Haha another week late chapter, my bad. I'll see if I can have the next one out on Saturday or Sunday to try and make up for it, so there should be 2 chapters this week.

Again thank you for the favs/follows and especially the reviews, you guys rock.

Although one of the reviews pointed something out to me I hadn't thought about much. I completely conveyed my characters wrong probably. The three queen's guards Mkali, Kimya, and Sanaa. E31174 pointed out that I said Kimya was pink, and while yes she is pink-ish, I'm not talking about like deviantart-OC levels of pink, or anything like that. Best way I could describe the pinkish-red I had in mind is to put the color hex code down: (#b3888e) If you put that in google it'll show you. Of course I'm not entirely free of blame for this, I should've been able to accurately describe my characters without confusion and I apologize. Character descriptions clearly aren't my strong-suit, I'll try my best to work on them. I would use my rather lacking yet developing digital art to make a reference for the 3, but it wouldn't be anything special. I just wanted to make the 3 stand out a bit considering it's kind of hard to write characters if all of them are nearly identical in looks.

Regardless I hope it doesn't detract from the story too much.

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/TW - Derealization

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Hope you enjoy, thanks for reading!

Chapter 6

"Promised Fall"

Mkali was the one currently relaxing with me, in the mid morning hours. Kiara was sitting down next to me, asking many, many, questions. I was able to sit up straight by myself now, instead of constantly laying against the lionesses I could actually support myself. A couple of my 'pillows' almost seemed sad at that fact…

"So you were in the elephant graveyard, because you heard it was dangerous, and yet you didn't believe them?" I asked with an incredibly judgmental look on my face.

She sheepishly nodded, "Yeah I may have messed up… but I got to meet you! So it wasn't all that bad..." She said brushing up against my side affectionately.

I blushed, as Nala entered the room. "Hello little ones." She said to us happily.

"Hi momma!" Kiara replied in excitement..

I nodded at her with a smile, holding my hand up and waving. From below me Mkali groaned, sitting up slightly before giving her a look of disbelief, "No, Nala."

Nala looked taken back by her, "What do you mean?"

Mkali sighed, bringing herself into a more upright position to look at her sternly, "You've already taken most of the other guards' watches on Daniel. You don't need to take another one."

Nala almost seemed to blush and her ears flattened in an annoyed manner, "That's not what I came here for… and if it was… I don't see the problem." She said turning to the side with a huff.

Mkali chuckled, "You're the queen, you have duties. We have plenty of time to watch after this one."

I nodded, "I like catching up with all the others Nala, it's okay."

Nala sighed, "I know, but this is something different I promise. Could you?.." Nala said, gesturing politely for the entrance.

Mkali nodded, getting up slowly and exiting, as she brushed past her. I don't think she meant for me to hear, but my hearing had become much better lately for some reason. "Just tell me if you need me to watch one of your two cubs again, alright?" She said with a smile while walking out.

"My two..?" Nala said before blushing angrily.

She shook her head, regaining her composure, "You." She said pointing at me.

"Me?"

"Yes you," She started with a smile, "Rafiki is coming back today to check your wounds." Nala came to sit in front of me. It was nice being able to sit down again instead of laying down all the time. I could actually hold a conversation face to face. Or uh… face to muzzle, I guess.

"Who?" I asked with a raised brow.

"A mandrill named Rafiki, he's our shaman. And good friends with your fa- the king." She said clearing her throat awkwardly a little at the end.

"Ooo Rafiki is coming back! Yay." Kiara jumped around us with a wide smile.

I nodded slowly, "Right… a talking monkey is coming to heal me?"

She laughed, "Yes, to see how your wounds are holding up." She sounded nervous while she spoke, but I tried not to think much of it.

I nodded, "Especially since I've… given myself a good few more…" I said with a small huff staring at my hands.

Nala gently nuzzled me, and looked into my eyes worriedly, "Just please promise me that you'll tell him the truth? About how you're hurting okay? I want you to get better as soon as possible."

"Me too!" Kiara shouted, "We can play more interesting games when we aren't in this dumb cave."

"Hopefully ones in the pridelands, correct?" Nala said with a raised brow.

Kiara turned and waved her paw dismissively, "Ah yes of course! I don't like nearly dying anyway."

I looked back at Nala who was still expectantly awaiting my answer, her eyes shone with worry and care, I felt an odd sensation of warmth fall over me. I nodded, "Of course I will Nala, I promise," she nodded happily.

