Chapter 7

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Ready

*1 week Later*

Nala's (Flash Back - 2 weeks earlier)

I hesitantly walk home behind my brother, with my head bowed, staring at my paws along the way. The fear of how my parents will react about what happened today is so bad, any moment my lunch could come right back up. What if Dad does not let me see Simba anymore or worse? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pinning Master Jeong Jeong and growling loudly. If he is this mad at him, I can only imagine how upset he is at Tojo. Considering how level headed he usually is, I don't even want to think of what Dad will do. Maybe I can sneak into the den without them knowing and we can forget this ever happened. It seems like my plan is working, with both front paws inside the den, until they spotted the blood on my tail that must have been from Simba, and Tojo's cut shoulder.

"Hold it right there you two!" yelled my father, which lead me to stop dead in my tracks.

"Come over here now." Reluctantly, I turn around. Looking up, I see the concern and anger in my father's eyes at once. Sending my brother a pleading look, I beg him to keep his mouth shut.

"Oh Kings above what Happened?" Asked my mother, who ran over to us with a horrified expression. She imminently begins licking Tojo's shoulder which causes him to yelp in pain. He deserves that after what he did to Simba, but I don't enjoy seeing him in pain, after all, he is my brother.

"Simba burned Nala's paws." He says as he if was the one who did it, both my parents' gaps, before my Dad lays down so he is at my level for closer examination.

"It's fine Dad, honestly. It was an accident and I found out I am a healer." Raising my paw to him, I move in in a circular motion, demonstrating its fine. The burn really did heal, though it is still a little sore. A smile crosses his muzzle as he leans into a nuzzle, before standing up.

"Then what happened to Tojo?" My usually mellow mother demands.

"I tried to stop Nala from running after Simba. It may have been an accident, but Mom, he was so careless and was trying to protect her, so I swatted him away and tried to get her to come home. Then, Kopa launched himself on top of me with his claws fully extended." He said with an almost accusatory tone at me. He never used this tone at me before, and I did not appreciate it.

"Ni, you have to do something. These fire bending princes are out of control." My mother said as she walked over to Dad.

"Sarafina, they're male lion cubs, and sometimes they get into fights. It's perfectly normal. And like Nala said, it all just got blown out of proportion." He said trying to calm Mom down, who was now roaring loudly.

"Mufasa let my cubs come home covered in blood. Find one lioness that would be ok with that!" She was pissed, and I was terrified, with water rising behind her and claws unsalted.

"We've been friends with them since we were cubs, I am sure he stopped the madness before things escalated." My Dad said trying to reason with her.

"Ahadi help me if you are going to stand in-between me and our cubs safety." She growled with venom in her tone.

"Cubs, go inside." Said my father calmly, but it sounded like an order. I stood my ground. Somehow, I had to set this right without being caught in the crossfire. Just before I step forward, Tojo starts pushing me toward the den.

"No, I have to explain." I say to him in protest

"Nala, please." He pleads, still pushing into the den that happens to lie behind a waterfall, which obstructs my view from outside, while buffering the sound. Letting my emotions get the better of me, tears begin to fall like raindrops from my eyes. "Everything will work itself out." Tojo says, as he rubs my back slowly. I have never been more furious at him in my life, but seeing our parents fight, I am glad he decided to shield me from that, not knowing how much more I could take.

"You didn't exactly help the situation you know."

"I know, but you know I love you right."

"Sure thing Goldy." I say playfully taunting him, while shoving him to the side.

"Ow." He complains, as he bumps his against the wall of the den. Taking pity on him, I create a spear of water from smooth water below the falls and bring it to his shoulder. Thinking of pleasant memories of us playing together, the water begins to glow. The grimace on his face disappears into one of relief.

*End of Flashback*

Finally after seeing Simba risking his life for me in that cave against Zira, Tojo has finally let his guard down. It's hard to be mad at someone who only has your best at heart. The thing I find unbelievable, was how easy Simba & Kopa were able to shrug off all that he did to them. It's like none of this ever even happened. Dad said most lions are able to forgive and forget quickly, and that they rather not waste the energy being mad. I still can't wrap my head around that, but am just going to accept that most lions are weird and call it a day. Besides, I have more important things to worry about. If Simba passes his fire bending test today, then he'll finally have downtime with the rest of us, before we all have to go back to the next level of our training when we hit adolescents. There is so much I want to do before then.

