Chapter Sixteen: Rhythm of Hearts
Um, sorry guys with FF accounts… Due to TRON0602's long as hell review I will be responding via PM this chapter for you guys. To my guest reviewer, yes, Ashaki/Myota is the pairing of the day :) MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE ONE FEUD FINALLY END!
Regardless, I hope you all enjoy the chapter.
Kamaria woke alongside Timon and Pumbaa, and her stomach growled. Timon woke at the sound and glared at the young lioness.
"Jeez, already?" Timon asked. Kamaria nodded.
"I'm pregnant, Timon. I have no choice, really. The baby needs food, so I will go get food." Kamaria said. Timon rolled his eyes.
"I'm glad I wasn't around for any of Tama's pregnancies. It makes me…" Timon trailed off and sighed, "I miss Tama. And Simba. It's nice having a lion around."
Kamaria smiled and looked at Timon, her blue eyes bright as she said, "thanks, you're not so bad yourself."
Pumbaa woke and his stomach grumbled as well. The aging warthog stood up and looked at Kamaria.
"Ready to go get some grubs, Kamaria?" Pumbaa asked. The Crown Princess nodded.
"Let's go!" Kamaria said as she stood up. Timon jumped onto the Crown Princess's back with a smile. Kamaria eyed the meerkat.
"If it's okay with you." Timon said. The lioness sighed and nodded.
"It's fine." The three set off deeper into the jungle.
*+-/_\-+*
Ashaki lead the pride into the jungle, then the Queen caught a familiar scent. More like three familiar scents. Myota eyed his new mate and Queen through a King's eyes.
"What is it?" Myota asked. Ashaki leapt forward in two bounds and saw Timon, Pumbaa, and JJ, standing before her, in front of a log, looking for grubs. The Queen gasped and smiled.
"JJ!" Ashaki cried. The Crown Princess turned to her mother and smiled.
"Mom!" JJ ran to her mother, her blue eyes wide. Ashaki grasped her eldest in a near bone-crushing hug, but JJ didn't squirm. Myota smiled and trotted to the pair, putting a paw on JJ's back.
"You're all right. Oh my Kings, you're all right." Ashaki whispered. JJ leaned into her mother a little harder.
"I'm all right, Timon and Pumbaa are pretty awesome." JJ said with a smile. Timon and Pumbaa smiled at Ashaki and Ashaki smiled back.
"Yeah, Kamaria here's a good kid…" Timon began. Ashaki turned to her daughter.
"Kamaria?" She asked JJ. JJ lowered her head, but nodded.
"Mom… the Queens of the Past they…. They chose me." JJ said softly Ashaki tilted her head and Myota looked at the young lioness with confusion. The rest of the pride trotted up to the Crown Princess.
"What do you mean, 'chose you?'" Nala asked, her cobalt eyes curious. Jasiri, who was assisting Simba, looked to her friend in understanding, then smiled.
"She means the Queens entrust her with the future of the Pridelands." Jasiri said, her brown eyes meeting JJ's blue.
"So, they renamed you?" Ashaki asked. JJ nodded.
"They told me they call me 'Kamaria…'" JJ said.
"And you took the name." Zuri said, her bi-colored eyes meeting JJ's blue orbs. JJ nodded.
"Princess JJ is no more… I wish to be called 'Kamaria' from now on." Kamaria said. Ashaki smiled a bit, and looked to Myota, who smiled and nodded.
"I think it's only fair, because you've had it extremely difficult." Myota said. Kamaria smiled at Myota, then her smile fell in confusion as she looked between Ashaki and Myota, her mother and… her uncle. Nurisha, Jua, and Chaka stepped up. The Princess gazed at the scene, and the whole pride seemed to hold their breath.
"What's going on here?" Kamaria asked. Ashaki and Myota looked to each other, then to Kamaria.
"Well…" the Queen began.
"We are one." Myota said easily. Kamaria leaned back a bit, one paw lifting, still confused. Nurisha stepped up.
"They're together, Ja—I mean, Kamaria." The white lioness said. Kamaria's eyes widened and she looked to her mother. Ashaki nodded.
"I can't live without him." the Queen said. Kamaria stood up, and looked at Myota, her eyes serious. Myota felt a tidbit of apprehension under the Crown Princess's gaze.
"You hurt my mother, I will kill you. Simple." Kamaria said, her tone serious. Myota's bright green eyes widened, then he smiled.
