The Lion King 4
"Is the deed done, Kovu?" Simba smiled awkwardly towards Kovu as the lion climbed up the rock steps towards him.
Kovu just looked on disgustingly, seeming to stare right through Simba as he ran towards the end of the steps. "Get out of the way, Simba. You know quite well whether the deed is done or not," Kovu plainly and emotionlessly said, imitating Simba in a higher voice towards the end.
"Kovu, it had to be done…"
"Then you do it yourself."
Simba sighed, having seen the reason for all this.
"Kovu, we all hunt and stuff like that, so just think of this as one of those hunts when you don't exactly get the thing you set out to get…"
"No, because I obviously meant to kill the wrong thing this time. Simba, you should've done it yourself."
Now Simba was discouraged.
"You know I couldn't have done it by myself, Kovu. Well, at least, I couldn't leave and have the possibility of never coming back…"
"Simba, that's exactly what I did today." Kovu lifted his head to face Simba's glare, noticing he hadn't even made eye contact with the lion yet.
"Wow…" Simba remarked, seeing blood on Kovu's face. Only his ear was bleeding, yet all of his face except around his mouth was red-stained with blood. "Put up some fight, didn't he?"
Kovu didn't even imply how more frustrated with Simba he was than he had already expressed in words. "We need to go clean that up near the waterhole, Kovu. C'mon, I'll take you."
"I'm not a baby, Simba. I was gonna ask Kiara…"
"But we wouldn't want Kiara to see this, now would we?"
Kovu looked at him with more dissatisfaction. "I'll go by myself."
"But what'll the other lions think? They'll obviously see your face and know it was you… And then come to some sort of conclusion…"
"Simba, I'll just tell them that you forced me to do it."
"Yeah, but, not a lot of lions know you yet…"
"Half of them were once outsiders I knew, Simba!"
"Kovu, let me come!"
"What does it matter!" Kovu's voice was now more a rasp, as he was trying to hold back tears. "I killed someone today, Simba. You ever think I'm going to recover from that? You don't even know how it feels!"
"I was there before! Remember Mufasa?"
"How could you forget Scar and Zira?"
"You didn't even see Scar die!"
"How do you know? I was right behind Zira!"
Simba now felt uncomfortable, but didn't want to show it.
"Not a threat against you, but I just killed a lion! Oh, and just take a wild guess at what Animal Species you are… Oh, let me guess for you! A
Some of the blood off of Kovu's face dripped onto the rocky ground.
Sucking in air through clenched teeth, trying to block out the pain, Simba apologized. "I'm sorry. Let's just get you to the waterhole and you can tell me what happened afterwards."
Kovu tried to suppress the next set of tears coming. "There was so much blood… NO
Simba felt extremely bad about himself now. He tried to guide Kovu towards the water hole, and Kovu reluctantly obeyed.
"Well, when I confronted Nato, he wasn't surprised. He calmly asked why I was here, and I plainly explained. He tried to back off, and I killed him. When I toppled him over, trying to bite him and scratch, he almost bit my ear straight off."
Simba now had a saddened look on his face. "Look, Kovu, I'm really sorry to have to have had you go through that."
Kovu slowly accepted.
Kovu and Simba were walking back towards Pride Rock, Kovu fresh and clean, Simba ashamed of himself, but otherwise perfectly healthy except for a minor cut on his front left leg.
"Hey, Simba?"
Simba glanced at Kovu.
"I'm sorry, too."
Simba kind of chuckled. "About what?"
"About the way I acted back there."
"You don't have to be sorry about that, Kovu. You didn't deserve the way I acted, either."
Kovu smiled as he walked for a couple seconds, now seeing Pride Rock only about fifty yards ahead of them. Kiara was waiting for him at the entrance of it. Kovu now ran as fast as he could, and Kiara headed down the rock steps, reaching the ground only two seconds before Kovu came to a skid. Kiara nuzzled Kovu's mane, noticing Simba now catching up, and heading up the stairs.
"Oh, I missed you so much, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again…"
Kovu never wanted the moment to end, so he shushed her softly. "What do you want to do tonight?"
Kiara now stood independently, gazing at Kovu. "Whadaya mean?"
"You know what I mean. Maybe look at the stars? There's a full moon tonight, you know…" Kovu smiled at her.
"Yeah… That would be lovely."
Kovu widened his smile.
Apparently tired of Kovu's smiling, Kiara attacked him, pinning him to the floor, and then licked him.
Simba was on top of Pride Rock, watching Kovu and Kiara, when Nala approached from behind. Her voice surprised Simba.
"She grew up so fast, didn't she?" Nala asked, peering over the ledge with Simba, watching as Kiara pinned down Kovu onto his back and started licking him.
Simba hesitated for a moment, then seemed to snap back to reality.
"Yeah."
Nala was now looking straight at Simba, as Simba turned his gaze unto hers. "What you put Kovu through today was extremely wrong. You know that, right?"
Simba didn't have to be reminded, and didn't answer her question. He returned his gaze back towards the scene below. Kovu seemed to now notice his staring at him and Kiara, so tried to get up, even though Kiara would not allow it. He could hear the conversation, but only discretely.
"Kiara! Let me up, please…"
"What, the hunter can't stand being pinned down himself?"
"I let you! You couldn't pin down Timon for your life."
Kiara got off of Kovu, and he got up slowly. "You're on, Kovu! Tomorrow night, we have a little competition…"
Before he could hear the next sentence, Nala interrupted. "Kovu mad at you?"
"He was…The poor guy almost lost an ear…"
"At least Nato's the dead one tonight… Kiara kept on telling me how much Kovu meant to her, and how much she would hate you and never talk to you again if anything ever happened…"
"Well, it had to be done. At least we can trust his brother, Yamin." Simba chuckled to himself. "It almost seems as if Yamin has a crush on Vitani, too…"
Nala stared at him again, but Simba didn't return the gaze, but instead watched Kovu embrace Kiara again. It was apparent that Kovu didn't care who was watching him now.
"A crush on Vitan… Oh, what does it matter? Just do me a favor, Simba."
"And what's that?"
"Don't think you're already off the hook for the Kovu situation."
Simba was now uncomfortable. He now sighed, and then simply said, "OK."
It was a crisp, breezy evening as Kovu and Kiara sat on their back, gazing up at the twinkling stars. The two had only approached upon small talk, until now.
"I don't really mean to trouble you, Kovu, but what did happen today? You know, with Nato?" Kiara asked.
Kovu sighed heavily, then created an eerie silence.
"Well?" Kiara asked, now staring at the side of Kovu's face, studying his features, even the red scar across his eye.
"It was bloody, I almost got my ear torn off, it was bloody, he put up quite a fight, it was bloody, I didn't really want to kill him, oh, and did I mention it was bloody?"
Kiara sighed, but not loudly enough for Kovu to notice. She turned her gaze towards the full moon, which was partially red. "Why's the moon red tonight? Did your little fight take place on the moon?"
Kovu let out a giggle. "Not necessarily a little fight, when someone gets killed. But no, it's a hunters moon or something like that. Kind of like an eclipse, just cooler than that. Kinda freaky, right?"
Kiara returned her eyes to Kovu's face. Then she noticed a figure in her peripheral vision that startled her. She calmly said, "Kovu, don't look now, but if your heads twelve o' clock, there's a figure at eleven. I can see it in my peripheral."
