“If we are being forced to accept their relationship then they can live here. That is the price they must pay if we are to accept their relationship.”

“You self-serving manipulative son of a hyena! Have you gone completely deaf? Vitani and Nassor don’t feel they belong here they want to go home with us,” Arjana snarled walking forwards.

“Stay out of this, none of this is your affair, what do you know anyway?”

“Well Uncle Kovu it is my affair. I’ve lived with Nassor and Vitani for months and I know a damn sigh more than you.”

“You dare interfere cub carry on like that,” Kovu snarled, ignoring the uncle part.

“Lay one paw on that cub you will face all of us,” Zola roared walking over to Arjana. “I do not wish to cause more conflict but I will not allow harm to befall members of my pride.

“Zola on my oath as king I swear to you no harm will befall your pride,” Simba said stepping forward. “No harm will before anyone. Nassor and Vitani are old enough to choose for themselves. If they wish to be together then I will give them my blessing. All here will accept their choice with good grace.”

    Snarling in utter fury Ni, Aketch, Kula and Kovu stalked off away from Pride Rock, raw hatred burning in their eyes as they passed. Shaking her head Nala moved to follow them quickly followed by Aine. The tension suddenly evaporated as Kopa and Simba walked forward to speak to Vitani and Nassor. 

“Thank you Simba,” Nassor said gratefully. “We never intended to cause trouble. We just want to be accepted.”

“There is no need to be ashamed or feel guilty Nassor,” Simba replied smiling gently. “I know neither of you wanted this.”

“Simba is correct,” Kopa said nuzzling Vitani. “No crime has been committed, neither of you are responsible for the reactions.”

“Give them a little time. I understand that is something you have little of but your revelations have come as quite a surprise for them,” Simba said.

“We only have three days Simba that is all,” Nassor said firmly. 

“We will leave together regardless of what our families say,” Vitani added, a steely gaze in her eyes

           The hours passed. Morning turned to afternoon then afternoon slipped into evening then faded into night. The news of what had happened had spread through the pride like wildfire, each member coming to their own opinion. In the single course of a morning the peace within the pride had been shattered. Some members were delighted or at least supported Nassor and Vitani. Others hated the fact they were together, disagreed with their decisions to leave or hated both facts. Arguments broke out calling on all of the skills of Kopa, Imoo, Kamaria, Simba, Nala and Kiara to prevent all out fighting. Nassor and Vitani spoke to Kiara and Imoo in an attempt to ease the tensions. Under the overhang of the great rock all four talked, Kiara and Imoo proving understanding and supportive. The choices of the Nassor and Vitani had not come as a surprise to either Kiara or Imoo, both having understood and seen how the pair had changed from the moment of their return.

          A day had passed. As the sun reached its zenith rose on the horizon Aketch, Ni, Kula, Kovu, Nala and Aine walked up onto the hills surrounding their home, in the wooded area next to Pride Rock the pride lay in the shade. Seeing the group the tensions soared. The faces of Nala and Aine were full of sadness, hints of anger and resignation. Seeing them approach Simba, Kiara, Nassor, Vitani, Zola, Majani and Masika knew their efforts had been in vain. Slowly Nassor and Vitani walked over to the approaching lions. Across an invisible chasm the two sides faced one another. Without looking at the other lions Nala and Aine walked over to gap, Nala standing next to Simba and Aine next to Majani. All around them the other lions sat or stood alert, readying themselves for the slighted hint of trouble.

“Nassor you are my son, I love you with all my heart. The love you have found with Vitani brings joy to my heart,” Kula began. “However I cannot accept the choice you have made. It is my wish you remain here with us.”

“Mother thank you for understanding how I feel about her,” Nassor said softly.

“I have tried to understand your choices, however I refuse to accept either of them. I order you to remain in this kingdom and break with Vitani,” Ni said in a harsh, commanding voice that broke no argument.

