Chapter Twelve

Three months. Three months had passed since the incident with Jeff and Tyber. Vitani and Tyber continued to grow closer each day. Tyber made himself a worthy prince, and it would seem, a prince of the people, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. At the same time, with the revelation brought about by the files, Tyber, at Simba's urging, moved forward with Project Regent, and began laying the foundation of what would become the Pridelands' Naval Star Fleet. The reasons for this were two-fold: One, it was noted by Simba's alternate-timeline counterpart in the files that Darth Phospho, whoever he was, had a space fleet of his own, responsible for the destruction of countless worlds; Two, in the event that it did come to war, and when it ended, having a space fleet would allow the Pridelands to colonize other planetary bodies, and offer the same to other states. It was during this time that Tyber and Vitani occasionally dropped hints about getting married, something that always made Simba smile. He sometimes wondered how Zira would feel about Vitani and Tyber getting married.

Fate, it would seem with a twist of irony, would have plans to answer that question, as Tyber lay sleeping with his arms wrapped around his lover. Since defeating Jeff, the nightmares that plagued Tyber's dreams began to fade, until they ceased entirely. Since coming to love each other, Tyber and Vitani were seen everywhere together. Where there was one, there was always the other. But tonight, Tyber lay unaware of what comes his way. It started with a flash of light, and he found himself in that same canyon that was adjacent to the site of the first – and last – battle of the Unification Incident. It was also the same canyon he saved Vitani in. Why was he here, he wondered? It occurred to him that this was a Force Vision, but of what? The answer would provide itself, but it would still be unexpected; there would be a bright flash of light, the sound of water splashing, and sudden gasping for air, followed by coughing. "What... have I... d... done? Where... am I?" asked a female voice. Tyber squinted and saw a lioness, clearly injured and soaking wet, on all fours, crawling and eventually collapsing on her side. Tyber wanted to move to assist, but found his legs wouldn't budge. Who was this woman?

"Someone's down in that canyon!" someone up above shouted.

"Fetch the rescue teams! She looks injured!" shouted another. There was another flash, and Tyber found himself on the bridge of his flagship, the Iron Dragon. The woman he saw in the canyon was standing before him at attention, but in a full Coalition Naval Uniform.

"Zira, you have gone above and beyond in these recent months," he said. "You have gained the loyalty of the Coalition, and you have earned our trust. You are a credit to us all. That being said, I have come to rely on you heavily. It is only fitting you join the upper echelon. Effective immediately, you are hereby given the rank of Admiral. Congratulations, Admiral Zira." Zira snapped off a sharp salute, which was returned by Tyber. The light flashed again, and Tyber awoke next to Vitani with a silent, sudden inhale, his heart rate slightly elevated, but not overly so. His arms were still wrapped around Vitani's waist, and she was still sound asleep. Sunlight shone through the nearby window, and birds were chirping outside. Tyber reluctantly sat up, groaning quietly. It was all that was needed to wake Vitani, evidently.

"Baby?" she asked groggily. "Is everything okay?"

"I just had a... a Force Vision," Tyber told her.

"A vision? Of what?" Vitani asked.

"I don't know," Tyber responded. "I saw a woman in the vision... a lioness. I think I heard her called... Zira."

Vitani's expression turned to shock. "You're certain you heard that?" she asked.

"Why? Who is she?" Tyber asked back.

There was a long pause before Vitani answered, "She's my mother..."

"That was your mother?" Tyber said with surprise.

"Your vision... what was she doing?" Vitani asked.

"As strange as it is to admit it... the first part showed her being spotted in that canyon I rescued you in; the second part seemed to suggest she would become a part of the Coalition. An Admiral," Tyber answered.

Vitani was now concerned, and her facial expression showed it – Zira? Somehow alive after it was on record that she drowned in rushing waters from a broken dam during the Unification Incident? And rising in the ranks of the Coalition to be an Admiral? How was that possible? "The first part of your vision... how did she end up in that canyon?" Vitani queried.

"I didn't exactly see – I only saw a flash of light, heard splashing water, and there she was," Tyber responded.

"Could our counterparts in the other timeline have had a hand in that?" Vitani inquired.

"I couldn't tell you that until I got a detailed Tricorder scan of her," Tyber answered. A long pause followed this.

"Simba's got to be warned," they both said in unison. They quickly hurried into their clothes and headed into the foyer, where Simba was already present with Nala and Kion, and Kovu and Kiara were just walking into the room.

Simba took notice of Tyber and Vitani's expressions and said, "You two alright? You both look like you saw a ghost."

"I think we did," Vitani told him. Tyber then explained the details of his vision to Simba, whose brow furrowed. Even Rafiki was concerned.

"Your dream was far too vivid to be a dream, young Tyber," Rafiki said. "I believe you when you say it is a vision. A foretelling told by the Force itself."

"Could it be that Zira may be a threat once more?" Simba asked.

"Given Tyber's history and affinity with the Force... I do not think so," Rafiki replied. "The vision seemed to suggest atonement. But how Zira is still alive... I can only-"

It was then that Zazu came dashing through the door, panting heavily. "Sire... you're not going to believe this!" he panted. "Zira... she's been found! In that canyon! The site of the Battle of Unity!"

