Chapter CXLI: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part XVII

Landing quickly as she dug her sharp claws onto a nearby rocky platform, Nozomi breathed in and out hard, "man this is tougher than I thought!"

For immediately at the start of the battle everyone had been lifted into the air on another rocky platform by one of the heartless's long tentacles! This had led them into a rather precarious fight, where one wrong move meant that they'd be plummeting into the ground below! However it wouldn't be safe sandy ground... it would instead be a sea of horrible red bubbling acid!

Getting up Nozomi turned around as she saw Riku and Mickey were still trying to get to the core of the monster, that enormous crescent grinning sharp toothed mouth. However like her they were struggling, for it was not easy to get from platform to platform without the danger of being struck down by one of the many countless vines and tentacles.

Their previous attempts to attack had been fruitless, as no one had caused any damage whatsoever to the monstrosity. Instead they'd had had to backtrack each time, which the white Tiger cub had just done again.

Nozomi looking at the others worriedly turned her gaze to another platform that held their poor suffering friend Kovu, looking at him she could see he was still unconscious and suffering from the poison he'd been infected with. Pained inside at seeing this Nozomi spoke, "what're we supposed to do!? How can we get Kovu back and all right through all this!?"

Cait sith on her back told her, "lass c'mon this ain't the time to be anguishin'! We gotta-"

Hearing him stop Nozomi looked up confused as she began to ask, "Cait si-"

But she stopped as she saw in front of her something that shocked and puzzled her in moments, a huge blue pulsating flower had emerged seemingly from nowhere as it looked at her straight in the face!

A further away in the distance Riku landed himself upon another rocky platform, gripping his claws into the earth he spoke aloud, "darn it! If only there was-"

Then he suddenly stopped as he saw looking in a certain direction Nozomi, Cait sith and their blooming flower, however as he looked he saw where it had emerged from and it meant huge trouble!

Nozomi still startled began to ask, "what is-"

"Nozomi get out of there!"

Hearing this shout the white Tiger cub turned surprised and suddenly as she did a light blue powder was released from the blossom as it clouded over her in moments, feeling this Nozomi shook her head as she breathed it in and cried out, "what is this!"

Cait sith batting the stuff away himself with gloved paws cried out, "I dunno but we gotta-"

Then suddenly Nozomi collapsed as she fell to the ground unconscious! Jumping from her back as this occurred Cait Sith cried out, "lass! What're ya-"

But before the small cat could speak any further the platform they were both standing upon was being moved! Seeing what was happening he cried out, "what's goin' on here! Where are we-"

"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

Turning everyone heard the evil mocking laughter of Pete and as they did they all turned angrily to him as he broadcasted out to them all, "how did ya like the taste of the sleepin' powder there! Ya're gonna really enjoy what's gonna be comin' up next!"

Hearing this on another platform nearby the King watched what was going on as he repeated puzzled, "sleepin' powder?"

Smirking Pete simply watched as the platform was being moved closer and closer to the crescent shaped mouth of the heartless. Standing from where he was Riku was looking quietly in the direction where Nozomi and Cait sith were being taken to and then he realised with sudden horror what going to happen. He cried out, "no!" With that he immediately acted as he started leaping form one platform to the next.

Cait Sith in the meantime was busy trying to get Nozomi up as he pulled on her fur, "oi ya daft banshee! This ain't the time for ya to be dozin'! C'mon we gotta be-"

"Cait sith!"

Hearing the shout the small black and white cat turned and looking around he saw Riku jumping from platform to platform and as he did he called back to the white lion cub, "Riku mate! I can't get this ditzy lass up! She won't-"

"Cait sith listen to me1 You've got to get Nozomi away from there before-"

However Riku was quickly cut off as tentacles and vines came rushing forwards smashing into the platform around him. As it did he had to jump and evade as he ran, then as he leaped forwards suddenly-

"Agh!"

