AN: short chapter today. Will upload soon.
TMNTTLK lover – I'm afraid for her, too… But surely Kion would not turn against his own sister?
Willian – that is a very good question (perhaps material for another story?). Both sides seem to possess the power of the Roar, but since the Pridelanders together with the former Outsiders outnumber the Night Pride greatly, I would say that they would probably win. In this story, I don't think Kion has the support of his pride anymore. He may have to resolve to desperate measures.
Jzak98 – that could indeed mean that Kion really messed things up at the Tree of Life. Perhaps Bunga is traumatized? Too bad we can't know for sure.
Chapter 10 – The Brother and the Mate
Kion had never been able to fully trust Kovu. Although he would not admit it openly, still the sight of the dark Outsider, a spitting image of Scar, made him feel uneasy. That was the only thing that made him hesitate before leaving the Pridelands- that his kingdom would ultimately be left under the rule of this savage vagabond.
Now, once Kion had returned to his native land, Kovu was no longer acting as his ally. The situation has gotten serious, and Kion knew that he was right from the beginning. But Kovu had set out to an unknown location for some reason, leaving Pride Rock under the care of his sister. Things were not good generally speaking, but this was also an opportunity Kion would not let slip.
He found out through the help of those still faithful to him in the kingdom that his sister wasn't doing well. She was carrying Kovu's cubs in her belly, a fact which caused him a certain constant discomfort. Still, this could be utilized as a reason to get close to Kiara under her mate's absence. All he needed to do, was to employ some cunning.
He wouldn't dare stand before Vitani himself at this point, yet that was something his loyal friend from the Lion Guard, Imara, could help him with. And the lioness was more than eager to do so. Imara pleaded with her leader, explaining that it would be unjust not to let Kion see his sister in her state of weakness. Vitani was unshaken, however, explaining that her brother the king had specifically forbidden the Nightprider lion from getting anywhere near Pride Rock. It was then that her subordinate revealed to Vitani what Kion himself ordered Imara to announce to her- that he brought with him medicine from the Tree of Life, and that if he was not allowed to give it to Kiara, the consequences might be terrible. Vitani, stuck between a rock and a hard place, pressured by other females from Kiara's party, finally gave in.
As he ascended the rocky formation where he was born, carrying the rare plants which he had brought with him all the way from his distant new kingdom, Kion felt the eyes of Vitani and her Lion Guard observing his every move. Escorted by the lionesses, he stood before Kiara.
His sister looked feverish and weak, yet was conscious and able to recognize him. The sight of her brother soothed her greatly under Kovu's absence, and she revealed to him that she was experiencing pains in her stomach, and feared greatly for the life of her unborn children.
Nodding compassionately, Kion set the healing leaves before her, promising that the medicine would rid her of all her suffering. The young queen smiled with gratitude, remembering how often she once used to fight with him, and lowered her head to eat.
A sudden storm then shook the ancient lion abode, similar to a real hurricane. It began with a furious, booming roar, which caused everyone around to spring to their feet in the highest level of alert. The lionesses were ready to attack… but relented when they realized that the one they saw rushing in from hiding was actually their king.
But when Kion himself saw Kovu, he stiffened in complete bewilderment.
The dark lion, the fire of fury reflecting in his scarred eye, first ran up to his mate. He must have seen what had just happened, as with a swipe of his massive paw, Kovu scattered the leaves which Kion had brought for Kiara, preventing the lioness from eating them. The queen shrieked, unable to understand what was going on, as Kovu, panting in rage, looked at the trampled plants at his feet.
Then, he turned his eyes at Kion.
The Nightprider had been a fighter all his life. He had wrestled with Bashti as a child, and was nearly able to outrun Fuli, who was a cheetah. Now, as an adult, he was capable of pinning Imara, the strongest animal in the Pridelands, to the ground more than once. But Kion had never fought Kovu. Not for real, at least. He had relied on the power of the Roar, which Kovu had never possessed. Kion may have been a fighter…
… but Kovu was a killer.
In a heartbeat, the king charged at his opponent, hitting him with tremendous power. Taken by surprise, Kion swayed, and though he still tried to defend himself, Kovu swiftly overpowered him, first crushing him under his weight, and then immediately immobilizing his paws.
Kion looked into his brother-in-law's bloody eyes, realizing that he had made a huge mistake, and that his efforts had failed. Kovu, however, knew that he had caught a would-be murderer, stopping him moments before poisoning his own pregnant sister.
Kion felt Kovu's paws as they tightened around his neck. His claws began to pierce through the skin.
-I will squeeze the life out of you – snarled the emerald-eyed king.
The world began to whirl around him, and Kion had trouble seeing what was going on anymore. At first he noticed that the pride stood in shock for a while, but that mere seconds later, single voices of objection began to resound from different directions. After all, Kovu was about to slay Simba's son right in front of his pride.
-Stop at once! – a voice similar to Zazu's cried.
-No, what are you doing? – wailed a lioness.
Everything was starting to go dark. In a last glimpse, Kion saw his sister, unable to stand on her own, but stretching out her paw toward him and her furious mate, crying-
-No… please, stop… Kovu, what's gotten into you? He was only trying to help…
After that, there was nothing but silence and darkness.
A fresh wave of oxygen entered Kion's lungs as he felt himself released from under Kovu's burden. The sun blinded him, and he lay on the ground in confusion for a while. When he was finally able to think straight again, he heard the sound of fighting lions.
He opened his eyes, and saw Imara sinking her fangs into Kovu's flesh.
Such loyalty… - he thought, shocked.
Vitani, however, finally recognizing the traitor from among her guardians, did not stand there idly. Seeing her brother's blood soiling Pride Rock being the last thing she wanted, she ordered the other three lionesses to attack. The rest of the pride gasped in shock at what was going on, but some of them began to realize that they also were now forced to save their king, even if it meant turning against their own.
It was time to flee. He had been defeated. The only thing Kion could do now, was to attempt to save Imara.
Calling her name, he caught her attention, and ordered her to follow him. The lioness, though furious, had enough common sense left in her to know that she stood no chance against both Kovu and the other guardians. Jumping out of the range of the dark lion's claws, herself already wounded, Imara ran after Kion, disappearing behind the rocks.
-Go after them! – Kovu at once issued the command to her sister. Vitani nodded.
-Run! – she urged her remaining loyal guardians. – Find the traitors, and show them no mercy!
The Lion Guard began their hunt, leaving the king and queen alone in their stone abode. Kovu groaned, looking at the cuts and bruises inflicted by the powerful Imara. Then, overcoming his pain, he came up to Kiara, fearing greatly for his mate's health.
-How much of that did you eat? – he asked, pointing toward Kion's leaves which still lay scattered around the battlefield.
But Kiara did not answer his question.