The Neutral Prince

Chapter 6: Explanations

"How is this possible?"

"Prince Kion lives."

"This can't be Prince Kion, for he disappeared and there is no way he would return now."

Kion felt a little bit of self-pride at the fact that so much attention was on him, but out of his emotions came rage and hatred. The fact that most of the Pride Landers had thought he was dead made him wonder what lies did his uncle inflicted on the Pride Lands. Mheetu was clearly manipulating them for a long time coming, and one day Kion shall have his traitorous head and make him pay for everything he has done. His followers would either join him or die.

Far and wide, Pride Landers peered on from down at him, those from tiny animals to the tallest animals. All taken an chance to examined his body where many scars rested around him. He has a great amount of battle upon him which brought a shiver.

He ignored them all and went to a different rock that seems to be around the same height as the king. Kion peered out among passed the Pride Lands where there was a painful life. Once, long ago, Kion had wanted to see the world and wanted to do much more then live a 'boring' life, but yet Kion had seen much of cruelty and violence just from his uncle who had turned against him.

Kion's face and eyes traveled to many of the Pride Landers who all had their eyes on him. He felt a sense of leadership at the fact they are all seeming to bow towards him. Well, that wasn't the case, it was just the distance and Kion were sure that they never expected that Kion would return. He watched as much of the emotions radiated from their eyes. Kion were sure had they haven't been so full of horror at this cub claiming to be their lost prince was not there, they would have flew hurls of questions towards him, but he knew they were putting the pieces together.

The entire Pride Lands seem to held its breath as Kion came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the rock, the Pride Landers all doing the same so they can get a good look at him. He was sure many animals were trying to get at the front to get a good look at the young cub. But still, Kion paid all of them no heed, head turned to stare intently to face the lions.

Kion's eyes flashed through each of the Pride Landers that seemed to held impact on him beside a small disapproval eyes. Really, most of the Pride Landers seems to be less trained and more fatter then the lions on Mheetu's side. Literally, just because you're in a pride, you should be trained due to much danger from rivals and enemies. Only a few seem to be trained decently. His eyes tilted through each of them, showing no other interest in either of them, like he was going to cut them down with just that look. Most were surprised that Kion has much muscles and could easily pound one into much of the cubs in the pride. Someone his age should not be that tough.

To everyone's surprised, Kion's paws indicted towards somebody. Everyone turned and their surprised intensify to see he was pointing at someone...

Princess Kiara.

Kion finally broke the silence, "I would talk, but I can see some of you are giving me those type of stares. I would be more comfortable if the future queen is beside me." He says. All of the Pride Landers were bewildered at why he is even asking that their future queen is practically being the only way for them to hear a confession to Kion. Then again, none of them had never seen him before and some there knew all of the cubs. "Why am I asking this? Because I have something to show you all as proof as my return." He added, at the very least grateful no one is trying to attack him.

Queen Nala came beside her mate and stared at the cub, who is currently claiming to be her son. Kion watched as she and the king talked in silence, until Nala's response came, "We would allow it, but I have to be there because my daughter is important to me and we are currently unaware of your intentions." Nala negotiated, praying to the kings that he doesn't reject her negotiation.

Kion nodded understandingly, "You may come." This allowed a relief sigh to come from the queen as she and her daughter went forward. The king look like he was about to follow until the cub spoken again, "But your mate must stay right there, for I am more comfortable with discussing with females more the males." Kion finished pointedly, his eyes narrowing at Simba. Simba looked insulted and looks like he was about to protest, but Nala gave him a look that forced him to not say anything.

Still though, he seems uncomfortable at the fact that his daughter would be by a clearly tougher cub who can easily knocked her down. It brought some relief to Simba that his mate would be by her side, just in case he is going to try anything. As the queen and princess neared him, the princess holding a nervous look, Kion pointed a claw at Nala and a ledge which forced both stop in their tracks to give him a look, "Please stay right there." He ordered softly. Nala send Kiara a look and then looked back at Kion. "I promise to my grave nothing would happen to her." He gave her a firm look and somehow she believed him. Kiara came beside him nervously and peered down the very large fall. "Don't move," he whispered towards her and gave her a friendly smile which oddly managed to calm her nervousness. "For we are very close at the edge."

