: Chapter 10:

Truths and denial

Kovu was sitting besides Kiara still shocked by her violent actions would she really have killed those animals over a belief he had to know.

"Kiara were you really going to kill them?" Kovu asked.

"No not at the moment I was merely trying to prove a point it didn't work" Kiara answered.

"You were trying to force them to renounce their faith" Kovu said quietly.

"I was trying to convince them that they had turned away from their original lives" Kiara said.

"Would you actually kill them?" Kovu asked fearing the answer.

"Kovu I'm not the lioness you married I had hope and it was crushed to pieces if they slip up like that again will I kill them yes would've I before absolutely not" Kiara responded.

"You hate this" Kovu said.

"Of course I do why wouldn't I, once I was a lioness my brother would be proud of now I'm a savage but I can't change that" Kiara replied.

Kovu wasn't going to accept that "why you can always change you changed me remember" Kovu stated.

"No I didn't you were always that pure the moment you knew that I always loved you your stone heart melted" Kiara told him.

"I can't do that because their betrayal can't be made right because they don't realize what they did, I hate them Kovu I despise them, it took every ounce of self control I had not to slaughter them" Kiara said.

"We are one that is what you said if we give into our hatred we will kill ourselves" Kovu quoted his mate.

"Kopa said those words not me" Kiara said in shame.

"I'm afraid Kovu I'm afraid I'm going to become a monster" Kiara said saddened.

"Never you may threaten but I know you are not a killer" Kovu said while nuzzling his mate.

"You don't understand I don't want to let my hate go I want to kill them every time I extract my claws there is an overwhelming urge for me to kill because when I did, when I killed those animals at pride rock it felt good and deep down I want to experience it again." Kiara stated.

"You are not a killer you're denying your own soul!" Kovu told her in his voice shaking.

Kiara looked up at him sadly, "no you're the one in denial" Kiara told him.

Kovu nuzzled her tightly which she returned, it felt magical, these were the only times when she felt like herself again when she was with her mate.

Simba was waiting in Sarafina's tree Nala sitting beside him.

He struggled not to close his eyes knowing if he did the demon would be there. Simba felt Nala against him she looked as tired as he was.

"You're not sleeping anymore are you" he asked.

"No how can I knowing that thing is coming" Nala answered her voice weak.

"I wish you never found out" Simba said.

"So do I but I'm too tired to regret right now and hungry" Nala stated.

"You haven't eaten in days" Simba drowsily told her.

"What's the point I'm dead anyway I couldn't eat if I wanted to I couldn't sleep if I wanted to because the moment I try it all comes back to me and all I can do is stare at the wall while my body trembles" Nala stated.

"I wonder that as well it's soon why bother living when that thing is going to kill me anyway" Simba said.

Nala didn't say anything she just nodded in agreement.

Sarafina entered the tree and was shocked at the state of her patients.

"You look awful" she told them.

"This is the least of it" Simba said weakly.

"What on earth is wrong with you when was the last time you slept peacefully?" Sarafina asked.

"I can't anymore neither can Nala" Simba told her unable to even stand.

"When did this start" Sarafina asked.

"Shortly after the battle with Pindua" Simba answered.

"Was it frequent?" Sarafina questioned.

"No only once every three months or so then it became one month then two weeks then a week then a day then multiple a day" Simba answered tired.

"These must be awful nightmares how long has this frequent attack by them gone on" Sarafina asked concerned.

"A few days I can't even close my eyes without seeing them" Simba answered.

"Is it like this for you too Nala" Sarafina asked her daughter.

"Only once I realized what it meant" Nala answered fearful.

Sarafina was concerned, what did Nala mean by that it obviously wasn't good, "what do you mean by that?" Sarafina asked.

"I think it's a warning" Simba answered.

"a warning to what?" Sarafina questioned.

"The apocalypse mom" Nala told her.

Sarafina couldn't believe what she heard the apocalypse what on earth compelled them to think that.

"okay if I'm going to help you with this I'm going to need to know just what the heck you are seeing" Sarafina said.

"You don't want to know mom" Nala told her.

"Well that sucks because it's destroying my daughter and my son in law so your going to tell me" Sarafina stated.

"No Sarafina then you won't be able to sleep" Simba said.

"It wasn't until after I knew that it started affecting me too" Nala told her mother.

"I don't care and considering the fact that you Simba just told me my daughters state is your fault you are going to tell me what this apocalypse your talking about is tell me everything" Sarafina demanded.

