-1Farewell to Pride Rock
Vitani and Kuva went to the water hole, and Kuva asked Vitani what she wanted to talk about. Vitani started to speak, but hesitated. Kuva said,
"I think I know what you want to say." Vitani looked up hopefully. Kuva then said,
"You want to be with me, but as more than just a friend, right?" Vitani gulped, then nodded. Kuva smiled, and said,
"Of course." Vitani gasped with excitement and ran to him, nuzzling him compassionately. Kuva returned the sign of affection, and then all of a sudden, someone bumped into him. It was a lioness whom Kuva recognized.
"Sura? What are you doing here?" Kuva asked. Sura replied,
"Brother, father says you have to come home." Kuva gasped, and turned to Vitani,
"Damn, on well, what father says goes. I'm sorry, I guess it wasn't meant to be." He said in a disappointed voice. Vitani's ears drooped, showing that she was upset, but then she got an idea.
"Wait! I can come with you!" She said. Kuva shook his head,
"Sorry, if father found out where you were from, he wouldn't be pleased." He said. Vitani gasped, and asked why. Kuva answered by saying,
"He doesn't like foreigners in his kingdom." Vitani started to cry again, and ran toward Pride Rock. Kuva said good-bye in a very upset voice, then turned to Sura, asking,
"Why does he want me back?" Sura answered by saying,
"He didn't say why, but he was really serious." Kuva then said,
"Unless he has a reason, I'm not leaving." Then a voice boomed from the distance, saying,
"I do have a reason!" Kuva turned to see his father in the distance, looking very angry. Kuva asked,
"Then what's your reason, father?" His father responded,
"You have to come home to find a queen to rule Egypt alongside you." Kuva said,
"I found one, but she ran off when she heard that you don't accept foreigners!" His father asked,
"You tried to have a foreigner as a mate?" Kuva nodded, and his father then turned to Sura and said,
"I don't like VISITORS coming from foreign lands. If it's a mate, then by all means, go ahead." Kuva's face lightened up, and said,
"Thanks dad, I forgot." His father then came over and whispered into his ear,
"No you didn't. Don't tell your sister this, but I modified the law when I heard you came here. I figured you had a good reason, so I modified the law." Kuva hugged him, then went to Pride Rock to tell Vitani. Kuva found Vitani crying in the den, and Simba asked him what happened.
"I have to go home, but what I didn't know before she ran off was that she could come with me." Kuva said. Vitani heard him say that, and walked toward him, wiping away tears.
"You're not lying, right?" She asked hopefully. Kuva gave a reassuring smile and said,
"No, you can come with me to Egypt." Vitani gasped with excitement and nuzzled him affectionately, and he nuzzled her at the same time. Simba then walked over to her, and said,
"It'll be a lot quieter without you. Are you sure this is the path you've chosen?" Vitani hesitated, then nodded. Kovu walked in just then, but he heard the conversation and saw Vitani nod to Simba's question. He sighed, and Vitani heard him. She walked over to him and said,
"Take care little brother, thanks for caring." Kovu couldn't help but feel emotional when the only other living member of his family was leaving him. Vitani patted him on the back, and said,
"Don't worry, I'll be back to visit every now and then." Kuva then said,
"And don't worry, brother-in-law, when I'm king of Egypt, I'll be sure to change that stupid no visitors from other countries rule."
"Too late!" Said a voice. It was Kuva's father, and he continued by saying,
"I beat you to it." Kuva and Vitani both gasped with excitement. "Now come on, let's go." Kuva's father said. Kuva and Vitani nodded and followed the king out of the Pride Lands. When they reached some plains about 100 meters away from the border, there was a transport waiting. Kuva and his father jumped up, and Vitani looked at it confused.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Our way to Egypt." Kuva said. Vitani was still confused, but she hopped on. There was a mandrill, and he whipped some horses that pulled the transport, and they moved. Vitani couldn't help but feel sorry for the horses, and asked about it.
"They are slaves." The king said.
"Slaves? Like servants?" Vitani asked. The king shook his head,
"Not servants. Servants get rewarded for work." Vitani then asked,
"Slaves don't?" The king confirmed that, then said,
"These slaves devote themselves to us, as repayment for things we did for them that were serious enough to call for such things." Vitani understood, and then asked,
"So they don't mind?" The king nodded. Vitani then asked,
"So, what is your name, your majesty?" The king then said,
"Two things. One, you may call me dad now. Two, my name is Mfalme." Vitani nodded,
"Ok, dad." They were going quite fast, and were already passing into Ethiopia. Mfalme told them that as they crossed the border. Vitani was busy looking around. After all, she had never left Kenya before. Mfalme said,
"Now, we still have 2000 miles to cover." Vitani nodded, and they continued to their destination. They had a long way to go, however. Night soon came, and Vitani was relieved that the transport was so roomy, so she had space to lie down and sleep. She found it strangely calming to sleep under the stars, and that helped since she was a bit nervous about moving again.
