A CHANGE OF FATE.

PART TWO.

Takes place in 'The lion king: Simba's Pride' timeline. Scar and his Pride are the 'Outsiders'... After finding out that Simba murdered Mufasa, Scar, along with Maisha and their son Fasa, vow to overthrow his nephew, and reclaim the Pride Lands with Kefir as the King. Simba has been blessed with two cubs; his daughter Kiara, and his son Kopa - the eldest and heir to his kingdom.

Once again I would like to thank Lyrics Amidala, for helping me with this chapter.

CHAPTER TWO - Secrets Revealed.

Looking at Kopa, Scar blinked in shock. "You would stand against your Father?"

"My Father is... a murderer," Kopa answered, his breath shaking, "By rights he shouldn't be King."

Frowning, Fasa cocked his head, Kopa was Simba's heir, if he didn't think that Simba deserved to be King then... "You don't mean to be King after we overthrow Simba?"

"No," when Scar looked at him sharply, Kopa shrugged, "Uncle Kefir was Mufasa'srightful heir before he died."

"Kefir has renounced his claim," Scar reminded his grandnephew.

"And once he knows the truth, he will reinstate his claim." Kopa argued, "When everyone learns what my Father has done, they won't want me as King, they'll look to Uncle Kefir."

Scar nodded in agreement, it made sense, but he still didn't know how far Kopa was willing to go to fulfill the plan. "You do realise, that to overthrow Simba, we will have to kill him."

Kopa's eyes widened slightly, and he gritted his teeth. "How does that make us any better then him?" He asked, his chin lifting as he shook his head. "I don't see why we can't just exile him-"

"If we did that, then he would go straight to Rento and come back with his pride behind him." Scar snapped, irritated by Kopa's ignorance. "Then we would be facing-"

"Exactly the same thing as we'll be facing if we killed my Father." Kopa argued, cutting Scar off. "Rento would try to take over the Pride Lands on his own, the only reason he hasn't already done it is because of his friendship with my Father." Taking a deep breath, he sighed softly. "When Kiara and I were born, he made betrothals for us." He explained, "me to Vitani and Kiara to Kovu."

Fasa gaped, his eyes wide as he realised what that meant. "With Nuka as his heir, Rento has two of his children as Future King and Queen, and as Kiara's mate, Kovu will be an influential member of Simba's pride."

Kopa nodded, "He has more to gain as my Father's friend, then as his enemy." He looked at Scar, "whatever we decide, the end outcome won't change, Rento will still attack us if my Father is alive, or if he is killed."

Clearing her throat, Maisha joined the conversation. "Then how can we decide what to do to Simba?" She asked, frowning deeply.

Kopa frowned, then he blinked and took a deep breath. "We leave that to Uncle Kefir to decide."

Scar frowned at Kopa, then nodded slowly. As the rightful King, Simba's punishment was Kefir's decision to make.

Sighing, Kopa closed his eyes. "If this plan is going to succeed, you need someone on the inside." he said softly, "someone who my Father trusts..."

"You have to go back," Fasa realised, then he blanched, "I am glad I'm not you." He couldn't imagine what it'd be like, having to face Simba, knowing that he was a murderer, but having to pretend that he was still devoted to him.

Kopa opened his eyes and looked towards the Pride Lands, "I better go..." If he was gone too long, his Father would wonder what he become of him, and if he was caught now, the plan would fail. Looking at Scar, he took a deep breath. "... I'll try to meet you here tonight."

As Kopa started to walk away, Scar called after him, "Be careful!" If Simba found out that Kopa was spying on him, son or not, he would kill him.

xx

Kopa frowned as he slowly made his way back to Pride Rock, he wasn't sure if he could face his Father, not now he knew the truth.

His Father was a murderer...

The same Father who had taught him to roar, who had played pouncing games and mock fights with both him and Kiara as cubs, had stood over his own Father, ripped his throat out and watched him die.

Kopa closed his eyes and sighed, how could someone as loving as his Father, be so cold and evil and merciless as to kill his own father, just to become King? It didn't make sense, none of what he knew seemed to add up.

"Well, that's a serious expression." Jumping, Kopa looked up, Vitani smiled at him, walking forward. She rubbed up against him, and nipped his ear gently. "What's wrong?"

Kopa stopped and sighed, he couldn't keep this from her... But telling her, telling anyone, was hard. "Do you remember when I told you about Fasa?"

"You said he was a liar, that he called Simba a murderer." Vitani recalled, looking into Kopa's face, she frowned. "What does he have to do with anything now?"

