Chapter 11
Leo and the lioness both stood there for a few seconds, both looking ready to attack and tear into each other throats! However, after a few seconds, Leo dropped his defensive stance and sat back down under the tree. The lioness, on the other hand, gained a confused look, but then went back to looking like she was going to attack.
"What are you doing?" The lioness growled.
"I really don't want to fight right now." Leo replied with a shrug. "It's such a nice night, and a fight would just spoil it. So, you can do what you want, but I don't want to fight."
"But you have to fight! I'm gonna kill you right here and now!"
"Then so be it…"
The lioness couldn't believe that he wasn't going to fight! He was going to be easy prey, but something in the lioness told her that killing him was not right, and she let out a groan of incredulousness.
"If you're not going to fight, then I can't kill you…" The lioness muttered.
"Then how about you sit down and… we'll talk?" Leo asked.
"Talk?" The lioness asked, her tone incredulous. "You would talk with an outlander?"
"Yeah, why not?"
The lioness took this into consideration, and then replied, "Alright…"
The lioness then sat down in front of Leo, who said, "So… you're an outlander. You don't seem all that bad to me…"
"Tell that to your king…" The lioness replied, her tone sarcastic.
"I know what you mean. He hates anything that's not a pridelander, a prey animal, or a lion like he is. And I should know, because I'm his son."
"You? You're his son?"
"Yeah." Leo replied. "Didn't you hear the stories about a man living among lions?"
"I did. But I had no idea that the man in question was actually the adopted son of King Simba himself."
"Well, now you know. Speaking of which, I think I should at least introduce myself: My name is Leo. And, what is your name, if I may be allowed to know?"
"My name is Vitani…" the lioness replied, her tone somewhat more relaxed.
The name hit Leo hard, and he felt a pang of guilt in his gut after he remembered what happened between him and Braun. Instantly, he remembered what Braun had said to him, and he realized that this lioness was the one he was supposed to protect!
"Vitani, huh?" Leo asked. "That's an… interesting name."
"So is Leo." Vitani replied.
"Right… So, do you have a father?"
"No. I have a mother, though. Her name is Zira; she's the leader of the outlanders."
"I've heard of her. My father talks about her, but not in a good way. I don't know why he doesn't like her so much; maybe it has something to do with Scar."
"You know about Scar, then?" Vitani asked.
"Yeah, but we don't speak of him in an honorable way." Leo replied. "Holding him in high respects is a crime in the Pride Lands."
"But he was a good king, as far as I know; He did his best to help the Pride Lands."
"No, he didn't. I'm sorry, but what you believe is a lot of dung; Scar wounded the Pride Lands. The food, the water, the herds, they were all ravaged by him. And in the end, when his throat was on the line, he turned on those who helped him."
Vitani let out a growl when Leo said that, and said in an angry tone, "You shouldn't say that about the rightful king…"
"Easy; I'm just sharing my opinion." Leo spoke, standing up and putting up his hands defensively. "If I offended you, then I'm sorry, but what I believe is that Scar was not the rightful king. You can believe otherwise, but that's what I believe…"
Saying this calmed Vitani down, and both were silent for a few seconds. Vitani asked, "Things are rough all over, huh?"
Leo nodded in reply, and then said, "Still, it's too bad the views of you outlanders differ from our views. If we were all on the same page, I think Simba wouldn't mind you guys coming into the Pride Lands."
"That won't work. Zira's rather stoic in her ways, as she was Scar's greatest supporter when he ruled the Pride Lands."
"That does present a bit of a problem…"
The two were silent for a few seconds more, both thinking about what the other said. Finally, Vitani broke the silence and asked, "So, where did you originally come from?"
"Some giant bird that crashed in the jungle." Leo replied, smirking a little at Vitani's shocked expression. "Apparently, this bird ate others like me, including myself when I was only a cub, and was flying somewhere. But, I guess someone in the bird punctured its stomach open, caused it fell down into the jungle. Those who were eaten by it got out, but they were attacked by a lion named Braun; some got away, while some weren't able to escape."
"Wait a minute… Braun. I know who he is; he walks between the Pride Lands and the Out Lands. I've known him ever since I was a cub…"
Leo gritted his teeth in pain when he heard that, and he asked while trying to keep a composed tone, "Really?"
"Yes, but I haven't seen him." Vitani replied. "Usually, he walks in between the pride lands and the outlands, but he didn't do that today. I searched for him high and low, but I couldn't find him. Do you know where he is?"
