A/N A special thank you to WTF123, Salunatic, 22teamplayer, jtgil, kate, Robert Downey Jr94, TRON0602, and thingsareweird for reviewing ch 11. Here's ch 12 coming at ya and as always see ch 1 for disclaimer. Enjoy.

Ch 12 Harsh Reality

As Kovu returned to the Outlands he brushed past Kiara accidently knocking the five month old cub down. "Hey!" Kiara cried out getting to her feet. "Watch where you're going Kovu!"

"Ah shut up twirp," Kovu snapped.

"Geeze what's your problem?" Kiara said with irritation.

"Yeah who crapped in your food today?" Vitani said coming onto the scene.

"Sorry guys," Kovu said. "I'm just in a bad mood that's all."

"No duh," Vitani said rolling her blue eyes.

"What happen 'Vu?" Kiara asked sitting beside Kovu.

"I ran into Kopa," Kovu said.

"Really?" Vitani asked, suddenly intreasted. "I haven't seen him in a few days. How's he doing?"

"Look Vitani do yourself a favor and forget about him," Kovu said angerily. "It'll never work out between you guys and you know it."

"Well it could," Vitani began.

"No it couldn't!" Kovu yelled startling the tan nine month old cub. "Don't you get it? Cusmo just dumoed Nuka because he's an Outlander and she's a Pridelander and she's not even a Princess. What chance do you think you have with the future King? None that's what."

"I thought you were the future King," Kiara said, confused.

"Well I'm not!" Kovu snapped his amber eyes flashing with anger. "Why would I be? I'm the son of Scar! The product of rape! Why in the Hell would I ever be King when Simba has his own flesh and blood to do the trick?!" By now Kovu was seething and he was digging his claws into the ground in anger.

"Whoa there Kovu calm down," Vitani said carefully. "It sounds to me like Simba is the one to blame here. Not Kopa. I mean he didn't choose to be the heir. Simba choose him."

"She has a point there Kovu," Kiara chimed in trying to get her friend clam.

"I guess you're right," Kovu said taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I'm just so damn mad!"

"Then I suggest using you're anger for something good," Zira said coming onto the scene. "Like training with Mheetu. Show him how to be really angry and how to use that anger to his advantage. I'm sure you can manage that can't you Kovu?"

"Sure I can," Kovu said as he began to walk towards the area where Mheetu and Windi were wrestling.

"But first," Zira said stepping in front of Kovu. "I want you to take Nuka and Vitani out hunting for some food."

"Already taken care of," Nuka said proudly pulling out some field mice and a few dead birds that he had caught.

"Better find some food for yourselves," Zira declared taking the kills from Nuka. "These are going to Mheetu, Kiara and I." With that Zira called Mheetu over and deivded the dead animals amoung the three of them.

"Don't worry I got this," Kovu whispered to Nuka and Vitani. With that the brown lion walked to a hallowed out log and motioned for Nuka and Vitani to join him. Once they were there Kovu pulled out a larger jackrabbit and some dead lizards. "I always keep a stash," Kovu said. "Here enjoy." With that he handed the jackrabbit and lizards to his friends, which they quickly devoured. "What about you?" Nuka asked, his mouth full.

"Yeah aren't you hungry?" Vitani asked swallowing a lizard.

"I already ate," Kovu said with a shrug. "Remember I can go into the Pridelands whenever I want so I can catch food whenever I'm hungry."

"Thanks little brother," Nuka said with a smile. "You're an ok kid."

"Thanks Nuk'," Kovu said with a smile of his own. "Your ok too." With that Kovu walked over to where Mheetu was finishing up his meal. "You ready to train?" Kovu asked looking at the light brown five month old.

"Of course he is," Zira said. "Aren't you Mheetu?" The tan lioness looked at her youngest son.

"Sure," Mheetu said with a sigh. "Come on Kovu lets go." With that the two young lions left and headed to the training area.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile back at Priderock Kopa returned still shaken up by his encounter with his brother. "Kopa honey what's wrong?" Nala asked walking up to her son and sitting beside him.

"Nothing," Kopa replied sharply truning away form his mother.

"Kopa if something's wrong then you should tell me," Nala said gently.

"He just dosen't want you to get mad Queen Nala," Alzu said quickly.

"Why would I get mad?" Nala asked with confusion.

"Because anytime someone mentions Kovu you get mad," Jayla blurted out. Then the tan cub realized what she just said. "Oops," she said softly. "Uh come on Alzu let's go inside." With that Jayla and Alzu quickly ran back inside the cave before Nala could say anything to them. Nala turned towards Kopa and asked, "Did you see Kovu today?"

"Yeah I did," Kopa replied.