One of the vicious tentacles had smashed into his side, then another and another hit him as they all sent the white lion cub crashing into his next platform, seeing him hurt immediately Mickey cried out, "Riku!" With that he hopped and jumped forwards evading every tendril and vine that came rushing his way.

In the meantime Cait sith seeing what had happened to Riku, immediately went to try and get his knocked out partner up as he raced over to her and started pulling her fur again as he cried out, "ya heard him lass! Now get up! We gotta ska doodle!"

Mickey then finally made it over to Riku and as he did smashing away another vine and another he looked to him worried as he called out to him, "Riku are ya okay! Can ya hear me!" With that as he got rid of the last of the vicious vines, he quickly lifted his keyblade over him as he called out, "Cura!"

In moments the green glittering healing spell spread over him and quickly the pain along with the damage he'd been dealt with vanished in moments. The white lion cub finally opened his eyes, seeing him awaken quickly Mickey called out, "Riku!"

Confused for a moment seeing the King, Riku was quiet but then realisation hit him as he asked quickly, "Your majesty! Nozomi and Cait sith are they - !"

"Oh for the love of Mike!"

Hearing this shout instantly both Riku and Mickey turned and saw alarmed that the platform was now over the crescent mouth of the heartless!

Cait sith in the meantime hadn't been able to coax Nozomi awake at all! This deeply frustrated him as he cried out mad, "grr! Ya dumb banshee! Tryin' ta make ya wake up is the same as tryin' to awaken a bear from hibernatin'!"

Then suddenly the platform gave a jolt, it'd come to a stop! Realising where'd they'd stopped with a sudden dread, Cait sith suddenly heard that same annoying arrogant tone of Pete's as he laughed, "ha ha ha!" Then there was a huge thundering sound, as the over weight lion stomped his feet onto his floating pedestal... the platform that Cait sith and the sleeping tiger were on started to tip downwards!

As this started to happen Cait sith quickly looked over the edge and saw with terror that they were now both over the sharp jaws of the Venus fly trap heartless and now that jagged sharp toothed mouth was open!

Then looking behind him he saw that Nozomi was starting to slide down the platform towards the edge of it! Horrified Cait sith cried out, "lass!"

As he saw this he looked to the side and saw that the blue sleeping spore flower had closed and as it did it changed back into one of the five hideous yellow glowing eyes of the heartless! Seeing it as it started to manoeuvre itself away from the platform Cait sith heard Pete once again laughing out, "enjoy bein' plant chowder there ya runts!"

Hearing this Cait sith snapped as he cried out, "runts? Runts!?" Then turning his head to look at Pete angrily he told him, "I'll show ya who's the real runt here!" With that the small black and white cat let go of the ledge, running back down it, it began to tip a little lower down and suddenly as he raced forwards the platform went the other way up!

With this sudden movement it stirred Nozomi awake slightly as she gasped, "Huh? Wha-"

Then at that moment Cait sith leaped forwards fast as he cried out mad, "RRrragghh!"

Then in seconds he landed on the eyeball of the heartless as it only moved a slight distance away! In moments Cait sith blinded the eyeball as he hung onto it and started zapping away at it with his magic!

Pete seeing what the small cat was doing shouted outraged, "hey what're ya doin' ya little-! " However he was becoming unbalanced as the heartless was being struck in one of its few weak spots.

Continuing to feel the pain of the spells, the creature shook and trembled as a loud piercing shriek sounded everywhere! This fully awoke Nozomi in moments, she was startled as she cried out, "what's going on!? What's- !?"

"Nozomi! Nozomi!"

Hearing these two cries the Tiger cub turned and saw Riku and Mickey beginning to approach where she was from the surrounding platforms, seeing them Nozomi cried back to them, "Riku! Mickey!"

Suddenly as she shouted these words her own platform shook uncontrollably and as it did it tipped downwards again! As it did Nozomi felt herself sliding down! "Hey Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"

Inserting her nails into the rocky surface, trying to get some grit she looked below and saw to her horror, the gaping mouth that was waiting below her! This was bad! It was really, really bad!

