A/N:CSIMentalistTLK lover-It will come soon, my friend.

Disgraceful Prince

Mheetu stared up at the lion he grew up to believe is his father, momentarily not comprehending what he had just said. What? What? What? His brain was stumbling over thoughts, too shocked to react just yet. He wasn't a Mountainlander? They...they lied to him? For all this time, he really didn't belong here? Why...why would they do that? He didn't understand. His jaws opened and closed, trying to find his voice. Malka gazed worriedly down at him, as if waiting for a reaction. Mheetu blinked and stopped walking. He felt numb. It was as if his whole world was coming down around him. He wasn't related to anyone in his home-no, it wasn't his home. He was...was a Pridelander?

"Mheetu?" Malka whispered, his ears flicking back and his brown eyes full of guilt and anxiety. He halted in front of his son, looking back to him.

"I don't belong here?" Mheetu replied, still to numb to feel anything but shock. He stared straight ahead, ears pinned back and eyes wide.

"Wha-oh Mheetu, that's not what I meant!" Malka stepped back and placed a lighter colour paw under the young lion's chin.

Mheetu began to feel a twinge of anger. "But...but why didn't you tell me!" He growled, focusing on his father's concerned face.

He pulled away from the lion's touch. Why had they kept it hidden from him for so long?

"I wanted to wait until you were truly ready..." Malka dropped his head, his mane flopping down around his face, hiding his expression from the young lion.

He looked so dejected, Mheetu felt suddenly terrible, but the betrayal pushed it away.

"But you lied! You and Nabii are not my parents, Kishindo not my brother!" He raged, sinking his claws into the ground. He felt tears of anger sting his eyes. All this time, and he had been in a false reality. Kishindo had been right. He really didn't belong here.

"Mheetu...I'm sorry..." Malka murmured, lifting his head slightly with an upset expression.

"Did they know?" Mheetu asked, his voice hinting at a faint snarl. "Did they?"

"Nabii and the rest of the adults did, but none of the cubs. Not even Jeshi." Malka answered. He straightened up, as if deciding to stop cowering from his son. "Son, I understand why you are-"

"No you don't! And I'm not your son! " Mheetu screeched, backing away, his creamy brown fur bristling. "You lie to me, you all did, has that ever happened to you?"

He was so caught up in his fury, he barely noticed the hurt in Malka's clear gaze. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, breathing heavily.

"Mheetu, listen." Malka strode closer to his adopted son.

Mheetu looked up, opening his mouth to say something, but Malka continued loudly, "No, please listen. You have every right to be angry. Your mother gave you up because you were a child conceived by rape. Your birth father raped your mother. Therefore she took her anger and frustration out on you. So when the rightful king returned which was your mother's true love. She gave me you. Mheetu, It was for your own safety. I couldn't tell you when you were younger, not when you might try to go home and get hurt or killed! No telling what Nala might do!"

Mheetu glared up at the lion. "I don't understand. Why would you let me live this...this fake life?" He cried, shaking his fur out.

"Mheetu, you can't call this a "fake life". You love it here, nothing will change that. This is your home, because it is where your friends and family reside." Malka responded, glancing around the savannah.

Mheetu trembled slightly. "Family?"

He was less angry now, the fury dissolving into despair and grief. He sheathed his claws and looked up at Malka. But deep inside he was boiling.

"You have brothers here. Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi are your brothers. Half but family none the less. A lioness named Zira attacked Kopa caused him to not remember. Because of the cave attack Nala, your mother and another lioness had to send them away" Malka explained, seeming relieved the Mheetu was calming down a bit. He bent to nuzzle his son's head, and Mheetu didn't flinch away.

"I still can't believe this..." The teenager sighed, his shoulders relaxing and his ears drooping. "Will you tell them?" He glanced up hesitantly, now feeling extremely guilty for all the anger he had held and poured out onto his father no matter what Malka is his father.

"Only if you wish, my son." Malka dipped his head, concern emanating from him. He licked Mheetu's forehead. "I will always love you, wherever you may be or whatever you may do."

Mheetu pressed against his father's comforting fur. "I'm sorry." He said out in a tiny voice. "I just feel so lost now." He buried his nose in Malka's thick mane.

He felt like a little cub again, and almost wished it were so, then he could be innocently living his life without the burden of being separate from his friends. "I'll tell them."

He pulled away from Malka and stood up, his eyes sad and confused. He swallowed, then padded in the direction of the cave.

~O~

He felt like a whole new lion, a visitor or stranger. He wasn't one of them. It was a new perspective, and not one that he liked. Everything suddenly felt unfamiliar, strange, different. He slunk through the grass, not checking if his father was behind him. Mheetu slowed as he reached the clearing, and he entered warily. Oh, what would he say?

