Chapter CXXVII: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part III

Approaching with a proud smile upon her face as she gazed at her son Zira spoke with her pride echoing richly in her voice, "you are ready! Nice! Very nice! "

With that she gazed upon his fully grown form, Kovu had aged magnificently as he was now a proud lion in his own right, which his mother reflected as she spoke on, "you have the same blackness in your soul that Scar had!"

For his fur was still the rich warm brown from his youth but now growing from his strong muscular elbows were tufts of darker brown fur that were the same as his rich long proud mane, however his eyes were now vacant of the youthful innocence he once had and they were now fierce eyes which had a clear deadly intent that was a mirror reflection of his adoptive mother's.

Proud of her hard training and the strict discipline she'd put her son through Zira asked the first of the most crucial questions, "what is your destiny!?"

At once acting on command Kovu answered her, "I will avenge Scar! Take his place in the Pridelands!"

Pleased at this response Zira replied, "yes!" Then the next question, "what have I taught you?!"

At once on cue Kovu answered, "Simba is the enemy!"

Further pleased Zira then asked the most crucial question of them all as her eyes seemed to dance with the flames of anticipation, "what must you do!?"

The response came as Kovu's green eyes shone with malice, "I must kill him!" At once there was a huge praise of roars from the other lionesses of the Out Lands as at last their long suffering would finally come to an end.

Pleased with this confirmation Zira smiled manically then suddenly from behind her she heard a familiar old voice, "hey Zira honey! I'm home!"

Turning as she heard this voice Zira still had a smile on her face but then looking she saw Vitani, and Nuka along with Jona who had a confident toothy smile on her face as she made a simple wave to her. However as she looked to her daughter son and her other adopted child she saw one crucial thing that was missing. The fire!

Nuka standing next to Jona quickly started shivering as he saw what he knew what was going to happen! His mother was angry! Whispering to her desperately Nuka told her, "ya see! I told you! She's mad! She's gonna-"

But then Jona as cool as ice told him still with that confident smile on her face as she silenced Nuka with one of her claws which she put to his lips as she told him, "hush, hush Nuka!... Leave it all to me sweetheart."

With that she removed her claw as she turned to face the angry force that was Zira and Nuka once more forgetting his fear felt himself melt inside once again as Vitani simply rolled her eyes again. He was too easy!

Zira now arriving in front of them all demanded, "Jona!?"

To which she replied coolly with a confident brightness,"at your services!"

However not in the mood for her humour Zira demanded, "don't give me this behaviour! Where is the fire? You were supposed to retrieve it! You're supposed to be in the Pridelands by now!"

Still confident Jona told her, "yeah! Yeah I know! I know... but ya see? We found somethin'?"

Kovu hearing this broke out of his serious demeanour as he looked to Jona himself as he asked from where he was sitting, "you found something?"

Looking to her other adopted sibling she replied, "yeah... well no, I should say we found someone?"

However getting tired with this playful tone Zira demanded still angry, "and just who did you find!?"

With that Jona simply turned around and cocked her head to her two fellow lions and as she did they immediately stepped aside and then turning back to face Zira, Jona smiled as she then told her, "just this lovely gent and lady."

With that she walked out of the way herself and as she did Zira turned her head to the entrance of the termite mound and as she did it was then that finally she saw the fat black and rather nervous lion along with the elegant and silent red hued cheater.

Pete walking into the termite mound was a little unsure of the surroundings of the place as he looked around the place. 'Lions live in this kind of a place?' For it was certainly a run down place especially for somewhere in the wild but then turning around again he looked and saw Zira looking at him with serious and sceptical eyes. As he looked at her as well he was baffled and was uncertain but then he wondered,'have I?'

But Zira remembered more quickly than he had as she spoke with a snarl in her voice, "Pete!" At once taken aback all the lions in that place even Kovu himself became on edge!

Looking and hearing his name being called Pete then finally remembered her himself now for this lioness unlike her partner in the distant past was definitely more aggressive in the partnership and he had learnt not to come into her path whenever he could! So nervous he waved trying to initiate a friendly conversation, "uh well uh? Hi there Zira no time no see huh? How-"

However he was interrupted as Zira angrily spoke again, "how dare you come before me now! You and your heartless failed miserably in allowing us to maintain and keep the Pride Lands!"

