I know I said I would stop these intros but apparently there are people out there that like them. And the response from the last chapter was just totally overwhelming. Today, lots of good things happened, I find three new reviews (2 Guests) and I found out that a new chapter to my favorite story has been finally uploaded. I was completely overwhelmed with happiness! Mostly because, according to one of my reviews, this story is a big hit in Vietnam. So my thanks to Littletiger and friends for spreading it! For you guys I have a special surprise for you, just come to New York and you'll receive a giant stick, a small pebble, a speck of dust, a machine gun, this pile of mysterious pink goo, this jar of dirt, and this photo of a jogging fat man autographed by this weird old lady that used to live next door! Hope you all enjoyed my small bit of pointless comedy.
Oh and one more thing, a message to Littletiger's friend (Sorry I don't remember your name and your name, since you're a guest reviewer, doesn't pop up immediately in my reviews). My Digimon stories aren't that good and if you wanted to check them out, just go to my profile by clicking my name. But I promise you I'll have much better stories than them sometime in the future, try checking the digimon stories in my favorites, they're better than mine.
For those of you thinking that I was taking way too long with this new addition don't worry. I told you in the last chapter I'd be taking my time; you can't expect me to be going at mach speed. So, thank you all for reviewing and reading, now to the newest addition of my story!
-X-
"I'm sorry if what I said had hurt you…I didn't mean it" Kopa apologized for the second time.
"Look its fine…You didn't know…" said Vitani quietly.
"So I guess you did have special conditions to help you become a good huntress. Being alone out there is rough and I had someone with me to help me out. Not to mention some of the lions from the Western pride helped me out too"
"Well…I wasn't exactly…alone. Half the lionesses here used to be exiles along with me. Including Kovu…"
"Wait Kovu was an exile?"
"Kovu's my brother"
"Oh, wow, I never would've guessed. I mean, I guess I do see the family resemblance but if you two were exiles then where were you from?"
"We…We lived here before being exiled…My mother did something horrible and it hurt the king very bad…In the end he banished us and her followers…We didn't have to stay in the Outlands but my mother had insisted…"
"You lived in the Outlands? But…But the king…He doesn't seem at all like the kind of lion that would banish others for one lioness's actions. And to have you guys live out there…In that dreary place…How can you just accept being here again?" roared Kopa.
Vitani was completely shocked by Kopa's sudden outburst. And it seemed to have surprised him as well. But Kopa felt that all of this only solidified his theory that Simba had tried to kill him when he was younger.
"It's fine…I've forgiven him for all he's put us through…The real question is whether or not he could ever forgive me for what I've put him through…" said Vitani sadly.
"Vitani…How old were you and Kovu when you were banished?" asked Kopa.
"Kovu was only born a week before the banishment so I must've been a couple months older than that"
Kopa turned around and looked away from her. He just couldn't understand what kind of a lion could make cubs so young go through banishment and live in such harsh conditions. There was only one answer to that, the kind of lion that would try to kill his own son. It hurt but that seemed to be the only answer.
"I just can't believe it…" he whispered softly. " What exactly happened to make the king change his mind about your banishment?"
"That's…sort of a long story. Let's just say Kovu and Kiara helped him realize something important" said Vitani.
"What did they help him realize?"
"I'm not quite sure myself…All I know is that it has to do with the saying 'We are one'. And I think it means that no matter who we are, we're all the same in some way"
Kopa was locked in deep thought when he heard some one approaching them. He and Vitani turned around to see Nala, the queen of the Pride Lands.
"Your majesty" bowed Vitani.
"Please Vitani, there's no need to be so formal around me. It's been a very long time Kopa. You've grown so much!" said Nala. Her eyes were watery and she looked like she might cry. "I'm sorry I was unable to greet you yesterday…It's just…You and I were very close when you were a cub and I just wasn't sure if I could handle seeing you again after all this time" Tears were starting to fall from her eyes.
Kopa stood there quietly observing the queen. It looked like he was trying to remember something. "It's fine…I understand…I actually have a memory of you and I can tell that we were really close…" said Kopa quietly.
But there was something else going through his head. This lioness was the queen, which meant she was his mother. And her words were so sincere he just couldn't help but believe her. Maybe she wasn't part of the plot, or maybe he was completely wrong about his theory. One thing was for sure, this lioness felt a very deep pain and he didn't want to put her through any more of it.
