Chapter Seven

Ed's POV

I found the current state of things to be completely intolerable, Scar was no longer holding up his end of our bargain. As a result I and my fellow hyenas were starving, I cursed my inability to voice my rather lividic opinion. I stared at our alpha female, Shenzi expectantly.

"What is it Ed?" She asked, seeming unnerved by the length of time that I held my gaze on her

I made a rapid motion to my stomach, then to Pride Rock, I then drew my left forepaw across my throat in a slashing motion, letting several dense sounding grunts for emphasis.

Shenzi shook her head, "No Ed, we aren't going to bother him again, he'll have the food for us soon." she said

I frowned, but as I did so, my tounge rolled out of my mouth, merely making me look stupid.

Banzai, the other male that Shenzi kept around her, pointed at me, "Ed, ya might want to put that thing back in your mouth." he said, sarcastically.

Banzai and I did not get along, and were it not for my inability to speak, we wouldn't have been friends at that time.

I returned my tounge to it's rightful place and frowned at Banzai.

"That's better, don't you think Shenz?" he asked Shenzi, using the informal sounding nickname that she despised

Shenzi nodded uncaringly and looked toward Pride Rock, "Whatever Banzai, y'all two need to start gettin' along now." she said in a rather authoritative tone.

I nodded enthusiastically, Banzai nudged me, causing me to sway and almost fall.

My stomach growling stopped my thought of retaliation before it could reach my idle forepaws and mouth, I moaned and looked back toward the den of Pride Rock, I had half a mind to go and confront Scar myself.

I wouldn't have to wait very long


Shenzi's POV

Ed and Banzai followed me up to Pride Rock later on that day, "Alright you two, let me do all of the talking." I said as we were getting ready to walk into the den.

"Hey boss?" Banzai called out as we crossed the threshold into the large cave, so much for me doing all of the talking

I heard Scar mutter something to himself

"We got a bone to pick with you." Banzai continued, still not listening to me, I stepped in front of him to cut him off.

"I'll handle this." I told him, quickly looking over at Scar, "Scar, there's no food, and no water." I started

But I was once again cut off by the idiot behind me, "Yeah! it's dinner time, and we ain't got no stinkin' entrees!" he whined

I sighed and decided to let Banzai make a fool of himself

Scar looked like he was getting ready to explode, but he was holding it in and trying to stay civil, "It's the lionesses job to do the hunting...ohh..." he said, rubbing his temples to calm down.

"But they won't go hunt." Banzai pointed out, as though there was something left for them to hunt.

Scar seemed to want to get rid of us, "Oh, eat Zazu." he said pointing to an old ribcage from a antelope.

"But you wouldn't want me, I'd be so tough and gamey and eww..." The bird said, trying to talk us out of eating him. I agreed, the few birds I'd gotten ahold of hadn't tasted very good, so I tended to stay away from anything with wings.

Scar laughed at the bird's defense, "Oh Zazu don't be ridiculous, all you need is a little garnish." he said

Banzai looked over to me and in a loud whisper he said, "And I thought things were bad under Mufasa."

Scar was on him in a flash, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" he spat, disgusted to hear his dead brother's name

"I said Muf-" he started

I elbowed him in the side as hard as I could, "I said um...Que pasa?" he said like he was asking Scar.

Scar frowned, "Good, now get out." he commanded

I didn't need to be told twice, I saw first-paw (firsthand) what could happen if you got on Scar's bad side.


Zira's POV

I was at odds with all of the other females in the pride, they knew that Scar and I had mated, and the looks of hate that I was getting told me that they weren't happy with my choice.

I found an unexpected ally in Sarabi, she seemed not to like Scar, but she did not judge me for liking him like the others had.

"Good morning Zira." she greeted me

I nodded in her direction, "Good morning to you Sarabi." I replied with a smile, no-one greeted me anymore.

She motioned to my expanding stomach, "How goes things with the little one?" she asked

"it's as strong as ever, hopefully it won't lose that trait when it grows up." I replied

This was not my first cub by Scar, but little Nuka stayed in the den and played with his father and the caged hornbill.

"I remember how strong my little Simba was." she said, looking hurt, but keeping a smile on her face.

I frowned, "Yes, I never got a chance to say I was terribly sorry for your losses that day did I?" I asked her, not wanting to make her any more upset.

She nodded, "You did, but thank you again, you'll have to let me watch over this one sometime."

"I will. you have my word." I said as I walked away from her and into the den.

I could see that Scar was furious at something, "What is it my love?" I asked as I walked over to his side.

Scar exhaled deeply, "The hyenas, they've found the limit to my patience and they are pushing it." he said

I shook my head, "Why do we even still need them? they have outlived their usefulness." I said, letting my disdain for the creatures show.

