It's a short chapter, so the next one will come more quickly than this one. But, maybe you'll like this one.

So, I just signed up for my fall semester college classes… Life is either going to be great, or it will SUCK.

Bariss: "Just don't abandon us, alright?"

You mean the story? Don't worry about that…

Bariss: "I really hope so, because I've seen what you've typed, and you'd better keep updating!"

Alright! Geeze…

Bariss: "Good. Now, DarthKingdom doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, or anything else."

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Chapter 77: The Lion's Share

"I'm sorry, Simba." Nehrut said sympathetically.

It had been a few hours since Xarcs had kidnapped Kiara and Kovu. Nehrut had only recently woken up, and conveyed his message to Simba and the others.

Simba was pacing up and down his private chamber deep within Pride Rock. The off-worlders, and his 'inner circle' were there as well. He was obviously a nervous wreck. He didn't say anything, just stared at the floor, growling to himself. Finally, Nala had to walk up to him and hold him still long enough for him to calm down.

"So what do we do about this?" He finally asked to nobody in particular.

"We find a way to rip Xarcs off like we did Hamsterviel." Sora answered. "We should get somebody over there to quietly free Kiara and Kovu before we get there."

"And since I control the 'stealth department' of this group of ours, I guess I'll do it?" Bariss interjected.

"Just be sure that nobody notices you." Mickey added. "If they know you're coming, they'll give Kiara and Kovu to the Heartless."

At Simba's grave expression, Kairi added, "But she won't be seen."

"I guarantee it." Bariss promised. "I've never been caught before." Nehrut cleared his throat loudly, and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, once."

"Thank you." Simba said. "My daughter is the world to me."

"But what do we do after we free the kids?" Axel asked. "We still have a Brotherhood problem that needs taking care of."

"I've been thinking about that." Sora said. He looked at Nehrut, a glint in his eye.

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The Outlands were just as they had been when Kovu had left them two days previously. The only difference now was that there were a few Heartless roaming the area near Xarcs's new base.

In the heart of the giant termite mound that had become the Outlanders' home, Kiara and Kovu were being patiently watched by the unblinking eyes of the Heartless. They were sitting together on a raised stump in the center of the cave, which almost resembled a tiny throne.

They glanced uncomfortably around their prison. If they made even one suspicious move, the eight Wild Dogs hanging around the room would pounce without hesitation.

"What are they going to do with us? Why haven't they done anything yet?" Kiara asked Kovu quietly.

"We haven't done anything to you because you're worthless to us dead, girl." Zira had walked in for the fifth time since their capture to check on them. She walked to the space between two of the Heartless and stopped there.

"The only reason you're still alive is because we need you as a hostage, not as a lifeless body." She said, not acknowledging her son in the slightest. "The second your father arrives, you will be out of our sight forever."

"And what about Kovu?"

But Zira was already walking away. She stopped only briefly, and turned her head a fraction of an inch back toward them. But they could see a horrible smile on her face.

It didn't take a genius to understand what that meant.

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Xarcs awaited Simba, Sora and his friends outside the base. The sun was just beginning to rise in the east. He could feel Simba approaching, and he knew that his former nephew felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. That was good.

Let him stew in his own fear before he dies.

No, he didn't intend to make a Heartless out of Simba. Surely he'd produce a powerful Nobody, and there was no doubt that he wouldn't be so easy to control. No, he would kill the 'king', and retake this world in the name of the Brotherhood of the Dark.

Zira walked up next to him. "The cubs aren't causing any trouble, I take it?" He asked her.

"None at all."

"Good. We still need the girl... But after the exchange, feel free to do away with Kovu."

As Zira went on and on about ground treachery on Kovu's part, Xarcs suddenly got a strange feeling. Animal instinct, Nobody instinct, whatever it was, he knew that something suddenly wasn't right. He had no idea what it could have been, however.

