Lion King 5
Simba wasn't as surprised as Kovu would've thought he might have been to hear such news. Kovu's mind was now racing around in circles.
"Kovu… did you hear me?"
He remembered when she repeated that she was pregnant. It only reassured his speculations. Kovu had replied, "Since… since when?"
Kiara had simply smiled, saying, "Since about a week ago."
Now Kovu was in the den, pretending to sleep. He needed all the sleep he could get to get better from his little incident with Yamin…
Kovu simply pushed the idea of his father out of his mind, thinking of possible names for the baby. After a few seconds, Kovu gave up on trying to nap, and walked out of the den to be greeted by Simba, the only one still at Pride Rock besides Kovu himself. The rest of the lionesses were on an afternoon hunt.
"Hey, Kovu. Uh, thanks again for saving my life…"
Kovu stopped him. "Now we're even, Simba…"
Simba looked confused. "How is that?"
Kovu tried to giggle, or at least chuckle, but didn't seem to be able to. "For having Kiara… She already saved my life. And since she's a direct product of you and Nala… Well, I guess I owe Nala one now…"
Simba looked over the Pride Lands, with an apparent sense of pride within. "Kovu… soon, this will be all yours. How you feel about that?"
Kovu wasn't surprised at the question. "I don't really feel anything right now…"
Simba smiled. "Oh, by the way… Congratulations on parenthood…"
"Not yet, Simba… Hopefully you're alive long enough to see the child…"
Simba looked down to the ground, as if the comment about his age hurt him inside. "Oh, I'm sorry…" Kovu looked at Simba apologetically.
Simba looked Kovu in the eyes. "But, in all reality, it is an if. I mean... how much longer can this all go on?"
Kovu looked up to the sky. "I just hope that you don't die that soon…"
"Kovu… I think the baby's hungry. Can you really quick go get something?"
"Get it yourself…"
Kovu roared once, summoning some animals already near Pride Rock instantly.
It seemed to fit the situation nicely that the night was a cloudy and thundering one. The lightning strikes didn't bother Kovu, as from the sounds he determined that they were still striking over the Outlands.
Kovu closed his eyes, turning back to face Kiara. "I'm sorry… It's just that... Well, can't little Kanen wait 'till morning? He's not even out of your womb yet!"
Kiara tried to look as hurt as possible, but Kovu never opened his eyes for her before turning back around to roar once more.
After only two more roars, it seemed to Kovu that the crowd looked full.
Kovu coughed before speaking, clearing his throat.
"I know you're all probably wondering why Simba isn't making an announcement, huh?" Kovu sighed heavily. No one in the crowd seemed too thrilled to be either awoken or to have to stand in the night like this.
"So… I guess I can't stall anyone any longer…"
Some of the animals started to leave, thinking it was some kind of joke.
"Wait! You're going to want to hear this." Kovu sighed once more, trying to remove a lump in the back of his throat at the same time. "Simba died today."
Kovu knew it wasn't going to be easy. The crowd, along with Kovu himself, fell into complete silence. A cheetah in the crowd spoke out:
"That makes you our king, buddy!"
Kovu thanked the cheetah. "I guess that does make me the rightful king of the Pride Lands. I'm sorry for disturbing you all; I just thought that you all might want to hear some news. I bid you all a good night."
It finally sunk in.
He was king…
It was what he had wanted for so long…
And yet…
He didn't feel any better than he had any day before that, except of course for a couple months ago with his father, Yamin.
Kovu got into the den just in time. A lightning bolt hit the top of Pride Rock's plateau-like structure, the exact spot Kovu had been in only a couple of seconds before.
People gasped, seeing as they could have lost yet another king right then and there. Kovu was in a trance as he entered, not even noticing the lightning bolt.
While many of the lionesses would have liked to ask him some questions, Kovu didn't answer any, and ignored each and every one. The only thought he had was that of the shock of Simba's death and his new place in the Pride Lands.
Kovu snapped out of it when Kiara came to lay down with him. Her body was larger than it had been months before, but she was pregnant… of course she was! She curled up a little bit; her back touching Kovu's left side. He could feel her purr vibrating through his body, but couldn't produce the sound himself.
It was morning.
Kovu looked around, surprised at the extent of what he saw.
He was definitely in the Pride Lands, except it was more of a Utopia than the Pride Lands he remembered it being. The grass was somewhat greener, there were more trees, more animals, everything. There were a few more waterholes, with beyond-clear water filling them. All of the animals were gathered around Pride Rock, and Kovu was looking down at them all, atop the rock. All the animals were cheering for Kovu. There were no hyenas in sight, and all the animals seemed as if they understood that it was pointless to fight. It looked like the Utopia all the kings of the past wanted!
Kovu looked up, seeing the 5 kings of the past; Two with black manes and green eyes, the third from the left resembling Simba, but looking a tad bit older, the next one being his father, Scar, and the last one being Simba himself. They were all smiling towards him, as if to say that each were extremely proud of Kovu.
As the animals continued to cheer for Kovu, he finally got it: When he became king, he made this all a Utopia. He had truly been the best king that had ever lived to serve the Pride Lands.
Kovu smiled, letting the slight breeze slide through the hairs of his mane. He closed his eyes, enjoying the moment while it lasted. Somehow, Kovu knew that he was in, or apart, of a dream, and was to wake up at any moment.
Kovu, with his eyes still shut tight, noticed that the breeze started to cease, and that the area around him became silent. He opened his eyes, startled at the sudden change in environment.
The environment was now silent, weather less, and completely white. Simba was now in front of front of Kovu, with a wide smile etched onto his face.
"Kovu! Did you see all of that?" Simba asked, advancing on Kovu slowly.
Kovu lessened up his smile, but was still extremely enthusiastic. "How could I not?"
Simba stopped when he was only about a yard away from Kovu. "And you understand that you helped to make such a place possible?"
Kovu nodded. "Yeah, I kind of speculated that…"
Simba nodded now, also. "Kovu… Now, I must warn you. This could all be possible if you just make the right choices. But, all is not well in the circle of life at your standpoint right now. There is going to be another great drought, there will be many disputes, and there will be many more lions just like Yamin. I advise you to take NO interest in such treason against you, because after all, you will be trying to make the Pride Lands a new, fresh Utopia! If they want out, they want out. You must do what you have to to be the best king that ever lived."
Kovu was confused. "But… Why me, and why now, Simba?"
Simba laughed. "You will be a great king. You will now wake up from this, but don't take this meeting with me as just another fantasizing dream, Kovu."
Kovu nodded.
"Kovu?" Simba asked.
"What?"
"Kovu?"
"What?!"
"KOVU!"
Kovu threw his front paw out in front of him, hitting something furry.
"Kovu! Wake UP!"
Kovu opened his eyes one at a time slowly, expecting to see Simba, but instead seeing Kiara, now queen of the Pride Lands.
Kovu was laying on his back in the den of Pride Rock. As he looked around, he noticed that no one else was there except he and Kiara. Kiara was a couple of feet away from Kovu to his left, apparently hit by the back of Kovu's paw, massaging her cheek.
"Oh, Kiara, I'm sorry…" Kovu apologized, getting up from his spot to approach her.
"Kovu… you're kind of late getting up." Kovu was about to talk, but Kiara continued. "You gotta start getting up sooner…"
Kovu stretched, walking out of the den shortly afterward. Kiara followed close behind Kovu.
It was night yet again, the day going by way too fast for Kovu. Nothing too exciting had happened that day except the usual, and being king was ten times more boring than Kovu would have expected it to be. There was no great drought that day, either, but Kovu expected that to not come into play until later.
He didn't dare tell Kiara about his dream, in case it really was just a dream. It did get him psyched for what lay ahead of him, though, he had to admit. He thought about telling Vitani, but thought that if he couldn't tell his own wife, he wouldn't tell his half brother instead.
