Chapter XIX
"You. You monster..." Kovu rumbled. "You little fucking monster."
The colossal hatred towards Kamba was growing immensely strong. Kovu had never felt so tense and frustrated in his entire life; more so than the incident with Nala. He wanted to rip the charcoal lion to tiny shreds and feel his blood trickle down his paws and muzzle. He wanted to be so violent at that very moment in time it was almost unbearable. His heart was crumbling at the thought that he never needed to feel guilty for any of the incident that happened those years ago.
"And now I say to you, pipsqueak." Kamba growled to Nira. "Don't you even think about it..."
"Why shouldn't I?" Nira retorted, remembering the force Kamba used on Shemba to own up to the truth earlier. This could have the possibility to work against the lion. "They have a right to know..."
Kamba knew exactly what the brown lion was doing to him. He, however, wasn't prepared to allow it in his way, no matter how much it shocked him to hear it from the different perspective.
"They don't…need to know." Kamba found himself saying with a swallow. Nira's muzzle turned up into a dark grin, knowing his words were able to devour the minimal emotional strength he had.
"Oh, I think they do. Don't you, Kamba?"
"It's, not- it's not imp- it's not fucking important!"
"Oh! It's not important that Vitani was murdered? It's not important that you are responsible for the murder of Vitani?"
Kovu found it harder not to roar and attack the petty lion in front of him. He wanted to do as much damage as possible to the little cub he thought he was.
"That's right, Kamba? Isn't it? Aren't you the amazing arsonist who went and started the dammed fire in the outlands? Aren't you the one who destroyed your step mom? Eh, Kamba?"
"Shut. Up." Kamba snarled.
"Admit. To what. You did."
"I told you to shut up!"
"TELL THEM THE TRUTH!"
Once again, the dead silence was waving and proceeding around, stopping all of them dead in their tracks. Nira's roar echoed throughout the entire pridelands. It could be heard from miles on end. Nira's eyes were moistening from his yell, his breathing became heavy, his power growing ever so slowly.
"The truth? What is a truth, nowadays, Nira?" Kamba started. "A truth is a lie. A truth is just another big lie. Why do you think Simba lied to Kiara so often? Because it's all just more lies!The world is a lie! Nothing is truthful! No one can see the reality of the situation! It's all, just one big, collective..."
"TELL THEM THE TRUTH RIGHT NOW!" Nira screamed yet again.
"Alright! Alright, you want your truth? I think everyone knows but, let's just share. Let's all share secrets like one big happy family! I am responsible for Vitani's murder!"
Kovu was forced by his instinct to roar at the very top of his tether. He could feel his lungs forcing out the air inside to this roar. It was one hell of a magnificent roar. It was a roar of final decisions. If he wasn't to be held back his violent side could break open and unleash its full wrath. Simba and Kiara were quick to dash back and pull him as tightly as they could, barely preventing him from attacking.
"That's right…" The brown lion conflicting to the guilty exclaimed through a vicious growl, "You did it. That little fire of yours didn't go unnoticed."
"Keep talking, Nira," The charcoal furred lion snarled equally as viciously. "And I will be forced to kill you…"
"…and send me to hell, just like you did with old Vitani, no?"
"If that's what you want, perhaps…"
The stand-off went dead. The hung silence, only to be broken by deadly growls, unsheathing of claws and lowering of stances, was stupefying. Never in their life had tensions like this been drawn from the very corners of their minds; each lion in the stand-off, both waiting for the other to attack. It was going to happen. They both knew it, both with the same murderous, envious glimmer in each blink of an eye. Only a single movement would trigger the first pounce. It was going to be so easy for Kamba. This is what he had trained himself for, this is what he needed.
Shemba was sat to the side. Her found fear for her younger brother taking control of every action made. Her fear mostly for the safety of her mate; though his bravery may have been a good thing there was no way any of this was ever going to end well. Never.
"And do you know how they'll remember you, pipsqueak?" Kamba growled. "They'll remember you as the weak lion with a girl's name!"
