Jesús smiled gently, under the star light. He looked up at his mother, who smiled down upon him.

"What are you thinking, my child?"

"A new trick, I'm trying to learn how to sneak up on prey by myself!" he replied eagerly.

Kiara settled down beside her youngest son, wrapping him in her arms."That's awfully advanced, little one."

Jesús snuggled into his mother's embrace, relishing in her undivided attention."Yes but I can manage! I think I'll be able to do it in a few weeks!"

Kiara chuckled at the red-brown cub's enthusiasm."I have no doubt you will, my dear. But come, it is time for bed."

Jesús pouted."Mother please-"

"Jesús..."

The little prince sighed, as his mother scooped him into her jaws. As soon as he was settled in her arms, she leaned down and gently licked his forehead."Sleep well, little one. I love you, Jesús."

"I love you too, mother."

Jesús fell asleep that night comfortable, cosy, and feeling very much loved.

~O~

"Kopa! Brother! Help!" the red-brown cub yelled, as two slightly larger cubs advanced upon him.

"Kopa isn't here, liesmith!" a orange cub with a brownish mane tuff on his head, jeered

"And we're going to teach you a lesson!"

"You're pathetic! You're a mockery of the name Simba's son!"

"Practicing hunting!? Hunting is a lioness' art! Even young Jessica doesn't do hunting! You're a sorry excuse for a Prince of the Pride Lands, silvertongue!"

"Kopa!" Jesús cried out, "Kopa! HELP ME!"

Jesús was only the equivalent of six months old. These others were older, were heading into their teens. Jesús kept backing up as they advanced on him, cornering him.

Please Kopa, he silently begged, please help me!

"Chumvi! Maji!" a woman's voice shouted, angry, "Step away from my son!"

"Mother!" Jesús cried out in relief.

The two boys ran away, fearful of what the Queen would do to them. Kiara walked forward, and laid down before sweeping her young son into her arms, as tears slid down his face.

"Shhh, my boy, it is okay, hush child, I am here, they will not hurt you," she whispered soothingly, cursing Kopa's friends. She would see to it that they were severely punished.

"Mother," Jesús sobbed, "Mother I no longer wish to study hunting!"

Kiara was shocked."Why ever not, dear?"

"The- the others they...they said it is a female's art, and that I am a disgrace and-"

"No Jesús, no sweetheart," Kiara murmured, "You study what you're good at, not what others say you should. Besides hunting teaches you great skill and agility for combat. You have intelligence, so much more so than Chumvi, or Maji, or Kopa, or even your father."

She licked away the tears dripping down her son's face. He sniffled, blinking away the new tears threatening to spill over. He took a deep breath, and nodded."Yes mother," he sighed, "I mustn't let their words affect me."

Kiara smiled at her youngest's wise words. She stood, and looked down at him."Come along. Why don't we find a zebra and have lunch by the water hole, you'd like that wouldn't you?"

Jesús grinned up at her, his bright smile lighting up his whole being."Yes mother, that sounds wonderful!"

~O~

Kiara stormed up to the top of Pride Rock."Simba," she called out, "There are punishments to be dealt!"

The dark beige lion looked from his kingdom that was bathing in a sunset light, to his golden mate. "Oh? Who? Has Jesús been naughty again?"

Kiara glared at her husband."Jesús never truly means to be naughty, you know that, he's just a mischievous little boy! No, the punishments are for Chumvi and Maji!"

Simba studied his wife's scowl, choosing his words carefully."Kopa little friends? Why, whatever have they done?"

"They have been relentlessly bullying poor Jesús!"

"Nonsense! Those are two of the finest young lads the Pride Lands has ever produced! Even you know that Malka and Kula did a great job raising their cubs. My queen, no doubt you have fallen fool to Jesús' untruths once more!" Simba laughed, dismissing his wife's anger.

Kiara roared. "Do not treat this as some practical joke! You did not see the fear in our son's eyes! I caught them in the act!"

Simba sighed."I cannot punish for something of which there is no proof, Kiara! Let us just forget this and move on!"

"No Simba! They have physically and mentally harmed him and they must pay for it!"

"Fine, fine! A slap on the back, and apology and let's be done with it!"

Kiara stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief."You know, if this was Kopa being bullied you wou-"

"Pah! Kopa would never be bullied! He is not we-"

"Weak? Weak? Jesús is not weak, Simba! He may not be a warrior, but he is far from weak! Do not smear his name with your foul words!"

"Kiara do not believe everything the boy says, he lies and you know it."

"He has lied in the past, yes, but why would he lie about them beating him up? What exactly does he stand to gain from it? I caught them, Simba! They were going to hurt him!"

"But they did not, did they? Did you see them actually harm him?"

"No but-"

"Then I'm afraid I cannot do anything!"