"When will he be here?" I asked.

"About noon, he shows up when he wants to though. And usually without warning." She said with an eye roll.

"Sounds good," I said, giving a salute for fun.

She tilted her head and giggled, "You're silly!" She said rubbing against my side, " Now, I've got some things to attend to now, you two have fun okay?"

After she left, me and Kiara waited for multiple minutes, but realized Nala had forgotten to replace the guard who was meant to watch over me. Meaning none of my 'pillows' would show up yet.. We both laughed to each other, "Cool, now we don't have to be so boring." Kiara said excitedly.

I nodded in agreement, "Thank you for keeping me company Kiara, I'm sure I'm not your first choice for hanging out with someone."

She blushed then held her head higher with a smile, "It's not like I'm here out of pity… Daddy usually doesn't let me play with most of the other cubs, he says we get into too much trouble. So you're really the only one my age I can hang out with."

I hummed curiously, "That doesn't sound like Simba at all…"

She shrugged, "He's very protective of me. I'm grounded anyway for… you know. So I can't leave pride rock. Most of the cubs play by the water hole."

I smiled, and she quickly backtracked, "Oh Daniel! I'm sorry, that sounded rude. I'm not just hanging out with you because you're my only option, I promise. You're cool too."

I waved my hands, "No offense taken." I looked around the small cave, "Well, what is it you have in mind? Now that we don't have them watching us?"

She started walking around the lining of the cave, staring upwards to the top where a large opening let through mild amounts of sunlight. "Something fun." She said vaguely.

Sarabi and Serafina were sunbathing on a rock by each other, enjoying the early morning. As their king, Simba, made preparations for the mandrill. "Do you think anybody is being fooled, Sera?" Sarabi asked, looking at her with a small laugh.

"Not a chance." She replied, an equal smirk on her muzzle.

"Hey mom, Hey Sarabi." Nala said walking up on the small rocks behind them, and taking a seat.

"Hello love," Serafina said as Sarabi greeted her as well.

Sarabi hummed curiously, a playful look of confusion on her face, "So what's all the commotion?"

Nala smiled obliviously, "Didn't you hear? Rafiki is coming today."

Serafina hummed with an unconvinced tone, "I didn't know Rafiki was one for… decoration. And the ceremony bowls being left out instead of hidden?" She said bringing a paw to her cheek.

Nala shrugged, avoiding their prying gaze, "Just thought the place could use a little tidying up is all."

Both Sarabi and Serafina looked at each other with suspicious smiles, and laughed loudly.

"Mhm…" Serafina said.

"Right." Sarabi replied.

Nala nodded slowly, becoming increasingly more worried, "Yeah…" she seemed nervous to their gazes as she looked around awkwardly, "I think they need my help though, so I'll be going. See you two later!" She said hastily, walking away.

"Do you think she still has anyone fooled Sera?" Sarabi said with a snicker.

"Nope!" She replied.

Nala ran down and gently brushed against her mate Simba. "How are things going?"

He purred, "So far so good. Everyone is helping things along rather well."

Nala nodded, than sighed, "I'm worried,"

"What about honey?" Simba said, coming up and nudging her gently.

She looked up, into his eyes, "Are we doing the right thing? What if… what if he-"

He chuckled at her, "I don't think there is a wrong way to go about these things… And if there is, we definitely aren't going down that path."

She nodded with a smile, "You're right, what a surprise." She leaned against him and purred. They stayed that way for a small while.

Eventually she broke away from him gently, "I'm going to speak with the other girls, see if they need any help."

Simba nodded, "Have fun!" He said.

"Kiara?" I asked questionably. "Are you sure about this?"

She waved another paw dismissively. Walking over to a small puddle in the corner that had dripped from the ceiling during a recent rainfall. On the ceiling was a small hole, that briefly shone in natural light so that the morning rays would just barely shine on where you slept.

"Don't worry about it! I'm a natural!" She said, hoisting herself up on the wall with her claws. Meanwhile holding a piece of rope in her mouth precariously.

Even though she looked proficient… She was going to fall for sure… The small puddle of water in the corner was not enough to break her fall if she fell. "Kiara I don't know about that…"

She ignored me though, climbing higher and higher until she reached the top, climbing from this point over to the small exit hole, would be quite a bit more of an acrobatics trick, but so far she wasn't lying about being a natural.

After a few scares where she nearly dropped, she made it over and triumphantly growled, though it sounded less intimidating than you'd think. She turned back around walking through the hole, "Nice job Kiara, uh… can you get down now?"

