Thanks to all those who reviewed the last few chapter, I really appreciate it. And here are the responses to the reviews for the past two chapters.
Doclover: Thanks for the review. As for the issues with the years, I personally don't like the idea of having my stories with them being adults at two years old just because i feel like that's way to short of a time to grow up. But I do understand your point though. Thanks again for your continued reviews and support.
TMNTTLK lover: It's been quite a while lol. Thanks for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
BlackLouie: I don't want to spoil anything for you. Just keep reading to find out :). Thanks for the reviews and your continued support.
Jestainaker94000: Thanks for the review! I also like the fact that their growing up together rather than with a big age difference between them. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
RogueRaven18: Thank you for both the reviews! Do you mean that you want more little stories and scenes between Simba, Nala and their cubs? If that is the case, I'd love to add a couple more. Just let me know in a review! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Guys, I know that I haven't done review replies in quite a while and that I miss out quite a few chapters. I'm sorry if I missed anyone's reviews. If there are any problems or questions, feel free to tell me in a PM or review.
Nuka shook with fright as Simba loomed over at him. He wasn't sure who this lion was until Kopa spoke out.
"Dad?!" Kopa exclaimed. "He-" Nuka realized that the lion was Kopa's father.
"Silence!" Simba snapped at him before turning his attention to Nuka.
"Who are you and where do you come from?" Simba asked his voice rough. He knew he was only a cub but he knew if there was a cub there were bound to be adults. And with the threat of Scar these days he had been extra cautious and wouldn't take any chances.
"I…I…came with my Dad and a few others from my Pride…" Nuka said, shaking with fright.
"Who's your father and your Pride? And why are you here?" Simba demanded.
" My Pride is a couple hours away from here. I...my dad always comes from our Pride and stays here for a day sometimes. I-I..I don't know why. But I came with him today." Nuka stammered.
Simba arched his eyebrow. Why would someone come all the way from their Pride to stay here in the Outlands?
"What's your father's name?" Simba asked. He had a good idea as to where this was leading too.
"Scar." Nuka replied, his ears still folded down with fright.
Simba felt a cold ball in his stomach. If Scar was Nuka's father then from what Nuka told him, Scar often came to the borders near the Pridelands.
"Why does your father always come here?" Simba asked. He needed to gain as much information as possible.
"I don't know." Nuka said. "He just comes here once in a while and I don't know why. But he let me come along for the first time today." Simba nodded, Scar was definitely planning something.
"Is anyone else with him when he comes?" Simba asked.
"Sometimes. Today, another one of his friends came." Nuka replied.
Simba gave Nuka a long look. This was Scar's cub playing with his son. There was no way that Simba would allow for this to continue.
"Does he know that you're here?" Simba asked. Nuka shook his head.
"Very well then." Simba said, his tone lighter. "Thank you for answering my questions but I do not tolerate anyone here unless they are part of the Pride. So you must leave."
Nodding, Nuka gave Kopa another glance before running off as fast as he could.
Simba turned to a nervous looking Kopa.
"Give me one good reason why you're here." Simba said narrowing his eyes at him. Never mind the issue about Nuka and Scar for now. Right now he had to deal with Kopa.
"I…I…" Kopa was too scared to speak.
"We can talk at home." Simba turned and left and Kopa trotted along hurriedly to keep up. When they neared the Waterhole the sun had set completely and the stars were beginning to come out. Simba stopped and faced Kopa.
"Alright." Simba said his voice angry."Talk to me. Why were you at the border?"
"I…I saw Nuka and we decided to play…" Kopa murmured, folding his ears down.
"Why were you at the border in the first place?" Simba asked, narrowing his eyes. "Thats what I'm most angry about."
"Kion wouldn't play with me so I went to find someone else to play with and I went past the boundaries because I couldn't find anyone else." Kopa said. "Then I went to the borders and I saw Nuka and I felt bad for him because he said he's never seen so much green before because he lived in the Outlands. And you and Mom are always telling me how lucky I am so I offered to show him around."
"Kopa…" Simba sucked his breath in. "You knew very well that you weren't allowed to go past the boundaries! This is exactly why. Rogues like Nuka can be very dangerous. I know he's just a cub but his family was just beyond the border. If they had seen you they could have hurt you!"
"But I didn't think-" Kopa tried talking but Simba cut him off.