*Simba*

"Time for your final elemental trials Simba. Are you ready?" I heard my father ask with a flame at the ready. Along with him were masters Paku with a pillar of water, Master Jeong Jeong also with a flame, Master Rafiki with his stick at the ready and Grandma with the wind growing cold around her.

"You can do it bro!" I heard Kopa shout from a rock nearby where all of our other friends were watching. I looked to them all and smiled.

"You'll do awesome Simba!" I heard Tojo shout.

As I turned to face my instructors, I also heard other comments. "Go get 'em Twinkle Toes!" Tama, always one for encouragement with an annoying nickname.

"We are rooting for you Simba!" I heard Kula and Chumvi cheer at the same time. God I love those two.

"Kick some tail, Simba!" Nala. She always knows what to say to get me into a state of complete focus. Thanks Nala I thought with a smile.

I faced my instructors, fueled with confidence and the possibility of a vacation and got into a crouched position. "The heat is on!" I said with a grin and waited for the first move.

Without warning my grandmother shot her patented Gale fang at me full force. She really isn't holding back I thought. I stomped my and created a thick wall of solid earth which held against her slicing fang until her attack dissipated. I smirked at her blanched expression at having thwarted her when I saw a burst of red. My father had released a huge fireball that broke through my wall and I made a hasty retreat.

"Not going easy this time eh?" I asked my father while he shot another fireball.

This time I was ready for what my father had prepared. I used some water from nearby and extinguished his flames. As the flames extinguished, I used the residual heat into flames and released them at my instructors.

Master Paku was quick to retaliate and turn my flames into steam before retaliating with a tentacle of water. At the same time, I saw my grandmother shoot a whip of air at me with her tail, my father released a missile of fire and Rafiki chucked a huge boulder at me. Seeing the four different elements coming at me caused my mind to panic. Then, I remembered what Master Jeong Jeong said about my Fire bending and closed my eyes. I imagined being the one to keep my friends safe!

"YAAAAHHHHHH!" I crossed and uncrossed my paws quickly and released a flurry of white flames in a circle. I saw Rafiki's boulder turn to dust, my fire cancel out my father's, my flames growing bigger with my grandmother's air and Paku's water turn to steam as my flames mixed with it. When the steam finally settled I looked on at the four lions gathered around me and saw the biggest smiles on their faces.

"Great Job, son." I heard my father say as he walked up to me and then nuzzled my cheek. I happily returned the nuzzle.

"Good work Young Prince. You have mastered the four elements very well." I turned to the sound of the voice. I saw Rafiki and Paku lowering their heads and bowing to me in respect. So this is what it feels like to have your masters bow to you. I always felt slightly humbled when ever I would bow to Rafiki and felt the need to show respect in the presence of Master Jeong Jeong. It feels both odd for them to bow to me and great that they believe I deserve such respect.

I then felt a lick on my forehead and turned around to see my grandmother with a big smile on her face.

"You were wonderful, sweetie." I felt her pull me into her paws and then felt more licks along my back and tail. KINGS NO! If there was one thing me and Kopa had in common, it was this! I know I am a little dirty from the test but, I hate Baths!

"Grandma, please stop." I wailed. I squirmed and struggled but for the life of me, I could not escape my grandmother's vice grip. What the Hell?

"We are coming Simba!" I heard my brother shout and I saw him pounce on our grandmother. I took my chance and went over to our friends with Kopa hot on my tail.

"Let's get outta here!" I said and we all ran off into the Pride Lands laughing. This is going to be a great day!

*Uru*

"Oh come on! I only got halfway finished with his bath. His struggling made it so much more difficult than it should be." I sighed and then heard my son chuckle.

"What is so funny Mufasa?" I asked with a glare.

"Oh nothing Mom, just reminiscing about the old days when that was me instead of Simba." I rolled my eyes at his statement.

