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Reaching the flat rock outside of the den Kion stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing who was relaxing halfway up the peak of Pride Rock. Of all the lionesses he could have bumped into upon arriving back home, Kion had hoped he’d be able to avoid his mother until the Kupatana celebration that evening. Yet there lay the Queen of the Pridelands herself, basking in the warmth of the evening sun.
Trying to remain unnaturally still, Kion couldn’t help cringing as he looked down at the brown mud still tinting his fur. He couldn’t believe his bad luck, of course he’d come home looking like this on one of the few days that his mom wasn’t part of the evening hunting party.
But it wasn’t his fault really, he and the guard had to help Mbeya the rhino get out of his mud wallow!
And they were going to head to the watering hole straight after to clean up but instead they had to go and deal with another ‘misunderstanding’ surrounding Rei Rei and her jackal family.
Of course after that they had rushed right over to try and clean themselves up. But their time in the waterhole was now limited, the guard still had to finish their afternoon patrol. And they had planned to head home early anyway so that Kion would have enough time to meet up with the rest of the royal family before the celebrations that evening.
So yeah maybe he and the guard had the quickest wash possible but so what! No matter how long Kion had soaked in the turquoise waters, he knew some faded dirt would still cling to his pale golden fur.
Personally the young prince couldn’t see the problem, the water had washed away the majority of the thicker mud and no one would care if he had just a little dirt left on him. He was a cub and leader of The Lion Guard mud was basically part of the territory. But unfortunately Kion knew that his mother would be less than thrilled when she caught sight of him.
If he could just avoid her till they had the leave for the celebrations, Kion knew there would be no time for his mom to do anything and she would have to let him get away with his slightly messy appearance.
Placing one paw in front of the other; Kion began creeping silently forward, slowly making his way towards the mouth of the den.
“I know your there Kion”
Flinching at the sound of his mother’s voice, Kion turned to see his mom watching him with a knowing smile. Frowning that he’d been spotted so quickly, Kion sighed walking over.
“How’d you know it was me?” he asked sitting himself down in front of his mom.
“I’m your mother I know everything, now-“pausing Nala examined her son. Noting the dried mud coating his fur, the queen’s eyes narrowed as Kion began fidgeting.
“Kion what on earth have you been up to?” Nala asked her eyebrow raised in a curious and ever so slightly amused expression.
“Heh well you know typical Lion Guard stuff” Kion chuckled nervously.
“Oh really? And which of your typical Lion Guard duties requires you to come home covered in mud?” Nala queried, holding back a laugh at how Kion had tried to dodge the question.
“Well okay it’s not an everyday Lion Guard duty but Mbeya the rhino got stuck in his mud wallow, we couldn’t just leave him there! Plus we did go and wash up at the watering hole! We just didn’t have a lot time because we had to deal with another problem first.” Kion rushed to explain, meeting his mom’s gaze with a pleading expression.
Nodding her head sympathetically, Nala smiled at her son’s explanation. She’d expected as much honestly. It wasn’t unheard of for the guard to get a little messy on patrol, but it was clear from the amount of dried mud in Kion’s fur this problem had been worse than usual. And of course while she understood that The Lion Guard often had to rush from one situation to another, that didn’t mean she was about to let her son attend the Kupatana Celebration looking like a scruff.
“I understand Kion and I’m very proud of you for helping Mbeya, but you do know I can’t let you go to Kupatana Celebration looking like that. Right? Nala implored.
Knowing exactly where his mom’s train of thought was going Kion quickly hopped to his feet, edging his way backwards as he tried to put distance between himself and his mother.
“Aww come on mom it’s just a little mud! Besides there isn’t enough time! We’ll have to leave soon! And I should really go and let dad know I’m home anyway so I um I’m gonna go find him” Kion said, fumbling for an excuse to leave.
Rolling her eyes at her cub’s antics, Nala couldn’t help feeling a little exhausted by this old routine but knowing their son really did take after Simba in this regard, she tried to remain patient.
“Kion your father isn’t here yet. He had to attend a last minute meeting with Zazu about the choir’s performance tonight. So we actually have plenty of time and you need a bath.” Nala urged, gently placing her paw atop Kion’s tail to stop him moving away before quickly leaning down and picking her son up by the scruff of his neck.
“Mom! It’s just a little dirt!” Kion complained, wriggling to try and get out of his mom’s grip as she walked them over to the mouth of the den.
Lying down in the den’s opening. Nala had to stop herself laughing at Kion’s dramatics before placing him gently but firmly in her front paws.
“Even if it was just a little dirt you’d still need a bath Kion. Now come on the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll be done” Nala stated smiling warmly at her cub before beginning to lick his back.
“Okay! I get it! I need a bath but err I could do it myself! Kion declared trying in vain to dodge his mom’s attempts to clean him.
“If I actually believed you’d do it Kion, I might’ve let you. But seeing as you were trying avoid having your bath all together I think I’ll stick with my way. Now hold still” Nala said firmly, continuing to lick her son’s fur clean of the lingering mud.
Just as he was about to launch into another argument, Kion paused as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps from inside the den.
“Hey mom! Is it almost time for celebration?” questioned Kiara as she emerged from the den and all Kion wanted was for the ground to swallow him up right there and then.
