A/N: New story guys! This was a prompt from Emolichic1, therefore the plot was Emolichic1's I just wrote the story, just had to make that clear XD

Anyways, read, review and enjoy!

Kovu's instincts.

It was rainy season, and water droplets slashed upon the horizon of the savannah like angry knives. Dark grey clouds enveloped the misty air as day turned into dusk, and not a single star shone this night. Inside the ancient den of Pride-Rock, all pride members were preparing to retire for an early night, all but one. It was the mighty king himself, Kovu. He sat silently at the edge of pride rock, letting the cold rain water coat his body. Ears pinned to his head he tried to ignore his instincts that were making his stomach fold in knots, sweat drenched his dark fur and he tried to even out his breathing.

He concentrated hard, trying to receive a message from the great kings of the past while also patiently awaiting Zazu's return from searching the borders. He and his father in law, Simba, had spent a lot of their time together ever since the outlanders and pridelanders had became 'one'.

At first Kovu sensed some mistrust between the two, but as time went by a strong healthy friendship was formed and Kovu had gained Simba's full trust. Simba had personally taught Kovu everything he needed to know to become king and Simba had become like the father he never had growing up. Meeting Kiara was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. Finally, he could live a normal life in peace, well, being king was as rewarding as a lion could get. And being blessed with a beautiful wife and loving family he couldn't be happier, Kovu felt in debt to the pridelanders so he strived to be the best king he could be. Granted, cub-hood memories still haunted him, but he had Vitani to share the pain with.

However, as always, every time one bad thing disappears another problem takes its place, and that's why Kovu confidently knew he was being watched and had been ever since he became king. Of course he never told anybody, but how could he admit to them that he had an invisible stalker? Kovu always felt a lingering presence when he was with his sister, Vitani or his wife, Kiara. But he felt it strongest when he was with Simba.

So every night he'd send someone to check the borders and as Zazu was fastest and technically safer, as any lion wouldn't be able reach him in the air, he sent Zazu. And as Zazu was so proud to serve a third king to pride rock, Kovu knew the devoted bird wouldn't ask questions.

Kovu couldn't quite explain it, he never saw anyone directly watching him and he never picked up an unfamiliar lion scent for longer than a few minutes to actually trail it. Kovu found it rather unsettling. So as Simba had taught him, in times of trouble or worry seek guidance from the great kings. Yet tonight they were silent as stars, well that, or Kovu couldn't hear them over the pattering rain or sharp gusts of wind.

Shivers ran down his spine, fine I give up! The great kings obviously don't want to talk to me but where is that babbling bird!?

And is if on cue, Zazu appeared, his feathers drenched, and Kovu felt slightly guilty, he didn't know how hard it was to fly during the rain, but he could take a pretty good guess. Although, it wasn't raining when he sent him out in his defense, and now Kovu thinking about it, he had been gone a pretty long time.

"Sire Kovu! I found something that you may want to investigate immediately-"

"Really!?"

"Why would I lie, your majesty?-"

"Uh that's not what I meant, sorry, I wasn't doubting you I just-"

Zazu sent him a sharp look.

"Never mind, lead me to this urgent matter." Kovu stood up.

"Wait!" It was Simba, he had appeared from the warmth of the cave, where many were resting now, and had ran towards his son in law, "I couldn't help but over hear and I want to investigate too."

"Simba, I think you should wait here, it's getting late and the rain is speeding up-"

"It's just rain Kovu, lead the way Zazu."

"Of course sire." He bowed quickly to the former king and swiftly flew away, Kovu and Simba jogged lightly to keep up.

They arrived at a small nearby cave, Zazu hovered above it unsure whether to enter for the second time.

"Well? What is it Zazu?" Simba asked casually.

"P-please look inside, I heard some…sounds coming from there." Zazu stuttered and he looked nervous, his wings were shaking mid-flight.

Simba and Kovu both looked at each-other and chuckled, "Don't be ridiculous Zazu! The cave's too tiny for any-"

A sudden sharp cry cut the golden lion's sentence short.

"…Huh?"

Kovu peered into the tiny cave of darkness, he gasped in surprise.

"What? What is it Kovu?"

"Cubs…new-borns…there are three."

"What are three new-borns doing there!? Zazu please fly back and alert the pride and most importantly my daughter." Simba instructed.

"Yes, Simba." He flew away quickly.

