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High Queen Zira smiled down upon her moonlit kingdom. No, not hers… Scar’s. After all, she herself proclaimed that the kingdom once known as the Pridelands was now to be called the Scarlands, and any mention of the former kingdom was strictly forbidden. To mention that name was to commit treason against the crown.

And the punishment for treason?

Death.

The High Queen herself delightfully took part in one of these executions, against old Sarabi herself. Her rival, her hated enemy- among all the others, of course. But Sarabi… It was quite nice to strip every bit of happiness left out from that old hag. Just as Sarabi’s family took her mate and child, she took hers. Mufasa, dead at she and her mate’s own scheming, and Simba using their own children.

It was an easy victory, but one that required much planning and training. An old cobra, Nakahi, was discovered in their early days of exile. The elderly serpent was having issues with hunting, and would have slowly starved if Zira and her lionesses had not found her. In exchange for Nakahi’s aid when the time comes, the lionesses fed her tidbits of meat here and there, prolonging her life. The vengeful leader trained Nakahi just as she did her own cubs, to further her own goal at returning herself as rightful ruler of the Pridelands.

When the time came, and Kiara left alone on her hunt, Zira ordered her soldiers into action. Kovu stalked his prey with Nakahi wrapped around his body, and Vitani and Nuka grabbed fire from the vents in the Elephant Graveyard. Nakahi left Kovu, slithered her way to where Kiara stalked her own prey, and struck- biting the princess’s leg, and slowly paralyzing her. When the fire started, it crept it’s way towards the fallen and helpless princess, leaving no one able to stop Kiara’s death but Kovu. The dark lion swooped in out of nowhere, so it seemed, and carried the injured lioness to the safety of her family. After what seemed to be a quick dispute, the older lions accepted Kovu into their pride. At this point, Zira had to stop watching and retreat to the Outlands, lest she be spotted and have Kovu’s authenticity questioned, and relied on Kovu and Vitani’s account of the mission.

The sun had just started to rise over the Pridelands, and Simba was the first of the lions to wake up. The King padded out of his den, shooting a glance at the dark lion. Kovu watched with lidded eyes, concealed in the darkest corner of the den. His body could still be seen, but there was no way for Simba to see that he was awake. The King left, and Kovu crept after him, silent and swift like oil down a smooth surface. The dark lion ghosted Simba, but kept himself hidden above all else, until the King finally stopped to take a drink at a water hole. Positioning himself behind the older lion, Kovu raised his tail, and from the grasses, saw Vitani do the same.

Good. She’s here as well. Vitani had been lurking in the grasses outside of Priderock, awaiting Simba. She was the best huntress and warrior in the Outlands, including Zira. There was no one else Kovu trusted more to have his back on this mission. And against a larger and more experienced lion, all help was gladly accepted.

Kovu pounced at SImba, as Simba whipped his head around toward the sound he made. Kovu landed upon the King’s back, clinging to the thrashing lion with his claws and biting at his neck. The larger lion reared on his back paws, trying to shake Kovu away. Vitani darted from the grasses that had concealed her, and quickly clawed at the King’s exposed belly before jumping back to avoid his massive paw slamming down in the space she’s been a second before. Ignoring the threat upon his back that was unable to reach his neck through his mane, Simba leapt at the young lioness. Kovu spared her a glance, and saw her with her paw back and outstretched- knowing what she was about to do, he closed his eyes. As Simba landed, his distance thrown off by the added weight of the dark lion, a dust of sand stuck across their faces. Simba roared in pain and helplessness as he was blinded, and sunk to the ground to protect his belly. Vitani ran to the King and grabbed on to his face as if to suffocate him like prey- and Kovu, no longer at risk of being flung off, clawed into Simba’s back with vigor. The once great King succumbed, half blind and out of air, to the Outlanders.

The two younger lions pulled themselves away from the remains of the King. Their commotion had not gone unnoticed, and Simba’s pride streamed from Pride Rock towards the scene of their battle. Kovu and Vitani stood together, the dark lion standing tall and the warrior looking repentant. Neither truly cared for how they took Simba’s life, but in order to pass off as victims, they’d put on a little show.

