Chapter CXXXVIII: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part XIV
Running fast Simba breathed hard putting all of his energy into escaping, turning back for a moment he looked to see how Riku was doing against the Outlanders. Immediately he saw that the dark flames that had once prevented his enemies from pursuing him had vanished and they were all quickly approaching as their red eyes glowed with a terrible hatred!
Seeing this he gritted his teeth hard as he whispered, "Riku please be all right!" Then turning again he saw finally that he'd made it to the cliff edge! In moments he quickly jumped as he started to descend from rock to rock.
Meanwhile watching from a certain distance from the same bottom of that cliff, Hari and Pete were hidden behind a set of rocks near a river. Watching him as he descended Pete remarked quietly to Hari, "well how 'bout that! Looks like that Zira there got it bang on! Huh?"
Hearing him Hari was quiet for a moment as she closed her eyes and then replied, "indeed..." looking again she saw that Simba was now close to getting down to their level and with that she turned to her accomplice and said, "now it's time for us to begin."
Smirking as he heard this Pete was really glad that they were on speaking terms again and quickly he replied, "got ya! Let's get this coaster goin'!" With that he then jumped out of the shadows of the rocks as he quickly went to initiate the next part of the planned attack.
As he continued to leap down Simba was now ready to make it to the last of the rocks, but in mid air as he went to make his descent suddenly a swirling pool of darkness emerged and as it did a haunting pair of yellow eyes emerged as well as a black swaying swirling familiar form. A heartless!?
Seeing it there was no time for him to turn about and in moments the shape morphed as it turned into a reptilian like form, it was red in colour in its scales and black. From its mouth there were a series of sharp white teeth, but the most dangerous thing of all were its long sharp exposed silver claws that were aimed straight at him!
In seconds those same claws cut straight into him! "AAAGGGHHH!" He yelled out as he tumbled and then fell hard into the dusty hard ground.
As he gasped from the pain that the heartless caused he lay on the ground, he then opened his eyes and saw suddenly around him that there were more swirling portals of darkness which were emerging and with them more of the haunting yellow eyes of the heartless.
Seeing this immediately the king of the Pride Lands eyes widened and then looking up he saw the heartless that had hurt was coming straight towards him! Quickly he rushed out of the centre of the swirling mass of monsters and out of range of his monstrous attacker, seeing all of them he couldn't believe it! "Heartless?! What're these doing here!? How did-"
Suddenly there was an immense sound of maniacal laughter, hearing the voice that caused this haunting sound he hadn't heard it in a long time, but Simba recognised him in moments! Turning his eyes revealing his agitation he gritted his teeth as he saw him! "You!" He breathed out angrily.
Seeing that he'd got his attention Pete was grinning from ear to ear as he moved forwards and then told him, "well, howdy! Long time no see huh? Ya royal helplessness?"
"Pete!" Simba spoke out angrily as he saw one of his and Sora's old worst foes.
"In the flesh!" Pete replied with a proud boast and then looking at the portals of darkness he saw that his heartless were ready and so turning to his prey again he told him, "now it's time for us ta be takin' ya out!"
At once turning around as he heard these words Simba saw the sharp toothed clawed heartless roar loudly as Pete called out his command, "now get him!" Then out at once all the heartless emerged from their portals like mounds of scurrying insects from their hills.
In seconds seeing them all coming towards him Simba gritted his teeth and quickly he ran forwards as the monsters all started to run after him! Seeing him go Pete continued to smile away and then not resisting the urge to jeer he cried out, "yeah that's it run fer it ya punk! Ya're gonna be ours!"
However Simba wasn't one to give in! Looking back he saw that he'd made a good distance between himself and the monsters he suddenly turned back and started to charge straight towards the monsters!
Seeing him do this Pete stopped his jeering as he became perplexed and asked, "huh what's he-"
Stopping then Simba was fully charged! The heartless were now also in his range! He plunged his claws hard into the ground and as he looked up he saw his heartless attacker who had struck him with his sharp claws in the air, it was time for some pay back!
