Several days had passed since Shujaa became the leader of the guard. So far, Kucha had kept to himself. Vitani had warned her successor that this could mean he was planning something. Koda didn't much care about anything right now. Although, part of him wished Kucha would show up, and Shujaa wouldn't be able to drive him away. Koda would than show up and save everyone… he felt guilty for even thinking like that… but… he didn't want to be king! He wanted to be out there! Leader of the Lion Guard! It just wasn't fair.

And then there was his father… he had wanted so desperately to talk to him about how he was feeling. Kovu had ignored him. The king had brushed off his feelings with such ease. Koda wondered if his father even cared about him anymore…

Simba had become worried by his lack of responses to his king lectures. Koda didn't want him to worry. But he couldn't stop how he was feeling. Now, walking across the savannah, the warm dirt under his paws. Koda felt a little better. It was easier to be happy when he wasn't having to listen to everyone talking about Shujaa. About what a great leader she was going to be.

I would have been a great leader. Koda thought. Shujaa won't. She's the most irresponsible lion that's ever existed!

Koda stopped at the edge of a cliff. He looked down and watched the river flow below him. Suddenly, the cub felt rage and grief swelling up in his chest.

It's not fair! None of this is fair! He thought.

Koda threw back his head and roared. It wasn't a normal little cub roar. But it wasn't the roar of the elders either. It was… just a lions roar. Pain and helplessness running threw him. Koda dropped to his belly, his paws hanging over the edge of the ravine, and sobbed. Tears soaked his cheeks and darkened the sand below him. Koda cried and cried. He knew he was too old to be acting like a baby. He could never even imagine Nguvu reacting like this to anything. But he couldn't help it. He was so hurt. And no one seemed to care! The only thing they were worried about was if Shujaa would make a good leader.

Good old reliable, Koda. The prince thought. He couldn't possibly have an opinion on this! Everyone knows he just goes with the flow!

As Koda lay, pondering the general unfairness of life. He heard a soft hissing sound from behind him. Leaping to his feet, Koda spun around and flicked an ear.

"Hello?" He mewed. He glanced over at a cluster of bushes. "Is someone there?"

Shujaa better not be spying on me! He frowned. No, it couldn't be her. She's out patrolling with the guard.

Koda took a few slow steps toward the bush.

"Is someone there?" He asked again. The bushes came alive. They began wagging back and forth. Koda jumped as a huge brown snake leapt from them.

A cobra. Koda thought. He stayed completely still. He had heard from Rafiki that the bite of this snake could be lethal. The snake waved back and forth like a tree in the wind.

"What bringsss you out here on sssuch a fine day young cub." It hissed. Koda shrugged.

"Just thinking." Said Koda. "You?" He tacked on politely. He felt kinda weird talking to a snake.

The snake squinted it's amber eyes at him.

"Just looking for a nice place to sssunbathe." It said. The snake slithered closer.

"You are king Kovu'sss cub, are you not?"

Koda nodded.

"Yes," he said. "I'm Koda. I'm the future king."

The snake perked up at that.

"Are you now?" It began slithering around Koda. Koda swallowed. This Snake was making him nervous.

"You are very important than?" It asked. Koda shrugged again.

"I guess?" He offered.

"What exactly isss it you are out here thinking about, young prince?"

Koda shifted his paws. For the first time, someone actually cared enough to ask him how he felt. And it was a strange snake.

"I dun know," he whispered. "My sister just became leader of the Lion Guard…"

The snake cocked its head.

"Your Jealous, isss that it?" It said. Koda nodded.

"Yeah," he admitted. "And my dad doesn't even care enough about me to notice how I'm feeling!"

The snake flicked its curved tongue in and out.

"The king doesn't pay attention to you?" It asked. "His own son? The heir to the throne?"

Koda's ears fell against his head.

"Maybe…" he swallowed. "Maybe I'm not what a king's son is supposed to be?"

The snake eyed him for a moment.

"You ssseem fine to me." It said. "Very polite."

Koda laughed bitterly.

"Maybe that's the problem." He said. "I always do what my parents tell me. I never get into trouble. I always do my best to be a good prince. Yet, Shujaa doesn't do any of those things. And they pay more attention to her than they ever do me!" Koda clawed at the dirt. "Maybe I should try to be more like her?"

The snake suddenly smiled. Koda stiffened. He felt chilled to the bone.

"You want your father to notice you?" The snake moved closer and stood straight up, it towered over Koda. "Well, I think I can help you there. My prince."

Koda blinked.

"Uh?" He said. "What do you mean?"

The snake lurched forward. Koda screamed as it's fangs ripped through the flesh on his shoulder. Blood poured down his side and came to splatter on the floor. Koda felt dizzy, like he had just been spun around at hyper speed.

"Why…" the world was becoming blurry. The pain in his shoulder was unbearable. "Why would you do that?" He slurred. Koda fell to his stomach. He could here his heart beating wildly in his ears. He could barely breathe it hurt so bad.

The snake laughed.

"I'm helping you." It sneered. "I assure you, your father will notice you now!"

The snakes laughter buzzed out along with the rest of the world. The last thought that crossed Koda's mind was.

I'm sorry.