Chapter 5-Give and be given

Alright, the final chapter is here! Enjoy reading it!

SIMBA

„Simba! I was just planning to go fetch you, thank the Great Kings you came!" his wife ran up to him, with Kiara and Vitani behind her. They all looked worried.

„News from the Outlands. Zira's leading an attack tonight. We must stop her." Vitani said as her paw hit the ground.

„How do you know that?" Kovu asked for the two of them. Yes, how did she know that, unless she was a part of that plan? Simba eyed Vitani suspiciously and then came Kovu's turn. He opened his mouth to explain, but Vitani cut him off.

„Uwingu, a vulture, was sent by four lionesses that I am proud to call my friends. They were worried because mother made it clear that Kovu and I should go down with you and your pride." Vitani explained. Seems like the Outlanders are not all so cold-hearted, huh? Good for her that she found some friends after what had happened to Kopa. Young cubs shouldn't carry the burden of a dead best friend alone. Simba was familiar with that, because hadn't he been found by Timon and Pumbaa he would've probably gone insane before turning into vulture food.

„Shabaha?" Kovu asked.

„You know it, little brother." They were talking about a member of their former pride.

„Nala and I will gather the lionesses." Simba said. „Our mothers will stay. It would be too much for them." He added and moved his gaze from Nala to his mother and mother-in-law. The older lionesses nodded. If someone was to happen to them, Simba's pride would lose its coordination and the king and queen themselves would become exceptionally easy targets for Zira.

„I will fight until the end." Vitani said.

„Me too. I'll be more than happy to do what I've been trained for. Fight on the winning side and kill everyone who dares to do us wrong." Kovu added boldly and puffed out his chest. If doing what you've been trained for doesn't involve slaughtering me and my family, I'm completely fine with that.

„Kiara, stay behind the pride at all cost. Avoid physical contact." He turned towards his daughter. Kiara's mouth opened to protest, but it quickly closed again. Arguing with Simba was tiring on its own, better use that energy for something else. „We start making our way towards the border before sunset. Zazu, when I tell you, fly high and see what direction they're coming from."

Simba prayed for the time to pass quickly because he wanted to get it over with. Instead, to him, it seemed like an eternity. The more time there was left, the more he spent it overthinking. He was growing restless, but his nervous pacing was stopped by rain droplets. „At least, there's no fire this time." He sighed and remembered the night he was crowned king of the Pride Lands. „Father, please watch over us."

„Sire, the Outlanders are heading towards the gorge!" By the time Zazu had come, the sky has already turned crimson with big patches of grey clouds filled with rain. Could things get any worse? Simba avoided the gorge, but now he had to fight close to it? It's a good thing they knew about this. A surprise attack in the rain would've been terrible. Simba and Nala led their pride along with their daughter and the former Outlanders, all of them trying to get a grip on the slippery and muddy ground. He saw Zira gasp in the distance. Surprise, surprise.

„Simba!" she sneered at him in disgust. He heard Nala growl next to him. It wasn't any different the night of his return.

„What have you done?" a long-snouted lioness came up to him after his victorious roar. He had to admit to himself, she wasn't too pleasant to look at. Behind her was a weak-looking cub no older than four or five months and between her hind paws lied a creamy bundle of fur.

„Who are you?" Simba asked. He had never seen her before and he was genuinely curious.

„The real question here is-Who the hell are YOU and what have you done to Scar? The father of my poor little cubs!" Simba's eyes widened in shock.

„I didn't do anything. He chose his own fate and the hyenas finished him off. I am here to take my rightful place as King." The young lion explained.

„Don't bother, Simba. She idolizes Scar and she will never consider you the rightful King." Sarabi whispered in her son's ear.

„Damn right, I won't! Listen to your mama, Simba." She mocked him. He was growing tired of lions picking on him tonight. First Scar tries to manipulate me by evoking all my unsolved and confusing emotions and then this lioness tries to put me beneath herself. „What makes you think that I'd let you be King so easily? Ready for round two, your Majesty?" her voice dripped acid. Simba didn't need that right now. After the levels of adrenaline flowing through his body decreased, he could tell that one of his legs was injured. He tried his best to ignore the pain.

„You and what army?" he asked arrogantly.

