Fifth Chapter! squee! lol!

Simba's Other Daughter: Glad you are liking this story. Being "grounded" stinks doesn't it? Wonder who came up with the idea of grounding people? I'm gonna go find them! lol! Well, on with the fic!

It had been four hours since Talib, Thorn and Kovu had returned to Pride Rock. Talib lay alone on the cool grass as fireflies danced around him in the darkness. He couldn't forget the stunned and upset look upon Acacia's face when she found out that her son was blind. Her son would never be able to see again. None of Rafiki's remedies could make Thorn's vision return.

"Talib, come. We need to talk." Kovu appeared in front of Talib. Talib reluctantly followed. He hadn't spoken a word to his father since they had returned. He had only spoken to his mother for a few moments since his return.

Father and son came to a ridge overlooking a waterfall. Talib would've enjoyed the view had he not been so upset.

"Talib, I know you feel responsible for Thorn's blindness." Kovu pulled his son closer to him.

Talib breathed deeply. "I do father, but I didn't make him come with me. He did it on his own."

"He may have, but you shouldn't have even disobeyed me."

Talib hung his head. "I know I shouldn't have, but I really wanted to see her again."

"Talib, I know where you are coming from."

Talib looked at his father, confusion flashed across Talib's golden eyes. "You do?"

"Yes." Memories of being a cub and meeting Kiara flooded Kovu's mind. "Your mother and I did the same thing. I even tried to kill your grandfather so my pride could take over."

Talib stepped back, shocked. His eyes were opened wide and his mouth open. "You really did that?"

Kovu nodded. "Yes, and I regret ever trying to do it. I only did it because your grandfather had banned me and my family from the Pridelands."

Talib looked angrily at his father. "Just like what you did to Kohana!" Rage filled the cub, and he tried to run away. He didn't get far before his father grabbed a hold of the scruff of his neck and raised him from the ground.

After holding his son for a moment, Kovu dropped Talib when he saw Kiara coming.

"Talib." Kiara looked at her son sadly.

"Yes, mother?" Talib asked as he shook himself and smoother out his fur from where his father had dropped him.

"I didn't want to tell you this, but…" Kiara trailed off. Her son wanted her to finish but if she did it would break his heart.

"What is it?" Talib pleaded.

"Acacia …She…" Kiara couldn't bring herself to finish. Tears spilled from her eyes as she nuzzled her son. "Acacia, doesn't want you to see Thorn anymore."

Kiara's report stunned Talib, as well as Kovu. Talib shook his head. "No! She didn't say that! I can still be friends with him!" Talib yelled.

"Talib, I know he's your best friend, but you must obey his mother's wishes." Kiara said grimly.

"I'm sorry, son." Talib wrapped his paws around his father's right foreleg and cried. Kovu patted his son on the back with a large paw.

"Kovu, maybe you can talk to her. She might listen to you." Kiara offered. She hated seeing her son so upset. So many things had gone wrong in one day.

"Kiara, tell Acacia that I want to speak to her later." Kovu said. Kiara nodded, kissed her mate and Talib, and left.

"I've lost two friends in one day." Talib began to cry harder. Suddenly, Kovu looked down to see sadness disappear from his son's eyes only to be replaced by anger. "You never did tell me why you exiled Kohana and her family."

"I did what any father would do for his son. I did it to protect you." Kovu answered only to see his son get angrier.

"Yeah, but Kohana's family seemed nice." Talib glared angrily at his father.

"They might have, but you don't know what they could've done to you."

"You're just saying that because they are cheetahs!" Talib ran again. Kovu didn't go after his son. He knew that Talib would return later. Kovu watched his son disappear into the darkness. He ambled off toward Pride Rock to talk to Acacia.

Talib had run until he could run no more. He collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. If only I hadn't disobeyed father. Thorn wouldn't be blind and Kohana could still live here in the Pridelands. Talib swiped a rock in front of him sending it rolling a few feet away.

The stars twinkled happily above him. The pale moonlight illuminated the shadows on Talib's face. He growled lowly.

