At last, the three made it to the secret spot and Kion was more than happy to look at Kiara's secret hot spring, and he was more than happy to set foot in it. Kiara knew that her little brother would enjoy coming here and taking a dip once again. Rani herself was happy, and Kion was the first one to slowly take a dip in this relaxing spring. He sighed in relaxation as he buried his body under the cooling waters, then Kiara followed after, and Rani the last.
The waters were so relaxing to their skin, and it was sp heavenly for all three of them. Deep down, Kiara wished that Kovu was there with her, since he knows if this place too.
Still, Kion was enjoying this and so were the teo lionesses with him. Deep down, he felt kind of privileged to be in a secret bath like this one. Yes, it made him feel more special. No Janja and his clan, no Reirei and her family, no Lion's Bane, or any other of Kion's personal enemies to ruin his day, or any vicious animal could ruin it for them all.
"Well, I am so glad you showed me this place, Kiara. It's so... so..."
"Serene?" Kiara asked him amusingly.
"Yeah, very serene."
"Ah, I agree. I've never got in a spring like this one before." Rani concurred. The waters were so soothing to their fur and skin and small mist was arousing them both, and while relaxing Kion looked at Rani, and he was thinking about how absolutely beautiful she looked in that position.
He was having minor... thoughts about being in love with her, but he snapped out of it. "What am I thinking?" he said to himself in his brain. "Rani is a good friend, and we've only met for... a while now. Probably... weeks?"
Kiara noticed her brother looking spaced out and she said: "uh, Kion, are you alright?"
"What? What? Oh yeah. I'm just fine Kiara. I was just... thinking to myself."
"About what?"
"Well, I was just thinking that if I find a beautiful lioness, what should I say to her?'
"You saw a lioness?" Kiara asked him.
"No, no, no, I was thinking if I saw a beautiful lioness and if we fell in love, what do I do to impress her?"
"Well, just be yourself Kion. That's all a girl wants, for you to be yourself."
"I'm sure you'll find your love someday." Rani added.
Kion nodded his head in agreement, and said: "yeah. I guess you're right." he continued relaxing in the soothing waters. It was silent again and Kion wished that this day would go on forever. While it was a good thing that Janja, Reirei, and their followers were not here to ruin Kion's day, it's the Lion's Bane he was a little worried about.
This group was far more formidable than any hyena or scheming Jackal. If that group encountered jim, or his close friends, it would be bigger trouble than he would normally have, but he decided not to worry about it Just yet.
If the Lion's Bane does come back, Kion will prepare himself for a fight like none other before.
"So, how's Kovu?" asked Rani.
"He is doing great. He is still confident he will be the perfect king of the Pride Lands someday when the time comes." Kiara replied. "And I'm confident I will be the perfect queen when it is my time to shine. I mean, sure, mom and dad's reign has to come to an end soon, but I will be ready when I become the next queen."
Rani smiled. "Well, Kiara, I think I will be the perfect ruler for the night Pride when my own time comes. I don't have to worry about it yet, but sometimes, many animals are watching me because I will rule over the Night Pride someday.
"Ah, me and Kovu get that a lot too." Kiara said. "But, don't worry I'm sure you'll be the perfect queen of the Back Lands."
The brown lioness smiled in confidence. "But wait, what if I am not the rulers my parents are?"
"Ah, you can't be your parents, you can only be you." Kion said. "We all make mistakes. You might falter when you finally become the queen, but you can always try to overcome them."
"Yeah, exactly! Kion gets it."
"And, will I still be the leader of the Lion Guard?" the cub asked his sister. "I know it sounds stupid, but I wanted to ask that, Kiara, you want me or the Lion Guard to still be around when you and Kovu become rulers of the Pride Lands?"
Kiara smiled warmly at her younger brother, and she replied: "of course. I would love it if you guys were still the Lion Guard. Nothing would ever change that. Besides, if you guys aren't around to guard or protect the Pride Lands, who will?"
"Good point. But I don't want to think about it just yet. I mean, I'm still a cub and I have a lot to think about before that happens."
"Right. And I don't think mom and dad will retire for a long time now. Probably a few more years until me and Kovu become the next rulers."
"Well, I still have a long way to go before I become the queen of the Night Pride." Rani added. "For now, I think it is a perfect time to relax."
"Agreed." the royal siblings said. Yes, everyone couldn't get enough of this, and enjoyed the waters some more.
"Ah, there you are, Kiara." said a voice, it was Kovu, who decided to spend some time with her lover. "Mind if I join you guys?"
"Of course not, Kovu." Kiara giggled. "Come on in."
The future king smiled and took a dip in this spring as well, and he was enjoying it as much as the other three. Unsurprisingly, he sat down next to Kiara, since she is her mate. "Glad you can make it, Kovu." said Kion
"Wouldn't have missed it for the better." the future king himself took a dip in the hot springs and he knew it just as much as Kiara since he found it with her. "Oh yeah," he sighed as he felt the warm waters rub against his skin. "That hits the spot." Kovu noticed Rani in the spring and he said: "how are you doing, Rani?"