She scoffed, "Daniel, don't you want some sunlight?" She said from outside as she grunted, until with one final pull she poked her head back down. "Rope's tied!"

I was very good at climbing ropes, but with injured legs the idea seemed outrageous. "Come on, just for a little bit? We'll be back before you know it."

I sighed slowly, going over the options in my head. She was right though, if my body didn't get sunlight soon I might start getting sick. Carefully, I wrapped the rope around my waste, and with a final deep breath, I began climbing. "Yeah now you're doing it!"

My arms were still slightly sore, but they were the ones recovering the quickest. My mauled arm felt okay, so far, and my other arm was doing fine. 'Hey, I can do this' I thought to myself.

My thoughts came to a screeching halt as I was about halfway up and the rope made some disturbing sounds. Kiara turned around, than looked back at me with fear, "Daniel go back do-"

She didn't finish the sentence before the rope snapped at the top, my body began plummeting as it twisted and turned me to fall face first. This was going to hurt… if not outright finish me off! "Man I just got a new purpose in life too… I promised Nala I wouldn't put myself in these situations..."

I closed my eyes as Kiara yelled down at me worriedly, and clenched them shut tightly, holding my hands out to take the brunt of the impact. I was fully expecting to break bones or worse, the next moments would surely be filled with unthinkable pain. But instead, I felt a slight shiver go through my body, like a magical tingling feeling from head to toe, my hands and feet hit the ground softly as if I was gently set down.

But I could tell immediately, something was way off. I've never been able to straighten my back legs out and my arms at the same time, and have them both touch… the ground. Thinking about it and looking down, something was immediately off, we're those… paws? Looking up to Kiara in confusion, she stared down at me in wonder, dropping the rope she desperately was pulling on a second ago to the cave floor in shock. "Oh wow…"

"What?" I asked slightly panicky.

I began looking down at myself and if everything leading up to this moment didn't make me want to faint, this one did. I had a pure white coat of fur, across my entire body. And paws! All four of them!

Kiara slowly slid down the side, jumping the rest of the way, and began circling me. She was about double my height, "Daniel? Is that you?"

I looked up at her, "I-I'm dreaming right? Why are you so big? This can't…"

She sighed, slowly guiding me with one of her paws, well, more like pushing me over to the water puddle in the corner. I looked down in it, I had the same green eyes, and a slightly grayer tuft of fur coming out the top of my head, and the back of my paws. I was almost like an albino. My injuries were nowhere to be seen in this form. "I'm a… a…" I started.

"I'M A LION?!" Kiara had cupped her paw over my mouth, drowning out my yell of confusion.

"Shhh! Yes you're a lion now, I don't know why!" She whispered loudly.

She looked around wearily, "Oh man… if mom and dad see you and blame me for this I'm dead."

She uncupped my mouth, and I took a few deep breaths as she rubbed my back gently, "But how? Is this… what is…"

I eyed Kiara, she was a good eight or so inches taller, "You're huge!"

She looked at me with a sigh, "No, you're just tiny. Like, really tiny…"

"Oh no, no no no no," I said slowly. Covering my face with my newfound paws, which only made me panic slightly more.

"How did you do it?" She asked me curiously.

I looked around frantically, "I don't know! I was falling and begging for my life not to end and it just happened!"

Her eyes opened wide and she looked at me in a very suspicious way, "Oh no, I am NOT falling again." I told her. My voice sounded a bit more higher pitched now, like lion cub squeaks if they were a human language.

She laughed nervously, "Yeah, probably not a great idea…"

She stood up, "Try standing on your back legs! Maybe it'll switch you back like; fwoosh!" She said imitating the action.

I nodded, it wasn't the dumbest idea. It was quite hard to stand on my back legs, I needed Kiara's help to stand like that. "Nothing's happening!" I said growing more and more worried.

She nodded, "Calm down! We'll… we'll figure this out!"

She sat down and closed her eyes, "What was the thing you thought about right before changing."

I growled pitifully, "It was 'oh no I'm going to die now, thanks for the bright idea Kiara'."

She sighed, shaking her head in annoyance, "Anything else?" She asked.

"I was… thinking about my purpose in life, how I had a new one…" I said, shrugging.

She smiled at that, "Aww… Well. Maybe you just wanted to be a lion like us?"

"It wasn't exactly what came to mind but… maybe." I closed my eyes, trying to think.