Seeing the struggle that she was going through the King knew she needed help immediately! Instantly he cried out, " Nozomi! We'll be with ya soon! Just hold on!" However both he and Riku were struggling themselves and it was clear that from the amount of tentacles and vines that were still coming in their way, that it was actually going to take a lot longer than soon!

Smashing into another vine that came straight towards them both with his keyblade, Riku thought to himself fiercely with determination, 'hang in there Nozomi!'

In that moment though the white Tiger cub thought to herself, 'I wish you guys were here right now!' For she didn't know how much longer she could hang on for!

Pete in the meantime was struggling to keep a balance on his own floating space, "hey watch it! Hey whoa!" Looking at Cait sith as he continued to beat into the heartless's eye with his spells and claws.

He'd decided he'd done enough damage to that one eye, it was now time to lay some damage onto another one! "That does about it! Now it's time for eye number two!" With that leaping he cast one last Thunder spell, which made that one eye disappear in a swarm of dark mist as he concentrated on his next target! Frustrated at this the big black lion had had enough and immediately shouted out, "what're ya doin' ya daft heartless! Ya gonna let some dumb puny cat keep ya down! Now ya do as I tell ya and beat that stray into a grindin' pulp!"

At once hearing these words the heartless became just as enraged as Pete and as it did, a hundred or more tentacles and vines seemed to appear from nowhere! As they did they all started to try and get Cait sith along with anything else that was in their range!

Immediately Riku cried out, "dodge!" In moments both he and the King jumped out of the way! Everything now was in a sea of total chaos that they had to get through!

Nozomi still clinging on for dear life opened her eyes for a brief moment and then saw with a sudden horror one huge vine coming straight towards her! In moments she released her claws from the rock as the ferocious whip destroyed the platform sending rocks flying left and right!

But now there was a worse trap waiting for her below! The toothed mouth was snapping, raising up to meet her! Appalled with fright she quickly cried out, "aaaggghhh!"

Looking from the distance Riku and Mickey had now just made it to where she was but now, "Nozomi! Nozomi!" They both cried out panicked.

In her own panic as she saw those horrible snapping teeth coming straight towards her Nozomi took out her keyblade with her tail and as she did, she called out the first spell she could think of, "Firaga!" Immediately the meteor like spell emerged and fired straight into the heartless's mouth! As it entered the monsters jaws snapped shut! As it did in seconds there was a loud bang and then a piercing monstrous shriek as the creature writhed in horrible agony! As this occurred the monster opened its mouth again as a spout of hot air escaped, this made Nozomi fly up and land on another platform that was nearby as she cried out, "hey! Whoa!"

Landing in a scrambled hurry Nozomi asked, "am I alive? How did I-"

"Nozomi!"

Quickly turning the white Tiger cub saw her friends as they made it to the platform she was now on, relieved the King asked her, "Nozomi ya made it yer okay!"

Breathless she almost felt like laughing at what had just happened as she replied putting a paw to her head, "yeah I am! I can't believe it though! That was just really lucky!"

Sighing Riku replied to her a small smile on his face too, "you got that right you're lucky!" But then looking behind him his smile vanished he continued, "but now..."

With that they all saw the heartless as it continued to writhe around left and right as it was trying to get rid of Cait sith who was continuing to cling onto his chosen eyeball.

Riku then finished as he summarised the situation, "it's total chaos." Nozomi and Mickey didn't argue with him as they all quietly watched on to see what Cait sith was doing.

Still rocking back and forth as the heartless was caught in its chaotic rampage, Pete barely had any balance at all! While Cait sith was still fighting the second eye he'd latched onto he'd also done his best to avoid the tentacles and vines too, as the eye he was on continued to writhe and struggle against him!

Irritated that the heartless was unable to get rid of that one small cat Pete cried out, "what do ya think yer doin'! Get rid of that flea bag right this minute ya useless heartless!"

