A.N. : Hi, I'm back…yeah, I know I haven't updated in a while, some of you are probably pissed off…blah, blah, blah. Well I'm sure you all have better things to do.

Chapter 5: Uncles

Growing up in the palace was not exactly young Kiara's idea of a good life. Her father, for reasons beyond her comprehension, was insistent on her security. She was not allowed beyond the Palace walls, and she was not allowed to go to the upper levels. Of course, she had everything a young girl could ask for (dolls, music boxes, and all sorts of other things), but she just felt that there was something missing from her life, sure she was missing freedom, but there was also something else, she just did not know what.

She was walking down the Entrance Hall, one beautiful spring evening, when she heard voices from beyond the Entrance Door. She stepped outside and took a deep breath, the air was sweet with the smell of the fresh blossoms, and the golden sun was shining high in the sky with no clouds to hide its beautiful, life-giving face. She glanced across the enormous courtyard and her eyes fell upon her father; in his usual trench-coat and hat. He was talking to her two favorite (and only) uncles: Timon and Pumbaa. Kiara ran up to her father ad hugged him from behind, "Good morning, daddy," she said.

"Good morning, honey," replied Simba, after she had let go and he hugged her close to him, "Say good morning to your uncles."

"Good morning, Timon" said Kiara, "Good morning, Pumbaa."

Pumbaa was sitting in the shade of an enormous truck (twice the height and length of a regular eighteen wheeler), and was looking up at Simba. Timon, on the other hand, was on the roof of the enormous vehicle and was working on a turret which was mounted on the roof of the enormous container which was mounted to the back of the truck. Simba went back to talking with the two. Kiara was aching to ask her father something so she just figured she should ask him now, "Daddy?"

Simba looked down at her, "Yes, honey?"

Kiara hesitated for a while, then said, "Can I go for a walk in the city?"

Simba's eyes flew open, "The City? No."

"Come on," whined Kiara, and she put on her most imploring face, "Please, daddy."

Simba found it hard to say no to her when she looked at him like that, "No, Kiara."

He looked towards Timon and Pumbaa for support. Pumbaa mouthed the words: 'come on', Timon just shrugged.

"Let her go, Simba," said a woman's voice from behind them.

They looked behind to see a beautiful woman standing behind Simba, "Nala," said Simba, "I don't know."

"Come on," insisted Nala and she held Simba's muscular arm in her delicate hand. Simba looked around and knew that he was defeated; he heaved a great sigh and said, "All right."

Kiara leaped up and kissed him on the cheek and hugged her mother, "Thanks, dad. Thanks mum." With that she ran to a door in a wall of the courtyard and left through it.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Simba asked Nala.

"Doesn't she remind you of someone?" asked Nala, with a smile.

Simba looked confused for a moment then smiled. He drew Nala's face close to his and their lips were about to touch when they realized they were not alone; they looked round to see Timon and Pumbaa watching them intently, Nala said, "I'll leave you boys alone." With that she left the same way she came. Simba looked at Timon and Pumbaa and said,

"I want you guys to do me a favor."

"Sure," replied Pumbaa.

"Follow Kiara," said Simba, "Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble."

Pumbaa looked doubtful, for a moment, but Simba was the King and Kiara was Simba's daughter, so he replied, "All right."

Simba left the courtyard and went back into the palace. Pumbaa got up, stretched a bit a yelled up to Timon, "You coming?"

"Yeah," was the reply and Timon slid down the ladder to join Pumbaa on the ground. Timon pulled out a device resembling a joystick and said, "I've fixed the turret. Just let me test it."

He pressed a button and an explosion emitted from the truck's roof, they looked up to find the turret gone. They looked around, then noticed that the turret was hurtling at a great speed way from the truck. Pumbaa smiled at Timon,

"I'll fix it," said Timon, "In the mean time, never mention this occasion to me again."

And the two left the courtyard the same way Kiara did.