Queen Nala was first to reach them, her eyes catching the corpse of her beloved. A mournful whisper of her mates’s name flew from her lips, and Kovu had to give her credit- she neither broke down nor raced to his side, but stood against his killers. But her eyes could not hide the sorrow and heartbreak she felt. The rest of the pride followed, their faces either matching their Queen’s, or with expected looks of anger and disgust.

Finally, Nala spoke, “The King granted you safety in our lands. Yet despite his charity, you struck him down. Why should we not do the same for you?” Her gaze shifted between the young lions, doing her best to hold her composure, her voice barely trembling as she feigned feeling devoid of sorrow.

A long silence paused before Kovu spoke up. “I had come to Simba to plead him to allow my mate a place here as well. After all, it is no home to me if I cannot have my love here- surely you understand- but the King saw me with another ‘Outlander’ and attacked us on sight. He must have thought we came to kill him. We begged him to stop, but he was deafened by rage. We did what we had to do to protect ourselves.” Vitani lowered her head to emphasize the regret that the two pretended to feel.

One of the lionesses in the crowd spoke up. “You expect us to believe that?” she said with scorn. Snarls and agreements echoed her resentment throughout the pride.

“Nala, please,” Kovu began again, “if I wanted to hurt your family I could have left Kiara to die. I could have attacked Simba at any other time. I mean you no harm. Simba would have still attacked me if you weren’t there to stop him when I brought your daughter to you yesterday. You’ve seen his rage, his hatred of me.”

The Queen grimaced, and Kovu knew they had her. Nala was too just to let emotions cloud her judgement. But emotions were a useful tool when properly utilized. Nala would have to learn the hard way. Indeed, barely above a whisper, “they have a point…” Her pride looked at her in bewilderment as she turned to them. “Do they look like cold-blooded killers to you all? You know how Simba felt about the Outlanders… And you know that even Simba killed to protect us from Scar.”

The lionesses muttered amongst themselves, but their resistance to the young lions had evaporated alongside the Queen’s. Distrustful, wary, but ultimately loyal to their Queen, the Pridelanders accepted the former Outlanders into their pride once more.

The next few days, Kovu and Vitani could do nothing but wait around for tensions to die down. The couple was under constant surveillance. Not a single lioness trusted them. If either of them needed to go out and get a drink, the other would be kept in the den, and both would be under the watchful eyes of multiple guards. Meanwhile, Kiara grew stronger by the day. Rafiki had been summoned the day she was bitten, and arrived after Simba was killed. Still, Kiara was neither fully grown, nor was she healthy to begin with, and the venom had weakened her significantly. Ordered to rest, Kiara had little else to do than to sleep or talk to the guests.

The first conversation was the roughest. Kovu and Vitani had to plead their innocence once again, this time to the princess herself. At first Kiara couldn’t accept that they’d kill Simba. But her doubts nagged her. She had seen how Simba treated them as cubs, as if they were monsters. And despite that, Kovu risked his life to save hers from the fire, and risked it again to deliver her to her mother and father as the venom set in. In time, she accepted the young lions for what they had to do.

Seeing Kiara take to Kovu and Vitani seemed to mollify Nala. She may be hurting, but she could no longer blame the young lions for what was an accident. A funeral was held for Simba, and Kovu and Vitani expressed their deepest regrets. The young lioness even shed a few tears as she spoke, pulling the heartstrings of the pride. As the night turned to day, Nala called off the guards watching Kovu and Vitani, and relaxed the restrictions on when and where they could go.

The couple were no fools, and knew they were still being watching discreetly. To gain further favor with the pride, they often took the young princess out on walks, carrying her when she tired. As they gained favor with the pride, their watchful eyes turned off of them an on to other threats. And as a result, there was no one to notice when Vitani slipped away into the night.

Zira smiled to herself again, satisfaction oozing out of her crooked grin. Yes, Vitani finally came back to her after weeks of patient waiting. And together, they returned home, with an army in tow. She knew how the rest played out. She fought in the battle, spilled the blood of traitors. It was a peaceful night, not unlike the current night. A soft breeze ran across her pelt, and when she closed her eyes she saw herself back in that battle.

The vengeful lioness prowled at the front of her pride. Over a decade of anger and hunger stoked the fires that burned in the Outlanders. They moved softly, but did not care for stealth. It would be almost impossible to hide an entire pride and make a good pace, so it was no surprise when they were spotted and their enemies ran out to meet them. The two prides paused before each other, snarling.

