Sins of the Past

Part 1: Sun and Shadows

"See those who bask in the sun? They have everything in this world one could ever want. They hold power and wealth, more than they could ever use themselves in their entire lifetimes. Those in the sun hold their power and wealth over all others, regardless of their fate. Meanwhile, those in the shadows look up at those in the sun. They crave to share in the wealth and power that is denied to them, even though there is plenty to share. The ones in the shadows are looked down on and made to suffer, simply because we are different. That we think differently, hold different ideals, and wish to hold some say over our lives. Those in the sun would never have that. They would never stand to allow one of the shadows into the light, so that they might enjoy what has been missing from their lives for so long, or forever. For them that would be equality, something you cannot have in an absolute monarchy…."

"Why would those in the sun be so cruel?" Kovu, the young cub asked.

"Because my son," Zira, his mother replied. "We were once the ones in the sun. We held the power and the riches of the Pride Lands. We shared with all. Even those ultimately not worth sharing with… those forsaken hyenas… But we were fair. We were just. We gave to all… But that wasn't enough for those who were used to having the ultimate power and wealth all to themselves. So they betrayed us. They betrayed Scar. They forced us from our homelands and into these deserted termite mounds. For they fear us my son. They fear what King Scar had built. An empire that would have lasted for generations. More powerful than the Great Kings themselves. But mere Great Kings cannot comprehend an empire. And thus they destroyed what they could not comprehend…"

"But I will retake the Pride Lands?" Kovu asked. "I will continue King Scar's legacy and give to all instead of the few?"

"Yes my son. One day when you're big and strong, you will be King of the Pride Lands," Zira said sweetly. "But it will not come without great cost and sacrifice. There will be war, possibly for many years. But don't worry. That is still very far away. You will have plenty of time to prepare yourself…"

Simba had just come back from patrol. He needed to patrol more frequently now, after the other day. Seeing Zira again, so close to the Pride Lands. He could not let up on keeping his family safe. The lionesses were still out hunting. His daughter Kiara was off playing with her babysitters: Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu. The Pride Rock den should have been empty. But it was not. From the darkness the cries of a lioness could be heard. It was Nala…

"Nala?" Simba asked his mate. "What is wrong…?"

"She took him!" Nala cried. "She took him again…"

Simba nuzzled his mate. "I know, I'm sorry my dear. Seeing Zira again greatly upset me too…"

"No," Nala sobbed. "Not that… I… I lost them…"

"Kopa has been gone quite a while now," Simba told his grieving mate. "But we promised ourselves to be strong for Kiara… So she would have a happy childhood…"

"I was pregnant Simba," Nala cried. "But seeing her… The memories all came flooding back to me. Seeing his tiny body, bloody, and broken… I… I lost our cubs…"

"Oh Nala…" Simba embraced his mate. A tear fell from his eye. They had been trying for so long to get pregnant again… For it only to be taken away…

"I didn't want to tell you until I was farther along," Nala continued. "I don't know if I can do this anymore Simba…. I don't think I can bring you a son…"

"There, there Nala," Simba reassured his mate. "I don't need a son. We have Kiara. She is healthy and vibrant…"

"But what if she's not?!" Nala protested. "What if something happens? Like what nearly happened to you…?"

Simba took a deep breath. Scar had tried several times to kill him as a cub. Zira had successfully killed Kopa, Kiara's twin, just after his presentation ceremony. Undoubtedly she would try to kill his daughter again.

"I won't let that happen," Simba said firmly. "She will never leave our sight. My father was too trusting. I will not make that mistake again…"

"I miss her," Kovu told his sister. "She was… fun!"

"Ha!" Vitani huffed. "I bet she would be no good at fighting. And don't let Mom hear you saying that about Kiara. She's the daughter of the evil King Simba…"

"Ya, he was really scary," Kovu admitted. "How will I ever be able to kill him?"

"You won't do it alone," Zira said, having just walked over to her cubs. "I have another brilliant idea! Vitani will help you…"

"I will?!" Vitani exclaimed.

"Hay! What about me?" Nuka asked.

"Shut up!" Zira snapped at her eldest, but incompetent son Nuka. "Vitani will help you get Simba all alone Kovu… So it's just you two against him…"

"I'll set a trap and make sure he can't get out!" Vitani growled.

