Chapter 16

At Danyal's aghast expression, Sundar stared at Danyal in shock.

"What?" she had heard him, but she couldn't quite believe it.

"Kulana. That was my mother's name! I knew that she was an Outlander but… she was friends with Kovu and Vitani!" Danyal said.

"You didn't know?" Sundar asked in surprise.

"No. I mean, I knew they knew her, but Vitani never said… Neither did King Kovu. They were actually friends with my mother? That explains so much. But why wouldn't Vitani ever say anything about it?" He asked her, looking worried at the very thought.

"Painful memories I guess." Sundar suggested. That was a somewhat charitable explanation in Danyal's opinion. Given hour angry he was with Vitani right now, a part of him wanted to put it down to malice. He sighed.

"She isn't the only one. My mother died, out here in these lands. I've already told you that my mother was killed in the wilds. She was hurt by a rogue, took a wound that rotted, and she died not long afterwards, but she managed to get us back to the Pridelands first. She died right on the border of her old home. She looked so young. She was alive." Danyal said, looking back to where he had seen the echo of his mother in wonderment. Sundar nodded. Danyal had to her about his mother before.

"I hadn't thought of her as being a part of Zira's Pride though. How did you end up traveling alone?" She asked him.

"The way I've heard it, my mother fled from Zira and her Pride before the war ended. I guess she finally got sick of Zira's cruelty. You saw what she was like. Could you imagine anyone wanting to bring up a cub with her as queen? She was a monster. There is a reason they called her Zira Devilqueen." Danyal muttered.

"No wonder Vitani does trust her. Or like her being around Sara or Inti."

"And she was way worse back then. She was cruel and hateful, even to her own children. I can't imagine her treating anyone else's cubs much better." Danyal explained. He shook his head. "She didn't know the war was over. She had nothing but hope. It's sad. To think that Mother came so close to seeing Vitani and Kovu again, but she was killed just before returning to the Pridelands. She couldn't even have known Nuka had been killed."

"I didn't know Vitani had a second brother." She had heard Danyal talk about Kovu before, and knew that he had married Kion's sister.

"No. He was killed in the Outlander War." Danyal said. He could sympathise with the older male. Neglected, abused, and treated like dirt so long as it suited the lioness in charge who only had eyes and sympathies only for the future king. Yes. He could sympathise a lot. It looked as though his mother had as well. He shook himself, overcome for a moment. "I am sorry… I just… I haven't seen my mother since before… Kings Sundar, she was young. Younger than I am now. I've never thought of her as a kid." He said. Sundar tried to picture her own father Lukaan, as a young white furred cub and found the image impossible to conjure. It must have been peculiar at best for Danyal to see his mother so young.

Danyal certainly looked drained. He swallowed, making a decision.

"We should try again. I have to see..." He trailed off. Without Sundar's assistance this time, he reached inside himself, and clawed at the residual remnants of Marsade's power. Already depleted, and struggled to flare it back into life. It couldn't last forever. The mists about them coiled and convulsed.

"Come on…" He muttered. It flashed within him. And once more, shapes began to form in the starless void about them. Figures, emerged from the bleakness and into his site. Splashes of colour spilling out as the memory began to take form.

They were back near the base of Golgorath. A young lioness reared back on her hind feet, slamming both her paws at once into her foe, who circled around them, shadows coalescing to give way a dark lion. They were older. Perhaps his own age now? Both were thin, lithe, and muscles rippled beneath taught flesh as they moved. Strength and power. They circled and fought with a vicious savagery that made Sundar gasp. One of them pulled away, panting.

She weaved under a second vicious attack and sliced at the male.

"Not bad, Kovu, not bad. But hardly your best, is it?" She taunted. Kovu gave a wicked snarl, shaking his mane out his eyes. They flashed emerald.

"You've never seen my best, Kulana." He told her, with a cocky grin and then charged forward. She met his charge with swipes that clawed at his skin, but the Outlander Prince didn't seem to feel them. He crashed into her with such force that she was sent flying across the ground and skidded to a halt on her back. She barely recovered, rolling out the way just in time to avoid a swipe that could have finished her. Kulana pulled herself to her feet, grunting.

"Come on Kovu!" She said, in a voice too low to be heard by the onlookers. "That was sloppy, you should've had me there. I know you're better than this! At least try damn it!" She hissed and effortlessly avoided another onslaught. Clearly becoming agitated, Kovu roared, and struck again. This time she was a moment too slow, and his claw tips grazed the very edge of her face ever so slightly.

"Good Kovu! That's better!" Zira's voice could be heard, egging her son on. "Attack her! You are stronger than her, so use your strength!" She commanded him. Kovu didn't twitch, but his eyes narrowed and he charged ahead, following his mother's commands without question. Kulana dived under his attack, and clawed at his side, prompting Kovu to roar. The dark brown lioness cried out and bit forwards, using her teeth. Kovu wasn't so easily beaten. He twisted and struck at Kulana with a backhanded swipe that nearly caught her in the face. Only her momentum let her avoid it.

Danyal was impressed. His mother fought well. The young bedraggled cub she had been seemed to have grown into something almost inspiring. She was not a beautiful lioness: she was dirty, covered in red dust, and her fur was unkempt and patched. Longer in some patches, and short in others where clumps had been torn out – or possibly where insects had once tried to make their homes. Her eyes were dark, a dull brown that gave her gaze an empty hollow look. She wasn't ugly by any means, but unrefined, unpolished, without the grooming or grace a lifetime of luxury in the Pridelands might have otherwise given her. Seeing it for himself, Danyal could see why an Outsider might accuse a Pridelander of being pampered, weak even. She wasn't a flower. She was something rawer, a sharpened stone perhaps. Was that what a lifetime as an Outlander did to someone? She was dangerous, graceful, and mighty. When he saw her, he was briefly overcome with a burning sense of pride. She weaved herself close to Kovu once again, slipping under his defences as if they were nothing, and forced herself close.

