A/N: There's one explicit word used in this chapter. It felt very in-character to use it, so I did. Friendly reminder that this fic is rated T! :)
Book 1: Chapter 25
Dalia, alongside Makini and Imba, made her way up to Priderock. There, they saw most of the Pride already present, and the King had positioned himself so that everyone else could see him. In addition to the Pride stood Zazu and Rafiki, the former perched on Simba's shoulder. Makini quickly made a bee-line towards Rafiki and took her spot near her mentor.
Dalia glanced around Priderock and saw that all the members of the Lion Guard were present, grouped together near the back. On further inspection, Dalia realized Kion was not yet there.
She was anxious now. Would Kion not show up?
Apparently, Kion was not the only member of the Pride missing. Simba, who had also been glancing around, asked, "Where's the Queen? And where Kion?"
Imba laughed. Then, lowly she whispered in Dalia's ear, "Are they having a heart-to-heart before Mommy sends you away?"
Dalia cringed at Imba's ill-timed humor. As she was about to whisper a scolding her friend's way, Nala and Kion were also making their way into Priderock. Although they entered together, they split paths as Nala went to take her place beside the King, and Kion came to stand next to Dalia and Imba.
The lioness' anxiety must've shown through her face, for Kion tried his best to give her an assuring look. "Everything will be okay."
The prince's whisper was just enough to calm Dalia, although only slightly. From across the space, she saw various of her friends also giving her nods and smiles of assurance. Even Fuli cracked a weak smile in her direction. Her nerves seemed to have completely gotten under control by the time the King began to address everyone.
Clearing his throat, he straightened his back before speaking. "Pride, thank you for being here. I know for some of us, this will be our first Pride Meeting." He gave a glance at Tiifu, who was seated beside Kiara, and looked as if she had been dragged from Zuri's side unwillingly to attend this. "So I will briefly go over how this works. A Pride Meeting is called, usually, when there needs to be a decision made via popular vote. If you have not already heard, today's Pride Meeting is about Dalia."
At the last statement, all eyes shifted from the King to Dalia. She suddenly felt very self-conscious and, despite the furious flushing she felt, she tried her best to remain composed. As encouragement, Kion gave her a slight nudge.
"For those of you not already familiar, Dalia has been in the Pridelands for the last several months now. Although she is not part of our Pride nor officially a Pridelander, she has been instrumental to the Pridelands and the Lion Guard by spying on Scar's Army, along with her friend Imba who is also here today." The King made direct eye contact with Dalia and Imba. "Despite what may come from this meeting here today, Dalia, please know that we are forever grateful for taking up this dangerous task. You as well, Imba."
The King bowed his head then in their direction, and slowly, the rest of the Pride followed suit.
Imba's preened slightly, while Dalia cleared her throat and gave a polite nod in return.
"The matter we have come to discuss, however, is whether or not she should be allowed to stay in the Pridelands in light of some recently uncovered information."
A few surprised gasps sounded from across Priderock, the loudest one being from Tiifu. Dalia guessed that the lioness had been by Zuri's side this entire day, oblivious to the nature of this meeting. Tiifu swiveled her head around to shoot a confused look at Kiara, who stood beside her, and the princess could only offer a shrug.
"At this time, I would like Queen Nala to speak regarding this situation."
And so, Nala began to explain.
She explained the whole story. Dalia was amazed by the Queen's ability to sum up an incredibly complicated story so succinctly. She walked the Pride through what a divinator was, referencing the first divinator, Nzuri, in her speech. She explained how divinators had a specific aura to them that only those who were familiar with it could detect. And that Nala had detected that Dalia had this aura.
That Dalia was a divinator.
"So, the girl can see the future?" The question belonged to a raspy-voiced older lioness with gray fur streaking her muzzle.
Nala nodded. "Yes."
From around Priderock, Dalia felt the suspicious and fearful eyes of the Pride find her.
Hot embarrassment and a shame so great coursed through her. She didn't dare to look up and meet the gazes of the Lion Guard, or her friends, scared of the disgust that was surely in their expressions.