"I wouldn't hurt her, not even for a goddess, I would never leave her." Myota nuzzled Ashaki. Kamaria smiled and ran to nuzzle Myota. The pride seemed to let out a breath they had been holding. Myota held the Crown Princess in an embrace, a father-daughter hug, and it seemed like everything was… right.
Kamaria backed from Myota then looked to Jua, who smiled.
"I guess we're sisters." The Crown Princess said. Jua nodded.
"It fits. I lost a sister and gained another two." Jua said, her bright green eyes happy. Kamaria looked to Myota.
"Where's Mwenzi?" She asked.
"She ran away. She's not supporting of our cause." Jua said. Kamaria looked taken aback, then sighed.
"She's always been too much like Kiara." Kamaria's wound began to ache and the Princess leaned down, catching her brother in her jaws and dragging him in to hug him. Chaka smiled and purred. Kamaria smiled at her brother, then looked to her mother.
"It's time to tell them." Kamaria said. Ashaki sighed.
"You're sure?" Ashaki asked. Kamaria nodded. The Queen smiled and nuzzled her daughter. Kamaria sighed and turned to the pride. All eyes, of all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders, were trained on the Crown Princess. The young lioness sighed, her eyes settling on Moyo's teal orbs. This was going to blow the creamy gold lioness out of the water completely.
"I was… active with my intended. I… I'm pregnant." Kamaria said. Gasps were heard, but Moyo was the only one to burst into tears. The Crown Princess ran into the crowd and right to Moyo, her sky blue eyes looking into Amri's mother's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to diminish Amri's memory." Kamaria said, her blue eyes filling with tears. Moyo didn't snarl, didn't sneer, she only brought Kamaria into a hug.
"It won't diminish his memory, sweetie, you just gave me a part of my son back." Moyo sobbed into Kamaria's shoulder. Kamaria smiled and held Moyo close, to which the creamy gold lioness smiled. Ashaki felt herself smiling and she glanced at Myota, who smiled as well.
"We're going to be grandparents." Myota said. Ashaki felt her eyes fill with happy tears. Yes, they were going to be grandparents. Not Kovu and Ashaki, not Kiara and Myota, but Myota and Ashaki, were going to be grandparents. Chaka, Nurisha, and Jua gazed up at Myota and Ashaki, and the King and Queen looked to their children.
"So… I'm going to be an uncle?" Chaka asked. Ashaki nodded and nuzzled her only son.
"Yes, Chaka, you're going to be an uncle." Ashaki said. Nurisha smiled at Kamaria, who smiled back at her adoptive sister. Jua nuzzled her father, and Myota had a smile on his face. Suddenly, Chaka broke from the family and ran to Kamaria, his electric blue eyes wide as he grasped her front leg with a smile.
"I don't care who you are, or what you have, you're still my big sister." Chaka said. Kamaria's hormones got the better of her as she sobbed with a smile on her face, bringing her brother into a hug. Nurisha and Jua ran to Kamaria as well, nuzzling their sister. Myota and Ashaki leaned on each other, both smiling. Moyo smiled at the beautiful sight of her not-quite daughter-in-law being comforted by her siblings, and the creamy golden lioness's heartstrings twitched.
Oh my Amri, where are you? She needs you. Moyo thought.
*+-/_\-+*
Usafi woke, her eyes bloodshot from silent tears. She had been doing that for two nights, crying in her sleep. She also had slept far away from Kali, not wanting to be near anyone except Hafsa. Hafsa hunted for her, defended her, and didn't let Kibuluu near her. Usafi hiccupped a sob, still ashamed of what had transpired.
"Mom?" Maji's voice sounded through the small cave. Usafi kipped up and looked up, seeing her son, his emerald eyes worried.
"Yes, Maji?" Usafi asked, trying to look as regal as possible. It wasn't lost on Maji, though. The black lion stepped over to his mother, nuzzling her. Usafi sighed.
"What did Kibuluu do? Hafsa said he hurt you." Maji said.
"He did. He hurt me very badly, Maji." Usafi said.
"Is that why you aren't sleeping in Pride Rock? Dad's worried sick, Mom." Maji said.
"I don't want to worry him. I need time alone." Usafi said. Maji leveled a glare at his mother.
"Mother, please…" Maji said.
"No!" Usafi snarled, standing up and making her son back against the wall of the cave. Maji looked to his mother, fear in his eyes. Usafi kept her lip curled, baring her teeth at Maji. The young lion shook in fear at his mother, but Usafi didn't let up the show of power. She wasn't going to be defenseless, not now.
