A/N: Heyo! Wow, this took me a long time to write. I think it was due to this chapter really only serving a small plot point I guess...idk. Either way, enjoy!

"Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides."

André Malraux

The evening sun was beginning to wane; the heat of the day subsiding to a manageable warmth. As the golden orb traversed the last stretch of the blue sky, three figures in varying shapes could be seen occupying space at the edge of Pride Rock. The largest figure, a muscled lion with a mane like fire, paced back and forth along the high ledge. He had returned from his daily patrol hours ago, expecting to see his daughter frolicking among the lionesses of his pride or perhaps spending time with Nala, his mate and queen. Kiara was nowhere to be found. He had first thought that she had simply been delayed by the curious nature that so often plagued the young, but as the minutes turned into hours, worry had begun to set in. There were a million scenarios as to what might befall a young cub, especially the offspring of a royal dignitary. Why he had let his only child off on her own without leonine supervision, he wasn't sure. But what he did know was once she was safely returned, he would not make the same mistake twice.

"Simba," The smallest figure; a meerkat with a tuft of ginger fur crowning his dome, began cautiously. "I know you're not going to like this, but before you get mad, I just want to say it's not our fault."

Simba, halting his frantic pacing, whipped around and fixed a deadly stare on the small rodent. It brought him a small amount of pleasure to see the meerkat shudder in fear, but as quickly as it came it vanished. Despite the degree of the situation, Simba couldn't hang on to his anger. The meerkat, along with the rotund warthog cowering inches away, had been his best friends for many years. The two of them stepped in to fill the role of parent when he was younger. Looking back, they probably weren't well-suited for the position, but he wouldn't have had it any other way. Without them, he most certainly would have succumbed to the dangers of the outside world and his own inability to cope with the deep sense of loss at the time.

"What happened?"

The warthog, having remained silent during the entire interaction, raised a hoof and tried to speak, but only a string of unintelligible words tumbled out. Sweat began to trickle down the side of his pudgy face. The meerkat sprang into action and clamped a paw over his partner's mouth, a nervous chuckle escaping his own maw.

"Well you know how cubs are, Simba." He stammered, trying to come up with an explanation that wouldn't result in a well-deserved thrashing. "They don't listen. They're always getting into trouble. I mean, you were the same way, remember?"

"Timon."

"Always riding waterfalls, eating dangerous grubs. Oh, and don't forget the time you almost broke a leg falling out of that tree. You remember, right Pumbaa?" Timon backtracked, his mind becoming frazzled under the scrutiny of Simba's gaze.

"Timon."

"We had to climb up all those branches, and in the heat too. And I honestly thought I was gonna die. Come on, you've gotta remember -"

"Timon!"

The meerkat flinched and froze, a habit that had been ingrained into his being during his sentry training when he still resided with his colony. Simba sighed and swiped a paw hastily across his face. He didn't have the time for this nonsense. His daughter was still out in the Pridelands with no protection. But if he was to get anywhere with either of them, he would have to approach with a bit more tact. Regaining some composure, he sat back on his haunches and fixed the insect eaters with a pointed stare.

"Timon. Pumbaa. Where is my daughter?"

o - o - o - o - o

The meer seconds it took the tan lioness to reach her adversaries seemed to stretch on for what felt like eons, but the moments her claws connected with the reptilian scales, time lurched forward faster than the snapping jaws surrounding her form. Crocodiles had never truly been much of a problem in her times spent in the Outlands. They had actually been a source of food whenever the opportunity was presented, but during those hunting sessions she had been accompanied by the lionesses under her rule. Now, instead of one she was facing half a dozen, and instead of a formidable force among her, she was facing the scaly beasts alone.

Letting loose a ferocious snarl, Zira raked her claws along the stout legs of the nearest crocodile. Blood began to ooze from the gash she had created. The crocodile hissed in pain and swung its tail in an attempt to fling her into the hazardous waters, but she leapt nimbly over the appendage and landed on its back where she latched on with all her might. A second crocodile, yellow eyes ablaze with rage, reared up and snapped at her, his razor-like teeth coming dangerously close to her flank. Zira swung a paw at its jaws and scrapped across its nostrils, causing it to thrash about in pain, sending torrents of water in every direction.

"Mom!"

