Sins of the Past

Part 9 Unity and Forgiveness

Kiara had found Kovu alone near the sand dunes. She loved him more than she had ever imagined was possible. But the Outsiders were attacking. They could not stay, they must go stop their families from ripping each other apart over the unreconciled past. The rain had started pouring. The fight would take place near the canyon…

Zira led the Outsiders to attack. Vitani surveyed the battleground, looking for Kiara to no avail. But another lioness approached her, one with deep blue eyes like her own…

"Where's your pretty daughter Nala?" Vitani taunted.

"Vitani!" Nala growled at the lioness who would deceive her mate and bring their pride into ruins. Vitani pounced on her. If she could not take out Kiara, Nala was a decent second choice…

Zira begun to make her way towards Simba, her ultimate target. With him out of the way, the lionesses wouldn't be able to hold the Pride Lands for very long. She struck him down and the two began to circle one other. The two sides stopped their fighting to watch this showdown of their two leaders. But just before they were to strike each other, Kiara and Kovu jumped between them.

"We are one!" Kiara insisted to her father. Kovu supported his love, telling the same to Zira. That their selfish fighting was pointless. That the prides should be reunited after all this time. Vitani realized Kiara was right. If this continued it would only lead to death, more likely those of the Outsiders would die than those of the Pride Lands. And what was all this fighting for anyways? To avenge the death of a King who showed little care for his pride while he was living?

"Enough," Vitani told her mother as she walked over to stand next to her brother. Zira was outraged stating to the Outsiders that her cubs would also die if they refused to fight. A revelation came over Doa. Perhaps there was a chance for freedom. The life she had had with the Outsiders of constant training and bowing down to what Zira demanded, Doa no longer wanted. All she ever thought about now was her unborn cubs and how there was no place for them in Zira's pride. She glanced at her friends who stood beside her. None of them wanted to have to kill Vitani or Kovu, who they had grown up with and were friends with. Doa led the way and her friends followed to stand next to Vitani and Kovu.

"I will never let it go!" Zira growled, as her pride abandoned her. Simba tried to reason with the enraged lioness to no avail. Zira charged at Simba, but Kiara intercepted her. The two rolled down the side of the canyon just as the dam on the river broke. Everyone rushed to the canyon's edge to see what had befallen the two lionesses. They watched as Kiara tried to help Zira, but with her final bit of strength, Zira only tried to harm Kiara, clawing at her. Her strength then gave out and Zira fell to her death into the rushing waters below…

"You are forgiven Vitani," Simba told her. The unified pride watched as Vitani had plead for forgiveness from her new King for seducing him. For lying to him. For making him vulnerable…

"Are you sure?" Vitani asked hesitantly. "I really never wanted to harm you… I did develop some kind feelings towards you… But my mother insisted…"

"It is in the past Vitani," Nala assured her. "We can all move on now and you can be true to yourself. You can become whomever you wish to be now that Zira is gone…"

Nala looked somberly at the young lioness who was pleading for her forgiveness. Scar had once almost forced himself on her when she was younger. She could not imagine having had to go through with that. She felt terrible for Vitani. Nala held no ill will towards her. She only hoped that Vitani was not traumatized for life, like Nala almost had been…

Kovu took Kiara aside one night, taking her to watch the stars as they came out. He had to tell her about the rogues he had killed. The most horrible things he had ever done in his life. He only hoped that she would look at him the same way after he told her.

"Kiara?" Kovu asked.

"Yes Kovu?" Kiara asked her beloved. "Is something wrong? What is it?"

"I need to tell you about my… training with my mother… Zira…"

"I don't need…"

"Yes," Kovu insisted. "I must tell you. You need to know. Your pride deserves to know all of the Outsiders' crimes…"

He told her about the first rogue he killed. How he could hardly stand it. How his mind had gone so far away, leaving only his body behind to witness his crimes. Kiara started crying, but didn't interrupt Kovu. He continued, telling her of the others he killed, and then finally the last one…

"I don't know for certain," Kovu said, holding back his own tears. "But he may have been… my father…"

"No…" Kiara cried. "Your mother… How could she…? Oh Kovu! If I had known! If my father had known what suffering Zira had caused you and her pride, we wouldn't have stood for it! We would have done something! This is just… I can't… you… your own father..."

