+redwalllover28, awesome on becoming a member now! and thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 13

It was the evening training session for the young prince for priderock. He, Simba where training with Nuka most beloved dogs Eggs and Bones., his father, Scar watched from the distance at the boys. Assessing them. Right from the bat, it was as if Scar was reliving his cubhood while watching his son and nephew. A younger replay of Mufasa and Scar. How easily the bronzes could bet the brains without even having to try. It was sad really even for him, and sadder that it wasn't even Simba and Nuka actually challenging each other. Nuka was training with one of his lesser minded hyena Egg while Simba trained with Bones. Nuka found that he and Simba where so close tht he didn't want their friendship to be troubled with the problems of male sparing. Scar knew, he knew he could not beat Simba even if he had tried, and Nuka was no dummy he would not put himself in a situation where the prince of the pridelands would be humiliated.

"Father look! Are you watching!?" voiced his son with excitement, Nuka had more or less done Egg a dirty blow. Striking him while they were supposed to be 'breaking' as Nuka called it. He knew better than to say what was really on his mind, especially with Scar being earshot. Egg bit his tongue and gave the prince false praise on his skillful…. surprise attacks.

"I am son." He chimed, eyes looking nowhere near his first-born son. They gazed at Simba who was now becoming a fair match with Bones. The two had pair up from the start, at first Simba didn't think he should take up the sparingtime from prince Nuka to train himself- at least that was what Zira told him. Scar did not want to waste his time on you- but Scar told the boy otherwise. And would invite Simba to any venture he had with Nuka. Much to his mate dismay and even Nuka at times. But what did he have to worry about, right? You can't go changing kings now. The boys were the height of the grown hyeans- but the dogs where pure neck and muscle. The sub-adults tall, where still lean in their muscle growth, growing stronger each day but, the two still had work to do. If they had any chance of defending themselves of an attack. "Dam, he moves just like you Mufasa…always seeming to be one step ahead….or maybe, just throwing himself at it. Like you did, never thinking, just using your head…literally." The orange yearling at managed the block every attempt at him by the skilled hyena, even throwing in a few of his own shots. He was going to be a good fighter say the least, far better than-

"OOWWWW!" their heads turned to see the prince clutching his paw. "YOU MADE ME JAM MY CLAW!" he let go of his grip. His digit swollen some, was bleeding from the sudden trauma. But it was nothing to whine about, at least for everyone else that is.

"Oh I'm sorry I'm prince I'm so sorry! I can be so stupid at-"

"Yea you are stupid! LOOK AT IT!" a single drop of blood fell. "Now how am I supposed to contuined training?!"

"Just wipe it off son you'll be fine."

"I can't it'll get infected! UGH I just can't under these conditions."

"It doesn't look that bad-"

"NO one asked you Simba!" he shut his cousin up almost instantly. Scar could feel a blanket of annoyance come over him, he was spoiled too much by Zira, please the boy practically lioness now. Complaining about it hurting? And getting infected? Geesh even Scar was not this bad when he was younger, Nuka just took royal pain to a new degree.

"Fine then, we'll end the training session." Announced the king, over it. He began to walk pass the boy. Nuka knew he had irritated his father.

"Father wait I-"

"Daddy!" his sister voice out ranged him. Vitani seemed to appear out of nowhere. "There you are I've been looking all over for you!"

"Evening princess!" voiced the hyena. Vitani looked at them, she really didn't care for formalities. So she just ignored them. He came up to her father.

"Daddy, we need to talk-" as matter -of -fact as she could. She was on the screach for the truth, and only he could give her the answers.

"Not now! Furball, Father busy training with me. So back off."

"Oh bite off Nuka, I only need him for one second!" Scar looked between his twins. He was much over his son and felt it would just be better to have a conversation with his princess instead.

"Give us a minute Nuka." The prince rolled his eyes and stormed off, saying some…not so sweet words under his breath.

"Yes Vitani?"

"Daddy…is it true what mom said?"

"Nothing that can come from your mothers mouth is complete true…but what is it?"

"Well…she said, you planned on marrying me off. That's not true, is it?"