"I'm glad to be home" said Kopa softly as he pulled his mother into a sweet embrace. She was surprised at first but then she hugged him back. Vitani watched this family moment and was once again pulled into another memory of her father.
-X-
"So what game are we going to play now?" asked the cub version of Vitani as she jumped around excitedly.
"How about…Go to the den and sleep" suggested Neo.
"Come on dad, you never do anything fun when it's night" complained Vitani.
"All right then…How about this!" said Neo playfully as he knelt down and nudged Vitani onto the top of his head. He ran around, spun here and there, laughing along with his daughter.
But he soon came to a stop and lay down on the grass with Vitani giggling beside him. He may be very strong but he was still the oldest lion in the Pridelands. He got exhausted quickly and was now breathing heavily.
"Let's do that again daddy!" pleaded Vitani.
"I'm sorry 'Tani, I get winded very easily nowadays" panted Neo.
"Aw…Then can we play a different game?"
"Alright…This one's not much of a game but it's very enjoyable. It's sort of like a tradition for Pride Land lions. We simply look up in the sky and stargaze"
"That's sounds boring"
"It does, doesn't it? But that's when you need to use your imagination to add your own touch to it"
"How do we do that?"
"Look up there. See those stars very close to each other? It kind of makes an image that looks like…"
"A rhino!"
"You see…Now why don't you try and find something yourself?"
"Okay! Well…That looks like two birds circling each other! And over there it looks like a flower! And that one kind of looks like a newborn baby cub!" giggled Vitani. She looked up at her dad with a smile. "Hey dad, when will my new sibling be born?"
Neo's smile dropped and he suddenly looked very sad. "…Too soon, I'm afraid"
Vitani tilted her head in confusion as she looked up at him. "Why? Don't you want to have another cub?"
"Of course I do…It's just…You know I won't be here forever right?"
"Yeah, the king told me that every animal has to join the stars one day"
"I'm just afraid that I won't have the time to watch my new cub grow up…"
"You don't plan on leaving, do you daddy? You're not dying are you? Should I get Rafiki?"
Vitani was now sitting up and she was very worried. Neo on the other paw, remained calm and sat up as well. He pulled Vitani close to him and gave her a warm hug.
"I would never leave you…You're my little 'Tani…But sometimes one just has to go but that doesn't mean I won't be with you. We will always be a part of each other…Together…We are one…" said Neo softly.
-X-
"Vitani, are you okay? You just started crying all of a sudden" said Kopa causing the tawny furred lioness to snap back to reality.
"Oh…I'm fine really…I was just thinking about something…Nothing to worry about" said Vitani. "Where'd the queen go?"
"She went back to Pride Rock…Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine…Really…"
-X-
"Simba, I'm glad I caught up with you. You're patrolling the borders right now, am I correct?" said Hasani as he bounded up to the king.
Simba opened up his mouth to answer but Zazu, who was perched upon the king's shoulder, answered in his place.
"Yes, the king has very important duties he must take care of. He cannot waste time by talking to a visitor such as yourself" said Zazu.
"Zazu, be a little more polite to our guest. I know you don't trust many that easily but you don't have to talk as if they're below you" reminded Simba.
"Of course, I apologize; it's just a force of habit. I'm always telling cubs not to bother the king while he is working, I guess those type of words are just stuck in my head" said Zazu.
"Then why don't you take a break?" suggested Simba.
"That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you sire" bowed Zazu as he flew off.
Once he was out of sight, Simba looked over at Hasani. "Now what was it that you wanted?" asked the king.
"Well, to be completely honest, I didn't just come here as a tourist. I'm also looking for a lion that used to live in my pride. His name is Neo" said Hasani. "Do you know of him?"
Simba was greatly surprised. He had known that Neo was from a different pride but he always seemed like he was from one of those minor or smaller prides. He didn't seem like a great kingdom kind of lion. "Yes…Neo used to live here but he left the Pride Lands a few years back" said Simba.
"I see…That's a shame" said Hasani, sounding very disappointed. "He was a rather famous lion back in my pride and I was hoping to meet him"
"Neo never told me he was from the Northern kingdom. And King Kanu has never mentioned him"
"Oh no, Neo isn't from the Northern kingdom. He's from a minor pride close to it, I used to live there too but the King Kanu merged the great kingdom with our small pride"
"Ah, yes, Kanu told me of his kingdom's expansion, if I remember correctly, this only happened just a few months ago"
"That is correct sire…I heard the stories of Neo from my older sister. And I wanted to meet him. But considering how old he is…I guess that may never happen" Hasani turned away from the king, looking greatly disappointed. "Thank you for taking your time with me though"
"Now hold on. Neo may not be here but you can get to know him through his children" suggested Simba.
