Nalalicious, TMNTTLK lover and CandyLuv99 thanks for the reviews. Things will start to strengthen out soon enough.

Enjoy.

It has been exactly two weeks since the unexpected attack on the king and queen, and since young Killian been in unconscious. The light beige adolescent was almost two years old and his black mane was growing in nicely.

Douglas and Eliza has been inseparable since the news of the attack. But for Princess Ayko, the pale golden cub couldn't leave Killian's side. She didn't know why but she guess she wanted to thank him personally before he swarmed by his family and Rafiki. As the future queen stared intensively at the older male she couldn't stop thinking about how handsome he was.

Ayko shook her head before looking towards the small cave entrance at the sound of apporching paws. Outside the princess could see it was a bit before noon. As the source of the apporching paws turned out to be her mother.

"There you are, Ayko. I have been looking for you." came the queen's voice as she entered further into the small cave. Her brown eyes widen as she caught the dreamy expression on her daughter's face. She quickly cleared her throat, "Ayko? Are you ready for your first lesson?"

Ayko lowered her head and looked away, mostly focusing on the far corner of the cave. She feared this day was coming and wished is was delayed. But she followed the golden orange lioness out of the cave and down the rocky slope anyway.

Kiara smiled at her daughter, who was walking by her side as she started, "I see you had a bit of a taste of the responsibility of being queen."

Ayko nodded as she listened carefully. Kiara was referring to the night she and Kovu was away. Ayko didn't have to do anything while the king and queen were away but it gave her a idea of the future and what would be held on her shoulders. Mother and daughter had gone far out into the grass so they could be by themselves. The careful eyes of Kovu and Simba watched the queen and princess from the peak of Priderock.

"My mother, grandma, Nala first taught me about the duties on how to lead hunts. I will start there. As Queen, you will become lead huntress. Unless you are unable to do it for some reason, like being pre...I mean sick or just unable to hunt." She gave her eldest a innocent smile. "In any case, you will choose another lioness to hold the position of lead huntress until you are able to return to your duties. When I step down, Ayko, I am giving you this responsibility."

Ayko could barely nod. This was the first lesson and she was already getting cold paws. Her as lead huntress? What if she screwed up a hunt, then the pride will go hungry and it'll be her fault.

"Perhaps, we should start with something lighter." Kiara's voice brought Ayko out of her inner fight. Kiara knew that look of despair, she had it when she was young and unsure of her role as queen.

"Hey, Kiara! Wait up," came the leader of the Lion Guard winded voice.

Kiara and Ayko turned from the top of the small hill they stood on to see the fiercest in the Pridelands and the Douglas and Eliza.

Ayko looked up at her mother before paw at the queen's foreleg. "Mom, what's going on?"

Eliza had the same look of confusion as her sister and brother. Only to receive smiles from their mother and uncle before the queen and prince started off towards the the waterhole. Ayko and her siblings shared a look of confusion before scampering after the adults.

Ayko, Douglas and Eliza looked around, wondering where they were going. To looked ahead when they heard someone address their mother and uncle. Up ahead was a pretty stocky light yellowish cheetah. By his pale paws was a light gold cheetah cub, looking at them with anxious greenish eyes.

"My queen and prince. It's always a pleasure."

Kiara nod her head before turning it to her cubs. "Children, this is the cheetah leader. Rusher. Along with his and Fuli's son, Flash."

"Where is Fuli?" Eliza asked looking around with scanning brown eyes.

Kion smiled before ruffling the fur on his niece's head. "She is with the other guard members, training the new group of trainees."

Douglas frowned before looking to his mother. "Why are we all here?"

Kiara shook her head. "Rusher and Fuli are your uncle's second paw. Some day, you three will have to go through the patrols with Flash. Like Rusher does with your father, uncle and grandfather. On occasionally, me too."

Eliza folded her ears forward. "It's understandable. Considering that we have to work together."

Kiara and Kion smiled proudly before the queen looked at the other two. "Are you ready to meet the rest of the Guard?"

Ayko frowned as she lowered her head, not that all sure about her place. "I guess.."

Kiara sighed before looking at the sky before looking at her cubs who were sitting beside one another, with Ayko in the middle. "I'm going to share something that I learned from your grandfather," Ayko was still skeptical about her role she has to play but her ears perked along with Douglas and Eliza. The golden orange lioness smiled warmly before continuing, "Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that's not the half of it, it is the small, everyday deeds of everyone - the pride, animals - that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."

While Douglas and Eliza were excited about their future roles while the future queen forward her ears. There were a lot of things she had to learn. Of course she have a year and eight months to learn what she needed to rule. But Ayko was beginning to have doubts about living up to her mother's legacy.

...

North from the Pridelands' eastern borders was a land that known as the Shorelands. The kingdom wasn't large as their week away neighbor. The small kingdom was ruled by a old king, until he was brutality murdered. Leaving the line of succession to the old king's adopted sons. Prince Hassan and Prince Kipawa. True to his name the oldest son, was handsome. Covered with tawny fur, luscious dark red mane. Kipawa was easy on the eyes as well, light gold fur and a dark brown mane.

Near the western border of the Shorelands was hill with a large cave built in the middle. Walking out of the cave was King Hassan, himself. His amber eyes scanning before stopping on a apporching goldish-peach lioness.

"Ahhh. Keelah, what brings you to me this fine evening?"

Keelah shuddered before focusing her pale blue eyes on the tawny king. "I'm pregnant..."

A growl caused the two to look and see a glaring rusty brown lioness. If looks could kill, the king would be dead. "I'm pregnant with your cub as well."

Hassan grinned, showing his rows of sharp teeth. "More the merrier. Now if you excuse me, I'm in search of my brother."

The two lionesses scowled at Hassan's retreating form. While Hassan headed to the south side of his kingdom where a river ran along the border. Standing by the river bank was the second prince of the Shorelands, Kipawa. The light gold lion looked like he was in deep concentration as his bright green eyes stared at the currently calm water.

"Ah, there you are little brother." Hassan called as he trotted over to the light gold lion. "Thinking about home?"

Before Kipawa could respond his attention went to the hill that his brother not too long ago climbed down where there was two lions he and his brother knew very well. Dhampir and Osiris.

Hassan turned as well and raised a dark red eye brow as he moved his focus on the apporching males. "Is the job complete?"

The tannish, russet mane lion and the younger pale peach, brownish mane lion looked at one another before the pale peach lion turned terrified pale blue eyes on the tawny king.

"We failed, my liege. But we did manage to kill...Kosar's oldest son...I think.."

Hassan narrowed his amber eyes. "You think?" without warning he back hitted the young lion, sending Osiris sliding a few across the wet grass. "I don't keep you around for your thoughts!"

Kipawa stepped between his brother and the down lion. "Hey, I think he gets it."

Before Kipawa had time to react his brother struck him across his face. The larger male quickly pounced, pinning his brother hard to the ground. His sharp claws digging dangerously into Kipawa's neck.

"You'll know the next time to interfere, brother..." with a snarl, Hassan stepped back and pushed his mane back. "Now, you are going with Keelah and Rhea to the Pridelands."

Kipawa gasped, trying to regain his breathing. When he got to his paws he glanced at Hassan. "Why take them?"

Hassan smirked. "They're pregnant. I thought you knew. Considering how close you are to them...especially Keelah. So you won't have any trouble getting in."

Kipawa frowned but decided to keep quiet. He didn't want another thrashing from his brother. With a dip of his head, Kipawa turned and walked towards the cave to collect Keelah and Rhea, so he could start out towards the Pridelands.