"Uh… well…" Leo hesitated, trying to find some way on how to tell what happened. "He… He's dead."
A shocked look came over Vitani's face, and she asked, "How did he die?"
"He went to the carcass of the giant bird, and… he got impaled on a piece of it. Apparently, it was made out of some kind of hard material, almost like stone. He slipped, got stuck on it, died instantly. I'm sorry…"
Vitani closed her eyes, a pained look on her face; at least she knew what happened to her friend.
"Did you see him die?" Vitani asked, her tone saddened.
"No, I found him." Leo replied, which was a lie. "I was wandering around there, and I found his carcass. If it's any consolation, I buried him."
"I thank you for that."
Leo nodded, and the two were silent again for a few seconds. Leo then broke the silence and said, "So, Braun told me that you Outlanders were planning on overthrowing the Pride landers. Want to tell me about that?"
A shocked look came over Vitani's face, and she replied, "I think I should be leaving now."
"Wait." said Leo, which caused Vitani to pause. "All I know is that you guys are trying to overthrow us from the inside, and that Kovu is in on it. Is that true?"
"Why would I tell you anything?"
"Because I'm not going to tell; if I do, it'll only add onto Simba's paranoia. Plus, I like Kovu, and I think he would be a good mate for my sister. So, you can tell me if its true or not, and I'll let the stones fall where they lay…"
Vitani paused, thinking of what to say, and then replied, "Yes, it's true; Kovu is part of a plot to overthrow the Pridelanders, and take Pride Rock."
"Ah, that explains it." said Leo.
"I should leave now; I have other matters to attend to. I take it that you won't tell?"
"No, I won't. Not because I support you guys or anything, but for my own reasons."
"And those would be?"
"Simba's clearly not in the right; he's grown too… protective, of Kiara. Not only that, but anybody he deems 'unworthy' gets banished from the Pride Lands. So, I'm not going to be a contributor to his growing paranoia, and I will see how this will play out. And, if possible, convince Kovu not to go through with it."
Vitani shot a weird look at Leo and replied, "You're really strange, you know that?"
"I get that a lot." said Leo. "So, will I see you again?"
"No, you will not; at least, I don't think so. Goodbye, Leo…"
"Goodbye, Vitani…"
Vitani then turned, and began making her way through the tall grass. Leo watched her leave, and then began walking off on his own. As he walked through the grass, he saw Kovu and Kiara, making their way back to Pride Rock. They looked pretty happy, like they had experienced a romantic event, and that made Leo happy for them.
But, he remembered what Vitani and Braun had each said to him, and a pang of distrust went through Leo's thoughts. However, there was a hope that there was some good in Kovu. Maybe, if it were possible, Kiara's kindness would change his personality, and turn him to the pridelanders. After all, they were the 'good guys'.
Weren't they?
In a way, Leo felt that both sides were good in their own right; the Outlanders just wanted a home, while the Pridelanders just wanted to protect their way of life. If the Outlanders, or the Pridelanders, could change their ways, there could be harmony. But then, there was the matter of the leaders: Simba and Zira, who were both at each others' throats.
Leo then shook the thoughts from his head; he was tired, and he needed to get some sleep. He began heading back to Pride Rock; he worry about this whole mess in the morning.
…
The next morning, Leo awoke, stretched, yawned, and exited the cave of Pride Rock. All the other lionesses, except for Kiara, were out on their morning routines, so it was just Leo, Kiara, Kovu, and… Simba, who were left at Pride Rock. But, upon remembering what he learned last night, Leo left the cave, and saw Kovu sitting on Pride Rock, looking like he was lost in his thoughts.
"Kovu." Leo spoke, walking up to him.
"Leo." Kovu replied.
"I need to talk with you?"
"About what?"
"The plot to overthrow the Pridelanders."
A shocked look came over Kovu's face, and he asked, "How did you know?"
"Let's just say… that I learned it from two sources, who are willing to stand by their claims. I don't know what you're planning on doing, but I'm hoping that whatever you're planning, you'll do the right thing."
"That's just it; I want to do the right thing."
"Then do the right thing, and tell me what's going on."
"Okay, Okay… I will."
Kovu then told Leo what the plot was, and how he was sent to get Simba. But, his love for Kiara had grown, and if he hurt Simba, he would be hurting her. So, he decided to not go through with it, but knowing his adopted mother, she would be planning another attack.