"My my. Look how strong you are…" She snarked at him with all the sincerity of a vegetarian hyena. Grinning as she did so. Kovu scowled at the blatant attempt to distract him. Annoyingly, it was successful because he fumbled his next defence and took a knock to the chest that sucked the air out of his lungs. Kulana kicked out a foreleg, and Kovu thudded to his knees, growling.

"Enough!" he shouted giving a roar that was loud and tinged with anger. The Outsiders who were watched them spar took several steps back a the ferocity in his voice. Zira's unflinching gaze gave way to a cruel smile and her eyes widened.

"Yes, Kovu! Scar lives in You." She whispered to him. Kovu clawed at Kulana again, pushing through her clumsy defence and Kulana flinched back at his roar. Kovu turned and with another cry of rage, slashed at her in quick rhythm. Left right, left right. He pummelled at Kulana from all directions, never letting up, and never as she fell back. At last she gave shout and cried out in pain.

"Kovu stop!" She called out, her voice laced with fear. Kovu froze. The darkness in his eyes evaporated like dust in the wind and he pulled away. He was panting heavily.

"What is this? What are you doing?" Zira asked in angered confusion as Kulana let out a sigh of relief and rose to her feet. "Don't give up now! Press your advantage! You were winning!" Zira cried out striding over to where the two of them stood and glared at the two young lions. Danyal realised he had been mistaken. They were not nearly as old as he had thought them to be. They were the both of them about his age, to the moon he would guess. Kovu's mane was there but it was sparser than he had ever seen it, only a rough circle around his neck and throat.

Kulana was breathing heavily from the exertion, clearly in some small pain from the experience.

"I beat her. I won. It over." Kovu said levelly. Zira turned to look at him.

"My Son…" She said, and Danyal shuddered at the poison in her voice. "Tell me something. Who is Queen of these lands?" She asked him. Kovu seemed to diminish slightly.

"You are." He said nervously. He didn't like her tone. Zira nodded, smiling.

"That's right my prince. And one more thing… Who decides when your training is over?" She asked him. Kovu swallowed.

"You do…"

"Oh? Do I really? Well then…" She span and lashed out at Kulana who gave out a scream as white-hot pain lashed through her. Zira's hooked claws caught her even as she pulled away and blood sprayed through the air. Kulana gasped for air. Around them, the rest of the Outsiders gave a murmur and Kovu took concerned step forward but froze upon coming under his mother's piering glare. Zira watched Kulana squirm on the ground briefly, then satisfied that her lesson had been taught she nodded to herself.

"Don't fear the pain that hasn't yet come." She told her. "Pain in the future isn't even real. Worry about the pain that is. And when you can, use it. Pain makes you angry. Makes you strong. Pain is a weapon. Fear of Pain, is an unforgivable weakness. There is no room for weakness in this Pride. I don't ever expect to hear any of my fighters begging for mercy ever again. Have I made myself clear?" She asked her.

Kulana gasped for air, and didn't make another sound. She glared up at Zira, fury evident in her eyes. Zira didn't mind the anger. Anger was a form of strength too. She grinned in sadistic pleasure as she withdrew her claws with a contemptuous flick. She would ignore her impertinence, the disrespect. Anger, when properly directed, was a potent weapon against Simba and his harem of Pridelander lionesses.

"That will do for the day." She proclaimed, and stalked away from her son and his friend without another word or so much as a glance backwards. When she had gone, Kovu moved over to Kulana and pressed a paw onto her wound.

"Ouch! Agh… What – Kovu, you're hurting me! Stop it!" She gasped between breaths. Kovu ignored her, and forced more pressure down on the wound. Kulana gave another gasp of pain, and then her breathing slowed. Kovu didn't look at her. After a few minutes, and removed his paw, and the bleeding had slowed. When he looked at her, his eyes were haunted and guilty.

"Sorry." He said. "You have to put pressure on it. To stop it bleeding. I'm sorry. Sorry for hurting you." He said quietly. Kulana pulled herself up, breathing properly now. Kovu's action had hurt her, but had slowed the bleeding, and the wound would probably heal quicker now. Kulana swallowed.

"Thank you." She said. Kovu shrank back.

"I am sorry that mother hurt you." He said. Kulana winced.

"It's okay. She hurts everyone." She said, dismissing the incident as if it were nothing. Kovu sagged slightly.

"I didn't mean to hurt you earlier. I just… I was fighting one moment and then…"

"I saw. You fought amazingly! A little slow to begin with but you pulled it back at the end!" Came a second voice. Kovu glanced up and saw Vitani approaching. The lioness was much more alike to her future incarnation that Danyal knew. Like Kulana, she was strong, fast, fit and savagely powerful. He had never known Vitani so young. She was thinner too, than he had ever seen her. Sundar could make out her ribs and gave a gasp in shock. Danyal had told her that the Outsiders had struggled for food in the Outlands, but she hadn't been ready to see it. Like all her fellow Outlanders she was startlingly thin. A shade less than the others, but even Kovu was displaying telltale signs of malnutrition. Kovu nodded.

"Thanks 'Tani. Mother didn't seem to think so."

"Are you kidding? Mother was impressed. She wanted to see what you'd do next!"

"What did she expect me to do? Kill Kulana? Or just beat her bloody?"

"That's not funny Kovu."

"I wasn't joking."

"You're being ridiculous." Vitani scolded him. Kovu shrugged. At least Kulana was fine now.

"So, dearest sister, what's brings you to grace us with your presence?" Kovu asked her. Kulana stood up and bowed her head to the Outland Princess, though the gesture scarcely warranted reaction from Vitani, who merely smiled at her friend.

"It was you or Nuka." Vitani said with a shrug. "Don't make a big deal about it." She said.

"Vitani. Where have you been the past few days? Some of us were concerned about you, but Zira didn't tell us anything."

"Where else? I was in the Pridelands." Vitani said. Kovu raised an eyebrow.

"Alone? You ought to have taken someone with you in case something happened."

