Nala ran as fast as her legs could take her, not giving too much thought into what direction.

At this point there was no chance Nala would be able to outrun Simba and hide. Even if she did she'd have to eventually go back to Pride Rock and face Simba there, so why was she running away? As much as she wanted to it was impossible to avoid facing reality.

Looking back behind her Nala panicked at noticing Simba was catching up to her. Leading the hunt that morning, running to the jungle, and going back to Pride Rock had worn her out, and now that Nala was desperately trying to escape Simba it was to be expected her body would eventually give out. Adrenaline was the only thing that helped her keep going, but she knew it wouldn't last for long.

"Leave me alone!" Nala cried angered, hoping that perhaps Simba would do as she asked.

"I won't until you hear me out!" Simba snarled determined.

Seeing that Nala was getting closer to some tall grass Simba realized she was aiming to hide herself among it. Now that he finally found the chance to privately talk to her and he had mustered the courage to speak his heart out Simba wouldn't let her get away.

Fueled by determination and frustration Simba gathered all the energy within him to speed up, and when the distance between him and Nala significantly closed he jumped with all his strength and tackled Nala.

The two rolled on the ground as they struggled to get on top of the other, using their claws to firmly grasp onto each other but not roughly enough to cause an injury.

For years Nala had easily managed to pin Simba down beneath her, but for the second time in their lives Simba succeeded to remain on top immobilizing Nala below him.

Nala growled annoyed beneath him, squirming and struggling in an attempt to get free from his hold.

"Let me go." Nala scowled menacingly, squinting her eyes angrily at Simba.

"No." Simba replied sternly as he pressed down harder on Nala. "Not until you listen to me."

"What if I don't want to?" Nala scoffed.

"Then we're both staying here."

Still willing to fight until the end Nala continued struggling, but with the adrenaline rush going down and her exhaustion piling up it didn't take a lot of Simba to keep her in place.

Simba softened his eyes at seeing the last bit of energy in Nala leave her. Her struggling slowly came to a stop, her tensed body finally relaxed and she closed her eyes in defeat, frowning ashamed that she had been taken down so easily.

"Nala please." Simba murmured gently. "I promise to let you go, but you have to listen to what I have to say."

Nala sighed resigned.

"Fine." She conceded with a reluctant huff.

She didn't have the strength in her to run away anyways, so it was better to just get it over with.

The moment Simba let her go Nala obediently sat down in front of him, not showing any signs of trying to escape again. Whatever it was that Simba wanted to tell her Nala just hoped that it was brief, the sooner it was over the sooner she could start recovering from the imminent heartbreak.

Once Simba was sure that Nala was not going anywhere he gathered his thoughts once more to continue where he left of.

"I want to call off our betrothal." Simba continued, causing Nala to sadly look away from him.

Simba paused for a moment as he looked closer at Nala's face. Why she was so reluctant in listening to him and visibly upset he didn't know, but all he wanted in that moment was for his feelings to properly reach to her.

"Because…" Simba trailed off, mustering a weak smile. "Because I don't to marry you out of obligation, but because I legitimately want to."

Nala gasped and looked up in surprise. She could have sworn her heart stopped for a second.

"What?" Nala whispered in disbelief.

Simba smiled shyly, feeling his heart nervously beat in his chest.

"I… I want to marry you Nala."

It really wasn't a lie. That moment they had shared that night, that spark she had felt ignite between them, and the glistening in Simba's eyes as he smiled at her were all real, not her imagination.

"Do you mean it?" Nala asked hopeful, almost scared that she had heard him wrong or that it was all a cruel dream.

"I do." Simba nodded reassuringly. "And what happened in the jungle, I meant that too."

A heavy burden she had been carrying suddenly lifted off Nala, and her heart fluttered in delight as reality slowly sunk in. All this time she had been terrified of Simba forgetting about her was for nothing. Of course this really was happening. There was no way Simba would fall for anything Zira could have planned in the short span of a few days, nothing could possibly come close to the bond he and Nala shared.

Nala smiled relieved, and her smile turned into laughter as she shook her head. How could she have ever doubted? All that concern and anxious moments she went through, they suddenly felt like they were nothing but a distant memory.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Nala chuckled.

"You were the one running away remember?" Simba teased with a sly grin.

They smiled at each other gleefully, and unable to contain her joy Nala walked forward to tenderly nuzzle Simba's mane. Never in her life had she been so happy to feel Simba's thick soft mane against her fur.

"I want to marry you too." Nala replied contently.

It had been a while since someone last got so close to him. The last animal to nuzzle him had curiously been Zira, but when it happened Simba found himself unsure of how to respond to the sudden gesture. However, in that moment feeling Nala happily nestled against his neck not a single speck of doubt held him back.

Not even needing to think it twice Simba returned Nala's nuzzles, both purring contently against each other.

On that night Simba and Nala finally reciprocated each other's feelings, their love not only being the beginning of a long-lasting relationship but also bringing forth a new queen to the Pridelands. The Circle of Life never seemed to hold a brighter future as it did right then, and it continued its course throughout all living beings, including Zira.

On that night Zira's third cub was born.

