Chapter 8: Fallen King

Once more, Simba and Kovu found themselves in an unfamiliar place. This northern land held little sign of predators while small herds of zebra and wildebeest galloped across the grassy plains. They found themselves atop the edge of a sheer drop, likely leading down into a canyon or gorge. Zazu was perched above the entrance to a cave, evidently where Hasira and his gang would be hiding. Simba dropped low to the grass as he prepared to approach, only to be interrupted by Makku and Yaku. The two lions emerged from the cave, advancing menacingly.

"What brings you here, Simba?" Yaku asked. Simba did not need to hear him speak to know he was the calmer of the two. Makku was twitching aggressively, eager to attack. He was not one for words.

"You know why we're here," Kovu answered. "Where's Tamu?" Yaku scoffed.

"It doesn't work like that," he told them. "Hasira's sick and tired of messing around. Your reign ends here, kings!" The fight was on before Simba realised the conversation had ended. While both capable fighters, Hasira's pridemates were not nearly as worthy opponents as their leader. Kovu tackled the volatile Makku while Simba and Yaku tore one another apart. Makku's fighting style was unpredictable and full of unanticipated swipes and leaps. His speed gave him the edge as he came from all angles, knocking Kovu to the ground on several occasions. As the latter finally made it to his feet, he caught the unsuspecting Makku mid-leap and tossed him over the cliff. The move was not intentional. Rather, it had been an impulse, a matter of survival. It took Kovu a few moments to realise what he had done. Once the sounds of Simba's pained roars reached his ears, however, he snapped out of it. The King was being clawed at as he lay on the ground. Yaku did not fight fair, it seemed. Kovu distracted him long enough for Simba to rise. Yaku had no options left. Against these two powerful fighters, he was done. He dug his paw deep into the earth and threw dust directly into Simba's eyes, blinding him momentarily. This was it. If he could eliminate the King of the Pridelands, he would be a hero in Hasira's eyes. Even if it was at the cost of his own life. He braced himself, straightened his legs and launched at Simba. It was obvious what was about to happen. Kovu could not watch his King die. He intercepted the attack, being knocked off the edge by Yaku. The two lions fell through the air as quickly as gravity would permit. Simba's furious roar reached Kovu's ears before all sound was drowned out. Simba could not believe his eyes. He stood there, one paw stretched out across the cliff as if to hope against hope that Kovu would awaken and climb to meet his King. The young lion's body was nowhere to be seen, lost beneath the trees below.

"Kovu…" the grief-stricken King breathed gently. What would he tell his daughter? What could he tell her? His entire pride would be heartbroken. They had come to love Kovu over the past year or so, accept him as one of their own. They would all be devastated, most of all Kiara and Vitani, his sister. It took some time, but once Simba had composed himself, he rose, unsteady on his shivering legs. Still, he pressed on. He needed to find Tamu. There was no way he was returning home with nothing but news of Kovu's death. The cave was empty, as he suspected. Yaku and Makku had been nothing more than distractions, tools of Hasira's reach while he was elsewhere. There was a pass up ahead. It would surely lead to Tamu. Night began to fall shortly after Simba entered the pass. It became difficult to see anything even remotely far away. If the end of the pass was ahead, he could not see it. He laid down to rest beneath the comfort of a small, stunted tree. It would serve for the night. As the sun arose the next morning, Simba was almost tempted to just lay there. Whatever motivated him to rise from his slumber in the past had completely disappeared. He was far too grief-stricken this morning. It was many minutes, possibly an hour before Simba opened his eyes and came to his feet. The end of the pass was not far now. As he reached it, he found himself faced with three pathways. The first lead out of the pass completely, likely to fields and woodlands. The second opened out onto a plateau. That would provide a good view of the land but nothing particularly useful. The third pathway joined with the mouth of a cave. This place was full of caves, likely where many animals made their homes. This was surely where Tamu was being kept. Indeed, Simba was stopped just as he entered by Yama.

"You took your time," he mocked. Malkia was standing over an injured Tamu. "I have to say, I was expecting Shuja. What, he doesn't care enough to come himself?"

"Enough of this!" Simba bellowed. He was in no mood to be trifled with today. "Just hand her over."

"You're a slow learner," Yama mocked him. "Give up, Simba. It'll be easier that way. Tamu's in our care now. Turn around and go back to your little Kingdom." Simba's patience was wearing thin. He opened his jaws and let out a startlingly voracious roar.

"I don't have all day!" he threatened them. "Hand her over. Now!" Yama growled. Were a fight to break out, Yama would likely win. Simba was eager to test the theory, however. He had been through enough to care how a fight may or may not pan out.

"Always the just king," Malkia piped up then. "You're so concerned with what you think is right for your own home that you can't see our plight."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You rule your Kingdom, yes? You have laws put in place to keep the peace…and to punish those who disrupt it." Simba frowned. He would not listen to her poisonous words. He needed to get Tamu and leave. "We have similar laws. Shuja disrupted the peace and now he must answer for his crimes." As her back was turned, she did not notice Tamu rise from the ground. The lioness struck a clawed paw across the head of her former friend, knocking her to the ground. Simba seized the opportunity to tackle the distracted Yama then. As their enemies recuperated, Simba and Tamu took off as fast as they could.

"I'll say one thing," Tamu began, "they're very easily distracted." By the looks of things, they had not been followed. Their journey back to Pride Rock went unhindered. As they ascended the stone structure, the others ran out to greet them, Tamu and Shuja embracing each other fondly. Kiara nuzzled her father then before her expression turned worried.

"Kovu?" she asked. Simba did not have the heart to break his daughter's. Instead, he simply shut his eyes and shook his head. The only sound any of them heard was Kiara as sadness overcame her and her tears drenched her father's mane.