He scanned the area, and something struck him as odd. There had been a Shadow not three feet from him only a moment ago. He hadn't seen it leave, nor had he heard the unmistakable sound of a corridor of Darkness.

Yes, something was wrong, but he didn't have time to dwell on it, he felt that Simba was much closer now. He'd go to meet him personally.

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Simba had led the group into the Outlands. Sora and Kairi were to his right, and Riku to his left. They had come alone, just as Xarcs had requested. The four had walked in relative silence, the only sounds those of their breathing, and the hot wind blowing across the desert.

Their paws kicked up sand and dust with every step they took, and they were soon within sight of the tall termite mounds that were Xarcs's base of operations. They gazed calmly ahead, and kept walking.

When they were about a hundred yards away, they could make out several figures approaching them. Most of them were unmistakably Heartless, though there were also a few dozen lionesses and hyenas. At the head of them all (Zira at his side, naturally) was the figure that Bariss -and later Nehrut- had described to them.

Xarcs was smiling as he approached them.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite nephew come down from on high to mingle with the commons!" He said, stopping a meter in front of him. Sora noticed that he was now larger than Simba in both muscle and height.

"I don't care for your joking, 'Uncle Scar.'" Simba shot back.

"Oh, come now dear Simba. After all it's not every day that someone pulls off such a perfect victory. In any civilized society, I should be allowed time to gloat."

"Take all the time you want, give us a call when you're done." Riku began to walk away, but was immediately blocked by a pair of hyenas.

"Ah, very well..." Xarcs said. "It's down to business, then. Zira, my dear, would you go fetch little Kiara?"

"We want Kovu, too." Sora said.

Xarcs raised an eyebrow. "And may I ask why?"

"Kovu is a member of my pride, now." Simba said. "It's my responsibility to keep him safe."

Xarcs scoffed. "As you wish. I suppose I am getting the 'lion's share' of assets in this bargain, after all."

Zira, looking a bit disappointed that she wouldn't be able to kill her traiterous offspring personally, walked away back toward the main termite mound.

"Now as for you, kitties," He said, gesturing with his paw. A corridor of Darkness appeared next to him, "It's off to the Pax Pacis dungeons."

"Not until Kiara and Kovu are safe." Kairi said defiantly.

"Touchy." But he closed the corridor nevertheless.

They stood in silence for several seconds, waiting for Zira to return with the cubs. Sora and his group were constantly being circled by the Outlanders, hyenas, and Heartless. Nobody would take their eyes away from them for a second.

And finally, there came the sound that Sora had been waiting eagerly for: a loud scream of outrage from the giant termite mound.

Xarcs and his lackeys spun around at the sound of Zira's shouting, and Sora looked to the sky, a smile forming on his face.

That's your cue.

Xarcs spun back around, outrage etched on his face. "What have you done!"

Simba looked as if he was trying to hold back laughter. "You played dirty. We thought we'd try and do it, too."

"And it was fun!" Sora added. He glanced upward again, with the lion version of his trademark grin. "And now, you might want to look up."

They all looked up, and Xarcs saw something that he had never even thought he wouldn't see.

Nehrut was descending from the sky; he was flanked by Donald, who was holding Goofy's shell in between his talons. On his other side was Axel, who had King Mickey riding on his back. Behind them, kept airborne by Nehrut's special abilities, fully ready for battle, were Yuffie, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Sarabi, and every single lioness from Pride Rock. Even Zazu had joined them.

Then, on top of one of the nearby smaller termite mounds appeared Bariss. Kiara and Kovu were on either side of her, totally unharmed.

The Keyblades came to Sora, Kairi, and Riku.

"It's your choice, Xarcs." Simba almost quoted himself. "Stand down, or fight."

Xarcs snarled, feigning outrage at the loss of his bargaining chips and the appearance of the surprise reinforcements. "ATTACK!" He bellowed.

And a battle broke out.

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Ta-da! The battle coming up is one of my favorites that I've written, so hopefully, you'll like it.

Review, please!