Chapter Four: Disaster Strikes
Whoa it's fandoms: I'm sorry I made you cry! If it helps, I cried too, dear. Enjoy the chapter.
CSIMentalistTLK Lover: Vitani has been through much tragedy, hasn't she? Hmmm… maybe 'Tani and Kovu will have a little boy. It would be awfully parallel to Tama's birth order as well… even though parallels are good in writing… although it won't be exactly the same, because… well I can't reveal too much without plot revelation, I apologize :) enjoy the chapter.
TRON0602: I figured since I used "My Immortal" that I would use some memories. I had a memory chapter last story too, and as I said to CSIMentalistTLK Lover… parallels are good as long as there are differences. And yes, Kali and Hafsa had a beautiful scene :) Seems our little Hafsa might have some precognitive abilities, eh? Anyway, enjoy the chapter… Maji's coming into the picture!
The weeks passed. Vitani had kept it secret she was pregnant until she could no more, and admitted to her pride another heir was on the way for the Pridelands. Joy did spread a bit. A little life was exactly what the Pridelands needed to bring joy.
JJ grew into a sleek, beautiful eleven-month-old. A hairtuft like her mother's was developing on her smooth head, and freckles had come into her cheeks the month before. Nurisha, too, grew well. Her white coat seemed to brighten with each passing day.
Vitani, Tojo, and Moyo all noticed how JJ was coming to be closer to Amri, and how Nurisha was flirting a touch with Damu. Kovu, on the other hand, tried to pry his daughters from the young males' paws, which always brought a smile to anyone's face when Kovu became overprotective.
And today was important. The first Princess of another land was to show and meet Muujiza. From what Vitani understood, it was Amalia, the daughter of King Shujaa and Queen Amani of the River Pride, being escorted by her half-brother, Kengee. The best things about the relations with the River Pride were that Amani was Scar's younger child, and that made the Pridelands Royals family. Amalia was Amani's daughter, but from what Vitani understood about Kengee was that he was only Shujaa's due to his old Queen, Nusu, dying in childbirth with his son.
Kengee had also abdicated the throne, wishing to not be King, meaning Amalia needed a consort. So Vitani and Tojo were waiting at the western border for the Prince and Princess to arrive. The father and daughter were surprised when they first saw Amalia. Amalia and Amani looked near identical, but the differences were that Amalia had dark blue eyes whereas her mother had bright green, and a sleeker form than her very Pridelander-built mother, and a hairtuft. It wasn't quite as thick as Vitani's, but it made her scruffy and pretty.
Kengee, however, was like a sunbeam next to his younger half-sister. He was a true gold color, with a dark blond mane and bright orange eyes. Vitani and Tojo both smiled when the foreign royals approached them.
"Hello." Amalia smiled. Vitani smiled back, noticing that Amalia was young. About a year old, making her a couple years younger than Muujiza.
"How do you do, Amalia? How does your mother fare?" Vitani asked. Amalia chuckled.
"Mom's fine, she sends her best." Amalia said.
"I'm glad. Let us go on in, Amalia. Vitani and Kengee need to discuss sleeping arrangements for now." Tojo said, nudging Amalia on. Amalia followed Tojo, and the pair left Vitani and Kengee alone. Vitani turned to the Prince of the River Pride.
"I have heard legends of the Savior Queen, Tama. To meet her daughter is an honor." Kengee bowed his head. Vitani used her nose to lift his head.
"I have no need for anyone to bow to me, Kengee. We are both Royal, therefore, I believe no bowing is in order." Vitani said. Kengee laughed.
"I'm glad. Most of the other prides we have met with their Kings and Queens expect to be bowed to." Kengee said.
"I see them as… stuck up, for lack of a more proper phrase." Vitani smiled. Kengee sighed.
"Okay, I'm starting to feel more comfortable." Kengee said. Vitani laughed.
"Let's try again. I'm Vitani." Vitani said. Kengee chuckled.
"I'm Kengee, nice to meet you." Kengee said. Vitani smiled broadly.
"So, sleeping arrangements… we have a cave a little ways away from Pride Rock." Vitani said.
