Where We Left Off: Part 17

Behm and his parents stay two days in the Pride Lands to celebrate Kiara and Kovu's marriage. They enjoyed their time catching up with some of the other prides that came to celebrate also. The days were spent reminiscing about their adolescent years, growing up together, along with the mischief and trouble they'd get into.

Kiara and Kovu's union not only strengthened their pride, but also all the other prides. With everyone coming together for the special day, bonds became stronger between the allied prides.

But as things come to an end, it was time all the prides said their goodbyes and congratulations to the newly weds and start their journey back home.

Behm told Kion and Rani he'd stay in touch with them. He'd grown to like Rani over the short time he got to know her. The three of them decided to plan a day where Kion and Rani would go visit the Kongwe Pride, and a day where Behm would visit the Tree of Life.

Soon, everyone left the Pride Lands except for the ones who lived there.

Kiara and Kovu didn't realize how exhausted they were until the last guest left. Kiara thought her legs were going to fall off from how much she walked to mingle and greet guest. Kovu's face ached and twitched. He couldn't remember the last time he smiled so much. He was pretty sure if he looked at his reflection he'd see his face was frozen with a forever smile on it.

Simba and Nala laughed and told the two lions to get used to feeling like this. That this is what it is to be a King and Queen. Smiles constantly, keep up an expected image, no time for rest, because subjects and allies come first.

The newly weds groaned in agony. What did they get themselves into. Luckily, they didn't have anymore royal duties for the day so they went to bed very early to catch up on sleep.

The next morning, Kiara convinced Simba to let her and Kovu do the first shift of the border walk. She wanted a little bit more peace and quiet before things start picking up around the Pride Lands again. Also, to just have some alone time with Kovu.

Simba agreed to the change and told his daughter and new son-in-law to enjoy their time and that there was no hurry. The two left immediately before anyone could catch them. Simba smiled as he watched the two run down the path on Pride Rock and spring through the Savannah grass with such speed.

Once he could barely make out their silhouettes, he went back to join his wife and sleep somemore. He couldn't remember the last time he was able to sleep in past sunrise. As much as he enjoys being King, retirement was starting to look pretty good.

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Kiara and Kovu did their rounds of patrol as the sun rose higher in the morning sky. The two talked about the last couple of days. Kiara explained to Kovu how their pride and the other prides became allies. It became confusing for Kovu after awhile. He lost track of names, which lions were related to Simba, and which prides were allies due to ancient agreements. It was a lot for Kovu.

"Don't worry to much about remember all this," said Kiara. "I learned the history of the prides when I was a cub and I still forget some of the information time to time. Remember the one huge lion with a dark mane? He was the first one to greet us?"

"Umm, yeah. Chupi? Chemki? Wait, no. It was Chumky wasn't it," said Kovu.

"Chumvi. He name is Chumvi. But when he greeted us I just didn't really say anything because I forgot his name till my dad said it. They're cousins but I don't see him often so stuff like that slips my mind sometimes," said Kiara. She smiled as she bumped into Kovu. "So don't worry about remembering all this right away. I'm just glad you finally got to meet everyone."

Kovu gave Kiara a shy smile in return, but it soon faded when he smelled something different.

"I wouldn't say he met everyone, Kiara," said a voice.

Kiara's eyes widened. Her body tensed up to just the sound of the voice. She held her breath, too scared to turn around. Kovu immediately noticed the change in Kiara. Who is this stranger and what damage have they done to his wife to make her freeze like this.

Kovu turned around to face the owner of the voice. "State your name and business. I recommend having a good reason for entering a land you don't belong in."

"Such words coming from a traitorous lion who put the royal family in danger after he enter the lands HE didn't belong in." The figure was in front of the sun so Kovu had to squint his eyes in attempt to see.

"Who are you. Speak your name now!" Growled Kovu.

Kiara's mind was going a mile a minute. She was still turned away from the owner of the voice but she didn't need to see him to know his name. "What is he doing here? His parents and Behm should be back at their home by now. So why was he here? Do they know he's here? What does he want?"

Kovu started to lower himself to the ground and get ready to pounce if necessary. "Im going to tell you one last time. Give me your name or I'll-"

"Nakar," Kiara cut Kovu off. She turned around slowly, ready to face the lion she wished to never see again. "You have some nerve coming here."

"Nakar," Kovu thought. "This is the lion Kiara's told me about?" He could see the lion better now. Nakar was taller than him but Kovu had more muscle. Nakar wore a mischievous grin as he approached them.

