I don't own any canon characters.

Kovu was stunned, as he watched Vitani race off in towards the Outlands. How long had she felt like that, he wondered, how long had she been building up a grudge against him. A rather more chilling though was how it might have been released if things had gone differently.

He turned when he felt a brush on his flank and turned to see Kiara come up along side, looking somewhat worried. "Are you alright," she asked, "what was that about?"

"I'm not sure what that was about," Kovu replied, "but, yeah, I'm fine." He turned towards where Simba and Nala were and said, "come on."

"I don't understand though," Kiara said, "as they headed towards Simba and Nala, "how could she say that to you, you're her brother."

"I think that was part of the problem," Kovu said, "like she said, I've been given a dream." He sighed, then said, "I only wish I'd know she were feeling that way earlier."

"I think I heard most of what was said there," Simba said, "and while I am concerned about the situation, and I offer my condolences, there is very little we can do about it at the moment, so I think it might be a good idea to retire to Pride Rock, and attempt to get the pride settled in."

Vitani moved quickly but carefully through the Outlands. She hadn't bothered to follow Nuka's trail, she knew where it would lead.

What would she say to him, what could she say, she wondered. Nuka had already accused her of betrayal, would he even listen to her anymore? Maybe, maybe not, but all she could do was try.

Soon enough, Vitani reached the mouth of the cave she, and all of the other Outlanders had called home for so long. She looked down the passage, and sure enough, at the bottom of the cave, Nuka was lying in what had been, for so long, their mother's sleeping place, sobbing.

Vitani descended the passage, taking no great care to muffle her paw-steps, Nuka probably wouldn't hear her anyway, above his own sobbing. She made her way over to him, nudged him, and said, "Nuka."

Nuka managed to stop sobbing, and turned to see who had nudged him. "M-mother," he asked, not quite recognising, through his tears, who it was.

"No," Vitani said, "it's me, Vitani."

"Vit..." Nuka began, then screamed, "get away from me!" He slashed at her a second time, and again, drew blood. Vitani hissed in pain, but didn't budge.

"Nuka, please," Vitani said, her eyes beginning to tear, "just listen to me, okay?"

It took a few moments, but Nuka's rage drop, as he saw tears begin to slide down Vitani's face. He looked at his claws, then back up at his sister's freshly cut muzzle, and looked between the two several more times, before beginning to whine, and trying to find a way to escape.

Vitani began crying internally, when she saw Nuka back away. "Please, Nuka," she said, moving forward, "I just want to talk to you."

Nuka's only reply was to back away further. As much as she hated to treat her brother like this, Vitani realised that the only way she was going to be able to talk to him was to corner him, so she began a herd him.

It was a slow business, but Vitani finally managed to herd Nuka into a corner where there was no chance that he could escape. As she finally began to approach him, his eyes went wide, and he asked feebly, "why can't you leave me alone?"

"You're my brother Nuka," Vitani replied, barely keeping from crying, "and I won't abandon you out here." Unable to keep her tears in any longer, she then leapt forward, embraced her brother, and began to cry into his mane. "I love you Nuka," she whispered, "I always have and always will, even if it didn't show."

"I'm sorry 'tani," Nuka whispered back, "I'm sorry." Vitani knew he was crying again as well, because she could feel his tears on her back.

"No, I'm sorry," Vitani said, "you were right, I'm a traitor." Nuka didn't know how to reply to this, so he didn't, he just embraced his sister, and cried.

After a few minutes they parted, and Nuka said, "you should go now."

"Go where," Vitani asked, "this is my home."

"Go to the Pridelands," Nuka said, "you'll be happier there."

"No I won't," Vitani replied, "most of them hate me now, after they found out I lit the fire."

"We both lit it," Nuka said.

"I know," Vitani said, "but I told them it was me alone. And anyway," she went on, ignoring Nuka's dumbfounded look, "you need someone to help you, at least for now."

"Wh... but..." Nuka began, unsure of what to say.

"And anyway," Vitani said, "a king needs a pride."

"K-king," Nuka said, "what king?"

"You, Nuka," Vitani replied, "you're a king after all, even if it is only of the Outlands."

"But you..." Nuka began.

"You're a king, Nuka," Vitani said, more sternly, "a king by right of birth, and I won't take that from you."

Nuka was stunned a moment, then, unable to say anything, he moved forward and embraced Vitani.

Kiara remained close by Kovu the entire way back to Pride Rock, somewhat worried. He didn't notice, but kept glancing back over his shoulder, as if hoping to see a trace of either Vitani or Nuka.

"Are you alright," Kiara asked Kovu, when they finally reached Pride Rock.

"Yeah, fine," Kovu replied dismally, staring at the horizon in the direction of the Outlands.

Kiara was about to say more, when there was a low throat-clearing noise behind her. She turned, and smiled at little when she saw Simba standing there. The older lion waited a moment, then said, "there are times in our life when even our best is not enough, when events are beyond our control." He waited a further moment, before continuing, "these moments are painful, undeniably, but when even your best isn't enough, take heart in the fact that you did your best, that you did all you could." Kovu turned, hollow-eyed, to the king, and they locked gazes.

Simba's face was neutral, but for his eyes, which were filled with pain, and understanding, and Kovu suddenly remembered that he'd lost his father at an early age, and had carried the falsified guilt of his death until adulthood. The younger lion held the gaze a moment, then closed his eyes, sighed, and gave a single nod.

As soon as he was sure Kovu understood, Simba broke his gaze, and walked up to the tip of the promontory, with Nala following. the king then looked back, and with a gesture of his head, made it clear what he was waiting for.

With Kiara following, Kovu made his way up the promontory, and took position beside Simba, while the princess moved to the far side of Nala.

Suddenly, Simba roared. Nala followed a moment later, then Kovu and Kiara, and finally the entire pride roared in unison.