"Those sons of yours are exactly like you. I always have to knock Kopa out to bathe him. Sima is a bit easier, but he struggles way too much." I was being entirely truthful. It was hell trying to bathe those boys. I always wished, when it came to baths, that one of them would be like their uncle Taka. Yes, Taka. I know that he calls himself Scar, but inside, he is always my little cub.

"I wasn't that bad." Mufasa chuckled with his friends while I saw a shadow sneak in behind him.

"Yes you were, Dear Brother!" Taka. His voice was very snake like and sinister. Kind of like Ahadi's when his own father Kambili had made him a cold killer. It scared me to hear such a voice come from him, but I can't change how he is. I saw my son and his friends jump in terror and I could not help but chuckle.

"SCAR! Don't do that. I nearly had a heart attack." Mufasa was panting and I could see he was really embarrassed that his own brother had scared him.

"Nearly? That is a shame. I guess I will have to be even sneakier and scarier next time!" He then began to slither out of the den and I could not help but sense a scent of truth in his voice when he said he would be scary enough to give his brother a heart attack. Don't worry yourself old girl. Just focus on your grand cubs. Taka will be fine.

I saw that the boys had finally recovered from their little scare and spoke up. "Now that you lionesses have finally regained yourselves. I think we should discuss the next portion of Simba and Kopa's training!"

"Which part mother? The royal exercises or Simba's next step to being the avatar?"

"Both. Sooner or later, Simba's avatar state is growing more powerful, his white flame is proof of that. If we are not careful it will flare up again, so he will need to learn how to control it. Also, both boys have reached that age where they need to learn how to be king." I said this with a bit of hope that both my grandsons would be equal kings, side by side. It did not work for Taka and Muffy since their father would not allow it but Mufasa and I had talked and he agreed it could work.

"Agreed Uru. I think we should first discuss the matters of betrothals for both boys." I could see a glint of hope in his eyes as he said betrothals.

"I know who you have in mind for Simba, Paku. But I think Sarabi should be the one for Muffy to discuss this with." I already knew that he would want to suggest Nala to be Simba's future queen. Those two get along so well together and are the best of friends. But what about Kopa? I thought sadly as I thought of my young scarred grandson. Mufasa obviously had the same thoughts and beat me to it.

"I agree. Nala and Simba are a perfect pair. But what about Kopa? Both of my sons deserve someone to make them happy."

"What if we let him choose who he wants to be with, Muffy?" I suggested. It was a good idea. Kopa seemed to be very close to all the girl cubs in the pride but he never seemed to show any interest with one over the others.

"I agree, that is a good idea. Simba will get Nala and Kopa gets to choose. It seems fair to me." Mufasa said with an obvious pride as he thought of his sons getting married one day. I myself hoped I would be there for that day and smiled. I then cleared my voice so we could get back to business.

"Now that we settled that. We must discuss Simba and his future training." With that we began a heated discussion on the matters of Simba and his future.

*Scar*

"By the Kings, why won't they notice me?" Everyone barely gives me a second glance whenever my brother is around! That little scare bit was but one of the many ways I have tried to prove my superiority but once again, it was ignored. I am smarter, sneakier and definitely more talented a bender than Mufasa. But father chose him because he likes the son that takes after him more. Father, No Ahadi was a fool to think me weak! I showed him that day he died. He never expected my secret little tricks I know when it comes to fire. I am grateful that the same is true of my ignorant.

"Father?" I heard a delightfully demonic voice reach my ears, Zira. I turned around and saw the beautiful tan lioness looking at me with a big smile on her muzzle.

"Yes Dear daughter?" I asked with my own silky snake voice.

"Are you ok?"

"No. I am getting so aggravated at my brother being king. His brats don't make it any better. I hate having to play the kind old uncle to them. I feel like tearing my tongue out every time I say 'I Love you' to those little parasites. But luckily I have a plan." I saw Zira's eyes light up at the mention of a sceem, and I could not help but chuckle at her adolescent anxiousness which was seen with her trembling.

"What? What is the plan?"