Kovu now faced Kiara, his eyebrows high, a little confused. "Who's walking this time of night except lively folk? That eliminates Simba…"
"Nice moon out tonight!" The figure said. It was obviously Simba, now only about five yards behind them. "Aren't you guys past curfew?"
Kiara responded. "Well, I think there'll be no curfew when Kovu's king… And I the nicest queen in the history of the Pride Lands."
Simba laughed, now looking down at Kiara from above. "There isn't even a curfew now, Kiara. What're you talking about?"
"You just said there was!" Kiara half-yelled, still trying to keep her voice down in case of waking any lion, or anything…
"Kovu…"
"Yeah, Simba?"
"When you're king, make sure the only one in the Pride Lands that gets a curfew is Kiara. It'll be in my will…"
"Oh, and I guess I can't not do that if it's in such a great king's will when he dies…"
Simba chuckled. "I'm sure you might be a better king than me…"
"Why you say that, daddy?" Kiara butted in.
"Just, Kovu seems like the kingly time, you know?"
"Daddy, I don't even think kingly's a word…"
"Well, as my first ruling as prince, I say that it is the word, if Simba agrees…"
Simba nodded. "I'm going to bed. Don't stay out too late…"
As Simba left, Kiara scooted a foot closer to Kovu, making only a one inch space between them. "Kiara, remember that little talk about bubbles we had? You know, you shouldn't be popping other people's bubbles, because that's their personal space."
Kiara scooted in closer.
Simba walked into Pride Rock, finding a space near Nala. Nala opened her eyes, looking around as Simba sat down. "Those two still out there, huh?" Nala whispered.
"Yeah."
"I wish we could still be like that…"
"Uh-huh…"
"Are you even listening! It's not nice to not listen to a woman's feelings…"
"Shhh…." Simba's ears twitched, detecting a low pitched yelp.
Nala gazed at him.
"Kovu…"
Nala and Simba carefully went outside the opening of the cave, peering down the
Kovu could hear Kiara's purring. They kept looking at the night sky until Kiara interrupted. "Oh, now who is it?"
"Someone else, Kiara?"
"Yeah, Yamin…"
As Yamin approached, Kovu turned his head slightly, to greet the once exiled lion. "Hey, Yamin, what's up?"
Yamin smirked, which made Kovu uncomfortable.
"No, Kovu. I'm here to kill you." As Yamin leaped, Kiara and Kovu both screamed.
Simba saw the scene as clear as if it were day.
"Simba… Let's go help Kovu! Look!"
Simba gasped as he saw who the killer was: Yamin.
He could hear Kovu and Kiara's yelling ever so barely.
"Get off of him, Yamin!" Kiara screamed, while lifting a paw to fight. She apparently decided against it, and scooted back, now standing up. She was obviously crying immensely.
Simba ran for Kovu, and Nala stayed, apparently deciding she could never help in a situation like this one.
Simba yelled Yamin's name. There was no response from the lion, who continued to put his claw through Kovu's neck. Kovu yelled out a final plea for help. "Simba…" Now Kovu was choking.
Simba responded, but knew that Kovu was probably dead. "Kovu!"
Now he was only a couple yards away from Kovu and Yamin. "Daddy!" he heard Kiara from fifty feet away.
Simba ignored it as Yamin talked, obviously explaining the situation. "Looks like Kiara's gonna have to find another man, Simba! Now that Kovu's dead and all… You see, I think it's better that Kovu can't be king now. He would've never been a good king, the whimp…"
And with that, Yamin started dragging Kovu's body away. Simba tried to leap at him, but Yamin striked back. Simba fell over, again sucking air through clenched teeth from the stinging sensation across his face.
As Yamin disappeared into the distance, both Nala and Kiara helped Simba up. Kiara was crying, and as much as Simba tried to comfort her, he knew she was never to recover. Simba screamed out to the skies, cursing Mufasa. Nala was obviously shaken, also. It had to be the worst night of all their lives since the death of Mufasa (Except for Kiara, of course…).
As the three slowly made their way back to Pride Rock, they knew that Nato was completely innocent, and that everyone was at stake now…
Kiara had cried herself to sleep the night before. She slept next to Simba, instead of next to a dark lion; Kovu. This made it hard for Simba to get up at sunrise like he did usually. He woke only Nala, figuring it was inevitable to wake one of them if he were to get up. He and Nala walked out of the cave, discussing matters with each other.
"We haven't had a death in the family since Mufasa… Well, at least in the royal family..."
"Yes, Nala, we have to properly deal with this. Yamin will be exiled, if he didn't already run away. We will announce it this morning. We'll make sure that no one over reacts, everyone take extra precaution…" Simba was still trying to whisper.
"But will people even care that Kovu's dead? All people really knew was that he was related to Scar, and'll become king when you die, Simba."
Simba could tell that Nala was about to cry. "Nala, you barely knew the guy. Why you crying?"
Nala took this offensively. "Oh, so you have to know a guy to mourn over his death!?" Nala barked.
Simba turned around to see Vitani coming out of the cave. Kiara followed behind.
"Daddy, me and Vitani are going to skip hunting with you guys and go on our own. Vitani's pretty good, too." Kiara was obviously trying to forget yesterday, but was finding it hard to do so. The two left without a word.
Kovu slowly opened his eyes. He tried to speak, but only air came out.
"Ah, Kovu! You might not be able to talk for a few days… Got you in the vocal cord last night!"
It was Yamin. He could see his form in the corner of his eye. He mouthed the word Kiara, and Yamin somehow detected it. "Kiara's safe at home, Kovu. But as for you… Well, you're in quite a pickle, now aren't you?"
Kovu tried to get up, but Yamin attacked him, sending him right back down.
"You think you can just get away with your whole 'betray Scar' plan? You were supposed to follow in his paw prints! What kind of a lion are you, besides a coward?!" Yamin dug his claws into Kovu's back.
Kovu sucked a breath of air through clenched teeth. Kovu now tried to fight back, tired of all the scars he had been getting lately. Unfortunately, though, Yamin now had his claws in Kovu's mane, piercing through to his scalp. Kovu silently let tears stream down his face.
"What would your mother and father think, Kovu? Well, I know you don't know your true father, so allow me to introduce him to you. Hi, Son!"
It had to be some cruel joke, Kovu decided. He couldn't be my father.
Simba roared for the sixth time, as the last of the animals joined the crowd of listeners gathered around Pride Rock that morning. Simba spoke first:
"I'm sorry to call you all on such short notice, but I have a grave announcement to make to you all. You may or may not know the happenings occurring last night, but I am here to tell you regardless.
"I see that Yamin is not in the crowd… As I expected. Kovu, the mate of my daughter, Kiara…" Simba paused for a moment as some of the animals started to draw conclusions. "Was brutally murdered last night. By a former outsider, Yamin. I advise you all to not go after the fiend. Who knows, you may end up dead, too, for all you know.
"Not many of you truly knew who the lion was, but you would have had he become king before he died. The only two lions that I think are capable of honestly saying that they knew him are Vitani, and of course Kiara. While they are not joining us today, please feel welcome to approach them with all the sincerity left in your hearts.
"I suppose some of you are wondering about a new future king. Kiara will still, be queen, but it looks as if she's just going to have to find a new mate. Again, Yamin will be confronted, but hopefully not by any one of you. Please, and I mean please, don't confront Yamin.
"Ahh…" Simba stalled, looking out to the crowd. "Would you like to conclude, Nala?"
Nala seemed surprised, but declined.
"Thank You All!"
