Chapter 26 is here! A quick note before we begin. I am only doing the canon movies and TV show. I am not and will not be doing any fanfictions such as Tyrant's Roar. So those of you out there that keep asking me to do said fanfics, Please. Just. Stop. Anyway, Enjoy!
The scene transitions to Pride Rock in the morning. Kovu strides out of the den, clearly agitated. He looks guiltily over one shoulder, then paces to the edge of the promontory.
"What's the kerbubble?" Beshte asked. "I was worried about telling Kiara the truth." Kovu explained.
KOVU:
Okay, I have to tell her today. Oh, where do I start? "Kiara, Zira had a plot, and I was part of it, but I don't wanna be, because... It's because I love you." *sighs* She'll never believe me. [Kovu walks back toward the den.] But I gotta try. [Kovu enters the den.] Kiara, [Kiara approaches with a smile.] I need to talk to you.
SIMBA:
[from offscreen] Kiara!
Kovu and Kiara turn toward Simba.
KOVU:
*gasps*
SIMBA:
[sternly] I don't want you talking with him. [Simba smiles.] I want to talk with him.
"I'm guessing he's going to give him the 'don't you dare do anything to hurt my daughter or you'll wish you were never born' speech? Speaking of which, I need to give that talk to a certain someone later." Sahasi questioned, eyeing Kion who audibly gulped.
"Not this time." Dusty replied.
Kiara smiles, while Kovu looks concerned. Simba winks. Kovu and Simba walk out of the den, and Kiara watches them go happily. The scene transitions to a barren landscape of scorched ground and dead trees. Kovu and Simba walk across the plain together.
SIMBA:
Scar couldn't let go of his hate, and in the end, it destroyed him.
"Technically it was the hyenas that destroyed him, but yes." Spirit mused.
KOVU:
I've...never heard the story of Scar that way. [Kovu and Simba pause.] He truly was a killer.
Simba looks upon the charred landscape.
"That fire really did a number on the land." Anga spoke up.
SIMBA:
Fire is a killer. Sometimes, what's left behind can grow better than the generation before... [Simba steps in the dirt, then draws his paw away, revealing a green shoot. Kovu and Simba duck to look at the plant.] if given the chance.
"Maybe you should've heeded your own advice there." Baliyo pointed out. "I know." Simba sighed.
ZIRA:
[from offscreen] *cackles*
Kovu and Simba look around.
"Oh no.." Binga cried.
KOVU:
*gasps*
The Outsiders emerge from the shadows and stalk toward Kovu and Simba.
OUTSIDERS:
*growl*
Simba looks to the side to see more Outsiders emerging.
"Hapana! It's an ambush!" Ono yelped.
SIMBA:
*gasps*
KOVU:
Oh, no... [Kovu and Simba look back and forth frantically.] No!
"Well, it looks like your secret's blown." Chuluun laughed.
OUTSIDERS:
*growl*
Zira emerges, flanked by Nuka and Vitani.
ZIRA:
Why, Simba…
SIMBA:
[angrily] Zira.
"She just had to ruin the moment." Fuli groaned.
ZIRA:
What are you doing out here, and so... [Zira grins.] alone? *chuckles*
Simba squares off against the Outsiders.
SIMBA AND OUTSIDERS:
*growl*
ZIRA:
Well done, Kovu. Just like we always planned.
"'We' never planned this part." Kovu huffed.
Simba rounds on Kovu.
SIMBA:
You!
KOVU:
No!
SIMBA:
*snarls*
Kovu looks around at the Outsiders desperately.
KOVU:
I didn't have anything to do with this!
"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, Kovu." Simba apologized. "I forgive you." The young lion replied.
Kovu looks imploringly at Simba.
ZIRA:
Attack!
Nuka lunges at Simba.
NUKA:
*snarls*
Simba knocks Nuka away.
SIMBA:
*grunts*
KOVU:
No!
The Outsiders attack Simba.
SIMBA AND OUTSIDERS:
*snarl*
SIMBA:
Ah!
Cries of "Simba!", "Son!", and "Dad!" rang out.
Simba fights back as more Outsiders gang up on him.
OUTSIDERS:
*snarl*
Kovu jumps into the fray. He knocks an Outsider aside.
KOVU:
*grunts*
Vitani kicks Kovu, knocking him into a nearby rock. He falls unconscious. Meanwhile, the Outsiders swarm over Simba.
Many animals wince at the hit. "Sorry about that, Kovu." Vitani apologized to her brother. "It's ok, Tani." He replied.
OUTSIDERS:
*snarl*
Nuka leaps into the fight, knocking Simba off a cliff. He falls into the gorge.
