Behind him Ni looked equally furious.

“Where have you been? I’ve been worrying all night!” Kovu yelled furiously glaring at Vitani.

“I can take care of myself. I do not answer to you,” Vitani snapped.

“I’m your brother it is my job to make sure you are safe. What have you been doing out all night with him?” Kovu demanded, shooting a purely murderous look at Nassor.

“I do not have to explain my actions to you. Since when did you care or have a problem with me spending time with Nassor?”

“Vitani, Nassor both of you will explain yourselves this instant!” Ni roared angrily. “What were you doing all night?”

“Dad cool it now isn’t the time or place for this,” Nassor replied firmly yet calmly.

“Now is exactly the time. I don’t care what you have been allowed to get away with in Zola’s kingdom but while you live here you obey my rules,” Nni snapped glaring at Nassor.

“Out with it Vitani and don’t try to lie to me, I’m your brother remember I see through your lies,” Kovu snarled almost murderously.

        Looking at the pair Vitani and Nassor felt a wave of anger race through their blood.in front of them, drawn by the arguing, Kiara, Kula, Aina, Zola, Aketch and Majani appeared. Looking up the scene the travellers walked down to join the pair causing a ripple of shock to run through the group. United as one a message passed between them, in their hearts Vitani and Nassor realized now was the moment. Above them to their surprise Kiara walked in-between the two sides, her eyes full of compassion.

“Vitani Nassor say whatever you have to,” Kiara whispered.

    All eyes fixed on Vitani and Nassor, some full of anger and suspicion other full of understanding. Tension rippled through the air as more lions arrived on the rocks drawn by the commotion. High above them on the edge of Pride Rock Imoo, Kopa and Simba watched with in trepidation.

“Vitani and I will be going back with Majani and Zola,” Nassor said, his voice filled with power.

      Stunned silence greeted the announcement from Simba’s pride as all tried to make sense of it. Looking at the pair Zola and Majani smiled with delighted as the other travellers pushed their way to the front. Arjana playfully pouncing on Nassor and Hasina hugging Vitani.

“No! Vitani you have no reason to leave!”

“Nassor I forbid you to go!”

      The voices of Kovu and Ni shattered the delighted mood. Both males had looks of utter fury written across their faces, their body language full of hostility. Facing them Vitani and Nassor narrowed their eyes as an equally furious Aketch and Kula walked up to Ni.

“Nassor I forbid you to go. This land is your home, it is time for you to act as the adult you are and stop this foolishness,” Ni snapped.

“I am an adult so you cannot stop me. It is my life my choice nothing you can say will stop me,” Nassor replied defiantly.

“Vitani enough of this! Is that why you were out all night? Some stupid idea of leaving? You have no reason to!” Kovu snarled furiously.

“I have every reason to leave Kovu. I’ve changed….this land….it isn’t home to me,” Vitani replied.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would you want to leave? What would be more important than family?” Kovu asked looking at his sister in confusion.

        In a blinding flash realization struck Kovu and Aketch at the same time, all the strange little instances and the events of last night slotting together in a perfect picture. Utter horror appeared on their faces.

“No….Nassor tell me you haven’t…”Aketch hissed angrily.

“Vitani you haven’t been so stupid….” Kovu snarled.

“Finally figured it out have you?” Vitani asked.

“It sure took them long enough,” Nassor smirked rolling his eyes.

“Aketch, Kovu what have you realized?” Ni asked. “Nassor I demand an explanation now!”

“Ni your son and my sister are in a relationship,” Kovu spat.

       Silence descended once more as the eyes of the entire pride Vitani and Nassor once more. Smirking evilly Nassor and Vitani kissed each other defiantly bringing evil grins of support from Zola, Majani and Arjana. Staring at the pair Kovu, Ni and Aketch roared with utter fury. In a blinding jump Ni and Kovu sprang forward aiming firmly for the pair. Seconds later both fell backwards. Zola stood on top of Kovu, her eyes blazing with ice cold anger. On top of Ni stood Majani with eyes filled with contempt. Nala darted forward only to be blocked by Masika.

