Before the sun had risen, a now-adult Kion with a massive, messy mane that would've been a beautiful deep red if it weren't for the dreadful climate had left the filthy, verminous termite mound that they called a den. As the years passed by, leaving before Zira's inane rambling and the mindnumbing heat of the day began became his habit.

In the grey, dispiriting light of the early dawn, he stalked throughout the Outlands and at the very edge of the Pride Lands, looking for something - anything - to kill and eat. Rats, if he was lucky. He'd been a hungry, healthy cub and his hunger had only grown as there had been less and less prey. But like the rest of the pride, he was sustained by his focus on a different craving, an insane stubbornness to submit whilst work still remained to be done.

Because even in the Outlands, one could see the jagging rock. Pride Rock, ruled by his sanctimonious father. Just thinking of him made Kion claw the ground. And whenever he did, he also thought of his snake of a sister, who would surpass them in due time. In fact, it was time for her first hunt today.

"Oomph!" Kion mumbled as he was caught offguard by a nimble mass of fur that immediately coiled around him so tightly that he could scarcely breath.

"How many times have I told you not to stare at that stupid thing!" Vitani hissed in his ear. "Do you want your neck broken by a Pridelander?"

Kion growled and rolled his eyes. "Pridelanders couldn't sneak up on Nuka." He playfully bit her cheek, and she let him go. "Besides, it won't matter if Zira's plan works. By the end of the week, we'll be sleeping in my father's spot."

"That's for Kovu." Vitani reminded him.

Kion snorted. "He'll have to earn it."

The lioness squinted her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said. If you think I'm letting Kovu rest his rump on my family throne, well..."

Vitani grabbed his shoulder. "If my mother heard you..."

"... I'd be doomed, yes, I know. I'm not ready yet. But I will be soon enough." He poked at Vitani's nose affectionately. "I'm tired of being told how to run my life, taunted for my mistakes, judged at the standard of long-dead kings from years ago. I know you are too. Once this pointless war ends, I'll stand on Pride Rock... and rest my paws on Simba and Zira's skulls." He smiled darkly as he imagined it. "I know she's your mother, Tani, but don't tell me you haven't thought of just... shutting her up for good."

Vitani shuddered. "Don't say things like that!"

Kion turned to her, his eyes gleaming feverishly. "Why not? Who will stop me if there's no one left alive to exert power over me? It's just another hunt... the hunt for our lives. And they are the prey."

Now that the idea had been planted into her head, Vitani couldn't stop thinking about it. She was absolutely loyal to her family, of course, but doesn't a lion have to grow up and move on at some point, to focus on what she wants for herself...?

"There you are." Kion cooed, satisfied. "Queen of everything the light touches doesn't sound so bad, does it?"

Unable to sleep on the night before her big hunt, Kiara had finally given up and climbed Pride Rock to watch the sun rise over the kingdom she didn't want. The lioness hated to admit it, but no matter what Simba and Nala taught her, her enthusiasm for ruling had only waned since growing up. As a cub, she liked the idea of doing things her own way, but as an adult, she knew the burden of absolute responsibility and it terrified her.

"Kiara, what are you doing all the way up here?" Nala asked softly. Naturally, she'd been slightly concerned for her as it was her first hunt, and woke up early to comfort her.

The younger lioness turned to her mother. "I wish Kion were here..."

Nala became uncomfortable. To protect Kiara from the awful truth, she and Simba had sworn the pride to secrecy. As far as anyone was concerned, the Lion Guard had tragically died to defend the Pride Lands from the Outsiders.

She swallowed to keep the bile down. "I'm sure he'd be proud of what you've become."

Kiara smiled faintly. She did truly miss her rascal of a brother. Funnily enough, Janja and his hyenas had disappeared shortly after Kion's death, as if staying away from the Pride Lands for good just to respect his memory(although she knew that was impossible).

Despite their frequent disagreements, she'd always believed he'd be there when she became Queen, that they'd rule together as a family. But it was not meant to be and it was eating at her. Kiara sighed and nuzzled his mother.

"I think we'd better go down." She said to Nala. "The hunt's about to begin."