"Still trying to learn the ropes in being the queen of the Night Pride."
"So Kion, it must he nice being out here with your sister in this spring."
"Yeah. I'm glad that she shown me this place." Kion admitted. "A perfect way to relax after a usual day of patrolling the Pride Lands."
"Agreed." said Kiara. "So Kion, I'm a little curious; what were you and your friends talking about back there?"
"Oh, it's nothing." Kion said. "We were just talking about the days we met each other when I was cub."
"Heh, you're still a cub, buddy." Kovu smirked.
"I mean a baby cub then."
"You know, Kion, I know I shouldn't bring it up but, when you were born, you were the cutest thing I have ever seen."
"Kiara," Kion groaned mildly. "Not in front of Rani."
"It's okay. I won't laugh."
"Oh alright. Was I that cute?"
"I just wanted to est you up after seeing you as a newborn." Kiara explained. "Not really, but, you know. And I wished for a sibling in the sky from a shooting star a year before, and I finally got my wish."
"Huh. I wonder if Mufasa granted that wish, or if it was just part of faith." Kion honestly admitted.
"Well, I think Mufasa heard my wish and he gave it to me." Kiara smiled. "And I was the happiest lioness alive, right next to me and Kovu meeting and being together."
"Ah baby." Kovu said, "you're making me blush." He wrapped his arms around her. "And meeting you was the happiest thing that ever happened to me. You... saved me from the dark side when I met you, but I might have told you that already."
Kiara chuckled. "Many, many times, Kovu."
"I... don't really remember when I was a newborn because well... I was born." Kion admitted.
"That's okay. I can tell you what you were like when you were a newborn."
"Well... I am curious." Kion admitted. "What was it like that day?"
"I'll tell you everything,"
Flashback: Kion's Birth
It was a glorious day in the Pride Lands, for Nala was having another baby. Frankly, it caught everyone in Pride Rock by surprise, even Kiara, even though she wished it on a star in the first place. Still, it was a very happy day, and Simba himself was proud that he can raise a cub a second time.
Kovu, and Vitani were waiting outside while Nala was giving birth in Pride Rock. "I think I'm going to have a little brother." Kovu speculate. "I mean, a brother-in-law."
"I don't know Kovu. I think it's a girl. Nuka was firstborn and I was born second, then you. I'm positive it will be a girl. The question is... will he be a king after you and Kiara?"
"Maybe. But I wouldn't worry about that yet. That probably won't happen for a long time. Besides, if me and Kiara have kids, either one will be either a future king or queen."
"Heh. Good point."
Kiara was with Simba and Nala in helping with Kion's birth. As soon as it was done, Kiara was so excited and went out of the cave. "Guys, get in here! The baby's out!"
Kovu gasped while Vitani just had a smile on her tomboyish face. As both of them went in the cave, they found the baby cub struggling to get on his feet, for he was a newborn after all. He made a few mewing sounds, which made it all the more adorable. Nala and Simba smiled, knowing that he is a healthy cub that has been born.
"Oh, it's so beautiful." said Nala.
"It's a boy." Simba added. "And he is very healthy."
Kiara went up to him to lick him and give him a bath. "Hello, little one." she said. "I'm Kiara, your big sister."
"What do you think we should name him?" Kovu asked.
"Why not Fluffy?" Vitani suggested.
The others looked at her. "Fluffy? What made think of a name like that?" asked Kovu.
"Well look at him, all that fur on him."
"Hmm, why not Kiongozi?" asked Nala.
Simba smiled and remembered what that name means. "Yeah. I like it." he said. "Kiongozi. Also known as leader."
"I think that's a good name, daddy." Kiara agreed with the king. "Maybe we can call him Kion for short."
"Yeah. That sounds good." said Nala. "Now come here, sweetie. Come to your mommy and daddy."
The cub made a few small meowing sounds and tried to walk over to his parents, but he stumbled at first, but he will learn to walk soon enough. Kiara helped Kion walk over by gently pushing him from behind.
poor Kion was still struggling, but he will learn, for he was slowly getting better. "There you go, little brother." she softly spoke to him. At last, Kion Reached his parents and they were cuddling him
"Mama, dada." Baby Kion said.
End of the Flashback
It was all starting to come back to Kion now, and he did remember how he was faltering at trying to walk when he was just born into this plain of existence. "Okay Rani, thank you for not laughing at me."
"You're welcome. I told you I wouldn't laugh."
"So, I guess if you rule the Pride Lands if we die, I think Rani would be the perfect queen to rule with you."
Both Kion and Rani flushed and their corner's shrank to beads. "What?" Kion said. "Rani, I mean, ummmm..."
"Kion is... a good friend."
"Yeah, Rani's not my type. No offense."
"None taken, I'm with you, Kion. You're not my type either."
"Oh come on, I was just kidding." Kovu said.
"Come on, it was just a joke." Kiara added.
"Oh. Okay. But yeah, Rani is a good friend."
"Same with how I am with Kion. Besides, we just met."