"Usafi!" Kali's voice boomed through the small cave. The pink lioness turned to Kali, her teeth still bared for all to see. The silver lion charged his mate, making her fly backwards just a bit, and Usafi fell on her side, pain racking her ribcage that had been so brutally abused by Kibuluu. Hafsa roared herself, running to the defense of her mother, glaring at her father.
"Get out!" Hafsa hissed at both her brother and father. Kali and Maji looked to Hafsa and Usafi confusedly.
"What's going on?" Kali asked, his white eyes concerned. Hafsa snarled at her father, swiping at his face to make him back away a bit.
"She wants just me around right now, so leave her alone." Hafsa said, her voice dropping several octaves. Kali growled at his daughter.
"She's my mate, Hafsa." Kali said.
"She's my mother!" Hafsa hissed.
"She's my mother too, Hafsa!" Maji protested.
"OUT!" Hafsa roared. When neither male moved, the silver lioness slapped Maji, her claws in their sheaths, to prove a point. The black male reeled from the slap by his sister, and leaned on his father. Kali sighed.
"Fine. But Kibuluu's not happy that Usafi isn't hunting." Kali said. Hafsa felt her anger build and she roared, making her point. The two males then left the cave. Hafsa flipped around, walking to her mother and nuzzling her. Usafi sobbed.
"This is all my fault." Usafi said.
"No, no Mom it isn't. It's Kibuluu's, it's not your fault." Hafsa said as she lied next to her mother, letting the older lioness lean against her. Usafi buried her face in her daughter's fur. Hafsa held her mother close, closing her eyes. The silver lioness heard footsteps and she opened her eyes, anger throughout them.
"I said…" Hafsa stopped her sentence when she saw Kiara, a growl on the golden lioness's face.
"Usafi needs to hunt." Kiara ordered. Hafsa glared at the lioness.
"No." Hafsa said.
"We need all the help we can get!" Kiara said.
"She's in no condition to hunt. She's been injured." Hafsa said.
"Just because she let my father breed her…" Kiara trailed off. Hafsa immediately got up and ran for the golden lioness, pouncing on her. Kiara and Hafsa tumbled down the path to the small cave. Usafi stood up, her lavender eyes worried. The dark pink lioness ran outside, seeing Hafsa atop Kiara, roaring in the golden lioness's face. Kiara's ruby eyes were filled with fear. Usafi scaled the path, running to her daughter.
"Hafsa, stop! Kibuluu will kill you if Kiara dies." Usafi said. Hafsa leveled a glare to Kiara, but got off the lioness, going back to her mother's side.
"Correction, Kibuluu raped my mother, you little whore." Hafsa said. Kiara looked up to Hafsa, ruby eyes blazing.
"I'll kill you." Kiara growled.
"No you won't." Ketaki appeared, her green eyes glaring at Kiara. Kiara saw she was outnumbered and growled.
"I'll take you all." Kiara said.
"I wouldn't do that. You'll be dead before you know it." Hafsa said. Kiara weighed her options and rolled her eyes.
"You wouldn't dare attack your Princess." Kiara said. Hafsa unsheathed her claws, and Usafi stepped next to her daughter.
"Try us." Usafi growled.
"Usafi!" Kibuluu's voice boomed and the four lionesses both turned to Kibuluu, all but Kiara in fear. Kiara ran to her father's side and hid behind him.
"They threatened to kill me!" Kiara said, crying fake tears. Ketaki glared at the golden lioness and Hafsa snarled.
"We threatened nothing. We simply advised her." Hafsa said. Kibuluu looked bored with the two silver lionesses and turned to Usafi.
"You need to hunt." He said slowly. Usafi lowered her gaze and cringed. Hafsa was quick to defend her mother.
"She's pregnant! She can't hunt." Hafsa lied. The lioness didn't know if her mother was pregnant or not, but if Usafi was, hunting could kill the cubs, and therefore, Kibuluu would kill her. Kibuluu smiled and looked to Usafi.
"Very well then. You know this soon?" Kibuluu asked. Usafi nodded, lying herself.
"A lioness knows when she's pregnant." She said softly. Kibuluu looked very pleased and turned to Kiara.
"You shouldn't have antagonized her. Hafsa was quick to defend her mother because of this pregnancy, and she cares for her mother's health. Would you do the same for your mother?" Kibuluu asked. Kiara simply nodded.
