Here's chapter 17 and please review. Reminder that I don't own Lion King, Disney does.

I'd like to thank Raina, A Guest, balto90, Fluffy Hug, Alexnich, almondbutter, Teddi 8347, RhisaMari, Maua, CSIMentalistTLK lover, and Asaf for reviewing the last chapter.

Meanwhile, the rebel Pride was in chaos about the news.

"We don't even know for sure yet." Sarabi reminded. "You know that Zira is jealous of Nala."

"But Zira also fears Scar. She wouldn't risk a lie to Scar because if he found out, he would kill her." Tama pointed out.

"Kiara and Kopa probably aren't Scar's." Kula said. "It makes sense."

"I know it does but let's not forget..." Penda's voice trailed off.

"Forget what?" Shinda asked. "It all makes sense. Nala was part of the rebel Pride then she just randomly mated with Scar. And the twins look nothing like Scar."

"Nala also left the Pridelands when Zira found out about her talk with Rafiki. She might have done that to protect Kiara and Kopa from Scar if he were ever to believe Zira." Shari added.

"We don't even know if Zira's telling the truth." Ishan said. Jasiri looked up and glared at her grandfather. Why did they all seem to hate Nala? She felt her mother nudging her, telling her to keep quiet and she growled silently. She settled back down next to Kovu who was sound asleep.

"Okay," Aran said. "So maybe the twins aren't Scar's. Maybe the twins were fathered by someone else. But why would Nala be Scar's Queen?"

"Maybe she just wanted to have a cub that could grow up as a Prince to give the Pridelands a good King. Nala and we all knew that Scar's cubs would be hopeless as rulers." Shani said.

"But the law states that any ruler of the Pridelands must be of royal blood." Runju said. "Nala knew that. Even she wouldn't break that rule."

A growl escaped Moraan's throat. Why couldn't they just give Nala a break?

"Why can't you just give her a break?" Moraan growled. "No matter what, she is Nala! And whether they are of Scar's blood or not, they're Nala's cubs! Don't you remember all the times Nala must have saved our Pride? Everyone used to look up at her as a hero! You all completely forgot that!" Beside him, Nala's friends echoed his words in agreement.

"It doesn't matter!" Sarafina said, raising her voice. "No matter what, we still have to find of by either seeing if Zira is lying or not or waiting until Nala returns!"

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Back in the jungle, Nala and Simba got ready to tell Kiara and Kopa their plan.

"Kiara," Nala said. "Kopa, we have to talk."

"About what?" Kiara asked.

"About going back to the Pridelands." Nala said. "Your father decided to go challenge Scar for his rightful throne. We won't kill him, I promise but we will let him flee the Pridelands."

"NO!" Kopa shouted. "You can't do that!"

"Kopa," Simba said, trying to talk some sense into his son. "Scar isn't the rightful heir to the throne and neither is he ruling the Pridelands properly. The Pridelands were rich and beautiful when my father was ruling. Scar isn't the true King."

"He's better than you!" Kopa snapped. "He didn't run away from the Pridelands at least!"

"Kopa!" Nala warned. "Watch what you say!"

"Mom," Kopa said. "I won't let him challenge Scar! Even if I have to go ahead and warn him. You can't just take him out of power like that!"

"I know this is hard." Nala said. "But Zira overheard me talking about you two to Rafiki. She will somehow convince Scar of the truth then he will kill both of you."

"No!" Kopa cried. "I'm still his son! He won't do that!"

"You don't know what kind of monster Scar is." Nala said.

"Kiara," Simba asked. "What do you think?"

"If Scar still loves us, and if you do overthrow him, can I still visit him if he still cares for me?" Kiara asked. "I know he isn't ruling properly and the throne belongs to you but I still want to see him."

"Of course you can." Simba said. He licked the top of her head and Kiara nuzzled him.

"No!" Kopa roared. "I won't let you! Who knows if I'm even your son!?" He growled at Simba.

"Kopa trust me. You are his son. Who do you look like, Simba or Scar?" Nala asked.
"How can I trust you?" Kopa spat out. "If I'm truly his son that means you've lied to us all these years."

"I did that to protect you. You don't know who Scar truly is. He and I both kept that from you." Nala said.

Kopa sighed and was silent for a minute. "I don't care. Whether Simba is my father or not, I won't let you overthrow Scar. He still raised me all these years. He actually fathered me unlike some bug eating coward!"

Simba sighed. "Kopa I'm sorry you have to make his decision, but we're doing this for the best. We won't kill him, I promise."

Kopa growled angrily, clawing at the grass. He stormed away leaving Nala a bit shaken at his outburst.

"Mom?" Kiara nudged Nala.

"I'm fine." Nala assured nuzzling her. "But I don't know what to do about his temper and anger issues. They've gotten worse since Nuka was declared the heir."

"So when are we leaving?" Kiara asked.

"Tomorrow." Simba replied. "We're leaving tomorrow."

Meanwhile Kopa was in the meadow, pacing back and forth.

"No! They can't overthrow Scar! I won't let him! Who does he think he is just taking my father's throne?" Kopa snarled. He pushed his growing mane out of his eyes in annoyance.

"She lied to me." Kopa thought. "All these years."

