CandyLuv99; I'm glad you liked Sarabi. There's definitely something between Raja and Kion.

Kiara was just as excited as she was nervous. This was her opportunity to make something of herself, to prove that she isn't just some cub that the king rescued. She wanted something that her daughter would be proud of, she wanted her daughter to have something to believe in, a reason to be her hero.

When it came to nervousness, a lot was riding on her succeeding. She wanted to prove to Simba that she wasn't the cub he rescued but a lioness. Her feelings were still very much strong and hurted to know that all her dreams and fantasies would never become a reality.

But it was addictive, she couldn't help to do the littlest things that would earn that smile she loves so damn much. Which is why she was currently hunting a herd of Thompson gazelles, Simba's favorite choice of prey.

Kiara took to her training with Stara and Nadra, she crouched low where she blended with the grass. This was the second attempt at a hunt, her emotions running freely caused her not to focus.

She went to move forward when her ears perked at the sound of a twig breaking. The herd lifted their heads in alert before prancing off in fright.

"Shit," Kiara growled as she stomped a paw on the ground. When went to go after the herd, the wind blew bringing a familiar scent. "Ahadi..?"

There were a few mumbles and inchorent curses before the little over two year old light beige, brownish mane lion stood from his hiding place. Ahadi looked up to winch when Kiara's expression went from disbelief to fuming.

Kiara pinned her ears back as she narrowed her green eyes. "Were...Were you following me!?"

Ahadi said nothing but lowered his head and sighed. But that was all the information Kiara needed. The light gold lioness growled as she turned away.

"I can't believe this! I don't believe you!" Kiara whipped her head around and glared at the slightly older male. "How could you do this to me!"

Ahadi looked up to respond when his orange eyes widened as he noticed a fire blazing on the horizon. And the herd of Thompson gazelles was stampeding back their direction.

"Kiara, run!"

Kiara follows Ahadi's gaze and her face pales before she began to run the opposite way with Ahadi and the herd trampling behind them as flocks of birds flew overhead.

During their escape, Kiara somehow had got separated from Ahadi. She found herself trapped and hemmed on all sides, choking on the thick black smoke.

Up ahead, Kiara sees a high ledge over the blazing flames, she rushes forward. Before she leaps up and tries with all her strength to climb up the side. Upon reaching the the top, Kiara collapses.

Appearing from the thick smoke was Kovu and Taka but to Kiara unknown males. They loom over the bit younger female, where Kiara momentarily opens her eyes to see two pairs of teeth bared, then she loses consciousness again.

Taka went to grab Kiara first but stepped back when his brother growled at him. The young brownish, black maned lion scowled as he watched Kovu grab Kiara by the nape of her neck and throws her unconscious body on top of his and began to run off. Taka growled lowly before running after them.

A burning tree falls in their path causing Kovu to fall off a cliff and into the river below. Taka slides down a slope of the cliff and instantly dive into the cool water.

Taka soon emerges with Kiara's scruff in his jaws. He swims to shore with his brother following.

One on land, Kiara begins to gain consciousness, gasping for air.

"Where am I?" Kiara merely asked mostly to herself not expecting a answer. So she was beyond shocked and a bit frightened when she received a response.

"You're safe in the Pridelands."

Kiara quickly looked up to see two young lions, a bit older than herself smirking down at her. Her shock instantly disappeared as she growled. "Who do you think you are?"

The brownish male scoffed, his bright green eyes that reminded her of the queen, glisten. "I think we're the ones that just saved your life."

Kiara stood with a glare fix on both unknown males. "I had everything under control!"

Both males chuckled before the bit older dark brown, darker brown maned lion spoke with a agonizing smirk on his muzzle. "Not where we were standing."

Kiara growled before turning to stalk away. "Move downwind!"

But before she could get anywhere, her path was blocked by the brownish lion. Kiara growled with a glare before moving to go another direction but the dark brown lion blocked that path too. Kiara huffed in frustration as she continued to leave the area.

But it ended with Kiara jumping from side to side, unknowingly to the young lioness she had done this before.

Soon Kovu begin to get bored and decided to spike her memory as he leapt in front of the light gold lioness.

"What are you doing?"

Kiara stopped moving as she stared at the lion in front of her before moving her eyes to the other male that was smirking by the dark brown lion's side.

Memories of that day when she was a cub returned. The ruggish outsider and his brother, she had never really forgotten about them. Just kept it to herself, because the outsiders were forbidden.

"Kovu? Taka?"

The brothers respond with a smug smirk as Simba and Ahadi ran over roaring followed by Stara and few of the pride.

"Kiara, you're alright!" Stara exclaimed as she nuzzled the younger lioness. Happy that she wasn't hurt or lost in the fire.

