A/n well folks here we are at ch 24. The usual thanks are in order to my loyal readers/reviewers. Enjoy ch 24

Ch 24 War Ends

Vitani and Nuka crumpled to the ground, blood coming out of their heads. They didn't get back up.

"No!" Simba cried out, his amber eyes wide with horror. "I'll kill you for this!" Simba began to lunge for Nala. But to his shock he saw Zira had beat him to it.

"My babies!" Zira cried out at the same time. "You bitch!" Zira roared, anger and rage flashing in her ruby red eyes and she lunged towards Nala, tackling her to the ground. The two lionesses went rolling across the ground, biting and clawing. But Nala was more built than Zira was and she was soon on the winning end.

"Oh Zira," Nala cackled as she hit the Pride Land Queen hard in her face. "You really are a fool thinking you can take me down." Nala raised her paw to hit Zira again. But before she could strike suddenly Sarabi was there along with Sharka. The two lionesses tacked Nala together and they succeeded in pinning her to the ground.

"Give it up Nala," Sharka hissed, her face inches from Nala's. "Its over."

"I'll never give up!" Nala snarled as she struggled to break free. "I'd rather die!"

"Then so be it," Sharka growled as she raised her paw to kill Nala.

"Hold it!" Simba roared, causing Sharka to stop mid strike. "I'm King around here and I decide of someone is going to be put to death or not."

"But Simba," Sarabi said. "You heard what she said. She'll never give up. She'll never stop. And after what she just did to Vitani and Nuka she deserves death don't you think?"

"Vitani and Nuka will be fine Mom," Simba informed Sarabi. "In face they're already awake." He nodded towards his children, who were alert and sitting with Zira, who had her paws around her children protectively.

"Yes but Nyeusi won't be!" Sharka cried out, her voice breaking. "That bitch killed my baby!"

"If you're going to punish everyone who caused death and pain then Sharka and Tama should be punished as well!" Nala snarled. "They killed my mother! They're just as much a murderer as I am!"

"This is your last chance Nala," Simba hissed. "Surrender or die. Your choice."

"I made myself clear Simba," Nala snarled. "I'd rather die then give up!"

"Then so be it," Simba said, looking at Sharka and nodding. With that the grey lioness let out a roar of fury and slashed Nala's throat, killing her.

"That's for my baby," Sharka spat out, wiping away the tears that were flowing down her face.

"C'mon Kion quit making things more difficult for yourself," Kopa was saying as he and Kiara tried to subdue their brother. "Its over. Mother is dead. Her Pride has surrendered. Give up." Kion looked at his twin, then he looked at the rest of the Pride, who were staring at him.

"Why should I give up?" Kion demanded. "My fate is going to be the same as Mother's."

"I won't put you to death Kion," Simba declared, surprising the brown coated cub. "You're just a cub after all. But I can't allow your actions to go unpunished either.'

"Like I give a damn," Kion snarled, still trying to get loose. But Chafu was there and he let out a growl and helped Kiara and Kopa pin Kion to the ground, making sure he dug his claws in extra hard.

"You're lucky I'm not killing you," the grey coated young lion hissed as he drug his claws down Kion's chest, drawing blood. "Because of you and your bitch of a mother my sister is dead!"

"She got what she deserved!" Kion cried out, breaking free and getting right in Chafu's face. This enraged Chafu and he let out a snarl of fury and before anyone could stop him he tackled Kion to the ground and bit his throat wide open.

"That was for my sister you bastard!" Chafu hissed, wiping the blood off his mouth. Then his eyes went wide as he realized what he just did. He looked at Kiara and Kopa, who were staring at him with wide eyes. "I'm sorry," Chafu said, his voice shaking. "I...I don't know why I did that. I..." Just then he broke down and ran to Sharka, who held him close as they both wept for Nyeusi.

"I know what its like to do something out of rage," Simba said, walking up to Chafu. "Especially when you're mourning such a great loss." Chafu looked at Simba with tear filled brown eyes as he sniffled and wiped his eyes.

"So you're not going to punish me?" Chafu asked softly. "Or my friends?" Simba looked at the almost one year old young lion. Then he looked at the rest of the cubs, who were all staring at him with wide eyes. Then he looked at Zira, who had sat down next to him with Vitani and Nuka.

"What do you think Zi?" Simba asked.

"Well they did help us Simba," Zira said, looking at the cubs as well. "They risked a lot to come here and warn us of an attack. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes I would agree," Simba said with a nod. "But still I don't think I can over look the fact that Kiara and Kopa are the children of Scar. And they've done some pretty terrible things."

"Sorry King Simba but I need to speak," Kovu said suddenly. Simba looked at the nine month old cub with surprise but he nodded his head. "You can't really judge Kiara and Kopa just because they're the children of Scar. After all I'm the son of Scar too and you have no problems with me."

"He does have a point Simba," Zira said with a smile.

"Yeah Dad," Nuka chimed in with a smile of his own. "Sides they've been pretty cool to us and all that."

"You all make very good points," Simba said, after a minute of thinking about it. "However there are many other things to consider. They've taken part in some pretty terrible things including the attempted murder of the Prince and Princess. That's not something I can just overlook."

"Yes Simba but they were only cubs," Zira chimed in. "And lets face it they were terrified to go against Nala."

"Its true King Simba," Kiara piped up. "Mother would beat us if we dared question her. She's almost killed us more than once."

"Yeah," Kopa chimed in. "And we've got the scars to prove it." The creamy brown cub nodded towards his scared backside when he said this part. "Plus Mother is...I mean was a really good lair. She totally had Kion brainwashed. And at first I was just like Kion. But Mother deemed me weak and worthless and I was willing to do anything to prove I wasn't weak and that I was worthy of her love. That's why I did the things I did. I'm really sorry. I wish I could back in time and undo the things I've done." By now Kopa had tears going down his face. Jasiri ran to Kopa and pulled him close and he buried his face in her fur as he cried. As Simba watched all this his expression softened.

"Hey now its ok," the golden King said softly as he walked up to Kopa and gently rubbed his back gently. Kopa sniffled and looked at Simba with tear filled blue eyes.

"You're...you're not going to kill me?" Kopa sniffled.

"No," Simba said with a smile. "I'm not going to kill you. There's been to much bloodshed."

"So does that mean we can stay?" Safara asked. Simba looked at the young cub. Then he looked at Zira. Then he opened his mouth to respond.

A/N well folks there you have it ch 24 complete. Would you all be interested in reading a sequel to this? Let me know. Hope you all have enjoyed it and as always please review.