A/N: Okay so as you all know I don't own nothing. The song is from the play but I just tweaked with some words. Enjoy!

Shadowlands

"How long did he give you?"

A dark beige lioness sighed as her dark brown ear rimmed ears pinned against her head. "Tomorrow afternoon"

A dark cream lioness frowned as her light green eyes were full of concern for her long time friend. "Sarabi there's only one thing I can think of"

Sarabi shook her head. "I can't leave, Sarafina. I have a duty to the pride"

"Yes you can...because if go through with it you'll be miserable. And I won't let that happen"

Sarabi sighed. "There's no arguing with you"

Sarafina smiled lightly. "Nope." then her frowned reappeared. "But go now while those fleabags are busy"

Sarabi gave her best friend who was like a sister since they were cubs a nuzzle before taking a deep breath and galloping across the dry dead grass.

/

Sarabi ran across the blazing hot dessert. The unforgiven sun shined down with no mercy. The dark beige lioness had sweat beading down her pale fur. Just as she was about to lay down a line of trees came to her sight. A tired smile formed before she picked up her pace. Silently praying that it wasn't a mirage. When Sarabi got closer she broke out into a gallop to a small pond. She closed her bright orange eyes as she lapped up the cool refreshing liquid. Enjoying the fresh water run down her dry throat.

"Thank you, Mufasa"

She purred before looking at her surroundings. It appears she has come across a jungle.

Surly there should be a lion or two around here.

Stretching her limbs, the former queen continued her quest. The dark beige lioness was heading into the lush greenery when she caught sight of a pump red warthog...hunting. A amused chuckled escaped her muzzle before she went into hunting mode. She crouched low where her lighter beige stomach touched the cool green grass. Sarabi locked her brilliant eyes on the wild pig. But just as she was about to give chase the warthog caught sight of her and screamed before running off blindly.

"Damn it!" Sarabi growled as she stomped her lighter beige paw on the ground before sprinting after her prey

She chased the warthog through creeks, bushes and over fallen trees. For the warthog got caught under some roots. A pleased smile formed as she increased her speed. What was shocking was as she was gaining on the warthog a meerkat ran out and tried to push the bigger animal through.

The more the merrier

Sarabi knew that was a greedy way of thinking but after going so long without alot of food. After countless times of getting her prey stolen and to have the herds move out of the Pride Lands. So it wouldn't hurt to be a greedy just once. She shook her head and increase her speed, just as she was about to pounced a golden blur tackled her. Only to find out it's a golden lion with a red mane. Sarabi snarled before attacking back. She is not about to loose this opportunity to a imposter.

"Bite her head! Go for the jugular! The jugular!"

That's weird

Just as she let her mind wonder, it gave the lion the upper hand. The golden lion pounced, pinning her down with a hard thud. Sarabi moaned in pain before looking into the lion's amber she seen before...matter fact. But as she was thinking this the lion gasped before stepping off and moved back with wide eyes.

"Mufasa..."

The lion shook his head before looking at her again. Amber eyes boaring into bright orange eyes. Sarabi raised an eyebrow, this unknown lion shook his head as if he knew her late mate. So as she felt everything was alright and this lion wasn't going to attack again. She took the time to study the lion sitting in front of her. First thing she noticed was that the lion was young about a year and a half. Her mistake. But as she looked closer her mouth nearly dropped. From the bright golden fur to the dazzling amber eyes, she knew who this lion is. But it was hard to wrap it around her brain. Wasn't he so pose to be dead.

"Simba...you're alive. But how could that be?"

Simba smiled sheepishly. "Hey mom...it's me and it's a long story"

Sarabi smiled brightly before running over and embracing her long lost son. Simba smiled before nuzzling into the side of his mother's neck.

"Wait. Wait. Who's she?"

Simba and Sarabi pulled away to see the meerkat from earlier with his paws on his hips.

"Timon. This is my mother, Sarabi"

Timon's brown eyes nearly popped out of his head as he choked. "Mother?"

Simba nodded with a smile before looking at the warthog. "Hey Pumbaa. Come over here"

The red warthog squeezed out of the roots before walking over the three.

"Pumbaa, my mother Sarabi. Mother this is Pumbaa"

Pumbaa looked at the dark beige lioness unsure but smiled at his friend's mother after receiving a resurring smile from the golden lion.

"Pleased to meet you"

Sarabi smiled at the younger animal. "The pleasure is all mine, dear"

Timon shook his head and put his paws in the air. "Wait a second. She's your mother but she was trying to eat us. Did I miss something!"

Simba sighed before rolling his eyes. "Timon. Calm down"

While Simba was talking to the meerkat, Sarabi took the time to think about what this could mean. She smiled...the Pride Lands are saved. Scar's evil reign can end and her son could take his place.

"Wait to everyone finds out you're alive. Mheetu will definitely be over joyed"

It wasn't a secret that Sarafina's youngest cub, Mheetu looked up to the prince as a big brother. Simba' s bright face paled as sweat formed.

