Yes, I've finally written some more! I know it's late but in my defence I was ill a lot, plus I had loads of exams... Either way, hope you enjoy the chapter and this is the last chapter too, so reviews are really appreciated. I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed, alerted, favourite or just read it, thanks everyone! Just for clarification, in the last chapter, the wolves were Ethiopian wolves, the only wolf species native to Africa.

And I just realised that on chapter 7 I recommended a forum, but the name didn't show up. It's called fanbbs(dot)net

I do not own the Lion King

Chapter 9

Vitani ran away from Pride Rock, desperately trying to work out where she was going to stay now. She couldn't stay in the Outlands, Zira had made it very clear she wasn't wanted there. However, she couldn't stay in the Pridelands, as the Pridelanders wouldn't accept her either. She looked ahead for some sort of shelter to stay in, but all she could see was a small group of rocks. Vitani was exhausted from running from the wolves, so this would have to do. The lioness hurried over to the rocks, and curled up beneath them. She instantly fell asleep.

~##~

When she woke up the sun was high in the sky. Vitani quickly got up, and set off away from Pride Rock. She hurried past a herd of wildebeest, who glared at her. She increased her speed, because if one of the wildebeest decided she was a threat, they would be able to kill her with a decent kick or head butt. Vitani soon reached the gorge, and decided this would be a good place to stop. As far as she knew, Simba had a great dislike of the gorge, and would avoid it. As for the rest of the lionesses, Vitani would be able deal with a couple of them. Besides, there wasn't much reason for them to go to the gorge, as all of the main prey was grazing on the grasslands.

The young lioness skilfully made her way up the side of the gorge, stopping to catch a couple of mice on the way up. She reached a small cave and, upon inspecting it, decided that it would do for her new home. By now the sun was about to start setting, and Vitani spent the remainder of the day exploring the area around her cave, since it would be useful to know how to make a speedy escape if necessary.

~##~

Kiara woke up the next morning to an exclamation of surprise from Nala. She hastily got up and hurried to her mother's side.

"What happened?" she asked, sleepily.

"That's what I'd like to know," replied Nala, gesturing to the surface of Pride Rock. Kiara looked at it, and saw that it was covered in scratches from the fight of the previous night.

"Where did they all come from" Nala asked. Simba walked out of the cave and looked curiously at the marks.

"How come we didn't hear it?" he asked.

"Well, I think I heard noises in the night," said Nala. She bent her head and sniffed at the scratches. "That smells odd." Kiara turned and left, leaving her parents to puzzle over the strange scented scratches.

Kiara walked aimlessly around the Pridelands, until a terrible smell filled her nose. She blinked to focus her eyes, and found that she had wandered to the edge of the area that had been utterly destroyed by the fire. She felt a sort of horror staring at the blackened and scorched ground. Who knows how many had died in that fire? And Kiara knew that she was supposed to die in that fire. How far would the Outlanders go to kill her? Kiara felt herself filling with fear, but also anger. How dare they set fire to my kingdom? She thought furiously.

Sighing, she turned away. There was nothing she could do at that moment, and if she was going to do anything, she would need the support of the pride, which would probably turn into a full-out war. If there was one thing she wanted to prevent, it was that.

Kiara decided to try and find Vitani, and she headed in the direction she had seen her friend going. She sniffed the ground, trying to catch the scent. She had just picked up the scent when she heard roaring coming from Pride Rock. The princess spun round, and started running towards Pride Rock. As she started to near it, she see the entire pride, lead by Simba and Nala, charging down Pride Rock and towards the Outlands. Kiara called out, and one of the lionesses at the back heard her, and stopped.

"What's going on? Where is everyone going?" asked Kiara.

"The Outlanders are on the move, they're attacking!" replied the lioness.

"Everyone was going to fight without me? Without even telling me what's going on?" Kiara asked, irritated.

"We had no time to waste, we didn't know when you'd be back. And I believe the King wants you to stay here." With this last remark the lioness turned to join the rest of the pride.

"I'm not a child anymore!" Kiara roared after them, but they were too far away to hear.

Kiara knew that her father would not allow her to follow the pride, but she couldn't just sit around. The Outlanders were very strong and desperate, not to mention the fact that they had been training for this battle. I have to stop them, thought Kiara, but how? I can't do it by myself, but who could help me? The answer came instantly to Kiara. She took one last look at the pride in the distance, and started to run through the rain which was starting to come down in torrents.