Staying hidden to nurture her newborn son, Zira remained blissfully unaware of Simba and Nala's union, happily musing of the new future that awaited the Pridelands with the rightful king that Scar had chosen.

Though being in the best mood she had been in a long time Zira shooed Vitani and Nuka out of her hiding place to spend some quality time with her precious son, and the two young cubs were forced to entertain themselves with something else.

"We could always play tag." Nuka suggested hopefully, accompanying Vitani to Pride Rock.

"You wish." Vitani spat bitterly.

Nuka sighed annoyed and watched as Vitani quickened her steps to not walk beside him.

"Maybe our new brother will actually want to hang out with me." Nuka murmured under his breath.

Getting closer to Pride Rock Vitani suddenly stopped confused upon noticing the crowd of lions gathered at its base.

"What's going on?"

Nuka looked curiously at the scene, not recalling any other time the pride had gathered so early when it wasn't to go hunting.

"Well why not just go and find out?" Nuka shrugged nonchalantly and approached the scene.

"Nuka wait!" Vitani called after him, not entirely sure if she wanted to know in the first place. Something about the situation gave her a bad feeling.

Nuka sneaked between the lionesses' legs, looking up at their faces as they talked hoping to listen to what they were saying.

"We all knew it was meant to be."

"It was going to happen sooner or later."

"I'm so happy for them both!"

Confused as to what the lionesses meant Nuka continued walking through the crowd until he was able to peek his head out to see the center of the scene. Folding his ears back and frowning Nuka immediately regretted finding out what the commotion was about.

Sitting at the center of the surrounding pride Simba and Nala bowed their heads as Rafiki spoke some words that only they could hear, shaking his staff gently above them as he did. A gentle welcoming breeze blew through Rafiki's hair, and the mandrill smiled happily at the sky as he turned around to face the lionesses.

"King Simba has finally found a mate to rule alongside him. May I present to you, Queen Nala!"

Simba and Nala laughed between them when the crowd of lionesses burst into cheers and joyous celebration. Everyone immediately stepped forward to give them their congratulations, adding words of support and good wishes for their future.

As the lionesses dispersed to talk with the just married couple Nuka gulped concerned and looked back at Vitani mortified. She hadn't heard Rafiki's words from where she stood, but she had seen enough to know what was happening.

Their mom was not going to be happy about this.

Running away in the opposite direction from the celebration Vitani and Nuka dashed off back to Zira.

Zira wasn't one to often be in a genuine good mood, but when it happened the moment was immensely cherished by her cubs because they knew she wouldn't snap or yell at them. Those moments always lasted for a couple of hours, and when it was over Zira would continue to be her grumpy usual self.

Nuka and Vitani had never dared to be the ones to get ruin her good mood, and they were terrified of doing so, but if Zira found out of Simba and Nala's wedding too late she'd berate them even worse for not telling her about it.

Standing by the entrance of her hiding place Nuka and Vitani watched reluctant as Zira happily cooed at the cub between her paws, lovingly licking and nuzzling him.

Nuka was always on the bad end of Zira's scolding, so hoping he could at least go one time without suffering from her rage he looked at Vitani with desperate eyes, hoping she could find the smallest speck of mercy within her.

Knowing that Nuka would probably fail to deliver the message due to his fear Vitani decided to concede to his quiet pleas. Sighing annoyed and rolling her eyes at her older brother's incompetence Vitani stepped forward closer to Zira.

"Uh mom?" Vitani cleared her throat trying to get her attention, but Zira merely twitched her ears without turning away from her son. "Nala was named queen this morning."

With her back to both Nuka and Vitani Zira carefully picked the cub up by the scruff and carried him to a far-off corner of the small den. She placed him down carefully as if he were made of glass, and when she was certain he was safe Zira turned around to walk towards Vitani with a blank expression on her features.

"Could you repeat what you just said Vitani?"

Taken aback by the calm sharpness in her mother's voice Vitani unconsciously took a step back.

"Nala… she was just named queen." Vitani repeated hesitantly, struggling to keep her voice calm.

Zira growled annoyed, eyeing Nuka, who had been cowering far behind Vitani, to get confirmation from him. Nuka hurriedly nodded in agreement, too scared to try to speak up.

Zira began pacing back and forth inside the den.

The one night she had to stay away from Pride Rock Nala somehow managed to get Simba for herself. She was certain that her interference had driven Simba and Nala apart, but clearly that hadn't been enough. With Simba now married her plan was completely useless, and the one option she had left to have her cub be king without violence was out the window.

In that moment there was one last thing she could resort to, and she had been hoping she wouldn't need to. There was no choice but step up and make Simba face the facts; Scar had already chosen an heir, and the throne wasn't his to take. She wasn't expecting Simba to gladly step down, so she needed to get ready for an unavoidable fight.

"Nuka, Vitani, stay here with your brother." Zira suddenly spoke as she began walking out the den. "Don't leave him until I come back."

Nuka and Vitani quietly nodded, both preoccupied of what their mother was planning to do.

If there was going to be a fight Zira stood no chance if she fought on her own, let alone a few hours after giving birth. She needed to alert all her fellow followers to be prepared for the moment she went to speak with Simba.


One more chapter plus an epilogue left for the story to end, so please look forward to that! Thanks for reading reviews are appreciated!