"I believe it should suit my sister and myself just fine… unless she and your brother hit it off well then I suppose I am sleeping outside." Kengee laughed. Vitani laughed.
"In that case, you are to stay in the main den." Vitani said. Kengee faux-sighed.
"Thank the Kings!" Kengee said. The peach-beige lioness began to walk.
"Care to walk with me back to Pride Rock, Kengee?" Vitani asked. Kengee nodded.
"Of course." Kengee said.
*+-/_\-+*
Meanwhile, Kovu was with Kiara and Mwenzi. The mahogany lion enjoyed having a day off from rounds, and he had found himself with his sister-in-law and niece, watching as the cream-white Mwenzi chased a butterfly.
"She's pretty focused, isn't she?" Kovu asked.
"She is. She'll make a fine hunter one day." Kiara said.
"Most likely to the prowess of her mother." Kovu said. Kiara laughed aloud.
"She'll be better than that. I wonder if she gets it from Myota's side of the family." Kiara said.
"Well, yeah, Mom taught us all to be good hunters." Kovu said.
"I mean his birth family. We never discuss it. I mean, it seems like it is taboo. Myota and Nurisha do look similar and I can't help but wonder if he and Nurisha come from the same blood pool." Kiara said. Kovu's eyebrows rose, and then lowered. The dusky gold lioness had a point about his adoptive brother and his adoptive daughter.
"No matter what, we are Nuri and 'Ota's family, we've been with them. Kiara, you're adopted, too." Kovu said.
"I get your point Kovu, but what if there is something that will pass through Nuri and Myota to their children?" Kiara asked. Kovu lowered his emerald eyes, his emotions running.
"You think Myota is Scar's son, don't you? It's his eyes you can't get past?" Kovu asked. Kiara sighed.
"Mwenzi does take a few traits from the… crazier side of Scar. Myota is white, too, but... his eyes are that lime green." Kiara said.
"Mwenzi… acts like Scar?" Kovu asked.
"From the horror stories Nala has told me… Scar had a few things wrong. He snapped at some point. It was because of my mother, too," Kiara added before Kovu could say anything, "and Amani's mother, Bianca. Both Kenya and Bianca pushed Taka to Scar."
"From what I heard, it wasn't that. It was the scar he had received from Aisha and Kenya's mother, Hatima." Kovu said. Kiara sighed.
"Still from my family. I feel uncomfortable around Myota since I realized Mwenzi's turning into a little Scar." Kiara said.
"You shouldn't feel like that. Myota's your mate." Kovu said.
"In a lot of ways, he's perfect, but… Kovu, I…" Kiara shook her head and looked forward.
"Kiara?" Kovu asked.
"I still love you. You should have been the father of my children I feel, even if you had stayed with Vitani in the end, I wouldn't have cared as long as we had shared a child." Kiara whispered, her face stoic.
"Kiara, I was meant to be with Vitani. Tama and my mother arranged for me to be Vitani's Prince Consort, and Vitani has made me King, deferred to me because we love each other." Kovu said.
"You went back to her after everything. Kovu, please explain this to me, had she not come back, would you have loved me like you love her?" Kiara asked, her ruby eyes glistening with tears. Kovu took a moment, and sighed heavily.
"I still would have stayed with you unless Myota had fallen for you." Kovu whispered. Kiara smiled a bit.
"The way it was supposed to be." Kiara said softly. Kovu gazed upon Kiara, confused he bit his lip, and he couldn't deny it.
He still felt for Kiara.
And he was married to Vitani.
*+-/_\-+*
An orange-brown lion appeared in the den, glancing to Kali. He smiled.
"So you are the one she chose to love." He said, his voice like cool silk. Kali woke and glanced to the lion, seeing scars littering his body, and a black mane adorning his head.
His bright emerald eyes made Kali's breath hitch. His eyes were exactly like Mpenzi's son's.
"Who… are you?" Kali asked. The lion smiled happily.
"My name is Takali, the son of Ahadi and Uru. You were the mate to the one who bore me my final son." Takali said. Kali growled.
"You raped Mpenzi?!" Kali demanded.
