This story is written in the first person, entirely from Simba's point of view, and takes place directly after the events of The Lion King (it ignores TLK II and happens before the new cub is born as well). Ideas were influenced by other fan fictions as well as the film. Thanks to them for the inspiration ;) Disney own all the characters by the way, in case you didn't know. Reading and reviewing would be much appreciated!
Civil War
My name is Simba. My life has been a long, hard slog for acceptance and fulfilment of my pride's expectations. To say my early life was tough would be an understatement. My evil uncle Scar effectively exiled me out of the Pridelands and killed my father in order to gain power. For years, I was an outcast, until my childhood friend and future Queen Nala came to me and convinced me to return and challenge my evil uncle for his place as King. With great effort, I reclaimed the throne, and Scar's allies, the hyenas, turned on him and ripped him to shreds. Exiling them back to the elephant graveyard, I then had to restore the Pridelands to their former glory, after Scar had left them to rot and die. If I'd thought my early life was tough, it was nothing compared to my quest for acceptance within the pride, and to bring peace back to these once great lands.
The Lion King II – Civil War In The Pridelands
"We'll always be together, right Dad?"
"Just remember, my son. The great Kings of the past will always be there to guide you, and so will I…"
I watched as my father fell backwards into the flying stampede, willing everything to stop, willing time to turn backwards so I could stop all the events. But time was cruel, and he fell, fell through, beyond vision…
I awoke with a start. My dreams and visions had been considerably worse these last few days, and though I knew I was not held responsible for the death of my father, somehow the years of guilt that had built up inside me were proving difficult to rid. I didn't seem able to get over it, despite my pretence a few days earlier when challenging Scar, and I didn't want the lionesses to feel my weakness. What would they think if they knew their King was weak in the head? I wanted to aspire to the heights of my father's reign. How was I going to do that if the lionesses had no confidence in me?
I looked over at my beautiful Nala with a stifled yawn. She was sleeping soundly and contentedly. Her radiant beauty couldn't help but make me smile, and suddenly I felt proud and confident that with such a beautiful partner, I could make it through my problems. But she didn't know my problems, and how could I tell her? Sighing, I rose, and headed out of the cave and out into the fresh early morning air of the Pridelands. The sun had not yet risen, but I headed to the top of Pride Rock, to the spot where my father had taken me to show the kingdom all those years ago.
The whole land seemed bathed in a kind of eerie shadow, like the sort I had always associated with the elephant graveyard in my youth. I looked towards the graveyard and suppressed a shudder. The last time I'd been there, I had had to rely on my father to bail me out, having stupidly led myself and Nala into danger which finished being cornered by three filthy hyenas...
I looked up at the sky, where the stars twinkled in all their glory. Somehow, just looking at them, made me feel closer to my father, and gave me a renewed hope for the future. Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice another figure creeping up behind me. It came and sat with me, following my gaze upwards to the sky, and murmured a sympathetic purr. Nala pushed her head up against mine and rested, seemingly trying to comfort me.
"I really miss him Nala," I admitted, turning my head in her direction.
"Yeah, I know," she replied sympathetically, "and so you should. You always will, but that's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I dreamt about him again just now…"
"I know, you talk in your sleep," she said, moving her head away and smiling at me with her usual knowing look. I couldn't help smiling back. There was something about her presence which gave me a pleasure I couldn't remember feeling with anyone else.
"How am I gonna bring the Pridelands back Nala? I still need my father to guide me, I was never taught how, what hope do I have?"
"Hey, like you always told me, he'll always be there to guide you," she paused,
"a-and I know it's no consolation, but I'll always be here for you as well, not that I'm any substitute for Mufasa," she finished sheepishly.
Her calming and supportive words had a huge effect on me, and I purred, and leaned my head towards her, "You'll always be just as good to me."
And without another word, we headed back down Pride Rock, sticking close together, wishing for our tender moment to last forever. We settled back down in the cave amongst the other lionesses, and slept until morning.