Remember who you are.

Parenting Sentences, Vol. 6

(Sentences for conversations between parents and children. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"You never were the brightest child."

"Rules are not made to be broken. Do you understand?"

"You're always so angry with me!"

"Stop being so frightening in front of my friends!"

"Are you sulking?"

"You're too big to believe in fairytales!"

"I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions!"

"I'm proud of you. I always have been. I'm sorry I never told you that."

"I keep secrets from you because I don't want to disappoint you."

"I know that I'm hard on you, but it's all done out of love."

"Remember how we talked about picking your battles?"

"I wanted to protect you from the pain. I'm your father - that's my job."

"I'm not angry. I just want to hear you admit to it."

"You have no idea what it's like to be me!"

"Look at the photo I took!"

"I don't ever want to hear you using that word again."

"Do you think you can behave yourself this time?"

"What are you doing in there? Stop spending time in front of the mirror!"

"No one will ever stop me taking care of you."

"Whatever you want to do in life, whatever you want to be, I'll always be proud of you."

"Why do you have to control everything?"

"I want to tell you something. It's something I've never told you before."

"I want you to show me who hit you yesterday."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not in the room!"

"You've been told a thousand times not to disturb things!"

"Why are you acting like I'm a kid?"

"I did what I could to protect you from the horrors of this world."

"I'll talk to you about it eventually. Not now, but eventually."

"Is there anything you're not telling me?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but there's a lot of stuff going on in my life right now!"

"You have no right to control my life!"

"Be good while I'm gone. I'll know if you're not."

"You're okay. You're safe now."

"Whenever you are unsure which choice to make, if you wish, I am here to help you."

"Don't be petulant!"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The main thing Simba was concerned with was the Watering Hole. The water level was still low, but at least it was rising ever so slightly with each rainstorm that passed through. It wasn’t as worrisome as before.

Another purr rose from Simba’s throat. He nuzzled her cheek and rested his there, just for a moment. “I have big paw prints to fill… but I’ll get there. And I know I have you to help, too. Heh, and Timon and Pumbaa don’t bother anyone but the grubs under every-…”

He hadn’t even pulled away when his mate used her paws to pin him on his back. He grunted at the landing, puzzled at first… and then finally registered that she’d said ‘serenade’.

With a laugh, he just stayed there and accepted the lick to his face.

Oh? Was that a hint of mischief in her blue/green eyes? Thinking up a goofy idea that he knew she’d enjoy, Simba suddenly grinned, hurriedly pushed her off, and leapt to his paws; he was running away from her! The audacity that man had-!!

“You’re it!”

She laughed again. "Tag, Simba? Really?" She questioned with a shake of her head. They hadn't played that since they were cubs. And it wasn't a game she expected to play ever again, especially as an adult. As a queen, but... well, it wasn't all that different from them still pinning and pouncing each other, was it? And she quite enjoyed that they were still able to be playful with one another and have fun. This was the Simba that she fell in love with. The Simba she was still so deeply in love with. Her husband and her best friend. Always.

Simba suddenly veered sharply to the left before Nala could bat his tail and deem him ‘it’; he laughed harder, slowing his pace a little as a result, but he wasn’t about to stop!

“Timon bein’ a meerkat came in pretty handy for me!” he hollered. “Sharp turns, quick reflexes- the whole works!!”

Simba was panting by now, blowing out through his maw.

“Well, I wanted to give you guys something ‘cause… you’re, uh, married now, right?” he asked, suddenly feeling hot under his fur. Had he been wrong? Were Zazu and Iago not married yet?

The golden-coated cub’s eyes widened, but he put the flower in front of the pair. “Hope I wasn’t wrong,” he murmured, struggling to make eye contact with either of them. “I-if I was wrong and you’re not married, you can still have the… the flower.”

That got the hornbill to understand what was going on. " Oh...yes. Sorry that we didn't invite you... It was a small ceremony. Bird kind do not really...have big presentations like Lions do," he explained. Iago laughed a little bit. " Whenever I can get you to travel back to my old place, they're probably gonna want to throw a big ol' bash for us," he said with a grin.

" A bash? Well, that sounds very unpleasant." Zazu muttered with a frown. Iago laughed, " No. That's... like a party. It's just another name for a celebration, Kinywa. "

Zazu glanced at Iago and looked back at Simba. " No, this is a great gift. Thank you, Simba," he said with a smile on his beak.

" I like it very much."

" That flower symbolizes Love and purity. But it can also mean Beauty. It's a really good thing to give a happy wedded couple." Iago rambled. Zazu's smile only grew bigger when his partner did that. He was so happy to have found someone who could talk half as much as he did.

"Perhaps we will hold a celebration for our union... Eventually. We're trying to be... um... what did you call it? Secretive? No, that feels wrong... I..."