Nira released his full power by launching himself directly onto the lion king. Kamba could only chuckle and growl, he knew Nira's decision to attack was giving him the chance to tear him limb from limb and the best part; in front of his puny family.
The very minute Kovu glanced at his son's attack to his adoptive cousin, he ceased growling, lifted from his pouncing stance and allowed his jaw to drop freely in complete surprise. If he was to intervene and protect his son then he would risk the lionesses from his side speeding off to the outlands and killing Nala and the cubs however if he didn't his son would be soon to meet his bloody demise.
"No!" Shemba screamed just as Nira landed directly onto Kamba, slashing away before being thrown back with a kick to the jaw. The two teens circled, keeping equal distance before Kamba ripped away at Nira's face. The brown lion was blinded; all he could feel was the constant vicious slashes to his face. He couldn't attack back. His paws flailed about, eventually smashing Kamba around the face and throwing him back. Giving Nira a chance to breathe and shake his head before slapping Kamba's face a few times over. No matter how much effort and determination Nira put into his attack, his strength still just wasn't enough.
Kamba tackled Nira by the waist to the grass, overpowering him from the extra ounce of strength he owned, ripping away yet again at his opponents face. He kept his paws pinned down, preventing Nira from actually being able to counter attack. By the time he was able to free his paws, it was far, far too late. Nira was incapable of movement. No matter how much he attempted to move, he just couldn't.
Shemba gawked at her mates body lying powerless in the grass. Her heart was in her mouth; watching her younger brother almost kill the only lion she had ever loved.
"N-Nira!" She cried out in agony, unable to see what else to do. She began to pace towards the fight in attempt to cease it.
"Shemba! Get back!" Kiara screamed.
"Hah. Hear that?" Kamba snarled into Nira's ear. "That's the last thing you're ever going to hear…"
"Get off of me…" Nira wheezed. His heart beat viciously almost pounding directly out of his chest.
"Not until you die." Kamba glided his paw across his enemies throat, claw extended before gradually bracing his paw high to destroy the life of the lion beneath him. "Not until you die like the scrawny failure that you are…"
Before Kamba could slit the throat of his opponent, he was shoved to the floor by Shemba. She screeched in fright but bringing the tussle between the lions to an end. While She struggled to desperately save her mate, and as she attempted to pull her brother away from him, Kamba wrapped his hindleg tightly around the base of Nira's neck, rendering the lion incapable of breathing. Nira's eyes dilated. A rapid choke of surprise exploded from the lion, feeling the pressure of his windpipe twisting and clicking from Kamba's struggle to release the grip of his sister and crush his enemy.
"Let go!" Shemba cried. "Let go of his neck! Please!"
"Never…" Kamba seethed.
"Nira!" Kiara screeched.
The son to the former prince felt any trapped oxygen swirling around his lungs, slowly die out; his choking and breathing becoming quicker and shorter, his paws struggling to free Kamba's leg from strangling him. He flinched fiercely, jolting to the right and still doing no use to free himself. He felt his body weakening, his paws loosening, his muzzle dropping, his eyes watering, his nose trembling from ceasing breathing…
With any power or strength she had left, Shemba hurled Kamba off of Nira, sending him rolling over and smashing into the side of Pride Rock. He lay for a second, groaning and grumbling to himself, until he felt a large and excruciating smack to the face from his adoptive uncle, causing him to roar highly loudly.
"Don't touch my family." Kovu growled.
"Nira!" Shemba screeched. "Nira, wake up!"
His body lay motionless. His head bobbled from Shemba's desperate nuzzles and licks, just wishing he would stand. Kiara trailed over to Nira, pawed away at his face, unable to see what else to do, and licked the side of her son's cheek. Nothing. Seconds later, an abrupt cough escaped him.
"Shemba…" He squeaked.
"Nira!"
"Shemba…run. Get out of here. Save yourselves."
