Chapter Ten: Memories
Blue Iced Lioness: Thank you, and Kula won't be in the story for a bit so enjoy NO CRAZY! *Does a little dance, only to have Tama facepalm* oh… Tama was watching… and I'm glad you like Tama. I'm glad I can only make her look better. *Tama: Thank you!* No problem Tama! Enjoy the chapter
Whoa it's fandoms: I've got a Mitani shipper, eh? Hmmm, they'd be cute but… you'll see. You'll just see *Myota: What are you going to do?* I'm not gonna say, Myota. *Myota: Why?* Plot reveal. *Myota: TELL ME WOMAN!* Nope, you're gonna have to wait like everyone else. And yes, no Kula in the chapter. Or in this one. She's at the insane asylum, getting some pills before I even THINK about having her near me… and oh mind reader, what am I thinking now? Lol enjoy the chapter.
CSIMentalistTLK lover: No problem about the shout-out. Tojo's okay, a little emotionally scarred, but okay. With Rafiki and Mufasa, a little humor to an overall serious chapter always helps. Also with Vitani getting closer to Tama and Tojo, it's because she has had, well Kula… oh poor girl. Thank you and enjoy this chapter!
TRON0602: You're welcome for the shout out. Damu and Kweli huh? Blood and true. I'm already attached to Shari as a name so I'll have to choose between Giza, Damu and Kweli now. Thanks for the names. Oh, and for your story, when Kali and Usafi have a cub, I was thinking either Maji, which means water for a boy or a girl, Kengee, which means sunbeam for a boy, or Zuri, which means beautiful for a girl for names. I just thought they fit that lovely couple. Tojo told Tama of the rape, and luckily Tama understands. She's like her mother in that way. I didn't mean to even reference Heart of a Lioness either. Bonus! And another Mitani shipper? Oh dear… just wait and see, please. The pride will understand Myota's reluctance. I'm sure Zira will MAKE them understand her son's reluctance. Hey Zira may not be evil in this fic, but she's still a fierce lioness. Thank you! And I am patiently awaiting your next chapter. Enjoy the chapter.
"You were raised by Kula before?" Sarabi asked Myota quietly.
"I was. She had me calling her 'Mama' and said she loved me… then Vitani came along, and I was forgotten." Myota's lime green eyes looked into Vitani's electric blue, and Vitani lowered her head. She knew that Myota was right.
"That's horrible. She gets a cub she wants and she forsakes the other!" Sarabi snapped.
"I think that was her plan when it came to Tama bringing me home." Vitani whispered.
"What do you mean?" Myota asked.
"Tojo was raped. Kula's likely pregnant. She has a cub she wants, and I, too, am forsaken." Vitani said, her blue eyes looking into Myota's lime green orbs.
"Kula's just a terrible lioness. What could I expect? She's Scar's daughter." Sarabi said.
"But, what of Kula's own mother?" Vitani asked.
"Insane. Kenya was just as insane as her daughter. She raped two other lions that I've heard of." Sarabi said.
"Rikala and Kiara's fathers." Myota said softly. He had heard the story from Rikala and Kiara themselves. Sarabi nodded.
"I heard Kenya had cubs, but wasn't sure until I saw Rikala and Kiara, and their similar structure to Kula and Kenya, but…they aren't Kula nor Kenya. They resemble their fathers greatly." Sarabi said.
Vitani saw the sun setting and heard a roar.
"That's the call. The kill has been brought back to Pride Rock." Sarabi said. Myota and Sarabi began walking, but Vitani hung back, looking around. She smelled acacia trees. Why was that scent so familiar to her?
"Vitani?" Myota asked.
"Coming." Vitani followed Sarabi and Myota, still smelling the acacia until the party made it back to Pride Rock. Tama and Tojo had already had their fill, and they were awaiting Vitani to get her fill. Vitani bypassed the kill and went deep into the den, Tama and Tojo watching their daughter retreat.
"What's wrong with Vitani?" Tama asked her mother.
"She's just, she's feeling a little guilty." Sarabi said carefully.
"About?" Tojo asked.
"Me." Myota said.
"For what reason?" Tama asked the white lion.
"I'll let Vitani explain to you. She's your daughter, after all." Myota gave the Queen a slight smile. Tama followed Vitani into the back of the cave. She saw a tear escape the young lioness's eye.
"Vitani?" Tama asked quietly. Vitani turned to her mother, tears streaking down her cheeks. Vitani hiccupped a sob, lowering her head. Tama ran to her daughter, nuzzling her.
"Vitani, sweetie what is it?" Tama asked.
"I… Myota…I." Vitani started sobbing, unable to speak fluently. Tama held her daughter close to her body, letting the young lioness sob.
"Hush, it's all right, c'mon you're okay." Tama said softly. Vitani continued her sobbing.
"Vitani, shhh. C'mon, breathe baby." Tama cooed. Vitani stopped sobbing, but her tears were a steady flow.
"But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away,
When it seems all your dreams
Come undone," Tama sang. Vitani looked up at her mother with curious eyes.
"We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride.
We are more than we are
We are one." Tama sang. Vitani smiled a little.
"I remember that song. It's my lullaby." Vitani said softly.
"The one I always sang to you every night before Kula kidnapped you. It calmed you, no matter what state you were in." Tama smiled. Vitani set her head beneath her mother's chin. Tama purred a little, soothing Vitani's frayed nerves.
"Myota said he'd let you tell me whatever's going on. I'd like to know." Tama said softly.
"Well, you promise you won't chase Myota out?" Vitani begged.
"Of course! Tell me, baby." Tama whispered.
