Chapter 20 is here! Enjoy!
The scene transitions to evening. The pride marches back toward Pride Rock. Simba pauses on a ridge as the lionesses continue on. Nala stops and looks over one shoulder.
NALA:
Simba?
SIMBA:
*clears his throat*
"Why do the royals always get themselves in trouble?" Zazu grumbled. "It's an inherited trait. That, and being more stubborn than a herd of rhinos." Rafiki chuckled. "Hey!" All the said royals huffed.
Nala smiles and follows after the pride. Simba sets Kiara on a nearby rock. She grins up at him. Kiara giggles, but Simba glares at her unfazed, so she drops the act and sighs.
SIMBA:
Kiara, what did you think you were doing? You could have been killed today.
"By the crocodiles? Sure. Zira? Sure. But Kovu as a cub? I don't think so." Sahasi mused.
Kiara sits.
KIARA:
But, Daddy, I... I didn't mean to disobey–
Simba strides around Kiara.
SIMBA:
I'm telling you this because I love you. I don't wanna lose you.
"Especially since he already thought he lost me and didn't want that happening again, and she's his only daughter so that makes it worse." Kopa spoke. "All that matters is that you're here now." Simba nuzzled his son.
KIARA:
I know.
Simba nuzzles Kiara.
SIMBA:
If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. One day, I won't be here, and I need you to carry on in my place. You are part of the great Circle of–
KIARA:
boredly
Circle of Life. I know.
"Circle of Life, yadda yadda yadda. Who cares? I eat however much and whenever I please." Makucha sneered.
SIMBA:
Exactly. And you need to be careful.
Simba places his paw over Kiara.
As future queen-
Kiara jerks out from under Simba's paw.
KIARA:
What if I don't wanna be queen? It's no fun.
"Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" Kion joked. "Very funny." Kiara rolled her eyes.
SIMBA:
That's like saying you don't wanna be a lion. It's in your blood. As I am. We are part of each other.
Kiara closes her eyes and lifts her chin stubbornly.
KIARA:
Hmph! Oof!
Simba nudges her off the rock and flashes her a wide grin. She grins back hesitantly, and the two embrace, purring.
A few animals couldn't help cooing at father and daughter.
SIMBA:
AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE, YOU'LL SEE
Simba and Kiara watch a mother bird feed her babies. One of the babies tries to fly out of its nest.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Kiara smiles up at the baby bird. The mother bird herds her baby back into the nest.
AND THE ONLY THING WE KNOW IS THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO THE WAY WE PLANNED.
"Ain't that the truth." Ora grumbled. "Agreed." Chuluun added. "We would've gotten our way if it weren't for that stinking Night Pride and Lion Guard. Especially that Bunga!" Mama Binturong growled.
Kiara frowns sadly. Simba bounds onto a ridge that overlooks the Pride Lands.
BUT YOU'LL SEE EVERY DAY THAT WE'LL NEVER TURN AWAY WHEN IT SEEMS ALL YOUR DREAMS COME UNDONE.
Below, a mother wildebeest tries to help her baby stand. Kiara smiles down at the baby wildebeest. It starts to run on its own, kicking its legs joyfully.
WE WILL STAND BY YOUR SIDE FILLED WITH HOPE AND FILLED WITH PRIDE
"Aww, it's so cute!" Makini squealed.
The mother wildebeest runs alongside her calf and steers it back toward the herd. Kiara looks up at Simba questioningly.
WE ARE MORE THAN WE ARE. WE ARE ONE.
Simba jumps off the ledge. Baboons sit in a row on a tree branch.
CHORUS:
FAMILY. FAMILY. WE ARE ONE!
A baby hippopotamus jumps from its mother's back to its father's. The baby hippopotamus jumps into the water. Its parents emerge below it, pushing it back to the surface.
Beshte fondly remembered playing with his dad Basi like that when he was small.
FAMILY. FAMILY. WE ARE ONE!
Simba and Kiara stride across a nearby log.
KIARA:
IF THERE'S SO MUCH I MUST BE,
Kiara pauses and looks at her reflection in the water. Simba briefly pauses next to her, then moves on.
CAN I STILL JUST BE ME, THE WAY I AM?
