AUTHOR'S NOTE – Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! On the last chapter, I've got more reviews than ever. I'm flattered. :) I noticed that some of my first reviewers no longer write, though, but I'm very glad so many others keep on reading. It really makes me happy that you like this story so much and some of you even feel with the characters! To Nala5/Lata: I was quite stunned to receive story ideas, but I got the whole story figured out already. Just wait and see what happens. ;) Enough talk, on with the story! Enjoy! :)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

CHAPTER 5: Life is unfair

Half the way back, Kovu came running towards Vitani and the three cubs. He was accompanied by his majordomo Zazu who had informed him of what was going on. Vitani gasped at the sight, and as her brother approached, she started: "Kovu, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to lose them, I swear! But they're all okay, and it won't happen again."

"You were supposed to be watching them!" Kovu yelled at his sister. "What were you doing instead of looking after them?"

Vitani pinned her ears. Though she knew it was nothing to be excused, she told him the truth: "I was... chatting with an old friend of ours, Mitauro." She paused to look around quickly, but to her disappointment, she could no longer see the lion she was speaking of. She also waited for Kovu to ask about Mitauro, but he didn't. He just glared at her. So she continued: "Our talk must've distracted me so much that the next moment I looked for them, they were gone. I know this is..."

"If anything ever happened to my son because of you," Kovu growled. "I'd forget you are my sister."

Everyone gasped, and not only at the tone the King was using. Vitani stared and asked in a firm voice: "And if anything happened to your daughter?"

Kovu glanced at Lina who was sitting next to Vitani, her ears pinned and with a confused and somewhat angry look in her ruby eyes. He thought for a while and replied: "Then you'd have to fear consequences as well. Let's go home now."

He turned around and headed for Pride Rock, the others following behind him. While the three cubs were trotting behind Vitani, Takita whispered to Ari: "So this is fun to you, is it?"

Ari simply glared at her. Zazu, who was flying at the King's side and was looking back at the three cubs every now and then, began to notice something about Lina. The little Princess was walking way behind the other two cubs, apparently avoiding her brother, and always looking down at the ground in front of her. The hornbill fluttered onto Kovu's left shoulder and said in a slight whisper: "Sire, I beg your pardon, but maybe you should have a soothing talk with your daughter. I think she's wearing a pretty disturbed look, maybe something happened to her ."

Kovu glanced back at the cubs, not really paying much attention, but he answered: "Thanks, Zazu, I will do that." Zazu bowed and flew ahead.

Later, they were all sitting in front of the Royal Cave: Kovu, Kiara, Lina and Ari. Vitani sat a little away from them, looking out on the fields, but listening to their conversation. Takita was inside the cave with her parents. Kiara has been told the whole story, and now she and Kovu had to talk to their cubs almost the same way Simba once had talked to his daughter and his father to him.

"Ari, when I said it will be your duty to keep the Pride Land's borders safe, I didn't mean you were supposed to go there now!" Kovu said. "You could've been in real danger. You're far too young to run that far away from Pride Rock alone."

"But Dad, what's the big deal? Why can't I go there now if I'm supposed to go later?"

"I told you, it's far too dangerous for you now. If you had passed the borders, you could've got lost or even eaten by hungry hyenas. You have to promise me you'll never try to run off again! Because you're my son and the future King, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Alright, I promise, Dad," Ari sighed.

Kiara waited for Kovu to say something more, but then she spoke up: "And Lina, it was really praiseworthy that you tried to stop Ari from running off. But you should've told your Aunt Vitani about it instead of running after him yourself. You and Takita could've been harmed as well."

"Yes, Mom," Lina said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Fine. I hope you won't do that again. Now, that was enough adventure for the moment. Let's go inside, I'm gonna give you two a fine bath," Kiara said.

"I'm gonna go check the borders, as I haven't gotten to finish the task," Kovu informed his mate and nuzzled her shortly. Then Kiara walked inside the den and Ari followed her. But Lina approached her father first.

"Daddy?" She asked before he was about to leave the rock.

He turned around to look at her. "What is it?"

"Why do you hate me?" The cub inquired.

Kovu frowned at her: "What makes you think that?"

"You never talk to me, you always talk with Ari," she squeaked. "And..."

"That's not true, Lina," Kovu interrupted. "I just talk more with Ari because he is going to be King after me and I have to prepare him."

"But why is HE the next King? Shouldn't I be Queen?" Lina nearly shouted. Nearby, Vitani gulped as she said these words and looked at her brother in a concerned way.

Kovu was about to answer, but then Kiara called for her daughter, and so he had a good excuse: "Your mother is calling. And I have to be on my way now, sorry, dear. Bye now."

