A/N I'd like to thank LionFlower, Keep Calm and Join Team Loki, thingsareweird, and ThatTexasKid for reviewing ch 15. Here's ch 16 for ya and the usual disclaimer applies. Enjoy.
Ch 16 Reunion and Tragedy
Two months had past since Sarabi's death and things were not going well in the Pridelands. Ever since his mate's death Mufasa has spent every waking moment trying to find out who had killed her. This left him little time for anything else. This included running his son which made Simba become very sullen and reserved lately. But as bad as thing were going for Mufasa life was going very well for his brother. Not only was Scar getting to see his brother and nephew so unhappy but about a month ago Sarafina had given birth to their son, Mheetu. Mheetu was a light brown cub with his mother's blue eyes. But little did Scar know that life had other plans for him. Namely his oldest nephew. By now Kali was a year old and had an almost fully grown white mane in. He had been training every day with Jasiri and the hyenas. Kali and Jasiri had become very close during these last couple of months and Kali fell hard for the rusty brown lioness. On this particular day Kali was sitting with Jasiri when an idea came into his head. "'Siri?" Kali whispered.
"Yes Kali?" Jasiri whispered back laying her head on his shoulder.
"I love you," Kali said softly.
"I love you too Kal'," Jasiri said with a purr.
"You know," Kali said after a few minutes. "When I become King I'll need a good Queen by my side. And I think you'd be the perfect Queen for me 'Siri."
"Oh Kali," Jasiri gasped. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"If you think I'm asking you to be my mate then the answer is yes," Kali said with a grin. "So what do you say? Be my mate Jasiri. Make me the happiest and luckiest lion in the world."
"Oh Kali," Jasiri whispered tear forming in her chocolate brown eyes. "I would love to be your mate." With that Jasiri gave Kali a loving nuzzle which he gladly returned. After a few minutes Kali pulled away from his love. "Today's the day," he declared.
"So soon?" Jasiri gasped her eyes wide. "But Kali are you sure we're ready for that?"
"Definitely," Kali said his white eyes filled with determination. "Now's the perfect time to strike. Mufasa has been so distracted since Sarabi's death. It's the perfect time to take over. Trust me on this."
"If you say so Kali," Jasiri said. "I think I'm going to go hunt. I'm getting pretty hungry."
"I'll go," Kali offered. "It's been awhile since I've been and I could use the exercise."
"Sounds good to me," Jasiri said with a smile. With that Kali gave Jasiri a nuzzle and went to find something to eat not knowing that he would return with much more than food.
TLKTLKTLK
Kali was in the Grasslands looking for something he and Jasiri could share. Then he spotted a big gazelle. "Perfect," the silver lion thought crouching low to the ground. Then he pounced. Unfortunately for Kali another lioness pounced at the same time. Kali crashed right into the pink coated lioness causing them both to fall to the ground. This also allowed the gazelle to make its escape. "Damn it," Kali muttered. Then he turned towards the lioness his white eyes flashing with anger. "You idiot! You made me lose my kill."
"Me?!" the lioness roared her violet eyes fiery. "You're the idiot!" Just then a light brown lioness came running over. "Usafi!" she cried nuzzling the pink lioness. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Mom," Usafi said still glaring at Kali, who was staring at her with wide eyes. "What are you staring at?" Usafi hissed.
"Usafi?" Kali whispered. "I can't believe it!"
"Wait I think I remember you," Usafi said. Then it dawned on her. "Kali?" she said. Kali nodded and Usafi let out a cry of joy. "Oh Kali!," she cried nuzzling her long lost friend. "It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too 'Saf," Kali said. "And you too Tia."
"Same here Kali," Tia said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you're doing well."
"Like wise," Kali said. "I was worried about you too. Especially when Jasiri, Zira and Tojo came and said Cama had been killed."
"Wait Jasiri and her siblings are here?" Usafi said amazed.
"Yeah," Kali admitted. "Zira came when I did. Scar brought her here. Jasiri and Tojo came a couple of months ago. Zira and Tojo are living at Priderock but me and Jasiri are living in the Outlands."
"How come you're not living with Zira and Tojo?" Usafi asked.
"Long story," Kali said. "But here's the gist." Kali then told Usafi and Tia what he had learned and what had gone down in the last few months. Usafi just listened with wide violet eyes. When Kali was finished Usafi spoke, "I can't believe you would kill your own mother."
"Recko was my mother," Kali growled. "Sarabi was just the lioness the gave birth to me. As far as I'm concerned she got exactly what she deserved. And Mufasa will get what he deserves as well. And that's going to happen today. I've got a plan. And if you help me Usafi then I'll make sure you're well taken care of. Tia too."
"I'll support you Kali," Usafi said. "But I won't help you murder anyone. And quite frankly I think it's idiotic what you're about to do. It's bad enough you took Simba's mother away from him but now you want to take his father from him? Kali please stop this. Before it's too late."
