In the Darkness

Time, it is said, is a great healer. There was much to be healed. The Pride Lands spread out below the great rock, home to the pride of lion that had, for as long as anyone could remember, ruled the lands fairly and wisely. Yet injustice and brutality had blackened the lands for a time, leaving the great lands of the prides rent in two. Two which became one once more. One in name, but two still in heart and thought. How much time would be needed to heal the rift between Pridelander and Outlander? If indeed it could ever be healed? How wide was the river that flowed between lion and lion; Simba and Kovu; and who could gaze upon it from high enough to take in all its bends and turns in one eye? The river rose in darkness and slipped along the borders of the Pride Lands and on into the dawn. No one knew whether it flowed into the sea of peace, or the gulf of turmoil, or even that rivers were eventually swallowed by the oceans at all. To the lions of Pride Lands and Outlands alike, the river was unending. Unchanging but ever flowing, at times carrying everything along in its terrifying lust to consume, at others sliding by in serene calm. Time was on the river's side, it knew it would last out the lions ten thousand fold and more. It knew it could unleash forces so powerful that nothing - no animal or even mountain - could withstand. The seasons, such as they were on the Pride Lands, were marked by the rise and fall of the river and a flood was coming that threatened to sweep away the lions of Pride Rock. No one saw it coming - not the king, Simba, his aide Zazu, nor even the wise and sighted Rafiki. Yet coming it was, a flood so high as to block out the sun in a darkness so dense that it might engulf all those who so much as glimpsed it.

"She was weak. She didn't know when to stop, she got what she deserved."

"How can you say that about our mother?"

The cave was dark, the pride was asleep except for two who talked in the hushed tones of conspirators.

"Easy. She was way too old anyhow. If Kiara hadn't done it I'd have done it soon enough." The female almost laughed, "The way she used to talk you'd have thought Scar was still alive."

"He is, in our memories. He will rule again, one day."

"When's that then?"

The male lowered his voice until it almost melted into the rock of the walls. "When Simba's dead of course."

"And when will that be?" asked his sister sinisterly. She held her head straight against the shaft of moonlight which pierced the dense darkness of the cave. It caressed her cheek.

"Soon. Very soon, the time is almost right. Mother's plan will soon be fulfilled." He sighed inwardly.

"What are you waiting for?"

Vitani was careful not to use her brother's name, in case there was someone else half-awake in the cave.

"He trusts me! His dear sweet daughter actually thinks she loves me!"

Vitani's eyes glinted, caught momentarily in the shaft. "For a while I even thought you loved her too. That was some act you put on. You're good my little brother. I didn't think I'd ever say it, but you're very good indeed."

"Yeah, it's amazing what creativeness can come from a little lust for power." He smiled. "She'll want me soon, in a few days she'll be mine. Once my cubs are on their way I'll do what I have to with Simba. Once they are born I'll make sure you will be the one they call 'mother'. I'll keep my promise to you."

"Why Zira was right! You do have Scar's conniving mind, you really do. I love it!" She caught herself as her voice began to carry into the rest of the cave. She dropped it back to a whisper, "I never expected you to keep your promise like that though. When you said you'd give me cubs I had something else in mind." Vitani laughed, almost the self-conscious giggle of a young cub. A slight movement a few lengths away silenced her. She froze; the movement grew into a lioness' yawn. She closed her eyes for a moment then slipped back into the shadows, leaving her brother alone.

"Kovu? Kovu, is that you?"

He sighed silently, a somewhat pained sigh as if prompted by an annoying ache that wouldn't go away.

"Kovu?" came the voice again.

"Yes Kiara my love, Its me."

"What are you doing? Where are you?"

He lifted himself up from the stone floor and threaded his way back through the sleeping pride to his mate's side saying, "I couldn't sleep. I just can't stop thinking of you and how soon we'll be able to..."

"Then stop thinking about it and come outside with me."

Kovu stopped, his forepaw held in the air over a lioness' hindquarters.

"Come on, I've need you to do something that'll take those thoughts right out of your mind."