Kopa's heart broke as he thought of what happened. He didn't know who his father was. He couldn't trust his mother anymore. And his sister seemed perfectly fine accepting Simba as her father. He had always thought he would do the best for Kiara and thought that she would always support him but that had gone wrong too.

"Kopa..." Came a voice. Kopa looked around him but no one was there.

"Kopa..." The voice came again, louder and firmer this time.

"Kopa...my grandson...look up..." Said the voice. Shaking, Kopa looked up and nearly passed out with fear at what he saw.

"Who...who...who are you?" Kopa stammered out. He saw a figure of a lion that looked a lot like Simba standing in the clouds.

"I am Mufasa. Simba's father and your grandfather." Mufasa spoke. "I can see you are in need of help."

"So I really am Simba's son..." Kopa murmured.

"Kopa," Mufasa said. "Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. You must realize who you truly are."

"How can I?" Kopa asked. "Everyone I know betrayed me. "

"No they haven't." Mufasa said. "It is you who are betraying them."

Kopa felt a sinking feeling in his stomach knowing that he was right.

"Kopa, you must realize who you truly are and take your place in the circle of life." Mufasa said and slowly began to disappear as the clouds began to pull away.

"Wait!" Kopa cried. "Don't go!" But it was too late. Mufasa was gone.

"Grandfather, don't leave me..." Kopa whispered but he was alone.

So he truly was Simba's son. That meant that he and his true father were the rightful heirs to the throne. But how could he let Scar be overthrown like that? Scar had never really done anything so bad, had he?

"Maybe I'll just go with Kiara's idea. If he still does care for us, I'll go and visit him." Kopa thought with a sigh and began making his way back to his family.

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Back in the Pridelands, both Prides were ready to storm Scar out of the den for some answers.

"Scar!" Came the voices. "We want answers!"

"Dad!" Nuka hurried into the den. "You have to go out before there's a riot."

"I know." Scar said and walked out of the den. The voices and shouts died down when he walked outside. Looking around he saw that both Prides and most hyenas were present.

"As everyone knows, Zira overheard Nala talking to Rafiki about Kiara and Kopa not being mine." Scar announced. "For the past few days, I've given it a lot of thinking and I realized that it was true. Kiara and Kopa are not mine!"

Murmurs and whispered erupted from the crowd before Scar spoke again.

"Nala told me she was taking the twins on a hunting trip. If she isn't back within about four days, I'm sending search parties to find her. They will bring back Nala and the twins to me whether they are dead or alive!" Scar growled. He looked at Sarafina and Runju, whose eyes were wide with shock and fear for their daughter.

Scar stormed back into the den. Nala had made a fool of him! How could he have been that foolish?

"You will pay," Scar thought. "I will kill the twins right in front of you before I kill you."

The journey through the Outlands only took two days this time since they knew their way back well.

Kopa was quiet throughout the whole journey. He avoided talking with Simba and Nala. He didn't bother talking with his sister either.

At last they reached the border of the Pridelands.

"Wait, do you want to talk with the males at the border first?" Nala asked. "It'll be easier that way."

Simba nodded. "Let's go."

Carefully they made their way towards where the males were. At the edge Nala spotted two figures that made her heart soar.

"Alex!" Nala called. "Tojo!"

Alex and Tojo turned and relief flooded their eyes when they saw the twins and Nala. Hurrying towards them, they embraced the twins.

"We were so worried! We thought that Scar already killed you!" Tojo murmured, nuzzling Kiara and Kopa along with Alex.

"Does he know? Did he figure out?" Nala asked.

"So they really aren't Scar's." Alex said. "Then whose are they?"

"Simba's." Nala replied, and for the first time, Alex and Tojo noticed Simba standing behind them.

"Simba?" Alex breathed. "Is that really you?"

"Yes," Simba said. "It's me."

"But you're dead. The stampede and..." Tojo's voice trailed off in shock.

"I survived." Simba said. "And now, I finally came back."

The three males embraced each other, exchanging words of happiness and surprise at Simba's return.

"What did Scar say?" Nala asked. "When he found out that the twins weren't his?"

"He said he wanted you and the twins brought to him. Whether you three are dead or alive." Alex said, fear growing in his eyes.

Nala turned to the twins. "I'm sorry."

Kopa didn't say anything but Kiara felt her heart breaking. "I thought he would still care about us. Mom and Daddy are right...I don't know how terrible he truly is."

"Alex, Tojo." Simba said. "Rally the males and bring them back to Priderock. Nala can rally the lions back at Priderock while I look for Scar."

"Nala, you might not be able to convince the rebel Pride and we don't want to risk it. I'll come with you and rally the rebel Pride." Tojo said.

"I can rally the males by myself." Alex said, and everyone nodded.

"You two," Simba said. "Come with us and we'll find somewhere to hide you." The twins nodded.

Simba and his family began moving ahead. His heart pounded as he saw Priderock looming ahead. The Pridelands looked terrible with no greenery or water. He thought of his mother. What would he say?

Simba had faced many fears before but he knew that this upcoming battle would be the greatest.

Hope you enjoyed and please review. Now we know how Scar will react if he sees Nala and the twins.