: Chapter 12:
Parent and child
Simba was deep in thought still struggling with the revelations about his son he just learned. It was terrible he never should've let such a thing befall his son what kind of father was he? He turned to Nala who had the same look of self loathing on her face. They couldn't ignore this they had cost Kion so much they had to beg his forgiveness. They entered a small abandoned cave where Kopa was sitting alone much like Kion.
"Son we need to talk" Simba told him.
"There's nothing to say" Kopa told them quietly, he didn't want this right now.
"That's a lie" Nala said sadly.
"I never knew you had so much resentment in you" Simba said while sitting next to him.
No he didn't just like he didn't know he burdened the whole world on his shoulders, or that Zira's words shook him so much he sacrificed any happiness for his duty, nor did he know how much Kopa wanted something more. His father and mother alike didn't really know him.
"There was a lot you didn't know about me" Kopa replied quietly.
Kopa almost didn't realize the words he spoke even as they came out of his mouth, why would he say that it was such a hurtful thing to say.
"No, I didn't mean that dad" Kopa tried to apologize, but Nala knew he was lying he meant every word he just never showed it.
"Yes you did, and you're not wrong" Nala tells him while placing her paw on his shoulder.
"No, it wasn't your fault!" Kopa cried.
Simba didn't believe that either, oh it was their fault Kopa could say whatever he wanted but in the end a child's safety depended on their parents if anything happened to the child it was the parents fault, Kopa's pain was on their head and they deserved every last bit of anger he had.
"It was, everything you're dark half said was true, you were my son I should've protected you and I didn't" Simba said in pain pausing before saying the last part.
In a sense it was true a part of Kopa even thought that but he buried it he shouldn't be fueling his father's guilt right now, he did what he had to.
"It was my choice and I made it" Kopa argued.
No Nala wasn't accepting that she never did not since the moment Kopa let go of her paw, it was his choice but he never should've had to make it, he shouldn't bury his anger for their failure.
"No Kopa say what you think don't bury it all anymore" Nala told Kopa practically begging the last part.
"You're right Kopa I didn't know you, I should've seen what you were doing to yourself and done something, I didn't know anything about my own son!" Simba said in self loathing.
"Please forgive us Kopa, We're so sorry" Nala said finally letting tears fall from her eyes.
Kopa wanted to ignore what they were saying to keep pretending he was satisfied with the choice he made that everything was fine, but everything wasn't, he wasn't. He couldn't control it in a single instant it all came pouring out.
"Sorry doesn't change the fact that I robbed myself of my childhood and you didn't even notice!" Kopa screamed in tears, Nala and Simba felt his words penetrate them deep into their hearts, how did they not notice?
"I should've been worrying about impressing Vitani not the survival of a kingdom." Kopa told them.
"The biggest choice I should've made was what kind of flower I would've gotten her not choosing my life or my mother's" Kopa stated crying. Nala and Simba felt their hearts break at his response they couldn't respond to that they didn't know how to.
"How do you two find the strength of living your lives at all?" LG Simba asked them having entered the cave.
"How do you even remotely manage to deal with the knowledge that your son died for you?" LG Nala asked in complete pity.
It was a question that haunted Nala and Kopa wasn't the only one people seemed to die for her all the time, Huzuni, Kopa and her journey to this world was calling forth all of them. The question haunted her and Nala didn't have an answer.
"I don't know and it makes me question my worth as a mother." Nala said in self loathing though mother was putting it lightly Nala questioned her worth as an individual period.
LG Simba turned to Kopa, "Do you blame your parents for how things went?" He asked Kopa.
Kopa didn't want to ponder this question it tied too much to Kito, he knew he made his choice but that didn't bring him peace anymore if it ever did, Kopa just wanted to believe there was a way his choice could've been prevented.
"I made my choice but if they knew who I was maybe I wouldn't of had to" Kopa answered.
"That may be true but maybe not, you have inspired so many others, who you became was a gift" LG Simba told him.
Kopa had heard all this and it just didn't matter to him anymore, it's not what he wanted it never was, Kopa looked up at him.
"I just wanted to live my life with her" Kopa said in tears.