The night was, along with the rest of the day, very mild. There was only a slight breeze, with an average temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. Kiara hadn't been too lively that day, either, barely getting up from her spot, constantly being checked by Rafiki incase if it was time or not already.
When Kovu re-entered the den to go to sleep (Which was earlier than usual, considering that he needed to wake up so early the next morning), he noticed Kiara still laying there, Vitani talking to her, none of them noticing Kovu's presence. Kovu could hear them talking:
"Vitani… I just don't know if I could stand raising little Kanen around the likes of Kovu… He's changed so much. I doubt that he even truly loves me any more…"
"Kiara, there's no going back now. What's really changed in him for you to think that way?"
Kovu heard Kiara sigh. "He's just been acting in ways I thought were never possible of him. We haven't even talked at all today. And there wasn't even anything to do today! I don't think he's truly shown the commitment in a lion that I want… And I don't need much. He doesn't show the same affection that he once did…"
"But don't you think that maybe he's just going through two shocks at the same time? Or three? With you having a baby, and then Simba suddenly dying, and then he becoming king all of a sudden like this… Just give him time, Kiara. If you really feel this way, then… I'll help you raise the baby…"
"No, Vitani, but thanks. I could never ask you to do that. I know where you're coming from Vitani, but I think that Kovu thinks it's over. Or maybe he really is going through shock…"
Kovu couldn’t believe what he was hearing…
He ran out of the den, terrified to the brink of tears, searching for a place to hide, away from Kiara and Vitani.
Vitani was, too, terrified about what she was hearing.
Vitani suddenly heard a sobbing noise. She turned her head around in time to see Kovu running away from the mouth of the den.
"Vitani… what? What do you see?"
Vitani squinted a little, but lost sight of the black lion. She thought quickly about whether or not to tell Kiara. She decided against it, and would quickly try to talk to Kovu. "Oh, um, I just saw this cool looking bird… It probably just looked different because of the lack of light." Vitani hoped that Kiara hadn't heard the sobbing noise. Luckily, it never came up again.
"That cool, huh?"
Vitani shrugged a little. "I guess."
Vitani got back into her earlier position, in talking position with Kiara. "Kiara, I doubt that Kovu would do this in such a way. I don't doubt for one second that he could do it, but it's just not like him to do it in such a way like this."
Vitani got up. "Where you going, Vitani?" Kiara asked, watching Vitani slowly leave the den.
Vitani stammered for a moment. "Um," Vitani decided to tell the truth this time. "I'm just going to talk to Kovu, if that's okay with you…"
"What? Why"
Vitani shrugged. "I won't bring anything up, I just want to talk to him, in a sibling-like way, I guess."
Kiara seemed to accept the response, because she didn't say anything after that. Vitani proceeded ahead, ready to find her brother.
As Kovu's mind raced, he ducked down into the cave that he had found when he and Kiara had been chased by a herd of rhinos. It pained Kovu to hide there, considering that it reminded Kovu so much of Kiara. He thought to himself, lying down, silently sobbing.
This can't be happening… Why does life have to be so hard? And what happens when I actually have to do stuff for the Pride Lands? Will Kiara go ballistic? And what in the world did I do to her? She's exaggerating… that's it! She'll come to her senses by tomorrow!
But what if she doesn't? What happens then?
Wait, Kovu, you're king of the Pride Lands? You can just exile her!
Kovu tried to smack himself for even thinking such a thing. Instead of thinking, he just tried to sleep, knowing he wasn't going back to Pride Rock any time soon that night…
Vitani was relieved when he saw Kovu's form lying down in the cave. He cautiously entered, whispering Kovu's name.
"Kovu! Kovu, you awake!? Kovu!"
Kovu was apparently in a sleeping trance, but couldn't tune out Vitani. He lifted his head, opening his eyes, but quickly set his head back down as soon as he saw that it was Vitani.
"Kovu… I know that you heard all that. Is even half of what Kiara said true?"
Kovu still had his eyes closed, searching for an appropriate answer. "No…"
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Just show her you love her tomorrow…"
"No, Vitani. I need to tell you something."
Vitani walked over to Kovu as he opened his eyes. Vitani lay down, nodding her head.
"I… I got a vision last night. Simba was talking to me somehow… He said that I was to be the greatest king ever. And that there was to be a great drought coming up, and that there will be many more lions like Yamin, and that many would be opposed… If this is all true, do I have to exile Kiara to do what I need to do?"
Vitani was surprised. "Uh, Kovu, are you sure that this isn't just shock?"
Kovu shook his head. "Vitani… what if I become just another lion on Scar's side of the family tree? We both come from a pretty screwed-up family. I just need guidance…"
Vitani couldn't imagine what Kovu could really be going through. "You're way better than that…"
"I hope so, Vitani. I hope so for the sake of everyone…"
Kovu had reluctantly followed Vitani back to Pride Rock, and was now sleeping, deep into yet another dream.
Kovu was in the Pride Lands. The sun seemed as hot as ever, and he noticed that animals were dying left and right. There was no water, apparently, and even Kovu himself was parched.
In front of him was a lion with a black mane and green eyes. He was one of the kings that Kovu had seen in the sky during last night's dream!
The king was smiling widely at Kovu. Kovu panted as the hot sun baked his back.
"Kovu!"
"Who… Are you?"
The lion suddenly became serious. "My name is Mohatu. I was one of the first kings of the Pride Lands, the grandfather of Mufasa, the father of Ahadi, and the great-grandfather of Simba. I have grown quite fond of you, Kovu…"
"Will the drought really be this intense?"
Mohatu gravely nodded. "But you can prevent it."
Kovu widened his eyes. "I can't stop weather…"
Mohatu shook his head. "I know that, but you can prevent it from becoming this intense. The drought will last a little while, about a month. Your average waterhole in these conditions'll last only about two days… Kovu, there are underground waterholes, and waterholes in the forest directly behind Pride Rock. It's as simple as that…"
Kovu nodded. "But the animals will find the waterholes in the forest before I even tell them…"
"Kovu, just trust me on this. Now, I want you to wake up now. It's actually sunset, so you're not waking up late like last time…"
Kovu nodded, still panting, surprised still at how hot it was.
"Oh, and Kovu, expect for the drought to start today…"
Kovu woke up to see an orange sky outside the den while he was stretching. He walked over to the waterhole for a quick drink, considering how parched he was from his dream. Kiara was waiting for him.
Kovu sighed heavily before he approached her.
"Kia…"
"Kovu, I'm sorry… Vitani told me that you heard us talking."
Kovu hung his head. "Just because you're sorry that I heard it doesn't mean that you didn't mean it, Kiara…"
"I didn’t mean any part of what I said! But you have to admit that some of that stuff I said about you is true in some way, shape or form.”
Kovu hesitated to speak, considering just walking away. “And what do you mean by that?”
“Well, you don’t exactly… Well, you know? I mean, about all the…”
“No, I don’t know. What?”
“Kovu, is this all just, like, the shock of being king, and my pregnancy, and Simba’s death, you know, and all that?”
Kovu peered at Kiara as she raised her eyebrows at him. “What do you mean?”
Kiara opened her mouth, but nothing came out for a second. Then, “You really haven’t been yourself lately. Is it me, or what?”
Kovu was just as startled at this as he was the night before. “Kiara, nothing about me has changed except that I’m king, and I still don’t fell any more special than I was a couple days ago. If you want me to say sorry or something than fine, but I still don’t know…”
“But you wouldn’t mean it, Kovu.”
“But I still don’t know what you’re mad at me about.”
“Kovu, do I have to spell it out to you?” Kiara seemed now at the brink of tears, but Kovu wasn’t about to play emotional games with her.
“Well, apparently it’s a big word; I think that would be very necessary.”
Kiara hung her head now. Kovu heard a single tear drop to the ground. “Do you even love me anymore?”