"Mheetu!" Skye came racing over, her eyes glowing as she spotted him. She seemed to notice his depressed posture, and worry flashed across her face. "Are you alright?" She halted in front of him, eyes wide.

"Yes...I'm fine." Mheetu said, looking up. He gazed into the concerned eyes of his friend, and felt sick.

He wasn't her pridemate. What would she think? Would she still like him? Would the rest of the cubs want anything to do with an outsider? He licked his muzzle.

Skye still looked worried. "Oh...alright." She whispered, stepping back as he walked past her.

He glanced back to her, flicking his tail."Wait, I need to tell you something. Fetch the rest of the others-Jeshi even." Mheetu told her, taking a slow breath.

He turned at pawsteps, but it was only Malka walking into the cave. The pale orange lion gave him a comforting look, and Mheetu felt more confident. He turned back to Skye, in time to see her nod, confusion shining from her eyes, and then turn and spring away. Mheetu headed back out of the clearing, knowing they'd follow his scent. He sat down a few paces from the bushes surrounding the cave. It wasn't long before the rest of the youngsters arrived, Skye in the lead. They all gathered around Mheetu, many looking puzzled and interested.

"Well? What do you want?" Kito asked in her gruff tones, standing next to Kishindo.

"Yeah? What's up?" Nzuri added, blinking green grey eyes. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked a moment later, sitting down.

She had noticed his nervous disposition, as expected.

"Er...um...my father told me something that is kind of important." Mheetu began, hesitating and nervous.

This would be a big thing to comprehend. He wasn't sure how they would react. Hopefully less dramatic than his had been.

"I'm...n-not a Mountainlander."

"What?" Nzuri yelped, jumping right back to her paws.

Skye looked shocked and confused, and Jeshi surprised and puzzled. Kito seemed not terribly shocked, and Kishindo looked almost as if he had been expecting as such.

"But...how is that possible! When Malka and Nabii are apart of this pride?" Jeshi asked, his ears flicking.

Mheetu shook his head quickly."No, they are not my parents." He glanced to Kishindo. "You're not my brother." He remembered the words from an argument they had, and felt sadness tighten his throat. He dropped his head. But Mheetu looked over at Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi. "But you three are"

Tanabi didn't look fazed. He knew this moment would come. Kopa and Khairi were just shocked and confused.

Kishindo only seemed concerned. "This is crazy...I'm really not? I really didn't mean it all either...I wish you were my brother." He pinned back his ears and blinked at Mheetu.

"Then where are you from?" Kito asked, giving Kishindo a sympathetic look before turning to Mheetu. She obviously believed it fast enough.

"The Pridelands." He answered simply.

"What, with the mad King we heard SO many stories about?" Nzuri gasped, looking again shocked. "How?"

"My mother abandoned me and Malka took me in" Mheetu explained, shrugging slightly hatred building up more for Nala.

Talking with his friends and brothers was making him feel better. At least they didn't seem revolted by the fact that he wasn't a true Mountainlander.

"Wow...this has been quite a day for you, Mheetu!" Jeshi commented. "At least you got a good hunt!"

"Yeah, don't worry. We're still your friends." Nzuri nuzzled Mheetu's cheek.

"Thanks." Mheetu gave them a small smile. He glanced to Skye, who hadn't spoken up throughout the conversation. She stared back at him, betraying nothing in her gaze.

"C'mon, let's get back" Kishindo nudged Kito, giving Mheetu a knowing look. He stepped away, glancing back. " Tanabi, Kopa, Khairi, Nzuri, Jeshi, let's go." He winked at Mheetu, who stared back, confused.

The six young lions headed away, leaving Skye and Mheetu alone in the grass.

"Are you alright?" It was his turn to ask her.

Mheetu rose to his paws and padded closer to the younger lioness."I guess. I still can't believe you're not a Mountainlander..." She whispered, looking dejected.

Mheetu didn't know what to do to comfort her, so he sat still.

"I can't think of you as not one." She continued, confusion bright in her eyes.

"I can't either." He replied softly, curling his tail around his paws.

He wondered if he'd ever return to the Pridelands, he wants to. To go there and give his mother a piece of his mind. But it won't be just words, he will let loose hell on her. Make her suffer. Then he wondered if he had any more siblings. He thought of Malka, Nabii and Kishindo as family, and he still should. He knew they would too. He shook his head slowly and glanced over to Skye. "I'm still the same lion."

"I know." She replied in an even quieter voice, and leaned towards him. He didn't move, but let her head rest against his shoulder. "And I'm glad."