Here's chapter five and hope you enjoy.
Three weeks later, Simba woke up to the sounds of his cubs whom were wide awake. He silently groaned, he had wanted to sleep in since he wasn't' busy today but with three cubs it wasn't possible. He slowly raised his head to see Kion rolling around and playing with his tail while Kopa was batting his paws against Kiara.
"Morning." Nala smiled at him. Simba rubbed his cheek against her's.
Kiara mewed and squeaked at her father and Simba nudged noses with her. "Good morning my little beauty." A loving smile went up his face when Kiara purred happily before giving Simba's nose a lick.
"Dad!" Kion pounced on his head nearly tumbling down on Kiara but Simba caught him.
"What're you so excited about?" Simba grinned rubbing the top of his head. His amber red tuft of hair was growing in well and Kion scoffed before pushing his father's paw away.
"It's been a while since you've been in the den when they wake up Simba." Nala said nuzzling Kion and gently smoothing down the top of his head. "He's just a bit excited."
"I'm going to the Waterhole before I get Zazu's morning report. I'll be back." Simba said standing up and then looked at the twins. "Coming?" Kopa mewed at him while Kion was already out of the den.
Nala watched them go before turning her attention back to Kiara who was squeaking and mewing at her.
"It's alright my little Princess." Nala nuzzled her face against Kiara's. "Someday you'll be big enough to go with them too." She picked Kiara up and headed out of the den down to where the rest of the Pride was resting and settled down next to Sarabi who had been dozing but raised her head when Nala came over.
She smiled and nuzzled Nala before turning her attention to Kiara. "Hello my little Princess. And how are you today?" Kiara mewed and squeaked eagerly at Sarabi who then picked her up and cradled Kiara in her paws.
"Ajjali gone already?" Nala asked and Sarabi nodded. "You know how she is. Although if she knew Kiara was awake she probably would have stayed." Nala smiled at the thought of her young sister in law. Ajjali seemed to adore Kiara and stayed with her whenever she could. Nala trusted Ajjali enough to leave Kiara with her if she needed to make a quick trip to the Waterhole or find Kopa and Kion.
"Could you watch her for a few minutes?" Nala asked. "I have to go find Kopa and Kion."
"Of course dear. I'd be happy to." Sarabi said. Nala nodded and gave Kiara a quick nuzzle before she headed off.
On the way down she bumped into Upesi, one of the rogues that had joined their Pride.
"Hello Upesi." Nala smiled at her. "How're you doing?"
"I'm fine thank you." Upesi smiled back. Despite her hidden despise of the Pridelanders, she couldn't help but think that Nala did seem to make a wonderful Queen. "I just returned from taking a walk with Kula and her daughter. She's a sweet little cub and Kula seems to love her a lot."
"She does." Nala agreed. "After she lost Enye…" Her voice trailed off and she silently cursed herself remembering that Upesi wouldn't know about Enye.
"She had another cub?" Upesi asked.
Nala nodded. "Jasiri had a twin brother named Enye. Months ago, a few of us were watching the cubs by one of the ponds. Jasiri was having some trouble getting out of the water so we turned around to help her just for a moment. When we turned back Enye was gone."
Upesi felt a sinking feeling in her realizing that the cub that Scar had stolen had been Kula's cub. She had gotten to know Kula a bit during the past few days and she enjoyed her company. Had she known that it was her cub that they had stolen…
"You never found him?" Upesi asked.
Nala shook her head sadly. "We searched for a month. We knew a rogue couldn't have taken him because we would have seen him going. Enye was too young to wander off too. So we knew a bird or another predator must have taken him."
"That must have been heart breaking." Upesi said. She silently thought of Enye who was back in the Outlands with Zira and Scar. He would never know that only a kingdom away there was his parents and pride who all thought he was dead. She had watched him many times while Zira was off hunting. He was growing into a sweet playful cub but she knew with Scar and Zira that wouldn't last long.
"I'll catch you later." Nala said. "I'm looking for my sons." Upesi nodded and Nala headed off. She found Kion and Kopa with Simba about half an hour later.
"There you are." Nala licked the tops of their heads. "I've been looking for you two everywhere."
