Remember Who You Are

Chapter 16: More Confessions

Wait did you just say Kiara pushed me down the side of the gorge?" Kion asked, sounding really surprised and confused.
"Uh no," Bunga said, trying to laugh it off. "I didn't say that. Heh. Kiara wouldn't do something like that."
"But you said I remembered that," Kion pointed of.
"You thought you remembered that," Fuli chimed in quickly. "You were only getting flashes of a fight so you really didn't know what you saw."
"But we were fighting that day," Kion said, looking at his sister.
"Well yeah we were," Kiara admitted, lowering her eyes in shame. "I was mad because I thought you got me in trouble on purpose. You said you didn't and I didn't believe you and we argued and I chased you to the gorge."
"So you did push me down?" Kion asked, narrowing his eyes at his older sibling.
"Kion Kiara would never do something like that," Simba said, putting a reassuring paw around his son.
"Yes Kiara isn't prone to violence like that," Nala chimed in. Kion was staring at Kiara, who was avoiding eye contact.
"Ok Kiara what's up?" Kion demanded, surprising everyone.
"Wh..what do you mean?" Kiara stammered.
"I mean you won't even look at me," Kion pointed out. "Which says to me that you're hiding something? Are you?"
"Kion that's enough!" Simba said sternly, causing Kion to jump slightly. "Kiara wouldn't hide something like that from us."
"Yeah I know," Kion said with a sigh. "You're right Simba. I'm sorry Kiara for questioning you. I know you'd never hurt me." With that Kion nuzzled his sister. But to his surprise she pulled away with a sob. "Kiara what's wrong?" Kion asked, surprised at his sister's reaction.
"You're wrong," the Princess said, wiping her eyes with her paw. "I am hiding something from all of you. I have been for weeks now."
"Kiara honey what are you talking about?" Nala asked.
"Kion's memories aren't mixed up," Kiara declared, surprising everyone yet again.
"What do you mean honey?' Simba asked with confusion.
"I mean he's right," Kiara confessed. "I..I did push him down the side of the gorge that day." This earned gasps from the group.
"You..you mean you tried to kill me?" Kion said softly.
"No!" Kiara cried out. "I would never do that! I was just so angry at you. I accused you of being jealous of me and Dad and then you turned the tables on me and called me the jealous one. That made me so mad I lost it and I pushed you. I didn't even realize how close we were to the edge otherwise I would have never done that. Then you fell and almost died. I'm so sorry Kion! I'm sorry!" With that Kiara broke down and sobbed bitterly. Simba and Nala went to comfort their daughter but she pulled away. "No!" she cried out, still sobbing. "Don't comfort me! I don't deserve it!"
"Kiara it sounds like it was an accident," Nala said gently.
"Yes we all know you'd never purposely hurt your brother," Simba said gently. "And your brother knows this too. Right Kion?" Simba looked over at his son when he spoke. But Kion had a fearful look as he looked at his sister.
"Kion?" Kiara said softly, taking a step towards her brother. But Kion quickly got to his feet and backed away from his sister. "Kion please," Kiara tried again. "Please don't be afraid of me.
"You...you just admitted to almost killing me," Kion stammered.
"Kion please," Kiara began again. "It was an accident. I'm sorry."
"If it was really an accident then how come you've been keeping it a secret?" Kion asked, eyeing his sister.
"Yeah," Bunga chimed in, his hands on his hips. "What's up with that Kiara?"
"Bunga maybe we should stay out of this," Ono suggested.
"Are you kidding?" Bunga said. "Kiara just admitted to almost killing my best friend! There's no way I'm staying out of it!"
"Yeah she's got a lot of explaining to do," Fuli chimed in.
"I know I should have told you sooner," Kiara said, looking directly at Kion. "I've been trying to tell you for awhile now but I've never been able to find the words. And I thought that everyone would hate me if I told what I did. That everyone would think I'm like him."
"Like who?" Kion asked, his voice coming out soft.
"Like Scar," Kiara whispered, looking down at the ground. "Scar pushed Grandpa Mufasa over the edge of the gorge just like I did with you. I didn't want anyone thinking I was like him." By now Kiara had tears going down her face.
"Oh honey we would never think that about you," Nala said, pulling her daughter close and nuzzling her.
"Maybe I'm more like him than I'd like to admit," Kiara said softly, pulling away from her mother.
"Kiara you are nothing like him," Simba declared. "Scar was a cold, heartless, unfeeling, murderous monster. You are a sweet, caring, loving young lioness."
"I've been so jealous of Kion lately," Kiara admitted. "He gets to do all kinds of neat things with his Guard while all I get to do is train to be Queen."
"We all get jealous sometimes," Ono said, trying to sound as supportive as possible. "Its nothing to be ashamed about."
"I agree with Ono," Simba said with a nod. "Jealousy is normal as long as you don't make it a problem. Kiara you should have told someone how you were feeling. Then maybe things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand."
"I know," Kiara said, looking down. "I'm really sorry Daddy. I'm especially sorry to you Kion. I wish I could turn back time and change things."
"Yeah," Kion whispered. "Me too." Then Kion got up and started to walk out of the cave.
"Kion?" Simba called. "Where are you going?"
"I..I need some air," Kion stammered. "I..I've got some thinking to do."
"Want some company?" Bunga asked.
"No that's ok," Kion said. "I really need to be alone for a bit. Is that ok?"
"I suppose its alright," Simba said, looking at Nala who nodded in agreement.
"Thanks," Kion said with a grateful smile. "I'll be back in a bit." With that the golden Prince was gone.
"Am I in trouble?" Kiara asked after her brother had left.
"Well Kiara we're certainly not happy that you've been lying to us for weeks," Nala said, giving her daughter a look. "So yes you're in trouble. You're grounded."
"For how long?" Kiara asked.
"I think two days should be enough," Simba put in. "Now get to your corner and stay there. Understand?"
"Yes Daddy," Kiara said, pinning her ears to her head as she walked to her corner. The rest of the group dispersed and waited for Kion's return.

