And so we have come to the second to last chapter (as there will be an epilogue) in my Lion King 3 story. Sniffle. I am back from my vacation where I worked on this a good portion of the time...and I am now presenting it to you guys. Forgive me if there's too much talking in between fighting...or not enough fighting for you guys. You will just have to get over it. :)

Disclaimer: If you think I own most of these characters I am flattered...though I must inform you that you are mistaken. I own Talo, Shalu, Lia, Palini, Malie, Suaz, and Selan (though she's not in it anymore, yet I add her in this list)and that is all.

Kudoos and enjoy!

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Chapter 10

Talo stood still at the top of Pride Rock. The wind gusted around him, the smell of the oncoming storm was fresh in his nose. The darkness had taken over the land, and the black billowing clouds continued to roll along the sky. Light flashed between the clouds and a rumble shook the earth. Talo's tall, muscled body barely flinched at the sound, his green eyes looked up at the sky and his lips turned into a smirk.

"Is that the best you can do?" He challenged softly. The wind howled in reply and Talo's smirk widened. "And they call you the Great Kings." He scoffed.

"For many reasons that you have yet to prove untrue." A silky voice said from behind him.

Talo rolled his eyes as Malie stepped up near him, looking over the land. "When I want your opinion, I'll ask." Talo informed her, his eyes still watching the clouds.

"Do they scare you?" Malie asked, her voice teasing with a steal edge.

Talo let out a snort. "Scared? Of what? Blinking stars?"

Malie smiled slightly, but it turned suddenly into a deep frown. "Two days." She said slowly, looking at Talo. "We've had Pride Rock for two days."

Talo sent her a sarcastic look. "I'm glad you've noticed that when the sun goes down it marks the end of a day." He told her.

Malie narrowed her eyes. "By this time we should've killed Kiara and Kovu. They've been alive too long already."

"You are impatient, aren't you." Talo sneered at her.

Malie growled, a dull rough sound that came from the depths of her throat. "Them being alive gives the remaining lionesses hope, hope that maybe they can throw us off the thrones."

Talo looked at her with unbelief. "Throw us off Pride Rock? How? We have scores of hyenas and they don't even have one score of lions to defend themselves."

"Hope is enough to stir up trouble." Malie insisted, losing her temper.

"If you're so eager to have them killed, don't wait for me, go do it yourself." Talo smiled at the look of loss on her face. Malie was a good fighter, true enough. She'd taught him almost everything she knew, and he could kill practically any lion he wanted, or believed he could. But Malie didn't want to get into a fight she wasn't a hundred percent sure that she could win, and the fact that Kovu was bigger, and Kiara was faster, made Malie shift in unease. She would only fight them after Talo had made them as weak as newborn cubs, had worn them out, thrashed and fought them so they couldn't defend themselves anymore. And that was only if she decided to get her paws dirty at all.

"The deal was that you would carry out my revenge." Malie reminded him.

"Deal?" Talo demanded angrily. "The same deal that you offered after you had me kidnapped by hyenas?"

"I saved you from them, made sure you had food. You would've died if not for me, with your parents just leaving you in the Elephant Graveyard." Malie said. "I trained you, gave you hyenas at your disposal, and you were supposed to kill your parents for me."

Talo ignored her. "That's your revenge, not mine. I'll do it when I'm good and ready."

"And what's your revenge, oh noble prince? To tick off the Great Kings? By doing what exactly?" Malie spat at him.

Talo whirled at her, his green eyes flashing. "By doing this." He responded. "By taking over their precious Pride Rock. By getting rid of the last Great King and Queen to rule, by sending their chosen one down into the dirt, right where he belongs. By proving to them, once and for all, that I am the rightful ruler of Pride Rock and should've been chosen for the position, not Shalu." Talo snarled at her.

Malie took a tentative step back, but continued holding Talo's eyes. "Your revenge will not be complete until you remove the current ruler from the throne. Kovu may be captive, but he is not yet removed. You must kill him to prove your point." She stressed. "And mine."

Talo leaned closer. "And what if I decide I'd rather keep him around a bit? What are you going to do, eh Malie?"

