The Return of Simba-Nala's POV

"Everybody!" I cried, "I'm back! And with the true king." The lionesses of the pride: Sarafina, my mother, Sarabi-who was summoned by Scar and was absent-Kinya, Chausiku, Dalila, Fatima and Nomalanga stared at me, confused.

"Who's the true king?" Dalila asked. The rest of the pride nodded in agreement.

"Simba! Duh," I exclaimed joyfully. "And we're going to help him defeat Scar and the hyenas!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Nala, honey, Simba's been dead for years!" Sarafina cautioned me, putting a paw on my forehead to check if I had a fever. I swatted it away.

"That's what you think! He's been alive, all this time! A meerkat and a warthog rescued him and took him in! In the jungle! I met him while I was looking for help, and now-"

"A meerkat and a warthog rescued him?" Chausiku interrupted.

I nodded. "But that's not the point. The point is, he needs our help! To overthrow Scar! Don't you want to? I mean, look at this!" I motioned to the dry ground.

"I'm not so sure about this, Nala," Dalila warned. "We are greatly outnumbered by the hyenas and they are not loyal to us. Not to mention that we are all weak from malnourishment."

"Young 'uns," Fatima muttered to my mother. "They always rush into things." She nodded agreement, smiling slightly.

"Would you rather starve to death? And give Scar the satisfaction of seeing you die? More importantly, failing Simba?" I challenged. Everybody hushed up.

"Simba's really alive?" Nomalanga asked. I let out a loud growl. When would they get the point?

"Yes! Come on! Let's go!" The lionesses followed me, half of them excited and the other half reluctantly, unwilling to believe Simba's return. Mostly the younger ones were excited and the older ones reluctant.

We reached Pride Rock in time to see Sarabi being flung to the ground by Scar's paw and-to everyone's shock-'Mufasa' roaring at the cliff jutting out from behind the rock.

I smiled. "That's not Mufasa. That's Simba." Still, they scoffed.

"Yeah, right. I'd sooner believe that is Mufa-huh!" Kinya gasped. I followed her gaze to the limp body of Sarabi on the rocky ground.

"Sarabi!" we cried as one and leapt upward at the same time Simba leapt downward. He nudged Sarabi, saying, "No. It's me."

"It is Simba!" my mother cried, delighted, about to rush forward and embrace him when I stopped her.

"He needs to do this on his own," I explained, as I nudged Sarabi up while Simba cornered Scar.

"Oh, S-Simba! I'm surprised to see you!-Alive," Scar snarled, glaring pointedly at the three hyenas cowering above him.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart," Simba snarled back, equally angry. There is no good reason, I thought, nuzzling Sarabi, whose eyes were bright despite her injuries.

"Simba, please, you must understand! The pressures of ruling a kingdom-"

"-Are no longer yours," Simba finished for him. "Step down, Scar." At this, the lionesses finally all huddled together on one tiny rock. We were all used to standing as straight as possible with an angry, blank expression toward Scar and we did so now. Well, everyone except me, that is. I still had to get into the habit.

"I would, naturally, however…there is one little problem. You see them?" Scar pointed at the grinning hyenas. "They think I'm king."

"Well we don't," I snapped. "Simba's the rightful king."

"The choice is yours, Scar," Simba threatened. "Either step down or fight."

"Oh, must this all end in violence?" Scar sighed sarcastically. "I'd hate to be responsible for the death of a family member; wouldn't you agree, Simba?" What? How would Simba know what it's like to kill a family member?

"That's not gonna work, Scar," Simba retorted. "I've put it behind me." Simba? What?

"Eh-but-what about your faithful subjects? Have they put it behind them?" Scar taunted.

I had to know. "Simba, what is he talking about?"

"Ah!" Scar exclaimed. "So you haven't told them your little secret! Well, Simba, now's your chance to tell them. Tell them! Who is responsible for Mufasa's death?" At this, Sarabi and I stared at Simba, shocked. He knew?

"I am," Simba stepped forward uncertainly. . Simba…killed…Mufasa?! He wouldn't! He loved him! My eyes grew even wider when he did this.