"What do we do Simba?" Kovu asked as panic started to set in.

"Uhm, well your king, Kovu, you decide the fate of these cubs, but remember," Kovu looked up at his father in-law nervously, "whatever you decide may affect the whole pride."

Kovu gulped, although Simba's words were laced with wisdom, it sounded almost like an indirect warning: don't screw this up, this affects everyone including me. Kovu shook the thoughts from his head, he needed to act quickly. He weighed the cons and pros of having three potential new cubs in the pride. Most male leaders would kill the cubs, but as they were alone with no mother, killing them seemed cruel. Most cubs were killed at birth so their mother could go back into breeding season, but Simba and Kovu were the only adult males and were already devoted to Nala and Kiara. Kiara! Oh she'll know what to do.

"I wish to have my queen's opinion before deciding on the cubs' fate, so we will bring them back to PrideRock until Kiara and I decide what to do with them."

"I think that's a great idea, Kovu, I always used to have Nala by my side to help with tough decisions like this." Simba smiled. They picked up the cubs carefully and wasted no haste in returning home.

Kiara paced up and down the ledge of PrideRock until she spotted her father and husband. She gasped as she looked at the three tiny cubs, what Zazu had informed her was true.

One was golden like Simba but had deep green eyes, Kiara could tell that was the male, and his paws were a lighter shade with a lighter underbelly, his nose was the custom outsider nose.

The other two were female, one had Kiara's pelt colour with a creamy underbelly and paws with deep blue-greenish eyes, and her nose was the custom pridelander nose.

The other female had a pelt similar to Zira's but had soft features very similar to Kiara, her eyes were also red and had a pridelander nose, this cub also had a stripe similar to Zira's on her head but it was slightly more faded. Her underbelly and paws were also lighter than the rest of her pelt.

Simba and Kovu made their way up to pride rock and into the den, they placed the cubs on the raised platform where the king and queen of pride rock traditionally sleep. Kovu and Kiara were new to their 'bed'.

"They're absolutely darling!" Kiara cooed, she'd always wanted cubs of her own but never felt she was ready. She nuzzled each of them, after five minutes of most members spoiling the cubs with attention, they went to their respective places where they slept and awaited slumber to hit.

"Kiara…what should we do with the cubs? I feel this is a decision we should decide together."

Simba nodded from where he and Nala slept proudly and curled up next to his wife, leaving the rulers of the pride to decide peacefully without watching eyes.

"You haven't thought about killing them have you?" Kiara whispered as she sat beside the crawling cubs.

"No, of course not, that's just mean." Kovu replied.

"Well then, if it's okay with you…I feel," Kiara blushed shyly as Kovu gulped awaiting her opinion, "I feel we should adopt them."

Kovu was stunned, he froze for a small while. Kiara had always told him she wasn't ready for cubs but as soon as three turn up she wants to adopt them like that! Kovu always felt it'd be more special to have one of his own…but that seemed selfish, if Kiara was willing to adopt them from the kindness of her good heart…then he could too.

"Okay, but if a mother comes looking for them…we give them back."

"Deal!" Kiara smiled happily, gave her husband a lick on the cheek and settled down with the cubs. She named the boy Taja, and the two girls Camira and Kamazia. As the king and queen drifted into a soft slumber with their new cubs, Kovu couldn't help but feel that feeling again. He had been watched again earlier when he was with Simba and they found the cubs, he was sure of it. Tomorrow he'd make sure to speak to Rafiki about it, that and the cubs, he had no idea how to be a parent! He slowly blanked out his troubled thoughts and fell sound asleep.

Along the northern borders of the Pridelands a golden lion with a brown mane and piercing blue eyes gritted his teeth. So they're making them three puny cubs the next heirs of pride rock, eh? My sister's idea obviously. Sister. The word felt so foreign to him. His sister had long ago forgotten about him as well as his parents that he once loved so much. So much for family, the lion thought bitterly, huh and to think I was so close to returning home, but now father has a new son, and he has it all! Filthy outsider, just you wait until I seek my revenge. The lion took out his claws and slashed the ground violently, he had a plan and soon everything would fall into place, but he had time to kill. Kovu didn't, Kovu wouldn't know what hit him…

And with that the lion smiled and curled up into his very own small cave, revenge is around the corner Kovu and I will claim everything that was once mine, after all, you did the same to me.