A sly smile crept across Malie's face. "You were right when you said before that the hyenas weren't yours. They're mine. I can turn them against you as fast as you can blink."

Talo continued to glare, but there was slight doubt in his eyes. He hated hyenas. If it was his choice he would've opted to take Pride Rock without using the worthless vermin. They made this much too complicated. Besides the fact that he remembered the early days with the hyenas. They were the ones that took him from the Elephant Graveyard, the ones who guarded him against escape before Malie had planted her seeds of doubt and evil into his small bitter heart. Talo swallowed and glared. "Fine." He finally said. Then he leaned back to stare her in the face. "But Malie don't let your guard down. I might decide to throw you off Pride Rock myself…literally." He turned and walked off.

Malie walked up beside him. "I look forward to the attempt, oh partner of mine." She sneered at him.

Talo flicked his ears angrily. "Temporary partners." He growled to her. "Don't forget that. I am the King here, and you'll stay here as long as I want it." Malie glared at him, but kept silent.

Talo wove his way through the hyenas that scattered Pride Rock's surface. True there were fewer than there had been in Scar's day, but the number was still impressive. Talo stopped in front of the cave. The lionesses were being kept in there, far to the back where they didn't bother anyone, and no one bothered them. Talo glanced in, but like always saw no sign of the lionesses. He breathed in a huff, of course he never saw any of them, it was his idea in first place to keep them there.

Talo turned and blinked as he saw his mother and father sitting there near the embankment that descended Pride Rock. They looked at him and Talo almost felt shame at the hard look in their eyes. Almost.

Talo sent a cold look at his parents, sitting there surrounded by hyenas. The hyenas all stepped aside, leaving a large empty space on Pride Rock around Talo, Malie, Kovu and Kiara.

Kiara glanced around her. A shudder filled her body as she saw the faces of the hyenas. She was still worn out from the previous battle and Kovu didn't look much better. He nudged her shoulder assuredly as he stepped up closer to Talo.

"So…you're the only two left." Talo mused aloud. "You should feel privileged."

Kovu narrowed his eyes. "I would feel more privileged if it wasn't my son that was doing the murdering."

"Murder is such a harsh word." Talo said, flinching slightly.

"Murder is a harsh thing as well." Kovu spoke slowly. "Why are you listening to Malie?"

"She's right…well most of the time." Talo concluded. "You didn't care that I was gone…you just began training Shalu to be king."

"That's not true!" Kiara pleaded loudly. "We looked everywhere for you."

Talo looked uncomfortable, but glared at them all the same. "I don't care for your excuses. It was your mistake…you can't change it. Just like the Great King's made a mistake."

"The Great Kings don't make mistakes." Kovu informed him.

Talo chuckled coldly. "They chose Shalu to rule Pride Rock." He snarled. "Shalu…the weak pathetic cub that followed me around like a-"

"Brother." Kiara broke in.

"Like a flea." Talo finished, ignoring his mother. "And now look. They were wrong. I'm the King of Pride Rock and Shalu is dead at the bottom of a gorge. Who made that mistake?" He demanded loudly. "And now, Mother and Father dearest….you'll get to join them. Get to join your parents, and your siblings in cold, inescapable death!" Talo spat.

Kiara shifted on her paws. Talo was bigger than her now, and stronger than his father. Oh Great Kings help us, she begged.

Kovu felt the dirt meld to his paws, felt the next rumble of thunder as though it had happened throughout his body. He swallowed hard, reaching into the depths of his mind to his mother's training. Fight without holding anything back…fight to kill. To kill his son? And Talo was still his son, wasn't he? Talo growled low and buckled his body, preparing to leap at his father. There was another crash of thunder and Talo jumped out at Kovu.

A long stick came from nowhere, landing hard front of Talo, inches from his nose. Talo stumbled and stopped, staring at it, the hard piece of wood with gourds tied to the top. Talo followed the stick to its owner, who held the other end, his face bright red, his gray and white hair frizzy.

Talo stepped back and stared at the old baboon. What was he doing here? Talo wondered to himself. He glanced at Malie and saw that her eyes were wide with surprise. Talo turned back to the monkey. "What are you doing?" He demanded. Kovu and Kiara stared at them.