“My mate was right. I should have never trusted you, Vitani.” Nala snarled at backstabbing lioness, backed by the snarls and grumbles of the Pridelanders.

“Maybe this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t spurned your own daughter in favor of a murderous lion!” Vitani roared.

“How dare you! I love Kiara just as I loved Simba!” Nala was now completely agitated, lashing her tail back and forth, teeth bared.

“Not Kiara, no. Let me ask you this: Where’s your not-so-pretty daughter, Nala?”

Nala froze in horror. “Sh-shetani?”

The Pridelanders watched Nala in confusion and concern, before realization started to dawn on them. Scar expressing his interest in offspring, Nala running away, her brief time away in the jungle… It all added up. The Outlanders shared a crooked grin at Nala’s despair, none nastier than Zira’s. It was she who tormented Vitani over her biological mother’s abandonment, over wanting a prettier daughter in Kiara. And when the torment bred anger, Zira molded her anger into a weapon to strike back against Simba’s family. And now it had all come to pass.

“No, mother, I am Vitani now. A name far less insulting than the one you branded me with.” Venom dripped from the angry lionesses words.

The Pridelanders stood around, uncertain and shocked at the turn of events. So focused on the spectacle in front of them, they were completely unaware of what was behind them. With a roar, Kovu and Nuka charged into the Pridelanders, clawing and biting. The Outlanders charged into the disoriented pride.

Blood flew and roars of pain cut through the otherwise silent night. Vitani and Zira toyed with Nala, letting her bleed out from hundreds of small cuts. A worthy foe, Nala was no match for the agile Outlanders. They circled her, one on the opposite side of the other, swiping at the Queen when she faced the other. Finally, exhausted and weak, Nala fell and Vitani finished her off herself with a swift bite to the neck. The Pridelands had fallen.

The return to Pride Rock was overwhelmingly uneventful. The Pridelanders that had survived the battle were forced to surrender, or die. Zira delighted in the sobs of the distraught lionesses as the Outlanders tormented their prisoners. A few more Pridelanders awaited them as they finally reached Pride Rock, which dampened Zira’s elation somewhat. Still, there was no one who could put up a significant fight- just the young, sickly, and elderly. They too accepted their fate with horror. But, what could they do?

There was one exception however. Simba’s brat. Kiara. Upon seeing the Outlanders return, Kovu and Vitani in their midst, the once-princess ran off. How annoying.

“Nuka, go fetch her. Or kill her.” Surely even her weakest child could hunt down that sickly brat.

“Let me do it, mother. I can carry her away from the Pridelands before I… dispose of her. The Pridelanders are less likely to revolt than they are if they hear Kiara die.” The dark lion pointed out. Zira studied him for a moment, before accepting his statement.

Kovu ran after the fleeing lioness, his steady pace exceeding the injured one. He reached her in no time- her stomping and heavy panting gave her away, and simply kept pace with her until she stumbled and fell due to her injured leg. The dark lion stood over Kiara as she struggled to get up.

“You monster!” She screamed, lunging at Kovu, who simply sidestepped her predictable motion. She landed hard, almost falling again, but whirled around with an outstretched paw. “You liar!” He easily dodged again. “You traitor!” Another swipe, another dodge. “You murderer!” She moved to swipe but changed to a lunge at the last minute, leaving Kovu unable to avoid her attack. She raked her paw over his face, carving ragged lines around his eye. He backed off, blinded, holding a paw to his wound, as the former princess fell to the ground sobbing.

He wasn’t blinded. She somehow missed the eye, the area around it was bleeding, possibly enough to scar. He sighed and looked down at the stubborn lioness. “You don’t have to make this so difficult, you know.”

She paused, and spat out “Oh, yes, let me just roll over and let you kill me. What a wise decision.”

“No, no, I’m not trying to kill you. I want to help you escape.”

“Yeah, okay.” She snorted, “Just like you got father to trust you, and you killed him. Just like you got mother to trust you, and you killed her. Do you really think I’m that much of an idiot?”

“Kiara, listen. Zira wanted them dead- she holds a grudge against those of her generation and their cubs. That’s your parents and grandparents, not you. She doesn’t care if you suffer, she just wants you out of the way.”