“Father you fail to realize the cub you raised has gone along with any authority over me. I will not break with Vitani. I will leave this kingdom with her. I am an adult, only the rulers I serve has any such say in my life,” Nassor replied, his eyes, body and voice blazing with strength and power. “I still hold respect for Simba and Nala yet the monarchs I serve Zola and Delmar, both have given their blessing.”

“You are a fool Nassor!” Aketch hissed. “Running away from your home. Majani has tricked you in the end she will abandon you just as she did me!”

“Nassor’s choice is his own. Any affect I might have had is balanced by his own judgement,” Majani said coolly.

“Mother, Father, Aketch if you are all firmly against my choices so be it. You always brought me up to do what is right. Loving Vitani and belonging to Zola’s pride is right for me,” Nassor replied, his eyes filled with steely determination and sadness.

      Turning his back on his family Nassor walked away from them with Majani by his side. In swift bounds the pair jumped onto some rocks away from their family yet close enough for them to watch the events below. Standing on opposite sides Vitani and Kovu stared at one another aware their next words would define their relationship forever. The twin cubs of Zira had reached the defining point of their relationship. Kovu’s eyes were hard and cold.

“Vitani…I cannot accept the choice you have made to leave. You are making a mistake. I get that all the adjusting and Mother’s death might have been hard. Nothing is stopping you being with Nassor. I overreacted a bit yesterday that’s all. You don’t need to leave to be together, everything you need is here,” Kovu said, a faint note of desperation in his voice.

“Kovu you don’t see….don’t understand,” Vitani began, a look of sadness in her eyes. “No matter what you say….I never once felt at home here. Being here with Nassor has not changed that. Zola’s kingdom is home, the feeling of the sea on my fur, the sand beneath my paws. Paradise, the place I belong.”

“Don’t you care about your family….about me? We have always been together. Two halves of a team…..a soul,”Kovu said.

“Kovu we have found the other parts of our souls, you have Kiara and I have Nassor. I will always love you but…..that isn’t enough to make me stay. I don’t belong in the Pridelands. I am too much our Mother’s daughter to fit in here. You are the one who has the power to follow Imoo’s paw prints to overcome the past. I don’t share that strength. Leaving this kingdom is the only way I can ever be truly myself and to free from the past.”

     Tears fell from Vitani’s eyes as the last few words were said. The deepest secrets of her soul revealed. The five children of Zira born into a world full of hatred and marked by the crimes of the past. Zola the shadowland princess who choose exile in the hope of escaping her parent’s legacy, Imoo the dark prince turned traitor who was able to take his place as a royal cousin, Nuka the weaker son blinded by his parents beliefs so unable to escape the darkness that lead to his death. Kovu the chosen by Scar as heir yet saved by the love from following the path laid out for him. Vitani the warrior raised in hatred who found freedom by leaving the land and building a new life in the seaside kingdom ruled by her sister. All five shape by their parent’s actions yet the younger two defined by the acts of their sibling in the generation before.

        In the months that had passed Kovu had dreamed of his sister’s return, how happy she would be as part of the pride, the life they could lead as a family. The words of Vitani had shattered his dream into a millions pieces. Aside from Kiara, Vitani was the one lion Kovu would give his life to protect. For all the words Kovu could not understand why Vitani would want or need to leave the Pridelands.

“Kovu please do not resent me or Nassor. I accept the choice you made for Kiara, please do the same for me,”Vitani whispered turning away.

“For the sake of us all do as she asks Kovu,” Zola said in a firm yet gentle voice. “I am faced much heartbreak and know what it is like to leave under a cloud of hatred. If you cannot understand Vitani’s feelings at least accept the choices she had made. If you truly wish for her happiness the allow her to leave here free from guilt.”

      With heavy hearts Vitani and Zola turned away from Kovu walking over to join Penina and Arjana on a set of rocks. All they could do now was pray their words had some effect. On the side lines the rest of the pride turned away, they had tried to help to no avail. Shaking her head sadly Aine walked over to where Masika, and Hasina were laid.

“If you still wish it I could