"Stopping you." The monkey informed him, a slight laughing edge to his voice.

Talo smirked. "You, are going to stop…me? Ha that's a laugh!" Talo took a step over to the monkey. "You…an old monkey are going to stop the King of Pride Rock?"

"Baboon." The monkey informed him. "And you are not the rightful king."

Talo gaped at him. "I…what?"

"You are a false king…false!" The baboon squawked at him.

Talo blinked. "I don't know where you've been living the past couple days, but this kingdom, this throne, is mine. The pride is captured and I'm ruling Pride Rock."

"No you're not!" The monkey replied in sing-song voice.

Talo narrowed his eyes, irritated now. "Get out of here!" He yelled at the monkey, stopping when the old creature pointed its stick at him.

"You are not the rightful king. The Light one is the rightful king, and you won't be on this throne much longer."

"The light one." Talo said with disgust. "You mean Shalu? Let me tell you something, monkey, Shalu's dead, lying at the bottom of a gorge out in the Pride Lands." Kiara's gasp was ignored as Talo spoke.

But the baboon shook his head. "He will come, and you will rule no more."

"Get it through you're old knocked around head!" Talo growled. "Shalu is dead, I pushed him myself. He's gone, dead. Forever! He's not coming back to save this pathetic pride!"

"I wouldn't call this pride pathetic." A voice spoke out.

Talo turned suddenly and saw a lion standing on the edge of Pride Rock. The hyenas had backed away from him, their hair raised on their hackles. The lion's fur was like the sun that hadn't shone at Pride Rock since Talo had come, his mane the color of the blood that Talo had spilled on the Savannah. His eyes were an amber fire, his head held high like a king's.

Talo turned his head and saw that the old baboon had disappeared. Talo's green eyes shot back to the golden lion, who had stepped closer to Kovu and Kiara. The two other lions were staring as though they had seen a ghost.

"That's impossible." Talo said. "I pushed you…and you fell….and the hyenas…"

"If I were you, I would get a more reliable creature than a hyena to check if your brother's dead or not. Better yet, check yourself." Shalu told him, his voice hard.

Talo blinked at him. Shalu was different. He could feel it, and Talo didn't like it one bit. Why is he staring at me like he knows everything, Talo thought to himself. He can't know everything…can he?

Malie stared wide-eyed at Shalu, who's full attention was on Talo. Impossible, she thought to herself. I thought he was dead!

Talo swallowed. "Where were you?" He managed to say.

"I was in the jungle." Shalu told him. "I ran away after you tried to kill me."

Talo snorted. "So you ran away to hide…coward."

"I was." Shalu admitted softly, breathing loudly. "Talo…what are you doing?"

Talo stared at him. "I'm ruling Pride Rock, what does it look like?"

"It looks like you're about to murder our parents." Shalu told him slowly, hoping that Talo couldn't see how hard he was shaking.

Talo's eyes hardened, his brain beginning to focus again. "About to? Rest assured Shalu I will finish what I started. After I finish with you." Talo told him.

"Why?" Shalu demanded, angry. "Why did you kill Vitani, Simba and Nala? Why do you want mom and dad dead? They did nothing to you!"

"Exactly!" Talo broke in. "They did nothing! They left me in the graveyard to die!"

"Talo the Great Kings-" Shalu began.

"Oh the wonderful Great Kings." Talo snorted at him. "They made you king when I was stronger, smarter, and bigger. They chose you when we were just born, Shalu. Did you know that, Oh Chosen One? Or did Mufasa leave that little part out when he told you to come and fight me?"

Shalu flinched slightly and Talo smirked. "So you did meet the Great King then, appeared to you in a puddle, maybe. Is he really as great as they say? Or is he just a pathetic lion that hides behind a big name? Personally I'm leaning toward the latter."

Shalu glared. "Mufasa was a great king. He made a mistake, just like you're doing right now."

"Oh give me a break Shalu, are you so dense that you can't even see that your precious king is a phony?"