"When Kula kidnapped me, Myota was living in the Outlands, as Kula's son. Kula exiled him here, and you saved him." Vitani said. Tama smiled.
"That just proves to me Kula's as insane as her father. You and Myota have none to fear." Tama said.
"Thank you." Vitani said.
"Honey, I'm your mom, I'll forgive you no matter what you do." Tama said. Vitani backed away, looking into her mother's golden eyes.
"Kula would hit me if I did something wrong." Vitani said.
"That was horrible of her. I never will hit you, no matter my anger towards you at the second. The same goes for your brother, Muujiza." Tama said with a smile.
"I promise I'll do the same." Vitani said. Tama nuzzled Vitani.
"You've adjusted well." Tama said.
"This is home to me. The Outlands were just… a place to live. This is home." Vitani said. Tama felt tears well in her eyes. Vitani's expression changed to that of concern.
"Don't be concerned, baby. I'm all right, I'm just happy." Tama said as tears fell off her own cheeks. It was Vitani's turn to nuzzle her mother.
"I am too, I love you, Mom." Vitani said. The phrase came out smoothly, like a gentle river. It surprised both mother and daughter that the phrase was easily said.
"I love you too," Tama said, "do you want to stargaze tonight?" Tama asked.
"What's that?" Vitani asked.
"You'll see. I'll bring your brother along as well." Tama said. Vitani smiled.
oOoOo
Kula could only smile. She was sure, growing inside her, was a cub. And not just anyone's cub. It was the King's cub. She would be birthing a child within four months, and it would be Tojo's child. Tojo's child… her and Tojo's son…
"My Mistress?" Amani asked. Kula looked up to the black lioness.
"Yes, Amani?" Kula asked.
"You seem to be glowing. Do you think it was successful?" Amani asked.
"It should be. This is exactly the way Father would've wanted it." Kula said.
"I believe so. Scar would want his genius in his grandchild, yet Tojo's strengths, and your intuition." Amani praised.
"Oh, Amani. I already have a name for him." Kula said.
"That would be?" Amani asked.
"Giza." Kula smiled.
"May I ask, what if it's a girl?" Amani asked.
"That's a good question. Why don't you name her if it's a girl?" Kula asked.
"I will, but why?" Amani asked.
"Because she will immediately be killed. I don't want a daughter. I had Vitani, look how that fiasco turned out." Kula scoffed.
"But this girl will be of your flesh and blood, more like you. Think of it. If it is a girl, she won't turn on her mother, will she?" Amani asked.
"I suppose not. Maybe I can accept a girl." Kula said.
"Or twins, perhaps?" Amani asked.
"Twins would be perfect. I mean, why wouldn't I have twins? Look at Simba and Tama, my despicable cousins. They're twins, so twins run in the family." Kula smiled evilly. Amani didn't like the smile crossing her Queen's face. It was almost as if Kula had gone insane.
Had she?
oOoOo
Tama, Muujiza, and Vitani lied on their backs beneath the stars. Tama smiled at Muujiza, pointing out star shapes, like one looked like heart, and another Pride Rock.
"Look, there! A rabbit," Tama pointed, "see its tail?"
"I see," Vitani pointed at another shape, "look, two lionesses fighting," Vitani chuckled, "this is fun." Vitani said.
"We used to do this all the time when you were a cub. You would point out the rabbit." Tama said.
"She did?" Muujiza asked, his bi-colored orbs curious.
"I would?" Vitani asked.
"Yeah, kind of like how… how your Grandpa Mufasa would." Tama said. Vitani looked at her mother. She had a memory rip through her conscious.
"Slow down, little one. Yes, onto the Queens. There was Jolina. The daughter of King Azir and Queen Aza, an unknown Princess. There was a prophecy held to the Wise Queen, that she would save her old pride, the pride she never knew. And she did, at the cost of her life for her lands and her child." Tama said.
"W-Would you do the same fowr me, Mommy?" Ashaki asked her mother, her electric blue eyes wide.
"Any mother would, Ashaki. It's our instinct to protect our cubs. We have no choice but to do so, because your lives are so important to us. Fathers are the same as well." Tama said, a faraway look in her golden eyes with tan flecks, as if she were remembering something.
"But, what if…" Ashaki said.
"'Shaki, let me tell you something. Mother's Love. I'd give my life for you and for the cub I carry now. My lovely baby girl, let me tell you something my father told me," Tama looked at the sky, "look at the stars. The Great Kings and Queens of the Past look down on us from those stars. So even when I'm gone, I'm still with you, no matter what happens." A gentle breeze started blowing. Ashaki nuzzled into her mother's fur.
Vitani gasped and sat up, unsure of the memory. Muujiza and Tama followed suit, concerned for the Princess.
"Vitani?" Muujiza asked.
"A memory. From when I was a younger cub. You had just found out you were pregnant with Muujiza, and we stargazed together." Vitani told Tama. Tama's golden eyes filled with tears, but not of sadness, no, these were tears of glee.
"You're remembering." Tama said softly. Muujiza smiled and nuzzled his sister for the first time. The gesture somewhat surprised Vitani, but she allowed it and nuzzled her brother back.
"This is good, right Mom?" Muujiza asked Tama.
"Very good. I'm so glad." Tama then pulled her children close to her, and they all hugged. Vitani felt a tear leave her eye. She was feeling. She wasn't just a hollow shell of no emotion, she was feeling again.
What the three lions didn't know was that they were being watched intently. A growl emitted from its throat.
A/N: Uhhh…? Oh dear God, is this lion Myota? Has he not let his anger go like he said he had? OR is it someone else?
Review who you think it is! Or review just for the hell of it, I don't care! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.