Finally I had time to concentrate, so that I could upload this next part! Please remember to review, I love reading the reviews to know what you think - and it inspires me to write more... Atrice

Zeldy, you hate Scar? Poor Scar, nobody ever loves him... except for us, his fangirls... ;)

MorpheusDreamer, I used the quote from the song "The Madness of King Scar", but I guess that's inspired of King Lear then? Will Scar be punished? We'll see about that one, I'm curious myself ;)

SunRise19, yeah the scars aren't Nalas fault, but she still has them... she's another lioness now, isn't she?

Part 8 - Ancient Battle

Simba had been even more worried since Zazu had told him, that Kovu was on his way home with Nala by his side. Zazu seemed disturbed about something, but refused that anything was wrong at all. But the hornbill kept flying in circles above him, not able to just sit down and rest on his shoulder. Kiara had also appeared from the cave, and stood by her fathers side on the Pride Rock, gazing over the savannah that was their kingdom.

"What's up with Zazu?" Kiara asked, but Simba just rolled his eyes.

"I have no idea, but something is wrong… something is very wrong…" said Simba with a very dark voice, and Kiara nodded. She felt it too, but couldn't put her paw onto what it was. Suddenly Zazu flew down and finally landed on Simbas shoulder, actually shivering a bit.

"What is it?" Simba asked, also becoming very upset with his peer.

"They… they're coming now…" Zazu stuttered, and Simba looked more intently into the distance, finally spotting something move in the grass towards the Pride Rock. Except there were not 2, but 3 lions moving that way… now they all stopped, and after a short moment of standing still, one of the lions jumped away from the others, running very fast across the last distance between them and the rock. Kiara brightened up when she saw it was Kovu coming their way, and ran down to him. They met with a cuddle of each other's necks, before they together walked up to Simba, who had also come down onto the grass now, Zazu hiding behind him.

"Simba…" said Kovu with a noble bow, that made Simba wonder. Kovu never acted like this before, not in such a polite manner anyway.

"Kovu… who is with you?" it was the only thing Simba could and would ask. He wanted to know why Zazu seemed so upset. Kiara also looked puzzled on her mate, not knowing why he acted… almost nervous, she thought. Kovu walked a bit back and forward, and kept looking at the two lions in the distance, slowly moving towards them. He had to tell the king…

"I found Nala by a waterhole in the outskirts of the savannah… she was not alone, and if anyone are to blame, I am the one – I asked him to come with us, in fact, I insisted upon it. To me he does not seem as the one you always told me about, and I could not let him stay behind…" Kovu said before finally taking a breath again – making Kiara and Simba more and more curious while he spoke. He made it sound like it was someone they knew, especially Simba whom he looked at. Kovu glanced over his shoulder to see where they were. He could spot Scars colors now, and there could not be any doubt.

"It can't be…" Simba said, mostly to himself, stunned by the sight of that very regal lion he saw next to his mate Nala. Nala who seemed changed – her fur was not smooth and silky, it seemed rough, and across the eye she had what looked like 3 scars… Kovu chose to let them arrive without another word, now he would let Scar speak for himself. If there were any troubles, Kovu was the one to blame – and he already said that.

Finally Nala and Scar stood in front of Kiara and Simba – Kovu stayed between the two couples, wanting to protect both Scar and Simba from each other; they were somehow both his fathers now. Simba looked shocked, fixed and somewhat angry, although he tried to keep calm. Scar still held his head very high, not able to look down on Simba, but at least their eyes were in the same height. Scar didn't smile either, but his face had that very patronizing look which Kovu already knew well now, though he did not quite understand it. It did not match with his point of view on Scar.

Kiara too had her thoughts about all this - so this was Scar, the famous lion who murdered her grandfather, who contained a darkness they always talked about. Kovu trusted him, and she trusted Kovu; maybethe lion called Scarreally had changed? She wished her father wasn't always so firm about decisions; when he settled a thing, it could not be changed. Scar was not young, that was easy to see, but he still had this aura around him that drawed her attention - she was curious...

Simba had a struggle going on inside; he wanted to jump at Scar, make him disappear out of his life for good. But he did not want Kiara to see that, or Kovu…or Nala, for that. In fact, he wanted to go to Nala who still stood by Scars side, rub his head against hers, welcome her back with loving words – and ask her why she had been gone for so long. He figured why though, but couldn't just go and do what he wanted to do… he could not rip his eyes away from those of Scar – the first to lower the eyes, would be the weakest; it was an ancient battle between leaders. Who would be the first to speak, to end this battle?