"Not yet Zira! You will know in time." She grumbled but otherwise nodded at my words.

"So what can I do in the meantime?" she asked me.

"Why don't you go mess with Simba a bit? Go pick on him and maybe give him a burn as well." I suggested. I saw her eyes gleam with evil and I already knew she was ready for it. I trained her for it after all. I made her into a child of the darkness. Hence why she was in the cave that Nala had hid in a week ago. I was training her to master the art of becoming one with the darkness. Attacking Nala was a bonus for her. She barely looks like the young playful cub who would cheer 'Daddy Daddy' when something new happened. I smiled as my mind went back to the days of training that I put her through to break that kind side of her.

*Flashback*

I am currently pushing my daughter in the art of killing to make her vicious towards anyone she meets. "Now Zira. Since you have played with him enough, KILL HIM." My daughter had been fiddling with a mouse slowly for the past two hours. At first she had been overjoyed because I told her a week ago that I was teaching her skills to help with hunting, which was partially true, but it is really for when she will help me kill my brother and her cousins.

Zira looked at the small gopher in front of her which had some not very deep lacerations and bruises along its body since I had practically yelled at her to do even that. She looked at me as she was about to raise her paw at the creature but then started shedding… tears?! "I can't do it Daddy. I can't."

"Are you weak? No child of mine is this weak." I am disgusted to see a child, my child, shed tears at taking the life of a gopher, a lesser being than us. "He is weak daughter, thus he deserves to die at our paws, the paws of the strong."

"But Daddy, he didn't do anything to me. Why do I have to kill him?" Why is she defying me about this? If she didn't remind me of her mother, I would...wait. Her mother, that's it!

"Because Zira… oh no, I shouldn't say this." I saw her look at me with confused eyes and began to move her mouth to speak.

"What? Tell me what, Daddy?"

"It's about your mother, and how she died."

"Mommy died because of a failed hunt. She made a mistake during her lone hunt and a herd of zebra trampled her." Zira knew very well what happened to her mother from what her Aunt, Sarabi had told her, but since for cubs, their parents always know the truth, she will believe me.

"Yes Zira. She did, but what you don't know is that her hunt was successful and that the zebra killed her in retaliation. Per Sarafina's request." I nearly gagged as I mentioned my old nickname for my brother, but hid it with an expression of sadness.

"What?! Why would Sarafina do that?"

"Sarafina was jealous of your mother and so called in a favor that your uncle owed her. To help cover her tracks and settle the score, he arranged for her to have a lone hunt and then the accident occurred" This was in fact, the opposite of the truth, Shari, was in fact the worst huntress in the hunting party and Sarafina had actually been helping her to improve her skills, but since Zira is an impressional cub, and will surely believe this story. I feel heat fill the air and see tears begin to fall from Zira's eyes again. It is starting to feel like the dry season. I call the dry season, the savannah's time of anger. Anger is the one emotion that can turn her from an innocent cub into the cold blooded lioness that I need her to be.

"Darn her and Uncle Muffy!" She shouted. She was panting heavily as her rage began to consume her. She turned on the gopher and began slashing at it with her claws, leaving even deeper lacerations. "I will kill them. Once I am bigger, I will kill them with every ounce of my strength!" She swung her claws and slashed through the gopher's eye which made it let out a squeal of pain. Pain, such a beautiful sound. I then saw Zira walk away from the creature and bare her teeth at it.

"Please. I beg of you! Don't kill me!" An even sweeter sound is when they beg for you not to spare their life. Too bad for him, an angry lioness has no mercy.

"I am not going to bite you." She closed her lips to hide her teeth and softened her gaze without losing her wicked smile. My smile.

She then did something confusing, she began walking away. What?! Don't tell me that innocence is still there? WHy I oughta? But just as I was about to walk up and smack her with my unsheathed claws like when she did messed up on pouncing and left the notch in her ear, she turned around and released a flame. A blue flame. I had heard about the different colors of the flames and their meanings. My green flame meant I was cold, my heart was black from a harsh childhood and that my soul desire was power. My flames raze all that it strikes to ashes in an instant.