"Zira, as much as they infuriate me, I promised them a better life once I took the throne, if I were to back out now can you imagine the consequences? not just for me, but for you and little Nuka?"

I had honestly never thought of it that way, "How was our son today?" I asked, trying to change the subject to one more pleasant

Scar motioned over to a far corner of the den where Nuka slept soundly, "He behaved, he also said his first words today, and made me very proud."

I smiled warmly at the thought, "What did he say?" I asked, wanting to know badly

"I love my daddy."


Nala's POV

Something strange was happening between Simba and I, as he led me through the jungle I found it increasingly difficult to speak, he must have felt the same way, because he didn't say anything to me, we just stared at each other.

We stopped briefly for a drink at a watering hole, as I drank, I became increasingly aware of Simba's staring at me, I looked over at him and he ran off into the jungle.

But not very far, because he came flying back through hanging from a thick vine. Swinging out above the water, he let go of the vine and hit the surface of the water with a loud 'splash.'

Showoff

I looked around for Simba when he didn't immediately resurface, I noticed strange bubbles making their way over toward me. Before I knew what had happened, I was in the water.

I hated the water, I didn't even like to look at it unless I was thirsty, I jumped out quickly.

Simba emerged from the water with a confident smile on his face and his mane covering his eyes, I shoved him back in with a mischevious grin.


Simba's POV

Nala and I had been wandering aimlessly in the jungle for a little while, I think she thought I was actually trying to go somewhere.

I was too focused on her to care though, for some reason, I couldn't keep my eyes off of her for more than a few seconds at a time, then it happened, Nala and I were playing around and I went to pin her like we used to do as cubs and we ended up rolling down a steep hill.

For the first time I actually pinned Nala, but the more I think about it, it was like she let me pin her. I looked down at her with a smile...

...and she kissed me.

I looked at her again, she laid back with a warm smile on her face. I was speechless, even if I wanted to talk right then I'm sure I couldn't have.


Timon's POV

This was actually kinda sweet, Simba was truly happy, and me and Pumbaa both were getting a little too emotional for our own good.

"And If he falls in love tonight..."

"...It can be assumed."

"His carefree days with us are history..."

"...In short our pal is doomed."

Neither of us could bottle it up anymore, we both cried and howled like madmen, I'm actually kinda embarrased to admit it, that's how bad it really was.

Pumbaa sniffed loudly, "Hey Timon?" he asked

I wiped tears from my cheeks, "Yeah ol' buddy?"

What Pumbaa said next made me laugh, "Who is he going to pick to be the best man?"

"I dunno Pumbaa, but that right there's a match for the ages, I predict nothing but smooth sailing ahead for those two."

Ok, so a meerkat can't always be right in his predictions, what do you people want with me?


Simba's POV

I'd finally worked up the courage to talk again, "I love you Nala." I said

She nodded, "I love you too Simba, I always have." she said looking around as though something was bugging her

I followed her darting gaze, "Isn't this a great place?" I asked her, thinking she was taking in the scenery.

She nodded absent mindedly, "It is beautiful, but there's one thing I dont understand, you've been alive all this time, why didn't you come back to Pride Rock?" she asked resting her eyes on me.

A good question, "I wanted to get out on my own, and live my own life, and I did and it's great!" I said maybe a little too exitedly for the current situation.

Nala frowned, "We've really needed you back home." she said

I sighed, "No-one needs me." I said, I knew where she was going with this.

"YES, we do, you're the king." she said, casting a glare my way

I was having none of that, I never wanted to go back to that place, not after what I had done, "Nala we've been through this, I'm not the king...Scar is." I spat, tripping over my uncle's name a little.

Nala hung her head, "Simba...he let the hyenas take over the Pridelands." she said

"What?" I asked, that wasn't right, Scar hated the hyenas just as much as my father had.

"There's no food, and no water, Simba if you don't do something everyone is going to starve." she continued, trying to guilt me into going.

I honestly considered it then for a few seconds, "Sorry." I said after a few moments of silence

Nala seemed disgusted, "What's gotten into you? you're not the Simba I remember." she said

I stopped and looked back, "No. I'm not, now are you satisfied?" I just needed a few seconds to think, something that she really was not willing to give me at the time.

"No, just disappointed." she said dejectedly.

"Y'know you're starting to sound like my father." I shot back at her, hoping that she'd take the hint and be quiet.

Instead she got confrontational, "Good. At least one of us is."

I wheeled around and was on her in a flash, no-one went there, "Listen, you think you can just show up here and tell me how to live my life? You don't even know what I've been through!" I yelled at her, no longer caring about how loud I was being.

