Disclaimer: I do not own the lion king or any of the characters they belong to Walt Disney I am merely borrowing them for the purposes of this story. The story however is mine and any reference to locations i.e. "Pride Rock" are creations of Walt Disney

Back on it! Yeah life's bloody crap so I'm gonna rock it to the very fabric of my being! Aye I loved the reviews and thanks again for them! IanTheShaf you keep that story coming it actually motivates me to write! Alright lads and lasses from America, Britain or wherever lets rock and roll from a Yorkshire chapter! Enjoy

And They Called It Cubby Love

Chapter 7: Fights A nd Finally Love

Sanza had him! Simba defiantly found her attractive it was obvious! Simba kept glancing at her every few seconds, his eyes seemed softer than they had before. Not that Sanza cared she was getting the good looking and important cub. Just to sweeten the deal he happened to be the love interest of Nala, this was perfect! Not only was she going to be able to destroy Nala's hopes and dreams but she was going to be powerful and on the arm of a very handsome lion. Sanza smiled she didn't really care about Simba so long as she was happy and Nala wasn't. The evil in her green eyes was obvious although Simba was falling fast, he couldn't see what was plain and in the open.

Mufasa was troubled, his son seemed to be falling for this Sanza, he much preferred Nala whom was obedient and always willing to help. She'd even asked a couple of times if there was anything she could do to help. Not that he would ever ask for help but he knew that if he did ask for help Sanza would probably slink away but Nala would leap at the chance. He had also noticed the other cubs picking on Nala consistently since she joined the pride, he didn't remember cubs being so cruel, his brother Scar knew what it was like to be on the receiving end not him. But he had seen the tears running down Nala's face when the other cubs picked on her. He wanted to step in but every time he tried a report came that required his immediate attention. Finally he had a chance to step in but his own son beat him to it, Mufasa had watched proudly as Simba stood up to his peers and despite their catcalls and jeers, he had stood fast in front of Nala. Since then the two had been very close friends and Mufasa was sure that Simba would eventually grow feelings for Nala it was unavoidable. But now here he was swooning over one of the girls that relentlessly bullied Nala as though a personal vendetta existed between them.

Simba glanced at Sanza out of the corner of his eye; she smiled and winked at him causing him to grin. She liked him! But why was she so mean to Nala? What was so bad about Nala that caused Sanza to hate her so much? Simba mulled this over as he kept staring at Sanza who kept staring back; she was the first to break the ice.

"Seen something you like?" she asked in a low purr. Simba grinned; maybe I just like the view. Sanza fluttered her eyelashes at him and gave him a cheeky wink, Simba chuckled then his mind wandered back to Nala and his laugh was cut short as he got once again lost in thought. Sanza allowed him to think smiling evilly as she walked beside him very closely.

Nala wandered outside into the glowing sun her ears low staring at the ground. The other cubs were all starting to talk when she walked past. The boys were starting to talk to the girls some a little shyer than others, nobody even looked at Nala. Nala glanced over at a group of girls being eyed up by two very nervous boys. She thought maybe the younger lionesses would accept her. Nala crept over to the lionesses that were deep in conversation.

"Well do you think he'll ask me?" a cream colored lioness asked her friends two of whom nodded. The third was Hadrina hidden further in the shadows out of Nala's sight range.

"Hey guys any of the boys asked you out yet?" she pitched in brightly. The two lioness cubs ignored her completely. Nala's ears dropped but that didn't sway her.

"Um… well I'm sure they will" she offered trying to get one of them to look at her. Hadrina stepped out of the shadows and confronted Nala.

"Why can't you just accept that nobody wants you around here? Even Simba couldn't wait to get away from you!" Nala's ears flattened Hadrina's words slicing into Nala's self esteem. Nala turned to walk away when she found her path blocked by Hadrina's cronies.

"Where do you think you're going? " Hadrina asked menacingly. Nala glanced terrified between the two boys blocking her path and Hadrina who had unsheathed her claws. Nala was visibly shaking her fur standing on end at the back of her neck. She was smaller than Hadrina and she had never had a fight in her life. Hadrina leapt on Nala and pushed her into a rock.