Simba and Nala relented they then told Sarafina of the thing that haunted their nightmares the thing that would haunt everyone's nightmares before it slaughtered them like lambs.

Vitani sat in Kurongu's church alone contemplating her choice she knew she couldn't hide it much longer the truth of who she was, Shauku was family to her and yet she didn't even know her real name everything she knew about her was a lie and she couldn't go on doing it. She stared up at the symbols seeing the lion ascending he gave up his very life to protect the souls of everyone else he was brave and noble. Vitani needed that bravery she knew what she was about to tell Shauku may very well be the end of everything they were but she had to she just couldn't live with herself anymore.

Vitani entered Shauku's cave she was sitting by Uhuru who appeared to be crying.

"I didn't want this" Uhuru sobbed

"I know that's why I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to have to accept something so horrible" Shauku said hugging her daughter.

"I understand mom" Uhuru said,

"then you also understand that if at any point that secret is in danger of being revealed we will leave this place there will be no goodbyes we'll just be gone" Shauku told her.

"But what about Umoja" Uhuru asked,

"He may come with us if he wishes" Shauku stated,

"He wouldn't leave his family" Uhuru said,

"Don't be so sure Uhuru" Shauku replied,

"I wouldn't want him to" Uhuru stated,

"That's very selfless of you" Shauku said she hugged her daughter again,

"now get some sleep" she said, Uhuru nodded before resting on a rock with leaves around it.

Vitani made her presence known, "Shauku can I speak to you for a moment?" Vitani asked,

"of course" Shauku said stepping out of the cave and joining Vitani in the church.

Vitani and Shauku stared at one another it was clear this was important,

"what is it Hasara" Shauku asked

"I've become an official part of this faith" Vitani told her

"Yes I know considering whatever turmoil you have inside you I think it will be good for you" Shauku said.

"yes more than that I genuinely believe the message that is convened here I believe in something greater than us" Vitani said.

"Okay" Shauku said confused.

"I want to be a part of this but I can't fully do that while I continue to hide my true self" Vitani stated.

"It doesn't matter Hasara we all hide something" Shauku told her.

"It's not just that if I am call myself your friend if you are to truly trust me you need to know the truth" Vitani said quietly.

"Truth what are talking about Hasara" Shauku asked.

"That's not my name I lied to you about that because I didn't want you to know who I am" Vitani stated.

"who are you and why would you hide that?" Shauku asked her.

"You'll know my real name is Vitani" she told her.

Shauku's eyes widened in shock Zira's daughter all along her trusted friend was the daughter of the one who wiped out her people. It was a lot to take in she didn't want to believe it.

"I understand why you didn't tell me" Shauku said trying not to tremble.

"What kind of game are you playing" she demanded.

"I'm not trying anything" Vitani told her.

"Oh no you're mother wipes out my people then you befriend me and my daughter you really think that will make up for what happened?!" Shauku roared.

No she needed to calm down Zira killed her people not Vitani in fact she seemed guilty about it.

"She did it so why are you the one feeling guilty?" Shauku asked.

"It was my family?" Vitani said.

"Don't lie to me there are two forms of guilt association and direct you're showing the lateral" Shauku said.

Vitani felt tears in her eyes, "I asked her to do it" Vitani said in tears.

Shauku's jaw dropped, "she just wanted the three of them dead but I hated you all you killed Scar, you took my father away from me and I asked her to make you all pay!" Vitani sobbed.

Shauku couldn't move, "If not for me she probably would've spared your people I'm the reason hyenas are nearly extinct!" Vitani said broken.

Shauku was in disbelief she couldn't move her whole body had shut down from the shock of what she just heard, she finally found the strength to speak.

"Get out" she said in a whisper.

"Shauku" Vitani sobbed.

"Get out! Get out of my sight or I swear I'll send you straight to the pit you condemned my clan too!" Shauku screamed in rage tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Shauku please I'm sorry!" Vitani pleaded.

"You're sorry, bring back my clan resurrect my parents then maybe I'll forgive you!" Shauku cried in rage and sadness.

Vitani collapsed on her knees grabbing Shauku's paw desperately.

"Shauku please don't do this you're my friend I see you as family please Shauku" Vitani begged it was similar to something her mother did once and Vitani showed her no mercy something told her neither would Shauku.

Shauku stared at Vitani she regretted it but that didn't matter regret didn't bring back the dead.