"Are you so bitter that you'd kill off your family because someone didn't chose you to be king?" Shalu asked angrily.

Talo growled loudly. "I am ten times the king you could ever be. I should've been chosen by Mufasa, not you. You weak, pathetic, stupid little cub." Talo spat at him.

Shalu narrowed his eyes. "Don't." He said slowly. "Don't Talo."

"Why not? Scared of the truth?" Talo prodded. "Scared that maybe I'm right, and the Great Kings are wrong? Did you ever consider that?"

"The Great Kings are wrong about some things." Shalu told him. "They thought I was Mufasa, and that you're Scar. I don't think that's true." Shalu's bangs tickled his forehead as he spoke. The wind was brushing along his face, but he ignored it. "But whether you think I wouldn't make a good king or not, they did chose me. And if its the last thing I do I'm going to take over the throne when its my time, just like they wanted."

Talo rolled his eyes. "Did you practice that on your run over here?"

"I didn't have to." Shalu corrected, his throat dry. He looked over at his parents, both of them were looking shocked and maybe a little scared. I'm bigger than dad, he realized in wonder. Not by much, but I have grown since I've been gone. Shalu almost smiled, but a low snarl turned his attention to the lioness who had walked up close to Talo.
"Shalu." She said slowly.

"Malie." Shalu affirmed. "You're the one I should be thanking for the nightmares about the elephant graveyard!" Shalu bit back.

Malie chuckled and Shalu felt cold. He glanced at Talo and saw his brother move slightly as though trying not to shiver. She creeps Talo out too, Shalu thought to himself. Good, that means he still has some feelings.

"I'll take that as a compliment, baby prince." She crooned at him, her yellow eyes flashing.

Shalu glared at her. "You took my brother away." He accused.

Malie shrugged. "I had to take one of you. And you were so small and weak, it was an easy choice on which cub to steal. Besides-" She smirked at him. "If you really were my cub, I would've given you to the plains when you were born, as wimpy as you were."

Shalu felt anger spark in his stomach as he snarled and pushed up until he was close to Malie's face, his amber eyes narrowed. "I got bigger." He told her. "And stronger, and I can tell you one thing, I was already smarter than both you and your partner." He growled.

Talo glowered at the two of them. "Temporary partner." He emphasized, a little annoyed at their conversation which seemed partly to be about him.

"Still partners." Shalu told him bitterly. "I'd watch out if I were you Talo." He added, glancing at Malie, anger rolling around inside of him. "Grandfather said never turn your back on an outsider."

Malie lunged and shoved Shalu to the ground, her snarl echoed in the barks of the hyenas. Shalu threw her off of him into the dirt. Malie pulled herself up, growling as Talo leapt and dragged Shalu to the ground. Shalu struggled out of his brother's grip and Talo grabbed onto Shalu's back, digging in his claws. Shalu gave a cry and twisted away from Talo, stumbling on the rocks. Shalu turned and found Talo baring down on him. Talo swiped at Shalu's head and Shalu's body buckled as he hit the ground. He was breathing hard as he stood up, watching Talo.

"This time I'm going to make sure I kill you right." Talo snarled. "And then, I will be the only possible king." He charged at Shalu, who closed his eyes, as his knees began to buckle again.

There was a roar and another snarl. Shalu opened his eye and saw Talo struggling to get up. Shalu blinked and saw a pale colored lioness standing in front of him. She turned her head and Shalu's breath caught in his throat as he met grass-green eyes.

"Lia?" He croaked. "I thought you were going to stay in the jungle."

"I was." Lia assured him, looking ashamed. "But then I realized I was just acting like a coward."

Talo pulled himself to his feet and glared as Shalu stepped up near Lia. "Found yourself a lion friend?" Talo teased. "She's pretty." Talo admitted. "But a bit too feisty for you."

"What would you know about lionesses?" Lia growled at him. "You're living with an old one and some hyenas. There's a nice company."

Malie growled out an order and hyenas swarmed to where Lia and Shalu were. Lia tore at a hyena that jumped at her as Shalu heard his father give an ear-splitting roar. Lionesses poured out of the cave and Shalu smacked a hyena away from his legs.

