Sins of the Past

Part 12 Past and Future

Everyone returned to Pride Rock. Kiara had delivered a healthy female cub. Everyone was overjoyed at the new princess. All except Vitani. She lay outside the den watching the sky as it turned dark and the stars started to come out.

"Why Mother?" Vitani asked the stars. "Why did you do it? Why did you kill all those cubs? And why… Why am I exactly like you? Whenever I look at my son, all I can think of is how simple it would be for him to just… not be here anymore! I can't stand to be near him, I fear all I will do is bring him harm. Like you did to me and my brothers and all those other cubs… The ones that lived and grew up under your harshness and the ones that died… They all suffered from you. I still suffer. I hate you. You made me like this! I will never know peace…"

Kovu came out of the den to find Vitani talking to the stars. He sat beside her, nuzzling her as tears fell from her eyes.

"You need to forgive her Vitani," Kovu told her. "Kiara has told me it's the only way we can move on…"

"I can't forgive her!" Vitani growled. "I hate her! I hate everything she did to me! I cannot forgive her for that…"

"Then you will be no better than Mother and Scar were. They let their hate consume them, and look where they ended up. Alone, fighting themselves for their own selfish reasons. I can't let that happen to you Vitani…"

"Have you forgiven her?" Vitani asked. "For everything that she did to you? For everything she made you do?"

"No, not completely," Kovu admitted. "But every day I try to let go of a little bit more… It helps. You'll feel so much better. Please Vitani. Think of one thing Mother did and forgive her for that…"

"The first cub she killed in front of me was a brown spotted cub," Vitani stated. "He was so small… And without warning Mother just took him and wrung his neck. At first I didn't even realize what she had done. It was only when his mother buried him that I realized he was dead. I was less than a year old. You and Nuka were off doing something, so I had gone with her to see the new cubs. After that I never willingly went to see the cubs with her. But she would force me to go anyways…"

"I'm sorry Vitani… I know it hurts. But you need to let it go…"

Vitani looked up into the night sky with her tearstained eyes.

"I forgive you Mother, for killing that brown spotted cub," Vitani muttered. "You forever traumatized me. But I forgive you…"

Vitani let out a big sigh.

"Do you feel better?" Kovu asked.

"I don't know," she replied.

"You will, I promise…"

Nala had been patiently waiting to speak with Vitani and had overheard most of the twin's conversation. Her heart broke hearing them speak. She felt a kick inside her from her unborn cubs. Nala looked up into the darkness. Vitani and Kovu turned to go back inside the den and they saw Nala.

"I forgive you Zira," Nala said up to the stars. "For taking away my son Kopa all those years ago… I have another chance to be a mother again. But I cannot have that if I continue to hate you. Goodbye Zira. I hope your torment has ended…"

Vitani was dumbfounded by Nala's words. All she could do was just stare at her.

"Kovu, may I speak to Vitani alone?" Nala asked.

"Of course, Mom," Kovu replied. He left the two lionesses alone to speak.

"He calls you Mom?" Vitani cried.

"I told him he could if he wanted," Nala stated. "Though he doesn't do it often…"

Vitani choked on her tears.

"I need to talk to you Vitani about us," Nala started. "You, me, Simba. Since I've been back I've had these pains. If this isn't resolved I'm afraid I'll lose my cubs…"

"I was thinking of leaving the pride… When my son is older…" Vitani stated.

"No, no Vitani!" Nala replied. "I don't want you to do that! When I left, I didn't realize that you loved Simba. I didn't realize that Simba was in love with you. I thought you were just continuing to control him as Zira had commanded you to. But I see it now. The way he looks at you. The way you look at him. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I know it's killing Simba too, though he hides it better. I can't let you go on like this…"

Vitani let out a sob, though she tried to hold it back. "Simba's the only lion who's ever cared for me," she cried. "But he's your husband… He doesn't belong with me…"

"Vitani. Long ago before the Great Kings, lions would rule their prides of lionesses, taking them all as his mates. There was always a hierarchy, but none the less they all would bare his cubs and loved him as their protector and their King. Even when the Great Kings first began, they would often have second or sometimes even a third wife. Today Great Kings still have mistresses, although no one talks about it. Vitani you need Simba just as much as I do. And he needs you just as much as he needs me. And my selfishness needs to stop. If there is a way we can all be happy together, then why should we fight it?"

"You would accept me?" Vitani tentatively asked. "As Simba's mistress?"

"Yes," Nala smiled. "But I would prefer if you were his wife too. Wouldn't that make you happy Vitani?"

Vitani burst into tears, resting her head on Nala's shoulder.

"We would be sisters, wives, raising our cubs together…" Nala told her.

"Could I call you Mom?" Vitani cried.

"Yes, if you'd like to, you may…"

"Can my son, Kitoto call you Mom too?"

"Sure, of course," Nala said, giving Vitani a kiss on the forehead. "Now, come. Meet my granddaughter. Then we will tell Simba our arrangement…"

"I hope he's okay with it…" Vitani said. She hadn't thought how Simba would respond to the idea of breaking the current Great Kings laws…

"Well if he's not then we'll just overrule him!" Nala said teasingly. "There are two of us after all… How can he resist us both?!"

Vitani let out a small laugh. "That's true…" she reasoned.

