Here is Chapter 3! In this chapter, we will see some interaction between two major characters in SP who don't interact at all the entire movie...
A pair of cerulean eyes stalked the savanna early in the morning.
The lioness they belonged to grumbled mentally. Why do I have to be here? I could get caught...or worse, I could catch him in the act! She grimaced. Ugh, now I can't get that image out of my head...I just hope he can get it over with...so then he can kill Simba! The lioness chuckled. Oh I can't wait to see that sucker die...I wonder why can't I do it...after all, he killed my father! Oh well...but at least I get to kill her..." She smirked, but then stopped and sniffed the air. "Alright, Kovu, I know you're here..."
"Oh, hey, Sis..." He said from beside a nearby boulder.
Vitani turned to look at him. She didn't recognize him at first. His normally very well-kept mane was completely disheveled and he had a devilish grin. If it weren't for his jade eyes, she would've thought it was her other brother. "What's happened to you? You look awful!"
Kovu scoffed and pretended to be insulted. "Is that how you talk to the prince of the pridelands?"
It took her a second. "Ohh..."
"Uh-huh. Mother sent you?"
"Yeah...ummm...she wanted to make sure everything was going...smoothly." She shifted uncomfortably. "So, now that you've...uh...done it, when are you going to kill Simba!" Her eyes lit up.
Kovu looked at his sister skeptically, never having noticed she was so excited to see him kill the king. "Hey, uhhh...I was thinking...I know Mother said Scar has to be avenged and all, but ummm...do you really think Simba has to die?" He soon wished he hadn't said that.
"WHAT!? IF-IF YOU DON'T KILL HIM, I WILL!" Vitani shouted in his face, causing him to lean back against the boulder.
"Okay! Okay! Okay!" He put his paws out in front of him. "Sheesh...you know Vitani, you're really starting to sound like Mother!"
The lioness didn't pay attention to him as she turned around. "I know...you're probably still, uhh, recovering! You're not thinking straight! That's it! I'm gonna go home and tell Mother that you got Kiara pregnant, and then I'll be back, alright. And you better snap that felon's neck!" She dashed away disgruntled.
Kovu stayed still, shocked by his sister's outburst. By the time he recollected himself, it was too late. "Wait! Vitani! I have to get Kiara to tell her father she's pregnant first...and-and what if she's not? Ah, never mind." He began walking back to Pride Rock, looked in the direction where Kiara was, and turned back towards his sister, although he could barely even see her anymore. "Oh, and, ask Mother why I couldn't have been trained to do THAT my whole life!"
Alone.
As she opened her eyes to find herself resting in the savanna, that was the only emotion the princess felt. The sun was fairly high in the sky, and she could hear a few animals from a distance; however they weren't lions. She sat up, still not remembering what had happened the night before. She saw that the animal sounds were coming from the water hole, not very far away. She tried to remember what brought her there last night. Slowly, recollections of the night before surfaced in her head. Arguing with her father, talking to herself by the water hole, and then...
No! Kiara couldn't help but be in denial at first. It had to have been a dream. As she stood up and began to head back to Pride Rock, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she had been daydreaming about Kovu again and fell asleep, and everything-the hunt, the fire, and Kovu's entire presence had all been one big dream...it seemed impossible, but she desperately hoped she was right.
She neared home and saw that it was a very lazy day: the entire pride was sunbathing around Pride Rock. She saw her parents resting under an acacia and was astonished they weren't out for looking for her. She approached them carefully, not sure if they were actually asleep.
Simba lie on his stomach, and Nala was resting her head on his back, with one foreleg draped over his flank leisurely. The queen's eyes opened slightly and Kiara courteously said, "Good morning."
"Good afternoon." Nala corrected.
Simba lifted his head up and yawned. "Where were you? You had me a little worried..."
"Oh, I-uhhh-went to the waterhole, and I, uh, must have fallen asleep over there, I guess..." The princess was genuinely surprised her father wasn't scolding her. "Sorry."
Simba looked like he was about to say something but let Nala do the talking as laid down again. "Don't be sorry, Kiara. We've decided you're old enough to go out alone...haven't we, Simba?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah..." The king seemed disinterested and wanted to go back to sleep.
"Oh, uh...thanks!" Now Kiara wasn't sure that this was reality. She decided to find someplace to just sit down alone and think, but as she left, her father spoke up.
"Oh, and Kiara...I think you'll be happy to hear this, too." He cleared his throat and sat up. "Your mother and I have decided, that you're no longer betrothed to Abidjan. Or anybody." He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "You'll choose the future king. It's totally up to you."
"Oh...uhhh, thanks..." Kiara dearly wished he had said that to her earlier. She walked away quietly, found a secluded area, and lied down to just...figure things out. She hadn't seen Kovu anywhere. Nothing seemed to be different from before she went on her first hunt. At this point she was almost sure that it had all been a dream...until she turned on her side, and, to her horror, was met by two dark green eyes.
