A/N: And like I promised, the chapter is up. Some interesting stuff is going on, that will be important later.
Expect the next one around the 25th to the 27th if this month if all goes well.
I don't like complaining, but I'm a little down about the lack of any reviews despite so many views and page hits. Feed back and knowing people care enough to leave them are a big part of my motivation. I hope it doesn't get to that point, but I might have to consider putting the story on indefinite hiatus soon. Because if not enough people are interested in it, what is the point?
At any rate, like always I do ask anyone who wants to to leave a review. Let me know the things I'm doing wrong, and the things I'm getting right.
It had been some hours since he and his uncle had spoken with them. A lot to take in, and he couldn't help but to worry about those two. Especially Aja. They seemed to be telling the truth. So while he wasn't as good at reading others as Scar was, Simba figured himself adept enough.
Dark outside, at least the borders were clear. So far as he could tell. His mother, Nala and Mtanga had taken the western boundary, leaving himself and Scar to take the north around to the east.
He was back at Priderock now. Nothing to really do except watch the sky. The stars were out tonight, brighter than they had been in weeks. Mohatu's star was still probably the brightest...his father's was there, bright as usual. Not as much as a few other kings. Mufasa didn't reign for long, but it was mostly free of blemish. His treatment of Scar...and his unfair ways toward hyenas kept it from shining as brilliantly as it could have. He'd come to accept that his father was a very flawed lion in many ways, which did nothing to diminish his love or affections. Flaws were often what made a being who they were. For better or worse.
"Hey dad." Simba nearly jumped. How his son managed to walk up without him hearing was a mystery to the lion. Had he been that deep in thought?
"I was wondering some things. Eventually I'm going to be king, right?"
Of course he was, Chaka already knew that. "Yes. You will be. On your fifth year you will become...I think it's called Prince Regent. Like I've said before, at that point you'll start taking over a lot of active duties. Making laws and having equal say with me in whatever decisions are made. I'll begin stepping back, and by your seventh birthday you'll officially be crowned as the new king. It's a long way off though, so not much to worry about yet."
"I see then. Do you think I'll be a good king?" His son looked a little unsure of himself, making it obvious that he was bothered by what he was thinking.
That raised an eyebrow. "Well...technically it is a bit too early for me to say for sure, but I have no reason at all to doubt you. You're a smart young lion, I'd hesitate to even call you a cub anymore." He knew he was rambling a bit, not really caring about that. "You have a lot more common sense that I did when I was your age, and if you ask some of the pride, more than I have now. I was always doing crazy things...that is something Kiara got from me. And from your mother too I guess."
Simba realized he was getting off topic quickly. "What I'm saying is that you have a pretty level head...except when you let your sister talk you into crazy things."
Father and son shared a quick laugh. Kiara had a way of doing that.
They sat together peacefully for several minutes. Then the next question. "Do you think Nuka would have been a good king?"
That made him sputter. For a moment he thought deeply, before looking at his son. "Based on what I've seen...and from how different he is from...from you don't need to know who...I think he had a lot of potential. When I first met him, he was a lot more nervous of everything and a little immature. Now, he has grown up quite a bit. At least in how he thinks he is a lot like yours and my uncle. Very strategic." Of course he knew there was more. "I've got to ask, what is exactly makes you ask a question like that, my son?"
Shuffling around nervously, Chaka debated in whether to ask what he was really thinking. He'd gone this far, might as well see what would happen.
"Because I was thinking. Been thinking for a long while actually. I was told that uncle Scar and grandpa Mufasa almost got the chance to be king together. That made me really wonder, what would it be like if there were two kings instead of one. Could...could that even work?"
Truth be told, he knew little on the subject. All he had was bits and pieces, cobbled together from what his mother and Scar had told him. "It...depends. I'm not that familiar with the idea...but...it has happened in the past. You've heard of Mohatu, right?"
Chaka indeed had. He nodded to confirm that.
"Well...the last time anything like that happened was when his grandfather, Mkali was king. Mkali, far as the stories go had a brother who ruled alongside him early on. Both were deemed equally fit...and balanced each other out. Their rule lasted only for a short time...some kind of conflict happened. Because his brother was king as well...it caused a lot of tension on the pride.
Bickering between the two on how to go about the war. Due to that argument...their enemy was able to deal a bad blow to the kingdom...the Pridelanders eventually triumphed...but at the loss of Mkali's brother...he died leading a suicide charge...one that Mkali opposed. Since both were king, he had no authority over his brother and could do nothing to force him to stop. Mkali...was devastated by this...losing a brother broke him. Not long after the fighting ended he issued a new decree, one that forbade anymore than a single king to rule."
It was interesting, even if it wasn't the whole story. That made the prince think on the matter, that maybe Mkali was a bit rash in his decision. That it was because of what happened to him, that he wanted to prevent any of his descendants from suffering in that way. There had to be at least some pieces missing from the story, and it didn't mean history would repeat itself.
