Disclaimer: This is my first Lion King fanfiction, and it may be a little mature, just thought I would warn you now. I do not own any of the characters, aside for my original characters (OC). This is inspired by several themes, but mostly, The Lion King, Simba's Pride. Hope you enjoy.

Quick A/N: Names and Meanings- Amri- male- powerful; authority

Nia- female- radiance; bright

*text here* = character thoughts

This is story symbolizing the realistic animalistic mating themes that male lions tend to do. So I was thinking, Simba has a daughter, but what if he had a son, by another lioness? This is the story about that Lion, and the Kingdom that is rightfully his, and his journey.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews, you all have inspired me to continue on, especially T5Tango and Kate, whom have been faithful readers since chapter 1. We are jumping a few years, similar to the movie, Amri is now considered to be in his teenaged years, so he may be around 3 to 4 years of age.

Chapter 4

Not you!

"This pride is too large, we cannot continue hunting antelope to stay alive. We need more protein" Kiara spoke proudly, her voice echoing a-top Pride Rock.

"What do you suggest?" Nala asked watching a growing Amri run up Pride Rock to his mother. Amri was now in his teenage years, a small silvery mane, now beginning to show itself along his face and neck. He was aging beautifully, his lean muscular form exuding the strength and power of a young King. Simba stood beside Nala, arching a curious eyebrow at his daughter.

"We need to hunt two giraffes" she stated boldly. Nia shook her head, unable to be silent.

"Hunting one giraffe is dangerous enough, but two? That would be asinine, we will die before we could dream of taking the beast down" Nia said, sitting beside her son. Amri was silent as he sat beside his never aging mother, her blue eyes, pierced Kiara's flaming ones, waiting to hear her ridiculous strategy.

"If we split into two separate prides, nine lions in each pride, we will be successful"

"How? Many of the young one's in this pride are not ready for such a hunt. Are you ready for the hunt, Kiara?" Nia challenged, frustrated with the ideal of such a dangerous hunt.

"Hold it Nia!" Simba shouted, stepping to Nia. "How dare you question Kiara in such a demeaning manner?" He growled.

"How dare I? That child does not know the first thing about hunting, let alone creating a strong enough strategy to kill not one, but two giraffes. Our hunger is fueling our aggression, but there is not enough aggression in this land to fuel us to kill two giraffes" Nia stated straightening her shoulders before the King.

"Kovu, Amri, and I will assist you all" Simba declared.

"No! Amri is not ready. Why must we hunt a giraffe? We would have a better chance killing two wildebeest, and still get our fill" Nala was angered by Nia's words, she was undermining Kiara, and that will not happen under her watch.

"Kiara understands the risks, and also understands our needs. The heavy rains have scattered the herds, we must get something large enough to feed us all" Nala said, walking beside her daughter. Nia titled her head, and shook it in disapproval. Amri watched the exchange between the three lionesses. The older he has gotten the worst their relationships became. Amri trusted his mother, and knows she understands the herds, and believes anything she says.

"My mother has been hunting alone, all her life, and even with the Pride's help, her limitations have not changed…"

"What is your point Amri?" Kovu asked with frustration.

"A lion can only do, what a lion can do. I am not saying it is impossible for all of us to hunt and kill a giraffe, but having such good fortune twice is surely unlikely. I think we should change what we hunt, and not risk our lives trying to get our fill on one meal" Amri stated boldly. His mother nods her approvals, a slight smile playing at her lips. Nala and Kiara were still holding-strong to what they believe should be done.

"I understand Amri, but this is what needs to be done" Nala said matter-of-factly. In reality, she agreed with him, as did Simba, but Nala had to show Nia that she and Kiara understood the lands, just as much she did. "We leave as the sun sets under the Pride Lands"

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The Pride ventured off into the Pride Lands, the African Savannah moon, cooling their still blazing coats. Nia led the first group, while Kiara led the second. The giraffes were easily found near the watering hole, an unusual spot for two giraffes at nightfall. The prides hid within the tall grass and underneath the trees beside the watering hole. The two giraffes began to battle, fighting for superiority over the watering hole. At first glance, it seemed to be a beautiful dance between lovers, but with trained eyes, Nia could see the brute force of their hits. The hardened skulls of the long necked beasts, beating at one another, a dance for dominance. Nia couldn't believe her eyes, this may work, they may be able to get both of the giraffes. Nia saw Kiara beginning to stalk before the two giraffes, and Nia quickly and silently went to cut her off.

