Chapter 20

Nala paced the edge of the Rasheda Grove; her head from time to time looked back toward the Jungle then toward the cave where she knew was Simba and Zuri's den. She had returned to the Grove just before dawn to await Simba's return to try and speak to him, to see if she could knock some sense into his thick head. Lifting her head she looked toward the sky above seeing that it was beginning to get lighter and lighter out now that the sun was rising in the East. 'Where is he? Surely he would have returned by now' she thought to herself, now that she thought about it Zuri hadn't returned either it seemed, she had seen the brown lioness run after Simba when he had stormed away from her. So she was sure the lioness was with him.

Tilting her head to the side she gazed at the Jungle then turned when she heard movement from the Main cave and watched Jaali emerge from behind the waterfall making his way toward the river for his morning drink. Without a second thought she jumped over the bushes and padded her way over to him. Stopping behind him she cleared her throat watching him with a satisfied smirk when he jumped in surprise and ended up falling into the water.

Soaking wet, Jaali clawed his way out of the river and with his paw wiped a piece of his mane out of his face that fell over his eyes "You? What are you doing here? I thought you left?" he snapped at her shaking his head to try the water out of his mane, but it only ended up with more of his sopping mane into his eyes. Groaning he continued to shake it to try it off the best he could.

A growl rumpled in his throat when he heard her laugh when his mane puffed out before he brushed it down with his paw. "Just what do you want?" he asked lowering his paw and sat back on the ground, he was sure after he watched Simba storm off the other night that she would have left the Jungle to return to wherever she came from.

"I came back to speak with Simba," Nala stated looking toward the den, "But he hasn't returned yet."

"I see…wait what do you mean he's not back yet?" Jaali questioned, following her gaze toward Simba and Zuri's den. It really wasn't like them to stay away from the den all night, Zuri rarely stayed out in the Jungle past dark, not since her Mother died and Simba hardly let Zuri out of his sight at night. Slinking around the lioness, he made his way toward the den and peered on inside and sure enough it was empty there was no sign of his cousin or her snoring mate. He turned when he heard Nala coming up behind him, sneering at the smug look that was etched across her face.

"See I told you he wasn't back yet?" she stated taking a seat on the ground.

The dark mane Prince rolled his eyes and looked back toward the empty cave, "There's no fault in trying to see, for all you know they could have come back when you weren't looking. You look like the type of lioness that would run into a boulder head first not realizing it was right in front of he….OW!" Jaali yowled and jumped back sitting on his hind legs he held his nose with his front paws where Nala had clawed him.

"Jeez what the hell was what for?" his voice was muffled behind his paws where they continued to hold his throbbing nose. "Why can't you lionesses ever take a joke?"

Eyes narrowing, Nala glared toward him then smirked, "Why can't you lions ever learn to keep your mouths shuts, remember it's us lionesses that feed your loud mouths!" she said smugly.

"We lions can hunt!"

Throwing her head back, she let out a roar of laughter, "Is that so? Then why do you have a Hunting Party? Led by the lionesses nonetheless? And don't go about your royal duties prince, if it wasn't for the lionesses you would you go hungry because you'd be too lazy to go catch down large prey!" her eyes narrowed by the end of her sentence, her voice lowered to a small rumbling growl as she remembered back to the hunts in the Pridelands be forced to hunt for a lazy King and filthy hyenas who take all the food for themselves.

Jaali narrowed his eyes, "I don't know what your issues are Missy but I can tell you this much I can hunt, maybe not as good as any lioness but I can hunt! I don't know about your King but I can hunt on my well enough own! As can my father and Simba! Here in the Rasheda's we teach all our cubs male and female how to hunt!" rubbing his now scratched up nose one last time, he lowered his paws to plant them firmly on the ground.

Nala snorted and relaxed her body, "Fine I'll take your word on it for now. Until I see it for my own eyes."

"Like you'd be here to ever see it. Why don't you just leave as you can see Simba isn't here?" Jaali scrunched up his nose before he began to get feeling back in it.

"I'm not leaving until I get to talk to him again and talk some sense into him!"

"Ha if you couldn't convince him about anything earlier what makes you think he'll listen and comply this time?"

"What does it matter? I'm not leaving this spot until Simba gets back!" Nala smacked her paw against the ground to prove her point; she held her head high as the two of them continued to glare at one another as if trying to stare the other one down. The two of them suddenly looked up when they heard laughter ringing out above them on the rocks above the cave's entrance. Both stared at the mandrill that ceased his laughter when he realized he had gotten their attention and grinned at the both of the foolishly.

