Chapter 1

"Get out of here!" the dark lion cub growled, his haunches raised and his fur bristling.

Vitani's eyes widened in fright, and she took a step back. "You can't hurt me, Afua," she said in what she hoped was a confident voice.

Afua scoffed. "Why? Is your good-for-nothing brother around? You know I could take him any day."

"Don't talk about him like that!" Vitani said angrily, glaring at her adversary. Why did everyone have to pick on her and her family? Why had they ever done to them?

"What's going on here?" another voice said.

Vitani felt relieved when she saw Prince Kopa stalking over to them, clearly not pleased.

Afua relaxed upon seeing his friend. He sat and curled his tail around his paws. "I'm just putting her in her place." He lifted his paw and licked it absentmindedly.

"Leave her alone," Kopa said with a deep growl. He stood in front of Vitani protectively. "She didn't do anything to you."

Afua lowered his paw and frowned. "Not yet."

Vitani rolled her eyes. "By acting like that, you're not helping your chances."

Afua immediately bristled, and he leapt to his feet. "See? She threatens me!"

"I think you should leave," Kopa said.

Afua snorted. "Fine. Just keep her away from me." With that, he turned and stalked off.

Vitani's ears flattened as she watched him leave. Why did he hate her? She knew it had something to do with her mother, but she could not quite figure it out.

Kopa turned to her and gazed at her sympathetically. "Are you alright?"

"I could have taken him," Vitani said as she pawed the ground.

Kopa smirked in amusement. "I bet."

"Thank you," Vitani said, looking up at him. She appreciated how he always defended her. He was her only friend.

Kopa smiled at her. "Any time." He flicked her ear with his tail. "Do you want to go play?"

Vitani grinned. "Of course!" The two of them took off running and laughing.

The scene suddenly morphed. Vitani was standing with her family, Simba and the lionesses before them. Some of the lionesses had sided with them, and Simba was glaring at them all angrily.

"D-dead?" Vitani said, speaking the words in horror. That wasn't what she wanted!

"Get out and never return!" Simba bellowed. "If any of you set a paw into the Pridelands again, my lionesses will not hesitate to kill you."

Vitani gulped as she stared at him in fear. Her family turned and fled.

The scene changed again. Now Vitani was in the Outlands. She skidded to a halt in front of a hyena cub. Vitani recognized her as Asante, Kopa's friend.

"Where is Kopa?" the hyena said in distress. "What have you done with him?"

"No," Vitani said, shaking her head. "I didn't mean – this wasn't- I only -"

Vitani jerked awake. Her heart was beating quickly, and she looked around the den frantically. She only calmed once she realized she was in the Pridelands. Her memories had entered her dreams. She was safe now.

She knew the reason for her dream. Princess Kiara had just returned from the nursing den with two young cubs. The male and firstborn, Sadiku, was to be presented that morning. A new prince. Vitani had not thought about Pride Rock's last prince in a long time. She thought she had gotten over what had happened. Somehow, the events she wished to forget has penetrated her too deeply for her to do so.

"Vitani?"

The tan lioness turned her head to see Kovu standing near her, watching her in concern. "Are you alright?" he asked. "You were talking in your sleep."

Vitani winced slightly as she pulled herself up onto her paws. "Did you hear anything?"

Kovu shook his head. "I couldn't make anything out." He paused. "I thought you were done having nightmares. You're weren't dreaming about that cub again, were you?"

Vitani glanced down at her paws. She used to have nightmares like this when she was a cub, except usually they were much worse. After much pestering, she had told her younger brother what had happened. She appreciated how kind and understanding he had been. She let out a heavy sigh before lookup up at him. "I'm fine, Kovu. I promise."

Kovu seemed uncertain, but he nodded his head. "Alright. You going to be at Sadiku's presentation, aren't you?"

Vitani managed a small smile. "Of course. I wouldn't miss. I think I need some air. I'll see you later." Kovu did not stop her as she padded out of the den. She could see the sun beginning to rise in the distance. The others would be up soon.

As she walked through the grass, she reflected on how easy it had been for the former outlanders to fit into the Pridelands. Perhaps it was because many of them had lived their previously. Kovu had Kiara, and Vitani had never seen him happier. That left just Vitani, who did not truly feel like she belonged.

Maybe it was because of her mother. Being raised to hate Simba and Pridelanders had an effect that was hard to shake off. She had to consciously tell herself that she was not in enemy territory. She hoped being around Kovu and Kiara's cubs would help. She thought that being an aunt might be just what she needed to finally relax and settle down.