"As Queen I always get a say…"

Vitani followed Nala into the den to see Kiara. Kiara held her tiny daughter in her arms, Kovu lay next to her beaming with pride, Madoa and Makovu peering over nervously at the newborn cub. Off to the side Doa was nursing Kitoto. Vitani smiled down at the newborn cub. It was the first time the pride had seen her smile in a very long time.

"What is her name?" Vitani asked her brother and sister in law.

"We wanted to ask you for a name Vitani," Kiara responded. "You said you had girls names picked out for your cubs. Which one was your favorite?"

"You want me to name your daughter?" Vitani asked, truly touched. "The princess?"

"Yes," Kovu assured her. "She is your niece. You are a part of our family Vitani, why not include you in our daughter's naming? We know you had your heart set on having a girl. What would you have named her?"

"Tamani," Vitani replied. "Wish…"

"I think that's a lovely name Vitani," Kiara said. "My precious little Tamani…"

Vitani walked over to Doa. "I'll take Kitoto," she told her. "You need to save some milk for your boys…"

Vitani picked up her golden son, who wiggled in protest and took him to the other side of the den. Nala then went over to Simba.

"Come Simba," she told him. "Let's speak with Vitani… We've come up with a solution we want you to hear…"

Simba was relieved to see the two lionesses in such good spirits. He hated seeing them at odds with one another. He walked over to the other side of the den where Vitani was nursing Kitoto. Vitani kissed her son's head and looked up lovingly at Simba. Simba could not help but smile at Vitani's sudden change. What Nala had told her, seemed to truly bring her out of her depressed state. Nala sat down and explained to Simba what she had devised as a solution: to make Vitani, his second wife…

"I don't think that's in accordance with the laws of the Great Kings…" Simba pondered.

"But you are the King," Nala assured him. "You could change the laws. Just as you did to allow the Outsiders back into our pride."

"Would this make you happy Vitani?" Simba asked. "To be my second wife?"

"Yes," Vitani said in earnest. "It truly would. I want a family for my son… For us…"

Simba knelt down and kissed Vitani, sweetly. "Then it will be so," he told her. He then turned to Nala, kissing her. "You're cubs will be a part of our family too. I will love them and raise them as my own…"

"Of course my love…" Nala replied, kissing Simba gently.

Zazu was the only one who objected to Vitani becoming Simba's second wife, but the rest of the pride quickly pressured him into accepting it. Vitani became like her old self again. Each day she forgave Zira for another crime or punishment Vitani had been forced to witness or participate in. She played with her son and her niece and nephews. But she was still shy about showing Simba affection with others around. She would pull away if Simba tried to kiss her openly. Only if he surprised her, was Simba successful in stealing a kiss from her.

But alone, Vitani was very different. She relished in the attention that Simba gave her, demanding that he fulfill her need to be loved, held, and pleasured. Simba gave himself freely to Vitani, he always made sure to accommodate her wishes. Feeling and experiencing Simba's love for her put Vitani at peace with the world. But still she didn't know how to act around him when they weren't alone. She had no loving relationships from her past to use as a guide, so she preferred to save her affections for Simba when they were alone, so that the judging eyes of the world would not see her at her most vulnerable.

Simba also made considerable efforts to be with alone with Nala more often as well. She did not demand from him as much physical attention as Vitani did, but still she wanted his love, his touch, his protective reassurance. Nala's pregnancy was progressing more smoothly, the pains that had caused her worry, were now gone. She had made true peace with Zira, Vitani, and the rest of the former Outsiders. She enjoyed the playful cubs running around and looked forward to adding more into the pride.

When Nala's cub was born, all came to see it. A girl, cream colored, just like Nala. The older cubs eagerly wanted to see their new future playmate.

"She's so small!" Madoa stated.

"She looks just like Queen Nala," Makovu proclaimed.

"She's my sister?" Tamani asked.

"Not quite," Kiara explained. "She's my sister. Your aunt…"

"She's my sister!" Kitoto proclaimed. "I'm Kiara's brother, so Mommy Nala's cub must be my sister too!"

Vitani thought for a moment. "Technically, none of you boys are related to her…" she stated.

"That's not fair!" Madoa exclaimed. "I wanted another sister!"

"Me too!" Makovu joined in.

"She doesn't have to be our actual sister!" Kitoto said joyfully. "We can still treat her like our sister!"

"You play too rough! Be nice to my aunt…" Tamani added.

"All right cubs, why don't we leave Nala alone for a bit," Doa said calmly. "Let's all go down to the river for a nice fresh drink!"

The cubs raced off after Doa and the rest of the pride resumed their normal activities.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Simba asked.

"No," Nala admitted. "But it can wait a bit. I'm just so glad that she will be loved."

"Yes, she will," Vitani agreed. She gave Simba a kiss and rubbed against him before walking suggestively out of the main den. But Simba was oblivious, looking at the new tiny cub.

"Go with Vitani, Simba," Nala said sweetly. "I'll be fine here. Tomorrow will be your first day babysitting five cubs. I doubt you'll have much free time then…"

Simba smiled and lovingly kissed his Nala. He then went in search of the feisty Vitani. Kovu would patrol alone today. The future peace of the Pride Lands had been secured. Peace and love had triumphed at last over fear and hate and would continue for many generations to come.