The Kingdom had rejoiced as the dry season came to an end, and the rains returned once more. At the same time, the two Princes were growing and maturing. 

As Mufasa grew, sporting a pair of bangs and growing considerably, Ahadi told him he could no longer play with his friends as he had before. He was going to be King, and a King would have to be given the code and lists of laws that the Kingdom deserved. After all, no Kingdom could be supported by an uneducated King. 

Ahadi knew that the hard way from his younger days of his youth in his own Pride. Though he never brought this subject up with his sons, it left him bitter and angry. Unlike Uru, who shared her sorrows and unfortunate, the King kept it locked up inside. Uru knew with sorrow and anger at herself she should have made Ahadi give both of them a chance, but that seemed impossible now.

So Mufasa stayed at home, sitting in the empty throne room or the peak of Pride Rock, having to hear the does and don’t of a King. Needless to say he was bored to tears. He received lectures on history, the importance of balance, yet he sorely missed the days when his mother was home more often and would actually play with the two boys. Now, of course she had better things to do. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. 

The worst part about it was having to see his brother and the others run all over the Pride Lands, playing and hunting without a care in the world. He spent most of his time of his lessons when he could watching them with sad, jealous eyes. They didn’t even seem to mind him being gone, sure they chatted with him during the evenings but that was it. One morning he was watching them, from the balcony of Pride Rock as they play spared, and he saw how well they got along. Taka even let Sarafina win over him. They were laughing cheekily, and soon the other younger cubs joined in. His father was going on about the First King and his daughters, and Mufasa’s ears weren’t picking up any of it. 

“Mufasa!” His father’s voice broke his attention. He glanced back up at his father, surprised, and he was glaring at him, annoyed. “Pay attention!” Ahadi said, and Mufasa nodded, sighing as he rested by his father’s paws. “Where was I? Yes, so he was faced with the consequences of letting his enemies trick him..” The stories were dull and about balance, nothing about bravery or battles. By the end of this lecture, he was exhausted.

He came to try and sneak away from these hour-long teachings at one point, to no avail. He had woken up early this morning, nudged Sarabi and his brother awake, including Sarafina. “Shush, we are going out.” He had told them firmly, his eye’s set on the grasslands that lay before them. 

“Where?” Asked Taka, who had seemed less better in these days.

“Quiet!” Mufasa said, picking up a paw to cuff his brother but then stopped, surprised at his sudden temper. His paws feverishly itched to go outside, to do anything with his friends, to be a part of their games. “Sorry.” He grumbled, trying not to feel drowsy as he nudged them towards the exit. Sarabi gave the others a bemused look, and they all shrugged. 

As soon as they were all outside, Mufasa hissed his plan to the others. “We'll play somewhere dad won’t come looking for me, say, the gorge.” He flashed them a grin, but his confidence did not reflect on his friends faces. 

“Muffy, you have lessons to go to.” Taka said, waving his claw dismissively and frowning, whiskers twitching in confusion as Sarafina nodded beside him. Sarabi coughed, fur ruffled with the feeling of awkwardness shrouding them. “If you really want to sneak off, plan it out.” He smirked, as if knowing that well.

“We've all sorta gotten used to you not being around, Muffy. You know, Kingship and all that.” She blinked her orange eyes apologetically, and then twitched her tail. She placed a paw on his chest. “Your dad said he’ll give you some free time if you do good, right? Isn’t being King more important than playing?” Mufasa stared at her, stunned. 

“No!” He shot back, rebuked and he tried not to flex his claws. “What, you guys haven’t missed me or anything?!” He growled, growing furious. 

“Sure we’ve missed you,” Offered Sarafina with a soft smile, shrugging. But Taka was looking away, eye’s calm and not saying anything. “But this isn’t right..” She said, but her voice trailed away. 

“FINE!” Mufasa growled, storming off into the grasslands, knowing they would follow. And they did. After a short chat with Taka first, of course. Taka’s comment about planning out it first had struck him though. He paused a bit, thinking. The zebra herd was near the gorge..but still. Dad wouldn’t be too mad at me, he thought with guilt as he kicked a stone, growing nervous. He’s forgiving!