“And how do I know that’s true? How do I know you won’t just kill me?”

The dark lion looked at her sadly. “We were friends once, Kiara. I did always wish to see you again. The only friend I had. I don’t want you dead, I can’t kill you.”

“You can bring me back to Zira, though.”
He nodded. “I could. The choice is up to you. I can take you to another pride’s lands, where you have a chance to recover and live a full life, far away, never to return, never to make a fuss, never ever drawing attention to the Pridelands.” He paused, letting it sink in, then added, “Or, you could try to fight me on this, and I am left with no choice but to bring you back to Zira. She’d kill me if she knew I’d let you go, after all.”

Kiara laid down and closed her eyes. It was a tough decision, to be sent into exile from her own home, even though she did nothing wrong, and with no chance at retribution. But the alternative? Death, or torture. “Fine. Take me to a new home.” Resignation colored her voice.

He bent over, and she slowly slung herself over his back. For a brief moment, she thought about attacking him from her position- but his mane covered his neck, and any other damage she could do wouldn’t be enough to stop him from throwing her off and ending her there. She accepted her fate, hanging limply over him.

They walked through the night, into the morning, and until the evening. There were multiple breaks to drink and rest, but even when they napped Kovu kept himself half awake, listening for Kiara making a motion to attack him or to run. But it never came. The pair eventually reached the territory of another kingdom, and pushed a little further until the signs and scent of lions was decently strong.

“This looks like a trail that’s often patrolled by the kingdom.” The dark lion stated, before sliding her off his back. “You should be safe here until they find you. Good luck, and goodbye, Kiara.” He flicked his tail as he left, and Kiara only lay motionless in the grasses. Her home was stolen, her parents dead, her people defeated, but there was one hope she kept close to her heart. Her brothers, Kion and Kopa, if they still lived. If they were still out there, they could come back with her, and oust the usurpers. But until then, she needed to get stronger. And to get stronger, she needed to rest and heal.

Zira opened her eyes, returning to her time. Kovu had disposed of the heir, and returned with a scar over his eye, just like the true king. It was as if fate sent a sign to her, that what they had done was right. It strengthened the conviction lionesses of the Outlands, and demoralized the few remaining Pridelanders. It had all gone according to plan, and the morning after Kovu returned, he was announced king, with his mate Vitani as queen alongside him, and Zira herself taking place as the High Queen- a mostly empty title, but enough to strike fear into the hearts of those that opposed her. But they weren’t ruler of the Pridelands. This place, this home, was to be known as the Scarlands. And it was perfect.

“High Queen!” One of the lionesses rushed to her, bowing at her feet.

“Yes? What do you want?” She pretended to sound more annoyed than she was in order to mask the fact she didn’t know the names of most of her subjects still.

Admonished, the messenger bowed even lower. “Queen Vitani has returned, she’s in the den and awaiting you right now!”

Zira made her way down to the den, walking as fast as she could. Her age was finally catching up to her, and running was too hard on her body. But at last, she reached the den, and quickly spotted Vitani with her grandchild in her arms.

“Mother.” Vitani greeted, and held out her paws, awakening the child with a quick lick.

Zira marveled at the cub’s pelt as she stirred, a bright and vivid orange, just like her mate’s. Even the tail tuft showed that she carried his dark mane in her blood. But Zira’s breath caught as the cub opened her eyes. Green, so very green, so very much Scar. He was back, born again as a reward to them all.

“What shall I name her, mother?” Vitani questioned softly.

“She shall be Askari.”

Just a what-if I made while thinking about other possible endings to Simba's Pride. In summary, Zira has a cobra bite Kiara as well as use Vitani and Nuka to start a fire, which means Kiara needs to spend a few days resting off her wound. Which means she isn't there to interrupt Kovu ambushing Simba the next day alongside Vitani. Nala becomes the queen by default as Kiara is still sick, and since she knows how Simba was about the Outlanders, she feels she must keep her word and allow Kovu to remain in the pride, albiet under heavy surveillance. The two Outlanders gain her trust, and proceed to destroy the kingdom at the first opportunity. A bit of a stretch, but a fun bit of creative thought.

The Lion King and most characters belong to Disney.
Please do not reuse or reupload this without my permission.

