Here's chapter 8 and please review. Reminder that I don't own Lion King, Disney does.
Also I'd like to thank BlackLouie, Aggregate Dragon, Raina and CSIMentalistTLK lover for reviewing chapter seven. They mean so much to me.
"I won't let you corrupt them, Scar." Nala thought. "You won't take mine and Simba's children's innocence away from them."
Nala forced a smile on as she followed her so called mate back to the den with her daughter. Kopa ran out to greet them.
Nala ushered them back to the den while Scar went to see Eisha and then lecture the hyenas that were supposed to be keeping an eye out on Kiara and Eisha.
"Mom," Kopa asked. "Can I go and play with Kovu now?" Nala nodded.
Once he was out of earshot, Nala turned to Kiara.
"Kiara," Nala said. "What do you think of your father's lesson to you today?"
Kiara thought for a minute, "Daddy says that if you're mean and scare everyone it's easy and you get your way, but I don't want to be mean to everyone, Mom."
Nala closed her eyes in relief. She knew that Kiara had a kind heart.
"That's my good cub," Nala said, nuzzling her. "I know you're father has a point but...I think it's better than everyone likes you rather than fears you." She didn't want to tell Kiara that Scar was completely wrong in case she went and told Scar.
"I want everyone to like me as their Princess, Mom." Kiara said. "I don't want them to be scared of me! It wouldn't be any fun!"
Nala licked her face, "That's what I want to hear." Nala said. "Let's keep this our little secret, okay?" Kiara nodded.
"Can I go play with Danyssa now?" Kiara asked.
"I'll come with you," Nala said, and the two of them went into the den where Tama and Danyssa were.
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Meanwhile, Kopa hadn't been able to find Kovu or Haru so he had decided to find one of his half siblings. He didn't like playing with Eisha very much. In Kopa's opinion, she was a whiny little baby.
He saw his oldest brother, Nuka walking out of the cave.
"Nuka!" He called, running to him.
"Hey, termite." Nuka greeted.
"The only termite here is you!" Kopa growled. "Mom makes sure my fur is clean! Look at yours!"
"Do you have a problem with it?" Nuka asked, thumping his paw on Kopa's head.
"Ouch!" Kopa exclaimed, rubbing his head.
"That's what you do if you don't like what others are doing. Scare them or hurt them! It works!" Nuka said.
"Really?" Kopa asked.
"Yup," Nuka said. "I used to be like you before I decided to take Dad's advice on this. It really works."
"What's wrong with me?" Kopa demanded, narrowing his amber red eyes.
"You're too soft," Nuka said. "There's no way you're going to be chosen to be the future King if you're like this!" He walked away, leaving Kopa to think by himself.
"Am I too soft?" Kopa wondered to himself. "What does Nuka mean by too soft?"
Kopa decided just to keep looking for someone he could play with. He didn't want to join Kiara. He had seen his sister playing with Danyssa and Divya. He didn't want to join them. Kopa wished his uncles, Tojo and Alex were here. They would have played with him, but it was their turn to be in the Outlands.
Kopa had asked his father why they couldn't be at Priderock. His father had told him not to trust anybody much because they could turn against you.
When he had told his mother what Scar had said, Nala's face had a look of worry, but she had assured Kopa that he would understand when he was older.
Kopa continued walking when he saw three hyenas that he knew very well.
"Shenzi! Banzai! Ed!" Kopa called, running to them. The three were his father's closest hyena friends.
"Hey fuzzball!" Banzai chuckled when he saw him.
"Stop calling me a fuzzball!" Kopa exclaimed.
"Fuzzball! Fuzzball!" Shenzi shrieked as Kopa jumped on her.
"Shut up Shenzi!" Kopa muttered. With a grin, he bent down and bit Shenzi.
"Yow!" Shenzi screamed, and threw Kopa off. He landed next to Ed, who was shrieking with laughter along with Banzai. Kopa joined them after spitting out the taste of hyena in his mouth.