Simba and Nala took their son into their arms embracing him gently, it had been so long since Kopa had actually seemed like a child, but it didn't matter he was their son, no matter what happened, rather he was with them or even dead, he would always be their son.
"We learned so much from you that at times we felt like the child" Nala told him while hugging him tightly.
"We spend so much time being your student, that we almost forgot the most important part, that you were our son, that you would always be our son" Simba told him allowing his son to bury his face in his chest.
"I'm sorry, this is my fault." Kopa sobs.
Simba held him close while Nala had her paws around him, "it's alright you don't have to hide it anymore, let it out son." Simba told him gently.
Kopa let his tears fall from his eyes he buried himself in his parents embrace and continued to cry letting out decades of tears and sadness.
LG Vitani watched in shock as Kito held Zira around the neck while Nuka cowered on the ground. She was surprised to learn that he already had her family stating that he wanted to make sure they were safe for her. It was touching but once again a little creepy, though that paled in comparison to his anger which she was now seeing for the first time and she couldn't deny it was scary.
Kito tightened his grip around Zira's neck growling in savage rage, "It's because of you that I lost her, because of you that I had to endure all this pain, tell me do you understand what you put me through!?" Kito demanded placing his claws to her throat.
"Kito, leave her be" LG Vitani demanded.
Kito without hesitation released her allowing her to fall to the ground. He could tell Vitani was worried. He regretted letting her see his rage like that he never wanted her to see that part of him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you" Kito said regrettably.
A bit late for that he definitely frightened her that was for sure especially considering the idea of what shei was doing mix that with his anger and well being afraid is a perfectly reasonable response.
"It's fine, move please" LG Vitani asked, Kito responded immediately.
LG Vitani approached her mother who looked like she was in bad shape though nothing fatal and in truth she probably deserved some of it Kito probably wouldn't of hurt her if she didn't deep down feel her mother deserved it still She didn't want to see her mother actually hurt.
"You alright" LG Vitani asked her, Zira gave no response.
"Sorry I had some resentment issues" LG Vitani told her.
Resentment issues was that her daughters response to sheer carnage that happened to their pride. Zira understood her daughters anger towards her but the entire pride no she couldn't understand that, and Vitani didn't seem like she cared all that much.
"What about the other outsiders did you have resentment towards them too" Zira asked her.
"He's a little overzealous" LG Vitani replied.
"Are you so blind that you can't see how dangerous he is?" Zira said bluntly.
Oh no she could definitely see it finding out her entire pride was massacred was rather jarring and even terrifying considering Kito did it all by himself she would've preferred he came to her first before doing that however she had to admit the loss didn't really phase her all that much it was just the notion of Kito's anger that was scary, that she might have him as tightly as she would like to believe.
"I got this" LG Vitani said with a smirk before turning away from her she turned to Nuka.
"You're alright too right?" She asked her brother.
Nuka in truth was actually in quite a bit of pain Kito was a lot less aggressive with him than Zira in fact Nuka wasn't certain Zira was going to survive at first, he got off lightly in comparison.
"Yeah, don't worry about Kovu he didn't lay a paw on him" Nuka answered.
Interesting it was becoming difficult to ignore all of this. She didn't tell Kito anything about her relationship with her family. He just knew which ones wronged her, he knew her relationship with her mother, he knew about Nuka. How did he know this it was a question she wondered, She was questioning how much control she had Kito just seemed to know what she would want him to do regardless if she was there or not.
"I imagined he wouldn't I had no issue with Kovu" LG Vitani replied trying to remain calm it seemed to work.
"What did I do sis?" Nuka asked her.
"You ignored me, left me to be completely alone, you're not blameless" LG Vitani told him harshly.
Realizing it was true Kito hurt him because she wanted it, she wanted him punished just not too severely, and Kito already knew this it was creepy but it was also...she didn't know exactly...he knew her so well almost perfectly in truth she was wondering if he knew she was playing him, he seemed to know everything else, but if he did wouldn't she be dead right now?
Nuka looked at his sister in shock was she seriously using this monster to judge her entire family, what would she do if she didn't forgive them would she kill them, no no way she was that ruthless. She was his sister they were family, she would never lett true harm befall them.