Kion leaned against her as his mother continued in her explanation.
Finally, she looked up at Imba, whose beak was opened in shock. Looking around the clearing, everyone else had similar expressions.
"...Just shortly before Scar's Army attacked Mzimu Grove, I witnessed Dalia having a vision." Suddenly, the Queen turned to her. "Dalia, can you explain to everyone what your vision was about?"
Feeling uncomfortable as the Queen had just put her on the spot, Dalia shifted her weight from one paw to the other.
"Well..." Her voice trailed off, unsure of what to say. "A few hours before the Mpando Mpaya celebration, I began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. So, I went to find Rafiki. On my way there, I started to black out, and I guess that's when I had the vision. Nala, er, The Queen found me and told me to go tell Rafiki about the vision. So, I did." She paused then, unsure of whether or not she should tell Pride about how Rafiki basically swept the concerns under the rug. Rafiki gave her an assuring nod, so she continued. "And Rafiki was busy with the celebration, so he told me that he'd speak to me later."
The Queen looked impatient. "And what was your vision about?"
Dalia squirmed, trying to avoid that answer. "I saw what happened in Mzimu Grove. I saw the fire, I heard the screaming. Everything that happened last night, I saw."
Murmurs erupted. If the expressions around the room looked shocked before, they were a combination of fear and anger. Dalia took solace in the fact that Imba, Makini, and Kion's expressions were somewhat calm as they had already heard this story before, either from Dalia herself or Rafiki.
"Wait, wait, wait." It was Kiara's voice that rang out. She turned to look at Dalia with anger twisting her features. Dalia felt her heart drop. "You knew about what was going to happen? You knew and you did nothing?"
Voices of disapproval sounded, backing up the Princess' accusation.
Before she could speak, Kion beat her to it. "Kiara." He looked at her, shocked. "That's so unfair. Dalia didn't even know about any of this stuff until last night when Mom told her. She couldn't have known anything."
Imba shot the Princess a withering glare. "Yeah!"
"Trust me, if I knew anything like what I saw was actually going to happen, I would've done anything to stop it," insisted Dalia. "I just chalked it up to a weird hallucination."
Kiara wasn't satisfied, still looking for someone to put the blame on. "Okay, well then Mom knew." Her furious gaze shifted from Dalia to her mother. "You said earlier that you detected Dalia's aura and knew she was..." she paused, trying to recall, "...Well, you knew that she was whatever she is. And if you knew that, then when she told you about her vision, why didn't you do anything?"
Nala looked shocked at the outburst, and thankfully Rafiki interjected in an attempt to defuse the situation. "Princess, do not blame your mother. I was the one who asked her not to say anything until we knew for certain."
She scoffed in annoyance, rolling her eyes. "So it's Rafiki's fault!"
To this, The King shot Nala an incredulous look. "You and Rafiki both knew? And neither of you thought to inform me until last night?"
"The situation isn't that simple," protested Nala weakly.
"Well, how would I know if nobody bothered to keep me in the loop?"
The Pride Meeting was slowly descending into chaos with Kiara spitting out accusations left and right and the Simba's irritation growing. The quiet murmuring that had been going on previously had now transitioned into loud grumbling.
"Enough!" Finally, Kion shouted, giving a pointed look at his family. "What's done is done. We can't change the past. We just need to control what happens going forward."
With that, the area calmed. There were a few beats of silence before Nala spoke.
"I want to explain myself," she started. "While I had a pretty good idea that Dalia was a divinator, I wasn't sure. Also, there was no telling when what happened in her vision would occur. And with everything going on with organizing Makini's Mpando Mpaya, it slipped my mind. But I am sorry. In hindsight, I should've acted sooner."
This apology seemed to placate the crowd.
"There were certain factors that made it difficult for me to act quickly," said Nala.
"And what factors might those be?" Shot a lioness around Nala's age. Her voice was hard. "We deserve answers, Nala. You all kept us in the dark about Scar's return, and now one of our young is crippled. What made it so difficult for you to act quickly?"