Vitani looked at Kiara expectantly, hearing Simba's third summoning roar so far, obviously trying to call everyone for something he had to say.
"What, Vitani?"
Vitani widened her eyes, saying, "Aren't we going, or are you too deaf to hear that?"
"Vitani, he's just gonna be announcing Kovu's death. Why hear something twice? Besides, we haven't even caught anything yet…"
"Of course we haven't! This has all just been to get your mind off Kovu! We haven't even pounced once yet!"
Kiara wasn't extremely offended, but acted like she was, a look between disgust and hurt on her face. She heard her father's fourth roar and started to consider heading towards Pride Rock, but then decided against it.
Vitani sighed, still walking with Kiara in the direction of the Outlands.
About a half a minute later, Vitani and Kiara heard Simba's fifth roar, soon lead by a sixth, which seemed almost unrecognizable considering they were only yards away from the Outlands.
"This is where you and Kovu grew up, right?" Kiara asked, stopping about ten yards away from the log that conjoined the Pride Lands to the Outlands, where she first met Kovu on the other side.
Vitani didn't show her confusion. "Uh… Yeah. What's the point?" She, too, was gazing out towards the barren lands. When Vitani glanced over at Kiara after a minute of silence, she noticed that she was softly crying.
"I wanna KILL Yamin, Vitani! That lion ruined my life!"
Vitani tried to comfort her, but it seemed as if this were impossible. She, too, hated Yamin more than words could express, but could never understand just how much Kovu meant to her, or how unbearable his loss was to Kiara.
"But maybe you're right… Maybe I'm not your father. What do I know?"
Now Kovu was pretty convinced that Yamin was just playing games with him. He hated the fact that he couldn't speak though.
"Kovu, let me let you in on a little secret that you may or may not like to hear. I'm probably gonna have to kill you. And do you know why, Kovu?"
Kovu almost tried to play along with what he thought was a sick joke. He smiled, as if to say to go on with his train of thought.
"Because you're up for ransom. And here is where my plot unfolds, Kovu! In three days, or four, I haven't exactly decided on which is more diabolical, I'll take you over to Pride Rock for a little surprise reunion. I'll let the whole Pride Lands in on this little secret of mine. I'll let you stay at Pride Rock with Kiara while Simba decides on a decision that'll literally cost him his life. This'll all be in 1 day's time. The decision, which I know you're dying to know about, is whether to let me kill you, or himself.
"As you may or may not know based on what has been going on before, I control the minds of all the hyenas just beyond the Outlands, which is quite a lot. If Simba thinks that no one's gonna get killed, I suppose an army of twenty thousand hyenas'll do the trick. And you may ask why I am thinking of doing this and what my motives for this are. Well, I'll tell you, Kovu, because I consider you as a friend, along with a weak fiend.
"All the time watching you mock the face of Scar, the one who took you into his care to try and prepare you for a reign as king, the most genius lion who ever lived, I decided that you should learn a lesson, and all the more that Simba should, too. You see, I'm not the kind of guy to follow other people's prints like weak, simpletons do, I simply try to get everyone to remember me for who I am, and teach people the fairness of the circle of life. When you get killed, because I'm sure that Simba'll allow it, not wanting to die himself, people might start to turn on him. Simba will feel awful. And let's say he wises up and decides he should get killed. I'll be sure to make it look like you're still working for Scar, big boy. Imagine all your new family turning against you. You wouldn't want that, now would you, Kovu? I think it'd be better to just, simply… Die!
"Oh, and you're also probably wondering how I could make such a ludicrous statement against you, you working for Scar and all. Don't take me for a fool, Kovu. Your little new Pride Land friends could easily turn against you, I mean, how much do they really know? What about that dark secret of yours? I could make people think you're an arsonist, murderer, schemer… The list goes on. Oh, and I have evidence against each, and who'll they believe if I make stuff up? You might think you, but really think, Kovu. You know better than that.
"Oh, and I think four days is good, just to add an extra day on, to make sure no one speculates that you're not dead. Oh, and if you need to munch on something big boy, you may only hunt in the Outlands. Now, nod if you understand all the specifications of this plan. Blink five times if you don’t."
Kovu blinked once, then decided against agitating Yamin. He nodded.
It was a very cold and breezy night in the Pride Lands. Kiara and Vitani headed back towards Pride Rock after an all day not-so-much-of-a-hunt hunt, and went straight to bed. It pained Simba beyond words that Kiara had to deal with the immense pain by herself, but there was nothing he could do.
Simba was the only one outside at that time that night. He was looking to the sky for answers.
"Father… You said you'd always be there for me. Now prove your self one more time. I suppose you see that all is not well in the circle of life down here. Kovu's dead, but somehow I'm getting a surge of energy, almost like a super-hunch, that he's alive. If I don't find him in the next two days, I'm gonna lose hope, Mufasa. Give me the power to find him.
"And it's almost kind of funny, father. Just a couple days ago, I was trying to figure out a way to except him, but now I just want him back. I guess a lot of things change in such a little period of time. I mean, now he's almost like a son to me… just… Answer me."
As Simba walked back from his spot on a mossy hill towards Pride Rock, he heard Rafiki, who soon popped out from seemingly nowhere.
"And where do you think you are going?"
Simba thought for a second. "No where my heart says is right."
Rafiki now had a smile wide across his face. He hit Simba upside the head with his stick.
"So what you're saying, Rafiki, is that I should've learned by my mistakes a long time ago, and now I'm simply searching for the answer that I've had all along, which is follow your heart's desire. That's the only way the great kings of the past were great. Or is there just the fun of whacking me upside the head with objects?"
Rafiki widened his smile. "A little of both."
And with that, Simba was off, towards the Outlands.
Kovu pretended to be asleep as Yamin schemed, his back turned to Kovu, Kovu's to Yamin's.
Kovu couldn't figure out why Yamin had talked about a dark secret Kovu had. Kovu didn't really know what Yamin thought it might have been, but he was obviously wrong, other than his original thoughts about killing Simba before falling madly in love with Kiara.
It was a pretty cold night in the Outlands, with the occasional burst of wind. He missed Kiara more than words expressed, but in a way, he knew that he would only have one more day with her for the rest of his life. He couldn't, especially since Simba barely knew Kovu and had no feelings for him probably, just ask Simba to die for him. It was almost like it was Kovu's responsibility.
He could feel in his heart that everyone thought he was dead except Yamin and himself, and that Simba had already spread the news. He felt that no one could truly mourn for him the way Kiara would. And he didn't blame anyone for that.
Kovu started analyzing how his life had gone. He had accomplished a lot, and that was no doubt. As he thought more and more about what had happened in his life, Kovu fell into a deep sleep.
Simba got an answer. Maybe not from Mufasa himself, but from his heart. It told him something he really didn't want to hear, but he had to listen to it. He had to wait.
Simba's blood was pumping, the coldness from the air and his excitement giving him extreme adrenaline. He didn't want to just turn back now and just wait, but it was something he had to do.
As Simba headed home, running for the first time in years at such a pace, the wind dried his tears, and then were almost frozen across his face from the cold.
The next 3 days in Kovu's life weren't so great. There was a little bit of hunting (Only under the supervision of Yamin, though, which was slightly creepy for Kovu), a little bit of him trying to get his voice back (Which was pretty hard because he was used to his deep voice, but now it was temporarily changed to a higher pitch, which would fade in a couple weeks.), and lectures from Yamin.