His head flinched ever so lightly, flopping to the floor almost immediately and remaining deadly still. He lay next to Shemba, paw atop his mates and nose pressed to the cold night's floor. Shemba knew not what else to do other than stare to the ground and remain silent. She leaned down and tenderly caressed her lovers muzzle with a slow and warm lick to the cheek before bursting into tears and crashing to the floor next to him.
Kamba stared the lion above him, before smashing him out of the way. He surveyed the destruction he had caused and was quick to depart out. Running up the ramp to the cavern of Pride Rock he felt a light slash to his back legs, not actually occurring to him that Simba would follow straight after him.
Oh, this is getting good. He cackled internally. How he couldn't wait to fight the lion right behind him. His adrenaline pumped through his strong bones and his murderous side showed clearly and aggressively. This just wasn't enough. He needed much more. Much, much more.
The lions came to a jolting halt before Kamba had a chance to scamper into Pride Rock. The charcoal furred lion reversed around to stare at his adoptive grandfather; nostrils flared and teeth bared, preparing to attack the younger lion. The dark smirk spread across his face bubbled another wave of anger into the golden furred lion.
"We meet again." Kamba chuckled darkly.
"It would appear so." Simba growled. His snarl slid through his teeth if it had been trying to escape all night. Kamba began to pad around the larger male, claws clicking every step took and growl slipping from his muzzle each time he exhaled.
"You know," Kamba snarled. "You've always fascinated me, Simba, I must admit. Clearly you were clueless when you returned to the Pridelands the first time."
"I suggest you stop talking. I might be tempted to step over there and tear your front legs off."
"Ha! You make me laugh. I believe I was the one who just proved they were the stronger one!"
"Trying to kill someone doesn't determine strength!"
"You must be senile. If you can't kill what kind of lion are you?"
Simba entered the direction of Kamba's movements and began to speed up the circling. He was more than prepared to kill this lion with a single claw. It was an easy kill to do. He remained silent after the charcoal furred lions previous remark and remained fully attended on the situation. One slip of the mind and it was all over in the blink of an eye.
"I am a lion that knows his place." Simba began. "I'm one that knows if I can't have something then so be it."
"Aren't you the one who also killed Scar for something you couldn't have…?"
"He deserved to die."
"Just as much as you do, Simba. Just as much as you do."
Simba hurried the circling by growling louder and pacing more and more. His urge to kill was intensifying. Kamba grinned sinisterly and abruptly walked out of the circle, flicking his tail at the former king in the process. Simba grew yet more furious and raced up to the charcoal furred lion, swiftly smashing his backside to the floor.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me!" Simba exploded. "Who do you think you are?"
"Me? I simply think I'm the king, and you are not." Kamba retorted; lifting himself off the floor and facing the golden lion with a scanty scowl dressed through his muzzle.
"You have much to learn before you could even consider calling yourself that."
"I thought you knew your place, Simba? I thought the law stated that whoever defeats the king takes his place?"
"You used an unfair attack. It also states in the law that that's an unacceptable form of violence.
"Ooh, violence. I love a good old fight! Don't you, king Simba?"
"Don't tempt me, Kamba."
Simba lowered into a pouncing stance in warning. He was more than prepared to tear the lion before him into several pieces.
"I wouldn't get so comfortable, Simba. You aint going to be here much longer…"
"I was gonna let you off easy, you know that? I'm far less inclined to."
"Oh, I quiver in my little paw-boots!"
The charcoal furred lion flipped around once more showing his hindquarters to the older lion, triggering something to startle even the lions below them:
"I SAID DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!"
Simba lost every reason and motive left to cease fighting and launched himself onto the younger lion. He had lost any kind of respect he had, any other reasons to attack, everything. It was hate; murderous hate. He wanted to tear him apart.
Once Kamba felt the much older lion pounce onto him it triggered a loud and painful yelp which echoed through the empty cavern. He struggled to counter attack from Simba's whacks and slaps and began to find himself frightened of the golden lion. He eventually lifted his paw and raked his sharp claws across the lions face, pushing him away and taking him aback. This lion wasn't going to stop Kamba. No one could. This was what he needed to do.