Nala exhaled sharply through her nose. Sighing, she continued. "I wasn't planning on revealing this," said Nala, giving Dalia an apologetic look. "But Dalia's mother was Nyla."
Loud gasps of shock echoed around Priderock, from lions that had known Nyla. Murmurs of I knew she looked familiar and what ever happened to Nyla? bubbled up.
"Nyla has since passed," Nala continued, and the murmurs of shock, coupled now with grief, only grew louder. "Dalia had no idea that her mother belonged to the Pridelands. Because her mother never told her. There was a reason for this. For Nyla was also-"
"No," Dalia pleaded, begging for the Queen not to finish that sentence.
Dalia's heart had plummeted. It was bad enough that she had to endure this. That she had to endure Nala revealing details about her private life to an entire Pride of lions she had met less than a year ago. But she could put up with it. She could put up with the fact that in a few moments, the entire Pride, and all the friends she had made over the past several months, would find out she was a freak of nature - a curse.
But she couldn't stand the thought of the Pride, lions that were her mother's former friends and mentors, thinking that her mother was also one.
Nala's expression grew pained. "I'm sorry, but I must," she said quietly. Then, in a stronger voice, she said, "Nyla was also a divinator."
Immediately, a pang of grief coupled with anger went through Dalia. Her head drooped, her shoulders sagging. Imba gave her a comforting pat while Kion stood there, by her side, unwavering. The declaration seemed to send a wave of shock through the lionesses that would have known her.
Tiifu's voice interjected among the chaos. "Wait a second." Dalia was surprised to hear from her, and her neck was sore from turning so sharply to look at her. "I think I understand now this whole divination thing. But what does this have to do with Dalia needing to leave the Pridelands?" In a timid and broken voice, she continued. "Won't this gift prevent other bad things from happening? So what happened to Zuri won't happen to anyone else?"
Dalia swallowed a painful lump in her throat as she watched hot tears well up in Tiifu's eyes at the mention of Zuri.
Nala looked uncomfortable now. Taking a deep breath, she began to explain.
"With divination, as much as it is a powerful gift, it's also a curse. Evil will always be attracted to the aura of a divinator. For those of you who can recall Nyla, remember how shortly after Nyla escaped the Pridelands, Scar fell? Well, I'll tell you this - as her closest friend - I know that the day Mufasa died and Scar took power was the same day Nyla realized her powers.
Listen to me closely, Pride. It is not a coincidence. It is not a coincidence that Scar returned to the Pridelands just before Dalia made her way here. It is not a coincidence that on the day Dalia realized her powers, one of the greatest acts of terrorism against the Pridelands occurred."
Somber silence was the only reply the Queen received.
Nala sucked in a deep breath. "Nyla was my closest friend. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her. And while it pains me beyond imagination to turn away her daughter, that is what we must do. For the sake of the Pridelands. For the sake of our young."
And Daila knew that everyone's minds wandered to an injured Zuri, who was all alone in the Lair, battling a pain that nobody could understand. Fighting a war that she could very well lose.
"That's all I have to say."
And with that, a now watery-eyed Nala took a seat near some of the older lionesses. They nuzzled her and surrounded her with comfort, evidently aware of how close she was to Dalia's mother.
"I'm so sorry," whispered Kion, just loud enough for Dalia to hear.
She nodded, unable to say anything else.
Clearing his throat, Simba took over. "I'll now leave the floor open to anyone who'd like to voice their opinions. Once everyone who wanted to speak has spoken, we'll begin our vote."
A few beats of tense silence stretched over the mass. Dalia wasn't sure if she could speak on her own behalf, seeing as she certainly wouldn't be included in the vote, but she didn't want to find out. Even if she wanted to say anything, she wasn't sure that she'd be able to without stammering throughout it.
Finally, Imba broke the silence. "Well, I'd like to start off by saying-"
"This discussion is limited to members of the Pride only." Simba's voice was curt, as were his instructions.
Imba's beak opened and closed in disbelief. "Are you serious?" She cried after a few seconds of sputtering.