„Zira, think of your cubs. You don't want to fight." Nala stepped in between the two lions who glared at each other once she noticed Zira's pride gathering behind her. „Because you will lose. And no cub deserves a life without its mother!"

„Yes, I see how you thought of my cubs when you let him kill their father." She continued. 'She is just provoking me, she wants to see the limit of my temper. I won't let her', he thought.

„For the last time, the hyenas killed Scar." Simba rolled his eyes. „I could give you a chance, Zira. If you don't like it here, you can always leave. Listen to Nala. Think of your cubs. They would be better off with us once the Pride Lands are restored. You can be part of the circle of life." Zira let out a loud laugh that made her look like a lunatic, especially with lightning hitting the savannah behind her.

„Zira, leave if you don't like it." Sarabi growled and was followed by other lionesses, who belonged to Simba's pride now.

„Oh, I will leave. But mark my words: I will have my sweet revenge one day. You took away someone I loved, I shall do the same to you." She spat at the ground in front of Simba. „Long live the King!" she exclaimed while turning her back and her lionesses followed her without saying a word. Their smiles said it all.

„Zira, go home." Simba said calmly. Zira's pride was strong, from what Nala has told him. She had seen them train every day during Scar's reign. Back then, the Pride Landers were malnourished because they were openly against Scar and he wasn't to keen on letting them have their own way. While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give. His father's words. A king that takes from others just to make them obey, is by all means, no true king. Funny how life has reshuffled the cards. Now, the Outlanders were the ones struggling to fill the void in their bellies. Hard training is nothing without proper nourishment. The difference between them was obvious. Simba's pride consisted of more muscular lionesses and none were suffering from fragile teeth or claws. Zira's pride, on the other paw, was a whole different story. Every time one of them inhaled, their ribcage became visible through their thin skin and scruffy fur. Am I doing the right thing? Should I attack them right now? Why am I giving her a second chance? Maybe mercy isn't the answer this time.

„I am home." She grinned evilly at the golden King and his Queen. „Kovu, Vitani, I disown you. Scar's curse is now upon you. You have chosen your fate and it is my duty to erase you from the face of the Earth. As for you Simba, are you ready to meet your son and daddy in hell?" Simba's eye twitched and his tail slashed through the air angrily.

„Mother, you don't stand a chance. Step down." Vitani said and stepped forward. Zira looked surprised.

„Step down?" she started to laugh. „I am NO coward, unlike you. Lionesses, slash that bastard's throat so I can feast on royal blood. Slaughter them all like we slaughtered his son!" Zira roared triumphantly. Simba noticed that Vitani still wasn't moving from her position and even though her back was turned towards him, he could see that she was exchanging looks with some of the lionesses on the opposing side. They don't look angry, but rather...uh...confused, emphatic, friendly? Are they the ones who sent the vulture?

„Enough!" Vitani finally spoke with confidence never leaving her voice. This reminded Simba of how he stood up to Scar the night he became King. He knew it took some guts to confront someone who's fed you lies for the most of your life and caused your heart to ache badly. At Vitani's outburst, a group of lionesses behind Zira looked at each other and silently made their way over to where Vitani was standing. „You alone slaughtered Kopa. The pride had nothing to do with it. You killed my best friend, someone that was dear to me. A mother that truly loves her cubs doesn't do that. She doesn't rip her daughter's heart out! I tried to understand the motives behind it and I even almost managed to convinced myself that it was the right thing to do. I was blind and naive enough to believe that Scar actually cared for us, while all he cared about was him being King. I thought the debt was paid. This was the lie I'd go to sleep with, I'd wake up with, I'd fight with. I understood how wrong this was the day you..."

„Oh, shut up, Vitani! You ungrateful little..." Kovu's roar interrupted their mother's angry voice. She widened her eyes.

„I understood how wrong this was the day you planned to strike once again. I mean, it had already come to bloodshed, why want another? Revenge? I think not! Only lust for power! You use Scar as a mere excuse to bring pain to others on account of you being on top! And I won't tolerate that. That doesn't make you any different from Scar. You're a bitter lioness, mother, who is weak because there is no power in you to help you rise from the ashes of the past." Soon enough, Zira was standing alone, breathing angrily, making grimaces and unsheathing her claws nervously.