"He was telling the truth," Kopa whispered, his voice shaking with the shock of it.

"What?!" Vitani gaped in shock, "How do you know?"

Shaking his head, Kopa closed his eyes. "I overheard him talking to Rento about it."

"My Father knows...?" And he hadn't told anyone?" Vitani stared at Kopa, "You're sure?"

How he wished he wasn't, that all this was a big misunderstanding, but it wasn't, his Father had admitted to killing Mufasa, and Rento... "Scar said that Rento was involved the attack on Mufasa."

"You spoke to Scar?"

The look of pure, shocked incredulity on Vitani's face would have been funny if the situation was so serious, nodding, Kopa sighed. "When I found out, I ran, I didn't really think about where I was going..." He sighed and shook his head, "... I was way into the Outlands when Fasa found me, when I told him I'd found out the truth, he took me to see Scar."

"What are you going to do?" Vitani asked, her bright blue eyes still wide with shock.

This was the hard part, "my father doesn't deserve to be King, he murdered his ownfather to 'claim' his title-"

"You're going against him..." Vitani whispered hoarsely, her breath shaking fearfully. "... If he finds out, he'll kill you."

"Well, so far, you're the only one who knows." Kopa told her.

Vitani shook her head, "I won't tell him." She nuzzled his side gently, "you're going to be seeing Scar again, aren't you?"

Kopa nodded, "Tonight."

"I can cover for you," Vitani smiled at him, "just, promise me you'll be careful, ok?"

Leaning against her, Kopa sighed as he began walking back to Pride Rock, "I'm starting to think that Scar is the least of my worries."

xxx

Simba looked up as Kopa flopped down to the ground in between him and Rento, "Where have you been?"

"With me," Vitani grinned dropping down beside Kopa, "We were trying to figure out how to tell you that-"

"We've been meeting since you and Rento introduced us," Kopa finished as he understood, Vitani's cover for his absence.

Rento's eyebrows rose, "Why did you keep it a secret?"

"We just weren't ready for everyone to know," Vitani said with a nonchalant shrug. "It's not like it's a big deal or anything."

Forcing himself to relax, Kopa smiled at Rento, "How long are you staying for this time?" If Scar was going to make his move on his Father, it would be easier without Rento present.

Looking at Simba, Rento shrugged, "A couple of days."

"Would you mind if I stayed here after you leave?" Vitani asked her Father, when he raised his eyebrows again, she smiled, "Kopa and I haven't seen each other in months Father," she reminded him, "I just want to spend a little time with him."

Kovu grinned as walked over to join the with Kiara, "you finally told them, huh?"

Simba cocked his head, "you knew about this?"

"Vitani made me promise not to tell," he said with a shrug.

Snorting, Kiara sat down and shook her head. "That's funny, it was the first thing you told me about her."

After a moment of speechlessness, Kovu grinned, "Well I learned from watching Father, that you don't keep secrets from your mate."

"Really?" Rento asked, with an amused smile.

Kovu nodded, smiling jokingly at his Father. "Don't you remember what happened when you didn't immediately tell Mother about Mufasa's death?"

Kopa saw the Simba's anger flare at the mention of Mufasa, just like it always did. Vitani took his cue as he stood, grinning as she leaped to her feet, "Uh, Kopa and I are gonna go hunting!"

x

Nuka stood silently as Kopa and Vitani left, following them without a word to either his Father or Simba. But then, he barely spoke to his Father anymore, it had been that way since Mufasa's murder.

Sighing, Nuka shook his head. He still couldn't believe he'd allowed himself to be drawn into the plot, he'd been so young and stupid, blindly seeking his Father's approval.

But now, he had the chance to make up for his mistake. He'd seen Kopa leave, had heard when Simba and his Father had been discussing. Finally, after all this time, someone knew the truth - and both his Father and Simba had no idea.

xx

Vitani looked around as she followed Kopa into the Outsider's territory. Her stomach was twisted in knots. She hoped that Kopa knew what he was doing. What if Scar was lying? What if he was drawing Kopa out into seclusion and would kill him? Even as a cub, she had found the scar on his eye unsettling.

Suddenly, someone burst out of the shadows, and landed on her back. Vitani's leg's buckled, and she nearly shrieked except for the fact that her mouth was pressed again the ground.

"Fasa, what are you doing?" Kopa asked. So, her assailant was Scar's son. This wasn't doing much to reassure her.