"And none of this would have happened if you had just listened to what we told you and stayed within the borders!" Simba said raising his voice. "This is exactly why we set out these rules for you!"
Kopa felt tears unlocking in his eyes and he nodded with a sniff.
Simba's expression softened a bit. He knew it was only cub curiosity that had led Kopa into breaking the rules. But he couldn't help but think what would have happened if he hadn't got there in time. What is Scar had seen Kopa? He silently shuddered at that thought.
"Kopa, I'm angry at you because I was scared that something might have happened to you." Simba said his voice more gentle. "We set out these rules because we want you to be safe. If something happens to you, I don't know what your mother and I would do." Bending down, he pulled Kopa in closer and rubbed his cheek against him. Kopa returned his affection.
"Come on." Simba gently gave him a bump with his head. "Let's go home."
When they reached Priderock the rest of the males had returned already after being told that Kopa had been found by Zazu. Nala was waiting anxiously at the base of Priderock.
"Kopa!" Nala pulled him in closer, nuzzling and licking him checking to make sure he hadn't been hurt. Kopa silently enjoyed Nala's affection after all day and let her cover him in licks and nuzzles.
"What were you doing by the border?" Nala asked, still holding onto him.
"I was bored…and I found an Outlander cub to play with…" Kopa said sheepishly. Nala's eyes went wide and Simba gave her a little nudge, telling her was okay.
"You are not to do that again?" Nala said firmly. "Understand?" Kopa nodded.
"Good." Simba gave him another warm nuzzle along with Nala.
"Now go up to the den. Kion and Kiara are waiting for you." Nala said. "Dad and I will be there shortly." Kopa nodded and bounded up the steps to Priderock.
"What happened?" Nala asked turning to her mate. Simba explained the whole thing and Nala's eyes went wide.
"Thank the spirits above that you got there in time." Nala said."If Scar had seen them…" Her voice trailed off unable to finish the sentence.
"I know." Simba's voice was gentle. "But he's okay. And that's all that really matters to me right now." Nala nuzzled him and Simba held her in closer gently licking her cheek before the two of them went inside the den to join their cubs.
Back in the den, Kion was trying to get Kopa to tell him what had happened.
"Come on Kopa!" Kion exclaimed jumping on him. "Why can't you tell me?!"
"Because I don't want to." Kopa said rolling out from under him.
"Tell me Kopa!" Kiara giggled latching onto her oldest brother.
"Let go Kiara!" Kopa laughed gently shaking himself free of her. Kiara huffed and sat back down.
"Why can't…" Kion began to ask but then went silent as he heard Simba and Nala coming back into the den.
"I thought Kiara was asleep." Nala said smiling at her. Kiara only gave her mother a wide grin before Nala picked her up and settled down.
"Come on." Simba nudged Kion and Kopa towards Nala. "Time to sleep." Nala pulled both of them in closer to her and the twins buried themselves into Nala's fur.
"Not tired." Kiara squeaked squeezing herself out Nala's paws and climbed onto Simba's head.
Simba grinned and used his paw to pull Kiara back down. "Aren't you tired?" He tickled Kiara's belly with his nose and the cub laughed.
"Come on Kiara." Simba said. "Daddy's tired." He put Kiara at the side of his face and wrapped her in his paw so she wouldn't be able to escape. A small yawn escaped Kiara's mouth and she settled down. Nala rested her head on the other side of Simba's shoulder with the twins between them. Within minutes, the royal family was asleep.
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Meanwhile, Nuka was trailing after Scar on their long walk home. Scar had sent the other lionesses ahead of him and now it was just him and Nuka.
"Dad?" Nuka asked nervously.
"What is it?" Scar asked not stopping.
"Um…have you seen the Pridelands before?" Nuka asked. He didn't know whether he should tell Scar about the incident with Simba and Kopa.
"Why?" Scar's voice was gruff as he trudged along not seeming tired at all.
"I…well I…I went…" Nuka felt a cold ball in his stomach as Scar stopped and turned around narrowing his eyes at him.
"Did you go into the Pridelands?" Scar hissed clenching his teeth. "After I specifically told you not to?"
"I…" Nuka was trembling.
"Answer me!" Scar roared."Did you go?"
Nuka only meekly nodded.
