Starting with a small time skip on this one. Enjoy the chapter!
Like any other year the raining season had come over the Pridelands. Just as Simba remembered it the sky would be clouded completely for a couple of weeks and rain would pour down incessantly. As a cub he used to enjoy going out getting wet and playing in the mud, but as of right now Simba wasn't having fun in the least and just prayed it'd end soon.
Considering this was his first raining season as king Simba had learned a lot of things the hard way. Having tasted for a little while how good power felt the hyenas took advantage of the chaotic rainstorms, and in the hopes of going by unnoticed tried to sneak into the Pridelands to get something to eat. Zazu keeping watch of the hyenas' activity was really helpful, but Simba was slowly getting tired of chasing hyenas away several times a day.
As tired as he was though he was at least thankful that running around often helped keep his mind off Zira. Ever since Nala announced the coming of their second cub Simba had finally been at ease for some time, but when the hyenas started doing mischief Simba went to almost days without thinking about Zira once. It was a relief to be sure, but he could use a break.
Hurrying to step inside Pride Rock's den Simba sighed relieved and shook the water off him as much as he could, his mane slightly puffing up in the process. That day in particular had been really tiring, and Simba was ready to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Catching his eyesight almost instantly Simba smiled at seeing Nala cleaning Kiara, the cub pouting annoyed at being held hostage between her mother's paws.
"Hey you two." Simba greeted tiredly, interrupting Kiara's bath to nuzzle Nala lovingly.
"Hi daddy!"
Kiara took the moment Nala was distracted to wiggle out of her mother's grasp and ran to rub her body against Simba's paws. By that point Simba's mane would already be covering Kiara's head as he greeted back, but when it never came Kiara looked up with a pout to see what was keeping her father so distracted.
"Long day?" Nala asked with an empathetic smile.
"You know it." Simba chuckled, letting Nala settle beneath his muzzle. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing just fine."
From beneath Simba Kiara scowled confused. She knew Simba wasn't afraid of showing his feelings for both her and Nala, and though she was aware his love for Nala was different from hers he seemed a little more affectionate than usual towards her mother.
Pulling away from Nala Simba let himself fall on the ground with a huff, sighing contently upon finally being able to relax.
"Daddy!" Kiara whined annoyed and climbed on Simba's back to get his attention.
"Hey princess." Simba yawned.
Kiara kept climbing up Simba's mane until she was able to lie down atop his head.
"I didn't see you at all today." Kiara mumbled disappointed.
Simba looked up at Kiara and smiled apologetically "I know, sorry about that. It's just that I was very busy today."
Kiara frowned.
"Chasing hyenas again? I could have gone with you…"
Simba chuckled. Back when he was a cub he would have loved to go chase hyenas with his father; there had even been several times he tried to tag along but was always sent back home with Zazu. Looking back Simba could relate to Kiara, but now he could relate the most to Mufasa.
"It's too dangerous for you Kiara." Simba explained amicably.
Simba yawned again and Nala softly nudged Kiara to climb off him.
"Come on Kiara, your father wants to go to sleep."
Sighing in defeat Kiara did as she was told and curled up by Simba's other side.
This wasn't the first time Kiara hadn't seen Simba throughout the day. For several days she had been meaning to talk with him, because even though her questions over Scar had been resolved the moment they did Kiara was once again overcome with that cold feeling of dread and self-doubt.
Even though Kiara did her best to wake up early Simba was always already gone, and she wouldn't see him until night came and he was at the verge of succumbing to sleep. It was as if something out there didn't want her to talk with Simba, and the more time passed the more Kiara's insecurities slowly grew. Kiara wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle it much longer, and she didn't want to know either what would happen when her limit was crossed.
Lying down his head next to Nala´s Simba breathed drowsily.
"Having a Lion Guard would be pretty good right about now…" Simba mumbled under his breath, causing Nala to chuckle sympathetically.
"Perhaps the Pridelands will see a new Lion Guard not so long in the future." Nala mused happily.
Simba turned his eyes to meet Nala's knowingly, a smile forming on his face before he finally let his eyelids fall.
Too distracted in her own thoughts Kiara barely listened to what her parents were talking about, but when Simba's breathing next to her turned slow and steady Kiara let herself be lulled to sleep by its gentle rhythm.
The moment the first rays of sun were visible through the thick group of clouds Kiara jerked awake. Her mind yelled at her to catch Simba before he left, but when she stood up she noticed he was already gone. How could Simba leave so early?
Kiara sighed defeated. It was going to be the same thing all over again, if she was lucky she'd see Simba running somewhere in the distance or get to briefly greet him when he returned late at night. Was it really too much to ask to have a conversation with her father?
Looking outside the den Kiara saw Nala sitting at the edge of Pride Rock, overseeing some lionesses getting ready to go hunting. Kiara would have preferred to talk with Simba, but perhaps her mother could be of some help as well, after all she was the queen. There was a chance Nala knew what Kiara was feeling.