"Of course you can. Being future queen doesn't make you you." Anga chirped. "She is right. Becoming queen doesn't mean you have to change who you are." Mufasa chimed in. Kiara smiled gratefully at them.
A fish jumps, distorting Kiara's reflection. She straightens.
CAN I TRUST IN MY OWN HEART? OR AM I JUST ONE PART OF SOME BIG PLAN?
A flock of birds flies past Simba, who stands on a fallen tree.
SIMBA:
EVEN THOSE WHO ARE GONE ARE WITH US AS WE GO ON.
Simba stares at a distant star. Kiara climbs the fallen tree next to him.
Rani and Baliyo looked down in sadness. Janna padded over to them. "He is correct. I may have completed my journey through the circle of life, but I will always be with you… in here. Same as your parents." She placed a paw on each of their chests and nuzzled their heads, making them smile. "And that goes for you too, Surak." The old queen added, causing him to smile as well.
YOUR JOURNEY HAS ONLY BEGUN.
Simba bends down to Kiara's level.
TEARS OF PAIN, TEARS OF JOY. ONE THING
Simba straightens and looks up boldly.
NOTHING CAN DESTROY IS OUR PRIDE, DEEP INSIDE. WE ARE ONE!
Simba jumps off the fallen tree, and Kiara follows him. He races through a crowd of animals with Kiara on his heels.
Simba and Kiara fondly remembered playing together that day. Other animals also remembered happily playing with their children and/or their parents when they were small.
CHORUS:
FAMILY. FAMILY. WE ARE ONE!
Simba pauses and lets Kiara catch up before he keeps running.
FAMILY. FAMILY. WE ARE ONE!
Kiara races happily after Simba.
SIMBA:
WE ARE ONE, YOU AND I. WE ARE LIKE THE EARTH AND SKY.
Simba splashes through a puddle. Kiara follows, making a much smaller splash. Simba and Kiara bound up a series of small ledges.
ONE FAMILY UNDER THE SUN. ALL THE WISDOM TO LEAD, ALL THE COURAGE THAT YOU NEED,
Simba pauses on a ledge. Kiara pauses as well, looking up in distress.
YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU SEE WE ARE ONE!
Simba gestures to Pride Rock behind him. Kiara squints unhappily at it. Simba follows her gaze, confused, before he understands. With a smile, he strides down to her.
"It's all right. I was nervous about being king at first, too." Simba nuzzled his daughter.
SIMBA:
As long as you live here, it's who you are.
nuzzles and licks Kiara
You'll understand someday.
Simba bounds away. He pauses briefly and looks at Kiara over one shoulder before walking offscreen. A baby bird flits around Kiara's head. She watches it happily. It flies off into the sunset, and she watches it go wistfully. The scene transitions to the barren landscape of the Outlands. Several lionesses are gathered around the termite mounds. Two lionesses fight over a bone. Nuka plods along sulkily. Nearby, Vitani tugs at a tree root.
NUKA:
Kovu, Kovu, Kovu. Scar wasn't even his father. He just took 'im in.
"So Kovu is adopted?" Uncle Max queried. "That would explain why he doesn't really resemble the other outsiders. His fur color is similar to Nuka's, but they're not the same shade. Plus he's the only one with green eyes. Come to think of it, Vitani doesn't really resemble the others either. I mean, they all had thin gangly frames, but now that they've come to the Pride Lands they have more to eat. Maybe she's adopted, too." Ono realized. "Did you know about this?" Kovu asked Vitani. "Uh-uh. I'm as surprised as you are." Both lions looked at Zira, who ignored them.
notices Vitani
Oh, hey, Vitani! Where's the little termite, Kovu? The "Chosen One."
Nuka cuts the root with his claw, sending Vitani tumbling offscreen. He laughs. She stands and strides toward Nuka.
Nuka snickers at the memory, but stops after Vitani glares at him.
VITANI:
Nuka! Where's Kovu? Did you leave him out there on his own again?
Nuka fiddles with the tree root. As Vitani approaches, he lets go.
NUKA:
Hey, it's every lion for himself out here! [He scratches himself, causing termites to fly out of his fur.] That little termite's gotta learn to be on his own.
"You can't just leave him alone. He was almost eaten by crocodiles." Madoa barked.
