Simba took a deep breath as he walked down the streets. By now, most of the town, at least, those who had lived here for a while were used to his presence. He was a prince of the Empire, even if he was a lion.
By now, after a year and a half here, he was fully grown. In many ways, he was the spitting image of Mufasa. The same red mane and golden brown fur, muscular build and facial features.
By this point, he had been training with the Shaolin for months, and was a strong fighter, and thanks to the training of Maethoruin, one of Tyromairon's followers, he could now extend his claws up to three feet if he had to. It definitely would help him fight if he had to.
He stopped, however, when, he heard a loud roar, followed by the sound of...Kylie and Amelia screaming.
His eyes widened, and without a second thought, the lion rushed off to defend his sisters. There were currently no lions that lived here besides him, Nala and Adia, so this was naturally very concerning!
They weren't that far away, just a ways into the forest, judging by their yells.
Still, he knew full well that every second counted!
Finally, he saw the two leap over a tree stump, followed by a large lioness!
With an ear splitting roar, Simba leapt into the air, getting between the lioness and his sisters. The lioness naturally roared at Simba, warning him to step out of the way so she could eat her food.
Taking a closer look at the lioness, she really… wasn't as big as he thought. In fact, her rib cage protruded outwards and was clearly visible! Clearly wherever this lioness had come from, she was greatly malnourished.
The look in the lioness' eyes told that she didn't care if she lived to eat the food, or die to escape the pain..
Simba bared his teeth. "I'm warning you, miss, if you harm these girls, you're going to die." He wasn't kidding either. If there was one thing he had learned from his father, both of them, is that you defended your family.
"You think I care!?" The lioness roared back. "I come from a place that has little food now! Little water! The herds have all moved on! This is the only potential full meal I've found in many moons!"
"I don't care!" Simba roared back. "I'm not letting you hurt my sisters! Not..." Simba froze. "Not after how I lost my first father! And not how I nearly lost my second family!"
"Your second family? Child, I do not care of your personal affairs! I am starving! I need food! So you have two choices: either step aside and let me extinguish this agonizing pain in my stomach, or kill me and let this conversation be over with!.."
Simba was about to reply, before he finally got a good look at the lioness' face. In her eyes, he saw she was pleading, but more than that, he saw…
His eyes widened. "...M-mother?!" He asked softly. It had been over two years since he had ever set foot in the Pridelands. Only now did he recognize her.
The lioness cocked a brow, still obviously not seeing the relation.
"Have you lost your mind?" The lioness questioned, beginning to get defensive. "My only son died many moons ago.. He and his father, the original king of our Pridelands, both died in a wildebeest stampede.."
There was silence, before the lioness scowled and finished,
"Then that bastard took over as King.. He let those mangy scavengers inside, and they have wrought nothing but chaos!"
"I escaped, mother." Simba replied. "Scar sent the hyenas after me, but I escaped here." He looked her in the eye.
"It's me, mom. Simba."
This time, the lioness known as Sarabi, the former Queen of the Pridelands, widened her eyes and stepped a bit closer. She looked Simba up and down now, as if trying to judge whether she was actually hearing and seeing things right..
After much deliberation-
"S- Simba!?" Sarabi questioned aloud, her voice cracking and stray tears coming to her eyes.
Simba nodded, and had to smile a bit.
He was caught off guard when Sarabi ran into him and nuzzled him with utmost affection. The tears leaking from her eyes released a lot of emotional pain, and just like that, a huge weight was removed from her shoulders..
"By the Great Kings I thought I'd lost you!" Sarabi exclaimed, unable to contain herself.
"It's okay. I'm alright mom." Simba said, trying to hold back tears himself.
He stopped. He looked at Kylie and Amelia, who looked absolutely dumbstruck by this display. He had a lot of explaining to do, it seemed.
Sarabi finally pulled away, and looked at the two girls she had earlier been hunting down, before asking Simba,
"You mentioned you had.. a second family? Are these two-" She looked at Simba. "-Are they among them?.."
Simba nodded. "Yes. I'll...explain it as best as I can."
Simba proceeded to tell his mother what had happened. How he arrived here, was saved by three kind humans named Jack, Alex and Drew. How Jack, and his love Kyle had adopted him as their own son. How he, Kyle, Jack, Amelia, Calvin, Rexy and Hobbes(Calvin's tiger friend whose existence or presence no-one could explain) had become a family.
"They raised me like I was their own. I love them, mom. That was why I couldn't let you hurt them. We've all been going through a lot lately here. I...can get you food, however." Simba finished.
Sarabi really looked like she had some questions, but an intense pain in her stomach caused her to cringe again, which kept her from doing so. Instead, she nodded her head, immediately taking Simba up on his offer about food.
As they looked like they were about to leave, Sarabi looked over at Kylie and Amelia with an expression of both guilt and embarrassment,
"I.. I do want to apologize for trying to kill you. But you must understand, it was not personal.."
Kylie hesitated, before saying. "We know, Miss Sarabi. That was the only way you knew how to get food. There's no hard feelings..."
She then chuckled. "Pleasure to meet you, though. Simba has definitely told us about you and his pride."
"All good things I hope?" Sarabi actually tried joking to lighten the mood a little bit, looking at Simba with a smirk.
"Yes, mom..." Simba sighed. He got enough scolding from Kyle..
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It was strange not having to hunt down any food. In fact, it seemed even stranger that someone had brought them food without even asking to get a share of the kill… However, the meat, Zebra by the look of it, looked really good.
Sarabi wasn't in the mood to really care about the taste, though. Within seconds, the entire plate of Zebra was gone..
"Still one of my favorite foods..." Simba chuckled. "Sometimes needs a bit of parmesan though."
Sarabi immediately cocked a brow while licking the blood from her muzzle.
"Parme- What?.." Sarabi asked, utterly confused.
"It's a topping that..." Simba realized how long he had been away from home. "Nevermind..." He chuckled. "I can explain later."
"Are you feeling any better, Sarabi?" Amelia asked.
Sarabi looked down at the child and couldn't help but give a smile. Human children, or children from any species were a blessing that Sarabi took to heart.. Amelia reminded her so much of the cubs back home!
That is.. before Scar had the male cubs all executed..
"I'm.." Sarabi began, trying to get that horror out of her head now. "I'm much better now, little one.. Thank you."
Amelia nodded.
Simba noticed this, before he heard Nala call out a little ways away,
"There you are. I thought I heard voices in the back…" She froze when her eyes met with Sarabi's.
"Sarabi…?" she gasped in disbelief.
"Nala..?" Sarabi called back with a smile beginning to form. Sarabi stood up and rushed over towards the now grown cream colored lioness! "Where have you gone!? Your mother and I, as well as the rest of our pride sisters searched everywhere.."
"Well… I was running away from hyenas who tried to harm Mheetu, and I hid in a cave to evade them, but I had no choice but to go further into the cave as the hyenas blocked the only exit, and eventually, I emerged in this place, where the humans looked after me, especially my adoptive father, Alex," Nala explained.
"Well.." Sarabi began, before looking at everyone else with a newfound grin. "It seems these humans have cared for you two, well.. I am forever thankful to have found you two again! I knew the Great Kings would guide me down the right path one day.. Your mother-" She began to say to Nala, a tear forming to her eye, gaining a saddened yet grateful expression.
"-Your mother would have been proud to see the beautiful lioness you have become.." Sarabi told Nala. She then turned to Simba, giving him yet another nuzzle. "And your father.. How proud he would be to see what you have become. You look just like a King!"
Simba stopped.
A king…
He was still a prince of the Empire, and Jack himself had told him that he would rule one day.
Just like Mufasa had…
"My adoptive father, Jack is an Emperor, and since I was his first adoptive child, I'm..." Simba trailed off.
"You're.. in line for the throne…" Sarabi answered, her voice revealing obvious disappointment and sadness.
"That doesn't mean I can't take both thrones." Simba said.
"I'm not letting Scar get away with what he's done." He added.
"My son, you can't just rule two thrones at once.." Sarabi responded, obvious concern in her voice. "I know you're strong and hard headed just like your father but," Sarabi shook her head, looking into Simba's eyes with absolute worry.
"You can't be in two places at one time.. You'll eventually go mad.. Ruling is not easy for one kingdom, let alone two."
Simba took a deep breath. "I've learned from two of the best."
He looked at Kylie and Amelia. "And worst case scenario, I can rule primarily in the Pridelands, while my sisters keep an eye on the rest of the Empire."