At this one comment Cait sith's ear flickered as he became further annoyed in moments! As he did he turned around and looked at him enraged as he asked him, "what was that ya called me!?"

In moments Pete stopped as he almost felt like he was looking into the eyes of a monster now! But before he could reply back to him, Cait sith smashed the second eye away with one swipe of his claws making it vanish in moments! "Ha! Take that ya big blinker!" His work done the small cat changed targets as he looked at Pete with red in his eyes as he told him,"now it's time for ya ta have some come uppance!"

This made Pete shiver but not wanting to be intimidated he ordered, "c'mon ya stupid heartless get that shrimp now!"

Immediately at his orders the heartless went to strike the small cat in moments, but as each vine and tentacle moved to strike him down, Cait sith caught each one as he used each as a rope to go further forwards and forwards until!

"Now I got ya!" Cait sith shouted as he leaped forwards and landed right on target unleashing a ferocious barrage of scratches upon the over weight lion!

"Hey! Ow! Ow! Ouch! Hey! Ah!"

As the cries of pain were continued to be heard, everyone felt really awkward and they didn't know what at all to say? But Nozomi then decided to break this silence as she said, "Wow..Cait sith really can be a one man army can't he?"

To this Riku retorted, "yeah...when he's in the right frame of mind!"

Mickey though quickly spoke up as he said, "fella's! I know it's kinda of a weird situation that's happenin' here but we gotta focus! Remember about Kovu!"

In moments hearing him both Nozomi and Riku did remember and looking to him they saw that he was still unconscious and pained, but looking at him a little more closely made Nozomi ask, "your majesty he's looking a lot paler to me! Do you think the poison's going to-"

Mickey replied to her feeling just as worried, "I hope not Nozomi... but we better do somethin' and fast!"

Riku then spoke up just urgently, "I know you're right Mickey, but..." with that he turned as did the others as he asked, " how can we be fast amongst that sea of chaos!"

For then they all saw the countless sea of vines and tentacles continue to writhe uncontrollably and even the other platforms were looking unstable to step on!

Looking at this dangerous sight for a further moment, Nozomi then looked down... what could they do? How could they save Kovu from this? What would be the best way? Then suddenly an idea struck her! It could work! Quickly she turned to the others as she told them, "hey! Guys!" Getting their attentions she told them both, "I've got an idea... and I think we've got the time we need to make it work!" With that she quickly told them what they could do!

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Back on the ground some distance away from where the battle was commencing, Kiara watched on with worried eyes... she couldn't see too well, but the sea of chaos she could see was clear. It was a terrible sight and it made her think back to her father and mother... what were they both doing now? What were those enraging spores of darkness forcing them to do? And... she then whispered aloud as her heart ached with unease and heavy worry, "Kovu... everyone... please be all right!" With that she looked to the battle again to see how things would turn out.

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Still scratching away at his fat pole Cait sith cried out, "how do ya like that ya lummox! Nobody calls me a stray, a runt and a flea bag in one day!"

Gritting his teeth Pete then did something loud, "RRRROOOOOAAAARRRR!"

This sudden sound and fright sent Cait sith flying off of his face in seconds as he cried, "ow me ears! That-"

Then Pete stomped his giant paw down as he had Cait sith pinned down to his rocky pedestal! As this occurred the sea of chaos finally ceased as the tentacles and vines finally ceased their throws of chaos. As they did the little black and white cat cried out, "ow! Lay off me ya fatso! Ya-"

Angered bitterly, Pete told him enraged himself, "I'm gonna teach ya for scratchin' me like that! I ain't gonna be takin down by-" Suddenly it occurred to him! Looking up he looked around himself as he asked, "where'd those mutts go!" There was total silence... the lot of them had seemed to have vanished! How could this have happened?!

Cait sith quiet as he saw his comrades had gone thought to himself... the dread set in quick, they couldn't have been eaten could they?! Fallen into the acid or-

"BLAST!"