Sarabi stepped forward and confronted Simba. "It's not true. Tell me it's not true!" she begged.

Simba merely sighed with his eyes closed. "It's true." So this is why he wouldn't come back!

"You see? He admits it! Murderer!" Scar yelled. Lightning flashed in the sky. Thunder shook the ground. So dramatic.

"No! It was an accident!" Simba tried to defend himself.

"If it weren't for you, Mufasa would still be alive. It's your fault he's dead! Do you deny it?" Scar pressed.

Simba narrowed his eyes. "No." At least he admits it. If he lied, I'm not sure I would like him anymore.

"Then you're guilty!"

"No! I'm not a murderer!" Simba practically whimpered, and Scar and the hyenas began pushing him toward the cliff. I could only hear snatches of the conversation thanks to the wind and rain. I heard "Simba" and "Daddy"-daddy?-and "everyone knows why!" Simba slipped from the cliff and hung on for dear life. Lightning struck the ground beneath him.

"Simba!" I cried, about to rush forward, only to be held back by Sarabi and my mother. Not surprisingly, Scar made no move to save him, instead leaned forward and whispered something.

Simba suddenly let out a powerful "NO!" and with the strength of ten lions he threw himself back up on the rock and on Scar. I let out the breath I'd been holding.

"Murderer!" Simba yelled. What?! The whole pride stared, uncomprehending.

"No, Simba, please!" Scar begged. It was kind of funny, watching Scar pleading for his life. He deserved no less.

"Tell them the truth!" Simba snapped.

"Truth? But truth is in the eye of the behol-" Scar was cut off as Simba pressed his paw on his windpipe.

"Alright. Alright!" Scar complained. He said something I didn't catch. Simba said something I didn't catch.

But I did catch this: "I killed Mufasa!" And I did do this: spring forward and kill a hyena. Mufasa may not have been my father, but he was close to me and he was a good lion. He did not deserve to be killed by the bloody brute maggot called Scar.

The pride had no choice but to follow me and kill hyenas to help Simba. I heard Timon and Pumbaa yelling, "Watch out! Coming through! Hot stuff!" Idiots. You're supposed to kill who's in your way, not tell them to move!

But I was grateful that they were there at all. As I clawed my way through the hyenas, I heard Simba roaring and a screech that could only come from Rafiki. Thank goodness he's here! Hyenas fell by the tens into the big fire that had erupted from the lightning. While clawing around, I accidentally clawed Simba.

"Sorry!" I hissed. He nodded forgiveness.

"Where's Scar?" he demanded. I shook my head. He snarled in frustration and ran ahead, until a flash of lightning illuminated the black mane of Scar.

I went back to fighting and clawing. All the hyenas suddenly stopped fighting us and ran off Pride Rock.

"What's happening?" I asked my mom.

"Don't know, honey. I hope it's a good thing," she replied grimly. I turned my head just in time to see Simba kicking Scar off the rock. Finally! I heard Scar's loud roaring and protesting as…the sound of…hyenas chewing?

"Eugh! I think they're eating their own king!" I exclaimed.

"That's why we keep them out of the Pride Lands," Sarabi retorted, eyes gleaming angrily at the fire. All of a sudden it started to rain. For the first time in years. Rain!

"Rain!" the pride chorused as one, and held out our tongues to catch water. I soon realized what we had done. We did it! We overthrew Scar and the hyenas and now Simba could take his place as king!

I let out a laugh. "We did it! Ha-ha-ha!" I proclaimed. Nomalanga and Chausiku smiled.

"Hey, yeah! We did it!" But that wasn't my favorite part of that day. It was when Simba emerged from the fog and smiled at Zazu. He was safe, alive…and here. He butted Sarabi's head affectionately and started rubbing my muzzle with his. Rafiki suddenly shook his stick and we stopped, mouths open in confusion. He pointed at the big cliff of Pride Rock and I heard Simba gulp. Smiling, I watched him walk up to the edge and roar.

The lioness' roars answered his, sending a clear message to those against Simba in range of five miles: "You mess with him, you mess with us."