CHAPTER THREE

WIDOWED AFRICAN TREE

Kiara and Kovu are lying on a plain field, looking up at the shiny stars that associate different images.

KIARA: Hey! See that? That looks like a bunny in a cutie face.

KOVU: (sees the star) Yeah! (sees something else) Oh, hey! That looks like two powerful lions fighting for a slice of meat! Haha!

KIARA: Haha! You know, my daddy and I used to do this all the time. He used to tell me that all the previous great kings of the Pride Lands are up in the sky, watching over us in the form of stars.

KOVU: You mean Scar is up there as well?

KIARA: It sounds funny, but sometimes I believe him. I came to realize that everything in the universe is connected one way or another.

KOVU: You know, Scar wasn't my real father. I was just some cub adopted by Zira after Scar got dethroned. But even though I've never met him, he was still a part of who I am. Sometimes I feel like being like him is all that I can be.

KIARA: You don't say that. The truth is everyone has a side of their own. They control their own destiny, nobody can take that away. Only we make the choices for ourselves. Kovu, I know you can be something other than Scar, because you're not him. You're you.

Kovu and Kiara share a quiet moment together. The mood is definitely good. From afar, Sarox and Marlene are watching silently while Timon, Pumbaa, Max and PJ are sleeping comfortably using each other's bodies as pillows.

MARLENE: You know, they look like they're a matching pair.

Sarox turns his glance to Marlene.

SAROX: So are we.

MARLENE: (giggles) What're you talking about?

SAROX: What? Can't a guy be honest about his feelings?

MARLENE: Hehe! Whatever!

She runs away from Sarox, who chases after her.

SAROX: Hey! Where are you going?

Back to Kiara and Kovu.

KOVU: You know, I've always wanted to see what's in the Pride Lands.

KIARA: I guess the Outland is not much to see, huh?

KOVU: All we ever do is fight each other to death. Or fight over a simple slice of meat.

From far away, under a widowed tree, Kovu's adoptive mother and her son Zitani are watching Kovu and Kiara. Zira looks very upset at the scene.

ZIRA: That boy has fallen in love. Soon he will turn against his tribe. Against us! (growls)

ZITANI: What do you mean, mother? He's doing a good job being close to Kiara.

ZIRA: He's had all the time to attack her and ruin Simba's family line since the moon rose, yet he did not! He's fallen in love with that wretched lioness! But I will not allow my plan to fail. I've waited too long for this. (calls) Come out, Heartless! Attack!

A great number of Beast and Shaman Heartless appear around Kovu and Kiara, cornering them.

KOVU: Heartless!

KIARA: Where did they come from?

KOVU: Kiara, stay behind me.

ZIRA: What do you think you're doing?

Zira approaches, the Heartless let her pass.

KOVU: Zira!

ZIRA: Haven't you acted enough? You have served your purpose, there is no need to keep up pretences anymore.

Kovu feels troubled.

KIARA: What is she talking about?

Zitani also approaches.

ZIRA: You didn't know, did you? Kovu has been getting close to you for this. To lure you out offguard so that he can kil you, and take back that throne from your father.

KIARA: No, it's not true. It can't be true!

ZIRA: You actually believed that he was in love with you, huh? I gotta compliment him, his acting is rather quite impressive. Even I get fooled at times.

KOVU: No! Kiara, that's not the way it is!

He tries to approach to Kiara.

KIARA: Don't come any closer! Don't talk to me!

She turns to run back to Pride Rock, but the Heartless block her path.

From far off the view, Sarox and Marlene finally come back from their running to see the comotion.

SAROX: Heartless!

MARLENE: Oh, no! Kiara and Kovu are in trouble!

SAROX: You get the others! I'll take care of them!

He draws out his Keyblade and runs toward the site while Marlene wakes up the others. When he finally reaches them, he wipes out two Heartless blocking his path giving Kiara room to run.

SAROX: Kiara! Kovu! Run!

ZIRA: So this is the son of that little brat, eh?

SAROX: How dare you call my father "little brat"?

ZIRA: Ah, feisty like how the hyenas described. Heartless! Forget the princess. Go for that little cub!

KIARA: No!

The Heartless make haste toward Sarox, but before they could reach him, a Knight's Shield comes flying like a boomerang and knocks them to the ground.

MARLENE: Not if you get past us first!

Zira and Zitani smile evilly (Zitani is just trying to keep up the scheme).

ZIRA: Let's see if you can take this.

Zira takes a deep breath, holds it, then releases a powerful roar that creates an incredible current of winds. Marlene, Sarox, Max, PJ, and Kovu manage to keep themselves grounded, but Kiara, Pumbaa and Timon are knocked away by the winds.

KOVU: Kiara!

Seeing how they manage to hold onto the ground, Zira breathes again and releases yet another powerful roar. This time, everyone, including the Heartless behind them are knocked off their feet.

MAX: Ouch!

PJ: She's really strong.

ZIRA: Hehehehe! I would kill you right now! But that would only ruin the fun. Tell Simba to meet me at dawn, by the border of the Outlanders and the Pridelanders. We are going to declare war between!

Sarox, Marlene and everyone run toward the Oasis with mild injuries on their bodies. Kovu tries to follow them.

KIARA: Don't you come back! You lied to us! You lied to me! I don't ever wanna see you again!

KOVU: (sadly) Kiara!

Kiara runs away in tears. Kovu can do nothing but stand there, watching her go away. Then, anger flushes over his body and he turns to his adoptive mother.

KOVU: Why did you do that?

ZIRA: Because you are in love with that princess. You're no longer one of us, Kovu! Now, get out of my sight before I smash you into pieces and feed you with the hyenas.

She walks away with her Heartless henchmen and Zitani, leaving a devastated, outcast Kovu in despair, who can only watch on as everything he has and loves is torn away from him: his home and Kiara.

OASIS

Kiara, TImon, Pumbaa and the quartet are gathered near the waterfall of the Oasis.

KIARA: Let's go! We have to tell Daddy about Zira's plan.

TIMON: Kiara…

KIARA: I know – "Hakuna Matata", right? I remember you used to tell me when I was feeling sad.

MAX: Haguna Matada?

SAROX: It's the motto between Timon, Pumbaa and Simba. My dad told me about it. It means, "no worries!"

KIARA: Well, let's go! We have to deal with Zira now.

With that, she runs off into the woods toward Pride Rock. The others have no choice but to keep up with her speed. On top of the waterfall, Rafiki is watching silently.

RAFIKI: Seems like they can't progress much without some help. (calls up to the sky) Hey, don't just drop all the responsibilities to me! Help me out too, will ya? Mufasa?

In response to Rafiki's call, a breeze wind blows past him followed by flower petals and leaves.

PRIDE ROCK

Everyone made it back to Pride Rock safely and told Simba and Nala the story. Simba is disturbed by the plan, but decides to declare war between the Pridelanders and Outlanders.

SIMBA: Nala, gather all the lionesses and prepare to go out for war. We'll settle this at dawn. – Timon! Pumbaa! You two will watch over Kiara, I don't want anyone near her.

KIARA: Daddy! I don't need a babysitter! I'm a grown-up now!

SIMBA: Kiara, I'm your father. You do what I tell you.

Kiara looks sadly into her father's eyes, then runs into the Rock Cave. Marlene, Sarox and the others can only look on sympathetically. Simba also looks into the cave with a sad look, then walks away with the equally sad Nala following behind. Sarox, Marlene and the others also look on in sadness.

END OF CHAPTER THREE