He looked at Sarabi. "Mother, I know you're worried-"
"And why shouldn't I be worried!?" Sarabi exclaimed, her emotions getting the better of her again. "I thought I lost you in that stampede! I lost both of the ones I loved most that day, and I never felt the same since then.. But now," Sarabi looked into Simba's eyes.
"Now that you're alive, well.." Sarabi sighed tearfully. "I just don't wanna lose you twice in the same lifetime.."
Simba nuzzled her gently. "I promise. I'll be fine. You won't."
Sarabi took a deep breath, standing firmly and informed Simba,
"You don't understand, my son.. Things are a lot different than they were when you were last there! Besides Scar and his hyena army, he also has.." Sarabi began to remember horrible memories, taking another breath before finishing, "Scar has many allies.. Dangerous allies.."
Simba looked at her. "Who are these...dangerous allies?"
Sarabi looked Simba in the eye with an eerily scarred expression, before after a few seconds of silence answered,
"They call themselves.. the Dark State.."
Simba's eyes widened, but to Sarabi's surprise, his face turned to that of determination. "Kylie, Amelia, get Dad and the others."
As the girls ran off, Simba looked at his biological mother.
"What are you-" Sarabi began, before Simba cut her off.
"They attacked us. We've fought them before. We can fight them again. My adoptive dad beat several of them before. Scar isn't the only one with powerful allies."
"NO!" Sarabi yelled, getting incredibly defensive. "You can't go! It's too dangerous! You don't understand, they will kill you! What if-" Sarabi began to breathe heavily once more. "-What if.. he is there?.."
Who Sarabi was referring to needed no explanation.. It was obvious that she was talking about the Dark leader, himself..
Simba took a deep breath. "They hurt my adoptive mom, they hurt my sisters. I'm not going to let them hurt my home too."
"Not when we can save it!" He added.
"Simba, I beg of you! Please don't-" Sarabi began, before Simba looked her in the eyes.
"You won't. I promise." He then added.
"Father always told me to protect what I love. That is what I'm going to do."
Sarabi said nothing more.. She was unable to. Instead she just looked down towards the ground in silence, waiting for Simba to do whatever he was going to do.
She figured whatever happened now, it was in the Great Kings' paws now..
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After a short while, Simba, Nala and Sarabi were joined by several others. Tyromairon, Venatorius, Maethoruin, Adia, Raiden, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade had joined them.
"Glad you guys could make it." Simba chuckled as their allies arrived.
"Why have you summoned us here?" Raiden asked Simba, curious as to why he dragged him and some of his Earthrealm allies from their training. Venatorius crossed his arms, similarly curious.
"My original home is under Dark State control. We have a chance to eliminate them, and liberate the innocents there."
Adia narrowed her eyes, as if studying Sarabi's facial features. Her eyes widened a bit and she gave a friendly smile, suggesting,
"Y'know you really do have the same eyes that Simba does.." She turned to Simba and began to ask, "Is she?..."
"Everyone, this is my birth mother, Sarabi." Simba said proudly.
"Pleasure to meet you, Queen Mother." Tyromairon spoke.
"Yes.. It is an honor, Your Majesty." Adia told her with an honorable Shaolin bow, which she had mastered at this point. "My name is Adia."
Sarabi chuckled.
"It's good to meet you all.. I must admit, I am.. rather nervous about returning to the Pridelands so soon, as I have just escaped from its tyranny.."
Everyone present listened with their full attention on her.
"But I suppose I cannot let my emotions and doubt get in the way of driving this evil out of there.. The Pridelands are my home.. They were Simba's home! Nala's home!" Sarabi paused for a bit, before she finally finished,
"We all need to stand together, and we need to help the remaining living pride sisters escape such madness! Just as I did.. We need to overthrow Scar, drive away those Dark invaders, and regain our home!"
"And we will!" Nala declared.
"Worry not, Your Majesty." Kung Lao now spoke respectfully with a bow of his own. "We will liberate your kingdom."
Simba smiled before the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard. He turned, and saw it was Jack.
Simba's grin widened. "Dad." He greeted.
This immediately caught Sarabi's attention, as she cocked her brow and looked in the direction of Simba's adoptive father.
Jack noticed Sarabi as well, and the two nobles walked towards the other, before they finally stopped, looking at each other very closely. It was as if they were examining the other, and because of this, tension was very thick.
"So.. it is you who has been the guardian of my son over these many moons?" Sarabi asked of Jack.
Jack nodded. "Yes. He has told me about you, Queen Sarabi."
Sarabi seemed to understand, before she looked back at Simba, and after a couple more seconds, returned her gaze to Jack,
"And I suppose you've been.. treating him well the whole time he's been here?"
"Like my own flesh and blood." Jack replied, before adding. "He was definitely a handful at times. As I assume he was for you."
"Oh, yes.." Sarabi nodded, looking at Simba once again with a smirk. "That goes without saying."
"Hey!" Simba protested.
Sarabi then turned back around with a slight chuckle, and regained her serious expression. She took a deep breath, and decided to ask Jack one final question,
"Do you love him?"
"Yes. He is much my son as Calvin is, and Amelia and Kylie are my daughters." Jack replied.
Sarabi's serious expression was soon replaced with a smile.
"Then.. I suppose that's all that really matters." She looked up at Jack, before she added, "I owe you a lot, human.. And you have certainly gained my respect."
"You owe me nothing. He was a child that needed help. I would do the same for any child, no matter their species." He smiled a bit. "I can see where he got his eyes from."
Sarabi couldn't help but grin, looking back at Adia, before commenting,
"I get that a lot.."
Jack nodded in acknowledgement. "So we're all here, what's the plan?"
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"So the Prince's mother just escaped?" Brian asked Scar as he looked over the desolate wasteland that was the Pridelands. It wasn't in a demanding or angry tone, just curious. Scar was already one of the more...capable members of the Dark State's new recruits, at least in terms of intelligence, and Darkseid himself had ordered them to follow his orders while in the Pridelands.
"Oh I don't know.." Scar sarcastically began, motioning to the group of lionesses who laid down in exhaustion down below Pride Rock, with Sarabi obviously absent.
"You tell me.." Scar added.
"Don't test me, Scar." Brian growled, annoyed at the lion's attitude. Brian's line had been a part of the Dark State for decades. Scar was still a new recruit who had just happened to gain the Dark Leader's favor.
"Temper, temper.." Scar responded, his monotone voice unchanging. "I'm merely suggesting that you take in your surroundings, and be the judge for yourself. Had you simply used your eyes, you wouldn't have needed to ask me such a pretentious question, now would you have?.."
Brian huffed, and stalked off, in no mood for games. As he left, he was approached by Zod.
"Has the feline struck a nerve once more?" The Kryptonian general asked him.
"As he's been doing for weeks now.." Brian growled. "I have no idea what Darkseid sees in him."
Zod's eyes widened a bit, before he pulled out his communicator, making sure it still wasn't on. Once his fears were put to rest, he gave a sigh of relief, and responded to Brian's comment very cautiously,
"Well regardless, it would be wise not to question his motives right now.. We live in an uncertain time, and have been successful thus far. On most occasions.."
"My son definitely shows the drive of a Dark State lord..." Brian couldn't help but admit a bit pridefully.
Zod cocked a brow.
"You mean the Dilanian Emperor?.. The boy?" The general asked.
"Yes. I hear the Dark Leader himself is considering turning him into a powerful weapon..."
"If he is wise.." Zod pointed out. "If the boy resists, there is indeed that chance that the Dark Leader could in turn decimate him.."
"Don't sugarcoat it. He joins or he dies, that's the truth." Brian said bitterly. "That redhead whore is the reason he refused. Little faggot has corrupted him..."
Zod normally would have been annoyed due to Brian's attitude, but he figured the effort wouldn't be worth it anyways. Why waste his energy arguing with one who paled in comparison to him?
"Aye.." Zod simply responded with a sigh, before he asked, "Any word from Scar on our next move due to the former Queen's escape?"
"Aside from his usual drivel, nothing." Brian growled.
"HEY BOSS!" Shenzi yelled, running up to Scar.
"Keep your voice down, you mangy scavenger!" Scar growled at the hyena in question. "What do you want?.."
"A group of humans, lions and some weird creatures are approaching! One of them killed Ed!" Banzai exclaimed.
"What!?" Scar exclaimed, his green eyes giving off an evil, angered aura about them. "Where are they!? Tell me.. Tell me now, Banzai!"