Kiara embraced her love, horrified by what he had told her. Kovu held her, trying to be strong. He didn't want to feel the pain he had suppressed for so long.

"You need to plea forgiveness from them…" Kiara stated.

"I will tell the rest of the pride tomorrow, alongside the former Outsiders…" Kovu assured her.

"No," Kiara clarified. "You need to plea forgiveness from the rogues you killed. Tell them! Speak to the stars! All lions go into the sky after they die…"

"I don't even know their names…"

"It doesn't matter. Just tell them," Kiara insisted. "You need to grieve Kovu…"

Kovu initially felt silly talking to the stars. But then his emotions came pouring out. He sobbed the great pain he had been hiding inside himself for so long. It was long and ugly but he felt at peace once it was over. The burden of their deaths, while forever his, was just a tiny bit less.

"Don't you feel better now Kovu?" Kiara asked.

"Yes," Kovu admitted. "But there is one more lion I must forgive…"

"Speak to them," Kiara encouraged. "They can hear you…"

"I forgive you Mother," Kovu said into the dark night sky. "I'm sorry that you could not be at peace while you were alive. I hope in death you can finally rest. I don't blame you Mother or Scar or anyone else. I wish to be free from resentment and hatred in my life. Kiara has taught me so much Mother. I only wish someone like her had been in your life to teach you…"

"That was beautiful Kovu," Kiara said, snuggling her head into Kovu's mane.

"I thought you would hate me. For all that I had done. For all that I was supposed to do…"

"Love conquers hate Kovu," Kiara told him gently. "I know that was not you who committed those crimes. You can now be true to yourself. The Kovu I know is sweet and kind. He would never harm anyone."

Kovu kissed his love and the two went back to Pride Rock.

Kovu told the pride the next day about the rogues he and the Outsiders had killed. He did not mention though that he thought the last one he killed may have been his father. It was still too much for him to process. Maybe one day he would have the courage to ask one of the older lionesses if it was indeed true.

A few days later Kovu and Kiara were married. The subjects of the Pride Lands came to see their future King. It was a celebratory and joyous day, but Doa worried. She had not yet told anyone in her new pride she was carrying Kovu's cubs. Seeing Kovu so happy with Kiara she worried that her cubs could ruin that. That it could even bring an end to the peace and union between the two prides. Doa had hoped for a happy life with her cubs, but as her fears swirled in her mind she remembered Zira's statement that her cubs would be killed. Maybe it would just be for the best. Doa would sacrifice her happiness for that of the rest of her friends and family. But this brought her no peace. She had to talk with Kovu…

Kiara had come into heat just after her wedding. She and Kovu had hardly seen much of the pride for the past several days, spending their time with each other. Kiara had said she wanted to have cubs right away and Kovu, eager to put his past firmly behind him, agreed. When the couple finally started resuming normal activities with the pride Doa stole a moment to talk with Kovu alone…

"Kovu, I'm not sure what the right thing to do is…" Doa said sadly. "My cubs will be here in a few months. I don't want to mess things up with you and Kiara…"

"It will be fine Doa," Kovu assured her.

"I haven't told anyone yet," Doa stated. "But I'm starting to show, being so thin doesn't help. A normal lioness can hide her pregnancy…"

"You don't have to hide Doa. Just tell them. No one will think badly of you…"

"Are you sure?" Doa asked pointedly. She stared nervously but firmly in front of Kovu, looking into his green eyes. "I don't want to, but if I have to I can just… get rid of them…"

"No!" Kovu said firmly. "Doa, please. Get those thoughts out of your head. Zira is gone now, she cannot control you anymore! We're going to settle this now. Come…"

Kovu marched off towards the main den. Doa tentatively followed. Simba, Nala, and Kiara were resting in the shade…

"Kiara," Kovu said in greeting. "Simba, Nala. I'm not sure if you all have had the chance to get to know everyone yet, but this is Doa…"

Doa smiled nervously. She had only met the royal family briefly, she wasn't sure she was very memorable to them…

"Anyways," Kovu continued. "At my Mother's insistence Doa and I were… mates. Doa is due to have cubs in two months…"

"I… we… never wanted to be mates…" Doa struggled to say. "I don't want to be a burden to anyone…"

A look of utter shock took over Simba and Nala's faces. Kiara was also in shock, but then her face quickly turned into a smile. She came forth and embraced Doa.