"Calm yourself. That was… another side of me. One who lusted for power, for adoration. For heirs. I lost it in a blaze of fire and teeth, and in my final moments, I realized what was right. Enough of me, what of you?" Takali asked, sitting down.
"I…" Kali was shocked, he was speaking to his deceased mate's rapist, but he seemed to be so calm… collected, even. Kali could give him no less.
"I was Mpenzi's mate, the father of her last child. I had no chance to be with her before her death at the paws of the Tyrant Queen, Vitani." Kali said. Takali chucked and rolled his eyes while shaking his head.
"What?" Kali asked.
"My great-niece would do no such thing. She is a harmless soul, and harbored no ill will towards your Mpenzi, and had no lust to have a white heir. Maybe you should look inside yourself, and see into Kibuluu's soul." Takali said as he disappeared.
Kali woke with a start, the orange-brown lion's words haunting him. Had he really spoken with the dead?
*+-/_\-+*
Libya and Kweli had taken JJ, Nurisha, Jasiri, and Jua for a walk after Sarabi had needed a bit of a hand off, so Libya and Kweli were only too happy to accept taking the four cubs they had for a walk. Nurisha, Jasiri, and Jua, all being similarly aged, were having more fun than JJ though, Amri had been ill for a while, and he was the only similarly-aged cub around for JJ.
Meaning the Crown Princess was, simply put, bored as hell with the cub games that the other three were playing.
"JJ." Libya crooned her great-granddaughter's name. JJ smiled and was glad for a distraction from the younger cubs. The young blond-beige female walked up to her great-grandmother and her aunt, her developing hairtuft bouncing a bit. Kweli found herself smiling at her niece.
"Yeah, Grammy?" JJ asked. Libya smiled.
"You're almost a year old. How do you feel?" Libya asked. JJ shrugged.
"No different. I'm bigger and Mom's been giving me hunting lessons, but I don't feel different." JJ said. Kweli, now thirteen months old, chuckled.
"Life must be great being eleven months old. Especially not having to worry about the first hunt in five month's time." Kweli smiled. JJ looked to her dark golden aunt.
"Jay, Kweli has a point. You should worry a bit about the first hunt. It'll be you with a like-aged group hunting solo, the Rite of Passage for all young lionesses." Libya said. JJ glanced to her great-grandmother.
"But… but…" JJ said.
"Grammy has a point, too, Jay. You could be bumped up to have your first hunt at sixteen months old instead of a year and a half old." Kweli said with a nod. JJ backed a bit, lowering her head.
"Oh… I guess I should pay attention." JJ said. Libya chuckled.
"No need to fret, dear one. You'll do fine. Your mother is a fine huntress. Your grandmother was a fine huntress, and well…" Libya trailed off. JJ's ears picked up.
"What? Well what, Grammy?" JJ asked. Kweli smiled.
"Grammy was the first huntress to bring back a kill during her Rite." Kweli said. JJ seemed awe-struck as she looked to Libya.
"Not to mention that Gran Sarabi also is a good hunter. You'll be just fine." Libya said.
The group continued to walk along. JJ decided to slow down to keep an eye on the cubs when a rustle in the bush distracted her. She told the younger cubs to continue while she stepped up to the bush and nuzzled it. Her reddish-pink nose met a black nose, and her sky blue eyes met emerald green orbs.
It was a boy cub, no older than Nurisha, but younger than JJ. JJ was surprised when he backed away, looking meek. His coat was the blackest of black, and he had a hairtuft the same shade. JJ smiled.
"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you." JJ said. The cub smiled.
"I'm not a baby, you know! I'm the Great Maji!" the cub said. JJ smiled.
"I know you're just the age of my little sister." JJ said.
"Who are you, Pridelander?" Maji asked. JJ laughed.
"I'm Princess Jolina." JJ said. Maji's emerald eyes widened, and then became normal.
"Oh. The Princess. Nice to meet ya." Maji said, a shy smile on the black cub's face.
"Nice to meet you too, Maji." JJ smiled.
"Wanna play?" Maji asked. JJ laughed.
"Sure. What can it hurt to play away from adults once in awhile?" JJ asked as Maji tagged her.
"You're it! Catch me if you can!" Maji said. JJ smiled and chased the black cub, a smile on her face.
