Vitani's Salvation

Chapter 1

Author's note: This is based on another image piece I made on DA. I don't know how deep I will delve into this story just yet, but a few things to be aware of. This will take place far before the events of the Lion Guard. Kiara and Vitani will still be very young cubs. Kion will be very very young. I have not decided just yet if I'll have them age as fast as humans do or not, so their age will remain anonymous at the moment. This will also be rated at a more mature level due to some intense scenes that will happen. Please do not try to demand the story go a certain way. What I decide to do in the story is supposed to be my final decision. Now, that's not to say I won't take suggestions into consideration. Suggestions are always welcome. It's when they turn into demands, or someone states that I'm not writing the story the way that person wants it to go, it gets annoying. I've had that happen to me before. I won't state who did it, cause they know who they are. Also for those wondering about my other new story. I have not abandoned it. I just wanted to get this story started up before the idea left my mind forever. So don't fret. The other story will be worked on. With that said enjoy this first chapter. Also, I know I am probably not the first writer to tackle this kind of fanfiction, so I don't take credit for the idea, just to state that this is my own spin on the alternate universe idea.

Vitani was feeling somewhat grateful she was making the decision that she had gone with. Ever since Kovu's adventure of almost getting eaten by crocs, Zira had been going on non-stop about how Kovu was brilliant, and needed to be well trained to one day retake the Pridelands from Simba. According to Zira, he was the "chosen one". That's all Vitani ever heard. All Zira's so called "Love and Attention" was focused on her brother Kovu. What made him so special that didn't make her special? They both had the same qualities. But the thing was she didn't want to be the chosen one. Nuka did, and he had already gone nuts trying to impress their mother. And the Termites didn't help. She was sick of termites. She was barely able to hold down what little she consumed, but it was either that, or go hungry. And the thing was, Vitani didn't really want to retake the Pridelands in Scar's name. Or in Zira's name for that matter. All she wanted, was to be free of starvation and thirst. And there was only one place close enough that provided a relief from both. That was, ironically enough, the Pridelands. The place where her mother had been banished from. She herself was too young to remember the banishment. And she was never certain of the exact cause of why they were banished. Just the vague statement from Zira that Simba banished them for her love of Scar.

So, she felt, perhaps, cause she was so little, maybe they wouldn't realize who she was. Although she was told of how Simba was a horrible king and Nala a false queen, Vitani saw reasoning of, it there are so many animals staying in the Pridelands and the lands were lush and full of life, the King couldn't be that bad. Plus, he had a daughter, who, from what Kovu tried to explain, was a very cheerful, and joyful cub. Not miserable and cruel, if Simba was a horrible King and father. She felt maybe the royal family might be more accepting of her asking to join their pride than what Zira was describing, it seemed to be more of a way to keep the Outsiders in line more than anything else. Well... she wasn't going back to them. They wouldn't want her back anyways, after doing what she was doing today. Running away from the Outsiders and seeking a better life.

She was careful to cross the Outlands, cause there were Hyena clans out here, and Buzzards that would take her as a next meal after the others were done with her, if they found her. She made sure to keep an eye out for danger, listening for the laughs, and sniffing the air for the stench of Hyenas. As she crossed the border between the Outlands and the Pridelands, careful not to fall into the ravine of crocs below, all of the sudden, she felt an disturbing presence. As if she had been followed and/or was being watched. Then, the wind had changed direction and blew from behind her. This wind blew a scent to her nostrils that was all too familiar. It was Zira's scent. Her eyes went wide. The Queen of the Outsiders had followed her. She turned around, only to see a menacing claw swing into her, sending her flying, and knocking the wind out of her.

This happened about three more times. Just as Vitani was trying to regain her senses, her sight caught the figure of someone. It was Queen Nala. And she roared ferociously. Vitani felt things were about to get worse and she was done for. She had no strength at the moment to insist that the queen to show her mercy and let her stay in the Pridelands. She was barely staying conscious. She prepared to take another blow, be it from the Queen of the Pridelands or the Queen of the Outsiders... but the blow never came.

