This chapter begins abruptly, but it is supposed to be that way. Keep reading and reviewing! This chapter will be added to soon.

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Kiara looked into the section of the river where her parents' bodies had been respectfully

laid. They'd died a month before the birth of her cubs, but the pain of losing them still surfaced

occasionaly. Now Simba's daughter stared into the shimmering river, glad Vitani was watching

Luneia and Nukoy, and stared at the two glittering stones on the bottom of the river that marked

where Simba's and Nala's bodies had once laid.

"Father...mother...great kings and queens of the past..." Kiara began. She bowed her tawny

golden head. "Nukoy is getting aggresive. He's not like a cub. There's a darkness in his eyes.

What's wrong, father, mother...anyone...tell me."

"I'll tell you!" a voice snarled. The lioness glanced into the water. Saw a lean lion reflecting,

his mane composed of shadows and water. He had a dark face and narrow, evil, green-and-yellow

eyes, and a scar above his right eye.

"Scar..." Kiara gasped. She knew who it was, despite never really knowing what he looked like

in life.

"Ssssooo, Kiara." Scar hissed like a snake, his reflection wavering. "how is your son?"

"What are you doing, Scar? What do you care about my Nukoy?" Kiara demanded coldly.

"He just happens to take after me."

"Why did you just say that?"

"Okay, okay, so I've been speaking to him. What are you going to do? You can't get me! I'm

already dead, thanks to my nephew."

"Speaking to Nukoy!What?"

"I've merely been telling him about how is the heir to the true king, an exiled king...me. He's been

listening. He knows he must claim what was mine. He will soon replace his own father when he is

just a teenager. He is a very smart cub. In fact he's not a cub on the inside. Not now.He's my

heir..."

Kiara roared in fury and leapt into the water, smashing the reflection and dislodging the glittering

stones. She came up, gasping. Glancing at the high bank of the river as she climbed out, she saw

Scar's face in the shadows, and then it dissapeared.

The frightened and angry lioness ran to Pride Rock, her heart thudding. As she prepared to go to

her mate, however, he son blocked her way. She skidded to a stop to avoid stepping on him, but

the cub was unpreturbed. He flew at her, his newly growing teeth bared. He nipped his mother's

nose, but was brought down by a gentle but firm swipe of Kovu's paw.

"Hey!" Nukoy shouted. "What's the big idea!"

"Nukoy!" Kovu shouted, but the cub was bounding for his sister. Before anyone could do

anything, he'd grabbed Luneia and threw her aside. The white cub went sprawling, screaming loudly.

The father bounded to his son, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and took him to a small

outcropping of rock near the cave. The rock was hollow. The older lion hated to do it, but he took

an old mat of bamboo poles strung together he'd found in the jungle once and tied it across the

entrance of the hollow rock, something rather difficult since he couldn't use paws. Nukoy snarled

and scratched in the makeshift cage, but couldn't get out.

"Oh, Kovu." Kiara sobbed, carrying a dejected Luneia in her mouth. She put Luneia in the care

of one of the ex-Outlanders. Looking around to make sure everyone was out of earshot,she

whispered toKovu. They went down to the broad plain where they had oncespoken about the

darkness in Scar and where Kiara had realized she loved Kovu.

"I spoke to Scar today. I wanted to speak to one of the Great Ones, but I obviously didn't." Kiara

began, deciding to get right to the point. Kovu choked.

"You...what!" he almost screamed, but he wasn't angry at his mate. No, he was furious at Scar.

How had he once respected that brute? Trying to kill his mate's father and grandfather yet, lying,

sneaking around, brainwashing Zira.

"He said he speaks to Nukoy!" Kiara wept. Each word hung in the air, burning. "He said he is tellingNukoy to be his heir."

"That fool. That damned fool! What can we do?" Kovu roared, shaking his dark mane in fury and

pacing the ground.

"I suggest we talk to old Rafiki."

"That's a good idea, my queen."

Worried, but glad they had Rafiki to consult, they headed to the baobob tree. It was nearing

twilight, but the old baboon was still swinging around in the trees. When the two lions approached

him, he came down to the lowest branch to speak. His wise, kind voice came to their ears.

"Ahh, Kiara. Kovu. I thought you'd come." Rafiki murmured.

"You know?" Kiara gasped.

"Yes, little lady. Scar has been up to his old tricks. But I can fight the evil in Nukoy."

"How?" Kovu demanded. "What do we do?"

"Tonight, at moonlight, you will see."