"What were you doing there?" Scar growled doing all he could to refrain from striking Nuka.
"I met…I met Prince Kopa." Nuka whispered tears forming in his eyes. "And he showed me around the Pridelands."
Scar closed his eyes dreading the answer. "Did Simba see you?"
Nuka nodded and Scar felt red rage pouring down on him.
"You foolish cub!" Scar roared slamming his paw down on Nuka. "I very specifically told you not to go because SImba would see you!"
"He didn't see me until the end!" Nuka cried tears streaming down his eyes. "We didn't think he would show up."
"And thats the exact problem with you!" Scar snarled. "You're weak and you don't think! What did he say?"
"He asked me questions." Nuka mumbled.
"Like what?"
"He asked me where I was from, who you were, and why we come here…" Nuka replied shaking with fright.
"And you answered them didn't you…" Scar said his voice ice cold.
"Dad I was scared!" Nuka cried. "He wouldn't let me go until I answered! I thought he would hurt me if I didn't answer them! I-" That was all Nuka managed to get out before Scar's paw slammed down on him sending him flying.
Moaning Nuka got up, feeling blood trickle down his cheek from where Scar had struck him.
"Keep up." Scar growled dangerously and began walking away at a brisk pace. Sobbing quietly to himself, Nuka hurried behind him.
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The next morning, Kopa got up with his siblings as their mother led them down to the to the Waterhole for a drink. Looking around, he remembered how Nuka had told him how barren the Outlands were and how they barely had anything to eat or drink.
Kopa stared at the sparkling blue Waterhole. They had more than enough to share. Why couldn't they?
"Kopa are you coming?" Nala called. Kopa turned around to see that Kion and Kiara had already run ahead while Nala was patiently waiting for him.
"Yeah." Kopa said trotting back to Priderock.
"Is Dad busy Mom?" Kopa asked as Nala slowed down so he could keep up.
"No he isn't." Nala nuzzled him. "Maybe you should take this opportunity to play with him today. He's probably waiting for you three back at Priderock now."
"Alright." Kopa said. He felt another pang going through his heart as he remembered how Nuka had said that his own father didn't like him.
His thought were interrupted as Nala picked him up. She quickened her pace to keep Kion and Kiara in her view. Kopa jumped down when they reached Priderock and ran to the resting place with Nala following him to find Kion, Kiara and Vijay with Akila and Simba. He bounded towards them.
"I hope you two are taking the cubs for the day." Nala said approaching them with a smile at Akila and Simba.
"Just me." Akila grinned. "I'm taking Vijay to the pond if these three want to come." He looked at his nephews and nieces.
"Yeah I wanna go." Kion said.
"Me too." Kopa nodded.
"Kiara?" Simba asked. "Are you going with Uncle Akila?" But Kiara was already trotting off to where Jasiri was playing with Danyssa. Nala nuzzled the cubs and followed Kiara.
"Let's go!" Vijay said. He pounced on Kion tackling him down before he ran off. Kion growled playfully and chased after Vijay and Kopa ran after them.
"Have fun." Simba smirked at Akila who grinned at him before Simba went to join Nala and Kiara.
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A while later at the pond, Kopa was tired and hot from playing.
"Come into the water Kopa!" Vijay and Kion dragged him in and Kopa splashed around for a bit.
"It feel's so good." Kion grinned laying on his back. Vijay jumped on him and both of them splashed around in the water.
"How come it doesn't rain that much in the Outlands?" Kopa asked suddenly.
Akila looked a bit surprised at his question. "It does rain. But the Outlands are mostly just a barren desert so no plants can grow from the rain."
"And that's why theres no animals?" Vijay asked sitting up. "Because there's no plants for animals to eat."
Akila nodded. "It's not easy living in the Outlands."
"So how about the ones that do live in the Outlands?" Kopa asked. "What about them?"
"They can live there Kopa." Akila said. "it's just very hard." Kopa nodded going quiet while Kion and Vijay continued to send waves of water at each other.
"Kopa." Akila picked him up and placed him back on the grass beside him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong Uncle." Kopa said. Akila arched his eyebrow at him and Kopa gave him grin.
"Alright then…" Akila said mischeviously. "If you're not gonna tell me looks like I'll have to force it out of you." Without a warning, he grabbed Kopa and began tickling him and Kopa laughed.
