it I could like to go with you,” Aine said.

“Oh Mother I am so happy,” Masika replied nuzzling her.

“Gran you will love our home, wait until you see the caves and we can go swimming,” Hasina replied excitedly.

“I’m glad you’re coming with us Mother,” Masika replied nuzzling Aina’s cheek.

“I am not losing you again. I am an old lioness. I want to live out the rest of my days in peace,” Aine replied.

       Two days later as the sun broke on the horizon Ni, Imoo, Kopa, Simba, Nala, Kovu, Kiara, Zola, Arjana, Masika, Hasina, Aine, Majani, Nassor and Vitani stood on the border of the kingdom. Now at last the time had come for the travellers to return home. In the morning light the children of Zira stood together as one for the last time. Tears glistened on the cheeks of some as heartfelt goodbyes were said. All stood on the very border Zola had crossed so many years before in a haze of fire and rain. The past had come full circle. Where once was hatred now unity born from blood and forgiveness. All that the travellers had wished for had been achieved now at last Zola could leave the land of her birth the right way.

“Zola it has been an honour having you here. I am proud to call you my cousin, you will always find welcome here,” Simba said regally.

“Zola that day long ago I said we might one day meet again. I am so proud of the lioness you have become, a mighty queen worthy of the great queens of old. I am glad you came back, goodbye my friend,” Nala said, her voice full of emotion.

“Nala seeing you again….you did what I could not. You are the queen this land needs. All the hopes I had for this land have been realized. Should you ever wish to see my home I will gladly welcome you. Goodbye my friends, my family,” Zola replied hugging Nala and smiling at Simba.

“Nassor goodbye and good luck. I cannot agree with you choice but……” Ni said softly. “I cannot stop you. Majani take care of yourself and him.”

“Father goodbye. I never wanted to hurt you or Mum,” Nassor said, regret and pain in his eyes. “Tell Mum I love her.”

     Looking at one another Zola, Vitani and Kovu felt the weight of the past on them. Nassor eyed Kovu with suspicion. Now at last the time had come for their final goodbye. Earlier that day Imoo had said his goodbyes.  

“Zola, Nassor you had both better look after Vitani. Vitani if this is what will make you happy then I can accept it even if it hurts. Be happy,” Kovu said, hugging Vitani tightly.

“Thank you for understanding Kovu. I will always love you. The choice was not easy to make it is just right for me. I am happy, thank you,” Vitani whispered. “Kiara take care of Kovu.”

“I will Vitani, I promise, go be happy,” Kiara replied licking her cheek.

      All attention shifted onto Simba, Nala, Rafiki and Zola who were stood quietly. Simba and Nala had bid farewell to Chumvi.   

“Ah Zola here again we stand on the edge,” Rafiki said. “All I wished for has come to pass. I never dreamed of seeing you again. A true queen the heir of Queen Ure.”

“Rafiki thank you for everything you did all those years ago, without your guidance and wisdom I would have followed a path of hatred. You should come see my kingdom one day.”

“Perhaps perhaps that might come to pass, my queen,” Rafiki replied bowing deeply.

        Into the morning light the travellers stepped across the border to begin their journey home. Looking at her daughter Aine stepped cross. A light shone from Aine’s eyes that Kovu had never seen before, it was as if the years had been rolled back and Aine was once again a young lioness. Side by side Aine and Masika called their goodbyes, Nala raising a paw in farewell the hurts healed. Turning back Chumvi grinned at his old friends.

     Looking at one another Vitani and Kovu smiled sadly yet happiness was mixed in with the tears. Now the moment had come the pain was almost unbearable for Kovu. Side by side Vitani and Zola stood on the border both beautiful and deadly yet Vitani had a softer edge while Zola swirled with regal power. Their similarities and differences were clear yet it was clear Vitani’s personality had been moulded by her time in Zola’s kingdom. In that single moment Kovu truly saw his sister for the lioness she had become.

“Goodbye Vitani,” Kovu called.

“Goodbye Kovu,” Vitani replied.

     In one fluid motion Vitani stepped across the border so leaving the Pridelands for good. Now the time had come for the final reckoning. Zola alone remained in the Pridelands. On one side of the border the other travellers watched and waited. Inside the Pridelands the lions retreated until only Simba and Nala stood with her. History had truly come full circle. Words and recent events hung between them.

“Zola all we dreamed of has come true. Knowing you taught me how to see past the circumstances of the lion’s birth and understand they don’t always follow the path expected of them. Thank you for everything you did for me back then. Goodbye Queen Zola,” Nala said softly tears running down her cheeks.

“The one thing I regret over all the passing years was that you never knew how happy my life had become. I cannot thank you enough for the faith you placed in me. Thank you for keeping your promise,” Zola said smiling.

“Zola it should have ended like this the first time,” Simba said, regret in his voice. “I should have seen you and been able to see all that Nala can. I am proud to call you family. Never fear me, should your cubs ever wish to return they will find welcome. Goodbye Zola.”

“Simba in you is all this land needs in a king. I see the land recovered. The hope I placed in you had been fulfilled. My sacrifice was worthwhile. Your heirs will never be challenged by mine. You were never happy until you returned home to this land. I never found my happiness until I found my true home far away. Rule Simba.”

      Turing away Zola stepped across the border so leaving the land of her birth for the last time. Together the travellers walked off into the savannah. All the years of hurt were gone. No longer would the past cast a shadow over the future. Choices had been made out of desires for happiness not out of fear. For too long had the past held sway. Now at last the heirs of Mufasa and Scar were truly free.

     Epilogue

 Waves crashed against the shore line as the sun rose over the kingdom by the sea. On the beach Vitani, Nassor, Zola, Delmar, Majani, Masika and Aine looked out across the horizon. A few hours earlier the travellers had reached the kingdom to the delight of all. At last the pride was complete.

“I am home, now more will the past cast a shadow,” Zola whispered.

“Then all you wished has been achieved. The past months have been unbearable without you,” Delmar whispered.

“I wished so much you could have been with me. Simba and Nala have fulfilled everything hope I had. We have healed the wounds. No more worry will come from them. The past is the past. I am yours fully now, this land is my home,” Zola replied, laying her head on Delmar’s shoulder.

  At the side of the pair Vitani and Nassor walked into the sea, the water lapping around their ankles. The salt cleansed them of the last vestiges of travel dirt.

“Home it is you and me from now on Vitani,” Nassor said softly.

“I’ve found my true home here. You guided me out of the darkness,” Vitani replied.

         Looking at one another true love shone from their eyes. Behind them Zola and Delmar looked on with love and pride. As the waves crashed onto the shoreline the lions looked out towards their future.

          Far away in the Pridelands another pride were rising to great the start of a new dawn. The memories of their loved ones were keenly felt that morning more than ever. Hours before Rafiki had brought news of the safe arrival of Zola and the others in her kingdom. The news had brought a great deal of relief to all. No uncertainty would cloud the future. On that morning it was fitting.

       In two separate kingdoms the heirs of Mufasa and Scar greeted the new dawn tied together by love. Hatred had vanished all hurt forgiven. A family untied despite the physical distances that separated them. A family free the live in peace as each member saw fit. Here ends the story that begun in a shadowland that ends in the dawn light.

    END.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16