Chapter 12. The Meeting with Masava

Things grew better the next year for both prides. Thor decided that the Elephant Grave yard would be a good site for part of the new hospital and he would have another site placed near the termite mounds. Simba and he had the Zuberi River diverted to make another stream and the underground springs of the Outlands were found by the elephants and used as a water source. Some of the birds and other animals helped transfer grass seeds to the Outlands. During the next year the Outlands started to blossom. It would take another year the area would be completely ready. The hospital would take two more years to build. Thor asked King Simba if he could rule the Outlands as his own kigndom, but Simba told him he would have to seek permission from the Queen of the Outlands. "And who would that be, King Simba?" the red lion asked. "I thought both prides are one. "

"You are going to marry her, Thor. Vitani is the Queen of the Outlands" Simba chuckled.

"When did you make her Queen of the Outlands?" Thor asked.

"I did not make her Queen of the Outlands. She was already heir to the throne when she joined our pride. When I had the ceremony making her a princess, the Outsider lionesses told me that she was queen of the Outlands and she was supposed to take the throne after Zira was killed. I do not think she even wants to rule but the Outlands is her kingdom, Thor. So you will have to ask her."

"I will ask her after we have the ceremony making her a Journeyman Healer," the red lion proclaimed.

"I want to see what she will say, Thor when you tell her she is queen, "Simba laughed. Thor blushed but he joined Rafiki for the ceremony. Vitani stood on the platform of Pride Rock with all of the lions of the pride surrounding her. Rafiki and Thor stood in front of her. The other animals stood at the foot of Pride Rock. Vitani came up to Rafiki and Thor. Thor administered the healer oath to her. She swore to protect the lives of all ill animals under her care and she swore not to take life unless she absolutely had to and to follow the best course of treatment for the sick. Then Thor put the wildebeest horn around her neck. It was the sign of the healers. Then Vitani walked to the edge of Pride Rock with Thor and Rafiki and everyone cheered her on. Then everyone ate and had a glorious feast. After that Thor decided to take Vitani on a tour of the site for the hospital. Simba sternly told the red lion that Vitani had to return to the den after it got dark because tomorrow Queen Nala wanted to help them make arrangements for the wedding ceremony."It would be wise not to make your future in laws angry, Thor." Simba remarked to the red lion and winked at Vitani who laughed. Vitani and Thor walked the length of the Outlands.

"This is where you want to have your hospital?" Vitani remarked.

"It is a good place. The hot springs in the elephant graveyard are therapeutic. We can make rooms out of the elephant skulls. I am also using some of the rock formations near the termite mounds. There are some dens there that will be good for habitation. We use this for our patients and for our student healers. We want to make this a teaching hospital. And as you can see Simba and I diverted the river. It should take us two years to build the hospital and another year for the Outlands to be completely habitable. As you notice there is some grass blooming here."

Vitani looked at some of the blades covering the Outlands. There were grass and flowers and some of the almost dead trees were sprouting leaves. The red lion continued "My den will be good for the administrative headquarters and as our home. Rafiki will still have his tree but he will serve as one of our teachers."

"It sounds wonderful Thor. May I help you with this after I become a master healer?"

"Yes, you may. You have to serve a two year internship but that will not be hard. You will do that as we build the hospital."

"Did King Simba help you with this, Thor? Do you have his permission to build the hospital in the Outlands?"

"King Simba helped me plant the grass with some of the animals. He also had the elephants divert the river. But King Simba does not rule the Outlands. I have to ask their queen for permission."

"But Zira is dead and the Outsiders are part of the Pridelanders. And Kovu is the crown prince. Who is this queen you speak of?"

"It is you , Vitani. You were ruling the Outsiders under Zira. They consider you the queen of the Outlands. They told Simba this when he made you a princess .So Queen Vitani, may I have your permission to build the hospital?"

"Yes, of course my love and when you marry me, you will be the King."