"I'm gonna teach you you're place loser!" Hadrina sneered at Nala from above her. Hadrina slapped Nala around the face hard causing Nala to lose her footing and slammed into a rock, her head spinning she turned to see a second blow strike her hard across her cheek, Nala shook her head and held her paw up to stop the onslaught. Hadrina head butted Nala into the rocks two digging into her side. A crowd had gathered now to watch the fight. Nala clambered to her feet trying to fight back tears of pain and humiliation. Hadrina leapt onto Nala's back and suck her teeth into her hind leg. Nala felt a searing hot pain race through her leg and she kicked out in pain, her paw hit Hadrina squarely in the face, Hadrina snarled and sunk her teeth into Nala's tail pinning her rear end to the ground with her claws and yanked hard. Nala screamed in pain her tail was being ripped off! The tears fell freely from her face as she writhed trying to kick Hadrina off her. Hadrina relented and stood on Nala's bleeding tail hard, she then started beating Nala around her body and head, Nala tasted blood and her whole body hurt. She curled up into a ball her tail still being squashed; she quivered whilst Hadrina rained blows onto her. When will it end? She thought to herself desperately. The weight was suddenly lifted from her tail and a flash of gold passed over her vision. Standing over her in protective stance was Simba, his jaw set and dangerous glint in his eye. Nala squinted through her black eye at Hadrina who was looking scared. Sanza rubbed up against Simba's side gently and kissed his cheek. Nala's heart exploded with pain and she felt weaker than ever. But rather than accepting this he turned on her growling deeply his tail draping over Nala's beaten back.

"Get away from her" he growled quietly rage burning in his face all traces of innocence gone.

Simba trudged up the side of pride rock to look for Nala his head spinning from his tutorial. When a circle of cubs caught his eye. In the centre of the ring was a Hadrina he remembered her fur color, she was hitting something hard, one of the cubs moved and Simba recognized a lock of fur from beneath Hadrina. It was creamy tan, it was Nala! Simba bounded towards Hadrina as fast as he could rage blinding him, she was hurting Nala! He leapt over a low rock and put all his force into his front paws as they collided with Hadrina's side. She was pushed flying off of Nala and into a rock nearby. Nala looked hurt, bleeding, bruised and hurt. But worst of all she looked humiliated. Simba glared at Hadrina with utmost loathing his claws unsheathed and his back paws gripping the ground standing protectively over Nala. Sanza walked up beside him and kissed his cheek! Simba found a boiling hatred towards her too, she had used him! She had distracted him whilst her best friend beat up his best friend; he turned his angry face on Sanza who bounded over to stand with Hadrina. The only two cubs left opposite them were a crying Nala and a furious Simba. Slowly the gang of cubs slunk away leaving Simba and Nala alone, he ran his paw up her back slowly and gently pulled her paws away from her face. A huge bruise had formed on her left cheek and her right eye was blackened and swollen, her body was littered with cuts and bruises, and her tails was bleeding and limp. She squinted at him thinking he must think she looked ugly. Simba placed his forehead against hers with his eyes closed.

"I thought you were with Sanza?" she asked him shocked, he looked at her his eyes full of warmth, his eyes made her heart melt and her chest ache. He shook his head, "I realized something when I was with her" he answered steadily.

Nala shuddered this could only be bad news for her. She waited silently preparing for the worst.

"Nala I love you!" he opened his eyes; he hadn't even worked out what he said before he said it. But he knew it was true.

Nala's heart nearly stopped beating, he loved her? Before her mind had processed what he said she answered.

"I love you too Simba" She leapt on him pinning him to the ground her face nuzzling into his chest.

Simba lie startled looking down at the girl he loved and knew what he must do.

"Nala will you be my mate?" he asked sincerely. Nala cried with happiness as she nodded frantically. The love of them both melting their anger and sorrow. And the both arose Nala leaning on Simba's side, as they both prepared to tell their parents and the rest of the pride the good news.

Well there we go lads and lasses! Chapter 7! How was it I can't hear you best review ;). There is another chapter to go I'll upload that final chapter soon and start work on my new fanfic after a day's rest! The last chapter is going to be the grand finale and that goes for Zazu as well! Yes they are back together and this time its permanent, love is binding I should know that. Night faithful readers till next time review! Night!