Heir to the Throne [Private]

[Ushujaa]

Spoiler: show

Character List:
Canon
Simba: Ushujaa
Nala: AC
Kopa: SDC
Zira: Ushujaa
Kovu:AC

OC List
Tanga: AC
Ushujaa: Ushujaa (Duh)
Tip: SDC

The sun beamed down upon the two trespassing lions, as the argument elevated between Zira, leader of the Outlanders and Simba, Ruler of the Pridelands "Well if you must have your pound of flesh... here" Zira slyly grinned as she pushed Scar's heir, Kovu as an offering to Simba. Kovu looked up at Simba, then back to his mother; unable to grasp the situation.


The wind blew lightly through Simba's mane as he evaluated the situation, thinking of what to do next. I know what he is meant to become... He glanced down at the young frightened cub ...But maybe I could change the outcome of his future.

Zira stared at Simba. Her grin grew wider as a drop of sweat dripped from her face. "Well Simba? What is your choice? Will you take my son's life or leave him with his mother."

"Neither!" Simba growled " I will not kill your cub, though to leave him with you would be doing him a great disservice... Simba kindly smiled down at young kovu "No, i won't leave an innocent cub's fate in your hands... Instead he will stay here, within my kingdom."

The wind picked up to a slight breeze as it swept through Simba's mane once more, then seemed to circle Kovu, as the young cub started to speak...

[AustralianChaos]

Kovu's voice seemed to have vanished as Zira...his own mother...offerred him up to Simba. She had never been very easy on him, but he always believed that was just the way things worked in the Pridelands...'tough love' as he had heard an older Outlander call it once. But this was different, even Kovu's young mind knew that no matter how tough a mother's love was, she should never offer her own son's life up...ever. But he was in shock, and her rather brazen betrayal never really set in in that moment, as he looked from Zira to Simba and back repeatedly.

As Simba looked down at him, casting his shadow over the cub, the normally proud, confident cub cowered back, shaking in fear, a few small whimpers escaping his throat. Zira had told him that this was the killer of Scar, the true king, and he was cold and heartless to a fault. But Kovu did not see that...Simba appeared to have a highly thoughtful expression on his muzzle, although it did little to ease Kovu's fears that his life might well be in its last moments.

But when Simba spoke, Kovu froze, his shaking stopping as he stared at the false king in open-mouthed shock. Simba was going to spare him? As Simba gave him a kind smile, Kovu suddenly became confused...Simba's actions were far from what his mother suggested this lion was like. But he did not have time to dwell on it, as Simba dropped the biggest bombshell of all, starting to pace around Kovu as he did so...he was going to take Kovu in!

Kovu struggled to process this revelation, his jaw still hanging loose as he watched Simba, before his gaze flicked back to his mother. As the reality of what was happening finally started to sink in, he found himself trying to speak. "Wait...but I..." Finally, he looked up at Simba. "Can you do that?" he asked, his tone neither hopeful nor wary...he did not know how to feel about this whole incident, since it just did not make any sense to him.

[Ushujaa]

Zira's grin swept away from her face as she heard Simba's words. She took a step towards Kovu to try to put herself between him and Simba. Though quickly she reminded herself that she was surrounded by Pridelanders. She soon realized that now was not the time to be picking a fight with Simba. For now she would have to let things progress the way they may.

Zira knew that she would not be harmed, not in front of Kovu at least. No, Simba was far to kind to kill her in front of her young son's innocent eyes. "Simba..." She snarled "Taking him in would mean you would have to share with him your pride's food and water. I'm sure you wouldn't want to trouble yourself with that..."

Zira knew the approach she had just taken would most likely be in vein,still she could not just let Simba take Scar's heir away from her. She hated him, for everything he had done to her. He took her husband and now was taking her son knowing to the full extent that there was not a thing she could do to stop him. She stood nervously shaking awaiting the response from the one attempting to take her son from her.
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Simba laughed at Zira's desperate attempt to reason with him. " You've been away from the Pridelands for some time Zira, It is not the desperate place you once knew. Look around you, we have plenty of things to feast on and the watering hole has replenished from Scar's reign. I think we can manage one more cub in our pride."

Simba turned his head to Kovu and leaned down to his level. He chuckled to the confused cub's question. To answer your question, yes. I'm offering you a chance at a better tomorrow.

Simba then stood up, towering over the young cub he gave another sincere smile."Unless you would rather the alternative..." He said sarcastically. Simba put his paw around Kovu's shoulder as he licked his other paw's claw. "No, i'm sure you wouldn't want that, now would you?"