Vitani is very wise for her age, just like Kovu. Simba could only imagine the psychological battles that have been going on inside their heads for years. On one side, there was their mother, their provider , and only caregiver and most importantly their teacher and guide, and on the other, there was their common sense and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.

He was still a little shocked at the fact that the Outlanders decided to leave Zira so suddenly, without any words having been spoken. The four lionesses Vitani was friends with, stood next to her and the rest of the pride has taken their place behind the royal family. Some of them were limping. Was she seriously considering to kill them all in this battle? Just so she could attempt to go through with some plan of hers? Vitani was right, lust has caused Zira to lose her sanity. Scar had to pay the same price. Lust for power does weaken your wits. What a shame. Well, if you don't respect the rules of the Circle of life and thereby cause it to bend, it will rid itself of you sooner or later.

„Zira, if you ask for mercy, we'll be more than glad to let you go. Into exile of course, but far away from both the Pride Lands and the Outlands." Nala said.

„Mercy? I'd rather die than ask Ukuu wake wa Royal for mercy." Zira bared her canines as she mocked Nala. In his younger days, he would've told her to respect the queen, but he knew that would be utterly useless, which is why he decided to ignore it.

„You have all chosen a fate. A fate to DIE!" At that, Zira leaped towards Simba, who was unfortunately unshielded. That how he had been at least until Vitani jumped in front of him. Everything happened so fast and everyone's reactions, including Kovu's, were lagging.

„Vitani!" those were the only words the violet-eyed lioness' brother managed to say. The rest of them gasped and followed the fighting lionesses with their eyes.

„This is for Kopa!" Vitani slashed at Zira angrily. The older lioness's head hit the ground really hard, but that didn't stop her from returning the hit. Vitani shut her eyes tightly when Zira's paw hit her lower jaw, connecting it to its upper part, and probably making her taste the iron in her blood.

„Liar. Betrayer. You stupid girl." Zira muttered angrily and didn't wait for her daughter to recover to the blow. Instead, she gave her another one, straight in the lower abdomen. Vitani roared in pain and quickly got up on her hindquarters to keep herself from slipping on the steep sides of the gorge that was being filled by water. Simba had never seen anything like this. Together with his wife, he started to move closer to the fighting pair, only to be stopped by a dark-colored lion.

„This is Vitani's fight." He eyed them as he got in their way. „She's got this." he said once again. Kovu was right, but he himself wasn't sure of the outcome. Simba saw the fear in his eyes and he was sure that Nala did as well. Kiara, on the other paw, looked hypnotised as she glanced in Vitani's direction. Simba knew that she desperately wanted to help, but even if she dared to, he would've stopped her.

A loud roar was heard once again. Then, another one. The united pride hurried to the edge that separated them from the gorge when they noticed the two lionesses rolling over it. Simba looked down and saw Zira trying hard not to let go of the steep walls. Vitani was standing on a medium-sized rock above Zira.

„Zira. I don't want to kill you. I don't kill unless necessary. Especially not my mother. My ways are different from yours. I will forgive you if you promise never to show your face in the Pride Lands again!" Simba heard Vitani say. She definitely had a gentle heart. Willing to forgive someone like that. A lioness that searches for what she can give and as a result found the most beautiful gift-forgiveness. Zira reached out to her daughter. Is Zira really ready to answer for her sins and start anew?

„It's a shame that my ways remain the same." She used all the air that remained in her lungs to yell those hurtful words in Vitani's face for the whole pride to hear, and instead of using Vitani's paw as support for climbing up, she pulled her down. At that, Zira too has lost balance and the two lionesses flew through the air together, until they reached the rushing river below them, which has now become their grave.

„NO!" Kovu screamed and his voice broke like a whip. Kiara too cried out and the two searched for comfort in each other's eyes. Kovu's legs failed to support him any longer and tears gushed from his green eyes, drenching the top of Kiara's head. Kiara cried with him, inconsolably. She didn't know Vitani that well, but she quickly took to her, maybe even started considering the lioness her sister. Now it dawned on Simba, just how Kiara was deeply in love with Kovu. She shared his pain. As for Vitani, her love and devotion to Kopa got her killed.

„Vitani." Nala whispered and her aquamarine eyes welled up, as well. „You're free, little lioness. And what matters most, your destiny brought you back to where you belonged in the first place. It brought you back to Kopa."