Simba’s tail waved slowly from side to side, more out of curiosity than anything. He may not have understood everything about marriage and love and all that- he didn’t want to yet, anyhow- but he was happy for the pair!

“I c’n help you plan whatever kinda celebration you wanna do! I mean-… y’know, when you wanna do it.” The cub smirked. “I’m a pretty good party-planner. Nala an’ I even planned one for the day the pride brought back a BIG gazelle! Mom said it was the biggest, fattest one she’d ever seen! It took all the lionesses t’ bring it back.”

Simba puffed his chest out, grinning with his teeth and winking. “Trust me, I’ll make it awesome.”

It took a moment, but he then remembered that Iago had mentioned Timon and Pumbaa. “Oh! I think of ‘em kinda… kinda like uncles, I guess. I’m glad let ‘em stay in the Pridelands when they saved me! That river was scary…”

@thelxonkcng

---

Zazu had been noting down the tally of animals in the Pridelands. It was his daily task, but one he quite enjoyed. Just him and the numbers. But when he heard the young prince's voice, he dropped that task immediately. " Ah? Hello, Simba," he called with a friendly tone.

The hornbill was in a rare good mood and had a bit of pep in his step. He fluttered over and bounced closer to the cub. No fear showed in his posture or behavior. Despite the fact that the lions were more than capable of pranking him and often did it, he trusted them.

Perhaps more than he should.

“Oh, n-no, no,” Simba stammered, “I mean-… yeah, I’m a lil’ hurt, but nobody touched me, I swear. I don’t think anybody even saw me.” The cub rolled onto his side, and, tilting his head, tried to get a better look at the cut. “I hope nobody saw me, anyway. I was tryna get up on this rock ‘cause there was a beetle up there… but I guess part of it must’a cracked, and I fell. I didn’t know this stupid thing even happened ‘till it started hurtin’.”

Simba was on his way to deliver the gift he’d told his father he’d be giving Zazu and Iago- even though he didn’t know if they were actually married yet, as assumed they were- when he paused mid-step. The two birds were perched close together, and they seemed to be pretty relaxed. Should I… come back later…? Simba wondered, an ear twitching. He came to the quick conclusion that he wanted both birds to be there to get the flower in his teeth. One of the lionesses had told him it was a symbol of love here in the Pridelands! So, with the African Lily in his possession, the prince padded closer and lifted his tufted tail in greeting. “Uh, hey, guys!” he greeted them, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He thought romance was stupid, personally, being a child… but somehow, Iago and Zazu were different. “…I found this flower for ya, ‘cause… y’know, it’s cool! I, ah-… hope y’ like it…!”

@thelxonkcng he’s trying lmaoooo

( brb crying.. )

---

Iago and Zazu were cuddled up together like they always were. They had become insufferably linked since the moment they finally confessed their feelings. It took Zazu much longer than Iago to accept that he felt something like that for another gentle-bird.

Iago noticed Simba first because of his heightened instincts. He never really relaxed, even with Zazu close by. He was too busy with thoughts of how he would protect Zazu if there was ever a time when he needed to.

" Oh, hey, kid," he said. Even when the prince was full-grown, Iago would call him that. He looked at the flower and instantly knew exactly what it was, thanks to his extensive deep dive into Herbs and botanicals.

His face shifted to a thoughtful look. He wondered if the kid knew what that flower symbolized or if someone had told him to bring that one. Or whether or not the kid just thought it looked cool.

Zazu was still asleep for a good few minutes, and Iago laughed softly. He carefully nudged Zazu. " Huh? Oh..." Zazu's feathers bunched up in embarrassment when he saw Simba.

“Well, I wanted to give you guys something ‘cause… you’re, uh, married now, right?” he asked, suddenly feeling hot under his fur. Had he been wrong? Were Zazu and Iago not married yet?

The golden-coated cub’s eyes widened, but he put the flower in front of the pair. “Hope I wasn’t wrong,” he murmured, struggling to make eye contact with either of them. “I-if I was wrong and you’re not married, you can still have the… the flower.”

He watched the parrot nervously introduce himself to Mufasa, and, inwardly, he was laughing- but he couldn’t make fun of him in front of his dad. That would just get him scolded.

The lion cub still wrinkled his nose slightly.

Iago glanced at the kid expectantly. Surely, this kid would not leave him high and dry!

A few minutes passed, and Iago stilled. Well, that stunk. He was on his own.

It was time for Iago to lock into his charming mood and razzle-dazzle this royal like he had with so many others. " Wow. You're the king? Your kingdom is so vast and spacious, My liege," he gasped out, forcing a friendly smile and a bounce to his voice.