Malie backed off through the hyenas. She stopped suddenly and stared at Kiara who was blocking her path.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kiara dared.

Malie glared at her. "Through you!"

Shalu pinned a hyena under his paws and bit at another one that came close by. "Shalu!" Lia cried out and he glanced at her. "Your brother!"

Shalu looked and saw Talo glance at him and then run up the path toward the top of Pride Rock. Shalu roared and plowed through the hyenas, swatting them out of his way until he got to the path. He lunged up it and stopped short when he reached the top, the wind kicked at his body and he stepped onto Pride Rock's peak, watching his brother.

Talo turned from the edge of Pride Rock to face him. His chest was heaving and his eyes were flashing. "Why didn't you just die!" Talo demanded.

"You don't mean that." Shalu said, taking another step. "We're brothers…"

"Not anymore." Talo growled. "Why did you have to come back and play hero, Shalu? Why did you have to be Mufasa? All noble and….and good."

"I am not Mufasa!" Shalu shouted. "Talo…listen to me."

Talo shook his head. "I'll kill you Shalu…just like I killed Vitani."

Shalu took another step closer. The fight in him was boiling his blood, but he tried to push it down. I'm not going to fight him, his mind roared at the Great Kings whose blood flowed in his veins

"I'm not going to fight you." Shalu whispered. "I don't want to fight you Talo, and I can't."

"Good, then this will be easy." Talo leapt and Shalu barely jumped out of the way. Talo's claws ripped at empty air and he whirled on his brother again.

"Talo…" Shalu tried again.

"Stop it Shalu, you're wrong, just like them!" Talo growled. "They picked you the day we were born, Shalu." Talo's breath was coming fast, in heaving blows. "I remember."

Shalu shook his head. "No one can remember that far."

"Well I do!" Talo defended. "I remember being presented, the animals were cheering us both. And then this light…this golden light came down from the Great Kings…on you. Blessing you, choosing you. Not me. They celebrated you, the future king, they didn't even look at me twice and you know why Shalu?" Shalu swallowed and stepped away from his brother's advance. "Do you know why they chose you? Not because you'd be the better king, but because you look just like Mufasa and I look just like Scar. We were brothers. Whose more likely to turn the kingdom wrong? The dark cub of course. So they chose you, Shalu. They chose you and ignored me."

"You're not Scar, Talo." Shalu told him, jumping out of the way as Talo pounced at him again. "I don't care if you look like him, or if Malie told you that you were his successor, or if the Great Kings didn't chose you because they thought you'd follow in his paw prints. You are not Scar, and we are not Mufasa and Scar. Talo we were best friends, I would never have killed you…and I'm not going to now."

"Then stay still!" Talo growled, tearing at Shalu's body. Shalu growled and skidded out of the way, but not before Talo's claws tore at his shoulder. Shalu glanced at his shoulder and saw a drop of blood stain his fur.

Shalu looked back up at his brother. "Talo don't you remember when we were cubs? We said we were going to rule together, me and you."

Talo laughed bitterly. "There can' be two kings on Pride Rock, Shalu. If you believe that then your even dumber than I thought."

Shalu swallowed, this wasn't working. He had tried every possible way to get his brother to turn back to the way he was and not be bitter. But then what had Mufasa said? Hadn't he said that Talo was always bitter?

"Talo, you're angry at the Great Kings." Shalu said slowly. "Not mom and dad, not Vitani, and not me. Can't you see Malie just twisted you around?"

"Maybe Malie untwisted me. Maybe I am right, did you think if that Shalu?"

"Malie just wants the Pride for herself." Shalu told him, sidestepping out of Talo's way again. "When you've done her dirty work for her do you really think she's going to keep you around to rule the Pride?"

Talo smirked. "You don't think I've thought of that? I'll get rid of her before she can get rid of me." Talo snarled and made a grab at Shalu. Shalu stumbled out of the way, panting. He couldn't keep avoiding his brother.

"Okay…maybe the Great Kings did make a mistake." Shalu admitted slowly. "Maybe you would've made the better King."

"You bet they made a mistake." Talo advanced towards him.

