The Lion Guard Season 5

Chapter 23: The Broken Family

{Amani's POV}
I couldn't stop thinking about what Nguvu said, and honestly, I don't understand why he said it. What did he want? Was it to be malicious, to be cruel? Is he trying to manipulate me or is he doing it because he care about me? No, that's impossible, he just came. Maybe he's doing it for Shani, yeah, that had to be it. Why else would he offer to talk to me? What does it matter to me anyways? The Night Pride just passed by the River of Patience so I went over there. I swam across the river, careful to make sure there wasn't any noise. I took too long, and now the Night Pride were on their way back. I had to run up the path to not be seen but I kicked too many rocks. Dekha was on her way here and she'd see me. There was a tree, she's not good at seeing through trees unless there's a gap between the branches. I hid under the tree and Dekha flew by. She landed on Saka and whispered something and they walked away. I was in the clear, but that was too close. I jumped off the ledge onto the ground and was met by Eguru.
"That was risky, and you know it." He scolded "Don't do that again."
"Sorry."
"The Master will be here soon," He said "What did you discover?"
"Father is taking us to the Pridelands." I said "He said it would be for a few days."
"The Pridelands, hmm?" The Master said in the shadows
"Master," I greeted "I apologize, I tried to get Father to reconsider but he wouldn't budge."
"Actually, it's perfect." The Master said "It was quicker than I anticipated but it's perfect."
"Master?" Eguru asked
"Once you make it to the Pridelands, come to the volcano."
"The one in the Outlands?" I asked "Master, that's impossible. The Vultures guard the Outlands and the Pridelands have 2 Lion Guards. Never mind Saka and Shani won't let me out of their sight."
"I believe you will find a way," The Master said "But if you really need a distraction, leave it to me."
I genuinely thought the Master would yell at me, but he didn't. "Yes Master."
"Return to your place before they come to find you absent." The Master commanded
"Yes Master."
I had found another path leading back up to that wall. It is hidden behind some trees but I managed to find it, mostly because I didn't want to climb up that wall each time I want to get back to the Tree. I came back to my spot in the hollow. Mother and Father are usually fast asleep by this time, and if they noticed what I was doing, they are choosing to not talk about it. Then it isn't my fault if anything happens to them. The sun rose and we all got up. I had to act like I was awake even though I was very tired. I've done this for a long time, and I haven't been caught yet.
"Amani," Father said "Are you ready?"
"Mom, do I have to go?" I asked
"Yes Amani," Mom answered "You should visit your aunts and uncles, as well as your grandparents and cousins."
"Ugh, Mooooom."
"I'm not taking no as an answer Amani." She said "It's a common courtesy to go and visit."
"I hate the Pridelands." I complained
"Be grateful you can see them at all." She said
"Fine." I grumbled
I left the hollow, I can never convince them to let me stay back. Why can't they ever listen to me? Why can't they ever acknowledge how I feel? Why am I always the invisible one? Why is he always the favorite one, the one who could do no wrong?! The Tree of Life is a prison when HE can do no wrong. When I'm Queen, I'll will get the justice I deserve.
{Rani's POV}
"I don't understand our daughter anymore." Kion lamented
"Did you think she would be a daddy's girl like Kiara?" I asked
"No, but I thought she wouldn't be so distant."
"Maybe this is a phase," I said "Maybe all she needs is time."
"Yeah... Maybe."
Kion was unconvinced, like somehow he knew what was happening. Maybe, I didn't know what I was saying because he was right. Amani has been disappearing more and more since Saka took over the Night Pride. I thought becoming a healer would help her. Make her realize her place but she has just been distant. I walked out of the hollow and went somewhere where I would be alone with my thoughts. The same small plateau where I always got the help I needed. I looked up, and stared into the morning sky. I have been Queen for years, my son has grown into a strong lion, someone ready to become King. We've taught him a lot, Kion teaching him how to be a leader, how to protect, and me teaching him how to be a king. His roles and responsibilities, something Kion never learned because he was never supposed to be king. It made sense for Kion to be on his own whereas Kiara was always around her parents. Kion learned his lessons through experience and Kiara learned hers through wisdom. As for me, I had both. My family was tight-knit while Kion's was spread out. His parents never taught him what they taught Kiara, because they didn't need to. Kion would learn them on his own, as leader of the Guard. Amani had become distant, yet I couldn't figure out why. She was ecstatic when she saw Saka's roar for the first time. She and her brother were so close, they played together every day. What did Kion have that Amani didn't? Why is his family so close while far apart and our family so far apart while close? Is she putting pieces down that I'm ignoring or is it something not even she knows about? I kept staring at the sky and didn't notice who came next to me.
"Hello your majesty," Nguvu said "This is some deja vu, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is." I agreed
"I remember talking to you alone at a lake." He said "About something completely different."
"Yeah." I said, not really paying attention to him.
"You're not paying attention to me, are you?"
"Not really." I admitted "I was just thinking."
"About?"
"My daughter."
"Amani?"
"Yeah. She's distant."
"All I can say is let her figure out her situation," He said "She's going through some growing pains, she needs to figure things out herself. I think she needs to figure out who she is."
"Yeah, that sounds good." I walked off, back to the hollow to see them off. Kion, Saka, Amani and Shani were waiting for me and the Night Pride to come. After Saka talked to his Night Pride, they left the Pass and went towards the narrow canyon. They disappeared behind the wall and I went back to the hollow. I couldn't shake the sight of a bored Amani, she looked like she didn't want to go but was strangely okay with it. I laid down on the Throne Rock and thought. How do I fix my family?