The Lion King

And the Black-hearted Traitor

A/N: LionRoaR: Hey! Thanks for reading chapter two of The Lion King and the Black-hearted Traitor! I hope you enjoyed it! So, basically, we are introduced to the main characters of the story. More on that at the bottom of today's reading. The plot is about to take off, introduced with the lovable little daughter of the young prince Nasua, and the adventurous young princess Aliona. What will happen when both these young lionesses meet some handsome strangers? Read to find out! *laughs maniacally*.

Disclaimer:

Aliona: LionRoaR does not own The Lion King, Kovu, Kiara, or any of the original movie characters, but she does claim creative liscence for her OCs!

LionRoaR: *sniff* *sniff* That... that was so beautiful, Aliona... *wipes away tear*

Aliona: *rolls eyes*

Chapter Two

First Meetings

The sunlight glanced off of the watering hole's surface. Generally, I didn't involve myself in the lives of the strangers in these parts. But I had no choice. I gave one look to the surrounding area and then walked into the open, hoping for a chance for a drink. It had been a long journey – so many months of wandering. I sighed contentedly as I stretched and began my aimless walking again. I looked about me at the beautiful landscape. A paradise. But not mine to claim. My eyes found the imposing figure of the monument I had learned was called Pride Rock. My old nurse, Keke, had told me of it. But never before had I imagined its vastness. I closed my eyes and shook my head. What was I doing here? Was I looking for more trouble, invading on another King's territory? But what other choices did I have? This was the only watering hole within miles. I turned and was stunned to see a young lion cub wandering along, by herself. I walked forward and stopped her by pressing my paw on her tail.

"Oof!" She exclaimed as my action made her trip and fall. She looked up at me curiously, and then a look of fear crossed her face.

"Are you… are you a rouge?" She asked worriedly. I looked down at her with my dark green eyes, wondering what she could be thinking. Could she possibly know the meaning behind the marks across my face, this far south? Perhaps.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. But don't worry. I'd rather not hurt innocent cubs. I was just wondering why you were out here on your own? It's not safe, you know." I watched as a guilty expression crossed the cub's face. Then I released her tail and she saw up, dusting herself with a swipe of her paw.

"I'm sorry. I was looking for my auntie." The cub sighed.

"Your aunt?" I looked at her with my head tilted to the side. Sure, I understood the concept of family. But I'd been alone so long, the thought of loving or caring for another creature had long dissolved from my consciousness – or my memories. What did it feel like to have someone look for you, to have someone care for you? That I no longer knew. I had become a rouge in the truest sense.

"Yes. I'm Milele. My father is Narua. He's the Prince!" Milele exclaimed. I watched her face a moment longer and then turned to Pride Rock.

"You should be getting back. Your father must be worried about you." Milele looked up at me and then frowned.

"I… I guess so…" She murmured sheepishly. I looked at her closely and then laughed.

"You don't know the way back, do you?"

"Do too!" She exclaimed indignantly. After a moment of silence she hung her head and said, "Actually… I… um…"

"Don't worry, I'll take you back," I said. If truth be told, I wanted nothing to do with this cub. But I couldn't just leave her to the hyenas. She bounced alongside me, much more at ease than she had been when I'd first laid eyes on her. I watched Milele, wondering how she felt to be walking alongside a stranger. To me, I felt a faint sense of the comradeship I had lost so long ago. Finally I was forced to stop, standing in the great shadow of that ominous Pride Rock. I stared up at it and then turned to Milele, who was watching me closely.

"Can you get along well from here?" I asked with a strained smile.

"Yeah! Thanks, Jua!" She ran off, leaving me feeling as if she'd torn out my heart. Jua… my old nickname, come back to haunt me. I growled softly, hating these feelings that made me want to weep and roar with fury at the same time. I had grown since those days when I'd been powerless, a coward. I had learned to live in this world, alone and hated. I had gained more scars than just the permanent ones across my left eye. My mane had grown out, and was now a full and luscious gold halo around my dark tan-furred face. My face was not as long as my father's had been. I'd taken mostly after my mother in all ways – except the eyes. The forest green eyes I had inherited from dad. I wandered for a while, until I reached this long gorge. I took a deep breath and began climbing down one of the less steep paths. Suddenly I heard something nearby.

"HELP!" The voice was high and panicked, the call echoing even after the words had long turned into hopeless shrieks. I turned my head and without thinking ran towards the source of the plea. If I had once been a coward, then perhaps this was the moment to prove that I wasn't one anymore.

.~/:*:\\~.