*+-/_\-+*
Kibuluu had lost Maji, whom he was supposed to be babysitting, again. Kibuluu loved Maji, he was a little wildfire, but he was also had to keep track of.
The dusky gold lion followed Maji's trail to the northern border of the Moonlands, and saw the black cub playing with the blond-beige Princess of the Pridelands. Kibuluu smiled.
Perfect…I can bring back Maji and kill the brat at the same time. Kibuluu thought as his bright blue eyes met with the Princess's. The Princess seemed to recognize him.
And gasped. The Princess quickly stepped in front of Maji, mirroring the creamy-gold lioness's move from months before to protect the cub with her.
A good soul… too bad those all die. Kibuluu thought.
*+-/_\-+*
Libya and Kweli stopped for a drink and realized that JJ was gone. She had to have wandered off.
"C'mon, we have to find her!" Libya said. Kweli nodded, staying with Jasiri, Nurisha, and Jua as she ran behind her grandmother.
Libya ran ahead, her fast legs carrying her over much ground when she saw Kibuluu near JJ and a black cub. Libya roared, running right into the dusky gold lion, ramming him with her own body to throw him off of JJ's sight. Kweli nuzzled her niece.
"Are you all right? What about your friend?" Kweli asked.
"We're fine," JJ looked to Maji, "Right?" Maji nodded.
"That's my Uncle Kibuluu." Maji whispered into JJ's ear. JJ closed her eyes.
"Run along home, Maji, you don't need to see this." JJ said. Maji looked up to JJ.
"But…" Maji said.
"Go, he'll be fine." JJ whispered. Maji nodded, his emerald eyes wide as he turned and ran southwards.
"He comes from the south?" Kweli asked.
"He looked like he needed a friend." JJ said as she watched Libya struggle against Kibuluu. Kweli roared herself, jumping into the fray and smacking in Kibuluu's direction, her claw ripping into his ear and tearing half of it away. The dusky gold lion roared at the dark gold young lioness, which made Kweli shrink away. Libya growled and jumped onto Kibuluu's back, distracting him.
"Stay away from my family!" Libya roared. Kibuluu turned his head and grabbed Libya's scruff, throwing the old lioness to the ground. JJ and Nurisha both gasped.
"Grammy!" Nurisha and JJ yelled in unison.
"Run! Run! Go! Don't worry about me! Kweli, you too!" Libya ordered.
"Gramma…" Kweli said.
"Now! Go get help!" Libya said. Kweli's crimson eyes saddened, but the dark gold lioness nodded as she turned to the cubs and made them run in the opposite direction. Libya looked into Kibuluu's bright blue eyes.
"What valiant efforts. I believe I should know who you are…" Kibuluu said.
"All you need to know is I am Tojo's mother." Libya spat in Kibuluu's face and raised a paw, her claw digging a bloody wound across Kibuluu's nose bridge. The lion roared, lowering his jaw to Libya's throat. Libya didn't struggle as Kibuluu held her down.
Blood came from Libya's neck.
I love you, my family… Protect them, Kweli. Protect them like I have tried to. Libya thought as her life was snuffed out completely.
*+-/_\-+*
Kweli kept running until she ran headfirst into Simba and Chumvi. Kweli was sobbing.
"Whoa, where's the fire, kiddo?" Simba asked the dark golden lioness. Kweli sobbed.
"Grandma… Kibuluu…. Oh my God, Simba he's going to kill Grandma Libya!" Kweli cried. Chumvi and Simba looked to each other.
"Kweli, get the cubs back to Pride Rock and send Tojo, sweetheart. I know this is hard, but…" Chumvi said.
"I'll go! Please, help Gramma!" Kweli begged. Simba and Chumvi nodded, both lions running from where Kweli came. Kweli took a moment to sniffle. JJ walked up to Kweli and nuzzled her aunt, tears in her eyes too. Nurisha also stepped up next to her sister and aunt, nuzzling them both in sadness.
Then the group continued on.
*+-/_\-+*
Vitani had just returned to Pride Rock when she saw Kweli running at a breakneck pace, a group of cubs behind her. Vitani was able to stop her sister, and saw tearstains on the dark golden lioness's cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Vitani asked, her heart pounding.