Shenzi and Banzai looked to each other, hesitating.
"I suggest you speak up.." Scar warned, slinking closer to them, unsheathing his claws. "That is.. unless you want all your precious scraps taken away.. I could also just as easily call upon the Dark Leader if there are any.. concerns that need to be addressed.."
"A lion named Simba and his adopted dad or something." Shenzi said nervously.
Scar's piercing green eyes immediately widened, losing any sort of glow they had temporarily, before he snapped out of it and regained his composure.
"That's.. That's impossible.." Scar muttered to himself. "Simba should be dead!" He shot a seething gaze over at Shenzi and Banzai, due to the fact that he instructed them to kill Simba after the stampede.
"Why does the brat still live!?" Scar snapped, causing Banzai and Shenzi to shrink down in nervous fear.
"The question is how long will you live, Uncle."
"No.." Scar gasped, whispering quietly to himself. As he turned his head towards the source of the voice, Banzai and Shenzi took off, as if to get back up.
"Simba.." Scar chuckled nervously. "My favorite nephew-"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart." Simba snarled.
"Is that Simba?.." A Pridelands lioness whispered to another in the pride.
"I dunno. I think it is!" The lioness responded.
"The rightful King has returned to liberate us!" Another lioness yelled at full volume now. This caused all the weakened yet temporarily rejuvenated lionesses to cheer, rushing in the direction Simba was in, cornering Scar on top of Pride Rock now.
"Oh, Simba.." Scar continued to chuckle nervously. "You must understand.. That was so long ago. Things have changed now! I've realized now how hard it is! I mean- I mean the pressures of ruling a kingdom-"
"Are no longer yours." Jack spoke.
"Step down." Tyromairon ordered.
Scar looked at the path downwards from Pride Rock to see an entire group of warriors stepping up now. Scar took a terrified few steps backwards, before he bumped into something.
Scar immediately shot his gaze behind him, only to see a seven foot tall thunder god. Scar was completely surrounded..
There was a snap hiss as Venatorius joined Tyromairon and Jack. He activated a black lightsaber, and aimed it towards Scar. "And as the false king falls, the true king rises..."
"Not quite.." They all heard a deep yet calculated voice say directly above them. They all looked up to see Lex Luthor, who was in some sort of armored suit with a built in jetpack in the feet. Lex Luthor looked down on them with a chilling, confident smirk.
He was joined by several other men, including a few dark robed figures.
"You made a mistake coming here..." Darth Maul added.
"I think you have it backwards!" Johnny Cage yelled out. He then smirked in an effort to annoy him, and added sarcastically, "Nice sunburn.."
"I will enjoy gutting you..." Darth Maul growled.
"Our time has come..."
Jack turned towards the cave to see a hooded figure approaching. "For an entire year, we prepared, we grew stronger..."
Several others came into view behind him as he walked towards them. "While you rested in your cradle of power, believing your people were safe and protected."
He stopped. "You assumed no force could challenge you..."
He activated a blood red lightsaber. "And now...finally,"
A dozen more red lightsabers activated behind him.
"We have returned..."
Using this distraction, Scar began to run away towards the top of Pride Rock. And with that sudden movement, the Battle Of Pride Rock had officially begun..
Simba roared as he ran after Scar. The Sith charged at them, joined by the Hyenas.
Jack dodged a swing from a Sith, before cutting him down, before turning to see Lex Luthor.
"Show me what you can do.. Emperor!.." Lex Luthor challenged with a devious, planning smirk.
Jack grinned, and raised one lightsaber, before pulling out his new weapon, a vibranium rapier!
Lex Luthor could only chuckle with a scoff.
"Fancy toys.. But mine are better!" He said, before raising both of his arms and revealing some built in turrets, loaded and ready to fire.
Lex Luthor fired his turret arm guns that surpassed the speed of even a minigun. Jack blocked several bullets not with his lightsaber, but by deflecting them with the Force, even redirecting some back at Luthor, before rushing forward.
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"Murderer..." Simba snarled.
Scar backed up as the thunder began to grow increasingly louder. Just as Scar was going to say something, lightning came down and struck Pride Rock, setting it ablaze. It created a circle of flame around the top peak of Pride Rock, as if trapping them in some sort of small arena.
Soon after the lightning came down, they heard the battle cry of Raiden down below as he shot lightning from his hands, soon after the splatter of blood and guts being heard.
"Simba.." Scar began, trying his best to keep away from the fire. "Simba, please I beg you-"
"Everything you ever told me was a lie!" Simba replied angrily as he closed in.
There was a loud bang in the distance, before Lex Luthor's suit leapt into view, before landing nearby.
Jack soon followed, ready to continue the fight, before noticing Simba was there. The two stood beside each other, ready to continue the fight.
"Here for the taking..."
A slender lioness with a notch in her ear stepped into view, joining Scar. "So...this is the brat you told me about?" She asked Scar, unimpressed.
Scar regained a bit of confidence knowing that he now had backup. He smirked wickedly, before replying to the lioness,
"Yes, Zira.. This is the furball of Mufasa, himself.."
"Why do you fight, Jack?.." Lex Luthor asked the Dilanian Emperor. It was a simple and obvious question really, but yet for some strange reason Luthor had brought it up..
"To protect my home, my people and my family from monsters like you..." Jack replied. "You won't get a chance to hurt them again!"
"Oh, Anderson.." Lex shook his head. "Foolish, gullible Anderson.. I think that is where you are sorely mistaken." There was a brief pause, and just before Jack could reply, Luthor spoke again,
"Are you sure that's the true reason, Anderson?" Lex stayed calm and collected as he said this, as if he had already had Jack trapped. "Do you really do it for your people? Or is there something more?.."
Jack looked down for a bit, before Luthor finished,
"Ah.. yes! You love the way it feels, don't you? You love the sense of power everytime you win a fight! You do it because you're addicted to it.."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "No. I do it because it's the right thing to do-"
"You and me both know that's a bunch of clichéd nonsense!" Luthor cut Jack off. "I can't be too surprised of course.. You know.. Because of your lineage and whatnot.."
Jack cocked a brow. "What's that supposed to mean..?"
"I also understand you are under the impression you do it because of your beloved wife, correct? Or should I say husband?" Luthor tapped his chin with his finger in a dramatic sense. He then shrugged. "It's a different time.. I can never be too sure anymore, you know? Not even a super genius like myself can figure out the enigma that is that… thing that is your spouse.."
Jack's eyes blazed. "You won't speak of her like that!" He yelled.
"Say one more word and you die!"
Lex Luthor stayed very calm, however, and he could only chuckle once again.
"A tempting threat, Mr. Anderson.. But I'm afraid I won't be heeding such advice for today.." Luthor looked into Jack's blazing eyes, with his calm yet evil ones. "I can't say all bad things about your spouse.. She has been.." Luthor paused briefly. "Rather helpful towards the Dark State's objectives.."
"What are you talking about...?" Jack demanded.
"He means your wife has been part of the result for the Dark State's massive success over this past year!" Scar interrupted.
"My mother would never help you! Neither of them would!" Simba declared.
Suddenly through the burning flames, Adia jumped through with a roar, ready to fight if she had to. She had fought off much of the Dark State and Hyena forces down below, and they had cleared enough out to where they could handle the rest.
Adia decided to scale Pride Rock, just in case Simba or anyone needed help up there.
"Nice of you to stop by, princess.." Lex Luthor smirked. "The adults are still talking right now, but you can sit down for a bit until we're done.."
Adia roared directly in Luthor's direction.
"Can it, baldy! This is where your terror ends!"
"How cute.." Luthor smiled. "I'll remember to go after you once I've dealt with the Jedi wannabe." He insulted, referring to Jack.
"You won't get a chance..." Jack snarled.
"One way or another, this is going to end!"
"Oh yes.." Luthor rolled his eyes. "I've heard that one before.. You wanna know the most interesting thing in common they all had to say 10 minutes after speaking the generic line you just did?"
"Oh do enlighten us!" Simba growled. "I tire of these games!"
"Nothing.." Luthor grinned evilly. "Because they were too busy in Hell while their brain was filled with lead.."
Adia's expression kind of paled for a brief moment. Just the way he had said it.. So calm.. So knowing.. It was as if he was already three steps ahead of them already!
That shook Adia to her very core..
"Not this time!" Jack growled.
He leapt at Lex Luthor, but what he said next caused everything to freeze dead in its tracks.