Suddenly there was a shot of fire magic from seemingly nowhere! It hit one of the eyes of the heartless making it shriek in that monstrous, piercing tone! This immediately took both Pete and Cait sith off guard!

Seeing what had happened Pete called out mad, "where'd that there fiery blast come from! Just what is- !"

"BLAST!" "BLAST!"

The creatures other two eyes were struck this time by a fierce thunder spell and a powerful ice spell!

Once again the creature made another piercing loud shriek and as this happened it confused Pete more, as he couldn't figure out where the attacks had come form at all! Angered bitterly he cried out mad, "where are those runts! I'll-" suddenly the overweight black lion stopped as he saw them! Two coming straight from either side along the floating ring of rocky platforms!

Seeing them both coming, Pete was surprised at first but quickly he regained his composure as he smiled menacingly and laughed, "a sneak attack huh?" Then stomping one paw onto his pedestal, suddenly sprouts appeared on each of the platforms which all quickly opened up revealing different coloured blossoms of blue, yellow and red. As they each appeared Pete cried out, "let see ya chumps survive a massive dose of this!"

With that the flowers all at once all showered each of their deadly pollens across all of the platforms as both keybladers continued running forwards! Cait sith was horribly anxious for them as he thought to himself, 'if they breathe in that stuff like she did before!'

Pete laughed as he expected them both to collapse almost instantly!... However after some moments he stopped, as he saw that neither of them fell victim to the toxins! How could that be! Growing quickly frustrated he cried out, "oh so that ain't enough for ya huh!? Then take this!" He barked and in moments swarms of tentacles and vines came in again for the attack!

Quickly both keybladers called on their keyblades as the nasty whips all came together to strike them down! However before they could both be touched, suddenly another powerful fiery spell emerged as it blasted into this deadly barrage!

Shocked as this occurred, Pete watched as the two keybladers smashed through the now charred vines and tentacles that turned them into dust in moments! "Hey where'd that blow come from! Where-" then suddenly he realised! Looking up he saw who'd done it!

For there floating in the air was that winged white Tiger cub as she looked on with a fierce look of determination. Pete seeing her was angered but then looking down he watched as his heartless tried to strike both Riku and Mickey as they were coming closer and closer towards the crescent smiled sharp toothed mouth! However what should have stopped them, no longer could. For as the tentacles all came charging in they were all dispatched by Nozomi as she fired her spells at them!

Seeing what was going on, Pete became aggravated even more as he quickly asked, "so that's where ya are huh!?" Then turning around again he commanded, "get that stripy varmit this minute!" With those words decreed immediately the heartless aimed and fired more of its sharp vines straight towards the flying feline!

Nozomi in the air seeing these long projectiles coming straight towards her looked to her friends and quickly she saw it! They were in place! So looking back at the vines that were coming towards her, she smirked as she remarked, "you're fast... but!"

Then suddenly as she said these words a barrage of fire spells emerged from below as they fired from Riku's and Mickey's keyblades, they quickly incinerated the vines and as they did Nozomi finished her sentence, "not good enough!"

With that she moved into position as she flew quickly forwards and then taking her keyblade out with her tail, Riku and Mickey aimed with their own, they all commenced the final part of their attack!

"BLIZZAGA!"

"THUNDERGA!"

"FIRAGA!"

With that the three spells struck simultaneously at the last three eyes of the heartless and as they did in moments! As this happened the crescent smiling mouth of the monster twisted and turned from the pain which finally caused it to open and... there it was! The very core of the monster as it pulsed and beat with dark enraging red spores along with purple smog!

Pete was dumbstruck at what had just occurred and couldn't say anything at all, but Cait sith on the other hand shouted out loud and proud, "that's it! Blast 'im ta kingdom come lads!"

At these words all three keybladers moved in to do just that! Nozomi dove down, while Riku and Mickey leaped from either side of the core as they all at once struck the monster with three piercing powerful strikes! Then turning in the air they once again blasted the core each with their magic! As the three spells came together, their combined powers created the final death blow!