"I can take care of myself, and I hunt better alone. Besides, I'd have ended up taking Nuka with me, and he's about as subtle as hippo. When I'm by myself I can sneak past the Lion Guard, no problem. With Nuka along… Eh. I don't like my chances." She said. "I've made my report to Mother, and she's letting me rest the rest of the evening before training starts again." Vitani said.

"So what's the word in the Pridelands?" Kulana asked her. Vitani shrugged.

"Things are quiet again. Kion and his Lion Guard are always lurking behind every blade of grass. I thought he'd seen me for a bit, but I got away." She said with a smirk. "Simba is keeping a close eye on his precious daughter. He's always got someone with her. Usually those meerkat and warthog pals of his. Kovu laughed.

"What sort of lioness needs protecting by a Warthog? Pridelanders. Weak as well as brainless." Kovu commented. Kulana wasn't laughing. Her brow furrowed.

"What does he think they can do for her? They're useless in a fight. Even for Simba, that's a harebrained move."

"You'd think so, wouldn't you? But no. Simba's far too clever for that. Remember how the last two times we went; we couldn't find a trace of her?" She asked him. Kovu paused.

"I recall. You thought that maybe Simba was keeping Kiara somewhere secret, during the day? As a way to protect her? We spent days going through all the crevices and dens in the Pridelands. Turns out she'd been all over them. But none of them recently." Kovu said. Vitani growled.

"Yeah. Well. That was a wasted effort. See, the warthog stench is so powerful, you can't smell anything else within ten paces of her. So long as he's with her, you'd need line of sight to find her. He masks her scent, makes her impossible to track." Kovu groaned. Why hadn't he seen that? It was obvious! Why else would Simba entrust something as dear to him as his daughter to the caretaking of such a pair of morons? He was a cunning schemer, for all of his faults.

"Will that be a problem?" Kulana asked. Vitani shrugged.

"The Princess will tire of her caretakers soon enough. When that happens, she'll be all alone. The Lion Guard can't be everywhere at once. Sooner or later they'll slip up, and she'll be there just waiting for you. And when she does…" Vitani trailed off. Kovu grinned but said nothing.

"So no biggie. Be patient. The opportunity will present itself." Kulana concluded.

"So what is the problem, brother? Why are you so distracted?" Vitani asked him. Kovu hesitated. Then sighed.

"It's nothing." He said. Vitani's eyes narrowed, wholly unconvinced. He sighed.

"It's just… Mother's sending you into the Pridelands. She's even having Nuka hunt there. The training has gotten harder. I think she's getting ready." He said nervously. Vitani's eyes glinted.

"You mean we might finally be making our move? Good! After so long." She said. Kovu smiled weakly.

"Yeah… I just…"

"What's the matter? Don't tell me your going soft." She scoffed. Kovu's eyes flashed dangerously.

"I am more than willing to spill Simba's guts. I am just not… satisfied… That I could pull it off whilst he's surrounded by his faithless lionesses. They're not there just for his pleasure you know. I can barely beat you and Kulana one at a time…"

"You're apprehensive going to toe to toe with half a dozen at once?" Kulana guessed. Kovu nodded weakly. Vitani laughed.

"Please. We're each easily worth three, maybe four Pridelanders each." Vitani said. "Pridelander lionesses are pushovers."

"Then there is the Lion Guard. Even Mother takes Kion seriously."

"Mother knows more about the Lion Guard and the Roar of the Elders then anyone. She knew Scar when he wielded it. Kion is nothing without the Roar."

"Except he isn't without the Roar."

"He's no older than us; with a power he doesn't understand. Magic Roars are no match for proper training and killer instincts."

"You think so?"

"I know so. When it comes to it, I'll handle Kion. You worry about Simba and his lionesses." Vitani said. Kovu said nothing. She sighed. "Look, Mother won't give the command until she's sure you're ready." Vitani said. Kovu raised an eyebrow.

"And you're basing that on what, exactly? Remember the time I got kicked in the stomach by an antelope and she ordered Talia to refuse me herbs and medicine, no matter how hard I cri- asked for them?" Kovu pointed out. "If her cub hadn't snuck them to me… What's her name? Damu? Anyway. Without her…" He trailed off. "And then there is you. What about what happened you're your first hunt? She wanted you to go after a rhino, or an elephant." He said.

"A baby elephant."

"Which are famously nowhere near adult elephants who are notoriously lax when it comes to protecting their younglings." He said sarcastically. Vitani swallowed, suddenly uncertain.

"I have noticed that your Mother doesn't always have the most… realistic… expectations." Kulana observed carefully. Vitani shot her a dark look.

"Come on Kovu, you aren't a coward are you?" She asked him. Kovu just gave a flat look.

"I am not stupid. I know my limits. I know what fights I can win, most of the time, and I have no intention of dying stupidly for someone else's impatience. Even Mother's." He said hotly. Kulana nodded in agreement.

"That sounds pretty reasonable." She said. Vitani glared at her.

"Our mother is many things. Reasonable isn't the first quality to spring to mind." She conceded.

"I just need a little more time. More training. More practice. I just need… Time." He trailed off. Vitani paused.

"Well, you never know, maybe she isn't planning anything any time soon. You might be kicking up a huge fuss over nothing." Vitani suggested, but even she looked unconvinced. Kulana stood up, looking determined.

"Well, I am sure it won't come to that. If you think the Outlanders are going to let their Prince –"

"I suspect that trail of thought would be best left unfollowed." A voice came. The three young lions jumped at the sound of Nuka's voice. The older lion was a gangly young creature now. His fur was clearly fully infested with termites by this point and his mane was scraggly and unkempt, even by Outsider standards. His eyes were red and raw and he looked irritable and bad tempered. Kulana leapt to her feet.

"Sir."

His mouth twisted into a bitter sneer at the title.

"Kulana. As glad as I am to see my dear pridesister. Get going. I want to talk to our chosen one, alone." He said. Kulana nodded, and left without a word. Vitani looked at her brother sourly. Then nodded, deciding that his bluntness wasn't worth a confrontation, and left with a nod to Kovu. Then it was just the two brothers. When they had gone, Kovu sighed.

