Thanks for the reviews - once again, I'm home and had time to write. It's a bit hard, because I keep getting new ideas all day and I have to wait writing it for when I come home (I'm not good at hand-writing when it comes to stories)...

Zeldy... okay, more action -I'll do my best to add more of that then ;)

MorpheusDreamer, interesting... about King Lear... I'm glad you like the story and whatI'm doing with the characters...hehe...

here's the next part - hope you like it too... remember to review! Atrice

Part 9 - future Queen greets former King

"I've never seen you before, but I can guess who you are…" Kiara suddenly said through the stillness between the 5 lions standing there – others had come too, to view this strange arrangement, not quite understanding what exactly went on. And because Kiara spoke to him, Scar was the first to stop looking into Simbas eyes. He wasn't annoyed by it though; the young lioness looked very much like her beautiful mother, only younger of course… she also had those assets feminine, he thought with a smile; although she appeared to be bearing cubs – the next generation.

"I am not surprised… you must be princess Kiara … my future queen…" the former kingsaid and bowed deeply to her, the others watching him very closely. Scar did not bow to Simba, but to Kiara… definetly an insult, but in a way that could not be justified very easily. She almost felt flattered because he bowed to her, while he sent her a somewhat teasing smile, adoring her beauty.

"Stand up, that is just riddiculus… if Kovu believes in you, so do I – and unlike my father, I welcome you back to Pride Rock." She said with a tiny and just as noble bow to him; Scar liked this very much. Nala, however, did not like that pleased and playful look in his eyes. Kiara was young, curious and with a good heart – Scar could easily fool her, if he wanted to. Simba did not speak, but turned his back to Scar and the rest of them, returning to his cave. Nala took a few steps to go after him, but felt the eyes of Scar sting in her back.

"And where are you going?" he asked her in a very demanding way.

"To talk with Simba – he is my rightful mate and king, after all." Said Athari with a sigh, and left the 3 last lions alone. Scar followed her with the eyes until she disappeared behind a rock and into the darkness of the cave. Kovu looked at him with a worried smile.

"You need to be really careful about Simba… but maybe… Athari can calm him down." Kovu said and with a head gesture he asked Scar and Kiara to come with him up onto the rock. Kovu was the one walking in the front, then Kiara and next to her was Scar.

Scar had expected the welcome he had from Simba, that was easy enough to predict. The many lions following his every step, made him walk with more nobleness and he could not hide the smile on his face. This was too good, he had made it back to Pride Rock and had not been sent away! He even got a very nice welcome from Kiara, who already seemed to like him… but still, memories returned to him as they walked, 'I still feel that twinge of doubt, as I go walkabout…' he thought with a sigh in his mind, but he had to keep this majestic manner here. He had to make them like him… the 3 lions arrived to a place in shadow on the other side of Pride Rock – one of the places where Scar once used to stay and make up plans to become the king. He had told Simba of the elephant graveyard here, but the hyenas had failed to kill the young lion back then… Kovu sat down, and Kiara walked around him, purring a bit. Then she went to Scar.

"We all thought you were dead… I never knew you, although you are my family." She said and smiled nervously to him.

"I am so sorry for that, but now I am here – we can make up for that… and congratulations, you seem to be pregnant. So good to know another generation is on its way." Scar said happily and Kovu came over to them and smiled too.

"I think it will be soon… I can't wait, I wonder what they'll be, the little ones." Kovu said, feeling very proud about Kiara already being pregnant. They had not known each other in a year yet.

"They'll be the next rulers of the Pridelands… or one of them will be – but please, make sure it's the right one…" Scar said with a very indicating voice to Kovu, who nodded. He knew now, why Scar had become like he… had been? Or at least he thought he knew, he never heard the story from any others.

"I will…" Kovu said, but the silence afterwards was too long, and he decided to do something about it; "…are you hungry? I'll go and see if there's any meat somewhere – be right back." he said and licked Kiara on the chin - then he disappeared around the corner, leaving the very young lioness and the elder and very noble Scar alone.

"You're lucky to have Kovu… he seems to be an honest lion, he will be a good king… and how do you like all this royality?" Scar asked, and Kiara looked down.

"I never really liked it… for a long time, I wished to be just another lioness in the pride." She said and Scar nodded. He had a feeling about that, although he did not know where it came from - maybe it was that thing about just wishing to be like anyone else – a feeling he knew too well.

"But you are not – you're very special… oh Kiara, I am so thankful for your welcome, never did I meet someone acting so nicely towards me. You are a very good girl, and you look so much like your mother – perhaps even more beautiful than she was, when she was your age." Scar said with a glimpse in the eye, and if Kiara could blush, she would have done just that. He said it in such a flattering way, that she answered him with a shy grin.

"You really think so? I don't…" she said – she always thought her mother was the more beautiful of them, and it was only Kovu who told her how attractive she was… until now.

"But you should, Kiara, you should… if only I had a mate like you, I'd hang around all day just to tell you that." Scar said, becoming more playful every second. She responded to his words in such a way, that he couldn't help but building more and more on this conversation with and about her. Scar felt like he was riding on a wave of luck, and couldn't understand why. He just had to take advantage of it, as long as it would last