Among the chaos, Zira was able to pick out the sharp cry of her son. Wilding searching the fray, she spotted the two cubs scrambling to reach the bank, but a bull was blocking their path. Taking a split second to decide on her next course of action, she pushed herself off of her current attacker and sprang to land in the shallow waters, putting herself between the cubs and the reptile. It darted forwards and snapped at her foreleg, managing to clip her with the tips of its yellowed fangs. Zira cried out in pain and retaliated with a strong swipe.

"Kovu!" She barked, refusing to take her eyes off the dangerous beast. "Get to the bank. Now!"

Without waiting to see if they had complied, Zira reared up and slammed her paws down into the water, hoping to momentarily confuse her enemy. As the water splashed up, she took a chance and sped towards the bank herself. Only when her paws hit the muddy ground did she spare a glance behind. Oblivious to the escape of their targets, the crocodiles were still thrashing among the muddy water. One bull slipped from the brawl and swung his head wildly around in search of the lions. Seeing that they had indeed reached safety, he let out a low hiss that grew in sound until the other reptiles ceased their movements. As one, the group flashed their fangs in a show of disgust before sinking back into the murky depths from whence they came.

Immediately and without stopping to check her body for wounds, Zira rounded on the two cubs cowering in the mud.

"Kovu! What on Earth were you thinking?" She roared, barely able to contain her anger. "I expected this kind of behavior from your bee-brained brother, but you?" The brown cub shrunk even further in the mud. "I expect better. I demand better."

Kovu hung his head in shame, unable to look his mother in the eye. Zira snorted in disgust and lifted her head to the darkening sky.

"Oh Scar. I know you wanted him as your heir, but what am I to do when he behaves so recklessly."

"Excuse me ma'am, but it wasn't all Kovu's fault."

Zira snapped her attention back to the ground. A golden cub, the one that had been scrambling among the fray with her own child, had put herself before Kovu, her ears folded back in submission. Zira had quite forgotten about the cub's existence; a female cub she noted now that she was paying attention. A female cub with reddish-brown eyes brimming with remorse. It made the older lionesses stomach churn. Frankly, this cub had already begun to pick at her unraveling nerves. If she witnessed any more weakness, she would be emptying the meager contents of her stomach onto the barren ground.

"Oh really now? Then if it wasn't Kovu's fault am I right to assume you are responsible for this mess?"

"Well," the cub responded meekly, ears flattening in submission. "It was kind of my fault. But I didn't know there were crocodiles out here."

"Of course you didn't think!" Zira growled, tail lashing in her anger. "You cubs are all the same. Completely brainless and devoid of any common sense. I have half a mind to- wait." The older lioness stopped abruptly; taking a moment to truly take in the appearance of the younger female. Golden fur and hazel eyes. The mark of a Pridelander, and not just any Pridelander. This cub was the daughter of the king.

Zira could barely contain her excitement. The daughter of her enemy was here in her own lands without anyone tracking her. Surely this was Scar's doing. This was an opportunity she was not going to take for granted. But if she was going to use this to her advantage, switching tactics would prove to be beneficial.

"Mother," Kovu spoke hesitantly, pulling Zira from her thoughts. "I'm sorry I went out on my own. I just thought we could be friends."

"Oh, of course, my son." Zira replied, wrapping a foreleg around the dark cub in a faux comforting gesture. "I wouldn't have asked anything different." She continued with a smile that revealed her large fangs. "In fact, I think we should bring your friend with us. The two of you must be absolutely exhausted after this whole crocodile mess, hmm?"

Her crimson eyes darted between the faces of the two cubs, her hungry gaze willing them to accept. Of course, if push came to shove, she would do whatever it took to bring Simba's child back to the other Outlanders.

"I suppose it would be alright." The golden cub finally responded. "As long as it's not too long. I don't want to worry my father."

"No, we wouldn't want that would we." Zira remarked cooly. "Come along then young cubs. And Kovu?"

"Yes mother?"

"When we get there, make sure our guest feels right at home."

With a flick of her tail, Zira began to pad away from the muddy river and onto the dusty ground her paws had grown accustomed too. Her mind was swirling with new ideas and plans that she had once thought to be impossible. But now, with this cub so willing to trust a complete stranger, there was a glimmer of hope in her otherwise dark and depressing world. The scale was beginning to tip. And it was tipping in her favor.