Simba shot Zira a more serious toned glance "Zira, we'll allow you to live, in exile. For Kovu's sake. I know how it feels to have a parent murdered in front of my eyes, i wouldn't put anyone through that... Do not make me regret this decision!He turned to walk towards Priderock "I think we're done here..."

Simba looked to Kovu "Don't be scared, i'll introduce you to my son... i'm sure you two will get along fine...

[AustralianChaos]

Kovu was still thoroughly confused as his mother, who had just offerred him up, seemed taken aback by Simba's choice, and now seemed to have changed her mind. What was going on? his mind repeatedly asked, getting no answer. Was this all some elaborate test on Zira's part, a secret part of her training to see how he'd behave in a stressful, strange situation? But even if it was, Kovu had no idea how to behave, and so was lost, looking to the others for help, as Simba shot down Zira's attempt to argue the decision.

As Simba answered, saying he had a chance at a better tomorrow, Kovu opened his muzzle to argue, but stopped, realising it was probably true. The Outlands were a barren wasteland where every day was a struggle, and the Pridelands, well...all he had to do was look around, and he could see it was a better place. But he did not want to admit that in front of Zira, and as such stayed mostly silent. "I...well..." he stammered, not sure what he could say to show Simba he appreciated the gesture, without tipping off Zira.

But then Simba placed his paw around him, licking his other paw, causing Kovu to shy back a little. Zira often made a very similar gesture...but usually that was seconds before she struck him for being disobedient or lazy with his training. But when Simba asked him if he would prefer staying in the Outlands, Kovu was once more stuck, too scared of Zira's reaction to properly answer. "Well...I...I don't..." he stuttered once more, trying to find the right words.

But as Simba turned back to Zira, telling her she was free to leave, Kovu looked back and forth, still torn. He did not want to go back to the Outlands, but if this was all some sort of test, then he was obviously expected to. He just did not what to do. But then Simba started walking towards Pride Rock, before shotting Kovu another comment, this time about another cub, which caused Kovu's ears to instinctively raise in excitement. The only cub close to his age in the Outlands was Vitani, and while she was fun, she was his sister, and Kovu had just wanted a proper friend to hang around with...but at the same time, again...he liked his sister, and did not like the idea of leaving her in the Outlands alone.

But before Kovu could properly speak of any of this, he heard another voice. "I'll take care of him, Simba." Looking towards the source of the other voice, he saw a pale-furred lioness with these strangely mesmerising aqua eyes, giving Simba a brief smile, before turning towards him. He recognised her from Zira's descriptions...this was Nala, the queen of the Pridelands. As she continued towards him, she spoke up again. "Come on, Kovu, I'm not going to hurt you..." she said kindly, surprising Kovu once more with how kind and gentle these Pridelanders seemed. This surprise meant Kovu did not notice that Nala intended on carrying him with her until it was too late. He gave a brief yelp as he was picked up by the nape of his neck, but soon settled in, knowing that there was nothing he could do, as Nala turned back to her mate, giving Simba a nod to show him they were ready...once Zira left.

[Ushujaa]

Zira could not believe her own plan had backfired on her! While she stood there dumbfounded at Simba's decision, she knew there was not a thing she could do to stop him. Even though she was right to say Simba wouldn't kill her in front of Kovu, he may as well have. He had taken everything from her but deep in her mind, Zira knew. She knew she would have her chance to take it all back, and more. No, she would make him regret all the decisions he had made, from the beginning.

Zira turned to face to the barren Outlands then she yelled back to the Pridelanders " Simba, if you take my son from me now, know that this is the beginning of your downfall... She turned her head to take one last look at her son, the way he should be.Zira knew that if Simba were to take him from her he would be corrupted beyond what she could do to repair him. She glanced at Kovu and let out a ferocious roar. Kovu you are no longer one of us, if we see you near the outlands... we will kill you! And there won't be a thing your precious new King will be able to do to save you!"

Zira continued to walk, her head drooped in shame, on her way out of the Pridelands. Scar, forgive me! I have failed you... was the only thought she could have on her way home to continue her life in exile.
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Simba could not believe that someone, even someone as ruthless as Zira could be so cruel. He could only imagine what could be going through young Kovu's mind as his own mother disowned him. He knew he had to try to find a way to relate to Kovu, he also had to find a way to make Kovu trust him... Father what would you do... he thought to himself.

As they continued their long walk towards Pride Rock the sun started to set, the Pridelands were cooling down, Simba looked over to Nala who was still carrying Kovu. "Nala, please set him down here, i need to talk to him, alone." Simba chuckled to himself, " you won't try to run will you?" he gently whispered to Kovu as he waited for Nala to set him down

[AustralianChaos]

Kovu just watched, hanging from Nala's fangs, as Zira turned to leave, making one last threat to Simba, which made Kovu offer a very weak smile to his mother...she seemed to be suggesting that she really did want him back, and might just try to get him back somewhow, despite everything that had happened. Despite the way he had been raised, Kovu did care for Zira...she was his mother, after all.