"You didn't notice this lioness following you," Fasa growled.

Vitani struggled, and could just make out Kopa rolling his eyes. "I brought her here," he said. "She's a friend."

Lions emerged from other nooks and crannies, Scar in the lead, the slash on his eye glowing silver in the moonlight. "Clearly Kopa, someone needs to explain the meaning of 'secrecy' to you," Kopa's uncle commented dryly. "Vitani dear, lovely to see you." Vitani bowed her head, trying to disguise her trembling.

A creamy lioness came forward. "Vitani, go home," she said. "This is between Kopa and us."

Vitani shook her head. "I know what Simba did," she said. "I know that my father was involved. And I won't stand for it any more than you will."

Scar nodded. "In that case Maisha," he said. "Let her stay." Maisha nodded, and Fasa let Vitani up. She shook dirt out of her coat, and sat down.

"How do we prove Simba killed Mufasa?" Kopa asked, tail twitching. "Nobody believed you when you said it, and you were one of the most respected members in the Pride."

"We need to find out who was involved in the attack," Scar said calmly. "One of the lions who pinned down my brother while Simba slit his throat." Vitani saw Maisha put her paw on Scar's. "No one in Rento's pride would do that," Vitani put in. "They're too loyal, and too scared of what he'll do."

"So the attackers won't be able to help us," Kopa said. "So who will?"

"You could always ask me."

Vitani leaped to her feet as she recognised the voice, "Nuka..." Her eyes wide, Vitani swallowed, "What are you doing here?" Her brother walked forward until he was next to her. Scar narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean?" He asked in a low voice. Nuka stared him straight in the eye.

"I knew about Simba and Rento's plan," he said. Scar's eyes widened at that. Vitani remembered when Nuka was a cub, and how he kept on asking Scar so many questions, eyes wide with admiration. Was it still there, now that Scar had been exiled?

"How did you know?" Maisha asked. Nuka bowed his head, claws scraping the earth.

"I was a part of the plot," he said softly. "I was to distract Kefir while Simba lured his father into the gorge." Vitani walked over to her brother.

"It's not true," she said desperately. "Tell me it's not true." Nuka looked at her, eyes glimmering with remorse.

"It's true."

xx

Nuka was halfway to the Elephant Graveyard when he started having second thoughts. Kefir kept on chattering about his father, how much he loved his family. Nuka didn't want this little cub to suffer. So when he looked back over his shoulder, and saw five distant shapes bounding toward the gorge, he made his decision. He stepped on Kefir's tail, halting him. The little lion turned.

"What?" He asked. Nuka bent his face down so he was level with the cub.

"Run," he said in a low voice.

"What?" Kefir asked.

"Run back to Pride Rock, and find your parents. Just run!" Kefir bounded away as fast as he could, evidently terrified.

As soon as the younger cub was out of sight, Nuka whirled around and ran for the gorge. He had to stop the attack, had to warn Mufasa. But something was telling him, in his heart of hearts, that he was too late.

The memory had come unbidden to Nuka, and he couldn't do anything except let him wash over him. Vitani looked horrified, and Scar looked furious. Nuka cringed inwardly. For some reason, he still looked up to the exiled lion.

"You were a part of the attack?" Scar growled, his green eyes flashing with fury.

Swallowing, Nuka closed his eyes, "I didn't have a choice." he said quietly, "When we were travelling to the Pride lands, my Father told me what he planned..." his voice shook at the memory, "... When I told him I didn't think we should do it, he told me that Simba was our friend and he would always help us in our times of need." Shaking his head, Nuka sighed, "he told me that if I told anyone, he'd kill me."

"You helped kill one of the greatest kings the Pride Lands had ever seen!" Scar growled angrily. "And you didn't think to stand up to Simba once I discovered the truth?" Nuka raised himself to his full height, staring Scar straight in the eye.

"I was a cub," he said evenly. "I wanted my father to be proud of me." Closing his eyes again, Nuka shook his head. "I wasn't at Pride Rock when you confronted Simba, and I was too afraid to face him and my father on my own."

Vitani stared at her brother in shock, emotions warring inside her; she was angry and horrified, but whether the horror was at what her brother had been a part of, or that he had been forced to live in fear of both their father and Simba, she did know.

Looking up at them, Nuka shrugged, "I'm not helping now to avoid punishment." he told them, "Whether kefir decides to punish me or not, I'm leaving when this is over." Exile was the least he deserved, "All I'm doing, is trying to right my wrong before I leave."