A/N: Hey hey hey! Two chapters in one day! Hey, that rhymes. Anyway, enjoy the occasional two-in-one-day, it's not often that I can do this…work, school, sibs, the list goes on guys. Well, enough of me, enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Surprise Attack

''Well, well, well, Kovu. I see you found the Princess,'' Zira sneered.

Kovu was dumbstruck; he didn't think she'd ever find him and Kiara.

''I-I…'' he stammered, not knowing what to say.

''Aren't you going to hand over the brat?'' Zira asked coldly.

Kiara looked from Kovu to his mother. He suddenly seemed so helpless now that Zira was here. But on the contrary, he gathered up all his courage, stepped protectively in front of Kiara, and in a hard voice said, ''Stay away from her.''

Kiara gasped, but Zira wasn't surprised at all. ''I knew you couldn't handle the matter on your own. You're weak, Kovu, and you always were. But I won't let you get away with betraying me, or betraying Scar!'' she said heatedly.

She raised a paw high above her head and brought it down hard across Kovu's face. The impact of the blow knocked him to the ground, his head hitting a stone. His face burned with pain along with his throbbing head.

''Kovu!'' Kiara cried. She turned to Zira, filled with rage; she was ready to fight her, though she was one against seven.

''You're next, Princess!'' Zira yelled, raising her paw once more. Just as she was about to strike Kiara the same way, Kovu tackled her to the ground with the little strength he had left.

Zira's fellow lionesses took this opportunity to jump upon Kovu, Nuka included.

''No Kovu!'' Kiara cried as she ran over to help him. Vitani jumped in front of her, blocking her path.

''Where do you think you're going?'' she sneered.

''Get out of my way!'' Kiara ordered, through clenched teeth. She harshly pushed Vitani aside with her own paw, sending her sprawling on her side.

Kiara ran as fast as she could toward Kovu, but a sharp pain in her back stopped her. Vitani used her claws to sink them into Kiara's body. Kiara roared agonizingly, but she wasn't about to give up.

She wriggled out of Vitani's grasp, and turned onto her back. Using her own claws, she slashed Vitani's face leaving four large cut marks on her muzzle. As Vitani yelled with anguish, Kiara took the chance to get up and continue to run. But she was too late.

As Kovu struggled to get up on all fours, Nuka dove at him with such a force that they both went tumbling down the banks of the river and fell into the deep water.

''Nooo! Kovu!'' yelled Kiara as she watched in terror.

''Nuka!'' Zira called, only worried for her eldest son. She herself ran to the edge where the land met the water and scanned the surface for him. Kiara did the same, hoping to see Kovu's head burst out of the water.

Nuka came up, coughing and sputtering. Zira extended her paw out to him and he took it, letting her pull him out. But Kovu never did.

Kiara began to run ahead along the shore, her eyes locked on the water for any sign of him. Her heart beat wildly as she thought of the worst. No, she told her conscience, he's alive, I know he is. He can make it….

''Kovu!'' she called, hoping for a response. But none came. ''Kovu!''

C'mon, Kovu, you can make it. You're strong, I know you can.

The waters only continued to flow in one direction placidly, as usual. There was no sign at all of Kovu. He was gone.

A/N: Oh nooooo! Poor, poor guy. He's lost FOREVER!!! That Zira….(snarls) Let's see what'll happen in Chapter Twenty-Five!!