"He doesn't have to know. Nobody does"

Sarabi was shocked and confused by her son' s outburst. "Simba...you're alive. When we all thought you were dead"

Simba looked at his mother with questioning eyes. "The pride thought I was dead?"

Sarabi nodded. "When Scar told us about the stampede, we was destroyed"

Simba looked away as he realized something. With a deep breath he looked back at his mother. "What else did he tell you?"

Sarabi shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You're alive and that means your the king"

Simba' s eyes widen as Timon laughed.

"Ms. Don't you got your lions crossed"

Pumbaa smiled before kissing Simba' s paws. "Your highness"

Timon pushed the warthog away with a annoyed sigh. "Stop it. He's not a king" then he looked at the lion with seriousness Simba never seen before. "Are you?"

"No!"

Sarabi gasped before she scold her son "Simba!"

Simba looked from his friends to his mother. "Mom, I'm sorry but Scar's the king"

/

Timon and Pumbaa had left mother and son alone to talk. Simba had took his mother on a tour of the jungle. Sarabi has to admitt it's a wonderful place but nothing compared to home. Even though home looks like a extension of the elephant graveyard.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Simba' s voice knocked the older lioness out of her thoughts. She nodded, but as she watched her son jump in a vine hammock a thought struck her.

"It is beautiful. But son you been here all this time. Why didn't you return home?"

Simba sighed deeply. "No one needs me"

Sarabi's dark brown rimmed ears flickered as disbelief ran across her face. "Simba! Your the king...of course we need you"

Simba groaned. "Mother, we been through this. I'm not the king, Uncle Scar is"

Sarabi can't believe what she's hearing as she jumped up and placed her front paws on the hammock. "Son, your uncle let the hyenas in the Pride Lands"

"What?!" Simba cried his amber eyes wide

Sarabi sighed deeply. "My son, there's no food, no water. If you don't return everyone will starve"

Simba pinned his ears against his head. "I'm sorry mom. But I can't"

Sarabi frowned as she watched her son jumped off the hammock. "Simba...talk to me. Why can't you come back?"

Simba looked at his mother hard. "If you tell you...you'll hate me"

Sarabi frowned. "Simba. You're my son, I could never hate you"

Simba sighed and opened his mouth to speak but closed it. Before shaking his head and turning away. "It doesn't matter. Hakuna Matata"

Sarabi's ears flickered as she tilted her head. "What?"

Simba shook his head. "It's something I learned out here. When bad things happen..."

"Simba!" the dark beige lioness scolded knowing where her son was going

"Why worry"

"Because it's your responsibility" Sarabi growled sternly

Simba looked at his mother for a moment. "What about you mom. You left"

"This is totally different. I left to find help and I found you! Don't you understand you're the pride's only hope"

Sarabi had tears falling. How can this stubborn, selfish lion be the generous cub she birthed. It pained Simba to see his mother cry but it would be ten fold if she knew the truth.

"I'm sorry mom"

Sarabi looked away as tears fell freely from her eyes and made tiny puddles by her paws. "What happened to you? You're not the Simba I remember...the one I held on to after he had a nightmare"

"No. I'm not...hate me now?"

"No! Just...Just disappointed"

Simba snorted before walking away. "You sound like father"

Sarabi sniffed up some tears completely lost at what to say. "What would your father say?"

Simba stopped walking, his tail sway side to side as his ears flickered before he turned and faced his mother. "Look mom. You have no idea what I been through"

"I would if you tell me...Simba whatever you have to say just know I could never hate you. But know the pride needs you or they will die"

Simba pinned hhis ears and closed his eyes to keep the tears away but was failing terribly. Sarabi decided to take this at another approach.

Fa see, le sou, lee ah, hallah led laFa see, le sou, lee ah, hallah led la

Simba still had his eyes closed, tears fell freely as his head was lowered.

Shadowland, the leaves have fallen The shadowed land, that was our home The river's dry, the ground has broken So I must go, now I must go And where the journey may lead you Let our prayers be your guideI cannot stay here, your family But we'll remember our pride Pridelands We have no choice Pridelands I will find my worlds Take this prayer with you What life's out there? Fa see Our home Le sou And where the journey may lead you Let this prayer be your guide The winds may take you so far away Always remember your pride And where the journey may lead You Let this prayer be your guide For it may take you So far away Always remember your pride And where the journey may lead You Let this prayer be your guide For it may take you So far away Always remember Your pride

Simba looked up and at his mother. Both had tear stains on their fur making them look like a cheetah. His mother was crying more now and he picture what she and the pride was going through for the past year and a half. He walked over and nuzzled her, she buried her head in his mane.

"I'm sorry mother. I'll go back...just promise that whatever happens...I'll always be your son"

Sarabi sighed before moving a piece of Simba's mane out of his eyes. "No matter what...you'll always be my baby boy"

Simba smiled. "Come on. Let's get Timon and Pumbaa. Can't leave them"

Sarabi stood up and trotted over to her son where they was walking side by side. She smiled warmly at the lion beside her.

"Of course. How can we forget them?"

Simba laughed before leading Sarabi through the jungle. But the two didn't noticed that one star shined brighter than the others or the shooting star that shot across the sky.