A Rogue's Destiny [Private: S66, Rogue, FallenAngel]

[Harvs]

For years, the Outsiders of Zira's pride had lived in misery and fed on despair. The only fuel keeping them alive was their sick desire... rather Zira's sick desire to rid the world of Simba and his entire pride. For years, Zira had trained Kovu to become the tool to make this dream a reality. She raised Kovu in the shadows with love, so that he could become a vicious spreader of hate.

Constantly subjected to vigorous fights with his 'sister' Vitani, Kovu became a powerful force to be reckoned with early on in his cub years. But in truth, he did have one more friend. One who shared in his dark past and took everything Kovu took tenfold. Shari and Kovu might as well have been brothers. Far better brothers than Kovu and Nuka could ever be. They were the same age, shared the same family, and both of their futures were chosen for them. Even through their cubhood of being forced to fight each other, it seemed that nothing could tear these friends apart.

However, there was one thing that the two friends didn't count on. Zira's final part of preparation: A fight to the death between friends of similar colors.
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Zira backed out of the battlefield and stared at the two muscular lions with a horrid smile on her muzzle. She didn't know what the outcome of this fight would be, but she didn't care. Either candidates were perfect for the job. She said not a word, but merely waited for the battle to begin. All of the other lionesses waited on the sidelines for the bloodbath to take wing. Even Vitani and Nuka were present for the final showdown between best friends.

Shari stared into the eyes of Kovu. His look was silent and expressionless as he seemed to stare right into Kovu's soul. In truth, Shari had known about Zira's plan for quite some time. He had overheard Zira and Vitani discussing it before hand. Shari had physically prepared himself for this battle as much as he could, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't mentally prepare himself for the ensuing fight.

Shari moved his paw forward half a step and said "I- I'm sorry Kovu." Shari had prepared his body to make the first strike. But... he just couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to kill his only companion throughout his darkened cubhood. A single tear dripped from his eye onto the filthy ground. He hoped that it hadn't have come to this. But it was too late. Though he didn't want to attack Kovu until he had a chance to respond.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu stared back into the eyes of his friend, unable to completely grasp that he was being forced to fight him. "why?" he spoke, the confusion in his voice layered with pain and aversion. His mother, this could only be a product of her sick mind. "I don't want to kill you Shari..." he said to his friend, "but if this is how it must be, then I refuse to die!" He unsheathed his claws and snarled at Shari, a half-hearted snarl that sounded more like a cough than anything vicious. "...but I'm sorry too." he added, as an afterthought, for old times sake.

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Vitani watched with interest as the fight began with agonizing slowness, why couldn't they just get on with it? She had, of course, known that this would happen for weeks, and the only way this could end was with one leaving, and the other dying. Her bloodlust was raging as she waited for the coming fight, she has fought Kovu many times before, and he was no push-over, but Shari was a wicked being with a few tricks of his own. This would be a fight to remember.

[Harvs]

Seeing Kovu be the first to become bloodthirsty gave Zira a certain warmth in her cold heart. She grinned at the two males about ready to go all out in-front of the whole pride. It would certainly be a learning experience for all present in the termite mound. Zira signaled to all sides of the arena to make some space for the deciding battle. This fight would not only decide the future king of the Pride Lands, but also decide who deserved to live.

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Shari saw Kovu's claws drawn. A low growl emanated from his friend. The deciding battle was beginning. Shari thought about their past together. His mind trailed off into pleasant memories. One time in particular stayed in Shari's mind. A memory that he had held onto for his entire life.

Kovu and Shari stood in the hot Outland sun. While all of the other lionesses were busy foraging what little food they could find, Shari and Kovu were busy doing what cubs do best: play. They wrestled together, played tag (a game that Kiara had showed Kovu), hide-and-seek, and anything they could while Zira wasn't forcing them to fight. Shari had just been stalking Kovu from behind a termite mound, when all of the sudden, *pounce*! Shari sprang at Kovu as fast as he could, and the two toppled down a small incline. Rolling and laughing, the two were inseparable. By the time they reached the bottom of the incline, Shari was surprised to see that Kovu had ended up pinning him. They stayed still for a moment or two, and then cracked up laughing. You couldn't find two better friends if you looked for a million years. As the laughter died down, Shari turned to Kovu and said "Ya know what Kovu? You're my bestest friend ever!" Back at the top of the slope, Zira watched the two cubs playing around and snarled. She began a slow trek down to the two... probably to train them more in combat. Shari saw this, but payed no heed to it and continued his statement, "And we'll always be friends, right Kovu?"

