Chapter 4: A True Friend's True Return

Hey guys! I'm back for more, and I'm sorry I'm getting these out slowly. I have got lots of projects and papers due in the next couple weeks. This chapter will be mainly about Simba and Nala. Will it be an awkward meeting or a happy get together? I just we will have to just find out, onward to the story!

Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own anything Kung Fu Panda owns. The only thing I happen to own is my stories and my awesome characters.

"Nala?"

"Simba?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, each of them not believing what their eyes were letting them see. The childhood friend, they had each recently believed to be dead was now standing before them. And to say as if it is needed, it was too much for one of them.

S-Simba… is that…" was all Nala could get out before her world turned black and she fainted.

Simba was quick on his feet and managed to catch her before her head hit the ground, stopping possible head damage. The first thing Simba noticed is that her fur was thick and heavy; it was full of dirt and grease. She smelled like she had been traveling for ages and had tears and holes all over her clothes. But one thing stood out to him more profound than what his senses could pick up, she still looked beautiful to him. Even unconscious she looked peaceful. The only thing Simba was upset about was that her eye where closed… that's the only thing he wanted to see. Her eyes. He wanted to make sure she was really real.

"Oh my… Nala is alive? I though she…" Tiger trailed off.

"T-that's Nala?" Po came up from behind Simba.

Simba had to force himself to look away from his best friend lying in his arms to respond to Po's question. "Yeah… she still looks to beautiful, even after all these years. But, this… this is her."

"She needs help right now. We need to get her back to the palace and get her some medical attention." Tigress said from behind the both of them. "Let's say goodbye to Mr. Ping, Po. Simba you go ahead and take Nala up to the palace, we will be right be hind you."

Simba nodded in return, said goodbye to his dad, and then picked up Nala bridle style and started walking towards the Jade Palace. While Po and Tigress stayed behind to say goodbye to Mr. Ping.

"You sure you don't need anymore help dad?" Po was slightly unconvinced.

"Yes Po, besides I think your new friend needs more help than I do." Mr. Ping said pointing in the direction Simba had gone in.

"Right. Bye dad, and I'll see you later Tiger." Po waved to Tiger, who had gone back to the kitchen.

"Yes, we will see you soon Mr. Ping." Tigress bowed to her father in-law.

"Please, Tigress, call me father. After all, you're married to my son now." Mr. Ping exclaimed.

Tigress blushed at the statement then said, "Yes, father." This made the old goose grin with pleasure. "Goodbye Tiger." Earned a wave from him, and with that Tigress turned around to walk back to the palace.

AT THE JADE PALACE…

The Five, minus Tigress and Po, and Simba were all in Po's old room, looking at the sleeping Nala before them.

"So this is the 'Nala' I have heard about?" Viper spoke up.

"You are correct." Simba refused to take his eyes off her.

"How well did you know each other?" Monkey raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

"We were friends for as long as I could remember. We even dated before she disappeared, or so I thought… I was even going to ask her to marry me when the time was right. But…. Life didn't let me."

"Why did she faint?" Crane asked with Mei-Ling by his side.

"Probably from all the stress of traveling so far so fast, also coupled with the fact she saw a long lost face she hadn't seen in years. Especially when that face meant a great deal to her." Viper returned his question. "Mantis, go grab your acupuncture needles and see if you can help her relax."

The green bug was quick to go to his room and return with a wooden box. As he put the needles in, everyone could see Nala's body start to relax the tensed up muscles. Just then Master Shifu walked in with Po and Tigress right behind him.

"So this is who you told me about?" Shifu asked while walking closer to Nala.

"Yes Master." Tigress replied.

"She looks like she has been through hell and back." Shifu stated and everyone else agreed. Then Shifu looked at Simba, "How do you know her so well?"

"We were… are best friends. I dated her for a small time before I… I thought she was dead." Simba's mouth went numb after last word.

Shifu contemplated for a moment then decided something needed to be done to make her more comfortable.

"Students! She is our guest now, and we must treat her like one. Be on your best behavior and treat her like you would your own family. Master Tigress and Master Viper, you are to clean her up and make sure the dirt is out of her fur. Master Po, you are to go make some food and keep it ready for when she wakes up and by the looks of it, she won't disagree to eat."

Po nodded and turned to go to the kitchen. Tigress and Viper began to pick up Nala and transport her to the bathhouse. Shifu then turned to the remaining students, realizing Simba didn't look like he wanted to leave her side.

"Simba, please head down to the valley and find Nala some new clothes. I'm positive she won't want to put those dirty ones back on. Oh… and hurry back, when she wakes up she might be scared and a known face will help keep her calm." Shifu stated as Simba bowed to him and took off running towards the valley.

"Master Monkey and Master Mantis, you will help make Po's room much more suitable for miss Nala. Master Crane and Mei-Ling, please patrol the village. We don't need a surprise while we have a guest." Shifu finished and bowed to his students.

WITH SIMBA…

The only thing in his mind was 'I can't believe she is back'. Simba silently thought to himself. Simba turned into the clothing store hoping to quickly be in and out of the shop.