I started thinking about my human life, and everything I missed about it. About the way my body felt, and memories of my father, good ones. I remembered the wind sweeping around me while I danced, the heat of the fire…

I opened my eyes slowly, but nothing had changed. "Well?" Kiara asked.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Nothing…"

She started to get panicked now as well, "Oh man… when mom sees this…"

I also groaned worriedly, "What if they don't believe me, they think I'm some outsider!"

Kiara wasn't helping my growing anxiety in the slightest, "Yeah, and white lions aren't always very respected around here…"

I opened my eyes fearfully, "Wait, why?"

She sighed, "Because the only white lions known around here are the ones from a pride we've had lots of disputes with. If they thought you had their blood?.. I heard that daddy's grandfather ended quite a few of their lives…" she hung onto the thought. Not realizing she absentmindedly said that out loud while thinking to herself, right in front of me...

I started crying, and Kiara noticed what she had said, leaning down to nuzzle me, "Oh no… I didn't mean it like that little Daniel…"

I sobbed quite a bit, "They're going to hate me now? Right after I got new friends they're gonna…" I took in shaky breaths.

"No, Daniel!" She said rubbing my back more, "I'll… I'll stick up for you if it comes to that, okay?"

"Really?" I asked.

"Really." She replied.

We began hearing a voice approaching the cave rather frantically. I closed my eyes terrified, I don't want to be hated. I don't want to be a lion! I should be a human, they know me as a human. I just want to be accepted as who I am, not be somebody else…

Dad loved me as a human, I don't want to never see myself again… I want to feel the dance of fire again, I'm sure my father held hope I would live on, or else he wouldn't have told me to run. It's just not fair to take it away from me. I had a family legacy to sustain, even if it ended with me…

"Daniel!" Kiara said quickly.

I opened my eyes, and realized I was looking slightly down at Kiara. And my breath of relief was hard, "Oh, good… was I dreaming?"

She shook her head, "No, but they're coming. Try not to think about it."

Nala approached her pride sisters with an abnormally gleeful smile. Most were either cleaning up old scraps of prey, or quietly cleaning themselves. Nala approached Sanyaa and Kimya, "How does the cleaning go?"

Both of the two smiled at each other, before turning to Nala. "It's going alright." Kimyaa said timidly.

Sanyaa laughed, "It's looking much cleaner. Make a lioness wonder what the special occasion is?" She said hopefully.

Nala smiled, "Just making sure Rafiki doesn't think we're… Always so dirty." She said with a noticeably nervous laugh.

Mkali rolled her eyes as she slowly walked up, "You're still going with that lame cover up?"

Nala jumped, then sighed, "I don't know what you mean, I promise Rafiki will be here later."

Mkali shook her head, "You never denied it when I said your 'two' cubs."

Nala blushed wildly, beginning to turn away from them, as the other two girls made curious sounds. Sanyaa smiled, "Wait two? Are you thinking about…" she gasped loudly.

Kimya smiled warmly, "Is that true?"

Nala growled unconvincingly, unable to hide her embarrassment. "This is very uncalled for. What me and the King want to do for our guests is entirely our decision-"

Mkali nuzzled her with a chuckle, "Honey, I've had enough cubs to know what goes through a mother's head. You're thinking of adding little Daniel to the family."

Nala sighed, almost seeming sad now. And the sisters looked at her in worry, "Is it that… obvious?"

Sanyaa hummed, "You do take our guarding shifts quite often… You're very protective of him…"

Kimya nodded, "Mhm, and you talk about him like… most of the time when you aren't with him." She said shyly.

Mkali nodded, "Only one you talk like that about is Kiara. So yes, sweetie, it's kinda obvious to us three at least."

Nala smiled but with an unsure expression, "I'm worried, I don't know what he'll say…"

They all hummed supportively, and Mkali nudged her to continue talking, "I mean… a pride of lions? That would scare me if I were him… and I don't want him to think we're trying to… replace anyone."

Mkali shook her head, "I don't think Daniel will decline. I've seen the way he acts around you compared to the rest of us. He seems very attached to you. And replacing anyone? Of course not, but a cub still deserves a family."

They nodded silently, allowing Nala to continue, "I guess it's just all the unsureness… I don't want him to feel pressured either…"

Mkali put a paw around her shoulders, "Nala honey, just be yourself. I promise, that's always the correct answer. If Daniel loves you guys, which he definitely does, you'll be okay."