"Uncle!" Kopa gasped out laughing. "Let go!"
Akila smiled."Alright. What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong." Kopa repeated with a grin.
"Akila?" Kopa and Akila turned to the left to see Malaika walking towards them.
"Hi Auntie." Kopa nuzzled Malaika and she gave the side of his head a lick.
"Nala told me that you would be here." Malaika said settling down.
Vijay bounded out of the water. "Hey Mom!" He rubbed his cheek against Malaika's and Malaika returned her son's affection.
"Kopa here won't tell me his little secret that he's been holding in." Akila grinned rubbing the top of Kopa's head, purposely messing up Kopa's brown tuft of hair.
"Uncle!" Kopa cried trying to smooth it back down. Malaika chuckled and licked the top of his head smoothing Kopa's mane hair back down.
"I have to get back to Priderock soon." Malaika said getting up. "There's a hunt."
"Can I come back with you Auntie?" Kopa asked and Malaika nodded and they began heading back to Priderock.
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Later that night, Kopa was playing at the Pride's resting place with Jasiri before she had gone into the den. Seeing that there were still plenty of adults around, Kopa gazed over the Pridelands from his perch on a rock.
"Kopa?" Kopa turned to see Simba heading towards him.
"Hi Dad." Kopa nuzzled Simba and he returned his affection.
"Uncle Akila told me that something was bothering you today." Simba said."What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Kopa insisted. He didn't feel like telling his father about what he thought about Nuka.
"Kopa…" Simba looked at him. "You know you can tell me. I won't get mad."
Kopa looked up at his father's loving eyes. He knew he could tell Simba anything and that he would understand. Kopa loved his father. He was one of the most important lions in his life. He remembered how Nuka had said that his own father hated him. That wasn't fair at all.
"Dad how come Outlanders can't come into the Pridelands?" Kopa asked. Simba looked a bit surprise at his question.
"Because the Pridelands can't support everyone Kopa." Simba said gently. "The one way that the Pridelands can continue to provide for us is if we know how much we can take."
"But that's not fair for those who live in the Outlands." Kopa frowned.
"I know." Simba said with a small sigh. "But when you grow up you'll learn that you can't help everyone. As King my job is to take care of our Pride and our Pridelands. I can't help everyone out there. Yes we do take in rogues sometimes. But if we took every single rogue into the Pridelands, we would run out of food and water."
"But why can't we take Nuka into the Pridelands?" Kopa burst out. "He's all alone in the Outlands. He said his family doesn't even care about him! That's not fair!"
Simba looked at him for a minute before he spoke.
"Kopa, I know that Nuka is your friend. But you haven't known him for long so you don't know if he's telling you the truth or not. And I don't want you playing with him ever again. Besides, like I said we can't help everyone Kopa. I know it doesn't seem fair but that's how it is. That's why your mother and I always tell you how lucky you are to have been born here. There are others who aren't as lucky as you" Simba said.
Kopa looked a bit upset with the answer he had received and Simba pulled him in closer.
"You'll understand someday. Especially when you and Kion are the Kings of the Pridelands. I'll teach you both. I promise." Simba said, pulling Kopa in closer to him. He licked the top of Kopa's head before both of them headed into the den.
A few days later, Simba was bringing Kiara back to Priderock when Akila approached the two of them.
"Uncle Akila!" Kiara squealed and clung onto his paw. Smiling, Akila bent down and licked her forehead before turning back to Simba.
"There's been something I've been meaning to tell you." Akila said. "After you told me what happened with Scar, Nuka and Kopa, I got Zazu to send some of his flyers into the Outlands."
"Without telling me?" Simba asked, raising his eyebrow suspiciously at Akila.
"Yeah." Akila nodded. "And I got them to contact some other Prides and ask them if Scar patrolled their borders as well. All of them hadn't seen him anywhere. So that means he only does it to us."
"Akila…" Simba said a bit angry. "You can't just send messengers into other Pride's without telling me."
"I have just as much of a right as you do Simba. Besides, you aren't really doing anything either. Scar might have seen Kopa that day by the border and all your saying is that we'll be prepared for a fight?"
"I know what I'm doing Akila!" Simba snapped. "What to do with Scar is my concern not yours! You had no right to go send flyers without telling me!"
