Wow, I can't even begin to think that this much time has passed since I last updated this fanfic. Honestly, thank you for all the check-up or update pm it meant a lot. Here is the next chapter!

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Chapter 49

They rose early, before the sun. Not that the great circle would be greeting them anyways. It seemed like the past few hours have been the darkest for the pride. Finally, being forced to leave their home. It would be the first time in known pride land histories of lions leaving Pride Rock.

The ground beneath their paws was cold, the dew from the morning was leaving a chilling sensation in the air. Time seemed to be frozen. Or at least that's how it felt.

Every one followed quietly behind Nuka, as he led the way to the Mountain Pride. The brown lion unbeknownst to him was following the exact path this father took. Each and every step.

Finally, he thought. the time had come.

"How long will it take us to get there?" voiced Shia as she inched herself closer and closer to her brother.

"only a full day, if we don't stop. We'll get there by tomorrow morning." The young lioness immediately rolled her eyes to the comment.

"ONLY a full day. Well, what about when we stop an eat?"

"We won't, it'll take up too much time."

"We won't?! what do you mean we won't. We've hardly walked for an hour and my stomach already growling."

"I told you to eat your fill yesterday."

"Well how could I if I had to share with them!" adolescent issues were something Nuka hated dealing with. Shia was a throne to his side, every time she came around. He could barely understand how his mothers deals with her. "I still don't get why you're so nice to them all the time, especially her."

"Her? She has a name."

"yea, I know." Nuka impatiently shrugged her off. He couldn't understand why Nala was on Shia hate list. Not that he truly cared. She couldn't do anything. It must be a female vs female thing. " anyways I can't believe you decided to leave the hyenas behind and let them rule the pride lands in your stead. Do you think they can actually manged? I mean hah, they weren't that bright if you ask me." She joke went on death ears. So determined to have some quality brother-sister time, Shia decided to change the subject."Hey! Do you think Vitani still remembers me? I mean I don't really remember her, she left when I was so young but mom says we are just alike, you think so?"

" Yeah sure."

" Yea sure haha-."

" Shia do you have someone else to pester besides me?" well that laugh was cut short. Like the rest of them normally are. why couldn't he just want to be around her? It's not like she was trying to be annoying, Shia just wanted to be around her big brother. But apparently, she's too annoying for that.

"yea I do." Quietly, the young lioness shrank into the shadow of her brother. Maybe she would have more luck with her mother, or heck, even the other lionesses in the pride. It's just an irritating feeling of always being annoying to someone you care about.

Following behind the pride. Nala dragged her feet and clumsily walked haphazardly in what she thought was a straight line.

"you look terrible." The voice caught her attention. As Sarafina lowered.

"Didn't get much sleep, Nuka saw to that..."

"Nala…"

"Mom, please don't, just don't."

"well excuse me for being worried about my daughter." The blue eye lioness retorted. The relationship was strained and she hated it. But what could she do? She had failed her, in the worst way possible. " I just want to help you."

"you can't mom, and you KNOW you can't. so stop trying."

"…you hate me." This was more of Sarafina saying this to herself for her to realize. "you have every right…. I couldn't protect you when you needed me most and I can't even protect you now."

"mom stop. I don't need your protection. It wouldn't do me any good either way. Just let me leave my life."

"I hardly call this living. You're a shell of your former self and everyone can see it!"

"Well, it's not everyone's business what I do-" in a swift motions Nala path was cut off by glaring eyes. Eyes that held both anger and tears.

"Nala just say it."

"what are you doing?" the lioness threw her head back. she didn't have time for her mother's pity party. "Say what?!"

"Say you're mad at me, you HATE me! I know it, I can see it in your eyes…" Nala had to pause to gather her emotions. So what if she did, saying it out loud or to her wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't bring Kopa back, it wouldn't bring Simba or Sarabi back, and it wouldn't stop Nuka from destroying her. so what was the point of telling her? "Nala."

"Sarafina MOVE or I'll move you myself."

She wouldn't dare. Or at least that was what Sarafina this lioness before her…Sarafina didn't know what she was. Taking her. Mother's stillness as an answer Nala pushed passed her mother and continued to move forward. "please, with this move. I want us to start over-"

"Well we don't always get what we want, do we."

She had tossed her turned all night. For some strange reason, the kings above would not let her rest. Or maybe it was her father who would not let her rest. After all, she had cursed his name so many times under her breath when he was alive.

This might be the mad king's payback.

With her father being dead, who knows what trouble he could be causing in the afterlife.