Simba's frown deepened. But Kovu was completely taken aback. "Mother's alive?! How is that possible?!"

"I don't know, sire – but I imagine she's at the hospital, by now," Zazu said.

"We'd better go see her," Simba suggested. "She may be able to fill in some of the blanks."

"Agreed," Tyber concurred.

"I'm coming, too," Kovu put in.

"So am I," Kiara added.

"Given her injuries, I think she'd be pleased to see all of us," Zazu said. They all headed out, moving at a quickened pace to the Mufasa Memorial Hospital, where they met with the same doctor who had treated Tyber when he first arrived, Doctor Vandi. Simba was the first to speak.

"Is she alright?" he asked.

"Zira is resting comfortably," Vandi reported. "But her injuries were severe; three of her ribs were cracked, two were nearly broken, she has multiple bruises and cuts, she had water in her lungs and stomach, she was malnourished, and she was bleeding internally... but she'll make a full recovery."

"Has she said anything?" Simba asked.

"She's repeatedly asked to see all of you, and asked messengers to convey that she is sorry," Vandi replied.

"Can we see her?" Kovu asked, his tone soft and almost melancholic.

Vandi nodded. "Of course, my prince." One by one, the family filed into the room where Zira was being held. Zira had been looking out of a nearby window next to her bed, and when she looked over to see them, her expression turned to that of a mother seeing her children for the first time in a long time. Kovu was the first to embrace Zira, who returned the embrace and kissed his cheek.

"My poor, poor son... so many things I did to you..." she said. She looked to Kiara. "And you, Kiara... how vicious I was to you, trying to drag you down with me..." her gaze to Vitani. "Vitani... I'm so sorry. For everything." Simba remained stoic, even as Zira's gaze shifted to him. "Simba... I realize that I'm the last person you want to trust right now."

"Got that right; the last time we saw you, you tried to take my kingdom by force and kill me," Simba said.

"Well, please allow that a near-death experience can change even the most hardened," Zira pleaded.

"That's why you're not being thrown in the stockade; what you did was a long time ago," Simba stated. He paused to inhale, then continued, "You'll be pleased to know your people have integrated into the Pridelands quite successfully, and that I've treated them as Pridelanders ever since that incident. Kiara and Kovu have been married for the last seven years. And now, Vitani found her own soulmate."

Zira looked surprised, and looked to Vitani, who nodded in confirmation. "Was your lover unable to visit me? I would have liked to meet him," Zira said.

"Don't talk about him like that," Simba gently scolded with a shake of his head. "He's standing in this room right now." He motioned his head to indicate Tyber. Walking behind Tyber and putting hands on his shoulders, he continued, "This is Lord-Admiral Tyber Drakona, our current head of Military affairs, adopted Prince of the Pridelands, and Vitani's soulmate." Zira's expression was surprised, but she soon smiled softly.

"My apologies, Lord-Admiral – I meant no offense," she apologized. Tyber shook his head.

"No offense taken – believe me, I've had people do me much worse before," he said. He walked closer to Zira. "I imagine this is all a surprise to you. A lot can happen in seven years."

"Clearly," Zira agreed. "What I don't understand is how I got here."

"For that, I need to get a scan of you," Tyber said, unfolding his Tricorder. Zira seemed apprehensive of the device.

"W-what is that?" she stammered.

"Relax; it's a Tricorder," Tyber assured her, as he ran the device along Zira's body. The device beeped in rapid tones, and Tyber's expression became worried. He closed the Tricorder, and looked Zira in the eyes. "What's the last thing you remember before ending up in the canyon where you were found?"

Zira's expression turned grave. "I remember falling into that river... I couldn't breathe, kept sucking in water, getting beaten with the wood in the river... I thought that was it. But the last thing... right before I ended up in that canyon... I briefly saw a portal, or vortex or something, right beneath my feet. Big, swirling, with a pitch-black center hole. I remember... it pulled me through it, and then I found myself in that canyon, regretting I ever used my own children for my own ends." Tyber's expression became more concerned, and he subtly nodded. He put a hand on her shoulder and said,

"Get some rest, Zira. Catch up with your children. There will be time to get to know me later." He then looked to Vitani, who nodded subtly, and Tyber motioned his head to Simba, who followed him out to the hallway. Once they were out of earshot, Tyber turned to Simba. "The anomaly she describes sounds suspiciously like a Temporal Rift," he said.

"Like the one that brought you here?" Simba asked. Tyber shook his head.

"My temporal event was different, used in a transporter beam; what Zira's describing is similar, but not the same. It would seem she was sent forward in time, to our present."

"Could my alternate-timeline counterpart be responsible?" Simba queried. Tyber again shook his head.

"No," he answered, "because you made no mention of Zira in the message you left me, and she was never mentioned in the files you left me. Instinct says something else is at play here."

"So how did a temporal rift appear and bring Zira to our present?" Simba asked.

"How, indeed – but that's just it; they don't just form without reason, and I've never heard a case of one forming underwater," Tyber responded.

Simba and Tyber both stood in concerned silence, wondering just how and why Zira had been brought here from the brink of death, and just what else was going to play out...