AN:
T3ddyBearL0ve – hahaha. That's the whole point! It's supposed to be ambiguous! What do you think? ;)
Jzak98 – so it would seem, so it would seem… I mean, pretending that poison is leaves from the Tree of Life would be pretty darn bad, right?
Chapter 11 – Venom
Once again, Elkanah the snake stood before the lion under the guise of night. His black irises reflected the stars above, yet the scarred eye of the evil feline had within it a glow which caused even the cold heart of the serpent to shiver.
-Ssso the deed is done? – asked the snake, forcing his voice to sound natural.
His interlocutor groaned, as if he wasn't fully satisfied yet. His crime was a terrible one, yet it was evident that even that was not enough.
-Not completely – responded the lion. – The children are no more, but their mother has survived. She rests now, but Kovu will lure her out, eventually. Do you understand what you must do when that happens?
Elkanah tasted the air.
-Yesss – he responded, baffled by his dark employer's persistence. The poison must have indeed affected him greatly.
-Very good – said the lion, proving his speculations. - The kingdom must be cleansed, and it won't be long now. I will have my revenge.
The serpent bowed his head before the rightful king, and departed to hide himself somewhere in the Pridelands, waiting patiently to execute his sinister task.
The brother and the sister stood in embarrassment before their stepfather. Kovu and Vitani knew that they have utterly failed. Now, they suffered the consequences of their own folly, and the cause of that was merely the fact that, due to old prejudices, they would not heed Scar's words.
Still, the spirit did not look at them with anger. As the fire within the volcano burned warmly, similar to a household bonfire, welcoming and gentle, the old lion engulfed in the flames looked down on his children with compassion.
He spoke to the sorrowful Kovu first, the sound of his voice soothing, filled with pain.
-I am sorry for your loss. The death of your cubs is a terrible tragedy.
Streams of tears ran down the mighty king's cheeks, and he was unable to respond. His sister looked at him with sorrow which no one had seen Vitani show before, blaming herself for ever letting Kion come near Kiara. Scar gave them both a moment of time, and then he spoke again, more seriously.
-Yet you must understand that you've also prevented an even greater catastrophe from happening, Kovu.
This time, the lion lifted his eyes at the spirit with an expression of reproach, grinding his teeth.
-What are you talking about?! – he growled in limitless anguish. – My cubs are dead! If it weren't for me, they'd still be alive! There can be no greater catastrophe!
Scar waited for the sound of Kovu's voice to die down within the crater. Then, he said-
-You have saved your mate's life. If you hadn't stopped Kion, your entire family would be lost.
-I still can't believe that bastard would do such a thing… - Vitani whispered on the side, fixing her sad eyes at the ground.
-What you must also be aware of – continued the spirit – is that Kion is not the same as he once was. Not since the venom had entered his veins. It was exactly like that with me. The poison enkindled my anger, and anger caused me to become hungry for revenge. This hunger led me to turn on my own brother, to attempt to snuff out Simba's life when he was still merely a cub. Trust me, I know… The fire of revenge burns hotter than the flames of this volcano. It is hell itself, an unrelenting power.
Kovu looked confused. Wiping away his tears, he took a step closer. Though his voice was filled with pain and his thoughts were dark, he at least wished to understand. To find some answer for the corruption of someone he thought he had known so well.
-Revenge…? – repeated the lion. – But… for what? Kion lived a happy life in the Pridelands. He was never exiled from here. He left on his own accord!
Scar's eyes were still filled with compassion. It was truly intriguing to see his stepson, a killing machine, with a heart so innocent.
-My dear boy, that may be true. But again, my own life began in an almost identical way. Yet, poisoned by hate, I slowly started to understand one thing- that I would never be king. Kion had squandered his throne at the Tree of Life. Now he comes here, breathing out fury against all those who stand in his way to rule the Pridelands. This is why he poisoned his mother, and tried to do the same to his sister. Who knows what he did to Simba… He will not stop until all of you are dead, especially you and Kiara. In his corrupt mind, you occupy Pride Rock, his patrimony, as nothing more than usurpers.