He watched Kiara as she rose to her paws and lead off towards the cave entrance. Silently, and under the cover of the shadows, he lifted his head and thought, "Now mother, it is time. Soon it will be Simba's time too." He chuckled, being careful to make it sound playful.

Together, the pair slipped away into the night watched only by the smiling Vitani.…

"Kovu. You and I are all that keeps this pride from harm. I don't know if I can keep this up alone for much longer." Simba sounded strained, as if the pressures of a ruling the kingdom he had taken back from his uncle Scar were becoming too much.

"What harm, Simba? What can happen to us? My… my mother's gone - what else can happen."

"I don't know Kovu. I can feel something; its coming but I don't smell what it is, but I know its close. I can almost feel it on my whiskers."

"Maybe you just need a rest." Kovu added a moment later, "Say, how about letting me handle things around here for a while?"

"No Kovu. Thank you, but no. This is still my kingdom and I've got to rule it. You'll get your chance soon enough, you and Kiara. But you've both still got a lot to learn." Simba's voice rose, as if his spirit was welling up within his heart. "I've got to teach you all about the hyenas yet."

"Aww, Simba! Not now. I've got to go down the waterhole with Kiara right now. Will it keep for later?"

Simba smiled. "Yes, it'll keep. It is the waterhole you're going to isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Simba's smile broke into a laugh, "That's what I was afraid of! Go on - have fun. And if you can't be good..." but Kovu was already more than a length away.

"I know. Simba - I know!" Kovu said as he raced away joyously.

Simba turned for Pride Rock, shaking his head, saying, "Cubs? Who'd have 'em?"

The cool morning turned lazily into a hot noon. The day slipped past like any other for Simba in a haze of sleeping, dozing and scratching. Nothing much ever happened in such sultry heat. Dreams crept into Simba's hazy mind: half-heard talk of betrothals and the half-feigned disgust that greeted it.

Kiara was not much like her father, he thought as morning gave way to afternoon. He had long since realised that she wasn't going to do a thing that he told her. So he had, it must be said after a long time of fruitless insistence trying, let her have her head. It looked like she was soon to reward her father's lenience with cubs of her own. Her own, and Kovu's that is. Simba thought Kovu was likeable enough, and ordinarily Simba would have had no problems with having him as a mate to his daughter, but these were not ordinary times. Kovu had come to the pride supposedly as a friend, then it appeared that he had turned against Simba - betrayed him to Zira. Then he had come back to fight for the pride once more. He said he loved Kiara, then again a lot of lions said a lot of things about lionesses without ever really meaning them or even understanding what they really meant. Kovu would probably be the king of Pride Rock at the sunset of Simba's rule. Knowing that the pride would be in safe paws should have comforted Simba, instead he just kept on wondering how safe those paws really were. If there was even a hint of the darkness of Scar's soul in his chosen heir then Pride Rock itself might even crumble to dust during his reign. Simba had to know, he had to find out for once and for all. He had to pull back the curtains of Kovu's heart and look into the darkness beyond.

Simba rose suddenly. His mane felt cold and damp. He was shivering yet the sun burned down upon the sleeping pride scattered about the acacia grove. His heart pounded within his chest, his legs ached as if he had been hunting all night. His skin felt clammy under its short, fine fur. He looked around, feeling driven to flee from some imagined foe. There was none, but that could not stop the surge of feelings within him. His breath shortened, his heartbeat quickened, yet there was no enemy to fight, no threat to run from. He flicked his ears from side to side distractedly, his eyes following momentarily behind.

"Zazu," he said sharply under his fluttering breath. "He'll know. He'll know!"

Through her shallow sleep Sarabi felt something brush on her exposed belly and roughly push aside her hind legs. She called out - a short grunted growl - but no one answered. By the time she had woken enough to focus her eyes all they viewed were shade-dappled forms of sleeping lionesses and the gently waving grasses of the open ground beyond. She drifted back into sleep.

"Mom, I know I should trust him, but I just can't."

"What is it about him that you can't trust?"

"I don't know. That's it - I just don't know him. I can't trust what I don't know, it frightens me."

"You have to follow your heart, and your instincts Simba. Trust in yourself, and trust in others will come to you."

"I know I can trust you..."