***

“What’s his problem?” Sarabi asked, rolling her eyes at his outburst, still quite shocked and somewhat annoyed at the Crown Princes attitude. 

“Dunno.” Taka shrugged, and he nudged Sarafina with a wicked grin. “Daddy’s bored him to death!” He laughed, and Sarafina smiled at the jest. Immature big brother, Taka thought, smirking at the thought. Sarabi looked amused, but she gazed back to the golden cub, who was still marching away, tail in the air. The lioness held a look of concern in her eyes, and she turned to the other growing cubs, in a soft whisper. 

"Maybe we should follow him, to make sure nothing goes wrong." She suggested in a low voice, ear's flattened against her head and the others agreed, despite Taka's hesitance at first. Sarabi smirked at him but he followed Sarafina nonetheless, and they set off after him. 

"Dad will sure be mad." Commented Taka as they descended the stone steps of Pride Rock, glancing back to the cave opening. "He's been real strict about these lessons. Says they're real important." It was Taka's turn to roll his emerald eyes at his father antics. He much preferred his mother's way of teachings, her captivating tales of her youth and of the Pride Lands history always kept his attention. Now she was gone, to negotiate alliances with a neighboring noble family. She was also set to met Sarabi's family soon too, they lived close to the Coast, and had a lush land they lived in. The others had to admit it was brave of Sarabi to come to the Pride Lands as a cub without any family. 

"I don't think your father has the best mindset when it comes to teaching," Sarafina said quietly, but this bit her tongue as if she had insulted someone. She looked away from Taka and Sarabi, head bowed. 

"Hey, I think so too." Offered Taka, sounding eager to discuss his father. "Mom tells me he was raised in a strict Pride and whatnot." He explained, proud he knew more about his father's history. 

"Okay, smarty-pants." Sarabi interjected cheekily, though she meant no harm, Taka still let out a low growl. "There's your brother." She said pointedly, raising a paw to where Mufasa was, closing in on the gorge. She lifted herself up from her crouch and began to briskly trot forward to the young lion, as the others cautiously followed. Sarabi began to speak to him, but he broke her off, looking over his shoulder with a smug grin. 

"Knew you guys would come." He said with certainty in his voice, and he puffed out his chest in the proud manner he had. "Okay," He said, uncoiling his plan, a wide grin on the Golden cub's face. The group of three listened, eye's wide and doubtful. "We are going to climb down the gorge." He flicked his tail at the tall rock wall below him, which went on until reaching the dry ground. "And then when we get down there, we can play all day without anyone looking for us down there!" He said promptly, excitement in his face. Sarafina gave Sarabi a abstained look, trying not to blurt about to the Prince about his idea's. 

"Muffy, this is just idiotic. Even for you." Taka said blandly, mouth formed into a hard line as he stared at his brother. 

You're just jealous, Mufasa thought but held back these harsh words. "Oh, so you guys have a better idea?" He retorted, grimacing. In actuality, he was open to suggestions. 

"For one, how about go around the gorge and down the slope?" Suggested Sarabi intellectually, an obvious reply Mufasa had been expecting. 

"Can't, too many zebra down there." Mufasa replied, resting himself on his haunches and sighing, laying his head on his large paws. “Don’t want you guys to get hurt..” He mumbled. 

"Can't we just walk past them? You are the Crown Prince you know." Sarafina said softly, ear's laid back as Sarabi nodded in agreement and approval. 

"Fine." Sighed Mufasa and he stood up, stretching his legs as Sarabi took the lead, trotting in the front with a smile on her face as they came into the zebra herd. Rows of hooves and stripped legs lay in front of them. Mufasa flattened his ears and swallowed, crouching beside his brother as they walked slowly on the outskirts of the herd. 

“Guys,” He whispered, looking around and realizing with a jolt a smell unlike the others surrounding him. He saw the owner of the scent, a Cape Dog on the edge of the herd, and he knew it had spotted them. He felt his paws lock in place as it’s head lifted up, ears pricked and jaws opening