Description

High Queen Zira smiled down upon her moonlit kingdom. No, not hers… Scar’s. After all, she herself proclaimed that the kingdom once known as the Pridelands was now to be called the Scarlands, and any mention of the former kingdom was strictly forbidden. To mention that name was to commit treason against the crown.

And the punishment for treason?

Death.

The High Queen herself delightfully took part in one of these executions, against old Sarabi herself. Her rival, her hated enemy- among all the others, of course. But Sarabi… It was quite nice to strip every bit of happiness left out from that old hag. Just as Sarabi’s family took her mate and child, she took hers. Mufasa, dead at she and her mate’s own scheming, and Simba using their own children.

It was an easy victory, but one that required much planning and training. An old cobra, Nakahi, was discovered in their early days of exile. The elderly serpent was having issues with hunting, and would have slowly starved if Zira and her lionesses had not found her. In exchange for Nakahi’s aid when the time comes, the lionesses fed her tidbits of meat here and there, prolonging her life. The vengeful leader trained Nakahi just as she did her own cubs, to further her own goal at returning herself as rightful ruler of the Pridelands.

When the time came, and Kiara left alone on her hunt, Zira ordered her soldiers into action. Kovu stalked his prey with Nakahi wrapped around his body, and Vitani and Nuka grabbed fire from the vents in the Elephant Graveyard. Nakahi left Kovu, slithered her way to where Kiara stalked her own prey, and struck- biting the princess’s leg, and slowly paralyzing her. When the fire started, it crept it’s way towards the fallen and helpless princess, leaving no one able to stop Kiara’s death but Kovu. The dark lion swooped in out of nowhere, so it seemed, and carried the injured lioness to the safety of her family. After what seemed to be a quick dispute, the older lions accepted Kovu into their pride. At this point, Zira had to stop watching and retreat to the Outlands, lest she be spotted and have Kovu’s authenticity questioned, and relied on Kovu and Vitani’s account of the mission.

The sun had just started to rise over the Pridelands, and Simba was the first of the lions to wake up. The King padded out of his den, shooting a glance at the dark lion. Kovu watched with lidded eyes, concealed in the darkest corner of the den. His body could still be seen, but there was no way for Simba to see that he was awake. The King left, and Kovu crept after him, silent and swift like oil down a smooth surface. The dark lion ghosted Simba, but kept himself hidden above all else, until the King finally stopped to take a drink at a water hole. Positioning himself behind the older lion, Kovu raised his tail, and from the grasses, saw Vitani do the same.

Good. She’s here as well. Vitani had been lurking in the grasses outside of Priderock, awaiting Simba. She was the best huntress and warrior in the Outlands, including Zira. There was no one else Kovu trusted more to have his back on this mission. And against a larger and more experienced lion, all help was gladly accepted.

Kovu pounced at SImba, as Simba whipped his head around toward the sound he made. Kovu landed upon the King’s back, clinging to the thrashing lion with his claws and biting at his neck. The larger lion reared on his back paws, trying to shake Kovu away. Vitani darted from the grasses that had concealed her, and quickly clawed at the King’s exposed belly before jumping back to avoid his massive paw slamming down in the space she’s been a second before. Ignoring the threat upon his back that was unable to reach his neck through his mane, Simba leapt at the young lioness. Kovu spared her a glance, and saw her with her paw back and outstretched- knowing what she was about to do, he closed his eyes. As Simba landed, his distance thrown off by the added weight of the dark lion, a dust of sand stuck across their faces. Simba roared in pain and helplessness as he was blinded, and sunk to the ground to protect his belly. Vitani ran to the King and grabbed on to his face as if to suffocate him like prey- and Kovu, no longer at risk of being flung off, clawed into Simba’s back with vigor. The once great King succumbed, half blind and out of air, to the Outlanders.

The two younger lions pulled themselves away from the remains of the King. Their commotion had not gone unnoticed, and Simba’s pride streamed from Pride Rock towards the scene of their battle. Kovu and Vitani stood together, the dark lion standing tall and the warrior looking repentant. Neither truly cared for how they took Simba’s life, but in order to pass off as victims, they’d put on a little show.

