I Want It All... And I Don't Care How. [Open!]

[shadow]

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?!

"I just don't understand it!" a voice roared, echoing among the walls of the Elephant Graveyard. If anyone had been around to hear him that cared, perhaps they would have answered the young male's cry of frustration, asked him what was wrong, but that would just be too out of their way in a place like this. That was why Nuka came here to yell. If anything, at least the echoes would answer him back. "I'm the oldest, I'm the bravest, I'm the strongest. Why doesn't mother pay any attention to me?!" he continued.

But this time, even the echo was drowned out by a steam vent erupting and spitting out its shrill whistling sound. Nuka sighed, wondering why he was doomed to the life of being a "prince". Normally, someone of royalty would be treated with respect, given the light of day, adored by the people by default... but not Nuka. Everything was Kovu, Kovu, Kovu. If he heard his younger "brother's" name one more time, he thought he would gag on something.

In a wave of rage, Nuka slashed at the first thing that made sense to slash at: a delicate old remaining piece of an elephant's tusk. It cracked under the force of his blow, giving the young male a sense of satisfaction, but even that was short lived. Why did no one love him? What was so wrong about him?

Is it because my mane is a mess? It's not my fault the bugs like coming to me and no one else! No, that can't be it. It's only because Kovu looks... handsome, he gagged visibly at the thought, sitting himself down next to a rock and using it to scratch his backside. And because dad chose him, a stupid newborn cub, over me, an almost full grown male. And to think, after Scar finally kicked the bucket, my mother pays me no heed either. She's so obsessed with Kovu!

And this time, the fury gripped him so much, that he couldn't help but run up to the perch where his father once stood, looking down on a young Simba and Nala, scared to death by hyenas, and roared. Not a small roar, a huge one, one of a full grown male, one of a king that he was never to be. This time, the sound was so loud, the echoes carried it out into the wilderness, sending birds fleeing from the vicinity. He trailed off, huffing at the energy used to produce such a massive sound, and then slouched down, staring angrily into space.

[Kiara ♥]

Kiara had escaped. She had really done it this time, she could feel the adrenaline pulsing through her veins. No turning back, if she did she would get caught for sure. She could feel the pounding of her paws into the dust below she was taking deep breaths to allow the air to get into her lungs and keep her running forward. Her body was built for endurance, and for that she felt truly blessed with something. Her long legs pushed her quicker and quicker, she could picture her fathers loud roar when he found out that Timon and Pumba allowed her out of their sights, again. The thought made her amused, they thought they could keep her cooped up like some bird, the Pride rock used as her cage. She was a free spirit, it was who she was she couldn't help how she felt. She was racing through the pridelands, she could see the edge to where the light stopped touching the earth, and it grew darker. Cue flashback to when Simba was doing the exact same thing as a cub, except this time Kiara was much older and without a companion with her.

Suddenly she stopped, allowing her body to come into a halt at the boarder. She took in a breath, she knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help it. Her paws started to move and before she knew it she had crossed into the outlands. The area was casted with an unknown gloom that set across the whole scene, still it was something new, something exciting. The pretty dark golden lioness was walking through the damper and more chilly outlands, it gave her an odd chill that rippled down her elegant spine. Still the adrenaline pumped through her veins, and so fear had not yet caught up with her. Her eyes were wide and alert as they drunk in the sights eagerly, out of her siblings she was the only one who could say they have seen the outside. Her paws moved reverently as she came over the hill of burnt trees from the fire many seasons ago. The ash clung to her pads as she walked making indentions in the earth. Her redish brown eyes flicked t the sights around her until it landed on a large elephant skull in the distance. A smile was placed upon her lips as she picked up her pace just a bit, kicking up ash behind her. Her tail swishing back and forth, ears erect as she moved.

