Chapter VII : The Dawning Of A New Era

It had been rough living in the Outlands once again, being the Outsiders had been so use to the confinements within Pride Rock. Hares could barely fill up a lioness's stomach, let alone the few field mice and the many termites that skittered around the area. And there was barely any water for a lion to guzzle down, so they usually had to go Mission: Impossible just to get to the waterhole and back in one piece. And oh, if that wasn't enough, everyone was so grumpy. So mean to each other, it was ridiculous. Nuka however, had learned to take a semi-liking to Vitani, and usually gave her his share of food … that is, if she didn't already come back with something much larger than what he had caught. Mice is usually all he could find and stalk, but Vitani always seemed to come back with a hare; dragging it by the ears because the rabbit would be too large for her to carry within her jaws. How she would manage to actually kill a hare at that age, at that size, it was beyond him.

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" Find anything good today, Nuka? " Vitani snickered as she passed by dragging another hare, and saw her hopeless brother scrambling up a tree in order to get a nest full of vulture eggs. He just couldn't grasp onto them correctly, and already managed to drop two. He looked down onto the floor and sneered at his little sister.

" I'm working on it, you pint sized scavang – GAH! "

" Oh, now you've done it, you big dope. " She watched on in amusement as the mother buzzard had returned and started to violently peck at Nuka in order to knock him away from her nest.

Nuka was flailing about, one paw wrapped around the tattered tree trunk, and one trying to knock the Vulture square in the beak. He hated birds, he really did. Which is why he felt no remorse when it came to eating their eggs, but oh he came so close this time until an Outsider rushed passed the tree and Vitani, yelling gibberish in which he fell out of pure clumsiness and curiosity. He landed on his stomach and wobbled a bit while he tried to stand back onto all fours, then suddenly feelt a tug on his tail while he was doing so, and noticed it was his little sister.

" Whatta' ya' want, Vitani? Go take your stupid hare and go somewhere. "

" Nuka, quiet. Nikali just said mom's having the baby. So we gotta' go now. "

Nuka gagged and stuck his nose high into the air. He then waved a paw dismissively at Vitani. " Go on without me. I'll just eat this here bunny that you brought back, you little squirt. "

Vitani arched a brow and dropped her jaw. " Mother's going to be very angry with you, this is our brother and the future king, Nuka. Now come on! " She wasn't really going to wait for him, so she just darted over towards the cave without her stubborn half-brother … leaving him as dumbfounded and as irritable as ever.

" Ugh, the chosen one. " It was like a bad taste just rolled off the tip of his tongue. He hated him when he was in Zira's stomach, but now he was being born? Revolting! But, then he noticed what Vitani had said … the last thing he needed was Zira really furious at him, so with a frightened expression on his scraggly visage, he raced towards where his baby sister had gone into; completely forgetting about the day's catch. When he reached there, it had been too late however, being it took him SO long to deliberate whether to go in or not.

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Inside, Outsider lionesses " Ooh'd " and " Ah'd "at the wondrous sight within Zira's paws, finally knowing what the Mandrill said was true. This was a male, this was their salvation, and this was their King. Vitani ran up to her mother and sat squarely in front of her, smiling as cheesy-like as she could before glancing down to her new brother.

" So this is our King, huh mom? "

" That is is, Vitani. " She happily wrapped a paw around her daughter and dragged her nearer; while the male was nestled up tightly into her other enormous paw.

Vitani tilted her head and arched a lip. This was the hype? She could be a better King than him … erm, make that Queen. And she also noticed that this family had a habit of being born with strange placements of fur; being that Kovu already had a tiny patch of black sprouting from his rusty-brown-colored pelt. She had her bangs; Nuka had his beard … ah well.

Nuka, however, was not taking this lightly.

So, little termite Kovu survived … blah, that's what he looks like, a termite. I was twice the size of that when I was born … but … why does he look like father? He's not his son, I am. Oh, wait ... that's right. That wannabe King, Jaharu, kinda looked like dad. So he kinda looks like Scar ... ARGH, this so confusing!

Just thinking was driving him insane, and he turned to storm out of the cave before Zira stopped him dead in his tracks.