"TRINITY BLAST!"

As this occurred and all of the pedestals started descending down as Pete shouted out loudly,"what!? NO! NNNOOOO!"

In moments as this shout came, the core was annihilated and the monster's piercing loud shriek was heard everywhere as it writhed and twitched in agony as an enormous beating heart emerged, beating quickly away into the night sky!

As they went down Cait sith got himself free from Pete's grip and as he slid out, he mocked him as he pointed saying, "ha! Ya and ya heartless were never gonna be a match fer us ya lummox!"

Hearing this and seeing the small cat was out of his paws, Pete went in for an attack as he cried out angered, "I'm gonna strike ya-!"

But suddenly surprising Pete, Nozomi flew in between them both and as she did Cait sith though at first surprised too, quickly got his act back together as he jumped into the air and spun as he finally landed on her back again! As he did the white Tiger cub smiled to him as she remarked, "you call for a ride!"

In an optimistic mood Cait sith laughed as he told her, "ya read my mind lass!" To which in reply Nozomi laughed too!

Further angered as saw them both on the ground, he started to call out again, "ya think this is some kind of comedy! I'm gonna dash ya both right down to-"

"You're going to do what?" Came a cool tone.

Looking Pete was made silent again as he saw that now alongside both Nozomi and Cait sith were Riku arriving with Mickey, all the keybladers armed and together!

Mickey looking at Pete then told him, "yer outnumbered now Pete! You wanna take us on again!"

Hearing this and seeing his adversaries were all together, Pete knew without the heartless or Hari... he couldn't defeat them on his own! So gritting his teeth he had to admit defeat... for now, "ya're all gonna pay for this!" With that he made his exit as he quickly vanished into a swarm of darkness.

Still in her safe distance, Kiara watched as Pete disappeared and when he did, she quickly approached all her friends as she called out to them, "everyone you did it! You beat that monster and him!"

At this Nozomi couldn't help but smile as she replied, "ha ha! Oh it's nothing Kiara don't worry! We're used to this kind of thing already!"

Quickly though Riku broke up this positive mood as he spoke, "we're still not finished yet, don't ease up!"

Hearing this Nozomi was surprised and before she could ask what he meant she looked in the direction he was looking, where she saw lying on the ground still and unconscious was Kovu upon the platform he'd been laid out on before.

Seeing him immediately both Kiara and Nozomi became distressed, "Kovu!" "Kovu!" They both called out and in moments all of them went to the side of their poor poisoned friend.

As they arrived, everyone could see then that Kovu was terribly, terribly pale... this wasn't good! Looking at him Kiara asked desperately, "Kovu... is he? He can't be can he!?"

Mickey shook his head quickly as he tried to reassure her, "I dunno but... I can get rid of the poison now! Don't worry Kiara!" With that the mouse King jumped back and taking his keyblade into his tail in moments he called out, "Esuna!"

Quickly the calming ailment reliving spell descended down upon the exiled Lion making him glitter and shine with silver white light! Riku seeing his friend decided to add to the King's magic as he called out, "Curaga!"

In moments the healing spell combined with the King's and as it did quickly both Nozomi and Kiara watched with amazed eyes as quickly Kovu's colours returned and his breathing became more soothed and was no longer sounded weak.

Finishing their spells both Riku and Mickey watched quietly with anticipation too as together everyone watched as Kovu flexed his paws. Then he moved his head slightly as he finally opened his eyes!
Seeing him do this Kiara immediately called out relieved, "Kovu!?"

Hearing her the Outlander Lion blinked as he asked confused, "Kiara...?"

Then immediately Nozomi called out to him too just as pleased, "Kovu!"

Cait sith then chimed in too as he called out, "welcome back to the land of the living lad!"

Finally then hearing their voices too, Kovu quickly got up completely surprised as he looked at them all, he asked cautiously as he might be dreaming, "guys...?"