Mufasa laughed softly and moved his paw around his son, pulling him closer to him. " Yes, well. No. I don't recall ever hearing about you. Are you a guest of Zazu's? " he asked, all the time the smile never left his face, but not his eyes. "Perhaps we should all go and find Zazu," he said. He turned and looked at Simba.

Iago nodded and fluttered up into the air. He was not dumb enough to flee from the lions. He was in deep now.

" Stay close to me. "

The cub trotted after his father and beneath where Iago glided in the air, but his puzzlement got the better of him, even if he’d tried to leave it be. So the prince scampered faster, reaching Mufasa’s side, and stretched his head up a bit.

“Hey, Dad? How come you wanted me ‘ta stay close?” he inquired softly, quirking a brow. “Iago can’t do anything to us.” He shot an almost mocking glance up at the parrot. “Don’t ya think he’s bein’ too… um, like… scared? He’s acting like we’re gonna eat ‘m or something!”

Simba licked his queen’s cheek, then looked at the clear blue sky above them, a bit of a more melancholy dimness in his eyes.

“I guess I just… don’t really know how to be a king yet. It was all I wanted when we were young, but a lot’s changed since then…” He sighed, but perked a little. “If I can be anything like my father, I’ll be happy.”

Simba was, admittedly, caught off-guard by Nala’s inquiry. “…singing?” He gave her a funny look. “Y’think so, huh? Didn’t I tell you I did that all the time when I was in the jungle?” He almost had to laugh, and his smile only grew. “What, you think I should sing instead of talk to the Pridelanders?”

The main thing Simba was concerned with was the Watering Hole. The water level was still low, but at least it was rising ever so slightly with each rainstorm that passed through. It wasn’t as worrisome as before.

Another purr rose from Simba’s throat. He nuzzled her cheek and rested his there, just for a moment. “I have big paw prints to fill… but I’ll get there. And I know I have you to help, too. Heh, and Timon and Pumbaa don’t bother anyone but the grubs under every-…”

He hadn’t even pulled away when his mate used her paws to pin him on his back. He grunted at the landing, puzzled at first… and then finally registered that she’d said ‘serenade’.

With a laugh, he just stayed there and accepted the lick to his face.

Oh? Was that a hint of mischief in her blue/green eyes? Thinking up a goofy idea that he knew she’d enjoy, Simba suddenly grinned, hurriedly pushed her off, and leapt to his paws; he was running away from her! The audacity that man had-!!

“Good afternoon,” he greeted the other with a polite smile. “May I help you? Or are you just, uh, here to chat…?”

After a moment, she grinned. "Have you tried singing?" Oh, she couldn't help but tease him, then, gently bumping against him with a chuckle.

Simba licked his queen’s cheek, then looked at the clear blue sky above them, a bit of a more melancholy dimness in his eyes.

“I guess I just… don’t really know how to be a king yet. It was all I wanted when we were young, but a lot’s changed since then…” He sighed, but perked a little. “If I can be anything like my father, I’ll be happy.”

Simba was, admittedly, caught off-guard by Nala’s inquiry. “…singing?” He gave her a funny look. “Y’think so, huh? Didn’t I tell you I did that all the time when I was in the jungle?” He almost had to laugh, and his smile only grew. “What, you think I should sing instead of talk to the Pridelanders?”

The cub had come to understand what Zazu’s mate- at least, he assumed they were mates, but wasn’t certain- had told him; Zazu was a very helpful majordomo. Maybe he needed to keep that in mind more often.

Simba bounced up to Mufasa’s side once more, but jumped up and batted at his tail when the monarch began to walk again. “Rrraaah!!” he fake-growled, barely swatting the red tuft at the end of his father’s tail.

“Hey, Dad? Are Iago and Zazu mates? Or… does that mean they’re, like, married? I don’t get it.”

Mufusa was having a good day until that question was asked. How was the best way to put this? He wanted to respect Zazu's privacy, and this weird Iago-bird was very cagey about the whole thing.

" Well, Simba. What have they said about it? " he posed the question, a thoughtful and concerned look on his regal muzzle. It was not up to Mufasa to meddle in Zazu's personal affairs. Even if Zazu was one of his closest and most trusted servants. He was unsure whether the term ' friend ' was right to tack onto the bird.

That was more of Tacari and Zazu's deal.

His ears lifted. “Oh! So they are mates.”

A few heartbeats of quiet went by before Simba, brightening significantly, scampered ahead, just a little past Mufasa, then spun around with a bounce on his paws and an open-mouthed smile. “Hey, Dad, wait! They must’a gotten married not super long ago, right? D’you think it’s too late ‘ta get ‘em a present? Nala said that sometimes, when a king an’ queen get married, the lions in the pride get ‘em presents. I should find something for ‘m!”