VITANI:
Mother's gonna be mad. She told you to watch him!
Nuka scratches his mane.
NUKA:
Oh, who cares? [Nuka scratches his shoulder.] I should've been the Chosen One. [Nuka scratches his back against the tree.] I'm the oldest, I'm the strongest, I'm the smartest– [Nuka jerks away from the tree.] *screams* And oh, these termites!
Several of the reformed and unreformed villain characters laughed at Nuka's predicament.
Nuka bites frantically at himself, then writhes on the ground. Vitani watches with a smirk. Nuka scoots toward Vitani on his rear end.
NUKA:
I could be a leader if she'd just give me a chance!
"Yeah, you're looking like a real leader scooting on your butt like that." Banzai cackled.
VITANI:
Pfft! Yeah, right. Why don't you tell that to her?
NUKA:
Yeah? Don't think I won't!
Nuka closes his eyes and lifts his chin stubbornly.
VITANI:
Oh, yeah? *laughs* Here's your chance.
Nuka opens his eyes.
NUKA:
What? [Nuka looks over one shoulder.] Oh, Mother! Mother, hi! *laughs* Nuka races toward Zira, who is carrying Kovu in her jaws. He sits.] Mother, I caught some field mice for your dinner. I left 'em by the, um... [Zira strides past Nuka, ignoring him.] by the... Okay.
"Well, we know who the least favorite cub is." Spirit quipped.
Nuka deflates. After a moment, he follows Zira.
VITANI:
Hey, Kovu. [Zira sets Kovu down.] Wanna fight? [Kovu and Vitani face off against each other playfully.] *growls*
ZIRA:
You were supposed to be [Zira juts her head at Nuka, who recoils fearfully.] watching him!
"Well, that's what happens when you leave your young 'uns with an irresponsible family member." Reirei eyed Goigoi. "What? It was one time!" He rebuked.
Kovu straightens and faces Zira.
KOVU:
It's not his fault! I went off on my own!
"It's true. I snuck off to explore while he was taking a pee. I wasn't alone for very long before bumping into Kiara." Kovu explained.
Zira prowls toward Kovu, who backs away.
ZIRA:
What were you doing?
KOVU:
N-nothing!
ZIRA:
Who has made us Outsiders?
"Geez, you don't have to interrogate the kid." Shupavu commented.
KOVU:
Simba!
ZIRA:
Who killed Scar?
Kovu falls onto his back.
KOVU:
Simba!
Dusty pressed a red buzzer. "I'm sorry, that's incorrect. It was the hyenas."
Kovu squirms away from Zira.
ZIRA:
And what have I told you about [Zira juts her head at Kovu.] them?!
Kovu falls and shields his face from Zira.
"You're scaring the poor little guy!" Beshte exclaimed.
KOVU:
I'm sorry, Mother! [Kovu looks up at Zira imploringly.] Sh-sh-she didn't seem so bad. I-I-I-I thought we could be–
Zira juts her head at Kovu.
ZIRA:
Friends?!
Zira circles Kovu.
You thought you'd get to the daughter, and Simba would welcome you with open arms?! [Zira rolls her eyes.] What an idea! [Zira pauses, and a sly grin spreads across her face.] What an idea! [Zira grabs Kovu by his tail and pulls him toward her.] You brilliant child. [Zira pulls Kovu against her leg.] I'm so proud of you! [Zira strokes Kovu.] You have the same conniving mind [Kovu tries to get away, but Zira pulls him back.] that made Scar so… powerful.
"That 'idea' was proven to have worked. Kovu and Kiara got together with a little help from me, and Simba eventually welcomed him and the Outsiders back into the pride… with a few bumps along the way." Rafiki interjected.
Nuka pretends to wretch. Zira rounds on him. Nuka covers his face with his paws and laughs. Zira picks up Kovu in her jaws and carries him toward the termite mounds. Nuka watches them go. He sits with his shoulders hunched angrily.
NUKA:
Ugh. The Chosen One.
"Jealous, are we?" Mzingo smirked. "You have no idea." Nuka retorted.
Zira carries Kovu into the termite mounds. She deposits him in a cradle made of rock and stands by his head.
ZIRA:
I now see the path to our glorious return to power!