Dalia's eyebrows flew up in surprise. In all the time she had known Imba, nothing but good had come out of her mouth regarding the King. Imba adored the Royal Family, adored the Pridelands, and would never speak a single word against them. Until now. Glancing around the clearing, she saw Fuli's face twisted up in a similar expression of disbelief.
"So, we can't give our opinions?" asked Bungu, who looked to be dumbfounded.
"I'm afraid not," replied the King. "Only members of our Pride are allowed to vote or share opinions that can sway voting."
"So Kion can vote and not us?" Fuli demanded. "Not the rest of the Guard?"
"Yes, that's unfortunately correct."
Makini's voice sounded sharply from across the space. "Well, what about me and Rafiki? We can't speak either? Rafiki literally has the most knowledge out of anyone here about divination!"
"And what about Zazu," asked Ono pointedly. "Your Royal Advisor?"
From where he was perched near Simba, Zazu flushed. Whether it was out of embarrassment from being put on the spot or indignation at not having a role in this meeting, Dalia wasn't sure. Perhaps a combination of the two.
Simba looked a bit uncertain now, yet remained unwavering. "I'm afraid not. Only members of the Pride."
Fuli snorted. "So only lions?"
"Dad..." protested Kion weakly, knowing how bad this looked.
The King's brow furrowed. "I'm sorry, but that's how this has always worked. I can't change Pride Law just because you don't like it."
Imba's eyes flashed. "Well excuse me. I've spent months in the middle of Scar's Army, risking my feathers just so that I could do my part in protecting the Pridelands." She pointed an accusing feather at Simba, then turned it to the rest of the Pride. "While you were here, living it up in the comfort of the Pride, Dalia and I had our butts over in Kilio Valley, spying. And guess what? We got caught!" Her voice was shrill now with anger. "Oh yes, I had to find Dalia, bleeding out unconsciously, and drag her back to Priderock. I did that! I didn't just do the unthinkable just for me not to be able to give an opinion on whether or not my best friend needs to leave the Pridelands!"
Simba was speechless for a moment before clearing his throat once more. "I understand that you made a great sacrifice. We honor you for that. However, I cannot change a part of Pride Law that has existed for generations. There's nothing I can do."
Imba snorted derisively, still in disbelief. However, she didn't protest.
For what it was worth, Imba's outburst was powerful enough despite not being allowed to officially contribute to this conversation. Now everyone knew the extent of what Dalia had sacrificed in spying for the Pridelands. Everyone knew she could've died doing it.
If this message wasn't driven hard enough by Imba's outburst, Kion made sure to reinforce it. "Well, if Imba, The Guard, or the Royal Counsel isn't allowed to speak, then I'll be their voice." Bunga gave a loud whoop! at this, and even Ono gave a small hoot of cheer. "Dalia and Imba spent months hiding out in Kilio Valley. They risked their lives. They relayed information back to us that was vital in defeating the plans of Scar's Army. They saved many lives. And they did this voluntarily. Nobody had to ask them."
"Well, I'm glad for their service and all, but what good will it be if Scar destroys us because of Dalia's curse?" Kiara argued.
"Nobody knows for sure if the curse is even true or not," said Kion. "I believe that this curse is nothing more than superstition that we are taking far too seriously. And, you're going to have to take my word for it since Rafiki can't comment right now, but Rafiki - our Royal Mjuzi who has the most wisdom in these matters - also doesn't believe that Dalia is a curse." Rafiki gave a cheeky grin and a thumbs-up, to the irritation of King Simba. Kion, paying them no mind, continued. "We all know of the Tree of Life, yes?"
Quiet yes's answered him from various areas of Priderock.
"What if I were to tell you that the Tree of Life, known as one of the safest and best places in the Savannah for healing, is led by a divinator, just like Dalia? Yes, Queen Janna is a divinator."
Dalia's mouth nearly hung open in shock.
She had spent quite a bit of time at the Tree of Life after she and Tombie had run away from their home, the Land of the Wazi. She knew Queen Janna very well. And now she was finding out that she was just like her? Well, Queen Janna was the opposite of a curse. And that gave Dalia a little bit of hope that she wasn't one after all.
