Chapter 24
As we entered the cave, panting with butterflies in our stomachs, we saw Kiara lying on her side, her head pressed onto the cool cave floor and Kovu lying next to her licking her head to calm down this first time mother.
"Kiara!" Simba yelled as he skipped over to his daughter.
"Daddy. " She gasped and closed her eyes tightly as a contraction was taking place.
"Are you okay? Are you in any pain? Do you feel nauseous? Light headed? Are you breathing okay?Where the Hell is Rafiki?!" Simba began to panic with wide eyes.
"Daddy, please, relax. " Kiara attempted to calm the spooked Lion King. But, when he didn't Kiara placed her rather tiny paw on top of her fathers and he calmed down, just a bit. "I'm fine. " She smiled and Simba did the same then rubbed his forehead against his daughters. Just then Kiara moaned in pain, Simba looked at her with pain in his almost red eyes while Kovu placed his paw on her large stomach and then placed his head the crook of her neck to sooth the pain.
"Can someone tell me what the Hell is going on?!" Macho Kubwa whined from the top of my head. I had forgotten all about the odd creature on my head, I lowered it slowly and he jumped off as soon as my head was near the ground.
"Who's this?" Kiara asked now sweating and her head laying on the ground once more taking heavy breathes.
Any minute now.
"This is Macho Kubwa. He's here for moral support. " I say swiftly before the stupid bat could get any words in.
"What?" Was all he said before I grabbed him by the back of the neck and plopped him down next to Kiara. "Please don't insert your..quite beautiful fangs into my tiny, malnourished, anorexic-" before he could continue listing reasons for Kiara not to devour him on the spot, Kiara roared in pain revealing her sharp canines. Macho Kubwa's eyes grew larger than normal and he flew behind my large paw.
"She's not going to eat you, relax. " I muttered then I stepped towards Kiara's resting body. Stepping over MK's head causing him to groan and land on his face. I mumbled 'sorry' and continued walking towards her.
"Nala and Rafiki will be here soon. " I assured then nudged her with my scarred nose and licked her cheek. She smiled and Kovu nodded towards me, thanking me for calming her down.
Seconds later Nala and Rafiki came running into the cave, the wise baboon with staff in hand and turtle shell in the other.
"Alright, I am here. I am here now, you're going to be okay young princess." He said with his thick African accent and then grinned. Kiara returned the gesture then out of nowhere a trickle of water was heard and from behind Kiara a small puddle of water was spreading across the cave ground and from the very pit of her being she released the loudest roar her small body could muster.
"Shhh, it's okay Kiara, it's okay. " Kovu shushed as he licked her head. Everyone then stopped what they were doing and gathered around the princess in labor.
"Daddy, what's going on?" Muna asked with big brown eyes full of wonder. Her brothers cocked their heads to the side as they watched Kiara moan and groan.
"Oh, uh her tummy hurts, baby. " Beba attempted to explain without being too drastic.
"Dad, what's that?" Makuma asked referring to Kiara's vagi-
"Okay, all three of you out of the cave. Now. " They three cubs groaned but they did as told as Beba excused himself to leave the cave and join his innocent children.
"Do you think it hurts?" Vitani asked now at my side which scared the crap out of me since I didn't even hear her coming.
"Well, something's coming out of a hole the size of a nut. What do you think?" I asked sarcastically earning a shove from Vitani and me to chuckle.
"I'm sorry. " She mumbled so only I could hear.
"I'm sorry too. " I apologized and placed my paw over hers as we sat side by side waiting for the future ruler to be born.
"Simba, did you get the flower?" Rafiki asked with a hand on Kiara's large stomach. Simba jogged over to the wise baboon and handed him the delicate white rose.
"Thank you. " Simba nodded and went back to his place near his beloved wife, Nala who both looked worried and frightened for their only daughter. Mheetu and Shanni came over and sat a few feet away from me and Vitani as did Tama and Tojo. MK flapped over to me and sat on my large paw.
"Who are all these people?" The poor thing whispered and I lowered my head to be able to answer back.
"That's Princess Kiara and Prince Kovu. The 'ginger', as you called him, is the King Simba and the lioness seated near him is his wife, Nala. The male lion with the grayish fur and brown mane is Mheetu, the lioness with mismatched eyes is Shanni, the blonde male lion is Tojo and that's his wife Tama, you know, the one with hazel eyes? The adult cheetah is Beba his children are Muna, the small one with brown eyes, Makuma, her twin, the cub with red eyes and the eldest is Haunani the cub with green eyes and purple spots. I'm Tanabi and the beautiful lioness next to me is Vitani. The baboon is Rafiki, the medicine shaman. " I explain in a low whisper so only he can hear while Rafiki quickly mixes the flower and water and places it in front of Kiara to lap.
