Chapter 1

"The plan is in motion," Zira said grimly, an evil grin playing across her muzzle. "GO!"
At the sound of this release, Kovu bolted down the rocky mound and into the forest fire. He knew what he needed to do, and this was what he trained for.

Simba must die. Was the only thing heard in Kovu's mind. Kovu was going to get close to the King's daughter, Kiara, and once they think he's on their side, he'd kill Simba and take the throne. Kovu was ready to fulfill Scar's dying wish. It was his destiny. Kovu's ears suddenly pricked to the sound of frantic wailing, and knew immediatley that it was the princess. As he casually padded forward, avoiding the flames, Kovu couldn't help but suppress an amused chuckle. Then, the golden-brown furred lioness dashed into sight. Her reddish-brown eyes wild in fear. Kovu decided to stalk around and come up from behind to rescue her. He watched, his own greenish-blue eyes narrowed at the heat. Kiara leaped over a large gap filled with flames, grabbed hold of a small cliff, and hung there, her claws scrapping the stone in an attempt to pull herself up. Kovu's eyes widened, and he hurried over himself. More dead trees began to fall down in front of him, but Kovu lept over them and hurtled himself at a safe spot that finally came. He could see Kiara in the distance, still not seeming to notice him through the hot, reddish fog, and falling to the ground. Kovu breathed heavily and padded over, glaring down at her.

No skills whatsoever, He growled silently, watching as the princess slowly lifted her head and gazed up at him fearfully, but then drooped back down. she's certainly in no condition to walk back to her home. Kovu rested a paw to her neck and flipped her limp head over to look at her face. He sighed and, with a small snarl, grasped her scruff in his jaws and yanked her up and onto his back. Kiara's body still so limp, Kovu staggered a bit as she dropped down onto him. He lifted another paw to steady her, then began running. He'd probably end up just like her if he didn't leave soon. And more firey dead trees fell over in front of him. Just as he saw the blood red, cloudy sky, did Kovu end up leaping from the forest and down into a seemingly endless drop. Landing in water, Kovu had to admit, was a bit of a shock. He had almost forgotten it was there. Then he remembered Kiara an instant later and saw her, in the distance, sinking down into it. Kovu took a deep breath, plunged under himself, and came out with her scruff once again locked his his teeth. It was a wonderful, successful feeling when Kovu reached the shore and dropped Kiara's body. He padded a little farther ahead and turned to look at her, a smirk beginning to form across his face. Kiara coughed up much water, then began taking in gulps of air. She moaned a bit, then barely lifted her head to ask quietly, "Where am I?"

Kovu lifted his own head higher to announce, "You're safe, in the Pride Lands."
"The Pride Lands?" Kiara's face showed more confusion, then sudden anger, which confused Kovu all the more, "No! Why'd you bring me here? Who do you think you are?" She stood up to glare at him feircely.

Kovu's eyes widened. "I think I'm the one who just saved your life!"
"Look, I had everything under control." Kiara's voice shook with rage.

"Not from where I was standing." Kovu said triumphantly.

"Then move down wind." Kiara growled, turning her back on him, she padded away.

Kovu bared his teeth angrily, What an ungreatful little lioness! and hurried on beside her. He blocked her way with a mischievous grin. Kiara only glared and turned away, heading in a different direction. Kovu did the same on that side of the reed-surrounded clearing. Kiara's eyes flared in frustration and got low, pouncing away and behind him. She still faced him, however.

Kovu turned around to look at her in his own confusion. "What are you doing?"
Kiara's eyes widened, and Kovu knew she recongnized him from when they met as cubs. But he had totally new intentions now.

"Kovu?" Kiara asked hopefully.

Kovu only smirked.

Kiara smiled up at him, until the roar of another lion sounded, "KIARA!"

Kovu's eyes suddenly fixed on the lion he was destined to kill; Simba.

Indeed, the golden-brown furred male with ruby-red eyes and alburn mane came jumping out, snarling angrily at him.

"Kiara! You're all right." A pale lioness with ocean-blue eyes came running over to nuzzle Kiara, and Kovu figured that was Nala, Kiara's mother and Queen of the Pride Lands.

"Father, how could you break your promise?" Kiara demanded.

"It's a good thing I did. I almost lost you." Simba shot back. "No more hunts for you. Not ever!"
"But I was doing just fine!" Kiara protested. "Even before Kovu-"
"Kovu?" Simba glared back at Kovu, letting out another feirce roar.

Kovu growled and roared in response. If it's a fight Simba wanted, he'd get it right here if he wished.
"'Ey, you!" A deeply accented voice called.

Both Kovu and Simba swung their heads around to see a mandrill standing on one of the many rocks near the clearing. "How dare you save the King's daughter?"
"You saved her?" Simba stared at Kovu doubtfully. "Why?"
"I humbly ask to join your pride." Kovu said formally.

"No!" Simba said almost immediatley. "You were banished with the other Outsiders."
Kovu flinched at this comment. He was practically a newborn cub when Zira and the Outsiders were banished. What would he know about that?

"I have left the Outsiders," He lied curtly. "I'm a rogue. Judge me now, for who I am," Kovu let out a growly sigh. "or am I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?" He challenged the King, referring to the fall of King Mufasa, caused by Scar.

Simba snarled and began pacing frustratingly. Even the sound of his Queen's voice didn't change his thought on the matter, "Simba, you owe him your daughter's life."

"Hmm...yes, Sire. Clearly we are in his debt." Simba's majordomo, Zazu, lighted down on the scene, right at Simba's paws. "And royal protocol demands that all debts be payed. Though in this case," Zazu glared past Simba and back suspiciously at Kovu. "you might want to make an exception."

Simba snorted in amusement as he looked back at Kovu, causing Kovu to only lift his head higher.

"My father's law will prevail." Simba decided in a dissmissing voice, making Kiara breath out a sigh of relief. "For now, I reserve judgement. We'll see who you really are." He padded away.

Kovu smirked, his gaze casting over Kiara and Nala who smiled at him welcomingly.

I'm in. Now all I've got to do is gain their trust. He prowled after Simba, Kiara and Nala coming from behind him.

What do you guys think? I might be doing this story in addition to the "After The Peace" story. I thought it was time for me to try starting another. Though I'll work on finishing "After The Peace". Keep in mind that this story has no realation whatsoever to "After The Peace", it's more like a 'what if?' kind of thing. So, it's not perminate to all those Simba lovers out there xD He's not dead for good, at least not in all the other stories I write, unless I write another about him dying, haha. I suppose you could also say this story has it's similarities with the movie "Megamind". 'Cause Kovu has the slightest idea where he's going with killing Simba, though Zira might. She'll miss the lovely quarrels though D,: Anyway, tell me what you think of the story, and tell me if you think I should continue it. I know a few other people probably made stories based on this idea, but this is my version. This chapter was sort of copying lines from the movie, but the next chapter will be all of my own work :D