Coming to the bone edge that made up the elephant graveyard she peered down into it. The bones of many laid scattered across the floor like leaves in the fall. Suddenly a loud roar pressed into her thoughts and she froze, lifting her head to see a rather scrawny looking lion at the top of the head. He reminded her of the stories her father spoke of about her great uncle, dark brown fur and a messy mane. Standing up she was about to take a step back when her paws slipped on the bones and she screamed, feeling her body rolling over the layers of bones until her body met with the dirt floor at the bottom, dust was sent in her face and she coughed, quickly pushing her body into a sitting position. Her head lifted to glance around and the elephant skull was now enlarged, and she found herself looking up at it in awe. Shaking her head she turned trying to scrambled up the bones, which was hard since her back legs kept slipping but she was slowly clawing her way up the middle, maybe she would be able to reach the top before the lion had noticed her fall, just maybe.

[shadow]

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?!

He was so lost in his thoughts, so lost into space, that didn't even notice a figure coming towards the Elephant Graveyard. He just sat there, simmering in his own rage and agony over his place in life... that is, until a shrill scream rang out. Completely in his own thoughts, Nuka immediately jumped up, making his own shriek of terror in complete surprise. Reflexes working quickly, Nuka caught his balance and slid down the remaining tusk of the elephant head, running towards the source of the sound.

He found himself looking over the top of the mountain of smaller bones, watching a golden lionness work her way up. He stood there, blinking a few times, and then shrugging, offered a paw to her, "Need a hand, miss?" It was so unlike an Outlander to be kind, but it was like Nuka... at least, it was like him when no one else was around to see it happen, particularly his mother. Plus, who knew... she could be an ally. He had no idea who the lionness was, though as soon as she made her way up next to him, the stench of the Pridelands was apparent.

Mom's gonna kill me for helping her then! he thought wildly. Must... fix... problem!

"Wh-what are you doing here Pridelander?!" he tried, though his voice was far from threatening given the panic in his mind. Zira would have his head for something like this...

[Kiara ♥]

Kiara could feel her heart pounding in her chest, so hard it felt like it could break through her chest and run away. ,She would fight if she had to, she knew that for a fact, but still it was a scary thought to be throat and throat with another lion. The golden colored lioness pushed with all of her might, and found herself propelling p the bones, with a lot of force but still. Her claws scratched against the hard bone beneath her paws, leaving permanent scars upon there smooth white surface. She could hear movement below, perhaps the male from earlier? Kiara's paws clung to the outside of the ditch, her front paws clung to the bit of earth she felt. It was soft against her pads, yet damp from all the moisture that hung in the air out here. Suddenly her hind legs kicked back some of the bones and they went toppling down below, her back legs now dangling in mid air. Kiara tried to pull herself up and over, with little success, flashes of stories of Mufasa clung to her mind as she envisioned her fathers stories.

Suddenly the lion from before was sanding over her, the same dark tan fur and black mane, was history doomed to repeat itself? To her surprise he extended a paw to her, asking if she needed help. She didn't know what to do about it, it could be a mistake, or it could be chivalrous she wasn't sure. Kiara flattened her ears and swiped at his paw, feeling herself slide a bit. Her eyes widened as she then took his paw and allowed him to pull her up the rest of the way. When she felt earth beneath all four paws she panted, turning to look at the lion her had rescued her. Her eyes wide in disbelief. Wh-what are you doing here Pridelander?!"

Kiara lifted and eyebrow she somehow didn't believe him when he seemed angry. Behind it all he seemed frantic like he was going to get scolded or something, which may as well be true. She knew she was going to be. "I was doing just fine without your help."[/color] she said her voice stubborn, as usual. She got to her paws, ears lifted as she let her ears flatten as they usually did when she was making a point, or just being plain stubborn like she was now.