Queen Nala was first to reach them, her eyes catching the corpse of her beloved. A mournful whisper of her mates’s name flew from her lips, and Kovu had to give her credit- she neither broke down nor raced to his side, but stood against his killers. But her eyes could not hide the sorrow and heartbreak she felt. The rest of the pride followed, their faces either matching their Queen’s, or with expected looks of anger and disgust.

Finally, Nala spoke, “The King granted you safety in our lands. Yet despite his charity, you struck him down. Why should we not do the same for you?” Her gaze shifted between the young lions, doing her best to hold her composure, her voice barely trembling as she feigned feeling devoid of sorrow.

A long silence paused before Kovu spoke up. “I had come to Simba to plead him to allow my mate a place here as well. After all, it is no home to me if I cannot have my love here- surely you understand- but the King saw me with another ‘Outlander’ and attacked us on sight. He must have thought we came to kill him. We begged him to stop, but he was deafened by rage. We did what we had to do to protect ourselves.” Vitani lowered her head to emphasize the regret that the two pretended to feel.

One of the lionesses in the crowd spoke up. “You expect us to believe that?” she said with scorn. Snarls and agreements echoed her resentment throughout the pride.

“Nala, please,” Kovu began again, “if I wanted to hurt your family I could have left Kiara to die. I could have attacked Simba at any other time. I mean you no harm. Simba would have still attacked me if you weren’t there to stop him when I brought your daughter to you yesterday. You’ve seen his rage, his hatred of me.”

The Queen grimaced, and Kovu knew they had her. Nala was too just to let emotions cloud her judgement. But emotions were a useful tool when properly utilized. Nala would have to learn the hard way. Indeed, barely above a whisper, “they have a point…” Her pride looked at her in bewilderment as she turned to them. “Do they look like cold-blooded killers to you all? You know how Simba felt about the Outlanders… And you know that even Simba killed to protect us from Scar.”

The lionesses muttered amongst themselves, but their resistance to the young lions had evaporated alongside the Queen’s. Distrustful, wary, but ultimately loyal to their Queen, the Pridelanders accepted the former Outlanders into their pride once more.

The next few days, Kovu and Vitani could do nothing but wait around for tensions to die down. The couple was under constant surveillance. Not a single lioness trusted them. If either of them needed to go out and get a drink, the other would be kept in the den, and both would be under the watchful eyes of multiple guards. Meanwhile, Kiara grew stronger by the day. Rafiki had been summoned the day she was bitten, and arrived after Simba was killed. Still, Kiara was neither fully grown, nor was she healthy to begin with, and the venom had weakened her significantly. Ordered to rest, Kiara had little else to do than to sleep or talk to the guests.

The first conversation was the roughest. Kovu and Vitani had to plead their innocence once again, this time to the princess herself. At first Kiara couldn’t accept that they’d kill Simba. But her doubts nagged her. She had seen how Simba treated them as cubs, as if they were monsters. And despite that, Kovu risked his life to save hers from the fire, and risked it again to deliver her to her mother and father as the venom set in. In time, she accepted the young lions for what they had to do.

Seeing Kiara take to Kovu and Vitani seemed to mollify Nala. She may be hurting, but she could no longer blame the young lions for what was an accident. A funeral was held for Simba, and Kovu and Vitani expressed their deepest regrets. The young lioness even shed a few tears as she spoke, pulling the heartstrings of the pride. As the night turned to day, Nala called off the guards watching Kovu and Vitani, and relaxed the restrictions on when and where they could go.

The couple were no fools, and knew they were still being watching discreetly. To gain further favor with the pride, they often took the young princess out on walks, carrying her when she tired. As they gained favor with the pride, their watchful eyes turned off of them an on to other threats. And as a result, there was no one to notice when Vitani slipped away into the night.

Zira smiled to herself again, satisfaction oozing out of her crooked grin. Yes, Vitani finally came back to her after weeks of patient waiting. And together, they returned home, with an army in tow. She knew how the rest played out. She fought in the battle, spilled the blood of traitors. It was a peaceful night, not unlike the current night. A soft breeze ran across her pelt, and when she closed her eyes she saw herself back in that battle.