After hearing what Scar had to say, Kovu shared a look with his sister. At this point, they knew that their stepfather was saying the truth, no matter how hard that was to accept. They had almost lost everything because of a lack of trust for a reformed old murderer… They would not risk doing so again.
-What should we do? – Kovu asked, raising his eyes toward the fiery specter.
Scar first addressed Vitani.
-Search for the traitor and his illegitimate mate along with the guardians who are still faithful to you. They are dangerous, and since they know they're outnumbered, they may attempt to lure others to their side. I will also send out my own spies. As soon as they find any trace of Kion, you shall be informed without delay.
-Affirmative – the leader of the Lion Guard responded with gratitude. – Thank you.
Vitani was relieved for not having been chastised for letting Kion come to Pride Rock. Kovu knew she still continued to blame herself for that. That was why he turned to her and said-
-I'll help you with the search. We'll find him before more harm is done, don't worry.
Scar, however, contradicted him.
-No.
-Why not? – Kovu asked, perplexed, facing the specter. – We need to find Kion as soon as possible!
Answering him, the ghost assumed a tone which did not seem like Scar at all. It was gentle and silent, bearing within it the note of some old sorrow. It was like a glimpse into a portion of the fallen lion's soul which had been hidden away ages ago.
-That is indeed true, Kovu. Yet I think that you yourself have a different priority now. Kiara is suffering, perhaps even more deeply than you. I… I have seen your mother miscarry her last litter. It was years ago, when the Pridelands suffered from a terrible drought. Your mate is hurt beyond words, desperate and confused. You must now be by her side. Explain to her why things are the way they are… and that not all is lost, yet.
Not a sound stirred the air after Scar's confession. The siblings stood in shock among the fumes of the crater. They were aware of their mother's relationship with the Pridelands' former king, but always thought of it as more of an obsession. Could it be true that the corrupt lion actually had some good left in him? The good which made Zira love him? And that now, after his death, this good motivated him to turn from his old ways, and atone for his past sins?
Barely able to comprehend what had just been said, Vitani looked at her stepfather in a different way than ever before.
-That last litter our mother lost… - she began, her voice shaking - … were those… your cubs?
Scar closed his fiery eyes.
-Yes.
Neither of them had ever heard of this. It appeared that a tragedy this terrible had caused even Zira to put it out of her mind because of an excess of pain. Nuka may have known, but he never told anyone. Perhaps their mother forbade him from doing that.
Kovu now understood that Scar was right. Kiara needed him more than ever before.
-Thank you – he said with absolute sincerity. – I… would have never…
-Shhh! - Scar hushed him like a little cub, noticing how hard it was for Kovu to speak. – Go, my children. I will watch over you. And your mother will, as well.
The specter vanished in a cloud of smoke, and Vitani and Kovu were left alone. They walked back to Pride Rock supporting one another, nearly reduced to tears. More than a day had passed since the tragedy, but the lions' abode still remained dead silent. The mourning lionesses sat idly, their faces long, their expressions bitter. Only Vitani's three remaining companions, Shabaha, Tazama and Kasi, came out to meet their leader and her brother, the king, consoling the siblings as best they could. They promised them that Kion and Imara's treason would not go unpunished.
Kovu, however, wished only to see the queen. Bidding farewell to his sister, who set out into the savanna in pursuit of the murderer, he walked over to the den with a heavy load burdening his heart.
The faithful old hornbill Zazu sat near the entrance as a sentinel, his feathers puffed up aggressively, and did not honor his king with a word of greeting. Kovu knew that the majordomo did not believe in his explanation, but that didn't matter right now.
-How's Kiara? – the lion asked. Zazu sent him a brief gaze, and quickly looked away.
-See for yourself – he jabbed back, burying his head in between his wings.