"That's a whole lot of people in your family sir. " MK simply said with wide orange eyes. "You're lucky to have them. " He smiled and then flapped his wings and landed on top of my head.
"Thank you, oh and by the way, you're not so bad for a ra-" I was cut off by one of his famous glares "I mean for a bat. " He then smirked and with that he looked ahead to the, supposedly beautiful, sight of a cub being pushed out of a lioness.
"Alright, I need you to stand aside Kovu. " Rafiki instructed. Kovu gave Kiara a worried look then softened when her eyes met with his. He licked her cheek then got up and padded over to us and sat in between Nala and Vitani.
"Get up please. " He told the small lioness sweating like crazy. She picked herself up slowly then Rafiki placed his hands on her hindquarters and made her squat a bit.
"Why am I doing this?" She asked with a gulp.
"It is the way to have your baby. Now begin to push." Kiara looked forward and began to push groaning a bit, after ten seconds Rafiki ordered her to stop and breathe. "Very good. Again. "
"Gah!" She roared and a head pocked out.
"Holy shit! What the hell?! Is that a vortex?!" I gasped regretting my words instantly when everyone looked at me with confused stares and MK smacked my head. "Ow! What'd I say? What'd I say?"
"What? Is something wrong?" Kiara said beginning to panic.
"No, everything is going fine! Now push Kiara!" With one last groan, moan, and push she squatted a bit more and the cub landed on the ground safely. It began to squirm and lift it's head. Kiara turned around with tears in her eyes as well as everyone else.
"Ahh!" She yelled once more which confused me because she was done. She had her baby why is she groaning again?
"Kiara, don't get frantic but there is another. " Rafiki informed and more tears welled up in her eyes.
"Another?" She questioned and looked over at Kovu. He smiled with tears in his vibrant green eyes.
"Yes, now lie down quickly before something goes wrong. " He picked up the infant and placed it in front of her. Kiara licked her cub clean then began to push again and again and yet again and yet another cub came out. Rafiki picked it up and placed it in front of her.
"Congratulations Kiara and Kovu. Twins. " Kovu leaped into the air and ran over to his wife and licked her cheek and lied with her and helped her clean their beautiful bundle of babies. I opened my mouth and began to roar. Soon everyone was rejoicing over the beautiful and unique sight.
In came Beba and his own children with a grand smile on their faces. Beba began to chirp, since he can't roar, and soon an orchestra of lion and cheetah rumbled throughout our small cave. Filled with love and joy and youth.
Kovu and Kiara roared the loudest and proudest for they were first time parents of the next generation of royals. After the roaring and chirping and squeaking ended we all walked over to the couple and children and admired them. Two beautiful bouncing baby boy. We stood in place as one by one went to congratulate them. I went last with MK on my head, he flew off and bowed before them.
"Very beautiful family. Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo! " He said as he waved his dark wings over his eyes causing the cubs to cover their small faces and the couple to chuckle. He then waddled over to Simba, who had tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, and sat on his paw. Simba and Nala looked at each other and nuzzled into one another.
"Wow. " I gushed completely mesmerized by the sight of them. The first born was a male whose the lightest of the bundle. He has his mother's rounded nose being a lighter shade of pink.The second male cub that was born only minutes after is a shade or two darker having his father's angular nose with the same black color, just like his father.
"Our babies, our beautiful babies. " Kiara whispered as she and Kovu touched foreheads and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Kopa would be very proud. " I whispered before I walked off but before I could resume my place by Vitani,
"Would you like to hold them?" Kovu asked and I froze. They asked me to hold them...first. Not even Simba nor Nala not even Vitani has touched them and they want me, the rouge with nasty scars and exposed claws, to touch and have a special connection with the babies. I turned my head and looked at them silently asking if they were serious or just busting my balls.
"Please, they won't bite, at least not yet." Chuckles were heard throughout the cave and slowly I turned back around and looked down at the small cubs.
"I'd be honored. " She and he smiled as I rested my heavy body in front of them Kiara one by one placed them in my paws. They were so warm, innocent, small. Theirs. I smiled like an idiot then felt a tear of my own roll down my cheek. This is the biggest display of trust anyone can give a lion. A rouge.
"Why are you crying? You weren't the one that pushed them out haha. " Kiara jokes resting her head against Kovu's broad shoulder.
"This is, this is, the sweetest thing I've ever seen. " I admit and look up at the future King and Queen. They smiled and I returned the gesture without needing to think twice. I looked back down at the cubs and tilted my head.
"What are going to name them?" I ask licking my nose since the tear ended up there.