"Hey Nuka." He said. Nuka scowled at him, not returning his greeting.

"How'd the fighting go? Mom come and watch again?" He asked him. Kovu looked away, and didn't answer and Nuka snorted. "Of course she did."

"What does it matter?" Kovu asked cautiously. Nuka picked a claw into his and pulled out a jittering termite. He pulverized the insect between the claw tips on his paw.

"It doesn't. Why would it matter?" he asked. "Were you fighting with Vitani or Kulana?" Kovu grunted.

"Both at first. Then, later, just Kulana. How did you know?" He asked.

"I figured it would be. Kulana and Vitani are the toughest fighters. Mother wouldn't have you train with anyone else." Nuka commented, scratching himself as he did so. Kovu frowned. That was true.

"Why did you send Kulana and Vitani away?" he asked him. Nuka shrugged.

"Mainly because it annoys Vitani when I tell her what to do, and that's fun. Partly because Kulana gives me the creeps. I don't get her game. She sets me on edge." He said, as he scratched furiously a patch of termite infested fur. Kovu laughed.

"Seriously? Kulana? But she's only ever been nice to you!" He said.

"Exactly." Nuka said darkly. "All that Sir-ing. Stamping her foot on the ground, like the lionesses do to you and Vitani and Mom. Drives me crazy. None of the other lionesses do that to me anymore. They used to but…" He trailed off, and shrugged. Kovu smiled.

"I think she's just trying to be nice." He said. Nuka snorted.

"Yeah that probably it. I mean, it's not like anyone would actually respect me, right? Just being nice."

"Nuka, that's not what I meant." Kovu said, frowning. Nuka smirked.

"I know it wasn't. Just pulling your tail, termite." He said. Kovu bristled.

"Don't call me that. I hate it when you call me that." He said and Nuka smirked again.

"So who won?"

"I did." Kovu said, and didn't elaborate. "What have you been doing?" He asked him. Nuka shrugged.

"Here and there. Patrolling the borders. I am the only other male round here you know. And some of us are too high and mighty to go around doing anything so menial as marking territory. And… occasionally I went a little further."

"Be specific Nuka."

"I went into the Shadowlands for a few days." Nuka said, after a moment. Kovu halted.

"What? Is that… safe?" He asked him. Nuka shrugged.

"Safeish. The black hyenas are all but extinct, mother saw to that. The spotted clan has a new matriarch again so I was lurking around to find out what I could. The last one died off recently. Oh, that was the other thing. Banzai's appeared again, with a gang of his own cutthroats. Told you he wasn't dead." Nuka said. Kovu snorted.

"And how do you know that? You didn't go that far into their territory did you?" He asked him. Nuka rolled his eyes.

"No. I killed a zebra."

"What the hell does a zebra know about hyena politics?"

"Nothing. But then I threatened one of vultures who came to feast on it."

"And what, he gave you the local gossip?"

"No, he agreed to lure a hyena to where I was hiding. Then I attacked the hyena and threatened to rip out the rodent's spine if he didn't tell me everything he knew. I stayed on the outskirts the whole time. You don't seriously think I'd go far into the Shadowlands after everything do you?" Nuka asked him. Kovu stared at him.

"Nuka. You really do have a gift." He said.

"How so?"

"I've never known anyone to channel such innate cowardice into such a brutally effective form of skulking." he said.

"Very funny." His brother said dryly.

"Why the hell were you even out there?" Kovu asked him. Nuka shrugged.

"As if I'd go by choice. Mother sent me there." Kovu pulled to a stop. His mother hadn't mentioned that.

"Mother? She sent you there? By yourself. Is she trying to get you killed?" He asked in disbelief.

"Is it seriously too much to believe that she knew it was dangerous but that she had enough confidence in me to do the job properly?" Nuka said indignantly.

"Yes." Kovu said flatly. Nuka's expression didn't change.

"…Okay. That sounded better in my head." He conceded. They were closer to Golgorath now. A lion's roar could be heard from a great way away, but it would be harder to hear from a greater distance.

Eventually, Nuka sniffed the air.

"I thought you were done training for today?" He asked Kovu, who stopped and sniffed as well. There was no scent in the twilight realm but Danyal and Sundar could get a rather good idea of what they had smelled from their reaction.

"We are meant to be…" He said slowly. With a little more caution, and a concerned expression, the two brothers advanced into the central spire. They pushed through the labyrinthine passages with ease, through the dull red dust and termite mounds until they came into the centre. One day it would become the arena where predators and prey would fight for the amusement and pleasure of Rish'ut and his followers. Right now, it was the centre of Zira's lair. Nuka swore. Bleeding lightly from a few cuts, Kulana lay on the dusty ground. Above her, Zira circled. When she looked up and saw her sons entering, she gave a snarl.

"You! Did you put her up to this? Are you that much of a coward?" Kovu and Nuka looked at one another.

"'Lana!" Kovu gave a shout of alarm. Nuka stopped suddenly wary.

"Mother… What are you doing?" He asked quietly. Kulana groaned on the floor.

"Silencing dissidents." She looked around, where some of the other Outlanders were observing. Some looked shocked, others nervous. One or two looked confused and all were wary of their queen. Zira growled. "It has come to my attention, that there are some among you, who may be losing faith in our cause. Or worse, some who doubt our ability to accomplish our aims.

"Mother!" Vitani shouted, entering the den, and taking in the scene for the first time.

"Be silent!" Zira roared, and Vitani was quelled. The silence was deafening. "Scar left us with a task! A purpose! To destroy this… Pretender… This rogue, who would have us believe him to be Simba risen from the dead. A purpose to reclaim our lands! To punish the disloyal, the rebellious and the weak. We are exiled now, but our training, our fighting has made us strong. We will crush Simba, and his pathetic gang of Pridelanders. I shall hear no talk of weakness! Or of doubt!" She glared around her.