Smiling glad to see that he was all right again, Riku replied, "hi Kovu! It's great to have you awake!"

Seeing them all smiling Kovu was still confused until remembered about the attack from before! The heartless Pete had sent after him had dispatched him with a poisonous cloud of spore from a huge purple flower. He had also been struck by those horrible sharp vines... looking at everyone he asked, "you all?... You all?... You saved me!"

Mickey nodded as he replied with a smile, "yeah that's right we did!"

Kovu then asked again, "and you all came back for me!" Everyone nodded as they were all mostly amused by his surprise.

The Out Lander lion still though couldn't believe it as he asked, "but why? I mean... after everything that's happened! You all still trust me and believe in me enough to-"

Riku then told him, "of course we trust you! I've already told you this before Kovu... it's because-"
"You're our friend Kovu!" Nozomi chipped in as she smiled and said, "no matter what's happen, if you've done something bad you can always make up for it!"

Then Cait sith added, "and we already know Kovu mate, you ain't done nothin' wrong anyway so why not help ya!?"

Mickey laughed as he told him, "yeah that's right Kovu! We're all here for ya! Especially when it involves heartless too!"

Kovu was quiet, he still couldn't believe it... not so long ago he felt he was entirely alone in the world and now...!

Kiara then walked over to him as she nudged her head into him as she told him gently and lovingly, "Kovu... you're not alone anymore, I... and the others are all with you now."

Kovu hearing this from her and feeling her touch knew that this wasn't a dream and as he felt her warmth he breathed in deeply and finally smiled too, looking to the princess he loved, then to his friends he told them with grateful happiness in his eyes, "everyone... thank you."

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There was laughter all around as everyone all ran together, the fighting before seemed now to be nothing but a bad dream! This was the best feeling that Kovu could ever remember feeling for he knew he was cherished by everyone there and as they all ran together they discovered a field of green lush grass beyond the desert planes, there pale white flower petals blew in the wind and butterflies fluttered here and there.

As everyone all felt these positive feelings they were all smiling as they all fell onto the grass to finally rest, Kiara in the meantime had pushed Kovu over as she had playfully pinned him down and as she did the Out Lander licked her on the cheek!

Cait sith seeing this laughed out loud as he said, "oi! Get a room you two!"

This in turn made more laughter come out, Kovu laughing out probably the loudest noticed something as he looked into a small blue shimmering pond next to him and his princess, looking to it he got her attention as he said, "Kiara look at this!"

Hearing him Kiara stopped her laughter and looked confused as she saw him indicate down. As he did this she looked down herself and saw something amazing as he told her what it meant, "we are one."

Having grown quiet by this time, though she was still smiling Nozomi became curious as she asked, "what do you mean by that Kovu? What're you two both doing?" Then looking into the water she was startled!

For there in the water's reflection one half of Kiara's face and Kovu's seemed to have merged together becoming one face! Looking at it as it smiled at her Nozomi shook her head as she said, "huh!? Whoa! What's-"

"What's got you so worked up?" Riku asked confused.

As he walked over and stood next to her Nozomi told him pointing down at the water, "it's the water! The water here! The reflection's mixed up their-"

Then as Nozomi looked into the water herself she saw somehow... Riku's and her faces had meshed together?! What the heck was going on here!?

Riku though not seeing it properly didn't get it as he asked, "the water's mixed up what?"

Nozomi though for some reason was too embarrassed to say what she was looking at, but why though? So quickly she told him almost blushing red, "oh it's nothing! Just forget it! Don't worry about it!"

She then walked away from the water making Riku ask confused,"what's that all about?"

Kiara looking at her own reflection along with Kovu's for a moment continued to smile but then a certain word he'd said struck her, but the Out Lander had got up and still really happy he looked at everyone as he said, "hey guys! Let's get out of here! We'll all run away all together! And start a Pride all our own!"

