This Jua lioness seemed rather suspicious. How did she and Kovu know one another? Did they see each other in the Outlands before? Kion and his friends didn't exactly know the answers to why this was all happening. "If Kiara finds out about this, it will break her heart." He thought to himself. What are we going to do?"
"Well, first thing's first." Said Ono. "We need more information on what's going on. Something that requires sneak and stealth."
"Good idea." Said Beshte. "We can't just walk up to them and ask why this... Jua is here and besides, Kovu might just lie to us about this whole thing and come up with excuses to our faces."
The kids were thinking about it and Fuli said: "you're right. Maybe we can have some... inside information on What's going on."
"Ono, why don't you perch yourself on a nearby tree and listen in on their conversations?"
"I can try, but what if the tree's too far from them when they talk?"
"Then... we can have a hyrax help us by hearing underground." Kion explained further in detail. "And, I thought Kovu is a very nice guy? He's... like the big brother I always wanted. I can't believe he would even cheat on Kiara like that." He bowed his head, feeling hurt by this.
Despite that, he knew how hurt Kiara will be if she finds out about this. He didn't want to tell her know because she might think is a big, fat liar that likes to make up gossip. "Let's just remain anonymous and inconspicuous about this whole thing until we have solid evidence about this affair." said Fuli.
"Yeah, what else can we do?" Bunga asked
"Well, we just need to uncover what we know about this." Kion replied. "But, we'll catch him in the act when the time is right."
"Catch who in the act?" asked a voice. They turned, and it was Vitani, who looked a little confused by the kids crouching like that on a rock. "What are you pipsqueaks doing?"
"Hey, I'm not a Pipsqueak, I'm a hippo!" Beshte defended himself. "Matter of fact, I'm a little higher rehan you."
"Oh, take it easy, Beshte." Vitani smirked. "I was just saying it because you're all kids. That's all. It's like how Nuka called Kovu a little termite all the time. It didn't bother him so much."
"Good point."
"Now come on, what's going on here?"
"Just... uh... trying to figure out another strategy if Jamja and his friends come over to wreck havoc over the Pride Lands again." Kion lied, sounding a little nervous.
"Ah. Yeah, I know. Janja and his meatheaded friends are a bunch of morons and pests with nothing better to do in life than trying to scare any animal they can just for the fun of it. But, you want my opinion? You guys just need to mean business on him."
"You mean like... kill him?" said Bunga
"Well, yeah. I mean, aren't you guys getting tired of foiling his plans with his friends in breaking the Circle of Life? They might never stop trying to unbalance it. And I can say the same with Reirei and her dysfunctional family of jackals."
"I never used my roar to kill before."
"It's understandable, Kion." Vitani reassured. "You get scared if you are going to kill someone, but someday, you will be more used to it."
"Have you killed any animal in the Outlands before?" Asked Bunga.
"Oh yeah. But, I don't wanna talk about it right now. Still, it would he best if you all just kill Janka and his clan, but it's your choice and I just have to respect your decision."
Kion smiled. Vitani walked away and the kids were alone again. "You sure you don't want to tell your sister about this?" Asked Ono
"Positive. The last thing I want is to have Kiara extremely mad at me for what she thinks will be lying to her. And I don't want to be a bad brother to her."
"Look, we'll dig for more information." Said Beshte. "We'll find out what's really going on, no matter what it takes."
"Thanks, guys."
They all looked overhead at the horizon where Kovu and Jua were talking. "I can't believe it's been so long." Jua remarked.
"Heh heh, I know. It's unbelievable if you think about it." Kovu replied. "It is so nice to see you again, Jua. I couldn't be any more happier, along with getting married to Kiara."
"Well, I would like to talk more, but I really need to hunt."
"Okay. There are some topi over there you can eat."
"Thanks, Kovu. I'll look for the perfect type for me to eat. "I'll see you later." then Jua ran into the grass to start hunting for food to eat. Kovu was alone and he want back to Pride Rock.
"Oh, hey guys. How was patrolling?" Kovu noticed the kids.
"Nothing to serious." said Fuli. "Just getting tired of Janja and his friends reuinf to cause mayhem here. I mean, there are other places to look for food or scraps."
Kovu made a small groan before replying: "ugh, tell me about it. They can't keep this up forever. When are they going to understand that they need to follow in the circle of life?"
"One can only hope." Bunga said. "They can't just keep terrorizing the Pride Lands forever."
"Right? Well, I need to go meet with Kiara."
"Why?" Kion blurted. He immediately clamped his mouth shut and he cleared his throat, calming himself down. "Sorry. I have no idea where that came from."
Cooookay?" Kovu raised his right eyebrow. "And anyway, I'm just gonna go hunt with your sister."
"Ah. Okay." Kovu then went out of Pride Rock to hunt with his mate. "Guys, we have got to figure something out on what's going on. Ono, you know what to do."
"Right. I got this under control." Oni flew and went to the direction where Kovu went off to. At last, he caught sight of the future rulers of the Pride Lands, and they took down an eland together before eating it.
"Just like I taught you, Kiara." Kovu proudly remarked. "You're getting better at this, Kiara."
"Thanks. Next time, I'll show Kion this kind of hunting technique. Not an eland, but, smaller antelope."
"Heh. Good idea." they both continued eating the gigantic eland and Ono perched on a nearby tree to listen in on more conversations. Whenever they moved or walked together, the cattle egret would carefully and quietly follow them from above in the skies, but he didn't find anything or hear anything interesting about this so-called affair.
It was a little frustrating for him, but he knew that he wanted to expose Kovu as a liar and a cheater going out with this Jua.
It was a long hour for him of spying and eavesdropping on their conversation, but they both separated and went back to Pride Rock.
