Well I'm back with more chapters things are a little bleak but it's here in this chapter where things really kick into gear things are about to get worse for our favorite Pride and kingdom.

: Chapter 6:

We're not heroes

Zira was making her way through pride rock searching for Scar but he was no where to be found, well no one in the pride would know so she went to the hyena cave. "Zira I gotta admit I wasn't expecting to see here." Shenzi said, "I'd visit more if I could but I've been busy, so where is Banzai?" Zira said, "Leading a hunt, so what brings you here?" Shenzi asked, "Have you seen Scar?" Zira asked, "uh yeah my clan saw him leaving for one of the near borders, international incident or something" Shenzi answered "if so then he won't be back for a few days" Zira concluded, "then enjoy the day spent it with your children that's where a great mother belongs" Shenzi said, "thank you my friend I will" Zira replied before making her departure. Zira arrived back at Pride Rock to see Vitani who wasn't as energetic as usual, "are you alright Vitani?" Zira asked, "of course I'm fine I'm the ultimate hunter" Vitani said while coughing, Zira turned to see that Nuka was looking ill, "Nuka what's wrong" Zira asked her son holding him, "nothing a good rest won't solve" Nuka said, Zira scooped up Nuka up before he could take off running she grabbed Vitani as well, "hey the ultimate hunter should be allowed to run." Vitani complained, "Well I'm the ultimate hunters mother, and I say we're going to Rafiki's" Zira said dryly while carrying them off to Rafiki's tree she hoped it wasn't anything serious.

Sarabi was resting when she saw Zira heading for Rafiki's tree, she let out a brief smile before paying it no heed she made her way to the dent where she confronted the pride, "has the food I've been giving been sufficient" Sarabi asked them, "yes and the cubs have been fed" a lioness told her, "good, and what of the outsiders Zira brought?" Sarabi questioned, "They don't know about the food storage." Sarafina answered, "has Scar been feeding them well" Sarabi asked, "yes he is clearly showing favoritism toward them" Nala said, "doesn't matter I have a solution for them as it is" Sarabi told them, "So how long before you set things in motion" Nala asked, "I already have for now we just need to keep the food flowing, Nala keep collecting the sharing of Huzuni, I'm certain you can persuade him" Sarabi said, "Nala don't you dare manipulate his feeling for you" Sarafina said, "I don't need to he'll keep offering regardless" Nala stated. "Good, keep doing your parts I will summon you when we are ready" Sarabi ordered, "what are we planning Sarabi and how are we going to accomplish it?" Sarafina asked, "don't doubt Sarafina and trust me you'll know in time." Sarabi told her, indeed the first phase happened tonight and it was probably the most important.

Zira was waiting in Rafiki's tree to get the results on her children's condition when Rafiki emerged, "how are they what's wrong?" Zira asked worried, "they're alright for now" Rafiki told her, "what do you mean for now!" Zira asked even more worried, "they are very dehydrated and have a very high fever" Rafiki said, "well you can fix it can't you?" Zira demanded, "yes but it would only be a temporary fix" Rafiki stated, "what why!?" Zira asked panicked, "because the state of the kingdom is probably the cause of their illness, I will give them the remedy then you have to take them far away from here." Rafiki explained, "I can't leave I'm the queen" Zira said, "you're also a mother and your children may not last long in this state" Rafiki told her, "what!? What do you mean are you telling me my children could die!?" Zira panicked, "it is a possibility" Rafiki said regretfully "fine I'll go you tell Scar what happened" Zira requested, "I can't do that because Scar rarely accepts my presence you will have to leave that to someone you trust" Rafiki told her, "alright but I'm taking Kovu too" Zira said, "you should talk to Hasara about that first" Rafiki said, "this isn't a request this is an order!" Zira commanded, Rafiki relented and took her to Hasara's chamber. Zira entered and saw that Hasara was asleep Kovu was next to her sleeping Zira gently lifted him up while staring at Hasara with regret, "I know you were longing to finally be a mother and I was willing to let you, but I can't take this risk if Kovu falls ill he may not survive." Zira told her while placing a paw on her forehead, "I'm sorry for everything I never wanted to hurt you but I loved Vitani too much to risk you taking her regardless I will always regard you as my friend I hope you are recovered when I return" Zira told her gently hugging her before taking Kovu along with Nuka and Vitani and leaving.