Now it was the last day of hiding, and tomorrow, he and Yamin would go back to Pride Rock to instruct Simba of Yamin's deal.
When Kovu woke that day, he found Yamin still sleeping. Considering running away was the first thing that ran across his mind at first. He considered the trade-offs.
Well, I can't really do that, because if I do, then Yamin'll let twenty thousand hyenas loose on the Pride Lands… My security isn't worth it. And what if everyone thinks I'm a zombie or something and try and kill me? Well, that can wait 'till tomorrow…
Kovu came out of the cave he and Yamin were staying in, running in the opposite direction of it, in a hurry.
The next three days for Vitani were comforting Kiara, hunting with the other lionesses (Except Kiara, who'd rather stay at Pride Rock and mourn), and getting used to the Pride Lands. He had to admit, the Pride Lands were ten billion times better than the Outlands.
Now it was the day after, the fifth official day of Kovu's death, as Kiara would have put it, if she were awake.
Vitani noticed that only Simba, Nala, and about two to three other lionesses were awake and out of the cave. She got up to go stretch outside.
She saw Simba and Nala talking at the end of the pointy rock, and instead of interrupting their chit-chat, started slowly walking down the rock steps towards the soft, greenish-yellow grass, pausing halfway down to stretch.
While Vitani thought that Kiara had become almost annoying and a moping shadow of herself, it was almost weird to not hear her crap that day. Vitani almost… missed it!
Vitani couldn't see the other two or three lionesses anywhere ahead of him, but didn’t think anything of it. He started a little walk. He decided to walk 'till he could physically see the Outlands, then turn around to see if Kiara was awake. On the way, she took a quick sip from the water hole.
The next three days for Simba were comforting Kiara (Which was hard, considering it seemed that she always would rather talk to Vitani. He kinda felt sorry for Vitani at this point…), trying to communicate with Mufasa, talking a lot with Nala, doing your average king of the Pride Land errands, and hoping and waiting for Kovu, even though every day it was less likely to happen.
This morning, at sunrise, He went out towards the jagged plateau edge of Pride Rock, looking out to the Pride Lands, then stretched after a few minutes. He thought to himself until Nala joined him about an hour later.
"Hey, honey… Whatcha thinking about this morning?"
Simba hesitated for an unknown reason before answering. "I guess a combination of Kovu, Kiara, and the future of the Pride Lands. I think, for the best, we should all start to get over Kovu." Simba realized that the only reason why he said that was because he thought that it was pointless to mourn over a death that never even happened. But, even at this point of time, he was losing hope fast.
"Oh… I see. You know, I just wish we all could have known him better before he passed on. He seemed like a nice guy…"
"Nala, can I tell you something?"
Nala looked at him with curiosity. "Of course," she responded.
Simba gazed into her eyes. He then looked back out to the Pride Lands, smiling. "I think… Well, the feeling's so strong that I almost know, that Kovu's alive."
Nala appeared worried now. "Simba, no one can survive what the poor guy went through. I love you, Simba, but somehow, I just don't agree with that."
Simba was defeated, as he saw the silhouette of Vitani near the water hole. "Well… If you wanna hear more about Kovu, just ask her."
The next three days for Kiara were, well, a nightmare that she had constantly been trying to pinch herself to wake up from. She simply couldn't bear the pain that ate at her heart every day…
This morning, the fifth official morning that Kovu was dead, was like every other morning, except that it was just a tad bit easier to stop herself from crying the second she got up and saw that Kovu was not at her side.
She had reluctantly tried for the first time in her life last night to try and contact the grandfather she never knew, Mufasa, up there in the heavens. She had asked if Kovu was up there with him, but then realized that Kovu hadn't even become king yet. And besides, Mufasa was never gonna answer…
Then, after that, on her way to bed, she finally decided to try to forget that she had ever met Kovu (Which was gonna be pretty much impossible). She decided to try and live life as if it were before she met Kovu at his adult stage in life. It was a nice thing to try and remember Kovu as a young lion, but she wouldn't think of him as anything more; Just an acquaintance that she hoped to meet someday, but probably never would.
When Kiara walked outside the mouth of the den, she looked back for some reason before stretching. Then she realized she was seeing if Kovu was following her out of the den…
Kiara saw her mom and dad talking. She started walking their way, ready to talk to her dad if he asked her anything.
Apparently, as Kovu had always said, she wasn't exactly the quietest walker ever. She could hear a previous conversation with Kovu a couple days over a week ago: She had leaped at Kovu, and he had ducked.
"Oh," she chuckled. "You heard me, huh?"
"Only… a lot."
Then Kiara got mad that she was still thinking about Kovu. Simba had his head turned towards Kiara, grinning, soon followed by Nala.
"Vitani's over by the water hole, Kiara," Simba said.
Yamin awoke in distress, seeing that Kovu was gone.
"Kovu!"
He heard a soft panting as a dark figure entered the cave.
"What were you doing, Kovu!!!?"
Kovu entered in further so Yamin could see him better. "Getting breakfast. It's out by the entrance. Maybe you wanna wait before you eat…"
Yamin looked less than as happy as Kovu would've guessed. "You really think I'm that stupid, Kovu? You contacted Simba! You have no breakfast waiting outside the cave!"
"And you think I'm that stupid, Yamin? You would have to kill me, then release 20,000 hyenas on the Pride Lands! I wouldn't come back to just get killed!"
Yamin considered this. "Reverse psychology, Kovu?"
Now Kovu was mad. He went outside the cave once more, startling Yamin.
"Kovu, get back here!"
Kovu did not respond, but after about a minute, came back with an entire antelope, its neck in Kovu's mouth. He dropped it in front of Yamin.
Yamin was surprised, and knew that Kovu wouldn't have any more strength to speak, considering his vocal cord situation.
"Thanks…"
Kovu's voice was obviously failing from the yelling now. "I'll go get my own. If you need to watch me, then go ahead."
As Kiara was the worst adult female hunter, Vitani heard Kiara approaching him from about five feet away. He had passed up the waterhole about two minutes ago, so Kiara had obviously ran the whole way to catch up. As she turned around, her speculations were realized, as Kiara had trouble stopping to stay in talking distance with Vitani, and that she was profusely panting.
"… hey… Vitani…"
Vitani chuckled. "Yeah?"
Kiara was still catching her breath. "… What's… u….up?"
Kiara was obviously trying to look good, like she was more athletic than she was, trying to catch her breath as fast as she could.
Vitani responded slowly, making sure to emphasize that she was not panting. "Walking."
Kiara weakly smiled, seeming to get an edge on her exhaustion.
Vitani continued to walk.
"Hey, wait up! Give a girl a break!"
Vitani fully laughed this time around, still continuing her walk.
Yamin felt bad now, about trying to convict Kovu for something he didn't do. He didn't deserve breakfast now, but ate anyway.
Wait, what am I thinking? I'm probably gonna have to kill him in two days…I can't even begin to get attached… He betrayed Scar, Yamin! Get it together!
Yamin, without any hesitation, made sure that Kovu only hunted inside Outland territory. He had a succulent breakfast, and at least thanked Kovu for that, but still hated him for the fiend he was. He felt it was funny to see Kovu laugh every time he pounced if he didn't catch something. It was almost unlike any thing he'd ever seen.
