As the mighty golden globe rose from the savannah and lit up the waking kingdom in a golden glow. A light brown cub with dark brown rimmed ears and green eyes stood at the peak of pride rock. With a smile that rivalled the sun, the princess ran inside the cave and over to the royal platform where her parents were sleeping.

"Mommy! Mommy! C'mon mom, wake up we gotta go!" Eshe accidentally stepped on a gold-tan lioness' tail, her paternal grandmother Sanaa.

"Sorry," the princess ran up to her sleeping dark beige mother, "Mooom! Mommy!"

Prince-Consort Taka yawned before he chuckled, "You're daughter is awake, my love."

Without opening her eyes, the queen replied sleepily, "Before the sunrise, she's your daughter."

Eshe pulled on one of Sarabi's dark brown rimmed ears, the princess fell backwards with a loud 'ooof'. Shaking her head, she charged and head butted her.

"You promised!" Eshe shouted as her mother looked into her daughter's green eyes.

"All right, princess you win. I'm up. I'm up."

Sarabi yawned before getting up and heading out of the cave. Taka stood and walked the pair out before giving his mate and daughter a loving nuzzle.

Once on the summit of pride rock, Sarabi lowered her head down and nuzzled her daughter. The princess smiled before the mother and daughter looked out into the sun bathed kingdom.

"Eshe, everything the light touches, is our kingdom. A ruler's time rises and falls like the sun. One day my love, the sun will set on my time and rise with you as the new queen." Sarabi started the lesson.

"And this will all be mine?" Eshe asked in awe.

Sarabi shook her head before speaking. "No sweetie. The Pridelands belongs to no one. It's our responsibility to protect and care for everyone. Do you understand?"

"I believe so mother." Eshe tried to comprehend her mother's lesson as something dark caught her attention, "What about that shadowy place?"

Sarabi narrowed her orange eyes, "That's beyond our borders. You must never go there, Eshe."

Eshe looked at her mother with her head tilted and a confused expression,"I thought a queen could do whatever she want?"

"My daughter, there's more than being queen than getting your way all the time," Sarabi began walking away with Eshe quickly following.

Eshe's eyes lit up as curiosity was seen through them as she asked, "There's more?"

Queen Sarabi chuckled as she playfully chided her daughter, "Eshe."

...

"But mom, don't we eat the antelope?" Eshe asked with her head tilted to the side.

Sarabi had just told Eshe that the predators and prey all are one. Just as mother and daughter reached the top of a hill, Arella flew over and landed on an a nearby rock with a bow.

"Morning my queen, princess."

Eshe smiled at the hornbill,"Good morning, Miss Arella."

Sarabi dipped her head for Arella to begin the morning report. As Sarabi was listening to Arella, Eshe was trying to pounce on a gopher.

"Sweetie, what are you doing?" the dark beige lioness asked after watching her daughter hit her head on a rock.

Eshe shook her head to shake the dizziness and groaned, "Pouncing..."

Sarabi lowered herself to the ground and smiled at her daughter. "How about we have some fun?"

Princess Eshe giggled and got low as her mother began instructing her to lower her body to the ground and not to make a sound.

At the right time the princess began to stalk forward and with a mighty pounce, Eshe landed on Arella sending them both to the ground.

Queen Sarabi gave a heartful laugh that echoed through the air as Eshe made her way back to her mother. Her young eyes were full of happiness and fulfillment at the proud shine in her mother's eyes.

"That was wonderful, sweetie!" Sarabi praised Eshe, nuzzling the light brown cub. "Now this time.."

Sarabi was interrupted as Arella appeared from over the rock with worry and fear written on her face.

"My queen, hyenas in the Pride Lands!"

Sarabi's orange eyes widened. "Where's Taka?"

Arella now perched on the same rock from earlier pointed her gray tipped wing towards the border. "Leading the charge with some lionesses."

Sarabi sighed before running off, shouting over her shoulder. "Take Eshe home!"

"Mom, can I come?" Eshe asked with excitement in her green eyes.

But that disappeared and was replaced with disappointment when Sarabi shook her head and growled sternly. "No, Eshe! It's too dangerous!"

Eshe watched her mother head in the direction of the border before pouting, her dark brown rimmed ears against her head. "I never get to go anywhere." Eshe whined as she and Arella headed back to pride rock.

Arella flew over the female cub and smiled as she tried to cheer her up.

"Don't you worry princess, when you're queen you will be able to chase those stupid poachers from dawn to dusk."

~TLQ~

Mufasa was restless. He had no idea how to get rid of his sister and her family. And he needed to do it before Sarabi becomes pregnant again.

Away from his cave, where the lionesses that are loyal to him were, he was on a ledge going over his options when his ears perked at a familiar annoying voice.

"Hey Uncle Mufasa! Guess what?"

Mufasa groaned as he rubbed his head under his red mane as his niece came running over. "I despised guessing games."

Eshe giggled before going on, her green eyes full of excitement. "Mom just showed me the whole kingdom and I'm gonna rule it all!"

Mufasa growled lowly, "Oh, goodie." then like lightning striking, he had a marvelous idea. He licked his paw before he looked at his niece. "Did my dearest sister show you what's beyond the northern borders?"

Eshe frowned, pinning her dark brown rimmed ears against her head as she shook it,"No, Mommy l said I couldn't go there."

Mufasa sat up with false concern, "Your mother is absolutely right! It's far too dangerous, only the bravest 'lions' go there", putting more into the word 'lions'.

Eshe stood up with curious eyes, "I'm brave, just like any lion! What's out there?"

Mufasa shook his head and as his concerned expression deepened, "No, dear. I'm afraid I can't tell you that."

Eshe frowned at her uncle. "Why not?"

Mufasa forced a smile as he nuzzled his sister's daughter. "Because I'm looking out for my favorite niece."

Eshe growled as she rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Yeah right, Uncle Mufasa! I'm your only niece!"

"The more reasons to protect you." Mufasa looked away with a frown. "An elephant graveyard is no place for a young princess."

Eshe frowned for a second, before her eyes lit up like stars on a dark night."An elephant what?!"

"Opps!" Mufasa exclaimed before putting his paw to his mouth. Then a new look formed as he smiled at his niece, "But you would have figured it out sooner or later. Considering how bright you are."

If possible Eshe's green eyes seemed to brighten more. The princess didn't understand why the pride didn't like her uncle but to her, he was the best lion ever.

The gold lion pulled the light brown close and purred. "Now promise me princess, you wouldn't visit that dreadful place."

All Eshe could imagine the fun she and her best friend could have. But she couldn't have her uncle know, he'll tell her parents and her plans would be ruined. After her inner thought, Eshe smiles up at her uncle."I promise."

Mufasa smiled as he pushed her away with his large paw,"That's a good princess, now remember it's our little secret!"

Eshe smiled and nodded before running off and therefore not seeing the dark smile that was plastered on her uncle's yellow muzzle.