Every couple chapters will be a Vitani chapter, so this story isn't just about Akida and Nia.

A tawny lioness napped in the sun, surrounded by her new pride. Their chitter chatter buzzed around her and was lulling her to sleep. Just as she was really dozing off, a small body jumped on her. She groaned and put a paw over her face. She heard her friend, Dotty, laughing faintly beside her. "I think someone wants to play."

Vitani then felt her tail being pulled, sharp little teeth puncturing the sensitive skin. She lifted her head to give a lazy look.

A golden cub grinned back at her, her tail still in his mouth. Vitani hid her smile and lifted her tail to bring her nephew over to sit by her belly.

"Mornin' Aunt Tani! Miss Dotty!"

"Mornin' Akida." The two lionesses chimed together.

"Aunt Tani, I was wonderin' if you could train me." Akida looked hopeful.

Dotty chuckled, "This should be interesting."

Vitani blinked at her and tilted her head to Akida, "Train you for what?"

"To fight!" The prince jumped up into an offensive stance and growled. He snapped his jaws at them playfully.

Vitani raised her brow at him, "Oh really? And what brought this on?"

Akida wriggled his rear, "I met this girl yesterday, and she says her pride teaches cubs to fight. I want to fight too!"

"What girl?" Vitani questioned.

"You think he's talking about Musa's cub? The one who ventured into the Pride Lands yesterday?" Dotty offered.

"That's her! Her dad came to get her, and her mama." Akida said.

"So you met a Outlander yesterday, and you want to do what they do." Dotty smirked and shot a glance at Vitani.

"Don't influence him, the kid doesn't need to grow up like us."

Dotty rolled her eyes and smiled at Akida, "Kid, you know that your half Outlander?"

Akida stood straight, "I am?" He looked down on his pelt, "but Nia's fur is different than mine."

"You got that from your mom but your mane," Dotty reached out and ruffled his tuft, "That's an Outland color."

"Yeah?" Akida grinned, his face full of excitement.

Dotty nodded, "It's in your blood ."

"I didn't know that. I just thought since I was born in the Pride Lands that I would be a Pridelander."

"Oh no, "Dotty chided, "Your father's Outlander blood runs through your veins."

"As does your mother's Pridelander blood." Vitani cut in shooting Dotty a look.

"So," Akida replied thinking, "I'm like the pride. Split between two different birth places?"

"You've confused him!" Vitani growled at Dotty.

"Maybe he's too young to understand."

"Ya think?!" Vitani snapped, she then turned to Akida, "Dotty is right about Outlander blood in you. But you are a Pridelander, as are we. And you ain't split between nothing, you're the product of both prides coming together in unity. Your like are our sign of hope."

Akida's ears pricked, "Hope?"

"Yeah, kid." Dotty smiled a apologetic smile, "And I'm sorry for confusing ya."

"But Aunt Tani!", Akida pleaded, "I still want to fight!"

Vitani stared at him, weighing her options. Suddenly, she jumped up into an old offensive pose and snarled at him. Akida's eyes widened and he gasped. He tried backing up but tripped over his self, landing backwards on his back. Vitani came to stand over him and growled. Akida shook with fear and quickly shut his eyes.

"Vitani?" Dotty 's voice questioned her motives.

She ignored her and bent her head to his throat. Akida whimpered. Vitani then started purring and she nuzzled him. She then extended a claw to tickle his belly. Akida giggled and wiggled out from under her. He smirked and growled before charging at her.

Vitani side stepped him only to be surprised at his quick turn, Dotty's laughing ringing in her ears. The cub jumped at her but she dodged him, then came around to catch him by his scruff in mid air.

He struggled to get out of her grip. He clawed, kicked, and cub-roared before finally giving up. Akida sighed and looked toward Dotty, "Help?"

She chuckled, "Sorry, cub. Your Aunt there was trained more thoroughly than I. I'm afraid I would only be in the same place as you, if not worse."

Vitani laughed and nodded toward Dotty before walking away from her and the pride.

"H-Hey! Where are going?!" Akida panicked. Vitani only purred in reply.

"Oh man, " he murmured as he saw the den where the pride slept come into view. His ears lowered and he pouted.

Vitani strolled in and approached a sleeping Kiara. She set Akida down and roared loudly. Kiara startled awake but relaxed when she saw it was only her sister-in-law," 'Cuse me, Kiara. Sorry to wake ya."

Kiara yawned, "No problem. I shouldn't be sleeping this late into the afternoon anyway."

"Yeah, you are getting' lazy, But I didn't come to tease you. Your cub here, "Vitani stepped on his tail as he tried to sneak away, "wants to learn to fight."

Kiara stood, suddenly alert, "Absolutely not."

"But mom!" Akida whined. Vitani let him go so that he could approach her, "I want to learn."

"No!" She all but roared. "It's dangerous and I won't allow it."

Akida's face fell, "But why?"

Kiara's eyes softened, "I'm sorry, honey. I just don't want you to get hurt, or worse."

A deep chuckle echoed through the cave making everyone turn their heads. Kovu walked toward them, a smile on his face, "So, what's this about fighting?"

"Akida wants to learn, but I've already said no."

Kovu tilted his head, "Why? I don't see what harm it would do. Actually, I think it would benefit him."

Akida grinned and perked his ears up. Vitani frowned," I don't know, Kovu."

"Come on Tani, teaching him to fight won't turn him into a savage Outlander. He won't be like we were."

"No!", Kiara interrupted, "I am his mother and I said no."

"Kiara," Kovu groaned. He walked over to butt her head. "He needs to learn to defend himself. We don't want him to be in a situation where he needs to fight and then turn out only as good as you."

Vitani burst out laughing, "Your right little bro! Kiara couldn't fight her way outta paper bag!"

"I can too!", she snarled," And who would teach him? Who could we trust."

"Tani." Kovu replied calmly.

"Me?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes, if you will."

"If you both want me to, I can assure ya, he won't come to any harm with me."

Kiara walked over to her son, "You make sure to learn all you can so that one day you can kick both your dad and aunt's butts!"

"I will mama!" Akida laughed and raced to the mouth of the cave. He stopped to call back, "Come on Aunt Tani! Let's go kick your butt!"

Vitani mock roared before sprinting after him.

Victory

Is

Mine