After Kovu caught his breakfast, he apparently thought that there wasn't much else to do that day, so tried to catch a quick catnap. Yamin stayed up the whole day, plotting on how he was to murder either Simba or Kovu. He kinda wished that Simba would be the one to get killed, because of the fact that Kovu wasn't such a bad guy…
Simba was discouraged. He had no one to talk to, yet at the same time, had an eerie excitement in his bloodstream. Kiara apparently was only into talking with Vitani, and Simba didn't envy anyone, but instead almost felt sorry for Vitani, considering that Kiara could talk her head off sometimes. Nala had ridiculed him for knowing something she hadn't, Timon and Pumbaa were…
Wait, Simba thought, Timon and Pumbaa have no excuse for not wanting to talk to me… I mean, they practically raised me…
When Simba found Timon and Pumbaa by the waterhole digging for 'grubs', he immediately started talking.
"Timon, Pumbaa…" At the first sight of their names, Timon and Pumbaa both turned to the source of the noise, which was, of course, Simba.
"Hey, Simba!" Pumbaa greeted him warmly. Timon didn't greet him, but instead could see that Simba was in a talkative mood.
"Simba, is it about fuzzy maraca senior, or something else?"
Simba laughed for a few seconds, realizing where that joke had came from. When Zira had said that Kovu was to become king, Timon ridiculed her, saying, "King? That's a fuzzy maraca?" He could remember how Kovu kept on shaking, apparently scared of Simba. The memory didn't exactly make him feel better about himself, though…
"In a way…" Simba responded. "You see, I think Kovu is still alive. Nala pretty much ridiculed me, and Kiara won't even talk to me about anything anymore… I was just wondering if you thought I was crazy, or just hopeful, or possibly correct, or what?"
Pumbaa looked at Timon as Timon looked into Pumbaa's eyes, obviously trying to decide who should speak first. Timon turned his head back towards Simba.
"Well, Simba… I think I would know if you told me where you got this idea from… Rafiki, your heart, or your mind?"
Simba laughed once more at the mention of Rafiki. "My heart for the most part, even though my mind ridicules my heart."
Pumbaa spoke next. "Then it has to be true."
While Simba was obviously amazed that Pumbaa came to such a conclusion, Timon was, also. The two stared Pumbaa down, seemingly to explain to Pumbaa to go on.
"Well, guys… if your heart, or your emotional side of your brain says one thing and the wisdom side says something completely different, your emotions are 99% of the time right. Now, for example… let's say for an example that you developed the blueprints for a machine that could chat with lions on the other side of the globe. It might be too good to be true, right? Well, you would wanna double check yourself, right? But then, do you know how much new technology that we don't have would be needed to make this? What if it doesn't work? By saying these things, you're starting to doubt yourself to the point of no return, where as if you just looked back to the blueprints, you'd see that it could work. Doubting yourself is knowledge, whereas your emotions are upon the basis of it all. You see what I mean?"
Simba looked at the warthog, but slowly shook his head, as if to say that he didn't.
"Pumbaa, the kid walks over with a question about a fuzzy maraca and you give him a lecture on computers!" Timon said.
But then, Simba started to understand it; nothing was too good to be true…
"Thank you so much, Pumbaa." Simba thanked Pumbaa. "Now I know about computers…"
"Mufasa, I beg you. If you don't know me and that's why you're not helping me, then I'm Kiara, Simba's daughter. Kovu is my husband, the best guy in the world… Mufasa, just show me that he's alive or dead. I don't care at this point. I mean… Never mind. You're not gonna help, are you?!"
Kiara turned around to see Simba. She was on a mossy hill near Pride Rock, where the kings apparently answered you best according to Simba.
"May I join you, Kiara? Or now that I'm here, are you gonna run off and join Vitani?"
Kiara knew what he just said, and now felt terrible. "Daddy, I wanted to talk to you this morning, but you automatically pointed me towards Vitani…"
Simba let Kiara nuzzle him, but not as lovingly as he would have expected. It was more of a forced one, like that was the only thing she could've done. Simba decided to spill his emotions about Kovu's return, but didn't know how she would take it. Maybe she's already gotten over it, and she was letting Mufasa know or something…
"Kiara…"
Kiara now independently stood, gazing at her father. "What's that, dad?"
"Kiara… I think Kovu's alive. Everything except the logical side of my brain says so…"
Kiara considered the statement nothing more than a ludicrous one. "Except your logical side, huh… Wait! It must be true! I just asked Mufasa to tell me if he was still alive, and if this was his response, then I guess you just got another strike against the logical side of your brain!"
Simba loved how logical and how beautiful Kiara looked in the moonlight that he couldn't believe it was his daughter for a second.
"A direct answer, huh?"
It was a chilly night for Kovu, considering that it may as well have been his second to last night to live. Yamin had not talked to him that much that day, and Kovu was a little glad for that. But now, when Kovu was finally falling asleep for an all-nighter, Yamin decided to talk.
"Kovu, I don't want you to really respond to anything I'm about to tell you, because I want you to save your voice for tomorrow. Turn towards me."
Kovu reluctantly moved his head to look at Yamin.
"If I ask you a question, nod for yes if you understand, or just a plain out yes, and three blinks for the opposite." Yamin was only slightly above a whisper for some reason.
"Kovu… I am your father…" Kovu blinked three times, agitating Yamin. "Kovu! Yes, I am!" Yamin sighed. "I had to leave you because I was banished from both the
"Kovu… I know I'm not really the father I should be right now, but I'm just going to tell you straight out that I'll still have to kill you if it comes to that.
"Now, as I don't want to over talk myself, I will bid you a good night."
Kiara was the first to wake of anyone that morning except Simba. This was good for Kiara, considering that the two could bond a little more. She headed outside the den to see Simba thinking like he apparently seemed to do every morning.
Kiara approached him. Simba detected her before she was fifteen feet away. "Hey, Kiara!" Simba said, turning his head towards Kiara as she stretched a little before taking a place next to Simba, looking out towards the Pride Lands.
"Daddy, do you think Kovu might come home today? Do you think this'll be the day of all days?"
Simba hesitated, looking upon the orange, sun risen clouds. "Maybe, but as everyday goes along…"
"The less likely it'll be the day that he'll return, I know. Let's just hope it's today, now that we both know now that he's alive."
Simba didn't want to make matters worse with Kiara, but said what he wanted to anyway.
"Kiara… What if never comes?"
Kiara looked a little concerned. "Why would you think that, daddy?"
Simba sighed. "Just a 'what if', I guess. Never mind."
Kiara giggled a little. "You know what would really hit the spot if Kovu returned tonight?"
Simba yawned. "What's that?"
"If just us three sat up, looking towards the sky for constellations, just like old times!"
Simba felt sorry for her if Kovu really was dead. Again, his logical side started doubting him again.
Kiara could tell that her father was in deep thought. "What, dad?"
Simba snapped back to reality. "Oh, nothing…"
Yamin woke Kovu.
"Ugh…"
"Kovu, get up. It's almost time."
"Fine, then don't pass the mustard…"
Yamin was annoyed. Either Kovu didn't want to be woken up and pretended to sleep talk, or was actually sleep talking.
"No, but I'll pass the ketchup…"
Kovu opened up one of his eyes, seeing Yamin. He sighed, slowly getting up. He then stretched, yawning at the same time.
"What kind of simpleton dreams about mustard?"
Kovu didn't buy into Yamin's joke. "So, let me get this straight… You're trying to approach comedy with me, but yet just might kill me tomorrow? You're sick…"
Yamin was annoyed. "I don't have to wait 'till tomorrow…"
"Yeah, but I know you love the agony of torturing me with Kiara the last day of my life. If I'm the one to die, it'll be the worst feeling in the world to have to walk to your death like that, after a night with your true love..."