And so he ran down the rock, leaving his daughter behind again. Lina glared after him with a stone cold stare. She shook her head and sighed, before she followed her mother's voice. Vitani took a deep breath and sighed: "One day, she would've found out anyway..." Yet she couldn't forgive herself for not keeping her mouth shut. To forget at least about this one sorrow of hers, Vitani decided to go to the water hole and then look for Mitauro. Maybe he was still around somewhere.

Inside the cave, Kiara was bathing her son as Lina approached them. She quietly waited until Ari was clean and it was her turn to be bathed. Ari started to play with Kiara's tail, while she was licking Lina clean.

During the procedure, Lina whispered in a sad voice: "Mommy? Why does Daddy hate me?"

Kiara stopped bathing her and froze. In her eyes, the sad look Lina gave her was reflected. Kiara gulped and asked in a trembling voice: "You think your Daddy hates you? Why?"

Lina continued to whisper as she didn't want Ari to hear her: "He only talks to Ari, never to me. When I ask him something, he doesn't answer. And Aunt Vitani told me today, that Ari is younger than me. I thought he was older, because he is the next King."

Kiara hestitated. "Aunt Vitani told you the truth. Ari is a few minutes younger than you."

"Then why is he the next King? Shouldn't I be the next Queen?"

Kiara's heart became heavy, and she tried hard not to let tears come to her eyes. She let out a long sigh, before she replied in a tearful voice: "Yes, my dear Lina, you should've been the future Queen. It's because of your father. He decided that Ari should be the next King. He just changed everything, without asking me. I couldn't do anything about it."

Lina's mouth quivered. "Why? Why did he do that?"

Her mother sighed again. "Because it was his greatest wish to have a male heir, a son who'd be just like him. And because he is the King and can decide whatever he wants. Without even asking me. He should've asked me, but he didn't, to get his own will. In a way, he was just like..." Kiara stopped. No, she wouldn't compare Kovu to HIM. She wouldn't mention his name, for Lina wouldn't even understand. Lina frowned at her, but Kiara shook her head and said: "Let's not talk about this now. Let's do this when we are alone. But always remember, Lina, I love you and I'm always there for you."

And so she continued bathing Lina who was still very confused. Ari stopped playing and got closer to his mother's face, inquiring: "What were you talking about?"

Kiara licked her son's cheek. "Nothing, honey. Tell you what, let's go to the water hole when I finished bathing your sister. You can play there."

"But that's so boring!" Ari complained.

"I think you had enough excitement for one day," Kiara smiled and licked Lina's belly to finish her bath. After that, she got up and the three of them headed out of the cave, when Kinja and Takita approached them.

"Are you going to the water hole? Can we join you?" Kinja asked.

"Of course," Kiara replied. Lina smiled at Takita. Something just came to her mind. So the five of them made their way to the water hole.

After they all had drunk some water, Kiara and Kinja lay down next to a small tree and talked. While Ari stayed with them, not being in the mood for playing with his sister and Takita, the girls went some distance away from them, where their mothers could still keep an eye on them. Takita immediately wanted to initiate a game, but Lina stopped her from doing so.

"What's wrong?" Takita inquired.

In a whisper, with a serious look on her face, Lina entrusted her best friend with the way she was feeling: "I can't go on like this. I have to leave."

Takita was shocked: "What?! Why??"

"Hush!" Lina didn't want anybody to hear them. "My parents are so unfair! I mean, my Dad. But Mom doesn't do anything about it. You know what he did?"

"No. What?"

"I should be the next Queen, and Dad won't let me! I'm older, but he decided Ari will be the next King."

Takita gasped. "That's unfair!"

"That's what I said! Mommy said she couldn't do anything about it. I don't know if I can believe her. But I know that I can't stand my Dad or my brother any more. I have to leave." Lina paused and looked around to make sure no one heard her. Then she asked: "Will you come with me?"

Takita gulped. Lina was her best friend. But they couldn't just leave. Takita glanced over to her mother... and to Ari. Then she looked back at her friend. She knew her. Lina would run off, if she wanted to. She couldn't just let her go alone. "I..." Takita stuttered. "I think I will. But how should we live on our own?"

Lina smiled. "Hey, we'll come through. Together, we can make it. Maybe we can get some training from my Aunt Vitani without her suspecting. And the next time she talks to this other lion, we'll run off!" And then the two cubs started to play, not showing any clue of the plan they were secretly devising ...

End of Chapter Five

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

AUTHOR'S NOTE – I hope you liked this chapter. I'm never sure about the word "water hole". I used "watering hole" in my last chapters as I read both terms in other fanfics, but now I have the feeling that "water hole" is the right one. Anyway, please review and tell me if you liked it. Thanks for reading, I'm gonna update a.s.a.p., so be patient. ;) See ya around! :)