Here's chapter fifteen and please review. Reminder that I don't own Lion King, Disney does.
I'd like to thank CSIMentalistTLK lover, A guest, Teddi 8347, Fluffy Hug, Whoa it's fandoms, Asaf, balto90, A Guest, and thatcoyotegirlwolf for reviewing.
Nala stared at her son with wide eyes. Today? Scar was choosing today? Scar hadn't even told her that he would be making his decision all of a sudden.
"Let's go," Kopa urged, pushing back his growing mane from his eyes. He bounded out with Kiara behind him. Nala hurried after them.
When they got there, everyone had gathered. Both prides and perhaps all the hyenas in the Pridelands.
Everyone stepped aside to make space for Nala and her children. The rebel Pride gave her dirty looks while she could see Kana and Zarana both looking equally as nervous as her. She spotted Zira pacing back and forth with Vitani beside her.
Nala caught saw her friends and they shared looks with each other. Tama nodded at her along with Kula, assuring her that the throne would go to Kopa. Shari and Shinda smiled at her, trying to keep her calm.
As Nala approached Scar, her heart was beating madly inside her chest. What if Kopa didn't get chosen? All her hard work would have been for nothing.
"No," Nala reminded. "It wouldn't have been for nothing. Kiara and Kopa are the children of the true heir to Priderock. It wouldn't have been for nothing."
Nala scanned at the gathering crowd. She caught her mother and father's eyes and for once they didn't give her a dirty look. Their eyes held the same fear that Nala did.
Kopa was trembling next to her and Nala bent down and nuzzled him, letting him lean against her for comfort. For the past few years, he had taken minimal comfort from Nala, saying it would make him weak but now he didn't resist.
"Mom," Kopa's voice cracked.
"Shhhhh," Nala whispered, rubbing her head against his. "Even if you don't get chosen, I'm proud of you Kopa. You have changed so much but no matter what you are still my son. One way or another, you will get what is rightfully yours. I promise."
"What's rightfully mine?" Kopa asked, but Nala didn't answer.
Scar three his head back and let out an earsplitting roar, gathering everyone's attention. Once everyone had quieted down, he spoke.
"For many years, my four sons have been training to become capable of ruling this Pride. They have worked to prove that they can. But however, I can only choose one of them to follow in my paw prints and become King."
Nala held her breath in. It had to be Kopa, it just had to be Kopa!
"For years, I carefully observed them, to see who was the most capable of being King. I took many things into consideration and now I have made my final decision."
"Mufasa...great spirits above...please let it be the one true heir." Nala mentally pleaded.
"The one that I have chosen is the one that is the most capable and takes after me the most. He had learned and followed my lessons well. He has satisfied me."
Kopa was shaking with fear beside Nala and he leaned against her, trying to stay steady.
"Your future King is...Nuka!"
Nala gasped and took a step back. Nuka was future King? Scar had chosen Nuka?
There was talking and gasps from the crowd. The rebel Pride looked furious. Nala's friends were trying to make eye contact with her, to calm her down. Zarana and Kana both looked devastated, knowing that their sons had lost the hence to become the King.
Kopa stared at Scar. He had chosen Nuka to become King? Nuka? Nuka!
"Nuka can't do anything right! How did that little termite get chosen to become King?" Kopa thought.
Nuka was just as shocked while Zira looked happier than she should be. Smirking, Zira looked around for Nala and she caught her eyes.
"You have lost Nala." Zira thought. "I won and now I will get my revenge."
Akila, and Tanabi had joined them. Tanabi looked upset while Akila was pacing back and forth angrily.
Tanabi has so wanted to become the King that his late uncle had been. But now he had lost the chance.
Nala felt her heart cracking as she looked at her son. His eyes were furious but Nala knew that deep inside he was hurting. Kopa had tried so hard and gave up everything to do what he had do to become the King.
"Let's go back in the den." Nala murmurered, nudging both of her cubs.
As they passed by the rebel Pride, her friends gave her looks of sympathy while the others smirked at her, shaking their heads.
In the den, Kopa collapsed on the ground, covering his eyes with his paws. Nala knew that he would deal with the grief by himself. She wanted to comfort him like she has done when he was young but Kopa had been raised to believe that it would weaken him.
Kiara settled down next to her brother, resting gently against him and Kopa didn't push her aside. Nala knew that no matter how cruel he seemed to be, Kiara would always be one of the most precious things he had.
Nala settled down and closed her eyes, wondering what she would do next. Now that Nuka was the next King, Zira would have power. And Zira's target would be Nala.