“Not quite sweetheart, we have to wait for your father. But he should be back soon and besides I need to finish getting your brother ready to go” Nala responded to her daughter as the young lioness came to stop beside herself and Kion.
Taking in the scene before her, Kiara couldn’t help a mischievous grin from crossing her face at the sight of a clearly disgruntled Kion being made to have a bath by their mom. Chuckling Kiara moved closer putting on her best babying pout.
“Aww is wittle Kion sad because he needed a bath?” Kiara taunted, laughing as Kion pulled his tongue out at her.
“Back off Kiara” Kion sulked, turning his head away from his older sister.
“Kiara” Nala said a clear warning in her voice.
“Sorry mom” Kiara hastily chirped, before taking pity of her clearly unhappy little brother and moving to nudge Kion’s shoulder apologetically with her head.
“Sorry Kion, I was only teasing” Kiara said smiling softly at her brother.
“I know, it’s alright Kiara.” Kion said before turning his attention back to their mother.
“Are we done yet mom?” Kion whined earning another giggle from Kiara.
“Not yet sweetie, now come on let me get behind your ears” Nala said, laughing a little herself at Kion’s look of disbelief before continuing to lick her son’s head.
Squirming out of reach, Kion shot Kiara a look of annoyance as despite her apology she continued to giggle at his expense.
“It’s not that funny you know” Kion said.
“It kind of is, I mean c’mon Kion it’s just a bath” Kiara retorted.
“Well that doesn’t mean you have to laugh” Kion defended.
“Course I do! You’re being silly” Kiara said.
“Nu huh” Kion insisted.
“Yah huh” Kiara taunted back
“Nu huh”
“Yah huh”
“NU HUH!”
“YAH HUH!”
“Wow, wow what is going on here?” A voice from outside the den finally caught the arguing siblings’ attention. Turning to see who spoke Nala, Kion and Kiara’s eyes all lit up at the sight of Simba walking across the flat rock towards them.
“Dad!” Kion and Kiara exclaimed the latter running meet their father with a welcome nuzzle.
Upon reaching her father Kiara rushed to explain what was happening “Kion’s complaining about mom making him have a bath! And he’s saying I shouldn’t laugh at him! But c’mon Dad it’s a little funny” she said.
Nuzzling his daughter in return, Simba turned his attention to his wife and son and had to admit the sight before him really was a little funny. Nala had Kion securely pinned between her front paws as she repeatedly licked his ears, while his son appeared very annoyed muttering about being let go already.
Leaning down so only Kiara would hear Simba whispered “I see what you mean” Before moving over to nuzzle his wife and son in turn.
“So a lots happened while I’ve been talking to Zazu it seems” Simba said cheekily grinning down at Nala.
“Definitely, your son doesn’t want to have his bath” Nala stated, looking up at Simba as an accusing yet teasing look crossed her face.
“Oh so when he doesn’t want a bath, Kion’s my son? Is that right?” Simba questioned smiling.
Giving her husband the most deadpan stare that she could muster. Nala proceeded to scoop Kion up and closer to her before licking all across the top of her son’s head, causing his red hair tuff to stick upwards.
“Mom! You’re messing up my mane!” Kion yelped trying his best to smooth said mane back into place, completely missing his dad’s embarrassed blush. And the smug look his mom now had plastered all over her face.
The Lion Gard leader was more focused on the fact that his mother’s grip on him had finally loosened. Immediately rolling himself out of Nala’s front paws, Kion shook out his fur before turning to look back at his parents who appeared to be having some sort of silent conversation.
“Okay, okay I’m clean can we go now?” Kion asked trying to regain their attention and this time he did notice the amused expressions his parents shot each other.
“Like father, like son” was all his mother said giggling as she got to her feet.
While all his father did in return was roll his eyes nudging Nala’s shoulder playfully as he muttered “yeah, yeah” The two continuing to smile at each other seemingly lost in a shared memory.
Watching his parents in confusion, Kion quickly looked over to Kiara trying to see if his sister knew what was happening.
Meeting her brother’s gaze Kiara could only shrug her shoulders, just as lost as he was by their parent’s current conversation.
“Mom? Dad? What are you talking about?” Kion finally asked curiosity getting the better of him.
Turning to smile at their children’s puzzled expressions, Simba and Nala couldn’t resist laughing as they shared one last smile between them. Before Nala raised her eyebrow expectantly and Simba leant down to address his children.
“Oh nothing much, I just realised that when it comes to having a bath you really are just like me when I was your age Kion.” Simba said ruffling Kion’s hair.
“Dad!” Kion complained trying his best to bat his father’s paw away. But only succeeding in having his dad pull him closer to give him a noogie.
As father and son laughed, Nala moved over to stand beside her daughter speaking so only Kiara would hear.
“Thankfully for my own sanity you seem to take after me in this area Kiara” Nala whispered, winking at her daughter who beamed happily back at her.
Giving Kion’s head one last ruffle, Simba smiled down at his son before turning to face his wife and daughter
“Right shall we head out for the Kupatana Celebration, can’t have royal family turning up late. Can we?” Simba asked, gazing warmly at his queen.
“Well now that we all look presentable” Nala teased smiling at Kion.
“Of course, let’s go” she finished.
And as the family descended Pride Rock, Kiara and Kion running ahead excitedly. Simba and Nala watched on and quietly thought to themselves how lucky they were to have two amazing kids, bath time silliness and all.