Vitani opened her eyes, and realized the ground around her had been shaded. Still somewhat dazed and confused he had strength enough to turn her head and look up a bit to see the queen... of all the lionesses, the Queen of the Pridelands was standing over her in a protectively. Vitani didn't know what to think. Queen Nala was... protecting her. Why? Vitani was the daughter of the lioness that the Royal Family and their fellow loyal pride members hated the most. Why would the Queen randomly help her?

As Vitani tried to make sense of the situation, with what little focus she could muster, Nala then growled to Zira "How Dare You Zira! I cannot believe you would do something so vile! To invade our home is one thing that I'm not too surprised about. But to attack your own daughter?! What Kind Of Mother Are You?!"

"That little monster needed to be punished Nala! By coming here on her own, she betrayed me! Betrayed Her Pride! Betrayed SCAR!" Zira spat.

"Well, from what I can tell in this situation, she doesn't seem to want anything to do with him, or you!" Nala scolded.

Zira growled menacingly and Nala extended her claws crouching over Vitani maternally. "Make one more wrong move towards us Zira, and you will wish you hadn't," Nala warned.

"Oh, my my, does the queen really think she can take me on?" Zira taunted.

"You better believe it Zira. You have no pride here with you to back you up. Need I remind you what happened last time when you tried to attack my mate?" Nala referred to the bite taken out of Zira's ear.

Zira stammered back a bit. She could still feel the sting of the pain in her ear by just the memory alone of her and Nala's last fight they had. "Also, you are outnumbered here. My pride sisters are all around us, hiding in wait. My best advice is that you leave and never come back. I will not show the same mercy next time you invade the Pridelands. I suggest you take your leave," Nala threatened, growling at Zira.

Zira looked and saw that what Nala said breathed true. Eyes from every form of shrubbery and shade were watching her. She knew she was outmatched here. And Nala herself, Zira knew, was a force herself to be reckoned with. She was no pushover. Zira felt that, had Nala been on her own, she may have been able to outwit the queen by taunting her to make her drop her guard. But there was an entire kresh of lionesses backing up the Queen. "Fine, do what you wish of that little brat. She's no longer welcome in my pride. She's no daughter of mine. Drown her or feed her to an eagle for all I care," Zira stated before bolting off.

Vitani, while her senses were still a little out of tune, she was shocked Zira wished such ill will on her. She hoped that Nala wasn't gonna do what Zira suggested to them. Nala then turned around and looked at the little cub. The lioness queen was giant to Vitani. One swift chomp from the queen's jaws, and Vitani would be visiting her ancestors. But the queen then did something Vitani didn't expect. She nuzzled the little lioness cub. "Are you alright dear?" Nala asked.

"I... I think so," Vitani answered.

She tried to stand on her own four paws, but her legs began to feel wobbly and she collapsed onto her belly again. "Oh dear. Those blows from Zira sure did a number on you. Save your energy little one. I'll take you to see Rafiki for help. One of my pride sisters will fetch the king, then, we'll discuss what to do from there little Vitani," Nala assured her.

"O...Okay," Vitani agreed.

Soon, the queen sent one of her pride sisters to fetch King Simba and then she gently picked up Vitani in her mouth, and she and her pride sisters made their trek to Rafiki's tree. Once they got there, Rafiki bounded down to see them as Nala set Vitani down. "Good morning my queen. And what's this? A new tiny little cub with you? Your majesty, you did not tell Rafiki you were having anoder cub," Rafiki joked.

Nala and her sister laughed, "Oh Rafiki, humorous as always. This is Vitani. She's been hurt by Zira. Her own mother."

"I always said that lioness had been bad news when Mufasa took her in," Rafiki said.

Soon, the wind blew and had Rafiki's staff hit him. "HEY!" Rafiki yelled at the sky.

Nala couldn't help but chuckle that Mufasa had listened in. "Well, Vitani, can you tell us why you came here?"