"Maybe I should take them to the jungle." Nala thought. "It's about time they meet their true father and maybe now we can convince Simba to come back."
Kiara and Kopa were able to go into the Outlands for a while now and if she told Scar that she was hunting with them, he would believe her.
"Maybe I could." Nala thought. "If not now, then soon."
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The next day, Kopa was a wreck. He had wandered off by himself and hadn't even bothered to come back to feed. Nala had sent some hyenas after him to check where he was and they reported back to her saying that he was just walking around avoiding everyone.
Nala herself wanted to be alone. She was resting quietly at the Pride's resting place when she felt a shadow towering over her. Nala looked up to see Zira smirking at her.
"What do you want Zira?" Nala asked.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sincerely sorry." Zira sneered. "That your son didn't get the throne. Of course we all saw that coming but reality is cruel isn't it?"
Nala got up and roared at Zira. "Talk about my son like that again Zira and it will be the last thing you say!"
"I'm not here to talk about Kopa. I'm here to talk about you." Zira said. "We all know that you took my position as the Queen. Yet the Queen couldn't make her son good enough to become the King."
"And your point is?" Nala demanded.
"That I'm more fit to be the Queen." Zira said. "I'm the one who in the end succeeded! I made sure my son got chosen to become the King!"
"That's because Nuka did everything to please you and Scar." Nala snapped. "My son can at least make decisions for himself."
"I won Nala." Zira said. "Despite everything you put me through, I won the final battle." She turned and left, leaving Nala to glare back at her.
"I have to talk with Rafiki." Nala thought to herself and she trotted off to Rafiki's tree.
"Rafiki!" Nala called as she reached his tree.
"Nala," Rafiki greeted, easily swinging down the tree. "What can I do for you?"
"I...I...I don't know what to do." Nala said, her voice cracking with tears. "I tried so hard to make Kopa the King since he's Simba's son, but it didn't work. Scar took away his innocence and I thought maybe if he was chosen to be King, it would work out but it didn't. I don't know what to do anymore!"
"My dear," Rafiki said, placing his hand on Nala's shoulder. "You must calm down."
"How do I calm down?" Nala asked. "My son lost his throne and his innocence and he's going to grow up to be just like Scar. Neither of my children knows who their true father is and they're going to be devastated when they realize that Scar isn't actually their father. What do I do?"
"Trust your heart." Rafiki said.
"What?" Nala asked.
"Everything will happen when the time is right. That is all that I can really tell you. But trust your heart and everything will be alright." Rafiki soothed.
Nala sighed and nodded. After chatting for a few minute, she hissed him goodbye and headed back to Priderock.
Neither Nala nor Rafiki was aware that Zira had heard their entire conversation.
Zira was shocked. Kiara and Kopa weren't Scar's cubs? Then whose cubs were they? Nala and Rafiki hadn't mentioned their true father. But who could it be? Was it someone from the Pride? Or was it a rogue? She wasn't sure but she knew that she had to tell Scar and somehow convince him that she was telling the truth. It would be difficult but she would succeed. Zira knew that he would surely kill Nala and the thought filled her with joy. Finally! The lioness who took away everything from her would fall as she deserved.
Zira sprinted back to Priderock and hurried into the den. She was happy to see Scar there alone.
"What are you doing here?" Scar demanded when he saw her.
"We have to talk." Zira said.
"About what?"
"I overheard Nala and Rafiki talking." Zira said. "Nala said that Kiara and Kopa were not sired by you and Rafiki knew this whole time!"
"What are you talking about?" Scar hissed. "Kopa and Kiara are mine!"
"I know you think that." Zira said. "But she tricked you into believing that. Perhaps that's why she agreed into becoming your Queen. To trick you into thinking that you sired her cubs. But I heard her talking to Rafiki about how Kiara and Kopa will be devastated when they realize that you are not their true father."
"How do I know that this isn't a lie? You still hate Nala for being the Queen?" Scar growled.
"Because this isn't a lie." Zira said. "Think about it Scar. Nala was a full member of the rebel Pride. Why would she so of a sudden want to be your Queen? This would explain why Kiara and Kopa look nothing like you."
Scar stared at her. It did make sense...why Kiara and Kopa looked nothing like him and why Nala wanted to become the Queen. It would make sense but he didn't want to believe it. Kiara and Kopa were his!
Meanwhile Nala was just about to enter her den when she heard Scar and Zira's voices and she stopped, wanting to listen to their conversation.
