Here's chapter eighteen and please review.

I'd like to thank A Guest, SweetChinMusic115, balto90, BlackLouie, thatcoyotegirlwolf, CSIMentalistTLK lover, Asaf, Fluffy Hug, Teddi8347 for reviewing.

As Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kopa, Timon, Pumbaa and Tojo neared Priderock, Simba saw hyenas littering the Pridelands and he felt anger burning up inside him. Scar had done this all! His son and daughter had grown up in a wasted world.

"What's your plan for getting past them?" Timon asked.

"Live bait." Simba replied. "You two have to create a distraction so we can get past them." After a bit of whispered arguing, Simba convinced Timon and Pumbaa to distract the hyenas while they moved on.

"Nala," Simba said, turning to his mate. "Is there any place that we could hide the twins?"

"Yes." Nala replied. "I know a den. Tojo once you gather the rebel Pride, get a few lionesses to lead the cubs to the den."

"Got it." Tojo replied. He nuzzled Nala and the twins before heading off the rally the rebel Pride.

"Alright," Simba said. "I'm going to go find Scar. Be careful!" He nuzzled the twins and Nala. Nala and Kiara returned his affection but Kopa didn't.

Nala led the twins to the den and ushered them to the very back.

"Remember," Nala said. "Do not leave the cave until someone comes and gets you. If hyenas do come in, run and don't stop until you feel it's safe. And above all, stay together. Do not separate. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you two!" She licked the tops of their heads.

"Mom!" Kiara clung onto Nala. "What if you or Daddy gets hurt in the battle? I don't want to lose you!"

Nala nuzzled her. "It's okay. I'll be back. I promise. You father will too."

"Promise?" Kopa asked. Nala looked at him surprised. He had been silent this whole time.

"I promise." Nala said, rubbing his cheek against his. She knew that he was scared. He wouldn't admit it, but he was scared.

Nala gave the two another nuzzle before hurrying out of the den. When she got to where Simba was, she was shocked to see the hyenas gathered behind Scar and the rebel Pride behind Simba. She squeezed her way to the front. Kula, Tama, Moraan and Chumvi were at her side, ready to fight.

"The cubs?" Nala murmured.

"Shani and Shari are leading them to the cave." Chumvi replied and Nala nodded. She knew that Alex and the other males were probably half way to Priderock now. It would be only minutes until they arrived.

"Simba, you don't understand." Scar said. "The pressures of ruling a kingdom-"

"Are no longer yours." Simba growled. "Step down or else we are going to have a fight."

"Oh yes I would!" Scar stammered. "But you see them?" He pointed to the mass of hyenas behind him. "They think I'm the King."

"Well they don't." Simba snapped, looking at the rebel Pride. "I am the rightful King."

Then Scar noticed Nala. "Well look who it is. My so called Queen!"

"Touch her Scar and I will rip you into pieces!" Simba warned. Tama, Moraan, Kula and Chumvi flanked around Nala, ready to protect her, but Nala didn't want their protection. She wanted to deal with Scar herself.

"Now tell me Nala." Scar sneered. "Are the twins really mine?"

Nala felt everyone staring at her. Simba, Scar, both Prides and the hyenas.

"No," Nala said. "They aren't yours."

Scar roared at her in anger. "Then whose are they?"

Simba and Nala exchanged a glance before Simba answered.

"Mine." Simba said. "I am Kiara and Kopa's father."

There were gasps from everyone. Nala felt everyone looking at her in shock.

Scar growled at Nala. "You knew he was alive all these years? Then why didn't he come back earlier?"

"Because the time wasn't right!" Came a new voice. Rafiki swung down the rocks that led up to Priderock with a wise smile on his face. Scar growled at him.

"Enough talking Scar!" Simba growled. "Are you going to step down or do we have to have a fight?"

"Must it all end in violence?" Scar asked, sighing dramatically. "I'd hate to be responsible for the death of a family member, wouldn't you say Simba?"

"That's not going to work Scar!" Simba snapped. "I've put it behind me."

"But what about your loyal subjects?" Scar asked. "Have they put it behind them?"

"Simba?" Nala asked. "What is he talking about?"

"Oh so you haven't told them your little secret!" Scar exclaimed. "Well Simba, this is the perfect time. Tell them who is responsible for Mufasa's death!"

Nala's eyes went wide with horror as she looked at Simba. He was responsible for it? That's why he didn't want to come back?

Simba sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. "I am."

Sarabi stepped forward and looked at her son. "Tell me it's not true." Sarabi begged. "Tell me it's not true."

"It's true." Simba sighed lowering his head.

"See, he admits it! Murderer!" Scar roared.

"No that's-" Simba tried to speak but Scar and the hyenas began to advance on him, sending him to the edge of Priderock.

"Simba!" Nala cried as he stumbled off the ledge but he managed to grab the end. Tama and Chumvi grabbed her and held her back when she tried to move forward. Suddenly there was a flash of lightening and the ground beneath Priderock burst into flames. Nala wanted to start crying as she realized that Simba would fall right into the flames.