One thing that finally came to Ono's interest was Jua was returning and she was walking up to Kovu, whom, not surprising to the egret, was not with Kiara at this time. "A-ha!" He breathed. "Let's see what lover boy has to say to her this time. It was a good thing there was a nearby Bush and he kept himself hidden in the twigs and branches.
"How was your hunt, Jua?" the future king asked her.
"It was amazing. I am so glad I came back to the Pride Lands. There is so much more food here than my old home!"
"I know."
"What about Kiara?"
"We'll tell her where I say it's okay to do so. She'll understand when I show you to her."
Ono made a small gasp. He listened more and more into their conversation and it sounded quite troubling. To his ears, it sounded like he is, indeed cheating on Kiara. "I gotta tell the guys." He thought to himself."
He flew away from them and went back to his cohorts. "Well? What did you find out?" Kion asked him.
"Well, i think that Kovu might be cheating on Kiara after all."
The kids made a gasp of horror. "Well, it's simple." Said Fuli. "I say when this Jua meets Kiara, then we expose the truth to Kiara, and... what if this breaks her heart?'
'"Of course she will have a broken heart!" Kion exasperated. "She loves him to pieces." He calmed down and let out a small breath while closing his eyes. "Still, I need to expose Kovu for what he really is."
"Right behind you, Kion. This is unbungalievable." the honey badger remarked. "Come on, let's expose that liar who he really is."
The other kids hid behind a nearby boulder and waited for the perfect moment. Kovu, Kiara, and Jua met together. The kids were all ready to pounce in front of them at the perfect time.
"Kiara," said Kovu. "This is Jua."
"Hello."
"Pleasure to finally meet you." Jua added. "Your majesty."
"Ah, I'm not the queen yet."
"Oh. Right."
"Kovu told me a little about you, and it's great to finally meet you, Jua."
"Anything good about me?"
"He told me great things about you."
Back over at the rock, the kids were hardly believe what they were hearing. "How can Kiars be okay with this?" Asked Beshte.
"I thought she would have her heart broken." Fuli added.
"Nonetheless, we expose him for what he really is. Maybe they haven't said to her that they are now dating."
The kids listen in on the conversation some more and they were having good laughs. "Oh, I love you, Kovu." said Jua.
"I love you too."
At last, Kion couldn't contain his blood from boiling any longer. Full of anger and feeling hurt at the same time, then he and his friends jumped and all shouted: "A-haaaaa!" At Kovu. "I can't believe you, Kovu!" Kion angrily said to him. "I can't believe it!"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Kovu tried to calm them down. "What's this about?"
"You know very well what this is about, you little sneak!" Bunga pointed his right finger.
"Kion, what's going on?" Kiara asked. Poor Jua was just as confused as the other two full-grown lions.
"Kiara, Kovu had been cheating on you for Jua." Kion explained. "They've been dating behind your back!"
"Admit it, Kovu!" Fuli said.
Both Jua and Kovu looked at one another, and broke into a contagious laughter. The kids looked quite confused by that sudden reaction. "What? What's so funny?" Beshte asked.
"Kion, in what way could you think I was cheating on Kiara?"
"Because you didn't want to tell Kiars just yet. You were waiting for the perfect moment to dump her and break her heart and run off with her."
"Whoa there, sweetie." Jua intervened. "You're getting the wrong idea. Me and Kovu are not dating. We're cousins."
"Oh! Oh! So you admit that you and Kovu were... wait, cousins?" said Kion, feeling dumbfounded.
"Yeah, we've met when we were just Cubs, right before Simba banished me and mother to the Outlands. "She was the daughter of my uncle Zue. You see, he was my mother's elder brother, but she kicked him and Jua out of the Pride because they didn't like what Zira was doing. Your dad didn't banish them, but he felt like he needed to be with his sister and family."
"He tried so hard to convince Zira that any of the whole killing Simba in revenge thing wasn't right. My aunt wouldn't listen so just let them go and we wanted nothing to do with her anymore."
"Wait, really?"
"Of course." Kovu said. "Kion, granted, we have disagreements from time to time, but me and Kiara will never spit or break up."
"What's going on here?" Simba and Nala heard the commotion and they went to see what was going on.
"Is everything okay?" Nala added.
"Well, I feel like such an idiot mom." Kion admitted embarrassingly. "I thought Kovu was cheating on Kiara, but, I was just so fooled by this. And... I was just looking out for my sister. Honest."
"Oh Kion," sighed Kiara amusingly. "I understand what you were doing. Granted, you can be immature at times, but, I appreciate you looking out for me."
"So, you're not mad at me?"
She nodded her head with a smile. "No. I'm not mad. I appreciate you looking out for me." She then pulled him over for a hug with her big paw.
Kion was flattered and he nuzzled against her body to show gratitude like a kitten showing affection for his mother, and or elder sister. "Well, this is... rather awkward." Simba admitted. "Still, I'm glad you have sorted this out."
"So Jua, I'm sorry I took matters into my own paws." He looked a little ashamed. "I'm sorry if I thought badly of you and took this the wrong way, and same with you, Kovu."
Jua smiled. "Oh, it's okay." she said. "I wouldn't be mad at you, Kion. Besides, you're rather... cute." what she said made Kion fluster a little, looking flattered.
"Oh. Well, thanks Jua. I'm glad you're all not mad at me or us. And, Kovu, are we good?"
The future king smiled. "Of course. We're always good."
"So Kion, Kovu showed me this hunting trick on prey you want to eat. Want to come with me so I can show you?"
"Sure Kiara."
"Ooh! Can I come too? I want to spend more time with my cousin here." Jua asked
"Of course."
They all ran down the fields as four and Simba and Nala watched over them as they hunted together. The kids did the same thing and smiled at that sight. Everything was sorted out and love never lies or betrays at all.