"Mother." Kovu spoke quietly. "We understand. No one doubts. No one has lost faith." He said. "Why don't you let Kulana up?" He told her. Zira relaxed pressure, and Kulana crawled to her feet. Vitani made a silent motion and Kulana moved away to join her, whilst Zira stared at her Son.

"Why are you punishing Kulana?" Nuka asked Zira. Zira snarled.

"I am the Queen! Do I not have the right?" She asked her son. Kovu nodded.

"The right yes, but a reason as well, yes?" He asked carefully. Zira remained silent.

"I told you. I am teaching a lesson. A lesson of what happens to those who preach dissidence. Who spread doubt and fear? We cannot be weak. We cannot be divided! And she – she dared to come in here to me and tells me that she fears you weak. That she believes you will fail. There will be no failure, Kovu! There will be no weakness!" She shouted. Kovu glanced at Kulana's whose eyes were wide.

Then he sighed, understanding dawning. Kulana had, foolishly, attempted to persuade Zira to delay her plans. Whatever they were. To give Kovu time. To help him finish his training. And his mother had, in her paranoia and her vengeful nature, taken the advice as condemnation of her plans. And lashed out in violence. Kovu nodded.

"No mother. I will not fail you. When my training is complete," He said carefully. "I know what must be done. I will shall crush Simba. And his Queen, and his daughter, and any of the Pridelanders who stand in our way, like bugs beneath my paws! I will leave them bleeding and broken in the dirt! I promise you that." Kovu said.

Zira breathed out; her eyes gleaming at his words. Kovu looked to his friend. "But Mother, Kulana is one of our strongest lionesses, second only to Vitani. She is important to our plans, remember? We all have a role to play, including her. I am sure she didn't mean to imply faithlessness in her words. Or dissent. I am certain she was merely reporting that my training is proceeding as we planned and merely… chose her words poorly. And that lesson has been learned." Kovu entreated her. Zira glared at Kulana, who, too her credit, met Zira's gaze for a brief moment and, far from flinching away, bowed her head slowly.

"I assure you, Prince Kovu is right, your Majesty." She told her. Zira glared at her for a moment, then, her expression changed. Seemingly soothed by being called by title. She nodded.

"Well then. That is sorted." She said. "Is there anything else?" Zira asked, as Nuka breathed a sigh of relief, and moved to join Vitani and Kulana.

"Yes. Your majesty. You need to see this!" One of the Outlander lionesses. She made a motion with her head, and there was some movement behind her. Behind her, another pair of Outlanders walked through the caverns. Kovu's eyes widened. Standing between them, was a young lion.

A lion and not one he recognised. Zira expression was unreadable. He was young. Not much older than Kovu. Perhaps Nuka's age? It was hard to say, for he lacked Nuka's scrawny build. He was thin, certainly. Every ounce of his flesh was raw muscle. There was no room on him for excess fat characteristic of a Pridebound Lion.

"A rogue." Zira snarled. "You have brought a rogue into my presence." She sniffed. The rogue bowed his head.

"Greetings your majesty." He said.

He was indeed a rogue. Rusty brown fur coated his body and his face was wreathed in an elegant dark brown mane. Lines of lighter fur could be seen throughout, giving him an unusual appearance. His eyes were red, but bright. The odd scar and bruise were present on his body, but there were no notable warmarks or wounds to show off. He was either inexperienced, or lucky, and from his youth, the former seemed more likely. He walked with his claws unsheathed though, and with a cocky expression. They looked razor sharp. Zira looked at him with a calculating eye as he entered.

He entered the cavern somewhat cautiously, for there were several lionesses around, looking curious. Before he could speak though, Zira made a sound.

"Hamm. And who are you, and what are you doing in the Outlands?" She asked him. The lion looked relaxed.

"Me? I was just passing through. Going from place to place. I didn't expect to be accosted by such lovely lionesses as yourselves, but life is full of pleasant surprises." He said. Nuka looked at Kovu in surprise and rolled his eyes. Kovu smirked.

"You're a rogue" Zira surmised, giving a curl of her lip." The lion nodded.

"I guess so. I left my Pride several months ago. Nice place, but I was one of five brothers. It was somewhat stifling." He said. Zira moved over to where he stood, and began to pace, as she often did when in thought. "My name is Najisi." He said cheerfully.

"Really? A rogue. You're not one of Simba's? No of course you aren't…" She said, mostly to herself. The rogue looked confused.

"Simba? I don't know who that is. Listen, I don't mean to be rude, but could someone explain to me why I was ambushed and all but attacked by a pair of lionesses upon passing through these lands? Not that I object to the company of you fine ladies, but it was somewhat startling."

"We didn't ambush you. We can't help it if you weren't observant enough to detect our approach." One of the lionesses said; Talia he thought. Najisi gave her a look, and Kovu cleared his throat.

"You can't have failed to have noticed our borders. I mark the northern bank myself." He said. The eastern border was the mountainous ridge of the Shadowlands. And no one marked the southern border with the Pridelands. That… would have been an unwise provocation. Simba regularly marked that one himself. If Najisi had entered by the eastern or northern borders, he would surely have noticed either Kovu's or Nuka's markings: He wouldn't have lasted five minutes in the Shadowlands and as for Simba… well… Simba wasn't very reasonable when it came to outside threats. Simba was willing to terrorize and threaten any Outlander cub who crossed into his territory, it seemed very unlikely that this Rogue would have lasted long either. Kovu's eyes narrowed.

"Why are you here?" He said.

Najisi paused, and seemed to be sizing up Kovu.

"I go where I chose to…" He said. Kovu laughed.

"That's a dangerous habit. You've not been a rogue for long in that case. Nor will you be for much longer if you are so reckless in your travels." Kovu said. Najisi frowned.

"What he's trying to say is that rogues aren't welcomed here." Nuka said firmly. Najisi's tail swished.

"Oh? That's a shame. I have a lot to offer a Pride." He said. Zira glowered.

"I doubt that very much. What is it you want, Najisi?" She said.

"I am a rogue. I travel. It's what we do. Until…" He paused. "Well. Until I am ready to start a Pride of my own." He said. Zira raised an eyebrow.