She watched with a pounding heart as Scar leaned into Simba and said something to him. Nala gasped when Simba jumped back onto the ledge, roaring "Murderer!"

"Tell them the truth!" Simba hissed.

Scar muttered something inaudible and Simba pressed his claws against his neck.

"So they can hear you!" Simba growled.

"Alright! Alright! I did it! I killed Mufasa!" Scar spat out.

There were roars of anger from the rebel Pride as they ran forward to attack Scar and the hyenas moved forward to attack them. Nala fought off as many hyenas as she could, and looked up through the flames just in time to see Simba chasing Scar. Nala began to follow them when she felt a lioness tackling her. She turned to see Zira.

"Zira…" Nala growled.

"Nala!" Zira chuckled. "I finally have the chance to kill you!" She lunged at Nala and the two of them fought ferociously until Nala managed to pin her down.

"I'd like to see you try and kill me!" Zira sneered. "I know you're too soft!"

"She won't!" Came a voice. "But I will!" Nala turned around and saw Shinda at her side. Without hesitation she slashed Zira's throat, killing her.

"It had to be done." Shinda said, looking at Nala. "She wouldn't have stopped."

"I know." Nala nodded. "Let's go!"

Meanwhile, Simba had Scar pinned down.

"Simba…" Scar stammered out. "You wouldn't kill your own uncle, would you?"

"No Scar." Simba hissed. "I'm giving you a chance. Run away Scar and never come back."

Scar growled silently. This would be his only way to live and get his revenge on Nala. He wouldn't die without doing so.

"Very well then." Scar said. He got up and began running down Priderock and towards the border. He wasn't sure how to take his revenge on Nala but he would find a way.

Meanwhile back in the den where the cubs were, everyone was getting worried.
"Maybe we should go out." Kovu said. "And see what's going on."

"No!" Danyssa exclaimed. "Priderock is burning. We have to stay in here unless someone gets us. The fire didn't reach our part yet."

"She's right." Kiara said and Jasiri nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, there was a snicker from outside and the cubs turned to see a clan of hyenas.

"Let's just have whatever lion around!" One of them said and they charged towards the adolescents.

"Run!" Kopa roared and everyone headed out of the den. Remembering his mother's words, he and the others continued towards the border, getting away from Priderock with the hyenas behind them.

Kiara looked back. Kopa, Kovu, Haru, Jasiri, and Danyssa were still behind her but what about the others? What had happened to them?

"Kiara!" Kovu said. "Don't look back! Keep going!" Kopa shoved her forward and they kept running.

"Split up!" Haru cried and veered left. Danyssa followed him. Kovu turned right and Jasiri followed him leaving Kiara and Kopa to continue straight. The clan of hyenas also split up into groups to go after the cubs giving them some distance in between.

"Head for the border!" Kopa panted. "No one's there. Mom and…and…Dad…they'll find us there."

Finally, the exhausted adolescents reached the border, and stopped. The hyenas had given up the chase and they were safe.

Kiara looked up as she felt droplets of water falling down.
"It's raining!" Kiara gasped as the sky began to open and the Pridelands seemed to be weeping for joy at the return of the true heir.

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Back at Priderock, Simba had roared at the ledge of Priderock, announcing his claim to the throne. Never had he felt so much happiness, knowing that everything would be alright. Scar was gone and without him the hyenas and the lionesses loyal to him wouldn't stay.

"Let's go find the cubs before we talk about anything." Shari called and everyone nodded in agreement. As the mothers and fathers who had left their young ones in the den went to get them, the others stayed back.

But as Nala and the other parents reached the den, they were horrified to see it empty.

"The hyenas!" Kula gasped. "They must have been here!"

"I don't smell any blood." Simba said, sniffing the air. "They must have run. We have to find them before it's too late." All the adults hurried out of the den, calling names of the ones that they had lost.

"Kiara!" Nala called. "Kopa!" She managed to catch a faint scent of them and following it, she realized it led towards the border. She looked back and she knew that Simba was searching somewhere else and she debated on telling him before she left. But she didn't want to risk losing their scent and she moved forward.

Nala followed the scent and continued forward until she was nearly at the border.

"Kiara!" Nala called. "Kopa!" After a few minutes of searching, she heard a returning call.

"Mom!" Kopa burst out followed by Kiara. Nala rushed up to them, holding them in close while licking and nuzzling them.
"I'm so glad you two are alright!" Nala purred, licking the tops of their heads.
"Is Daddy alright?" Kiara asked. "How about the others?"

"Everyone is fine." Nala said. "Let's go back to Priderock. Everything is going to be alright now, I promise."

"Not so fast." Came a voice. The voice was too familiar. Nala whipped around to see Scar approaching them and she gasped.

"Surprised?" Scar sneered. "I wasn't going to leave this world without getting my revenge on you."

"Touch them and I will kill you." Nala growled, using her body to shield her son and daughter.

"You have no choice Nala!" Scar growled. "You made a fool out of me and I won't let that go!"

Kiara and Kopa shook with fear as they saw their mother get ready to fight Scar.

Hope you enjoyed and please review. Will Nala survive the fight? Will one of the twins die? Stay tuned to find out.