"Where's Kiara?" Simba asked giving her a nuzzle.
"I left her with your mother." Nala said. "Aren't you busy today?"
"I'm not." Simba said. "I was actually going to head down to the Waterhole with Chumvi and the others."
"Sure go." Nala said. "But you take Kion and Kopa with you."
"Nala!" Simba exclaimed. "Come on you know I need this break!"
"And Kion and Kopa also want to spend time with their father." Nala gave him a look. "Besides I saw Amri taking Haru along with him and Chumvi took Jasiri. Kion and Kopa can play with them."
Simba tried opening his mouth to say something but one look from Nala shut him up. He smiled at his mate before nuzzling her cheek with his nose. "Alright then, why not?" Nala smiled and gently nudged Kion and Kopa towards them. "Have fun!" She rubbed her face against both of them before Simba took them and headed off.
Nala smiled at the sight of her mate taking their sons with him. She would make sure that all her cubs received the proper attention that they needed while growing up.
"Besides," Nala thought with a smirk. "Now I can have some time for myself." She knew Sarabi wouldn't mind watching Kiara until the afternoon so she headed back up Priderock to find some of her friends.
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Another while passed and with it Simba's rule was just as strong as it had always been. By now, Kopa and Kion were two years and eight months old while Kiara had just passed her seventh month.
One rainy day a tired Akila was heading back home to Priderock when Zazu came swooping down to him. With a squawk he lost balance and crashed down into Akila's legs. Akila grinned at the sight.
"Hey banana beak. What's wrong?" Akila grinned at the hornbill's annoyed face.
"Trouble at the border. Some rogues came in and killed off some of the zebra herds for sport. I've been looking around for Simba but I can't find him."
"I'm on it." Akila said. "Find Simba and tell him." He turned and bounded away to the border. When he got there, he saw some of the zebra herd crowded around something. Seeing the Prince making his way towards them, they parted midway so Akila could get through.
"What happened?" Akila asked. "Where is your leader, Zara?"
"Here." Zara stepped forward. "Who did this?" She stepped aside so Akila could see what had happened.
It was the bodies of several zebras. Clearly some predator had been killing for sport. No one could eat this much. Padding closer, Akila bent down forward and sniffed the bodies. He could immediately tell that this had been done by lions but not his Pride. It didn't smell like them.
"I sense that the killer is a lion." Akila announced stepping back. "But this wasn't from our Pride. The smell is unfamiliar."
"This against the law!" Zara shrieked. "The predators are only allowed to hunt for meals, not for game. My nephew was one of the victims!"
"This wasn't from our Pride." Akila said. "It must have been rogues. I-"
"What kind of King is Simba if he can't keep rogues out of our lands? He isn't the one paying, we are!" A zebra from the crowd called out.
"Enough!" Akila called. "I understand that this isn't fair to you and I promise that we will find these rogues and there will be justice! But for now, we will be concentrating on finding these rogues first and then after we can talk out what Simba and your herds want to do. Is that understood?" Zara and the rest of the zebras nodded but Akila knew from the way they were looking at him they weren't satisfied.
"Do you want us to dispose the bodies or does your herd want to take it?" Akila asked.
"We will pay our respects and deal with it." Zara said gruffly. Akila nodded and trotted tiredly back to Priderock just as the rain began to come down harder. When he neared Priderock he saw Hasira heading down to him.
"I heard there was trouble at the border." Hasira said. "Is everything okay?"
"I dealt with it." Akila said. "Do you know if Simba is back at Priderock?"
"Yes he is." Hasira said. "I was with Nala and Simba when Zazu told him the news. He said he trusted that you would take care of it. He didn't want to go because he was tired."
"Oh." Akila said feeling a bit frustrated. He too was tired yet he had to deal with the border even though he was only Simba's second in command.
"Nala told me of how you took care of the Pride when she and Simba ran away." Hasira said. "I must say that I respect you for how you step down and let Simba take the credit."
"What do you mean?" Akila asked.
"I mean, your Simba's second in command. Yet you seem to do a lot and you don't even take much credit. When Simba ran away with Nala you stepped up and took care of the Pride when he didn't and when he returned you stepped back down and let him take it. I admire the way you respect and bow down to your brother. I would never be able to do that." Hasira explained.
