She replied before looking back at me, "Why do you ask?"

"I was talking to Rafiki's apprentice, Makini, and she brought up how i'm the daughter of royalty...but I always feel overshadowed by my namesake." I explained, "Sometimes I feel that my only purpose is to be a reminder of dad's past."

This revelation caused my mom to smile lovingly.

"Sarabi…" She said softly, "Your purpose within the pride is to be their next queen...but you can give yourself a new purpose until that time comes. Everyone is the hero of their own story and will always go on a quest to do what they feel suits them. I encourage you to find a purpose within yourself to get out of the shadow you feel you're in."

My eyes watered as I smiled.

"Thanks, mom." I said before turning back to where I came from, as Makini should have been done by now.

Let's just hope nothing bad happened.

Boom, new story!

Next Time: Kidnapped Princess! When Sara is captured by Janja's clan in an effort to summon Scar, she looks to find a way out as The Lion Guard rushes to the scene.