"I'm your mother. If you can't trust me who can you? But its not just about trust Simba, is it?"

"No… I guess not..."

"It's about letting go, and it's about love too. You do love Kiara don't you?"

"Yes, mother, of course. What parent doesn't love their cub?"

"You'd be surprised Simba. Open your eyes. Did Zira love Kovu? I mean really love him? What if he loved her?"

"Mother? What are you saying? You can't mean… No, you can't, surely?"

"I thought you said you didn't trust him? Now you do all of sudden? Which is it to be Simba?"

"Ok, ok. I get the idea.…"

"And anyway, What brought this on all of a sudden?" Sarabi looked deep into her son's eyes. "What is troubling you Simba? Where were you going in such a hurry this afternoon?"

For a second Simba's mind seemed to tussle with itself. His tail tip twitched; he sat down self-consciously as if to stop it betraying him. He turned his head away, then stopped, letting his head drop slightly as he turned back to face his mother.

"He wasn't with Kiara this morning." He seemed unlikely to say anymore, at least not without a little motherly prompting.

"...and?"

"He said he was going to the waterhole to see Kiara. I thought, 'Ok, let them have some private time to themselves'" Simba smiled. Sarabi thought he was probably remembering his times alone with Nala. "But later - this afternoon that is - I ask Zazu if he's seen or heard from Kovu. He says he saw him and a lioness by the waterhole that morning - This morning. 'Ok' I said, 'that must have been Kiara', "Oh no sire" Zazu says, "no, no. It certainly wasn't Kiara. No, no, it was that… now what's her name..." 'Sarafina?' I said. "No sire! That, err, Vitana - that's the one." 'Vitan-i?' I asked him if he couldn't have made a mistake, but no, you know what he's like. He got all flustered as if I'd insulted him or something."

"So? What's wrong with that?" asked Sarabi. "He can see his own sister can't he? You would, if you'd have had one."

"Yes mom, sure, but that's not all. Then Zazu says as he was flying away - he's sure he wasn't seen by them. He says we lions never look up! - he sees this other lioness."

"Young Kiara, I presume."

"No, Zazu's never seen this one before. He's no idea who she was. She looked a bit like Zira, but not so... what was that he said? Ah yes, not so 'scrawny'."

"An Outlander surely?" Sarabi said tilting her head to avoid a shaft of burning sunlight, "But didn't they all join our pride or leave the Pride Lands altogether?"

"Yes. So who is she? What's she doing here and why was she with Kovu and Vitani?"

"We don't know she did meet Kovu and Vitani, do we? Didn't you say Zazu saw her sometime later?"

"Yes, but not much later. Don't you see? They must have met! Something's going on, and I'm sure that Kovu's at the bottom of it."

"Can you sort it out Simba?"

Simba smiled reassuringly.

"You be careful and don't go taking any unnecessary risks - you hear?"

"Come on Mom, I'm a big lion now, if you hadn't noticed. Let me deal with this my way, won't you?" He fell silent. Sarabi smiled gently. Then he added "But just in case, there's something I need to ask you to do for me."

"Simba, I'm only your mother..."

"Yes, but, well do you remember when I was a cub? You'd always be right where I wasn't supposed to be. Remember? Even in the darkness you'd be there. You are good at that - slinking around."

"Simba!"

"Well, you are, admit it. At least you were..."

"I can still slink with the best of them!" She said smiling with raise eye ridges.

"I thought so. Now listen carefully..."

Sarabi listened carefully to Simba as around them darkness fell; the last light of day reluctantly giving up its place to the impatient pall of night.

"There's just one more thing. You… and Sarafina.… if it came to it - and it won't of course, but if it did... you two could take him down couldn't you? Only if it was really necessary?"

"Take down Kovu? Possibly. But that won't be necessary, Simba, I'm sure. Talk - talk to him. Go on! Hunt down whatever it is between you and him and drag it out into the open and take it down. If he really has got a dark secret buried away dig it out and let it die in the light of the sun. And while you're at it you can tell Nala all about it too. She needs to hear this more than I. She's your mate, I'm just your old mother. No go on with you, go and play!"

"Mom!"