CandyLuv99; In the next few chapters a lot is going to happen. So be prepared.

Beware, a time jump in the first half of the chapter.

Here's chapter fifty-five, enjoy!

Years went by and the cubs were teenagers, learning about the many responsibilities within the pride. Before the Pridelanders' eyes they were young adults ready to take on the world. As relationships were on the horizon.

One of the relationships that started, Amanda and Malka. There was a age difference but that didn't matter, for Jua she was happy that her daughter was happy.

Kula and Kuona's youngest daughter, Tiifu was in a relationship with Starra's oldest, Mheetu.

Prince Kion had to leave the Pridelands to receive help from the Tree of Life.

But with the farewell, Princess Kiara and Princess Sherise were preparing for their solo hunt.

The day for the solo hunt was getting closer and closer. And Sherise was beyond nervous. It was just a bit after noon, Sherise had left her hunting lessons with her mother to head over to the waterhole before joining her friends and sister over at Hakuna Matata falls.

She had just finished lifting her head from the crystal clear water, droplets dripping from her muzzle. When she was joined by another presence.

"How was your lesson today?"

Sherise didn't need to strain her hearing or turn her head to know who that strong voice belonged to. Sherise felt flustered when her mind at the word musculine and strong.

The dark brown lioness shook her head before looking at the light cream lion who had joined her side.

"It was great. A bit stressful, knowing that the pride's hunger rest on my shoulders." Luis laughed which made Sherise smiled a bit. "But I'm actually pretty nervous about my solo hunt with Kiara."

Throughout the years, Luis and her spent a lot of time. Walking around talking, she never felt closer to anyone.

Luis frowned before he lowered his head and nuzzled the stressed out young lioness. "I'm sure that you will excel wonderfully."

It was just a friendly encouragement but Sherise couldn't help but like the pleasant waves that ran through her body. She tried to fight it every since she was a cub but it's clear as ever. She has a crush that turned into feelings for the royal guard.

Heat crept across Sherise's cheeks causing Luis to chuckle.

"I'm not making you uncomfortable. Am I?"

Sherise swallowed her saliva and shook her head. She was a wreck and didn't know what to do. "Um..." Sherise began before she was intrupted by the all to familiar voice of one of the huntresses who was also a royal guard.

"Luis!"

Luis turned to see a chestnut brown lioness that he knew all to well. "Haviva, what is it?"

Haviva took a deep breath before answering. "Malka couldn't do the northern border check and wanted you to go."

Sherise sighed before turning to continue her path to the falls. "I'll talk to you later. Be careful."

Luis nodded and watched his friend run off before he departed. Heading towards the Outlands border.

...

Gwen stood at the borders of the Outlands and Pridelands. She was waiting for her son, they needed to talk.

Quite frankly, she could give a damn who Luis mated with but this was for the better good.

Keres told her and Zira about King Kazakh. That only when his bloodline is dead is when he can truly be named the true King of the Luna Kingdom.

It wasn't long before her son showed up and right away she could see he wasn't pleased with her presence.

"What are you doing here."

The white lioness rolled her dark brown eyes. "Hello to you too... son."

The light cream lion glared with with a low growl. "You lost the right to call me that! Do you know that your other son has emotional outbreaks because you abandoned us! Tojo can't keep a mate because he as issues with trust amongst others because of you!"

Gwen listened but honestly wasn't paying attention. Her decision to drop everything for Scar but it was for the best.

"Enough of the pleasantries. I'm here for a reason and that reason is that I want you to leave Princess Sherise alone."

Luis couldn't believe what he's hearing. He barred his teeth and pinned his ears back. "You must be out of your mind! Showing up-"

"You weren't want your king... to know about our meeting." Gwen smirked. "A reliable source says that one of your daughters, I think Christina is pregnant and I believe... Joyce was just accepted into the Guard."

"How do you know my daughters names!" Luis roared.

Gwen just smiled. "I have my ways. Now, leave Sherise alone or your King would find out. And you don't want that with how paranoid he's been."

Luis wanted to shout and refuse but he couldn't take the chance of Simba finding out and exile him and his daughters.

Gwen grinned triumphantly before standing and heading back to the Outlands.

~PP~

A Few Weeks Later

Jesús watched his brother and Sherise form a remarkable bond. The Princess really has fell for his idiot brother.

Throughout the years he watched the adopted princess mature and blossom. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop the feelings from forming.

"I figured you'll be you'll be here."

Jesús knew right away who had joined him. Francisco and him bonded over the years since the light beige lion joined. They were real close friends, the only upside was that the reddish-brown lion couldn't hide anything from the older lion.

"If you're here to talk about my feelings... then go."

Frankie laughed before sitting next to his friend on the hill he was on. Below was Sherise trying to talk to Luis but the light cream lion just ignored her.

"What do you think that's about?"

Jesús glared. "He had a visit from Gwen.."

"Your mother?" Frankie asked while frowning at the heartbroken look on his other friend's face.

"That psycho bitch is not my mother! She killed my nephew and Sherise's mother in front of her eyes. I'll never forgive that!"

"You really have feelings for her, don't you?"

Jesús sighed before lowering his head. "What can I do? She's smitten with my brother, how can I compete with that?"

Frankie frowned before looking at his friend by his side. "Look, I'm your friend and also Sherise's friend. I want the best for both parties and I think you would benefit from talking. If you're worried about Luis, he had his chance and blew it."

Jesús growled lowly. "I give a damn about Luis. He's a coward. I over heard him talking to Tojo, Gwen threatened him to stay away from Sherise and he was stupid enough to listen."

Frankie agreed. Sherise was a beautiful lioness. Smart and selfless and wasn't bad on the eyes, if his friend didn't have feelings he would go for her himself. "Then what's the problem?"

Jesús glanced at the lioness that captured his heart. It wasn't his idiot brother or the Jessica that was begging to be official mates. "Because I'm the son of a monster. The same monster that in his name ruined her life. She'll never look at me like that."

Frankie didn't know what to say. He watched Jesús leave before turning to Sherise who was crying her beautiful purple eyes out.

...

As the weeks went by Sherise was losing her will for everything. She really thought Luis had feelings for her but apparently she was wrong. He don't just not talk to her anymore, he basically avoid her.

One morning before her and Kiara's solo hunt. Sherise got up early and met Luis at the waterhole.

When Luis got there, he was surprised to see Sherise but at the same time he wasn't. "Shouldn't you be practicing or something."

Sherise frowned, her ears flattened against her head. "I want to know what happened? Did I do something?"

Luis couldn't lie and say this broke his heart but he needed to protect himself and his daughters. Especially since... "Sherise, whatever you thought was happening... let it go. I'm engaged to Sienna. When she returns from visiting a new kingdom with her father we're going to announce it."

Sherise couldn't believe what she heard. Not bothered to hear anyone, the young dark brown lioness turned and ran away sobbing.

As She was running away, she didn't notice another lion appearing but did him call out to her.

"Sherise! Wait!"

Sherise ignored the lion as she continued on running. She didn't know where to go but knew she couldn't stay here.

But as soon as she reached the border. Sherise was tackled, she seen a pair of amber eyes before everything went dark.