+Anonymous7

No worried I've been busy with school too and work and it sucks but what can you do, I try to post regularly so you guys have something to look forward too. I'm excited for Zira cub too fingers cross. Oh yea, I'm worried for poor Nuka sake, hopefully, he can pull himself together. And yea thinking of Simba as an older brother, and him not even knowing is pretty interesting I think I may mess with that alittle. And you have a great week as well!

+redwalllover28

Yea I feel we just have to see the push Nuka will need to get his spoiled but together, and yea, I'm liking a little Vitani Simba couple, but I have to see where that will go, for it to be a drama series I have to add in a third wheel right? And Vitani knowing pumbaa and Timon, could be a thing, I see some different interaction in the future. And will be checking out that story 'Miracle Child'.

Chapter 14

It was a late morning for the prideland lionesses, today was going to be a hard day to get up and become motivated, even with Scars little drop-by hyenas ordering things around, sometimes….getting up and making something of the day just seem impossible to them. The sky was a bright blue, but the air was dry, so dry it made it hard to breathe at night, which kept some of the members up. The lionesses walked out of there den one by one, not wanting to rush to today events. After all, now hunting became more of a chore than something that was a necessity, with the overhunting. Some days the lioness would even go themselves without eating, they were too tired, and sometimes, it just wasn't worth it, but today couldn't be that day. Earlier that morning they had already been told what the kill order was, two zebra and three gazelles, really, 5 large kills for what, two lions and their cubs? One zebra is almost enough for their whole pride of 7, but no, the royal family needs five kills today, and we don't want to upset the royal family- kings forbid.

As all 7 lionesses came out, they circle around eachother, and planned for their day. It would be a split screach, which would weaken their strength and numbers, but it was the only way to spread out the distance to find the different herds. Nala, slowly walked beside her mother, she wanted to hear what her pride mothers and possibly her would be up to today.

"We'll have to split up today, cover more ground." Said, one sister.

"Yes, the order is 5 kills, can you believe it."

"Yes…unfortunately, I can." voiced another.

" That will take us all day."

"Yes it will, and the more we keep complaining about it, we'll never get it done." Voiced the yearling mother. Sarafina watched as she got looks of annoyance from her pride sister but she knew it had to be done. "ready to leave?" as the blue eyes lioness turned she almost ran into her daughter who was right beside her. "Oh, Nala I didn't see you." Her daughter had a big smile on her face.

"Morning, mom." She chimed, kissing her on the cheek, totally forgetting about her attitude from her mother rejection last night. "It's a nice day right?"

"Clear as clear can get." She chimed, she raised a brow to her daughter.

"Yea, I heard Scar wants 5 kills today for the royal family…that's alot- that's more than alot actually."

"Aren't you paying attention." The mother daughter dup began to walk some, the party had begun to leave, and Nala was still sticking by her mother side. More or less forcing herself to her.

"You guys will have to split up, won't you need more help? And I heard-"

" Don't think because you flash that smile at me that i'd forget Nala."

"Huh?" she tilted her head, confused on what her mother could be meaning. Sarafina laughed her cub was full of it.

"The answer still no." she smiled at her, Nala stopped in her track, dam time for a plan B.

"But mom, don't you think I should come, I mean to help with the numbers since you have to split up, a grown zebra is hard to catch with any lioness a-"

"yes and even harder on a cub who doesn't know what she doing." Nala rolled her eyes.

"Mom, I just want to help, I feel useless here."

"Nala I know you mean good, but I don't think you're ready. It'll be my fault if something happens to you, you're safer here." Little did she know, how she would rethink that statement. But for now, everything was safer at home. "Okay?"

"Okay, but what if I can prove to you, I am ready to join the hunt….what if…I can catch 5 hares and bring them to you." She just would not give up.

"Nala tha-"

"If I do this I will not only show you I'm ready, but I will also be honing my skills of stalking, chasing, catching…predicting my prey movement!" she voiced excited to her mother, she for once she did see the point in that exercise. And all hunter must start off small before they can try to tackle the big game.