"RROOOAAARRRGGHH!"
Simba's loud and noble roar was heard all around as his power surged into the ground creating strong rays of magic as they quickly blasted into the swarming masses of heartless turning them all into dust in moments! Pete was aghast! He couldn't believe it! All his heartless were gone in the blink of an eye!
The royal lion king seeing what he'd done looked up and quickly manoeuvring one of his claws out of the ground he smashed it into the red sharp clawed heartless who'd survived his attack!
Growling with ferocity the heartless was still burning with hostility but quickly in moments the creature succumbed to Simba's strength and power as it too turned into dust!
Retracting his claws from the empty space and placing it beneath himself again Simba after a moment looked up and with his rich brown eyes he looked at Pete fiercely with a burning intensity.
The heartless summoner looking at Simba was frozen by those burning eyes, it was so intense it almost made him take a step back in fear... but after a moment he regained his composure and in seconds he called out angrily, "wh, why ya good fer nothin! Ya-"
"Yes! We've got him! " At once all of her subordinates in her pride along with her herself emerged along with her two children, Nuka and Vitani all of them glowing still with those haunting red angry eyes. They all burned with the same hatred in their hearts as their leader who'd called out.
Hearing this voice both Pete and Simba turned and there standing on the top of the cliff was Zira and her pride and as saw she her helpless prey she immediately barked out her orders, "remember your training as a unit!"
In seconds then all of them descended down the cliff, all intent for the kill! Simba quickly seeing this started to run away again, his power he'd used on the heartless had nearly all been spent and it wouldn't help stop the lions who were now after him!
He couldn't do anything against these huge numbers, looking ahead he saw a dam that had been created by the dead debris that had been caused by the last bouts of the heavy rainfall! It was the one way out that would lead him away from his fierce attackers, he had to make it!
Seeing him flee with the Out Lander lions tailing after him along with Zira who had just now descended the cliff herself. Pete decided to add to their numbers as he quickly called out for more heartless as portals of darkness emerged again, "yer not gettin' away from me either!" In seconds the heartless came and as they did he sent them all running forwards with a command, "now y'all get him ya mutts!" With that Pete chased after them all to reinforce the attack!
Hearing this shout Simba turned around again and saw now that his problems had just doubled! Now Out Landers and heartless were after him! He had to escape and fast! So pulling all his energy together he focused himself to go on straight ahead!
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Finally then making it to the cliff's edge himself Riku looked over it to see what was happening and immediately he saw Simba being chased by Zira, her lions and then he saw him, "Pete!" Angered by his arrogant smile he then finally saw all the heartless that were after him too! Simba needed help and fast!
With that he quickly descended the cliff himself as he jumped from rock to rock, fiercely he spoke aloud to himself, "Simba hold on! I'm coming just-"
Then suddenly there was a flash of red light and seeing it coming straight towards him he quickly reacted as he flipped back in the air and launched himself forwards as he leaped and landed on the ground as an explosion sounded and shook the earth beneath his paws.
Looking behind himself he saw the smouldering spot where he would have been blasted, he then looked ahead and saw who had fired at him and in moments he spoke, "I should have known!" For there standing with her wings extended out beating them with that all too familiar metallic sound was Hari in her cheetah form staring at him coldly.
Seeing that her attack had missed was not unexpected and as she saw Riku looking at her she replied, "so you survived then?"
Impatient Riku then told her with angry gritted teeth, "get out of my way Hari! I don't have time for you!"
Quiet for a moment Hari then asked, "oh don't you?" Finishing she closed her eyes as her wings quickly retracted into her back as she continued,"how sad..."
Seeing her do this Riku put himself on guard as he could sense something was coming!
In moments Hari then opened her eyes again as she looked at him with an icy ferocity as she told him, "because I'm just beginning with you!" With that in a swirl of darkness emerged her sharp and dangerous keyblade, 'The Subtle Scythe.'
Watching it as it emerged Riku then saw Hari take it within her own sharp jaws and immediately he summoned his own blade, The Way To Dawn,' as he did quickly the two of them started to engage each other!