Simba shook his head abruptly and continued to growl and snarl at the charcoal lion; this was going to be it. Kamba counter–attacked and wrapped his paws over Simba's face, biting and gnawing away at his throat attempting to bleed him to death. It was no use. Simba simply dragged the lion to the floor and began to make vicious circles around him.
"See what happens when you question my authority?" Simba chuckled.
"I'm just getting warmed up." Kamba snarled before launching back up and dashing across to the ramp. "I want to see how good you are at fighting Simba. Why don't we see, eh?"
Kamba sped up the crumbling, weak ramp and pounced onto the top of Pride Rock. He let out a devious cackle and before the former king could race after him, he nudged the ramp, causing it to groan and tremble. Simba's eyes dilated and he stammered back before the large ramp began to collapse. Rubble and rock was sprayed in every direction, tiny pieces of rubble rained down on Simba. Clueless as to what to do, he instantly ducked and hid away in his paws while the rubble collapsed into a large, dusty rock mountain.
Simba sneezed loudly and lifted his head back up to see the charcoal lion staring down at him. He continued his growls and, without seeing what else to do, began to climb the fresh, unstable rubble.
"Don't bother, Simba!" Kamba cackled down. "You're only coming to die!"
"I'll teach you some fucking manners!" Simba snarled back up.
"Again, my little paw-boots are quivering off!"
Simba kicked and clawed his way up the rubble, his one soul motive was to destroy the lion above. He could feel himself weakening; the amount of energy he had used over the past day was phenomenal. He was so tired, hungry, but they had to be subsided for the safe return to his lands. He was the rightful king. He fought for these lands countlessly. He was in the bloodline. He had to fulfil his duty from his father. It had to be done.
Kamba was high on adrenaline. His paws were buzzing; his heartbeat was pumping faster than ever before. The charcoal furred lion couldn't wait for his adoptive grandfather to counter attack him; it would be most fun watching him squirm beneath him. He watched every step he took, hoping that he would at least slip off and fall to his doom. Or perhaps not, it would take the excitement out of watching the life slither out of his eyes and destroying the lions measly existence.
Simba's hindleg slipped accidently causing him to lose balance slightly. He took a short break; out of breath and tired. This couldn't go on, it had to end soon. All he wanted to do was curl up with his mate. Alas, he had to progress. Eventually reaching the top, he wheezed monotonously. Lifting his head and regaining his strength. Once he had caught his breath he began to make circles around the charcoal furred lion briefly before his attack.
"Well, well. You're not shy to a situation like this, are you, King Simba?" Kamba grinned deviously.
"That's correct. However, last time, I won. Much like I plan to now." Simba retorted.
"Is that so? What makes you a tough lion, huh, King? Why do you get to act brave when clearly it's obvious what frightens you?"
"Last time I checked, I never proclaimed I was tough. And everyone is afraid of something; even you, Kamba."
"I bet you can't guess what it is."
"I have a pretty good guess."
Without any more hesitations, Simba pounced to his adoptive grandson and began to continue slashing and hitting away at his face. Kamba didn't roar this time, instead pushed the heavy lion away and began a vicious brawl, starting with a slash to the stomach, followed by a slit across the eye and a bite to the nape of the neck. No matter how strong Simba felt, he was clearly no match for the younger lion, becoming quickly disorientated and finding it difficult to counter attack. He eventually smacked Kamba around the head and, gaining control, slashed at his ear so hard his claw ripped through the tip of it. The moment of pain Kamba felt was fathomless however he couldn't let that get in the way of his destruction of this lion. He roared at the top of his voice before continuing to attack, head and mane becoming drenched in his own blood and dripping to the floor.