"Will, if you can bring me 5 hares by the end of the week then may-"

"Thanks Mom!" she planted a kiss on her mother lisp before she could say another word. She had gotten more or less, of what she wanted, all she had to do now was build her skills and actually catch her prey. And she knew exactly the lioness who could help her. sarafina watched some as her child went disappearing out of sight, hoping that she hadn't just gotten herself into anything.

In the royal den of pride rock the king and queen slept together, Zira wrapped in her mates. Moments like this her priceless to her, and rare as well. It seemed like her and Scar never had true moment alone to themselves unless it was on Scar call, and normally those sessions don't end with a cuddle, but a more….irritated tiredness after being in each other presence for a while.

"Mmmh, och!" Zira shot up, the pain in her side happened again. and it wasn't an overwhelming pain, but a pain that should not have been there none the less. She was far along in her pregnancy but not where she should be experiencing pre-labor symptoms. As soon as she placed a paw on her belly it went away, and things where back to normal. Her heart stopped racing.

"Are you alright?" she looked up to see her mate green eyes on her.

"yes" she voiced, almost to herself. "just a little kick."

"You seem to be in pain?" Zira nodded her head saying 'no'. Nothing was wrong, and if you think that, then everything would be fine. That was something she always told herself, 'everything was fine, everything was fine' when she left her family, everything was fine when she struggling on her own, everything was fine, when she met Scar…things were actually perfect, when she got pregnant…everything was fine-it was going to be fine. But when he left, she had to tell herself everything was going to be fine. And look, now she lives in pride rock and everything is fine. Even if it wasn't- it could have been worse, so to her, it was fine. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and for a lioness who has seen alot and been through alot in her life, making yourself having bliss in life, even at a cost sometimes was necessary.

"No it's fine dear, really, your son is just excited to meet the world."

"Hmm son." The king liked hearing that sound. When Zira could finally get herself to lay down, Scar got up.

"What is your day like today?" she asked, looking over to the green-eyed lion. Her king. "Maybe I can join you?"

"No, you need to stay home and rest."

"But the monkey says, I should get some exercise in."

"Please, that monkey knows as much about cub birth as I do. Just stay home, I'll send for Jama and Saada."

"Scar, you baby me, you act like I haven't already carried three of your cubs already…"

"Two." He corrected, why did he have to do that, adding salt to an open wound that would probably never heal. " But this will be the lucky three, if you rest and make him strong, I don't want another weak son."

"He won't be a weak is…and neither is he…" referring to Nuka. It burned Zira to her core whenever Scar would say something about her son, yes Scar was his father, but she carried him, and loved him, and would do anything for her first. A mother loves all her children but the love she has for her first is overwhelming. "He's a strong boy Scar, you just need to give him a chance, train him, he'll show you."

"Have you not been watching the same cub I have?" his voice was dry, but stern, needing to prove a point. "He's skinny and weak, and has emotions are like a hormonal lioness…" Zira bit her tongue she knew what she was thinking-if she voiced, she would regret, and just because she was carrying a cub did not mean she was safe from being struck. She looked down at her paws, her claws were out and marking the ground below her. her ears perked when she heard his voice. "Besides, I've made up my mind." Then he suddenly began to leave. Without anything else to say but "Stay here, Jama and Saada will be here soon, and if you leave this den. I WILL hear about it." was that a treat to her to stay inside and waste away with her pridesisters…if only males could bare cubs, then he would understand her need to be outside of pride rocks stone walls and out into the fresh African air. But he was male and king, and unfairly everything he said goes. Zira started to think she mess up in her past life to return was a lioness, when she thought she could gain power who marriage and having cubs, yet still…nothing can compare to the power that you get by just being a male. Life's not fair.

On the grounds away from priderock were the trio. Simba and Vitani were practicing their sparing while Nuka, took it upon himself to be the judge and watch. After all, he was still injured from his lost claw he received from Egg, on their last sparring practice. "Okay, don't go easy on me Simba, because I won't be easy on you." She warned, showing her teeth.

"I accept your challenge, but I don't want to hurt you." He chimed, with a gentle smile.

