[Open] The King's Return

[DGFone]

Kovu thought about it. He didn't exactly know how to be king. Zira taught him to take over Simba, but not actually what to do once he was king. And now that Kopa came, who also doesn't know how to rule. But if they would rule together... "Yeah, I think that would work," he said, "What do you think about it, Simba?" He asked.


Simba just looked at them. "Well, I don't really know. Tradition has it that there can only be one king," he explained, "but I think that we can make an exception here." He smiled. "Because to be honest, neither of you really know how to be king yet. So either way, Nala and I will have to teach you how to run the kingdom. And seeing as both of you will start from the same place, I think that there won't be any harm done if you rule jointly."


Kovu nodded. "Alright." He turned to Kopa. "Sure thing, Kopa. I don't see anything wrong if we rule together."

[Kopalover]

Vitani nodded in approval. "It's actually a pretty good idea. No bloodshed." Smiling up at Simba, then to Nala. Finally gazing up at Kopa's bright blue eyes. Only wishing he would choose her as a mate. Kovu, her brother was going to be King beside Kiara and the Vitani and Kopa couple, who were finally reunited. Maybe Kopa was more superior because he was born first? When would they marry? When was the crowning ceremony?

So many questions filled her tawny head as she rubbed her hair tuft and laughed nervously. "So me and Kiara would be the lead hunters? Anything else?" Tilting her head to the side and smiling.

[Applejack]

Kopa shifted a little nervously next to Vitani, and tenatively leaned over, pressing his flank against hers. "My only real choice I'm left facing," he started slowly, "Is who to take as.. well.. my qu..queen." He blushed and looked away from the group, unsure of waht else to say, really. Kiara chuckled and prodded Kopa in the side, goading him. "What, the big, bad, strong lion isn't afraid of the wilderness for years, but commitment frightens him?" She broke into loud peals of laughter as he blushed even more and turned to hide his face in Vitani's warm fur. He could feel her heart beating steadily, speeding up ever so slightly, and closed his eyes, trying to focus on just that. Perhaps her heart would help her hide from his sisters truthful words. He sighed, relaxing slowly, his heart slowly seeming to slide into synch with hers.

Nala looked at Kopa and leaned on Simba's shoulder, her head nestled snugly under his head. "The two of them make such a good couple, dont you think?" She quipped. "As well as Kovu and Kiara. The four of the are made for each other, I believe." She turned to Vitani with a small smile and said, "Well, you two would be the lead hunters, and, well, the Queens! I'll take charge of you and teach you the way of the Queen, while Simba here will teach Kopa and Kovu how to be true kings."

[DGFone]

Once again, Kovu was amazed by the Pridelanders. In the Outlands, the only option was obedience or death, with Zira dictating the correct answer. But to work out a plan to try and get both groups to work together, that was never heard of before. The concept was almost foreign to Kovu, but it wasn't one that he didn't like. "I'll do that," he said, "I'll work with Kopa."

He looked at Kopa, who looked like he really missed Vitani. Maybe he didn't want others to know how he thinks, but it wasn't hard not to guess. Kovu smiled and nuzzled Kiara. "Can you imagine that we are going to do something like this? Two kings!" He let out a small laugh. "It will be interesting to see how it will work out."

When Nala made the deal, Kovu nodded. "So when will we start?" He asked. Kiara might object to it, but he was ready to start at any moment. Kopa on the other hand might need a few days to get settled. Maybe even longer.


Simba let Nala rest on him. "I'm glad that Kopa was able to return so quickly into a comfortable position. It hasn't been a day yet, and yet he looks so comfortable." He agreed with Nala when she laid out the plan. "Yes, I'll teach you how to rule," he told Kovu and Kopa. "I don't really know how to do with with both of you, but I am sure that we will be able to think up something."

He then looked at Kopa after Kovu voiced his question. "Well..." Simba started saying, looking at Kopa. Even though his son looked as happy as he could be, Simba also saw the exhaustion that a life as a rogue gave him. He didn't want to admit it, but Kopa didn't look his best. "Kopa just came back, and I think that we better give him a few days." Simba finally said. "We don't have to rush anything."

[Kopalover]

Vitani shifted, and looked to the ground with an uneven face. "W-what if two Kings and Queens doesn't work out. Will there be a battle?" Tilting her head to the side, gazing to the aging Royal Couple. Then to Kopa, Kiara then her younger brother, Kovu. If it did fail, then one couple would have to leave. Wait, why would they make Kopa leave if he just got here? Also, he's older and should be the king.

[DGFone]

Simba was still occupied in thought, so he almost missed Vitani's question. He looked up at her quickly, his happiness quickly vanishing. "We'll figure something out." He assured her, smiling. He looked away, his smile dropping. Deep inside, he feared for the situation if Vitani was correct. Because if that were to happen, there was only one thing he was certain of: no one would win. He looked up again. "Don't worry about it. There won't be any fights." He hoped.


While Vitani didn't get a good look of Simba, Kovu did. He leaned over to Kiara. "Do you mind waiting for a little while? I want to talk to Simba." He left her and cautiously approached the king. "Hey, er, Simba, can I talk to you quickly?" Simba nodded. Kovu motioned away from the group, and Simba followed him.

Kovu quickly made sure that no one was around to see or hear them before speaking. "You're worried, aren't you?" He asked. "Because you didn't look to convincing back there."


