Chapter four: The meeting

The sun had already touched the horizon and, as Simba watched it setting, he knew that the time had come to bring his pride out of these difficult times.

"You're going, aren't you?" Nala asked, as she approached him at the edge of Pride Rock. Simba looked at her and, saw that she had an anxious, worried look on her face; he nuzzled her gently and kissed her nose,

"I have to Nala. Otherwise everyone will starve and I'm sure," his voice suddenly became harsh, "that those tigers will soon launch an assault on us. I can't let that happen." He gave her a final nuzzle and made his way down Pride Rock.

"Simba! Hold on!"

The mighty king looked up in confusion and saw, to his amazement, that Kovu was hurtling down the rocky path to meet him. "Kovu..?" Simba mouthed, wondering what his son-in law could want. "What is it?" he asked.

"Simba, if you don't mind, I'm coming with you," declared Kovu.

"Sorry Kovu, but this is something I need to do by myself," replied Simba, though he knew that that is not what his heart would have wanted him to say. But Kovu would not turn back. "I'm sorry sir but, whether you like it or not, I'm coming with you," he said firmly; "Everyone knows how treacherous tigers are. Khan is probably planning to send you back to Pride Rock torn to shreds; that I cannot allow sir. My heart is telling me that if I don't go with you something terrible will happen and besides, we are the only two lions in these lands." Kovu gave his king a cheeky smile, "We should look out for each other." Simba looked at Kovu in both amazement and shock and then, he smiled at him and ruffled his mane playfully. "Spoken like a true prince and future king," he declared. Kovu beamed at him.

"Let's go."

The two lions climbed down the rocky steps and made their way towards the gorge. It was a long journey, which Simba had gone on once before with his Uncle Scar a long time ago, and each step brought back painful memories. Kovu seemed to understand what the mighty lion next to him was going through but he dared not speak. As they approached the gorge Simba turned to Kovu, "I want you to promise me something Kovu," he said.

Kovu looked at him, confused.

"What promise?" he asked.

"That no matter what happens in that gorge, even if those tigers attack me, I want you to get yourself out of there as fast as you can," Simba answered. "Do you understand me?" Kovu looked completely taken aback.

"But...But...Sir…I…,"" he appeared to be struggling for words. "Why?" He said finally.

"Because," Simba answered sternly. "You are the future of Pride Rock; the future of the Pride Lands. Kovu, you know that my time as King is slowly but surely coming to an end."

Kovu was starting to feel uncomfortable but he remained silent.

"You are the next king. You are far younger than I am. Your life is of far more importance than mine," said Simba. "Do you promise me?"

Yet before Kovu could answer there came a sound of thudding paws on the ground and there, before their very eyes, was Khan approaching them with a menacing smile on his face.

"Well I see you're on time," he snarled. Kovu looked to his right and saw that the sun had finally sunk beneath the plains and knew that the night was on its way. "I suppose that you are the famous Simba," Khan asked. Simba examined the tiger ambassador and nodded his head, "Yes I am. And I'm here to discuss the situation that I am sure you have noticed," replied Simba, trying to keep his voice as polite as possible; but Khan pointed down into the gorge, "We will talk in there," he said and leapt down into the gorge. Simba and Kovu exchanged looks and nodded and they leapt down after him.

As they approached the tiger, they saw that he appeared deeply interested in the gorge's surroundings. He looked up as they approached and narrowed his eyes at the sight of Simba. "My name is Simba and I am the Ruler of these lands," announced the lion king. "And this is Kovu, future King."

Khan looked from Simba to Kovu and his eyes narrowed, "You take a lot after your father," he said to Kovu. Simba looked confused but Kovu knew instantly what he was talking about. "If you're talking about Scar, he wasn't my father and I would never want a father like him. But…how do you know Scar?" Kovu inquired.

"He was Mufassa's brother," said Khan. "And I despise anyone who had or has anything to do with Mufassa."

Simba appeared taken aback but his shock soon turned into a suppressed anger.

"What have you got against my father?" he demanded.

"You don't know?" Khan asked and he smiled evilly, "Long before you were born, both the tiger clan and Mufassa's pride lived in peace. Until your father tore that relationship to shreds; he treated us tigers with disgust and showed us no respect and then, he banished us. I swore to him that one day I would return and kill him and his descendants." He smiled evilly at Simba again, "Yes, that means you and your daughter."

Simba roared and fell into a fighting stance.

"Don't you dare come near my family!" he shouted.

Kovu also moved into a fighting stance, his claws and teeth bared and growling furiously. "I came here to make a compromise with you…" began Simba but Khan cut him off.

"Compromise?" he repeated in disgust. "I would never compromise with you and your kind. You lions think yourselves to be the superior race; greater than any other kind of animal. Your father's self-pride got the better of him when he banished us from the Pride Lands but I swore to him and," he laughed. "An oath is an oath."

Simba crouched down and prepared to pounce on Khan but the powerful tiger simply pointed up.

"Don't be a fool Simba," he laughed. "As we speak there are over a dozen tigers surrounding the gorge."

Both Simba and Kovu looked up instinctively and, to their horror, saw at least twenty tigers appearing into sight. Khan laughed again and both lions turned back to face him.

"Don't worry. I don't want either of you dead now, that time will come soon. The war is coming Simba. The time will soon come when a new Royal Family will step up and there will be a new King," he added menacingly. With that he turned his back to the lions and stalked off.

"Wait," called Simba. Khan turned to face him.

"You have until dawn tomorrow to leave these lands," he announced. "I have passed my judgment upon you. I will not kill you but if you do not leave by dawn then you will die. Now leave. Let's go Kovu."

With those words Simba stalked off with Kovu right beside him, leaving Khan to stare behind them with a look of deepest hatred.