Chapter Twelve

Simba's POV

It wasn't long after Nala and I took over when the lands began to heal, grass and flowers began to poke up from the dirt.

"Simba, what are you looking at?" Nala asked me as she followed my gaze out to the lands

I smiled at her, "Just watching our home heal Nala, How are you doing this morning?" I asked her

She shrugged, "I'm still fairly sick Simba, but I'll get better. I know it." she insisted, coughing after she said this

I shook my head," Nala, go lay down, you shouldn't be up and around yet, not until you get better." I told her, motioning toward the den.

She became defensive, "Simba if I stay one more minute in there I'm going to go crazy; and the last thing I think you want to be mated to is a crazy version of me." she said, frowning

"I'm going to go crazy worring about you if you don't go lay down Nala." I told her.

"I will be FINE Simba, it's only a cough." she insisted, stepping toward me rather than toward the den

Nala and I had had maybe one day without some form of arguement since we had taken over several months ago, We still loved each other, we just didn't get along really well at that point.

I sighed, "We aren't going to argue about this any more Nala, I can't force you to do anything, but it would make me feel better if you went and laid down." I said, turning back to watch the horizon as the sun slowly rose to the east.

"Oh no, you aren't going to do that to me Simba, I will not be guilted into listening to you." she said

I spun back around to face her, "I'm not trying to guilt you into anything!" I retorted, perhaps a little too loudly

Nala became angry, "Yes you are, this is exactly what you do when you can't get me to do something, you pretend to give up on it. Which makes me feel guilty about not wanting to do it, so I do it to make you happy. Well not this time!" she said

I paused a second, "Nala, you've been sick for the past week! you can see why I would be worried right?" I said, wanting her to calm down and see things from my point of view

"I'm getting better, all I have left is a little fever and a cough. I think I can get up and move around now." she said, insistant on staying outside

I groaned and walked away from her, "Whatever Nala, walk around. forgive me for worrying about you." I said

Nala began crying, which stopped me cold. I hated it when she cried, and I think she knew that.

"What's wrong?" I asked, calming down significantly

Nala turned her head away from me, "All we have done since we killed Scar is argue Simba, this can't be healthy." she said

I thought for a few seconds, it probably wasn't very healthy for us, "Look, I'm sorry for upsetting you, and you're right, we need to cut back on our arguements. When you look at it, what good has arguing done us?" I asked her

"I'm sorry for calling you out on the little things, I'll try not to be so sensitive." she said with a nervous chuckle

I decided to change the subject, "Nala, remember when Zazu told us that we would one day be married?" I asked her

She nodded, "Yeah. you didn't like the idea at all. Of course neither did I, we were immature." she said

I smiled, "Hey, watch it with the insults." I teased

She returned my mischevious smile, "I insulted myself too smart one." she retorted

"Well, I was no where near as immature as you were back then." I teased again

Nala nodded and thought it over, "Is that so your majesty?" she said, her smile widening

I nodded, "Yeah."

Next thing I knew Nala had pounced on me, "Take it back." she said, laughing

I shook my head vigorously, "No. I won't." I said, laughing along with her

This probably was the best we had gotten along in a long time, it felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.


Nala's POV

Simba still hadn't put two and two together yet, my sickness and mood swings weren't some random fever, and I still didn't think it was the right time to tell him he was going to be a father. I looked down at him, he was really happy right now, and so was I, we had finally resolved to stop arguing with each other.

"Simba, there is something I have to tell you." I started, I figured that I might as well just go ahead and tell him.

He looked up at me, a curious glint in his crimson/brown eyes, "What is it Nala, are you not feeling well?" he asked probably thinking I was going to throw up on him or something.

"No, I'm actually feeling really good right now, it's because of what I have to tell you." I said, wanting him to ask me what it was I had to say

He cocked his head at my lack of a straightforward answer, "You aren't going to make me beg are you?" he asked

I laughed and let him up, "No honey, you just have to ask the right question." I said

He nodded, "Very well, what do you have to tell me Nala, I'd very much like to hear it." he said sarcastically

"The sarcasm isn't appriciated, you might not want to be that way around our cub, I don't want it picking up any of your bad habits." I said, laying the news on him

Simba took a few minutes to process what he'd just heard, I thought his confusion was really cute, "Are you serious?" he finally asked, the world's largest smile forming on his face

I was extremelyrelieved that he was happy, "C'mon Simba, would I joke about that?" I said, slapping him lightly across his forehead

The slap didn't even seem to register with him, "I'm going to be a dad." he said blankly.

I nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah. You are." I said, chuckling at his odd behavior

"This is great! We have to go tell everyone!" he said, no longer containing his joy.

I nodded, "Why not? I'm sure everyone will be overjoyed to hear this."

Oh boy was I wrong.


Zira's POV

I had spent the last couple of months alternating between grieving for Scar and being upset with him for 'leaving' me.

"Mommy, why are you crying?" Nuka asked me

I looked over my shoulder at my son, "I'm not crying son."