"Lofty goals, for one so young."

"I am not so young." He said, firmly.

"You're just scrawny then? The runt of the litter?" Zira guessed. That prompted a few jeers. Nuka smirked. Najisi ignored him.

"Might I enquire as to your name, your majesty? You certainly seem to hold sway in these parts."

"You could say that. I am Zira." She said.

"Zira. A pleasure to meet you, and your pride, Zira." Najisi said, and he bowed his head low. A few of the Outlanders looked at one another. There were few in the Outlands or the Pridelands who treated Zira with anything but fear. Zira stared at the youth.

"Why are you here?" She asked. Najisi cocked his head.

"I just told you. I am simply travelling. Seeing new places. New lands. Meeting new people. Such as yourself."

"For what purpose?"

"What other purpose does a young male seek out new lands and meet their lionesses?" He asked. Zira snorted.

"Ah. I get the picture. You're travelling from land to land, hoping to either find a lioness who'll have you, or a King old enough for you defeat? Is that your plan? Rogues. Always looking for a shortcuts through life. Always waiting for luck or providence to hand them their lives. I understand. What I can't understand, is what brings you here." Zira said.

"Can't you?" Najisi asked her, giving a playful smile. There was deathly silence in Golgorath.

"You're not serious." Vitani was the one who spoke. Najisi looked at her.

"I am not easily frightened." He looked to Kovu and Nuka.

"You're the males. Which of you two reigns here? Or do you reign together?" He asked. Nuka was the older of the two, but Kovu was clearly the strongest of the pair. Kovu groaned. Of course the young lion had detected their marking's on the border. And he'd ignored it. Idiot. Likely he'd also watched on the border and seen either himself or Nuka marking it. And he thought that the two younger lions would be easy prey. Nuka let out a snort.

"I'll handle this…" He said stepping forward, and flexing his muscle.

"No." Zira said softly. Nuka paused. Najisi turned in surprise. She stepped forward.

"You are speaking to this land's Queen. There is no King here. Not yet." Zira said. Her bored tone fading. Najisi turned in surprise.

"You? You're the leader of this Pride?" He asked her. Zira stood up, and twisted her neck. It cracked flexed the muscles within.

"Whilst I trust my Sons to guard their Kingdom, I am the one who reigns here, rogue."

"They are your sons? What, both of them?" He asked looking at them both critically. Kovu raised an eyebrow at the calculating look he received.

"I am their Mother. Does something about that bother you, rogue?" Zira asked.

Kovu sighed, deciding he had better step in.

"If you really are a 'nomad'," He said, using the less offensive term, "you won't find a lioness here willing to be your mate, Najisi. Our Pride has no time or patience to raise more cubs and I can promise you that there is nobody here willing to leave this Pride to join you on your travels. You're better off leaving these lands, and going somewhere else. Somewhere where they'd welcome your talents and your bloodline. This… is not that place." He said. Zira laughed again.

"Is this what you thought would happen? That you'd just stroll into a Pride? Throw your weight around? Attract a nice young female and play happy families? Or perhaps you're bolder than you look. Perhaps you intend to challenge a King? Is that your aim? To defeat a King in Mashindano?" She asked him. No one had tried such a thing in the Pridelands since Scar had challenged his father with such mythically disastrous results and though Najisi couldn't have known that, he still hesitated, sensing the others' reaction.

"I am no weakling. I've beaten other rogues, as well as plenty of leopards and cheetahs. I am no stranger to fighting." He said firmly.

"You're not a King either." Zira said. Najisi ground his teeth.

"Not yet. But there is more than one way to win a Kingdom." He said. Zira laughed once more.

"Fine then." She said. "Let's see you prove it. You say you're a challenger. I am Ruler here. I am happy to accept your challenge. That's what you're here for, isn't it? Just admit it, and drop your friendly façade." She said.

"What?" Nuka burst. Zira chuckled.

"I am the reigning Monarch of these lands. That gives me the right to accept, or refuse any challenge as I see fit. You want to defeat a King? Claim his lands? You want the quick and easy route to power? I know your type. You crave power. Status. Lionesses. But you don't have the skill, the strength, or the mind to do so. You will die in the wilds, alone and apart. Don't you want to know if you truly are what you think of yourself?" She asked him. Najisi hesitated.

"You are no King. You're the Queen. Where's your mate?" He asked hesitantly.

"Are you so dense? I hope you don't fight as well as you think? Take a look around, Najisi. This is my Kingdom. Do you think me incapable of ruling it alone? Because I assure you, my command here is absolute. Do you think I need some mate, some king to rule by my side?" She suggested. Najisi snorted.

"Do you think I am stupid enough to answer that question?" He asked. Zira gave a smug smile.

"Ah, then you are learning. Perhaps there is hope for you yet. So how about it? Do you accept my little wager? If you win, you stand to gain everything. Lands. A throne. The tower of Golgorath. I'll leave this place. I'll even take my Sons with me – neither of them will seek retribution. You'll have your pick of the lionesses. I am sure even my daughter would leap at the chance to be with someone who'd just proven themselves. You're moments away from reigning as Najisi, King of the Outlands. And not in several years. Right here. Now. In this moment. Isn't that what you want?" She asked. Najisi paused. He was tempted, visibly so. Vitani shook her head. Don't be a fool.

"And if you win? What do you stand to gain?"

"Oh… I am sure I can think of something. I could find some use for someone such as you. But in any case, I want nothing more than a chance to… educate… the youth of today. To impart some wisdom." Zira said, dangerously. Nuka almost jumped about. This was going to be good. He could feel it. Vitani on the other paw gave a knowing smirk. Najisi licked his lips, assessing his potential opponent.

"Very well. I accept." He declared.

Kovu looked around. This was a bad idea.

"Mother." He warned her, looking anxious. Zira chuckled.

"Oh, have no fear dear Kovu, I'll be careful." She assured him. Kovu shook his head, as Nuka grinned.

"That wasn't what I…" But it was no use. He sighed, and didn't bother. Nuka started chuckling softly to himself.