Stepping outside Kiara walked towards Nala to sit down by her side. The sky was cloudy just as yesterday, and from where they were sitting they could see very far in the distance thunder falling down. Kiara inwardly hoped Simba hadn't gone in that direction.
"Good morning Kiara."
Kiara did her best to muster a convincing smile. "Good morning."
Not entirely sure how to suddenly bring up the subject Kiara remained quiet as she thought. Should she ask first if being queen was difficult? Or maybe ask what Nala felt when she was named queen? Or perhaps just be straightforward and share her thoughts?
Kiara glanced down at the savannah frantically as she kept pondering what her best option was, however upon spotting the lionesses leaving Pride Rock to go hunt Kiara's thoughts drastically changed direction.
"Say mom, you've stopped going to the hunts for a while now. Why's that?"
Nala discreetly glanced down at her growing belly with a smile. As of late it had slowly been showing more, and she was surprised Kiara hadn't asked her anything about it, but maybe she hadn't even noticed.
"Your father asked me to stop hunting."
Kiara frowned confused.
"What? Why?"
Nala chuckled at Kiara's genuine confusion.
"Because I'm having a cub soon."
Kiara's expression went from incredulous to surprised in an instant. Exactly like Simba Kiara remained in shock for a few seconds, as if analyzing all the implications.
"You're going to be a big sister Kiara." Nala added softly.
Until Nala said it directly Kiara gasped with a smile of realization. The gears in her mind turned and Kiara directed her gaze to Nala's belly, berating herself for not noticing before that it had been slowly getting bigger. How did that even escape her?
"Are you serious?" Kiara asked with a hopeful smile.
"Of course I am." Nala chuckled. "I wouldn't lie about something like that."
Kiara felt her chest fill with excitement. She was going to have a sibling, that was like meeting a brand new friend and growing with them the rest of your life! Someone she could hang out and play with whenever Tiifu and Zuri weren't in the mood, because honestly speaking those two had their lazy days from time to time.
Not only could she play and hang out with her sibling, but Kiara could teach a lot of things to them. She could guide her sibling in experiencing all sorts of things for the first time, and if the day was over and they still had energy for more they could just keep talking before going to sleep, though ultimately stopping when either Simba or Nala told them to.
"That's great!" Kiara beamed happily.
'I'm going to be a big sister!'
Kiara kept repeating the thought over and over excitedly, but as it kept whirling in her mind it suddenly settled down as it struck her.
"I'm… I'm going to be a big sister." Kiara mumbled to herself, the previous smile on her face slowly vanishing.
Could she be a good older sister?
As much as she didn't want to the thought began nagging at her. Why was she suddenly struck with concern? She was supposed to be happy. Her family was going to grow bigger, that was great news! So why then? Why did doubt consume her so suddenly? On its own it was already bad enough, but her insecurity joined her fears of becoming queen to weigh down even worse on her chest.
Nala watched curiously as Kiara's excitement visibly faded. It was easy to see there was something in her mind bothering her, but before she could ask about it Kiara went ahead and spoke up first.
"Mom…" Kiara turned to look at Nala with a worried frown. "Do you think I'm going to be a good queen?"
The sudden change of subject and the genuine concern in Kiara's eyes caused Nala to frown preoccupied.
"Of course I do Kiara, why would you think otherwise?"
"It's just… what if I'm not good enough?" Kiara's voice turned slightly higher, highlighting her desperation. "Didn't you and dad ever think of that? What if I don't make the right choices? There's no way to know I'm going to be a good queen! I could harm the Pridelands just like Scar did!"
Nala scooted closer to Kiara and leaned down to be at her eye level. She let Kiara regain her breath from her brief outburst, speaking up until she was sure Kiara was paying her attention.
"Kiara, you're going to be a good queen. Your father and I have never doubted it for a second, and do you want to know why?"
Kiara nodded shyly, her head and ears slightly lowered.
"Because you are our daughter, and we believe in you." Nala smiled reassuringly. "We know you, and we know you're going to be a great queen. There's no one else in the world with whom we'd trust the Pridelands to other than you."
"…Really?"
Nala got closer to nuzzle Kiara with a loving smile.
"Really."
Licking her face affectionally Nala nudged softly Kiara's head to make her look upwards.
"So cheer up okay? Trust me, you're going to do just fine."
Kiara mustered a smile as she nodded.
"Thanks mom." Stepping back embarrassed Kiara cleared her throat, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "I'm-I'm going with Tiifu and Zuri." She chuckled nervously.
Kiara turned around and walked in Nala's opposite direction, climbing down from Pride Rock.
"Be careful."
Kiara heard Nala call amicably, but she ignored it, or at least didn't bother to let Nala know she had heard her. Kiara kept walking until she was sure she was far away enough from Nala, and finding the nearest tree to sit beneath its shade Kiara finally let the fake smile of relief turn into a frown.
Though she appreciated her mother's efforts that didn't exactly make her feel any better. If anything that talk only let Kiara know both her parents had high expectations of her, and the added pressure wasn't of any help.
Kiara didn't think it was possible, but she felt worse than she did when she woke up.
