Hello to all, and welcome to the chapter! There was a big jump in reviews last chapter, so I'd like to thank everybody who did so. Let's try to keep it up! PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO KINDLY LEAVE ME A REVIEW! Well, I think that I have done quite enough blabbing, so without any further ado, here is the chapter!

When Steele regained consciousness after falling asleep for the night, he had not expected to find himself once again floating in a mass expanse of total blackness. The former human groaned in annoyance.

"Good God, please don't tell me that I was killed in my sleep."

A deep, booming voice made itself known in the black expanse. "Hahaha! No you have not, Matthew Steele. You are still just as alive as you were right before you descended into slumber."

Steele once again groaned in annoyance, rubbing his black tuft of mane with a single paw. "Then why am I here? I swear, I have not killed anybody in this life!"

The voice laughed hardily before uttering his next phrase. "No, you are not here for a trial. It seems that you have already figured out what your mission is going to be, but I am here to tell you of it anyway."

"And what is that?"

The booming voice let out a long, and very deep sigh. "Protect your little sister Matthew Steele. Young Athena will decide the fate of the Pridelands for eons to come, and you are also a massive figure in this decision. Act wisely, and do not forget who was the one that gave you this second chance."

Steele's expression became quite quizzical. "And who exactly, would that be?"

The voice did not respond, but a shining light appeared in the expanse of blackness, and it only grew brighter and brighter with every single passing second.

"God Almighty…Literally…."

-TLK-

Steele suddenly felt himself awaken, his golden fur pouring with sweat. He took a quick look at the den. It was still the middle of the night, and all of the other Pridelanders were slumbering quietly, if you exclude Kovu, whose snoring could break the sound barrier.

He suddenly realized that there was one member of the pride that was awake. Little Athena, kept warm by the paw of Kiara, was whimpering softly, tears dropping from her young, sapphire blue eyes.

Steele initially ignored her, trying desperately to go back to sleep. However, the young cub continued to whimper, and Steele could not help but get a little upset.

"Damn it! Why won't you just go to sleep already?"

Athena continued to whimper, and she looked up at her older brother, a pleading expression in her young eyes. Steele sighed in reluctant defeat.

"You want a little bit of comfort, don't you? Fine, but I'm only going to do it this once!"

The former human quietly padded over to where Athena was lying, and he gently removed Kiara's paw from her body. The princess did not notice, and she continued to sleep, a happy, slightly dorky grin on her face.

Steele carried little Athena to an unused corner of the den, and he gently put her down. "How to get you to sleep? Let's see, let's see."

Suddenly, to Steele's own surprise, he began to softly sing to his little sister.

"Along the mountain river flowing.

A weary merchant was slowing.

And with the breeze gently blowing.

He decided it would be best,

If he would just stop for a little rest,

His goods would have to wait,

Because he could just not be bait,

Tomorrow would begin with a brand new slate,

What would be his fate?

His eyelids began to slowly flutter,

His resistance melting like butter,

His speech was beginning to stutter,

With dark night quickly befalling,

He found that he was stalling,

And with his dreams being deep,

He finally began to sleep…"

Athena gave a little cubbish grin, and she yawned, a little cub yawn, causing Steele to chuckle lightly. Her eyelids were soon closed, and her breathing slowed, signifying that the lullaby had indeed done its intended effect.

The new older brother gave a cheeky grin to his slumbering sister. "Sleep well, you little rascal!"

Steele suddenly began to feel the call of sleep as well. He stretched his body out, in the typical way many lions do, before crawling to a position where he was close to his little sister.

The former convict placed his arm around her shoulder, protecting her with his body. The prince's eyes closed, and he approached closer and closer to sleep.

Right before he once again would lose consciousness, only a single thought passed through the mind of Matthew Steele.

What the hell is this little ball of fluff doing to me?

Meanwhile, outside the den in Pride Rock, a lone figure shook its head, consumed with absolute disgust. The figure felt defeated, betrayed, and he felt the need to take what he felt he needed to take.

As he began the trek back to his home, plans, plots, and malevolent strategies spread throughout his mind. The figure knew that whatever plan would become the final one would involve a large amount of blood being shed in some way, shape, or form.

His chocolate brown eyes scanned the surrounding area for any signs of life before he spoke, his voice dark, cold, evil, but strangely calm as well.

"The Pridelands are going to be mine. I know that I am going to have to use any way, shape, act, or form to successfully conquer it. Prince Unio will have absolutely no idea what the hell is coming at his direction. BE PREPARED!"

Well, that is all that I am going to write for now! It seems that some major stuff is right about to happen, and that mysterious figure is going to cause quite a bit of trouble. As I mentioned at the beginning, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO KINDLY LEAVE ME A REVIEW FOR THIS STORY! Well, I feel that I have babbled far too much, so I think that I am going to check out now. Take care, and thank y'all very much for taking the time to read this!

-Tex-