"It's already too late I'm afraid," a voice said. The group turned and saw Scar approaching the group. "I sent Nala and Mheetu to spend the day with Zira and Tojo," Scar said. "And Sarafina and the others will be out hunting all day. I made sure of that. I also made it a point to tell Mufasa I wanted to spend the day with him today. Getting him to the gorge isn't going to be a problem."
"What about Simba?" Kali asked. "I don't want him anywhere near there when it goes down."
"Don't worry," Scar said with a smile. "Simba will be just where he's supposed to be." Then Scar thought, "In the gorge." But Scar didn't dare say that out loud because he knew Kali would be furious. Instead the brown lion said, "We'd better get going. I told Mufasa to meet me at the gorge when the sun is highest in the sky." With that Scar took his leave. Kali began to follow suit but Tia stopped the silver lion. "Kali please reconsider," the light brown lioness said. "Mufasa is your father after all. And he's been really nice to me and Usafi."
"Oh?" Kali said with a raised eyebrow. "How so?"
"My mom was approached by King Mufasa," Usafi said. "He's been trying to court her."
"Yes and although I found it strange at first since he just met me," Tia began. "He explained that he needed a mother for his son and I understood. Plus he said a lion has needs and.."
"And that's all the more reason he's an arrogant ass," Kali scoffed rolling his white eyes. "He obviously didn't care to much for his mate if he's already trying to replace her. Like that should surprise me. All the more reason he must be destroyed." With that Kali stormed off towards the gorge where he knew the hyenas would be waiting for him.
"He's making a huge mistake," Usafi said shaking her head sadly.
"I know," Tia said with a heavy sigh. "But what can we do about it." With that the mother and daughter walked off towards the Outlands where the knew Jasiri would be.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Kali had reached the point where the hyenas were supposed to be. But to his surprise they weren't there. "What the heck?" Kali thought. Then the silver lion heard a strange rumbling sound. "What is that?" he muttered. Then Kali went over to the side of the gorge and peered down. To his horror he saw Simba running for his life with a heard of wildebeest stampeding behind him. "No!" Kali shouted his eyes wide in horror. Simba wasn't supposed to be down there. Mufasa was. Mufasa was supposed to be down there and the hyenas were supposed to attack and kill him. Where the Hell did this stampeded come from? Then he turned and saw Scar running down the side of the gorge with Mufasa right there with him. "Scar," Kali thought with a growl. "This is all his doing. The bastard double crossed me. Damn him." Kali could only watch as Mufasa jumped into the gorge to save his son. Kali moved down to see better. Then suddenly he saw Mufasa leap form the gorge and try to climb the steep side right in front of him. "Perfect," Kali thought with a smile. He then made himself known. When Mufasa saw Kali his amber eyes went wide with shock. "Kali?" the golden King whispered.
"I'm surprised you remembered me Father," Kali said coldly. Kali walked over to the edge where Mufasa was struggling to hold on. "You know," Kali said casually. "I could easily let you fall or better yet give you that final push myself. But as much as I would love to do that I'm not going to."
"You're not?" Mufasa asked the surprise clear in his voice.
"No Father I'm not," Kali replied. "You see I just realized something in the last couple of minutes Father. Murder doesn't solve anything. It just makes things worse. Besides I don't think I could make Simba an orphan. I just can't do that to him. So I'm going to help you." With that Kali reached down and Mufasa grabbed his paw. But Mufasa's weight was to much for Kali and the silver lion was struggling to pull him up. Just then Scar appeared. "Scar help me!" Kali cried out. "I can't pull him up on my own."
"You pathetic fool," Scar snarled. With that Scar pushed Kali to the ground which caused him to release Mufasa. Mufasa let out an ear piercing scream as he fell to his death. "Nooo!" Kali cried as he watched his father fall.
"Oh why are you being so dramatic?" Scar said with annoyance. "This is what we wanted. Mufasa and Simba are dead now. I can take over as King and bring you home. Then when you're ready you can be King."
"What do you mean Simba is dead?" Kali snarled whipping around to face his uncle.
"I mean," Scar said. "That I had the hyenas kill the brat."
"I never wanted that!" Kali roared. "The last thing I wanted was for Simba to die! You knew that you son of a bitch!"
"Oh Kali really," Scar said rolling him emerald eyes. "It had to be done. I think deep down you know that. If Simba would have lived it would have ruined everything. It's better this way. Trust me."
"I don't see how this is better," Kali said shaking his head. "But there's little that can be done now. I'm going to tell Jasiri what happened then we'll head back to Priderock."
"Good," Scar said. "I'll go inform the rest of the Pride of this horrible news." With that Kali and Scar went their separate ways neither one of them realizing that the hyenas had failed and Simba was in fact alive.
A/N well there you have it folks ch 16 complete. Hope you all enjoyed and as always review please.
