There's No Way

Chapter 2: Dealing With the Prince

The next morning, Simba arose long before anyone else. He wished to see the sunrise before he was bothered by anyone, or asked to do something he didn't want to. Simba looked into the sky and thought about the events that had transpired the night before. "Just go away Simba, I don't want to be your friend," Nala had said. "Whatever, I'm the prince. I'll have lots of friends before I know it, and won't have to worry about that scared little brat anymore." Simba thought to him self as the sun peaked its way over the horizon, casting a beautiful orange glow along the ground , as well as the shadows that lurked from the trees in the vast Savannah.

Mufasa had noticed when his son left, and had decided that he needed to talk to him about it. After he walked down to the waterhole and greet a male cheetah named Toro and a female cheetah, his mate, named Angel.

"Isn't he just adorable, Toro? He has your loving eyes and nose."

"Yes darling, but he has your coat and your strong nature. He's perfect. What shall we nam-…. Good Morning my king," Toro said with a bow. Mufasa smiled and inclined his head in a response before greeting Angel.

"Good Morning Angel and hello to you little one. May I asked what his name might be?" he asked to Angel.

"Yeah, well we are having a little problem figuring that out. We will let you know, Sire."

"Well, I give you and him my blessing as King of the Pride Lands. You have a lovely family, but I must be off to settle with my son. He got into a little problem last night that needs my tending to. You two have a lovely day."

"You two my kind King," Toro and Angel said in unison.

With that Mufasa was off, to find his son, perched atop Pride Rock, looking over the vast land.

***To Simba***

"The sun sure is beautiful in the morning," Simba thought. It always amazed him to see the bright day star before a long and very playful day. "I always enjoy watching the rays cast shadows across the lands," Simba said aloud. "As do I my son," a voice from behind him said. "Good Morning, Dad. You startled me a bit," Simba chuckled to his father.

"You do know son, that someday your going to rule everything the light touches. A king's time as ruler, rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with as the new king."

"And this will all be-"

Mufasa cut his son short. "But, that's not the matter we need to be concerned with at the moment." Simba knew what was coming and what his fathers next words would be. "What happened with you and Nala son?" or something to that nature. Simba's face drooped and his expression went from cheerful to sad and annoyed. As if right on cue, Mufasa muttered the words Simba feared he would. "Tell me Simba, what happened with you and Nala last night that got you and her so upset. Your mother and I are worried that you hurt her on purpose."

"Dad, I… I didn't mean for it to happen. I slipped on a stupid rock and hit my chin off of her head. She got upset and yelled at me, so I…uhh… yelled back. I felt so stupid being made, to go make friends with her. It was embarrassing." Simba said truthfully to his father, who felt as if there were more to the story than that. He shook the thought away and attempted to comfort his child and warm up his spirit a bit. "You know, son, she still hasn't made any friends. Perhaps you could-" Simba cut his father short in a small little rant of mixed feelings and emotions. " I thought at first, that I'd be to nervous to talk to her. I thought that she wouldn't like me, and it turns out she hates me. I didn't see the rock when I turned back around. I was already upset with mom and then I slipped. To make that stupid little brat yell some hurtful words at me for a mistake. Who needs that brat,? There are plenty of cubs to make friends with and to hang out with. Rather than that loner who can't make friends because she's a baby!" "Son that's no way to talk about her behind her back, and is certainly not the way to act. This hole thing was a big misunderstanding. I'm sure, by now, she's forgiven you. Could you at least try, son?" Mufasa said hopeful and with compassion in his heart for the little heartbroken cub that laid in the den beneath their feet. So they thought. She has been hiding in the bushes close by, listening to every word said. Simba was sorry, but shook his head, no, and retreated from saying anything more to his father.

"Well, when you find it in your heart and head to forgive her, you may be surprised. You guys might become inseparable like me and your mother was at your age." Simba stood shocked, as he look at his father, still without a word. "Don't be to much longer, son, the morning hunting party will be back any minute. I will roar when its time for you to come down and eat." Simba simply nodded in response to his father as he turned away to look out across the land that would someday belong to him. He heard a ruffle in the bushes and a little cub jumped out of them. Startled, he was pinned to the ground by young Nala. Who was on the verge of tears.

"Why must you hate me Prince? I didn't mean what I-" she was cut off by Simba's paw.

"I don't have to tell you anything. I just hate you." Simba said coldly as he heard other paw prints walking up the trail. To his surprise, they were cub paws. He grinned when he thought that he could befriend them. Boy was he right.