"You have a mean bite, Kopa," Shenzi muttered.
"Yeah," Kopa said, puffing his chest out proudly.
"So, where's your sister?" Banzai asked.
"Which one?" Kopa asked.
"Your twin sister." Banzai said.
"Oh," Kopa said. "She's playing with Danyssa and Divya. I didn't wanna join a bunch of girls."
""Good choice, kiddo." Banzai praised.
"So anything new on who's gonna be Scar's heir?" Shenzi asked. "Did your Dad say anything?"
"Nothing new. Dad just said that he's going to see who works up to his expectations." Kopa said. "But Nuka said that I'm too soft to be good enough for Dad."
"Soft!" Ed shrieked and began hugging Kopa, squeezing him. "Soft! Soft!"
"He doesn't mean that soft, Ed!" Banzai said, smacking Ed. Kopa squeezed out of his grasp.
"Nuka thinks you're too..." Shenzi's voice trailed off.
"Too what?" Kopa demanded, jumping up.
"Too much of a baby!" Banzai finished off and the three hyenas began to laugh hysterically.
"Am not!" Kopa cried. "And I'm not too soft either! Nuka's just jealous of me!"
"Do you know the real reason that he's jealous?" Shenzi asked, leaning in closer to Kopa.
"What?" Kopa asked. "What's the real reason?"
"Well," Banzai said. "Your Dad had a Queen before your Mom."
"Really?" Kopa asked. "Who?"
"Zira," Shenzi replied.
"Nuka's mom?" Kopa cried. The hyenas nodded.
"So that's why she's always sneering at me and Kiara!" Kopa exclaimed. "But why was my Mom the second Queen?"
"Oh a bunch of reasons," Banzai said.
"Like what?" Kopa asked.
"Sorry, we've said too much already," Shenzi said.
"Just ask your parents. They'll tell you." Banzai said.
"I'm gonna asked right now!" Kopa exclaimed and ran towards his den. At the entrance he was glad to see his father talking with his mother.
"Mom!" Kopa's voice stopped whatever conversation Nala and Scar were having.
"Hello, darling." Nala said, bending down and giving his face a lick.
"Hey Mom." Kopa said. He nuzzled Nala's cheek with his own.
"Is there anything wrong Kopa?" Scar asked.
"Mom, Dad," Kopa began. "Is it true that Zira was the Queen before Mom?"
"Who told you this?" Scar asked, narrowing his emerald green eyes.
"Was it Nuka?"
"No," Kopa said. "Shenzi and Banzai."
Nala sighed, "This is why I don't want you playing with them."
"So it is true?" Kopa asked. Scar nodded.
"Why was Mom the second Queen?" Kopa asked. "Why did you leave Zira, Dad?"
It's complicated reasons that you won't understand until you're older." Nala said, glancing at Scar.
"But I wanna know!" Kopa whined. "Why? Why did you just leave Zira?"
"Because your mother was much better than Zira." Scar said. "That's all you have to know."
"Of course she's better than Zira. Mom is the best!" Kopa exclaimed, nuzzling his head against Nala's front legs.
"Of course," Scar said. "Now run along. I have to talk to your mother about something."
Kopa nodded and ran off to find Kiara, wanting to tell his sister what he had found out.
Kopa ran into the den to find Danyssa. "Hey Danyssa!" Kopa greeted.
"Hi Kopa," Danyssa said.
"Have you seen Kiara?" Kopa asked.
"She left the den but she didn't tell me where she was going." Danyssa said.
"I'm gonna go find her? You wanna come?" Kopa asked.
"My mom said that I have to stay here." Danyssa huffed, sitting down. "She's taking forever to come back!"
Kopa grinned, "Why don't you go play with Eisha?" He and Danyssa both agreed that Eisha was a crybaby.
"Yuck!" Danyssa giggled. "She'll probably go running to Shanti if I pin her down!" She and Kopa laughed.
"Hey!" Danyssa and Kopa whirled around to see Eisha standing behind them, pouting.
"I am not a crybaby!" Eisha whined.
"Of course you aren't," Kopa snickered. Danyssa tried to stiffly her giggling but she couldn't. Eisha glared at her, but Kopa could see her eyes slowly beginning to tear up.
"Is Eisha crying?" Danyssa teased.
"Ahem," Danyssa and Kopa whirled around to see their mothers standing behind them with Kiara.
"Danyssa, Kopa," Tama said. "Do you have anything you want to say to Eisha?"
"Sorry, Eisha." Kopa and Danyssa both said at the same time.
"And?" Nala asked.
"You're not a crybaby." Danyssa said, and Kopa nodded.
Eisha sniffed and trotted out of the den. When she was gone, Kopa began to snicker again.
"Why is it that you two can't leave her alone?" Nala asked, lying down across from Tama. She scooped Kopa up into her paws.
"Cause she's always whining about something." Danyssa said. "Kiara pinned her down when we were playing and she went to her mom." Kopa laughed, but stopped when Nala shot him a look.
"That's not very nice, you two." Tama said. "I don't want you hurting her feelings." That was one, but the biggest reason was that Nala and Tama both knew what kind of mouth Shanti had.
"Fine," Kopa sighed. Nala began to clean him.
"Hey! Mom!" Kopa cried. "I'm not that dirty!"
"Kopa, stay still and I'll be done sooner!" Nala chuckled along with Tama. Kiara was nursing by Nala's side.
After a while, Tama and Nala got up.
''We have to hunting now, alright?'' Tama said, giving Danyssa a lick. ''Stay in the den.''
''Alright,'' Kiara said, as Nala nuzzled both of them before walking out with Tama.
Meanwhile, Runju and Sarafina were watching Danyssa play with Kiara and Kopa. They weren't near the cubs, but they could still get a good look at them playing.
"They don't seem to be anything like Scar." Runju said. "Neither of them even looks like Scar. It's hard to say that Nala even mated with Scar.''
"I know," Sarafina said. "But they're still young."
"Scar is going to take away they're innocence," Runju said, and then his eyes darkened. "And Nala's probably going to support him in that as well!"
Sarafina just sighed, closing her eyes, realizing how many problems her own daughter had created.
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After their mothers left, Kopa turned to Danyssa and Kiara.
"Guess what I heard?" Kopa exclaimed.
"What?" Kiara asked, looking at her twin brother with bright sapphire blue eyes.
Our Mom was actually Dad's second Queen. Dad had a mate before Mom!" Kopa whispered.
"What!" Danyssa said, her mouth agape. "Who?"
"Zira!" Kopa exclaimed.
"So that's why she's so mean to me and you! And she's not nice to Mom either! And maybe that's why Nuka is always in such a bad mood!" Kiara exclaimed.
"You wanna ask him?" Kopa asked.
"Let's go!" Danyssa said.
Suddenly, they heard voices coming into the den. The cubs turned to see the new rotation of males coming in.
"Daddy!" Danyssa squealed and ran to her father. Moraan grinned at the sight of his daughter running to him.
Danyssa latched onto his snout, nuzzling his cheek with her nose. "Hey sweetheart," Moraan greeted, licking the top of her head.
Danyssa and him walked to where Kiara and Kopa were.
"Hey guys," Moraan said, giving the twins a quick nuzzle that they returned.
"Mom and Nala went hunting," Danyssa said. "Do you have more stories to tell us?"
"Do you?" Kiara chimed in.
"Actually," Moraan said. "I do."
"Tell us! Please!" Kopa asked, and Moraan nodded with a chuckle.
As Moraan proceeded to tell the cubs a story, he took note on the fact that he was glad that his daughter was good friends with them. He didn't care whether they were Scar's cubs or not. They didn't take after their father in the slightest way. He knew as they grew older, Scar would try to corrupt them, but he also knew that Nala wouldn't let him. Kopa and Kiara had their mother's goodness.
