I don't own any canon characters.
"Come on Nuka," Vitani called, "the sun's moving faster than you are."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Nuka said, glancing furtively around, before darting a short distance, then repeating the action.
Vitani sighed, but didn't roll her eyes because Nuka was starting to freak her out. Normally, he'd carry out Zira's orders with glee, unless Kovu was involved, and even then, without hesitation. She'd never seen him this scared, not even last night, when mother had come close to killing or mauling him. "Look," She said impatiently, "if we're careful, we won't get caught."
"Easy for you to say," Nuka muttered, not quite under his breath.
"Come on," Vitani said, then sighed again, "the quicker we do this, the quicker we get out of here."
"Yeah fine," Nuka said, "and if we try to do it too quick, we'll get caught."
"Yeah, so," Vitani said, "what'll they do about it?"
"You don't want to know," Nuka replied darkly.
"Aw come on," Vitani said, "it can't be that bad can it?"
"It can," Nuka replied, not sure himself, but hoping."
"So you'd rather tell mother you were too scared?"
"Let's go," Nuka said.
"You okay kid," Timon asked Kovu, who hadn't spoken all morning.
Kovu nodded, but then Kiara broke in, "He scared."
"Am not," Kovu retorted.
"Are too," Kiara taunted.
"Am not," Kovu said angrily.
"Are," Kiara said, "are are a..."
"Hey quit it," Timon interceded, "oy."
"Well..." Kiara started to say.
"Princess Kiara," Pumbaa said sternly, "if this keeps up, I'm going to have to inform your parents."
"Aww," Kiara said, "but..."
"No buts," Pumbaa said, "you're going to be a queen one day, so you need to act nicely."
"Aw Pumbaa," Timon said, "give her a break, she's just a kid."
"Well, I suppose..." Pumbaa said.
"Anyway," Timon said, "we didn't do all of this with Simba."
"We didn't know who he was," Pumbaa said in reply, "and we didn't have any experience back then either."
"Are they always like this," Kovu whispered to Kiara.
"Usually," Kiara whispered in reply, "come on, let's go while they're busy."
"But..." Kovu started to whisper.
"What's wrong," Kiara asked, "you scared?"
"No," Kovu hissed.
"Then come on," Kiara said. Slightly reluctantly, Kovu followed her as they snuck off.
"Okay, okay," Pumbaa said soon afterwards, managing to finish their disagreement, "now, come on you t... ...Timon, where's the cubs?"
"How should I know," Timon asked, "I thought you were watching them."
"I thought you were," Pumba said, on the edge of panic.
"Simba told you to watch them," Timon said.
"He told both of us to watch them," Pumbaa said, "now we're in trouble."
"Hey hey," Timon said, "calm down my porcine friend, we'll get the cubs back, no sweat." he thought for a moment, then asked, "which way did they go?"
"I don't know," Pumbaa replied, "oh heck, Simba is going to kill us."
"No he's not," Timon said, climbing on to Pumbaa's neck, "let's go."
"which way," Pumbaa asked.
"Erm..." Timon looked around, then pointed, "that way."
"There they are," Vitani whispered to Nuka, as they saw the two cubs, blissfully unaware of their presence, embarking on yet another small adventure.
"Good," Nuka said.
"Now let's go," Vitani said, darting forward.
"No, wait," Nuka said, impeding her progress by bearing her to the ground with a paw.
"What," Vitani hissed at Nuka, "mother wants us to get Kovu back, there he is, what's the problem?"
"I don't like this," Nuka said, "let's go check the area." After some time checking out the surrounding area, he was finally satisfied they were alone, but for the cubs. "Let's get them," he said, "you keep the princess quiet, I'll get the termite."
Both cubs were amazed when a light brown shape hurtled out of the grass and pinned Kiara. "Wha..." she asked, "what's hap..."
"Shut up princess," Vitani said, "unless you want me to hurt you."
Kovu didn't recognise the object at first, but the voice was unmistakable. "'tani," he asked, "wha..."
"Shut up termite," Nuka said, coming forward to grasp Kovu by the nape, "you've got me into enough trouble already."
"And just what do you think you're doing," asked another voice from behind them. Nuka turned, recognised the shape emerging from the grass, whimpered, then fainted.
Vitani moved off Kiara, who looked at the figure for a moment before recognising it. When she did recognise it, she smiled sheepishly and said, "hi mum."
Vitani was scared, but found the courage to ask, "wh-what did you do to my brother?"
"I," Nala asked, "I had nothing to do with it, I can assure you, Vitani."
"H-how do you know my name," Vitani asked, beginning to panic, "who are you?"
"I'm queen Nala of the Pridelands," Nala replied, "and what did you think you were doing to my daughter?"
Before Vitani could begin to think of an answer, They heard, somewhat faintly, Timon and Pumbaa searching and calling for Kiara. "Over here guys," Nala called to them, suddenly dropping the royal tone for something closer to the tone her mother used when Kovu wasn't doing well in training.
Vitani was even more shocked, when, not long afterwards, a warthog arrived, with a meerkat sitting on it's neck. "Oh good, she's safe," the warthog said spying Kiara.
"Yes," Nala said pointedly, "she is."
"Yes, er," the meerkat said, "well, good."
"And now that you're here," Nala said, "you could go and get Simba."
"Oh, er, sure" the meerkat said, then it and the warthog left again quickly.
"And now," Nala said, turning back to Vitani, "we'll see what the king has to say about this." She then looked at Kiara, with Kovu beside her, and said, "and as for you young lady, I told you not to run away from Timon and Pumbaa."
"Aw," Kiara said, "but..."
"No buts," Nala said, "and as if it's not bad enough that you endangered yourself, you also endangered Kovu."
"Sorry mum," Kiara said, hanging her head.
"Hey 'tani," Kovu said, "why're you here."
Vitani took a moment to gather her confidence, the glowered at Kovu. "Why else, genius," she asked, "mother just about skinned Nuka for letting you get away, chosen one."
"Hey," Kovu said, "don't call me that."
"Why not," Vitani asked, "you're the chosen one, even if you are a weakling.
"I'm not a weakling," Kovu protested.
"Prove it," Vitani said.
"Okay," Kovu said, and charged her.
They tussled for a moment before Nala came up and said, "quit it, both of you." Both cubs froze, then slowly untangled themselves, their eyes never leaving her. "Really," she said, "what would your mother say if she... ...no, don't bother to answer that, I don't think I want to know."
No-one moved for several minutes, then Vitani, summoning up her courage again, asked, "can I..." and indicated in Nuka's direction.
Nala took a moment to work out what Vitani was on about, then nodded and said, "yes, by all means."
Vitani raced over to Nuka, and tried to wake him. Meanwhile Kiara sidled up to Kovu and asked, "you know them?"
"Yep," Kovu said.
There was a pause of several seconds, then Kiara asked, "well."
"Well what," Kovu asked.
"Who are they," Kiara asked.
"My brother and sister," Kovu replied.
"Your brother and sister," Kiara asked, then made a face.
"Yeah," Kovu said, then noticed Kiara's face, "hey, they're not that bad."
"If you say so," Kiara said in reply.