As time went on, Mheetu couldn't really tell who was right. His family was becoming more and more feared, and Hatari was becoming disliked for a cub. His parents and uncle weren't always well liked, but the animals obivously liked Kion much better than Kiara and Kopa.

Paka suggested joining a rebellion and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't go up against his family despite how he didn't like the things they were doing. Hatari was getting on his nerves the more he spoke about ruling the lands together. Kopa wasn't the best uncle and tried changing his mind into more of an angry one. Kiara decided to ignore him, saying he needed to learn to be on his own while she attended Hatari, and Mheetu didn't mind.

They weren't close at all anyways.

That left his father, whom he didn't want to hurt. His father was innocent and Rafiki always said something about his heart having just a spark of light that needed help to light up the flame of going against his family. Did this mean Mheetu had to go against them?

One day, his father woke up him up early and Mheetu grumbled about how he wanted to sleep. Kion chuckled as he watched his teenage son grudgingly getting up, shaking out his growing man and stretched out before following. Blocking Hatari's path when the cub tried to follow, and glared before jumping to catch up with his father.

Hatari grumbled and turned around before he was knocked down onto the ground.

"Hey! What's the big deal?"

The lion he had bumped into growled and Hatari went still. "Is that anyway to speak to your father?"

Hatari shook in his place before gulping down his fears. He bowed his head to his father and looked ashamed he had lashed out at his father. "I'm sorry, dad. I didn't mean it. I thought you were someone else."

Kopa sighed before rolling his eyes, moving so he could go on with his duties.

TLK: DOTNO

Kion walked with his son long enough to know there was something on the young teen's mind but didn't speak. As they passed by, many animals bowed their heads in respect but Mheetu could see clouds of rebellions shining clearly and nearly winced.

The prince just couldn't get his mind off of what Paka once told him. Was going up against his family really such a bad thing? His family wasn't the nicest lions around, and no doubt other prides knew what was going on.

But... could he really go up against them with Paka?

"Mheetu?"

Mheetu turned his orange - amber eyes onto his father with a confused expression. Kion just stared back with the same expression before sucking in a breath.

"What is it?" Mheetu asked, arching an eyebrow. "What's wrong, father? Why do you look like you want to tell me something?"

Kion shifted nervously before sitting down. "Do you know what happened to your grandmother?"

Mheetu stopped still at the words. He hadn't really thought about his grandmother, Nala. All he knew was she was close to his own father. "No. I don't."

He could tell the subject was touchy for his father. That's what everyone told him and sternly said to never ask about the deceased queen of the Pridelands for his sake and for his father's sake. They all said the memories would be too much for the red maned king.

Inhaling and exhaling, Kion's eyes met his son's. This would kill him but Mheetu needed to know about Nala. Even Hatari would need to know someday.

"She was killed during a hunt with your mother."

Mheetu's blood ran cold at the words. Why was it that every time someone died his family was there at the scene? He remembered Tiifu telling the story about his grandfather's death and how his family found the body. "She was?"

Kion nodded slowly as he held back tears. "I had never been so angry and sad in my entire life."

Mheetu frowned but on the inside, he could feel both of those too. "Were you two close, father?"

The king bite back a whimper. "Very close... like you and I are."

The prince went stiff. He could clearly remember all those times when he considered his father and himself close like no other as a cub. But now this told him his father never gave up that consideration and thought themselves to be close like he was to his own mother.

Mheetu felt bad for giving that up. It was clear he couldn't now.

"I didn't think you were that close with grandmother Nala." Mheetu admitted. "I mean, yeah, everyone spoke about how close you two were but... I didn't think it was true. Her death must've killed you inside, especially after losing grandfather Simba."

Kion stared before smiling softly. "I guess no one expects it." he chuckled. "But once you're King alongside Hatari, you'll see how what no one expects, can be considered the best way of revealing the truth in due time."

"What?" asked Mheetu with a sharp tone. "I have to rule alongside the brat who's spoiled? Father! He cannot rule! I won't rule with him either!" he snarled and Kion frowned in annoyance at this same old fight.

It didn't take long before Kion went on a rant about how he didn't get to pick his fate and that's when Mheetu decided what had been in the questioning for a long time.

TLK: DOTNO

Paka had been looking forward to meet with the rebellion she was involved with. It had been made out of some pride mates, a few animals who had been since Simba and Nala's reign, and a couple of the royal family's friends who didn't like the new personalities their friends suddenly had.

Normally she would be hanging with Mheetu at this time. But the prince hadn't sought to join her in fighting for the lands, so she knew it had to be done without him. She just hoped she could convince the rebellion leader to leave Mheetu be.

Her best friend was innocent. He didn't need to die like the rest of his family, minus his father whom everyone seemed to hang onto as it was Kion's doing that the animals in the Pridelands hadn't left yet. How could they kill Kion if he was keeping the peace? Mheetu would when he was King as well!

She was sure of it.

Just before she could get close to the rebellion at the watering hole (it made it look like it was simply animals getting along, having a drink with each other) a voice stopped her.

"Paka! Wait up!"

Paka looked over her shoulder to see her best friend coming towards her. His red and brown mane moved as he ran. "Mheetu, what do you need?" she couldn't get over how nice his mane looked with brown bangs and the rest was red.

Mheetu stopped to catch his breath. "You said you were in a rebellion, right? You wanted to join one."

Paka nodded slowly as she listened on.

"I kept thinking about what you told me that day. If it was a bad thing to go against my family. And, well, after a while, I decided on what I would do!"

The lioness shook her head, clearly thinking Mheetu was going to be with his family until the end and began walking away.

Mheetu blinked before moving to catch up before standing in front of his best friend, who just walked around with an angered expression. He winced before trying to stop her again. After a while, Paka growled as she flicked her tail.

Paka snarled, tempted to unleash her claws. "Are you really stopping me to tell me you're going to be with your family till the end?"

Mheetu was taken aback before shaking his head. "What? No! Paka, I was going to tell you I want to be apart of this rebellion you're in! You're right. The freedom of the Pridelands is much more important than being loyal to my family."

Paka stopped. "You... you want to join the rebellion?"

The prince purred before nuzzling his friend. "Damn right I want in! I don't care about the fear of being disowned. At least I'll die trying to free everyone else from their grasp."

Paka smiled in reply. "So, you do have some brain. You aren't just a big headed prince will no sense of which way to go."

Mheetu smirked as he tackled her to the ground with playfulness in his eyes. "Excuse me? Who go calling big headed? Not me! I'd save that for Hatari!"

Paka laughed loudly as she got up. This would help the rebellion greatly. After all, they wouldn't suspect their prince being apart of a rebellion now, would they?