Simba couldn't last much longer. His exhaustion was growing far quicker than he had hoped, eventually giving Kamba the upper hand and giving him a chance to knock him to the floor and pin him down. The golden lion struggled underneath but it was no use; he was trapped underneath him. Kamba's ear was completely drenched in his own blood, his nostrils grew and shrunk from his sheer anger and his eyes twitched from the murderous sense he felt.
"You've proven yourself far weaker than I thought." Kamba cackled.
"Get off of me…" Simba groaned weakly.
"Never. You think begging for mercy will help?"
"I'm asking you to get off so I can kill you…"
"I'll do it first."
Kamba raised his paw high in the air. Once he felt a strain on his front leg, he allowed it to sit above his head, claws extended, paw shaking from pure adrenaline pumping through his veins. Simba growled upwards, but inside he could feel a sudden alarm bell exploding with fear. He couldn't help but worry that this was going to be the end.
"G-go on th-then, tough guy." He stuttered.
"Haha! I found your fear, Simba. Death."
"I don't believe you'll do it."
"Well, I'm going to prove you wrong."
Before Kamba could swing his paw down, he felt a sudden pain in his stomach that immediately pulled him back from doing what he needed to do. His exhaled loudly and began to sweat slightly, but he knew he had to do it.
"Come on, Kamba, do it…" He whispered to himself.
Do it, you fool. Do it! A voice exploded in his head. He kept his eyes shut and swallowed deeply, pausing once more keeping his paw above his head.
"Just do it."
"If you think you're so tough, why don't you do it, Kamba?" Simba taunted.
"Don't fucking tempt me."
"Come on tough guy!"
"Shut up!"
"Make your step mom proud!"
"FUCK YOU!"
Kamba finally swung his paw down, the force he put into it was overwhelming. Simba's eyes quickly dilated and followed the paw right the way down. The younger lion's claws sliced through Simba's throat with ease and the deed was over in seconds. Simba felt himself go numb, all of the feelings in his legs and entire body whizzed straight to his neck and exploded in a huge throb of pain. It was pure pain; it was the most pain he had ever felt in his entire life. It wasn't long before blood burst from his throat, spraying onto Kamba's face and draining slowly; creating a pool.
Kamba hopped off of the squirming golden lion, cackled loudly and turned back round to look at his magnificent work.
"Don't you ever associate me with that bitch ever again!" He boomed loudly while Simba attempted to stop the blood spewing constantly from his neck and squirmed around in his own blood. There was nothing he could say; this was it. His life was coming to an end. Kamba decided to injure the lion further and with a sweep blinded him in the left eye causing more loss of blood. He was now literally covered in his own fluids and finding it ever so hard to breathe. He was barely able to see the charcoal furred lion through his only working and blood-soaked eye.
"You - little - bastard -" Simba wheezed almost lifelessly.
"You are one pathetic little king, you know that?" Kamba spat viciously into his face before whispering; "And do you know what? I am going to humiliate you even further when you're dead. You'll be known as that little pathetic king who couldn't look after himself. You're going to be known as that lion who sleeked way too much confidence in his filthy weak father. Your filthy, weak father."
"Leave – my father – out of this."
"You've had a good long life, Simba. It's time to say goodbye."
"Kamba-"
He was unable to finish his sentence. Kamba nudged the lion over to the edge of Pride Rock, before slipping him over the side. Simba watched his blood from his neck fly upwards and watched Kamba become smaller and smaller. This was it. The end of his life was near. He would hope it was going to be quick and painless, but he knew it wasn't going to be. He was going to have a slow and very painful death. It was just a strong hunch he had. What else was there to say?
()0()0()
Kiara glanced over briefly from her son to see her father falling to his death. She stood from mourning her potential son's death to stare and watch her father fall silently. With an instant she released a large blood curdling scream at the top of her high voice, a scream that rang in the ears of even Kamba. She watched him fall, time stopped. He was inches from the floor. This was it.