"Then shouldn't you be trying to prove them wrong." Shalu suggested. Talo stopped and stared at him. "They didn't pick you because you were the dark cub, because you thought you'd follow in Scar's paw-prints. Shouldn't you be proving that you won't?"

"I am proving them wrong, Shalu." Talo said uneasily. "Who's ruling Pride Rock, me or you?"

"Darkness is ruling Pride Rock." Shalu spat at him. Talo stood there, still as stone. "All your doing right now is proving they were right, that you are dark and evil, that you did take over the Pride Lands."

Talo swallowed, his vision blurry. Be quiet Shalu, his mind roared. Just let me do this and be done with it. Just be quiet.

"Talo we're brothers…and so what if we didn't chose who got to be king, or that we can't both be king…we can still be brothers, friends." Shalu pleaded.

Talo shook his head. "This is how it is, Shalu. Accept it and fight me." Talo demanded.

Shalu growled. "No."

"Fine!" Talo leapt and Shalu went down underneath him. He struggled to get away but Talo wouldn't allow it. Okay fine, Shalu thought to himself and head-butted Talo off of him. Talo gasped and backed away before a small smile came across his face.

"You did get a little bigger." He admitted softly before lunging at Shalu again. Shalu growled and snapped at Talo's claws that came toward him. Talo's front paws landed on Shalu and Shalu slapped them away. Talo jumped out of Shalu's way and growled back. He dove and knocked Shalu's legs out from under him and he felt Shalu's claws scrape his legs. Shalu rolled over in the dust and cringed slightly as Talo was on top of him. Shalu could feel the edge of Pride Rock inches from his face and he swallowed, trying to twist away but Talo pushed him back. Shalu glared and buckled his body, knocking the wind from Talo as he kicked out at him with his paws. Talo sprawled to the edge of the rock and, scraping at the loose rock, fell.

Shalu leapt up and ran close to the edge, looking over. Talo hung there on a small ledge, his claws dug into the hard stone, his muscles tightening. "Talo!" He called and Talo glanced up at him, green eyes wide with fear.

"You look just like Mufasa…that lion from my dreams that would always come, making me feel guilty." Talo said softly.

"Shalu." Shalu told him. "I'm Shalu, not Mufasa. Talo hold on."

Talo chuckled, and it surprised Shalu how much of a real laugh it was. "Well I'm certainly not going to let go…" He looked up at Shalu's face and his face changed. "You've got two options…you can let me fall or help me up." Talo blinked. "If I were you, after all I've done to you, I'd let me fall." He said hoarsely.

Shalu smiled slightly. "Well I guess it's a good thing I'm not you." He reached down with his paw and Talo grabbed it, his claws scraping the rock as Shalu pulled him up.

After they were both on solid ground Shalu sat down, his chest heaving. His brother was still bigger and much heavier than he was. Talo let out a long breath and looked at him. "I could kill you right now, you know."

Shalu looked at him. "Are you going to?"

Talo blinked at him. Shalu wasn't scared, it surprised Talo. Shalu had always been the scared one, and he the daring one. Talo always felt like he was trying to prove something, and would run off doing crazy stunts that could get him killed. Maybe I was the coward, Talo thought to himself. He glanced at Shalu. If I wasn't then I certainly am now, he decided slowly. I'm not doing Malie's dirty work, or mine for that matter, anymore. "I'm not going to kill you." He said slowly, looking into Shalu's eyes. Shalu blinked and smiled.

"What took you so long?" Shalu wondered.

Talo smiled slightly, but then the smile fell as realization of all that he'd done hit him in a wave. Talo sat down hard, staring at nothing. "I killed them all." He looked at his brother's confused face. "Shalu I killed them all, I was going to kill mom and dad. I killed them all…how could I be so stupid?"

Shalu nudged his brother assuredly, wondering what to say.

"I killed my family." Talo muttered.

"You killed traitors." The two brothers looked up to see Malie stepping near them. That is not what should be said, Shalu decided, standing up near his brother. "You did right in killing them." Malie went on.

Talo shook his head. "No…no I didn't."