"Well, I was thinking," Kiara began looking at her beautiful baby boys resting safely in my paws then continues speaking "the little blonde one, since he is the first born, I thought maybe Nafari would fit?" She looked over at her husband who looks back at her with adoring eyes then licks her cheek and says "that's perfect. Maybe the darker one can be called Zuri?" Kiara smiles and I know she loves the names given to her first litter.
"Nafari and Zuri sounds perfect." I agree and look back at the group of happy lions with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.
A few minutes of silence passed by as we all stared at the children. Even the active cheetah cubs looked on with wonder and respect.
"Oh look! Their eyes are opening!" Muna yelped breaking the silence as she raced over to me.
"Muna, no, no. You mustn't-" Beba began but Kiara spoke.
"It's alright my friend. No harm done by looking. " Kiara said with her soft voice and Beba relaxed a bit and sat behind his wild daughter.
"They're so cute!" She squealed and then giggled.
"Like you. " I complemented and touched her nose with my own.
"Oh! Look it! Look it! Awww their eyes are so...dark?" She cocked her head to the side and we all bursted into laughter.
"Muna, they were just born. They'll gain their eye color soon baby, you'll see. " I explained and this caused her blush.
"Oh, hehe. " I erupted into laughter then looked down at the babies again.
"The little rascals." I lick their heads then place them with their mother. They open their eyes and stare up at their mother and father and smile. We all coo at the lovely sight and then little Nafari moved a bit to be on top of Zuri and flipped on his back to look up at his mother while his smaller brother looked up from under as well.
"Our little piece of Forever. " Kovu said as he licked his children's head and slowly the cubs drifted to sleep.
"Tomorrow I shall present the future royals. " Rafiki whispered to Simba and before the wise baboon could leave Simba plopped onto the ground with his snout smashing against the cave floor.
"Simba!" Nala shrieked and instantly leaped over her husbands body and flipped his limp body over.
I got up after excusing myself from Kovu and Kiara then trotted over to Simba.
"Simba? Simba? Oh come on, you were doing so great." I encourage but he doesn't even stir. He's out cold.
"My poor Simba, he's never been great at deliveries." Nala said from beside me with a soft smile.
"Is daddy okay?" Kiara asked from across the cave.
"He'll be fine, Rafiki may you?" Nala asked and from the corner of my eye I saw Rafiki grab his turtle shell filled with water and rose petals then came and poured the whole thing onto Simba who woke up immediately. He coughed a few times before he finally came to his senses.
"Thanks Rafiki." He said emotionless then rolled his eyes which were almost fully covered by his thick, wet, red mane. It dripped water everywhere and when Rafiki threw his head back with laughter Simba shook his mane causing it to fluff up and the water to splash all over Rafiki. We all burst into laughter at the sight, even Vitani who is at my side at the moment in a less aggressive mood.
"Wait," I interrupt the moment as I search around the cave and lift each of my paws then stand on my rear legs to get a better scan around the cave then I land on my front legs and look around some more. "Where is MK?" I ask freaking out slightly.
"Who?" Vitani asked raising a brow.
"The bat I was with, where is he?" I ask then look over at Kiara and Kovu but they each shrug and begin to move their heads to search from their resting position.
"Kids, have you seen him?" I ask getting near the mischievous cheetah cubs.
"Nope." They said at once then giggle and hid behind Beba.
"Kids, where is the bat?" Beba asked reprimanding the cubs for lying.
"Check under the King." Haunani said with a smirk. My eyes bulge out of my skull once I comprehend what he just said. I turn my head and notice Simba is lying down. Oh my God. I quickly walk back over to Simba and freeze when I see a claw under him.
"Simba, I need you to stand. Now." I gasp and lightly nudge his side with my snout.
"Why?" He asks.
"Simba you're going to kill him! Get up!" I begin to panic and when Simba doesn't get the message I push him with my paws enough to see MK's full wing and I drag him out with my teeth.
"Oh my God! I am so sorry I hadn't noticed!" Simba gets up quickly once he see's the creature in my teeth. I take him a few feet away from everybody else and place him on the ground. He doesn't move.
"MK? Come on buddy, wake up." I nudge him with my wet nose but he doesn't stir. "Come on, come on. Macho Kubwa, wake up." I whisper and continue to nudge his small body. I lick his cheek a few times and finally his huge eyes pop open and wraps his wings around my snout. This has become a bad habit of his already.
"I knew you liked me! I knew it!" He shouts as he cuddles into my nose with a smile.
"Are you crazy? I thought Simba killed you!" I growl pissed off at how scared I was for no reason.