Becoming increasingly nervous Pete didn't know how to react for around him he could see that the other lionesses were becoming just as aggressive as it's leader, however Kovu, Vitani and Nuka were all quite puzzled for they being as young as they were at that time when the incident of the heartless had occurred were not old enough to remember it clearly.

Jona on the other hand had dropped her smile and had sat herself down as she watched quietly to see how events would unfold between the newcomers and the mighty leader of the Out Land lions.

Feeling really on edge Pete tried again to speak as he said, "oh yeah? Well sorry there about that? But ya see mess ups like that there happen and -"

Angered Zira interrupted him, "I don't want to hear your excuses!"

This shut Pete up in seconds as this was going very badly!...And now he and Hari were in immediate danger for they could both be torn apart in moments if one more wrong word was said!

Zira then continued on, "you're just as responsible for Scar's death if not more so then Simba!" With that she walked on up as she drew her claws out exposing their sharpness as she spoke once more, "I should cut you down now!"

This really was not good! But then as Zira drew her claws back to begin to try and strike him it was then that Hari quietly stepped in as she spoke herself, "do not..."

Seeing this cheetah get in her way Zira was not pleased as she commanded her, "get out of my way now!"

Hari replied, "I will not."

With that Zira further angered immediately went in to strike! As she did Pete called out alarmed, "Hari!"

Suddenly before anyone could see Hari had summoned her steel wings from her back which blocked Zira's claws making sure that they did not even land a scratch on either of the two accomplices.

Seeing this all the lions in the room gasped in shock at this display and as Zira saw what had happened herself she asked perplexed, "what?!"

With that Hari moved her wings quickly flinging them forwards which made Zira fall backwards from the suddenness of movement and seeing his mother fall to the floor Kovu called out, "mother!"

At once Vitani and Nuka too quickly ran over as they too cried out, "mother!" "Mother!"

With that he and his siblings ran quickly as they all barred her from this winged attacker, Kovu then growled angrily as he spoke on, "how dare you!" With that the other lions in the room became just as infuriated and were quietly beginning to encircle the two unwelcome guests.

Jona watching the events still not moving a muscle raised an eyebrow and then a smile slowly came across her face... for things were now beginning to get very interesting.

Seeing the hostile environment they were now deep in Pete was cowering inside as he said, "Hari! We're knee deep here! We gotta get-"

However Hari still did not reply instead she moved cautiously forwards slowly and began to approach the fierce prince and the main leading lioness who was still being protected by her two young ones, within a safe distance it was then Hari made her move. Getting down on all fours she did what one could do in the form of a feline was bow before the royal dark family of the Out Lands as she said, "my apologies to you all."

At this response everyone was silent, an apology after an attack? Then speaking the mood of everyone in that place Vitani asked, "what did you say?"

Hari looking at the ground still replied, "I apologise to you... all of you in this place."

Nuka hearing this same line again then spoke out angered, "an apology again! Using that same old line? What makes ya think we'll-"

Interrupting Hari looked up showing her cold ice green eyes which stilled him in seconds, seeing she'd instilled silence the cheetah spoke again, "my apology is not just for now... or what occurred to you noble Nuka... I am apologising on behalf of my accomplice for the past tragic events which led to the great loss of your king... Scar."

Hearing her defending him again Pete was silent like the others but he looked at her deeply saddened for now she was the one suffering due to his past actions.

Zira listening to this apology was silent herself but she had now recovered from her shock enough to place herself upon her paws again, seeing her do this Vitani looked to her mother first as she asked her, "mother are you-"

"Step aside!" She told her offspring immediately! Her threatening aura once more back.

Hearing her say this Vitani, Nuka and Kovu were shocked and at once her termite infested son spoke worried, "mother? Are you sure that-"

However she growled angrily for she was not one to be coddled even by her own children and at once knowing her intent Nuka shut up in seconds and as she walked past them all Kovu looked on at her as she walked forwards and he wondered quietly to himself, 'what she was going to do?'