Kovu couldn’t help but utter a sudden gasp. “Kiara, you can’t just jump to outrageous conclusions like that. It’s stupid! Of course I still love you! C’mon, you’re bearing my child! If that’s not love, then, I don’t know what it is…”
Kovu lowered his head to take a sip of water, almost forgetting his surroundings for a moment. He closed his eyes as the cold, crisp water met his warm muzzle. He shuddered for a moment, then extracted his tongue to take a sip.
Kiara couldn't suppress the tears any longer. She collapsed, crying so loud that the lionesses back at Pride Rock could've heard it. When Kovu tried to comfort her, she resisted.
"If you seriously love me anymore, then I don't deserve you one bit! I…"
Kovu felt his blood boil over. "SHUT UP!"
Kiara looked up, obviously surprised at the outburst.
Kovu was probably a little bit more surprised than she was. He couldn't believe that slipped out! He meant it, though… "Of… Of course I still love you! Kiara, how about this never happened? Hey, I'm Kovu, king around here. I see you're pregnant, ma'am. Can I assist you?"
Kiara couldn't resist smiling as she stood. "I'm Kiara. Oh, and you're the father…"
Kovu smiled now, also. "Do I have to act as surprised as I was last time?"
"And his name's Kanen. And…"
Kiara broke down crying.
"Kiara… What is it?"
"My… my… I think it's happening! Kanen's coming!"
The sun was the hottest Kovu had ever seen. He almost felt sorry for little Kanen to be born in such a period of time, but at least he was going to eventually lead quite a kingdom…
Kovu cried out of joy as he saw Kiara cuddle with the black-furred cub. Someone approached him from behind.
"Looks just like you."
Kovu went big-eyed, ceasing to cry. He then shut his eyes tight as he turned around. When he opened his eyes, Scar was standing right there, directly in front of him.
"Scar… I mean, dad! Wha… I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Scar laughed wildly. "I'm just trying to guide you, to talk to you…"
Kovu didn't understand. "I… Now's not a good time…"
"I understand. You want to spend time with your new cub. Just don't grow too attached…"
Kovu shook his head. "What could you possibly mean by that?"
Scar was gone.
Kovu started crying again, but not out of happiness. He just couldn't grab control of the difference between his dreams and reality.
He slowly walked over to Kiara, expecting for the dream to suddenly end.
It never did, though.
Kovu collapsed next to Kiara, then slowly licked the baby. Kiara nuzzled Kovu, then started to transport the baby to Kovu's arms.
"You just… Lay down, Kiara. You can't be very active right now…"
"Kovu, you may be king, but like it or not, I haven't gone hunting in months! You stay here with the baby. Besides, I fell sexier now that I just lost almost ten pounds in a matter of minutes…"
Kovu looked down, surprised to see the baby in his arms, Kiara already half way out of the den. A couple lionesses were gathered around Kovu, looking at baby Kanen, seeming to expect something incredible to happen, like for the baby to do a back flip.
Kovu noticed Vitani was the one closest to him, staring rather at Kovu than the baby. "Congratulations." Her tone was a little flat rather than the combination of scratchiness and lowness she usually had.
"You really think so?"
"What, he doesn't have nine fingers on one paw and two and a half on the other! Of course congratulations!"
Kovu smirked, then was suddenly still.
"Kovu… What? What's wrong?"
Kovu widened his eyes. "How in Mufasa's name are we supposed to feed this thing?"
Vitani smirked, then giggled. "That's Kiara's problem, brother."
Kiara returned a little while later, returning with food for both her and Kovu. The two ate slowly as half of the lionesses sat, staring at baby Kanen (Kovu just wanted to leap up and say that the thing wasn't going to turn water to wine anytime soon…), and the other half hunted for themselves.
Finally, after the two ate, Kovu said something to the remaining lionesses still cuddled around Kanen.
"You know, girls, it isn't gonna walk on water anytime soon… That is, if staring at it all day doesn't give him majestic powers.
Nala, seemingly the eldest lioness there, responded. "You wouldn't understand… And for all you know, he already walked on air…"
Kovu sighed, seeing as Nala obviously didn't know what basis Kovu was talking upon by saying "walking on water".
There were no problems, no one coming up to Kovu and Kiara that day. The drought had obviously started, and almost everyone commented once or twice that day on the extreme heat. Now it was night as Kovu walked over to Kiara, who now had Kanen in her arms.
"You feed that think today, Kiara?"
Kiara looked up at Kovu, who was hovered over her, about to back off and lay down. "Uh… unfortunately, yes. I don't wanna talk about it…"
"Just a little milk… I mean, c'mon, it wasn't that bad!"
Kiara giggled. "But it wasn't necessarily the milk that you put in your Lucky Charms."
Kovu looked at her expectantly. "You know, the little leprechaun guy that their always filming? And those d*mn kids always trying to get their hands on it? You know, along with the rabbit dude with the Trix, and… You don't know, do you?"
"What?" Kovu was more confused than he had ever been in his entire life. He laid down, expecting to hear more.
"Never mind."
Kovu shook his head wildly as he saw one of the weirdest things in his life. He knew he was dreaming, but expected Mohatu, Mufasa, Scar, Simba… But not this!
There was a leprechaun with a bowl of cereal… He was yelling, too. There were a gang of about five kids behind him. Then he saw an old man on the dirt road just ahead that leprechaun. He heard the old man speak as the leprechaun approached him.
"Lucky!"
"Again?" The leprechaun questioned, as the whole screen showed a Lucky Charms logo across it.
Kovu squinted, so confused that he smacked himself to try and snap out of it.
Then, coming out of the screen, came the old man.
"Kovu! I have the power to control time! Let me let you in on the future!"
Kovu now understood, and thought it was extremely funny. As he laughed hysterically, he finally got what Kiara meant by Lucky Charms.
Now his surroundings were back at the Pride Lands, and Simba was standing in front of Kovu. Kovu couldn't help but cry because he laughed so hard. He snorted in an attempt to regain his control, but after about five seconds, when Simba was finally opening his mouth to speak, Kovu laughed once more.
"I do believe that is enough!"
Kovu went big-eyed. "Sorry…" He bit his lip to stop laughing.
"Sorry about that scene, too. Anyway, I MUST congratulate you on your son, Kanen. It truly does my heart good to know that he will one day, as his father, rule a Utopia like the Pride Lands.
"Anyway, Kovu, I have some grave news. My great-grandfather, Mohatu, appeared to you? The first king ever crowned in the new anarchy?"
"Yes… but was there an old anarchy?"
"No."
"Oh, so it's just like
"No, Kovu."
"Old
"No."
"Old
"Would you just shut up! I have some grave news!"
Kovu was partly taken aback, but knew that the constant outbursts about
"Well, sorry again. Um, you're kind of getting people pissed…"
"I knew it! Those haterz!"
Simba looked defeated. "Who is your, if I may say this, haterz, if you know so much?"
"A lot of people who think they deserve to be king."
Simba sighed. "No, Kovu. Some people just think that you aren't ready for this. Since I know a lot about the future, I'm going to let you in on a little secret; You know the great drought that is to last about 30 days that started today?"
Kovu hesitated. "Yeah, it was noticeably hot today. Go on…"
Simba nodded as he spoke is first word. "These, haterz, are going to try and rebel against you during this period. They will try and kill you. You get pleasure out of killing people, don't you?"
Kovu squinted. "Why would a king like me get pleasure out of killing things, lions, etcetera?"
Simba shook his head. "It's okay. Because I am already dead, I can know anything I want to know. I know your every thought from every day from every waking moment of your entire life to every dream you ever dreamed."
Kovu found this weird. "So you know some of my darkest secrets?"
Simba nodded. "Some I would rather go without knowing, but know anyway. I just won't go into any detail… But Kovu, you're king. Any treason against you should either add up to exiling lions, or, in the most severe cases, killing them. If they don't want a perfect Utopia, then they can just get out."
