Fallen Allies

Chapter 19 An Invaded Mind

Akili and the Frostbourne had cleaned the bloodbath of Tigers and had made sure that nobody had caught sight of the spectacle. Akili gave the group endless praise for the feat and could only leave the others to wonder what happened to the Tigers.

The night was quickly closing in and Akili had finished washing the blood off of him, slowly walking from a small lake and shaking the water off of him. The lion looked to the horizon and witnessed as the moon cracked over, Akili smiled and sighed, "good evening my love" he said giving a bow, a small chuckle leaving him, "I know I've gone insane, you don't need to remind me" he laughed.

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The moon had continued to rise into the sky and Akili was slowly making his way up Pride Rock where he saw the royal family in conversation, "good evening, everyone" said the dark lion as he approached them, a look of fear painted over their faces causing a puzzled appearance to form over Akili. "What's wrong?" He asked the group but none of them responded, Akili sighed as he bent his head down, "someone saw didn't they" he said seeing a nod come from Nala, "I had done my best to make sure it didn't happen" Akili said.

He turned away and began to walk away but he was stopped when something hooked to his leg, "Azizi get off of him" Kiara said but Akili shot a glare at her, "I'm your guys friend, you don't need to worry for him" Akili said looking at the cub, "I'm sorry our day was cut short, if it's ok with your parents we can have more fun tomorrow, ok?" Akili said to the cub.

Azizi looked over to his parents with a pleading look in his eyes, his parents were hesitant on the situation and left without an answer, "come with us Azizi" Kovu said as he walked alongside Kiara. Azizi was reluctant, he looked to Akili who gave a small nod, "I'll see you tomorrow young one" the dark lion said causing Azizi to detach from his leg and catch back up with his parents, stealing one final glance from Akili as he walked into the den.

Akili looked over to Simba and Nala who still looked over Akili, "I did what I had to do, and I have no regrets for my actions against them, they are killers under a demon's name, and I did what I believed was necessary" Akili said as he walked towards a ledge of Pride Rock. Nala looked at Simba who nodded, she looked back to the black lion and slowly walked over to him, "Akili, what's going on with you" Nala said, "please just tell me this once, I won't bother you about this kind of stuff again just tell me what happened" she pleaded to the lion as Simba looked on.

Akili sighed; he was sick of how Nala would always pester him about these things but if he had a chance to get her to stop then he would take it. The lion's vision remained planted on the moon as he cleared his throat, "it's simple, I grew up" he said as he looked to Nala, "war is a plague that can't be cured, it's how the most powerful kingdoms have fallen and how others have risen and that's how it will always be" he said looking back to the moon.

"I learned that I can't be a peacekeeper, and when a person comes looking for a fight, I can't stop that in a mental state, I can only stop them in a physical state, and if that involves dismembering them, then so be it" he huffed. Akili kept his vision focused on the moon as voices began to play in his head, "I tried to be peaceful for too long Nala, I grew up and realized that sometimes you just need to use what you have and kill the people in your way" Akili continued on and it only sunk Nala deeper, he had been torn from his old self and it was more obvious than ever.

Akili smiled as he took a deep breath, his paw turned a mixture of green and orange and Akili pressed it to his chest causing him to exhale a large puff of smoke, "I learned something over the years Nala, mercy is a game for fools, in the end it will only get you killed" the lion said. Akili turned back to the royals and bid them farewell, slowly making his way down the slope of Pride Rock.