How times change. How time weighs down upon the mortal soul. Breaks it. Buries it in lies and deceit. The deceit that Shari had been forced to dwell in. Shari's mind returned to the present. Growls resonating from all corners of the room. They wanted a bloodbath. Zira had promised at least one death today. And she couldn't go back on her words.

Shari looked down reminiscing more of his good memories, all of which were of him and Kovu. As much as he wanted to live in the past. As much as he wanted to go back in time and relive the days long since past. But now, it was time to move on. Either Shari would die fighting, or he would kill his best friend. And personally, he didn't know which he would rather do. Without another thought, Shari unsheathed his claws and looked back up at Kovu. "Kovu, before I do this... I want you to know one thing." Shari managed to hold back the tears that flooded his eyes. His glimmering green eyes shone at Kovu as he said "No matter what happens, you'll always be my... my bestest friend.

Finally, Shari lunged at Kovu, eyes ablaze and feet a blur. Roaring fiercely, he knew that Kovu would retaliate. It was just a matter of how Shari would retaliate afterward. The battle was on.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu sidestepped quickly, letting Shari fly past, hitting the wall on the far side of the room. "well, friend, you know as well as I that I don't want to kill you..." Kovu set his feet, moving with malicious intent toward his friend, how he wished Shari would give up or see how stupid this was. In a low whisper, he said, "Shari, don't do this, just leave with me, we will find something else..." His mind raced as the fight progressed, this was nothing like those playful fights they had had as a child, if he hadn't of gotten out of the way, he would be dead by now. He growled at the thought...

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Vitani saw Kovu's reluctance, this was going to be interesting, two of the best fighters in all the Pride duking it out to decide who would be the greatest. Her heart raced in her desire for blood, but whose side to choose? Kovu had fought her many times and defeated her quite easily, but Shari was a true killer, born in hate and raised in fear.

[Harvs]

Shari got up quickly, expecting a retaliation. But what he got was something far worse. The idea of them not fighting was a horrible idea. Shari overheard Zira talking with Vitani that if the two refused to fight, then they would kill them both. Vitani, in turn, would become the Queen of Pride Rock.

"Kovu, don't you understand? If we don't fight, she'll kill us both." Shari said quietly enough to where only Kovu could hear him. Where would they go anyways? The Outlands wouldn't be safe for them. The Pridelands were simply out of the question. Would they just remain wandering rogues for the rest of their lives? Bonded by only friendship, struggling through Africa to make a meager existence? No. That wasn't the life that Kovu deserved. Kovu deserved to be a king. He had been chosen by Scar himself to become the king of the Pride Lands... not Shari. It was the sad fact that Shari had known and accepted all his life.

But Shari would continue to fight. He would fight Kovu until one of them stood victorious. Though in the back of his mind, Shari knew that Kovu would win. It was simply in everyone's best interest that Kovu won. The only thing Shari could do was go down with honor. And hopefully, he would be remembered. He prayed to high heavens that he wouldn't be forgotten. "Please Kovu, do not let my death be in vain. Let me go down with honor. It's the last thing I have left."

Once again, Shari attacked Kovu. With less speed and more power. Since his speed seemed no use against Kovu, he figured it might be best to use raw power to finish the fight.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu saw the attack coming, raw, brute force instead of cunning, it was like Shari wanted to die. "no," Kovu whispered, "I don't want to kill you" and he threw a hay-maker at Shari, striking him across the face. Kovu stood over Shari's now prone form, distant enough to prevent a quick strike, "Leave with me, they cannot kill us, and I will not leave you." His friend was going to sacrifice himself for him, and Kovu could not stand for that, of all the evil things he had seen, honor had not left him. "I will not stand for this!" he yelled with a snarl.

[Harvs]

The impact of Kovu's paw against his face sent Shari to the ground. As Kovu approached him, Shari started gaining his balance again. Listening to Kovu's words, Shari couldn't tell if his words were brilliant or suicide. He knew that Zira wouldn't hesitate to kill them both, and they were easily outnumbered if she gave the word. Meanwhile, Vitani would become queen, and the Outsiders would lead a vicious attack on the Pride Lands in which many of both sides would die. Though, without Kovu or Shari, the Outsiders would probably lose the war. It was suicide just waiting to happen.