"Stay put!" Nia reprimanded quietly. "Allow them to exhaust themselves, and then we will make our move" Nia instructed. Kiara took a step back, breaking a twig beneath the power of her paws as she did so. The giraffes looked up, with a sense of awareness; thankfully the winds were in the lionesses favor, hiding their scent from the two giraffes. One of the giraffes began to walk towards the sound, exploring what it could have been, if anything at all. Nia silently cursed under her breath, frustrated with Kiara, and her lack of experience. Nia was closest to the on-coming giraffe, and she stalked about, ensuring she was hidden beneath the tall grass. She maneuvered herself around the giraffe so she was now behind it. Nia geared her rear legs, embedding the power of them into the earth, ready to push herself to the animal when necessary. Her claws scraped the Earth, the vibrations of the animal surging through the dirt right to her paws. As the giraffe closed the distance to Kiara, Nia feared it may stomp on Kiara when he realized what she was indeed a hungry lion. Nia pushed off, the power of her hind legs forcing her against the wind, her speed bleeding through her lean body. Nia jumped on the back of the giraffe, digging her claws in the skin of the giraffe, as she ran up the back of the beast. It kicked it's hind legs, sending Nia flying forward to the front of the giraffe. Nia caught herself at the neck of the beast, digging her teeth into it, cutting off it's air supply. Nala led the remaining lionesses to the retreating giraffe, while Kiara stayed, frozen in her spot, her fear not allowing her to retreat or assist in the kill. The other lionesses were more fortunate than Nia, taking down the giraffe quickly, slowly killing it.

"Help Nia" Nala ordered. Several of the lionesses obeyed and ran to Nia's assistance, but unfortunately they didn't get their quickly enough. The giraffe threw Nia to the ground, the brute force of the impact cracking her ribs. The giraffe ran to Kiara, trying to hit her with it's powerful hoof, causing Kiara to awake from her fugue. Kiara ran to her mother, like she did as a cub, feeling a fear she has not felt in so long. The giraffe turned it's attention back to Nia and stomped on her, the brute force crushing her chest. Nala ran as fast as she could to Nia, pushing to get to her.

"Nia!"

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"Relax Amri" Kovu said, giggling at the restless lion.

"I can't, something is wrong"

"What could go wrong?" Simba asked, giggling at his son. Amri was more like him than he could ever think. Amri looked out and could smell the lionesses approach Pride Rock, but the sense of something off was still in his heart.

"They are coming" Amri declared running down Pride Rock.

"Amri" Simba and Kovu ran after the young lion, giggling at his eagerness, but upon their approach to the lionesses, they understood where his anxiety stemmed from. On the back of Nala, was a bleeding, dying, Nia, a mother, fighting to stay with her son. Amri stopped before Nala, not believing what he was seeing. He began to slip from his conscious state, a sense of fatigue suddenly hitting him, hitting him harder than it did seeing his mom in such a state.

"Put her down" he demanded softly, a tone she has used many times. He crouched beside her, licking her nose, nuzzling her cheek. "Mom"

"Son" she called weakly. Amri looked at her, those once vibrant blue eyes now glazed and dull, a look he has only seen on dead carcasses. "Listen, to me Amri, there is so much I want to say…so much I have not said..told you" she paused, licking her dry lips.

"Hush mom, save your strength" he begged, his eyes feeling heavy with the weight of tears.

"There is nothing to save child, I am dying Amri. Know, I love you, and I will always be with you" She kissed him one last time, and took her last breath. Amri closed his eyes as he felt her spirit slip from her body. Amri roughly shut his eyes, and stood to his feet, looking to Nala and Kiara, a rage surging through him. If they had listen to her, this would not have happened, and she has paid the ultimate price.

"You did this" he growled.

"No Amri" Nala squealed, running to Kiara's defense.

"Both of you are to blame! She told you…she said…" Amri turned away from them, allowing the tears to fall freely. No matter what he said, nothing could change the fact that his mother was gone, no matter how much he wished he could change it. He wiggled beneath her body and lifted her on his back, he had to leave Pride Rock, but he would not let his mother's body stay there to be a feast for scavengers. He will bury her, and then find a new life, or find…something.

"Where are you going?" Kiara asked, fighting back her tears.

"Away from all of you, but I will not let my mother's body stay there" He looked over his shoulder at the royal family. "You all took something priceless from me, much like Scar took something priceless from all of you!"