“Do not cross me Kovu, try that trick again you will suffer,” Zola whispered.

“Vitani cannot be with Nassor….he changed her….until he got talking to her she was fine,” Kovu spat.

“Kovu stop being a narrow minded hypocrite. My life is my own. I fell in love with Nassor the same way you fell in love it with Kiara. All I have experienced since leaving this land has changed me,” Vitani snarled.

“I cannot let you go with them Vitani, Nassor isn’t worthy of you,” Kovu gasped. “Zola how can you just stand by?”

“Kovu nothing you say can stop me. I love Nassor and I will leave this kingdom with him no matter what you say,” Vitani hissed.

“Zola please, she will listen to you help me make her see sense,” Kovu implored looking up at Zola.

“Naïve fool, I am fully aware of their relationship. I fully support them,” Zola hissed.

   The words struck Kovu like a blow to the eye. Deep down he had been praying Zola might have helped him. Before he could say another word angry shouting caught his attention. Looking across both saw Kula, Ni and Aketch arguing furiously with Majani and Nassor. Hatred burned in the eyes of Aketch while cold hard anger filled those of Ni. Standing together Nassor and Majani presented a powerful united team. Their argument had raged as the same time with a similar result.

“I can’t see why any of you object to Vitani and I being together!” Nassor roared.

“Why then do they?” Arjana asked stepping forward for the first time. “Seeing as all the fighting is over I don’t see why they would.”

“Me neither, let them answer that question,” Zola replied looking from Kovu over to Nassor’s family to all the assembled lions.

“I do not have explain my reasons,” Ni spat glaring at Zola.

“Nassor isn’t good enough for her, he caused some of the scars on her shoulder, he forced her to change and he once hated me for loving Kiara,” Kovu snapped with contempt.

“Kovu you are blind to the truth. I’d have thought the events that have taken place would have shown you that lions can change,” Zola replied coolly.

“Kovu please listen to Zola,” Kiara implored walking over to them. “I support Nassor and Vitani….I’m happy they are together. If going with Zola is what will make Vitani happy then you have to accept that.”

“Kiara thank you for understanding…it means a lot,” Vitani said softly while Nassor nodded.

“I just want you both to be happy. I’ll miss and be sad when you go but if that will make you happy then I’m glad,” Kiara replied smiling.

          Kiara’s words seemed to have a calming effect on the watching lions as one by one they began to slip away until only the immediate family of Vitani and Nassor remained. In a calm motion Majani and Zola allowed Ni and Kovu to get up. Forming a circle around Aketch, Ni and Kula, Kopa, Simba and Nala desperately tried to make them reconsider their positions. Standing next to Kovu Kiara pleaded with him to see things in a different light. Backwards and forwards the arguments raged. Words at times so cruel they cut deeper than claws ever could.

        Watching from the side lines the hearts of Vitani and Nassor hardened against their family. Suppressing their tears they turned away from their birth families to face Zola and the members of her pride. Zola, Majani, Masika, Hasina, and Arjana gathered around the pair, placing their paws on their bodies with love and compassion shone on their faces. Standing together the travellers became aware just how difficult and different Vitani and Nassor’s lives had been in the Pridelands. In that moment Nala and Kiara saw in blinding clarity the situation for how it truly was. Vitani and Nassor had been revealed for what they truly had become, members of Zola’s pride who owed no alliance to their former lives.

“Please all of you listen.”

    Kiara’s voice sounded loud and clear breaking through the tension. Everyone turned to face the princess who was stood between the two groups. Confidence, compassion with a hit if steel shone from her eyes.

“Ni, Aketch, Kovu please don’t be let your own ideas of how Vitani and Nassor should be blind you. They are old enough to decide how they want to live.”

“No Kiara that is the idea of a naïve cub, you may have a life with Kovu but the situation with them is different,” Ni snapped.

“How Ni? What matters is that they love each other.”

“Then they can live together here,” Kovu said angrily. “If we are being

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