"Kyle's demise is set in stone by the year's end.." Luthor spoke simply.
Jack froze.
"If you touch her-"
Out of nowhere, Lex Luthor pulled out a small grey remote and pressed a button near his chest area,which revealed a small television screen that was now exposed clearly on his chest.
On the screen, it looked as of it was live camera footage. And on that camera was…
Kyle, with Stan, Kenny, Gwen, and his kids. They seemed to be just sitting in his living room, talking. Everything seemed so peaceful.
Simba, Jack, and Adia were speechless. Was...that really them? What was…
"Tell me, Anderson.." Luthor began with a grin that said he had already won. "Has your wife's left arm been.. itching lately? Has she complained about something like that?.."
Jack and Simba looked to each other, knowing full well the answer.
In fact, she was scratching her arm again on the camera. Kenny seemed a bit concerned by that.
"Your arm itching again, Kyle?" He asked.
"Yeah...I'm probably going to see a doctor about that."
"Better safe than sorry." Gwen said in agreement.
Luthor looked directly at Simba, and then at Jack, before saying,
"It's too bad she won't ever get to go to such an appointment.."
"No.." Jack whimpered. "Don't."
"Oh, you don't want me to press this button!?" Luthor mockingly asked, pointing at the button on the remote. "This one right here? Well why not?.."
Jack's hand was shaking, and he attempted to force pull the remote. But...nothing happened. It didn't move an inch.
"Oh… fuck.." Adia whispered, her face showing absolute submissive fear in that moment. She absolutely feared what Luthor would do next!
Lex Luthor looked down at the remote, and then up at Jack's face, which showed absolute fear and desperation.
"Don't!" He pleaded.
His hands were shaking, and his lightsaber fell from his hand. Jack was breathing heavily, and he looked to be on the brink of tears. "Not her..."
Luthor looked at Jack with absolute dominance, knowing that he had complete control..
"You don't want your whore of a wife to die, then you have to follow every demand I give you.. Do you understand!?" Luthor aggressively asked.
Jack hesitated for a moment, and in that moment of weakness and indecision...her fate was sealed.
"Long live.. the Queen!" Scar exclaimed with evil laughter following close behind it, and with that.. The button had been pressed..
Kyle's face almost immediately fell from a peaceful smile to a slight grimace, and she looked at her arm, clutching it. "What the hell..." She muttered.
"Mom...you okay?" Kylie asked.
"K- Kyle?.." Stan asked, setting Kenzi down on the couch as he stood up to walk closer to his friend.
Kyle's face contorted into a pained expression, before she fell forward, collapsing on the ground.
"Kyle!" Kenny screamed, rushing over to her and searched for any response. "Kyle!? Kyle you gotta get up!"
"Holy fuck, dude!" Stan yelled, his face paling. He now saw that Kyle was having some sort of seizure now, and was throwing up at an excessive and painful rate.
"CALL 911!" Kenny screamed at the top of his lungs, as he tried to keep Kyle as stable as possible. It was clear from the look on her face she was in immense pain! This was not a quick and painless death in the slightest..
Then, she stopped, and fell still…
Amelia rushed to her side, and tried to shake her mom awake. "Mom! You gotta get up! Mom..." She began to cry. "Mom..."
Kenny tried to feel for a pulse, but..
Nothing.
"Goddammit!" Kenny yelled out, trying his best to perform CPR on her. "Goddammit Kyle you are not gonna die on me! You can't!" Tears were coming from Kenny's eyes now, as if all the hope had immediately been sucked away.
"Kyle.." Stan cried, kneeling beside her now lifeless body. He was unable to say anymore, as the tears took completely over. Kenzi, who was sitting on the couch, even began to ball her eyes out as well. She still wasn't fully aware of what was happening, but what she did know was that what was happening to Kyle, is what happened to her Grandma..
"No..." Simba whimpered.
Jack was silent for a second.
It was as if everything in the world had been ripped from him.
Kyle was gone. The one he loved...was gone… Just like Dana…
Jack began to tremble.
"And just like that, there was one Imperial down.." Luthor spoke. "Hmm.. I wonder if I should tell you what we did with Amelia while she was kidnapped.."
Jack narrowed his eyes, and for the first time, they burned yellow and stayed that way. He stood up.
He looked Lex Luthor in the eye.
"At last, my son, you understand..."
Jack turned to see Brian approaching.
"You...you're going to die for that..." Simba said to Lex Luthor. Adia roared in absolute rage, baring her teeth. Within the lioness' eyes burned literal flames.. Where they had come from, no one else knew.
Luthor laughed directly at Simba's threat.
"No I'm not.." He knowingly told the lion prince, before activating the jetpack on his suit. "Not unless you can fly!"
Almost immediately, Lex Luthor shot up in the air, and zoomed off at top speed through the cloudy, dark sky, already knowing what was to come next.. Just then, a Dark State shuttle decloaked, while the Death Star arrived overhead.
Brian, Scar, and Zira embarked on the shuttle, before Brian turned to Jack. "Last chance, son. Surrender now, and your Empire won't share the fate of your whore..."
Jack looked at his father for a moment.
He looked at Brian for a moment, before he made a fist, Brian began to gasp for air as he was suddenly lifted into the air.
"I'll never join you, Brian." He snarled viciously, before closing his fist tight. There was a sickening crack as Brian's neck snapped and Jack's father fell to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, Simba and Adia simultaneously roared, before Adia spoke in Traditional Chinese,
"Zhè shì zhànzhēng!"
It echoed down Pride Rock, to where everyone could hear it. Only a few of them knew what it translated to: Raiden, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Tyromairon.
"What the hell did that mean?" Sonya Blade asked her allies.
"Yeah.. It sounded like some sort of weird language.." Johnny Cage commented soon after.
"It is Chinese.." Liu Kang answered, his usual calm expression holding a bit of unease now, sensing that something major had happened. "She said.. 'This is war'.."
As the shuttle left, Jack took a deep breath, before unleashing an animalistic scream that could be heard for miles. In fact, it sounded like a roar, not a scream. The rage and pain was clear.
The Death Star began charging up it's weapon, but thanks to Tyromairon's mastery of the force, they, the Pridelanders, and everyone else were transported to Earth just as the Death Star fired.
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Kenny, Stan, Kylie, Amelia, Calvin, Hobbes, Kenzi, Lee, Grant, Caesarius, Carandial, Wendy, Gwen, and a few others were at the hospital, waiting for news on Kyle.
However, they were, caught by surprise when a burst of light, followed by Jack, Tyromairon, Adia, Simba and Raiden stepped into view.
"Guys!?" Stan asked, still sitting down in a chair in the waiting room. He appeared to be in absolute shock. "What the hell happened? Where were you guys!?"
Jack looked to them, and as everyone looked at him, they saw his eyes were filled with the sickly yellow of the Dark Side.
"Kenny, Carandial, Grant, Lee?" He asked calmly.
"D- Dude.." Kenny began to say, slowly getting up and observing the yellow eyes. "Your.. Your eyes.. They're-"
"Destroy the Dark State." Jack said in a commanding tone. "All of it! All those who support it! No quarter! No prisoners!"
He closed his eyes. "For Kyle."
Everyone present looked among each other, starting to put the pieces together. However, just as it looked like Stan was gonna ask for some final confirmation, Adia answered for him,
"Lex Luthor killed Kyle!"
Everyone gasped, their faces holding boiling outrage and shock.
"That's.." Stan began. "That's impossible!" He pointed at Kenny and Kylie. "The three of us were with her! She just collapsed!"
"Luthor inserted some kind of microchip inside her left arm.." Raiden spoke now, causing everyone to look at him. He appeared to have his eyes shut, seeing potential visions of how this all could have transpired. "It unleashed a lethal dose of poison into her bloodstream when the microchip was disturbed.." He now opened his eyes, before finishing,
"Whatever disturbed that device, that is what killed her.. From what I saw, the device was installed with such expertise, that it would have been impossible to physically remove it without interfering with its inner workings.."
"He was holding her hostage all year..." Simba spoke. "Waiting for the opportune moment."
"Guys! We just heard!" Geoff exclaimed as he, Duncan, DJ, Trent, Heather and Bridgette arrived.
"Is..." Trent began to ask, but when he saw Gwen shake her head quickly, he realized the truth.
"Guys.." Bridgette genuinely and softly began to speak. "I am so sorry this had to happen.."
"Who would do such a horrible thing!?" DJ now asked with tears, genuinely feeling bad for the family. He also appeared to be chilled to the very core that the one responsible for her death was likely still out there!