Vitani explained everything she could about why she seeked refuge with the Pridelanders and Nala could sympathize with her. "Well, I must say that is a very good reason for any cub to venture this way," came a powerful deep voice.

Everyone looked up to see a red maned lion approaching the group. "Simba. Vitani was escaping a very harsh life, and Zira just disowned and banished her own daughter for the pride of the Outsiders," Nala explained.

"I see. Well, the reason I banished Zira in the past was that she would not accept me as King, and demanded I step down. You and your siblings were so young, it did pain me to send you with her, but I couldn't separate a cub from it's mother, especially one that had just been born the same time as my own cubs," Simba hung his head, that he had to make such a hard decision.

Vitani was a little taken aback. Cubs? Plural tense. Kiara wasn't the only cub of the royal family? She saw Nala nuzzle Simba, and say "You know Zira wouldn't have had it if you tried to keep Kovu and Vitani from her. And don't get me started with Nuka."

It seemed Vitani would have to ask about this "other cub" later. As Rafiki looked her over, she winced a bit, because she ached all over from her mother attacking her. As Rafiki finished examaning her, he stated, "Well, Vitani is a tough little cub. She has no major injuries, but she won't be walking for a few days. Here, little cub. Eat the pedals of this jasmine flower. It will help dull the pain you are feeling."

Vitani was a bit wary, but she felt that, if the Pridelanders trusted him, that was good enough to trust him herself. She soon ate the white pedals of the jasmine flower as he offered it. Already, she could tell that the flowers were working. "Th-Thank you Rafiki," Vitani gestured.

"Any time little lioness. Now, if I could speak with you, King Simba and Queen Nala, alone for a moment," Rafiki demanded.

Soon, the three walked off a ways. and began speaking to each other. At best all Vitani could hear were mumbles. Then, she saw them gasp, then look at Vitani. Then... was the king crying?... Zira said he was a heartless lion. Heartless lions didn't cry... did they? She also saw tears forming in Nala's eyes as well. Was it something bad. Did Rafiki know something bad was gonna happen to her that she wasn't aware of? Now she was worried. What if the King and Queen gave her terrible news? What if they told her she couldn't stay for some reason?

So many questions were reeling through Vitani's mind right now. Had she been fit enough to walk, maybe she would have told them that she would go and live somewhere else other than the Pridelands, so they wouldn't feel so bad sending her away. But she was in no condition to go anywhere. So Vitani felt, whatever bad news might be coming, she'd have to just take the bad news head on. Then the King and Queen, who had settled themselves and wiped away their tears, walked back to everyone. "Sisters of the Pride. My mate Nala would like to say something. It may sound a might surprising, so please, listen to what she has to say," Simba requested.

Nala stepped forward, took a deep breath and stated, "After a long talk with Rafiki, and taking many things into consideration, Vitani is to become a member of the Royal Family Post Haste. Rafiki will see to the preparations to officially make Vitani a member of the family, but once we get back to Priderock, everyone in the pride will gather, because there is more information we just acquired that will explain why Simba and I are making this decision. Does everyone understand?"

After mumbling among the pride sisters, all agreed they would listen later to what the reason was for Vitani's sudden adoption into the royal family. Vitani herself was shocked. All she had asked for was to stay in the Pridelands with the pride. She hadn't demanded that the royal family make her part of their family. It was a lot to take in. She... she was becoming a Princess of the Pridelands. All of the sudden, things began to look brighter for Vitani's future. No more uncomfortable nights of Nuka hogging the sleeping quarters. No more disgusting termites, no more dust storms that got sand and other particles in her fur. No more Zira making her feel like she was dead weight. And what seemed best of all, no more starving hunger and thirst. She knew not what was in store for her. Only the ancestors of the past, the King, Queen, and Rafiki knew where things were gonna go from here. But at this moment, Vitani felt happier then ever before.

End of Chapter 1. Hope you all enjoyed. Let me know what you thought, but please, no hateful comments, or demands. Constructive criticism is always welcome. And no demanding answers to when I will work on my other stories. And please don't PM me about them either. Hope you guys have a great Christmas month.