CandyLuv99; We can hope Jesús will return. As for Abasi, he is Zale/Jadis' son and Gwen's half-brother.

A bit of WARNING. Child abuse mentioned.

Without further ado, here's the chapter seventy-four of Pride And Prejudice.

Queen-in-command Sherise sighed inward as she gazed out into her and Kiara's kingdom that was bathed a golden glow. It's been two weeks since Skye and Kenna showed up.

Prince Mwezi recovered. He still has some lingering bruises and scars. But was otherwise fine. Sherise also could tell the older lion has fallen. She hopes everything turns out for him.

On the other side of things, Jesús hasn't returned and she's beyond worried. She's almost due and what would it look like if she gave birth and the father wasn't there.

At least.. hopefully Jesús is the father.

The dark brown lioness lowered her head. She just wish that her love and best friend return to her soon.

"This is not healthy."

Sherise immediately knew who joined her side. With a deep breath, she leaned against the gold lion. "Oh, papa. What am I to do?"

Simba nuzzled his daughter's head. "First you need to relax. Then why don't you spend time with the cubs?"

Sherise straightened up and sighed deeply. "Cubs? The twins and Askari are almost teens. Who are preparing for their royal rites of passage."

Simba smiled warmly before standing. "All the more reason to spend as much time with them now."

Sherise thought hard on what her father said before she too stood before heading down the slope and headed into the direction of Hakuna Matata Falls.

When Sherise reached the oasis imitation. She was greeted by the sound of juvenile laughter. She rounded a bend to see Askari glaring at Haruka and Sebastian while Asier laid on a ledge with his head on his crossed paws and a scowl on his face.

"What's going on here?" Sherise questioned making herself known.

The preteens jumped, minus Asier before smiling at the dark brown lioness.

"Askari has a serect-" Haruka began but was cut off by her dark beige nephew striking him against the head.

"I do not!" Askari growled. His brown eyes had a hint of tears.

Sherise sat and frowned. "Someone tell me what's going on?"

Asier scoffed. "Askari is a idiot."

Sherise gasped. "Asier! Why would you say that!"

Asier rolled his dark purple eyes. "It's the truth. He has feelings for a girl who's head over the moon for him and won't say anything. Don't matter to me, just quit whining."

Sherise shook her head before turning her purple eyes to her nephew. "Who's the lucky lioness?"

Askari lowered his head bashfully while pawing at the ground. "Anastasia,"

Sherise smiled before walking over and pulled Askari to her. "You don't need to be afraid to listen to your heart." Sherise turned her nephew's head with her dusty brown paw. "Love is love and we're all lucky to find someone."

Askari nodded before hugging his aunt. "Thanks Auntie Sherise. I'm glad you're spending time with us."

Asier sneered. "For how long? I won't get attached."

Sherise frowned. Had she been so busy that she made her oldest feel like that? "Asier.."

Askari rolled his eyes at his cousin before smiling at his aunt. Somewhere during the growing into adolescents, Asier became grumpy and moody. "Auntie? Have you thought of any names for the new cub?"

Sherise thought before shaking his head. "None have really stuck. Why?"

Askari glanced down before looking up. "I really liked the name Sarabi in honor of Great Grandma."

Asier looked at his cousin like he had gone mad. "You're not serious?" the light brown pelted preteen shook his head. "You really are an idiot."

Sherise narrowed her eyes at her eldest. "Asier! That's enough! You will not speak to family like that!"

Asier glared before standing. "Whatever. It's not like my opinion matter anyway."

Sherise watched helplessly as her son ran off. She really didn't know what to do. She's trying really hard to prevent history from repeating.

She just hopes it's not too late.

...

Kenna loved her new life. The Pridelands was everything she wanted her life to be. Peaceful, minus the lingering threat from Keres and his allies. But overall, the Pridelands was heaven.

"Enjoying the view?"

The gold teen got flustered before looking to see Mwezi joining her on the hill she was sitting. "Hi, Mwezi. How are you holding?"

Mwezi smiled before moving his green eyes towards the star filled sky. "I'm fine. What about you?"

Kenna sighed and lowered her head. "I'm just happy to be away from my mother and Keres. It was a living nightmare living with them."

Mwezi frowned. "How so?"

Kenna sniffled before looking at the white lion. "I remember a training session. They threaten me and beat me,"

Sometime Ago

Jessica sat on a dusty hill over looking her daughter's training.