"Hello Master Simba." A fox, obviously a seamstress at the shop, came up to him. Simba thought about telling the seamstress that he wasn't yet a master but decided against it, because people image was important to the Jade Palace.

"How can I help you today?" said the fox.

"Yes, I need a women's training vest and pants, one size smaller than me."

"Yes sir, any particular design today?" she asked as she took his measurements.

"Sure why not? Black pants, white shirt with… a blue flower design." Her favorite color he thought.

Thirty minutes later the fox came out from the back with a brown paper package and handed it to Simba.

"How much do I owe you?" he asked.

"For you? Nothing. Take it as a special thanks for saving my shop last week from those bandits." Replied the fox. They both bowed to each other and Simba began to head back to the Jade Palace.

BACK AT THE PALACE…

"Wow, she had a lot of dirt on her." Viper said as she and Tigress set Nala back down on the bed.

"I know. I seemed like she was on the road for ages." Said Tigress.

They realized that Po's bedroom had been switched to look more like everyone else's. Po's bed had been swapped out with a much smaller one and his Kung-Fu posters had also been taken down. The closets were filled with new blankets, straightened up, and cleaned up. The room had been changed around to feel much more roomy and a new dresser for clothes had been put in the corner. Just then, Mantis and Monkey walked in.

"Hey, you two are really good maids. You should tidy up more often." Viper joked.

"Ha-ha. Very funny." Said Mantis making a face.

"So how is Nala doing?" Po said and came in with a hot bowl of soup for Nala, but seeing she was still asleep he put the bowl on the nightstand.

"Well she is clean now, but still asleep." Tigress said walking over to stand next to Po.

"Is Simba back yet?" Shifu said from behind the group.

Crane just then flew in and said; "Not yet Master, but he is on his way. I just saw him climbing the stairs as I flew back here."

"Where is Mei-Ling?" Asked the grandmaster.

"She is checking out the southern residence area before she returns." Replied Crane earning a nod from Shifu.

"Mmhp…" Nala was beginning to wake up and everyone looked at her as she rubbed her eyes. When she realized what was going on she sat straight up and backed up on the bed as far as she could. Wouldn't you be scared if you woke up and saw a monkey, mantis, tiger, panda, a crane, and a snake looking at you?

"W-where am I?" Nala stuttered as she looked at the room full of staring eyes.

But before anyone could answer her, Simba walked into the room holding the brown packaged clothing and a hand full of blue flowers.

"Hey guys, do we have a vase because I found some of her favorite…" Simba stopped in his tracks when he turned the corner to see Nala sitting up in the bed.

"Simba!" Nala shouted and hurdled out of the bed and ran to him, jumping into his arms. Simba had to drop the flowers and clothes to be able to return the hug.

"I missed you so much." Nala whispered into his ear, with tears streaming down her face.

"I know… I missed you too." Simba whispered back holding her as closely as he could. The Five and Po slipped out of the room unnoticed, leaving the two alone to catch up with each other.

"I-I c-can't believe your standing in front of me. I thought you were dead." Simba said finally letting his tears go.

The two held each other for what felt like hours to them, but they soon came to their senses and broke apart.

"Umm… I uh… I got you these." Simba gave the blue flowers to Nala, realizing he had been holding onto them the whole time.

Nala blushed a little and took the flowers; mentally noting they were her favorite color. "Thank you Simba." She said smelling them.

"Oh, and these are also for you. I didn't think you would like to wear those old tattered clothes, or that bathrobe." Simba picked up the brown package and handed it to Nala. "If you want to get switched into your new clothes and eat some of that soup, I'll wait right outside for you."

"Soup?" Nala looked confused.

"Yeah, right there." Simba pointed at the nightstand. "Po made it for you."

"Po?"

"Yeah, he is the Dragon Warrior. You will meat him soon enough." Nala seemed to accept this and Simba smiled. "I'll be waiting right outside for you, okay?"

Nala nodded and watched Simba back out of the room, keeping his eyes on her as he backed out. It seemed like Simba didn't want to leave the room, and wanted to make sure she was okay, but he was enough of a gentleman to give her the space she needed.

After Simba shut the door behind him, Nala looked over to the soup that was still sitting on the nightstand. She moved towards the soup and proceeded to sip some out of the bowl. Once, she had finished most of the soup, Nala unwrapped the brown paper package revealing a pair of black pants and a white vest with a blue flower winding its way up the right side. The design closely resembled the flowers Simba had previously given her. Minutes later Nala was dressed in her new attire. It hugged her body in the same way Tigress' clothes hugged hers. Nala picked up the soup bowl and headed to the door, only to find a sleeping Simba on the other side.

"Hey. Simba. Wake-up." Nala softly rubbed his arm causing Simba to wake up and quickly rise to his feet. Nala only giggled at his antics.

"Sorry, I am just a little tired from everything today. Let's go find the rest of the guys." Simba turned and offered a hand for her to follow him.

"You mean the others that were watching me sleep?" Nala looked over to Simba.