"you okay?" the voice shattered the stillness around her. As Vitani looked onwards into the dark night. This cave she and her and mate shared was so similar to her old home at pride rock.

There she could overlook the land and the sunrise in peace.

"I just, couldn't sleep."

"Was it Roho? then if so, I can understand." Kijivu asked, he leaned close in beside her. Vitani smirked at the thought. Well, that too played a part. That son of her has some mean back legs when he'd in a deep sleep.

"ha, I wish that was the case. I wish I wasn't up here thinking that in a few short hours my old past will be here."

"old past?"

"fine….my family. If you can even call them that."

"Vitani I know you've told me how your past was complicated. And that your relationship with your family was strained but don't you think with the time pasted and with your father gone, that that can be put aside?"

Ha, if only he knew.

" I wish I could say that it would be that simple to you Kijivu, I really do, but I just don't think so. Not in my heart at least. I didn't even go back to pride rock when the news of my father died. Do you think they would forget that? That they would forgive me for that?"

The king sighed. "well given with what had happened to you before, I would say you could have been indifferent about the situation. I mean, it's not like when you came here we hit it off."

"ha… I know, I was a total pain in your tail and your father wasn't I."

"…we had some moments of doubts."

"oh, kings…."

"But I knew that would pass because I knew the real lioness that was before me. of course, she had some wall build-up, with spikey thrones attached. "

"Yikes..."

"Young and immature at times yes. But given time and space. She would be a great queen and even greater mother."

Hearing her mates purrs Vitani leaned her head back against his mane. The fur enveloped itself around her, blocking out the view on the sides on her. keeping her safe and isolated.

" Stop making me feel all good inside, I don't deserve it."

"and why not?"

"….because. Kijivu you're the best thing that has happened to me. That will probably ever happen to me."

"I could say the same. " he nuzzled the top of her head. " Look today will be fine. You'll get to see your family, and friends which you haven't seen in a whole year." He did have a point, maybe seeing her family wouldn't be the bright part of her day. But to what Vitani could remember she and Nala were good friends and her cousin Simba too. It would be nice to see them again.

"You're right, I'm just overthinking it. And I had TWO friends by the way. But you're right I would like to see how they are."

"Exactly so stop worrying. And lets get back to bed before Roho realizes we are both gone."

"Okay."

That morning stretched out to an eternity as the lions of the mountain pride stood on guard with their king, and queen waiting of their expected guest.

"Roho, stay still." Hissed the cubs mother. feeling the back and forth moment against her hind legs.

"But I'm bored, when are the guest going to get here mom…"

"they aren't guest, they're your family remember."

"yes, I know uncle Nuka, Aunt Shia, and Bibi Zira. I remember."

"good. Now sit up they'll be here soon." The brown cub with the sliver lining down to the mid of his back slowly sat up.

"Kijivu, they should be here by now. It's almost the afternoon and we've had everyone here waiting."

"I know, but have patience dear they will probably be here soon-"

"Mom, dad look! I see them I see them!" Roho ran forward leaving his poor parents and pride behind. " I'm gonna greet them first!"

"Roho wait!-" well, his mother knew that call was going to go on deaf ears. Seeing the figures of her family come into fruition did deal different from just her imagination. " I swear that cub…"

"come on Vitani lets greet your family."

"…right."

As she walked down, Vitani couldn't help but think how much she has changed, how much her life has changed since leaving pride rock. But the more vitani thought about it, the real issue that brothered her about her family coming here was that she would turn back into her later self. A hurt, angry, and father please little cub. that hated the wold and everyone in it.

she was better now, she had help now.

Maybe her past coming to revisit her isn't such a bad thing. And besides with her father being gone, maybe Nuka has now become his own lion and not trying to follow in their father's pawprints.

What if he actually wants change, to form something true between the prides that could last generations. Even change the dynamic of the way prides will run.

A super pride, a mega pride, the idea is something to think about. And with two co-rulers, maybe this is a change the African savannah needs to sees. It was change, it was an idea -and that all ended the moment she saw him.

Or the lion she thought was supposed to be her twin brother. Kijivu had not noticed that his queen had stopped walking in her tracks as he went to greet their much-awaited guest.

"Hello, brother Welcome to the Mountain Pride."

yes, I am finally back, geeze it took me long enough to get my butt back to writing. Anyways here's a chapter before part 2 officially starts. I have some rewirting to do, but i will be updating soon. I hope you enjoyed and you'll be seeing from me real soon!

Lionesscreator out!