Meanwhile Kion was near the edge of the gorge thinking about what had just happened. "How could Kiara do something like this to me?" Kion wondered. "I never thought she'd be capable of this. But then again I don't really remember what she was like before. For all I know she's like this all the time. I'm so confused." With that Kion lowered his head and closed his eyes, hoping to get a clear head. However this moment didn't last long before he heard someone call his name. Opening his eyes Kion saw Dogo standing there.
"Hey there buddy you ok?" the young pup asked.
"Not really," Kion whispered.
"What's wrong?" Dogo asked, pretending to be concerned.
"Kiara just admitted to trying to kill me," Kion informed the jackal. "She said it was an accident but I'm not so sure."
"I was afraid of this," Dogo said, shaking his head.
"Afraid of what?" Kion asked. Dogo said nothing so Kion pressed harder. "Dogo what's going on?" he demanded.
"I..I should have said something before," Dogo said, pretending to be hesitant. "But I didn't wanna stir up trouble in case I was wrong. But after what you just told me it looks like I was right."
"Right about what?" Kion asked.
"About what I saw," Dogo began. "You see Kion I was there that day you got hurt. I saw the whole thing from my hiding place in the rocks."
"You did?" Kion whispered, dreading what was coming next.
"Yeah I did," Dogo lied. "And well I saw Kiara push you. And she defiantly did it on purpose. She even yelled 'I wish you were dead!' as she did it. And she was even smiling as she watched you fall."
"So it wasn't an accident," Kion said, his voice low.
"No way," Dogo lied again. "And it gets worse."
"How could it possibly get any worse?" Kion demanded.
"Simba was there," Dogo said, causing Kion's eyes to widen. "He saw the whole thing and did nothing to stop it."