"Does it matter? You like me and that's all I care about. "
"Why does it matter if I like you or not?" I muffle and finally he releases my nose and floats to the ground and places his claws in front his tiny face with his head turned towards the ground with a sad look.
"I have never had anyone like me before. " He admits with sad orange eyes. Just when I was going to say something stupid Muna comes from her fathers side and sits next to me.
"I like you. " She says quickly and then hides behind my large paw. I lift it and shove her in front of the small winged creature.
"Y-you do?" He stutters and then smiles.
"Uh huh. " Muna giggles then licks his nose. MK blushes then flaps his large wings and lands on Muna's small head. All the adults chuckle and from the very front of the cave I hear some gurgling and the sweet sound of Kiara singing. I turn my head and my eyes land on the beautiful princess near her prince with the two princes' in her paws as she sings to them a very familiar song.
"As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Don't understand
And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go
The way we planned
But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dreams come undone
We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
We are more than we are
We are one. " Everyone's eyes were filled with tears. One by one we had all started to surround them, Vitani at my side Mheetu on the other, then Shanni, Tama, Tojo, Beba, Haunani, Makuma, Muna with MK still on her head, King Simba and Queen Nala near Vitani watching with tears in their eyes and Simba full on crying as he sees his daughter hum the rest of the song and soon her cubs fall asleep.
"You remembered the song. " Simba says chocking on his words.
"Of course, daddy, you're my hero. " She says as her own eyes swell with huge tears, they spill over and cover her cheeks.
"I love you so much, Kiara. " Simba sobbed as he padded over to his little princess and held her tight.
"I love you too, daddy. " She chocked out. After a few more seconds on embracing Simba pulled away and looked his daughter.
" I'm so proud of you Kiara. You've grown to be a beautiful, strong, wise independent adult."
"Daddy, I'm only seventeen. " She blushed still covered in old tears and new ones escaping.
"Either way. I love you with all my heart Kiara and I know my parents and Kopa are proud as well. " Simba said in a hushed tone causing the fur on my back to arise and my eyes to sting as tears rolled down my eyes.
"Oh, daddy. " She gushed and then crashed her head onto her fathers hard chest and let the tears escape her eyes. Tears not of pain, nor hatred, nor of anger. Tears of love, tears of joy, tears of happiness.
I try to hold back the extra tears that are trying to escape so that I don't come off weak and womanly. I am a man and men don't cry. Just as that thought slipped my mind, I felt something small and warm touch my paw then rest onto it. I look down and see a paw with exposed claws. I raise a brow and look up at Vitani, for once she doesn't have hatred in her eyes. It's something else, something unreadable.
"What is it?" I ask flipping my ears towards her to give her my full attention.
"I'm in love with you too. " Her raspy voice fills my ears. The raspy words that I have been wanting to hear for such a long time and I finally hear them. Here in a beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful people. That's it, man or not I'm going to cry. I let the tears finally escape and they cascade down my cheeks and right when I was about to say 'I love you' she lifted her head and pressed her lips against mine. I didn't think twice before kissing her back. I heard whistles and gasps saying finally and the little kids saying ew.
"That's my little brah!" Mheetu's voice boomed and that made me pull away and chuckle. Vitani did the same as we out pressed foreheads together.
"You're my world, Vitani. My whole world. " I saw her smile and she moved her forehead away and then nuzzled into my thick, light brown mane.
"And you are mine. " She whispered back. I lifted one of my paws and pulled her closer to me. Just then I heard Shanni shriek Mheetu's name. I turn my head to see what was up. Mheetu pecked Shanni's cheek causing her to react in such a way.
"Mheetu!" She had yelled.
"What? Oh come on, it was in the moment. " He testified earning an eye roll.
"That's my big brother for you. " I said and when he smirked at me and winked, I knew things between him and I were going to be okay.
Shanni then looked over at Vitani and smiled, I looked down at Vitani and noticed that she wasn't staring daggers at her nor snarling. She gave her sister a half smile causing my stomach to explode with butterflies.
She is so beautiful and finally I can wake up every morning, not hating the sun.
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3910 words guys! I hope it was worth the wait! The cubs are finally here! Were you expecting twins? A single cub? Make sure to comment what you thought the cubs were going to be, I'd like to hear your theories :). I'd like to thank shanni13 for the idea of the lullaby and the scene where Kiara cries into Simba. I do not own the names of the cubs, Nafari and Zuri. They belong to their rightful owners. Also the cubs on the collage I have made are the twins, the one sitting down with the lighter fur is Nafari and the one that is lying down with darker fur is Zuri.
I love you all so much, I almost have 7K!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
It means so much to me!
Make sure to comment, vote and have a great day!
LoVe Ya!!!
'Till my next post,
Delaney ^.*
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