Kimya nodded, "Yes he seems to like your presence more than ours, I think you'll be fine."

Sanyaa approached closely, "Don't stress! This should be a happy time for you!"

"Thanks girls…" Nala said, smiling slowly yet thankfully.

Sarabi and Sarafina approached, greeting each other warmly, before Sarabi hummed confused. "Is there a new guard for Daniel? I thought it was Mkali's turn."

Both Mkali and Nala looked at each other for a few seconds, as Mkali's face shifted to annoyance, and Nala fell into guilt and worry. "My queen," Mkali started with a sigh, "I told you to tell me to return when needed." She said slowly, trying not to be angry.

"They can't have gone anywhere, the rooms just over there, we would've seen," Sarafina said with a laugh.

Nala huffed, "But I shouldn't allow myself to… I just got so distracted! Oh no…" she said, rushing off towards the cave.

Sarabi and Serafina watched with a small laugh, and Sarabi leaned over, "Is she fooling any of you three either?"

"Nope." All three of them said in unison.

Nala came into the room breathing heavily, and she sighed in relief seeing both of us sitting there looking at her curiously. She approached us quickly, pulling us both into her chest with her paws, "Nala?" I said confused.

"Mom is everything okay?" Kiara asked, surprised by the action.

She just smiled and nodded, "Everything's fine." Though I felt she was telling herself more than us.

She held onto us for a long amount of time, more than I ever expected. Until finally she removed herself slightly, "Kiara, how is Daniel over here instead of in the middle?" She asked sternly.

She paled, "Well um you see…"

Before we could say anything Nala's gaze shifted to the middle of the room, with the rope. Seeing it had snapped, she turned around quickly, "Kiara, what did you do?" She asked angrily. She closely inspected every inch of me, "Oh Daniel, did you fall? Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?" She asked motherly.

I laughed nervously, "I-I'm fine Nala really. We were just playing a game where Kiara had to drag me around the edge of the cave. And it kind of snapped because of her teeth!" I said, looking to Kiara for confirmation.

Not a second of hesitation as she picked up my idea, and nodded in agreement, "Yep! It was super funny too, you should've seen it."

She sighed, relieving herself a lot of stress, "You should really be more careful about what you do with your br-.. Daniel! Next time!" Nala yelled at the end. She was acting oddly today. "You should've come to get me."

Kiara nodded, "Sorry momma, I just wanted to talk by ourselves for a bit…"

Nala nodded slowly with a sigh, "It's okay, I understand you are probably both getting anxious… being cooped up in here for so long. Well, I'm sorry for leaving you alone so long. As long as you're both okay that's all that matters."

Kiara rolled her eyes, "Momma were in pride rock, nothing would've happened to us."

Nala sighed, "You're right, but a mother is still allowed to worry for her cubs." And Kiara raised her eyebrows at that.

She seemed to almost panic again, glancing between both of us, as she nuzzled Kiara playfully, "Since you get into trouble so often!" She said to her, making Kiara giggle.

I smiled happily at the two having fun, and nodded. "She isn't lying Kiara, moms just like to do that." I laughed, probably a bit more hollowly than I meant to, "They worry all the time, but that doesn't mean she doesn't trust you." I started reminiscing on old things, from my younger childhood.

Nala seemed torn, almost as if she wanted to ask me something but couldn't force herself too yet. She opened and closer her mouth multiple times, a conflicting expression in her face. Eventually she settled on a smile and gently gave me a nuzzle, "You got it pinned down Daniel." She smiled warmly.

"Ow!" We turned to the entrance to see Sanyaa, Kimya, and Mkali slowly coming in, though it was obvious they were eavesdropping. Sanyaa fell to the floor, and got up like nothing had happened.

"Hey guys," I said welcomingly.

The next few hours passed by fast, as we talked. And soon enough the sun had begun to grow darker as it started its way towards setting. Simba walked in, "Sorry to interrupt you guys, but he's here." Simba and Nala exchanged a determined look.

"It's about time…" Nala said, "That old baboon has no respect for others' preparations."

"Be right back with Rafiki." Nala said to me happily before walking towards the exit with Simba. The other pride sisters bowing, and taking their leave as well.

This chapter stressed me out to post, the transformation idea was the plan from the start (evident by story name, and story summary.) but I know not everyone will like that idea. He's not going to be a lion all the time, if it worries you. It has some interesting nuances you'll see later. I wish I could spoil it more, but aghhh I can't you'll just have to trust me a bit.

-Fiygon out