“Kovu, Kovu, Kovu. Scar wasn’t even his father. He just took ‘im in.” Nuka was hanging behind the building smoking a cigarette. The air around him was stale with smoke. Homeless women and men scrounged in garbage cans looking for food. Nuka immediately was happy he had an apartment. He scratched the scraggly hair on his chin. He somehow couldn’t actually grow a full beard so he was stuck with his goatee. He kind of liked it though. Flicking the cigarette into a garbage can he stuck his hands into his pocket and entered the broken down building. He gripped the staircase and walked up four flights of stairs. The elevator was busted AGAIN. He grumbled as he opened the door to the apartment. The lock, like the elevator, was also broken.           Sitting, folded up on the floor playing some kind of racing video game, was his sister Vitani. Her hair, as per usual, was a hot mess, tied up into a messy ponytail. She was chewing gum, blowing bubbles between her lips. “Oh heeeeey Vitani! Where’s that little termite, KOVU? The chosen one!” He watched his sister carefully as she ignored him. He smirked devilishly before ripping the Playstation chord from her slender hands, sending her car crashing into the wall. She groaned, annoyed that he'd busted her level and ended her game. She turned up to him as he laughed.           “Nuka! Where’s Kovu?” She stood, eyes narrowed darkly. “Did you leave him out there on his own again?” Nuka flopped down on the couch, crossing his skinny arms over his chest. He scratched at the lice crawling through his thick black hair.           “Hey it’s every kid for himself out there,” he offered with a loud scoff, “That little termite needs to learn to be on his own!”           “Mother’s going to be mad,” Vitani said, gripping the couch cushions, “She told you to WATCH him!”           “OH WHO CARES?!” Nuka slammed his hands on the couch cushions. Vitani blew another bubble gum bubble and popped it, looking terribly unimpressed. “I should have been the chosen one.” Nuka picked up his hands. One set of dirty fingernails dug into his shoulder and the other dug into his belly. “I’m the oldest. The strongest. The smartes-OOOH THESE FLEAS AND LICE! AHHH!” Vitani grinned but a disgusted look crossed her face. Her brother was filthy. Lice in his hair, fleas from who knew where. She still managed to keep herself clean despite the water sometimes dropping out in the dirty three bedroom apartment. Nuka sat up and whined.           “I. COULD BE. A LEADER. If she just gave me a chance!”           “PFFFFt,” Vitani laughed, “Yeah right. Why don’t you tell that to HER?”           “Yeah?” Nuka scowled, “Don’t think I WON’T!” Vitani heard the keys jingle at the door. She smirked as her brother distractedly scratched his skinny brown body.           “Oh yeah? Haha,” she laughed, “Here’s your chance.” Nuka stopped scratching a leaned upwards.           “Wha?”           Zira opened the door, dragging Kovu by the collar. An angry look was on the female’s face as the dragged the struggling 8 year old through the doorway. Nuka hopped up, excited by his mother’s arrival. Vitani was just happy to see Kovu was okay. The streets could be terribly dangerous for someone so little. Even though Vitani only eclipsed Kovu’s birth by a year she felt responsible for him like a good big sister should be. Nuka started to babble. “Mother! Mother, hi!” He cackled, “Mother I picked up some groceries for dinner! I left them by the- by the-“ He sighed as Zira ignored him, dropping Kovu roughly on the couch. She removed her fur, hanging it on the coat hanger on the back of the door. “Hey Kovu!” Kovu brightened up at Vitani’s voice as she gave him a rough shove. “Wanna wrestle? Grrrrr!” Kovu laughed, giving his older sister a tiny shove back. Zira finally turned her attention on her oldest son. “You were supposed to be WATCHING him!” She roared. Nuka was taller than Zira by a few inches but he shrunk when she shouted at him. Kovu picked his head off the couch and turned, not being able to stand his older brother getting yelled at or worse possibly beat again. “It’s not his fault,” Kovu squeaked, “I went off on my own!” He had. Nuka was listening to his music in his room when Kovu had snuck out. He was tired of training and wanted to go to the playground which is where Kiara had bumped into him. However he knew he’d made a mistake when his mother’s sharp red eyes pinned on him. “WHAT were you doing?” She asked, looming over him on the couch. Kovu cringed and Vitani backed away. “N-nothing!” “Who has made us outsiders?” Zira gripped the couch with her nails, causing Kovu