Kion continued, eager to dispel all doubts. "How is it possible that Queen Janna has been able to maintain this sanctuary if evil truly does follow the aura of a divinator? I know that some of you are apprehensive about this whole situation. Believe me, as the Leader of the Lion Guard, I am too. But please, don't blindly follow a superstition over what you can see with your eyes. Look at Dalia's neck."
She felt her face prickle with embarrassment as all eyes turned to her, looking at the scar that ran across her throat. It was where Janja had slashed it during their confrontation. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine very clearly the feeling of her flesh tearing with his claws.
Shaking her head, she cleared her mind and focused back on what Kion was saying.
"That happened when Scar's Army found out that she was a spy. When I said that Dalia and Imba risked their lives, I didn't mean that lightly. When they were found out, Dalia's throat had been slashed and if it had been any deeper, according to Rafiki, she could've bled out." Kion spoke with conviction. "That's what you can see. You can see her sacrifice for the Pridelands. What you cannot see, however, is this supposed 'curse'. In fact, contradictory, we know of a divinator who has kept the Tree of Life thriving and evil-free. "
Kion's words seemed to have shifted the general consensus. Even if it was only a little bit.
Nala still couldn't be swayed. "And what if there is truth in the curse? We know it was true for Nyla." Dalia cringed at that. "You spoke about Queen Janna, but she very well could be the exception."
"And what if Dalia's the exception too?" Argued Kion. "Or, what if there is no curse, and what happened to Nyla was an unlucky coincidence?"
Nala had no reply to this.
Kiara decided to speak once more. "I will say this," said Kiara, and Dalia braced herself for a slew of angry accusations. "To her credit, Dalia also saved many lives yesterday during the fire as well." The Princess turned to the lioness. "I know I lashed out earlier today, and I'm sorry. I saw you yesterday, helping and putting your neck on the line for others. I know for certain that if you had known that your vision was true, you would've done something about it."
Dalia nodded. "I would have. Thank you."
Kiara continued. "But my mother is right. This is a time of war, and we need to consider all possibilities. I know you are a good lioness, but this is something that you can't control. And as harsh as it sounds, we need to consider the possibility that this curse is real." Dalia's heart dropped. "And whether or not you're a danger to the rest of us."
Kion interjected. "I think I can answer that. Let's say that Dalia is a curse. The fact of the matter is, regardless of whatever circumstance, evil always rears its head in the Pridelands. If not Scar, it's somebody else creating havoc and disrupting the Circle of Life. And frankly, making Dalia leave the Pridelands will do nothing to solve this war. Scar won't back down just because Dalia's not here anymore."
"If anything," said Tiifu, "Dalia being here will help us. We all know that Scar's not going to leave. And we can't spy anymore on Scar's Army after the last spies were discovered. But, this way, through Dalia's gifts, we can still be a step ahead. Right?"
Tiifu's reasoning was a bit naive. Dalia had no way of controlling her gift. She hadn't even known about it until literally yesterday! How can you learn to control something you never knew existed?
Plus, Dalia thought with a grimace, her visions may be about future events that have no relevance to the war.
Still, Dalia was glad that Tiifu had risen to her defense.
"I don't fully understand this entire situation," Tiifu continued, slowly, "but what I do know is that we can't turn away lions now. Right now, we need all the help that we can get. And Dalia has definitely earned the right, in my opinion, to stay in the Pridelands. She saved me and Zuri yesterday. Without her and her quick thinking, I don't even want to think about what could've happened. It's only right that she stays."
Dalia offered Tiifu a smile, to which the other lioness returned.
"Dalia, would you like to say anything?" The King asked. "Since this meeting is regarding you, I welcome you to speak your mind."
She faltered, trying to think of the words. "I meant it when I said earlier that I would've done things differently had I known. I only have the best intentions in mind. Truthfully, I was considering leaving the Pridelands as well, if that's what it would've taken to keep everyone safe. But there are too many uncertainties about this situation to make rash decisions, in my opinion. So ultimately, I'll leave the decision up to the Pride and whatever everyone is comfortable with, I will abide by." Simba gave her a glance, waiting to see if she had finished. "Er, that's all. Thank you."