This was not a threat nor a way to install fear into her. This was merely a warning that rocks can give out should she move too much. She knew that by experience and so far he isn't giving her that look that would frightened her.

"If you feel more comfortable," Kion continued, "you can bring your two best friends up here and I promise I won't hurt them."

Kiara gave him a shocked and unsure look. How can he know about her two best friends? What if he wants to hurt them to get a point across? Nevertheless, he could have easily forced her down with the much muscles he have developed and her mother wouldn't be able to come into her aid in time. Kiara scanned the lionesses until she found her two friends and gave them nods and they came up nervously, earning gasps from the crowd. Surely, he won't hurt three lionesses, but Kiara seems to trust him. After giving them both respectful nods and giving them positions which was not behind the two siblings. Tiifu and Zuri both were glad they were not near the edge out of fear they would fall down.

"Now, I have allowed the princess luxuries," Kion said, indicting to Tiifu and Zuri who stood behind him and then Nala who stood not far behind the two girls. "Now, I have valid proof to the fact that I am the lost prince." Kion yanked onto Kiara's right paw, surprising her and many of the species there as well. Tiifu and Zuri looked worried that he would hurt their friend. Kiara tried to squirmed, fearing the worst is to come, but were surprised when he pushed her paw outward. The two held out their paws in a same position, but Kion had dominance over her.

Gasps erupted from the Pride Landers who saw that both had small birthmarks on their paws. They were exactly the same. No difference in none of the scars. Kion knew he had swayed over half of the Pride Landers and gave Kiara a small knowing nod, followed with a nuzzle. He may have been months younger but they had the same scars.

Kiara's eyes widened and tears begin to pour as she realized this was her long lost brother. "I miss you too, Kiara." Kion said affectionately, holding up his paw and connecting towards her. Tiifu and Zuri also seems shocked but the scene was cute at the fact that the cub were nuzzling her. Nala came to the edge and gave him a nuzzle that she have craved for, like he had for a very long time. Mheetu have tried to make him see Tanu as a different mother, but Kion always refused that damn lioness and told her 'rot in hell'. Kion gave slight grins to Tiifu and Zuri, knowing that the three meant a lot to each other, considering the two girls seem happy for Kiara.

The animals from behind down below gave large cries of celebration and happiness. Murmurs of happiness came from each animal. What was suppose to meant to be a sad day was actually one full of joy and peace at last. Kion, their lost prince, who all had believed were dead had at last return.

Kion peered down and saw his friends from many months ago. The lion cub frowned but send a slight smile towards them, in which they all returned. But he knew he had to explained more.

Kion briefly sighed as the wind blew through him. "Quiet!" He spoke in a high tone, silencing all of the animals who seem to be shocked at his high tone.

Kion have never knew that he has high authority in his voice. His name did mean leader after all, but should Kion really tell everybody? He knew that some of the lionesses seem unconvinced about him being their return prince. Kion didn't care though. For a while, Kion had been glared at endlessly; even a few cubs seemed to be looking at him like they're going to attack him. Kion silently dared them so he can test his skills, but he was not amused of Kiara's muscles. He knew lionesses will never be as strong as male lions, but Kiara should have some muscles because Kiara is the future queen, he will have to talk to her later on because she shouldn't be that weak.

The animals soon fall in complete silent as Kion gave a short tone.

"It is time I'll tell you all everything I have been through," Kion begin darkly. "For one thing, this will get disturbing so I hope you are all ready to hear this. You should get each out of your cubs out if they are very young." He noticed lionesses walking away with their cubs and putting them into Pride Rock. Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri stayed however. They are around his age so it can't be that bad, or so everybody thought.

Kion frowned and lick his muzzle nervously, "Okay, so here goes." Kion breathed, allowing the wind to flew on him. He knew that it was bound to get difficult, but surely they will see there would be no other choice.

"Okay, several months ago, me, Prince Kion, have somehow disappeared. I'm sure Mheetu has told you all of that." Kion's face darkened as he saw the animals nodding absently. "Well, he lied to you!" The rage boiled in his soul and he looked like he was going to kill somebody and everybody was shocked but none dare to say a word. "That monster lured me out of the Pride Lands and wanted me for him to join him a long time!"