Smashing left and right, left, right then again and again the two of them were fiercely well matched, however Riku knew that this wasn't the time for sparring, he had a friend to save! So quickly he descended back onto the earth again, as he landed he bit into his keyblade hard as he stood his ground.
Seeing the white lion cub had stopped on the ground immediately Hari gathered her energy as she fired a series of burning red shots from her keyblade all over the earth beneath her, as the blasts hit the ground they created a cloud of dust.
Keeping his ground had paid off for Riku as he smashed away some of the red shots and the effective cloud of camouflage now surrounded him and quickly he knew this was the time! He acted instantly as he ran forwards and seeing the shape that he knew to be Hari in the air, he shot his own purple glowing spheres of power at her.
Seeing this retuning fire Hari acted as she dodged them left and right, then suddenly before she knew it from out of the cloud Riku emerged as he leaped right past her. Racing forwards as soon as he hit the ground he made sure to put a big distance between himself and her! He had to hurry! Glad to see that he'd succeeded Riku smiled as he looked back at her as he thought to himself, 'come try and stop me now!'
But sadly he'd thought to soon as suddenly another blast came from ahead of him! Turning quickly Riku looked on with shocked eyes and barely just in time he managed to avoid it.
Almost spinning from the dodge he'd just done Riku's side ached as he could feel the echo of its power! Looking at the blast that had come he saw the cracked line as stones had been cast left and right, he knew this attack and turning he heard a voice, "well aren't you the spritely little flea?"
Turning irritated he saw her as he spoke angrily, "Jona!?"
Seeing him look at her filled the wearing earring lioness with amusement as she replied, "oh yeah!"
Then suddenly as Riku looked at her from above Hari flew over as she quickly landed next to her, as she retracted her wings back again she asked the lion cub with her cold eyes, "did you believe I would operate alone in this battle?"
Hearing this question Riku didn't bother to respond as he instead summoned his keyblade again, this was no time to hesitate even if there were two strong obstacles in his path!
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Running hard Simba breathed in and out heavily from the adrenalin rush as he had finally made it to the dam! All this chasing was stressing him out tremendously! Then turning fast his sharp ears caught another warning sound as he looked and saw another heartless coming at him with sharp claws! Quickly acting he smashed it away with his own and immediately it dissipated into dark particles.
Looking ahead though he saw to his horror Zira and her lions coming straight towards him! He had to get away from them quickly! So rushing he quickly turned and started to climb the various rocks that were poking out from among the fallen dead trees and other debris.
As he climbed though it was precarious as a few logs came loose and fell as he tried to grasp and hold on as he went, as some of these fell Zira and her angry troops had to fall back lest they be struck down.
All of them looked at Simba angrily with gritted teeth as he ascended, breathing in and out tired himself from all the running Pete finally arrived as he asked, "what's happenin' here? Where's that good fer nothin-" quickly another loose log came crashing down and this one nearly struck him!
"Hey watch it! Who did that there!? Who-!" Backing away quickly Pete looked up and saw what Simba was doing and seeing the lion king was trying to climb away he was quiet for a moment before asking amused, "oh well look who's fleein' like a scaredy cat huh?"
Zira however was not in the mood for tasteless jokes as she demanded approaching him angrily, "quit your blubbering and get your heartless after him now!"
Feeling nervous under this intense stare and demand Pete quickly agreed, "uh, yeah sure there! No problem Zira!" Immediately then he called out, "all right ya heard the demand! C'mon out ya heartless!"
In seconds swirling portals emerged and at once a few sharp red toothed reptilian heartless emerged and in moments at their master'a command they all began to jump up and tail after the king of the Pride Lands.
At that moment Simba turned as he heard the hissing and quickly he saw those heartless again! They were not what he needed then!
"Simba!"
Immediately he turned again and above, looking from the top of the dam on its rocky ledges was the traitor who'd led him into this situation. Looking at him did not ease Simba's heart as below Zira called out to him, "get him Kovu! Get him! Do it now!"
