A/n Hey everyone welcome to 2025! To celebrate here's the newest chapter for my story. The usual thanks are in order. Enjoy ch 23

Ch 23 A Frightening Situation

"Kill them both!" Zira thundered to her lionesses.

"I've got this," Nguvu said as he tackled Kovu to the ground. It wasn't long before Nguvu got the upper hand. "Just stay down," the beige coated lion hissed in Kovu's ear. "For your own sake."

"Not a chance in Hell!" Kovu snarled, kicking Nguvu off of his. Nguvu let out a frustrated growl as he quickly tackled Kovu to the ground once again. Looking over he saw that Nuka had been pinned down by Cala and Shida.

"Look," Nguvu hissed through clenched teeth. "I don't wanna hurt you or your brother. I still consider you to be my friend. Hell I don't even want to hurt the Princess."

"Then why are you doing this?" Kovu hissed back as he flipped Nguvu to the ground.

"Because," Nguvu hissed as he flipped Kovu back to the ground. "If I don't Scar will kill my mother and Hai. And I can't let that happen. So I have to go along with it until I think of a plan to overthrow Scar form the throne. But I can assure you the Princess will be safe. I'll see to it myself that Scar doesn't follow through with whatever sick plans he has for her. But you have to trust me when I say you and your brother won't be safe if you don't stay the Hell down!"

"She had better be," Kovu hissed back as he looked over and saw that Nuka had been knocked out. Then he looked back at Nguvu, "Fine you win. I'll stay down. But you had better not make me regret this!"

"Smart move," Nguvu said as he raised his paw and hit Kovu across his face. However he accidentally unsheathed his claws and caught Kovu across his right eye, drawing blood. Kovu roared in pain as the blood poured out of his eye. "Oh shit!" Nguvu cursed. "Sorry pal." With that Nguvu got up and picked up Kiara and ran into the Outlands with the rest of his group behind him.

"Why'd you do that?" Hai hissed in Nguvu's ear. "I thought you didn't want to hurt anyone."

"I didn't mean to hurt Kovu," Nguvu hissed back. "So get off my back Hai." Without waiting for a response Nguvu walked past Hai muttering to himself the entire time.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile back at Pride Rock night had come and Simba and his Pride had returned after searching for Kiara. "Vitani I am highly disappointed in you and Asha," Simba was saying. "I trusted you two to keep my daughter safe and you both failed."

"I am so sorry King Simba," Vitani said, lowering her head in shame. "I know I let you down."

"I'll never be able to forgive myself if anything happens to Kiara," Asha sobbed, the tears going down her face. Tama, Tojo and Nuka were there and they comforted Asha the best way they could.

"I wouldn't blame you if you decided to banish me," Vitani said, surprising Simba.

"Vitani that's not going to happen," Simba said, walking in front of the young lioness and lifting her head. "Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean I'm going to kick you out."

"Y..you're not?" Vitani stammered, looking up at Simba with wide blue eyes.

"No I'm not," Simba said with a smile. "In fact I..." Just then Rafiki emerged for the cave.

"Rafiki how's my brother?" Nuka asked, running up to the old mandrill with Vitani right behind him.

"Young Kovu will be just fine," Rafiki informed the group. "Luckily de damage ti his eyes was not to deep. He will however have a small scar on his eye."

"How ironic," one of the lionesses muttered.

"Like father like son," another lioness chimed in, causing the other lioness to chuckle.

"I find nothing funny about this," Simba said sharply. This caused the two lionesses to stop laughing. "Now then," Simba continued. "The top priority is finding my daughter. We need to..." But before he could continue suddenly Kion came running up to the group with Kopa right behind him.

"Dad!" the golden coated Prince cried out, running up to Simba. "Dad! I know where Kiara is!"

"Where?!" Simba demanded.

"They're taking her to the Dark Lands!" Kopa cried out.

"Why would King Alamine do something like this?' Tama wondered.

"King Alamine passed away a few months ago," Simba informed his friend. "The Dark Lands were hit hard by sickness and sadly he, his Queen Vumbi and their son Giza didn't survive."

"But whose ruling the Kingdom?" Sarafina wondered. "I mean there has to be a..." Then Sarafina's blue eyes went wide as a thought dawned on her. "No," the creamy coated lioness said, shaking her head. "No Simba you don't think that Scar..."

"Yes Sarafina that's what I fear," Simba said, his voice serious. "There's been rumors that Scar has been living in the Dark Lands and had slithered his way into taking control of the Dark Lands. But nothing has ever been confirmed."

"It's true King Simba," Kovu said, emerging from the cave, his right eye bandaged. "We all know how crafty Scar can be. There's no doubt in my mind that he's taken over the Dark Lands. And Nguvu pretty much confirmed that to me today."

"How so?" Simba asked.

"He told me Scar had some kind of sick plan for Kiara," Kovu said, causing Simba, Nala, Kopa and Kion to gasp. "But he also told me he'd protect Kiara."

"And you believed him?" Simba asked, arching an eyebrow at Kovu.

"Yes I did," Kovu said. "Nguvu and me were always good friends when we were cubs. He always looked out for me. Kept me sane when Zira's training got to intense. So yeah I trust him."

"Even though he gave you that?" Nuka asked, pointing at Kovu's eye.

"I don't think he meant to hurt me," Kovu said. "At least I'm pretty sure he didn't."

"Simba we must get to the Dark Lands!" Nala cried out. "Before Scar does something terrible to our little girl!"

"I won't let that happen Nala!" Simba declared. "Zazu send a message to the neighboring Kingdoms. Let them know what's happening!"

"Yes Sire of course!" Zazu said, flying out of the cave at full force.

"Lionesses gather around!" Simba commanded. "If Scar wants a war then he's got one! Kidnapping the Princess of the Pride Lands is a treasonable offence and grounds for war! We're going to the Dark Lands and getting my daughter back!"

"We're coming to!" Kovu said, looking over at Nuka, who nodded in agreement.

"Us too," Tojo chimed in, Tama and Asha by his side.

"Let's go kick some ass!" Kopa shouted. With that the group headed out all of them willing to do whatever it took to get Kiara back.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile back in the Dark Lands Zira and the others had returned. "Bring the girl here," Scar commanded. Nguvu let out a low growl but Shida gently nudged her son and shook her head. So Nguvu reluctenly brought Kiara to Scar. By now Kiara had woken up and the golden brown lioness was terrified about what was going to happen to her. Nguvu placed Kiara on the ground in front of Scar. When Kiara saw Scar her amber eyes went wide and she tried to run away. But Scar quickly stopped his great niece and pulled her towards him. "What's the hurry my dear?" the deranged old lion asked.

"Get your paws off of me!" Kiara cried out, trying to get free of Scar's grasp. But Scar was surprisingly strong for an old lion and he held tight to Kiara.

"Don't be so hostile my dear," Scar said, pinning Kiara's paws to her side. "I'm offering you the opportunity of a life time."

"Whatever it is I'll never agree to it," Kiara hissed.

"Oh but you will my dear," Scar said, forcing Kiara to look at him. "You see my dear as King of the Dark Lands I need an heir. And unfortunately Zira is well past cub baring years and our so called children betrayed us. That's where you come in my dear." Kiara's eyes went with horror as she realized what Scar was talking about.

"You...you can't be serious," Kiara stammered.

"I'm deadly serious," Scar said, his voice low and dark. "You will bare my cubs and be my Queen. If not it'll be the death of you."

A/n well folks there you have ch 23. This story is turning out to be the longest one I've written so far. I hope you all are enjoying it and as always please review.