Simba paused, waiting to see if anyone else had anything to say.
Correction: he waited to see if any other lion had anything to say. Dalia knew that there were words right on the edge of Imba's tongue, waiting to come out in the defense of her best friend. And taking a look at the Guard's expressions, indignant that they were resigned to not speak despite them having such a large role in the Pridelands, she knew that Imba was not the only one.
However indignant her friends may have been, nobody (lion or non-lion) spoke. All that could've been said, had been said.
"Then, it's time to vote," said the King.
Nala had been the first. She was still seated near the other lionesses, who were comforting her, and Dalia noticed her eyes were wet with grief. "I'll cast the first vote." Her voice was raw and there was no need to wonder what the Queen's vote was. "I vote Dalia leaves."
With that, Nala's head fell onto her paws - an entirely glum look taking over her pretty features.
The King followed after her. "I vote with my Queen," said Simba, matter-of-factly.
Dalia admired that he, in spite of being upset with his mate about not being informed of this situation earlier, still stood by her. She admired this even though his vote wasn't in Dalia's favor.
"Well, she's done entirely too much for the Pridelands just for us to kick her out," said Kion. "I vote that Dalia should stay."
Imba and Makini, along with a few voices of the Lion Guard, shouted out ditto! and same here! but neither's votes were counted as legitimate by Zazu, who was recording the score.
"Me too," Tiifu said. "I don't want what happened to Zuri to happen ever again. And I truly believe that Dalia being here will prevent that."
Kiara rose. Even her posture commanded respect, Dalia noted. "I also don't want what happened to Zuri to happen ever again," she stated. Dalia felt a flutter of hope, thinking the Princess would side with her. "And that's why I vote Dalia should leave."
From beside her, Dalia noticed Kion scowling at his sister because of her decision.
Oh.
"It's nothing personal," Kiara assured, looking almost apologetic. "I know it's unfair. But as future Queen, even if there is a slight chance that you being here is a risk to the safety of the Pridelands, I can't approve of it."
"I understand," replied Dalia.
She glanced over at the score that Zazu was keeping. So far, she had three out of the four members of the Royal Family against her, and only two legitimate votes in her favor. For the first time this meeting, she felt an acute sense of disappointment. Her heart sank as the grim realization that she would lose this vote came upon her.
Dalia's most intimate secrets, and the secrets of her mother as well, had just been gutted from her and displayed for everyone to see. And even after all that, she still wouldn't be allowed to stay.
That saddened her beyond words.
A lioness from the back was about to cast her vote, and Dalia prepared herself for the worst. However, they were interrupted by the sound of someone struggling to make their way up Priderock.
Everyone turned in the direction of the noise and was shocked to see Zuri dragging herself up Priderock. Her face was twisted in concentration as she dragged her burnt leg behind her, inch by inch, hobbling up to be part of this decision. Immediately, there was a flurry of action. The Mjuzis both leaped up from their spots and rushed over to her, armed with scolding and chastising for not staying in the Lair and taking rest.
Tiifu was not far behind the Mjuzi's, immediately fussing over her friend.
Zuri pushed them aside and made her way forward so that she could be heard by everyone.
"What're you doing here?" asked Kiara, dumbfounded.
"I heard everything that was said here from the Lair. I kept hearing my name and my story being used in whether or not Hotshot should be allowed to stay," said Zuri, in typical Zuri fashion. "So I figured I might as well come up here and talk about how I feel since nobody bothered to ask me."
Dalia was relieved that the lioness seemed to have regained her snark, even though that meant that she was now referred to as Hotshot. However, Dalia was still acutely aware of how Zuri's face was grimacing from the pain of exerting herself this much.
Kiara's mouth was agape. "Hey, don't say it like that. We were letting you recover and take rest!"
"I thought this was a Pride Meeting," she said wryly. "Just because I'm injured, I'm not a part of this Pride anymore? Doesn't everyone in the Pride get a say in these things?"