Sarabi was sitting beside Simba and Mufasa's grave when she caught Zira's scent, "you spend too much time here for your own good" Zira said to her, "I visit as often as I can just to let them know I still think of them" Sarabi responded, "they know Sarabi and they think of you" Zira told her, Sarabi saw that Zira had all three of her cubs with her, "what's going on?" Sarabi asked, "they're very sick and the pride lands can't heal them so I'm taking them away until they're better." Zira said, "how long will it be" Sarabi asked her, "I don't know" Zira answered, "what of your duties" Sarabi questioned, "I need you to take care of them while I'm gone" Zira answered, "me I thought you didn't trust me" Sarabi replied, "you're the only one I can trust with this sister" Zira told her, "After everything that's happened you would still believe in me" Sarabi said touched, "I would always believe in you, yes we haven't seen eye to eye very much and you've been in a dark place, but I still know you will find your way out and whatever wrongs you did you will find a way to make them right." Zira said compassionately, Sarabi felt her tears streaming down her cheeks she trusted her she believed in her if only she knew how much of a mistake that was, Zira saw her as the pure one she wasn't. Sarabi let herself cry and embraced Zira hugging her tightly which Zira returned, "I haven't been a good sister to you" Sarabi told her, "well then we're even now, and we can start anew when I return" Zira said, her own eyes filling with tears, "we're bond to get it right eventually" Sarabi said, "third times the charm" Zira joked, the sisters hugged a final time before Zira took the cubs and turned away, "tell Scar I know I can count on you for that" Zira called back to her, then she was gone, Sarabi felt repulsed by herself, but it was necessary she wished Zira would understand what she was going through as well that she and Zira could be more alike but what Sarabi didn't realize is they were alike too much, and Zira would go through what Sarabi was going through it would be during that time that Sarabi would see just how much they had in common.

Two days later, Sarabi and Sarafina had pretty much been running the pride together since Zira left this was the day Scar returned and this day would begin Sarabi's plan, of course she would have to persuade a certain few into silence first, all resentment aside Sarabi did not like doing this she was stabbing Zira in the back and worse Zira trusted her but there was more at stake than the bond between two sisters, if it meant the survival of the pride as well as her mates legacy she was willing to sacrifice her bond with Zira. Scar was coming now it was time to ensure silence, "so should I tell him or you?" Sarafina asked, "we can't tell him Sarafina" Sarabi said, "what why?" Sarafina asked, "because Scar won't learn anything then and this could be what he needs to actually become a good king" Sarabi reasoned, "I don't know Sarabi" Sarafina said worried, "you never know how many decisions have you made on your own, could you imagine how different things would be if you had just told Ahadi no, Taka would probably still be here, and you two would probably be married!" Sarabi said bluntly, "stop it Sarabi" Sarafina pleaded, "no you are my friend but you've always been a coward, I will deal with this if you get in the way I will deal with you." Sarabi told her coldly, Sarafina looked on in shock, as Sarabi went to confront Scar.

Scar arrived surprised he had dealt with the situation in a bloody matter, that wasn't what surprised him what surprised him was the fact that Zira wasn't there to welcome him it wasn't like her and Vitani and Nuka didn't tackle him to the ground it was weird, where were they? "Sarabi" Scar said not even hiding his disdain, but there was something wrong she looked sad about something what had happened, "what's going on" he asked, "Scar, Zira and Nuka, Vitani even Kovu they're gone" Sarabi told him, "what do you mean they're gone, are they" Scar asked worried, "no but I saw Zira leaving with them I tried to catch her but she was faster than me, this was a few days ago and no ones heard from her since." Sarabi said sorrowfully, "they, they left me" Scar could barely get the words out they hurt too much, "I'm sorry, we've had our differences but I still would've wished this on you" Sarabi told him, Scar ignored her in truth he couldn't hear her he couldn't hear anything she did leave him, it was all empty promises and lies Scar sluggishly made his way to his cave and sat down it was an empty feeling there was something missing, something that was never coming back, he was alone again.

Sarabi relished Scars pain if she could've she would've licked it up it was his blunder that got her mate and her son killed, his mistake that made her lose them forever and now she returned that pain in full, Sarabi smiled cruelly, "are you enjoying this Sarabi he lost everything" Sarafina said sadly, she hated seeing the lion she once loved in such pain. "He can join the club I lost everything too but did he show me any pity" Sarabi said spitefully, "I never imagined it would be this enjoyable when it happened" Sarabi said with glee, "how would you know this was going to happen unless your responsible for it somehow" Sarafina said in horror.

