A/N: "Hey there. :D Since I started a Fic for Lady & Tramp, and since I love The Lion King so much, I figured I should make something for The Lion King, too."

The King I see inside.

Prologue.

Zira observed her digits split in every stride she took, a wave of elegance stalking her afterwards. Despite her lean and skinny nature, she was quite beautiful and attractive. Her forelegs were fibrous, but not so much, which illustrated her robust trait. The lioness revealed her menacing roar, but it wasn't a threatening roar this time. Although the lioness had done many menacing roars in the past, it happened that right now she was in search of her two off-springs - who came jolting after a few minutes later.

Zira offered her cubs a stern look, making them drop their heads down in shame. Wanting to break the uncomfortable moment, the first cub spoke. "Mom...We were just by the river - trying to...catch fish."

The mother's expression practically explained her feelings. Zira's jaw dropped wider than ever, and she gaped towards her cubs in complete concern more than anything else except anger. "You...WHAT?!" The helpless off-spring hid their faces in one another's arms, whimpering in fear and no protection - something Zira didn't like. Zira, thankfully, managed to stay away from the bad side, but on the loving motherly side. But that didn't mean she wasn't angry. Without anything being said from her or the cubs, Zira pulled the youngest cub forward, forcing her nose into his neck, pulling out with a lick.

"I'm mad, but I told you both I really don't like it when you go there!" she replied, more at ease. But not so very comforting. The same burning anger hung in her voice. But not the hate anger, the concerned anger. Anything could have happened to her cubs. The youngsters were the only family she had left.

The lioness proceeded to pulling her eldest cub closer to her, nuzzling her with the same affection as she did with the younger male. Zira had a hate and anger for everyone, but nobody could touch her cubs - they were perhaps the only thing she was nice to. "Ani, you're older - you're suppose to be more responsible and look out for your brother!"

Ani sighed. "I-I tried to do that but, you see, he's not so easy to control."

"Nah, you just wanted to get out of the den."

Without wasting a second, the young lioness immediately leaped onto her brother, both cubs growling menacingly and trying to tear each other apart. Ani pulled his tail and Kovu pulled her ear. Zira had enough of it. They were always fighting.

"Snap out of it, you foolish cubs!" She grabbed Kovu away from his sister and placed him on the other side of her - right beside her left leg. "You two are not to leave the den for another week!"

Was it really that bad a 'crime' that the siblings had committed?

"I'm so scared," Ani whispered to herself in sarcasm, rolling her eyes and opening her mouth to yawn.

Zira's ear flickered. "Shut your trap, Ani. Come, cubs." It could be figured now that Zira had good hearing. Ani flinched, following the ankles of the older, haggard lioness.

She led them to the large formation known as Pride Rock, gazing up at the primed moon which illuminated the Pridelands. As soon as they journeyed up the formation towards the den's inside, the mother picked up her cubs with her jaws, gently placing them on the ground - next to the platform where she'd sleep with the father of her cubs, Simba.

Ani lay beside her younger brother, without saying a word. But she still managed to stare at Zira for quite some time without being scolded. Kovu whimpered slightly, but tried to keep quiet - he knew how angry Zira could get. Although, there was a good change in her behavior ever since she had met Simba. She no longer abused cubs, and kept her anger to a limit. It was her yelling that frightened the cubs. And the yelling could have been a sign that one day her past anger would unleash again...that was what the cubs thought.

"Hey Mom...You always say that your behavior has improved-" Kovu started.

"Yeah! What do you want to say with that?"

"-Well...Can you tell us a story of how your behavior was when...y'know...you were y-younger?"

Ani got herself involved, purposely elbowing her brother with such force to shut him up, violently whispering into his ear. "Shut up, don't remind her!" she scolded. "She doesn't need to sleep in such stress!" The young lioness cub turned back to her mother. "Mom...Can we have a story of how you met Dad?"

Zira yawned. "I am quite tired, but to keep you from not waking up in the night, very well," she agreed. "I suppose stories make you sleep longer...As weird as it sounds...But, for some reason it only applies to you two."

The pride lionesses began to enter the den to begin their long slumber - they'd have to wake up early to go hunting later. It seemed everyone had gotten used to the way Zira spoke quite loudly even in the late hours. But she only ever spoke loudly sometimes. Zira grabbed both of her cubs, placing them between her paws and closer to her warm, fluffy chest. The sound of her heartbeat would surely sooth them - it was the sound they heard at her pregnancy, after all.

"I had just ran away from my mother's strict orders..."