"You're Out of Your Mind"

A MufasaxNala Fanfiction

Written by Rina Bly Pauwau Malenga

Mufasa, Nala, Simba, Rafiki, Sarabi, Sarafina, Scar/Taka, Chumvi, Malka, Kula, Tama (c) Disney

Nia, Buziba (c) Rina Bly Pauwau Malenga
Story (c) Rina Bly Pauwau Malenga

If you'd like to find more information on the stories and art by me, check out my deviantArt page and tumblr! Links are in my profile!

Chapter 4

Walking back to Pride Rock, Nala was transported back to her cub years. She followed behind Mufasa, her head lowered to the ground. This time, not because she was in trouble, but because she was fearful of upcoming trouble. For son and father, she was sure it wouldn't be the nicest of reunions. Her eyes were focused on the ground in front of her, barely noticing the fact that her paws were stepping in Mufasa's tracks. This time though, her feet weren't conquered in size. When Nala brought her gaze forward, she could see they were closer to the large structure she called home than she had thought they were. I was too deep in thought, she reasoned with herself. Also ahead, she studied Mufasa. At his side, Nia stuck close. She could understand why; this was a new land and even Nala could admit that she would be edgy about being in unknown lands. But at least she had Mufasa with her.

When the three reached the bottom of the rock, Nala wasn't too surprised that there was no one there; it was time for everyone to file in and get ready for their evening slumbers. Even Mufasa knew that. Looking up the rock, Nala knew she would find Simba in there as well – of course, since he was the king. Her eyes skewed over to where Mufasa and Nia stood, seeing the male stare up at Pride Rock with unnerving calmness.

"Your majesty," Nala broke his thoughts, Mufasa's eyes focusing on the young lioness, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Mufasa gave her the same look he did in the plains. Obviously he had made up his mind, but Nala was still unsure if even he knew what was best. She couldn't put it past him that he was thrown by the recent news, even though she saw him as invincible. But she would have to learn that he was a lion, just as she, and even the powerful king lion who had saved her and her best friend as cubs had his days.

"I have to," he replied to her. He sounded much more collected than he looked.

"I could just tell Simba and he could come to you. We can ease the pride into it slowly that you're –" But before she could offer her suggestion to the fullest, she stopped herself when Mufasa strode forward. His mane made his chest look even more full, like he wore his determination around his neck. And with only a sigh and a sympathetic look from Nia, the lionesses followed after the golden king.

Climbing to the top was a pinch for Nala, her paws learning where the right path was after years of climbing down every day and up every night. And as she looked over her shoulder, she was pleased that Mufasa's paws took the same memorized journey as her's. However, when she looked down to Nia, who was intently watching her paws every which way they landed, she couldn't help but smile. She didn't dare make a remark however, and simply just waited as Mufasa passed her and Nia caught up. Slowly, she followed after Nia to give her support while she pulled herself up to the top of the large rock formation. There, they met Mufasa waiting for them.

Nala looked to the male one more time, seeing if he was having second thoughts about revealing himself as alive to the rest of the pride all in one go. He reciprocated the look but was the first to turn away and face the entrance of the den. With a sigh, she walked up beside him.

"At least let me go in first," Nala attempted to persuade the male at her side. Mufasa was quiet for a moment, fixated on Pride Rock's height. His eyes focused on the tip of the rock overhead, like he was about to try and jump up to it. Finally, he nodded in agreement. Nala's eyes dived into the darkness of the cave, not being able to make out any figures through the shadows, but her blue orbs aided her as she stretched her legs forward into the den. There, she could see the lionesses crowding around a stage-like rock at the end of the cave, where Simba had placed himself with enough room for his mate when she returned. And as Nala entered the cave, she was taken notice of. Plenty of lionesses smiled at her and greeted her with warm chuffs. As she looked to Simba, he smiled at her. "Everyone, I have something to show you," she announced.

Simba's smile turned into a confused stare, as he like the rest of the others, awaited for Nala to give more information. But Nala didn't speak, and only allowed her news to show itself. And as Mufasa stepped forward, the cave was so silent that the sound of lionesses looking at each other in shock could be heard in the wind. Simba stepped forward, over to where his mate was, making sure this wasn't a trick of the light. "Dad?"