"Yes I do!" Akila said raising his voice. "I do just as much as you do but I don't get the credit for anything do I? I'm the one who stepped up for you when you ran away with Nala and I helped prepare the Pride for war. You came back and I let you take the title of the King again! I did that all for you so I have every single right to send those flyers!"
Kiara mewed, scared of the tension between her father and uncle but both of them didn't notice her.
"Look-" Simba growled but Akila cut off.
"Scar isn't getting ready for a war Simba. He's doing something else and I can just feel it. If he had been preparing for war, he would be with his Pride the whole time getting ready with them. If they were really out for war, they would have attacked by now or done something to provoke another war." Akila warned. "And you can deny it but I can tell you also know that there's something bigger going on." He saw something flash in Simba's eyes and he knew that he was right.
"Alright then." Simba snapped. "What do you want me to do?"
Kiara squeaked and batted at her father's paws but Simba only bent down and gave her a quick nuzzle before turning his attention back to Akila.
"Send a messenger into Scar's Pride. Demand him to tell us what he's doing." Akila said.
"Your out of your mind!" Simba snapped. "That would be encouraging a war between us!"
"And you literally just said that we're going to be prepared for a fight!" Akila exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter!" Simba nearly shouted."I'm not going to encourage a fight between the two of our Pride's!"
"There's bound to be a fight anyways!" Akila growled. "Get your head out of the clouds and start doing your job! Your the King! Do your job!"
"I know what I'm doing Akila!" Simba shouted. "Don't tell me what to do!"
Avila growled at Simba and was about to shout back when Mufasa and Sarabi hurried up to them.
"What in the name of the spirits above is going on between you two?" Sarabi asked looking between her two sons. She noticed Kiara clinging onto Simba's paw and she shook her head.
"Both of you should know better than to fight in front of the cubs!" Sarabi scolded and pulled Kiara in close to her and she gently ran her tongue along her back comforting the little cub.
"What happened? I could hear Simba shouting from the bottom of Priderock."Mufasa asked.
"It doesn't really matter what happened." Simba said. "Just tell Akila that I know what I'm doing as King! He thinks it his job to take care of things that I tell him not to do!" He shot his brother another glare before storming off.
"Akila," Mufasa turned to his youngest son. "What happened?"
"I sent messengers into the Outlands to ask some other Pride's if Scar ever patrolled their borders. They said no and that means that he only does it to us." Akila replied.
"Did you tell Simba that you were going to do it?" Sarabi asked and Akila shook his head.
"Akila that's not your job or place to be doing something like that. Yes you are second in command to Simba but everything you do Simba must know first. I taught you two to work along side each other not against each other." Mufasa said his voice a bit stern.
"Dad, Simba's not doing anything about the matter. He's just waiting until Scar attack but I don't think that's what Scar wants to do. If he did want to wage war, he would have done so by now. He's doing something bigger than that and I just know it." Akila protested.
"No Akila." Mufasa said. "You don't have a right to make that call, that's Simba's job especially with a matter as serious as this."
"He's not doing anything!" Akila shouted.
"Simba isn't looking for a fight." Mufasa said. "And I would be doing the same thing if I were him. You don't have a right to go behind his back. Simba's made the right decisions in the past and I trust that he will with this as well."
Akila felt himself getting angrier by the minute. Simba always got the credit no matter how much Akila did!
"…you step down and let Simba take the credit." Hasira's words from a year or two ago echoed in Akila's head and he felt a rush of jealous flow through him. Hasira was right!
"Simba? I wonder who got the entire Pride ready for war when Simba wasn't around! Or the one who helped you get the Pride back together after the war when Simba was depressed! Simba ran away from the Pridelands when we needed him the most and I was the one there for the Pride! But you don't remember any of that, do you?!" Akila snapped.
"Akila, that's not what I meant-" Mufasa began but Akila just turned around and stormed away.
There was more but I didn't want to spoil to much so I just left it here. I'll try updating as soon as I can which shouldn't be too hard because I haven't started school yet. I also know that this story is going a bit slow and the plot is taking forever to unveil, but I do have my motives for that and I don't want to rush the story line. Anyways, looks like Akila is getting a bit jealous when he's starting to realize that he really doesn't get credit for anything and Simba does seem to act like he has everything in control. What happens next? Stay updated to find out. Please read and review, it helps me stay motivated to keep writing for you guys.