Shari stood, disappointed faces surrounding him. They had expected much more bloodshed, and what they were getting was a couple of unintelligent attacks and a conversation too quiet for the others to hear. Shari stood up now, his strength was still plentiful and he thought about making another attack. Until he heard Kovu exclaim that he had had enough of this. Shari's eyes shot wide open. Kovu was really willing to risk his life to save them both. A death wish? Possibly, but all that mattered was that over the years his and Kovu's friendship had not evaporated.

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Zira shot a look of confusion merged with hatred to Kovu. "What do you mean you won't stand for this?!" She questioned violently, approaching the two males in an intimidating manner. Though she was mad at both of them, she was especially disappointed in Kovu. At least Shari had attempted to fight, while Kovu simply refused. This was not what she had trained him for.

"If you will not fight, then you both will die!" Zira gave a signal to both sides of the mound. As if on queue, all of the lionesses readied themselves to strike. They would not move until Zira gave the word. Even Nuka smiled, as he was finally going to show his mother that he was better than Kovu. One could only imagine his enthusiasm with the current scenario. "One more chance Kovu. Either fight or die..." Claws drawn, Zira ambitiously awaited Kovu's choice.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu snarled angrily at his mother, "then kill me, without me you will fail, and not even Shari can insinuate himself with Kiara, the plan will not work." He stepped forward, bearing himself to be killed, "but I will not kill my friend." Kovu had had quite enough of this idiocy, why waste the two best fighters in the Pride in a useless fight? The idea was to get back at the Pridelanders, and they would need every warrior they had, as far as Kovu cared, Shari could be king, as long as he got Kiara and Simba was out of the way. "I will do my part, but I don't care who the King is, all I want is my friends. That's all I've ever wanted." He lowered his head, feeling shamed for striking Shari without cause.

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Vitani readied herself for the attack, Kovu was not fighting? What is this? Nothing she had ever learned made this make any sense, why would he sacrifice himself for a lesser lion? It was not like him...

[Harvs]

"How dare you defy me! How dare you defy Scar!" Zira shouted at Kovu, eyes wide with killing intentions. Zira's life had been spent training Kovu for this day. The day that their plan would begin. And for what? For him to louse it up now was downright unbelievable. The growls from all corners of the mound were becoming increasingly loud. But Zira couldn't hear a thing. All she heard was the almost transparent sound of Kovu's breathing.

Zira continued to glare down at Kovu. The audacity of it all was too much to take in. "Very well. Then let me remind you who you were born to be!" Zira yelled as she raised her paw high in the air to strike. Her aim was set right on Kovu's left eye. Perhaps giving him the image of Scar would remind him of who he had been raised to become.

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As Zira's paw fell at blinding speeds, something stopped her attack. Someone put himself in-between Zira and Kovu. It was none other than Shari. Zira looked at him with the disdain she had raised him in all his life. The look, as well as the feeling, hadn't changed a bit. But now there was a change: Shari wasn't looking away in fear of making eye-contact, or looking up in fear of being hit. But rather, he was mirroring Zira's look.

The thing that hurt Shari most was not the fact that Zira was about to hurt Kovu... but the fact that she had tricked Shari into hurting Kovu. It was something he had only done out of fear. But now, the fear was gone. And in its place had taken something of much stronger caliber: love for his friend... his only friend.

"If you want to hurt Kovu, you'll have to go through me first." He never thought that he'd hear those words coming out of his mouth. What had happened? Something finally snapped in his brain. Shari was thinking for himself for the first time in his life. And his thoughts were telling him to protect Kovu at all costs. Whatever happened to them... it was better than being forced to fight each other to the death.

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu recovered quickly from his tensed expression, someone had saved him, Shari... "Why?" he asked Shari, "you didn't have to do that..." It was true enough, Zira wasn't going to kill him, she wouldn't dare, hurt him yes, but kill him? Never. "Mother, killing one of us won't help anything, all it will do is weaken us." He glared at her, unscarred despite her intentions, he was feeling rather bold now. "I won't kill Shari, and I don't care what it means for the Kingship, just as long as I still have my honor." He faced the rest of the Outsiders and spoke, "for many years we have lived in misery, but soon that will end, we do need, however, every able bodied fighter we have to win, that means that fighting amoungst ourselves to kill is idiotic at best, we cannot succeed if we are weakened any further."

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Vitani could not believe what she was hearing, Kovu wanted to let Shari live? He didn't just have ambitions of being King? What could this mean? This was nothing like she had anticipated, what would happen now? She didn't know...