Yes, it seems that Kion is figuring things out. Enjoy the chapter.

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 she 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 her training with Anna and Nadra, 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. "Hamilton..?"

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

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

Hamilton said nothing but lowered his head and sighed. But that was all the information Kiara needed. The golden orange 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!"

Hamilton looked up to respond when his dark brown 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 Hamilton's gaze and her face pales before she began to run the opposite way with Hamilton and the herd trampling behind them as flocks of birds flew overhead.

During their escape, Kiara somehow had got separated from Hamilton. 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. 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 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 climb and instantly dive into the cool water. Taka 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 broad 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 and Kion glisten. "I think we're the ones that 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 golden orange 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 off limits.

"Kovu? Taka?"

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

"Kiara, you're alright!" Anna 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 Hamilton's ferocious 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 Laurens. The creamy beige lion lowered his head as the light gold 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 brown 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.

Anna 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?"

Hamilton growled at the two while Simba snarls as the golden lion paces around. Anna looks hard 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 Raiden was away for the past two months in a half visiting one of Artemis' 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, Raiden 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 other best friend, Cullen and her family.

The young dark gold lioness was traveling through a dusty valley when shefound 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, Raiden saw the outline of trees that marked Artemis' 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.

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

Not far away was a three year old pale white, honey blonde maned lion. He was furious with his pride's new ruler, King Lucius. The son of the former ruler, King Royce and Queen Linda. 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 black lion was mounted over a young dark gold 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 Royce 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 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 dark gold lioness and seen she was beautiful and...what's that smell.

"Um...no problem."

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

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

"Jasper."

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

Jasper 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.