Mufasa's face was stiff, like he didn't believe this to be real. But soon the male's face dispersed and he smiled down at his son. "Yes, Simba. It's me," he replied. The rest of the pride gathered around Mufasa as well, giving the four space, and watching in happiness as Simba pushed himself into his father's chest in a heartfelt greeting they thought they would never have again. Mufasa's forehead bumped into Simba's, being reunited once more as the two stared at each other up close, sharing their personal feelings through a series of happy groans and feral sounds of gratitude. Gratitude that they were able to be with one another again. Nala and Nia moved to the side, watching as father and son enjoyed each others' scents and heat once more. Nala was sure that Simba was overjoyed that his father was warm again.

Once they eased off of each other, the two males smiled at one another before agreeing silently that they should talk in private. And so, without a word to the others, Simba and Mufasa padded out of the den to leave the lionesses to be with each other.

Nala continued to watch the entrance of the den, even as the two gold figures had left her sight completely. She didn't even notice that her mother was the one to come up beside her and give her a loving nudge to the shoulder. Once a nose made impact on her pelt, Nala looked at her mother and smiled at Sarafina.

"I didn't expect you to come back with this when you went out for a breath," explained Sarafina. And Nala couldn't have known either. Knowing Nia was right beside her, Nala looked at the lighter coloured lioness than herself and back to Sarafina.

"Mom, this is Nia. She was the one who helped Mufasa," Nala introduced her.

Sarafina nodded her head. "We can't thank you enough for returning our king to us," she thanked the lioness beside her daughter. Nia pinned her ears and smiled. Obviously she wasn't used to getting praise for her actions, which was kind of sad.

"It was no trouble, really," Nia assured Sarafina. Her head was lowered to the ground, the kind words already enough to make the bashful Nia shy herself away from the conversation. "If you'll excuse me please, I am going to get some shut eye," Nia said. Both Nala and Sarafina nodded, Nia leaving the two to find a spot on her own at the edge of the cave. She was away from all the hustle and bustle that had just been presented to the pride lionesses. The lionesses seemed to be calming themselves now, more aware that night time was meant for sleeping as the days ahead were always filled with work. That in mind, the lionesses dispersed from cliques and grouped up to offer heat int he cool nights. All but Sarafina and Nala joined in.

As the mother-daughter duo sat with each other, they could catch themselves looking out the dark opening to see if the kings were returning to the den. Neither had shown up for a good few minutes, while the queen and her mother sat there in questioning.

"This all seems like a dream," Sarafina stated, catching Nala's ears off guard as they flicked over to her mother's direction. Sarafina's words pretty much spoke for everyone in the pride, but Nala agreed outwardly.

"It better not be," Nala stated with a small laugh. Sarafina joined in and inched closer to Nala. The air told her that the subject was changed. With a slight nuzzle to her cheek, Nala returned it instinctively once the scent of her mother hit her sensitive nostrils.

"Mufasa will be here for you and Simba's wedding," stated Sarafina, pleasure chiming in her voice. However, it wasn't received from Nala's view. The queen's ears drooped, blue orbs practically a window into Nala's less-than-pleased thoughts about the whole wedding situation. Once her daughter didn't reply, Sarafina lifted her head off of Nala's shoulder and observed her. Nala didn't dare look at Sarafina directly, as she wasn't looking for a conversation like this right now. Not when news so drastic had risen. "Nala?"

"Yes?" Nala still didn't look at her mother.

"Are you alright?"

Nala nodded her head. "Of course."

"If you weren't, you'd tell me wouldn't you?" Sarafina questioned the young queen. Nala took a moment, deciding if she should just tell her mother now. Telling her mother that she didn't want to marry Simba now, after all this time spent on knowing what her life was going to look like, it scared her a little. If she wasn't going to be the queen of the Pridelands, what would she find for herself? A regular lioness in the pride? Or would she be outcasted? Kicked from the Pridelands? Questions whisked around in Nala's head, thoughts running backwards and forwards in the rational and irrational parts of her mind. Nala's eyes focused on one rock sticking out from the den wall, but her orbs twitched from left to right as a result of her heavy thinking. "Nala?"

Nala's head turned to her mom's gaze, seeing Sarafina's worried optics looking over her daughter's face. Processing what Sarafina had said, Nala finally replied with a nod. Her silence was speculated though. Nala knew her mother had a better idea of how her daughter acted usually.

"Sorry mom, I'm just tired," she told the lioness in front of her. Sarafina nodded, understanding what Nala hoped was a believable white lie. "Let's get some sleep, alright? We both have busy days tomorrow."

Nodding, the two lionesses settled down beside each other. The middle of the den, where the king and queen slept was in her side vision, the moon shining down on it, but Nala did her best to ignore it whilst she lowered herself to the ground with Sarafina.