Chapter 25

Simba's point of view

Everything seemed to be in order, after a busy morning I was more than ready to head back home, I walked through the tall grass, pride rock was only a couple of miles away when Zazu landed in front of me in panic "sire, there's two lions at our borders!" I turned on my heel and quickly climbed up a nearby boulder to get a better look, indeed there were two lions confidently walking into the Pridelands, form this distance all I could tell is that they were a male and a female, I didn't knew whether they were outlanders or just rogues, I would have to get a closer look and let them know they're in my lands now.

"Come with me and be ready to call for backup" I said and the hornbill nodded his head

"Yes sire" he flapped his wings and took off flying ahead of me, he announced to the lions when we were close enough "you're trespassing on pridelander territory turn back now or-"

"Relax banana beak, it's me!" a male voice called

"Malka?" I asked recognizing his shaggy black mane and orange fur

"Simba, brother!" he exclaimed giving me a tight hug, he has been gone for almost a year now and I missed him but not enough to let him suffocate me with one of his hugs

"I'm not your brother, you goof" I said pushing him away with a chuckle

"Almost were" he smirked and I rolled my eyes at him

"Anyways what are you doing here? I thought you wanted to find 'your place in the circle of life' or something" I asked raising an eyebrow at him

"Well, I actually found something better than that" he said gesturing to the lioness and my eyes widen when I realized who it was

"Bandia?" I asked

"King Simba…" she lowered her head avoiding eye contact

"Wait… you know her and she knows you?" Malka asked "how?"

"Well… we- I- I've been here before" Bandia said with a nervous smile on her face as he raised an eyebrow at her "I-I told you I've been traveling around for a while"

"Right…" he answered and then turned to me and Iawkwardly looked away, then back at her "but why did you leave? And how did you ended up in the middle of the desert?"

"sweetie, can we talk about it later? the king must have important things to tend to" Bandia told him and he nodded

"yes my family is expecting me so, shall we get going?" I said standing up, I really don't want this lioness in my pride or near my family after everything she's done but I don't have the heart to tell Malka that the lioness he fell for is a manipulative psycho, however I know someone that won't have a problem saying it.

Nala's point of view

After Kion and Kiara's hunting lesson was over we went back home, I lay down under an acacia tree with Tama and Kula watching the cubs play while we waited for Simba to eat

"I'm so hungry…" I mumbled and Kula giggled

"I know the feeling…" the dark brown lioness said

"What's taking him so long?" I asked looking around impatiently

"I'm sure he'll be back soon Nal" Kula said with a smile and I sighed

"If you're so hungry then go ahead and eat" Tama said dryly keeping her eyes closed

"No, I'll wait for him" I said stubbornly and I groaned rolling on my back as my stomach rumbled, Kula and Tama exchanged glances.

"You're acting really weird Nal" Tama sighed, I haven't told anyone outside my family about my pregnancy yet, if they did, my strange behavior would be understandable. We planned to announce the pregnancy to the pride and the kingdom in a couple of weeks, so I only I smiled nervously and shrugged hopping the girls would drop the subject.

I yawned as I stretched my body lazily; I could barely keep my eyes open, pregnancy fatigue happens because a huge amount of energy it's needed to build a life-support system for the cub growing inside me. I placed my paw on my belly and rubbed it softly with a smile on my face without realizing I was being watched "Nal…? Are you-" Tama began turning her head to the side

"Oh I know what's going on! You're pregnant!" Kula gasped in realization, I sighed and nodded my head

"Congratulations Nala, I'm so happy for you!" she squealed touching her forehead with mine

"Already?" my other friend asked with wide eyes

"What do you mean 'already'?" I asked and she sighed

"You and Simba just got back together..." she began "and now you're pregnant again... I mean having cubs right away didn't end well for you two; I thought you would've learned to be more careful the second time around"

"Tama for once in your life, just try being positive" Kula pleaded

"This wasn't an accident Tama" I said turning to face her "and as one of my closest friends and pride sister I expected a little more support from you"

"You know I only say this because I care about you, the cubs and yes even Simba" she said the last part rolling her eyes "I'm worried about what could happen" she said placing her paw on mine I nodded my head slowly with a small smile

"I know but I been thinking about this for a while and Simba and I talked about this and decided that this is what we want for our family" I told her "and for the first time in my life I feel like everything is going to okay… so for now, please just be as happy as I am"

"I'm happy for you, I really am" she said rubbing her head against mine "and you're right, everything is going to be okay-" she began with a smile but her face then turned serious

"What is it?" I asked her

"She's back" she said dryly

"Who?" Kula asked

"Bandia…" Tama answered with a growl looking away at the distance

Bandia´s point of view

Malka and Simba walked ahead of me chatting away while we made our way to pride rock, I could feel the hornbill glaring at me from above until Simba instructed him to find the rest of the pride, but it wasn't necessary they found us first

"Simba?" the cream colored lioness called her mate; he turned around and gestured for her to approach us with her two cubs following behind her, the royal couple kept their eyes on me while they whispered to each other

"Nala, you look lovely as usual" Malka said bowing his head at her

"Hello Malka" she nodded her head

"Uncle Malka!" Kiara said happily hugging him, while I stayed back and tried to go unnoticed while everything played out

"Princess Kiara! The last time I saw you; you were this tiny little cub and now look at you" he said patting her head

"Well, I'm a big sister now" she smiled and turned to her brother who was standing behind her "Kion, this is dad's friend Malka"

"Nice to meet you" the cub said

"The Pridelands' fiercest, nice to meet you too" he smiled at him

"Mom, Daddy…" Kiara said when her eyes fell on me; she gasped backing away while Malka looked confused

"It's okay princess" Simba said pulling her daughter closer to him "Malka, will you please excuse me? I need to talk to my family"

"Sure" he nodded confused, as Simba and Nala stood up and Kiara followed but Kion kept glaring at me

"Welcome back Malka, come on Kion" Nala said to him before nudging her son with her nose, he reluctantly followed after his family.

Malka turned to me with a questioning look "honey, what exactly happened when you were here?"

"I-I well…" I stammered nervously, I didn't want to tell him what happened while I was here, I didn't want to lie to him the truth would make him turn away from me...

"Because you don't seem to be very popular around here" he said raising an eyebrow

"Malka I-" I began looking down at my paws ashamed

"What are you doing here?!"

I looked up and saw Tama walking down to meet us with an aggressive growl; I backed away as Malka quickly stepped in the middle, as the rest of the pride surrounded us growling lowly at me.