"Get out of here Zira!" Scar growled. "I don't want to listen to your lies!"
"Fine then." Zira growled. "But I will prove to you that she said those words."
Nala jumped back as Zira stormed out of the den, pushing her out of the way as she went.
Nala went into the den to find Scar deep in thought.
"Scar?" Nala asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Scar said. "I have to go now." He hurried out of the den.
That night, Nala left to go the Waterhole leaving g Scar along with the sleeping twins.
Scar looked at Kiara and Kopa. They didn't look anything like him. Not even in the slightest way. He not being their father would explain that.
Nala walked into the den to find Scar looking at her son and daughter intently.
"What are you doing?" Nala asked.
"Nothing," Scar said, shaking his head. "I was just thinking." Nala nodded and settled down next to Kiara and Kopa to go to sleep.
The next day, Zira told Nuka about what she had overheard.
"Your father doesn't like me being around him." Zira said. "But perhaps you can talk to him and knock some sense into him."
"Alright," Nuka said, and trotted off to find Scar while Zira went to look for Nala.
"Nala," Zira greeted when she found her.
"What Zira?" Nala asked.
"I heard your conversation with Rafiki yesterday." Zira said and Nala's head snapped up. She looked at Zira and Zira saw fear shining in Nala's eyes.
"What conversation?" Nala asked. "I didn't go and visit Rafiki yesterday."
"Nala," Zira sneered. "I can tell that you're lying. You went to Rafiki yesterday and talked to him about Kiara and Kopa. They weren't sired by Scar and Rafiki knew that all along."
"You are out of your mind!" Nala roared. "My son and daughter were both sired by Scar. I didn't go and visit Rafiki yesterday."
"Lies!" Zira chuckled. "I was there the whole time and I listened to your whole conversation."
"You're lying Zira." Nala said. "You've always wanted me out of power and this is your way of doing that."
"Nala," Zira hissed. "I know what I heard and I know that you're lying. I will find a way to prove it to Scar and he will kill you and your children. One way or another, I will convince Scar. So you better watch out!"
Zira gave Nala another look before turning and walking away.
Nala felt her heart pounding madly inside her chest. Zira had heard the entire conversation. One way or another, Zira would convince Scar that she was telling the truth. Nala was sure of that. Then both her children would be dead along with her.
There was only one thing to do. She had to take Kiara and Kopa to the jungle to meet their true father. They were old enough to take a long trip in the Outlands. Surely Simba would come back for their sake and fight for his rightful throne.
Nala go up and hurried to the dens to look for the twins. On her way to the main den, she bumped into Tama.
"What's the rush?" Tama asked.
"Have you see Kiara and Kopa?" Nala asked.
"Kiara just left the den a couple minutes ago but I haven't seen Kopa all day." Tama said and Nala nodded before hurrying away leaving Tama staring after her strangely.
Nala continue searching when she bumped into her parents. Nala ignored them and was about to keep searching when Sarafina's voice stopped her.
"Nala," Sarafina called. "Wait!"
"What?" Nala asked, turning around.
"Kopa lost the throne." Runju stated.
"And I suppose your happy about that?!" Nala snapped.
"I thought that it would teach you a lesson." Sarafina said.
"For what?" Nala demanded.
"For your selfishness!" Runju said. "You abandoned us in hopes of what? That you would get a better life? That your cub would take the throne? None of that happened!"
"I know you're happy about this!" Nala snarled. "That my son lost the throne. But Kopa will get what's rightfully his! I'm going to make sure of that!"
After looking for another while, Nala managed to find them.
"Kopa, Kiara," Nala said, approaching them. "I've been looking all over for both of you."
"What's wrong Mom?" Kopa asked.
"What do you two think about taking a trip into the Outlands?" Nala asked.
"Really?" Kiara asked.
"We could find a lot of prey at a place I know and bring it back. Think about how pleased your father would be." Nala said.
"Let's go now!" Kiara exclaimed. "I'll go and tell Daddy that we're leaving."
"No," Nala said. "Let's surprise him."
"But Mom," Kiara said. "Won't he be worried?"
"I'll tell a couple hyenas that I took you out on a hunting trip." Nala said. "He won't be worried as long as you two are with me."
"Alright," Kopa said. "Let's go!"
Nala smiled and she and her children began making their way to the border.
Hope you enjoyed and please review. Kiara and Kopa are finally going to meet their true father! How do you think they're going to react to that? Stay tuned to find out.