"Awwww….prettyboy." she teased him, eyeing each other they squared up, just waiting for one to make the first move. It brought on little tension between the two. Then suddenly, Vitani made the first move. It surprised Simba, but didn't surprise her twin. Whenever he sparred with Vitani she would religious make the first move- not that he could block her or stop her. she said she wanted to be the one the start it and finish it…was her moto more or less, it sounded like mother their mother would say. Vitani was quick, quicker then he anticipated and much quicker than Nuka hyena egg and Bines that were sitting at his side. But he managed to dodge, her…barely. "oh…to fast for you huh? Are you ready now?"

"I was born ready." The red mane lion countered. Again flashing that Simba smile of his, that only he could do. The two went at each together again, and Nuka laying on his back, watched as the events played out. He scratched his shaggy belly and yawned, you think fighting between a lion and lioness would be more interesting, then someone got flipped. His sister landed hard on her back, coughing some.

"Geesh that sounded like it hurt."

"Oh no…really? Nuka I hadn't noticed." She voiced, to him getting up.

"Is that sarcasm? It looks better on me." her twin chimed. Paw on his belly, soaking up the African sun. Vitani rolled her eyes at him, then locked her eyes with her victims. Who had not strayed his eyes from her. They went at it again.

"Yea fighting can be rough boss and hurt na-"

'Don't you think I know that? I'm the one who has been injured in 'battle' while they get minor cuts and bruises" backing up his word, Nuka showed off his wrapped up paw. Proof that he has been in 'battle' as he called it. Egg and Bones mouthed a few things to themselves about their brat-prince…overdramatic nature. Then they watched as she shot up out of nowhere, at first they looked to Simba and Vitani thinking something had happened, but the two were fine, still sparring with one another, then Egg pointed a paw out to Bones, in the direction of where the prince was actually starring. In the distance, another lion well lioness could be seen coming their way. before they knew it, Nuka was off and running her head over paws… and seemingly fine now, ya know, with the loss of his claw and everything, it been hard from the prince to get around without…assistance.

"Hey Nala, how you doing?!" he had a huge smile on his face a far as the eye could see. His sudden calmness and …unenthusiastic nature seemed to be thrown at the window. The yearling stopped as soon as Nuka came bounding towards her.

"Hi Nuka, I'm fine…and you?"

"I'm great, great- I mean you know, tried and everything with the work I have to do as future king- boy it is exhausting, let me tell you."

"I can…believe that." Nala felt weirded out by Nuka for some reason, yes she tried to be nice, and respectful to him…after all being the future king, you really don't want to piss him off, but still, something was just weird about him. "It is a lot of responsibility." She began to walk past him, and look into the distance at the two sparring lions.

"Yes but someone got to do it, right? Oh yea, we're sparring right now, ya know, as the prince I have to be I shape and get my training in…I was just coaching Simba and Vitani." Suddenly the Simba stopped when I saw Nala walking with Nuka, which almost cost him an eye because Vitani did not know the practicing was over.

"Hey what are you-" the red mane male left his sparring partner side and began to walk over towards the two. Vitani instinctively rolled her eyes, she knew what this was. Males losing it over a pretty lioness. Great now what was she supposed to do. "Males…" she began to walk away over to the shaded tree. Mufasa son greeted Nala with a smile.

"Hey Nala."

"Hey Simba." She smiled back. Her eyes her bright almost cheerful when greeting him. She looked happy to him, she always seemed happy to him, he missed that. "How are you?"

"I'm good, you? I mean what are you doing out her-"

"Yea what are you doing out here…Nalaaa." The lioness eyed him, why did he have to say her name like that. Why did he have to be all over her like this, what was with him? "Came to hang out with us?"

"Actually I came for practice-"

"Well you came to the right place!" Nuka wrapped an arm around her and began walking with her…or forcing her to walk with him. But she ended that trip quickly.

"Actually, I came for your sister."

"Vitani?" asked Simba, Nala nodded her heard.

"VITANI?...why?!" hmm, someone sounded upset…but I don't think you could really tell.