"The Dark State." Simba said.
Jack looked at Kenny. "Kenny, get your fleet ready, we're going to make them suffer for this."
"I'm going with you!" Simba declared before Kenny could even speak. "Those bastards killed my mother!"
"I don't know about you guys.." Duncan of all people actually seriously began, before approaching Jack. "But I know a thing or two about firing a gun.. Now if there's any way I can help put these fucktards in their place, then you can count me in!"
Most everyone seemed shocked by that declaration! Especially his friends from camp!
"Nobody.." Duncan added with a serious expression. "Fucks with family.. They do that, they go down!.."
Jack looked at Duncan. "Welcome to the Imperial Navy." He said.
He then looked to Kenny. "You good with leading this attack?"
Kenny still appeared concerned about the color of Jack's eyes, but at this point, his anger for losing another of his best friends in the world simply overshadowed any of that..
"You're goddamn fuckin' right I'm good with that!" Kenny exclaimed, beginning to walk towards the exit. "Let's not give 'em a chance to breathe!"
Jack nodded. "I am trusting you to conquer a major Dark State world. Taking Orbispira will show them who they're dealing with. And from there, we'll take every inch of territory until the Dark State is left in the ash-heap of history."
"Orbispira?!" Carandial exclaimed. "That's...our former capital...Brave, but...reckless..."
His expression then turned to one of determination. "I request to join Kenny's invasion force. Those monsters will bleed for this."
"Come on then.." Kenny motioned towards himself. He then pointed at Duncan. "You too! Let's go.. You're with me. You ever fire one of those guns in the arcade games?"
Duncan seemed rather hesitant upon answering that, but did anyways,
"Uh.. Yeah?"
"Then you should know how to fire from our star destroyers.."
"I'm going too!" Adia declared.
Raiden appeared to get sudden visions, before his face appeared to be in that of shock. He quickly turned to Adia, sternly saying,
"No.." Adia widened her eyes in shock, and even some very clear anger.
"What!? Why not!?"
"You are not yet experienced enough.. In my visions, I have foreseen it: their leader, Darkseid.. He captures you and auctions you off as a slave! And who he sold you to was-" Raiden cut himself off, getting horrible memories once again. He glanced over at Tyromairon, which pretty much sealed who the thunder god was referring to..
Raiden simply shook his head again.
"No.. You cannot go, Adia, and that is final! You need more training at the Wu Shi Academy.."
Adia could not believe what she was hearing! A member of her family had just been murdered and now she couldn't even help them!?
She wanted to argue! She really did! But Adia remembered who she was talking to, and tried to remain as respectful as she could.. This was the Protector of Earthrealm.. And she was a Shaolin. Shaolin did not lose their temper and let emotions get the better of them..
"Yes, Lord Raiden.." Adia sighed, obviously disappointed.
Jack frowned, but said nothing else. His eyes were starting to slowly return to blue. He took a deep breath, and sat down.
"Give them hell, guys..." Was all he said.
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Kenny, Carandial, Lord Maethoruin of the Guardians, Duncan, Simba, and Kenny's subordinate Rear Admirals, Helo Roslia, Thonaloc and Tector Decimius were gathered in the briefing room. It was time to declare objectives.
"Orders, Grand Admiral?" Carandial asked, emphasizing that this was Kenny's turn to be in command.
Kenny couldn't help but get flashbacks of the last time he was in charge.. The day that Thrawn met his untimely demise.. Kenny took a deep breath, before he tried to focus himself, and get back in the game.
"Alright, boys.." Kenny began. "We clearly have a big mission on our hands! Orbispira is our target for invasion, and any Dark State member or anyone affiliated with them is to be immediately euthanized! Understand?"
"Yes, Admiral." Tector spoke. "They shall be wiped out. All of them."
"They will fall. That I can assure you." Maethoruin added.
"Let us not get too overconfident.." Kenny replied, actually showing a bit of maturity for perhaps the first time in a military operation. "They are powerful.. One of their members was literally smart enough to plant a microscopic microchip into my friend's body which in turn not only gave away Imperial information, but killed her!"
Everyone remained silent, out of respect for Kyle. They seemed to understand what Kenny was saying.
"That is all I will say.." Kenny added. "Let's fuck them up, but at the same time, not get too carried away, either.. Do not underestimate them! Do you understand? That is an order! That would be a huge mistake, and may cost you your life! There's a reason they keep evolving every day!"
"Understood." Thonaloc replied. "What is our plan?"
"Okay.." Kenny began, pulling out a pen and began to mark down a sort of lay out drawing. "So trivia question: what happened to Nazi Germany that fucked them up at the end of the war? What was their weakness? What were they forced to do towards the end?"
"Two front war?" Helo Roslia suggested, from what little he had learned of Terran wars.
"Very good! You win a prize! You get to fire the first shot at those asshats!" Kenny dramatically exclaimed, before he got serious again, "But yes, anyways, a two front war is going to be our strategy in this invasion.. That'll not only split us up, but their forces too! Let's keep that in mind.. We have the advantage of a surprise attack if we're lucky, so we're gonna have to make that count.."
"You got it.." Duncan replied as he gave a salute. Kenny didn't really care Duncan didn't follow proper protocol. Hell, even he didn't do it all the time.. But eventually, if he decided to stay in, he would need to learn such protocol..
Carandial turned to the window. "Coming up on the planet now. Shall we return to our respective ships?"
Kenny nodded, before commanding,
"Yes.. Move quickly! You never know what else those sneaky fucks may have up their sleeves.."
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It was quiet in the Orbispira solar system. Patrolled by a relatively small number of star destroyers, a product of the lack of rebel activity, which had been crushed in recent months, the planet was in a state of total occupation. It's citizens were under constant watch and often suffered at the hands of the occupiers. It was a harsh occupation. Largely because of the one in charge. Taev Vosaetiur had defected to the Dark State during its conquest of Cyrannus. He felt he needed to prove himself by showing the lengths he'd go for his new masters.
As the star destroyers circled the planet, they were caught off guard by the massive form of an Imperial dreadnought and it's escorting star destroyers! Kenny's fleet had arrived. Well, half of it. Kenny was waiting for the opportune moment to spring the trap.
"There ya go.." Kenny muttered to himself. "You motherfuckers!"
Kenny was cut off when he received a transmission on his communicator.
"Wow.. Uh, is this thing on?" Duncan asked to himself, before Kenny couldn't help but stifle a bit of a laugh.
He remained silent for just a little bit, before-
"RAHH!" Kenny yelled into the communicator, which scared the ever living hell out of Duncan, who nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Aghh.. Wha-" Duncan stuttered, before Kenny finally asked,
"Duncan.. Dude, you good in there?"
"Besides the part when you gave me a heart attack? Oh yeah.. Peachy…" Duncan responded with an unamused expression. He immediately took back that statement, though, when he added, "Well uh.. actually, there's a lot more shit here than I thought there was gonna be! What's with all these buttons?"
Kenny shook his head with a sigh. This was definitely not an ideal position to be in mid attack! Kenny eventually responded to Duncan, trying to act quickly,
"Tell ya what.." Kenny began. "When you see one of those fuckers, just- Press 'em all and find out! Okay? I don't care.. Go nuts.."
Duncan appeared a bit hesitant about this, but didn't really have time to argue otherwise.
"O- Okay.." Duncan hesitantly responded, before Kenny finished,
"Admiral McCormick out.."
Kenny then began to rub his head, getting a slight headache.
"Oh, Jesus.." He muttered. "Well that isn't concerning at all.."
"Kenny?" Thonaloc communicated.
Kenny sighed, before he replied,
"This is Kenny.."
"Looks like the Dark State...deployed their own Dreadnoughts. We got one incoming!"
"Son of Saddam.." Kenny muttered, before he regained his focus and ordered, "Listen to me! Be very, very careful with that fucking thing in your vicinity! One good blast from that thing and you're fucked! Buuut you kinda knew that already.." He was briefly silent, before finishing, "You all be on the defensive for now, and when you see a good opening, you open fire on that behemoth! Do you understand?"
"So...a few courtesy licks before shoving in rough without warning?" Thonaloc asked, picking up on Kenny's more...vulgar patterns of speech. Kenny could just imagine Thonaloc grinning ear to ear from his own ship.
"Thonaloc.." Kenny smirked. "You're an immature motherfucker.. But that's why I love ya! You got it! Now go out there and let's win this thing!"
