Simba was pacing around near the watering hole at twilight, staring up at the sky as stars started to appear there. He and a few lionesses were on a late patrol, as the stench of Outlander had been discovered only a few hours ago there.
"H-Hey, Dad."
"WHA-" Simba gasped, then whipped around, his fur bristling as he saw Kiara looking up at him with timid orange eyes.
"Oh, hello there, Kiara."
The king puffed out his chest, turning away from his daughter and narrowing his eyes at the horizon - at the Outlands, black and barely visible in the darkness.
Kiara's tail drooped in defeat, and she was about to pad away from Simba without another word, but then she let out a squeak as a large paw barred her way and pulled her back.
"Ohhh, no you don't," Simba growled playfully, scooping Kiara into an embrace and sitting by the cool, still water with her. Kiara scrabbled against him, giggling as he licked her between the ears and let out a deep purr.
Simba finally relented, smirking down at his cub. "You know it's not safe for you out here, Kiara...but I'm glad you came. Just this once." He let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry I shouted at you earlier...it's been eating me up inside all afternoon."
Kiara pressed her head into his chest, feeling his heart beating steadily inside. "It's ok...I'm sorry too. For everything..."
The king was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "I just hope you've learned your lesson about how dangerous it is out here. That cub you met...his mother..." Kiara shivered, seeing Simba bare his teeth at the thought of Zira. "...she wants me dead, Kiara. The king before me - your great uncle, Scar - well, there were a few lionesses who didn't realize what a horrible job he'd done of ruling our kingdom and balancing the Circle of Life. They thought he was a Great King made flesh...for whatever reason."
Kiara wrinkled her nose. "They must have been pretty stupid."
Simba gave his daughter a warning look. "Maybe so, but as royalty, we give others the benefit of the doubt. Let's just say they were latecomers who weren't quite so informed of the laws of our land."
"Nah, they were all..." Kiara made a goofy face, "...duh-dooooyyy!"
Simba busted up, his chest suddenly heaving with spiteful laughter. Kiara giggled, too, her heart fluttering happily at seeing a rare spark of joy from her usually serious, tense father.
Simba snickered, then took a deep breath and glared out at the Outlands again. Kiara followed his gaze, squinting as though she'd catch a glimpse of Kovu stalking around in the darkness.
"Zira wants to train that cub you met - and her other children - as soldiers, Kiara." Simba looked down at his cub seriously. "Do you know what that means?"
Kiara thought for a moment, then flattened her ears. "Not really..."
"What it means, Kiara," Simba replied sternly, "is that her children will grow up to hate me...and hate you, too. They'll stop at nothing to kill us and take our kingdom, so we have to be ready."
The princess bristled. "Kovu wouldn't do that! He's-"
Simba growled, his red eyes flashing a warning. "You don't know him, Kiara. He's not part of your Pride...and the two of you can never be friends. Got it?"
Kiara opened her mouth to protest again, but didn't want to push Simba any further. "Yes...Daddy."
"Good." Simba's expression softened, and he pulled a squirming Kiara closer to his chest. "You're safe here...with me. With your mother, and your family." He raised his head to look southward, towards the jungle. "Trust me, nothing beyond these lands is worth it. I've been there, and I almost lost myself."
With a heavy sigh, he stood up and picked Kiara up in his scruff. "Let's go home. Bedtime," he mumbled through gritted teeth.
Kiara nodded, taking a last glance at the Outlands as her father carried her back towards Pride Rock.
She could swear she could see a pair of tiny green eyes watching her in the darkness far away...
