[Closed] Plan B: Forceful Domination

[TheRoguePrince]

Love, that simple word said it all. Kovu loved Kiara, his new Pride, maybe even Simba, but in truth, he had one more love. He had loved Shari like a brother. True, he had been forced to fight Shari in battles in which both would be harmed, but he never wanted to permanently injure Shari. Shari had been his only companion during his dark and troubled youth, and now they stood here, Shari bearing a look of utter confusion at such a simple word, had this truly been what he was like? Such a simple thought so alien as to be paradoxical? If this is what the product of Zira's efforts was, he didn't want anything to do with it, however grand the reward. He looked deep into the eyes of Shari and said, "Yes, you can be loved too...."

[FallenAngel18]

Tivana watched them both closely, but her gaze was more focused on Shari. Love. It was that famous word in the pridelands. Simba and Nala, Kovu and Kiara. She knew she loved Tuva, but she never had parents to go to. She didn't even know her history that well. She looked at Shari for a moment. Her leg flared in pain, and she cried out when she didn't want to. She laid her head on her paws, breathing heavily. Tuva looked at Tivana scared and panicky. He looked toward Kovu.

[xLilacVixenx]

(Apologies for not posting as much as I've done before)

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Kiara rose stiffly as she watched Shari's confused expression. Her gaze turned to Kovu, her eyes concerened. The lioness strode carefully towards the pondering lion.

"Shari," she whispered, "you don't have to fight us." She turned his face with her paw and gazed into his stuttering face. Her hearted immediately warmed and she felt pity for the poor Outlander who knew no better than to be evil. Kiara looked around at all the faces of the lions surrounding her. "Love," she whispered fervantly, almost like a prayer that should be kept sacred. "Is what life is made of." Those beautiful words barely struck her wet lips before hot tears sprang to her eyes. They dripped down her cheek and she smiled weakly.

The dreadful rain pattered on Kiara's back unmercifully, and wetted her sleek pelt damp, but all was lost in the eyes of Shari. It was the one time in her life she felt certain of her actions. She knew what she must do.

[Harvs]

Kovu and Kiara's words felt like a spear to Shari's heart. Hot coal in his ears. He knew that they were right, but why couldn't he believe them? Shari had lived life knowing only one word. One power that kept him going. Hatred. This one word had allowed him to struggle forward. It had given him just enough to get by. It was the one thing in his heart that fueled his life.

Yet the Pridelanders, Kiara, Tivana, even Kovu had it all figured out. I've just gravely injured Tivana, and... and I threatened to kill Kiara and Kovu... Shari stared deep into the eyes of Kiara. Small tears rolling down her cheeks and a welcoming smile upon her muzzle. Even through the grief that Shari had caused, Kovu still wanted to change him. And Kiara, who had not only just met this lion, but had been pinned and choked by him a few minutes ago, was now risking her life just to talk to Shari. Love is what life is made of?

Shari, still staring into the eyes of Kiara, thought about what they had said. If acceptance was as easy to gain as they let on, then perhaps love was the true reason for Shari's being. He tried to force a smile on his muzzle.

Suddenly, lightning struck not but a few feet away from the group. A loud voice shouted in Shari's ear, and his ear alone. He fell to the ground with a single roar of pain. It wasn't physical pain that had forced him to the ground, it was mental pain. The voice in his head sounded all too familiar to him. Using words that Shari had grown up hearing. Shari! I thought you were stronger than Kovu! But it turns out you're even weaker! The words echoed in his ears and tore at his soul. Shari wanted to close his eyes and never wake up. But that wasn't the case. Nothing was that easy anymore.

[FallenAngel18]

"Shari!" Tivana called out. Tuva looked at them as his small tuff of mane fell into his eyes. Tivana growled from the pain, but managed to pull herself toward Shari. She nuzzled at his mane, and licked his ear, her eyes showing nothing but worry. She had grown use to being sort of a mother to the cubs in the pridelands, and sometimes to the others. She knew what it felt like.

She heard the words in her mind. "Love is what life is made of." She sighed, feeling the cold rain on her face. She sighed.

"You can break away from everything and become one of us. You just have to try." She whispered to Shari, nuzzling him again. She had never thought she would be here with an outlander, trying to make him see the light. She sighed, looking at him.

[TheRoguePrince]

Confusion, that was the only word that could describe what Kovu could see in Shari. To have lived a life in the shadow of another, loved by neither family or friends, that was what Shari had survived, if only it could have been him instead. Kovu knew what the opposing ideas inside of Shari could do, and it was no where near easy to survive. Love was in so much conflict with Shari's perception of life that Kovu knew he was going to need help. "Shari, forget what Zira said, neither of us has to be killers, life is not about power, it is about acceptance.", Kovu said, looking imploringly into the eyes of his childhood friend. "The past is gone, it happened, but if you cannot accept the future, what is the purpose of living at all?"

