Starting Over Again-Chapter 1, Vitani's Welcoming

Vitani had mostly expected Simba to banish her and the others from the Pride Lands. They had all fought beside her own mother, Zira, against the lions of Pride Rock, but lost. They would have to go back to the sun burned savanna which they were banned to because of Simba's uncle, Scar, but Simba had decided to give them a second chance after they stood against Zira, who realized her wrongness.

And the outcasts were welcomed in like old friends. Vitani's brother, Kovu, was in love with Simda's own daughter, Kiara, and Simba, Nala, and the future leaders of the Pride Lands stood at the mouth of the rock and roared the roar of power and love together. All of the lions behind them joined in, including Vitani who felt out of place.

And then there was Nala, Simba's wife and queen of the Pride Lands. At the beginning of the bloody battle, Vitani had made a rude comment to Nala about Kiara, beginning their own personal fight. So after the old and new lions had had their welcoming into the tribe, Vitani couldn't look intoo the eyes of Nala, but Nala felt differently.

"Would you like me to show you the hunting lands? I know that your tribe used to live with us, but that was before you and Kovu were born," said Nala, approacing Vitani with a friendly smile.

"Er, yes please," mumbled Vitani nervously.

Together, they leaped off of the large rock and began tracking the the grass lands. After minutes of silence and Vitani's lack of eye contact, Nala noticed and spoke to her.

"Is something wrong, Vitani?" she asked quietly, nudging her shoulds softly. Vitani looked up in surprise.

"You-you remembered my name," she said in awe.

"Yes, I still remember when you and your brother were born. Even though your mother didn't keep track with us and our new cubs, Simba was always able to inform us with yours'. Even after Scar's followers left with Zira, Simba was very loving towards you, even if he didn't show it in your mother's, er, 'meetings', said Nala. Vitani had never known that the original lions of the Pride Lands still loved them, at least not Simba.

"I...I didn't know that," she muttered looking down again feeling full of shame. She had never given any respect to Simba before now, thinking that he hated them all for following Scar. But she had been taught by Zira not to love Simba. She felt angry with her mother; they could have all easily gotten along and stayed at Pride Rock in the first place if it hadn't been for her loyalty to Scar and hunger for power. And many lions had had to suffer for her actions, mainly Vitani and Kovu.

"Yes, it's hard to believe that a single lion could have so much love and forgiveness to others," said Nala, obviously thinking beyond her conversation.

"I know."

"Vitani, you seem so sad. Please, what is wrong?" asked Nala again.

"He-Simba-gave us all a second chance. I-I just can't believe it. And you. I thought you would hate me after the fight," said Vitani quietly, still not looking into Nala's eyes.

"No, grudges and hatred is all a waste of time. If you don't mind my saying so, Zira kept us all hating wach other because of a grudge. But no, I do not wish to hate you. You were remaining loyal to your mother and to your tribe and I'm pround of that. We need loyal lions in the Pride Lands," said Nala in a motherly fashion, then nudged Vitani's shoulder.

"Hey, I know that you and Kovu will probably suffer the most because of all this war. It's all you've ever known, but we can change that, okay? And remember that you have just as much right to be here than anybody," said Nala.

Vitani grinned at her.

"Thanks, Nala. But nobody's going to see me suffer or get anywhere near it!" she said proudly. Vitani had always beed the though one, the one who always got along with the people she was supposed to and always gone with the plan with more enthusiasm than anyone.

"That's my girl," said Nala smiling at her then looking ahead.

When she said this, Vitani began to wonder if Nala was going to become the mother she never had. They were closer in years than Kiara and Kovu were, but Nala seemed like she would be a friend and a mother to Vitani. And she liked the new way. Vitani could finally start over.

Author's Note: I hope all you Lion King lovers like this story; it's going to be about the life of Vitani from the time Simba welcomed them into the tribe to, er, some time after that, haha! Please review! *ROAR!*