"But still. It doesn't seem fair. Nuka was going to be king, more than likely...so he lost what was his birthright."
At the statement Simba frowned slightly. "Technically it was never his." Realizing that his son didn't know that part of his past made Simba stop. Sooner than later he knew he would have to face the facts, that he would have to tell both his children that their 'uncle' wasn't always as nice as he now seemed to be. That he had a much darker past that they dared imagine. Today was not that day, but he had to come up with some reason to keep his son from asking to much this soon.
"Dad, what do you mean by that?" Chaka actually seemed angry. He definitely wasn't used to seeing from the cub. "I know that Scar wasn't supposed to be king, but he was for a while."
Being mindful to keep his tone in check, Simba explained as best he could. "You're right, Scar wasn't. He...stole the throne from me...when I was about your age..."
That hit him like a wildebeest kick to the teeth. "What? You mean he exiled you or something...why?"
Simba quickly shook his head. "No...not now. I won't...I can't tell you that. Not yet...Anyway. Scar really wasn't the rightful king, so that means any claim Nuka had was void...he is a wonderful young lion...and I know none of it was his fau-"
The cub slammed his paw on the ground. "It still isn't fair. He couldn't have known either, and probably spent his whole life thinking he was a prince...that he might even be king one day...that...it just isn't right." Tears nearly formed, Chaka managed to will them away for the time being. "I want him to be king dad, with me when my time comes."
There. He said it. Now he waited to see how his father would react. That reaction took longer than he'd expected.
"Do you? Is that really what you want?" the tone came off as more of concern. Not anger or frustration like he'd been afraid of.
"Yes. I really have been thinking about this for a long, long time."
"And you're not doing it because of any pressure from anyone?" his eyes narrowed, he briefly suspected Scar might have been the one to put the thought into his mind. The look in his son's eyes, as he adamantly shook his head eased Simba's feeling greatly. "...right. That much is a relief. I'm making sure of this for your own good, and the kingdom. You don't think he is getting jealous, or even resentful at all...do you?"
That line of thought brought back a lot of fear and memories. Jealousy and resentment had been a driving force behind many of his uncle's actions. Understandably he wan't to make sure history wasn't going to repeat itself.
Chaka raised an eyebrow in irritation. "No, not at all. I know he is a little disappointed that, since he pretty much lost any chance of being considered. But he isn't mad at me, or anyone else. Not from what I can see at least."
Simba admitted to himself that that was a big relief. Of course, just because Chaka didn't see any possible warning signs, didn't mean that there was no problems at all. After all, a cub's sight was far from all encompassing. Still, it wouldn't be in Nuka's character to actually do anything vindictive. He was his father's son without doubt, yet different enough that the king could not see him following in Scar's pawprints in that regard. It was also worth noting that he should do nothing rash. Nothing to push his cousin down that dark road.
"Then at the very least, I'll consider the idea. This is a big thing Chaka, and a decision that cannot be made lightly. If all goes well...when the time for you to be king comes nearer I'll give my blessing. But you need time to really think over the decision, and to actually understand the scope that it encompasses. Still...even if I don't like the idea, once I step down you will be free to do as you wish in allowing him to rule too. Just make sure you understand everything before you do. Along with all the possible consequences."
"And I was kinda thinking that you might get a little upset or angry at me for asking something like that." The cub was thinking. He knew his father was right, that this would not be an overnight decision. With that thought in mind, he couldn't wait to tell Nuka. "Man is he going to be excited when I tell him-"
"No." a little more forcefully than needed, but it got the point across. "Not yet...he'll need to know, just not right away. We don't want him to get his hopes up in case anything changes later...or upset anyone in the pride with such a sudden decision. It...it's like this...not a lot of them like Scar...and they might not like it if his son was announced to be king alongside you...at least no so soon after I came and took back the throne from him. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"I think I do, dad. Nuka is smart, but he's not good about keeping secrets...I tell him and then he'll tell at least one other lion...the whole pride would hear about it. pretty quick..and then..." he stopped in his tracks. There were worse things that could happen than a few angry pride members. "What if...what if it gets out of the pride...and then that Jaguar thing hears about it?"
Simba nearly choked. That was another good point to consider. "That...I didn't even stop to think about it...but it would be really bad if that happened. It could made him more of a target...he did have a brother...and if Vazio got wind of who he was, and what he might be...I don't even want to imagine what he might try and do."
"Yeah...I was thinking along those lines." Something about the way it was phrased seemed bizarre. Of course Nuka had a brother...and a sister for that matter. Yet...it seemed off how the matter was spoken. What if...
"Wait a minute...he already has Kovu for a brother...so what...what did you mean by that...that he had a brother? Nothing has happened to Kovu has it?" Truthfully he didn't think anything had. Scar would have already known, and Nuka wouldn't have been far behind with that knowledge.
