(Same day)
Simba reached Rafiki's tree almost out of breath, he placed Nala down gently under the huge tree, "Rafiki!", he called the baboon.
Rafiki peeked down and the king beside an unconscious Nala, "Oh no", he whispered knowing what might have happened, he climbed down throwing the fruit that he was eating.
"Rafiki you have to help her, sh-she fainted when I was talking to her", Simba explained worried while the baboon starts to examine the young lioness.
Rafiki replied placing a hand on Nala's forehead and then gently pressing her belly, "Yes, I know what de problem is", he turned to Simba, "Did she tell you she's pregnant and that her pregnancy is risky?"
Simba answered, "Yes she did, but she didn't tell me it's risky" he grew even more worried.
Rafiki shaked his head with a sad expression, "She is a week along and...she almost lost de cub, she stressed herself too much, old Rafiki can sense that she was over thinking and hurt emotionally".
Simba's heart stopped beating for a second, even though he just learned about the cub he already feels hurt knowing his unborn baby almost died, "I-We almost lost our cub because of me" he lowered his head feeling guilty with what happened but thankful his cub survived.
"But why is her pregnancy so sensitive?, I don't understand", the young male asked, he knows lionesses are usually strong when they are pregnant to the point where they can take an animal down in minutes unlike Nala whose situation is quite different.
The mandrill explained, "You see Simba, Nala is a healthy looking lioness physically yes, but deep inside, I can sense that she's emotionally hurt by problems we might not know about, and old Rafiki witnessed that she was starved during Scar's reign, she's the best lioness to hunt for food, the one to fortunately bring a carcass home for the pride but she's usually de last one to eat too, eating whatever is left of the pride sometimes not eating at all, she always puts others first not thinking of how her actions would affect her immune system and this is how it affected her body during pregnancy, after all she's also supporting another life now"
The young lion now felt horrible hearing what Nala went through all those years he was gone, and the time where he didn't want to come home at first when Nala asked him for help, if it wasn't for his father and Rafiki, his selfishness hurting Nala, "Is, is there anything we could do to boost up her health?", Simba asked wanting to help the young lioness he loves most.
Rafiki replied, "Yes of course, she just needs to eat more, be happy that's it", he added, "And she's going to be okay, as well as de little one, she'll wake up in e few hours, they're going to be alright as long as she's not stressed or tired", Rafiki replied, "Cheer up King Simba, be with her for a while, while I prepare de medicine she and your son needs"
"Son?", Simba asked despite knowing, he just wanted to make sure his unborn cub is really a boy.
Rafiki stopped, "Yes, she's carrying your son, a boy, a prince, a male cub, what more proof do you want eh?"
Simba stated, "No more, I'm just happy I'm having a son, I've always wanted one ever since although I'm not expecting to have one so early on"
"Slow down King Simba, the cub is not born yet and you should've expected to conceive e cub when you mated with her", Rafiki replied pointing to Nala.
Simba looked to the ground, "Yeah, I know, I guess I was just too careless and childish back then living that 'Hakuna Matata' life"
"Couldn't blame you", Rafiki said, "Anyways I'll prepare de medicine now, be right back, be with your mate Simba"
Simba denied, "She's not my mate"
"And what did I just hear?, not your mate eh, so what is she to you?", Rafiki asked.
"She's my best friend", Simba added, "future mate, queen and mother of my cub", he stated proudly.
"Very nice indeed, Mufasa is very proud of you", Rafiki greeted, "I'll go up now, I'll be back in e minute"
As Simba waits for Rafiki to return, he looks at Nala who is still unconscious, he leaned over to her and nuzzled her head, "I'm so sorry La, but I promise I will make sure our cub will be born healthy, I won't ever let our unborn son or you experience danger, ever", he promised her, their cub and himself, he turned to Nala's stomach which he can quite see is forming the tiniest bump, a little surprise on how fast everything is happening, he just became king and soon he's about to become a father.
Rafiki came back from the tree and down to where the lion and lioness are, he approached Nala with a coconut having liquid inside it, "I'm going to give her this, it will help with her possible dizziness in de future and will also help de cub strengthen his hold, only side effect is that her throat will dry up but eventually will worn out, I'm not supposed to give her dis since it is a strong medicine but her case is quite getting worse", Simba nodded sad.
"Go ahead Rafiki, do what you think is best for them, as long as it's safe", the lion king agreed.