"Gramma… Kibuluu came back and…" Kweli ended on a hard sob. JJ and Nurisha ran for their mother's arms, seeking comfort while Jasiri and Jua placed themselves with Kweli, unsure of how to feel. Vitani nodded, and let out an earsplitting roar, summoning every lion or lioness around. Tojo was the first to appear, Damu and Giza at his side.
"What is it?" Tojo asked.
"Its Gramma Lib. Kibuluu attacked the group on the border from what I understand." Vitani said softly, her eyes filling with tears as she nuzzled her babies. Tojo's eyes filled, but he shook it off.
"I'll go. Kids," He looked from Vitani to Kweli then to Damu and Giza, "stay here." Tojo said.
"Dad…" Vitani said. Tojo's electric blue eyes looked directly into Vitani's, fatherly protection blazing.
"You may be Queen, Ashaki," Tojo used Vitani's birth name to show he was still order-giver to a point with her, "but I'm your father. You already saw your mother bleed to death. You don't need to see your grandmother do it too." Tojo said sternly has he walked away. Surprised, Vitani just sat, feeling tears build in her throat.
"Vitani?" Kengee asked. Vitani had forgotten the golden lion was there and turned to him.
"Yes, Kengee?" Vitani asked.
"Are you all right?" Kengee walked up alongside the blue-eyed Queen, his orange eyes concerned.
"No," Vitani whispered, nuzzling her daughters again, "my family and I will have to deal with another loss. We won't be okay for a long time." Tears spilled over Vitani's dark eyelids.
*+-/_\-+*
Dusk fell over the Pridelands. Tojo, Simba, and Chumvi returned, a pale cream body on Chumvi's back. All three lions had tearstains on their cheeks. Kweli hiccupped upon seeing Libya's body. Vitani pulled JJ and Nurisha back away from the scene, leaving her cubs with a pridesister as she trotted up to Libya alongside Kweli, Damu, Giza, and Muujiza. Vitani gasped upon seeing two puncture wounds on the underside of Libya's throat, but prayed a bit of relief.
"She didn't suffer." Vitani said softly. The Queen started to cry, and Muujiza pulled his sister close, tears in his eyes as well as the children of Tama sobbed together. Kweli, Damu, and Giza all leaned on each other, soft sobs emanating from their throats. Tojo took turns nuzzling his children.
"We have to look on the plus side, she didn't suffer. Kibuluu took that bit of mercy." Simba said as Nala appeared and licked the tearstains from his cheeks. Chumvi shuddered a sigh and started to cry. Aisha walked up and nuzzled her only son.
"I know, Chumvi. I know you loved Libya like a mother too." The ocher-colored lioness said as she held her son close. Chumvi nodded.
"She helped me out after Scar chased me off." Chumvi whispered. Zira, Sarabi, and Sarafina appeared.
"She's with Radi now." Sarafina said softly.
"And she will always watch over us." Zira said. Sarabi sobbed, making Vitani turn to her other grandmother and pull her into a tight hug. Vitani didn't notice when her two daughters came over and nuzzled Libya.
"Bye, Grammy." JJ whispered. Nurisha let out a heart-wrenching sob, and JJ pulled her sister into a hug, sobbing herself. Vitani and Sarabi made their way to the two young ones, both lionesses nuzzling each girl. Kovu walked up to Vitani.
"I'm so sorry." Kovu whispered as he pulled his mate into a hug. 'Tani began sobbing into Kovu's mane. Vitani took a deep breath.
"I think it's only fair… but if we have another girl…" Vitani said softly. Kovu nodded.
"Libya it will be should the cub be a girl." Kovu said. Vitani smiled through her sadness.
"Thank you. I love you so much." Vitani said. Kovu gave a sad smile back.
"I love you too." Kovu said.
A/N: RIP Libya.
Vitani: She will be missed, right SweetChin?
Me: *nods* she will be very missed. *sniffles.*
Tojo: *appears and pulls me and Tani into a hug*
Muujiza: Damn Kibuluu to hell… Anyway, we're going to regroup. Review and stay tuned.