At this comment Nozomi was distracted from her embarrassment as Cait sith laughed aloud and asked, "a Pride mate! Ya wanna start one with us!?"

Hearing this Kovu responded, "yeah! C'mon don't you guys think that'll be a great idea!?"

Nozomi then hearing this idea couldn't help but laugh a little awkwardly as she told him, "well... that's a nice idea Kovu but..."

"But what?" He asked curious.

Nozomi then told him, "well I mean, look the rest of us! We aren't all Lions though! Well I mean Riku is but... I'm a Tiger, Mickey's a Kangaroo mouse and Cait sith is," then looking to her small rider she couldn't think of anything and so she concluded, "Cait sith."

At this Kovu laughed as Cait sith replied annoyed, "hey what do you mean by that lass!"

However before a potential argument could occur Kovu said, "well I'd say that'd be fine! We'll just have you guys be honorary members!"

Riku hearing this smiled himself as he replied, "well that sounds good to me!" To which in turn Mickey simply smiled happily.

Kiara happy listening to this was glad to hear all her friends were amused by the idea, but had to speak up as she said, "yeah that does sound good... but Kovu..." with that she walked up to him and nudged him softly with her head as she told him, "we all have to go back."

At this the Out Lander was taken aback as replied, "you're kidding! But we're all finally together!"

Kiara though soothed him as she said, "our place is with our Pride... and the others..." looking to her friends she asked them, "you all have other things to do... don't you?"

Seeing that she'd realised Mickey relented as he confessed to the princess, "yeah... sadly, she's right... sorry Kovu."

Hearing this from the Mouse King, Kovu looked to Nozomi and Riku who too looked a little depressed, but Cait sith spoke for them and said, "yeah mate we do... but we'll all still be ya mates! No matter the distance!"

Kovu was quiet as he heard this and then looking to Kiara again she told him further,"that's right... besides if we run away, they'll be divided forever."

Riku then spoke up as he told them further, "... it'll probably be worse than that."

Kovu hearing him turned to look at him along with the others as he asked, "what do you mean?"

Riku then told them, "it's the spores of darkness... their hatred inside them all will drive them to clash together... and when that happens they'll all most likely be destroyed!"

Kiara hearing this was shocked as was Nozomi as she asked, "what but! I mean that should stop by now shouldn't it! We destroyed the source of the spores! So they wouldn't have to-"

Mickey spoke up as he added, "no! Riku's got the right idea!" He was quiet as he then got the right words together to explain, "though we have got rid of the source of the spores, the ones that are left are still going to be lingering over all of them! It'll be driving their hatred to extreme levels... on both sides and the result will be..."

"Horrible!" Nozomi finished for him with terror entering her eyes along with both Kiara and Kovu.

In return Mickey simply nodded and as he did the lioness princess told everyone, "then we need to get going right now! If we don't!" The idea was too terrible to think about!

Nodding himself Riku then told them all, "yeah that's right! We need to move right now!"

Nozomi then got up and ran a little forwards as she told everyone, "well let's not talk about it anymore! Let's just get going!"

Feeling the initiative from his friends, Kovu agreed as he started to run himself, "okay! All right! Come on guys! Let's go!" With that he took off with Kiara running beside him along with Riku and Mickey chasing behind.

With that Nozomi let them go past her as she ran quickly behind Riku and Mickey, as they all went on together Cait sith cried out, "all right lass! Let's do what we do best! Take out more of them heartless and save the day again!"

"You got it Cait sith!" Nozomi smiled with determination.

But as they ran on one thing occurred to Cait sith, "hey lass ya did the plannin' with those lads to take out that big creepy crawler heartless before didn't ya?"

Nozomi nodded as she replied, "yeah that's right why?"

Cait sith then asked her, "well what did ya tell those lads to do to block out the effects of that pollen from those flowers?"

Hearing this Nozomi laughed, "easy!" With that she looked at him as she told him how with a smile, "I told them both to hold their breaths!"