[Open] Enemy From Within

[KingKovu44]

Hakara had seen Vitani leave and chased after her. "Vitani, are you all right? Why are you so upset right now?" he asked, a look of genuine concern in his eyes.

[Applejack]

She looked defensivly up at Hakara, her eyes shattered, face and muzzle covered in tears. "They did this to me.. My brother.. .the only lion I loved... both of them.. He named his.. his... abominations after them!" She was nearly screaming at him, and she looked down reproachfully. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry... I shouldn't... I should just go. Leave. Get out of Kovu's hair so he and his precious sons can live happily. My Kopa.. my Nuka..." She looked away, unable to talk, and resolved to crying. She'd never really cried in front of anyone, so this was a big change for her, but she didn't care. She didn't care anymore. "Why're you still hear. Usually, people see me upset and leave. They write me off as a crazy.. crazy lioness and run away from me."

[KingKovu44]

Hakara frowned. "Please, explain everything to me. Perhaps I can help you. I don't want to see you like this," he said.

[Applejack]

She looked at him, her violet eyes shimmering, wet with tears. "Why would you help me," she asked softly, her voice cracking. "Why havn't you run from me yet? Why would you care about someone whose name means Demon of War? I'm a Demon. I'm not worth anyones' time! Answer that, and maybe I'll talk to you." The truth was, she'd never opened up to anyone. She didn't know how.

[KingKovu44]

Hakara shook his head. "You're not a demon. I don't know how anyone could see you as one," he stated.

[Applejack]

She looked at him, wiping away a few tears. "What am I then, Hakara? What am I to you?" Her ears flattened, and her heart was beating. Her chest ached from the pain of reliving memories as she cried, and now Hakara had confused her.

[KingKovu44]

Hakara looked at her. "You're a beautiful, intelligent, strong lioness who needs some help in forgetting her harsh past," he replied.

[Applejack]

"You've got guts, Hakara," she said gently. She raised a paw at him, as to cuff him, but it fell short, resting next to his. She looked up at him, tears streaming still. "It hurts so much because.. Nuka, he was my brother, Hakara. He died trying to gain my mothers' love, and I loved him. I miss him to this day. Kopa... Kopa was the name of a lion I loved more than the world itself. We were only cubs, and I felt like my life and his belonged together. Then mother killed him. She killed him in front of me, and we were exiled." She looked down, more hot tears flying down her face. "I miss them both, and now, every time I look at those... those damned cubs, I'm going to see their dead faces!" She threw her head back, then slid closer to Hakara. "No one will help me forget my past, because no one cares enough about me to see past my harsh nature." She blushed as she realized what he'd said. No one'd ever talked to her like that before.

[KingKovu44]

Hakara smiled. "I've already seen past your nature. I can help you forget," he stated.

[Applejack]

She shook her head softly, looking up into his eyes for the first real time. Her violet eyes shined, half from the tears, half from hope. "Why... why would you help me, Hakara?"