"Yes, Father." Kiara said.
"Now, you yourself are pregnant as well, Kiara. Go back to Pride Rock and rest, the mandrill said this pregnancy could be lost." Kibuluu ordered. Kiara nodded and left for Pride Rock, leaving Kibuluu, Usafi, Ketaki, and Hafsa. Usafi stared into the sky blue eyes of her rapist, her heart pounding.
"Have you made a time to have the shaman check out the pregnancy?" Kibuluu asked. Usafi shook her head.
"I'm waiting until I show. It's what I did with Hafsa and Maji." Usafi answered. Hafsa stayed close to her mother, her lavender eyes looking into Kibuluu's eyes.
"So be it, but do let me know when you show." Kibuluu turned, quickly winking at Hafsa, and then walking away. The three lionesses stayed there, all somewhat scared, until Usafi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nice play, Haf'." Ketaki said.
"Thank you." Hafsa said.
"What if I'm not actually pregnant though? What will happen?" Tears burned Usafi's eyes.
"He won't find out, because you're getting the hell out of here." Ketaki said. Usafi and Hafsa stared at the silver lioness.
"Are you insane?" Hafsa asked.
"He'll find us." Usafi said.
"No he won't. Not if you're with the Pridelanders." Hafsa said. Usafi and Hafsa's eyes widened.
"They'll kill us! We took their land!" Usafi said aghast.
"No they won't. Not if you are honest with them and say you were manipulated. Ashaki, or Vitani, is a very understanding Queen. I never said anything because, well, Kali's my brother." Ketaki said. Hafsa and Usafi looked to each other, then to Ketaki.
"Where did they go?" Usafi asked. Ketaki smiled.
"To the west, there is a desert. Go to the baobab tree; meet the mandrill that lives there. Tell him your plight. He will help you find the Pridelanders." Ketaki said.
"And Kibuluu?" Hafsa asked.
"Will never know where you went. I sure as hell won't tell him." Ketaki said. Usafi nodded and sighed.
"There's no choice, Hafsa." Usafi said.
"I'll go with you. They may be more willing to take both of us in because I'm younger." Hafsa said. Ketaki quickly nuzzled both lionesses.
"I'll explain the situation to Kali. He'll understand. Should I tell him to follow?" Ketaki asked.
"No. Not right away. Tell him to wait a couple months, just in case." Usafi said. Ketaki nodded and smiled.
"I understand. Go on, you two. Fast. Don't look back." Ketaki said. Usafi turned away from her sister-in-law, but stole a slight glance to Ketaki.
"Thank you." Usafi said as she took off. Hafsa followed her mother after nuzzling Ketaki again. Ketaki watched as her sister-in-law and niece run away, but inside, her heart knew it was for the best. She looked to the sky and sighed.
"Please, Mpenzi, watch over them. Make sure they make it to the baobab fine." Ketaki prayed.
"They will." A deep voice said. Ketaki turned and saw a light gold lion with her green eyes, a slick black mane, a creamy white underbelly and muzzle, and dark eyeshades. She smiled at the light gold lion and nuzzled him.
"Radhi." She said simply.
"Hello to you too, Mother." Radhi said. Ketaki laughed.
"Was I right in sending them off?" Ketaki asked. Radhi nodded.
"Well, of course. Father didn't love you for your looks, he loved you for your brain." Radhi said. Ketaki gazed at Radhi, and his slim figure reminded her of Radhi's father, Ni, the rogue that had traveled through all the lands. He had found love with Ketaki, and the two had made a child, Radhi. However, when Radhi's life was threatened, Ketaki had sent the boy to live with his father. He now acted as Ketaki's correspondent throughout the whole of the lion kingdoms. The silver lioness smiled.
"The report from the River Pride?" Ketaki asked.
"One lives. The Princess. She's now traveling with a gray lioness." Radhi said. Ketaki nodded and smiled.
"Kibuluu will fail in setting his seed into three lands of Zakiya yet." Ketaki said.
A/N: A calmer chapter with much more to come. What do you think of Ketaki now? She seemed to be a bit character and now she's got a lot of meat to her story, and a son that is assisting her. Not only that, the Royal Family is reunited. We also know that Kiara is pregnant from her liaisons with Kovu, and Usafi is looking for assistance from the Pridelanders.
What is in store for the Pridelanders and Usafi when they meet face to face? Review and stay tuned, all!