A/N: from now on the spacing of the pov`s will be XXX (I also went back and added it to the last two chapters.)Please review people, it is greatly welcomed!

Chapter 3: let it begin

Jabari watched patiently on the hilltop as Kovu`s brother and sister raced across the plains of the Pride lands setting things ablaze. He lifted his head and stared into the distance where the princess was just visible. Now the smell of smoke was in the air and the fire was raging closer to the princess.

Nuka and Vitani raced over to them taking their place in the group of lionesses that had assembled behind him. Smoke sizzled from Nuka`s tail but he ignored it. On a rock nearby he could see Zira telling Kovu to go, and his friend jumped into the flames. Jabari had to dig his claws to keep himself rooted to the ground or else he would go after his friend.

Jabari looked to the higher areas of the Pride Lands, the King`s lionesses should be arriving soon.

Zira jumped up to sit next to him, "Kill them." She whispered lightly in his ear. Just over the edge the first of Simba`s pride were coming over the hill. He glanced over to Kovu who had just reached the princess. Kovu needed more time. Jabari nodded to the others behind him and the raced down the hill, ashes flew everywhere making the sky a dark red. The ashes were too much and he had to squint to see. It was easy to ovoid the flames as the raced over the stream that separated the Pride lands from the Savage lands.

He jump hoped ontop of the rocks the second he crossed the border and leapt at the first lioness he saw, wrapping his forepaws around her throat and pining her to the ground.

"AMBUSH!" she managed to scream. Jabari bit down on her shoulder when she tried to wriggle out of his grasp. The lioness yelled in pain. Jabari was about to finish her off with a bite to the neck but claws gripped his shoulders and pulled him away. He managed to pull himself away from the lion that had him and spin around to attach again. Her eyes burned with pure hatred,

"Fight me!" she snapped, her tail lashing back and forth.

"With pleasure!" he spat back his eyes just slits. He whipped his paw across her face leaving no scratches. She growled and struck, but he was too fast and dodged her blow, hitting her I the shoulder again leaving no marks. By now she realized he was toying with her and she was get livid.

"Stop messing around and kill her!" Vitani yelled as she battled with another lion.

"It`s time!" Zira yelled to them from at the base of a rock. Jabari nodded and leapt at the lioness biting her chest. He tasted the blood in his mouth and one more movement and he could kill her.

"NALA!"

The roar was so sudden that he was forced to let go. Jabari jumped out of the way just in time to dodge Simba`s claws. He looked around and saw the tip of Nuka`s tail disappearing over the hill and he raced after his pride struggling to keep up. The ash covered his pelt making it a dark gray and his eyes stung against the smoke. Jabari jumped over the rocks in a huge leap.

A growl behind him told him that Simba was following him. Jabari`s front paws his the rock just as claws dug into his hind leg making him trip and fall head first into the river. Suddenly his head clashed with something solid and everything went black.

XXX

Simba wished he didn't have to save this pathetic excuse for a lion but it was the right thing to do. This lion could have killed Nala! Either way it wasn't right to let someone drown, no matter who they were.

Simba jumped into the stream the water reaching only his belly fur. He ducked his head under pulling at the other lion`s mane bringing him to the surface. He could hear the lion gasping for breath but he was still knocked out from a rock he had hit. Simba dragged the lion to the surface where his other lionesses were waiting. He dropped the lion and looked to Nala who was staring at the lion on the ground.

"Where`s Kiara?" he asked, just as he spoke he heard the sound of coughing and his daughter came walking through the smoke and ash covered ground, leaning on Kovu. He let out a deep grow at the sight of the other lion helping his daughter. "Here…father." Kiara gasped.

Simba headed over to Kovu, glaring at the lion that held his head. He glanced at Kiara, "Dad he saved me." She said.

Simba continued to glare at Kovu, "What about your other pride?"

Kovu ducked his head in shame, "I have left the outsiders and ask…to join you pride." Some of the lionesses behind him growled at Kovu hand chosen by Scar.

"Dad, he saved my life!" Kiara pleaded.

"For now …we`ll see." He said turning back to Nala who was leaning over the unconscious lion. "Simba…it`s Jabari." She whispered barely enough for him to hear. He saw Kovu flinch at the sight of the lion but ignored it. He walked over to the lion.

The soot that covered his fur was gone and showed a light brown color and his mane was a black as ever. If only he could see his eyes then he could know was this his son?

"Who`s Jabari?" Kiara asked from behind looking at Jabari to Nala. Simba came back to the real time. No his son was dead scar killed him and this wasn't his son.

"No one, Kovu carry him Safia will assist you." he said, Simba didn't wait to see if anyone obeyed the order and started to walk away. He could hear Nala catching up to him. "Simba, didn't you see? It`s Jabari, its him, he`s alive!"

"NO!" He snapped never taking his eyes off the ground, "It`s not."

Nala`s voice suddenly became fierce, "He was as much as my son as he was yours! Don't you think I would know my own son if I saw him!"

"No I don't think you would." He growled, "Jabari was taken by Scar when he was a month old and you're just seeing things that aren't there."

Nala let out a warning growl, "I know what I see…and I see my son!" she growled walking ahead of him to Pride rock. Simba knew he was being harsh on her but it had to be true this wasn't his son, was it?