Still she ran her brownish red gaze at him, her eyes softened ever so lightly. "Hey, are you ok?"[/color] she asked, walking towards him, making sure to keep her back away from him at all times. She was curious about the dark pelted lion he seemed so different from the tales she heard about Outsiders, he seemed torn and in despair or something, and even Kiara would not kick a lion while he's down. She had some morals, she tilted her head ever so slightly. "Im Kiara, what's your name?"[/color] she had asked, keeping her distance in case that fake anger act was yet another trick, she was not stupid and she did listen to a few things her father told her. Like to never turn your back on an outsider, because in seconds they can be biting into it. She would keep that thought in mind while she talked to this lion, if he did not leave.[/blockquote]
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[shadow]

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?!

"I'm dead," he responded almost immediately, frantically looking this way and that to make sure no other Outlanders had seen his actions to help a Pridelander. When he confirmed that no one was there, he sighed in relief, and then said, "I mean, I'm Nuka. C-come on, you aren't safe out here... and neither am I." He laughed nervously before sliding down the hill towards the Elephant Skull once again. He looked over his shoulder quickly, gesturing for Kiara to follow him, "Come on, hurry it up!" he exclaimed. "Or do you want to be eaten by the next lion that sees you?"

He slipped inside after that, avoiding a steam vent and making his way towards the back of the bone cave. When he heard faint footsteps following him, Nuka silently sighed in relief, knowing they'd both be safe down here and he could question her with his full confidence.

At last, when there was no where farther to walk, Nuka whipped around, growling, his eyes wide with excitement, "You should have known better than to trust an Outlander!" he exclaimed. "I'm the future king, Son of Scar and Zira, and I won't let you get away with trespassing!" However, he stayed glued to one spot, as if he was unsure of what to do next. It would be so easy to just attack, to just get rid of Kiara in one swift blow, but his conscious started to dig at him. He clearly outmatched her. There would be no fairness to this fight.

"Ah who am I kidding? I'm not king material if I can't even attack a little thing like you. Mother was probably right to choose Kovu as the heir... I'm a stinking nobody!"

[dwdruid]

The young lion Kovu, Prince of the Outlanders and Scar's chosen heir, silently crossed the barren ground of the Elephant Graveyard. Each step made him wince slightly as pained ebbed from the small wounds along his flank. But they would heal with time, they always did. Mother's training was brutal but she never punished him 'too' much. She wanted him in top physical condition so he could someday achieve his destiny. To slay Simba, avenge the death of Scar, and take his place as King of the Pridelande! At least, that's what mother keeps telling him.

But right now, she wanted him to find Nuka, who apparently ran off towards the Elephant Graveyard again. Nuka was never the most social or likable lion in the pride, especially towards Kovu, but he was getting even worse with ever passing day. Kovu was worried about his brother and even asked some of the other pride members what as wrong with him. Most replied that they didn't have time to worry about 'dirty, lanky runt'. Mother claimed that he was a failure in everything he tried and was unworthy. But Vitani always said that he was just jealous, jealous that Kovu was picked as 'the Chosen One' over him. Kovu still didn't understand, just because Scar chose him over Nuka didn't automatically make him better than his older brother and there must be something he could do that he couldn't. But Kovu honestly had to admit he didn't know what Nuka could do because he never really saw him doing anything.

A loud roar suddenly shattered Kovu;s thoughts as it passed over the gray wasteland. It sounded like Nuka's roar although he never roared that loudly before. "He must be around here somewhere," the young prince thought to himself as he continued to searching. "Nuka, Nuka where are you?" he yelled in the distance, "I know you're here somewhere Nuka! Come on out! Mother sent me out to find you, and you know how unhappy she gets if you keep her waiting! And whether he couldn't hear him or was choosing not to, Nuka didn't reply or show himself. After a few more minutes of searching, Kovu thought he heard voices in the otherwise silent dead land.

Kovu followed the sound all the way to the Great Skull, a giant elephant skull that was a famous landmark in the Graveyard, where they were coming from inside. Entering the cave, he soon found his older brother near the back. "There you are Nuka, I've been looking for you everywhere. I've been sent by mothe-..., who's this?" It seemed Nuka wasn't alone. In the cave with him was a slightly younger lioness that he didn't recognized. She had a fine, golden pelt instead of the usual ashy gray color of the other Outland lionesses and she body was much fuller and healthier-looking. She was pretty, actually, she was beautiful. Kovu was slightly stunned to see such a creature like her in the Outlands. He couldn't stop think, "Where did she come from?"

