My Intro: Hello, this is my second fanfiction story. All and any reviews are greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Story Note: This will be a Nala-centric story, but some chapters will also focus on other canon and semi-cannon characters. Eventually, some OCs will be introduced as well.
Disclaimer: All rights to Disney!
Nala: The Lion Queen
Chapter One
At first, it was barely a whisper.
"Nala."
She stirred in her sleep, but did not awaken.
"Psst. Nala."
The voice persisted, now with hushed urgency.
"Naa-laa!"
Then quite suddenly, the young lioness awoke with a start.
"Huh!?", she exclaimed loudly.
Feeling disoriented, Nala looked around the den drowsily and blinked her teal-colored eyes in the dark. Slowly coming into clarity, she noticed a compact figure had appeared in front of her. Then before she could react, the figure reached towards her with a small paw, and gently shook her pale-coated forearm.
"Shh! It's just me.", he whispered softly.
By sound alone, the female cub now instantly recognized whom the voice belonged. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, her vision finally cleared enough to reveal him. She looked up to meet his face.
It was none other than the prince of Priderock, Simba.
Though normally delighted to see her best friend, Nala's brow now furrowed with confusion. She had no clue what Simba was up to this late in the night, nor why he felt the need to awaken her from her deep and blissful slumber.
"Ugh, what's going on? It's the middle of the night. I'm still supposed to be asleep, and so are you!", she chastised grumpily.
The male cub looked around the cave warily, making sure none of the adult lions had awoken and noticed his nocturnal antics.
Simba had already waited a few hours to ensure everyone had fallen asleep before he could put his new idea into action. He now turned his attention back to Nala, his soft-amber eyes giving her an adorably apologetic look.
"Um, heh. Sorry for waking you up. It's just that...I wanna show you something. Something really special. But we gotta go now - or else it'll disappear soon.", Simba informed her cryptically.
"Now? What is it?", Nala questioned, yawning softly.
Simba looked towards the opening of the cave. A faint, pale moonlight was still visible from the inside of their den, but he figured that dawn would likely arise soon.
He glanced back to the other lion cub.
"Well I can't tell you without showing you, Nala. C'mon, let's go!" With a smile and one raised brow, he gestured mischievously towards the entrance.
But Nala was not amused.
Though Simba had already apologized earlier for their dangerous afternoon misadventure in the elephant graveyard – and she had readily forgiven him – the young lioness was not fond of getting into another sticky situation so soon.
"Simba, did you already forget what happened yesterday? My mom's not very happy with me. I don't wanna get in trouble again."
Suddenly, the young prince looked gravely stricken with guilt.
While coming to terms with his regrettable actions the evening before, Simba had vowed he would never so carelessly put Nala in such danger again. After having come so close to losing her during the hyena chase, the youngster did not even want to fathom what life would be like without his best friend.
Especially, if Simba himself was the one to have put her in harm's way.
But as for Nala, what the female cub did not yet realize, was that her friend was now actually up to a much
different endeavor. And when Simba spoke again, his voice was honest and eager - almost pleadingly so.
"I know, I know – and you know I'm really sorry about that. But I swear this is just outside, we won't even leave Priderock. And it's safe, I promise."
And so like many a time before, the young prince managed to win her over.
"Well okay, but this better be something good!", Nala replied. Despite her sassy tone, she gave him a genuine smile. In the end, she considered any time spent with her best friend as time well spent.
"Trust me, it'll be great!", Simba grinned.
The pair of cubs carefully tip-toed around the sleeping adult lionesses laying about the floor and quietly made their way to the entrance of the cave. Simba slowly led Nala outside into the dim moonlight, heading towards the front of Priderock.
Simba knew he could have waited until the next evening or any other night to show Nala what he wanted to share, but this was a "something special" that he just could not let wait. The prince truly hoped his beloved friend would be in equal awe as he had been by the recent revelation.
With Simba just a couple of steps ahead, the young cubs excitedly began to climb the steep, narrow point that overlooked the Pridelands. It was the young lion's favorite part of the royal domain, offering one of the most beautiful views in all of the savanna.
"C'mon, we can see it best right up here.", Simba informed his companion, as he stepped up the rocky peak.
The cubs now stopped near the end of the ledge and stood right next to each other, shoulder to shoulder. While Nala gazed across the grassy plains, Simba looked up towards the sky.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
"Here it is, Nala. Look at the stars."
The pale-coated cub looked up.
The immense Serengeti sky was still rather dark, and gleaming stars twinkled high above them enchantingly.
As always, they appeared lovely to Nala. But she was quite puzzled – why did Simba so randomly want to star-gaze with her on this particular night?
"They're beautiful, Simba. But...what's so different about them tonight?".
"Well, there's nothing new exactly. I just wanted to share something special with you I just learned about them, something my dad told me...", he replied.
Both cubs continued gazing up, their attention completely captivated.
"What is it?", Nala inquired softly. Intrigued, her bluish-green eyes were now filled with curiosity.
Simba suddenly became overwhelmed with the a wave of gratitude and humility; the same feeling he had just recently experienced for the first time while star-gazing with his father.
He paused briefly before attempting to speak again. Beside him, Nala awaited patiently for the young prince
to continue. After taking a shallow breath, he went on.
"Dad said that all of those stars up there? They're really the great kings of the past, looking down on us."
"Wow, really?", Nala asked.
"Yeah. And if we ever feel alone...we can always look up to those stars to guide us – and so will he."
A long, silent moment of reflection passed between the two cubs.
Nala then switched her attention back to Simba.
As he continued to gaze towards the heavens above, she studied the golden-coated lion carefully. After an eventful day full of ups and downs with her closest friend, she now felt their strong bond of friendship was as tight as ever - it felt almost inseparable.
Cautiously, she thought of what to say next.
"Simba, that's so cool. Thanks for bringing me out here to share it with me. It really means a lot."
The prince quickly turned his attention back to the other cub. As he smiled at her, his deep amber eyes shone brightly under the moonlight.
He was very pleased his companion found the traditional lore to be as fascinating as he did. And while Simba hoped neither one of them would ever have to feel quite so desperately lost or alone in the future, he was more than glad to share the wisdom with Nala, in case she would ever come to need it.
"You're welcome, Nala. Y'know, I really do like talking with you alone like this – I like it a lot.", he confided nonchalantly.
But soon enough, the male cub became promptly surprised at his own candor. His eyes widened slightly in embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Nala grinned back at him.
"Same here! After all, isn't that what friends are for?", she replied.
"Right, of course!", Simba exclaimed happily.
The pair of companions knew very well they should head back to the den now, before any of the adults awoke and realized they had snuck out. But instead, both cubs silently agreed to spend just a few more moments outside, together under the beautiful starlit sky.
"Hey, Nala?"
"Yeah?"
"I really hope that we will always be best friends."
"Me too, Simba."