Simba had to get out of this! But now he was struggling as he was unable to find his bearings upon the stones and loose logs as he tried to grasp something, anything! For he had to hurry for now Kovu was coming straight in his direction! As the hissing heartless were now also catching up to him!
Nuka in the meantime seeing his adopted brother going in for the kill along with the heartless wanted his time to shine in the limelight and so he called out, "I'll do it!" Then climbing onto the logs of the dam he looked back and said, "for you mother!" As he laughed out manically he started climbing up again.
However as he did this Pete had a bad feeling that this was not a good idea and he started to voice it as he asked, "hey Nuka! Don't ya think yer-"
However he stopped as suddenly something was happening to the termite infested lion, a swarming purple laced red light was beginning to pulse all over his body, 'what is that?' Pete thought to himself with worry.
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Riku in the midst of his battle with Jona and Hari had his work cut out for him! For the two of them together were a terrible duo to try and overcome, with Hari firing shots from above and Jona sending blasts of shattering light through the earth below there was virtually no place for him to make a come back.
He had to do something! He was running out of energy and magic! If he delayed any longer he'd be defeated for sure! Looking at them both as Hari hovered in the air and Jona stood upon the earth he looked beyond them and saw Simba on the dam! Looking he saw that the heartless were approaching from below and a dark smouldering shape of some kind, "what is-"
Before he could finish Jona spoke up as she looked on with a smug smile, "I'd say it's about time we finish this, huh?"
Hearing her ask this question Riku looked at her with hard eyes as Hari responded in her cool tone, "indeed... I must concur."
Grinning at this answer Jona smiled as she looked at Riku again as his fur was bristling, she enjoyed this little bit of fun, "well looks like your game's over now huh?"
Riku was aggravated! He couldn't be helpless now! He had to do something! He had to... then suddenly from the recesses of his mind a quick idea emerged. There was no evidence that this quick hatched plan would work but with the situation as dire as this it was worth a shot!
With that quickly both Jona and Hari proceeded forwards and as they did they both launched themselves into the air, as they did the red hued cheetah drew out her wings gathering her scarlet coloured energy as Jona was decorated in her own glowing colour of orange.
Riku held fast ready and steady as the strong lioness came in closer and closer! As she did her eyes almost became crazed as she shouted, "you're mine!"
Immediately Riku responded, "not yet!" Then in moments he shouted out, "Protect!" In seconds the protective spell came over him as it danced with pulsing yellow light!
Seeing this Jona asked, "what-" but it was too late as Jona had struck into the shield and as she did she was rebounded off and in moments taking this one chance Riku quickly jumped out of the protective shell and launched himself forwards with his keyblade in his mouth.
As he came at her the earring wearing lioness was unprepared as she was suddenly struck as Riku used his hind legs to send her flying backwards! In seconds he also quickly hit her with his keyblade then bounding from her head he leaped into the air straight towards Hari!
Seeing him approach the winged cheetah turned her head to the side as she said cooly, "you cannot-"
"Get out of my way!" Riku shouted as he raced forwards and in moments he struck with the last powerful spell he could use as he shouted, "Firaga!"
At once the powerful fire spell escaped from his keyblade and quickly it struck one of Hari 's wings blasting through the frames and wires on the right side making her fall in the air with widened eyes, seeing she was descending Riku rushed himself past her as he had Simba in his sights!
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Still clawing away Simba was still trying to get up and away from the approaching danger that was coming! At once though he quickly heard the hissing of the heartless again as they'd finally reached him!
Turning back and holding onto the edge with one of his claws, he used his other as best as he could to smash away the three approaching heartless as they came in hissing. One by one he made them go back but it was getting more precarious for him as his was beginning to lose his grip! Using his claws again he held onto the wood but then the heartless came on top of him and as he felt them him Simba cried out, "what're you doing!? Let go! Get off me! Aaggh!" For one of the beasts bit into his side hard making him gasp in agony!
