A/N: I've removed my previous story as it was too shameful to keep up any longer. But now that that's out of the way... *sweats* I'd like to present you to 'How it ends'. I'm personally willing to see how this will play out, and I hope you will enjoy it too. :D

...

How it ends

Nala wondered aimlessly around the den, her mind laced in a knot of frustration. She peered out of the den for a moment, glimpsing at the many animals that were migrating to the immense koppie that jutted out of the ground in an inexplicable manner. Several animals of the kingdom had gathered beneath the promontory, barely keeping in their contentment and satisfaction of the Pridelands' new king. Nala couldn't see too clearly, but on the promontory was a silhouette of a male lion. The sun formed a sort of halo around his body.

She stared at the scene for some moments more, before she half-turned to glimpse at her mother, who seemed to be bathing Nala's younger brother, Mheetu. Sarafina felt her daughter's teal eyes pierce through her, and instantly stared up at the young lioness. Nala looked rather indignant.

"What seems to be the problem, Nala?" Sarafina asked, bracing herself for another session of clamouring. Nala did appear a little crankier this morning.

Nala titled her head. "Why is everyone gathered at Pride Rock?" It was the first time that day she'd actually taken the decency to attempt to kill her boredom in some way.

The mother stood up, the dozing Mheetu gently rolling out of her paws. Sarafina's apple-coloured eyes directed to their cave entrance, catching sight of all the animals that were clustered around Pride Rock. She'd never seen so many animals in a while, not after the Shadowlands' reign. There were hundreds, probably thousands, of elephants, antelope, zebra, gnu and other animals squished together to commemorate the beginning of Simba's reign.

Sara knew that, being the curious cat she was, Nala wouldn't skip the opportunity to investigate. Her father had gone there for the day and so had Tojo. Such an occasion couldn't help but leave the young lioness intrigued.

"It's the coronation of Mufasa's son," Sarafina said. "As two great friends and soldiers of Mufasa and his son, your father and Tojo have been asked to go over there and supervise. As well as attend the ceremony itself."

Nala pouted. "Only them?" she pondered. "What about-"

"We're nor relatives or great friends of the king, Nala," her mother replied jadedly, covering her forehead with a paw. Another way of indicating her headache and telling Nala to not start anything. "And we haven't been invited to attend the coronation." She cupped her paws around her youngest cub.

Her daughter frowned, before ambling towards the cave entrance in a hurry. "Fine," Nala said. "I'm going hunting, though. I won't be long."

Sarafina was slightly frightened that her tenacious daughter would attend the coronation uninvited, or stir some kind of trouble there. If Nala ruined the entire coronation, she'd be severely punished or even worse, her entire family would be punished. "Alright, but do not go anywhere near that ceremony. Don't hunt or talk to anyone there."

In a flash, she was off. Sarafina wasn't even certain her daughter had heard her instructions. The lioness solely sighed.

...

Nala briskly sauntered through the plains, her pale eyes thoroughly scanning the land for a sort of meal. Most of the herds were at Simba's coronation - even the easy prey like foals or calves. The only animals that currently scattered this side of the plains were those stubborn ones; such as the hippos or rhinoceros that'd always pick fights with animals, no matter their status or rank. Or others, like the jackal, who couldn't care less of what was occurring in such an environment.

Nala was famished. She held her stomach, its growl was as pure as that of a hyena's. The lioness winced, turning around to begin searching somewhere else. There was bound to be easy prey somewhere.

"Surprise!"

An amber-eyed lioness randomly sprung in front of Nala's face, causing her to fall. Nala fell back on her heels, and landed with her back to the ground. She leisurely slid her eyes open, only to notice her very cousin looming over her to see if she was alive.

"Kula!" Nala shrieked, immediately ramming her cousin off of her.

The brown lioness grinned, glad to have been acknowledged. "Glad to see you," she beamed. A tanned, headtufted lioness emerged from behind her with another creamy lioness. They both stared at Nala in awe, before glaring at Kula in unison.

"Tama, Marah," Nala was smiling now. She was glad to see her friends, she was beginning to feel slightly lonely. The stain of blood of Kula's paw only made Nala feel more ravenous. "What are you doing here?" She tried to hold her hunger back for a few seconds.

"We saw you from a distance." Tama, the headtufted lioness, told her. "We had this amazing idea and wondered if you could come forth with it."