Yamin sighed. He really didn't want to have to do this, but his destiny was already chosen…After all the hyenas were to kill all the remaining lion of the Pride Lands except the ones that pledged faith to him, he would be king…
The sun was high in the sky when the two figures could be seen. Simba and Kiara and Nala had finally had some bonding time that morning, and none had hunted when the lionesses were hunting.
When the figures came into proximity that Simba, Nala, and Kiara could identify them, all three were shocked.
It was Kovu and Yamin.
Kiara went big eyed. She knew better than to just run off to him with Yamin still there, but was still extremely surprised. Her heartbeat started taking off at an extremely, almost deadly rate. When Yamin and Simba were where Simba preferred and then stopped, Simba spoke.
"Why are you here?"
"Simba… Just let Yamin talk." Kovu's head hung low. He could see red claw marks on Kovu's back, but other than that and his ear, he was fine.
"Thank you, Kovu. Simba! I will give you Kovu, but you have to do something in return. I own the minds of all those twenty thousand hyenas just past the Outlands… You know of them? Well, when I give you Kovu, you two have a decision to make. You will decide which one of you I will kill.
"The one that is to be killed is to meet me at this spot, where I am standing, when I return here tomorrow, at about the same time. Oh, and don't let anyone kill me, because if I don't return back to the hyenas tonight and the night after that, well, they'll be coming!
Yamin shoved Kovu with his front right paw, sending him forward a couple feet. "Go!" He whispered.
And with that, Yamin was off.
Kovu held his head up high, but squinted as the hot savannah sun was, well, hot. He climbed up the rock steps to meet the both loving and confused glares of Simba, Nala, and Kiara.
Kiara ran to him first, nuzzling him with her snout, rubbing against Kovu's mane, making Kovu purr for the first time in a long time.
"There's something different about you, Kovu…"
When Kiara was done, the two met up with Simba and Nala, only about fifteen feet away.
Simba looked distraught. "I'll go, Kovu. The future of the Pride Lands is at stake…"
Kovu interrupted. "No, I'll go. It won't hurt as much for me, Simba. Yamin's my father."
Now everyone glared at Kovu, as confused as he was the moment he heard the news himself.
"Kovu… This guy's sick! His own son? Amazing!"
Kovu tried to walk past Simba with Kiara, but he stopped Kovu. "Kovu… I'm so sorry… Don't worry, I'll go." Simba said, nuzzling Kovu for a split second, showing him that he was there for him. Kovu was a little uncomfortable about that, and almost lurched his body back.
Kovu passed by Simba, obviously broken, a completely different lion from what Simba remembered him being only a couple days ago.
When the lionesses came back, Kovu got more than his fare share of attention. They were all over him, asking him question like, "How does it feel to get stabbed in the neck and all that stuff?" and "Are you sure that you're not a zombie?"
It always humored Kiara to hear people ask if Kovu was a zombie or not, but it didn't humor Kovu as much.
About an hour later, Kovu and Kiara finally got some alone time.
"So… He's really your father?"
Kovu hesitated to answer. They were on a quick walk across the Pride Lands, startling a few of the animals, since Simba did not officially say that Kovu was alive. "Kiara, let's just have the best day of our lives today and tonight. Why the small talk?"
Kiara looked at Kovu, confused. "Simba's going…"
"No, he's not. I am, Kiara. You don't understand…"
Kiara tried to hold back a new set of tears. "What don't I understand?"
Kovu looked ahead, sighing. "You just don't…"
"Kovu, the last time I asked you about something like this, you never answered, and we got swept away to Upendi. What's been going on your whole life, that you were about to spill to me?"
Kovu smirked. "I was training for Zira. The only reason why I saved your life was because I started the fire. It was all just to get to Simba and kill him. But I guess you saved my life…"
Kiara looked at him with confusion. "What!?"
Kovu widened his smirk, looking at Kiara once more. "And why is this a surprise to you?"
"When did you decide to turn?"
Kovu thought for a moment. "The day after I rescued you. C'mon, let's just put that behind us… I was trying to tell you before that I didn't want to harm Simba anymore and that I had finally found the love of my life. Is that OK, Kiara?"
"Yeah, I just… Never knew that…"
When Kovu and Kiara returned to Pride Rock, Simba was pacing at a fast rate, apparently thinking, in some kind of deep trance.
That night, Kiara, Simba, and Kovu looked up at the stars, even though stars were not the thing on anyone's mind. Kovu had an idea; if he could stall Simba long enough that night so he would be so wasted that he couldn't get up, he could leave.
Kovu got up, startling Kiara and Simba. He started heading towards the waterhole.
"Where ya going, Kovu?" Simba asked. "You wanna drink this late at night?"
Kovu smirked. "Is it illegal?"
Simba shook his head, letting Kovu go.
When Kovu neared the water hole, he bent down to take a sip of water. He looked at his reflection in the water, then quickly yelled out when he saw it was Scar.
Kovu padded the water with his paw, sending the reflection away. The image didn't change as much as Kovu would've liked: There was still a great, ugly scar across his right eye, just like Scar's. He was pretty much the same fur color as Scar, just younger looking.
Kovu suddenly felt a strong breeze brush against his mane. He looked up, then screamed out, terrified at what he saw.
It was Scar, as clear as the reflection he had seen in the water. It was up the sky, looking down at Kovu. At first, Kovu didn't know what to do. He tried communicating.
"F…F…Father, is that you?"
The face only blinked, which scared Kovu. It couldn't have been a reflection, because Kovu hadn't just blinked.
"Ah, Kovu…"
Kovu jumped at the mention of his name. The face continued.
"My, have you grown!"
Finally, Kovu had understood. Kiara had told him that all the great kings of the past were up in the sky, keeping watch over the rest of his people. He didn't think that Scar made the cut of being a great king, but he couldn't argue with him now.
"Father… Why are you up there?"
Scar blinked once more. "I have come to you in a time of great need, I see."
Kovu bent his head down. "Father… you were never a great king… Why are you up there?"
Scar didn't even twitch at the mention of how good a king he was. "Who necessarily said that I'm up here?"
Kovu looked up, confused.
"Kovu… I don't think anyone else here is qualified to talk to you. Yes, I am merely a king, and not a great one at that. I am glad to see that you didn't turn out like the way I did, but Kovu, let Simba go."
Kovu squinted. "You're just telling me that because you want me to avenge your death in some shape, way, or form."
Scar now had a sense of pain on his face. "I do not wish to harm Simba purposefully, Kovu. You must go save Simba after he has departed with Yamin."
Kovu again looked at Scar with confusion. "That's not apart of the deal with Yamin, Scar. He has total control of all the hyenas…"
"No, the hyenas are now long gone. There was no food for them there, so they left only a short while ago. He has nothing to gain from this, but you have so much to lose."
Kovu smiled. "Father… thanks."
Scar wasn't finished, though. "Son, don't tell Simba of the plan… I sense that if you do, he will accidentally mess up the plan…"
"Scar! Why are you helping me?"
Scar smiled. "Why not help out my favorite adopted son?"
Kovu smiled. "I'm your only adopted son…"
"My point exactly."
Kovu stared into the green eyes of Scar as he disappeared into the clouds. He then ran back to where Simba and Kiara were laying.
"Simba! Kiara!" Kovu yelled when he saw the two figures, still lying on their backs, laughing with each other.
Kovu caught his breath as he lay next to Kiara.
"What took you so long, Kovu?" Kiara asked, as Simba, on the other side of Kiara, her left side, looked at Kovu with more suspicion.
Kovu couldn't contain his happiness. "Scar was a good king!"
Simba seemed troubled at this. "Uh, Kovu, where'd you get that from…"
"Simba! He's up in the sky! I swear! I just talked to him!"
But when Simba and Kiara heard this, the conversation ended.
Simba awoke, as he did every morning, at sunrise. This time, he woke Kovu on his way out, who was reluctant to wake up at first, but got up when he saw that it was Simba.
The two slowly walked out of the den, stretching. Simba was obviously shaken, but didn't want to show it.
"Simba…"
"Kovu, I can't expect you to die for me like this… I mean, haven't you gone through enough? I mean, I nearing the big age for lions, near the death stage. I probably only have another one to two years… I had a decent life. If you die, then I'll die shortly after… No king! If die… Long live the new king?"
Kovu thought about the logic, but then quickly remembered his meeting with Scar last night. "Simba… you don't have to do this if you don't want to…"
"Of course I don't want to have to do this! I'd kill 'im, but then the Pride Lands will be left in ruins, and everyone will starve to death! I'm going, and that's final!"
Kovu knew that it was final now, but tried to seem reluctant to the choice, so Simba wouldn't think that Kovu knew something he didn't.
"Kovu… I just want to let you know that I'm sorry for not being able to teach you about being the great king you'll need to be to do such a job. Just… try to do the best job you possibly can."
Kovu looked at Simba, trying to show a fake emotion of sadness. What he really felt was excitement, because he knew he was going to have to face Yamin that day, to save Simba.
Simba was now trying to suppress from tears. "Simba… What's wrong?"
Simba glared at him. All of a sudden, Kovu had an overwhelming amount of respect for the king. "Kovu… I feel like I'm a pretty rotten king. Do you think I'll join Mufasa up there?"
Kovu wanted to add that Scar would be waiting up there with Mufasa, also, but didn't say anything. "Simba… you did nothing wrong! What do you feel so guilty about?"
Simba shook his head a couple of times before coming out with it. "I killed Scar, It took me so many years to realize that all the Outsiders weren't really Outsiders at all, I was terrible to Kiara, I never really gave you a chance until the end, I was a coward before I became king, and most of my life was a waste. Sure, people might remember me as a great king, but I just think that my bads outweigh me goods…"
Kovu would have no more of it. "Simba, if you were two times as bad as you just said you were, then I'm not going there for sure. That is, if you can't go with just those deeds…"
Simba looked at Kovu with a little bit of question hidden in his face. "What did you do that was so bad?"
Kovu shook his head, imitating Simba, making Simba laugh. "But, seriously, I have a confession to make. When you said before that I only loved Kiara because she was your daughter, you weren't far off…"
Simba widened his eyes. "Whadaya mean?"
Kovu looked at Simba with a solemn face. "Well, my whole life was training, pretty much. I was trained to befriend Kiara, so that you would trust me, so I could kill you when you least expected it. Apparently Vitani or Zira were spying on us and saw that I wasn't doing my job, so they attacked you, and then tried to take the kingdom by force. You know that fire that I saved Kiara from?"
Simba nodded.
"That was me. That was all a set-up."
Simba nodded his head. "Kovu, that's not as bad as… Wait, are you gonna add a twist? Like that you're gonna kill me now, to avenge Scar?"
Kovu laughed. "No. Oh, and my love for Kiara is true, too…"
Simba padded down the rock steps. "Wanna resume that walk that we never finished?"
Kovu smiled. "Sure."
About thirty seconds later, when they started walking, the two continued to talk. "Kovu, not meaning to discourage you or hurt you or anything like that, but…"
Kovu looked at Simba with confusion. "What?"
Simba sighed. "You said last night that Scar was up there, in the stars, with Mufasa. Why?"
Kovu smiled. "I think you'll learn soon enough."
Simba didn't like that. "Oh, c'mon, I don't need two Rafikis in my life… I mean, I'm gonna die today. Just tell me…"
Kovu sighed, wiping the smile off of his face. "He… Appeared to me last night at the waterhole."
Simba lowered his eyebrows, apparently thinking how that could possibly be.
"Simba… he didn't say much. I asked him how he was up there, with Mufasa and all, but he really didn't give me a straight answer. He just, I guess, tried to talk to me before today."
Simba tried to find humor in this. "And who did he say should die today?" Simba now had his eyebrows raised, apparently trying to seem serious.
"You, who else? He said about the same thing you said back there, about your age and everything…" Kovu lied about the last part, but he didn't want to raise suspicion about him knowing more.
Simba seemed to be fine with that answer. "Fair enough…"
Kiara awoke, only to find, for the sixth morning in a row, Kovu's spot missing. When she discovered that the only other lion missing was here father, Simba, Kiara knew that the two were just talking. She walked out of the den to stretch, seeing the two walking back towards Pride Rock. Kovu noticed her, smiling at her. Kiara started at him, but at a slow pace, as she had just waked.
When Kovu had reached her, Kiara asked a question instead of embracing him.
"Who's going?"
It was not a question that neither Simba nor Kovu seemed to want to answer. "Me," Simba finally said. Kiara embraced her dad, with a more than solemn look on her face.
"Me and Kovu will miss you immensely, daddy…"
Kovu smiled, touched. Kiara was now crying, as Kovu started realizing how agonizing this situation, without Kovu's knowledge, might be for her.
In a way, Kovu couldn't wait for Yamin to come. He would chase after Yamin only a couple of minutes after he left with Simba, to make sure they were almost at the Outlands, that way, when Kovu finally caught up, Yamin and Simba would be just arriving in the Outlands. And, another plus, was that Kovu would be able to tell Kiara the good news before he left on a rescue mission.
He knew he was gonna regret him killing his father, ten times more than he regretted killing Nato, Yamin's brother, only six days ago.
It was almost funny.
Simba had thought that Nato was the one killing all the lionesses. Simba could not tolerate this, so he sent Kovu, whom he had only welcomed into his kingdom a day ago, to kill Nato. Simba thought that after the lion was gone that peace would finally be restored to the Pride Lands. Unfortunately, Nato was completely innocent, framed for his brother's crimes, and then brutally killed.
Kovu looked up to see the sun inching its way across the cloudless sky, giving off more and more light as it got higher up in the sky.
Yamin, true to his word, appeared at about the same time he did the last day (To Kiara's horror, Kovu's excitement, Vitani's sorrow, Nala's sorrow, and Simba's disgust).
Yamin didn't seem to have a lot of pride on his face, and didn't even seem like he had to wipe away a smile. He almost seemed defeated, even though he probably knew he had the upper hand. Kovu expected this, after he had apparently found out that the hyenas had abandoned him the night before.
Simba spoke first. "Yamin… just don't think that you'll get away with this in the long run. If you're wondering, I am ready to give my life away for the good of the Pride Lands."
Yamin looked up, suddenly surprised by this. "Then come down to your demise."
Kiara couldn't contain herself, now crying her eyes out in Kovu's mane. Nala wouldn't look up, and Vitani apparently ran into the den.
Simba slowly walked down the rock steps for what he thought would be the last time in his life. As he walked away, towards the Outlands, he nodded towards Nala and Kovu, turning back around to walk to his doom.