Zira holds up a paw dramatically. The Outsiders watch from the shadows.
KOVU:
But I don't want-
"What kind of mother forcibly uses her cubs in a scheme one wants no part of?" Sarafina bristled.
ZIRA:
Hush! [Zira's voice softens. She sidles up to Kovu.] Hush, my little one. [Zira straightens. She speaks as if to a baby.] You must be exhausted.
SLEEP, MY LITTLE KOVU. LET YOUR DREAMS TAKE WING.
Zira nudges Kovu's tail into the cradle.
ONE DAY, WHEN YOU'RE BIG AND STRONG, YOU WILL BE A KING.
Zira strides off, but looks over one shoulder before walking deeper into the termite mounds.
"You know, she was right if you think about it, but not in the way she had in mind. He's gonna be king after Simba, but by marrying Kiara instead of killing him and taking over." Fuli pointed out. "Oh yeah." Bunga realized.
KOVU:
Goodnight.
ZIRA:
Goodnight, my little prince. Tomorrow, your training intensifies.
I'VE BEEN EXILED, PERSECUTED, LEFT ALONE WITH NO DEFENSE.
Zira climbs a steep mound.
WHEN I THINK OF WHAT THAT BRUTE DID, I GET A LITTLE TENSE.
"A little? I'd say you get way more than a little tense. And violent." Zuri quipped.
Zira unsheathes and glares through her claws. She strides past several smiling Outsiders.
BUT I DREAM A DREAM SO PRETTY THAT I DON'T FEEL SO DEPRESSED.
Zira slithers between several mounds.
'CAUSE IT SOOTHES MY INNER KITTY, AND IT HELPS ME GET SOME REST.
Zira lounges on her back at the top of one mound. She jumps down onto another. Nuka and Vitani watch from below.
THE SOUND OF SIMBA'S DYING GASP!
"You shall never hear that sound. Not while Mufasa and I are here." Sarabi warned Zira angrily. "Mom, I'm grown and can handle her, plus those two won't allow her to attack anyone." Simba chuckled. 'I know. But a mother will always protect her child, no matter how old he gets." She replied.
Nuka falls over, feigning death.
HIS DAUGHTER SQUEALING IN MY GRASP!
Kopa and Kion growled at the thought of anyone hurting their sister.
Nuka picks up Vitani, who scrabbles at his head until he lets go. Zira climbs a tall mound.
HIS LIONESSES' MOURNFUL CRY. THAT'S MY LULLABY!
"That is one morbid lullaby." Spirit shuddered. "Yeah. She has some seriously demented dreams." Dusty added.
NOW THE PAST I'VE TRIED FORGETTING, AND MY FOES I COULD FORGIVE.
Zira watches several termites march in a line. She walks a claw past the termites.
"Her, forgive? Ha, yeah right. The day that lioness forgives her foes will be the day when zebras learn how to fly." Janja snorted.
TROUBLE IS, I KNOW IT'S PETTY, BUT I HATE TO LET THEM LIVE.
Zira smacks the termites away. Nuka approaches Zira.
NUKA:
SO YOU FOUND YOURSELF SOMEBODY WHO'LL CHASE SIMBA UP A TREE?
Many animals giggled at the mental image of Simba stuck in a tree. "Sorry Simba, but you've gotta admit it's an interesting image." Timon spoke up.
Nuka grins at Zira, drooling.
ZIRA:
OH, THE BATTLE MAY BE BLOODY, BUT THAT KIND OF WORKS FOR ME.
Zira grabs Nuka by the jaw and throws him off the mound. He screams, and she skids down the mound past several Outsiders.
Several of the mothers present bristled at Zira's treatment of Nuka.
THE MELODY OF ANGRY GROWLS!
The Outsiders rear onto their hind legs. Zira approaches a fallen Nuka.
A COUNTERPOINT OF PAINFUL HOWLS.
Zira steps on Nuka's tail. Nuka leaps to his paws with a yelp and looks fretfully at his tail. Zira strides to the edge of a mound. Behind her, the sun shines brightly through a hole in the wall.
A SYMPHONY OF DEATH, OH MY! THAT'S MY LULLABY!
Zira strides past Kovu's cradle. Kovu sleeps peacefully.