Simba first felt the pain break through his back as he smashed into the floor; before his spine broke into two. The pain then forced itself into his ribs and instantly they shattered like flimsy glass. His body bounced slightly to where he lay on his side, bruised, bleeding, broken and hanging on to the end of his life. For a moment, he lay there, motionless and soaked. His eyes watered slightly. He could see his lands through his working eye, blurry and wobbling from his eye flickering; begging to close and end the sheer pain he felt.
Kiara pelted over to her father and pawed at him lightly, flipping him over to inspect the damage. She knew there was nothing she could do. That was it. He was going to die.
"F-father?" She whispered. No response. "Daddy? Dad?"
"Kiara…" Simba choked.
"Dad!"
"Kiara, look at me."
She flipped him over to stare into his almost lifeless eyes. He struggled to say anything. He was completely lost for words as well as losing his life. He stared at his daughter. He just wanted to look at her until his life was stolen away.
"Kill him."
His body became cold. His eyes closed, Simba's life came to an end.
"I-I did it, haha! I won! I fucking won!" Kamba yelped, one he had returned to the lower summit to stare at his destruction. He watched as Shemba mourned Nira, and Kiara mourned Simba. He let out a devious cackle, a cackle quite like no other. He had done it.
"Nira…" Shemba wept. "Nira, wake up. Please. I love you."
"Shemba," Kovu snivelled. "It might be it-"
"No! He can still hear me, you can still hear me, can't you Nira?"
"Shemba…" a sudden groan from the brown furred lion startled Kovu. He stepped back slightly but his muzzle swept up in delight and relief. His son was alive.
He allowed Shemba to help Nira up and padded over to a broken Kiara, crying softly over her father's body. He went to comfort her but she flinched away.
"Don't touch me!" She screamed. She couldn't bear it. Her emotions were quick to turn into fury and rage. The same emotion Simba had felt while battling Kamba flew straight into his daughter.
"I am going to kill him." She seethed. Her limit had been reached. She was going to murder him. As she wiped her tears, she sped up onto Pride Rock, leaving Kovu at the bottom with Simba. Once Kiara reached the lower summit her first move was a blow to Kamba's face.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" She exploded.
"I'm king, Kiara." Kamba groaned.
"You know something, I would murder you, you little fuckwit, but I'm not stooping to your level."
"Haha! Murder me, Kiara! I'd love to see you try!"
Kamba swiped at Kiara's forelegs and attempted to pull her to the floor but she flinched back and as Kamba rose from the floor she felt her fear return straight back to her.
"Get out of the Pridelands, bitch." He seethed. The broken Kiara, without any other motive than fear, followed his orders and began to run back down. Kovu raced after her followed by Nira and Shemba. They attempted to stop her and console her but it was no use. Eventually she found herself collapsing and bursting into a wave of endless tears.
"Kiara!" Kovu yelled after her. Once he caught up he softly and very gently nuzzled his mate in comfort. She accepted and cried into Kovu's large mane. She couldn't see what else to do. Nothing she could do would ever make this situation better. Any faith she had had was gone.
"Nira…" Shemba whispered. "What-what are we gonna do?"
Nira replied with a gentle nuzzle. "I don't know. I don't know, Shemba."
The four lions remained in their nuzzles. The night was over. The life of the eldest was over. An explosion of hate had ripped through them all.
Kamba stared at the pridelanders from the tip of the lower summit. He smiled darkly and knew that his handywork had all paied off. He then stared down at the corpse of Simba; his prize of the night.
"Are you proud of me, Scar?"
ARGH! I'm actually so sorry. Two months on...AGAIN! Whooops. Moving on to more serious matters:
AMG U KILD TEH SIMBUH BAW BAW BAW!
Yes, I did. Before you get angry at me, his death is relatively important, as was Vitani's, as was Zazu's etc. I don't just murder chars! ..much!
Now, go and review! I want to know your opinion on the death of Simba C: plus, I'm an attention whore. XD joke, but review please my pretties...? .
TBH, I'm just glad I FINALLY got this chapter done, its taken me bloody four months! FINALLY. C:
