Nuka was once again stuck watching his sister and adopted brother. Zira was out on a hunt, heance the former prince's current position
Vitani and Kovu play fought as young cubs do.
Nuka didn't really care, it wasn't like any alligators were going to try and eat Zira's precious "Chosen One" this time
He looked around at his home, letting his mind wander
"Y'know, it doesn't really look at to different from the Pridelands way back when," he thought
Of course those were the days of Scar's rule. Whether it was the over population of predators what with his army of hyena henchmen around, or simply a cursed reign for the means he took to become king. Either way the Pridelands were in horrible shape.
"This place is probably better than the Pridelands were back then," Nuka continued to think
He remembered how they began to deteriorate around the time his mother was carrying Vitani. Back then he was to young to understand it, yet now he questioned it.
"Didn't mother see how lands were turning? Wasn't she worried? Surely she saw that place would be no good for raising me, let alone a newborn?" Nuka thought more
"Come to think of it, didn't father worry? Was he so in love with being king he cared not for the well being of his family? How'd mother even stay his mate?"
Such questions boggled the mind of Nuka. What hold did Scar keep on Zira that she couldn't see the truth of what Scar was? The path of destruction he'd have led them all on? Even for Kovu?
"He was a monster. Y'know, in a weird kinda way I have to thank my cousin," Nuka thought thinking of Simba.
"I mean the Pridelands really began to shape up after the hyena's ran back here and Scar died. Mother just couldn't let her love for Scar go. Hence why we're stuck in this two bit dump,"
Nuka's train of thought was interrupted by Vitani bumping into him
"Oof," he said as his sister made contact
"I win," Kovu said
"I'm not done yet," Vitani said
Yet before the two cubs could tussle some more
"Children, lunch," Zira said hailing a zebra carcass over
"Whoa," Vitani said surprised
"Were'd you get that?" Nuka said
"Foolish creature wandered into our lands, he was an easy kill," Zira said dropping it in front of her kids
"Eat up, you'll need you strength for the day we avange Scar. Especially you Kovu," their mother said
"Uh, mom," Nuka asked
"What?" Zira said
"Oh you..." Nuka soon realized how unwise it was to question his mother about Scar and everything else he was pondering. "You...have a lot of blood on your muzzle, you want me to go with to the river as you wash it off? Help keep watch, on't know if the gators are still around,"
"I can take care of myself Nuka," Zira said as she began to eat
"Okay," Nuka said eating as well
"Just wait mother," Nuka thought "I'll show you. One day I'll expose Kovu for the fraud he is, and I'll reclaim my birthright. And when I do I'll have you banished. The Pridelands won't become a wasteland like you and father allowed it to be."
Little did the lion know all that would never come to be. As all his dreams, and himself would be, literally, crushed.
The end
