Chapter. 11

A/N: I do not own the Lion King. Wish I did though. That would be totally awesome!

Amei ran off Pride Rock as fast as her legs would take her. She knew that Simba would be right behind her, but all that mattered was that she made sure Kiara was all right. She should have gone with her; fires don't start when the weather is nice. As she neared the river that bordered the Pridelands, she noticed that her niece was not alone. She snuck up on them to see what they were talking about.

"I think I'm the guy that just saved your life."

Kiara's 'rescuer' was a medium sized lion, with Kovu's coloring. Amei smelt a plot. Kovu knew the laws of the Pridelands. Simba would not be happy to see his 'rival' in his kingdom; and defiantly would not be willing to spare his life. Amei ran up to the two lions just as Simba ran up, roaring. Kovu roared back. It looked as if they were going to fight.

"Kiara, why were you so close to the fire?" Amei asked, even though she knew the truth. Timon and Pumba would have been caught by her; those two knew nothing of stealth. Amei caught them following her almost every day while she was out hunting.

"Hey you! How dare you save the king's daughter!" a familiar voice rang out.

"Tactful, Rafiki." Amei muttered under her breath. But she was glad. This would at least prevent Simba from killing Kovu on the spot.

"You saved her? Why?" Simba asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I humbly ask to join your pride." Kovu said. Amei felt torn; while she remembered Kovu she still didn't want to be forced to recall that time of her past.

"NO! You were banished with the other outsiders." Simba roared in Kovu's face.

"I've left them. I'm now a rouge. Judge me now for who I am, or am I to be punished for a crime I didn't commit?" Kovu asked. Amei did have to admit, Kovu made some great arguments.

"Simba, you owe him your daughter's life." Amei pointed out.

"Yes, sire. Clearly we are in his debt, and royal protocol demands that all debts be paid. Although in this case, you might want to make an exception." Zazu said, landing on a rock in front of Simba.

"Alright. My father's law stands. For now, I reserve judgment. Lets see who you really are." Simba said and walked off.

Just as he turned to fly off, Zazu muttered, "Riffraff." Kovu turned and gave a small smirk to Kiara, who perked up at his look. Amei exchanged a glance with Nala, recognizing a crush when they saw one. Walking back was tense, and it turned even tenser when Kovu tried to enter the cave.

"Really Simba," Amei muttered as she passed by her brother. Could her brother be more immature?

"I don't trust him," Simba growled back.

"A blind monkey could see that," Amei huffed and curled up in her spot. That night marked the return of her nightmares. She could see Scar ruling over the Pridelands, of him coming into the cave on her twelfth birthday. She could see the day he declared her to be his queen. Amei awoke with a start, and saw that it was still nighttime. Almost dawn actually; she was slightly amazed at how little sleep she had managed to get. She walked down to the watering hole, to take a drink of water.

"Rough night?" a voice asked from behind her. Amei turned around to see her brother, wearing the same slightly tired look she was sure was on her face as well.

"You know, I thought you grew out of following me everywhere?" she asked, avoiding the question.

"Old habits die hard, I guess." Simba chuckled and then sobered up. "Now, come on. I know you Amei. I remember having to drag you by your tail at times to wake you up."

"That's when I was one," she huffed.

"Doesn't change the fact that I had to do it," Simba told her while shaking his head; his red mane whipping his face. Amei had grown up not confiding in anyone except her mother. Having one's father die, their brother be thought dead, and their uncle wanting to make them his queen would do that to you. She huffed, went back to Pride Rock and curled back into her spot.

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When Amei came back out a few hours later, she was surprised to find that she had fallen asleep.

"Hi there, sleepyhead," Sarabi walked up to her. Amei faked a smile and yawned.

"Hi Mom," Amei said back. "Did I miss anything?"

"I handled your patrol," she said.

"Oh!" Amei exclaimed. "I slept past through my patrol?"

Her mother nodded.

"Thanks Mom," Amei smiled and yawned again. Sarabi frowned.

"Maybe you should go back to bed," she said. "You seem tired."

"I'm fine Mom," Amei said and walked off before her mother could say anything else. Sarabi sighed and watched her youngest walk off. Amei had been forced to grow up so quickly; Sarabi wondered if she would ever just relax, and find a mate.

There used to be a pride along the river, just past the southern boarder of the Pridelands. Maybe Zazu could pass a message to the king to have one of his sons come and visit? Sarabi just wanted the best for her children, and if someone could make Amei act like the eighteen year old that she was instead of like a fifty year old lioness-the kind that Sarabi could see in her daughter's eyes whenever she looked at her-that would make her happy. A slight breeze ruffled her fur and smiled.

"I know you would disapprove," she whispered to the wind. "I miss you Mufassa."

A/N: I know, I know! It's short and late! But I kid you not, I've been so busy that I actually forgot about this story!

*ducks any projectiles that have been thrown*

Please review!