Here's chapter nine and please review.
I'd like to thank CSIMentalistTLK lover, Whoa it's fandoms, Fluffy Hug, Aggregate Dragon, A Guest, and BlackLouie for reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Kiara slowly opened her eyes the next day, yawning. Shifting her body slightly away from her brother who was still soundly asleep, she saw that both of her parents were still asleep.
Quietly getting onto her paws, she walked outside. Kiara looked up into the murky sky. She could tell that there was sunlight, but the clouds were blocking it.
Hearing voices from the entrance to the main den, she saw that some of the lionesses were leaving on the hunt. Kiara saw one of her aunts, Shani. Shani caught her eye and smiled at her before hurrying off the join the hunting party.
"You're up early," Came a voice. Kiara turned around to see Tanabi standing behind her.
"I'm always up this early." Kiara said.
"Mom made me wake up," Tanabi grumbled. "I could have slept."
"You're so lazy, Tanabi." Kiara giggled. "There's no way you'll be the King if you're this lazy."
Tanabi growled playfully and pounced on her. Kiara managed to dodge him and while he was regaining his balance, she pounced and pinned him down.
"Ha! Pinned ya!" Kiara cried.
"What are you two doing here?" Scar walked up to them, with Nala beside him. Kopa was half standing, half sitting in between his mother's paws sleepily, barely able to keep his eyes open.
"Kiara," Nala said. "Don't leave the den without telling me. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"I dunno," Kiara giggled, cocking her head. "Ummm, maybe every day?" She laughed as she saw Nala giving her a stern look.
Scar smiled at Kiara and then gave the top of her head a lick. "I'm taking your brothers with me today. I'll take you tomorrow."
"Okay, Daddy." Kiara said, nuzzling Scar.
Nala saw Scar smiling at Kiara, and she saw the love in his eyes as he talked with Kiara. It was the same look that any father would give their daughter.
It was the same way Runju used to look at her before she has been announced as Scar's mate and Queen. Deep inside, she missed it. She had always been her father's cub.
Scar turned to his mate and gave Nala a nuzzle before taking Tanabi and Kopa off to find Nuka and Akila.
"Are you going hunting today, Mom?" Kiara asked. "Daddy said that I can go with you to watch you hunt."
"I'm not going hunting and I'm not going to take you either Nala said. It's too dangerous and I'm not going to risk it."
"But Daddy said-" Kiara began, but Nala cut her off.
"No, Kiara." Nala said. "You're not going and I won't take you until you're older."
Kiara looked at her with bright pleading eyes, giving her a sweet smile.
"That only works on your...father." Nala said, with a slight smile. "Not on me."
Kiara sighed and trotted away. Nala watched her go with an amused smile.
Suddenly, from the bottom of Priderock, she heard angry roars. Hurrying down, Nala saw her mother and Sarabi defending a kill against hyenas, but they were outnumbered.
Nala went up to them and roared at the hyenas. The hyenas got the message, and they knew better than to mess with Nala. One wrong move and they knew Nala would find a way to punish them.
Growling, the hyenas backed away from Sarafina and Sarabi.
"I think it's safe to get the other kill as well," Sarafina murmured to Sarabi. As long as Nala was here, the hyenas wouldn't come back.
Sarabi nodded and quickly went off to get the other kill while Sarafina waited for her.
Nala got the hint that she was needed here because of the hyenas. Of course she knew that Sarafina would never say that and neither would Sarabi. Nala couldn't even remember the last time she had spoken with her. She avoided eye contact with Sarafina. It would be too painful.
A few minutes later, Sarabi came back with a warthog between her jaws. She and Sarafina began dragging it up Priderock. Nala stood where she was, daring the hyenas to go after them.
Sarafina dragged the tiny antelope back into the den, and ushered some of the cubs to eat. As she sat back with Runju, he gave the top of her head a nuzzle.
"Any trouble from the hyenas while bringing it here?" Runju asked.
"They tried taking it...but Nala came and stopped them." Sarafina said, slowly.
"Her helping us with these things still doesn't give her forgiveness for what she did!" Runju growled.
"I know," Sarafina said. "And I thought that hopefully Kiara and Kopa wouldn't take after their father, but I've seen them playing with the hyenas all the time. They adore them!"
"Nala should know better than stop them, but she doesn't." Runju muttered.
"Kiara and Kopa may be of royal blood, but they are still Scar's blood." Sarafina sighed.
"Why is it that you two can't leave my cubs alone?" Came an angry voice. Sarafina and Runju whirled around to see Nala standing behind them, glaring at them with burning hatred in her eyes.
"Because they're Scar's blood and if your son is given the throne, he will be just as bad as his father and your mate!" Runju growled, angrily at her.
"You don't know a single thing about my son!" Nala hissed. "Never have you held him in your paws or even spent any time with him! And when he does get the throne...someday...someday...you'll thank me." As she said the last part, her voice teared up a bit. Runju wondered why. Was she that stressed on getting Kopa the throne?
"Do you realize what you've done to yourself?" Sarafina asked, shaking her head in disgust. "You thought that Scar loved you. He takes you in and then tells you that he has mated with other lionesses! Now your cubs have to compete with their own half siblings. Do you see what your selfishness and greed has brought both you and your family? Your selfishness just caused you to lose your real family and support from them!"
Nala stared at her for a minute, "I wasn't asking for any help. I'll do this on my own. All I'm asking is for you to leave Kiara and Kopa alone. Don't hurt them in any way."
Nala walked away from them. Without her friends here, she wasn't welcome in the rebel Pride den.
Nala shook her head as she entered the den that she used. She didn't mind that her parents didn't care about her anymore. It still hurt, but she had gotten over it. Besides, she had her own cubs to care for now. But it saddened her to know that Kiara and Kopa had to pay for this as well. Why couldn't her parents at least give Kiara and Kopa a chance? They were still their grand cubs no matter what.
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Meanwhile, Kopa was practicing his skills on Nuka. Scar had ordered Nuka to babysit Kopa and Akila. Akila had left, but Kopa wanted to stay and play.
"Tell me how to get better Nuka!" Kopa whined, jumping up and down on Nuka's back. "There's no way I'll be the King if I don't get better!"
"How's this?" Nuka asked with a smirk. "Just don't try and be the King because you don't stand a chance!"
"No!" Kopa shot back. "I stand a better chance that you termite!" He knew that Nuka took that comment very seriously.
"Who're you calling a termite!" Nuka growled, jumping up. Kopa flew off his back and his head hit a rock nearby.
"Ouch!" Kopa cried, rubbing his head. Tears threatened to escape his eyes, but he kept them at bay.
"See!" Nuka snickered. "You're such a baby!" He glared at Kopa. He could tolerate all his half siblings, except Kopa. Kiara wasn't that bad, but he hated Kopa. His mother had taken away his mother's rightful throne! He vowed to make sure the day that he got the throne that Nala would pay dearly.
"Am not!" Kopa cried. Tears escaped his eyes which only caused Nuka to laugh harder.
Sniffing, Kopa got up and ran into the den that he knew Nala was in. He was happy to see his mother resting there alone.
"Mom!" Kopa cried.
"Kopa?" Nala looked up and then her eyes filled with concern when she saw Kopa.
"What happened?" Nala soothed, cradling him in her paws.
"Nuka...pushed...hit my head...said...I...I...was a baby!" Kopa said, between hiccups and sobs.
"Shhh, my little cub." Nala whispered. "It's alright. Nuka was only teasing you."
"But he's right Mom!" Kopa whined. "If I'm such a baby, I won't stand a chance of being the King!"
Inside, Nala was screaming at herself to tell her that he was the rightful heir to the throne and that his true father was the rightful King.
But she knew she had to keep her mouth shut.
"You'll be a wonderful King someday." Nala murmurered. "I promise you that."
"Really?" Kopa asked.
''I promise,'' Nala whispered.
Nala held Kopa in her paws until he fell asleep. A while later, Scar walked in.
"Did something happen to him?" Scar asked, settling down next to her. He nuzzled Nala's cheek, and Nala gave his nose a lick.
"He got in a fight with Nuka and came running to me. He was quite upset." Nala explained. She knew that Scar wouldn't lecture Nuka to be gentler on Kopa. He wanted his cubs to be as hard as a rock.
"I have made some arrangements for Kiara and Kopa." Scar said.
"What kind of arrangements?" Nala asked.
"Mating arrangements," Scar replied.
"What?" Nala asked. "But Scar, they're too young to be intended already."
Scar shook his head, "I want my bloodline to be secure."
Nala bit back a growl and forced herself to talk as calmly as possible. "Who did you intend them to?"
"Kiara will be Kahiri's mate. And Kopa will be Tamara's mate." Scar replied.
Nala thought for a minute. She knew Kahiri's mother, Diyana and Tamara's mother, Guri. Both of them were part of Scar's loyal Pride and Nala didn't see them much. From the little she had talked with them, Diyana seemed to her okay, but Guri was a headache.
"Nala?" Scar asked. "What do you think?"
"Couldn't we just let them choose on their own?" Nala asked.
"It's best if their future is secure right now." Scar said. "I've already arranged that Akila will mate Shahana's daughter, Malaika and Tanabi will mate Kareena's daughter, Lena."
"Why Kareena?" Nala asked, wondering why he took a cub from the rebel Pride. "Did she say yes?"
"She...she said yes," Scar said, his tone dismissive again.
Nala thought for a minute. She knew that Kareena never would ha given her daughter away like that. What had happened for her to say yes? And how about her mate Tonal? Had he agreed into giving his daughter to a son of Scar?
Nala realized that Scar must have threatened them. When Kareena had refused his offer, he must have threatened her like he had to Nala when she first rejected him.
"I'll have to talk to her later." Nala thought.
Scar gently took Kopa out of her paws and set him against Nala's side. He then pulled Nala in closer to him and wrapped his paws around her.
"We really haven't gotten any proper time together lately," Scar said.
Telling herself that she was doing this for the best of her cubs, Nala smiled.
"I know," Nala rubbed her muzzle against his. She felt Scar purring in pleasure against her mouth.
"I-" Scar began, but was cut off by Kiara running in and pouncing on her parents. Nala silently thanked Kiara for coming in and stopping their quality time together.
"Mom, Daddy!" Kiara cried. "Tanabi and Akila won't stop chasing me!"
Suddenly, Akila and Tanabi ran in and both of them jumped on Kiara, who crashed on the ground with a squeal.
"Daddy!" Kiara cried. "Tell them to stop!"
Scar gave her a smile, "You'll have to do that on your own, my little Princess."
"Yeah, Kiara!" Akila snickered. "Tell that to us on your own!"
Kiara ran out of the den again, and the two male cubs followed her.
About ten minutes later, Kana stormed into the den, with the cubs behind her.
"Scar!" Kana growled. "Look at what Kiara did to Tanabi!"
Nala and Scar both took a good look at Tanabi and realized that his nose had a bloody cut on his nose from claws. It was nothing too serious.
"And?" Scar asked, his voice perfectly calm.
"Kiara did this to him! It was obvious she was trying to hurt him!" Kana growled, snarling at Kiara who was doing her best to hold back tears.
"Kana," Nala said. "My daughter didn't do anything on purpose. It was a simple mistake done while they were playing."
"Who was asking you?" Kana snarled.
"She is your Queen and you will give her the respect she deserves Kana!" Scar growled. "And as far as I am concerned the only reason Kiara may have purposely swiped at Tanabi is because he was bothering her. He got the price paid. Let that be a lesson to him."
Kana growled and grabbed Tanabi by the scruff and stormed oh of the den. Akila, who was looking quite nervous followed.
Nala turned to Kiara, "Was that on purpose?"
"No..." Kiara answered, sounding uneasy.
"Kiara..." Nala narrowed her eyes at her.
Kiara sighed and folded her ears down. "He wouldn't leave me alone so I swiped at him, just to scare him. I didn't mean for him to get hurt, Daddy. I was just trying to scare him!"
Scar wrapped his paw around Kiara and pulled her into his paws. There were a few tears in her eyes, and she buried her face into Scar's paw.
"And why did you try to scare him?" Scar asked.
"Because you told me that scaring others work." Kiara said. "He wasn't leaving me alone, so I tried scaring him."
Nala squeezed her eyes and held back tears. Was her cub really going to take Scar's advice? Would Kiara grow up like this?
"Very well then." Scar said, "I'll be right back. Stay with your mother."
Once he was gone, Nala turned to Kiara.
"Kiara," Nala asked. "Do you really think that scaring them is the best way?"
"No," Kiara said, shaking her head. "I won't scare them. I wanna be a Princess that everyone loves."
Nala felt her heart easing and she smiled, "Good. But tomorrow, you must apologize to Tanabi."
"I will," Kiara said, crawling into Nala's paws, as Nala began to bathe her.
When Kiara ran out of the den again, Nala stayed in the den thinking of how she would make sure her cubs wouldn't take after Scar.
"I don't know how I'm going to fight this battle alone," Nala thought. "But I will succeed."
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Later that day, Kiara and Kopa were looking for Nala.
"She's not in the den Kopa," Kiara said. "And she's hunting either."
"Then let's keep looking," Kopa said, giving his twin a friendly bump.
"Who're you looking for?" Came a voice. The twins turned around to see their half-sister Vitani.
"Our mom," Kiara said.
Vitani smirked, "Nuka doesn't seem to like your mom and our mother doesn't seem to either."
"And how about you?" Kopa asked, narrowing his eyes. He hated when anyone said anything against his mother. His mother was perfect! They shouldn't have anything to say against her.
"I don't have issues with her. Nala's pretty nice." Vitani shrugged.
"Wait, did Nuka tell you why Zira and he don't like our Mom?" Kopa asked.
"Actually no. Nuka tried telling me but Mother wouldn't let him." Vitani admitted.
"Your mom was the Queen before our mom. Then Dad took our mom in for the Queen and Zira lost her position." Kopa said.
Vitani's eyes went wide," What? Why?"
"I don't know." Kiara said. "Mom and Daddy won't tell us."
"I'll tell you why they won't tell you," Came a voice. Zira stepped out of the shadows, with a smirk on her face as she looked at Kiara and Kopa.
"Well, Kiara and Kopa, if you really want to know the truth, I'll tell you." Zira said.
Nala went looking for Kareena later that day. She found Kareena sitting on the rocks on the slope down Priderock.
"Kareena!" Nala called, approaching her.
Kareena looked up at her, and Nala saw her eyes darken. "What is it?"
"Scar told me of the arrangement." Nala said, her voice low.
"And?" Kareena asked, her tone angry. "Did you do anything to stop it?"
"Kareena," Nala said. "If I could, I would, but I can't. I tried and-"
"But what?" Kareena demanded. "Don't come among excuses to me when your mate just forced me into giving my daughter a monster of a mate someday!"
"Tanabi isn't a monster. He's-" Nala began, but Kareena cut her off.
"Oh so now your defending Scar's Pride? The older adults were right all this time! You are a traitor!" Kareena growled.
"Kareena please," Nala begged. "I know that you have the right to be angry but please understand that this is out of my control. I already lost so many, I don't want to lose you too."
"You already have," Kareena snapped, getting up. "Me and Tonal." She stormed away, leaving a helpless looking Nala behind.
Hope you enjoyed and please tell me in a review what you think of it. So Nala lost Kareena because of Scar's actions. What else will she lose because of him? And little Kiara took Scar's advice even though Nala thought she wouldn't. How much more will she listen to Scar? We saw in these last chapters that Kiara loves her ''father'' very much. She is very devoted to him. What's going to happen? Remember that training starts at the next chapter. Stay tuned to find out!