This caused several outcries from the animals. Simba and Nala looked surprised. The lionesses were deadpanned. Some animals called for a war against Mheetu, and others wanted to check out Kion to see if he was lying.

Kion continues to hear the word, "War." War? Likely, Mheetu has spies in the Pride Lands who would alert him of the war and would prepared his army. Why would they dare to go into war? Many lives can be wasted for what cause? Kion would likely be able to survive a war greatly because he is stronger and has much willpower then most of the cubs. But should the Pride Landers go into war, cubs would die, families would be separated from families, and lives will be wasted. They would have to form a Grand Army Of The Pride Lands. While part of Kion wanted to test his skills in a war, Kion has think of countless lives that will be lost. Once a war starts, it's very difficult to truly end a war. It was clear Nala and some of the other lionesses wanted to go to war, but Simba and more lionesses wanted to go into war for a vengeance.

Kion was able to regain control of this conversation, wanting to completely avoid the war.

"War? Are you serious? Should we go into war, it would be hard to get out of it. The Pride Lands may be throw into a waste. While I have conflict with Mheetu, I refuse to allow countless lives to be lost. Think of the cubs and little ones. Mheetu has an entire army which is stronger than the Pride Landers. Had we go into war, I can survive but I'm going to lay this out on all of you: the other cubs and animals are not war material. I would rather to avoid a war. Right now, Mheetu doesn't want to go into war because he wants his army to grows stronger, but shall we let our arrogance to gain control of us, we would likely lose the war. Mheetu has a rising army, some in another kingdoms."

Mheetu is a brute who would stop at nothing to achieve his goal. He wants to force us into a war and likely has spies all over the Pride Lands. We need recruits, allies, and an entire army of strong warriors should we ever truly start a war. That will take too much time and too much loses. It is clumsy and stupid about proceeding with the war. Now, I want Mheetu's head as much as the rest of you probably do, but can we actually go into a war? Do we have any sources? Mheetu doesn't care about the Pride Lands, he cares about power and wanted strength."

Animals looked like they were about to respond until Kiara surprisingly came forward, "I agree with Kion," she says convincingly. "For one, I cannot fight as can't a few others just yet and we have others such conflicts. Should we go into war, we would all lose in day one. We don't have resources and persuasion of other kingdoms like Mheetu has. While we do have allies like the Mountain Lands and Waterfall Lands, Mheetu clearly has schemes and power. For those who thinks Mheetu isn't behind this, why is as soon as Kion disappear, Mheetu disappeared as well? That is odd."

The princess tilted her head towards her little brother and motioned for him to continue with a slight nudge on his shoulder, in which he responded with a bright warm smile.

"Okay, enough talk of the war currently, let us continue," Kion continues coldly. "Right now, I have a few confessions to make. Mheetu had make me do some terrifying things to others and to myself. He have trained me and rose me to a murderer. I know many battles skills and can prayed for me to overthrow my father and sister, but at the end I had managed to somehow escape. It was difficult for me to isolated myself so I had to carried out my plan of evacuating, I have killed many animals before who he had ordered to kill."

Many of the animals clearly was surprised and outraged about how their prince can kill anybody. Now some called for his banishment and others called for his execution for the safety of their babies. Many of them has theories of him being a spy for Mheetu and not even the real Prince Kion; some did believed he was Kion but believed the former as well. Kiara seems to be wordless, his mother gave him a apologetic look, his father send him a unsure look. He prayed that somebody comes to his recuse and somebody did - one of the someones who he didn't expected. It was Kiara's best friend, Zuri, who bravely came forward and went beside him. He remembered her not liking him and seeing him as annoying when he was younger, so it was quite surprising that she came to his recuse. By Kiara and Tiifu's faces, they were clearly surprised as was everybody there, including the lionesses.

"Listen to me, while Mheetu has seem to turned against us, Kion hasn't done anything to us and provided for us to distrust him. Plus, why would he tell us all of this if he hated us? I doubt Mheetu would want him to spread this much information whatsoever, he tricked us for several months so he is clearly not a idiot who would make him tell us everything. Plus, Kion seems to hold such a high regard and hatred for him so I'll not expect for him to truly to reveal a truth to us." Zuri said vigorously.