SIMBA:
*grunts*
"What is it with Pridelander royals and cliffs?" Mzingo wondered.
Zira surveys Simba from the top of the gorge.
ZIRA:
Yes! [The Outsiders slide down the side of the gorge toward Simba.] We've got him!
OUTSIDERS:
*snarl*
"We should've been there to help fight them off." Kion growled. Rani comforted him with a nuzzle.
Vitani pounces at Simba.
VITANI:
Rah!
ZIRA:
[from offscreen] Remember your training! [The Outsiders chase Simba through the gorge. One jumps on his back, but falls.] As a unit!
"I trained them well." Zira smirked in triumph.
OUTSIDERS:
*growl*
Simba pauses at the bottom of a log pile. He looks up to see that it leads to the top of the gorge.
"Climb up there, quick! Before they catch up!" Uncle Max called.
SIMBA:
*pants* [Simba looks behind him to see the Outsiders charging toward him. He begins to climb the log pile.] *grunts*
As Simba climbs, he dislodges a log that falls toward the Outsiders. They back away in time to avoid getting hit. Zira and Vitani glare up at Simba.
ZIRA AND VITANI:
*snarl*
Simba looks over one shoulder at the Outsiders down below. He then looks back up at the log pile. Meanwhile, Kovu stands at the top of the gorge, looking down on Simba.
"Don't just stand there, you idiot! Do something!" Janja barked. "You tell him, Janja!" Cheezi laughed.
KOVU:
Simba!
ZIRA:
Get him, Kovu! Get him! [Kovu runs offscreen.] Do it! Now!
"He should've done it.." Zira growled to herself.
Simba continues to climb. Nuka clambers up the log pile after Simba.
NUKA:
I'll do it for you, Mother! [Nuka bounds gleefully up the logs.] *snickers* [Nuka loses his balance.] Oh! [Nuka looks down at Zira as he climbs.] Mother, are ya watching? [under his breath] I'm doin' it for you, and I'm doin' it for me.
"My big chance, ruined by those stupid logs." Nuka grumbled.
Simba loses his footing.
SIMBA:
Ah!
Nuka grabs onto one of Simba's back paws.
Once again, cries rang out.
NUKA:
*whoops*
Simba winces.
SIMBA:
*grunts*
NUKA:
This is my moment of glory! [The log Nuka is standing on breaks, causing him to fall.] What? No!
"Or not." Reirei cackled.
ZIRA:
No!
Nuka falls. Several logs land on top of him.
Everyone winced. That did not look pleasant.
NUKA:
Ah!
Simba climbs higher, kicking more logs down the pile.
SIMBA:
*grunts*
Nuka struggles to free himself. He looks up in fright as more logs fall toward him.
"Well, that's the end of that one." Mama Binturong snarked.
NUKA:
*screams*
Simba climbs to safety. Meanwhile, more logs fall, raising dust. After a moment, the dust clears. Kovu bounds down to the bottom of the gorge and starts to pry the logs off Nuka.
KOVU:
*grunts* [Zira shoves Kovu aside.] *shouts*
"He was trying to help Nuka!" Ullu ruffled her feathers. "You didn't need to shove him."
Zira reaches down for Nuka.
ZIRA:
*pants* [Kovu backs away. Zira shoves a log aside with her head.] *grunts*
Nuka is seen hopelessly buried in logs.
NUKA:
*coughs*
Nuka looked away, not wanting to watch his own death. Zira did as well, not wanting to see the loss of her eldest a second time. Once was enough for them both.
ZIRA:
[heartbroken] Nuka…
NUKA:
[weakly] I'm sorry, M-Mother. I tried.
Zira reaches down for Nuka.
"All he wanted was to please her, and it ended up costing him his life." Rafiki lowered his head.
ZIRA:
Shhh.
NUKA:
*starts to speak*
Nuka's eyes shut, and his head falls limply in Zira's paw. She draws back slowly, leaving his head to rest on the logs, and stares down at him in devastation.
"I know she's evil, but no parent should have to lose their child." Nala admitted. "I agree. I was devastated when I lost my Sahasi, and Ananda who was like a daughter to me." Janna seconded.
ZIRA:
*breathes heavily*
Vitani approaches from behind Zira.
VITANI:
[sadly] Nuka…
Vitani sniffled and buried her head in Kopa's mane. He licked her in return.
Vitani bows her head. The scene transitions to the open savanna. Simba limps through the grass. Kiara, Zazu, Timon, and Pumbaa appear on a nearby hill.
KIARA:
Father? Father! [Kiara looks at Zazu, who has alighted in a nearby tree.] Zazu, get help!