Princess Aliona wandered up the side of the gorge, feeling the hardened claw beneath her paws give way. The dry season had only begun. The Princess looked up into the bright blue sky overhead, thinking of her brother, Narua. Narua was to inherit the throne, and with the birth of his cub, Milele, by his mate Wakati, he had provided the next successor sooner than any lion could believe possible. Princess Aliona knew of the relations between the Pridelands and a bordering pride of lions – the Northerners, as most called them, though their distinct name was the Kaskani. When Aliona was a very young cub, a lioness called Pienga came from the North and requested to enter the pride. Kovu, Aliona's father, had accepted Pienga and named her Aliona's nurse. The stories that Pienga could tell were unrivaled by any in the whole Pridelands. But with Pienga's years gathering on, there was little young Aliona could do to keep her wandering mind occupied. She liked to leave Pride Rock, despite her mother's incessant pleas that she stay home. Aliona wanted freedom, she wanted adventure. Was that so much to ask for?

The day was hot, sticky. Aliona wished that she had walked near the watering hole instead. It probably would have been a good idea, since Milele was bound to go there searching for her. The young cub had taken a liking to her eccentric aunt, and while normally Aliona didn't mind, being around Milele only reminded her of the life she would never have. She knew very well that the frictions between the Northerners and her own family would force her father into an agreement that would call a truce between the two Prides – an agreement that would undoubtedly end in Aliona's partnering with the only son of the Northerner's King. Aliona knew nothing about him, and knew that she could not love him – it was impossible. She had not once loved any lion, since they all treated her like some precious heirloom. She didn't want to be miserable for the rest of her life. So she wandered. It was all she could do, short of running away. But Aliona wouldn't run away from her problems. She simply wasn't that type of lioness.

"Hey there," a deep voice purred alluringly. Aliona started, whirling around to face the black-maned lion that had appeared from behind a cleft in the cliff. She flexed her claws, arching her back. But she knew she was cornered, with only a steep climb behind her and a huge rouge blocking her only way out. In this moment, fight was her only option.

"Now, now, don't be unpleasant, love," the rouge growled, though he sounded as if he enjoyed her futile struggles. Aliona felt despair clawing up her heart, but she refused to give up. With a harsh cry, she launched herself at the lion. She clawed at his face, but he was stronger than she was. With a well-aimed swat he threw her aside. She slammed into the rock wall and gasped, feeling the air rush out of her, leaving her breathless. The male approached slowly, his tail waving back and forth tauntingly. He placed a paw on her side, forcing her down.

"HELP!" She shrieked, roaring with all her might. Then she wailed in pain as the lion dug his claws into her back, silencing her.

"Don't worry, love. It won't hurt… much…" He chuckled. Aliona closed her eyes tightly, wishing that she could just disappear. Why had she ever been born? Was her entire life for nothing? It certainly felt that way as the lion circled around her, keeping his forepaw pressed between her shoulder blades. Suddenly there was a huge, booming roar and the weight was lifted from Aliona. Her eyes flew open and she whirled around, her claws still unsheathed. Her jaw popped open as she walked a beautiful flash of gold whirl around the bulky rouge, striking the larger lion on the snout. The golden-maned lion leaped up and climbed onto the other's back, biting into the rouge's ear. Aliona felt a certain sense of satisfaction at seeing the rouge growl and roar in frustration.

"Alright, alright! I get the message! She's all yours, scum!" The rouge snarled. The golden lion released him and backed off, keeping himself in between Aliona and the rouge. The golden one snarled deep in his throat.

"Just go," he said in a deep, rich voice. Aliona was at once driven towards it, intrigued. There was an air of mystery about this handsome lion. He was a good size, with strong muscles but a frame that was lean enough to make him agile. He had well-shaped ears and a well-defined jaw, as well as vibrant green eyes. He turned slightly to look at her, no expression on his face. She gasped. She hadn't noticed before, but across the left side of his face five long, red scars ran from just below his left ear to his cheekbone. The lion blinked once, cocked his head, and then turned his attention back to the rouge.

"Fine. But you shouldn't be so relieved, princess," the rouge lion snarled at Aliona, not evening suspecting that she really was the Princess, "That lion there's a Eusi Moyo Mhuni if ever I saw one." He spit once in the golden lion's direction and then turned his back.

"Mhuni is just fine," the golden lion replied as the other vanished from view. Aliona felt a new throb of fear as he turned towards her. She had no idea what a Eusi Moyo Mhuni, or just a Mhuni, was, but she had a feeling it wasn't a good thing at all. She took a step back, wishing she had tried to escape when she'd had the chance. The golden lion cocked his head at her and then nodded slightly.

"Don't worry. I may be an outcast but I'm not heartless." His brow furrowed, as if he were both irritated and amused by what he'd said. Aliona still didn't trust him. She unsheathed her claws, digging them into the rough soil of the gorge. The golden lion watched her closely and then sighed. He walked a little towards her, but to the opposite side of the canyon. Then he stopped, motioning with a paw towards Aliona's fastest route to safety.

