: Chapter 3:

A lullaby

The outlands were a scorched barren wasteland devoid of almost any plant life and water looked like it was from a swamp, it was here where Nuka and Vitani Zira's children were resting much had changed since the family had been banished. In her quest to fulfill her promise to her family Zira had all but cast Nuka aside resulting in the lion becoming bitter and angry, he directed this anger mostly towards Kovu who he blamed for stealing his mothers love from him. Vitani had been training to become Zira's top spy and general, ever since Kopa's death Vitani felt nothing but anger for Simba his reckless actions had cost her the one she loved, she vowed revenge on him, to do everything to help her mother achieve her goals, fun was all but gone and Vitani was fine with that, her old life didn't matter to her save for the flower on her left ear, the last reminder of his love, Simba would pay.

Nuka was sulking by a tree angrily grumbling about Kovu while Vitani pulled on the branch of a tree

"Kovu, Kovu, Scar wasn't even his father he just took him in." Nuka complained, he caught sight of Vitani.

"hey sis where's Kovu the chosen one?" Nuka asked mockingly.

the branch Vitani was pulling snapped and she fell to the ground, Nuka walked over and helped her up, "careful sis we don't want to see you hurt." He said concerned, unlike Kovu, Nuka still wanted a good relationship with his sister.

"I don't need your help." Vitani said slapping his paw away, she hated anyone seeing her as helpless.

"I see you let Kovu run off again, heh brilliant." She said sarcastically.

"that little termite has to take care of himself." Nuka replied bitterly.

"I'm sure mother will see it that way." Vitani said her voice filled with snark.

"I should've been the chosen one I'm Scar's real son, I could be a leader if she'd give me a chance!" Nuka said angrily.

Vitani smirked despite never being happy anymore she was still very good at it, "tell that to her yourself, I mean here's your chance." Vitani said mockingly gesturing toward Zira who had just arrived clearly ticked off.

Nuka felt a tinge of fear go through him as Zira approached,

"oh mother hi, mother I caught some mice they're right over there." He told her his voice shaking with nervousness.

Zira paid him no heed she rarely did walking right past him, she placed Kovu down who was greeted by his sister, "hey Kovu up for a fight?" she asked.

"not now." Kovu answered struggling to keep his paw from touching his cheek and hiding his blush, Vitani saw it immediately, in the pride lands she was quite sought after and knew when a boy was hiding a crush.

Zira however didn't see it turning her attention to Nuka, "you were supposed to be watching him!" she snapped causing Nuka to step back.

"it's not his fault I ran off on my own!" Kovu called out not wanting to see Nuka get punished.

Zira approached him glaring, "what we're you doing out there who made us exiles, who killed Scar?!" she roared.

Kovu backed away in fear falling on his back, "Simba, Simba!" he answered fearfully.

Zira's eyes stared daggers, "what have I told you about them?!" she demanded.

"She didn't seem too bad mother I thought we could be" Kovu tried to reason he was cut off.

"Friends! You thought you could get to the daughter and Simba would welcome you with open arms what an idea!" she spat.

but then a thought occurred to her and she grinned, "what an idea." She said more pleased this time.

she stared down at him smiling sweetly it was but a hint of the loving mother she used be, but that was gone she sacrificed it for her promise to them, and now maybe she found the solution.

"you brilliant young child I'm proud of you." She said hugging him.

"you have the same brilliant mind that made Scar so perfect." With that she scooped him up more gently this time soon everything would be right again and her promise fulfilled.

Zira carried Kovu over to tree branch with a cave opening right in the center, placing him gently in his bed, "now I finally see the way for our return, our way back home." She said.

"but mother I'm not sure" Kovu began to argue.

"hush!, hush my little one you must be exhausted, now sleep my sweet little Kovu let your dreams take wind for one day you will be a king." She said sweetly to him.

"night" Kovu called out to her.

"good night my little prince tomorrow your training intensifies." She called back to him, normally this would be when she told him she loved him, but she had not said that in over a year, and wasn't certain she even felt it anymore.

Zira sat on the top of their termite hill looking at what lies beyond, Nuka approached her from behind.

"you sure about this he seemed attached to her." He said.

"Silence your thoughts are of no use that was but a single encounter easily forgotten." Zira replied.

"I'm sure you have an idea." Nuka said without doubt.

"Of course I do Kovu's still young ripe for the modeling, I'll show him to be a killer with a lust for blood." She said grinning.

"Then I'll do whatever you wish." Nuka replied.

"Simply don't lose him again, in time he'll be ready and we'll roar to the sound of Simba's dying breaths, his mates mournful cries, and his daughter screaming her last cries in my grasp!" Zira said sadistically.

Nuka heard his mother's words and could only smile at the thought, "the joy of vengeance." He said smirking.

"Yes the pounding of the drums of war as we raise Kovu to reign under a blood red sky, it's almost like a lullaby to me." She said madness gleaming in her eyes.

She gestured Nuka to leave which he did, she then saw Him reflecting in the sky a moment later he was beside her, his voice calm calculated, firm, and sarcastic.

"I see you have devised yet another plan, you truly are devious." Scar whispered in her ear.

Zira relished the words, "I did not believe you would return my love." She said happily.

"I am always here Zira, so long as you fulfill my wish to protect our heritage and restore them to their rightful place." Scar said his voice both firm yet affectionate.

"I will keep the promise I made them and you." Zira said determined.

"then there's nothing to say come with me it's been a while since we had a walk to ourselves." It wasn't a request few things with Scar were it's what made him so strong.

Zira walked alongside him to the rest of the world there was nothing there but to Zira it was everything and for however long it lasted she would feel like she had a soul again.

Nuka made his way to bed grumbling about Kovu, "you think it should be you do something about it." Vitani said passing him.

Nuka slouched lazily as he watched her enter her bed the moment she was out of sight Nuka's demeanor changed, his lazy posture became more refined, and the almost whiny expression on his face turned to one of confidence. He lied down on the floor it had all worked perfectly the moment Nuka saw the princess near the borders he let Kovu go sure enough they met and the little termite was already crushing hard, the first phase was in order now it was time for the next one.

"do something about it." He mimicked Vitani.

"No not yet anyway." He said smiling but it would come in time and he would expose Kovu for the unworthy failure he was his cries of sorrow when he lost everything when that smug look of his was removed, it was Nuka's lullaby.

"Another mostly revised chapter these scenes require something a little different I wanted to make certain that it wasn't a complete rehash so i changed a few things. The reveal with Nuka probably surprised some people he has always been this intelligent he just didn't show it for his own reasons. The idea behind this was the fact that Kovu and Kiara did meet by blind chance a one and a million but what if it wasn't what if someone watched both of them and planned that meeting, of course why would Nuka plan this that answer will have to be revealed later. Next chapter we have our first completely new material.