ZAZU:
Oh, yes! [Zazu flies away.] Help! At once! Of course!
Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa rush down the hill toward Simba. He pauses and looks up wearily at their arrival.
"My cub…" Sarabi said, concerned. "From what I can tell, he's mainly exhausted from fighting and being chased, though he does have a noticeable limp and some wounds from being clawed. Nothing rest and Rafiki's care can't fix." Nirmala examined.
SIMBA:
*grunts*
KIARA:
Father…
Kiara nuzzles Simba, then pulls away and watches him with concern.
SIMBA:
*breathes heavily*
Pumbaa skids to a halt in front of Simba, with Timon in his mane.
TIMON:
Simba, talk to me! [Timon spreads his arms wide.] What happened?
"He was sneak-attacked by those Outsiders, that's what happened." Kiburi said. "Like you could've done better." Shupavu flicked her tongue. "Hey, we tried. The Lion Guard got in the way." The croc defended himself.
SIMBA:
*breathes heavily* Kovu... Ambush... [Simba collapses on his side.] *moans*
KIARA:
No…
Pumbaa picks up Simba's head, while Timon lifts his tail.
"First they're the Secret Service. Now they're EMTs." Joked Spirit. "Hey, it's harder to carry a full-grown lion than a little cub." Timon shrugged.
TIMON:
Timon and Pumbaa carry Simba away, while Kiara strides alongside them. The scene transitions to the gorge. The Outsiders are gathered mournfully around the log pile.
"Oh, Nuka…" Zira mourned, burying her head in Scar's mane.
ZIRA:
Scar, watch over my poor Nuka. [Zira glares over one shoulder at Kovu.] Oh... [Zira lunges at Kovu.] You!
Kovu looks up. Zira slashes him in the face.
"Ooh!" Many animals winced in sympathy. "That had to sting." Zuri spoke. "It did. In more ways than one." Kovu replied, rubbing his face at the memory.
KOVU:
Ah! [Kovu turns away.] *breathes heavily*
Kovu looks back at Zira angrily, revealing a scar over his left eye.
"Oh, Kovu.." Kiara breathed. "It's just like mine. Well, except for the cobra venom." Scar spoke.
ZIRA:
What have you [Zira juts her head at Kovu.] done?
KOVU:
I didn't... I-I didn't mean to. I... It wasn't my fault. I... [steeling himself] *breathes heavily* I did [Kovu juts his head at Zira.] nothing!
"Yeah, he should've killed Simba or tried to help his brother do so!" Makucha snarled only to get whacked by Makini.
ZIRA:
Exactly! [Zira paces around Kovu.] And in doing so, you betrayed your pride. Betrayed Scar!
KOVU:
I want nothing more to do with him!
ZIRA:
You cannot escape it. [Zira strides toward Kovu, who backs away. Kovu slips on a rock and falls on his backside.] Nuka is dead because of you!
"He didn't do anything! He was out cold for most of it!" Jasiri growled. "Yeah, the logs looked loose and unstable to begin with." Madoa added.
KOVU:
[softly] No.
Zira and Vitani glower at Kovu.
ZIRA:
You've killed your own brother!
"Kovu would never! He's nothing like Scar. Uh, no offense." Bunga defended. "None taken." Scar replied.
KOVU:
No!
Kovu runs away from the Outsiders.
Everybody gave Zira stink-eyes.
OUTSIDERS:
*roars*
"Dang. If you think about it, Kovu was double-banished. He ran away from the Outsiders only to be given the boot from the Pridelands. Harsh." Dusty whispered to his sister.
Zira holds up a paw to halt Vitani.
ZIRA:
Let him go. [Zira climbs a pillar of rock and stands overlooking the Outsiders.] Simba has hurt me for the last time. [The Outsiders gather below Zira, grinning.] Now, he has corrupted Kovu!
"I think you mean he's breaking free of your 'training' and doing things of his own will instead of being your soldier." Shenzi growled.
Listen to me. Simba is injured and weak. [Zira lifts a fist.] Now is the time to [Zira slams her fist into the ground.] attack! We will take his entire kingdom...by force!
The Outsiders rear onto their hind legs.
OUTSIDERS:
*roars*
ZIRA:
*cackles triumphantly*
"I don't like the sound of that." Dogo whimpered. "Wait.. what'll happen to Kovu now that the truth is out?" Rani asked. "It didn't go over well. I doubt I'm allowed to say more." Zazu explained. "Simba's gonna get a lot of flak in the next scene." Spirit whispered to Dusty.
I hope you enjoyed! Like they said, the truth coming out is gonna go over like a lead balloon. See you next chapter for Not One Of Us!