Kovu sized up the thought for a moment. He loved the thing Simba had just said for some reason. If they don't want a perfect Utopia, then they can just get out…
Simba broke the silence. "You understand the circumstances, then?"
Kovu looked up. "You mean, if I have to kill, then I have to kill, and I should just accept the thought the way it is?"
Simba nodded.
"Just… Simba?"
"Yeah?"
"How many lions are going to be against me?"
Simba hesitated. "I think, that in the due time, when you figure it out for yourself, then there you go."
Kovu didn't like the answer, but didn't express the dislike. "Ok… When do I get up?"
"Right about…"
"Now, right?"
It was sunrise when Kovu stood up, stretching, finally awakened from his little dream fest.
The first thing that Kovu immediately noticed was how hot it was that day. He shuddered to think of the great adventures that he would have to go through to get to where he wanted to be.
It had been eight days since baby Kanen's birth, and eight days into the great drought. The waterhole that so many animals had depended upon was now evaporated by the fifth day. Kovu had gotten visions of where animals were to dig to find a bunch of underground waterholes. They were on that kind of supply now, and were advised to drink as much as they pleased, seeing as it was just going to shrivel up in a couple days time. Now animals were digging up a third waterhole, as the first one they dug up was now empty from the drought. According to Mohatu communicating to Kovu through his dreams, there were seven more waterholes after this, so there would be plenty of water for the remaining twenty-two days.
It was clear to Kovu which animals were going to rebel against him, but none of the lions he was communicating with were going to tell him when the group was going to attack. He was made sure that Kiara and Kanen were going to survive until Kovu's death, and that he was not supposed to worry about them.
Kovu had played a lot with baby Kanen, too, and except for the obvious group of soon to be rebellions, people seemed to really regard him as a great king for all the things he was already doing.
Nala's health was nearly deteriorating over the days, and both Kovu and Kiara thought that she might not even make it another 5 days. It was tragic, and Kiara cried over it once in a while.
Vitani, along with the rest of the lionesses, found it a little harder to hunt these days, considering both the drought and the fact that some animals didn't want to stick around after the first supply of water vanished. That wasn't mainly a lot of animals, but it was enough to notice.
Today was no different from any other except for a few lionesses, cheetahs, and Kanen trying to dig up the new waterhole (Kanen was only playing around, and eventually, after both Kiara and Kovu were looking for the kid, one of the lionesses dragged him back to his mother, as Kovu was supervising and helping dig). Kiara approached Kovu as he took a break, trying to cool off a little in the shade, panting.
"So, Kovu… I hear Kanen's already being a pest, and he's only eight days old…"
"Not even old enough to speak." Kovu laughed. "Maybe he'll find the love of his life one day when he ventures out into the Outlands."
Kiara finally got the joke about ten seconds later, laughing. Kovu looked at her with a funny face, seeing as she was so late in getting it.
"Um… You need something to eat, big boy?"
Kovu looked up at her. "No. You need something? Oh, and thanks for the comment on my weight…"
Kiara laughed. "What, are you going through your period or something?"
Kovu tried to make an angry face. "So you don't care about my feelings anymore, is that it?" Kovu dug his head into his paws, trying to cry as hard as he could.
"Ah, I care…"
As Kiara tried to lay down next to Kovu, he pinned her to the ground so fast that she didn't even know what had happened until it became too late.
As Kovu laughed wildly, Kiara protested. "Get off me, BIG boy!"
Kovu suddenly got serious, getting off of her. "I think I have to go back to digging now…"
"Kovu, you dug more than anyone here! You can't be serious!"
Kovu pursed his lips together. "What does it matter?"
Kiara tried to protest, but as soon as she spoke, she decided against it. "I'll be in the den if you need me. You sure you don't need anything to eat or anything like that?"
Kovu thought for a second. "Just make sure Kanen's fed. If I suddenly get hungry, I'll get something myself."
It was now the tenth day of the great drought, a drought that everyone except Kovu thought would never end. And then the eleventh. And then the twelfth…
The days went by faster than lightning for Kovu as he saw Kanen slowly grow up. It was now day seventeen of the great drought.
It was when Kovu saw a bunch of cheetahs advancing on Pride Rock, the same group that was obviously the rebellion group. Kovu smirked as the five of them slowly advanced, matching the smirks on all their faces, too. Kovu had a gut feeling that today was the day.
No one was at Pride Rock except Kiara, Kanen, and himself. Kiara and Kanen were in the den, and Kovu was at the long, pointed plateau-like platformed rock, watching the five figures approach. Kovu greeted them.
"And what do you five need?"
The five were now at the base of Pride Rock, all of them except one looking at Kovu. The one in the middle, with his, or her, head down, spoke, raising its head as it spoke.
"Kovu, what in Mufasa's name do you think you are doing to the Pride Lands?"
Kovu tried to look confused. There was a silence, but only for a small amount of time, interrupted by the cheetah once more.
"I'm just trying to be king…"
"Well, Kovu, allow me to introduce myself. I am Hatari. And no, Kovu, you're not trying to be king, you're trying to be a savior, or something like that! Kovu, you're no prophet, and we've come to kill a false prophet today."
Kovu was stunned at how straight forward the whole ordeal was. All five of the cheetahs came rushing towards him, and Kovu got frightened for a second. He knew he was to win, but just didn't know how…
Two of them jumped at Kovu, and right before they succeeded, Kovu smacked them across the face, roaring as he did it.
One of them fell, only to get up. Kovu was caught off guard with an attack from behind from the leading cheetah, Hatari, making Kovu cry out in pain. Kovu swatted at his back as three more started at the front of him. Kovu waited until all three were nearly attacking him before digging his claws through one's neck, who fell immediately to the ground, limp.
Two of the hyenas that attacked him from the front were now on him, scratching and biting as hard as they could. Hatari came around and slashed Kovu across the face, leaving three nasty gashes across it.
Kovu swatted at his back, scratching one of the two cheetahs. He tried to shake them off, but only shook off the one that he had just scratched.
Hatari smacked Kovu once more to the side of his face, making Kovu react sharply, throwing the other cheetah off his back. He slashed Hatari, making him cry out, but was then attacked by the other three still alive (Considering that one of them got a nasty gash right into his neck…).
Kovu collapsed, and as soon as he was down, one of the cheetahs pinned Kovu down, trying to choke him. Kovu extended his claws out, stabbing the cheetah' neck, then sending him off of his belly.
Hatari attacked Kovu as he attempted to get up again, to fight. Kovu got a gash in his neck, but it wasn't severe enough to kill him.
Kovu was attacked by yet another cheetah, then noticed that one of the cheetahs he had stabbed in the neck was trying to get up, but fell in utter defeat.
As Kovu was scratched across his stomach, he threw one of the cheetahs off of him so hard it almost flew off the cliff. Hatari seemed to be only watching slightly now, watching the other two that were left kill Kovu.
The one that almost fell off of Pride Rock was racing towards Kovu. Before it even reached Kovu, the other remaining cheetah scratched Kovu again across his side as he tried to get up.
Now the other cheetah was suffocating Kovu from behind, but not efficiently enough (considering how hard it was with Kovu's mane) to do any damage. Kovu tried to grab at the cheetah, but couldn't reach.
As Kovu gave up on trying to get the other cheetah, the one that wasn't choking him lunged at Kovu. Kovu extended his claws out in front of him, and the cheetah jumped right onto his paw. Kovu heard a slight crunching sound, suggesting that his own paw was now broken, and Kovu yelled out in pain from the intense ache. He could also feel claws in the area just above his neck.
Kovu, as best as he could with one broken paw, threw the cheetah off of him, sending him down, obviously dead.
Kovu tried to shake his entire body away from the remaining cheetah as he saw Hatari starting to approach him.
Kovu swatted behind him, finally landing the back of his not hurt paw across the cheetah's face, making it let go.