"This isn't funny, Nuka." Kovu reminded him. Nuka gave a wicked grin. He glanced at Vitani.

"Oh it is. It really is. What do you think of your future husband, Sis? This is the first time he's actually fought a challenge; I'd stake my next meal on it. Rogues, nomads, scavengers, rivals. None of that will have prepared him for this." He said firmly.

The two lions separated from each other, and stood some distance apart.

Zira gave her son a look.

"Kovu… If you would be so kind?" He asked him.

Kovu silently counted to three. Then gave a roar. On his signal, the two lions struck at each other.

Zira, and the rogue collided with a blaze of tooth and claw, swiping at each other and tearing at one another.

Najisi was quick, and immediately feinted in one direction, before slicing at Zira's other side. The Outlander Queen took the brunt of the blow, before letting out a backhanded swipe that caught Najisi in the jaw. The youth stumbled back, and Zira pressed forwards, making two direct slashes, aiming at his face. The youth ducked under the scything blades of her claws, and Zira changed tact, dropping her other paw down in a vertical swipe that knocked Najisi to the ground. She bit down savagely at the top of his neck, and Najisi rolled away to avoid the attack, coming to his feet again in one motion, then pouncing, moving from defensive, evasion and offensive with fluidity that took Kovu by surprise. Zira lashed out at the oncoming lion, and who crashed into her with a snarl, and let lose a flurry of strikes. Zira span, and danced away.

Sundar and Danyal watched the fight, captivated.

"Zira must have been really confident." Sundar muttered. Danyal agreed. But she had every right to be. This was Zira in her prime. She moved like a fleck of dust on the wind, weaving in and out, contorting her body to dodge seemingly unstoppable blows, and letting lose savage strikes in response when her foe over extended himself.

"You're good…" Najisi said, between dodges and blocks. Zira pulled away, and leapt onto an outcrop of termite mound just behind her. Najisi watched cautiously, as she paced, unwilling to follow. Zira cocked her head.

"And you aren't. You're young. Inexperienced. I left myself open in half a dozen places, but you didn't take them." She told him. Najisi snarled.

"It's not over yet." He said. Zira grinned.

"Oh it is. It was over before it begun. You are just a boy, playing at being a lion. We're finished here." And she leapt forwards with a snarl, Najisi tried to back up, but Zira leapt with so much height and so much power that she easily cleared his clumsy attempts to block, and landed on top of him. She hooked her claws into his body as she landed and rolled, throwing the lion clear of her, and he crashed into a wall with a dull thud.

To his credit, Najisi rose, though still stunned, and possessed the skill to block the tempest of Zira's swipes that rained down now. He ducked and weaved and the rock wall behind him screeched and flashed as line upon line was etched into the face of the rock. Najisi looked frightened now, and all were aware that Zira had merely been toying with him. Amusing herself. Now, her gracefulness was replaced with brutal savagery. He tried to launch a last desperate assault, hoping to overwhelm Zira's defences before she crushed his own. Zira cackled, and blocked every cut and slash he made, before butting Najisi in the face. As the lion grunted, flinching in pain, Zira bit forwards again, gripping the youth by the neck. Then she arched her back, and flipped him bodily to the side. The strength that rippled through her muscles too Najisi by surprise and he gave a cry as his feet left the ground and Zira lifted his not inconsiderable weight free, only for him to land with a loud crack a moment later. Then, as he lay stunned, she tore into him, knocking him onto his back, leaving his belly unprotected. He gave a cry as a five clawed paw slashed deep into it and the blood began to spray in earnest. He shouted and tried to pull away, but Zira gripped into his fleeing form and brought him down to the ground like a fleeing gazelle, and pounded his form once more.

"Enough! You win!" He gasped in agonised pain, conceding defeat, but Zira wasn't so easily quelled.

"You are pathetic!" She slashed at him. "You want life to be handed to you like your mother's milk!" A clawed paw caught him in the jaw, sending him jerking to one side. "You need to take what you want in life! Work for it! Pain, hatred, loss, fear, they are obstacles to be conquered! Not fled from! You are worthless! Incapable of enduring the slightest pain. How will you get what you want unless you can pay the price for it? Running from the pain. How can you live in a world such as this where there is pain everywhere?"

She pulled away, staring down at him in disgust.

"Now, tell me, Najisi the Rogue. You were prideful earlier of your… accomplishments." She sniggered "Are you too proud to beg?" She asked. Then, she slammed her claws into his.

Kovu gasped in shock as her claws stabbed into the young rogue once more, who cried out in pain. He glared up at her with hateful eyes. Zira smiled in glee. Then stabbed down once more, causing the lion to scream in pain.

"AAAH! Stop!" Zira's eyes glinted.

"Beg me, boy! Beg me for mercy. And maybe I'll stop after teaching you a lesson." She whispered.

"Stop… Please… Stop…I… Gah! Arrh! Please! Stop!" He pleaded. Zira stood up and sat back, as the Rogue lay shaking on the ground. The onlooking Outlanders said nothing, their faces expressionless. The rogue shrank back, looking around in humiliation. She had dominated the fight.

"Even the weakest of my Outlanders would never be so shamed. Even the cubs. What kind of pathetic lion are you?" She asked him, as he moaned in pain, clutching at his wounds. "What kind of lioness would even have you? Certainly not one with an ounce of any pride." She leaned in close. "You repel me. Do you think that I, my daughter, or any of mine, or any lioness in the whole of the Serengeti would ever degrade themselves to being yours?! Don't you dare come here to these lands again, intending to pollute them with your filthy bloodline!" She snarled. And with a final contemptuous flick of her wrist, she slashed at his terror filled face. He howled in pain as blood flecked the walls. Four lines of scarlet shining for all to see on his face. They were deep wounds. If they didn't fester, they would scar him horribly.

Zira gave a cruel laugh at her handiwork.

"Now every lioness who so much as looks at you will know what a miserable failure you are." She declared. "A king? I'd sooner have my daughter lie with Simba then with a pathetic pretender like you. You're a pathetic, worthless, excuse for a lion who'd disease the lioness that lay with you!"