[Arbarano]

Vitani's adrenaline was pumping hard. The sounds of her mother's furious speech rung in her ears, feeding burning fires of aggression from deep within. All of her inner turmoil had been silenced for now, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of anticipation for the coming battle. She would be ready. All she had to do was wait.

And wait, as the rain continued to fall all around, dampening not only the lands around, but the passion and bloodlust. Those uncertainties started to creep back, questioning what would happen to her brother, or what had happened to him.

She still waited, along with the others, for the sight of a triumphant Shari to appear on the horizon. Yet he did not arrive.

Vitani could feel the tension building amonst the Outlanders: it grew from everone of them, swelling as the moments trickled by, and pressing against others'. It was becoming unbearble; she had to do something, and something useful. Not just pace, as some of the others were doing.

She walked stiffly over to Zira, the cool rain playing tricks with her legs, already slightly tired from the pointless trek to the site of the fire.

"Mother, should I go look for him?" she asked. Maybe I'll be able to see what has become of Kovu, too she added, but to herself.

[Harvs]

So many voices inside Shari's head. Who could he believe? Who could he even trust? These conflicting emotions that Shari had never experienced. He just wanted all the pain to stop. It was too much to bare.

Shari heard the voice of Nuka. See mother? I told you he's no better than Kovu. You should have gone with someone who was actually worth something. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Had Nuka really said this? Shari closed his eyes, attempting to hide the pain.

Suddenly, the voice of Vitani echoed in his ears He was our backup plan? He's just a nothing. Tears flooded Shari's eyes. He wasn't sure how much more pain he could withstand.

Many voices filled Shari's mind. But then, all other voices were silenced, as Zira's voice blasted in his ears. The Pride Landers lie. They do not really love you. Who could ever love you? Shaking his head vigorously back and forth, Shari started to shout No! I don't want to feel like this anymore! Please! Please make it stop! But through Shari's attempt to block out the pain, Zira's voice continued, even louder. You were brought into this world to never be loved. What makes you think that that will change now?

The voices stopped. Shari woke from his trance to see that the other lions were still present. Regardless of whether or not the Outsiders had really said these things, Shari knew that they were true. Love wasn't an easy thing for some to achieve. But for Shari, it bordered on impossible. The only thing he could do was prove himself greater than Kovu... and then, he would take care of the Outsiders. He lifted his head with a look of sheer malice on his muzzle. The hatred in his heart had proved greater than the love.
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Though Zira too grew impatient, she knew that it would be unwise to send reinforcements into enemy territory. Shari was already outnumbered, Zira didn't want to risk losing two able fighters.

Zira heard Vitani's request and as lovingly as she could muster, said Do not fear Vitani, Shari wants more than anything to prove himself to me. I've made sure of that. Zira looked unto the horizon and thought about how she had raised Shari. She had purposefully raised him in the shadow of Kovu in hopes to create another Scar. And so far, her plan had worked better than she knew. If anyone is capable of completing this mission, it's Shari.

[xLilacVixenx]

Kiara had noticed Shari's strange emotions and as he was thrashing about madly, she stepped back. Kiara knew what was happening to his body..he was experiancing uncertainty. Whether or not to choose the right path. The lioness attempted again with her feeble efforts to assure Shari.

"Shari..don't feel ashamed. Love is nothing to be ashamed about."

Shari's head rose with the look of hatred she knew. Her first instinct was to run, but she froze to the ground. She attempted to move her feet, but she couldn't. Her heart was beating wildly and adrenalin full with blood coursed through her vains frantically. Kiara's eyes glanced at Shari's. She felt to do nothing but run; though she couldn't. Maybe if she stayed with him he would reconsider; but you can never tell with Outlanders.

Kiara's father had once told her to never turn her back on an Outsider; and she followed that law with Kovu. Though this time she didn't, and she felt she was disobeying her father's wise teachings. Perhaps it wasn't the right thing to do, but it sure felt right to Kiara.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu saw the malice shown upon Shari's face quite clearly, he had made his choice for now, and it was not the right one. "Shari, you can be loved, just have faith, even I was given a chance, and I certainly didn't deserve one..." he said as he stepped between Shari and Kiara, keeping an eye on Tivani to ensure that she was alright. "Your anger will not prove anything to Zira, all she wants is power, and she will stop at nothing to get it, even unto the death of her children." He had learned that the hard way, hurting Shari had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do aside from switch sides....