"So, princess...when are you going to tell your Dad?" He seemed to be an expert on sneaking up on her. He was lounging with his head on his paws.
After gasping in surprise, she almost started to cry from remorse. It had been no dream; everything was real. She had completely betrayed her pride, and her father-just as he was going to make amends with her!
Kovu noticed how regretful she looked. "Kiara, don't be ashamed of what we did last night."
She sighed. "My father just told me...that he's decided to let me choose my king."
Kovu seemed to brighten up. "That's perfect! C'mon, let's go tell him now!"
"Kovu..." He was about to stand up but turned to look at Kiara when she said his name. "Why do you want this so badly? I mean, you seem like this is something you've always wanted...you really want to be king?"
He looked Kiara in the eye and gave her a very sincere look. "It's not that I wanna be king..." He lied. "It's that...I love you, Kiara. More than anyone in the world. You're the prettiest lioness I've ever met, you're sweet, and you're the only one who's been there for me. My pride kicked me out, this pride still won't accept me...you-you're the only one I've got now. When I heard you were gonna marry Abidjan, I just..." He exhaled. "Call me selfish, but I just couldn't let it happen. I just couldn't lose you too..."
Kiara was speechless for a moment but smiled at him. "It-it's okay, Kovu. I...I love you, too." She got up and nuzzled him. "Alright, I'm gonna tell my parents."
She walked away and as soon as he was sure she was out of earshot, Kovu slammed his paw onto the ground and burst out laughing so hard he almost cried.
Kiara searched for her parents and saw her father just getting up from where he and Nala were laying, probably about to go off on patrol.
Kiara took a deep breath and approached him. "Hey, Dad, I need to talk you about something..." The king and queen both turned to look at their daughter, Nala still on the ground.
"What?" Simba asked innocently.
This is it...I'm gonna tell him...I'm gonna tell him...no, I can't do it! "How come you won't accept Kovu into the pride?" Okay well, that's a good start.
Simba looked at her quizzingly. "Well...I uhhh...it's-it's a guy thing, you know. Don't want him, uh, taking over the pride, killing all the cubs that aren't his, you know?" He smiled with his teeth and it was clear he was faking. "Anyways, I gotta go do my rounds. Places to be, animals to see..."
He walked away, leaving Kiara rather befuddled. She looked at her mother as if to ask what was up with him, but she spoke first. "Don't tell me you've got it, too..."
"Got what?"
"It better not be contagious...I'd break your father's heart..." She looked at Simba as he disappeared into the savanna.
"Got what?" Kiara had no idea what her mother was talking about.
"Everyone in the in the pride has been fawning over him...I knew you'd start eventually..."
Kiara sighed furtively, and Nala chuckled. "Your Mom always knows, Kiara. Always."
No, Mom, you don't know the half of it. "Do you...do you think Dad would ever accept him...not just into the Pride, but...as his...heir?"
Nala looked a little shocked. "I...don't know. Have you talked to Kovu about this?"
"Yeah, he seems to be okay with it..."
"Really? He is, is he? Huh..." The queen suddenly became very pensive as Kiara walked away...
Later that evening, Kovu was outside the den trying to sleep, somewhat irked that Kiara hadn't confessed to her parents yet. He was almost asleep, and was, naturally , quite surprised when somebody actually snuck up on him for a change.
"Alright, how long did you plan on keeping up this act?"
Kovu jumped up, eyes wide, and was face-to-face with Nala. He immediately pretended to be clueless. "What are you talking about?"
"I was suspicious when you said you left the Outsiders. I really couldn't believe Zira let you leave. And now Kiara wants you to be king..." Nala glared at him. "That fire wasn't natural, was it?"
Kovu was at a loss. He had been discovered! This was not good! "I have no idea what you're saying-"
"Oh please, you're not fooling me. Let me guess..." Nala narrowed her eyes. "Zira wants you to kill Simba."
"What? No! You're nuts!"
"Give it up, Kovu." Nala suddenly spoke calmly again. "I want you to come for a walk with me. I need to have a talk with you."
Kovu's fear faded. He was a little perplexed of as to why Nala would want to be alone with him if she knew what he was really there to do. But she had to be killed now, of course, and being alone with her would provide the opportunity. He didn't question her, just made sure no one had noticed their conversation and followed her away from Pride Rock.
"Kovu, I could tell Simba everything. You'd be exiled right away. But I'm not going to. And I know you're planning on killing me right now. But you won't. I know you're better than that." The blue-eyed lioness said to a dumbfounded Kovu after they were fairly far away from Pride Rock.
He remained quiet. He was more weirded out than anything else.
She looked away. "Tell me, what has Zira told you about your father?"
Kovu was stunned to hear that question. "N-n-nothing, really...he was a rogue that looked like Scar...that's all I know." His face showed a little resentment. "...never even told me his name." He acted like what he had just said didn't matter. "Alright, now tell me, why are you doing this?"
"Tojo." The queen said, hanging her head.
"What?"
"You're father's name was Tojo." Nala stated matter-of-factly.