The Pride Lands seemed to wavered of their words of Kion. Although Zuri didn't see it, Kion was humbly grateful for her to speak up for him like that. He remembered her seemingly only caring about her looks and not about anybody, beside Kiara and Tiifu probably, but in realty Kion feel something small forming up in his heart and a small something coming onto his cheeks. Well, she was pretty and beautiful and he may have a attraction towards her. Kion shakes his head as he forced the blush back in. No, Zuri and him are cubs and Kion can't ever fall in love with her. Mheetu has taught him these emotions and when the heart beat out more. But also taught him that relationships has to start. At the very least, Mheetu had taught him a few good things and Kion were unprepared for forcing himself in a relationship with another cub. He always been a handsome cub however so it's easy to draw girls to his attention as shown with other lions in Mheetu's pride. He had seen the lionesses cubs trying to get close to him, which would immediately forced him into his cell so he wouldn't have to deal with them and they knew they can never enter passed his cell so mostly Kion managed to escape those hungry glances. Kopa were also handsome, but many female cubs was draw to him.

"But how can you even trust him?" A lioness demanded the king who seems to be staring at him skeptically, clearly trying to examine to see truth within him. Kion peered over Zuri and noticed a lioness who seems to match Zuri's fur. She had orange-brown fur, purple eyes, blonde nose, and has some muscles. Kion wasn't sure why, but he just couldn't trust her. She seem to have her own lioness that didn't even seem to follow Simba, but her. Simba had a bunch of followers and lionesses, but she had seen lionesses seemingly behind her who looks to impersonate her. What's odd to him is that Zuri let out a low groan at the lionesses. Now, seeing her and Zuri compared the resemblance is real.

"I had no choice," Kion continues bitterly, raising his voice which again brought all of the Pride Landers to a harsh abrupt silent. "Mheetu would have kept more watch over me had I not act like I wasn't his executor. All that fool cared about was himself. If I hadn't act like doing each of his biddings and his every order and mission and learning more of his abilities, I highly doubted I would be able to escape. I wouldn't had share this information had I wanted to to overthrow the Pride Lands, but I would never turned against my family."

"How did you get that scar?" Simba asked, finally saying something at last.

Kion grimaced and went quiet for a minute, but then his paw scrolled over his eyes. Quietly, Kion thought back to that day, feeling the same pain and hurt that he had felt that day. Still oblivious to why Mheetu would scarred him to him just mentioning his family, Kion's eyes traveled to the ground and he allowed a small snort on his lips.

"As soon as I spoke up against him and claimed that I have missed you guys," Kion says quietly but as tough as he can. "He scarred me and hope to deep my hatred for him. He had wanted me to hate him so I can join him truthfully and released my anger and strength on others. Seeing that I had no true, I have cut many animals down and brought them to him as a gift. He have grown more trusting to me but I had to act like I am his faithful and loyal servant who wouldn't dare to question him."

"What happens to animals who you cut down and brought to him?" Makini asked nervously, dreading the answer from him.

Kion frowned, "I don't think you would want to know," he said. "But let's just say that they are never seen again at least by not my eye. He have grown even more crazier and wanted me to test my skills and abilities against the weak. If I didn't do his precise orders when he ordered animals to brought in, dead or alive, he would starved me or increase my training. I was hoping someone would eventually kill him since they were lions who attacked him and some even nearly posed a threat towards him. None survived. They were all swept aside at my paws. I knew I had to get stronger and couldn't aid them plus with me being caged, I was force to watch and allow each of them get swept aside and be killed and their armies become Mheetu's army. They only get stronger in terms of strength. I am determined to stop him and gain more strength and draw off of him and one day kill him and hold his strength."

"Cast aside, or kill by you?" The same lioness from earlier asked furiously.

"Some cubs; some older and some younger then me, who didn't accept his offering, I were force to kill them so they can stand out to him," Kion admitted strenuously. "Never did I had the pleasure of ending their lives but it came with a price. If I didn't kill them, all hope of one day striking him down would have died with them. Despite me being contain to a cell, I had to play him or I would have tempered his hate. Each command given to me had to be carried out fruitfully or I would have received... punishment for it. Some battles, I had hope would end with the lions ending victoriously. Mheetu knew how to play his games correctly however and managed to catch the lions off guard and none hadn't understand it until it was too late. What saddens me is that some of those lions were innocent, good lions. While others were like him if not worst. I didn't care. I wanted Mheetu to lose, but none managed to stand a challenge to him due to him being a very good manipulator."