Walking past him, Kovu entered the den. At once, a faint, sickening scent of blood entered his nostrils- a terrible reminder of the tragedy that had taken place there. In the corner, curled up and motionless, lay the one to whom the blood had belonged. The childless mother.
-Kiara – he whispered, the immense pain he felt causing his voice to sound faint and shaky. His beloved queen did not answer, yet from the movement of her rib-cage he could see that she was conscious.
-Kiara – Kovu repeated her name louder, taking a step her way. It was then that she noticed him.
A scream of fright filled the cave as the lioness, terrified, attempted to move away, scratching the stone floor desperately with her claws. When Kiara raised her frantic eyes at her mate, he now appeared to her not as the tender, magnanimous lion she'd once known, but as some shady stranger, bathed in darkness, his face twisted and disfigured by scars and the stain of evil.
-No, get away! Don't come any closer! – she pleaded, beginning to cry.
Though heartbroken, Kovu realized that there was nothing he could do for now. Kiara was in shock, her suffering had fogged her mind completely. The burden of seeing him almost kill her brother, as well as that of losing her cubs, was simply too much for her.
Hanging his head, the king left his queen in peace, praying that she would recover with time. He vowed to her that he would never leave her, however. He dismissed Zazu at the entrance to the den, and taking the hornbill's spot, he began his watch. Kovu wished that the shaman Rafiki was there to help his mate heal. Now, she had only him.
In the following days, the Lion Guard continued to look for Kion without success, while Kiara slowly recovered. After some time, she was able to take food which Kovu was bringing her, and eventually the couple began to speak to one another again. When Kiara finally remembered what had happened, and Kovu estimated that she was ready, he revealed to his mate the truth about Kion's betrayal.
As he predicted, the lioness did not believe him. The idea that her brother, the one-time leader of the Lion Guard, on whom she could always completely rely, would turn against his own family, was for her not just impossible but also abhorrent. When Kovu suggested to her that Kion may have been the one responsible for Simba's disappearance as well as for the death of Nala and her miscarriage, Kiara protested vehemently.
Kovu had never seen his mate so mad with him. It appeared that her anger now overcame even her internal suffering. The queen stood before him, demanding evidence for such a serious accusation against her brother. The mighty king felt powerless. Although he knew he was right, there was no way he could reveal the whole truth to Kiara. Begging her, he asked his queen to trust him, and that he knew what he was doing. His mate's look made his blood curdle. It was as if he had never changed- as if he had still been merely some vicious Outsider.
Kiara had been a defiant child, and even now she refused to submit to her king. Kovu didn't see trust in her eyes anymore. Kiara demanded evidence, but he was at a loss for words. He once thought of himself as the stronger one among them, but he now knew he was wrong. They fought for a long time, filling Pride Rock with their roars, frightening the pride. Finally, Kiara relented, returning to the den after losing all her energy, emaciated and pale. Kovu had never felt this bad in his life.
To escape from his dreadful thoughts, he made his way to the hunting grounds, spending hours trying to catch a meal for his mate, completely distracted. Finally obtaining a meager kill, he was ready to set out on his way back home. But then, he saw a silhouette on the horizon.
He felt Kiara's scent, and became concerned. When the queen stood before him again, she looked rested, yet Kovu still asked her about how she felt with concern.
-I'm okay – the lioness whispered faintly. – I wanted to… apologize. Is that for me?
Kovu looked at the dead antelope at his feet.
-Yes. Let's go over there, by the rocks. We can lie in the shade.
It did not appear that Kiara was mad with him anymore, which was a great relief to the king. Settling down with their prey, the couple began talking calmly now, both of them embarrassed because of how things have become.
-I'm sorry – Kiara began, the sad expression of her eyes still piercing her mate's heart to its core. – We shouldn't fight like this. It's just that… I really need to know the truth, Kovu. There've been so many unanswered questions… but I feel that you know something. Please, tell me. I can take it, no matter what it is.
It seemed like she began to trust him again, or at least wanted to. Kovu knew he could not mess this up.