"Thank you Hasira." Akila said, her words slowly sinking into his head. "I have to go find Simba now." He walked up Priderock slowly thinking about what she had said. Akila realized it was true. He seemed to do almost as much as Simba did and he was one who had been there for the Pride when Simba left. Yet he hadn't received any credit for it. He was still just seen as Simba's second in command. That wasn't fair at all.
"Akila." Simba walked out of the den. "How did it go at the border?" Akila told him what happened and Simba nodded. "Thanks. I'll figure something out tomorrow."
"Why didn't you come?" Akila asked.
"I was tired." Simba admitted sheepishly. "And I figured that you would deal with it. Anything wrong?"
"Yes!" Akila snapped. "I was tired too Simba but I'm the one who had to deal with it. Besides, you're the King, just because you get tired doesn't mean you can sit back and let me deal with it!"
"Akila." Simba gave him a strange look. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Akila huffed. "Just tired. Something that you clearly thought you had an excuse for." He shoved past Simba and stormed into the den.
"Dad!" Vijay bounded up to him and nuzzled his face against his legs. Akila smiled and licked the top of his head. "Hey squirt." He ushered him back to where Malaika was and licked his mate's cheek before settling down next to her and he pulled Vijay into his paws. Vijay batted Akila's face with his paws and climbed up his head and began pulling at his ear. Akila knew that that was Vijay's sign that he wanted to play.
"Not now son," Akila scooped him off his head and put him back on the ground. "Later." Vijay whined and tugged at Akila's mane and head butted Akila's nose with his head. Akila sighed and rubbed his sore nose.
Malaika chuckled at her son's annoyed face. "You know he's not going to leave you alone until you play with him." When it came to Vijay, if he wanted to play, he wanted to play. There was no in-between. No matter how much they tried refusing him, he would still insist on playing.
Akila shook his head at his son before grabbing Vijay and tickling his belly. His laugh's brought smiles onto Akila and Malaika's faces.
And for Akila, all angry thoughts of Simba were forgotten as he enjoyed time with his family.
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Meanwhile back at Scar's Pride things for little Kovu did not seem to be going well.
"Mom!" Kovu squeaked. "Dad!" He was in the big cave he shared with his family.
Zira opened her eyes. "Quiet Kovu. I'm trying to sleep."
Kovu trotted in closer to her and nudged her with his forehead. He didn't seem to notice the annoyed look on Zira's face. "Dad?"
"Your father will be in soon." Zira said her voice dismissive. Kovu batted his paws against her face wanting to be fed. He was hungry and he wanted his mother.
Zira bared her teeth at Kovu warning him to stay away. When he persisted, she got up and climbed onto one of the ledges so Kovu wouldn't be able to wake her up again. Kovu whined and mewed at Zira trying to tell her to come down but she pretended not to notice.
Kovu looked at the entrance of the cave to see his sister, Vitani walking in.
"Tani!" Kovu ran up to her and tackled her down. Vitani mewed playfully at him before she pinned him down and the two of them began to wrestle playfully.
"Vitani!" Scar came into the den followed by Nuka. "You're going to hurt him." He shoved Vitani away from Kovu and helped Kovu up.
Kovu beamed brightly at his father and Scar bent down and nuzzled him. Kovu seemed to adore Scar and followed him around whenever he could. Scar walked to the end of the cave and settled down closing his eyes and Zira came down and joined him. Vitani walked over to wear Nuka was laying down a little ways off from them and snuggled onto her older brother's back. Kovu joined his father before burying himself in his mane. He closed his eyes and fell into a wonderful sleep happy that he could be with Scar…unaware that only a kingdom away his true father was thinking of him as he fell asleep.
I decided to end it here. I know there was a lot of fluff in this chapter but reminder that since this was originally going to be some fluffy chapters put together but I changed my idea, there will still be lot of family fluff in this story. So in this chapter, some of the animals are beginning to doubt Simba's rule and Akila begins to questions his worth to Simba. I'm pretty sure we all know who actually killed the herd. Anyways, I have no idea when I'll be able to update again. School's been keeping me busy. But until then, stay tuned!