Kovu got up slowly, but was quickly attacked by the remaining cheetah. Kovu dug his claws into the cheetah's back, sending the thing backwards. Kovu pinned the cheetah down, then killed it with a fatal swipe to the neck, sending blood (and maybe other stuff) jetting out.
Kovu got off the cheetah quickly, limping, obviously looking pretty beaten up.
The last remaining cheetah, Hatari, attacked Kovu, pinning him down. His paws were at Kovu's neck at such a position that if he were to extend them, Kovu was dead.
"Say bye, Kovu!"
Kovu closed his eyes, expecting to die.
He heard Hatari gasp, and then felt something drip onto his face. He spat, as it dripped near his lip. The limp body of Hatari fell off of Kovu.
Kovu looked up to see Kiara staring at him, obviously shocked.
"Kovu…"
Kiara got off of him, allowing Kovu to get up. When Kovu tried to get up, he collapsed, making Kiara start to cry.
"Hang on Kovu… I'll get help! Just stay tight!"
Kovu smiled as he felt Kiara's sand paper-like tongue touch the fur on his face.
Kovu awoke about three hours later in the den. He could see that Kiara, along with Nala and Vitani were there, talking. Baby Kanen wasn't anywhere that he could see. Kovu could see that the three lionesses hadn't noticed that Kovu was awake. He decided to get their attention.
"Kiara?" Kovu asked almost a whisper he was so weak. "Where's Kanen?"
Kiara turned her head, followed by Vitani and Nala, to face Kovu. Kiara seemed relieved.
"Oh my god, I thought you might die in your sleep! What happened?"
Kovu repeated himself. "Where's Kanen?" Then, "I can't really speak right now…"
Nala coughed as Vitani spoke up. "He's right behind you, biting his tail."
Kovu realized that he was lying on his side. He decided against turning around to see his son, realizing just how much pain he really was in. He probably had fifteen new scars to prove on his face, and countless on his stomach, side, and especially, back.
Kiara was now approaching him slowly, a sign of sympathy on her face. Kovu tried to speak, but couldn't finish his sentence.
"Just be glad it wasn…" Kovu coughed, and to his surprise, blood came out. He didn't think it was some disease rather than just almost getting killed only hours ago. He closed his eyes tight, then reopened them, seeing as it hurt to use that many face muscles.
Kiara shushed him, then laid down next to him, nuzzling him slowly.
Kovu felt a nuzzle to the back of his head, then saw Kanen out of the corner of his eye. Kovu was happier to see Kanen than ever, thinking that he might actually never see the little guy again…
Kovu started to think. Can I really trust Mohatu, and Simba, and Scar, and all of those lions up there? They almost got me killed today… But, they did so far make me the king I am today…
Kovu was surprised as Kanen attacked his mane hairs, then started to bite his tail once more, looking cuter than anything Kovu had ever seen in his life. Kanen then walked over to Vitani, attacking her. Vitani played along, lightly smacking Kanen with her paw. Nala was smiling at the scene.
Kovu laughed a little, but tried to conceal it when it hurt his stomach immensely.
"Kanen is just so cute, isn't he? You guys are lucky…" Vitani said. Nala agreed with her, still smiling to herself.
"Hey, uh, Kovu? You want me to go get something for you to eat?"
Kovu thought for a second, surprised to learn that thinking wasn't hurting him. He knew he had to eat, even though it was going to hurt. He nodded slowly.
"All right, then. Me and Vitani'll go. Nala can keep you company."
As Kiara and Vitani made their way out of the den, Nala spoke:
"Just… Thank you so much, Kovu. Thank you so much for just being who you are today, both for Kiara and the
Kovu nodded, then smiled as Kanen started running towards Kovu.
Kovu ate heavily that night, knowing he couldn't want to take the energy to chew anything the next morning, and probably the next day for that matter. All the lionesses seemed to gasp at Kovu when they walked into the den for the night, but it didn't bother Kovu one bit. He was eager to get to talk to the gods again that night, If they wanted to talk. And Kovu didn't mind a regular dream for once.
Kovu fell asleep before half of the lionesses entered, with Kanen sleeping right next to him.
It was night, and now his father, or at least his foster father, Scar, was standing there. He greeted Kovu warmly.
"Hey! Kovu! How you doing son?"
Kovu was nuzzled by Scar, but yelped out in pain, surprised that he was standing. Scar had rubbed the part of his neck that the cheetahs had clawed into.
"I think you know how I am," Kovu said flatly, surprised that it didn't hurt to speak, either.
"Kovu, you do what you have to do… At least I know that when it comes to fighting, you're a chip off the old block!"
Kovu looked confused. "Yamin was a good fighter? How could you tell? I thought he did something so bad that you exiled him from even the Outlands…"
Scar looked defeated. "I meant that I was a good… Oh, what does it matter?"
Kovu smirked, looking down. "Yeah, what does it matter?"
Scar looked down sadly, also.
"I suppose you haven't dreamt in quite a while…"
Kovu lit up with excitement. He looked up, smiling. "Yeah…"
"There's not much to inform you about…"
"Bye!"
Scar frowned.
It was thirteen days later.
Kovu could feel the excitement pulse through him as he remembered that it was the thirtieth day of the great drought, the last day. It was also the thirtieth day that Kanen was brought into the world.
As Kovu got up from his deep, and happy at that, sleep, he accidentally awoke Kiara, who accidentally awoke Kanen.
"Kovu… you woke the baby!" Kiara whispered, her eyes still closed.
"Sorry. You want me to take him outside?"
Kiara seemed to fall back asleep before answering the question, so Kovu leaded Kanen outside, to the edge of Pride Rock.
It was a breezy morning, the barely sunlit clouds moving faster than usual. The sun didn't bake Kovu's fur as it did the past twenty-eight mornings, and it felt great to spend the moment with his newly-born son, Kanen.
Kovu slowly made his way to the end of Pride Rock, looking across it with disbelief.
"This'll all be yours someday, buddy." Kovu looked down to see Kanen rubbing against his front paws, making his fur stand up on end. It still hurt, all the scars from the fight with the cheetahs. Kanen, of course, didn't understand one bit of what his dad was saying, and would probably never know of his dad's little fight.
"You'll understand one day what your dad did for you, what great a king I'll be to make this place even better than it is now."
3 MONTHS LATER
Kovu felt so old that he could cry.
A single drop of blood, followed by several others, dripped out of his mouth as the pain in his chest started to become realization. He was loosing blood, and fast. He started cursing the heavens, wondering how he was going to get through this one.
Kovu lifted is head, well aware of the blood dripping out of his mouth, and stared straight at the lioness that had all four of her claws dug into Kovu's chest, probably puncturing his heart by now. "Wh… Why?" Kovu asked, as about another teaspoon of blood dripped from his mouth.
The lioness looked more than double as shocked as Kovu himself was, but managed to gain the consciousness to speak. "Simba… He came to me in a dream! He said to kill you, because you were about to do some really bad things! This is destiny!"
Kovu smirked, surprised he wasn't dead. "Just let me die on the ground, Nala…"
Nala extracted her claws, worsening the pain in Kovu. He fell to the floor immediately after, crying. Kovu knew he wasn't bad, and wanted to jump up and kill Simba…
In the past ninety days only, Kanen had learned to speak a few sentences, Kovu had become an even greater king, and Kovu had learned that a lot was about to go on in the next sixty days, but that Kovu was going to pull through it… This didn't seem like pulling through anything right now…
"Kovu!"
Kovu heard his name being called as everything started going black. It was Kiara, undoubtedly, and now, without any further ado, Nala was going to get some punishment…
Kovu closed his eyes as he felt Kiara's head on his chest. He opened his eyes, but couldn't see anything. It was a wonder that he could still feel, but he was beginning to become numb.
"Mother, how could you do this?!!!"
Nala stuttered at first. "I… You… You would never understand!"
"I highly doubt that you deserve a place in the Pride Lands now! LEAVE!"