Now standing before the bowing cheetah she gazed down at her displeased and as she did she growled as she asked, "you apologise to me? After all the misery we have all been inflicted with all these years? You believe that this will be enough to-"

Hari interrupted her as she spoke again, "no... I am certain an apology in mere words will never be enough to satisfy you... but, if my servitude and power can be put to use in your honour... then please let this be enough for you to forgive my accomplice for his past failures to you."

Hearing her say these words Pete whispered quietly, "Hari..."

At these rather noble words Zira was far from moved and so she asked, "servitude to me?" She was quiet then as everyone watched on, all of them were nearly on a knife's edge, then she spoke again, "well how sweet... but!" With that she suddenly took her claws and swiped this impudent cheetah across her face powerfully, her claws came back red.

Seeing this Pete called out, "Hari!" With that he quickly started to run to her side anxious.

Looking down at this scene Zira clenched her claws in and out as she then spoke again, "sweet deceiving words like yours will never please me!" With that she struck her again! This made her go flying allowing Pete to catch up to her as she hit the ground. She now lay out on the ground almost lifeless, he was horrified with anxiousness but before he could do anything else Zira followed quickly after them both as she went to strike her once more shouting out,"I would never accept the services from one so weak like-"

But then she stopped in her tracks as Hari got up slowly and turned looking up to Zira intently with her cold green eyes as Pete tried desperately to attend to her somehow and as the lead evil lioness looked into her eyes, in their very depths she saw something... a cold burning darkness, powerful and unyielding... it was dangerous.

Once again there was silence... Kovu didn't know what to make of this as he looked on nervously curious, but Jona on the other hand quickly saw the turn of events that she had already predicted would come about as quickly an evil grin started to paint Zira's face one more. Seeing her smile made Jona grin herself as she murmured to herself, "power... the greatest seductive force of all..."

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Running again everyone was searching in the high grass beyond the Pride lands for more prey to hunt, though this place was a lot easier to move in some ways it also made it harder for anyone to find adequate hiding places to launch a sneak attack from.

Breathing in out again exhausted Nozomi collapsed into the grass as she wondered aloud to herself, "are we even ever gonna find any prey at this rate?" For they'd been chasing around prey for at least two hours now!

Then annoying her in moments Cait sith spoke, "well moanin' and groanin' ain't gonna attract them to ya either are they lass? Now come on! Ya gotta move!"

Nozomi sighed as she replied, "don't wanna!"

"Well yer goin' to lass! Now come on!" With that as though riding a horse he pressed his feet into her as though he were wearing spurs, "we gotta get movin'!" However this did nothing as he wore nothing painful on his red boots which allowed Nozomi to simply continue laying on the grass.

Sighing she told him, "I don't wanna move right now... just let me regain myself okay?" With that she put her paws up as she rubbed her bottom ones and said, "besides my paws are killing me!"

Seeing that he wasn't going to win the argument this time Cait sith sighed as he simply slipped off of Nozomi's back and told her, "fine then lass!" Folding his arms he then told her, "ya know I'm only tryin' to motivate ya!"

Hearing him say this Nozomi stopped easing her paws for a moment as she turned to her cape wearing friend and told him with a smile, "yeah! Yeah! I know Cait sith!...but even people who need motivation do need to rest their feet once in a while don't they?"

To which the proud Scottish cat only replied, "sure they do lass! Sure they do..."

Shaking her head seeing him being stubbornly proud again Nozomi lay down in the grass and then turning herself over she looked up at the bright blue sky and as she did she spoke again, "you know things have been goin' really well for us lately haven't they?"

Turning his head and breaking his short brief stubborn silence Cait sith turned around and asked, "huh? What do ya mean lass?"

Nozomi then told him still smiling,"well we've managed to rescue Oralee! We've saved a whole lot of worlds and now we're goin' through doors of time! That's such an amazing feat isn't it?"

Cait sith was silent as he continued to listen to Nozomi as she spoke on, "I mean we've done things that not many people can ever dream of can they?... Just being able to do the things we've done so far all together has made me so happy! And at the end of it all..."

