AN: This is my first fanfic so don't be too harsh please. I've had this idea for a while and finally decided to write it. I will appreciate any constructive criticism you can give me though. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lion King or any of the original characters. I only own the story idea and any unfamiliar characters.


"Vitani, now!" Zira snarled.

The order rang out through the battlefield and all eyes went to Vitani who paused for only a few seconds. Vitani's tail twitched, this was all following her plan.

"No, Mother!" She responded, lifting her head to look at Zira. The Outlanders closest to her turned to stare at her in shock and the eyes of the Pridelanders seemed to burn into her. "Kiara is right. Enough." She said before padding forwards. She crossed, stood beside Kovu, and lifted her head defiantly. The Outlanders glanced around at each other, and Vitani hoped they would still follow her.

"If you will not fight, then you will die as well." Zira growled as she prepared to pounce. The Outland pride glared at her in disgust and moved to follow Vitani. "Wh-wha-where are you going? Get back here!" Zira demanded.

"Let it go, Zira. It's time to put the past behind us." Simba said calmly. He watched Zira as he waited for a response. By now she was standing alone.

"I'll never let it go!" The lioness snarled, baring her teeth. "This is for you, Scar!" She growled before leaping at Simba. What she didn't anticipate was an attack from Kiara who caught her mid-air and sent both lionesses tumbling off the edge of the cliff. Vitani didn't expect it either, but it would save her the trouble of dealing with her mother later. She knew she would miss the crazy lioness, but Zira had already been too far gone to do much good in any plan. That was the last Vitani saw of Zira.

Vitani watched as the animals of the kingdom gathered around Pride Rock. The oh so brave and mighty Simba had summoned them to tell everyone the good news of the reunited prides. The whole thing disgusted Vitani, but she put on an excellent act. Everything was working in her favor, until she overheard Kiara talking to Kovu.

"K-Kovu… I know you weren't sure if we were ready, but since there's peace now I think we'll be fine." Kiara said. She shifted her weight from paw to paw nervously while she tried to figure out how to continue.

"We'll be fine with what?" Kovu demanded.

Kiara smiled and giggled. "I'm pregnant!" She whispered with excitement shining in her eyes.

Vitani growled quietly to herself. This cub would be her niece or nephew and as much as she wanted her plan to work, she wasn't sure she could bring herself to hurt the cub. She briefly considered taking the cub and raising it has her own but that would make her no better than Zira. That was one thing she wanted to avoid no matter what. She sighed and glanced at the gray furred, blue-eyed lioness beside her, a mentor of hers named Zenara.

Zenara had practically been a second mother to Vitani, she'd raised the younger lioness whenever Zira had found herself more concerned with training Kovu, which had been most of the time after all. Training had never seemed to cease, especially for Kovu what with him being Zira's little prince.

"Don't worry, Vitani, we'll figure it out," Zenara whispered.

"Tani, why're you so determined to do this? We could live out a good life and die in peace," A soft voice said from behind them. Vitani turned to see a young lioness with a light, golden coat. It was her friend from the Outlands, Nuru.

Vitani sighed when she saw the confusion in Nuru's green eyes. "Because all of us were wronged, Nuru. We were banished for something Scar did. The older ones may have believed he was right, but I was a cub! You don't remember it but you were a newborn when we were banished. We were raised in hate and grew up malnourished because of the choices our mothers made! If the mighty Simba cared at all he would have saved the cubs!" She spat. By the time she finished the fur on the back of her neck was bristling.

"Exactly, Vitani is right, Nuru, you know that, even if you don't accept it now. Just trust the plan. This may be a little hitch, but we'll figure it out. Don't fret," Zenara purred soothingly.

"B-but, Tani…" Nuru whimpered. She took a step back in fear and watched her friend and Zenara carefully. She'd always been a little afraid of Zenara, the same way she'd been afraid of Zira. Not to the same extent of course, but Zenara was just incredibly intimidating to timid, little Nuru. "That's in the past..."

"And that past is what led to this present." Vitani growled before brushing past the golden lioness. After a few steps she paused and looked back. "Don't question me, Nuru, you know I'm right." She said over her shoulder as she stalked away and left Nuru standing alone with Zenara.

"Oh, Nuru, don't you trust us? Or at least Vitani? She is your best friend after all, you don't really think she'd lead you astray, do you?" Zenara asked gently.

Nuru shook her head. "N-no, but I don't think this is a good idea and neither of you will even hear me out! Can't we just talk it over?"

"This has been the plan for years, Nuru, why should it change now? They may have taken us in, but that doesn't fix what happened before. Not even young Kion is innocent, surely you remember how he'd side with his little hyena friend over us?"

"Yes but-"

"But nothing, my dear. You'll see soon, it'll all come together. I promise. All you have to do, is trust us." Zenara smiled, padding away to follow Vitani.

The ceremony had ended and the animals of the Pridelands and started to return to their homes, meanwhile the pride was dispersing to go about their day. Nuru watched the animals below separate peacefully and begin to join their families as they left. Her attention was drawn from the animals below when her friend, Itanya, brushed past her.

"Come on, Nuru, you didn't forget we were going exploring today, did you?" Itanya smiled teasingly before leading the way to the path down from Pride Rock.

"I don't understand what's wrong with where we are now…" Nuru sighed to herself, shaking her head. She wished that Vitani and Zenara shared her opinion. Maybe she could get them to change their minds? Probably not, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.


AN: Thank you for reading! I plan on the chapters being longer than this. Please rate and review and if you have suggestions on ways to improve let me know! Also, if you see any errors let me know and I'll get them fixed when I can.