"But I've forgiven you both, soon Nuka everything will be better and we'll be a family again all of us" LG Vitani told him.
"What are you talking about?" Nuka asked.
"You'll know soon" LG Vitani told him before turning away from her family and going back to her little puppet.
Puppet except is he or is he just that devoted, nothing he did was something she wouldn't of asked him and she finds out it's done already. She had him wrapped around her paw yet he was the one who actually knew who he was playing against.
"Is their anything else you wish, my sweet Vitani" Kito asked her.
LG Vitani smiled before embracing him pulling him in closer, though why she was smiling she wasn't exactly certain was it because he would do anything she asked or perhaps was it truly starting to touch her heart he knew her this well.
"Well there are some hyenas hanging around, would you perhaps" She said not even bothering to finish her desire was clear, her tone was perfect her thought process on the other hand.
"Anything" Kito told her it was the only thing he could say and considering her response to hyenas he had an idea she would ask it even before he spared them but he wanted her to ask it, to insure he wasn't mistaken.
"Good boy" She thought this part of her was currently stronger, she then kissed him gently she then slowly pulled away before walking back towards Zira, Kito just stared at her in a love struck daze.
"why do I have a feeling he had at least an idea I was going to ask that" Another part of her said it wasn't very strong but she did notice it.
Zira watched as Vitani seduced the lion that attacked her the idea that he was a cub still shocked her, normally she would be humiliated by her defeat but at the moment he just scared her too much to worry about that, and yet there was something even scarier, he was powerful more powerful than anything Zira imagined and Vitani had him wrapped him around her paw, it was terrifying, she was playing a very dangerous game.
"So what do you think mother, you think he's a keeper?" LG Vitani asked her rather smugly it didn't completely reflect her actual emotions.
Zira turned to her daughter, "You're playing a very deadly game Vitani, he is very dangerous." Zira told her.
"Where's the danger when I already won?" LG Vitani asked arrogantly.
"What do you think will happen when he finds out you're playing him, you keep playing this game you could end up dead" Zira warned her.
There was no could if he found out she was dead Kito could easily and literally break her in 2, if she provoked his wrath she was dead he would tear her apart but it was too late to stop she already seduced him and couldn't turn back nor did she want to, she never had this kind of power before or devotion, which did she want more?
"He loves me, and believe me he does he could never hurt me" Vitani said supremely confident and she believed it it scared her but she did, he just supported that belief.
"Why string him along like this, it's cruel, why Vitani?" Zira asked her daughter.
Why indeed was it fear of being killed a part of her seemed to think so but she wasn't certain. LG Vitani honestly didn't care if she died her life didn't mean that much to her, which made how much he seemed to value it strange. No she wasn't actually afraid of dying. So why, power he had the power to bring her the vengeance she always wanted, vengeance on her mother, the hyenas, Simba and his pride, the world itself. He also had the power to give her what she wanted most. She needed his power, she wanted his power….and his lo...yalty.
"He's going to give me what I want most and trust me you'll love that too" LG Vitani told her.
"I've got this" she told her mother before leaving her and returning to Kito.
Kito was waiting in what almost seemed an empty void there was nothing different except she wasn't there with him. He felt a heavenly scent assault his nostrils he took it in and relished for a moment he didn't turn he hadn't done enough to earn the beautiful image in front of him, finally he turned around and took in the sight, it was perfect, she was perfect.
LG Vitani gave him a seductive smile wrapping her arms around again and pulling him closer but not kissing him no he would earn that, "now about those hyenas" She asked him her voice like a siren to him.
He knew, he wasn't a fool she was using him to get what she wanted. He knew this and he didn't care. If she wanted him to be her slave rather than mate than he would live out his existence as her slave. It didn't matter because he was nothing without her. She was his life it was why he gave himself the name he did, because without her he was nothing. She was his life, his heart and soul everything that defined him. She would use him, play with his heart, disregard his feelings and use him for whatever she wanted. She would give him false hope and then at the last minute pull it away to leave him wanting more, she would drain him dry and he didn't care. He was her puppet and it didn't matter to him because without her he had no reason to exist, he was hers now and forever.