SCAR IS GONE, BUT ZIRA'S STILL AROUND TO LOVE THIS LITTLE LAD
Zira pulls Kovu close and licks him.
TILL HE LEARNS TO BE A [Zira slams her claws into the nearby wall.] KILLER[Zira drags her claws down the wall, leaving indentations.] WITH A LUST FOR BEING BAD!
"I will never be a killer." Kovu proclaimed, glaring at his "mother".
Zira leaps away. The Outsiders stand near Kovu's cradle. Vitani stands over Kovu. Nuka crouches next to the cradle.
NUKA:
SLEEP, YA LITTLE TERMITE! UH, I MEAN, PRECIOUS LITTLE THING.
Vitani bats Nuka away.
"Not a very good save." Smun commented. "Agreed. He could've done better." Mzingo concurred.
VITANI:
ONE DAY, WHEN YOU'RE BIG AND STRONG…
Nuka starts to grab for Vitani.
ZIRA:
YOU WILL BE A KING!
Zira tears a root from the roof, making a hole and casting a spotlight on Kovu. The Outsiders surround Kovu's cradle. Zira stands on her hind legs far above the cradle.
THE POUNDING OF THE DRUMS OF WAR!
The Outsiders leap back and forth over a sleeping Kovu.
THE THRILL OF KOVU'S MIGHTY ROAR!
"How did he not get woken up by all that?" Nirmala wondered. "He's a deep sleeper." Kiara replied. "Yeah, that lion could sleep right through an elephant stampede." Vitani laughed.
Nuka grins up at Zira.
NUKA:
THE JOY OF VENGEANCE!
Vitani leaps in front of Nuka, who glares at her. She raises her paws in the air.
VITANI:
TESTIFY!
"Someone's enthusiastic." Kopa quipped. "Yeah, enthusiastically kissing Zira's paws." Kiburi huffed. Rafiki promptly hit the croc with his staff.
ZIRA:
I CAN HEAR THE CHEERING!
Zira holds a paw to her ear, as if listening. Nuka waves a flag unenthusiastically. Vitani grins sincerely.
NUKA AND VITANI:
KOVU, WHAT A GUY!
Many animals giggled at Nuka's flag-waving.
Zira bats at the hole in the ceiling, widening it. She uses her shoulders to break through the hole, and emerges against a blood-red sky.
ZIRA:
PAYBACK TIME IS NEARING, AND THEN OUR FLAG WILL FLY AGAINST A BLOOD-RED SKY.
Zira stands on her hind legs. Around her, the Outsiders stand on the termite mounds.
THAT'S MY LULLABY! *laughs*
"You always were one for dramatic flair." Scar complimented Zira. "Oh, you. I would say that you have more dramatic flair than I do, considering your performance in the last showing." She purred. "Touche, my dear." He chuckled. "Aww, evil love." Dusty fake-cooed.
"Excuse me, Spirit? Is it alright if Simba and I talk in the break room for a moment/" Nala asked. "Oh sure, go ahead." The white lioness nodded, and the two lions got up and walked in. "What's this about?" Simba inquired. "Simba… who do Vitani and Kovu remind you of?" "Wha-? Who? I don't understand where you're going with this." The king cocked his head quizzically. "Think about it. Who do they look like?" Nala clarified. "You don't think?" "I do. I think Vitani may be Tojo and Tama's daughter, and Kovu may be Chumvi and Kula's son." "They and your brother Mheetu had to flee to Malka's pride to be safe from Scar. If I recall correctly, each had a cub around the times Vitani and Kovu would've been born. And Zira somehow had them while supposedly not knowing she was pregnant. She must've stolen them as infants." Simba spoke, slowly realizing the truth. "Vitani does look like a mix of Tama and Tojo, same for Kovu with Chumvi and Kula. Although neither of them had green eyes." Nala reasoned. "But Chumvi's mother did. Now that I think about it, Vitani and Kovu do seem to have some of their parents' personality traits, which are coming through more often now that they're free from Zira's influence." Her mate thought it over. "You're right. But for now, we should go back to the others." The queen concurred as they made to leave the room. "Yes. We shouldn't keep them waiting." Simba nuzzled her as the royal pair returned to their spots.
I hope you enjoyed this extra-long chapter!