Simba gave a light chuckle, "Yes, the others that were watching you sleep."

In the kitchen the Five, Po, and Shifu were talking.

"I wonder what they are doing." Viper asked curiously.

"Do you really want to know that?" Mantis laughed only earning a hiss from Viper.

"Hush, he just found out that his best friend is alive, he wouldn't have the indecency to do anything bad!" Viper scowled.

"I agree with Viper." Po said nodding his head. "Simba isn't like that. If anything, he will probably be the nicest person to her."

"You all better not be talk about me." Simba said as he and Nala came around the corner. This made the group laugh a little.

"Oh, here let me take that." Po said as he took the empty bowl from Nala's hands.

"So are you Po?" Nala asked as he took the empty bowl.

"Yup, the one and only." Po said smiling as he dropped the bowl into a dish tub.

"And the Dragon Warrior?"

"Right again."

"Well, I am honored to meet you." Said Nala.

"The same. I've heard a lot about you, and I am pleased to finally put a face with a name." Po gave his signature cheesy smile.

Nala turned around to Simba wanting to know how much he had talked about her, only to find a blushing German Sheppard.

"Uhhh… t-this is Master Tigress, Po and Tigress just recently got married."

"Congratulations. I wish I could have been here to see it."

"Oh, it wasn't much. Actually there might be some leftover cake around here." Tigress said.

"It's alright, maybe later." Nala smiled and thanked Tigress.

Simba then started to name of the other master that sat around the table. "That is Master Viper, this is Master Monkey, and Master Mantis. Master Crane is sitting right there, and Mei-Ling is… not here. Where is she Crane?"

"She had to leave an go back to the academy, we decided to visit each other every other week." Crane replied and Simba nodded.

"And that… that is our Master. Grandmaster of the Jade Palace, Shifu."

"So you run this place?" Nala questioned.

"More or less. These Five, Po, and Simba are all my students. I am their master and mentor in learning the art of Kung Fu." Shifu said.

"Simba? You became a Kung Fu master like you said you would?" Nala looked of to Simba with a smile on her face.

"Well… not yet. I am working on becoming a master, I still have a long way to go."

"Actually you are coming along faster that I thought you would." Shifu said as he walked over to Simba and Nala. "And now I must ask, where or what do you plan to do?"

"I-I don't know…" Nala's ears lowered and she looked at the ground. The atmosphere in the room seemed to become sadder. "I was just trying to find Simba, but I believed I was never going to find him. I hadn't even thought about where I was going to sleep tonight."

"Nonsense, you may stay here." Shifu said lightening the mood in the room.

Nala's ears perked up when she heard that. "Really?"

"Yes, but you must learn Kung Fu while you're here and you must follow all the rules of the Jade Palace."

"I will." Nala agreed.

"Good, now I think my students might want to get some sleep. You only have four more days of freedom, except for Po and Tigress that is." Shifu said as he stood in the doorway.

They all bowed and said goodnight to their master.

WITH SIMBA AND NALA…

"Alright, you okay?" Simba said with care in his voice.

"Yeah… Everything is just new you know?" Nala said as she sat on her new bed.

"I understand, but you will be fine. Trust me." Said Simba as he put on a smile and laid a hand on her shoulder. "And if you need anything I'll be right across the hall."

"Okay, goodnight Simba." Nala said giving him a quick hug.

"Goodnight Nala."

LATER THAT NIGHT…

"Simba? Simba you awake?" Nala whispered at his door to his room.

At first she got no response, but soon she heard movement on the other side of the door. A sleepy Simba opened the door while rubbing his eyes. Nala blushed as the moonlight shone on Simba's naked upper body, and could see the outlines of his toned muscles. Simba fought falling back asleep and leaned up against the doorframe of his room.

"Ya, ok? Whuat's da maddur?" Simba slurred his talk from still trying to wake up.

Nala fought hard to shake the blush away. "I can't s-sleep."

"Oh no. Something wrong?" Simba had finally shaken himself awake.

""No, just… uncomfortable."

"Is it the bed?"

"No, just not used to being alone."

"Well… uhh… if it will help… um… you could sleep… in here." Simba was blushing as he pointed into his room.

"Really?"

"Yeah go grab your bed roll and pillow."

Nala went back into her room and brought her stuff into Simba's room.

"Right here, next to my bed." Simba gestured.

"Thank you, Simba."

"Hey no problem." He said with a smile.

Minutes later they were both in their beds, but Simba were the only one asleep. He had fallen back asleep almost as soon as he laid his head back on the pillow. Nala stayed up a little longer thinking about what had happened to her on this day. She was happy that her best friend was alive and sleeping in the bed next to hers. She didn't feel alone anymore, but something didn't seemed right. Nala got onto her feet and leaned over and planted a small kiss on Simba's cheek. There, now everything was perfect.

Wow, okay. First, I am super sorry for the lateness of this update, college must come first. Secondly, I hoped you liked it and I hope to soon be making more Song-fic's for DJ Simba's soon. Lastly, Stay Frosty!