Vitani’s Guard

As time passed after the Outsiders' acceptance in the Pridelands, siblings Kovu and Vitani found themselves drifting apart as they spent time with Kiara and the Lion Guard respectively. Kovu's mind was affected by the space he shared with a native Pridelander, as Vitani's mind with native Outsiders. Kovu found himself starting anew and separating from his past quickly. Vitani took Kovu's act of moving on personally, and internalized it as him completely abandoning her.

Their increasing tension showed itself through spats that grew more and more frequent. Even a few scuffles broke out, seemingly every time they got too close to each other. Frankly, the united pride was not only concerned, but rather annoyed with the constant bickering. The siblings' dispute and pride's murmurs and complaints eventually reached the King and Queen's ears.

Worried that a potentially dangerous sibling rivalry could be on the rise, Simba and Nala take it upon themselves to invite Kovu and Vitani to Udugu, a tradition they invented to deter a tragedy like the infamous Mufasa and Scar rivalry from ever happening again.

The two watched the siblings go their separate ways. Kovu was headed the direction of the waterhole where he gazed at his reflection. Vitani climbed to Scar's former sleeping quarters, angrily knocking bones and rocks around.

Nala agreed to speak with Kovu, as Kovu took more comfort in speaking to her. She had a tendency to prod, which has proven to make individuals like Simba and Vitani discontent and frustrated, while Kovu was one who needed to be reminded and motivated in his purpose.

Simba was to speak with Vitani. Simba, like Vitani, did not like to dwell on feelings, nor did he like to be told things he already knows. This seemingly blunt, constantly-on-the-move demeanor confused individuals like Nala and Kovu.

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In the meantime...

"Howdy!" Kiara skipped to the Guard.

"Uh... howdy." Imara politely saluted, unsure why she was met with the chipper princess rather than their melancholic captain.

Kiara, preparing harder and harder to take on the role of queen -- and frankly having nothing better to do -- happily greeted Vitani's Lion Guard and gave them the rundown of the event taking place. Though it was true that the princess wanted to get to know the new Lion Guard better, as she told her parents, Kiara slightly fibbed to the Guard that her parents said she'd substitute as leader on today's patrol, like her father once did for her brother's Lion Guard. Little did everyone know that this was Kiara's way of exploring her own potential.

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"Kovu," the queen's voice called, "you're not with Kiara. Is something wrong?"

"I just..." the prince consort glanced down, "I just need alone time."

"I respect that," Nala sat down, "but I know something's wrong. You can't just bottle it up. It needs to be resolved somehow."

"It's my sister. She just... got upset when I agreed with Kiara. I wasn't trying to take sides. I never want to take sides, and now I'm out here... once again unsure of my place." Kovu then scoffed, "It's... It's like a thing with me."

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Vitani huffed, "Kovu's just... being such an idiot. Hasn't been talking to me or about anything to do with us. He just keeps agreeing with Kiara and doing everything she does..."

Vitani quickly glanced up at Simba, remembering she was talking about his daughter. "N-No offense..."

"None taken." Simba cut in, "Though, you could use a break from patrol today."

"What?" Vitani squinted, "Why?"

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Listening to Kovu all the way through, Nala smiled.

"Perhaps it's time for your journey to Udugu."

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Vitani's face scrunched, "Udugu? What's that?"

"You'll see." Simba slowly got up.

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Kovu followed Nala past the waterhole. Not knowing the Pridelands well yet, he crossed a vast grazing ground that had been healing from the brief prey overpopulation, and gazed at the great height of tall, red cliffs that reached the sky, unlike anything he's ever seen in the Outlands. Neither of these places were said to be Udugu. It must've been very far.

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Vitani followed Simba down Pride Rock. Vitani spent most of her time outside Pride Rock unlike her brother, and remembered a few locations. All of which were places she knew couldn't have been Udugu. Where on earth was it?

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Kovu noticed Nala stop. He followed suit.

"Oh, Is this it?" he asked. No response from Nala.

He looked around and saw a menacing-looking patch of thorns, and in the midst of the patch, he also saw...

"Oh, you're kidding me..." a feminine voice growled.

The owner of the voice, his sister, scowled fiercely.

"What are you doing here?" Kovu matched Vitani's scowl.

"Well, what are YOU doing here?" Vitani glanced back, "Simba, I think we got turned around. This can't be Udugu- Simba...?"

Silence. Neither Simba nor Nala were around.

"Wait, did you say Udugu?" Kovu arched an eyebrow, "That's where I was going!"

"What?" Vitani snapped, "Is this some kind of a prank they're playing? Simba?!?"

"Nala?!?" Kovu called.

They found themselves calling each monarch's name now. They at least did that together...

Their calls echoed across Maumivu Thorn Patch as they paced around. They wanted out of each other's sight, but they were led here, and felt they couldn't leave.

As Kovu and Vitani's frantic calling quickly turned into bickering, and soon tussling around and entangling themselves in the thorn patch, Simba and Nala snuck behind bushes, and began to plan the siblings' next few obstacles on their path to Udugu.

To Be Continued...

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((In the spirit of November and its themes of family bonding, I decided to unleash a concept that's been in production in my mind for about three years now as an appropriate Vitani's Guard installment: Kovu and Vitani being taken on their very own journey to Udugu like Kiara and Kion once were. They're a pair of siblings who now live in the Pridelands, I thought Simba and Nala might as well treat them to some Pridelands traditions lol.

Because I couldn't decide which parent would chaperone them, I recently decided on both, but also somehow neither at the same time. They take them there, but most of the journey Kovu and Vitani make is independent as Simba and Nala know they're big enough to not be eaten or stepped on lol

Lastly, this was gonna have way more panels, such as an illustration of Simba and Nala looking on with concern as Kovu and Vitani depart, Kiara meeting with the Guard, and Kovu and Vitani looking onto each other furiously when they reach their destination. Was feeling rushed by the time (which I kinda gave up on anyway because now it's 1:00 AM... twice in a row because I think Daylight Savings happened just now while posting this?), and I just... didn't know how to draw some of the things. Perhaps I'll post the unfinished concepts that didn't make the final cut )

(EDIT 11/9: Added a panel showing Kiara with the Guard, as well as antics between Kovu and Vitani. ngl the bottom image would make for a good book cover I think lol)))