Chapter 2

As Simba walked through the lioness that lingered in the grassy plains beneath Pride Rock, he counted as many lioness as he could. At first, he counted twenty-four but he could have sworn there were more.

"Something wrong Simba?" asked a voice from behind. Simba turned and saw Nala.

"Yea. I thought Zira had fourteen lionesses with her." Simba said.

"She did. What's the problem?" Nala asked.

"I only counted twelve." Simba said.

"That's because two left." Vitani said as she approached the King and Queen.

"Did you know them?" Nala asked.

"Yes. Their names were Ella and Tasha. They were very close followers of my mother. When Zira fell off that cliff, they instantly disappeared. The hate in their hearts was just as strong as hers. It broke them to see her fall after Kiara tried to save her." Vitani explained.

"Do you know where they went?" Simba asked.

"No and I don't care either. They wanted to leave so I didn't stop them." Vitani said.

"Understandable." Nala said.

"Listen Nala, I wanted to apologize about yesterday. I didn't really understand what I was doing and I guess I was blinded by the things my mother had taught me. But I see now, that I have a lot of things to learn still. And I hope you will teach me all the things about the Pride Lands and the great Circle of Life." Vitani said.

"Of course Vitani. I understand. Trust me, I know everything you went through. I lived with Scar my whole life." Nala explained. Simba growled at the mention of Scar's name. "Sorry Simba." The King walked away and let the lionesses talk alone.

"Come on, let's go find Kiara." Nala said.

"Wait, there's a lioness that was among our pride that I want you to meet. Her name is Sanaa and she is like Rafiki in talents. She's been helping him all morning." Vitani said.

"That is wonderful. We could use another healer." Nala said.

"She's over there helping Nuru." Vitani pointed with her paw. The two lionesses walked over and Vitani began the introductions.

Behind Pride Rock, Kovu and Kiara were spending time together without the spying eye of Simba. The King was still getting use to the idea of his daughter being in love and he was still a little skeptical of Kovu he just didn't want to admit it.

"Are you sure your father won't find us here?" Kovu asked.

"I'm sure. My great uncle Scar use to hang around here so my dad doesn't really come here anymore." Kiara said. Kovu looked around as if Simba would pop up at any moment.

"Are you ok, Kovu?" Kiara asked.

"Yea. Your dad is just very intimidating." Kovu said.

"Don't worry Kovu. My father isn't nearly as intimidating as my mother." Kiara said.

"What? Your father is huge and stern and-" Kovu was at a loss of words when it came to Simba. He marveled at how well Simba ruled and how he wasn't afraid of anything. Even Zira.

"True. But my mother is the one that has a temper. My mother can handle herself very well and to be honest, my father would be lost without her." Kiara said. Kovu smiled at his mate and his nervousness went away. Sort of.

"Kiara, I know you will be Queen someday and you will be a great one. I just don't know if I can rule with you." Kovu said. It was hard for him to admit this to her but he figured it was the right time to say it. While they were alone.

"What do you mean?" Kiara asked.

"I mean what if I mess up? What if I crack under pressure or the animals in the Pride Lands don't accept me?" Kovu asked. The young male got up and sat on his hunches. His shoulders were slumped and he sighed in defeat.

"Kovu, when I was a cub I didn't want to be Queen. In fact I still don't. But there comes a point in time when we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love." Kiara said. Kovu looked at her and gave her a slight smile. It wasn't a full smile but it was one that sort of gave the Princess hope.

"Ok. Can we go now? Your dad might kill me if he finds us out here alone." Kovu said.

"Uhh, too late." Kiara said. Kovu's eyes went wide and he quickly turned around and slammed right into Simba's chest and fell on his back. Kiara started laughing and then fell on her back.

"Ok Kiara that's enough." Simba said. The princess sat up but she still continued to make small giggles.

"Simba, sir, I told her we shouldn't be here." Kovu stuttered. Kiara came and sat next to him and Simba rasied his eyebrows.

"Kiara, you know how I feel about you being back here." Simba said.

"I'm sorry daddy. I just wanted to be alone with Kovu. We needed to talk." Kiara explained.

"What was so important that you had to hide?" Simba asked.

"Nothing. I just wanted to be alone with him." Kiara said.

"Well, no more of that today. Did you even get your wounds checked out?" Simba asked.

"Yes I did and Rafiki said I'm fine. I have a few cuts but he said they weren't bad." Kiara said. Simba's eyes went from his daughter to Kovu.

"How about you Kovu?" Simba asked.

"Nothing too bad. Just a small injury from when my sister knocked me out when I tried to save you from the ambush." Kovu said.

Simba eyed his daughter and her mate suspiciously. The king trusted Kovu he just couldn't bring himself to admit it just yet. But the young male had started to grow on the king, showing that he can protect what he loved.

"Come on you two. We have things to do and others to meet. And Kovu, my mother would like a word with you." Simba said as he walked away with Kovu and Kiara following him. Kovu froze. "Don't worry, she won't bite." Simba stopped and looked over his shoulder at Kovu. "Unless she needs to." Simba said. Kiara giggled and stood beside Kovu.

"He's kidding Kovu. I think." Kiara said. Her smile dropped and she looked at her dad. He smiled, winked, and kept walking. She chuckled and nudged Kovu to keep walking.

"You'll be fine." Kiara said. Kovu gave her a nervous smile.

"Simba, where have you been?" Nala asked as Simba nearly crashed into her.

"I was looking for Kiara and Kovu." Simba said.

"Well, you have other things to do instead of following your daughter around all day." Nala said.

"But, Nala-" Simba started.

"No, Simba. Leave her alone and tend to your Kingly duties." Nala said. She had been left alone for some time tending to the new additions as well as her own pride mates.

"You better do what she says Simba. You might be stripped of your title." Sarabi said as she walked up. Simba sighed.

"Yes mom." Simba said. The king walked away and smiled when he looked back. Sarabi chuckled at her son then turned to Kovu.

"Come Kovu. We need to talk." Sarabi said. Kovu smiled nervously and turned to Kiara. She smiled up at him.

"Don't worry Kovu. She's sweet." Kiara gave him a lick on the cheek and walked away with her mother. Kovu sucked in a deep sigh and released. He followed Sarabi into the savannah and was a nervous wreck.

Sorry guys that was kinda long but I want to make this better. I want to feel like the characters are coming to life and you can see everything happening. Anyway, Let me know what you think.