"Nerve? Was I not invited to come to the Pride Lands in celebration of a marriage and union? It was my understanding I was since the invite was for the royal family of the Kongwe Pride. Last time I checked, I was still a member of that," Naker said as he gave a cocky grin.

Kiara shrunk back as Nakar stepped closer. She never expected this to happen. Nakar just showing up out of nowhere while no one is around. Yes, Kovu is at least with her but he doesn't know Nakar like she does. What if Nakar tries something with Kovu, then what?

Kiara's mind continued to race. "Why can't I do anything? I've faced him before but why does this seem different? I was all alone then. Why can't I stand up for myself now? Am I scared for Kovu?"

Kiara's thoughts stopped as she felt the wind pick up. It circled her body, went past her feet, then made its way up to her face. She inhaled and heard a distant voice. The deepness in it could move mountains. "I'm only brave when I have to be."

Kiara left out a heavy sigh of relief as the wind disappeared. "I was brave then. I can be brave now."

Kiara lept onto a near by rock. She over towered Nakar as she looked down upon him. "The celebration happened a couple days ago. Everyone has left since then. The invitation you received has now expired which means you are hereby trespassing on the Pride Lands," Kiara's hair raised up on her back as she crouched lower. "I will ask you once and one time only. State your business for entering my land unannounced before I alert my lion guard of you!"

Nakar looked at Kiara with an amused look. "I was not trying to enter the Pride Lands unannounced. I had no way of getting the word of my arrival to the King and Queen, so I decided to wait here on the border. I know the King does his patrol early in the mornings," Nakar watched Kovu cautiously walk down the rock where Kiara stood. "And wouldn't you know, I run into the happy newly weds instead. That kinda ruined my talk with the King but I guess you two will have to do instead."

Kiara bared her teeth at Nakar. "What do you want with my father?"

"All I wanted was to request an audience with him and the Queen. But now that you're here, Kiara," Kovu sneered and Kovu, "and the outcast. I request an audience with the King and Queen, along with you too."

Kiara was taken back by Nakar's statement. "What is your reason for the request? "

Kovu started to circle around Nakar. "My reason is I was treated unfairly. My time wasted. I deserve to be compensated for the matter. With your dad being old fashioned, I'm sure he won't object."

Kovu stopped beside Nakar and faced him. "What is it you want then."

Nakar stared at Kovu with a stoned face. "I want you, outcast. You took something that belonged to me. I courted Kiara for years and all of a sudden you come in and take her like that. No regards to the old laws that still stand."

Nakar started to circle Kovu now. "If it were my lands you enetered, you probably wouldn't be here today."

"Nakar, that's enough!" Shouted Kiara.

"He put you in danger, Kiara! You, your family, every creature that lives here! How can you fall for someone like that?! I never put you in harms way and never would! I could protect you. I can protect you! Even from him."

"Kovu has never hurt me! You HAVE though!"

"What?! I've hurt you by tell you that you'd never have to lift a paw as my queen? Or that you'd have no royal duties to worry about becuase i would take care of them while you could just relax and look beautiful while doing so?!" Nakar growled at Kovu, "HE almost got you killed multiple times, Kiara! KILLED! Because of him, the Pride Lands were set on fire, you were almost trampled by rhinos, you almost fell off a cliff and drowned like his mother did! Great Kings, he tried to KILL YOUR DAD!"

Nakar looked up at Kiara and stared back at him with a horrified look. "...What happened... Behm told me you changed. He said that you were doing better. That you made friends and your pride accepted you as next in line to be King. Your mom gave you your title as Prince back to you. I-I don't understand..."

Nakar laughed. "Oh don't remind me... Your little stunt the last time we saw each other costed me my title and I had to do my royal trainings all over again to get it back. So many boring, useless lessons I had to sit through once again. And my mother, that lioness wouldn't give in so easily, so I had to butter her up. Make her believe I was he good little precious son who was really sorry he was so mean to everyone." Nakar said in a mocking tone. "STARS! It was humiliating!... But I guess it worked in the end...."

Nakar stood tall with his head held high. "With one part of my plan completed, on to the next part. Kiara, I request an audience with King Simba and Queen Nala of the Pride Lands, with you and Kovu present. My reasoning..."

Nakar turned to Kovu. "I challenge Kovu in a fight for Kiara and his title as Next in Line as King of the Pride Lands.

Oh my god you guys! We're finally at that part in the story!!!! Did you guys see any of this coming?!

Hope you guys enjoy!!!