Kovu thought a sick thought as his hearing started to fade: Kill her. Those were the words of Simba…
Kovu shook his head wildly, but could only produce a slight nod, which was still enough for Kiara to understand.
"What? Kovu, she just killed you! Literally… Nala, you are to stay for right now. But if Kovu dies… Don't think you'll get any less judgment just because you're my mother…"
Kiara apparently said something else, but Kovu's hearing faded.
Kiara wanted to kill her mother, but bottled the thought up inside of her, something she knew was never good to do no matter what. She attempted to start dragging Kovu away from Pride Rock, but knew it was no use.
To Kiara's disbelief, Nala scratched Kovu across the face.
"MOTHER!"
"Kiara, he is not who he says he is! Listen to me! I'm your mother!"
Kiara didn't hesitate at all to answer up to the comment. "Then who is he, if he's not Kovu! Did the real Kovu jump into a spacesuit, and go to outer space or something? Is that it?"
"NO, KIARA! He's going to do bad things, his intentions are so evil..."
"And you aren't!? Get out of my SIGHT! This is a new low for anyone!"
When Kiara, along with the help of an observing Pumbaa and Timon, dragged Kovu's limp body back to Pride Rock, many lionesses watched in awe.
"Nothing to see here, folks! Move out of the way!" Timon screamed as lionesses slowly cleared the way for Kovu to lie down. Many gasped when they saw just to what extent had happened.
Vitani jumped from the crown to help Kiara. "Who the h*ll did this?"
Kiara started crying. "My own mother."
Vitani apparently didn't know what to say, so she just tried to comfort her, which was almost impossible.
It was the next morning, a noticeably cool day to Kiara. She stretched, noticing that it was still only sunrise. She slowly, but carefully ventured out of the den, realizing yet again what had happened to Kovu the day before.
As she stood atop Pride Rock, looking up to the sky rather than across the Pride Lands, she thought, finding it one of the most calming, and soothing things you cold possibly do. She was getting frustrated that Kovu was constantly getting hurt, and was further frustrated with herself as well for thinking about wanting to kill her own mother. She surprisingly knew that Kovu was going to make it, and pull through better than anyone would have expected. She knew that Kovu would most likely make the right decision about Nala, but if it didn't at least do anything about her getting exiled, then something was messed up there. Nala would be dying soon, anyway…
Kiara knew that she had lasted longer than anyone expected in the entire Pride, including Rafiki. And what in the world was that stuff about Kovu starting to become bad? Did Nala know something she didn't, or was she just going crazy, considering her age?
Kiara sighed heavily. She looked further up to the heavens, expecting to see Simba, but knew it wouldn't happen. She started to talk, obviously trying to communicate with some higher entity that she herself didn't understand:
"Ugh… Why does this have to happen to Kovu? Isn't he a great lion? Someone, anyone, just give me a sign of something that would at least lessen my pain, let me know something to get me through this? Or is that way too much to ask, you all mighty lazy…" Kiara thought before she went on, deciding that it wasn't best to finish her sentence.
"Just… Is Kovu really going to get bad? Is Nala, my own mother, untrustable all of a sudden? Thanks if you decide to answer. I miss you, dad."
Kiara hung her head low, waiting, expecting an answer. After a couple of seconds, she gasped as she felt someone rub against her.
"What the...!" She yelled as she turned around. Kovu was there, staring at her with his innocent smile, a pair of deep gashes across both his cheeks, and three more faded ones across his face as a whole from the cheetah fight a couple months ago. Kiara smiled almost instantly.
"How did you…"
"Shh…" Kovu walked a few feet to join by Kiara's side.
Kiara's mind raced as she thought about what she had said up to the heavens, wondering if this was an answer of some sort, or if it was merely Kovu. She then thought about whether or not Kovu overheard her speaking about him, asking about if he was going to turn bad or something…
"So what did Simba say to you? Because, obviously, he told Nala something an entire world away from what he said to me…"
Kiara cringed a little. "You overheard everything?"
"Kiara, I would feel a little speculative, too. Can I tell you something?"
Kiara nodded slightly, but Kovu's face was pointed towards the ground rather than back at her. He went on anyway.
"Simba's been talking to me frequently. He's the one that's been telling me all that I know…"
"That's how you got us through the drought?"
Kovu smiled, and then looked up, turning his face to the right to look Kiara in the eyes. Kiara smashed her eyebrows together in worry, seeing all the scars across his face. Kovu looked back at the ground. "Yes, it was. Kiara, are these Scars going to last forever, you think?"
Kiara wished she had a straight answer. "Probably, unfortunately… I mean, your Zira scar hasn't been doing any better since the day you got it, except for the pain…"
Kovu laughed. "I must look really cool, gangster almost."
Kiara didn't understand. "Just like Lucky Charms, right?"
Kovu started laughing hysterically. "I'm not going into that right now, but believe me, you'd be laughing for a lifetime if you saw what I saw in one of my dreams."
Kiara giggled a little as Kovu gained control of his laughing. "Do you get these visions from Simba through your dreams?"
Kovu nodded as he bit his lip. He released it, speaking once more:
"Well, not just Simba. They were all five kings of the past, Kiara. They all have a part in this. There's Mohatu, the first king. Then Ahadi, whom I've only met once or twice. Then Mufasa, who's a pretty cool guy. Looks just like Simba. Then, surprisingly to both you and me, Scar's giving me some pointers along with Simba to top it off. Like Mohatu helped me with the floo…"
"Wait, you're taking advice from Scar? SCAR?" Kiara was confused. "And you trust his judgment in all this, Kovu? What if Nala's right? What if you are becoming a monster, and you don't know it?"
Kovu shushed Kiara. "Don't even dare say that, Kiara." He rubbed up against her side. "I will be nothing like any one of my fathers! Nor Zira!"
Kiara apologized. "Oh yeah, since you have two. Yamin and Scar. But Yamin was pretty, if not equally bad, as Scar…"
"Apology accepted. Do you think there's a chance that I might be going crazy, Kiara? I just didn't want to tell you about all this until the due time."
Kiara loved how wise Kovu sounded. "About a hundred percent chance. You even got crazy scars! In all seriousness, no, I don't believe so. And does your chest even hurt at all?"
Kovu nodded. "Burning."
Kiara nodded as the two met eyes. "What are you gonna do about Nala?"
Kovu shook his head. "Simba can tell me. C'mon, let's go take a cat nap or something together."
Kiara thought about it, but not for too long. "That sounds nice…"
As Kovu and Kiara woke back up with each other only about a half an hour later, lionesses gasped as they saw that Kovu was perfectly functional. As everyone expected, Nala wasn't there, and people scowled at the name. They were eager for Kovu's input, wanting to know what fate Nala might get. It was really too bad that it was going to be the most regrettable mistake of Kovu's entire life…
When the sky was high in the sky, Nala approached Pride Rock, seeing that Kovu and Kiara were atop it, staring at her. There had to be about twenty lionesses behind the couple, and Nala just kept her head bent, trying to not scowl at the false king (At least in her opinion he was…). Kiara spoke first of anyone.
"Nala!"
Nala didn't seem to respond to her name at all, simply staring at the ground below her.
"Yesterday, you committed the highest level of treason I have ever had the displeasure to endure! I have not a single idea on how Kovu can just bear this, but unfortunately, I can't be that forgiving. I love you mother, but as you know…"
"Kiara! Listen to yourself! Highest act of treason?! Kovu is NO king! He's going to become a traitor!"
The entire scene suddenly stopped as Kovu thought to himself. Is she right? Kovu thought about the possibility of him being corrupted, and having been blinded this whole time by the thought of becoming the greatest king that had ever lived. What Nala had just said really got to Kovu…
Kovu noticed out of the corner of his eye that Kiara was staring at him. He started back, confused.
"Kovu… what is her punishment?"
Kovu thought for a second. "Kiara, just let her tell her story. I want to hear it…"
Kiara looked defeated as she shrugged and yelled out to her mother once more. "Tell us your story, why in the world you even thought about such evil things, Nala!"