"How do we know you won't come after our cubs?"

Kion's paws twitched and his muscles clenched as the young lion cub bitten the tip of his lip, causing small blood to form. This lioness who didn't even seem to know him is making him sound like he was crazy. He never took lives for the pleasure of it and he couldn't see why half of the lionesses swayed to her side, adamant about him being a threat, despite him sharing much information already. Kion did everything for his home, not for wanting to truly join Mheetu and become his heir and pawn and cast everybody down to bow, be killed, or succumb to torture for days - and if they refuse him after the torture they must be killed. Kion knew how to not become a beast and murderer just by the kindness in his heart. But now animals were looking at him like he was crazy or deserve death and may just be a threat. At the thought of this, Kion just couldn't control his emotions anymore.

"I am not a murderer! At the least if I had a choice I would not repeat my actions!" Kion roared. The animals were shocked by him losing his temper when he seems like someone who mask his emotions well, as Kion continued sending harsh words her way. "I have tried to save this damn Pride Lands and thought sacrifices must be made! I barely even knew those lions who I cut down! And I admit I had sympathy for them, but that doesn't mean I was going to throw my chance to escape all in the air! Had my position been reversed, they would have likely threw me under the rock! They wouldn't had cared about my life! And it was clear by their eyes and last looks they gave me! I have to live with killing innocent cubs because I couldn't escape! Sometimes I had to kill the parents and cubs both whenever Mheetu not do the finishing blow to those innocents!" A tear went down from Kion's eyes. This being the first time for a while of showing his emotions that he have kept buried inside releasing it without worry of being punished. He closed his eyes to block the emotions inside out. "But at least they are with their parents."

Silence is what followed after. Simba knew his situation with his father passing when he was a cub was horrifying and horrendous, but what has his son done to deserve this much pain? While Simba thought he had ended his father with the stampede, it was really Scar however, but sadly Kion really had committed those crimes and would likely never come to true pain with those revelations. Kiara couldn't help but feel horrible for her little brother who has been through much. Now, she was starting to wonder what would have happened had their positions been reserve, Kion was trying to be as strong as he could but she knew she was outright weaker than her brother when it comes to mental. Tiifu and Zuri tried to hide their emotions but tears of pain was falling from their eyes; never did they seen much torment inside of an animal. Nala was crying and allowed tears to fall to the surface since she never thought that her own cub would have became like this. Kion really hadn't done anything to anybody, but he have witness death too young. Lionesses started to wavered and some even changed their minds about Kion, but others had kept firm in their words and agreed with the lioness. The friends of Kion, even Bunga, all lowed their heads, knowing the pain that Kion had went through under those past months and no one was able to help him.

Kion would have to sleep every night, suffering and letting those dead bodies come into his life each day. He clearly wasn't a monster, but the fact that Kion is showing some sadness and remorse for his actions show there are some hope for him. It's like he is strong one minute, but now is letting his concentration broke and collapsed. He would never do these horrible actions to these innocent animals if given an choice to escape and live without causalities of others, most of them were innocent.

"I had no choice," Kion said with a small whimper in his tone. "No one have protected me and I had to carried out and obey his every orders. Judge me in your own personal way," He looked at the lions, "but be honest here, none of you would have done different choices. Imagine what's it like, waking up every dawn and having to train ruthlessly against your true family. I had to act like I was going to do his will. But there was no other alternatives. None could stand a chance against him, even though I seen close opportunities before. I have killed to save some as well. Had they not been cut down by my claws, Mheetu would have shaped into shells of their former selves. I couldn't allow it... I couldn't so I would kill them to prevent them from causing great harm."

"Have you ever consider joining them?" Tiifu questioned.

"Yes, a few actually, but there were one a few months ago named "Fierce" he was banished from his pride due to him being framed because he was friends with a wolf which was somehow banished from his pride. But he had such wisdom. He tried to build his trust and rescue me from him. When he attacked, I was training but his wolf friend and him nearly backed him up, however it was useless due to Mheetu managing to fight harder. I liked him, I would have serve him, but deep down I knew he would have failed. I've impaled my claws through his wolf friend, killing him, and bring him to Mheetu as a gift. It was harsh to see him suffer tortures, but eventually he cracked. Instead of going the long way, he took the 'easy way out'. The only way to defeat him was to act like his faithful severant who would do nothing but what he commands."