The vengeful lioness prowled at the front of her pride. Over a decade of anger and hunger stoked the fires that burned in the Outlanders. They moved softly, but did not care for stealth. It would be almost impossible to hide an entire pride and make a good pace, so it was no surprise when they were spotted and their enemies ran out to meet them. The two prides paused before each other, snarling.

“My mate was right. I should have never trusted you, Vitani.” Nala snarled at backstabbing lioness, backed by the snarls and grumbles of the Pridelanders.

“Maybe this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t spurned your own daughter in favor of a murderous lion!” Vitani roared.

“How dare you! I love Kiara just as I loved Simba!” Nala was now completely agitated, lashing her tail back and forth, teeth bared.

“Not Kiara, no. Let me ask you this: Where’s your not-so-pretty daughter, Nala?”

Nala froze in horror. “Sh-shetani?”

The Pridelanders watched Nala in confusion and concern, before realization started to dawn on them. Scar expressing his interest in offspring, Nala running away, her brief time away in the jungle… It all added up. The Outlanders shared a crooked grin at Nala’s despair, none nastier than Zira’s. It was she who tormented Vitani over her biological mother’s abandonment, over wanting a prettier daughter in Kiara. And when the torment bred anger, Zira molded her anger into a weapon to strike back against Simba’s family. And now it had all come to pass.

“No, mother, I am Vitani now. A name far less insulting than the one you branded me with.” Venom dripped from the angry lionesses words.

The Pridelanders stood around, uncertain and shocked at the turn of events. So focused on the spectacle in front of them, they were completely unaware of what was behind them. With a roar, Kovu and Nuka charged into the Pridelanders, clawing and biting. The Outlanders charged into the disoriented pride.

Blood flew and roars of pain cut through the otherwise silent night. Vitani and Zira toyed with Nala, letting her bleed out from hundreds of small cuts. A worthy foe, Nala was no match for the agile Outlanders. They circled her, one on the opposite side of the other, swiping at the Queen when she faced the other. Finally, exhausted and weak, Nala fell and Vitani finished her off herself with a swift bite to the neck. The Pridelands had fallen.

The return to Pride Rock was overwhelmingly uneventful. The Pridelanders that had survived the battle were forced to surrender, or die. Zira delighted in the sobs of the distraught lionesses as the Outlanders tormented their prisoners. A few more Pridelanders awaited them as they finally reached Pride Rock, which dampened Zira’s elation somewhat. Still, there was no one who could put up a significant fight- just the young, sickly, and elderly. They too accepted their fate with horror. But, what could they do?

There was one exception however. Simba’s brat. Kiara. Upon seeing the Outlanders return, Kovu and Vitani in their midst, the once-princess ran off. How annoying.

“Nuka, go fetch her. Or kill her.” Surely even her weakest child could hunt down that sickly brat.

“Let me do it, mother. I can carry her away from the Pridelands before I… dispose of her. The Pridelanders are less likely to revolt than they are if they hear Kiara die.” The dark lion pointed out. Zira studied him for a moment, before accepting his statement.

Kovu ran after the fleeing lioness, his steady pace exceeding the injured one. He reached her in no time- her stomping and heavy panting gave her away, and simply kept pace with her until she stumbled and fell due to her injured leg. The dark lion stood over Kiara as she struggled to get up.

“You monster!” She screamed, lunging at Kovu, who simply sidestepped her predictable motion. She landed hard, almost falling again, but whirled around with an outstretched paw. “You liar!” He easily dodged again. “You traitor!” Another swipe, another dodge. “You murderer!” She moved to swipe but changed to a lunge at the last minute, leaving Kovu unable to avoid her attack. She raked her paw over his face, carving ragged lines around his eye. He backed off, blinded, holding a paw to his wound, as the former princess fell to the ground sobbing.

He wasn’t blinded. She somehow missed the eye, the area around it was bleeding, possibly enough to scar. He sighed and looked down at the stubborn lioness. “You don’t have to make this so difficult, you know.”

She paused, and spat out “Oh, yes, let me just roll over and let you kill me. What a wise decision.”

“No, no, I’m not trying to kill you. I want to help you escape.”

“Yeah, okay.” She snorted, “Just like you got father to trust you, and you killed him. Just like you got mother to trust you, and you killed her. Do you really think I’m that much of an idiot?”