„Where am I?" a lioness with violet eyes asked when she failed to recognize her surroundings. She found herself in a meadow so bright and green, it took a while for her eyes to adjust. There were wildflowers scattered all around it, giving off such a sweet smell and providing a feast for the butterflies fluttering their large wings above her head.

The grass was soft, it almost felt like tickling whenever she made a step forward. Her ears pricked up at the sound of water. There was a large pond located in front of her and it was filled with weird-looking fishes. Some of them were as big as her head, whereas others were no bigger than a pebble. Their colors were vibrant and she noticed a bright shimmer whenever the light touched their bodies. Then, her own reflection caught her attention. It wasn't the one she's gotten used to over the last year. Instead of a grown lioness, a small cub was staring back at her. She scanned her body and noticed that she was a little cub once again. What in the...

„Beautiful right?" a small voice asked. She turned her head and noticed a familiar face. The cub met her with his famous grin, showing off his pearly whites that never got the chance to grow to their full size.

„Kopa?" she asked. „What...Where...How is this possible? I'm so glad to see you! I missed you!" she hugged him tightly and tears of joys started rolling down her cheeks.

„Vitani, I missed you, too." He returned the hug. „I don't want you to take this too hard, but I'm going to be direct. You died today, Vitani. I've seen the whole thing. You were fighting with Zira and she pulled you to your death. To be honest, I didn't expect that. I kinda thought that everything would turn out perfect in the end. Perfect for the pride. Because I know you'd make a wonderful addition to it. Instead, it turned out perfect for me. Nothing and no one will separate us again." Kopa said and his aquamarine eyes sparkled.

„I...died? I hope Kovu makes it on his own." She said. „And the most important thing is that I can't explain how sorry I am for letting Zira kill you. It's been tough to live with this on my chest. I felt like suffocating."

„Hakuna matata, right?" he smirked and looked down on the pond. „When I first came here, I was scared. And I felt so alone because I couldn't find my family. I felt guilty for leaving them and I wanted so bad to return to them. But grandfather Mufasa made sure I felt comfortable here very soon. He told me that just because I'm not physically with my parents anymore, doesn't mean that I can't be with them in a more spiritual way. It took a while to get used to it and to learn what he truly meant by it, but now I understand that you are never dead to your loved ones. My mom still hums the same song she used to sing to me at night to help me sleep and my dad makes sure he visits my grave every day after his morning rounds. I know that they think of me right then, they even speak to me. And I guess you aren't dead if you're in someone's thoughts, songs, words? It's a way of life different from the life we live on Earth, but that doesn't mean it's bad. After a while, you see how cool it actually is!" Kopa said. He always maintained a positive attitude, but who could be positive about death? Not seeing your loved ones ever again, being stuck in some...cloud.

„Cool?" Vitani chuckled and raised an eyebrow.

„You learn the language of the wind, the water, the rain. Your loved ones feel you, even though they can't see you. After all, they miss the way you made them feel and only got used to seeing you. They connect the two and once you're gone, most of them start to think you're gone for good. But that's not true. Let me show you." He said and touched the surface of the clear water with his paw. Their reflections were gone and were replaced by a vision from down below. Vitani could see a pride of lions climbing Pride Rock. She gasped.

„Is this...for real? I mean, is this really happening? The prides...are they one?" she asked.

„They accepted each other. My mom and dad. Kiara...I never got to meet her, but I've played by her side so many times."

„Kovu is with them. On the edge of Pride Rock. They look shaken, but Kovu looks so strong. My little brother. I am so proud of him. We've done the right thing. He's with his new family now, with the love of his life. They will get through this together, I don't want them to feel sad." Kopa smiled at her statement and dipped his paw into the water. His eyes closed.

„We will let them know that you're safe." He said. Upon the touch of his paw, the heavens above the royal family let through a bright ray of sunshine. The four lions all smiled. The wind whistled and ruffled Simba and Kovu's mane as well as Nala and Kiara's fur. The two couples could've sworn it was a cub's giggle they've heard.

Ukuu wake wa Royal-her royal Highness

The battle is over! And with that, a new life begins for the Outlanders. Let me know how you liked the ending. It's a little sad, I know, but there is beauty in that as well. I hope you have a wonderful day!