The last chapter is here! Enjoy!
Chapter 23-A Prophecy Fulfilled
For the second time in his life, bright light seeped into Taka's eyes, as he approached Lion Heaven once again. Saving me was a waste of time, he thought sadly. A wasted effort on Mufasa's part…
He knew this wasn't entirely true…without his help, both Simba and Binti would be dead, and Kovu would regain the throne once again. It would be a lie to say he didn't make a difference…but he still felt something was missing.
Binti no longer had him…if she was still alive. There was no way Taka had been able to get her out of the way in time…he cringed at the thought of his child being dead, his only true reason to live.
"Son…" he heard a voice call softly. He looked up to see his mother, watching over him as always…and his father. He looked different though…was Ahadi actually smiling? At him?
"I am very proud of you, my son," the king told him. "You saved the Pride Lands…just as I knew you would. You are a hero."
"A hero?" Taka repeated. "But I just wanted to help…"
"And you did, Uncle Taka." another voice said. Taka looked and saw Mufasa and Simba, emerging from the clouds, beside Ahadi "You stopped Kovu from making the kingdom any worse."
"And for that…" Mufasa added. "We want you to become king."
"King?" Taka gasped. "I couldn't! I already ruled once…you saw how bad it was then!"
"That's because you didn't know any better," yet another voice told him. "Just as I didn't."
At that moment, Kovu came up and stood next to Uru. Following him was Zira, who came right up to Taka.
"Zira…I'm sorry, but…" Taka took a deep breath. "I love Vitani."
Zira smiled at him. "I know…I've known that for a long time, ever since you protected her that one day." She sighed and continued. "I should have known then that we weren't meant to be together. 'Man and lion'…just as the prophecy says…"
"It doesn't matter now…" Taka muttered. "Vitani is far from me…and so is Binti."
"Really?" Zira asked, raising an eyebrow. "Things aren't always what they seem, Taka. And you, your majesty…have somewhere else to be…
A heavy gust of air swirled around Taka…and he blanked out.
Taka awoke, and looked around him. Rather than floating in a pile of clouds and light, he was home. Well…sort of. He noticed that he had latched onto the ledge he had fallen off of, and the current of the flood waters was moving quickly underneath him.
Then, two pairs of arms-one with paws, the other with hands-reached out to him. Taka grabbed onto them, and was pulled back onto the ledge.
At first, he saw Vitani, who gave him a large smile. "Welcome home, Dad." she told him, as he nuzzled her.
Then he felt something tugging at his leg. He looked down to see his own little cub. Taka picked Binti up, and licked her all over.
As Taka cuddled with his daughter, he looked up to see one more loved one. He then watched as she walked up to him, and knelt down in front of him.
"Vitani…" Taka whispered, and started to cry. The woman who sat in front of him also cried, and hugged the lion and her daughter.
The other Vitani, who now stood beside her own family, sighed happily…and gave Kiara a nuzzle. Kiara, a little surprised by what just happened, looked at her sister-in-law. The lioness gave her a shrug, and Kiara licked her cheek in return. They then went into the cave, leaving the reunited family in peace.
That night, King Taka and his mate sat outside Pride Rock, watching as stars appeared in the sky, one by one. Just as they did some time before, Taka laid against the cave wall, with his arms wrapped around Vitani.
"So…what are you going to do?" Vitani asked him. "Now that you're king of the Pride Lands once again?"
Taka sighed. "My dear…I don't know, and I really don't care. As long as I have my family, I'll be happy, king or not."
Vitani looked up at him and smiled. "I love you."
Taka smiled back, and knelt down, giving his love one more kiss.
The end! Yet another long story is done, so I'm happy. Maybe there will be a sequel to this too, along with TLK 4…you never know!