"You will have to meet my mother but I know she will love you and no matter what she says we will be married, Vitani. My dad will love you too." Then Thor kissed her.

When Queen Masava came she was powerful and regal. She was dark brown with gray eyes. Her husband Muhulu was a large powerful red lion with green eyes and a gray mane like his son. Thor had a mischievous younger brother named Loki. He was in charge of the Pride's Lion Guard. Muhulu was happy to see his son and was more than happy to see that Thor was going to get married. Queen Masava was another matter. She did not like the fact that Scar was her father or that Vitani had been raised by Zira. She was also upset that Vitani wanted to have her own career as a healer. She demanded to spend time with the lioness before she would approve of the marriage. She did like the plans her son was making for the hospital. Vitani did not tell her future mother-in-law that she was queen of the Outlands.

"Why do you want to marry my son, Vitani?" the queen asked.

"It is simple. I love him." Vitani replied.

"Why do you love him, Vitani?"

"He is kind and strong. He taught me how to be good. He is my best friend. He also taught me how to be a healer and that is what I want to do. I want to become a master healer. "

"You are a journeyman healer. You could serve in our hospital in the Kingdom of the West. You would not have to marry my son to be a master healer, Vitani. Are you sure you do not want to marry my son because he will become King and Chief Healer of the Medicine Pride when I decide to step down?"

"I did not know your son was a prince when I met him, Your Highness. He was just a rogue healer. I learned how to become a healer from him and Rafiki. Then we became good friends. Thor was family to me when I belonged to the Outsiders. We have a strong bond. I want to spend the rest of my life with your son helping him with his work and raising his cubs. I cannot think of another lion that I would rather spend the rest of my life with. And if it means that he is a rogue, I would be willing to follow him to the ends of the earth. He is my home."

"I believe you are sincere Vitani and I do approve of the marriage. You have royal blood from both your mother and father. You are a good healer. I was not sure I wanted my son to marry a healer lioness but I think it is for the best. I have also heard you were a leader in your old pride."

"Yes, I was second in command. I can fight and hunt and I am well trained."

"That is good, Vitani. My son really loves you. Yes, I approve of this marriage. Now will you tell me where I can find the Queen of the Outlands? I must meet the ruler of the land that contains our new hospital."

"Oh, you have already met her your Highness. I am the Queen of the Outlands and Thor will be the King after he marries me." The queen gasped in surprise but was happy when she learned of this fact.

Vitani and Thor were married two weeks later. Kion and the Lion council attended the wedding and so did the members of the Medicine Pride. Pride Rock was decorated with flowers and Rafiki married the happy couple and performed their coronation ceremony. So now both Vitani and Thor wore the impala horn of royalty around their necks as well the the wildebeest horn that made them healers. Simba gave the bride away and Nala and Kiara were both matrons of honor. All of the lions roared their congratulations.

For the first two years of her marriage Vitani served her internship in the Lion Guard and helped with building the new hospital in the Outlands. Vitani helped Thor build a thriving hospital and she became a master healer and teacher of internal medicine as well as Queen. Thor was the chief administrator and chief healer as well as became their majordomo. Some of the Outsider lionesses and the part of the Medicine Pride joined these new other part of the Medicine Pride stayed in King Mochi's kingdom with Queen Masava. The couple gave birth to three healthy cubs and moved into the rock formation that served as Thor's original den. Zuri ended up marrying Thor's brother Loki and Loki became in charge of the Lion Guard in the Outlands.. Zuri ran the nursery for the lionesses of the Medicine Pride in the Outlands. Nala became a grandmother and continued to rule with Simba but then they stepped down and retired. They became advisors to Kovu and Kiara and to Vitani and Thor. Both Simba and Nala spent as much time with Vitani and Thor as they did with Kiara and Kovu and Kion and Tifu. Vitani was finally accepted into the family of King Simba and was happy to have a family of her own. at last.