to shrink more. “S-simba!” “WHO killed Scar?” This was perplexing for the young boy. On the one hand Simba really hadn’t killed Scar. It was his friends, that gang of people his father had hired. They’d all cornered him behind the building when Simba threw him out and viciously murdered him. Why they weren’t all in prison was beyond poor Kovu. But on the other hand he knew if he relayed that information he’d get his butt whupped. So he gave her the answer she wanted. “Simba!” “WHAT have I told you…about THEM?!” Zira was infuriated at this point, gripping the couch tightly and peering down at Kovu. He was curled on his back, fear evident in his green eyes. “I-I’m sorry mother. She-she didn’t seem so bad…I…I thought we could be-“ “FRIENDS?!” Kovu yelped, pushing himself as deep in the leather cushions as he could go. Zira gripped his cheeks between her sharp nails. “You thought you’d get to the daughter and then Simba would welcome you with open ARMS? What an Idea.” She sounded disgusted but her eyes widened a second later. Kovu was terrified but he softened up when a look of incredible insanity appeared on her sharp face. “What an IDEA!” She gasped and jumped next to Kovu on the couch, squeezing him in a tight hug. “You BRILLIANT child,” she cooed, “You have the same conniving mind that made Scar so…powerful.” “Oh YUCK,” Nuka scoffed. But it took one look from Zira to flick on a grin from the male, awkward laughter spilling from his mouth. Zira rose from the couch and stretched. “I’ll start dinner,” she cooed, “Kovu. Go get ready for bed.” “But I’m not ti-“ “HUSH.” Kovu cringed and rose from the couch. “You’ll eat dinner and then go to bed. Maybe read a book.” “Will you read to me?” Zira’s eyes softened slightly. Sometimes there was human behind her eyes and all of her children jumped at the sight of it. “Yeah mother!” Vitani quipped, to help her brother out, “Read us a story tonight!” Zira snorted but gave the softest smile she could muster. “Fine,” she cooed, “But only if you two get ready for bed and eat all of your dinner. Because we want you big and strong. So you can be a king…”

Kiara was up early, as her family had a habit of doing. The little girl had grown into a curious child and a beautiful thing. She shared her father’s wise eyes, strong figure and her mother’s prettiness. Tan skin shone under the shimmering sunlight that penetrated the glass windows. A rebellious thing, she never let her mother straighten or beautify her hair so her curls lay in a mess, pulled back in a ponytail. Today she’d chosen a peach shirt under a pair of overalls. She pressed her face against the glass of the building in her father’s office. “Woooow,” she cooed, looking down at the bustling African city. She giggled and sped towards the door where she was caught in mid run by her father, Simba.               “Whoa,” he laughed, “Where do you think you’re going in such a hurry?” Kiarra struggled, tongue stuck between her teeth as she pushed herself away from her father who kept a firm grip on the strap of her overalls.               “Daaaddy!” She whined, “Let go!” Simba sighed, releasing his daughter from his grasp but turning her head towards him with his hand.               “Well, I just want you to be careful.” Kiara struggled a bit more, turning to the side with a curious gasp as she heard the whistle of the factory behind her. “Kiara... are you listening? Accidents can happen. You could easily get hurt, or stepped-“ He paused when he heard the little girl giving a groan and talking over his words.               “...Hurt, or stepped on, or even get lost.” She raised an eyebrow. Simba knelt down next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders.               “And remember,... I want you to stay in sight of the building at all—“               “At all TIMES! I know.” Kiara crossed her arms over her stomach and gave an annoyed groan. “And if I see any strangers, don't talk to them. Come straight home. Okay, okay. Can I go now? Please?” She offered a bright smile to her father, clasping her hands together in a pleading motion. Simba sniffed standing and giving a laugh.               “Verrrrry funny,” he grinned. He and his daughter’s eyes snapped to the doorway. Nala was standing there, a clipboard hugged against her chest. The hand that wasn’t holding the clipboard was on her hip. She shook her head. A gorgeous woman, Nala was round-faced with almond shaped green eyes and shimmering dark skin. Her hair hung in waves, flowing over her shoulders like waterfalls. A tight tan pencil skirt and a flowy white blouse completed the look.               “Mind your father, Kiara,” she said, an amused tone on her voice. Behind her, Simba’s assistant, Zazu stood. Dressed brilliantly as always, Zazu’s hair was slicked back, his dark eyes judgingly staring towards the family.  Kiara rolled her eyes and snickered a bit.               “Yes Mom.”               “And stay away from Outland Street. That whole area is off limits, Kiara.” Her father’s voice turned stern again. Zazu fully entered, playing with the brilliant blue pocket square on his suit.               “Nothing there but a bunch of backstabbing, murderous Outsiders!” He scoffed. Nala shook her head. Eventually they would have to talk to their daughter about what happened…               “Zazu’s right,” Simba said, running his fingers through his daughter’s hair, “You can’t turn your back on them.”               “Really?” Kiara said, suddenly interested in her father’s words, “How come?” Simba peered at Nala and shook his head.               “Never mind. Just run along now.”               “But Dad I-“ Simba sighed, giving Kiara a side hug.               “You'll understand someday. Go on.” Kiara rolled her eyes.               “Daaaad,” she groaned, giving him an elbow to the torso, gentle and teasing. Simba ruffled her hair. “Stop it!” Kiara giggle, bounding off through the doors of Simba’s office, running towards the elevators.               “AND STAY ON THE STREETS I MARKED FOR YOU!” Simba called after her. Nala covered her mouth with her hand. She slid next to her husband, shaking her head. “Simba. Who does she remind you of? Hmm?” Simba raised an eyebrow. “Huh? What? Who?” “She's just like you were when you were young,” Nala said, placing the clipboard on the desk as Zazu shuffled out of the office. “Exactly!” Simba yelped, “Do you realize the dangers we put ourselves in?” Nala’s eyes narrowed a sly smirk on her face. She pushed him against the wall gently, he full lips pulled in a slick grin. “You mean the dangers YOU put us in.” Simba chuckled, looking at the woman who only dwarfed him by a few inches in height. He placed his hand under her chin, lifting her head and kissing her lips softly. She smiled as they separated. “She'll be fine,” Nala cooed, patting Simba’s cheek before walking to the office door. She smiled back at Simba before walking out, heading to her office down the hall. Simba frowned, looking back and forth before sticking his head out of the office door. “Hey, Timon. Pumbaa. Come here.” The two men poked their head out of the office across from Simba’s. As per usual their definition of work appropriate dress was loose. They wore slacks and two button down shirts. Pumbaa’s had pineapples on it and Timon’s insects. Timon entered Simba’s office first, followed by Pumbaa. “Good morning, mon Capitan!” Timon whistled. Timon and Pumbaa were both much shorter than Simba, about 5 feet tall both. Simba rounded the desk as he spoke. “I want you to keep a close watch on Kiara. You know she's bound to run off.” Timon and Pumbaa nodded as Simba sat at his desk and booted up his computer. “No worries, Simba. We're on her like stink on our buddy here!” Timon chuffed. Pumbaa snorted. “Hey!” “It's the hard truth, Pumbaa. Live with it.” Simba groaned. “Guys, I'm counting on you!” He whined, “Danger could be lurking behind every building!” Pumbaa and Timon nodded and slipped out the door. Simba groaned and leaned back in his chair. Why was he so concerned, he thought to himself, Kiara was young but not so young she couldn’t take care of herself. “Dad!” Simba sat up and turned over his shoulder. “Dad, did I just hear Kiara going out of the door?” Simba sighed as his second born, Kion, slipped through the door. The boy was still on crutches, limping along into the office. “Yes, Kion.” “Aw, man! I wanted to go play with her!” Kion was two years younger than Kiara but was just as if not more curious. The boy had gotten his ankle broken climbing a tree in one of the parks. “You’re too hurt right now, Kion,” Simba said, “Why don’t you see if Bunga wants to play?” “Dad, Bunga’s out climbing trees.” Simba groaned. And he’d sent Timon and Pumbaa, Bunga’s guardians, off to watch him own kid. “Can I play on one of the computers?” “What do you want to do, Kion?” “I saw this bird the other day out on the savannah,” Kion said, wobbling a bit on his crutches, “I wanted to look it up.” Simba raised an eyebrow. “Aaaand possibly play some games…” Simba chuckled. “That’s fine,” he said, “Use one of the offices close to your mother’s. Those are empty.” “Thanks Dad!” Kion hobbled away and Simba swelled with pride. His kids were okay…they were going to be okay…