Wow, it has been an insanely long time since I have last update this story. Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I joined my school's Speech, Interp, and Debate Team, and that has pretty much took over my life. But there isn't really much of an excuse for not updating, other than the fact that I'm lazy and love procrastination. Well, the moment you have all been waiting for has arrived. Hope you enjoy the latest installment of Birth of Steele.

-Tex-

DISCLAIMER: I NO OWN DIS

In the heart of the Kalahari Desert, a young lion stood sternly over the bruised and bloodied corpse of his dead friend. The unharmed lion had a growing brown mane that reached back to his upper back, hugging his shoulders tightly. His emerald green eyes held a look, and an odd look at that. This look appeared to combine both grief and contempt in the very same expression.

"You blithering idiot…your bloody rashness and bloody determination got you killed and nearly got me killed as well. I cannot believe that you would go out in such a manner, as idiotic as I always knew you were."

The young lion sighed, and gave the body of his deceased friend a final look. Several small, round holes were carved into his chest, shoulder, and head. Those bloody humans were killing each other, as usual, and the two of them were caught right in the crossfire.

"I'll still miss you, Raamussen. You were the best bud a decent lion could have."

As the young lion wandered back into the surrounding jungle, lush with plants and other animals, an unearthly voice began to whisper through the gentle breeze.

"I'll miss you too Devon. Try not to get yourself killed out there. I have no urge to see you again lion-to-lion this soon."

Devon smirked, before chuckling amusedly, and continuing his journey.

-TLK-

Several months had passed since Steele had escaped the Pridelands, and Athena had grown both in mind and body in that time period. Her eyes and mind had both significantly sharpened, and the lessons that she had learned from her brother were quite fresh in her mind.

She was a suspicious young lioness, and Steele's moral of not trusting anybody that didn't do anything significant to earn it had been used to great effect.

The young girl had already chased off about a half dozen males that had wanted to mate with her in order to have access to the throne. Lions were just so immoral sometimes that it drove the young lioness mad with rage.

Steele had once told her about The Odyssey, a story by a traveling human known as Homer. A man name Odysseus had tried for a decade to get home to Penelope, and attempted to drive away all of her suitors.

Even though the scenario was entirely different, Athena sometime felt like she was Penelope and that Steele was Odysseus. She was starting to get really tired of having daily marriage proposals. For God's sake, she was barely a year old! Her parents were not very supportive through this entire ordeal either.

For their entire fiasco about true love and uniting enemies when they were young, the throne had sure changed their opinions and outlook on the world. It seemed to Athena that petty politics and marriage alliances mattered far more than her feelings and her overall happiness.

At least her grandparents were still constantly there for her, but even Simba and Nala were beginning to finally slow down. Athena was forced to guess that age eventually gets the better of even the greatest of lions and lionesses.

"Athena, come inside and meet your new little brother."

The young lioness rolled her eyes, and casually strode into the birthing den. Kiara was holding a furry bundle in her arms, and Kovu was standing proudly above her in a very protective position.

Kiara opened her paws, revealing a small brown furred male with bright, sparkling, emerald green eyes shining as bright as the sun.

"This is your new little brother, Athena. His name is Achilles, and he is the future king of all of the Pridelands."

Kovu then cleared his throat, and began to speak, a very stern tone evident in his voice. "Athena, both your mother and I understand just how much you desired the throne, but laws are laws, and the first male cub of the current king is automatically granted the throne of the land, no matter the circumstances that are currently present."

Athena narrowed her eyes, and spoke, her voice booming and thundering. For added effect, she decided to speak in a tongue that Steele had once taught her; Latin. "Quod per totam vitam mihi legitme meum premebantur negavit. Sive haec piae adminicula familiam, ad sedem regni potentum, denegatum. SED NON ULLA MAGIS!"

Athena smirked as she saw the looks of awe on the faces of her parents. "Didn't understand what I said at all, did you? Good. You weren't really supposed to. You see parents, Steele taught me a great many thing while he was still living here. The tongue that I just spoke in is a fine example of one of these lessons. You failed what you were supposed to do as parents and rulers. I would've expected better, considering how the two of you originally met and mated. But that's not of any concern, apparently. It appears that the rigor of the political world can negatively change even the best of us. For the sake of my new brother, I just hope that the two of you raise him in a good, loving, and proper manner. "

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT ATHENA SAID, COPY THE STATEMENT, GO TO GOOGLE TRANSLATE, AND TRANSLATE FROM LATIN TO ENGLISH

Well, I believe that is all that I am going to write for now. Thank y'all for taking the time to read this, and please do not forget to leave me a review. Also, if you can, tell me if my writing style has changed at all in the months since I have last updated this story. I'm curious. Anyway, I have babbled enough, so thanks for reading, please review, and the next chapter will be up whenever I do not procrastinate.