"Congratulations Doa!" Kiara said happily. "If I get pregnant soon we'll be able to raise our cubs together!"

It was now Doa's turn to be shocked. No one had ever congratulated her on her unwanted pregnancy. None the less offered her help in raising her unwanted cubs. She was overcome, unsure of how she should be feeling in that moment… She burst into tears.

"It's okay Doa…" Kiara said calmly as she cried on her shoulder. "Everything is going to be alright. Have you thought of any names yet?"

Doa shook her head. "Zira didn't want me to keep them…" she cried. "I thought I still might have to get rid of them…"

"No Doa, no…" Kiara said sadly. It pained her so much that Doa would think this way. Kiara truly had no understanding of the trauma the Outsiders had gone through under Zira. But she was determined to make it right. "Cubs are a blessing. A gift from the Great Kings! Don't let Zira's hate ruin that for you. They will be loved by everyone in the pride. They are not a threat to me and my happiness with Kovu…"

Simba and Nala beamed with pride at their daughter. They had been so uncertain of how to react, but once again their daughter had shown them the way forward. The rest of the pride was told of Doa's pregnancy. For the first time Doa was excited to be pregnant. She now had a home for her cubs, one that was safe and loving. Doa had never known such luxuries but was relieved that it was all going to be okay…

Doa had gone into labor. The months passed so quickly. Kovu paced nervously outside the main den as he waited. He still had nightmares about his life with his abusive mother. Talking to Kiara helped him overcome many of his anxieties, but there was still one deep overwhelming fear Kovu carried. How would he be able to be a good father? He had never known his own father and his mother was horrible to him and his siblings. He didn't want to be like his mother, a controlling, manipulative, tyrant. Kovu wanted to be better for his cubs. But would he be able to?

"The cubs are here…" Kiara said gently to her nervous mate as she came out of the den.

"Cubs?!" Kovu said started. There was more than one? "I don't know…"

"Just come see them," Kiara said sweetly. "Doa wants you to…"

Kovu felt so guilty. He had burdened Doa with these cubs. Yet he was now the one afraid to face them. He followed Kiara into the den. Doa lay surrounded by her friends in the middle of the den. At her side two cubs nursed…

Kovu looked down at the tiny little cubs. They were so small. One was a dark red. The other brown in color. Both had little spots all over their bodies. Kovu could not help but smile. They were so perfect, so innocent to the world. He wanted everything to be perfect for them…

"They are both boys…" Doa said tentatively. "The King won't…"

"King Simba will be fine with that," Nala assured her. "He's always wanted a son… Now he has two cubs to mentor at the very least!"

"They are perfect Doa," Kovu told her. He nuzzled her sweetly. "Have you thought of names for them?"

"Well I was thinking of naming the one that looks like me: Madoa," Doa said. "The one that looks like you could be named: Makovu…"

"Spotted and scarred," Kovu said the translations of the names. "Named after us…"

"Yes," Doa smiled. "We survived. I want them to have our strength and resilience. They will never know all that we have suffered, I don't want them to. But they will carry forth our legacy… That we can change. The past does not define us… Do you like the names?"

"They're lovely names," Kovu replied. "I can't believe I'm a father…"

"Yes," Kiara told her mate. "And soon there will be more… I was waiting to tell you, not wanting to spoil the excitement of Doa's birth, but I'm pregnant…"

"More?!" Kovu said in shock. "Are you sure? It's so soon…"

"Yes, I am sure," Kiara reassured her mate. "Both my Mother and Rafiki have confirmed it. Don't worry you'll be a wonderful father Kovu…"

"Yes," Doa agreed, nuzzling Kovu sweetly. "You will be an amazing dad. Simba will help you. He raised an amazing daughter."

Kiara was overwhelmed by Doa's complement. She nuzzled Doa alongside her mate. They were going to have the perfect family…