So, Simba didn't know how to trust him anymore, huh? Kovu brooded on this as he led Simba out to the border that morning, to the rogues that did not exist. He was determined to prove to Simba that he could be trusted, even if it meant showing him a well and alive Zira. As soon as Zira made her plea, no matter how heartfelt, Kovu would see to it that those would be her last words. Before, he had been planning to go out to Zira again, alone. Nobody would have been the wiser that she had survived, all evidence gone. Now he'd make an example of her.

"Kovu, are you sure you scented rogues?" Simba asked once they had come close to the border. "I see nothing."

Zazu, who had been scanning the sky, flitted down and alighted upon the golden lion's shoulder. "Nothing for miles to report, Sire." the hornbill reported. "Lot more I could be spending my time with…" he muttered.

"Yeah, I was sure," Kovu replied. His keen eyes searched the landscape. He saw no trace of his mother. "Positive."

"They seem to have left. Let's go home. Nala was planning a hunt, and I know your cub-"

Simba and Zazu both started when Kovu let out a horrendously loud roar. Without thinking, Simba smacked Kovu in the shoulder with his paw.

"Hey!" Kovu exclaimed, glaring at Simba. The fur along his spine was bristling.

"What do you think you are doing?" Simba asked, angry. "What's gotten into you?"

"I'm seeing if they will come to a challenge. Simba, they're out here. We have to protect the pride," Kovu said. He let out another roar.

Simba shook his head. He wasn't sure what Kovu was exactly trying to prove, and he had a feeling it wasn't just the existence of rogues. This was foolish.

"Sire, just leave him," Zazu insisted. "Perhaps he's gone crazy."

Simba said nothing to this comment as he turned back for home, his eyes closed in frustration. When he looked up, however, he saw something he never thought he would behold again. Squinting, a chill ran down his spine. Was it true, or had he begun to go crazy?

"Kovu, what is this?" he raged. Kovu spun around. "Why is Zira here?"

Simba's face heated when Kovu seemed unsurprised. His face was too calm. As Zira came closer, Kovu looked at Simba with pleading eyes.

"Simba, she wants to beg your forgiveness," he whispered. "There were no rogues. I knew I would have to trick you in some way to get you out here."

Simba lunged at Kovu. This couldn't be happening! "This is an ambush, isn't it?"

Kovu lowered his body in submission, but Simba thought it was a joke. He lunged again as Kovu tried to explain. "Please just speak to her. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise. She says we can't move on until this is resolved. What harm could it do just listening to her?"

"Clearly a lot," Simba scoffed. "I cannot believe you listened to her. She's a pathological liar, a sociopath!"

"Please-"

"Zazu, go for help!"

"Yes, S-"

"No, just listen to me!" Kovu shouted. "Trust me!"

Simba glanced from Zira, who now stood close enough for him to clearly see her somber expression and ragged, pale fur, and back to Zazu who sat ready to take off at any second. He turned his gaze back to Kovu.

"Talk fast," he told him with an edge of distrust in his voice.

Kovu nodded. "Simba, she wants to tell you something about some son you had, the reason we were exiled." Kovu hadn't wanted to say it, wanting to run away instead. But he also wanted nothing more than to regain Simba's trust. It was true he would probably never be forgiven for this stunt, but he had confidence that all would be right again in the end. He'd kill Zira right before Simba's eyes if he had to.

Simba was stunned into silence. "Chaka? She's going to admit that… she killed my son? My first born?"

Kovu nodded. He was happy it had worked to his advantage, although he was still a little confused about the situation. "Will you listen to her then?" he asked.

Simba watched Kovu's desperate face as he reluctantly nodded his head. "So long as this isn't a trick, too, I'll listen."

Kovu seemed to relax as he said, "It's not, I promise. No more tricks."

Simba's frown deepened, and he glared hard at Kovu. "Yes, because if this does turn out to be one, you will not escape punishment, do you understand?"

Kovu's ears flattened against his skull as he swallowed hard. "Yes, Simba, I understand."

"Now bring her over here."