Sandra opened her eyes and coughed up water. "Where am I?" she asked.

"You're safe, in the Pridelands," answered a voice Sandra didn't reconize. She noticed the brown lion standing in front of her.

"The Pridelands...no!" Sandra exclaimed leaping to her paws and advancing on the lion. "Why'd you bring me here? Who do you think you are?"

The lion's mouth gaped in surprise. "I think I'm the one that saved your life!" he retorted.

"Look, I had everything under control!"

"Not from where I'm standing."

"Then move downwind!" Sandra turned to walk away but the lion stepped in her path. Sandra, feeling frustration rise, turned and ran in the other direction but the lion stepped in her way yet again. Sandra narrowed her eyes and leaped away from him but he continued to get in her way. Sandra growled and faced the lion, but the lion then stood straight up and got a confused look on his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked. Sandra's mind flashed back to the time when she wandered off into the outlands when she was a cub and met Kyoya.

"Kyoya?" Sandra asked with a smile and the lion smiled. It is him! I can't believe it! Sandra smiled at him for a moment longer until she heard a loud roar and saw her father run up and growl at Kyoya. Nala ran up and nuzzled her daughter.

"Sandra! You're alright!" Nala said in relief.

"Father! How could you break your promise?" Sandra asked.

"It's a good thing I did! I almost lost you! No more hunts for you! Not ever!" Simba growled.

"But I was doing just fine! Even before Kyoya..." Sandra never got to finish before her father let out a growl of anger and hatred at the mention of Kyoya's name.

"Kyoya!" Simba roared. The two lions roared at each other for a little until Rafiki called from a little ways away.

"Hey! You!" Rafiki called. "How dare you save the king's daughter!"

Simba blinked and turned back to Kyoya. "You saved her? Why?"

"I humbly ask to join your pride," Kyoya answered.

"No! You were banished with the other outisiders!" Simba refused.

"I have left the outsiders. Judge me now, for who I am. Or am I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?" Kyoya challenged.

Simba growled and began to pace, having a hard time coming up with something to counter Kyoya's argument.

"Simba, you owe him your daughter's life," Nala reminded him.

"Yes sire," Zazu said as he flew up. "Clearly we are in his debt, and royal protcol demands that all debts be paid. Though in this case you might want to make an acception." Simba cast a thoughtful glance at Kyoya and Kyoya just stood calmly, awaiting the kings decision.

"My father's law, will prevail. For now, I reserve judgement. We'll see who you really are," Simba decided at last as he turned to lead the way back to Pride Rock. Kyoya smiled and glanced at Sandra and Nala. The two lionesses smiled and they all turned to follow Simba back to Pride Rock. Sandra hung back and watched as Simba denied Kyoya entrance to the main den. Kyoya narrowed his eyes and stared after Simba before he turned and walked over to a rock outside the den. He lied down in the shadow of the rock. Sandra, feeling sympathetic toward him walked up to him.

"Hey. Thanks for saving me today," she said. Kyoya grunted and sat up.

"What kind of hunter are you anyway, princess? You almost got yourself killed out there," he reminded her.

"What?"

"You wouldn't last three days on your own."

"Oh, and I suppose that you could teach me?"

"Yeah." Kyoya began to walk away from Sandra but the princess got a teasing smile on her face.

"Sandra!" Simba's call reached Sandra's ear.

"Coming!" Sandra called back before walking up and getting in Kyoya's way. "Alright. Impress me. We start at dawn." Sandra walked past him and headed toward the den.

"I look forward to it," Kyoya said and Sandra smiled. It faded when she saw Gingka waiting for her at the entrance to the den with a sweet look on his face. Sandra sighed and stopped in front of him.

"What's up, Gingka?" Sandra asked.

"Just glad you're safe," Gingka purred leaning in to nuzzle her, but Sandra ducked away. Gingka blinked. "What's wrong?"

Sandra walked past him and sighed. "Gingka, you're a great friend and I know that you're into me but I only think of you as a friend. Try to understand, ok?"

Gingka's sad eyes were fixed on her as she walked away from him. She really wished he would learn to understand and move on to smoebody else, but she knew that he wouldn't do that anytime soon. Sandra just sighed and walked over to her father and mother. She lied down beside them and silently fell asleep.