Author's Note: Things aren't going well back at home. Chapter fourteen is done, but I'm going to post it up tomorrow after I proof read it and probably do some more tinkering.

Morph and BoundingJackalope - thanks for being my only two reviewers. I'm glad I've kept your interest thus far, and it really means a lot to have you both taking time to read - even though I'm being lazy with my updates. But these two chapters will give you plenty to think about.

The sun rose slowly over the Pride Lands, and while the herds came to life through the savannah the Pride was already awake and alert. Kovu was pacing from the cave to the tip of Pride Rock, snarling and muttering to himself. The X shaped scar from Amber had permanently closed his left eye, and with his physical change came an emotional change. He was mad now, the Mad King Kovu.

And the news from Penrai didn't make things better.

Kovu stalked to the tip of Pride Rock and sat down, glaring moodily out over the lands. Maten – that name haunted him like Vitani's final gaze. He had hoped Maten and Saga had ventured stupidly into the desert and died of dehydration, or been fatally wounded in a fight. But the lion would come back to haunt him time and time again, it seemed.

"S-Sire…"

Kovu spun angrily on Penrai, who looked more than ready to fly away. He stared at the bird then calmed himself down and turned back out to the Pride Lands. Ever since Zazu's passing shortly after Sarabi, Kovu had relied on the small bird to relay him information – a Majordomo and a messenger at the same time. He was rather handsome, with a green body, blue wingtips, and red eyes. He was also a fast flyer, which was good when Kovu had to pass messages to other prides.

"Penrai…"

The green bird fluttered to Kovu's shoulder and looked up at him.

"Sire?"

"Penrai, how did it come to this? My daughter is gone, my heir is determined to kill me, and my mate…" He turned towards the cave, towards Kiara's slumped form. She had been in a deep state of grief for weeks. Penrai pulled a tick from Kovu's mane, chewed it thoughtfully, and then offered his solution.

"I think you need to talk some sense into Maten, Sire. Tell him what has gone on, assure him of his place in the Circle of Life, and find him a new heir. Or you must rely on…"

A snarl came to Kovu's lips and Penrai fluttered quickly away, knowing he had said the wrong thing. Whenever the suggestion of replacing Arina rose, he was quick to strike out.

Penrai watched the mad king rake his claws along the stone in rage and grief, settling down on a small tree near Pride Rock. The elegant form sitting next to him watched Kovu vent himself, speaking quietly.

"Rafiki's time is almost over, little Penrai. He foretold Kovu's path into darkness long ago, but no one listened. Simba had grown to love his son in law, Nala was thrilled that her daughter had fallen in love, and the rest of them…"

"Vitani?"

Penrai looked up to the fishing eagle next to him. His head and neck were a snow white, his body was brown, and his wings mottled black and brown. His eyes were a sharp golden and glowed over his fearsome, hooked beak. Aujilo was Rafiki's apprentice and had amassed a sum of knowledge equal to the old mandrill.

"Vitani always knew. Even when she turned on Zira she knew." He looked sadly towards the tormented king. "Not all the love in the world could change that – not from Kiara, not from Simba, not from Vitani. Perhaps from Zira, when he was young and learning still. He could have been saved…"

Kovu opened his eye slowly and gazed out over his beloved Pride Lands, feeling a sense of calm wash over his body. He was always comforted looking at his territory, looking at what Simba had left him. His paws reached as far as his eye could see, everywhere the light touched. And it was all his!

"Kovu?"

Well, maybe theirs.

He looked over his shoulder to see Kiara. She was sitting several feet from him, her ruby eyes glowing with pain. Kovu stood up slowly and walked to her, letting her collapse against him. As he nuzzled his head into hers he whispered quietly.

"You are my star, Kiara. Always remember that no matter what, you are my star and Arina is my jewel."

She trembled and moved closer to him, whimpering quietly.

"Winda told me that Maten is coming back… Is he?" She looked up at him and he looked down into her eyes before turning his head away. A cold wind blew but Kiara found herself moving away from Kovu, not towards him.

"Maten is coming back, Kiara. But he won't be staying."

"Kovu, what is wrong with you? You've been acting strange, ignoring summons before the Council, and…"

"The council has nothing they can say to me, unless they return my Arina."

"But Kovu, the tradition of our pride is to keep a close touch with the Council and our ancestors. You can't break it because they made a wrong choice, Kovu."

"They took our daughter, Kiara."

"But…"

He growled at her and tensed to strike, but Kiara stopped herself. Her face grew angry, and before he realized what he had done she dropped into a stiff bow. Never before had Kovu made that move on her, but she knew it was a warning of his deterioration. Soon she would be no longer his star but his slave.

"If it pleases your Majesty, I will take the lionesses out hunting."

"Kiara…"

She turned her back on him and announced for the hunting party to assemble. He watched her descend down Pride Rock with the elegant grace of a queen and sighed, collapsing to the cold stone and sobbing "What else do you wicked deities have in store for a broken king and his failing throne?"