"Understood!"
Kenny looked over the battle. The enemy fleet was counterattacking, but had left their right flank exposed. All the dreadnought's star destroyers were on the left, engaging Kenny's fleet. However, Kenny still had the rest of the fleet under Carandial waiting for their chance to strike…
"Uh.. Carandial?" Kenny began to contact him. "You've done this long enough.. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what to do."
There was no response for a second, before the rest of the fleet arrived directly beside the enemy dreadnought.
"Surprise motherfucker..." Carandial growled as his ships began to open fire. There was a burst of gunfire from the Kyle. It seemed Duncan had figured out how to work the guns.
"Woo!" Duncan exclaimed as he fired shot after shot. "Take that you Dark State assholes!"
Thonaloc had just downed a star destroyer. "Duncan?" Thonaloc asked on the communicator.
"Yo.." Duncan responded as he managed to down a star destroyer himself.
"Score's two to one. Whoever downs the most of those tin cans buys the other a drink when we get home!"
Duncan couldn't help but laugh in amusement, as well as determination,
"Wow.. You're really gonna challenge me to this while you have a head start? Uh uh.. Let's fix that real quick.."
Just like that, Duncan brought down yet another star destroyer, almost immediately after he finished his sentence.
"Score's two up now, man! Game on!" Duncan exclaimed with a smirk.
"I can't believe you're turning a battle into a game..." Helo Roslia chuckled in both amusement and exasperation.
His ship proceeded to destroy another Star Destroyer. "Your move, Tector."
The radio was strangely silent, before Tector Decimius's star destroyer launched several well placed shots that downed two more star destroyers in seconds! "Amateurs..."
"This is your fault, you know..." Carandial said jokingly to Kenny.
"Well.. You know what they say," Kenny began with a chuckle. "A fun military is a ruthless military! Or.. something like that.."
"Uh, I don't think I have heard that.." Duncan pointed out. "But I like it!"
Within minutes, the entire enemy remaining enemy fleet had largely been destroyed. Duncan and Thonaloc were tied for first place it seemed.
The enemy dreadnought was on the brink of being destroyed itself, and was trying to retreat. Kenny, however, wasn't going to give it the chance.
"Bye, bitch.." Kenny muttered, before unleashing several well placed shots aimed directly at said dreadnought. That was all it took. The enemy flagship exploded after one of the shots hit it's engines and ruptured it's fuel.
With that, the enemy fleet was defeated.
"Boys?.." Kenny asked aloud, followed by a brief moment of silence.
"Yes, Admiral?" Thonaloc asked.
Kenny's serious expression shifted to a wide smile.
"We did it, mothafuckas! Hell yeah!" Kenny exclaimed in victory.
He could hear the cheers from everyone's communicators. Everyone in the fleet was celebrating the victory. They had won the battle, and maybe, down the line, the war…
"Looks like we both won, Duncan..." Thonaloc chuckled. "Eh, at least Helo and Tector have to buy us drinks..."
Duncan shrugged with a weak grin.
"Good enough for me.." He responded.
"Kenny...?" Carandial began, sounding stunned.
"Carandial?.." Kenny questioned in return, a bit confused.
"The enemy ground troops are retreating. The planet is ours...We just liberated the capital of Cyrannus!"
"The first step in defeating this great evil..." Tector Decimius commented.
"And also hopefully the first step towards a better world." Kenny added, before he looked down sorrowfully. "A world that would have made Kyle, Bebe, and Drew proud.."
"Agreed." Everyone else in the fleet said solemnly.
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Everyone else was waiting in Jack's living room, silently praying for good news. Kenny's fleet hadn't checked in for a while.
Kylie was cuddled up to Jack, while Amelia laid against Simba's side. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Stan looked towards Jack, and saw that his eyes had finally returned to their natural blue. However, they were clouded with tears and sorrow.
It was a terrible, yet unfortunately common thing to be feeling these days.. You had to hold on to what happiness you had left, because in today's world, it could very easily be taken away from you in an instant! Just like Bebe.. Just like Drew.. Just like Kyle..
Stan now looked down when he felt a tugging on his shirt. It was Kenzi, and her face held that of sadness and slight fear.
"Daddy?.." Kenzi began to ask.
Stan picked Kenzi up, and sat her down in his lap once again.
"What's wrong, baby?.." Stan gently asked her, holding her tight. Kenzi hid her face into Stan's shoulder, as she admitted,
"I'm sad.."
Stan widened his eyes a bit, before he asked her,
"And why are you sad?.."
Kenzi now looked up at Stan a bit, before she answered,
"Because everyone else is sad.."
Stan didn't know what to really say in that moment. What she had just said.. It was so unexpected!
"Kenzi.. Honey, we're not sad. We're just-" Stan tried to come up with a lie to help her feel better, but Kenzi cut him off,
"Yes you are.. You- You're all sad because you look the same way you did when Gramma and when Miss Kyle.. died."
Once again, Stan was lost for words. This kid was smarter than he thought! She really paid attention.
"I-" Kenzi began to speak again, tears streaming down her face. "-I don't want anyone else to die! I love evwebody! Where's Ken Ken!?"
Stan's entire heart just shattered right there! 'Ken Ken' was Kenny's nickname that he and Kenzi had come up with together. In a big way, Kenny was another family member to her! He was around whenever he could be, and helped out with her however he could..
"K-" Stan began to say, trying to recover a little bit. "-Ken Ken is still out doing important stuff.. He'll be back soon, okay?.." He asked softly, trying to get her to feel better.
"Okay.." Kenzi replied with sadness, not fully believing those words. She gave Stan a hug and hid into his shoulder again, before Stan returned the hug, holding his daughter tight.
Kenzi was his everything now! And to see her sad.. It just broke Stan's heart!
He prayed to God that Kenny and those on the fleet would be okay..
Simba got up, and headed out. "I...need some air..." He said softly.
As he left, Stan saw tears falling down Jack's face. He was looking at…
At the picture Jack and Kyle had taken at Disneyland when they first started dating. Kyle...looked so happy there. Same with Jack. They seemed truly happy with each other in that picture. And considering what happened after, they truly were happy…
It was then that Jack noticed another picture which was hidden underneath some stuff on the table. Upon picking it up, he saw that it was…
It was from his and Kyle's wedding.. In this particular picture was Jack holding his newlywed, along with Drew doing a similar pose with Bebe just to be funny. Also in the picture was Kylie, Amelia, Simba, Adia, and on her back a then Baby Kenzi..
That was too much. Jack began to tremble, and he began to sob. He cradled his head in his hands, and wept. Jack, the proud, defiant, determined Emperor was weeping like a child. In fact, Stan had only ever seen someone cry like this...when he and Kenny had found Kyle all those years ago…
Stan hid his own face into Kenzi's shoulder as she once again began to cry herself to sleep. It truly was a negative and hopeless energy going around the whole room..
Stan silently prayed to himself in that moment.. He prayed for better days ahead.
He prayed that everything would be alright…
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"Where has the starlight gone? Dark is...the day..." Simba sadly sang. "How can we find our way home? Home is an empty dream. Lost to the night..."
Simba looked up at the sky. "Mother...I feel so alone...You promised you'd be there. Whenever I needed you. Whenever I call your name, you're not anywhere. I'm just trying to hold on, just waiting to hear your voice. One word, just a word will do...to end this nightmare."
That was a song he had learned as a cub. It was from a story Rafiki had told him about a boy who lost his father…
He sang it when he lost his biological father. Now, he sang it when he lost his adoptive mother…
"Son.." A feminine voice spoke, causing Simba to immediately perk up, thinking for a split second that Kyle might have actually heard his pleas.
However, his hopes were dashed when he saw Sarabi walking towards him. He smiled sadly, happy to see his birth mother. But the pain of losing his adoptive mother remained very strong.
Sarabi sighed, before she nuzzled Simba sympathetically.
"Oh, Simba.." Sarabi muttered softly and with comfort. "I know how much you're hurting right now.."
"Dad...told me that the Great Kings look down on us from those stars..." Simba said, his voice cracking. "I hope they're watching over both of them...Father...please take care of my adoptive mother...Mother...please do the same...I...miss you both so much..."
Sarabi couldn't help but shed a sorrowful tear of her own. The death of her mate and true love still affected her greatly, and she would forever miss him..
"I know they're both watching over you, right now!.." Sarabi told Simba, forcing a smile.
Simba smiled slightly. "You know what's one thing that made me love her so much?" Simba asked Sarabi.