A single tear of anger rolled down the Queen's face. Simba held out a paw to her."I am sorry," he said gently.

Kiara stared at him with venom in her eyes, before turning and stalking down the slope. I'll have to take matters into my own paws then, she though furiously.

~O~

"Mheetu!" Kiara called out, as she stepped in her oldest adopted son's cave entrance.

"Mother, " the young adult dark cream lion greeted.

"Mheetu, do you know why I am here?"

"No, Mother." Mheetu answered shaking his head.

"Surely you were keeping watch?"

"Simba requested I do not watch the goings on of the kingdom after a certain hour."

"Mheetu, do you recall two children? Chumvi and Maji?"

"Of course, Mother."

"Have you ever seen them in the presence of my youngest son?"

"Everyday, Mother, they share combat and warfare lessons."

"Mheetu..." Kiara looked her eldest adopted son square in the eye, "Have you ever witnessed them hurting Jesús?"

Mheetu lowered his head and sighed slightly."Yes, Mother, a few times."

"And you did not inform me!?"

"I did not wish to betray my brother's trust."

"His trust?" Kiara starred with a raised eyebrow.

"He asked me not to," Mheetu replied simply.

"Why would he ask such a thing?"

"As I recall, Chumvi and Maji told him if you found out, Mother, then he is 'nothing but a worthless snitch, and a weak milkdrinker'."

Those cruel boys! Kiara thought as tears threatened to fall. "Mheetu you must bear witness to Simba, please!"

"Mother?"

"He refuses to punish those boys for being so malicious to poor Jesús!"

Mheetu was visibly shocked."He thinks my brother's stories are untrue?"

"Yes!"

"Indeed I shall inform my brother of what I have seen."

"Thank you son. Perhaps now they shall be punished." Kiara sighed in relief.

~O~

"Chumvi! Maji! You know why you are here today!" the king boomed, "You are here to answer and be punished for your misdeeds and cruelty towards my son, the youngest prince of this kingdom! What do you say in your defense!?"

Malka and Kula looked at their sons in disappointment. Chumvi began to speak, but Simba silence him with a wave of dismissal with his paw."You have nothing to say for yourselves, because I have it on good authority that Jesús is not lying! From my younger brother himself!"

The two boys stared at the ground.

"You may very well held your heads in shame, you cruel, hateful children!"

"But King Simba-"

"Silence!" Simba roared.

Maji fell silent.

"Kiara, bring Jesús in!"

From the cave entrance Kiara walked up to Simba with the young cub in tow, who seemed reluctant to be there at all.

"Mother," he hissed, "Mother I don't want to!"

"Jesús! Come here my boy!" Simba called out. Jesús shuffled up to his father."Would you show the council your bruises?"

The council contains of Jaha, Jethro the parents of Jessica. And Malka and Kula the parents of Chumvi and Maji. Also Mufasa and Sarabi were on the council.

Prince Jesús walked up to the adults showing off the patches that marred his fur, in distinct pawprints and teeth marks shapes. There was a gasp through the air, and Jesús could feel the eyes on him from the rest of the pride.

"Jesús, how did you get these marks?" Simba asked concerned filled his orange eyes.

The red-brown cub sniffed as tears welled up in his dark brown eyes, and pointed at the two older children.

"Did they grab you?" Mufasa asked his youngest grandson.

Jesús nodded.

"And what else did they do?" Sarabi asked.

"They...-they hit me, and threw me to the ground...they dragged me alot and pushed me down and left me there," he sobbed.

A murmur of horror shook the pride. How could anyone do such horrible things to their young prince?

"Thank you, Jesús," Simba whispered gently, "Off you go, with your mother."

Kiara picked up the cub and headed for the cave.

"Now for your punishments! I have thought long and hard about this, and my decision stands as follows: One, you will apologise to your prince. Two, you will each receive a public flogging of twenty lashes! And three, hard labour in the Mountain Pride until Jesús comes of age! Mheetu and Malka! Escort these boys to King Dumont! You begin labour today, you will be flogged tomorrow, and you will apologise to my son, publicly, while you are still bleeding and raw, do I make myself clear!?"

Chumvi and Maji were dragged from the area, yelling that their punishment was unfair, and calling out for their mother.

Jesús and Kiara were just at the cave entrance, watching the boys being taken away shouting and swearing.

"CURSE YOU JESÚS!"

"DAMN YOU TO HELL!"

"YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!"

Jesús clung to his mother's leg, and looked up at her fearfully.

"Do not worry, Jesús. By the time they are free, you will be a grown lion, and leaps and bounds more powerful than they."

Jesús young eyes glistened with unshed tears, as he smiled slightly. He hugged his mother tightly, and she pulled him closer and held him tight.

The red-brown prince buried his face in his mother's fur, as she whispered, "No one will hurt you any more, Jesús."