But that smile vanished as Zira turned to him, completely disowning him, exiling him from the Outlands, and threatening him with death if he ever tried to come back, all in the space of two short sentences. His eyes widened in horrified shock, his jaw hanging loose, tears threatening to break free as he looked at Zira, her gaze cold, with no trace of remorse or pity there at all. She meant every word of what she had just said. "But...mother..." he pleaded quietly, getting no response as Zira turned and stalked off once more...never once looking back, even as Nala turned, following Simba as they lead the rest of the lionesses back towards Pride Rock.

As they walked, the sun starting to set, bathing the Pridelands in a golden-orange glow, the shock of what had happened started to settle, and Kovu finally came to terms with what had just happened. Zira had just cast him off as a traitor...and seperated him from his only family, her and Vitani. The tears in his eyes finally broke, but Kovu did not sob, not wanting to seem weaker than he already felt he was. He just silently let the tears roll down his cheeks as they continued their trek.

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As Nala carried Kovu, she could literally feel the shock and grief in the cub's body, looking down out of the corner of her eye, she could see the silent tears, and found it astounding that he had not broken down into hysterical sobs yet. She remembered how she had reacted when she thought Simba had been killed...how could Kovu control his emotions like that? Was it simple pride and shame...or had his upbringing stunted his ability to express his feelings?

But then Simba stopped, and asked her to set Kovu down. Unable to speak, she cocked her head to the side, silently asking what he was up to. but when Simba turned his attention to Kovu, asking him if he was going to try and run off, Nala sighed. She already knew the answer...Kovu was in too much shock and grief over being so ruthlessly disowned that it was unlikely he was even going to be able to stand up, let alone walk. Giving Simba a mild shake of her head, telling him herself that Kovu was not going to run any time soon, she gently let Kovu down, frowning in sympathy when he simply sat where he had been placed, his head bowed, completely zoned out from the world.

Nala slowly moved away from Kovu, stopping beside Simba as she passed him, letting the other lionesses continue on their way before speaking. "Be careful, Simba...he's struggling to accept what just happened. Just go easy on him for now...you can ask him more questions tomorrow if you have to." She gave her mate a quick nuzzle, and a lick across the cheek, before continuing towards Pride Rock, now visible in the near distance, hoping Kovu could learn to accept what had just happened...and that the Pridelands would be his home for the foreseeable future.

[Ushujaa]

Simba took Nala's warning to heart, he knew that Kovu had been through a rough time, but there were a few questions that needed to be answered. Simba lay down in front of Kovu at his eye level, he wanted to try to make a good connection with Kovu, one that would let him know that he was not here to be punished or to take him away from those he had come to love... one that would reveal to Kovu beyond what Zira's teachings had led him to believe,one he could learn the truth from.

Simba observed Kovu it seemed that he wanted to cry, although the tears were already running down his face, he was not letting himself show any emotion behind them. "It's okay Kovu, I know that you want to cry... I won't judge you any differently if you do. In fact i think it would be normal for someone who has just gone through what you did, to let it all out..." What Zira had done to Kovu, made Simba think back to when Scar had murdered his father, it almost seemed what Zira did was worse. How could she put him through that... Simba thought to himself contemplating the whole situation at hand.

Simba moved a bit closer to Kovu, close enough so if Kovu wanted to speak or even whisper, Simba would be able to listen. "Listen Kovu, What your mother did back there, it wasn't right... Simba paused for a moment. He then continued to speak in a very concerned manner and If you want to talk to me about what your feeling right now, i'm here for you..." As Simba looked at Kovu he saw a reflection of his own past... and he wanted to be there for Kovu...

Simba continued to speak trying to be as comforting as possible... I know you've been through so much today, but i have to ask you a question. I don't need an answer today, or anytime soon. Simba paused once more. He looked Kovu in the eyes and started to ask the question. " Do you trust me? It's just something i want you to think about." Simba took his eyes off of kovu for the moment and looked to the sun setting in the distance. "I know I trust you, or else I wouldn't have been able to let you into this pride... I know there is good in you deep down."

Simba looked back to Kovu. He was still worried for him, and he knew things would not get easier before they got better. Still Simba knew someone had to be there for Kovu, if his own Mother would abandon him like that, then Simba knew he had to be that someone. Well it's just something to think about, when your ready to talk just let me know, i'll be there for you...