Malie glared at him. "Weak, both of you. Just like your father and mother." She glanced at them. "If I had been your mother this wouldn't have happened." Shalu fought the urge to roll his eyes. "If Kovu hadn't been weak and gone to Kiara-"

"You mean fell in love." Shalu corrected.

"Pride-Lander." Spat Malie. "I'll kill you both and take over the throne that should've been mine!"

Talo stared at her, trying to wrap his mind around what to do. It seemed that ever since he'd fallen and Shalu had saved his life his mind was twisting around in loops and he couldn't think straight.

Shalu felt the wind breeze around him, Talo looked quite startled as the wind also brushed against his face. "I said I wouldn't kill my brother." Shalu whispered, narrowing his eyes. "I never said anything about killing you!" Shalu rammed Malie in the side and she fell in the dust. Shalu growled and leapt at her. But Malie met him with her claws and fangs, throwing him off into the dirt across the top of Pride Rock.

Malie bared her teeth and leapt at him. Talo lunged and knocked her away, ripping at her shoulder. Shalu struggled to stand up as he saw Malie pounce at Talo and pin him to the ground, not missing the chance to scratch at his leg. Talo shoved her with his hind legs. Malie scratched at Talo's face. He moved at the last moment and her claws tore at the skin on his neck. Talo backed away, wincing. The cut wasn't life-threatening, but it hurt. Malie growled and pounded him to the ground as he tried to move away. Talo looked up at her, his breath coming fast, staring at her yellow eyes.

"You pathetic little Prince." She laughed. "You never could beat me."

Talo struggled to get out but Malie held him there with her weight. Shalu roared and rushed at Malie, his teeth sunk into her should and she made a pained noise. Malie stumbled back and Talo rushed at her, batting her away. She slipped and fell off the edge, disappearing.

Shalu and Talo looked at each other, their faces wide with surprise. The two brothers stepped close to the edge and looked down to see Malie's broken body lying on the stones below. The rain started, falling on her and mixing with the drops of blood on the stone.

Talo smiled slightly. "I guess I did throw her off Pride Rock after all." Talo glanced at Shalu from the corner of his eye. "Are you…okay?" He asked.

Shalu nodded. "And you?"

"Fine." Talo looked away. "Shalu…I'm so so sorry."

Shalu smiled slightly. "I am too."

Talo glanced him. "For what? You didn't do anything?"

"I could've stopped you before you went to the Elephant Graveyard. Then maybe this wouldn't have ever happened."

Talo shrugged. "Or maybe Malie would've found another way. And besides-" He smiled slyly. "If none of this had happened you wouldn't have met that friendly lioness. Who I still think is much too feisty for you." He added.

Shalu laughed. "Yeah, you might be right…on both points."

Talo grinned at him. Shalu glanced out to the Pride Lands and narrowed his eyes in concentration. "What is that?" He asked, watching a black and gray swarm near Pride Rock.

Talo squinted and his smile widened. "It's the hyenas. They must've either seen Malie's body-"

"Or the lionesses won." Shalu said happily. He turned and bounded to the path. "Come on let's go see if they're okay." He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Talo?" He asked, turning around.

Talo stood at the edge of Pride Rock, staring at the dark clouds that were beginning to break up, though the rain was still pattering around him.

"Shalu….I can't."

Shalu took a step towards him, looking unsure. "Can't…what?"

"I can't face mom and dad yet." Talo turned and met his eyes. "I did too much to them and the pride." Talo muttered, his eyes sad.

"If you think they won't forgive you, don't." Shalu told him. "They're your parents…if you ask them to forgive you, they will."

Talo smiled sadly. "I know…but I can't forgive myself just yet." He looked hard at his brother. "Shalu you've never done anything like I did…I nearly killed you…I did kill my aunt, I ordered the death of my grandparents and I'd be surprised it I didn't severely tick off the Great Kings. I can't forgive myself for doing that…not right away…not just because you saved my life, or that Malie's dead." Shalu opened his mouth to protest and Talo shook his head to stop him. "Shalu Malie didn't make me do it…I wanted to, at least a part of me did. I was bitter, maybe I still am a little bit. But she didn't force me to do any of it."