***back to the den***

Sarabi sat there with Sarafina, who had decided to take the day off and do some sunbathing after breakfast. Sarafina was still upset about her daughter and the Princes little mishap, but was sure it was only a matter of time before everything straightened out between them. She felt it in her heart and smiled at the thought. Mufasa treaded in with a sad look in his eye. He nuzzled his mate and Sarafina before sitting down between the two with a sigh.

"No luck with him either, Muffy?" Sarabi said with a sigh.

"No my dear. He told me more than he told you though."

Sarafina and Sarabi's ears both perked up in curiosity as they listened to Mufasa's relayed story about what had happened and why Simba was still upset.

Sarafina was the first to speak. "I still don't get what went wrong. He accidentally slipped, not purposely."

"I know, Fina, but we are going to have to wait until this has had some time to soak away, before we try to get Simba and Nala to befriend each other. Right, Muffy?"

"Yes, love. I was thinking… that if this thing blows over we could betroth them. I mean Nala's a beautiful young lady that will surely grow to be like her mother. Simba might like the idea, when he's older. This is all IF this little spat, blows over."

"That's a wonderful idea, Muffy! What do you think Fina?"

Sarafina pondered the thought of this blowing over and her daughter becoming the next Queen of the Pride Lands. She allowed a small little smile to come across her muzzle. She then spoke. "That's a wonderful idea, as long as Simba doesn't hurt my baby, I don't mind one bit." They all nodded in approval and smiled to one another.

***back to the cubs atop Pride Rock***

Nala had apologetically gotten off of Simba just to have him break her down again with his words. "I don't have to tell you anything. I just hate you." How cold could you get? Nala was even closer to bursting out into tears when six cubs she hadn't seen before walked her way. There were three female cubs and three male cubs. The guys noticed her but didn't acknowledge her. They were busy becoming friends with the Prince, as were the girls. One girl had noticed Nala, she goes by the name of Tama. She walked up to Nala.

"Hey. Whats wrong? You look upset." Nala noticed the actual voice of concern and nodded. Then pointed her paw at the Prince.

"He's my problem. He just told me he hated me. How could he be so cold?" she said to Tama, who felt saddened by her response.

"Well just ignore him for now. He's just like all the stupid guys. Come on, though. You have to meet my brother Tojo." Tama chuckled.

***meanwhile, with the boys and other two girls***

"Well, I'm Kali. Kanna's brother. You seem pretty chill. Wanna race?" Kali smirked.

"Your on." Simba said as he raced the cub down Pride Rock, around the base of the rock and back to the top.

"Wow Simba. Your fast."

"Thanks Kali. You were high-tailing me a few times as well." the cubs chuckled to one another.

"Hey aren't you going to introduce the rest of us? We have names you know Kali?" a feminine voice said from behind Simba. It was Tama. Kali blushed and nodded.

"Well, Simba, since you beat me it would only be fair to introduce you to my friends." Simba nodded. "This is my best bud, Tojo. He is fast when it comes to straight races., but he fails on anything else."

"So not cool Kali." Tojo said with a laugh.

"Anyways, Simba, this is his two sisters, Tama and Letwani. That over there is Kanna. Just between you and me though, I have no clue who the other lioness is."

"By Tama?" Simba asked. Kali nodded. " Ahh she's nobody." loud enough for everyone to hear. Little did they know, that poor little Nala just started crying again on Tama's shoulder.

Kali just nodded and continued. "This is Amari. He is very agile. You won't win so easy in a race with him through rugged terrain. Ain't that right Amari.?" Amari silently nodded and smiled. "Personally, I know he likes Letawni, as much as she likes him." Kali said in a hushed tone. "Well, that's everybody. TAG! Your it." All the cubs scatter like ants. All except for Nala, who still felt like an outcast , even with her new friend Tama. Nala has come to the conclusion that she will be an outcast until the Prince has accepted her. "Like that'll happen!" she told herself.

"Hey that's not fair guys. I'm the Prince of the Pride-" he was cut off by an outstanding roar from the king. Signaling the cubs it was time to eat breakfast. Then they'd be free to run and play.

"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAR"

"Last one down is it next round." the Prince challenged as he raced the other cubs down for breakfast. Which resulted in Amari winning with his agility and speed. They sat down and feasted on the Zebra the hunting party had brought in. All of them were completely content with they're new found friendship and meal. All but Nala.