Rafiki lifted the unconscious lioness's muzzle and opened it with his hand pouring the mixture in her mouth, "All done", he said, "You're allowed to carry her back to Pride Rock if you'd like, she'll be up in an hour or two".
"Is it safe for her?", Simba asked not sure whether to do what the mandrill suggested, he's too worried he might do something wrong.
"Yes, it is, she can rest better there than here", Rafiki reassured, "Now go on before the scorching sun fully comes".
"Ok then, thank you Rafiki", Simba smiled hugging the apprentice.
Rafiki laughed, "No problem King Simba, it is my job after all".
Simba continued on once again carrying Nala to Pride Rock.
TLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKT
Simba's back is quite hurting once he reached Pride Rock but it didn't bother him, he just wanted to get Nala there safely, he saw the hunting party about to leave earlier than usual coming his way.
Kula, one of Simba and Nala's childhood friends immediately noticed the king carrying her best friend, "Hey, isn't that Simba with Nala on his back?", she pointed causing all of the lionesses including Sarafina and Sarabi to look forward.
"It is them, kings above, what happened to her?", Tama asked.
Sarafina wasted no time, she ran fast to the king and her daughter leaving Sarabi's side, "Nala, what happened to her?", she asked Simba.
"Son, why is she unconscious?", Sarabi also questioned worried as she came to the young lion as the rest of the lionesses did.
Simba answered, "We...we we're talking and she got tensed up with what I said then she just fainted", "But don't worry, I bought her to Rafiki, he said she'll be fine, he gave her medicine"
"What about-", Sarafina stopped herself, she was about to ask about the cub, of course she's also worried about her grand cub but quickly changed her sentence seeing how many lionesses there are and how the king might not be aware yet, "What about we get her back to Pride Rock, she needs to rest".
Sarabi agreed, "Simba, get her back to Pride Rock, Sarafina you go back with Simba, you can skip the hunting today, be with your daughter"
"Thank you Sarabi", Sarafina nodded at her best friend.
Sarabi smiled, "No need for that Fina", she then turned to the lionesses, "Let's go, we'll have to bring back food as soon as Nala wakes up", then she and the others went to the nearby herd.
Simba turned, "Shall we go?", the older lioness nodded.
Simba and Sarafina continued to walk quietly, Simba will admit, he felt very awkward around Nala's mother so he just stayed silent knowing Nala probably mentioned her pregnancy and that he's the father of her cub, she's her mother, they walked silently until they reached Pride Rock.
The King placed Nala in the main den and surprisingly at the side of the spot where he sleeps. Sarafina looked quietly also surprised he placed her daughter on the Royal platform.
"Thank you Simba", Sarafina said
Simba replied, "No problem Sarafina, and she will wake up in an hour, I'll leave you with her now".
Sarafina started what the lion is trying to avoid, "Simba, has she told you yet?", she questioned curious.
"About what?", he stopped and replied nervous not wanting to answer immediately so he asked her just to make sure it is what he thinks it is.
Sarafina added, "Nevermind King Simba, apologies, you can go on", she smiled, "Nala probably hasn't told him yet", she thought not wanting to reveal anything incase he doesn't know yet.
Simba then finds his courage to reply, "If it's about the cub then yes, she did tell me and there's no need to be formal Sarafina", "Especially now", he whispered.
Sarafina is surprised her daughter finally revealed it but didn't know what to reply to the king so she just nodded and changed the topic, "I just hope my grandcub's fine", she said leaning down to gently nuzzle her daughter.
"He's okay, Rafiki said the boy's a fighter, he almost lost the fight but he's fine now", Simba stated.
Sarafina became worried understanding what the young lion said, "We almost lost him?"
"Technically yes but he's strong, we just have to help Nala ease down on her pregnancy until the baby's born, even if it means putting her in quarantine in this den", Simba explained, he doesn't want to lose his first cub with the lioness he loves.
Sarafina replied, "I hope she'll follow this set up"
"I know she will, this is for our son, and as his mother, she will do anything for her cub", Simba stated smirking, he said looking at the young lioness's mother, "And I'm promising you this Sarafina, I will take care of her and our future son"
"I know you will Simba, Nala just doesn't see that, but it's never your burden if you prefer not to, you're the king, you have many things to think of", Sarafina explained.
Simba stated, "Nala will never be a burden to me, I love your daughter and", he paused for a few seconds before continuing, "And I want her to be my queen".
A/N
So far, this is the most chaotic chapter to write and probably read XD, hope y'all survived and sorry for the messy words.
Bye for now!