Nala's ears perked excitedly. "Idea? What idea?" She scoured their faces for answers. Their expressions gave away nothing, only that whatever the idea was, it would be worth it. Nala stomach suddenly rumbled, and the three young lionesses looked around awkwardly. Nala blushed, holding her enraged, wild stomach in great exasperation.

Marah, the tanned lioness with green eyes, shook her head scoldingly. She began impelling Nala to the direction they'd came from, with Tama and Kula at her heals. Nala noted that a small hunk of meat came into view, her eyes blazing hungrily. "Eat, first." Marah instructed, her words automatically setting Nala free from her cage of hunger. It was so unlike her to simply dive into a meal like so; it'd surprised Kula, Tama and Marah greatly.

Nala glanced up to faces of veneration. She grinned gleefully. "So, this idea?"

Kula approached Nala after sharing a look of astonishment with her friends. "The ceremony," she began, stirring a horrible feeling in Nala's stomach. The word 'ceremony' had already involved itself with a whole lot of mischief in Nala's mind. "It seems to be a pretty big thing around here. We're willing to go but we wondered if you'd like to tag along?"

Nala frowned. "I can't..." As much as she was willing to go with her cousin and friends, Nala couldn't bring herself to defy her mother's instructions. Not to mention, if her father and Tojo were there, they'd surely blurt something out to Sarafina and Nala'd be condemned to the den for the rest of her life.

Marah stepped forward, biting her lip. "Honestly, I'm not allowed to go either."

Kula's face fell momentarily, but she immediately exchanged it for a devious grin. "I bet there'll be lots of good-looking male lions..." she coaxed, knowing full-well how much Marah and Tama wanted to find a mate. Though it didn't work on Nala, as she'd already been forced by her parents to marry Tojo.

"Kula, it won't work on me." Nala stated firmly. "Unfortunately I'm stuck with a bird-loving cub." Her friends couldn't help but let a giggle slip from their maws.

"Well, at least you'll get to see the king," Tama added, "What could be more greater than that?"

Nala smirked, looking like she was about to give in to their persuading. "Alright, fine," she sighed.

She gazed back at the petit den, where her mother would probably be watching over Mheetu or sleeping. It wasn't that bad once she gave it some thought. All she'd do was join the sma...large ceremony and stalk around. She'd be back before her mother could even call her name. Plus, she wasn't alone and she doubted the king would notice her in such a large crowd. Nala would have to avoid her father and Tojo, though. Harmless as they were, they were a threat to her sneaking out.

"So it's settled then," Kula announced, her voice portraying a hint of felicity. "Let's go."

The four lionesses trailed onwards to the direction of the koppie. As they neared the mad horde, they flinched at the raucous commotion. The only unaffected one was Kula, who seemed to be enjoying the scene more than any of them. She trekked off, leaving the other three lionesses alone and lost.

"H-hey! Kula! Wait up!" Tama charged after her.

Nala and Marah both edged backwards, until they ended up rear-to-rear. Simply perplexed and frightened by the immense crowd.

From where she stood, Nala could see the king's face. Simba was handsome and young, his vivid, vermeil mane flurried violently in the wind. It only accentuated his beautiful sight and his power. His amber eyes conveyed so much power, though it was fairly balanced with peace and tranquility. His flaxen fur gave away his status as Mufasa's son, for they had both obtained such a rich fur.

Kula crept behind the elephants, gazing around in amazement before her eyes laid on the most gorgeous sight she'd ever seen: a chocolate-coloured male lion, his fur darker than hers, with even darker but slightly curly mane that blew. His markings were sort of plain, but he was still a sight to see. He appeared older than Kula, but bulky, strong and muscular.

She instantly smiled, catching Tama's attention once she'd caught up to her.

"Kula," Tama called. "What are you..." She looked up and saw the sight. Tama instantly smirked. "Oh. That's Chumvi, one of king Simba's friends."

"C-Chumvi..." Kula murmured, her thoughts only occupied with him. She shook her head back into reality, and without wasting a second, swatted her head to narrow her eyes at Tama in confusion. "How'd you know that?"

"My mother works with their shaman," the headtufted lioness explained, "So she knows a lot about Simba's family and friends. If you think Chumvi's gorgeous, wait till you see..."

A tanned lion with bi-coloured mane suddenly appeared beside Chumvi. He was just as handsome, but seemed rather arrogant and powerful. His posture said it all.

Tama's mouth fell slightly ajar. "Malka..."