"AAHHh!" I heard the gopher scream in pain as the blue flame hit him. It engulfed him and began spreading, but very slowly.

Truth be told, I never had planned on having cubs until I stole Sarabi from Mufasa. I did not even know about Zira until her mother, Shari, Sarabi's cousin showed her to me. Sure, I was disgusted when I saw she was female ,for males are the only true heirs a lion can have, but seeing her now makes me realize that some females are exceptions. I also felt that the heat was rising slowly and then I realized why from both my daughter's wicked smile. A blue flame only manifests when a child has been wronged, their happiness is shattered when losing one they cared about and their sole desire in life was vengeance. My Zira had always loved her mother, while I had only remained Shari's mate to breed her with my cub and then I would leave her, and since I had told her my story of her death, she would become as ruthless as possible to gain vengeance for her mother's death. As well as do whatever I say to make it happen. My Zira was born of happiness and was a ball of light and joy but my lie has made her reborn of loathing and now she is a shroud of darkness and her namesake. She is now, hate incarnate.

"You know, Zira. There is a better way to get revenge against Sarabi." I saw my daughter's eyes narrow viciously as I spoke those words and could almost hear her willingness through her panting breath.

"What might that be, Father?"

"It will involve perhaps a little viciousness on your part, but I think you will like it."

*End Flashback*

"I will do just that! And for a bonus, I know some good friends who I think would be able to help with that." She gave me an affectionate nuzzle under my chin and then trotted off. This is going to be interesting I thought as I lay down and awaited news of Zira's actions on the cubs.

*Simba*

"I am so glad I am finally done with my elemental training!" I loved learning the elements, but between Grandma's glares, Nala freezing me, taking hits from Rafiki's crystal stick and getting my tail burned a few times, I had had enough. I was glad to be free and have time to relax.

"You said it bro!" Kopa then butted heads with me as we walked with our friends.

"Hey guys, I just realized something." Tojo, always a thinker in our little group.

"what is that bud?"

"We are all finally seven months old. We can finally roam the Pride Lands on our own now!" my eyes widened at this truthful realization. So far, Tojo, Chumvi and Kula were the only ones who could wander without the adults watching since they were two months older than the rest of us. I had been so focused on my element training to realize it.

"OH Kings, you're right!" I said out loud and I saw the rest of the cubs my age face palm themselves.

"How could I have missed that?" asked Tama.

"Well, you can't see anything coming!" Tojo teased before getting a rock to the knee.

"Watch it Tojo!" She hissed. Even I know, that though Tama is blind, her earth bending skills make her a dangerous cub. I shudder at what she will be like when she is fully grown.

"Well, now that we got that out of the way, let's go explore!" Kopa. My brother has always been able to get to the point. We all nodded and ran off in the direction of the earth district. We did not have a care in the world as we ran through the plains. I was so lost in my joy that I did not notice the cub in front of me.

"Oof!" I said as I fell to the ground. I quickly picked myself up and looked at the young cub before me. He was an orange brownish color and had goofy yellow eyes.

"Hi! I'm Simba! Who are you?"

"I'm Malka! Sorry about that!"

"It's ok!" I then looked to the rest of my friends who had walked up and nodded for them to introduce themselves.

"I'm Kopa, this clumsy one's brother." Hey! He is going to pay for that latter.

"I'm Nala, and this lion with the dirty blond mane is my brother Tojo." She said as she swung her head and rolled her in the direction of Tojo.

"I'm Tama." She said almost boldly.

"I'm Chumvi and the brown lioness is my sister Kula"

Like I said to Simba, I'm Malka! It's nice to meet you guys!" He said with a smile that I saw was aimed at Tama. I could see Tama actually blush at this. Her heightened senses must have detected Malka was looking at her and she turned her head.

"So Malka. Where are your Mom or Dad?" I asked curiously.

"Don't have any parents. I lost them a few days ago." He said simply. I raised my eyebrow. He seemed a little too calm for an orphan cub the same age as me.

"You don't seem too broken up about it."

"My parents were awful. They were nice when I was about a month old, but once I turned three months, they lost it. They started hitting me and on many occasions they would make me sleep outside the den. I say good riddance."