Krayt hated himself for doing all of that. Many times he could have aided lions who he had barely known or had grown an attachment to, but he had to gain Mheetu's trust or he would have never been able to escape. Even after the months, Mheetu confined him to his cell each month.

"Never thought someone in the shadows who wants to gain alliances would cut down so many lions of other prides." Nala said softly, not believing her little brother became such a monster.

"The ones that were kill is the ones who didn't accept his offer," Kion responded. "Or ones who have stand too much a threat. I remember a few begging for me to end their lives and I had wanted to aid them, rescue them, but known I couldn't because I had to put my own life ahead because some look like they were in pain. Their bodies were full of blood and looks to be on the verge of death, suffering and just twisted. I would not allow them to suffer further and end their lives. Mheetu hounded me the name of Krayt and I was starting to be known as Krayt from many there."

Simba looked up and saw the sky was darkening. He knew that they must have been talking for a long time, but Kion had quite a story. But the rage in his soul was burning up. Most kingdoms had thought that the prince was dead and so did he and his mate. Several months without his son, thinking that he was dead because of somebody with daddy issues. Simba bitten his lip or he would have roared so loud that it may terrified his subjects. But the rage was still there and it took all he had to not revealed it. One thing is to go after Simba himself, but the second you'll go after his family Simba would get involved and some would see a different side of the wise young king.

"I thank you three for your trust," Kion says, a smile coming onto his lip as he stared at the girls outside of Pride Rock. "I'm not sure if I would've been able to give mine so freely where a positions reserved."

Currently, they were at Pride Rock. The Pride Landers were mainly thrilled at their prince's returning and soon things would be back to normal when he was very young but sadly he rarely remembered those times. However, perhaps new memories can be made but Krayt, or Kion, highly doubted he would ever be the lion he could have been. Unfortunately, Kion was unable to really talk to his friends because they were send off or been demanded to come home by their parents who is high authority. By now, Kion would have been asleep because he would have came 'home' (his cell) from a long day of training or would have been able to force himself up barely. Only did Mheetu gave him a break whenever he went to sleep and that was when he was able to feel true peace.

Kiara nudged him on the shoulder. Although, he didn't exactly like the fact of being touch yet, the lion cub decided to let it slide due to her may not being able to fully understand him yet, "Well, we're so nice sometimes." She joked.

Kion allowed a smile and rolled his eyes as Tiifu and Zuri nods their agreements with the princess, "Nice?!" Kion exclaimed. "If I remember correctly, I thought I was a dirty," he grinned at Tiifu who blushed, "or annoying," grinning at Zuri who mirrored her friend's blush. Kiara allowed a mini sigh as she was glad that her brother didn't attack her, but Kion won't allowed her off the hook. "Oh and how about a trouble maker who always get away with everything?" Kiara looked away with the most innocently look she could have mustered.

She then wondered something about her little brother, "So you go by Krayt?" The princess inquired. "Can't lie. Not a bad name. At least you wasn't name something worst such as... Scar." That name had bitterness in her tone. His parents no doubt told her of what he was like for a lesson of some sort because Kiara seem to hate and despise that name. Kiara's emotions were untamed and uncontrolled, a clear signal that Kion can hide his anger much better than her despite losing his patience with that lioness earlier because she pressed a certain button in him. Zuri and Tiifu seems to shivered since they doubt heard of the tale. Krayt was well aware of that tale considering Mheetu tole him of the Pride Lands past, because Mheetu actually thought he can tempt him with the truth and even told him a bad mouth name of his own father so he told the truth about Scar killing Mufasa so he guess he can accept that part at the very least true.

Kion's eyes went cold as he felt the Krayt side of him starting to take over at the mention of that. He desire to never be like Scar and cause many to suffer as much as Scar had because of whatever past the tyrant may have had before he killed his own brother. He bitten the tip of his lip in hope to keep the anger from coming out to his big sister, "Kiara," Krayt said through clenched teeth, "I've prefer if we don't mention Scar when we're having conversations because I was taken by his son, you weren't."

