"Kion, what happened to the Lion Guard?" A dark brown lion cub asked.
"Same thing as Simba; They were killed." The older lion replied, sounding slightly annoyed.
"How did they die?"
"Hyenas." Kion growled. "I told you before, Kimba."
"I know, but can't you tell me more?" Kimba asked.
"No." His uncle responded, the tone in his voice showing that he didn't want to continue the conversation. "Go bug your mother."
"Aw." Kimba reared onto his hind legs, battling at a butterfly. "Come on, Kion. Answer my other question."
"What question?" The annoyed lion asked, turning towards the cub.
"The one about the roar." The dark furred cub replied, dropping down to all fours and looking at him. "How did you lose it?"
"I didn't lose it." Kion hissed. "I gave it up."
"To who?"
"Your father."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired of this job, alright." Kion roared. "I prefer an ordinary hunting life."
Kimba turned and raced in the direction of Pride Rock.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To talk to my dad." He called back.
*X*
"Hey, Dad." Kimba greeted, as he entered the cave on Pride Rock.
"Kimba." Kovu purred, turning towards his son. "Need something?"
"Sort of." The dark furred cub replied, noticing the lion head mark on his father's left shoulder.
"Ask away." The king yawned, stretching.
"Why did Kion give you the roar?"
Kovu straightened, anger alight in his eyes. "Who told you of this?"
Kimba shrank back. "K-Kion."
"Why did he tell you?"
"Because I asked."
"Why did you ask?"
"I-I asked how he lost it and he said he gave it up to another lion. I asked who and he said he gave it to you." He swallowed in slight fear under his father's stern gaze. "I asked because I was curious."
"Why are you always so curious about everything?" Kovu roared, lashing his dark tail.
Kimba let out a whimper and flattened himself against the cave floor, creeping backwards. He didn't respond.
"Answer me!" His father demanded.
"I…" Kimba couldn't find his voice. "Because…"
Kovu's green gaze grew harsher as the lion crouched down in the cub's face.
"Kovu!" Kiara's familiar roar came. "What are you doing?"
"Kiara? I…" Now Kovu had lost his voice. He pulled back, flattening his ears, and a guilty look crossed his dark face. "Um…"
Kimba bumped into a wall, flattening his own ears as he watched his parents argue.
The lioness had a look of disbelief on her face. "You were going to hurt him, weren't you?"
"No." The dark furred lion replied desperately. "I was just, uh...just-"
"You were just what?" Kiara roared angrily. "Threatening our cub?"
"No! Kiara, I would never hurt him." Kovu glanced at him desperately, but recoiling as he saw the look of fear on his dark furred cub's face. "I'd never hurt him. No way! I'm so sorry."
"You should be!" The queen scolded him.
Kimba let out a whimper, his breathing rapid. He turned and darted out the cave entrance. He raced down the Pride Rock and across the Pride Lands. He eventually collapsed in exhaustion, right outside a dark area of land. The dark furred cub let out a small sob.
"Hey, little one." A strange, unfamiliar voice came.
Kimba leapt to his paws, glancing around nervously. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
"Not so friendly, eh?" The same voice came again. It was definitely a female.
"Zira!" Kovu's shocked snarl came from behind him. "Leave him alone!"
"Dad!" Kimba squeaked, whirling around.
"Kovu?!" Zira snarled in return.
"I thought Kiara killed you." The dark lion growled, ears flattened and tail twitching.
The lioness stepped from the shadows of the darker land, a sneer on her face.
"Kill me?" She scoffed. "Impossible."
Stuck in between them, Kimba flattened himself against the ground. Kovu let out a growl and stalked towards Zira. He stepped around his son and reached her.
"Why did you come back?" The king asked harshly.
"Because I can." The lioness growled in return.
"You're going to wish you didn't." Kovu roared.
The lion slashed his forepaw at her, but she leapt over him and landed beside Kimba, looking down at the cub with sparkling eyes.
"Don't touch him!" Kovu demanded.
"Don't touch the king's son?" Zira asked, looking up with malice in her eyes.
"H-how do you know?" The dark furred lion asked. Then realization hit him. "No. It can't be. You killed Simba!"
"You were always smart, Kovu." Zira hissed sadly, picking Kimba up by his scruff. She leapt over the distressed king and bounded out of the Pride Lands.
"No!" Kovu roared.
Kimba watched his father with scared eyes as Zira carried him away from his father, away from the Pride Lands, away from his home.