A/N Alrighty then folks as promised here's the sequel to my story "You Take the Good With the Bad." Enjoy and as usual the familar things are Disney's and the rest belong to me.
You Take the Good with the Bad 2: Changing Times
Ch.1 Training Begins
It had been two months since Zira had found Kiara and Mheetu and taken them in as her own. The tan lioness got up early and pulled her friend Cala off to the side. "Tomorrow Mheetu's training shall begin," she declared her red eyes gleaming.
"Zira are you sure he's ready for that?" Cala asked looking over at the light brown cub, who was sleeping peacefully next to his dusty orange sister.
"The sooner he begins his training the sooner he can take down Simba and his brats," Zira declared.
"Zira please don't take this the wrong way," Cala began. "But don't you think you're missing a big opportunity here?"
"And what is that?" Zira asked.
"Well," Cala began. "Simba does have two sons. Don't you think we could use Vitani and Kiara to befriend them?"
"Don't be a fool Cala," Zira snapped. "Simba already knows Vitani is my daughter. He'll see right through that plan."
"Then why not use just Kiara then?" Cala said.
"Hmm," Zira said strocking her chin thoughtfully. "That may not be such a bad idea. Yes that's exactly what we'll do. We shall send Kiara into the Pridelands to get to know Simba's brats. That should be easy enough since Kopa is only a couple of months older than Kiara and Mheetu. Yes it'll be perfect."
"Glad you agree," Cala said with a grin.
"You've done well Cala," Zira said. Then she walked over to where her children were sleeping and woke up her elder children, Nuka and Vitani. "Wake up you two," she hissed.
"Huh?" Nuka said snapping his head up. Then the almost one year old lion saw his mother and he said, "Oh good morning Mother."
"Never mind about that," Zira hissed. "I need you and your sister to fetch some field mice for your brother and sister to eat."
"But I don't.." Nuka began.
"Oh come on Nuka let's just go," Vitani grumbled. The six month old cub got up and stretched and she and Nuka began to search for some field mice.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile in the Pridelands Simba was having a conversation with his sons. Or rather he was having an argument with them. "Kovu I already told you you're not going anywhere," Simba said trying his best not to lose his temper.
"But Dad," Kovu protested. "I feel fine. And besides Rafiki said I could go out again. My ribs have healed."
"Kovu," Nala said walking into the cave and sitting beside her mate. "As I recall Rafiki said you could be allowed to leave the cave today."
"Oh please Mother isn't that just a formality?" Kovu said sarcastically rolling his amber eyes in the process.
"Kovu what did I tell you about that sarcastic attitude?" Nala snapped causing Kovu to jump. Then the creamy Queen took a deep breath and said in a much calmer voice, "Kovu we just don't want you to over do it."
"I know Mom," Kovu said with a sigh. "But it's been two months since Zira's attack. I'm going to go crazy if I don't get out soon."
"We know it's not easy son," Simba said pulling the brown cub towards him and giving him a nuzzle. "But if you try to do to much to soon then you'll relapse. You wouldn't want that to happen would you?"
Kovu opened his mouth to reply but before he could so Rafiki came into the cave. "Rafiki please tell my parents I can leave the cave," Kovu said looking at the mandrill his amber eyes pleading.
"First we have to make sure dat yer ribs are fully healed," Rafiki replied. "Lay down please." With a sigh Kovu layed down while Rafiki began to examine him. After a couple of minutes Rafiki looked at the eight month old Prince with a smile and said, "Yer ribs have completely healed."
"Does that mean I can leave the cave?" Kovu asked his amber eyes lighting up.
"Just make sure dat you do not to anyting to stressful," Rafiki instructed.
"No problem," Kovu said with a smile.
"Yeah," Kopa piped up his blue eyes sparkling. "I'll keep him out of trouble."
"Yeah right," Kovu and Kopa's friend, Cusmo said coming into the cave along with their other friends, Kinta and Jayla.
"Yeah," Kinta piped up rolling his brown eyes. "You're always the one who gets into trouble to begin with.
"Shut up Kinta," Kopa said glaring at the sandy brown ten month old.
"Yeah Kinta," Jayla said narrowing her brown eyes at Kinta. "You get into trouble more than anyone."
"Ah who asked you for your opinion you little twirp?" Kinta growled glaring at the tan eight month old.
"Kinta as I recall you're grounded," Kinta's mother, Cami said coming up to the group along with Kinta's yourger brother, Alzu. The sandy brown lioness sat next to her son and looked at him her brown eyes serious. "So you're not going anywhere."
"Yeah Kinta you're grounded," Alzu said his voice sing songy. Kinta glared at his three month old brother but said nothing. So Alzu turned towards the other cubs and said, "Can I go with you guys?"
"Sure you can," Kopa said with a smile causing Alzu's blue eyes to light up. The golden brown lion cub jumped up and down with excitement squealing with joy.
"It's ok right guys?" Kopa asked turning to face the other cubs.
"Yeah sure it's fine," Kovu said impatiently. "Come lets go already!"
"Can we Dad?" Kopa asked looking at Simba.
"Just be back by sunset," Simba said with a smile. "And Kovu you be extra careful. Understand? No rough housing."
"Ok Dad," Kovu said. "I'll be careful I promise."
"And keep a close eye on Alzu and Kopa," Nala instructed.
"Ah Mom I'm not a baby anymore you know," Kopa said rolling his blue eyes. "I am four months old remember?"
"Of course I know that," Nala said with a slight laugh. "But remember Kopa no matter how old you and your brother get you'll always be my babies."
"Yeah yeah," Kopa mumbled. "Can we go now? Please?"
"Have fun my sweets," Nala said with a smile. Letting out cheer of joy all the cubs, save for Kinta ran out of the cave eagar to begin their day.
"Come on Kinta you can sit outside with me for a bit," Cami said. With that Cmai and Kinta exited the cave laeaving Simba and Nala alone. Simba sat beside Nala and let out a sigh. "I hope Kovu will be ok," the golden King said.
"Oh Simba he'll be fine," Nala said. "You heard what Rafiki said. Kovu's ribs have completly healed. Don't worry so much."
"Nala I'm a parent," Simba said. "It's my job to worry."
"And I'm not a parent?" Nala said rolling her blue eyes. "Simba I worry about Kopa too but we have to trust that he'll be ok."
"Nala I'm worried about both of our sons," Simba said with irritation.
"Simba you act like I don't care at all about Kovu," Nala snapped.
"I never said that," Simba said looking at his mate. "But sometimes.."
"Sometimes what?" Nala asked her blue eyes fiery. "Go on Simba finish what you were going to say. Sometime you wonder right? Well let me tell you something Simba. Just because I've had some issues in the past with my temper around Kovu dosen't mean I don't care about him."
"Issues?" Simba said his voice rising. "Issues? You call hitting your son on more than one occasion having issues? That's more than issues and you know it!"
"Simba why are you shouting at me?" Nala cried. "And why are you bringing up the past? I've dealt with those issues I had with Kovu being the result of my being raped by Scar and I've moved on."
"I hope that's true Nala," Simba said. "But considering you just snapped at Kovu for no reason makes me wonder."
"You know what Simba?" Nala snapped glaring at her mate. "If you're going to have that attitude then I got nothing to say to you!"
"Fine by me!" Simba shouted. "I've got rounds to make anyways!" With that the King turned and stormed out of the cave leaving a seething Nala behind.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Kovu, Kopa, Cusmo, Jayla, and Ashani were having fun playing a game of tag. Kovu was running from Jayla who was it at the time. However, Kovu wasn't paying attention to where he was running and he ran right into another cub causing them both to fall to the ground. "Hey why don't you watch where you're going?" the dusty orange cub snapped her light green eyes flashing with anger.
"Sorry about that," Kovu said sheepishly helping the other cub to her feet. "Are you ok?" Kovu looked at the other cub his amber eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah I'm fine," the cub said her voice much clamer.
"Hey Kovu are you ok?" Jayla said running over to her friend, her brown eyes filled with concern. Then she saw the dusty orange cub and said, "Whose she?"
"I'm fine Jay'," Kovu said with a smile. "And this is...uh what did you say your name was again?"
"Oh my name's Kiara," Kiara said with a smile.
"I'm Kovu," Kovu said returning the smile. "And this is Jayla. She's my..."
"Girlfriend," Jayla interrupted sharply. "I'm his girlfriend."
"Oh well it's nice to meet you both," Kiara said surprised by Jayla's hostile attitude.
"Hey you wanna play?" Kovu asked.
"Sure," Kiara said her light green eyes lighting up. Jayla scowled but said nothing. So the three cubs went to join Kopa, Cusmo, and Alzu. "Hey guys this is Kiara," Kovu said nodding at Kiara as they joined the others. "Kiara this is my brother, Kopa and our other friends Cusmo and Alzu."
"Hey guys," Kiara said with a shy smile.
"Hey Kiara," Kopa said with a smile. "You wanna play tag with us?"
"Ah I'm tired of playing tag," Cusmo said with a sigh. ""Hey lets do some exploring."
"Hey that's a great idea!" Kovu cried.
"Yeah," Alzu said his blue eyes lighting up. "But where do we explore?"
"Hey I've got an idea," Kiara said remembering what Zira had told her. "Why don't we explore the grasslands?"
"Sure that's a great idea," Kovu said looking at his friends who nodded in approval.
"But Kovu," Kopa said. "Isn't the grasslands pretty far from home? I though Mom and Dad said not to go to far."
"No Kopa they said not to do any rough housing," Kovu said. "And we won't be. But if you don't want to come Kop' then you don't have to."
"No I wanna come," Kopa said quickly. "I just wanna make sure you're up for it 'Vu that's all."
"Ah I'm fine," Kovu said waving his paw trying to ignore the small stab of pain in his side.
"Then let's go!" Cusmo said her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. With that the group of cubs headed off to the grasslands, not knowing that someone would be waiting there for them.
A/N well there you go folks ch 1 complete. Hope you all liked it. Let me know in a review please.