And for some reason, every time he looked at them, he saw Simba in them. It was clear that Kopa and Kiara inherited their late uncle's and cousin's looks. Maybe that was why he saw Simba in them. But he realized that they acted a lot like Simba did when he was their age.
That was a blessing.
Moraan chuckled to himself; it was blessing to Kiara and Kopa, but definitely not Nala since she would have to be the one chasing after them, making sure that they didn't get into trouble all the time like Simba had.
After listening to some more stories and playing some more, Kiara and Kopa went into the den to wait for their parents.
"I wish Dad would play with us and our friends like Moraan, Chumvi and the others do." Kopa said. "It would be fun but he never plays."
"I know," Kiara mumbled.
"I'm sorry to head that you're disappointed," Came a voice. The twins turned around to see their mother.
Nala greeted them with a nuzzle before settling down beside them, forming a semi-circle with her body.
"I know that...your father isn't that type," Nala said. "But don't forget that you have many others that you can play with. I know it's not the same but it's better than nothing."
"I know, Mom." Kopa said, running his cheek against Nala.
Suddenly, Scar walked into the den.
"Daddy!" Kiara squealed, and ran to her father. Scar knelt down and gave her a nuzzle.
"Kopa, Kiara," Scar said. "Come with me. There's something we have to talk about."
"Just us?" Kopa asked.
"You two and your other siblings." Scar said.
"Scar?" Nala asked. "Where exactly are you taking them? And what for?" She was terrified that Scar might have found out the truth of the twin's identity and was leading them away from her to kill them.
"Don't worry, my dear." Scar said. "I just have to talk to them. And were going to the summit of Priderock."
Nala nodded and Kiara and Kopa trotted off behind Scar.
The twins walked out of the den to find all of their 'half siblings' waiting for them.
"What did you want to talk to us about father?" Vitani asked.
"Let's go to the summit and I'll tell you," Scar said.
The group walked up to the summit, and Scar settled down. Nuka sat a little way off from him, with Vitani standing in between his paws.
Kiara and Eisha both eyed each other, both knowing what the other was thinking.
Kiara and Eisha both dived into Scar's paws, an tried wrestling each other out, until Scar stopped them by cuffing each of them on the head.
Kopa stood with Tanabi and Akila. Despite the tension between their mothers' and the competition between them, they still liked each other's company. After all, they still were brothers or half-brothers at least.
"So why'd you bring us here, Daddy?" Eisha asked.
"I wanted to talk to you, and especially your brothers." Scar said.
"Why?" Nuka asked.
"As you know, my sons," Scar began. "Someday, one of you will be the King of Priderock."
"And?" Kopa asked, his tail twitching impatiently.
"I want to leave the Pride in the most capable hands," Scar said. "Therefore I am looking for which one of you is the strongest."
"How are you going to decide?" Tanabi asked.
"I will see which one of you demonstrates the best hunting and fighting skills. I want to see which one will use my tactics and lessons." Scar said. "If I see that you are the best hunter, fighter and the one that uses the lessons I have taught, you shall be the King."
''So we have to have really good fighting skills?'' Akila asked.
''Yes,'' Scar said. ''And to help you, I decided to make you train every day.''
"You're gonna give us lessons?" Tanabi asked.
"No," Scar said." From now on, you will be training every day. The hyenas will be with you a lot when you're just practicing your skills. But when you're learning something new, either I or another lioness will come teach you."
"How long do we have to train for everyday?" Nuka asked.
"For as long as I say," Scar replied.
"That's not fair!" Nuka muttered. "We should be able to choose!"
Scar growled, and leaned in to Nuka. "Do I have to make myself clear?"
"No-no," Nuka stammered out.
"Good," Scar said, stepping back. Kopa smirked at Nuka he was always getting their father mad. Nuka glared at Kopa with burning hate in his eyes.
''When are we going to start training?'' Tanabi asked.
''Not tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow. I'm busy tomorrow so enjoy your last free day before training starts.'' Scar replied.
"When are you going to decide whose going to be King?" Akila asked.