Kiara pulled away, shaken by Simba and Ahadi's ferocious attitude to her old friends. Before the betrayal returned and she growled. "How could you break your promise...you promised to let me do this on my own!"

Simba glanced at his nephew who was joined by Kader. The light beige lion lowered his head as the light brown lion nuzzled him.

Simba tore his eyes away to look at Kiara. "I almost lost you! No more hunts, not ever!"

Kiara gasped before narrowing her green eyes. "You can't do that! Besides I was doing just fine! Even before Kovu and Taka-"

"Kovu and Taka?" Simba looks at the young males before roaring at them. A intense feeling of protectiveness building up.

Stara was applaud by her brother's ferocity. "Simba?"

Simba snorted before looking at the Outsiders. "So what? You saved her?"

Everyone looks at the Kovu and Taka as they nodded.

Simba growled, "Why?"

"We humbly ask to join your pride."

Simba immediately roared, "No! You two were banished with the other Outsiders!"

Kovu stood tall and said proudly. "We have left the Outsiders. We are rogues. Judge us now, for what we are... or are we to be blamed for a crime we didn't commit?"

Ahadi growled at the two while Simba snarls as the golden lion paces around. Stara looks at her brother and king hard.

"Simba... you owe them your lo-heir's life."

Zazu flies down and says, "Mmm... yes, sire. Clearly we are in their debt... and royal protocol demands that all debts be paid. Though in this case you might want to make an exception."

Simba paces a few moments more, then comes to a decision.

"My father's law will prevail. For now, I reserve judgment. We'll see who you two really are."

Kovu smiles inwardly and looks sidelong at Kiara, who smiles back at him. Zazu turns his back on the brothers.

"Hmph! Riffraff."

Zazu flies off. They all make their way back to priderock, with Taka and Kovu walking behind Simba growling to their selves.

...

Princess Kenna was away for the past two months in a half visiting one of the Tree of Life's neighbors, the Desert Empire.

It was to secure the alliance between the two kingdoms, from her understanding, her new friend went through this when he was a adolescent. Traveling up the mountains to the gorilla domain to secure a alliance.

At first, Kenna completely despised the runaway prince. But after some time, she got to know him and they became friends. Who was actually one of things she missed while away besides her family.

The young dull beige lioness was traveling through a dusty valley when she found an old den and rested for awhile before continuing her journey.

But as the young lioness walked, she felt she was being watched. But she ignored it and continued walking. By time morning came, Kenna saw the outline of trees that marked the Tree of Life's borders.

With a happy laugh, the princess bolted towards the trees. Right before she could reach the borderline, she was tackled by a black mass.

Kenna looked over her shoulder to stared in horror before screaming.

Not far away was a three year old pale white, gold maned lion. He was furious with his pride's new ruler, King Lucius. The son of the former ruler, King Kanu and Queen Nafsi.

Lucius was younger than himself but he helped shape the new king into the lion he is.

They were best friends, truly. Brothers more likely. It really hurted him when he was exiled. The Waterfall pride was all he knew and now he has to find another pride that's willing to accept another male. Not all prides are welcoming to more than one male in the pride.

He was about to rest for a while when a loud scream reached his pale white ears. With a new burst engery over came him. He ran out towards the scream, where a large, really large built black lion was mounted over a young dull beige lioness, that looked like she just barely made it to two years.

"Help!"

"Shut up, bitch!"

The pale white lion growled before running full speed and tackled the lion. The two rolled a bit before the black lion rolled out of the way and hitting other lion's head on the ground.

The pale white lion shook his head and tackled the lion. This time he remembered Kanu's old training and used his back legs and flipped the lion over.

"Leave or I will kill you!"

The lion laughed and spit at him and before he knew it, he slashed the black lion's neck. After some shaky breathes, the pale white lion stepped back with a cry of despair.

"I'm a murderer..."

He knew what he said but he hoped that his threat would be just that and sent the male retreating.

The lioness walked over to him slowly but soon made it to him. "Thank you."

The pale white lion looked at the dull beige lioness and seen she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Um...no problem."

For Kenna she couldn't stop looking at the large, broading male. He had a bit more muscle than her father and Raja, his large head was crowned with a handsomely gold mane. The lion's mane was in a gentleman bad-boy style. The tuff was combed out, where some gold bangs fell nicely above his eyes, which was a intense gold.

Kenna shook her head, blushing as she knew she was caught starring. "May I know my hero's name?"

"Gabriel."

Somehow Kenna loved the sound of it. Kenna smiled before turning to continue her journey back home. "I'm sure that my father would like to thank you for saving his daughter."

Gabriel quickly understood. He saved a princess, he quickly trotted to join the princess' side. He forgot about the unfair treatment of Lucius as he smiled at the female besides him while she went on about something he asked.

Maybe, just maybe his luck was turning around.