Nala started walking up towards Pride Rock, obviously tired of yelling. "Let's talk instead of scream like uncivilized…"
One of the lionesses screamed, "Uncivilized? Are you kidding me?" Kiara looked at the lioness, who quickly regained control of her mouth. Now Kiara and Nala were face to face.
"Why?"
Nala seemed to swallow hard. "Go ahead and exile me, but you guys are in for a world of hurt, let me tell you that much. Your king over here, Kovu, isn't really the king you all think he is. He's going to become a tyrant, worse than Scar himself. I got a vision in my dreams, from my deceased husband, and the past king, Simba himself. He told me that Kovu was going to do bad things…"
Kiara interrupted. "And you trust such things as if they were fact?"
Nala smirked. "You ask Kovu about that himself."
Kovu knew what she was talking about, but tried to act stupid as long as he could. "What do you mean, Nala?"
"I mean exactly what I mean. How did you know all that stuff during the droughts? How do you know stuff that's seemingly impossible to know without guessing? Are you possibly dreaming?"
The pressure was put on Kovu for a second. He didn't like it one bit, trying to grasp for an answer. He didn’t want to stammer. "I… guessed. Using facts that we already knew and combining them with the unknown. Any logical lion here can do it."
Nala seemed to tell her through her eyes that she hated him, but Kovu merely looked away. "So what are you going to do to me, all mighty king?"
Kovu hated Nala at that point so much that he started shaking. He wanted to do something so bad to her, to see her suffer such a bad fate…
He thought for a second. Simba had said himself that it was okay to do whatever was necessary. Was killing Nala necessary? It sure seemed like it.
"Well, all mighty…"
Kovu couldn't take it.
"Nala, you're sentenced to death."
No one in the crowd of lionesses ceased to gasp, even Kiara and Nala. Kiara even defended her mother. "You really sure you want to do this…"
Kovu couldn't stop the darkness from uprising. "You leave Nala, we'll come follow you. You don't show up by nightfall tonight, you die anyway." Kovu turned around, and Kiara gasped as he saw the anger bestowed across Kovu's face.
"You see what I mean, Kiara? Look what he's turning into…"
"You want it now?"
Nala just stared at him.
Kovu felt his blood boil over, literally. "From now on, whoever doesn't give me the respect I deserve is gonna get the same punishment! If you people haven't figured it out yet, I'm trying to make the Pride Lands a better place. You don't want it, then get out!"
Kovu tried to catch his breath, but found it hard. "Kill her now, before I do it. Someone!"
No one from the crowd budged until Kovu roared at the top of his lungs. A random lioness came out, slapping Nala across the face with her claws. Nala didn't even fight back, and just fought the pain.
Kiara came right up to Kovu and smacked him square across the face. "HOW DARE YOU!"
Kovu was tired of himself looking bad. "I addressed everyone! You wanna get outta here?"
Kiara seemed to pretend to think for a moment, but didn't budge. Kovu saw as Nala coughed up some blood. He couldn't call it off right now…
"Stop! PLEASE!" Kiara pleaded with the lioness. The lioness stopped for a period of time, looking at Kovu for some guidance. Against Kovu's better judgment, Kovu answered up.
"Just stop. Exile."
Everyone except Kanen, who didn't know one bit of what had gone on that day, were trying a good deal to avoid Kovu. Even Kanen was dragged away by Kiara when Kovu tried to have a little fun with him that day. Now it was night, and Kovu was awkwardly placed in the middle of the den, while some lionesses chose to sleep outside, some a good ten feet away. Kovu just sighed as he tried to fight his thoughts to go to sleep.
As an hour passed by, Kovu finally drifted off to sleep, and more importantly, to a dream. He was standing in front of Ahadi apparently, a lion of the five that Kovu barely talked to at all. He looked a little like Kovu, just a tad bit more muscular, and aged, and with less scars. Ahadi's fur was a little bit lighter than Kovu's, and the basic shape of both their faces didn't exactly match. They looked and thought alike in many ways, though, as it turned out.
Ahadi looked around sorrowfully, as both he and Kovu noticed that they were atop of Pride Rock once more. Ahadi spoke once more.
"Kovu, this is exactly what we all mean! Nala's an old coot… Just watch, all of those lionesses are going to have to come begging back to join you. They are nothing without you!"
Kovu pursed his lips together. "I wish I could feel the same way about this as you do, but frankly, that's not happening. What else you got for me tonight?"
Ahadi sighed. "Always so eager, are we? Kovu, I just want you to know that Nala got what she deserved. The other lionesses are too dumbfounded to see that Nala was offsetting the balance that is to come… I think, along with you, that it would've been even better if she had fully died…"
Kovu thought for a second. "I'm sick, aren't I? You're not really appearing to me in my dreams. It was a lucky guess for the waterholes, but beyond there, are you guys just corrupting me? I mean, c'mon…"
Ahadi earnestly looked at him, making Kovu stop his sentence for some reason. "Kovu, I know you have to be analytical on this, but if you need, we can show our faces tomorrow…"
Kovu squinted at him with confusion. "Appear to me?"
Ahadi nodded.
Kovu sighed. "You're Scar's father, right?" Ahadi slowly nodded. "How did he turn evil. I mean, was it corruption, was he purely sick, did he have AIDS… What?"
Ahadi laughed. "AIDS?"
Kovu nodded.
"It's mostly my fault." Ahadi waited for Kovu to give a go-on signal. When Kovu nodded, he continued. "I was probably the worst king besides Scar. I mean, I was a tyrant, almost… The animals weren't really affected, and nothing bad really happened during my reign. I was just kind of a tyrant personality. I chose Mufasa over Scar, and I never respected Scar enough, or even cared for the most part. I kind of ignored him, unfortunately, and the consequences show. He just took it too far, that's all… And when he met the hyenas, they fell in love instantly. Not literally, but it probably felt that everything was working out perfect for Scar when he took controls over a whole pack of hyenas. Then, I guess you know how it all went down. He kinda pushed Mufasa over the ledge, then banished Simba."
Kovu was puzzled. "What?"
Ahadi gave, in turn, a dazzled expression to Kovu. "What do you mean? You haven't heard the story before about what Scar did?"
"Well, I thought I did… What's this stuff about Simba getting banished?"
Ahadi hesitated for one moment. "He just did what he was told. You see, Scar said that because Simba got caught in a stampede, and Mufasa died, that it was technically his fault, even though it was just an accident. He gave some advice to Simba. Run away. And Simba did. Simba never even knew that Scar was the true cause of death until many years later in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa…"
"So Simba just totally ran away?"
"He was a child! There was nothing he could do…"
Kovu nodded. "And what about this jungle business?"
"Timon and Pumbaa found Simba after he ran away. They raised him as their own, and it happened to be so that all of this took place in a jungle, a couple of hundred yards away to the back of the Pride Lands."
"So Scar just had a messed up childhood?"
Ahadi nodded. "In a way."
Kovu didn't awake until he was awoken by someone else. That someone else was Kiara.
"Kovu! Wake up! Please Wake up!"
Kovu opened his eyes ever so barely, seeing that it was only sunrise. "What are you doing so early?"
Kiara slapped him across the back with her paw. "Just come with me!" Kiara was at a whisper, trying not to wake any of the lionesses.
Kovu and Kiara slowly exited the den. Kovu felt as awkward as ever, seeing as there was no possible way that Kiara could be that forgiving. It turned out that Kovu was wrong.
"Kovu, I'm sorry…"
"About what, Kiara?" Kovu sighed as he took two last steps to stand at the top of Pride Rock. Kiara joined him, walking a little faster, ending about a foot away from Kovu to his right.
"About the way I ignored you yesterday."