"Ho, ho, ho, ho. You won't find him here. Ha ha. The king and his queen... have returned!"

Eyes wide, Nala snapped her head to stare toward the Jungle at the Grove's edge, she didn't know whether to believe her ears or not at what she had just heard. If she couldn't convince him to go back, then who did…or did he really consider what she had told him about Scar?

Feeling her heart begin to pound in her chest, hope entered her eyes, "I can't believe it…he's actually gone back!" her voice was laced with amazement with every word she spoke.

Jaali who had been staring at the mandrill looked toward Nala when he spoke, "Gone back? What…" he lifted his head to look at the rocks above the cave once more only to see the mandrill that was there moments before was no longer in sight. "Hey! What's going on here! Who was the monkey? And where has who gone?"

"Simba's gone back to the Pridelands to challenge Scar!"

"Who?"

"Scar!"

"Who's got a scar?"

"No. No. No. It's his uncle!"

"The Monkey's his uncle? Now that's just ridicules!" Jaali smirked in a cocky fashion.

Nala rolled her eyes and raised her paw smacking him across the head, "Will you try and listen for once or does that entire mane of yours make it impossible for you to listen and hear correctly!" she shouted at him before she stepped back. "Simba has gone back to challenge his uncle, Scar, for his rightful place as King!"

"Ooh!" Jaali sat there rubbing the side of his face that she had hit, so Zuri had been right, Nala was here to take Simba back with her to wherever they came from. Just then he remembered the Mandrill's words, 'The King and his Queen…has returned'

Queen? Just what did he mean by that, Nala said Simba had returned to challenge his uncle for rightful place as…King! He cursed under his breath, of course why didn't he think of it sooner if Simba was gone then Zuri must have gone with him, there would be no way she'd let him go off on his own not when she was expecting his cubs or if he had a chance to die when she could stop it.

Nala who wasn't paying attention to Jaali anymore, looked like she was trying to resist jumping from paw to paw in excitement, she had succeeded in finding help for her Pride and family. But if he returned, why hadn't he bothered to come and get her and they return together? "I…I have to get home…he can't be far ahead only a few hours!" shifting her paws on the ground she turned to head toward the Jungle only to find Jaali blocking her path. "What are you doing? I thought you wanted me to leave?"

"I do…"

"Then why are you stopping me?" Nala demanded trying once again to get around him, but he was persistent in not letting her pass.

"Because you're not going alone!" Jaali watched as Nala stopped trying to get around him and stared at him in shock.

"Wh…what?"

Jaali narrowed his eyes, "You heard me, it is not just Simba out there, and the monkey said 'The King and his QUEEN' had returned meaning Zuri who is Simba's mate by the way in case you haven't caught on yet has gone with him. So you're not going out there alone, I'm going to make sure my cousin and friend make it out of this alive!" he explained before he stepped around Nala and began to make his way toward the main cave, "And we're not going alone either!" he added motioning for Nala to follow him.

Nala stared after him, somewhat shocked but what he said was true, it was so clear since she had seen Zuri go after Simba and both of them had yet returned. It wouldn't be so surprising that she had gone with him since she was his mate. She looked back toward the Jungle and shifted her paws, she needed to get back to the Pridelands, but she wouldn't get far if Jaali decided to come with her after all he knew the Jungle better then she. With a slight groan, she turned and padded after him muttering under her breath the entire way.

"No! I will not! I agreed to take that boy into this pride and he's done nothing but lie! He was a prince all this time; he could have tried to take this throne from you!" Mansa paced back and forth in the den, Jaali had just come in and explained everything to his Father and Mother. As he had expected, his Father hadn't taken the news all that well, he remembered exactly when Simba had come to the pride and what convincing it took to give Mansa to allow him to live in the Pride. With news that Simba had really been a prince and lying under their noses just made Mansa's suspicions of him trying to take the throne.

Leta on the other hand seemed to take the news better then her mate, she sat behind her mate with her daughters at her paws wrestling until she would part them with her paw till they would try and get at each other once more. She didn't seemed all that shocked really, at the news that Simba had been a Prince all along to her it almost seemed to add up though in the beginning she could never truly be sure to her Simba always seemed like a normal cub like any other.

Sighing she shook her head and stepped over her daughters who were once again wrestling upon the ground, "Mansa stop this foolishness right now!" she cuffed her mate on the ear making him turn and growl toward her but the growl soon died when he realized that he was growling at his not-to-happy mate.

"What to mean this foolishness?" Mansa snapped sitting back to try and gather enough courage, if there was one thing that he could be afraid of, it was his Queen.