Seeing the pain that his heartless was inflicting Pete was pleased! This would show them all he wasn't useless! That he wasn't-
"BBBAAANNNGGG!"
Shocked as he heard this along with the other lions they all turned around at the sound and in moments Pete watched with them as he saw in the air that Hari was falling as one of her wings had been blasted through and was smouldering! Seeing this the over weight lion villain froze but then quickly pure worry and panic filled him. Immediately he shouted out, "Hari!" Then quickly he rushed back to where she was falling to.
Seeing him go Zira and her lions were quiet but suddenly another shout was heard, "mother are you watching!"
With that they all turned back again and as they did all of them saw that Nuka was now nearly on top of Simba as the pulsating purple and red energy coursed faster and faster over him.
Simba in the meantime struggled badly but finally he managed to kick away another of the heartless and as he swung away it made the creature fall away. In moments it was dashed away against the stone and sharp logs disappearing in seconds. Then moving again he unbalanced the other two heartless and as they both came rushing in again towards him hissing angrily for another attack, he blasted them both with the last of his magical power making them turn into dust in moments.
Gasping he then tried to climb away again however Nuka then had made it to him, looking back for a moment Simba too finally saw the smouldering darkness that was all over the lion, the sight of it chilled him as he tried to make his escape again.
Nuka approaching his helpless prey spoke as his anger and pride were both brimming madly inside him, he spoke aloud to himself, "I'm doin' this for you mother! And I'm doin' it for me!"
Then finally he was on him as he rushed forwards and grasped Simba's lower leg! As he did the sharp pain of his claws bit into the king making him wince painfully.
Gritting his teeth as he did this Nuka spoke to him with an evil glee in his eyes, "this is my moment of glory!" Then suddenly he rushed up and diving his head forwards he bit his sharp teeth into the side of Simba's mane making it into his neck.
Feeling the horrible pain of this attack Simba gasped loudly in pain as he felt something horrible and burning enter inside him, this thing inside made his eyes shine for a moment with the same angry red light as his attackers, below all the lions of the Outer Lands all smiled with absolute glee as Zira smiled up maddened with delight at what her son was doing.
"Stop it!" Came a sudden shout.
As it came Nuka forgot what he was doing for a moment as he removed his teeth and asked, "what-"
But then there was suddenly a blast of magical power that came with another shout, "Thunder!" In moments it shot into a log near the attacking lion's left leg and as it did it unbalanced him!Feeling this Nuka panicked as he completely lost control of himself and suddenly he began to topple backwards as another log started to fall over him.
Seeing what was occurring all the lions below were becoming upset and shocked, especially Zira as she cried out, "nooo!"
Simba gasping from all the pain he was now suffering from looked up and saw quickly landing on the wood before him was none other then the white coloured lion cub who had accompanied him. Seeing him he gasped, "Riku...?"
"Simba!" He spoke as he quickly approached him and asked further, "can you make it to the edge with me?"
At this question the lion king looked to him as he was almost at limit as he replied, "yeah... yeah I think so..." with that he tried to pull himself forwards.
But quickly the lion cub could see he was struggling so getting underneath his right arm he helped to pull him up as he told him, "don't push yourself! Let me help!"
Glad for the assistance Simba smiled painfully as he was quickly lifted and then dragged up onto the ledge that was near them both, however as Riku helped to lift him this caused the log Simba had been clinging on so tightly to, to fall cascading down followed by many loose ones.
In their path was the helpless victim Nuka who was still underneath the log he'd been struck with just a little ago, looking up just recovering the lion looked on with horrified eyes as the logs all quickly fell upon him leaving a cloud of dust to fly away everywhere.
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Getting up having got a headache from the attack Riku had launched at her Jona spoke up, "well for a little guy he certainly packs a punch when you let him get to ya."
Just a little away from her Hari was lying on the ground as she looked at her coldly with indifference and then looking down she saw the damage that had been done to her wing.
A smouldering hole had been left behind and some of the wiring had melted and various other little burns had been left behind too, Jona looking at the damaged herself as she walked over remarked to her, "well looks like he left you with a right doozy too hey?'