[Kiara ♥]

The golden lioness stared at the mangled lion curiously, he seemed rather jittery around here and she couldn't help but wonder why. Wasn't this his home? If anyone should be jumpy it should be her, and yet she felt relatively calm despite that minor detail. Seeing as he didn't seem like a threat at all just, well nervous. When he spoke about being dead, her eyes widened ever so slightly, what did he mean? Still thinking about now she could probably guess why, outsiders and pridelanders were supposed to be enemies, and yet she felt no hatred toward him though she knew she should. If only Simba could see her now, he would have a fit. She didn't know why it partly amused her to think of him like that, so she focused her thoughts on the lion, who still had yet to give her his name. She could see as he fidgeted a bit in his place, glancing around almost every second like at any moment someone would pop out and kill him right then and there. For all she knew maybe things like that did happen out here, the thought sent shivers down her spine.

The sound of a few pebbles perhaps falling caused him to jump up, begging her to follow him. He had gotten to his paws so quick that she barely had time to blink before he was sliding down the bone hills once again, and landed onto the ground. The princess tilted her head slightly, she had a bad feeling about this. Maybe right now would have been a good time to turn tail and run, but she could not be a coward. So getting to her paws the slender dark golden lioness lowered herself onto the bones, trying to keep her footing as she half slid down to the bottom, using her claws to help slow the rate of her descent, finally her paws landed softly on the ashy grounds, and she slowly followed him. Pausing as a bit of steam shot up, luckily she did not scream out but instead squeezed past it and headed into the elephant skull, who knew it could provide such shelter. Shrugging her shoulders at her own thoughts she padded on after the lion, whom she had recently found out was Nuka. "Nuka?"

she had called out to him when he went on ahead, her ears twitched at the errie sounds that echoed through here.

Picking up her pace a bit she finally caught sight of him down a ways, when she started to approach him she caught an odd gleam in his eyes. "You should have known better than to trust an Outlander!"[/color] Kiara froze and lowered her head, her ears flattened to her skull defensively. Her teeth were bared and she let out a growl of warning, her eyes locked on his thin form until the look was gone and he sat back. Her ears rose on her head, and she slowly relaxed but not fully. When he whined about how he couldn't do it, she took pity on him. She didn't know why but she did. Or maybe she knew what it felt like to be different then how they wanted you to be. Obviously he was meant to be evil, she was meant to be a perfect well behaved lady and she was not. Taking a few steps forward she tried giving him a small smile. "It's ok to be different you know. I mean life would be pretty boring if you were like everyone else."[/color] she said trying to make him feel a bit better.

She sat back o her hunches and stared at him. "I'm clearly different then how my parents wanted me to be."[/color] she whispered though loud enough for him to hear it. Suddenly she could hear paw steps coming from behind her. "There you are Nuka, I've been looking for you everywhere. I've been sent by mothe-..., who's this?"[/color] Kiara got to her paws, stepping off to the side as another male lion approached, someone Nuka obviously knew. His eyes were trained on her, as she could clearly see the stunned look on his face. The lioness narrowed her eyes and got in a defensive stance again, keeping her back away from both outsiders. "You... you tricked me.."[/color] she said turning her attention on Nuka, she didn't know why but she felt betrayed. "How long have you had him waiting?"[/color] she demanded and turned to have her eyes locked on the new lion, who looked a lot like Nuka actually.

Though he was more healthy looking, and rather handsome though she had no time to think about that. Kiara backed up a bit more, she knew she had to take this chance to move, and so without warning Kiara bolted for the front of the skull. Easily brushing past the newcomer, her paws pounded against the earth floor as she ran, seeing the entrance in front of her. She didn't know if they would chase her or not, but she wasn't about to turn back and check. [/blockquote]
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[shadow]

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?!