"Of course," Simba assured. "You're welcome to join us, so long as Rafiki deems it okay."
"Look," said Zuri, not waiting for Rafiki's opinion. "I heard everything that was said. And I just wanted to say that this whole curse thing is a bunch of dung. If you want to talk about slight chances, or whatever, there's a slight chance that Scar may bribe me into joining his Army with the promise of granting me eternally shiny claws. Is the next Pride Meeting going to be held to decide whether or not I should be banished over that slight chance?"
A few laughs bubbled up, breaking the tense mood. Zuri smirked, although it was clearly pained, before continuing.
"Also, another thing-"
She lost her footing slightly, and she abruptly broke off with a cry as her bandages shifted, rubbing rawly against her charred flesh. Rafiki and Makini immediately steadied her, and Tiifu's face grew distraught once more.
"You need to come back to the Lair," said Rafiki sternly. "Remember what I said about infection?"
Involuntary tears sprung to Zuri's eyes. "I vote she stays," Zuri gritted out. Then looking over at the rest of the Pride, she said, "If I dragged my ass up here to vote that she doesn't have to leave because of a bogus superstition, then the rest of you have no excuse."
And with that, Rafiki and Makini escorted her out and back to the Lair. Tiifu quickly trailed them.
"I like her," Imba whispered, the only noise audible over the silence that had overtaken the Pride after Zuri's speech.
"Me too," whispered Dalia in return.
"Let's continue with the vote," Kion said loudly, his voice tense.
Simba nodded, and the older lioness from before with the grey streaking her muzzle spoke up.
"For those of you who don't know, I was good friends with Nyla's mother. I watched Nyla grow up, and while I didn't get the same opportunity with Dalia, I didn't want for my dear friend's granddaughter to be sent away." Dalia's eyes widened. She wanted desperately to connect with the older lioness and ask her the millions of questions that had plagued her mind about her mother's time in the Pridelands. But she knew that now wasn't the right time. "But, I was prepared to if it truly meant the better of the Pride. But after seeing Zuri drag herself all the way up here just to vote in her favor, I'm inclined to agree with her. I vote the kid stays."
Slowly but surely, one after the other, the other lions began voting in agreement. With the exception of the rare lions who voted against it, the vote had turned in Dalia's favor.
Zazu, tallying up the votes one last time, announced, "The Pride has determined that Dalia should not be forced to leave the Pridelands."
Sweet relief crashed over her.
Cheers erupted sporadically, mainly from Imba and the Guard. Imba took flight suddenly, doing a couple of loop-de-loops in the air before diving back down to perch on Dalia.
"I told you," said Kion, and Dalia looked up to see his grinning face. "I told you everything would turn out alright, didn't I?"
"It sure did!" said Imba, smiling ear-to-ear. "I told you too, Dalia."
"I know, you were both right," she replied, also smiling. "I wasn't expecting for Zuri to, well, you know."
Kion laughed. "Zuri doing that didn't surprise me. She's fiercely loyal to her friends, and it seems like you've made the cut." The tips of his ears began to pink. "I told you last night that a lot of Pridelanders have come to care about you since you've arrived. Myself included."
Dalia was too exhausted to flush at the comment. "I'm very grateful, trust me."
Imba, who Dalia had momentarily forgotten was still there, made a big show out of gagging at the cheesiness of the interaction. "Please, guys, save whatever this is until after I've left. My stomach can't handle it."
Now, Dalia's face was flushed out of pure mortification.
She distracted herself by looking around the clearing. Simba offered her a curt smile, as did his daughter. Most of the other members of the Pride were mostly indifferent to the outcome of today's vote. The older lioness from earlier gave Dalia a brief smile before wandering off with a few other lionesses. Dalia braved a look over at Nala, who, by no means, looked disappointed by the outcome.
The Queen was relieved.
Well, the feeling was shared. Words couldn't explain how happy the nomad was to have finally found a home. Even if it was for a little while. And she vowed that for as long as she were in the Pridelands, she'd protect it from Scar's Army trying to destroy it.
After all, this was her mother's home. And Dalia would damn well defend it.