Hearing her trailing off the small cat asked her, "at the end of it lass?"

Thinking of the wishful dream that was now glowing within her heart made Nozomi smile happily even more but turning to Cait sith she told him, "well you'll see!"

Shaking his head Cait sith then told her, "ya're actin' real sappy right now! Ya know that lass?"

Hearing Cait sith she told him, "yeah I know... must be the blue sky! Just puts you in a happy mood huh?" With that she rolled back over as she stood on her paws again finally rejuvenated. But then as she looked around herself she then also added, "but I got to see what we can do to help Kiara... I got to try and find out what happened to her grandfather, then maybe we can-"

"Hey Nozomi!"

Making her jump she turned around feeling awkward as she said, "spoke too soon!"

For there standing in the distance was Riku looking a little breathless himself as he called out and asked her, "have you found any prey around here?!"

To which at once she called back as she told him, "nope sorry! We'll look harder!"

Cait sith then replied quite loudly, "yeah if some of us don't take the odd chance to have a nap break!"

Nozomi then spoke out annoyed, "Cait sith!"

In the distance Riku not quite hearing that part called out, "what?!"

To which in moments Nozomi replied, "nothing! Don't worry about it!" With that she set off again as she went to try and find some prey again, but as she started to run again Cait sith jumped onto her back once more and as he did Nozomi told him, "you know there's one other thing I'm glad for!"

"What's that lass?" Cait sith asked as he held onto her fur tightly.

Nozomi then told him, "well I'm glad we haven't met any heartless yet! I mean how am I supposed to fight like this?!" With that she sped on forwards and went into the high grass cover again.

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In the distance now three figures watched as the lioness princess of the Pride Lands was running around with two small cubs with a small cat riding on one of their backs along with an odd jumping mouse chasing after them all.

They watched as they all gathered themselves together and quickly all hid themselves in the grass as they were ready to try and hunt down one of the herds of antelopes that were now grazing together.

But as one of them gazed at these new people he immediately became annoyed as he said, "oh would ya look at that! Even those varmints have made here huh?"

Turning to Pete as he saw his irritated gaze Kovu looked to these cubs and mouse as he asked, "you know those guys?"

Pete then told him, "sure do!" Then turning to Kovu he told him, "now ya listen and listen good! Those runts are all in the same leagues as those other mutts who did away with Scar last time! Ya gotta make sure you take 'em out too! Otherwise!"

Kovu then asked puzzled for how could ones so small be such a threat? "Otherwise?"

However Jona getting a little bored now spelled it out for him, "otherwise honey, they'll ruin the whole plan! You don't want Zira to get mad again do ya?"

Hearing this and remembering punishments in the past along with what had been dealt to Hari he shivered inside... that was something he definitely did not want! So he made his reply, "okay got it! I'll get those guys out of the way as soon as I can!"

Glad he'd got the point Pete nodded as he told the dark lion prince, "good to hear ya've got it!"Then turning he grinned widely as he said, "now let's get this plot goin'!"With that he shuffled his head and at once in moments on the ground from within the grass portals of darkness emerged and as they swirled Kovu looked on with widened eyes as Jona looked on with a calm gaze.

From within the darkened depths emerged heartless as their soulless yellow eyes gazed looking for their next prey, seeing them Pete grinned as he laughed and said, "now then you heartless! Ya all know what ya wanna do! Now go on and make yer uncle Pete proud of ya!"

Hearing the words of their master the heartless at once transformed as they all then raced forwards in the direction of the heroes as they left a blazing trail behind them.

Watching as these creatures raced forwards Jona smirked a little more as she said aloud, "now this'll be fun!"

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Nozomi next to Kiara were now both some distance away from the antelope herd and seeing that she was next to the lioness princess again she decided to try and ask her question, though she did it as quietly as she could as she whispered, "hey Kiara?"

Hearing her Kiara had her eyes fixed on the antelope but she still replied to her quietly too,"yeah what Nozomi?"

Glad that she could talk to her she asked,"I know I shouldn't ask this, but... what happened to your grandfather?"