Sarabi smiled, it was a horrifying sight, "this is phase one Sarafina" Sarabi said with pride, how could she be taking pride in this, "it required a lot of coincidences" Sarafina said fearing Sarabi's response, "what coincidence, the incident Scar investigated planted by me." Sarabi said, "you know how Scar solves a problem those animals are likely dead" Sarafina cried, "and I will see to it that their deaths don't go unpunished" Sarabi said, Sarafina felt like she was going to throw up, "what did you do to those cubs Sarabi!" Sarafina demanded, Sarabi turned to her indifferent, "a simple fruit from a certain tree it's juices soaked into their meat just enough to mimic illness" Sarabi explained, Sarafina was disgusted, "oh my god, you poisoned those cubs!" She screamed, "how could you do that, to your nephews and niece! How could you betray your own sister like that!" Sarafina said revolted, "what did I do to her? she still has her family, she can still hold her cubs in her arms, nuzzle with her mate sitting on top of pride rock while the rest of the pride look to her for guidance I earned that, she got it all by taking it from me!" Sarabi roared, Sarafina couldn't believe what she just heard, "you sound just like Scar" She told her, Sarabi backhanded Sarafina to the ground, "don't ever talk to me like that again!" Sarabi commanded, "look at yourself we're suppose to be on the right side!" Sarafina yelled.

Sarabi pushed her paw down on her neck, "wake up you idiot does it look like we are living in an ideal world anymore, this is survival of the fittest and I will be the fittest as will anyone who stands with me are you one of them" Sarabi asked while pushing down harder on her neck, Sarafina gasped for breath, "your weak, can't even save yourself at this very moment" Sarabi told her while pushing harder, "do you know why you can't save yourself, because you see yourself as a hero well do you" Sarabi questioned loosening her paw allowing Sarafina to breath, "I do what is right" Sarafina said gasping between breaths, Sarabi pushed her paw on her throat again, "that's your problem we're not heroes Sarafina and your not in a world with them, abandon whatever dreams you had because they've been burned alive, just give up because your conscience is going to lose the fight, take whatever morals you believe and bury them or the only place you'll end up is your grave" Sarabi said pushing down hard again, "is what I'm doing to you right no but there isn't a right anymore and I will not have you against me, the only thing that matters now is the blood from your enemies throat, we're not pure anymore, we're sin" Sarabi stated while letting Sarafina go. "I'm not a killer Sarabi I won't sacrifice my soul" Sarafina said defiantly, "and if Nala were to die would you, face it you're only as good as world allows just as I was, but now I see it and I'm going to preserve this kingdom are you with me or not" Sarabi asked while scraping her claws, "I'll stand with you but only for my daughter" Sarafina said in anger, "give it time soon you'll understand perfectly we're not heroes." Sarabi told her before turning away, Sarafina could only look on in terror at the monster her friend had become surely she was wrong the kindest of soul could rise beyond suffering, and avoid falling into the abyss.

Hasara could finally move completely on her own, her illness was also fading she finally felt strong again she longed to see her son Kovu and her daughter Vitani surely a compromise would have to made with her she and Zira had gotten so close that to just separate them would be cruel, Hasara supposed she could leave Vitani in Zira's custody so long as she gets some role in her daughters life, she was aware that Zira had left and taken her children as well as Kovu, but she understood her reasoning though she hadn't heard from the king perhaps she would speak to him today, "Hasara you are very nearly recovered" Rafiki told her, "yes and I feel great what was the problem" Hasara asked, "well it's kind of confusing did you get into my remedies and ever try to treat yourself out of impatience" he asked, "no" Hasara replied, Rafiki didn't like that he had feeling Zira would go to desperate measures to keep Vitani but it didn't matter now Hasara was recovered and her knowing the truth would not help, "it must have been the conditions of the kingdom similar to Zira's cubs oh apologies" Rafiki lied, "it's fine, but your lying what are you hiding" Hasara asked sweetly, "I need more time to come to a conclusion" Rafiki told her, "no it won't be there anymore just let me see it" Hasara requested softly, before Rafiki could say anything Hasara nudged him out of the way and looked at them. That was strange there were traces of minor poison in her, how would that happen and it appeared to be long term it had to be a mistake probably a mix up with someone else's medical record after all Zira fed her, every day, realization dawned on her, and Hasara began laugh, "hah ha hah I don't believe this, and yet it was right in front of me, of course I wasn't recovering because she was, hah ha hah she was sabotaging me, it's so obvious now hah ha hah" Hasara said in disbelieve, Rafiki was a bit disturbed by Hasara's reaction, "Hasara maybe you should lie down for a bit, "and you, you probably knew all along and didn't say anything ha hah ha hah" Hasara was laughing at the sheer obviousness of the situation, Rafiki tried to approach her, Hasara was laughing like crazy the moment Rafiki reached her Hasara growled and pushed Rafiki out of the tree. He narrowly caught himself Hasara paid him no more attention she had been played for a fool and had both her cubs stolen right under her nose and she didn't even notice it Hasara felt her rage grow, and let out feral scream to the heavens, she would pay for this, by the kings she would pay!

"Well that took a dark turn Sarabi has truly done something unforgivable and Hasara now knows the truth what will both of these revelations mean for Zira and what awaits the rest kingdom what else could Sarabi have in store for the Pride catch the next chapter and find out."