"I love Kiara, Leo, and I would do anything for her." Kovu finished. "You know that, right?"
"I do know that you love her." Leo replied. "But, you have to tell her what you've told me."
"Can't you do it?"
"No, it has to be you. If I tell her, it may come out the wrong way. So, you have to do it, but I'll vouch for you, and say that you're on our side now."
"Good morning, guys." said Kiara, coming from the cave.
"Here's your chance." Leo whispered, before saying loudly, "Good morning, sis! How was it last night?"
"It was romantic…" Kiara replied, her tone cheerful as Leo hugged her around the neck.
"Glad to hear that, but spare me the mushy stuff." said Leo, his tone comical. "I have yet to find a mate that looks exactly like me."
"Kiara." Kovu spoke up, gaining her attention. "I need to talk with you."
"No Kiara!" said Simba, suddenly appearing the three. "You will not talk to him!"
A worried look came over the faces of all three, as Simba wore a rather stern look on his face. But the worries dropped, when Simba's tone softened and the stern look left.
"I will talk with him." Simba added, his tone now calm and considerate. "And Leo, I would like you to come along and hear this."
Leo let out a sigh of relief, and Kiara smiled kindly at her father. Simba then began making his way down Pride Rock, to which Kovu and Leo followed.
But what the two lions and one man didn't know, was that there was going to be a turn of events that would tip the scales.
…
Simba, Kovu, and Leo went over to into the outlands, to a part where there the grounds were covered in white ash. And there, Simba told Kovu and Leo the story of Scar. He told how Scar wanted to be king, but there was a darkness in his heart that he couldn't let go of. Scar was passed over as king, and the title went to his brother, Mufasa, Simba's father. Scar, in his hidden anger, set out a plot to kill Mufasa, which succeeded, and he usurped the throne of the Pride Lands. After that, everything went downhill; the food, water, resources, everything was wasted away by him.
"I've never heard of that story before." Kovu replied, after Simba had finished telling of what Scar had done.
"Yeah, me neither." Leo added. "I can't believe that some of his destruction still remains in the Pride Lands."
"It serves as a reminder of what happened. But, out of that destruction, there is life; we just need to find it." said Simba, brushing away some ash to reveal a small sprout.
"Oh." said Leo, looking at the sprout. "Life from death."
"Yes; it is how the Circle of Life works." Simba replied. "Leo, I know that ever since you were little, we often got off on the wrong paw. I want to say that-"
Leo let out a gasp and said in a worried tone, "Simba! We've got trouble!"
Simba turned and, much to his horror, it was a gang of outlanders! Kovu was equally horrified as well; he didn't expect this to happen! The three went back to back, as the eleven outlanders surrounded them. Among these outlanders included Zira, Vitani, and Nuka.
"Hello, Simba!" said Zira, her voice filled with hate.
"Zira…" Simba replied, his tone equally hateful.
"And Kovu, thank you leading him out here; you have successfully led him away from his pride!"
"What?!" Simba roared in anger, before turning to Kovu. "Traitor!"
"No, I didn't do it!" Kovu replied, his tone worried.
"He's right, Simba; he's not with them anymore!" Leo added.
"How do you know that he's not with them?!" Simba asked, his tone fierce.
Leo looked over at Kovu, who gave a silent acknowledgement, despite his worried appearance, and Leo replied, "Kovu told me this morning; he said that he was part of the plot to overthrow you, but he's not anymore."
"He's a liar." Zira spoke up, her tone villainous. "Every word that comes out of Kovu's mouth is a liar."
"Unlike Simba, I don't believe what my enemies say, Zira!" Leo spat back. "So you just can keep that dung to yourself!"
"Don't talk about my mother that way!" Nuka roared, charging to attack.
Leo dodged his attack, and began running, with both Simba and Kovu following! But the outlanders were hot on their heels, chasing them away from the pride lands, and deeper into the outlands! And, if Simba no longer consider Kovu an ally, then that meant that he and Leo would be on their own… somewhat.
Author's Notes: (Dr. Frankenstein voice) IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
(Stops, then clears throat and returns to normal tone) Sorry, couldn't help it. Anyway, considering the massive amount of requests that people have been giving me to continue this story, I had no choice but to do so. The reason for the long hiatus is that I've been working on other stories at the moment, and every time the idea to continue this one popped into my head, I'd push it to the side. However, since you people like it, and are wanting me to continue it, I will do so. Thanks for you support, I really appreciate it!
R&R,
Heroboy005