"So you don't have a home?" I asked cause I had an idea. I already liked this cub. He seemed like a fun guy to be around.

"Nope. Not at all. That is the only thing that sucks about being alone. No place to call my own." He said with an obvious sigh.

"Why not come live with us? I am sure Dad would not mind. We are the Princes after all."

"You're the princes?! I am so sorry your highness" He bowed down and we all could not help but laugh at his actions. He got a confused look on his face.

"What is so funny?"

"We are friends dude! Besides, Kopa and me are just princes not the king. You don't need to bow to us." I said and then butted heads with him.

"What bender are you, cub?" Asked Tama, kings she is so blunt!

"'Cub' is Malka and I'm a waterbender, although my mother was an earth bender. I always loved to mess with her by covering myself with muddy water. She always got sick after every tongue bath I got." We all chuckled at the thought.

"You will definitely fit in with us!" Kopa reassured him, He was right of course. We all loved to pull jokes around the Pride Lands, especially with our parents.

"So what do you want to do before we go talk to your dad?" Malka obviously wanted a chance at a home and I was happy that I had a new friend. I was about to say something when we all heard a maniacal laugh. OH GREAT!

"What do you want Zira?" I asked and turned to face her. Then I saw that she was not alone. There were two young lioness cubs behind the adolescent. A tan one with annoyed blue eyes and the other was a mauve color with yellow eyes.

"Oh don't worry, I am just here to introduce you to my friends!" I looked at the annoyed cub who spoke first.

"I'm Vitani." She said with absolutely no life in her. The mauve one then approached.

"I'm Maeva! Don't worry, I don't bite… much!"

She said while eyeing me.

"Nice to meet you guys, but Zira you did not answer my question. What do you want?"

"I am just here to have fun." She then lunged at Malka and I immediately went to intercept her, only to be blocked by Maeva.

"Watch it girl! You do not want to mess with me!" I saw her chuckle at my statement. Who does she think she is? Laughing at me! I'm Prince Simba! I raised my paw to blow some air at her and then saw her hiss.

"GOTCHA!" She moved like a snake and pressed her claws into my fore leg and back. I shook off her annoying pinch on my fur. I then made to force her away with a gale blast, but saw that nothing happened.

"What the?" I could not believe it. I kept thrusting and swirling my paws but none of my elements were working. What is wrong with me?

"Having fun?" I heard Maeva chuckle and then it hit me. She did this to me!

"What did you do?"

"I'm a chi blocker, I block the chi in your body and it prevents you from bending the energy in your body into the element."

"But why go after me?"

"Because Zira wants you to watch your friends get hurt while you are helpless." I then widened my eyes and turned to see friends in peril.

Nala, Kopa, Chumvi and Tojo were all fighting for dear life against Zira's flames. The flames seemed to keep getting hotter and it seemed that Tojo and Chumvi's taunts or Kopa's flames and Nala's water could not stop Zira. Hang on Bro! Hold on Nala! I will think of something!

I also saw Kula, Malka and Tama dealing with Vitani. Vitani did not seem to possess bending abilities either, but had surprising physical skills that allowed her to evade Tama's rocks and Malka's water. I saw her strike Kula in the face and saw three scratches appear. "Ouch." I heard her say with a wince.

My heart squeezed as I saw her getting hurt and then heard my brother grunt in pain as I turned and saw his back was on fire. Why is Kopa on fire? My answer was quickly given as I saw Maeva was right next to him, she must have chi blocked him. Curse her! Thankfully, Nala managed to splash his back with water, and the gang keeps fighting. What would I do without her?

"Kopa! Guys!" Despite my calls, I felt helpless, just like when Zira burned Kopa, I was trembling in fear. My fears were halted when I heard Tojo scream in pain, I turned and saw Zira closing in on him with Nala bending water around them in defense and I lost it.

"RAAAHHHHHHHHH!" I roared from my core and then my vision failed.

1) What is your favorite Lion King pairing? Canon and movie based?

2) Who do you think should have gotten more development in ATLA?