The warm and relaxing light of the morning sun shone on my eyes, causing me to wake up slowly. I was sleeping close to my parents since Connor didn't want me sleeping with him just yet. While disappointed, I respect his wishes. Regardless, I slowly smiled, then got up and stretched. As I walked out and sat on the edge of Pride Rock, I thought of one of the conversations I had with him before he left for The Outlands.
''Connor…?''
''Yeah?''
''When do you think you'll have to go back to your world?''
''Not sure. But you know what?''
''What?''
''Even if I do go back to my world, i'll always be there for you and everyone else. That's a promise and even if I leave to go somewhere else, the memories of my past will always be with my. My adventures with you, Kion and the others will remain and who knows, maybe i'll come back with a lioness on my shoulder.''
''You? With a lioness on your shoulder? Don't make me laugh.''
''It's not impossible.''
I shook my head at the memory, the sadness and remorse from my life as a cub washing away as I turned and went back into the den, sneaking up to him with a smirk. ''MORNING!''
Connor quickly sat up, backing away and breathing heavily.
''Surprised ya, huh?'' I asked, bouncing around his tired frame with a grin. "I'm ready for my first lesson!"
''Kiara keep it down.'' He groaned, then smiled. "Let's go find Kovu and get it started so you can be an actually good hunter."
''And I suppose you can do better?''
"Kiara, it's commonplace for you to play second fiddle when it comes to hunting." He joked as I whipped him with my tail, then started running out of the den with him following.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
''Kovu.''
Nothing.
''Kovu, wake up.''
Again, nothing. Connor was poking Kovu, who was still somewhat asleep, albeit talking about a 'plan' and 'enacting wishes'.
All of the sudden, Kovu began waking up, yawning. ''You weren't kidding when you said 'we start at dawn', where you?''
''Nope.'' I smiled at the smirking lion. ''I was dead serious.''
''And you already woke Shujaa up. Must have sucked to him.''
''Oh, you wouldn't believe it.'' Connor teased as he put a paw on my head, rubbing it. ''She would do it as a cub, though. I would be taking a nap and be woken by her.''
As I twitched in annoyance, he continued, putting a finger on my nose. ''But I wouldn't have it any other way.''
''Connor, stop.''
''What fun would that be?''
''Let's just go.'' Kovu coughed as he got up and began walking away, Connor and I still bickering like cubs when we went behind him.
Sneaking through the grass, I stepped on a twig by accident, breaking it as I gritted my teeth. This was trickier than I thought.
My prey, Connor, was laying down, his face flat and claws tapping the ground. I thought of the days when I would practice pouncing on him back when we hated each other. Granted, I still had...somewhat of a crush on him, but I didn't let that get in the way.
"How best to explain your flaw, Princess? "Oh right...you're too loud in your approach."
''I'm...what? I'll have you know, my mom trains me in pouncing!''
''But she doesn't really call you out for your flaws, does she? You're simply a monarch clouded by her own ego and title."
"A monarch clouded by her eg- how dare you!?"
As I got closer, I sighed. He was right about one thing: I let my title change me, causing me to have a massive ego and look down on him and most people below my status. After he pointed it out did I begin to hate what i've become. And now I have changed back to who I was prior - The King's Daughter, nothing more and nothing less.
I don't want to be Queen, I just want to be me.
But I gotta get through this first.
As I pounced, he rolled out of the way, causing me to crash and tumble across the ground. Coughing, I looked at him with a sheepish grin. ''Uh...how did I do?''
''You did dreadful.'' He said, his face at least 10 inches from mine, causing my heart to beat rapidly. He frowned. "As I told you when we were cubs, you're too loud when you approach, letting objects distract you and make noise, alerting prey to your presence."
''Silence…'' We heard Kovu say, raking the dirt. "Feel the earth beneath you and let it guide you through hunting."
I got up and raked the dirt as well. "And this is to let me be more stealthy?"
"No, Kiara, it's to cause kingdom-rocking noise...of course it's to make you more silent." He smirked as I huffed in irritation. Embarrassing human. "You should've gotten used to my teasing, princess."
I coughed. ''"My title isn't who I am, Connor, we both know that. You don't need to call me by my position in royalty…"
''If I don't, i'll probably forget.''
''Wouldn't be the first time.''
''And probably won't be the last.''
As I twitched, we heard a roar and scream. Knowing it was Kovu, Connor and I trotted up to where he was, finding a terrified Timon under Kovu.
He began begging to the brown lion. ''Don't eat me! Please! I never met your tyrant-I mean Scar! Scar, oh, heck of a guy! A little bit moody, but-"
''Timon, what are you DOING HERE?'' I shouted as Timon breathed a sigh of relief at noticing Connor and I.
"Kiara! Shujaa! Thank goodness! Look, for once, we're not followin' ya.'' He started as I rolled my eyes. "This happens to be the best smorgasbord in the Pridelands! Bugs EVERYWHERE! But you don't call for a reservation and..sheesh.''
I giggled as a bird Timon tried to shoo away pecked him in the nose, causing his nose to go red.
''Hey! Maybe they can help!'' Pumbaa suggested, looking at my two friends, causing Timon to laugh,.
''Don't be absurd! There's no way they can-'' But then Timon blinked and smiled. ''Hey! What if they help?''
''What?''
Timon then jumped onto Connor's head while beating on it. ''How about it, buddy? Think you can lend a voice?''
Connor looked at me as I winked, causing him to shrug and roar, scattering the birds. Laughing, I ran after Kovu, who was following Timon and Pumbaa with Connor behind me.
''Why are we doing this?'' Kovu asked, shouting as we ran. ''What's the point of this training!?''
Training?
''Training? This is just for fun!'' I laughed as I sped up.
''Fun…?''
''Watch and learn, son of Zira!'' Connor said as he went right next to me, only for me to smirk and speed up with Kovu.
As we kept running, Kovu, Timon, Pumbaa and I stopped, us skidding to a halt as our faces turned to ones of horror, a herd of rhinos right in front of us.
''Uh o-OOF'' I fell as Connor ran into me, knocking us both down.
''Kiara? What's wro-'' I heard him say, only for him to go silent, looking at the rhinos. ''...Oh.''
The rhinos then started charging, Connor helping me up and running off, the five of us just wanting to get away from the rhinos who were hot on our tail.
I looked around for a possible hiding spot and noticed one. ''Connor, in here!''
I quickly went into the space with Connor right behind me, smudging us up together as the rhinos passed, the awkwardness apparent at how close we were.
''This is awkward.'' He said as I nervously chuckled. He looked at the other three, then back at me. ''Time to go.''
''Yeah…'' I said as I tried wrestling my way out, only for us to touch muzzles. My cheeks burned hotter than the sun as I looked at him, blushing before we pulled away. I struggled to say anything, whatever word I try to say is lost in a stammer until Timon saved us.
''Come on, ya lovebirds!'' Timon shouted as he, Pumbaa and Kovu left. We managed to get out before I looked at Connor.
''So...how about we not tell anyone about this?'' I asked and he nodded. ''It was an accident, after all.''
''Yeah. I mean, it's not like we'll get together or anything, let's just carry on with our day.''
However, as we began to trot after them, I turned back at him one last time.
''Connor…''
He stopped. ''Yeah?''
''Well…'' I blushed more. ''I dunno if I should be asking this..''
''You want me to date you, don't you?''
I sputtered. ''What?! Of course not!''
''Oh. Then what were you wanting?''
''Well...I just wanted to know…''
''Uh-huh…?''
''...Do you wanna watch the stars with me?''
