Chapter Eleven

Nala looked at Simba in shock, "Simba, what is Tano talking about?" she asked

Simba hung his head in shame, "Nala, I never meant for you to..." he started

"Do what? Tell her what you told me Simba, tell her how you left me in that desolate place to die." Tano said, anger causing his voice to crack with strain

"No, I didn't mean..." Simba attempted to start again

"Simba, what did you do?" Nala asked, anger and disappointment starting to show on her face

Simba began to cry, he inwardly cursed his show of weakness, "I didn't know what to do Nala...he was a nightmare growing up, we were worried to death constantly by his actions...then he goes and pulls a stupid stunt like that?"

Nala's face curled up in disgust at Simba's excuses, "And you think that justifies leaving him to die?" she spat, "and what's worse, you LIEDto me Simba, told me that you had absolutely no idea of where he could possibly be. You're no better than Scar was, in fact, your WORSE, I NEVER want to see you again. GET OUT OF MY LIFE!" she screamed at him, rage causing her body to shake.

Simba stood still for a moment, "Nala... I'm sorry... Don't go..." he pleaded beween sobs

Nala turned away from Simba, "I'm not going anywhere, YOU are." she said, the pure hatered in her tone unmistakeable as she made the proclamation

Tano laughed, "How does it feel dad? does it hurt?" he walked over to Simba's side and whispered into his ear, "And I have only just begun..."

Simba turned and looked Tano in the eyes pleadingly, "Why are you doing this to me?" he asked

"You made my life hell when you left me Simba, only fair that I do the same to yours." Tano replied, a sickening look of glee on his face

The light went out of Simba's eyes, with a blank stare he said, "Kill me, I have no reason to live anymore."

Tano flexed his claws in anticipation, "Gladly." he said, his smile widening

Kovu stepped inbetween Tano and Simba, adressing Tano he said, "No, you will not kill him, that is Murder Tano."

Zira walked over to Kovu, with an evil smile she said, "Oh Kovu, my son, could you not see that this was the intent of our little visit?"

Kovu's jaw dropped, "Mother?" he asked

Zira's claws flashed quickly across Kovu's exposed throat, "Yes son, I'm home." she said

It took a moment for Kovu to realize what had happened to him, he attempted to draw a breath, but was rewarded with a disturbing gargling sound and an intense amount of pain, looking down he saw five deep slashes across his throat.

Simba watched as Kovu's body hit the ground, "Kovu! NOOO!" he shouted, horrified at what had just happened

Nala then jumped in front of Simba, careful not to step on Kovu's body as she did so, "Tano, Zira, think about what you are about to do, I get that he abandoned you, and I hate him for doing that, but are you really going to kill him?"

Simba was surprised at this, but he pushed Nala aside and said, "No Nala, this is my fight, and I will finish it. Go get Kiara and run, don't look back."

Tano laughed and dropped into his fighting stance, "How very noble of you to give your life for your pride. Too bad it's a worthless gesture."

Simba saw Zira run after Nala, he dropped into his fighting stance and retorted, "I have no reason to live, remember?"

"Exactly."

The fight was on, Tano lunged toward Simba's left flank, laying into him with his claws, Simba turned and delivered a ruthless blow to the left side of Tano's head, causing Tano to stagger backward, Simba then blindly threw himself at Tano and let out a battlecry.

Tano dove low under his father's reckless charge and raked his claws across his throat, cutting the loud 'Roar' short. Simba hit the dirt with a resounding 'thud'

"You...would...really...kill...everyone...because...of...me?" Simba asked inbetween pained attempts at drawing a breath, blood pouring from his throat

Tano looked the dying lion in the eyes and said, "Yes. Now go face your judgement you bastard." he said coldly

Simba managed a painful laugh, "The...circle...must...go...on...you...can't...kill...us...all... It's impossible..." he said as he slowly died

Tano was surprised by his father's dying defiance, Zira was surely skinning Kiara and Nala alive, how could Simba make such a baseless claim? not the one to dwell on things like that, Tano made his way to Pride Rock's den, Surprised looks were given to him by the many lionesses and cubs within.

"Kovu and Simba are dead. figured you all should know that you'll be joining them momentarily."

Zira appeared behind Tano, blocking the only exit, she laughed as he went to work on those inside.

Kani and Lea stopped, they couldn't keep running like this for much longer, as the sun began to set on the horizon, Vitani finally caught them

"And just where do you two think that you're going?" Vitani asked

Kani panted heavily, "As...far away...from the Pridelands...as possible..." he gasped

Vitani shot a quizzical look at her nephew, "Why?" she asked, not completely understanding

Lea looked at Vitani as if she were stupid, "We want to be free from our parents, they would never let us be together normally." she explained

Vitani smiled, "Trust me, Kani's parents know a thing or two about forbidden love, and if you two were truly meant to be together, things would just work out." she explained poorly

Kani looked at Lea, "Damn, we almost made it..." he said, not caring that there was an adult present

Vitani grunted, "Hey, language mister." she said in a corrective tone

Lea looked at the setting sun, "Curfew, our parents will be looking for us soon..." she said, defeated

Vitani looked at the sun's position in the evening sky, "We'll never make it back before the sun sets, we'll have to wait until the morning."

Kani stood and walked over to Lea's side, nuzzling her gently he said, "At least we have tonight to be together."

Lea shoved him away angrily, "Get off me, this is your fault." she said

"My fault? how?" Kani asked, surprised by her sudden outburst

"If you hadn't made so much noise at the water hole this morning, she would still be back there!" she said, motioning at Vitani

"Hey, don't blame this on me, Mrs. I have a bad feeling about EVERYTHING!" Kani retorted

Vitani stopped their arguement before it got too far out of hand, "HEY! this fighting is not worth it, now you two be nice and get some sleep, we've got a long walk tomorrow." she said as she laid down

Kani glared at Lea, she turned away and flopped down, facing away from him, he did the same, facing away from her.

Vitani sighed at the pouting cubs, "Goodnight you two."

"Yeah, good for you maybe." came their reply in unison

Kiara surveyed the carnage, there were two bodies lying in enormous pools of blood, and it was clear that no one was alive, she went over to the first body and immediately burst into tears

"...Kovu...no..." she said, her spirits crushed by the grusome discovery

Her greif only got worse as she discovered that the second body was her father, compunding all of this, she made the discovery that Kani and Lea had run away earlier during her trip to Ra and Sara's den

'You'll come to learn a lot about me while I'm here Kiara, I guarantee it.' Tano's words flashed to the forefront of her memory, she suddenly felt her greif transform into anger, 'I'm coming for you brother.' she said to herself as she started out for Pride Rock

A/N: Two chapters in one day? Yes readers it IS possible. but this chapter comes with a laundry list of casualties and teary moments, I'll give you guys a moment to grieve for those who've died

Chapter twelve is on it's way my friends, thanks for reading and reviewing!