She growled in disapproval when Flame's daughter shamelessly pinned Kenna hard to the dusty ground. The eight month reddish cub smiled in triumphant before backing up to let Kenna stand.

"Ready for round two, pipsqueak?" Sheba taunted, dark humor burning in her black eyes.

Kenna growled, her dark brown eyes had a burning desire to out do the older cub. Unfortunately Kenna foolishly rushed forward, with a cruel laugh Sheba side stepped causing the gold cub to comically fall face first into the ground.

"Nice try princess." Sheba laughed, circling the gold cub who was coughing up dirt. "How about you try again? One out of ten,"

Kenna glared her claws unsleathing, digging into the soft dirt. With a pitiful growl, Kenna pounced on to land on her back with Sheba standing over her with a taunting grin.

Jessica had enough. It was time to up Kenna's training. But first she needs a good talking to, a peptalk if some will. She stood and began to head down to the sparring cubs. "Kenna, come here." the creamy-white lioness immediately snapped her hazel eyes towards the bigger reddish cub. "Sheba. Continue your training with Damu."

Kenna had yet to move. She watched her training partner walk away before jumping from the sharp growl from her mother. With a deep breath the gold cub slowly walked over to where her mother stood.

"My daughter," Jessica started with a purr. "Have you wondered why we're here? And not in the plentiful Pridelands?"

Kenna shook her head. As Jessica began to paced with a dark expression and a nasty sneer.

"Well, my young warrior we were unjustly exile!" the rise of Jessica's tone made Kenna jump in fright but Jessica ignored it and continued to pace. "Denied our right to be members! The queens, killed my beloved mate...your father and everyone of those damned pridelanders just sat and watched!"

Kenna was just burdened with a storm of emotions. "Why would they do that?"

Jessica growled dangerously. "Your father and I were meant to rule. So they schemed and got us out of the way. Now they must be killed!"

Kenna pinned her ears. "What are you going to do?"

Jessica looked at her daughter and grinned wickedly. "I am not doing anything. You are."

Kenna's eyes widened as Jessica roughly picked her up and began walking around towards the north side of Keres' domain where the creamy-white lioness suddenly stopped and dropped Kenna, who landed harshly on the ground.

Kenna yelped before looking around to see they were at the field of thorns where Sir Keres sat apparently waiting.

After the black lion looked away to address his majordomo, the gold cub turned to her mother.

"Why are we here?" Kenna asked as a hot wind ruffled up her fur.

"Training." Keres purred in satisfaction as he apporched the shaking cub.

Kenna was beyond scared as the pride's leader pushed her towards the thorns.

"Now, Kenna. You must crawl through and come out on the other side...without any wounds." Keres instructed with a hard tone and expression.

Kenna's small body began to shake as she crawled closer to the thorn patch entrance. She stopped and looked over her bruised shoulder from her sparring with Sheba at the black lion with pleading eyes.

"Do I have to?"

Keres' amber eyes flared as he snarled, "Go!"

Kenna yelped before before she started to crawl through the thorns as tears fell from her eyes. Each step made the sharp, prickly plants stab and dig deeper into her.

Kenna cringed as she felt the razor-egded twigs cut and pierce her flesh and penetrate the wounds she already had from the sparring and the rough way her mother carried her.

When Kenna finally appeared at the end, there stood Keres and her mother waiting. When Keres' eyes landed on the condition of the gold cub he snarled.

"Do it again!"

Kenna whimpered as she had blood oozing out of her wounds as thorns stood out of most of her body.

"Sir, do I have to?" Kenna barely had time to regret her words before a large black paw connected with her. Sending her small body across the ground.

"I know what's best so do as I command!" Keres snarled before heading to the thorn patch other side while Jessica sneered and followed.

Wiping the blood off her lighter gold muzzle, Kenna's eyes watered as she sulked back to the patch entrance and crawled back through.

While thinking that when she's old enough, she's going to run and not look back.

Present Time

Mwezi stared with wide unbelievable eyes before pulling the sobbing teen close. "I'm so sorry that happened. Keres and Jessica are monsters. I promise you, they will never harm you as long as I'm around to protect you."

Kenna looked up into the face of the lion that risked so much to help her. "Why? What's in for you?"

Mwezi took a deep breath. "You're my brother's daughter.Even though some look down upon it, I don't really care. I care for you."

Kenna never really entertained the thought. But since living in the Pridelands, Mwezi is all she thinks about. "I care for you too,"

Mwezi smiled before nuzzling Kenna who gladly returned the affection.