"I wish I could be as happy as you seem to be twinkling above me." Talib said to the stars. "I wish I could talk to someone about how I feel. I know my father only wanted to protect me, but did he really have to exile Kohana and her family?" Talib spoke to himself. He stopped when he heard a twig snap behind him.

"Who goes there?" Talib yelled into the darkness as he sprung to his feet. He was astonished to see a large golden lion with a red mane.

"You don't know me do you, Talib?" The large lion asked curiously.

Talib couldn't speak. Fear had hold of his body. Suddenly, he recalled all the stories his mother told him. "Grandfather?"

The golden lion smiled. He nodded as he wrapped his paw around the youngster. "Yes, it's me, Simba."

Talib stepped back to get a good luck at his grandfather. "But mother told me that you and grandmother Nala, died when I was a couple days old."

The golden lion sighed. "I am dead, Talib, but I came here to tell you something." Talib sat attentively in front of his grandfather.

"Your father had a good reason to exile Kohana and her family. He done it to protect you."

"Yes, but…" Talib was silenced as his grandfather put a paw on his head.

"Trust me. You'll find out why he did it sooner or later." The golden lion smiled and turned. "Talib, I must go. I'll always be with you if you need me."

Talib stood and wrapped his paws around his grandfather's leg to give him a 'hug'. "'Bye."

Simba patted the cub's head. "Keep this our little secret. Don't tell anyone you saw me."

Talib nodded. "Okay."

"You'd best be getting home." Simba said, and in an instant, he vanished.

Talib stood speechless for a moment. He had just spoken to his dead grandfather. He went back to Pride Rock, figuring his parents could be worried.

As the cave came into view, Talib could see Thorn setting outside the entrance. He ran to his friend.

"Thorn!" Talib jumped for joy.

"Talib?" Thorn asked shakily.

"Yes, it's me."

"Good. Talib, I know you've heard what my mother said."

Talib knew he didn't have to answer. Thorn already knew Talib had heard it. "I'm sorry, Talib, but I don't want to be your friend anymore."

Bitter tears stung Talib's eyes. "Why? Just because you were kicked by a zebra who was trying to protect the foal that you wanted to chase?"

Thorn gasped in surprise but maintained his composure. "Talib, I don't want to be your friend anymore. That's final." Even though Thorn had been blind for a few hours, he could still get around on his own. Talib watched as his friend entered the cave.

Talib stood alone for a moment deciphering what Thorn had just said. Knowing his friend wouldn't change his mind, Talib gave up and entered the cave.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see that Acacia was staring coldly at him. Talib knew that even though Thorn was blind, he could still sense Thorn's gaze upon him. Talib looked away and clambered over the sleeping lionesses. Finally reaching his parents, he flopped to the ground between them. Kiara awoke, as did Kovu. By now, Talib had begun to cry.

"Talib, I know what Thorn said. I'm truly sorry." Kiara nuzzled her son.

"Son, I tried talking to them, but they just wouldn't listen." Kovu tried to comfort his son.

"It's okay, if it's what he wants then so be it. No matter how much I want to remain friends with him, I'll obey his wishes." Talib lay his head on his paws. Kiara knew her son was intent in what he said so she said nothing more, but snuggled closer to her son to sleep. Kovu lay his head beside Talib's.

"Father, I'm not mad at you. I'm sorry that I ran off like that. I understand that you only did it to protect me." Talib whispered.

Kovu kissed his son. "That's okay, son." Kovu said as he closed his eyes.

Talib closed his eyes, hoping that when he reopened them that he would awake from a nightmare. He knew better, however. It wasn't a nightmare. It was real. Nothing he could do would ever change what had happened this day. He would have to move on, no matter how hard it would be. He had to live with the consequences.

Ok, this chapter will be the last chapter where Thorn is a cub, unless you think I should write more about him being a cub. I was planning on making a little section in the next chapter cover what happened as he grew up, and then go from there.

Important Note: I will be even busier this week. (1) I start school again next week and I have to go shopping (I may be a girl but I hate shopping, unless I am shopping for video games. lol!) (2) I have to study so I can get my driver's permit! yay! So it may be a while before the next chaper. If I get time, it may be up by Friday, but that's only if I have the time to write more.