~##~

Vitani was napping in her cave, ignoring the dam in the river which was threatening to break and potentially wash her away. She wasn't particularly tired, the lioness was only sleeping because of a lack of things to do. So when she heard footsteps, she immediately leapt to her feet, hoping that something exciting was going to happen.

"Vitani!" called Kiara, sounding out of breath. "Where are you?" Vitani got up and looked up. Kiara was running along the top of the gorge, searching for her.

"Down here, Kiara." Kiara whirled round, seeking the source of the voice. She caught sight of Vitani, and Vitani's grin vanished. She could tell something was wrong.

"The Outlanders are attacking!" cried Kiara, and Vitani started to climb up to Kiara. She was soon standing beside her old friend. "We have to stop them!"

Vitani nodded. The sounds of roaring and cries of pain coming from the other side of the gorge caught their attention. The only way across the gorge was the dam. The two lionesses ran across the dam, Vitani trying to ignore the mutters of "I'm going to die" coming from Kiara. However Kiara was proved wrong and the friends made it safely across the dam. Vitani swiftly examined the fight. The Outsiders were winning, she could see that, but now the fight was slowing down, Simba and Kovu were circling each other. Just as they were about to strike, Kiara and Vitani leapt between them.

"Kiara! I thought I told you to stay at Pride Rock!" cried Simba in surprise.

"Get out of my way, traitor," hissed Kovu. Vitani ignored him.

"Daddy this has to stop," said Kiara, a serious expression on her face. "A wise king once told me, we are one. I didn't understand him then, now I do."

"But-they-" protested Simba.

"Them? Us? Look at them. They are us. What differences do you see?" asked Kiara. Vitani glanced around, the lionesses seemed to be listening.

"Kiara is right," said Vitani. Zira opened her mouth to answer, but Vitani cut her off. "And you mother, have spread quite enough lies. The Pridelanders aren't evil. They are just like us. Only your stubbornness had exiled us to the Outlands." Vitani looked hopefully at the Outlanders who had been her friends. They exchanged looks, and came to stand beside Vitani.

Vitani looked at Kovu expectantly. He raised his eyebrows, to say what? Vitani rolled her eyes, saying you know what. Kovu sighed slightly, and stood beside Vitani. Kiara stepped towards Zira.

"Come on Zira. Join us," she said, gently.

"Never!" Vitani saw Zira's muscles tighten, ready to spring at Kiara, and knock her into the gorge. Just as Zira started to leap, Vitani knocked her down. "Pathetic traitor! Are you going to kill me like you killed Nuka?"

"That wasn't my fault!" hissed Vitani. "The only one to blame is you, for sending him on that mission."

"No! No, it was you! I didn't kill him!" protested Zira.

"Denial doesn't suit you mother," said Kovu, coming up beside Vitani, smirking slightly. Zira snarled furiously, and threw Vitani off. Zira spat at Simba, but she knew that she was outnumbered, and with one last growl, she ran away from the lions, along the edge of the gorge. The dam broke, and the torrent of water raced down the gorge, obliterating anything in its way.

"She shouldn't be going that fast. It's too wet and slippery," Vitani muttered. Suddenly, Zira slipped, and tumbled off the edge of the gorge, into the raging water. All the lions ran to the edge of the gorge, and looked. Zira's head broke the surface once, but then she was gone.

~##~

Vitani and Kiara were lying on a rock near the watering hole, soaking up the sun's rays.

"Everything worked out rather well, don't you think?" said Vitani, yawning.

"Definitely," said Kiara, smiling. Vitani's ears twitched, and a smirk slid onto her face.

"Hello Kovu," she said.

"How d'you know I was there?" Kovu asked, standing up from where he was hiding behind the rock that they were on. Kiara was so surprised she fell off the rock.

"You may beat me in brute strength, dear brother, but I beat you in everything else. I could hear you crashing around."

Kiara got up, shaking the grass off her back.

"Stop sneaking up on me!" she said.

"But I love sneaking up on you, honey," said Kovu, smirking. Kiara smiled shyly.

"I'll leave you two lovers in peace shall I?" teased Vitani, getting up and stretching. She slipped off, laughing at Kiara's feeble protests. "Deny it all you want," called Vitani. "I know the truth!"

Wow. It's over. My first ever fanfiction is finished. So, did you guys like the end? Please review!