Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! I had writer's block and ended up in a car accident afterwards. Hopefully I will write again soon! As a reminder, I only own my character, Lula. The rest is from the creators of the Lion King! Thank you for your appreciation! :)

I woke up the following morning to Simba's attempt to waking up his father. After stretching and exhaling a long, extended yawn, I rubbed my eyes to see Simba's tiny form over his father, tugging on his ears.

"Dad! Daad! Come on, Dad, we gotta go, wake up!"

Watching and hearing the interactions of the two reminded me of the relationship my father and I had in the past. It wasn't perfect, and I could have been more respectful, but we both acted like two kids trying to have fun. Remembering the fishing trips, kayaking, and skydiving forced me to long for the past. Before reminiscing even further, Simba's voice brought me back to the present.

"Dad? Daad. Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad."

Jumping over the bodies of sleeping lionesses, I quietly approached the entrance to the den and sat outside of Pride Rock, on what they would consider, the 'balcony.' I let my legs swing off the edge and brushed my palms against the rough surface, despite knowing I would get blisters and burns later; I glanced up to look at the sky, and had to brace myself against the sun's protective gaze. I thought of what Simba had told me last night, about the great kings of the past watching over us, then wondered if my parents were up there too.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Mufasa asked as Simba eagerly trailed behind him.

Jumping a little, I turned around to see Mufasa's auburn mane blowing against the wind, imitating the girls running around the beach as in television show Baywatch.

"I hope I didn't scare you." Mufasa mocked as he pretended to not notice my fright.

"No, you just got me off guard!" I attempted to lie, but failed.

Turning to my left, I saw Simba pointing off at the green lands in the distance. It was then I realized how great of a king he would be; even in his small form, he seemed to have an aura of resilience in him. His curiosity and kindness are his strengths and flaws. Mufasa, noticing Simba's gaze linger away, stated,

"Look Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom."

"A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day Simba, the sun will set on my time here- and will rise with you as the new king."

"And this'll be all mine?"

"Everything."

Before Simba could further respond, I accidentally blurted and pointed out at the shadowy place out in the distance that seemed to separate good versus evil.

"What are the dead looking lands out there?" I asked towards Mufasa. Before replying, he swallowed harshly and looked away, as if in fear to hurt my feelings.

"That…that are the outlands. You must never go there."

Afraid to hear the answer, I continued to ask anyway. I will not live out my life in fear.

"Then that is where…I was before I came here?" Mufasa turned his back to me and hushed Simba along to further his lesson. Simba, not noticing the tension rising, hopped off while chasing a butterfly, as Mufasa had his face towards the side and exclaimed one last time before completely walking off,

"Yes."

I watched the two disappear before I too stood up and headed towards Sarabi for my first lesson in hunting. I strolled around Pride Rock before finding her by a group of other lionesses. She seemed to be appealing to the others, as they all were in opposition, probably about my joining for today's hunt. A lioness, who's name I picked up to be Zira, mentioned out of doubt,

"Will Lula know what she will be doing? We do not need someone holding us back."

Sarabi, taking charge, firmly stated, "Lula is my responsibility and if she is ordered to hunt, then she will join us."

I approached the circle of lionesses and nodded at all of them, trying not to make eye contact. I did not want to seem more out of place than necessary. Zira gave one last look at me before marching away with the other lionesses,

"I will not let this hunt go to shreds just because of your idiocracy."

Sarabi gave me a long stare before rubbing against my legs. I knew that this was her way of trying to comfort me, a mother's embrace.

"Do not take Zira's words to heart. Not all lionesses like humans and besides, she always wakes up on the wrong side of bed."

I tried to hide my laugh and quickly covered my mouth to cover the giggles. "Was this your attempt of a joke?" I asked.

"Maybe."

This lighthearted chatter seemed to calm me down. I needed to open up more, as this would be my new home for a while, at least. Understanding this, Sarabi prompted me towards the others, as we were drifting behind. I smiled at the open fields, staring in amazement at the zebra and antelope. Taking a deep breath, we both caught up to the rest of the herd and I ran towards the front, shedding the shell off of myself.

"So, what will it be today?"