"Ugh… I…"

Zira laughed pitilessly and wordlessly she jerked her head in the direction of a pair of lionesses.

"Drag him to the borders. Let Simba have him. If you see him trying to enter the Outlands again, kill him on sight." She said. Najisi gave a moan, and Zira towered over him,

"Pathetic." Zira said in disgust. Najisi's eyes snapped open, and with a howl, he leapt to his feet and clawed at Zira's face. She pulled back with lighting reflexes and his claws sliced into Zira's throat. They grazed her flesh, barely scratching her fur, but they did draw blood, and Zira pulled away in shock. Letting out a snarl, Najisi span, and sank his teeth into the nearest lioness next to him. She screamed in agony.

Vitani cursed and Kovu roared.

"No!"

Attacking someone else who wasn't even involved in the challenge? That was bad form. But Najisi hurled the lioness he gripped in his teeth to one side, jerking her into the second lioness that was coming up onto him, then turned and ran from the cavern.

"Get back here!" Nuka shouted and chased after him, eyes wide with fury. Forget leaving him at the border. He intended to rip his throat out. But the rogue was already gone, sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him. Zira snarled. She inspected her injuries for a moment, then flexed dismissively. Vitani shook her head as she watched him go.

"He should have known better…" She observed, displaying no emotion but for a slight twinge of pity, watching him flee. Kovu was expressionless.

"That seemed a tad… unnecessary." He commented.

Zira flexed her muscles.

"Nothing I do is pointless. If he runs, then all of the Pridelands will hear of it and they will be reminded of the terror we are waiting to unleash up them. It is never bad to spready a little fear. If he dies of his wounds, then the Serengeti is probably better off. Certainly future generations would thank us for the service. Someone call Nuka back. He's worthless anyhow. Let him run. Let him rot." Zira commanded, gripping a paw to her neck. Satisfied that the wound wasn't in the least bit serious, she shrugged off the pain as an irritation. Nuka eventually returned. The rogue had escaped to kings knew where. The other lionesses gave no chase. What would be the point?

"I could have beaten him." Nuka noted, and Kovu shrugged.

"Probably. But I don't think mother wanted to just beat him." He pointed out. Cricking her neck, Zira turned around, and looked at Kulana. She was still bleeding from her earlier show of disloyalty. Zira's sadistic streak had been satiated though.

"Kulana... Half rations for two weeks. And report to the lead huntress every day, during that time." She said. Kulana said nothing, and Kovu bit his lip. He knew Kulana was exhausted, after all she'd been his sparring partner for at least that length of time, and she had only just finished a term as leader of the huntresses herself. By rights, she ought to have been given a few days to recover. But it seemed that Zira was withdrawing that privilege for now.

In any case, Zira seemed to have vented her anger on the young rogue, and appeared content to punish Kulana for her impertinence with less violent action than she might otherwise have been inclined to. Satisfied with herself, Zira gave a nod of her head, flexed her claws, and left the cavern, down the twisting tunnels of Golgorath.

When she had gone, Kulana gave a sigh of relief.

"Yikes. Do you think he'll be okay?" She asked. Kovu rolled his eyes.

"Who gives a flying fig about him? I am more worried about you. What on earth did you say to Mother that made her snap like that? You didn't ask for more food, did you? Because that never -" Kovu asked her anxiously. The young lioness sighed, and pressed a paw to one of her injuries.

"What? No. Nothing. I am fine. Just a little shaken." She said.

"Speaking of people who ought to have known better…" Vitani said, checking her over. Kulana sighed.

"I know. Sorry. I just wanted to help. I was worried. About you guys. If Zira thinks that she can win the Pridelands now… If she does wait for us to be ready, she could-" She looked worried. Kovu swallowed. Zira did seem overconfident. He wasn't anywhere near ready to fight Simba, he knew that. But to tell Zira that would be asking for it.

"Forget about it." Nuka said firmly. "I haven't reported to her yet on the situation in the Shadowlands."

"What? Who cares about what's going on in hyena territory?" Vitani asked.

"No one. Yet." Nuka said. He scratched under his arm. He looked agitated. "Mother didn't even seem to notice I'd been missing. But Mother isn't dumb. She's not going to push ahead with the plan until we're good and ready. Not with the hyena clans all mixed up in a brutal civil war."

"They're always undergoing a period of brutal civil war. Even when Scar was in power, one of the clans was trying to kill the others. That's the way they are…" Vitani muttered. Nuka ignored her.

"I'll tell Mother I think we should delay things until we know who has come out on top there. I ain't leaving my back open to them."

"What for? Who gives a wildebeest's –"

"Mother will care, because if one of the hyena clans stars to get noisy on the Pridelands borders then it'll distract Simba. We can let Kion and his Lion Guard worry about the hyenas for once. It'll keep them busy and their patrols will be nice and small." He itched furiously at his mane, and didn't meet Vitani's eyes. "Should give you enough time to worth through your jitters too, termite." Nuka said.

Kovu nodded gratefully, and Kulana gave a sigh of relief, and nodded to him in thanks. Kovu sighed. Vitani fixed Kulana with a stare.

"I still don't see why you'd risk it, Kulana. You must have realised Mother would react violently to such talk. It's one step away from sedition!" She protested.

"I think you're just lucky she didn't think you were openly criticizing her rule. She nearly ripped you to pieces thinking you were criticizing me." Kovu told her. Kulana winced.

"Yeah. That's true. But I couldn't do nothing. I told you, us Outlanders stick together. You said so yourself that you didn't think that you could defeat Simba as you were, and if you're going to be the one who saves us, you need to be free to judge for yourself. You're our King, not Zira's puppet. Don't forget that. I just wanted her to see if…" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter what I thought." She said. She stood up.

"Where are you going?" Nuka asked her. "You need to rest." Kulana shook her head.

"I need to hunt. Those were Queen Zira's orders." She said. She winced. "I might be a while."