Kovu closed his eyes. "Kiara, you know how stupid that sounds to me, so I won't even waste my breath. I'm a monster. I was right, there is a darkness in me, too…" Kovu wasn't going to listen to Mufasa, or Ahadi, or Mohatu, or Scar, or even Simba anymore. He was completely done.
"Kovu, you're not a monster…"
Kovu figured that it didn't hurt to confess things to his own wife. "I would have enjoyed it if I had done it myself… I still wanna kill her…"
Kiara shook her head. "She was pretty nasty, though. I couldn't believe what she was saying myself…"
"But don't you get it? I think I am being corrupted by these past king of the Pride Lands. I don't know what part they would have in the circle of life by trying to corrupt me to the point of no return, but don't worry, because I'm done."
"Kovu…"
"And Kiara, why did they work when they told me about the waterholes and everything? Maybe they were trying to guide me…"
"Kovu!"
"What?"
"Up in the clouds!"
Kovu quickly opened his eyes, stunned as he lifted his head to look up. There, in the clouds, was Simba, descending down to Pride Rock! "Oh my god…"
The body stopped about ten feet away from Kovu's face, apparently levitating in mid-air. The body was clear, just like a ghost, but looked like an exact replica of Simba. Simba spoke before Kiara had any time at all to process her thoughts.
"Kovu! Kiara!"
None of the two answered. Kovu wanted to, but kept to himself.
"I have grave news! Kovu, don't be corrupted! Both Scar, Mohatu, and Ahadi are the ones doing this evil thing inside your head! Me an Mufasa are innocent! Kovu, you must not trust any of your dreams! They will continue to deceive you, leading you to the wrong choices, sending you to the point of no return! Do you understand me?"
Kovu nodded.
"Now, I must go! You must not give in!"
Both Kovu and Kiara blinked, and Simba was gone.
"Well, that was short… And unexpected. Ahadi said that I would see someone like Simba or Mufasa tomorrow!"
Kiara looked at Kovu with disgust. "
Kovu thought for a second. "I know…"
Kanen was amazed as he saw the glistening sun finally rise over the Pride Lands. It glimmered and shook from a distance, seeming to touch the peak of the Outlands. He loved all the colors that sunrises usually had to offer. He was still stunned as he felt a massive paw brush his left shoulder, which was scraped from an adventure a couple days ago with a girl named Shangai. He sucked air through clenched teeth as the black-furred paw let go of his shoulder, realizing what it had done. Kanen turned to see Kovu.
"And what are you doing up so early?"
Kanen smiled once more. "Daddy! Me and Shangai are going to explore the Outlands and stuff…"
"I don't like the sound of that, Kanen." Kovu looked at Kanen sternly as Kanen disappointedly started at the ground.
"Daddy, why not?"
Kovu shook his head. "Actually…" Kovu thought about Nala, and if she was still alive or not. She probably wasn't, but Kovu could never be too careful… "Just take one of the lionesses with you. Maybe Shangai's mom?"
Kanen giggled. "She's all old and crusty. We can't take her with!"
"Precisely."
"Ahh… Dad!"
"Shh! Other lionesses are sleeping, just like the way you should be. Come back inside, it's kind of chilly."
Kanen frowned as he looked back up at his dad. "But, then, why are you always here? If it's too cold and everything?"
Kovu raised an eyebrow. "Just because I can. I like to rub into other people's faces, because what's a king without special privileges?"
Kanen laughed, but didn't go back into the den, seeing as Shangai was appearing from the cave. Kanen got excited, about to race to her. Before he did, Kovu whispered into his ear:
"You better make your move fast. She's pretty hot…"
Kanen lightly scratched his father in disgust. He ran over to Shangai, slightly rubbing against her. The reaction was met with some embarrassment as Shangai saw that the king, and also Kanen's father, was watching them out of the corner of his eye. Shangai quickly cleared her throat, ready to speak.
"We going to the Outlands?"
Kanen rolled his eyes, hinting at Kovu with a slight direction of the head. "We need to take your mother, or some other lioness."
"But she's old and crusty!"
Kovu started laughing. Kanen and Shangai needed some time alone (No, not for that! What're you thinking? This is Lion King, people! The kids are only two years old…), away from any watchful eyes. And, plus, Kanen took into consideration that if Kovu was king, and he got to do anything he wanted, then Kanen was prince, and well, he asked, didn't he?
Kanen and Shangai ducked under the cool shade of Pride Rock, giggling. "C'mon, whatever the old coot doesn't know won't hurt him!" Kanen whispered with much emotion. "He said the king gets special treatment. If I'm prince… Well, I asked, didn't I?"
Shangai seemed to look at it just like a math problem. "I guess…"
Kanen knew a way to the Outlands that involved many shadows and no view from the top of Pride Rock. In about a half an hour, the two were in front of the Outlands, gasping.
"This place is in ruts! I've never seen this place like this before!" Kanen then smiled, edging even further towards the treacherous Outlands.
"I don't really like the looks of this place…"
"Aww, shush your pie hole… This place has been abandoned for years, and both of us know it."
"Not for sure," murmured Shangai.
Kanen brushed the thought away lingering to his brain. He stopped as he saw the only thing connecting the Outlands and the Pridelands together was this single brown, decaying log.
"You ready, Shangai? All we gotta do is cross over…"
Shangai rolled her eyes as she followed the hyper kitty across the decaying log. She got the spooks when she felt a slight breeze, and almost fell off the log crossing it. It had such an eerie feeling to it…
Kanen had now crossed over, walking towards a weird shaped rock. Shangai quickly jumped off the log and ran to catch up with the black lion cub.
"Whoa…" Kanen stammered as he padded even further. Shangai could hear his heavy breathing, building suspense for her. She closed her eyes shut for a second right before Kanen lifted a paw to touch the brown colored rock. She could just see him being eaten by a bigger lion, hungry for a meal…
She opened them, noticing Kanen was still alive. His paw was on the rock, and he looked concerned. Shangai decided to advance, plopping her body right next to Kanen.
"Everything okay?" Shangai asked. Kanen seemed to shake his head no slightly.
"I feel like I've been here before, or that it has some kind of meaning to me… I don't know. Let's head back a little… I don't want to get in trouble again."
Shangai nodded slightly. Even though something was troubling the young lion next to her, she decided to tease him.
"But, wait. You were the one that dragged me here in the first place… We gotta stay more than five seconds, Kanen. Or are you a scardy kitty?"
"Shh…"
Shangai now watched Kanen's ears perk up. Shangai had to admit that she had never seen Kanen like this before; it was usually all fun and games to him.
"Shangai, do you hear something?" Kanen whispered.
Shangai looked around at her surroundings. They weren't very impressive; the ground was rocky and barren, there was a small cave to the left of this big rock, and of course, the rock, and the log they had just passed minutes before. It was no more than about a sixteenth of a mile big from her standpoint. She didn't see or hear anything else than what she expected to see or hear. The slight wind started up again, whipping across her face. She turned back around at Kanen. His 'mane', covering no more than three inches of the top of his head, was whipping around violently.
Kanen started back towards the log cautiously. Shangai slowly followed, being sure to look out for anything that might attack them.
Too late.
In front of the log was a single hyena. To Kanen and Shangai's luck, he was alone. But the two didn't dare to show relieved expressions, and the hyena looked massively hungry.
Kanen quivered as Shangai attempted a roar for help. All that came out was a 'meow', which made the hyena seem to become more serious.
"What are you two fiends doing in these cold Outlands?"
None of the two answered.
"Well, if it's for adventure, good day for adventure, isn't it?"
Kanen nodded slightly at the hyena.
"Don't worry, I couldn't eat lion cubs!"
Kanen and Shangai let out a sight of relief. Then why won't he just let us go? Shangai thought.
"Listen: I have something to tell you before you go and see your father again. Tell this to your father, king Kovu: Nala's coming for him."
The hyena seemed to disappear as soon as he came. Kanen and Shangai fled at a sprint back towards Pride Rock, where Kovu was waiting for the two, along with Kiara.