Scar paced before Zazu's cage. He had it made shortly after he became king. The poor bird was skin and bones with very little meat. Scar continued to pace as he waited for the lionesses to gather around outside of the den.

"Might I make a suggestion your highness?" Zazu quipped from his prison of bones.

"What, you irritating bird?" He snarled at him.

"Perhaps you should be understanding of Kiara and Kovu's arrangement," the bird suggested hopefully.

"Be more understanding!" Scar shoved his nose between the bones and snarled at the bird.

"Well it might benefit you," Zazu laughed nervously.

Scar turned away from the bird. Be understanding of that little tramp? Might as well beg for Hell to freeze over night. He stepped outside and saw all the lionesses waiting for him in silence. He knew this routine. He looked around but one was missing, Sarabi.

He spotted the aged lioness as she appeared over the slight rise, "Yes Scar?"

He snarled at her condescending manner of addressing him, "Where were you?"

"I am an old queen, you can't expect my body to move as nimbly as theirs," she jerked her royal chin towards the other, much younger lionesses.

"When I call meetings I expect everyone to be here!" Scar stepped up to the old queen then passed her.

"I am an old lion, you ungrateful cub! If you were half the king Mufasa was-" She was silenced by a hard slap across the face.

"I am ten times the king Mufasa was!" He roared and was about to advance upon her when Kiara jumped on his way.

"Leave her alone!" She cried as other lionesses ushered her away.

He grinned at her cruelly then turned and slashed Sarabi's throat out. The old lioness made a gurgling sound then fell silent.

"No!" Kiara cried out.

"Take this thing away," he gestured towards Sarabi's dead body. A lightening flash seemed to agree with him.

Kiara let out a sob then ran for the den. She walked to the farthest end and dropped down sobbing into her paws. Then she noticed a sliver of light among the rocks. She got an idea and started working on shoving at the rocks. Soon they fell away and she slipped out. She looked up at Pride Rock as lightening flashed.

Storm clouds gathered as more lightening arched across the sky. She bounded towards Pride Rock when she smelled something burning. She turned and saw a wall of flame heading towards her. She ran and made a mighty bound clinging to the rock with her claws.

Suddenly Scar appeared above her. He stared down at her menacingly. She tried to climb up when suddenly his claws lashed out and pinned her paws to the rock. She struggled to break his grip but he held on fast.

"This is just the way your father looked before he died," he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "And here's my little secret, I killed him."

Kiara glared at her uncle and with every ounce of strength leapt upon him. She slammed her paw down on his throat. "Murderer!"

"I am, what can you do about it?" He snarled as suddenly a pack of hyenas that were waiting in the shadows were upon Kiara.

She let out a roar and batted them away. While she was busy Scar slipped away. The hyenas pressed in upon her but the lionesses came to her reascue. They tore at the hyenas until she was freed from the fray. She ran in the direction that Scar had gone. This is the time to finish it uncle!

Smoke clogged the air as she followed after Scar. Her body protested running but she kept after him. She saw him slide to a stop and she closed in upon him.

"You murdered my family," she bared her fangs.

"Kiara, please have mercy, I beg you." He cowered from her.

"And why should I? You murdered my father and my grandmother," she bore down upon him.

"I'm family," he tried another tact as she closed in for the kill.

"You don't deserve to live," she snarled.

"You wouldn't kill your own uncle?" He pleaded.

She stared at him silently then said, "No, I'm not like you. But you will leave and never return."

Scar rose to his feet and tried to be affable about her sparing his life, "Oh thank you, yes, as you wish," he paced around her. She turned her head to watch him. He looked down and saw a pile of ash, "Your majesty!" He flung the ash into her face.

She roared with pain and tried to shove the ash out of her eyes. Scar launched onto her and they tumbled to the ground. He aimed for her neck but she kicked him off and swiped at his unprotected face. He dodged and swung at her face. She fell back and he leapt upon her. She kicked with her back legs and launched him over the cliff.

She rolled over and watched as he crashed to his death at the bottom. She sighed with relief and made to rise. Smoke swirled around her. She took a few steps as she choked on the smoke searing her lungs and throat.

She fell to the ground unable to keep standing. Smoke clung to the air, darkening everything. She could barely breathe. Ash coated her tongue and throat and it was harder to gasp for the air she desperately needed. She had a vague feeling she would die. After all her endeavors, she would lay here and die due to smoke inhalation. Would any of the lionesses find her before she died?

She struggled to get up but her limbs refused to move. She coughed feebly as her lungs filled with ash. She lifted her head slightly but could barely keep it up from the ground.

Suddenly a movement just beyond her sight made her turn her head. A hazy vision was before her. The only clear sight she had was of glowing green eyes. Did he return to finish her off? Before she could even find the strength to fight to her feet, her head slumped and everything went black.

Kovu looked down at the limp form of Kiara. He grabbed her by the scruff and shifted her onto his back. He had to move quickly if he wanted to save her from her fate. He ran down the path that led to the lower part of Pride Rock. He felt her jarring against his body as he ran. But he kept going.

Soon he reached the end of the path and took her into the den. He heard thunder and the sound of rain hitting the ground as he carried her to a small watering hole. He laid her down and forced her mouth open. Then he lapped up some water and gently slipped it into her mouth. Most of it dribbled down her chin and the sides of her mouth but enough went in to wash away the scorching soot.

She sat up and started coughing, "Ugh!"

He licked her cheek, "You scared me."

She sputtered a little more then crawled over and lapped up some more water, "Sorry, but I had to do this on my own."

"Just don't scare me like that again, okay?" His eyes glowed with worry and love.

"I promise, as long as no crazy relatives get it into their heads to get rid of us," she smiled and cuddled up to him, "Can I sleep now?"

He let out a laugh, "You earned it."

She smiled softly then laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

The End

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