Chapter 12: I'm Still Here

Kiara, Kovu, and Sumba sat on the ground, staring wide-eyed up at Simba.

The King of the Pride lands looked from the closed fence door; back down at the three cubs. Anger, pain, and fear all welled up inside of him, and a low growl began to rumble in his chest. He unsheathed his claws and glared at his daughter. This was what her curiosity and disobedience had driven her to do, and because of that, he too, had to pay.

"This is all your fault," he snarled, and snatched her tail, and began dragging her away from Kovu and Sumba.

Sumba gasped, but before he could protest, Kovu flung a paw over the small cub's mouth and pushed him to the side as he leapt towards Kiara. "No, it wasn't her all her fault! It was just as much mine as it was hers, don't hurt her, please! It was just a game," Kovu cried.

"Exactly!" Simba snarled, whipping his head around at Kovu, freeing Kiara's tail. But just as soon as he had let go of it, he flung a heavy paw down on it to keep her from escaping. "Which is why I don't want you around her or me, Outlander!" he snapped furiously.

Kovu's ears went back, knowing he was defeated, but still tried to look brave.

It was then that a creamy orange paw with dark brown claws swatted the Lion King across his front leg, causing him to draw back, startled.

Finally free, Kiara arched her back at her father, breathing hard.

Simba quickly licked the miniscule scratches and gasped wide-eyed at his daughter.

Surprisingly, her brownish-golden eyes began to well up with tears, and she turned towards Kovu and Sumba. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Then she turned back to face her father, with now tear-stained cheeks. "All I ever wanted was a friend to play with. Someone who I could play tag with and race and chase butterflies in the fields with, and go on adventures all day with," she paused to sniff and wiped her eyes. "And then the one day, I thought I found someone who I could have fun with, and you, you take me away from him! You're always blaming me for stuff you did when you were my age! Why can't you see that I'm not YOU!? I will never be you, because I am who I am. And you shouldn't treat me like that, you should respect me and trust me a little more, I'm not a baby anymore!" she spat, and ran off as fast as she could towards the opposite end of the gate. She sat there, staring out the gate, lying in the grass, taking in all that had just happened.

"Why? Why doesn't he trust me? Why doesn't he treat me fairly?" she growled and squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

"Because he sees himself in you," a small voice spoke.

Kiara's eyes shot open, and she looked around. There standing before her was Chaka!

"Chaka?!" Kiara gasped as tears flooded back to her eyes. "I can't believe it! I thought you were dead!" she cried out as she leapt forward to embrace her. However, she fell forward and hit the ground.

"Oomph!" she grunted, confused. "Chaka, what was that for?" she giggled playfully. Her smile soon faded as she turned around and found herself staring through a silhouette of Chaka.

She stared in disbelief as she tried to fathom the sight before her.

The "ghost" of Chaka gave a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, Kiara, I wish I could still nuzzle you, too. You were so great to me and Sumba, as if you were my second mother."

Kiara burst into tears once again. "NO CHAKA, YOU CAN'T BE DEAD! I'm sorry, Kovu was right, it is all my fault! Everyone's right, it is all my fault! Oh, Chaka, I never meant for this to happen," she sobbed.

Chaka "nuzzled" against Kiara's leg, causing Kiara to stop and look down at her. "Hey I felt you nuzzle me! But how can that be?" she asked, bewildered but still happy.

Chaka smiled at her. "I'm here, Kiara."

"Yeah, I know, I can see you," Kiara replied, at what seemed to be an obvious statement.

Chaka's face grew solemn. "Hey, I don't have much time left to talk. I came back to tell you that you, Kovu, Sumba, and your father can escape from the behind the fence. You can rise above the fence, Kiara, and so can Kovu, Sumba, and your father. You all can, but you need to learn to accept yourself, then you will know what to do," she explained, and then slowly began to fade.

Kiara gasped. "No, Chaka, don't fade away! Don't leave me and Kovu and Sumba all alone! What about your brother? He needs you, I need you, we all need you," Kiara got chocked up.

"Kiara, remember, I'm here, don't worry, I'll never really fade away. Don't forget me, your princess," she gave a small chuckle, and then disappeared into the sky, as a warm, comforting breeze blew past Kiara, ruffling her fur.

At the same time in Timsu's recovery barn, Sumba lay curled up in a ball in Kiara's "bed." He was whimpering in his sleep and suddenly jumped up, awake, as he felt something brush against him. He turned around, gasped, and fell backwards. "Ch-Chaka? Is it really you?" he gasped.

She got in a playful pouncing position that he knew very well, and he instantly recognized her.

A/N: Ok, sorry about not updating for about a month, but school has been out for a week now, so I am getting back to writing! (YAY!) Please leave a review, thank you!