"Neo had cubs?"
"Two in fact, actually, my son-in-law just so happens to be Neo's son"
"Kovu?"
Simba nodded. "Yes and his sister Vitani. They both have many of Neo's traits"
Hasani's expression was unreadable for a moment but then it changed into a soft smile. "Then the stories I've heard must be true. If Kovu is capable to be king of these lands then Neo must've been a great lion himself"
"He was…" smiled Simba but then he heard an elephant trumpet angrily. That was never a good sign. "I have to run now. Why don't you take a look around the Pride Lands?"
Hasani nodded and watched as Simba's body became a silhouette in the distance. He sighed and turned around but froze in his steps. His gentle face changed into one of a lion defending himself. "Who's there?" he growled.
"I am so sorry…I didn't mean to sneak up on you" said a young lioness coming out of the bushes. "I wasn't following you or anything. I was just heading towards the water hole"
Hasani sighed softly and relaxed. "It's fine…I'm actually used to being followed by lionesses all the time" Hasani's name meant handsome, and it fit him very well because…That's what he was.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…My name's Sierra by the way" greeted Sierra awkwardly.
"Hi…I don't think we've met formally. My name's Hasani" Hasani chuckled.
"Well…Sorry for wasting your time" said Sierra as she turned around.
"Now hold on…I could use a tour guide to show me around. And since there aren't any other lionesses as pretty as you around, could you do so?"
"Well I guess I could-Wait…Did you just call me pretty?"
"Did I? Huh, I meant to say beautiful"
Sierra giggled lightly but quickly regained her composure. "No problem…I can show you around"
-X-
"How can you not be mad at that?" questioned Jua furiously.
"What do you want me to do about it? He doesn't remember me so why does it matter? And why do you care so much anyway?" asked Afua.
"She's an Outsider; she isn't supposed to be socializing with the prince. It's like Kovu and Kiara all over again only the genders are reversed!"
"Vitani's no Outsider and neither is Kovu. What's up with you? They were brainwashed by their freak of a mother, why do you keep blaming them for things that were out of their control?"
"Maybe because you didn't suffer the way my family did. Both my mom's parents were killed by that tyrant of a king Scar! She used to cry to me all the time, do you know how hard it is to watch your own mother in so much pain?"
"Well why do you have to associate it with Kovu and Vitani? They weren't even born then!"
"Because they are associated with him! They were supposed to carry on his legacy and you know as much as I do that they're carrying the same darkness in their hearts as he did!"
Afua remained quiet through Jua's rant. He only glared at him, hating each word he said. "You know what?" shouted Afua standing up. "I've had enough of this. It seems like you're more like Scar than either of those two!"
"Afua!"
"No! That's enough! They've done nothing wrong and all you do is treat them like scum! And you're one to talk; you only hung out with Kopa because of his social status!"
Jua growled and pounced on him but Afua was able to evade him just in time.
"I'm going to see Sierra" muttered Afua as he bounded out of their cave.
Jua huffed angrily and laid down in his paws. He listened to the outside world and his ears perked up when he heard something. It sounded way too light to be a lion though. "Who's there?"
"…I'm just someone who agrees with you…" said an unfamiliar voice.
"Ha! Yeah right! Everyone simply adores Kovu just because he's the prince. He hasn't done anything to prove himself and I don't think jumping in with Kiara to stop their parents from fighting each other counts" said Jua.
"Did you like the princess?"
"What makes you say that?" scoffed Jua.
"…Do you want to be king of these lands?"
"I'd like to be but I know nothing about being a king. And it seems like its too much responsibility anyway"
"Then would you like Kopa to be king instead of Kovu?"
"Of course I do, but not if Vitani's going to be his queen"
"Well what if I told you we could get rid of those Outsiders and only have it back the way it used to be? With only true Pridelanders"
"…I'm listening…"
The creature outside the cave remained out there. But he smiled evilly when he heard Jua's answer. "Then there's just one little thing you have to do"
-X-
"Wait, Rafiki, before you go" said Kovu stopping the shaman from leaving Pride Rock.
"Yes, what is it prince Kovu?" asked the elderly mandrill.
