I don't own any canon characters.

"Your daughter Simba," Zira asked, feigning astonishment, though unconvincingly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play games with me Zira," Simba growled warningly.

"Oh, I never play games Simba," Zira replied with a smirk, "games are so, childish."

"What have you done with my daughter Zira," Simba asked threateningly.

"And what makes you think I've done anything to your royal brat," Zira asked.

"My daughter was seen being kidnapped by Outlanders," Simba replied coolly, "your Outlanders."

"Really," Zira asked, "and who snitched on me?"

Simba was about to reply, but realised the trap, "I have my sources."

"Well, at least I know who is wasn't," Zira said, grinning nastily, "it wasn't your ridiculous friends, the warthog and the meerkat."

"What," Simba said, slightly shocked, before regaining his composure, "If you have laid a single paw on either of them, or my daughter."

"If I've laid a paw on either of them or you daughter, what," Zira gloated, "look around you, oh mighty king." As she and Simba had been talking, most of the rest of the Outlands pride had taken advantage of the distraction and surrounded the pair.

Simba looked around, then back at Zira. "So this is how it ends," he said grimly, "well, do me a favour, make my death a quick one."

"Oh no, Simba" Zira said, "a murderer like yourself is due a fate much worse than death."

"The hyenas killed Scar, and you know it," Simba retorted.

"Oh, they may have finished him off," Zira said, "but it was you who killed him." Simba didn't reply to that, how could he, it was what she believed, even if it wasn't the truth. "What's wrong," she asked, "can't you think of a lie to cover it up?"

"'I' don't lie," Simba replied, "but on the other hand, I can't hope to change what you think either."

"Oh, you lie alright Simba," Zira said, "it's just that those weaklings who follow you are too blind to see it."

"What about Scar then," Simba asked, changing tact, "after all, he tried to kill me, and he killed my father, his own brother." He was unable to completely control his anger, especially on the last sentence.

"Mufasa was a weakling," Zira said in reply, "as much a brawny idiot as you are."

Simba gave a low roar at that, but managed to control himself, and replied, "he was blind to Scar's evil..."

"Scar wasn't evil," Zira retorted angrily, "ant he was ten times the king either you or Mufasa was."

"Scar was evil," Simba replied, almost roaring, "he murdered his own brother."

"Mufasa oppressed him," Zira replied, her tone, "Scar wasn't even given a chance."

"He had a chance alright," Simba said, "he had a lot more than one, and he blew them all."

Zira, unable to contain herself any longer, raced forward, and slashed Simba across the face. "Liar," she shouted, "you lied, and now you'll pay for it!"

Before any of the Outlander lionesses could do anything though, the Prideland Lionesses arrived, forcing a standoff. Nala came forward, exchanged a quick nuzzle with Simba, then turned to Zira and virtually roared, "Zira."

Simba came forward as well, and said, "and now Zira, you will give me my daughter, or I will take her by force."

Zira was shocked at the lioness's arrival, but recovered after several seconds. Weighing up the changes, she realised she couldn't win at the moment, so said, "very well, come with me."

Simba followed Zira as they wound their way through the Outlands, and eventually, reached a cave. "She's in there," the lioness said.

Simba entered the cave, and walked down. Right at the end, lay a lioness guarding not only Kiara and the Outlander cubs, but also Timon and Pumbaa, about whom he'd momentarily forgotten. The lioness turned and growled warningly, but a low, rumbling, roar subdued her.

The cubs also turned. Nuka and Vitani were on one side of the cave, and had been talking about a subject, though what it had been Simba could only speculate. On the other side of the cave lay Timon, Pumbaa and Kiara, as he'd expected, but also Kovu.

Timon and Pumbaa were asleep, or well faking it, but Kiara and Kovu were awake, and staring at him.

"Er, Hi dad," Kiara said, when she recognised her father. Kovu didn't say anything, but his expression of terror was enough to tell what he was thinking.

"Hello Kiara," Simba replied. As he got closer, he saw the slashes down Pumbaa's side, and turned an accusing stare on the lioness, who backed up and tried to look innocent. He nudged the warthog, and said, "Pumbaa?"

Pumbaa snorted, and said, "hm, wh..." He then looked up, saw Simba, and said, "oh, er, hey buddy."

"Hey Pumbaa," Simba said, "can you walk, or do I have to kill someone?"

"I, er, I think I can walk," Pumbaa said rising shakily. "Hey Timon," he said, shaking his head to wake the meerkat, who was sleeping there, "look who's here."

"Mmm" Timon said, beginning to wake, "Pumbaa, how many times have I told you..."

"Timon," Simba asked, "you okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine Sim..." Timon began, then realised what he was saying, "Simba," he said brightly, "ho man, am I pleased to see you."

"The same here Timon," Simba said.

"Good," Timon said in reply, "now, are we gonna get outta here, 'cause somma the lionesses've been giving me looks, and they ain't exactly nice ones."

"Yeah, we're going to get out of here" Simba replied. He then picked up Kiara by her scruff, and was about to leave, but found his gaze drawn inexorably towards the two Outlander cubs, especially Nuka. The cub was gazing at him, and just for a moment, their gazes locked.

It was only for a moment, but it was enough. Nuka had been the one to cubnap Kiara, but he hadn't wanted to, he'd been forced to do it. Breaking his gaze, Simba carried his daughter out of the cave, followed up by Timon and Pumbaa.

When they reached the prides again, Simba gave Nala a look, and placed Kiara at her feet. His mate and queen understood the look, picked their daughter up, and began to walk away. "What was that for," Zira asked tauntingly, "too weak to carry your own daughter?"

"No," Simba replied, just a hint of satisfaction in his voice, "so I could do this." With that, he spun, and whacked Zira so hard around the head that she was sent sprawling. There were no claws in the blow, so there was no blood, but it was enough to stun the lioness. "And if I ever catch you or one of your followers in the Pridelands again," He warned, "I will not hold back." With that, he turned, and walked off.