"You're going to run away." Shalu said softly. "Aren't you?"

Talo looked slightly ashamed.

Shalu swallowed, then nodded. "I guess everyone has to run away at some point…right?"

Talo tried to smile. "Yeah, you might be right." Talo backed away.

"Where are you going to go?" Shalu asked him.

Talo shrugged. "Any suggestions?" He asked mischievously.

Shalu smiled. "The jungle's nice. There's an old lion who's pretty smart, and he might need some good company."

A grin greeted his request. "Do you think he'd mind."

"I don't think Palini would mind at all." Shalu assured him.

Talo backed away, heading towards the other edge of Pride Rock. Shalu stopped him. "Do you think, maybe one day, you'll come back?" Talo looked away, then back to his brother's amber eyes.

"No promises?" The dark lion asked.

The light lion smiled. "No promises."

Talo nodded and turned to lope down the path. Shalu waited until he'd disappeared from view before turning down his own path. Halfway down he saw a black speck jump from the back of Pride Rock and hit the grass, beginning to run across the plains. A dark animal moving in and around the dead grass. Shalu turned from watching him, tears in his eyes, and found his way back to the pride, limping slightly.

The hyenas had all fled, and not one lioness was dead, though many were worse for the wear. Lia bounded up to Shalu and pinned him to the ground, smiling.

Shalu laughed. "You would think I'd been pinned enough tonight." He told her. Lia grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry….I'm just so happy you're okay." She let him up, but not before giving him a lick on the cheek. Shalu blushed.

"I am too." He looked her over. "You're okay?'

She nodded, nuzzling his mane. "I'm fine, never better actually."

"So…" Shalu started. "How long are you planning on staying?"

Lia smiled into his red hair. "A while."

"Won't you miss the jungle?"

"I'm sure that since you know your way around it so well you can help me not miss it, Pride-Lander." She teased, looking up at him.

Shalu quirked a grin. "Are you trying to flatter me?" He questioned.

Lia grinned. "Of course not…..did it work?"

"Most definitely." Shalu said, rubbing her nose.

Shalu looked and saw his parents step up beside him. He turned from Lia to nuzzle his mother. "Shalu." She whispered to him. "You're alive."

Shalu turned and looked at his father, who was smiling at him. "You grew up." Kovu said.

Shalu shrugged. "A little." He admitted.

"I'm glad you're okay." Kovu glanced over his shoulder. "What happened to Talo?"

Shalu looked away. "He…ran away. He couldn't forgive himself." Shalu met his father's eyes and Kovu smiled, seeming to accept it for what it was. "I know how he felt. I couldn't forgive myself for going to the Elephant Graveyard…and I didn't think you'd forgiven me either…so I ran."

"It was never your fault." Kiara told him.

Shalu smiled. "Yeah…I know, Talo told me. He's really not that bad of a lion…just confused."

The King of Pride Rock smiled at his son. "Shalu, one day you are going to make a very good king. Maybe as good as Mufasa."

Shalu smiled and felt a light breeze whistle around his head. "I'd rather not be compared to the Great Kings anymore. It's a bit overwhelming." Shalu glanced at sky, waiting for the stars.

Kiara smiled at her son as Kovu laughed. Lia stepped close to Shalu, nudging him affectionately in the shoulder. Kiara felt at ease as she nodded pleasantly at her son's future mate. Shalu had found his place, even if it took a little while, she decided. Kiara looked up at the sky, watching as the clouds began to break up and the stars casting their glow on the land, nothing blocking their majestic light from shining on Pride Rock.

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Okay only the epilogue left...which I will be posting in the minutes following my posting of this chapter.

I hope you guys aren't too put out for me not killing off Talo...Shalu and Talo are not Mufasa and Scar (as Shalu pointed out) and therefore are not going to be tied to the sad fates of their great-grandfather and great-great uncle. Besides, where would my sequal be if Talo was dead? Also I hope the falling off Pride Rock was not too redundant...I just didn't want either Talo or Shalu to have the horrible job of ripping Malie's throat out or something like that. :)

All right by now you guys should know what to do...Review please!