Nuka sighed, "I saw tears mommy, that means you were crying." he insisted

"Is that so? And you automatically know what emotional state I'm in Nuka?" I asked, being very short with him

Nuka backed off a little, "I'm sorry mommy, I didn't know this was something to do with daddy." he said

Argh...just the thought of him...

"Shut up! you are not to even mention your father!" I shouted at him, cutting into him with my words. no longer caring that I was speaking to a seven month old cub.

Nuka began crying, "You don't have to be so mean." he said

I wheeled around, "I'm sorry Nuka, pehaps you would like a different mother then?" I asked, my words cutting into him once more

He hung his head, "No mother, I love you."

"Very good, then you love being talked to this way?" I asked, looking for only one answer.

He nodded slowly, "Yes mother." he replied

I waved him out of the den, "Good, now go play. And leave me alone for the rest of the day." I commanded him

He looked back at me, and as a tear fell from his cheek he said, "What's wrong with you? you're different."

I knew that already, and while I didn't fully comprehend the magnitude of my attitude change, I wasn't scared of it.

After Nuka left I figured I would go visit some of the other lionesses down by the base of Pride Rock

"Hello Zira, how are you holding up?" Usheja, the eldest of the group asked

I sighed, "Better. Thanks for asking, how are you all doing today?" I asked back

This particular group of twenty lionesses had been away hunting at the time of Simba's return, they had no idea of what had truly happened, a little white lie here and there and I actually had followers.

Usheja looked away as though she had bad news, "Zira, you may want to sit down." she said, insistantly

I complied with the request, "What is it?" I asked, extremely curious

Usheja was very calm, "Nala is expectant." she said

My heart sank, the whore was going to give birth to the bastard king's illigitimate heir.

My body shook with rage, "You're sure?" I asked, hoping she was mistaken

She nodded, "I wish I were mistaken Zira, how are we supposed to carry out your plan now?"

I smiled at her, she was five years my elder and she didn't know the answer to that already?

"Everything is still going to plan, I expected them to have at least one cub." I replied

Usheja shifted nervously, "I don't like all of this plotting, why can we not just kill them now?" she asked

I sighed, "Because you do not strike a wildebeest when it is lively and full of energy, you wait until it exhausts itself."

"You also would want to wait until you've given birth to Scar's other cub Zira." Natashu, another older female said

I nodded, "Obviously. Especially if it is a male, Scar said my youngest male is to be his heir, and I really hope that's not Nuka."

"And why not Zira? Why shut your firstborn out?" Usheja asked, seeming upset

"Because there is something about him that isn't right."

And it was true, Nuka had not started talking until he was six months old, while most other cubs are forming basic sentences at four months. Also Nuka was very feminine in his actions, he rarely behaved as a young male should. Both of these things struck me as...off about my son, but I still loved him, he was mine and Scar's firstborn cub after all.

"I do hope you know what you are doing Zira, we've seen what happens when you cross Simba." Usheja said, a worried undertone to her voice.

Yes I did know what I was doing, Treason did have it's disadvantages, but I was certain Simba would not know what hit him.

We just had to wait for the opportune moment.


Timon's POV

Pumbaa and I were beside ourselves with joy when we heard that Simba was going to be a dad, heck you could almost say we felt like grandparents.

"That's great Simba, congratulations." I told him after he broke the news to us

Pumbaa grunted his agreements, "Yeah Simba, that's great news!" he said

Simba smiled at us, "Thanks guys, I might have to get you guys to help raise it from time to time." he said

My eyes uncontrollably widened in fear, NO. not that again, if this one would be even half of what Simba was then it would be a full-fledged nightmare.

I chuckled nervously, "Uhhh...yeah. Sure thing 'ol buddy." I said, my voice trembling

Pumbaa looked over at me as Simba walked away, "Timon, are you ok?" he asked

I continued to stare at the spot that Simba had been standing in, "Just fine Pumbaa, never been better in fact."

Pumbaa gave me a cross look, "Riiight. sure." he said


Zazu's POV

Master Simba made his way over to where I was perched atop the small tree that I called my home.

"Zazu, do you have a minute?" he asked

It was my job to have a minute for him after all

I nodded, "Why certainly Sire, what do you need?" I asked in my usual cheery, servile tone.

Master Simba seemed relieved that I was willing to talk to him, "I just thought you should know-" he started

I interrupted with, "-That QueenNala is with child? Sire it is my job to know that." I stated, I had really only known that because I had heard lionesses discussing it down by the watering hole roughly a day ago.

Simba seemed taken aback by my knowledge of that subject, "How did you know already?" he asked, not really angry, more...frustrated with me.

"It would appear sire that rumors travel faster than you." I said

Simba was silent for several moments, "Well..." he said daftly

I smiled at him, "Congratulations sire, is this not more than you had ever dreamed?" I asked him, letting my elation show through my professional facade.

He nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah Zazu, it is. A whole lot more actually."


A/N: Well, twelve is done, and I figured Zazu should have at least one part in this.

Thanks for reading this far, keep an eye out for my next update.