Another AU "Trials In The Pridelands" tale. No bashing or flaming please.
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No Mountain Too Great
Mufasa led Vitani away to the very top of Pride Rock to ask her about the events of the day: her and Nala’s near fatal hunt and Zira’s revelation. Vitani was obviously extremely upset. The show of bravado that she usually put on was completely gone, replaced by sadness and fear. Mufasa looked at his daughter, compassion in his eyes.
“Vitani, what happened?” he asked in the most calming tone he could muster.
Vitani hesitated, Zira’s terrifying visage still in her mind.
“Vitani, tell me,” Mufasa said again.
Vitani hesitated.
Mufasa looked at her.
“Vitani, if you don’t tell me, I won’t be able to help you,” he said.
Vitani sighed. Suddenly, tears began to pour down her face.
“Dad, Zira told me that I’m not your daughter, that you stole me from her,” she said, burying her face in Mufasa’s mane.
“Vitani, you belong to me, to your mother, to Simba, to Nala, to everyone who loves you,” he stated.
Vitani said nothing.
“Vitani, you are my daughter, and nothing can change that, especially not Zira’s words,” Mufasa stated.
“How did I come to be your daughter?” Vitani asked.
Mufasa held his daughter close to him.
“Your birth mother was indeed Zira, and your birth father was my brother, Scar. When you were born, I went to see you. However, as I entered, I overheard them plotting to murder Simba. I then exiled them and adopted you into my family. You wouldn’t have been able to survive in exile. It would have been wrong to send you with them,” he said.
Vitani managed to crack a small smile.
“I think I understand,” she said.
Mufasa smiled.
“Remember, Vitani, I love you and, like I said, nothing can change that. There’s no mountain too great, no challenge too hard, that will keep me from protecting you and Simba,” he said.
Vitani smiled.
“Thanks, Dad. You are my father, and Mom is my real mother,” she stated.
Father and Daughter then walked back to the den together.