"There, see? You can go." He turned and began walking towards the steeper cliffs, his tail twitching.

"Wait!" Aliona ran forward, feeling as though he wasn't as bad as he seemed. She knew she was probably just behaving stupidly, but she wanted to know more about this mysterious golden lion. She was unlike anyone Aliona had ever seen before.

"Yes?" He cocked an eyebrow at her, staring with his deep green eyes and an impassive look on his face.

"T-thank you… for saving me," Aliona said.

"No problem." Was it her imagination, or did the muscles around his eyes relax, almost as if he would have smiled if he could? But then there it was, a little grin revealing just a bit of his white teeth. Aliona's heartbeat stuttered in her chest.

"What's your name?" She blurted out before taking the time to think about her question, "I mean, that is… if you want to tell me." She amended. The lion stared at her intently.

"Don't have one." He said at last.

"Everyone has a name," Aliona protested. He cocked his head.

"I suppose."

"So what's yours?" He was quiet.

"Where are you going?" Aliona persisted, feeling her confidence returning. She wanted to know about this lion.

"Nowhere. Anywhere." He said emotionlessly.

"You don't have a home?" Aliona inquired.

"Nope." The lion replied.

"Then why don't you find one?" She asked. The lion laughed humorlessly and shook his head. Aliona could tell he wouldn't respond to that question. She figured she was being nosy, but she didn't want to part with this handsome stranger just yet.

"And what is your name?" The lion asked suddenly.

"But I asked you first!"

"It's polite to introduce oneself before asking the other party's name." The golden lion smirked at her as he spoke. Aliona frowned, feeling a bit like her mother had just scolded her for saying something rude to one of the Northern Pride's emissaries.

"I'm Aliona," she said at last.

"I see," he murmured with a teasing grin.

"Not funny," Aliona mumbled. She looked up at him.

"Will you be staying in the pridelands long?" She asked hopefully.

"Probably not," he replied, watching her face with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Please… promise me that at least for tomorrow you'll meet me? By the watering hole? At dawn?" She begged. She knew she was acting rashly, foolishly. She knew that her mother would disapprove of her actions. But Aliona was so sick of the monotonous life of a princess. She wanted fun, adventure, mystery! And she could sense that this lion had many mysteries about him. Was it so bad that she was curious? Her heart twittered nervously as the golden lion flashed her a breathtaking smile.

"Yeah, sure, if you want me to." He began to climb up the steep cliff and then paused, looking back over his shoulder to call, "Oh yeah! My name's Basrun, by the way."

Basrun.


A/N: LionRoaR: So there you have it! You have officially met Milele, Aliona, and Basrun! These OCs will play a major role later on. Here's some basic biographical info on them!

Name: Basrun

Gender: Male

Appearance: Broad-shouldered, powerful lion with a lean build that makes him both powerful and agile. He has dark green eyes, a well-defined face, and dark-tan fur. His mane and the tip of his tail are a brilliant golden color. Five long red scars run across his left eye, and his claws are strangely black.

Personality: Calm, reserved, but warm-hearted and kind - or at least on the inside. Sometimes he can be a bit surly and defensive, since he's had to scrape up a living on his own for a long time.

History: Secret ^.^ But since you already know some things about him I will tell you. He was banished from his pride for some despicable deed. His father's name is Kirefu, and his only sibling is a brother named Kahrun.

Name: Milele

Gender: Female

Appearance: Small, petite golden cub with light creme streaks and bright golden eyes. She has a few cuts across her left ear from when she wandered off one afternoon into a hyena's layer.

Personality: Bubbily, happy, rarely calm. She's hyper and doesn't sit for long periods of time. She's also known for her kind and adventurous spirit, and is often compared to her aunt, Aliona.

History: Basic. Her father is Nasua, the prince of the pridelands. While Nasua is young for a father, he is no less loved by his daughter for it.

Name: Aliona

Gender: Female

Appearance: Lean, beautiful lioness with rich dark fur (like Kovu's) and brilliant blue eyes (see Vitani's for an idea). Her most redeeming feature is probably her silken fur, which grows abnormally long across her nape and spine for a lioness. She also has two black tear-tracks down her cheekbones, which sometimes make her look sad.

Personality: Quiet, reserved, but outgoing and deeply loyal when you get to know her. She's obsessed with adventure and fun, always looking for something new to do and new places to explore. She wouldn't seem that way, but she often hides different parts of her hobbies - and her feelings - from those around her.

History: Her father is Kovu, mom is Kiara, brother is Nasua. She is aware that many believe she will soon be given to the prince of the Northern lands as his mate, to seal a peace treaty between their expanding kingdom and the Pridelands.