She wandered for awhile until she saw the animals making their march for Pride Rock. It was time for the ceremony. She took her place at the front among the other lionesses. They cast her a glance but otherwise did not say anything.

Soon, Rafiki was standing at the edge of Pride Rock. Kiara and Kovu walked up behind him, carrying Sadiku and Aziza respectively. Simba and Nala stood behind them. All four adults looked as proud as they could be. Vitani yearned to feel something, but there was only the anxiety that she was desperately trying to hide.

Rafiki took the reddish brown cub from Kiara's jaws and marked him. Then he stepped forward again and raised the prince up high.

The animals immediately started cheering. Vitani roared along with the rest of the lionesses. The future of the Pridelands was now secure. They had a prince.

"Congratulations," Vitani said as she padded into the den.

Kiara smiled at her. She held her two cubs securely in her arms, and Kovu stood beside her looking down at them. "Thank you, Vitani," she said.

Before anyone could say anything more, Simba rushed to the entrance of the den. "Kiara! Kovu!" he panted. "Follow me. I have to show you something."

The two parents exchanged looks. "Will you watch Sadiku and Aziza?" Kiara asked Vitani.

"Of course," Vitani said.

The cubs tried to cling to their mom as she stood up, but Vitani gently pulled them back by the scruffs of their neck. Then she lay down and gathered them in her arms. They settled down a second later.

"Thank you," Kovu said as he dashed out of the den with his mate.

Vitani glanced down at the cubs. This was the first time she had gotten a good look at them since they were born. Sadiku was slightly bigger than his sister. His main pelt was reddish brown, and his underbelly, paws, and muzzle, where a creamy brown. His tail tuft was dark brown, and Vitani predicted this would also be the color of his mane once it started to grow in. His eyes were blue like his grandmother's.

Aziza's fur was much lighter. Her main pelt was light brown, similar to the color of Kovu's underbelly, muzzle, and paws. Her secondary fur was a creamy gold like her mother's main pelt. Her eyes were green like her father. Vitani concluded that the female carried more traits from her parents and the male carried traits from past generations. It was a good mix, and Vitani found them pretty cute.

A little while later, Vitani heard pawsteps, and she looked up. Kovu and Kiara had returned. "What was that about?" she asked.

"Boga gave birth to another cub!" Kiara said, her eyes bright. "My father wanted to show us how to handle the situation. I was a bit nervous, but birth is so miraculous!"

Kovu smiled wryly. "I think she was braver about it than I was."

Kiara rolled her eyes. "You fainted when I had Sadiku and Aziza."

Vitani laughed. "What's the cub's name?"

"Tendaji," Kiara said, smiling again. "The father is Afua… again."

Vitani frowned at this. "Is Afua still hanging around?"

"He visits Boba occasionally," Kiara said. A small amount of sadness had splashed over her face. "They really want to be together. I do not understand why we have to send males away once they are five years old. It's not fair. Now Boba will have to lose two sons, assuming one of them will not catch the interest of Aziza."

"The age is five?" Kovu said, seeming surprised.

Kiara nodded. "My father said that is the age most lions are strong enough to challenge the king. We banish them so they won't have the chance."

"It's a sticky problem," Vitani said. "You've got to deal with it somehow. Besides, any male who has already found a lioness can go and start his own pride. Everyone wins."

Kiara frowned. "Most lionesses are too attached to their pride to want to leave. It's not fair that the only lionesses who get to find love have to be royal."

Vitani felt uncomfortable under her sympathetic gaze, and she glanced down at the cubs in her arms. "Have more cubs. Spread the love around."

Kovu chuckled lightly. "We'll have to think about that one."

Kiara snorted. "I'm going to think about a way around the law without putting the pride in danger."

Kovu smiled at her warmly. "You're going to be a great queen some day," he purred.

"Alright, I'm out," Vitani said before standing up. She was not going to sit around for all of this mushy stuff. She had never been attracted to romance, perhaps because her brothers were the only males she had known growing up. Also, since Kovu was adopted, their mother had betrothed her too him. Both of them had found it weird since their affections were that of siblings. Needless to say, it was a relief when he found Kiara.

"We'll see you later, Vitani," Kovu said as he walked to where she had previously been standing. He picked up Sadiku in his jaws, and Kiara did the same with Aziza.

Vitani gave them a nod before padding out of the den. Once they were out of earshot, she let out a long sigh.