"I need her to help me with my hunting." She explained looking to Simba. " I know she's pretty good she has to be she's Zira daughter, right."

"ha..right." they shared a laugh. The trio walked over to the lioness, she was on her back, relaxing in the heat of the day. At men it was all she could do now, since Simba ditched her for pretty blue- eyes.

"Hey Vitani." Voiced Nala. Vitani still on her back, opened one eye and looked at the trio before her.

"What? And you guys are blocking my sun." Nala stepped to the side some.

"Sorry." She didn't remember Vitani being so cut throat from when they were cubs, but that was some time ago now. "I came to ask you something if you were interested…in helping with my with my hunting skills?"

"Why would I want to help you, can't your mom do that with you?" well this seemed to be harder then she thought, looks like she would have to do some kissing up to for this mentee mentor session.

"Unfortunately, the pride is pretty busy with all the things they have to do for Sc…the king, and can't really help me like that want."

"Hmp…sucks…" Simba and Nala shared a look, the male shrugged he didn't know why she was acting this like, she was fine earlier.

"Yea it does. But I figured you could help me."

"I still can't see why I would want to…"

"Well I mean, you are like…the best fighter here and-"

"Hey!" voiced Nuka, insulted. Vitani opened her eyes.

"Oh shut up Nuka!" which the know- it -all prince did. Vitani slowly roller her to her forepaws. "Okay, I'm listing."

"And…snice you're the best fighting I figure you're probably an amazing hurting an-"

"I am pretty good." She boasted, which had truth to it, she was already making small kills herself.

"Exactly I figure you get the best of both worlds because A, you can train me and also get better yourself- even though your perfect and B you don't have to be around the boys all day." Vitani liked the sound of that.

"Hmm that does sound good, I get tired of being around that crybaby and pretty boy all day. You got yourself a deal, I teach ya."

"Thank you!" chimed Nala, the only words she really wanted to hear all day now there she was getting closer to becoming a better hunter already. "When should be start…tomorrow…later tonight-"

"Now, Come on."

"Really?" she voiced shocked, she didn't think they would get started so soon, and she didn't think Vitani would WANT to even start…today even. I mean she did seem hard to read. But Nala guessed all the tail kissing paid off. "Sure."

"We'll be back boys, don't do anything stupid." Voiced the princess walking side by side with Nala. "and by boys, I mean you Nuka." The prince said some selective words to himself, while his sister and Nala were still in earshot.

It was noon now, and the blue majordomo came flapping from his tree home to the lionesses side den. Normally he would be doing some chore for Mufasa at this time, but…he is no longer working with Mufasa and Zazu knew that Scar never paid attention to anything when it came to his reports. He barely sends him on his rounds to gather the morning report anyway, it was just out of duty and routine that the blue hornbill still continued his job. "Hello Sarabi?" he landed at the entrance of the den."

"Zazu?" he turned to see Sarabi outside of the den, coming his way. "I didn't expect you here."

"Yes I know, just figure I stop by and see how my queen is doing."

"Thank you, that's means a lot. How are you?" asked the dark-rimmed lioness.

"I'm fine, overworking myself as usual." He explained, "you know, someone has to do it." not tooting his own horn, but Zazu was always proud of his work ethic. "but I should ask how are you?"

"I'm getting along, I guess I should say… we are getting along." It took a while for Sarabi to accept her pregnancy, and even now, at times, she blames herself and the cub. But remember the innocent life inside her has nothing to do with his or her father crime.

"May I?" Sarabi nodded, Zazu flew over and touched his queen growing belly. He felt like he could feel the small life inside her kicking. It was a warm feeling. But then as soon as it felt the warmth in his heart…it was soon replaced with the cold. "I'm …I'm sorry this had to happen to you."

"Feeling sorry for me won't change anything." Chimed the mother. "H-how is Zira?" Zazu looked to her, surprised she asked, but then again, Sarabi is not a one to hold a serious grudge against anyone. She knows deep down Zira is fighting her own battles, just like she is. How could she blame her by the way she acted? When in a different circumstance, she could act the same way.