"When I feel like it," Scar said.
"How about Eisha, Vitani and I?" Kiara asked.
"You my daughters," Scar said. "From you I want to see you grow up into beautiful lionesses." Everyone glanced at Kiara. It was no secret that Kiara was probably the most beautiful cub in Priderock.
"And," Scar continued. "I want to see you have the best possible hunting and fighting skills."
"But Daddy," Eisha whined. "That's isn't fair. Kiara and Kopa's mother is Nala. They have a better chance than us."
Kopa felt anger burning up in his chest. So what if his mother was the Queen? Nala deserved to be the Queen.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Kopa said, growling the best he could.
Eisha just shrunk back, and Kopa began to snicker along with Akila and Tanabi. If there was one thing that they could agree on, it was that Eisha was a crybaby.
"They won't have a better chance than the rest of you, Eisha." Scar said. "All of you have equal chances. And as for Kiara, Eisha and Vitani, there is no competition between you three. All of you three will someday be strong lionesses."
"Can we go in now?" Akila asked, stifling a yawn. Scar nodded, and got up as well, making sure not to get up to suddenly, so Kiara and Eisha wouldn't hit the ground hard.
As they walked down Priderock, Tanabi, Kopa and Akila talked.
"I bet I'll be so good at fighting, that Dad will ask me to teach you guys." Tanabi boasted.
"Wanna bet?" Kopa growled playfully and began to advance on him along with Akila.
"Hey...don't... ouch!" Tanabi yelped as Akila and Kopa both jumped on him, sending him down.
"I'm the one that's gonna be helping you!" Kopa laughed along with Akila. He and Akila helped Tanabi up.
"Don't worry," Kopa said. "Even if I do get chosen as King, I'll make you two my second in command. Maybe we can share being King!"
"Yeah," Akila said. "That would be great!" Tanabi nodded I'm agreement.
Kopa bided his brothers goodnight before joining Kiara. Neither of the three brothers knew that it was the last day that there would be the innocence of brotherly love between them. Tomorrow everything would change.
Kopa and Kiara hurried into the den, eager to tell their mother the news.
"Mom," Kopa called, jumping into his mother's paws, "Dad's gonna start choosing the next King!"
"Really?" Nala asked, sounding surprised.
"Yeah," Kopa said. "He said that he's gonna choose the one that he thinks is the most suitable. He is starting tomorrow."
"Then you'd better get some sleep," Nala said, pulling both of them in close.
After a while, Kiara's eyes began to close, just as Kopa's was.
"Dad might not choose me to be the King," Kopa murmured. "But...he doesn't...I'll still protect my Pride and family."
"That's very noble of you," Nala said, licking the top of his head.
Nala smiled as she saw how much of a wonderful lion that Kopa would grow up into. He was so young, yet he had such bravery. It was something that had been passed down onto him, from his true father, his true grandfather and all the great Kings that had come before him. She even saw a bit of Tojo and Hofu in him. If Kopa was given the chance to become the King, he would surely be a wonderful one. Nala knew that he'd protect Kiara if anything were to happen to Nala before she had a mate. And even after she did, Nala was sure that Kopa would still look out for her.
Nala's heart clenched as she thought how heartbroken both of her children would be when they realized who their true father was. They would realize that they had been lied to for so long. But knowing their true father was the true King of the Pridelands, and that they were the true heirs of the Pridelands would make it better. Nala would see to that.
So the training for the males starts at the next chapter or maybe the one after. What do you think is going to happen to the brotherly love between Akila, Tanabi and Kopa? Will the bonds between them remain strong or will it be destroyed? Will Kopa turn into a brutal monster? How much will Nala have to go through to make sure Kopa grows up properly? You saw how much of an innocent cub he is; what will happen to him? And now Kopa and Kiara know that Zira was the Queen before Nala and it's clear that they aren't going to get any answers from their parents. Will they try and ask Zira? Will that get them into trouble with her? Stay tuned to find out ;)