" Nuka, do you not want to welcome your brother to the world? "

Inside, his brain was on fire. He couldn't stand Kovu … because of Kovu, he drifted away not only from Scar, but from Zira. They were forgetting he was alive because of Kovu's existence. But, he would do anything to make his mother happy, and immediately grinned sheepishly as he approached his mother lovingly.

" Why, no, mother. My apologies, " he joyfully exclaimed as he stared down to the cub within her grasp. He was a little termite … he had all his spots … and he was a spot himself that Nuka felt needed to be removed. " He's such a precious little thing. " Sarcasm rang through his words like a bell within a cathedral.

" Well, since you love our future King so much, I'm giving you the duty of babysitting him from now on. " She chuckled to herself quietly, as she saw a vulture looming over her head quietly. She said nothing, at first, and awaited her son's answer.

" B-but, mother! I already baby-sit Vitani, and she's enough to handle as it is. Him too? "

Zira hissed quietly at Nuka and then tenderly nuzzled the sleeping cub's neck. " You will baby-sit him, Nuka. It is final … don't you dare defy your mother. This is the answer to all our problems right here … do it for Scar. "

" Sure, mother. I'll be happy to watch Kovu for you. "

More Sarcasm.

" Good. And – OH, Chewa! Stop hovering above! How did you get into this cave in the first place? " She couldn't take the buzzard's stalking anymore, and yelled for him to return to the ground. He must've swooped in when all the lionesses were busy with her bundle of joy, their hope of reigning once more in the Pride Lands.

" Queen Zira, I bring you news from the Outside. From Pride Rock. "

Zira perked her ears upwards and canted her head to the side. She was quite intrigued with where this was going, now. She wondered what horrendous news could be brought from the Pridelands. Nuka was also inquisitive, as well as the other Outsiders. What it could be, they all mumbled amongst each other. Chewa finally landed onto the floor in front of Zira, and placed both large wings onto his hips.

" They say Nala is expecting her cub any day now. It is to be a girl, and the future Queen to the throne. "

" WHAT?! "

The termite caves seemed to echo and rumble in fear, and caused most of the Outsiders to jump and flinch a tad. Kovu, however, amazingly remained fast asleep within his mother's warm hold.

" Yes. I know it angers you, my queen. Her name is to be Kiara, according to Rafiki himself. "

Both Nuka and Zira were equally enraged from this. Now, they had another Pridelander that needed to be exterminated … this time the Princess.

" Kiara. " Zira latched onto the neck of Kovu and drifted him over to a conveniently made bed within the middle of the cave, tucking him in nicely so he wouldn't get too cold since she wouldn't be there at the moment. " Sleep, my little Kovu. "

Nuka gagged and hunched over, his back completely turned from his mother and his Pride. Then, he spoke quietly to himself. " My little Kovu. Blah, no one ever called me their little Nuka … only Sarabi. But she didn't count, she wasn't my mother. Ugh, Kovu, you ruined everything … And Simba … you ruined everything as well. " He wouldn't get the chance to continue his ranting, as Zira had climbed onto her rocky perch within the termite caves and asked for the Outsider lionesses as well as Nuka to advance towards her.

" My Pride … keep that name in your thoughts. Kiara, remember that name, for I want you to destroy her along with her family when the time comes. When the time comes for Kovu to become King … Simba, and his precious little daughter will not survive. It'll be the end of them, and we will have our home back! "

Unison of roars was heard afterwards, all in agreement.

Nuka waved a claw in the air, obviously " thrilled " that Kovu will lead them to such heights and greatness. He just hoped Kovu wouldn't screw up in the future as a King … because if he did, he'd be the one to make sure he took over. He had the brains, royal experience … something that little termite lacked.

Brothers … disgusting … at least he'll never see that other termite, Kiara. All I need is two dumb cubs to worry about … wait … they are my worries.

Note : For those who have red the Six New Adventures books of TLK, Chewa is one of the vultures who tried to eat Simba the day Timon and Pumbaa had found him. Choyo was also there, but I only needed one, so I used Chewa. How else would have Zira been shocked when she first heard Kiara's name within the beginning of TLK2? It's not like she can just go up to Pride Rock and bow at her ceremonial birth. xD