In all truth Shauku should kill her for her clan, no she clearly regretted it and as horrible as her crime was she didn't deserve to die but no way could it be forgiven.

Shauku turned back to her cave, "you aren't welcomed anymore, I never want to see you ever again" Shauku told her turning her back on her.

Vitani let her tears fall from her cheeks the pain she was feeling hurt too much she collapsed on to the ground and continued to sob she looked up at the statue of The Mungu she turned away and sobbed into the ground.

"It's alright Vitani" a voice told her.

Vitani shot up looking for where it was there was nothing but she knew she heard it she looked at the statue of The Mungu he was here for her. Vitani let her tears continue to fall resting herself on the statue.

What Vitani didn't notice was a figure briefly appearing from the shadows he wrapped his paw around her, she continued to cry while The Mungu secretly held her.

Simba and Nala had finished telling Sarafina of the apocalypse they feared they expected Sarafina to call them crazy instead she merely stared in horror.

"You see that every night?" Sarafina asked.

"More than once" Simba answered weakly.

"No wonder you can't sleep the thought is terrifying" Sarafina said.

"Is it real mom, or are we just so scared we've mistaken it as real" Nala asked.

"Make no mistake you've let your fear consume you" Sarafina replied.

"The thought it's so horrible and you just can't forget it" Nala said

"It never should've gotten this bad" Sarafina told her daughter.

"When you see the apocalypse how can you just keep going?" Simba asked

"That's the problem since you have seen it you've accepted that it is inevitable you see only the world you've seen burn" Sarafina told them

"What more can we see?" Simba asked her.

"Life is that thing real I don't know but what I do know is you've done far more damage to yourself than it ever could" Sarafina stated.

"You're not afraid mom" Nala asked.

"I'm afraid that thing is horrifying but I have seen horrible things in my life I will not let it destroy me" Sarafina said proudly.

"You didn't see the end of the world" Simba defended

"You're so afraid of the end that you've completely forgotten about the now" Sarafina said.

"We have no future" Nala said in fear.

"The past can hurt so can the future but you can either run from it or face it" Sarafina told them.

"if you keep fearing it, it will destroy you" She finished.

Simba understood Sarafina's words it was no different than when he was afraid to face his past only now it was his future.

Simba forced himself to his feet and closed his eyes and there it was the demon staring at him.

"I knew you would come" it said in it's monstrous voice.

It twisted it's body and erupted the land into flames Simba stood his ground.

"Remember soon it won't be a dream" the demon mocked.

"Then come, I will not quake in fear when you arrive I will not run I will face you and if this is to be the end I will die alongside those I love I lived a full life I am satisfied" Simba told it while looking it in the eye.

He expected it to attack him to burn him to rip him to shreds instead it merely smiled in amusement.

"So you are not the coward I believed we will see if you live up to that claim just try to give me a challenge" the demon stated.

"Fine but remove your hold from my mate this is my battle" Simba demanded.

"If she's too weak to break free then she deserves whatever happens" the demon said it then blasted Simba sending him flying into darkness.

His eyes sprung open he felt stronger, so much stronger.

"Sarafina what has happened while I was gone" he said with strength.

"Hatari rallied a group of Kurongu's followers against our family, Kiara threatened to kill them" Sarafina told him.

"Hatari I knew he couldn't be trusted, and Kiara's gotten worse" Simba replied.

"can you help her" Sarafina asked though it didn't sound like a question and she already knew the answer.

"I can but first I need to find out what it is Hatari wants do you know where Kurongu is?" Simba asked.

"I can send him a message wherever he is" Sarafina answered.

"Do so we need to take action immediately before Hatari does" Simba said.

"I don't think that demon is fake I do believe everything Kurongu showed me but I think Hatari is linked to it all he was the one who send those visions to me I think somehow he has something to do with all this the demon, the church, the apocalypse" Simba stated.

"I think they're all linked, and I think Hatari is the source of that" Simba concluded.

Of course that didn't explain the most important part why, it was obvious whatever Hatari was after involved him, after all they were brothers but what was it what was his goal that was the final piece that tied everything together.

"So the pieces are beginning to fall in place now but how does this all connect what is Hatari's intentions, is he truly an enemy or an unknown hero? Simba is free of the nightmares but how was the Demon able to haunt him in the first place, were they visions that Simba's mind made real or is their truly a greater danger looming?" And what of Kiara can she be saved from the dark path she is on? All these answers and more await."