Just then, Kovu remembered Zira's warnings about Nala, the deceitful queen. How she was a pathological liar. How she would try to get him to "see the light". How she would have this story about his "real parents".
Kovu contemplated killing her right then and there but decided not to. He was the kind of lion who would always toy around with prey before finishing it off. And, he was a little curious, he wanted to see what little sob story she had prepared. "Tell me about him."
"Tojo was a really good friend of mine when I was cub. He was a Pridelander." Nala sighed, looked at Kovu, and continued. "Scar didn't have any cubs. He was...sterile. One day, when we were adolescents, Scar announced to the Pride that he would decide whose bloodline would be the next royal family, and he decided it would be Tojo's. Since he hand-picked Tojo's bloodline, that kinda means he hand-picked you...I mean that's what Zira thinks..."
Well, Nala had failed already. "Uhh, no, Scar hand-chose me...I remember it well...him looking at me...my mother was so happy-"
"Zira's convinced you that she's your mother, eh? How sad..."
What a poor pathetic excuse of a liar. Telling him that Scar didn't pick him, and now claiming Zira wasn't his real mother. Absolutely preposterous. What point do I have in letting her live any longer?
Nala had turned her back for barely a second when Kovu pounced on her, claws digging into her fur. "Well, Nala, you tried. But you think I'm gonna believe anything you say?" Kovu laughed maliciously. "Such a pathetic excuse for a queen. You're supposed to do everything you can to protect your king, no? Well, he'll be dead soon. Let's hope your daughter does a better job with me..." He let that sink into the terrified Nala. "As I said, you tried, but you failed."
He bared his teeth and was about to go for the jugular.
Nala didn't struggle at all. All she did was hum. A slow, peaceful, falling tune. Kovu stopped right before his teeth met her throat. He didn't know how, but he recognized the tune. He looked at Nala questionably. "W-w-w-what are you doing?" Nala just continued humming. "I know that song from somewhere..."
"How could you forget your mother's lullaby?"
"My mother would never sing me to sleep-"
"Zira wouldn't. But Kula would sing you to sleep every-"
"Who?"
"Kula. Your mother."
The tune replayed itself over and over again. It was so familiar...but there was no way it could have ever been sung to him by his mother. Maybe Vitani? No...
"Kovu, look around." Kovu let go of Nala and took in his surroundings. He hadn't taken any notice of where he and Nala were going, he had only focused on killing her.
He and the queen were only a few feet away from where a pristine creek flowed over a small rocky incline. On the other side of the stream from him were a few large boulders. They formed a little cave, right beside the miniature waterfall. Behind the rock formation there was a thicket where several acacias grew fairly close to each other, creating something of a small forest.
The tune was still playing in his head. And now it was coupled with the sound of that waterfall. And this place. It was all eerily familiar.
No.
Could it be? It can't...
Kovu drowned in a tidal wave of nostalgia. Part of his mind had been locked for so long. And this place, these sounds, they were the key. Dozens upon dozens of memories resurfaced.
He remembered the waterfall. How he loved to sit under that ledge where the water dropped steeply, lapping it up with his tongue and letting it drench his fur.
He remembered the thicket, where he'd chase after birds and rodents and try to scale the trees. Or sometimes just bask in the comfortable, dappled sunlight.
He remembered the cave. That was the cave he was born in, he knew. Where he had spent peaceful nights of his childhood with...his mother and father.
He remembered his father, a thin, dark yellow lion with azure eyes, a pleasant, goofish face, and a long, choppy dark brown mane. He had adored him.
And he remembered his mother. A dark brown, heavyset lioness with a beautiful smile and proud scarlet eyes. But the most important thing he remembered of her: her voice.
Every night. Every night she would sing him to sleep. A beautiful melody accompanied by the soothing sound of the little waterfall.
The tune continued to play in his head. The creek continued to run. The memories continued to surface.
He had forgotten Nala was there. "Kovu..."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" The dark lion hissed venomously. "Th-there's no way-it can't be true-b-b-but I remember this place. I don't know h-how. Just...no. No. This-this can't be happening!", he said to himself.
Kovu couldn't take it anymore. He turned tail and headed back to Pride Rock, forgetting that Nala knew about the whole plot.
By the time he reached Pride Rock, his mind had a thousand questions. He collapsed to the ground, shut his eyes and pressed his paws against his head, trying to drown them out. His parents. Who were they, really? What had happened to them? When and why did he come under Zira's care? Why did Zira say he was his mother? Was he really not hand-picked by Scar? Was Kovu even his real name?
Yeah, so, I think Kovu is Tojo x Kula. I've seen people say Kula x Chumvi and Tojo x Tama, but both Kula and Chumvi have red eyes while Kovu has green, and Tojo and Tama are both a lot lighter than Kovu. I don't think Zira is his real mother, since in the movie (as an adult) he refers to her by name.
I probably won't have Chapter 4 done for a while, as I do have summer AP work that I wanna get done now. Thanks again for reading!