At this question Kiara looked to Nozomi a look of seriousness in her eyes which made the young tiger cub nervous and she quickly then told her knowing she'd done the wrong thing, "sorry! I know it's wrong to ask now but-"

"He died," Kiara answered as she looked back to the antelope again.

This left Nozomi disheartened inside, she knew this was more than likely what it was but-

"He was betrayed, when my father was still a young cub he was fooled by my great uncle Scar... he was used and because of his naivete... my grandfather fell to his death, dropped by Scar as he was trampled over by wildebeests..."

Hearing this Nozomi then couldn't help but gasp as she said horrified, "that's horrible!" For now she could understand Kiara's father just a little bit but-

"I know... it was really horrible especially what happened afterwards," Kiara spoke but now she was on her prey and moved her shoulders ready to pounce.

Seeing the antelope herself Nozomi stopped asking any further questions at that moment as one wrong sound would send the antelope fleeing again, but internally she asked herself, 'afterwards? What could be worse then something after that?'

Suddenly though as if reading her thoughts one of the antelope heard something in the distance! Something which was very wrong! Then at once all the wild herbivores ran from the oncoming threat, however seeing this Kiara spoke out, "No!" At once she tried to chase them down again.

Seeing her go herself Nozomi cried out, "Kiara!" As she quickly chased after her.

Riku in the distance broke out of his grassy cover crying out, "not again!"With that he chased after them too.

Mickey seeing them all run quickly called chasing after them all, "hey fella's wait for me! Wait for me!" As he hopped desperately forwards.

Cait sith riding on Nozomi's back shouted out, "oh for the love of Mike! Who made the racket this time! What-"

Suddenly all at once everyone came to a halt, seeing them do the small cat assumed "hey? Now what're ya lot doin! It wasn't me who-"

But then he stopped as well as he saw along with the others what had caused the antelope all to flee, a huge brush fire was beginning to spread over the top of the grassy hill!

Seeing this Riku spoke out his worry as everyone looked on shocked, "this is bad! We've got to go now!"

Then as he said these words suddenly more animals emerged as they ran away terrified as something round and blazing started to chase after them leaving lines of fire everywhere!

Seeing them as they blazed forwards Kiara asked shocked, "what're those?! What-"

But suddenly all at once the spinning round objects turned back as they quickly made a huge burning circle around the group of heroes stopping them from going anywhere! Then at once the round objects unfurled themselves and standing before all of them were were six long black and orange blazing salamander like creatures as red fierce fire burned intensely on their backs and along their tails.

Looking at the insignia's though that were on their chests Nozomi recognised what they were in seconds,"heartless!? They're here!"

Mickey though looking around started to cough as the fumes were starting to get to him, quickly he told everyone, "fella's we can't fight out here like this!" With that he coughed loudly before he continued, "we'll suffocate from the smoke!" With that he coughed again.

Seeing this Riku realised what to do in moments as he called out, "well come on! Let's go!" With that he quickly summoned his keyblade, 'The Way To Dawn' into his mouth and in moments he cast out an icy 'Blizzara' spell that quickly extinguished the fire ahead of them and with that he launched himself forwards through the gap.

Seeing him go Nozomi called out, "Riku wait!" Then turning to Kiara who was clearly scared she told her, "come on Kiara! Let's get out of here!"

Looking at the heartless terrified Kiara quickly looked to Nozomi again and seeing her she replied, "...right! Right! Okay!" Then quickly she followed the small tiger cub out of the flames quickly as the king followed after them.

However the heartless all quickly bit their own tails as they turned into cartwheels again and started their pursuit of them, looking back as he continued to ride Nozomi Cait sith called out, "oi lass! We've got a hell of a blazin' trouble comin' after us!"

Looking back herself Nozomi replied loudly, "tell me about it!" With that she continued to run forwards with Kiara and Mickey as they all tried to catch up to Riku, for she wouldn't let her new friend meet a tragic fate like her Grandfather!

But also how could she help now? She and the others had to find a way to fight and stop this heartless inferno from engulfing the land!