Leta narrowed her eyes, "The way you are acting right now is foolish! So Simba did not tell us who he was, but if he had you would have killed him…not that I would have let you but you know full well you would have to make sure Jaali was still safe as your heir. And while Simba was here, he showed no interest in ever taking the throne from Jaali…in truth it seemed like he enjoyed having a normal…or somewhat normal cub life with the death of his father. I know Jaali here often wishes for a life where he wouldn't have to be responsible every hour of the day with the duties you give him or the pressure of one day becoming King!" Leta eyed her mate carefully and watched her son from the corner of her eyes from where Jaali sat next to Nala.

Shoulder's slumping; Jaali hung his head down his ears flattening back against his head as he wished that his Mother hadn't told his Father that. He straightened when Mansa's head snapped toward him, but before his Father could say anything else he decided to speak himself "Father please see reason to this. Simba helped us when he lived here; he helped drive off the hyenas and the leopard brothers when they tried moving into our territory. He didn't have too but he did because he thought he was an equal member of this Pride and he still is no matter if he is some other prides suppose King. He's been an equal member of this one for two years now, he is also the mate of a member of this pride and she's gone out there with him she also deserves our help with this fight especially now that she's carrying cubs!" Jaali spoke calmly to his Father trying to keep his head high his shoulders squared but his paws quivered a bit under his Father's harsh glare.

A silence filled the cave, the only sound came from the two wrestling cubs, at the news that Zuri had been expecting. The only one who wasn't surprised was Leta who had been the first to figure it out just having cubs on her own she recognized the signs in a young lioness when it came to expecting her first set of cubs.

Nala was frozen to her spot, she hadn't spoken a word since entering the den with Jaali she saw it not as her place to make this King make a decision to help her or not. At the news that Zuri was expecting Simba's cubs however came as a real shock, she hung her head as dark thoughts entered her mind. With Zuri expecting there was no more chance for her to win Simba over, what was she thinking that showing up two years later in his life that he would hold any true feelings for her. A sigh escaped her lips.

Leta moved toward her mate and stared him the eyes, "Mansa your son is right, Simba has helped this pride now its time we repaid him!"

"Even if we sent help we are limited in number of lionesses, Zuri and you are one of our top huntresses and there is no way in the Ancients names that I am allowing you to go out and get possibly killed not when we still have daughters to raise. And I cannot leave; I am here to protect you and our Pride…" Mansa started when Leta placed her paw over his mouth and cave him a soft understanding look.

"Then let our son lead the party."

"What!?"

"You have prepared him for this Mansa!" Leta stated calmly as her mate turned to look toward their son who sat straight as a board his chest puffed out. He was still trying not to make eye contact with his father. Raising her paw, Leta turned Mansa to look back at her, "You always said he needed responsibilities to be a great King like you Mansa and what better ways to put him to the test then to have him go out and lead a small party of lionesses?"

A low growl rumbled in his throat and Mansa tore his gaze away from his mates before he pulled away entirely and began to pace the length of the cave. From time to time he would cast looks toward both Nala and Jaali before looking away again muttering so low under his breath the others in the cave all thought he was just grunting to himself. Growling Mansa moved toward his son, "I hate when you're mother is always right!" He looked over his shoulder at his Queen who was smiling at him softly but there was no replacing the smug look shining in her eyes. Grunting he looked toward his son and narrowed his eyes.

"But she is right, you need to prove your responsible to lead. Though I think this is not a proper way, it is a good one all the same!" he turned his attention toward Nala who stood still under his gaze. "I will send five lionesses to help you and your Pride but this is only for Simba and Zuri's sake not because I care of the outcome of your Pride. Jaali you…" he moved his head to look at his son once more, "You will lead them and guide them as well as protect them out there am I making myself perfectly clear?"

Jaali stood shocked listening to his father, "Y…yes Father clear as rain. I will not fail and I will not disappoint you!"

Grunting Mansa turned from his son, "Yes, not disappointing me will be an improvement!" he muttered as he padded his way out of the den to select the lionesses he would send out with his son. Not watching as his son, whom had heard him, slump his shoulders and hang his head in shame.

"Do not worry my son, he will see you will succeed and you will prove him that you are responsible and will make a great King." Leta approached her son and rubbed her head against his and licked his cheek, "He is proud of you Jaali, he's just too stubborn to admit it!" she waved her paw and motioned for the two of them to leave the cave before making her way toward her daughters and pulled them apart once more carrying them both to the back of the cave for their morning feeding.

Jaali snorted, "Sure he's proud of me, come on Nala!" he turned and made his way out of the den with Nala following him.

