Chapter 8

Simba has been receiving a lot of negativity coming from the lioness. It reminds him of Scar, but hopefully he would be able to change the lioness who has been the protege of the one who caused so much pain in his life.

She is noticeably exhausted and is practically laying on her daughter by the time she has gotten back to Pride Rock. Undoubtedly, clinging off the side of the gorge does that to a lion and she almost even dropped off had Simba not recovered from his confusion in time.

Zazu seems to be staying as far as away from her.

"Zazu, may I ask why are you hating on Vitani?" Simba asks.

"Forgive me if I neglect to mention that she is the reproduction of someone who killed your father and not to mention I was imprisoned in that cage for years!" Zazu shouts. Yes, the majordomo have told him of that, a torture method used to keep Zazu under control but also preventing him from possibly learning the truth that day.

Simba frowns. "But she is not Scar. I made an error choice in exiling all of those Outsiders a long time ago. They didn't have an handling in killing my father thus making them blameless."

Zazu scowls. "But your Majesty, they sided with Zira! They are all mangy poachers, no better than the hyenas whom served Scar!"

Simba's lips curl up. Yes, Zazu is right, but the lion king didn't want to seem bias. He knows his father wouldn't have wanted to exile the Outlanders, but he had to be far more careful when it comes to one of them. Vitani was after all trained by her mother since a young age, and she possibly could be a spy for one of his worse enemies.

Knowing Zira, Simba wouldn't push it pass something she would do. She have been known for going so low during Scar's rule namely, leading armies and killing whoever opposed Scar as his mother and Sarafina told him when they were both alive.

But he has to give her the benefit of the doubt and hope that he could change her mind as well as helping her heal from the torment Zira no doubt put her through. Surely, if Zira planned this, Kiara would have been dead, because why would the lioness want someone who she loathes so much daughter being saved?

Perhaps Simba is just overthinking it or perhaps he is just fearing that he is going to receive yet another trauma in his life. He didn't want his family to be fractured further, and he didn't want Kiara to suffer things he suffered. Certainly living in the jungle wasn't all bad, but the lion king had remembered those sleepless nights when he woke up and afraid Timon and Pumbaa from having nightmares.

Simba is about to enter Pride Rock when Zazu flies in front of him, sharply speaking. "Sire! Surely you are not going to allow her to sleep in the cave with you and your lionesses! That wretched lioness could murder you all in your sleep!"

Simba shakes his head at Zazu's insecurities, but he didn't argue, for most of the lionesses seem to have agreed. "Kiara, lead Vitani to Scar's old cave. She would remain there under close observation until she is deemed trustworthy."

Vitani struggles to speak for a few moments before saying bitterly. "I saved your daughter! Surely that have to warrant that we are of the same side! Otherwise, I would have left her to die in the gorge!"

Simba shakes his head again before staring at her. "I'm afraid that we don't know if this is a trap or not. I do hope it's not, but we cannot welcome someone with open paws, especially when they could be of a true threat working under machinations that is nothing but a plan."

Many of the lionesses agree before taking off inside of the cave, while Kiara sighs but follow her father's orders, as she leads Vitani to the old cave off west.

Simba calls over the majordomo. "Zazu, while lionesses would be watching her closely, I do fear that this could be a trap. Keep her under a close eye and do not allow her to take Kiara anywhere alone. This isn't because not only I don't trust Vitani, but my daughter is naive for her age and is known for getting herself into trouble. I can't allow her to get herself killed."

"Yes, sire! I would watch her and she wouldn't notice!" Zazu flies off. The majordomo has seen what happened when Scar wasn't watched by Mufasa and that gotten the king killed, but that wouldn't happen this time. If any treachery behavior is spotted, it would be reported immediately.

At the old cave, Vitani lays down, her legs basically giving out. Fighting against the logs and the currents does that to a lioness, but at the very least she would get a well rested sleep for the first time in years. Her mother never allowed her to sleep for long because training was required, but this required for her to gain the king's trust and manipulate him enough for him to call her a friend.

Kiara's small chuckles signifies that the annoying pest didn't leave her yet. "Hey, Vitani, thanks for saving me today. You could have easily left me behind."

Vitani hisses, her annoyance coming out tenfold. "Can you leave me be?! I'm kinda tired already and you are not helping my pounded headache!" She is not lying. Her head is ringing and pounding, and she knows that there is no chance that she's going to feel straight for this. Damn! They should have came up with a better plan!

"It was kinda payback, you know?" Kiara asks, her tone not sounding cold but rather in that annoying matter of fact tone. "I gotten a scar years ago for you, and now you are the one in the injured position while I may be assigned to take care of you."

"My mother didn't exactly take care of me," Vitani admits coldly. "Anyway, I bet your parents probably didn't want their mighty princess to break a claw."

"Hey! I might be a princess but my parents never pampered over me all the time!" Kiara snaps back a response.

Vitani snorts. "Sure, now can you leave so I can get me some sleep?"

By the time Kiara looks down at the lioness, she is already asleep in the most comforting position.

"Simba!"

At the sound, the lion king rushes to the edge of the cliff to see his father, his eyes full with shock and surprise. Below are animals running with green eyes, appearing to be devils themselves.

"Help me!"

Simba shouts. "Father!"

A cackle comes behind him, and Simba looks up to see a brown-coated lion with a scar across his eye. He begins walking down to the lion.

"No! Dad!" Simba screams, reaching for his father who seems to have descended only further. "Just a little further!"

Something harsh comes on his paw before Simba is able to pull his father up. "Gotcha! Trust me!"

"SIMMBBBAAAAAAAAA!" Mufasa falls backwards into the stampede below.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Simba shouts, before turning to face the lion, who is still laughing, before the fur appears to shed off and the voice becomes more feminine, as he sees the lioness with golden fur and familiar amber eyes alongside Vitani. "Kiara! Vitani!"

"Why, father," Kiara responds. "It's tradition. Now you would die like your father."

Vitani cackles behind her. "Your daughter is mine now. We shall rule the Pride Lands! Zira is dead, and you would join her! The family comes together like you wish!"

Before Simba could react, Kiara pushes him off into the herding stampede below. He couldn't believe it! His daughter would betray him like this! He should have never welcomed Vitani! She has-

"No!" Simba shouts, awakening from his sleep, amazed to see that he is still within Pride Rock. He looks to his side and sees his daughter alongside his mate, breathing heavily as they sleep.

Simba can't judge Vitani yet because that was just a dream, but if that becomes reality, that would be terrifying. He hopes that accepting Vitani won't turn out to be a mistake because it is possible that she might corrupt Kiara over to her cause if he is wrong.

All he could do is hope.