"They're not so husband-material," said a familiar voice. Marah appeared behind them with Nala at her side. She crinkled her snout, merely unimpressed by the sight of the two males that stood behind Simba. "Chumvi's too plain and Malka's arrogant. But they're attractive, I won't deny that."

"I agree," Nala nodded. "But can we go now? I don't even know what we're looking for here..."

"Oh, please. Those males are the most gorgeous-looking creatures in all of Africa. I have to get a closer look." Kula insisted, ambling past another row of cheetahs. "At least so Chumvi remembers my name."

"Mine, too!" Tama instantly took after Kula.

...

It was nearly night. Most of the kingdom had left, retreating back to their homes and satisfied with seeing the sight of their king. Marah and Nala had managed to pull Tama and Kula away from Pride Rock, after they'd managed to speak a little to Malka and Chumvi. They didn't seem so impressed at the sight of the lionesses, and didn't hesitate to show it - disappointing Tama and Kula greatly. Of course, the girls took it at heart, and now hated them more than ever.

Nala wasn't concerned so much with that; she knew Tama and Kula would get over it soon enough. What she was concerned with was her mother. While she'd successfully managed to avoid her father and Tojo, she'd promised Sarafina that she'd only go hunting.

She knew she had to make up a story in order to unfold her absence that day.

Nala had finally reached her den after some minutes. She hurriedly dismissed her friends, before scampering into the pitch-black cavern. Teal eyes contemplated life in the den. Everyone seemed to be slumbering. Nala's father, Ni, nestled with Mheetu. Tojo slept on his own in the far corner. His arm out; he probably waited Nala's arrival. But Sarafina was nowhere to be found.

"Mother?" Nala's voice was a harsh whisper. When she found no reply, she rapidly darted out of the den. Two emerald pairs of eyes struck her soul. The young lioness's heart sank when she noted her mother's presence. "Mother, I-"

"Where were you all day?" she interrogated. It had taken Nala moments to realize how dark it had gotten. The moon now locked high in the sky, providing the perfect environment for the nocturnal creatures of the Pridelands to emerge.

"I...I was with Tama, Kula and Marah," Nala stammered out. Sarafina noted her daughter's hesitant response. She was clearly lying.

"Nala, I know you went to the ceremony." Sarafina said bitterly.

The lioness sighed. She couldn't fib any longer now that her mother had known. Her stammering had exposed her. "O-okay... I did go to the ceremony," Nala admitted. "But I wasn't lying when I said I was with Tama, Kula and Marah."

"Nala-!"

"I couldn't help it!" Sarafina's daughter blurted out. "It was such a big event. I had to see it; it was the first time I'd actually seen a real coronation in my life. We even saw the king, he was such a powerful and handsome-"

"Nala!" the older lioness scowled. "May I remind you that you're a married lioness! Your mate is in the den right now!"

Nala remained silent.

"He and your father fight with the rest of the pride to protect you! To protect us! In the Pridelands!" Her voice was slightly louder, but after some seconds, she realized that she'd stir the males in the den, and she kept it down. "And you don't even show any gratitude to that! Instead you go and visit the king's ceremony, and have the audacity to... to admire him like that!"

"I do show gratitude," Nala retorted. "But nor you or Father gave me any choice to choose who I wanted to marry. I never loved Tojo and never will. Look at my friends, they're free because their parents decided to give them that choice... Why couldn't you and Father do the same?"

"Nala..." Sarafina warned.

"No, I'm sick of being told what to do!" the lioness rebelled. "What to do and where to go. So what if I like the king like-" Nala froze. What did she just say? She liked the king? No, of course not... She'd only seen him for the first time today, she couldn't possibly have any feelings for him.

"Nala, what are you trying to say? Are you trying to say that you have feelings for... for the king?"

"No, that's not what I meant! I-I..." She bit her lip, closing her eyes and looking down at her paws. "Goodnight." She didn't wait for her mother's response. Nala simply turned around and sauntered into the den, settling beside Tojo. She stared at him dejectedly, before placing her head beside his.

Nala couldn't possibly like the king... She found him attractive, but she didn't love him. Why did she constantly think about him?

Nala thought of Simba for a moment. He was surrounded by several young, beautiful attractive lionesses. Her heart thumped. Hard.

What did this mean?

"No..." Nala whispered softly, shifting her head away from Tojo's. "I'm not going to fall for the king."