Nuka sighed when Kiara said it was okay to be different, and muttered, "Try saying that when you have a mother like Zira." Though he didn't expect her to understand at all. She was clearly younger, more naive then he, but at least she was nice, something he couldn't say about most of the other Outlanders... especially his mother.

However, Kovu had to come and kill the moment, just like he always did. No more time to shine, Kovu was here. No more attention, Kovu was here. Of course, she immediately turned to him, and Nuka noticed the light in her eyes. Yeah, sure, pay attention to him cuz he's got good looks! A growl escaped Nuka's lips as he stared angrily up at his younger "brother".

But before he could say a word about Kiara, she took off, claiming he'd tricked her. He looked after her, mouth agape for a few moments, "No, no! Kiara, wait. You'll get in trouble out there on your own!" He sent Kovu a meaningful glare, as if to say "nice going idiot" and then raced after the lioness, catching up with a few quick strides. It was a good thing he was lean, because he could surely outrun most other males his age. With a leap of fate, he tried to jump over Kiara to block her path, but instead ended up falling short, and cuffed her back legs. She kept going however, only stumbling a tiny bit while Nuka hit the floor rather hard, scraping his face against the unforgiving earth. He groaned in pain at that, the edges of his eyes welling with tears. Though it wasn't from physical pain... he experienced worse with his mother around... it was from being left alone again, deemed worthless or an enemy of some kind.

I'm too soft to be king. Mother was right to choose Kovu, he scolded himself in his mind as he picked himself off the ground, shaking his fur as clear of debris as possible. He sighed after that, hanging his head. Was there a place for him anywhere if it wasn't here? And if it was here, then how would he show his mother that he was a worthwhile cub, and maybe even heir?

[dwdruid]

Right after making his appearance, the strange lioness seemed to tense up and looked slightly nervous. Could this mean that she wasn't supposed to be here? Could she be a Pridelander? She then turned away from Kovu and began yelling at his brother. You...you tricked me! How long have you had him waiting? And without another word, she ran for the exit of the cave. Kovu didn't even try to stop her as she rushed past him and escaped the cave.

Confused over such events, he turned to Nuka for some kind of confirmation or explanation. All he got was a glare that seemed to burn with great fury and hatred before he too made for the cave's exit. "No, no! Kiara, wait. You'll get in trouble out there on your own!" he yelled as he chased after the stranger. Still confused, Kovu ran after him calling, "Nuka! What are you doing?" It was then that Nuka tried to jump for her. But Nuka wasn't trained to make such feats and he hit the earth. "Nuka!" Kovu ran up to his brother and bent down to make sure he was okay. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked with true concern. He lifted his head and watched the retreating figure of the lioness, Kiara, or so Nuka claimed. Wait, he knew that name! It was one of those names mother taught him hate, to despise, and someday destroy. Simba, Nala, Kiara, and Koda. All members of the Prideland royal family! All enemies!

[Kiara ♥]

[Exit Kiara, you two can continue the thread =)]

[shadow]

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?!

"Do I look okay?" he snapped back almost immediately. He had a few scrapes on his skin, but otherwise, there was nothing fatal. but that wasn't even what the young male was referring to. It was his emotional state of being that was wrecked, and it was all Kovu's fault for wrecking it in the first place. He lifted his gaze to meet his younger "brother's", the disdain pouring off of him in waves. Kovu this, Kovu that; the perfect lion for the imperfect Queen of the Outlands.

"What do you want?" Nuka asked sharply, running a paw over his mane to make it even slightly more orderly. It would be in vein though. He was always cursed to look like this. Unlikable by any female, too scrawny to really fight, and unloved by his own flesh and blood. If one of the Outlanders didn't kill him, he'd probably do it to himself the way he was going.

"Sorry, what do you want Your Majesty," he asked again.