Hari looking to her again then looked back to her wing as she replied, "indeed but-"
"Hari!"
Surprising Jona she looked to Pete who was fast approaching, however Hari herself simply turned her head becoming quiet as the over weight lion asked hurriedly, "Hari!? Are ya okay!? What happened to ya!? Are ya hurt!? Are ya-"
"Whoa! Look who's overly worried here! What're you being the doting father?" Jona asked feeling amused.
At this Pete stopped as he looked to Jona and then back to Hari who just stared at him with a blank stare... seeing the silence that she had caused Jona was quiet but then she smiled as she thought to herself, 'I see now... so that's what it is.'
As she thought this suddenly though there was a huge crash and bang, looking into the distance where she, Pete and Hari heard it they all could see the cloud of dust that had been created. Seeing this occur Jona felt a tugging within herself, she had to go! Now! Then without another word she ran on ahead to see what was happening, leaving Pete and Hari both alone with one another.
The overweight lion looking again to her didn't know what to say at all to her, but looking at her wing he asked her, "Hari... ya wing? It's broken."
Looking down Hari responded, "indeed..."
Pete then asked her, "are ya never gonna be able to fly again?"
At this question she responded, "no..." then she was silent for a moment before she put a paw to it and in moments a red light began to envelop it and quickly before Pete's amazed eyes the damage that had been caused to her wing had all but vanished making it seem as though nothing had happened to it at all!
Seeing this Pete was quiet again as Hari told him, "I have self regeneration abilities in my wings...these will never break as long as I live," then looking up to him again she told him further after a moment, "you worry too much about me Pete."
Hearing this the black overweight lion smiled as he replied, "yeah... yeah I guess I do, but I'm glad that yer okay, Hari... and that ya can fly again... I really am glad..."
Listening to this Hari looked down as she then looked into the distance of the gathering dust and said, "that's good you're glad then..."
To which Pete was quiet again, he didn't know what to make of her saying that but in her own way she was showing appreciation towards him which made him even more happy inside. Looking into the distance himself he wondered what was occurring near the bottom of that dam?
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It was finally then that Kovu made it down and seeing the destruction that occurred he was horrified as he started to try and remove the dead wood that was covering his adopted brother.
Moving one log and then another and another he moved desperatley to help him, but pushing him out of the way suddenly all the more desperate was the mother and leader of the whole pride. Zira herself. Breathing hard she tore another log out of the way and then another and then one more branch before she finally came across her poor son trapped in amongst a sea of dead wood coughing as he tried to gasp for air.
Seeing him like this pained Zira terribly inside as she gasped sadly, "Nuka..."
Hearing the voice of his mother the lion opened his eyes painfully as he spoke to her with a smile, "I'm... sorry mother... I tried..."
Trying to soothe just a little of his pain Zira reached her right paw across as she hushed him softly as though all he was going to do was sleep, then at that moment beside her another appeared.
Nuka looking up saw her and smiled as he spoke, "Jona..."
Looking at him herself the earring wearing lioness looked at him softly herself with her warm gold eyes and smiling gently she replied, "hey..."
Seeing her he had to ask her one last question, "did you... did you see me... was I!" He gasped painfully as he finally asked her, "was I good... did I do well?"
At this question Jona was quiet but then in moments she reached her own paw down as Zira removed her own. As she did she told him cupping his mouth and cheek, "yeah honey... you were good, you did really well."
Hearing this Nuka smiled a little more and he wanted to say more but then Jona soothed him as she stroked into him, "don't worry sweet heart... just dream some beautiful dreams for us...okay?"
At these words as he felt her touch and seeing the eyes and faces of the two who he felt cared for him the most Nuka smiled as finally the last of strength left him... his time had now ended.
Appearing over their shoulders and watching as her brother passed Vitani spoke his name, "Nuka..." before she looked down at the soaking ground and all the other lions there were just as silent too and with the dam leaking it's small trickles of water... it revealed the sadness that was shared by all who were standing there.