Kion was sitting alone in an isolated cave on the other side of the den pondering the recent events further. Fuli and the guard left to find the Vitani of this world hopefully before Kito did, a thought that ate Kion up currently. He was supposed to stop Kito before anyone else got hurt and yet he failed once again. The hyenas, his friends and now even the great kings, each time he failed against Kito more was lost all because of him and now due to losing the roar he might've just destroyed any chance they have of defeating Kito, he may very well have cost all of them their lives, some hero he turned out to be.
Kion was just lying down fighting the tears he was feeling he wanted so desperately to save them but couldn't it was why he couldn't face any of them he deserved to be here alone. Even as Kion was thinking this he smelled his parents presence. He turned and saw them slowly approaching him he turned away.
"Kion are you alright" LG Simba asked him.
"No I'm not" Kion answered.
They didn't like his response he rarely ever sounded that defeated but there was something worse underneath it, a complete self disgust, they never wanted him to feel that. The truth is they weren't sure what to say and almost wanted to hold off confronting him but after seeing their counterparts conversation with their son they knew they couldn't hold it off any longer.
"Kion it's alright you can talk to us" LG Nala told him trying to hide her pain it was very difficult.
"There's nothing to say, nothing I deserve to say." Kion responded the second part was a near whisper, his parents still heard it.
"Nothing you deserve to say, why would you think that Kion?" LG Simba said trying not to choke up.
Kion turned to face them and it made him feel nauseous they depended on him yet in the end he couldn't actually reward that faith, he didn't deserve to have them in his life or anyone for that matter, if he couldn't protect them he deserved to rot in misery, he didn't even deserve to speak to them.
"Say something Kion please" LG Nala pleaded quietly.
"No" Kion said in a near whisper.
"Kion I know what you're thinking right now, but you can't just give up on yourself" LG Simba tried to reason.
Kion heard his father's words and considered ignoring them but seeing the pain in his eyes he couldn't bring himself to.
"Why can't I?" He asked his voice was still very quiet.
LG Nala wanted to say something but she knew the truth this was something Simba had to respond to because despite everything she had never felt guilt or feelings of failure on this level, she didn't suffer like her mate did, which at times she regretted.
"You know why deep down, you failed you did but you've failed before you've lost before and you continued onwards and found a way." LG Simba responded.
LG Nala was surprised that wasn't what she would've said but Simba knew the right words to say she could tell they hit Kion, now it was her turn she knew what to say now too.
"You feel you have failed Kion but you haven't yet, it's only when you give up that you truly fail." LG Nala told him.
They both wanted to embrace and hug Kion but knew that wouldn't help he wasn't looking for love from someone he was looking for the hero he was losing sight of hope that they could still win, comfort would push him away. They knew their son very well. Both LG Nala and Simba were feeling like failures themselves right now but they couldn't let it show if they did Kion would retreat deeper into his self loathing. It was a futile gesture as Kion knew them too and his words destroyed any pretense of them getting through to him.
"So you burden my failure on your shoulders let it eat away at you, you look at me and it fills you with a deep shame for yourself, my failures become yours" Kion stated very firmly yet also with a hidden sorrow.
LG Simba and Nala looked at Kion with shock they didn't expect that response because it was so painful not only that but it was calculated Kion chose those words to hurt them. He would attack their personal feelings to make them leave him alone.
"Kion how could truly say something like that" LG Nala said in pain.
"Am I wrong" Kion asked her, his tone was so harsh they won't sure how much more of this they could take before they broke.
"Kion please" it was all his father could say.
"Get out" Kion said quietly and very coldly.
In that moment LG Simba and Nala felt their emotions crumbling they were about to say something when a paw was placed on them, it was Vitani's.
"Leave him, you did what you could but this isn't what he needs to hear right now, I know it is difficult but right now you need to walk away." Vitani told them with compassion but she was still firm.
LG Simba and Nala understood her words and turned away it was difficult but necessary. The truth was that Kion was a lot like Kopa especially who he was before he fell in love, there was something else Kion needed to hear and it wasn't them, however they had seen Kion like this before and he always pulled through, he was strong and they were proud, they knew he would prevail again but if that was to happen they had to walk away right now. They smiled at him softly before departing.