-No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been keeping any secrets from you. But when you were pregnant, I became afraid. I didn't want to disturb you… None of that matters anymore.
Their eyes met, sharing an expression of pain. The two lions understood that only they could console one another now, and that the future of their family, and their kingdom, depended on it. Kiara put her head on Kovu's shoulder, and he surrounded her with his paw. The pair let out a sigh, ignoring the food which lay by their side.
-You're right, I know what's really going on in the kingdom – the lion spoke, attempting to dress these crushing words in a tone of gentleness and compassion as much as it was possible. – The truth is that Kion had fallen in the same way that Scar once had. It was the bite of the snake which left the scar on his face. Kion traveled to the Tree of Life to get healed, but all of the poison was never removed from his blood. He became corrupt. He attacked animals at the Tree of Life, including members of his own pride. They exiled Kion, and that made him hungry for even more power. He wants to claim his father's throne here in the Pridelands. This is why he became a murderer… and why he even tried to kill you.
He could see he was hurting her. That every one of his words wounded Kiara more and more. Finally, she had her teary eyes fixed at him, demanding the one thing he was still too afraid to tell her.
-But… how do you know this is true? – Kiara's voice trembled. – What evidence do you have against Kion?
Kovu took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He couldn't keep this secret from his own mate anymore.
-From Scar – he began. – No one knows how that corruption destroys one's heart better than him. I woke his spirit at the volcano in the Outlands. Scar saw everything that Kion had done… and he showed all of it to me. Everything Scar had told me, everything he had warned me against, all of that came true. We must stop your brother. There is no other way.
The lion remained silent for a few more second, awaiting Kiara's reaction. At first she said nothing, and the only thing Kovu felt was that she took her paw off his. Curious why she would do that, he opened his eyes…
… and saw that his mate was completely terrified.
Cautiously and with hesitation, Kiara looked at Kovu, examining his dark fur, his green eyes, and the scar which disfigured his face as if she saw them for the first time in her life. In her eyes, and to her greatest shock, it was not her mate who was standing before her anymore. It was Scar's heir, once again allied with his murderous ancestor.
Kiara began to realize that it was not Kion who was the real traitor. It was Kovu.
The lioness started to slowly back off, shaking her head, tears streaming from her eyes. Kovu rose, attempting to touch her, but she turned from him in horror.
-How could you do this…? – she sobbed, devastated.
The king felt as if the tension would kill him. He had been gravely misunderstood.
-Kiara, it's not what you think! – he began chaotically. – Scar, he… he's trying to help us! The Old Kings have sent him to warn the kingdom, he… he's saying the truth!
But the lioness would not listen.
-No, no… - she repeated, retreating until her back was pressed against the rocks. Kovu wished he could hold her in his arms and explain everything to her. It was okay. She just didn't understand.
-Kiara, listen. Please, you've got to trust me. All I want is…
Distracted, he became careless, failing to notice the enemy hidden among the rocks. The cobra sprung forth with a loud hiss, driving its fearful fangs straight into the queen's side.
Kiara shrieked, roared in pain, and kicked with her hind legs in an attempt to throw off the wicked serpent. Yet her strength was leaving her fast, and she began to swoon.
The king, overwhelmed with terror, bared his fangs and grabbed the snake by its tail. And although he was able to get the reptile off his mate's body, clenching his teeth tightly in limitless rage, he bit the end section of the cobra's tail clean off. The snake fell to the ground, hissed back at the lion couple with contempt, and vanished in the bushes as fast as he had appeared.
Kovu redirected his eyes at Kiara. His mate lay on the ground, motionless.
-NO! – he roared, taking her on his shoulders, the last remnants of reason ordering him to carry her back to Pride Rock as soon as possible.
But what would he do there? Rafiki was gone. The Tree of Life was much too far away.
As he ran to bring his beloved Kiara to safety, much as he had done years ago when he rescued her from the fire, Kovu could think only of one thing.
That he would not allow Kion to live for much longer.