"I know you told us of Taka's story but what of Scar? There has to be more…Everything you've said seems to have justified what he had done to Hondari even though it was wrong. But what filled his heart so much hate that it justified him for killing Mufasa?" asked Kovu.
Rafiki looked at Kovu and Kiara with a very sad expression. "Yes…There is much more to Taka's story to fully transform him into Scar. And you're right; everything that had happened did not justify what he had done to the late king. I was just hoping you wouldn't be able to figure out that there was more"
"Well I'd like to hear the full story" said Kovu.
"Me too…I want to make sure we raise our cubs right" added Kiara.
Rafiki sighed as he sat down in front of them. "Very well…"
-X-
"Here's your meal Scar" laughed one of the guards as he threw in a half-eaten zebra leg.
"Its prince Scar" growled the black maned lion inside the cave. He had gotten a lot skinnier and the lack of fresh air has matted down his mane.
"More like prisoner Scar!" laughed the female guard.
"You two will regret treating me like this. My brother won't let you get away with mistreating me!" growled Scar.
"Well would you look at that? The mighty Scar still has to depend on his big brother to protect him" mocked the male guard.
"Truly pitiful" added the female guard with a head shake.
"When I get out of here you will both suffer! And I will make sure that everything I put you through will make your grandchildren walk down the same darkened path as I had" Scar growled.
"Grandchildren? He's already lost it! We're not much older than you, we only have a daughter" scoffed the male guard.
"Yeah, why don't you go back to your food before it rots? Oh wait, seems like that's already happened with the predator" smirked the female guard.
"What are you two doing?" shouted Sarabi as she appeared on the scene and advanced on the gaurds.
"Queen Sarabi!" they both bowed in respect to their new queen.
"I want the both of you off duty now!" ordered Sarabi.
"But-!"
"Now!"
"Yes, ma'am" The two guards left without another word as Sarabi looked at Scar with an expression of pity.
"Thank you for that Sarabi" Scar sighed.
"Don't think this means I forgive you for what you've done to Sarafina" said Sarabi. "I only did what I did out of old times' sake"
Scar didn't say anything more. He just watched the back of his sister-in-law as she guarded the cave. It stung but he knew that what he did had hurt Sarafina. He decided to sleep on it. When he awoke, he noticed that it was already dark outside. He saw the silhouettes of two lions, one male and the other female. He thought it was the two from earlier but then he heard the undeniable voice of his brother.
"I don't know what I'm going to do Sarabi. He's my brother but everyone is treating him so much more differently than they used to. I'm worried it'll push him into doing something he'll regret" said Mufasa.
"You're worrying too much. You know him better than anybody. He wouldn't go that far" consoled Sarabi.
"No Sarabi…I thought I knew him. But it turns out I didn't when he killed Hondari. It just doesn't seem like him anymore"
"Mufasa…You worry too much. It's the pressure of being king, don't worry…I'm sure Taka will come around. And if you do think he'll be pushed to the extremes then you can just order everyone to treat him better"
"That'll only create controversy in the kingdom. You know as well as I do how much Hondari meant to the animals here"
"Is that really how it is then brother?" said Scar, saying the last word with hatred.
"Taka-"
"I told you not to call me that!"
"Scar…It's not that I don't want to do it. The importance of the kingdom comes before family" said Mufasa.
"That's not how you thought when we were cubs. You used to go on and on about how you would always put your family before the kingdom. Sure the kingdom is important but what's more important to you?" asked Scar.
"…You know what's important to me…I'd like to know what's important to you. When we were cubs all you ever wanted was to be the kind of king that everyone would've respected and loved…But how was killing Hondari supposed to accomplish that? What were you hoping for? Were you hoping to change your fate? Well you didn't have to go so far…I wanted to rule together with you but after seeing what happened that day…I knew you weren't ready"
"How dare you talk as if you're above me!"
"…I'm sorry…"
"You sound just like father! You're too weak to rule!"
Mufasa turned his back on him as Scar growled at him. But Scar new better than to fight them, he was already weak due to malnutrition. Fighting would mean certain death.
"From this day forth I have no brother!" roared Scar.
Scar didn't see them but a few tears were shed by Mufasa that day. Mufasa lay in the den crying, thinking of how he had just lost his brother. And he didn't know if he would ever see him again.
-X-
The rest of Scar's story will be seen in the next chapter. Not just that but we're going to see how the younger generation of lions are doing. I hoped you liked this chapter. I worked hard on it! I must say though, it's not as good as other chapters. Well don't forget to review and I'll see you next time.