"Something like that…"

"Mom?" Kovu asked timidly. "Do we have to kill Kiara? She doesn't seem all that bad in comparison to Simba…"

"No my dear," Zira sneered. "I'll let you do whatever you want to her… Once you take over Pride Rock you'll surely deserve it…"

"Great!" Kovu exclaimed.

"Now get back to fighting!" Zira growled. "I want to see your perfected pounces by the end of the day!"

Zira walked over to her son Nuka.

"Make sure they're training and not chatting!" she snapped.

"Oh yes! Of course Mother!" Nuka replied.

Zira walked off with the rest of the lionesses to attempt to find food. Nuka brooded silently as his twin siblings fought.

"You've got to admit having someone else our age to train with would be fun…" Kovu continued now that his mother was gone.

"Ha! Got you again!" Vitani proclaimed her victory. "I don't need anyone else. Once we get bigger we'll spar with the whole pride! No one will be able to defeat us!"

"Ya, but I'll be stronger than you by then."

"Maybe," Vitani admitted. "But then we'll just pit more lionesses against you! The mighty Kovu will need to know how to fight multiple targets. Because after King Simba's death is when the real fighting will begin!"

"Shut up you termites!" Nuka growled. "Mom's going to come back her and beat your sorry asses if you don't train more and talk less!"

"Oh ya?" Kovu taunted his older brother. "What do you say Vitani? The two of us verses the mighty Nuka…"

"I'm not supposed to spar with ya!" Nuka groaned. "Mom doesn't want me to hurt you… though I could totally beat the crap out of both of you…"

"Ha! I think he's scared!" Vitani laughed.

"I'm not scared of you!" Nuka roared.

"Ya, he's scared of Mother," Kovu stated. "Come on Vitani. We better practice some more before she gets back. Last time she nearly didn't feed us because we didn't train enough…"

"Ture," Vitani groaned. "Nuka's not worth going hungry over…"

"Like she'd ever forget to feed you!" Nuka said sarcastically. "She feeds Kovu more than anyone else in the pride!"

"That's because he's going to need to be the strongest!" Vitani snapped. "Feeding you full rations would just be a waste…"

"Oh ya?" Nuka growled. "If I were the chosen one, I would be fit and strong enough to kill Simba now!"

The cubs laughed at their brother's proclamation.

"You can't even kill a rat half the time Nuka!" Kovu laughed.

"Ya, you'll never measure up to a grown male lion," Vitani added.

"Mother's back!" Kovu alerted his siblings.

Zira had in her mouth a large chunk of meat. Her lionesses had other large chunks of meat as well. This could only mean one thing…

"Not hyena again…" Nuka moaned.

"Here Kovu," Zira said, dropping her chunk of meat before her young son. "It's not hyena this time…"

Kovu looked suspiciously at the questionable meat. It had a strange smell to it.

"I saved you the best part…" Zira continued, pointing to the testicles of the animal, which were still intact.

Kovu examined the meat, the testicles still had the scrotum on them. Suddenly the young cub realized what the meat was and jumped away in shock…

"Don't be frightened my dear," Zira sneered. "He's dead. Chopped into little pieces… He can't hurt you…"

"That's… a lion…" Kovu gasped.

"Yes, a very stupid one at that…." Zira stated. "He tried to claim our pride for himself. As if we would ever submit to the will of another tyrannical King! Now Kovu. Eat…"

Kovu didn't want to eat, but he feared his mother's repercussions if he didn't. He ate the slimy, salty testicles first. He nearly gagged on them. The remainder of the meat didn't taste much better. But the hungry cub ate, knowing that tomorrow there might not be any food. When he had had his fill, Zira and the other Outsiders tore into their kill. This rogue was not the first lion Zira had killed, nor would it be the last. She saw male lions only as a means to an end for breeding, but nothing else. No male cub was allowed to live once born into her pride. Only her two sons: Nuka and Kovu could stay. This insured there would be no competition in Kovu's quest to become their future King. Rogues were used to get Zira's lionesses pregnant and then dispatched if they refused to leave. She needed an army, but one she could control. Any lion was a threat to that and to Kovu. All her pride silently went along with Zira's ideas. The few that had been caught hiding male cubs or hiding a lover had ended up dead as well. There was no room for love in the Outlands. Only fear and hate. Zira fueled it all, to keep everyone in check, so none would question her and all would obey…