Her expression turned to one of desperation, "I would if you'd just tell me." she pleaded, begging for me to open up to her.

"Forget it!" I shouted as I stormed away from her

I looked back and I could've swore I saw her tearing up, "Fine!" she shouted back.


Nala's POV

I was furious, how could Simba shut me out like that? especially after what had happened earlier back in the jungle.

I found a small clearing and flopped down, Simba had changed for the worst and it seemed as though there was nothing that I could do to change his mind.

This being the same Simba that once sang songs about being unable to wait until he became king.

Aurgh, my head hurt from the amount of thinking I was doing, I clamped my eyes shut and wished I'd never found this place, never brought back these feelings that I'd repressed so deeply.

I don't remember how long it was before I was asleep, but I do remember the dream I had that night.


Nala's Dream, Nala's POV

I stood alone out on the dried up plains, near where the water hole used to be, I became aware that it was very cold where I was.

"Hello?" I called out, hoping that there was someone else in this desolate wasteland.

I waited a few seconds for the response that didn't come.

I looked around, there were no decernable landmarks in eyesight, just rolling sand dunes and dried, cracked earth.

"Where am I?" I wondered aloud

'...is...your...home...' came a faint, disembodied whisper.

This was definitely not the Pridelands that I'd left just a day earlier, "What happened here?" I asked, hoping the voice would answer again.

'...Inaction happened...none...alive...' the faint whisper replied.

This was NOT what I needed to see.

I already knew the answer to the next question before I even asked it, "Who's inaction caused this?"

'...you...know...answer...already... go to where... the rock of pride once stood... more answers...there...'

I really wanted to wake up, but for some reason I began walking to where Pride Rock should've been.

Partially covered by a massive sand dune, the ruins of Pride Rock were a bit unnerving to approach.

'go...inside...den...' came the disembodied whisper

I crawled underneath the massive shard of rock that partially blocked the entrance to the den, what was inside shocked me.

There was a massive pile of skeletons, they looked at though they had tried to escape, but something or someone had killed them before they had a chance.

Crying I asked aloud, "Who did this?"

'You...know...name...why...asking?' the voice shot back in it's unusually soft voice

"Because I don't believe it, Scar is a monster sure, but to this? this is beyond words."

'Scar...didn't...this...is...someone...more familiar to you...'

I shook my head, "No, I refuse to believe it." I said

'Refusal by you doesn't mean that it didn't happen Nala.' the voice said, suddenly very clear.

I looked once more to the dried skeletons, "Why?" I asked, hoping that there was at least a reason for this atrocity.

'He didn't do it directly, you were partially right about Scar having a Paw in this. This is what happens to the pride if Simba doesn't return.'

"What do you want me to do about it? He won't talk to me."

'All I want you to know Nala is that Simba had a hard childhood and not all is as it seems.'


Nala's POV

I awoke the next morning very early, I immediately began searching for Simba, wanting to apologise for making him angry, strangely enough I couldnt find him.

I sought out his friends, gently nudging the meerkat awake, "Psst...Hey?" I whispered at him

He rolled over slowly, opening his eyes just as slowly.

"AHHHHHHH!" he screamed, I didn't expect that reaction at all.

"Hey, hey, hey, It's me." I said, trying to get him and the warthog, which had also begun screaming to calm down.

The meerkat calmed down slightly, "Don't ever do that again, Carnivores...sheesh." he said pointing an accusatory finger at me.

I rolled my eyes, "Have you guys seen Simba?" I asked, keeping my calming voice

The meerkat frowned, "I thought he was with you." he said, waving dismissively

"He was, but now I can't find him." I explained, trying not to mention the fight.

A strange laugh from up in the tree to my left caught my attention, "He he he, you wont find 'im here, de king, 'as returned." said the baboon who was the source of the disturbance.

I grinned from ear to ear, Simba had actually gone back!

"I can't believe it, he's gone back." I said

The meerkat seemed confused, "Gone back? wait a minute, who's the monkey?"

"Simba's gone back to challenge Scar." I said, not answering the meerkat's question

"Who's got a scar?" the warthog asked

I shook my head, "No no, it's his uncle." I said

"The monkey's his uncle?" the meerkat asked'

I was fed up with these two, "NO! Simba's gone back to challenge his uncle to take his place as king."

I recieved a blank stare and a dense sounding, "Ohhhh..."

I could tell I was going to be here a while.


A/N: Hey guys, it's me again. before someone asks the story will not end after Scar is dead, it will end with Simba's parental screw up with Tano.

(Those who haven't read fall of the pridelands scratch their head in confusion)

Thanks for reading this far readers, I will try to update soon.