Kiara backed up a little, a little bemused. "I'm sorry, Kion," she apologized immediately. "I didn't mean no offense by it. Just I wonder where he gotten that name from."

Before Kion can respond more to his sister, Tiifu came in the conversation in hope to save her friend from her brother's wrath because she always had this ability to read someone thoughts and feelings. "Um, so do you wish for us to call you Krayt or Kion?"

Krayt thought about that for a moment. Should he allowed the girls to call him by his birth name? After all, Krayt kind of wanted to install fear into some who doesn't respect him, not because he can rule or whatever, but because he don't want none to dare try and oppose him. He looked at the three and answered finally, "In public, I want to be refer as Krayt, but in private call me Kion." Krayt turned and was about to head into the cave for much needed rest, however the three was finished with questioning him yet.

"Why's that?" Zuri asked.

Krayt turned back around and gave her a soft smile, "Because some lionesses don't respect me or who I am. I would give them all a choice if they want to see me for who I am as a kind respectful prince or a disrespectful brute. I respect you three and trust you three so I'll not care what you called me. Beside, Kiara kind of looks up to me."

Kiara shot him a sly grin, "I do not," she interjected dismissively. Tiifu and Zuri shot her small smiles that she couldn't resist because they can see through her like they can eat a piece of meat. Krayt just stares at her eyes where he see them trying to ignore his gaze, but the looks of them overwhelmed her greatly. "Okay, maybe I do." She admitted, slightly embarrassed at that since she never really had a idol, not even her father who she was close to considerably but to her eyes Kion is the bravest loyalist lion she ever seen, but she never really like when people stare at her very long and she was unable to keep the lie to stay in her lips. "But I can't wait until I can get to know you and perhaps you can even rule by my side one day."

Krayt ran a paw through his mane, "Perhaps," Krayt replied.

Kiara gave him a nuzzle and went inside with Tiifu and Zuri following behind. Krayt was about to follow but Zuri gotten infront of him, not showing any sign of hostility, but her tone and look on her face seems to be apologetically. "Listen, I don't do this very much but I'm sorry for how that lioness treated you," she apologized, giving him a sad look.

Krayt waved his paw at her dismissively, Nonsense, you don't have to apologize Zuri," Krayt retorted. "I can understand if she is overprotective from you. Considering my past, I can hurt you if I go into blind rage. But being here at this place gives me warmth and comfort. At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to control my actions, but this calms my soul in the day and gives me comfort in the night. I have darkness in me and it is sometimes unbalanced, but I am going to find a way to control it."

Zuri gave him a sad look at the thought of what he could have went through all these months; thinking that his family abandoned him, being trapped in a cell, earning a scar for just speaking your personal thoughts, and being force to maybe kill your family one day. Never did she thought she would be into a lion like this; the fact that a lion like this who has some problems can be so kind and caring to others. He was also handsome and his fur glistered into the sunlight. Still in the darkness of night, he sticks out towards her in a way she never saw cubs before. The muscles make him stick out more. The little male lions in this pride can be easily fought by this lion no doubt and lose. Kion also seems to love his sister and looks towards her in a different manner that no brother should. There was no determination or anger in his eyes like she had seen previously...

There was simply happiness and calmness.

"Still, I'm sorry," Zuri repeated.

She never actually apologized to somebody so this was new for her. Something about this lion is different from the others. She felt the urge to help him heal from this. She can help him in some sort of manner and perhaps maybe awakened a new side of him. He seems to have something that sticks out more. He clearly ain't afraid of much people. Even when his life was on the line, he still did his best to hid his fear and speak up. That is something not seen in lions these days. Zuri shakes her head, realizing that a cub shouldn't have a crush on the prince. He may just walk over her, but nevertheless she wanted to help him and form a bond with him since he would need more then family in this.

Kion still didn't want her to take the blame for it, "And still, I said it wasn't your fault," he countered. Kion then let out a giant yawn and he realized that he was really tired with all of these revelations and explanations. "Come, let's not continue this any longer and we shall go to sleep. I'm tired and today has been a long day. Plus, three special cubs would be taking me on a tour tomorrow." He send her a wink, which she couldn't help but giggled at and followed him inside.