Simba winced. He never was a good liar. "Well, yes," he finally said. "I don't really think it will happen, but I really don't want it to." He said. "Becasue when dad and..." he looked at Kovu, who simply looked back, urging Simba on. "...And Scar, they couldn't solve the problem." He looked down at the ground. "In the end, it killed them both," he finished quietly. "I don't want anyone else to go through the same thing again." Simba felt the ind pick up a bit, and he looked up towards the source, but didn't see anything. "I really do hope that things will work out."


Kovu smiled and patted Simba gently. "Hey, no one said that it will happen," he said, "take your own advice. Relax and don't worry about it. Everything will be fine."

Simba looked at him, smiling. "Thanks, Kovu." The two of them returned to the group, and Kovu went right away back to Kiara, as though he had not seen her for several days.

[Applejack]

Kiara simply sat in wait while Kovu spoke with her father about something she couldn't quite catch. Afterwords, when Kovu padded back over to her, she eagerly leaned back against him, her head cocked. "Is something quite wrong?" she asked, confused. Kovu usually didn't just walk away. Then again, she had been lost in thought. Perhaps Kovu had told her he was going over to talk to Simba. She rubbed her forehead with a paw absentmindedly and set it down.

Kopa looked over at Vitani and tenatively placed his head over her own in a brief sign of affection. "Don't worry," he said. "If the two of us can't work things out, then no one can. I have a good feeling that Kovu and myself working together can really create true peace between brothers ruling a pride. Unlike the few like that who have failed, I will listen to Kovu's council. I just dont know if he'll listen to mine." He purred softly, pulling her closer to him. "One thing is for sure, though. No matter what, I think I know who I shall keep by my side."

As Nala looked over at Simba, who also had padded back next to her, questions rushed through her head. How would she train two queens, when all she knew had centered around one? She shook her head, leaning against Simba, and looked up at him. How would he train two kings? This was all very, very unpredictable. Finally, she spoke. "No matter the outcome of the training, you four will always be special, and some day, you will be rulers next to each other, as will your cubs after that, so be prepared, and train hard, so that one day, you may make us all very proud, and you may lead this pride with the utmost precision."

[DGFone]

Kovu smiled and nuzzled Kiara. "Nah, everything is fine," he reassured her. "I just thought of something o tell Simba. Nothing to worry about." He then heard what Kopa told Vitani. "You better behave with my sister!" He warned, "Otherwise I will make sure not to listen to any of your advice!" Kiara giggled next to him. "What?" He asked, turning back towards her. "Can't I look out for Vitani? I like this new sister I have. Much tamer." He looked up at Kopa again. "So you better make sure that she stays nice, or you will answer to me!"


Simba smiled at how Kovu teased Kopa. "Come on, now, Kovu. Play nice," he warned. "I am sure that Kopa knows what he is doing." He looked back at Nala. "I know you will figure something out. You can split up the duties between them, or teach them both as though they were the only queen, and let them spit it up between them for themselves." He suggested. "After all, you are here to 'guide' them into becoming good queens. And I would like it if you would challenge them instead of doing everything for them." He saw Nala glare at him. "...Not that this is what you will do or did previously," he added quickly, trying to calm her down, "Just as a cautionary warning, you know..." Simba lowered his ears when he realized that he sounded just like Zazu when the bird was about to deliver bad news.

[Applejack]

Nala smiled and leaned over, licking Simba's cheek softly. "Thank you for the advice, my little MajorDomo." She smirked then batted Simba's head with a paw, cuffing him softly. "I know just what I'm doing though. I was simply thinking aloud." She leaned over and nuzzled him softly for a second before standing once again, facing Kiara, Kovu, Kopa, and Vitani.

Kopa looked over at Kovu with a genuine grin spread across his face. "You know I'll do my best," he said, "but years in the wilderness has hardened me into a killer." He smirked, signalling he was joking, and prodded Kovu's chest with a large grin. "Same goes to you, brother. Take care of my sister. Be good to her, now." Kiara looked over at Kopa and flicked his nose with her claw, snickering. "I can take care of myself!" she said. Kovu's taught me well in your place." As she saw that her comment hit home in the wrong way, she stepped forward to nuzzle her brother. "I didn't mean it as an insult!" Kopa smirked under his sister and flicked his claw at her ear before slipping back to Vitani's side. "It's my fault for not being here," he said seriously. He then turned to Kovu and bowed his head. "Thank you for teaching my sister."

[DGFone]

Simba grunted in reply. "Yeah I know, but since you asked, you know, I answered..." he said sheepishly. "It''s what I'm supposed to do as king. Give answers to questions like these..." He was by now just teasing Nala, and wouldn't be surprised if she knew it. If anything, if she didn't tease right back, he would have thought it unusual.


Kovu grinned at Kopa. "Well, some brother you are, gone for your sister's entire life!" He taunted back. Behind him, he heard Simba call out his name in a warning to ease down. "Alright, maybe that was too much," he told Kovu. "I understand why you left. I apologize for that."

He was then shocked when Kopa bowed his head. Kovu grinned. "Hey, she needed me to teach her anyways. She can hunt now. Did you see how bad she was before that?" He ducked under a playful swipe at him from Kiara. "It's true! You couldn't sneak up on a stone!"