"I don't know.. What?" Sarabi obliged.
"I...taught her that lullaby you used to sing to me when I was scared. Kyle would sing it to me every night when I was still a cub...Just like you did...It...was like having you again in a way..."
Sarabi couldn't help but have a couple more tears fall down her face, as she leaned against Simba while giving an occasional nuzzle of comfort.
After a fair bit of silence, Sarabi gave a warm smile and looked at Simba, beginning to sing that same lullaby.
For a split second, Simba was frozen, before he smiled, a mixture of sadness and happiness. It was a comforting, loving song.
As she sang, he could swear...he heard another voice singing… Maybe it was just the wind, but he could swear...he could hear both his mothers singing the same lullaby that meant so much to him as a cub...
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"Stan?"
Stan was caught off guard by Kylie's sudden question. He thought she was asleep, to be honest.
"Urm- Uhh.. What is it, Kylie?" Stan groggily replied, having been woken up after being half asleep.
"Where...where's daddy?"
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Simba, Sarabi, and Jack rested against the grass, looking at the stars. It wasn't that cold out, being summer and all…
"Sarabi?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Jack.. What is it?" Sarabi responded after a bit, still looking closely at the many star patterns.
"Simba told me the Great Kings Of The Past look down on us...Are there any Great Queens up there as well?"
Sarabi's response was a simple one,
"Who do you think is keeping all those kings in check?" She quipped with a slight chuckle.
Jack had to smile. "Kyle would definitely keep things in check. She always had a very strong belief in doing what was right..."
"Yes, I don't deny that.." Sarabi softly spoke. "I unfortunately never got much of a chance to actually meet her, but from what I've heard, she sounded like a remarkable woman, and just as remarkable a Queen.. Well, 'Empress'. Whichever you prefer.."
Simba smiled. "I think mom liked Queen more, but she kinda made a point of making people address her as Kyle in the last few moons...Just like how dad wanted most of the pride to know him by his name, and not his title..."
"As it should be.." Sarabi agreed. "I'm that same way. Some nobles will let such power go to their head, and will abuse their title.. That's why me and your Father preferred to know our Kingdom on a more personal level.."
"That is the best way to rule..." Simba said, while Jack nodded.
Jack was about to reply, before he noticed some clouds were rolling in…
"There wasn't supposed to be rain tonight..." He spoke, before slight thunder began to crash all throughout the sky, and the clouds looked like they were… opening up!
"Simba..."
Simba's eyes widened, and the clouds began to take shape into the form of a lion and…
Jack froze. Beside the lion was a young woman…
"Mufasa!..." Sarabi yelled just above a whisper, half speechless as tears began to come to her eyes.
"Jack, Simba, you have forgotten us." Kyle's specter spoke.
"No." Jack replied in surprise. "How could we?"
"You've forgotten who you are, and so forgotten us.." Mufasa's deep, powerful phantom spoke. "Look inside yourselves, Jack.. My love, Sarabi.. Simba! You must take your place in the Circle Of Life!"
"How can I go on?" Jack asked tearfully. "I..." He trailed off, unable to say it.
"Remember who you are." They both said.
"You are my husband, the true Emperor and the one who must stop Darkseid." Kyle declared.
"You will forever be my true love, Sarabi.." Mufasa's spirit gently, yet powerfully told her. "You must be there for our Son.. You must be there for the pride!"
"It has been hard without you, my love!.." Sarabi cried, shouting up at the sky. "I miss you!"
"Our time shall come, my Queen.." Mufasa spoke. "You must fulfill your destiny here on Earth beforehand.."
Sarabi couldn't stop her tears, and could say no more. Though she said nothing, her and Mufasa both knew she understood completely..
"And Simba.." Mufasa talked to his son now. "Remember who you are!" He reminded. "You are my son, and the one true King! And the heir to two thrones. Remember who you are..."
With that, Mufasa's specter began to fade, as did Kyle's.
"Remember..."
As their specters faded into the night sky, Jack looked to Sarabi and Simba. "The winds are changing..." Simba spoke softly. "They're right. We need to take our place."
"I.." Sarabi began with a sniffle, still obviously heartbroken that she couldn't be with Mufasa again. "I must return to the pride. It is what your father would want.."
Simba nuzzled his mother. "I...I'll go with you for now. They deserve some consolation after losing their home. Our home..."
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Never before had they been like this. Every one of them. Not once in their long history.
Every member of the Dark State was terrified right now. From the lowliest soldier to the highest lord…
For the leaders gathered in the conference room of the Death Star, awaiting the arrival of their Dark Leader, it was as if they were waiting to receive their sentence.
They all flinched slightly upon hearing the door open, followed by some giant footsteps. As many of them shook in fear, their concerns were confirmed when indeed Darkseid stepped into the room.
The Dark God's face appeared rather.. calm. Almost too calm.. He had his arms behind his back, and strolled in almost casually.
"Has everyone fared well today?.." Darkseid asked everyone, as if daring someone to speak.
"As...good as we could be, my lord." An Imperial Admiral by the name of Kendal Ozzel sputtered. His three subordinates, General Maximilian Veers, and Captains Firmus Piett and Gilad Pellaeon looked at him like he was insane for even speaking.
"Is that so?.." Darkseid responded, his blank expression curling into a wicked smirk. "Where is Taev?" He asked. "Shouldn't he be here on this fine occasion?"
Several soldiers looked down, while the other villains all struggled on how to tell Darkseid the fact that...he was killed when Orbispira fell…
"AGHH!" Darkseid suddenly yelled in anger, tossing a nearby chair through a steel wall! This caused everyone present to nearly jump out of their seats, before Darkseid's eyes glowed a murderous red!
"What have a told you about losing to these humans!?" Darkseid yelled, obviously way past his boiling point. "We have not only lost another battle, but an entire planet to their forces! How insignificant can you fools be!?"
There was silence, before Vader looked at Palpatine, his eyes burning in anger. This was Palpatine's fault for lending that brute one of the new fleets…
Vader then remembered something. "Krennic ordered half of the Orbispira Defense Fleet to suppress possible Rebel activity in a nearby system. It turns out it was a trap. The Director gave the order, and Palpatine confirmed it. The blame...lies with them."
Tarkin cocked a brow in both surprise, but also amusement. Vader had just dug Krennic and Palpatine's graves. Davy Jones narrowed his eyes in noted disapproval of their apparent decision, while Lex Luthor could only cross his arms with a humorless chuckle,
"Hmph.. Useless.." Lex Luthor muttered.
Darkseid looked directly at Vader, before his gaze immediately shifted to Krennic with his teeth clenched in rage, his eyes glowing red now.
"My lord..." Krennic began in utter terror, before-
ZAP!
Within the blink of an eye, Darkseid fired his Omega Beam from his eyes and directly hit Krennic, which turned him to mere ash..
Palpatine's eyes widened, and for the first time, the Sith Lord felt genuine fear. He knew he stood no chance against Darkseid, as powerful as he was…
Before the Sith Lord could even process another thought-
ZAP!
Darkseid blasted him as well, turning one of the most powerful Sith who ever existed into nothing but ash on the floor now..
Everyone else looked down, trying not to draw attention to themselves.
"Vader!" Darkseid called out now, clearly not in the mood to delay anything.
Vader stood up, awaiting what he assumed to be his own fate. "Yes...my master?"
Darkseid faced Vader, but instead of vaporizing him like the Sith Lord thought, Darkseid instead informed him,
"You are hereby granted the position of my second in command.. Utilize this position wisely, and do not make me regret this decision!.."
Vader was silent as he processed that information, before he replied. "I will not, my lord. The enemy will know the price of failure."
However, one of the Dark State members looked on in shock, his face paling slightly,
"But.. But Dark Leader!" Zod began to protest. "I thought I was second in comman-"
ZAP!
Smoke now replaced the Kryptonian who once sat in the chair, Darkseid's glowing red eyes now returning to how they once were.
"Not anymore.." Darkseid spoke, before shaking his head. He continued to have his hands behind his back, before walking across the room, every member's gaze never leaving him. "The Kryptonian was extra weight.. He masqueraded as a General, but never kept those insignificant fools in proper order.." Darkseid then faced everyone,
"Wouldn't you agree?.."
"Yes, my lord." Vader, Zillum and Davy Jones all said quickly.
"Luthor! Slade! Zillum! Vader!" Darkseid called out once again, before motioning for them to follow him. "With me.."