"How is he?" Nala asked.

"What do you care?" Kopa asked harshly.

"Kopa don't you dare take that tone with me young lion," Nala snapped. "I'm your mother and you will treat me with respect."

"Whatever," Kopa grumbled rolling his blue eyes.

"Kopa I'm getting really tired of your attitude towards me," Nala said. "Now I know that you're still angry with me because Kovu left but that dosen't give you the right to treat me with such disrespect."

"What's going on here?" Simba asked coming onto the scene along with Sarabi.

"I was just telling Kopa that I'm tired of his attitude towards me," Nala explained. "And I could use your support on this Simba."

"Kopa we've talked about this," Simba said with irritation.

"I know that Dad!" Kopa shouted. "But I'm still really mad. And today just made things worse."

"What happened dear?" Sarabi asked looking at her grandson.

"I saw Kovu today," Kopa said. "And we go into a huge fight. It was awful Grandma. He's so angry now. Especially since I told him I was the new heir now."

"Where did you see him?" Nala asked. Kopa said nothing and glared at his mother. "Look Kopa I know I've done terriable things to your brother," Nala said. "But believe it or not I do miss him and I want him to come home. I should have never let him leave to begin with. But I was so full of grief after losing my mother I wasn't thinking clearly. I just want the chance to make things right with my son."

"I don't think he'd listen to you Mom," Kopa said. "And he's older now. He has an almost fully grown jet black mane. Just like you said Scar had."

"I don't care," Nala said honestly. "I want my son home where he belongs. Now please tell me where he is."

"He's in the Grasslands," Kopa said. "Near the Outland border."

"Then that's where I'm going," Nala declared. But before the creamy Queen could take a step Simba stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Nala I don't think it's a very good idea for you to go," the golden King said. "Given your past experiences with Kovu I think it's best if I went to talk to him."

"But Simba I..." Nala began.

"Simba's right dear," Sarabi said. "Let him handle this. In fact I think I'll join him. If that's alright with you Simba." Sarabi looked at her son when she said this last part.

"Of course it is," Simba said with a smile. "In fact I think it'll help if you were there. You and Kovu have always had a great relationship." After giving Nala a nuzzle Simba and Sarabi set off in search of Kovu promsing that they would return soon.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile Kovu and Mheetu were in the middle of a training lesson. Kovu was teaching Mheetu how to take out his aggressions on others. "The trick is," Kovu was saying. "to never let your anger take control over you. You must take control over it. Understand?"

"I think so," Mheetu said, not really understanding but not willing to say so.

"Then do it," Kovu commanded. "Take out your anger on your enemies."

"But Kovu," Mheetu said carefully. "I'm not really angry about anything."

"You should be!" Kovu hissed. "You should be angry at Simba for putting you in this situation to begin with! You should be angry with everyone in the Pridelands!"

"But why?" Mheetu asked. "I'm serious Kovu. Why should I be angry at them? They never did anything to me. You shouldn't be angry with them either."

"Simba took my birthright from me!" Kovu growled. "I may not be his blood son but I am the blood son of Scar, who was King before Simba. I should be King not Kopa! And I;m going to take back my birthright and you're going to help me."

"Why should I?" Mheetu asked. "The only reason I was doing this to begin with was because Mother said I was going to be King. So if you're going to be King and not me then why should I help you?"

"Because once I'm King then you'll be a Prince," Kovu declared. "You and Nuka and Vitani and Kiara will all be royalitly and get to live the sweet life. Think about it Mheetu. You'll get to do whatever you want to and not have the responsabilities of being King. Dosen't that sound like a better plan?"

"Sure it does," Mheetu said after a minute. "Ok I'll go along with that. But what about Mother? Where does she fit in?"

"Oh we'll figure something out for Zira," Kovu said, not wanting to tell Mheetu that he planned on having Zira out of the way once he was King. "Now come on Mheetu back to your training. Focus."

"Ok Kovu," Mheetu said trying his best to get angry. He found his target, a small lost rabbit, and pounced on it killing it with one blow.

"Hey great going there kid," Vitani said coming onto the scene. The tan cub walked over to Kovu and whispered, "Hey Kovu I just heard that King Simba was lookin' fo ya."

"He is?" Kovu asked surprised. "I wonder why?"

"Beats me," Vitani said with a shrug. "But I think you should find out. Don't worry I'll cover for ya. I'll tell Mother you needed a break or somethin' if she asks where you are."

"Thanks Vitani," Kovu said. "I'll be back." After making sure that Zira was nowhere to be found Kovu made his way towards the Prideland border to find out what Simba wanted from him.

A/N well there you have it folks ch 12 done. I hope you enjoyed it and as always lease review.