"Well...you see...I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you this." For some reason he actually felt nervous. Not that he was scared of what his uncle might say or do, though Scar's reaction might be drastic in it's own right, it simply didn't feel right to divulge on anything so personal. Not a tragedy like that. The fact that he'd slipped up so badly did make him swear in the back of his mind at himself.
"...in fact I know that I can't. It...it really isn't my place." Again the fumbling with the words. Which he knew he desperately needed to work on.
"Why not , why can't you?" questioned a now very curious cub.
"Because of...of how personal it is to both my uncle and Nuka. Just...I'll talk to them...and maybe Scar will tell you more than I can. He always said that you're his favorite nephew."
"I'm his only-" Chaka stopped, feeling very silly. His father snickering nearly made him laugh as well. "Well...technically I guess you were his nephew first. I like him, but man he really is strange sometimes."
"You have no idea." Saying that felt familiar. How, he couldn't remember for the life of him. They sat in silence for a few quick seconds, until Simba got an idea.
"I'm going out with Scar along the border tomorrow, along the western side. I think you and your sister should come with us."
Chaka nodded. "That...sounds fine. So, if I'm going to be king, where does that leave her?"
Simba had thought plenty about that one on his own. Answering the question was rather easy for him. "Well, that depends on what she wants to do. If she is interested, and puts in the effort, she could co-rule with you."
"Even if Nuka did as well?" He had to raise an eyebrow. It was interesting to see his father's reaction.
Simba cleared his throat. "Um...now that would be very unorthodox. Two kings and an actual queen ruling...Nothing like it has ever been done before as far as I've been told. The Pridelands has had at least one queen...that was generations ago though. It might be able to work...definitely something we'll have to wait and see on too."
"Yeah...she's told me she doesn't like the idea of that much responsibility. Told me that she didn't think she was made for that sort of thing. Pretty much at least."
"Sounds like her...and myself at times when I was near her age. At least, once the excitement of being king eventually wore off." He laughed. "Maybe she'll change her mind...maybe not. The choice is always hers alone to make. I can't force her, and you both know I won't try."
"So then. I take it that it's a yes to you coming with my uncle and I?"
Chaka pondered for an instant before acknowledging. "Yeah...as long as it's okay if Nuka comes along."
"Haha. Might as well bring Nusidae and Ani too. You and her do get along pretty well."
Simba chuckled, seeing how red the fur around his son's face got with that comment.
Around the same time, Nuka managed to find himself pacing back and forth nervously. He was afraid of what had been said. More over it was what they hadn't told him that bothered him the most.
A few things omitted, probably to try and protect him. "Like I need that." he mumbled to himself. " For some reason his thoughts were drifting back to when he was with his mother. Of how cruel and spiteful she became. "No o-one did much to help me, not from you mother." his bitterness really surprised him. Yet he'd kept much of this inside, only to himself.
The way he would behave was his true self. But it was also an act to keep from having to confront his own memories.
Now the anger and resentment were coming out. Zira was his tormentor. His abuser and harbinger of pain...First and foremost though...she was his mother. So despite how he felt...as justified as he knew he was in those feelings, he knew he could never harm her. What he was learning now was shedding a lot of light onto many things. Nuka didn't understand why she choose him to take all her negative feelings out on. He didn't even know if it was a conscious choice at all. One thing he was beginning to comprehend, was the source.
She'd nearly broken him...to this day he had occasional nightmares of those events. Most nights however, he thought about other things. Not just the threat to the kingdom, but of how he would get past everything. And of how he might help her too.
As Nuka stopped for a few seconds he saw a shadow move. It didn't startle him. The opposite in fact, since he recognized who it was.
"Hey dad. Something wake your or s-something?" Nuka inquired with a fake smile. As if to imply nothing was getting to him.
Scar saw through it rather quickly. "Not exactly, since you know well enough that I'm often up at this wretched hour."
He looked at Nuka with concern so well hidden that it could almost be mistaken for apathy. His son could read him well enough to tell the difference."I was here the whole time. You were pacing incessantly, something you only do when something is really getting to you." He flicked a small beetle off with his claw, never once taking his eyes off the juvenile. "I also heard you muttering something to yourself...I'd almost think you blame me for not doing more to stop her.
"N-No...never." Nuka sputtered defensively.
That forced a pain smile from the older lion. One that he quickly banished with a shake of the head. "Of course you do. On some level...no...in every way you would be right to do so. I could have done more...done better. Back then I was half mad myself...and in all probability not exactly the best paternal figure."
"...true...you could have done b-better...you were so distant. I didn't get it then, and I know I don't have all the answers yet...maybe never even. What I do have...is understanding. I'm starting to learn why everything happened the way it did. And how to ma-make things work out better in the future."
"Then you're already ahead of where I was when I was your age." Remarked Scar. "Believe me on that."