The group called immediately stood up, and followed their master.
Darkseid led them into his quarters, which he had arranged as a smaller little meeting room. Darkseid walked over to the throne chair that sat inside, and took a seat. He motioned towards the other four chairs, before commanding,
"Take a seat!"
They immediately did so, before awaiting his orders.
"What's this about?" Luthor had to question with utmost curiosity, before Darkseid replied simply,
"I've chosen you four because I believe you are among the most capable of assisting me in completing this task.."
"What 'task'?" Deathstroke asked.
"We are to launch a full scale invasion on the planet Earth!.." Darkseid revealed.
"I request permission to lead the invasion of North America..." Zillum requested.
"Hmm.." Darkseid began to mull over, already appearing to know why he was requesting such a thing. "You desire revenge on the boy, don't you?.."
"Yes, I do. He's humiliated me one time too many. He's more a thorn in my side than Apollo or Tyromairon ever was."
"Well then.. if I allow you such a privilege," Darkseid began. "there is only one condition I demand you follow.."
"My lord?" Zillum asked, awaiting the condition.
Darkseid sat up in his chair, getting more animated,
"I shall go to North America as well!.." Darkseid now stood up, before adding, "I have confidence you shall destroy the boy.. Meanwhile I will destroy all that he and his miniscule little Empire have wrought!"
There was a brief pause, before Darkseid finished,
"In the event that he is still alive after I have fulfilled my destruction, I shall finish him off, myself!"
"Understood." Zillum declared.
Darkseid looked at everyone, before he announced,
"We will not be the only ones who partake in an invasion of this scale.. There shall be one other.."
"Who will be joining us master?" Vader asked.
At that moment, there was the sound of metal hitting the floor, and a tall, muscular alien stepped into view. He had black armor, green skin, and tentacles hanging from his face, giving him the look of having an octopus on his face.
"Meet Vilgax.." Darkseid wickedly smirked. "The newest member of our legion.."
"Pleasure to meet you..." Vilgax said coldly, sizing up his new 'allies'.
"Most impressive, Lord Darkseid." He finally spoke.
"Where is it you come from.. Vilgax?.." Lex Luthor tried sounding out. "Where did you and our Dark Leader first come into contact?"
"I come from another reality, along with..." Vilgax trailed off. "The Omnitrix..."
"The 'Omnitrix'?" Deathstroke questioned, before giving a slight chuckle. "Sounds.. valuable."
"It is more valuable than any of your so-called precious metals or currency. Whoever controls the Omnitrix," he looked at Darkseid. "Controls the Universe."
Darkseid's eyes immediately lit up, but in a good way this time.. A wicked smirk once again formed on the Dark God's face, before he asked,
"And.. where might this 'Omnitrix' be?.."
"On Earth. I have tracked down its location to a small town, locally known as South Park."
"Hmph.." Lex Luthor humorlessly chuckled, before pointing out, "Why is it that any and every objective in front of us always manages to tie into that hick town? The town that Anderson lives in, nonetheless.."
"The capital of the Empire..." Zillum commented. "If the boy discovers this 'Omnitrix'..."
"Then I shall vaporize him with my Omega Beam and allow the Omnitrix to fall into his remains.." Darkseid confidently, yet darkly responded to Zillum. "The boy is weak! Even Krennic held more fragments of intimidation than him.."
"I agree." Vader spoke. "He will fall, Omnitrix or not. It is our destiny to rule over all others."
"And crush those who oppose us!" Vilgax added in agreement.
"And reap the rewards!.." Deathstroke included on his own.
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It indeed had been well over a year since Drew first made his appearance in Bhutan. He had learned so much after that talk with Revan that entire year ago.
Drew has learned a total of twelve different languages fluently already, due to Ra's and Revan's constant strict studying schedules. He had also mastered multiple more martial arts compared to the ones he had already thought he mastered! To his surprise, he managed to learn even more to fighting than what he had already known..
Such notable martial arts he had spent the last year perfecting included: Ninjutsu, Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido.. among many others he had begun to dip his toes into..
Ra's promised Drew that by the time he had been a member for a little over a few years, he will have mastered every martial art on Earth! As well as learned every language! That is, unless Drew cracked under the constant, strict pressure..
But Drew had done relatively well, all in all! He has been improving in his training day by day, and made only occasional errors. His mind had still not fully recovered from Bebe's death and the thoughts of his family, which is what led to said errors..
It was a slow, but sure process, however.. In time, Ra's and Revan figured that Drew's emotions would be cleansed..
Currently, Drew had been tasked by Revan to prepare for his basic training graduation. Throughout this whole year, his basic training had been grueling! But now, it appeared that everything would soon pay off..
Drew had to pass this last initiation and test, and once he did, would become an official member of the League Of Assassins!
Drew was practicing his stealth, as well as his sword attacks, but was caught off guard when he saw Revan clutch his chest, seemingly in pain.
Drew widened his eyes a bit, before he rushed over towards him.
"Revan!?" He questioned him. "Revan, are you alright?"
"I...felt...a great darkness." Revan rasped. "Something's coming. Something dark."
"A darkness?.." Drew repeated aloud. "What kind of darkness did you sense?"
Revan was about to reply, before he looked up. Within seconds, almost every person on Earth was doing the same.
Looming overhead, were hundreds of Star Destroyers, thousands of smaller craft, and behind them, the Death Star itself.
"What.." Drew breathed. "What is this!?" He attained a stern and slightly angered expression. "Has Zillum finally returned?"
"More than that..." Revan whispered. "Someone far worse..."
"We must tell Ra's about this, we must prepare for defense!"
"No need.." A voice spoke from behind Revan. Drew and Revan both looked in the voice's direction, which was coming from the doorway. They immediately recognized it to be Ra's.
"I have instructed Talia to gather all female members and recruits at our front gates.. The males have already begun to make their way towards the entrance as well."
Ra's walked forward a bit, before looking directly at Drew.
"This is a most rare and promising opportunity for you, Detective.." Ra's Al Ghul told him. "I'm giving you the opportunity to travel among our clan and on your first mission prematurely.. Can I trust that you will be successful in your task?"
Drew seemed temporarily stunned. Ra's was actually giving him a chance to prove himself in action! This was the opportunity Drew had long awaited!
"I.." Drew began, before respectfully bowing. "I will not fail you.. I will not fail the League Of Assassins!"
"Then move towards the main entrance!" Ra's commanded, pointing outside. "Quickly!"
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"Stan!" Sharon cried from downstairs, catching Stan by surprise by the shrill, terrified way she spoke.
"Aghh!" Stan yelped.
Stan immediately fell out of his bed, as Sharon had woken him up after a longer night than he would've liked.
"Mom, it's-" Stan began, looking at his clock. "-It's 8:30! I'm not supposed to go into work until noon!"
Stan had gotten himself a job as a carpenter, much like Drew had before. Even though Stan was going through a rough time while helping Kenny and Drew build Drew's new house, Stan had actually learned a lot!
So much so that he figured he could make some decent money doing it, just to pull his weight. Especially now that he had a daughter, he would need to.
"Stan! Get down here, you need to get to the basement now!"
Stan was about to protest and ask why, but he decided against it. In today's world, you honestly never knew what kind of shit was happening..
He put on the first clothes he saw, which was a white t-shirt and a slightly worn pair of blue jeans, before he rushed downstairs, and towards the basement. He saw that Sharon had Kenzi in her arms, already getting her to safety.
When he got there, he looked out the window and saw…
A vast army approaching South Park! The same army apparently used...by the Dark State..
"Jesus.. Jesus Christ!" Stan now exclaimed, his face paling at the sight. He knew exactly who the Dark State was too! The look on his face showed a lack of hope, and plenty of concern!
Even Randy looked concerned by the look of this army. He began to breathe rather heavily, before saying,
"By the love of Lorde we're all gonna die.."
"Don't say that!" Stan exclaimed, remembering Kenzi's evident fear and bad experiences with death. Kenzi was obviously very terrified, holding tightly onto her Grandma Sharon for comfort.
"We're.." Stan began to mutter. "We're gonna be fine! We just need to stay hidden!"
"Daddy?.." Kenzi asked, which caused Stan to kneel down and look at her gently.
"Yes, sweetie?.." Stan responded, trying his best to not scare Kenzi anymore than she already was.
"Are.. Are we going to die next?" Kenzi asked in absolute fear, which caused Stan to pale and chill him to the absolute core. "Like- Like my other Grandma and Miss Kyle?.."