"Fine I'm sure…"

"Is having this cub troubling her? I know from the last cub, it took a toll on her."

"Well, it was her choice."

"Zazu!"

"I'm sorry my queen, but- but whatever happens to Zira she brought it upon herself. life wasn't dealt to her like others."

"Zazu, life has dealt itself to her, in more ways than one, she has nothing to do with the things I go through."

"But she does!"

"The only reason why is because of her ties to Scar, he is the reason for her, and he is the reason for this!" referring to her…unwanted pregnancy. But Sarabi catch herself, she wasn't going to let herself get angry anymore, it wouldn't help anything. She just had to live day by day. "Queens sacrifice a lot from their king and kingdom and for what they think is right, even if it's wrong."

" Pssh Zira wouldn't know how to spell kingdom, even if it was right in front of her. or I should say, Scar wouldn't know…" a sigh of frustration left he lioness lung, she understood where the blue hornbill was coming from. He was practically watching at the side, while the pridelands went to waste, his home to waste. And he is supposed to fly home and report to a king about his kingdom – a kingdom he doesn't even care for. but having that negativity around her was something she didn't need nor want. "ugh, I'm sorry." Sarabi met his eyes. "Well I have to get going, I just came to see if you were alright."

"Thank you again, Zazu."

"Okay." He nodded before taking flight back into the skies.

At the waterhole, the pair of orange and brown lion walked along the waters edges. Bored, with nothing to do, they kicked rocks into the water.

"man, that eye contact we had…made I feel something special happening between us." With the Nuka…umpteenth time speaking about Nala, and how they met eyes when talking…like a normal conversation is held with your eyes closed. By this time Simba had already blocked out his, friends voice when they were back at pride rock when the girls left them. "Man…I wonder what the real reason is for Nala to come out here."

"For Vitani to show her how to hunt, didn't you listen?" Simba looked at his reflection in the water. He looked irritated. He looked back to see Nuka reaction, all the brown lion did was give him a nonchalant look of 'really'.

"Simba Simba my son, you must not know the ways of lionesses. Nala didn't come to just 'learn hunting' from Vitani I can tell you that much…she here for another reason, something more important."

"To better her hunting skills...hmp, still sounds right to me the second time saying it."

"Boy somebody in a hissy fit." Chimed Nuka, also looking at himself from the water. Simba rolled his eyes, he wanted to say he was growing sick and tired of hearing him cry over Nala for the past hour. It was clear as day she didn't like him and he was just an idiot to think otherwise. "You know what you need? You need a-" a larger shadow fell over the boys. "Dad?!" he voiced, more scared then surprised.

"Hello king Scar." Voiced Simba looking down

"Hey dad, what are you doing here?"

"A king can't come to his own waterhole?"

"Oh no of course not- I mean yes you can- not…like of course not you can't. ya know." The king eyes his son some before walking pass to get a drink. Nuka walked over to Simba and elbowed him. "You need to be calmer dude!"

"…what?" voiced the male confused, what reality did Nuka live in? "Nuka-"

"How have you boys day been?"

"Good sir." Voiced his nephew.

"Yea it was great dad, we did some sparring, ya know bettering our skills."

"Is that so." Knowing the lie his son was telling through his teeth. He wasn't fooling anyone.

"You said a king has to always be at his best game."

"I did say that…didn't I." the two nodded. "Well a king has to take his own advice right- I give great advice."

"The best advice sir!" voiced one of the hyenas.

"Yes, some knowledge I can pass on to my son." Hearing his made Nuka feel proud. That he was Scar son and that he would carry on his father legacy to become another great king and ruler. "Simba, can I talk with you." Simba had to make a double take did he just say his name…and then, son? "Well, son?"

"uh, Yes sir…" he and Nuka shared a look on confusion.

"Dad, I can come too if you need me-"

"That won't be necessary" cutting his son off. " I know you busy working on your training, I don't want to distract you." Nuka said nothing "Take a walk with me boy." He ordered his nephew more or less. As the two made their way away from the waterhole, Scar arm wrapped around the yearling. And Nuka left standing, confused. As he watched his father walked off without him.