"Of course it is." His tone was so mono she couldn't tell if he was playing a terrible joke, or he was actually serious. She gave him a curios look for confirmation. And when he still looked the same mono faced father she had always none. Her knew he was telling the truth and her heart sake.

"But…but why?" she asked, utterly confused.

"Because we need strong alliances dear. And frankly what can you do here? Nuka will be king."

"Who will he marry?"

"Pssh, no one hopefully. And if he does his mate would be better off carrying someone else cub." Vitani tilted her head was she supposed to hear that?

"So…Nuka doesn't have to marry anyone else if he doesn't want to." her father said nothing. "But I do- daddy that's not fair! What if I don't want to!"

"You have too dear, our legacy must continue on." Vitani rolled her eyes, she didn't care about some stupid legacy, especially her fathers one. That's all he talked about that was all he cared about, he didn't care about anyone else but himself and his name. He was so selfish and the older she got the more the king daughter started to notice. She couldn't stand her family.

"I don't care about some stupid legacy daddy! I'm not doing it!"

"Yes, you will."

"You can't make me-" her cheek was warm with him fresh hit and for second everything went silent. "I hate you…" Vitani mumble thought grit teeth, determined to keep the waves of tears back. He father leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She clearly did not understand what she was doing, and how it irritated him. She was Zira daughter after all. He would forgive her this time.

"Join the others." He replied to her comment. "We don't speak of this again. And when the time comes and you are to be married off you will be more than happy to do so, understand?" she nodded her head only because she didn't feel like dealing with her father anymore. When the lioness turned her head she could see her brother, Simba and two hyenas looking in their direction- acting as if they had not heard or seen anything. Scar began to leave he was done for the day. When it seemed like the coast as clear for Nuka to say something without the lash of retaliation from his father, he happy gave Vitani a piece of his mind.

"Great, look what you did bird breath! You pissed him off, now trying to talk to father as good as dead. Thanks a lot." He shoved her aside as he walked passed.

"Don't mess with me Nuka I'm not in the mood!" she defending herself.

"What? Brats wants to cry?" getting in her face. " Geesh you getting hormonal like mother- and she has a reason."

"I said BACK OFF!" she shoved, her brother, who tried to play off the powerful push. "You don't get it, you'll never get it, because life's a freakin ball of sunshine for you!"

"Please!, you have no idea how hard it is for me knowing the great responsibility I have in front of me!" he protested, his partial mane standing out like static. "Not everyone is chosen to lead a kingdom like I was Vitani. It takes greatness. And besides, you should be thankful fathers trying to find a match for you. I mean it's not like you're the best looking lioness in the world….not like what's her name, NALA. Now that's a lioness that can turn eyes-"

"Nuka!" voiced he orange male, even Simba flinched whe he heard this, that was alittle below the belt for Nuka. But then again this was Nuka we are talking about, and nothing can go below the belt for him, especially when he is trying to get even. There is no surprise his tongue has to be sharp and hash, when he lacks everything else.

"What…did you…say?!"

"I said-"

"Look, it's been a long day guys. We're all tried, how about we call this a tie and just…leave it okay?" Simba, coming to the recues. He had come to be a great asset when it came to calming his cousins from their….boiling relationship.

"Not, until she apologies for shocking the future king-" Simba rolled his eyes, he had to make everything more difficult than it had to be. It was like you could never win with him.

"Nu-" he began but Vitani cut him off

"UGH everything not about you NUKA! Geesh!"

"Ummm it is…I'm the prince-"

"OH MY FREAKIN KINGS!" Vitani stopped off before either boy could say anything.

"…Vitani wait!" echoed Simba. He went after his cousin.

"oh great. Go after her, she'll come to be sense later. Egg, Bones, lets go!" the trio soon left into he distance, Nuka leading the way. She had not gone far, before Simba was able to catch up. He approached her slowly, she was wiping her face, from the falling tears. It actually took him a moment to realize she was actually crying because he had never seen her cry…before….ever.

"Hey, you know he didn't mean it." voiced Simba.

"It's not that…" Vitani wiped her face, her hair tuff sticking to the side of her face now. "It's just…nothing fair- that ass is going to be king, Nuka doesn't have a decent body in that shaggy body of his. He gets whatever he wants when he wants, it's always about Nuka, Nuka Nuka!"

"It can be alittle overwhelming at times-"

"I mean no one ever asks about me? about how I feel! They just assume I'm going to just go with anything, I'm the throw away child."

"No you're not."

"You're not a lioness Simba, you can't possibly understand my position. At least you'll get to be at Nuka side, and help his stupid ass from self-destruction! I'm just someone used to bargain deals!"

"What do you mean." Vitani said nothing, she didn't want to talk about it, because if you talk about it, it becomes real. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Does it look like I want to talk about it to you?"

"No, which means you need to talk about it with me. C'mon, lets go for a walk, no Nuka, no talk about Nuka it's all, Vitani time." Her ears perked up to hearing something like that.

"…okay." The idea of someone actually listening to her, sounded tempted to you the upset yearling.

Outside of the den, returning home from a walk. Zira looked about her kingdom with the pride sisters Jama and Saada at her side. It was very peaceful around priderock, almost too peaceful. With two yearlings running around-always causing sometime of trouble. Shouldn't there be some type of havoc in the distance? But no there was none, pride rock was as still as a bones. The pridelands queen was sure by now she would be hearing something, especially from Vitani who as far as she known, went off to go speak to her father. Kings her daughter was so hot headed, Zira couldn't understand the fuss. If she where her in that position she would be thankful, at least her parents are thinking about her, and what their daughter to do something with her life. unlike her parents, who kicked the adult out when she came of age. There could not be two alpha females in her small pride. They only told her to go out and make something of herself- but they never told her how. All the ups and downs she had to face, trying to make something of herself, and yet at times, she still thinks it all for not, with the way Scar treats her. but great things come with great sacrifice and pain, so to live the great life she how now, somethings like comfort have to go. Then, Zira doubled forward, she had felt a pain in her body that she knew was not a normal kick. Within seconds her pride sisters where at her side, helping her up the rest of priderock staircase and into the den.

"My queen are you alright?" asked Jama. Her ducky eyes looking to her with great concern. She watched at Zira bit her tongue and waited for a moment until the pain passed.

"Yea…I'm fine, just a kick." She lied. They had placed her down. She had come to the conclusion that she had been too active, she needed to stay inside- which was something Scar protested to, he thought Zira should get out of the den. Snice whenever he comes home, she there and complains how it's lonely being locked up in a den, with him always being gone on…patrol. Having him as company would lighten up her doleful mood.

"Maybe one of us should get Raifki, just to be safe-"

"No it's fine Saada! Really." Zira let a long annoyed huff leave her lungs. "I just need some rest." Which she had had plenty of.

"Okay my queen, we just….don't want what happened last ti-"

"It won't happen again!" her eyes alone, cursed at the lioness for even thinking such things. That day, that day was tragic. Possibly the worst day Zira had ever had in her life. her body shuttering itself from remising of the pain loosing that cub had caused her. "Just, get me some water please." She finally spoke, knowing she needed to do something to clam her, ever snice that day things have been different, she has been different, inside and out. And Scar treatment towards her as been different. When she first told him of her pregnancies he was absolutely elated….she had never seen him so happy. The problems of the pridelands where weighting him down, he had began to even doubt himself….he would confess it some many times to her, even wondering or talking to himself…or Mufasa on how he managed it all. It wasn't looking, and the change in his attitude seemed to have happened over night. However, the news of a new cub, a son, for that fact put a new pep and propose in Scar. His legacy could still take hold. It was no surprised Scar doubted Nuka, he doubted him with every inch of his body, but Zira, was always pushing Scar to give him a chance, let him mature some, let him know how much you care for him. Nuka would be the future king to pass of his legacy. He would be Scar reincarnated. Scar stayed…unconvinced, and unimpressed with his son. Even when he spent time with his son. Why? Because his son was exactly like him, he had insecurities, faults, and weakness that reminded Scar too much of himself. He couldn't have that around him. Which is exactly why Scar kept the organ lion around- little to Zira knowledge.

But when she lost that cub, she lost him. It seemed like this was the only surefire way to gets things back in order, to make sense of that things Scar saw in his plan. Yet with one mishap of parts of unknown, a turn of unfortunate events. She had lost the cub and had ruined everything. There was no way of coming back from this, even with this cub now. Now Zira was too old, too weak to give Scar a healthy offspring he needs. A lion can spit out cubs all he wants. But when it come to age a lioness has limited time. Scar was not impressed by Nuka when he was first born, his sister was already bigger than him, he cried the most, and was everything his cousin wasn't. which was one of the reason Scar did not attend Simba ceremony. He told Zira this, he told her that he couldn't bare to see the product his son and his-would be -mate created. A spitting image of the kings, as his mother would always tell him, and in turn Scar would tell her. she knew she had not giving him what he wanted.

But this time things would be different, he would have his healthy son. One way or another, Scar would have a seed to rule over in his name. Zira did not know how, but it would happen. And hopefully from her. It was no secret she knew Scar would visit the lionesses den t times. She didn't know what he would do or who with- she tried not to think about that. He would leave her angry and frustrated and return home with the most pleasant of smiled. Stupid was one thing she was not, now whether she chose to act it or not, was another story. She knew Scar knew this, yet he would still lie to her face, because he did not want to be bothered, and at times she didn't care. In the end, he would always return to her, that was all that mattered, their cubs together was all that mattered. That she was sure off, and did not have to worry about. He could impregnate any lioness he cared for, but as long as he kept his promise to her and their family- that they would be his main priority. Then it didn't matter what bastard would be popped out by those pridelands lionesses. They meant nothing more to him, than another bed warmer. Something that could easily be taken care of at her call.

On the walk back from the hunt, all the talk that could be heard coming from the lioness was that of the dry season. It seemed to be striking earlier and harder. The small party of three carried back a decent kill, while the other two lionesses, took back an extra kill they had to make to Scar and his family. After all that had been sent by Zazu to fetch the royal family something, they would be damn if they returned back without it. No one was in the mood to hear Scar mouth, nor Zira.

"Hopefully the 'queen' will be satisfied." Commented a soft voice lioness, with small golden eyes.

"She – well her pride sisters didn't have to get up out their way to get it, so yes. She should be satisfied." Commented another. Sarafina stood in back, not saying much. She wasn't one to gossip, and who know what extra eyes Zira might have. "Hopefully she had this cub soon, it'll make life a little easier on us. Especially snice she needs something every 5 mins."

"Well what do you expect…" said the golden eyed lioness some, a hint of sarcasm. "Hopefully this one she can carry to term…" it was no surprise to them of Zira unfortunate fate. It was only after then that Scar had started to hang around the lionesses more, and would blatantly be wanting Sarabi. They didn't know what got into his head, it was madness. Sarabi had told her sister herself, when she worked up the nerve to do so. Scar had blamed Zira for failing him, saying everything that was going bad as all her fault. How at first, she had given him a faulty son and now has lost another, he had no hope left in her. she dared not ask about Simba, thought it did kill her, she knew as long as Scar was pleased, then Simba would be fine. And from time to time, Zazu would give her reports on him, how he was going, how he looked, did he ever ask about her. Zazu said, Simba had seemed unbrothered, partly because he felt the cub did not understand what was actually happening to him. He said Scar would keep him busy, telling him to spend more time with Nuka and Vitani. " I don't want to know what he'll do if she loses this one…I want to be anywhere near there."

"Too late for that, you already know what our king will do." Voiced the other, still sarafina said nothing.

"You don't think she'll really keep it? I mean, this is Scar cub we are talking about after all."

"I don't know, he forced her to have it, he'll probably force her to keep it."

"No, she'll have to get rid of it somehow, that's misfortune…having your mates brother cub…Sarabi will need to do something."

"If there is anything she can do."

"Sure, she can say she couldn't carry it to term, like Zira. Then that way he'll think it's him and not the lionesses."

"This is Scar we are talking about, nothing is his fault, he can do no wrong."

"That's what ever insecure lion says." She paused for moment, thinking about what she wanted to say. " But if that is the case, we better hope Sarabi has this cub. For him to go to Zira and then her, who to say we're not next?-"

"Can we please talk about something else?" Voiced the blue-green eyed lioness, finally. Interrupting the two, who had almost forgotten she was there. "it's a very depressing matter and I would rather not have to talk about it." her sisters looked at her.

"fine but…you can't say you haven't thought about it Sara? I mean for king's sake you have a daughter. You should be the most worried. It's clear she's getting to that age, she'll be in season soon… what if Scar approaches her one day- then what will do you?"

"I said, I don't want talk about it." and she didn't the rest of the walk back home, Sarafina said nothing, they all said nothing. When they returned home they were greeted by the two lionesses that had spilt of the party. "I see you beat us home."

"Yes, well…we didn't want to keep them waiting-"

"Mom!" interrupted Nala from behind the two. " You're back!" she greeted her mother, almost half her size. Her head just reached passed her mother nose.

"How did you're hunting go for you today?" she asked after placing down the meal.

"Terrible I got distracted."

"Distracted, you're a hunter you can't get distraced dear."

"I know but-"

"What was so funny this time it broke your focus."

"Uh…" she paused. "nothing, I just…couldn't get my head into the game."

"I see."

"But Sarabi actually help me some! She showed me this move and i-"

"Sarabi? You helped her?" the leader of the lioness seemed to always appear when her name was called, Sarabi cleared her throat, knowing what she did was wrong.

"Just with a little step Sarafina, it was nothing big."

"Yea mom, it was nothing…"Sarafina shot a look at her daughter.

"Nala I told you not to ask Sarabi to demonstrate anything, and Sarabi I told you not to listen to her and to do nothing!" small snicker could be heard from the lionesses as their queen got reprimanded by her friend.

"But she-" Nala tried to defend herself.

"Sarafina it was nothing, plus I wanted to help her."

"Eh, I'm not listening to either of you, just eat." As Sarafina walked away, Sarabi came up to Nala, tapping her on the side, and winking to her. It brought a smile to her face, as their own little inside joke of their special time together.

As the ate, the others spoke about what they had seen on the hunt. "Things are slowly dying, and at a higher rate Sarabi." Voiced A'isha "Our prey is moving farther out than normal. Completely kicking out the other animals that reside there."

"And this is because of the hunting?"

"Everything, our hunting, the hyenas, the land drying." Nala listen in closely as the adults spoke. Soaking up everything they had said. She had never trayed far from priderock or the side den. Maybe leaving a few miles at best. And everything seemed fine on her end, and where she was practicing. But apparently that was not the case.

"If the small game leaves, we will have to hunt the bigger game." Bigger game? What was that.

"No." said Sarabi. "It's too dangerous, plus with me out. 5 isn't enough to take bigger game."

"We'll have to if that our only option Sarabi, plus you still have some time to go before you can hunt again, I don't think we'll have the time…"

"I don't want any of you hunting big game, isn't not safe. We'll just have the travel alittle farther." She reasoned.

"But my queen, what if the small herds leave the territory, then what?" these were questions she was not prepared for in anyway, because….pride rock had never had these problems. Just from what she as hearing and what she had seen herself, this would be a dry season the pride lands would never forget.

"Mom…" Nala leaned in into her mother ear. "I can help with the hunt, I've been getting better I swear-" but before she could get another word in her mother had crushed that dream.

"No Nala, you're not helping" her response made it sound like she had had a foolish idea. Nala thought otherwise.

"But Mom I can help." She protested, hoping to convince her mother. "plus you haven't even seen me hunt before, you have no idea-"

"No, you're not ready."

"Yes I am…" the mother sighed, at her daughter narrowed brows. She knew she meant well, and no disrespect, but the girl was going to get herself into something that was over her head right now. She thinks she's ready, she's no were near ready, how could she be? Sarafina has not had time to teach her, her play practice is nothing compared to the real thing the real danger.

"Nala…"

"Sarafina she might have a point, if we are going after bigger game, we will need more numbers. She'll have to start pulling her weight around."

"She'll join the hunt when she's ready… and not before." The last part was told directly to her daughter, so she got the message loud a clear.

"But I'm ready now! I can help-"

"Nala, your mother is right, just keep practicing for now. We won't be needed you for a while, you have nothing to worry about." The red eyed lioness voice, in a calming matter, but the yearling hot temper was at her boiling, Nala wasn't too kindly of rejection, no one really is. Why was no one taking her seriously? She could help, she wanted to help.

"Fine, may I be excused then, I have to go practice." Sarafina nodded her head, refusing to argue with her and fuel that idea anymore. Nala dismissed herself and quietly went into the darkening background resuming her practice. A question in her mind, of …who could help get her to the next level in her training? And where could she find them?

Dusk had begun to settle on the pridelands as Vitani and Simba contuined on their long walk together, enjoying each other company. It had been the first time in a long time that the lioness was finally being heard on something. "It's just- not fair. No one ever listen to me, they don't care about what I have to say! It's like they are just using me to get better options." She voiced to the red maned lion. "I mean can you believe that? They are over here decided my future- without having a single say so… who does that?!" Simba shrugged is shoulders.

"Maybe they were going to tell you eventually." Vitani gave him a look, he needed to stop being such a suck up to her parents.

"Please, my mother had no intention on telling me this, until it accidently spilled out and I caught her in the act. I bet they were going to invite some random lion here, and then expect me to just be shipped off happily…"

"…Naw, no way." she gave him another look. She knew that he knew it was the truth, both Zira and Scar could be sneaky in their own right.

"Well believe it, they are forcing me to some terrible fate where I have to be someone queens and some rotten little kids mother!" she sighed kicking a rock that was in front of her. "That's not me."

"No, that's not you." They didn't say something for some time, just walking in each other company. Unknown to Simba this was really confronting for his cousin. "I just think, you don't need to worry about that for now, that's future Vitani problems." He joked, which made her laugh.

"Yea I guess…" she began to say something, but deiced to let it go, she had had enough for today with her family issues, "Thanks." She voice was soft, almost inaudible to the ear.

"No worries." He voiced. Looking at the sunset before them.

"I'm glad you're around, kings know if you weren't here I'd go crazy… and probably pushed Nuka off a cliff haha."

"Well, you're welcome." They again said nothing, it was nice to just have stillness at times. And when they did speak the voice interrupting the stillness was welcomed. "Um, you excited to be big sister?" he asked, changing the subject, because arranged marriage is something no one really wants to talk about. Especially that their age. Vitani cocked her head to the side.

"Huh, No more cubs more drama."

"Don't say that."

"You know it's true. My dad obsessed with legacy. And with Nuka failing him this kids his last hope…"

"Huh?" should she repeat what she and her mother talked about earlier, and to Simba, which is the one lion her mother can't seem to stand…oh well.

"It's no surprise my brother didn't get the bronzes in our gene pool- and barely the brains."

"Yea…. he's just smaller that normal." Simba treaded lightly, not knowing which words would make it back to Nuka.

"I don't think my parents are planning on having Nuka rule after my dad, I just don't see it, I mean have you looked at the guy? He's skinny, barely has a mane, has big freaking eyeball for kings sake- and he has more I insecurities then all the fur on my body." Simba said nothing, but he agreed with everything. "He's no king, the second that cubs is born and it's a boy…he better watch out."

"Nuka not going to do anything to the cub."

"He's the jealous type Simba c'mon, you're smarter than that. Don't let him tell you otherwise."

"yea but…I just think it's taking it a little too far if you think Nuka would do something to his own siblings."

"…you really don't know Nuka do you?" answering his question. But Vitani soon dropped it. "Well, whatever, not my problem right, that's future Nuka problems haha."

"Haha yea." The two contuined their walk into the darkness, on a slow path home.

+You guys feel alittle foreshadowing now? Tell me what you think will happen next?