Nala watched him carefully as she fell in step behind him; her brows were creased together as she studied the Rasheda Prince. To her when they first met the day before, he seemed nothing more then a prankster prince that saw lionesses as nothing more then things to taunt and tease but as she watched him now Jaali seemed just another lion lost beneath his mane weighed down by responsibilities he never asked for but was put upon him at birth. Keeping her mouth shut, she quickened her pace to walk along side him, following him through the grove where the two of them spotted Mansa assembling the five lionesses that would accompany them to the Pridelands. As Nala let her eyes rake over them, she couldn't help but feel the minor hope in her fade, though she wasn't going to complain they were actually going to lend help so why would she complain but the lionesses now that she could see were all in their middle ages going on elderly though as she thought about it. It was the very same with her pride.

Mansa stepped forward when he saw them approaching, "These will be the five that you take. They may not look it, but besides my mate and niece they are few of the best huntresses we have and will do good if battle occurs!" he explained his eyes landing on Nala who he saw studying the lionesses.

"There is no telling if there will be a fight…if anything happens thing might go wrong and death could occur…" Nala explained letting her eyes look over every lioness then turned her attention back to Mansa who grunted and nodded.

"They all understand that, however it will be my sons' responsibility of being their Prince to make sure they all live if he can help it!" Mansa looked toward Jaali who squared his shoulders and tried to look proud of his moment of leadership to prove to his Father once and for all that he was indeed ready for his role as future King. However his shoulders drooped slightly when his Father took his eyes off him again, he felt a paw nudge his and turned his head toward one of the lionesses that was smiling at him softly he returned the smile and bumping his head against hers he stepped toward his Father.

"When are we allowed to head out? Simba and Zuri are already half a day ahead of us," Jaali mentioned.

"And it will take a matter of days to get from here to the Pridelands!" Nala added as she approached the two and stood along side Jaali.

"To get to where you are going, you will have to cross the desert and there is barely enough food out there or water you will leave once you all have stocked up on enough food that will last you a number of days!" Mansa grunted and pushed the two of them away from him once Nala began to complain that if they waited any longer then Simba and Zuri would get further ahead of them. Then without a second word went to speak with the gathered lionesses.

Nala opened her mouth to speak again when Jaali clamped his paw over her mouth, the young lioness glared in his direction but he just shook his head and lowered his paw. "Father's word is law Nala; don't say anything that will make him change his mind about sending out help. He's just looking out for the Pride, and he's right without any food or water in our systems to last us we could be vulture food before we know it especially them!" Jaali commented looking toward the lionesses that all spread out to go for one last hunt.

Nala sighed and nodded, she could understand that she remembered how it was to travel through the desert and she was young she couldn't imagine how it might be for those who may not have the strength to fully make it through the smouldering heat especially with little food or water.

"Come on this way," Jaali stated turning his body to make his way toward one of the caves where he had hidden some of the meal from the other day. It was going to be used for Zuri once he heard she was pregnant to give her enough food where she would need it for the time being but now it would serve to fill them for a number of days.

The sun had reached the middle of the sky, blazing down upon the barren wasteland of the desert when seven figures stepped out from the coverage of the Jungle. Mansa had led the group from the Grove and through the Jungle to the edge where the trees finally became sparse and led into the barren sun blazing land before them. The gray mane King let his eyes roam over the barren desert and turned his body toward Jaali and Nala who stood side by side.

"From here on out Jaali, your test of leadership will be put to the test. You with her directions," he turned his attention to Nala for a brief moment then back toward his son, "Will lead them through this desert and guide them and if a fight breaks out you will protect your pride with the best of your strength!" he clasped his son on the shoulder with his paw. "Make me proud my son!"

Jaali took a deep breath with a stiff nod, "Yes Father…I will not let you down!"

Grunting, Mansa nodded and stepped around his son to make his way back into the Jungle. "Come back alive my son." Was all he said before he disappeared into the coverage of the trees.

Jaali watched him go, he took another steady breath turning his head when he felt a paw on his shoulder looking toward the green eyes of one of the lionesses that he was to lead. "We believe in your Prince Jaali. We all do!" she stated while the others all nodded their heads in agreement.

Looking them over, Jaali grinned and nodded, "You're right I can do this!" with that said he turned to Nala. "Lead the way!" he motioned forward with his paw for Nala to go on ahead to show them the way to her homeland.

Nala didn't waste another second she bounded off ahead of them with Jaali and the lionesses following in line behind her. Raising her head she stared up at the sky, 'I'm coming back with help, just please hold on'