Nala cried her eyes out, too. Kovu, as soon as he saw that Simba was out of sight, started to spring into action.
"Kiara, get off of me now!"
As Kiara lifted her head, surprised, Nala cried out, "Kovu! Show some sympathy, would ya?"
Kovu looked at her, talking as fast, but as clear (So there would be no repetition) as he could, said, "Nala, I'm going to rescue him. Listen to me. The hyenas left last night to migrate further out, away from the Outlands for food. They're gone. Don't ask my source, but now, Yamin's defenseless without the hyenas! I'm going now to save Simba, and I'm not leaving until Yamin's dead, and Simba's still alive!"
Kovu ran as if his, or another lion's, life depended on it.
Surprisingly, this wasn't the worst experience Simba had ever had to go through. He, as calmly as lionly possible, was now walking with Yamin over to the Outlands, to get brutally murdered.
Yamin talked first, when they were out of any hearing distance, only about fifty feet away from Pride Rock.
"Simba…" Yamin almost seemed to be at a loss for words, as if he knew what he wanted to say, but just couldn't.
Simba didn't even bother saying 'What?' to such a lion.
"Simba, do you want to know why I am doing this?"
Simba looked up. "And why is that?"
Yamin smirked. "I'm simply teaching you a lesson…"
"How are you teaching me a lesson! Are you another follower of Scar or something?!!! What was I supposed to do, let Scar live?!!! You don't even know what he did to the Pride Lands…"
"Yes, I do!"
"And how could you still defend him after what you saw at that point in time! I just don't get you all! He was gonna starve even his most loyal to death just to prove a point! You were just as good or bad as any non-follower of Scar to him!"
"And you're right, Simba! I was exiled from both the
Simba wanted to jump at Yamin so bad now that his veins started popping (Not literally, but they might as well have…).
Now they were about 125 feet away from Pride Rock, but still not out of sight, and not in sight of the Outlands, either. That wouldn't be for almost another kilometer.
Simba would just have to bear with Yamin for the time being. I can't kill him myself, because then the hyenas will reign loose on the Pride Lands… If only Kovu would after tonight, to avenge my death…
Kovu could see Simba and Yamin only a hundred yards away. They had to have walked extremely slowly to have only come this far. The Outlands still weren't for another 500 yards ahead of the two, so tried to walk at about the same pace that Yamin and Simba were.
Then Kovu thought to himself; why can't I attack him right now? That's kinda stupid of me… Why couldn't I have just attacked Yamin back there, at Pride Rock? I guess I'll wait 'till the Outlands still, just to make sure the plan's flawless…
Then Kovu started to think: Could he really kill his father, even though he knew how truly nasty he was? Because, well, after he's dead, Vitani's the only family member I have left… And I'll still have no direct mother and father… Kovu almost wanted to cry now.
God d*mn it, I have a pretty screwed up family…
Yamin spoke up yet again.
"Simba…"
Simba was furious. "What could you possibly want now? I'd rather you kill me than listen to your dumb lectures.
Yamin looked to his right, seeing the maybe 200 feet steep canyon.
"I can arrange that!"
Yamin dug his claws into Simba's belly, making him fall forward. He extracted his claws, pulling his paw away from under Simba as he fell a little bit more.
Yamin laughed as he started dragging Simba, still hanging on to dear life, to the edge of the canyon.
Kovu went big-eyed at what he saw.
Simba apparently ticked off Yamin, and now Yamin had his claws into Simba's stomach.
Kovu ran as fast as he could.
Yamin could see Kovu, only about twenty feet away when he lifted his head to see his surroundings. Simba was only about fifteen yards away from the edge. Yamin continued to drag Simba as fast as he could, getting him only seven yards away before being slashed across the face.
"Ahh!"
Kovu started panting. Not out of tiredness, but pure anger.
It was go time.
Kovu sprang up, pinning Yamin to the ground.
Yamin now had a grin on his face. Kovu continued to pant, showing his frustration, which would hopefully be the last thing Yamin would ever see.
"Kovu, get off me…"
"I'm not gonna fear killing my own father, if that's what you're thinking. You ruined it, not me."
Yamin now turned his smirk into a full-blown smile.
"Kovu, I know you're not killing me today. Remember all the…"
"Hyenas, yeah, I know, Yamin. But I know something that might surprise you. They're gone. There's no food for the hyenas, and now they're gone."
Yamin looked surprised, and then scared. "But, Kovu… I don't deserve to die, I haven't killed anyone yet…"
"None of that was really Nato, you fiend. It was all you. You killed already your fair share of lionesses, Yamin. Now shut up and die…" Kovu was almost surprised at what he had just said, but knew there was no real shame in saying it. This wasn't even half the appropriate death that Yamin deserved…
Yamin started frantically looking around hopelessly. "Kovu… please! I'm begging you! We can be father and son again! Don't you want that, son?"
Kovu thought for a second. He almost wanted to cry. Trying to suppress a set of tears that he wanted to cry out for so many years, he said in a hoarse voice, with all his energy, "No, you're not my father. My father's Scar."
Kovu extracted his claws. They pierced through Yamin's skin in the areas that he was pinning him down by, making Yamin cry out in pain.
Kovu extracted his claws, almost waiting for Yamin to talk, or give one of his great lectures.
"Kovu, before you kill me…" Yamin paused. "You're the worst son ever! I HATE YOU!"
Kovu was beyond hurt at the comment, but Kovu knew that this was exactly how Yamin wanted him to feel. Besides, if Kovu didn't kill Yamin, then both he and Simba might die…
"I love you, too, dad."
Kovu got up. Yamin slowly tried to get up, but Kovu lurched his body forward at him, his claws extracted once more, stabbing Yamin on the left side of his stomach. Yamin let out a moan.
Now Simba was up, ready to help Kovu.
Kovu got back up. "Simba, dispose of Yamin over the edge."
Simba looked at Kovu, seeing through to all his painful feelings. Simba nodded, pushing Yamin with all his might over the edge.
As he fell, Kovu heard his voice as clear as day:
"I HATE YOU!"
Simba was worried for Kovu now.
"You okay, Kovu?"
Kovu walked over to the ledge of the canyon that so many people had died at before. It pained Kovu to already see vultures circling around the dead body of his father, Yamin, but felt no guilt. "No…"
Simba slowly walked to the left side of Kovu. "I guess I owe you one, Kovu…"
Kovu smiled, now meeting Simba's glare.
"No… No, you don't, trust me."
Simba, too, looked down. He hated heights, so pulled back after seeing the vultures encircling around Yamin's dead body.
"First Mufasa, then Zira, now Yamin… almost funny, Kovu. You think I'll die here?"
Kovu suddenly tried to look serious. "I can arrange that…"
Simba started backing away, as Kovu let out a laugh. "Just kidding, Simba. C'mon, let's head back to Pride Rock."
"So… Kovu. How did you know that the hyenas were gone?"
Kovu smiled. "Scar came to me in a vision. And Simba, it wasn't exactly a vision… His head, it was literally in the clouds, looking down at me. It was the creepiest thing…"
"But, Kovu, how is Scar up there, you know, because of all the evil things he did?"
"I have no idea. I guess you can ask Mufasa, Simba. He'll probably know."
Simba made sure to keep that in mind.
When Pride Rock came into view, both Kiara and Nala came running down the rock steps to greet Kovu and Simba.
While Kiara had her muzzle in Kovu's mane, next to his left ear, she whispered something.
"Kovu… I'm pregnant."