“Kiara, listen. Zira wanted them dead- she holds a grudge against those of her generation and their cubs. That’s your parents and grandparents, not you. She doesn’t care if you suffer, she just wants you out of the way.”

“And how do I know that’s true? How do I know you won’t just kill me?”

The dark lion looked at her sadly. “We were friends once, Kiara. I did always wish to see you again. The only friend I had. I don’t want you dead, I can’t kill you.”

“You can bring me back to Zira, though.”
He nodded. “I could. The choice is up to you. I can take you to another pride’s lands, where you have a chance to recover and live a full life, far away, never to return, never to make a fuss, never ever drawing attention to the Pridelands.” He paused, letting it sink in, then added, “Or, you could try to fight me on this, and I am left with no choice but to bring you back to Zira. She’d kill me if she knew I’d let you go, after all.”

Kiara laid down and closed her eyes. It was a tough decision, to be sent into exile from her own home, even though she did nothing wrong, and with no chance at retribution. But the alternative? Death, or torture. “Fine. Take me to a new home.” Resignation colored her voice.

He bent over, and she slowly slung herself over his back. For a brief moment, she thought about attacking him from her position- but his mane covered his neck, and any other damage she could do wouldn’t be enough to stop him from throwing her off and ending her there. She accepted her fate, hanging limply over him.

They walked through the night, into the morning, and until the evening. There were multiple breaks to drink and rest, but even when they napped Kovu kept himself half awake, listening for Kiara making a motion to attack him or to run. But it never came. The pair eventually reached the territory of another kingdom, and pushed a little further until the signs and scent of lions was decently strong.

“This looks like a trail that’s often patrolled by the kingdom.” The dark lion stated, before sliding her off his back. “You should be safe here until they find you. Good luck, and goodbye, Kiara.” He flicked his tail as he left, and Kiara only lay motionless in the grasses. Her home was stolen, her parents dead, her people defeated, but there was one hope she kept close to her heart. Her brothers, Kion and Kopa, if they still lived. If they were still out there, they could come back with her, and oust the usurpers. But until then, she needed to get stronger. And to get stronger, she needed to rest and heal.

Zira opened her eyes, returning to her time. Kovu had disposed of the heir, and returned with a scar over his eye, just like the true king. It was as if fate sent a sign to her, that what they had done was right. It strengthened the conviction lionesses of the Outlands, and demoralized the few remaining Pridelanders. It had all gone according to plan, and the morning after Kovu returned, he was announced king, with his mate Vitani as queen alongside him, and Zira herself taking place as the High Queen- a mostly empty title, but enough to strike fear into the hearts of those that opposed her. But they weren’t ruler of the Pridelands. This place, this home, was to be known as the Scarlands. And it was perfect.

“High Queen!” One of the lionesses rushed to her, bowing at her feet.

“Yes? What do you want?” She pretended to sound more annoyed than she was in order to mask the fact she didn’t know the names of most of her subjects still.

Admonished, the messenger bowed even lower. “Queen Vitani has returned, she’s in the den and awaiting you right now!”

Zira made her way down to the den, walking as fast as she could. Her age was finally catching up to her, and running was too hard on her body. But at last, she reached the den, and quickly spotted Vitani with her grandchild in her arms.

“Mother.” Vitani greeted, and held out her paws, awakening the child with a quick lick.

Zira marveled at the cub’s pelt as she stirred, a bright and vivid orange, just like her mate’s. Even the tail tuft showed that she carried his dark mane in her blood. But Zira’s breath caught as the cub opened her eyes. Green, so very green, so very much Scar. He was back, born again as a reward to them all.

“What shall I name her, mother?” Vitani questioned softly.

“She shall be Askari.”

Just a what-if I made while thinking about other possible endings to Simba's Pride. In summary, Zira has a cobra bite Kiara as well as use Vitani and Nuka to start a fire, which means Kiara needs to spend a few days resting off her wound. Which means she isn't there to interrupt Kovu ambushing Simba the next day alongside Vitani. Nala becomes the queen by default as Kiara is still sick, and since she knows how Simba was about the Outlanders, she feels she must keep her word and allow Kovu to remain in the pride, albiet under heavy surveillance. The two Outlanders gain her trust, and proceed to destroy the kingdom at the first opportunity. A bit of a stretch, but a fun bit of creative thought.

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