Hey, everyone, I'm back!, I know I know, I've been gone for far to long, I've even received emails from a few of you, asking where the hell the next update is, lol, shout out to ya'll. Sorry, life just been very busy for me, and also writer blocks doesn't help, to put it plainly the first chapters 1-17 was part one, 18-27ish, is part two of my book and 28-35ish chapters is part three. This is all in my head of course and not written on paper yet….so hopefully, I can add all the things I want and ya know keep the chapters coming, so anywhere here's chapter 18!

Chapter 18 (That night)

Returned back to her pride, Nala rested comfortably beside her mother as she and the pride ate that days kill. Lucky for them, they managed to not only get a kill for Zira and her pride-sisters, but also a decent size zebra for themselves. Which came with a cost, the lionesses were exhausted, but at least their stomachs would be full for the night. Even though their swollen paws and aching backs still voiced otherwise. As the blue-eyed yearling ate she noticed from the corner of her eyes that the lioness, Sarabi, her other mother was not eating. She looked as if she had not touched her food at all, which concerned her. After all, she is pregnant so she much be hungry, right? Nala left Sarafina side and walked over to her play mother. She could tell as she approached she was in deep thought, and about what, Nala did not know. But she didn't need to guess hard, as she stood in front of her, her voice was soft, almost inaudible to everyone else. "…I saw him today…" Sarabi looked up, with a raised brow. "Simba." She chimed, with an uneasy smile, hoping it would bring Sarabi out of her deep contemplation.

"Really?" within an instant the mothers face brightened. A smile appeared on her face stretching from ear to ear. It had been so long since she had last seen him. It felt like years.

"Yea."

"…H-how does he look? Is he taller?...is his hair at the top of his head still messy?" Nala began to get flooded with Sarabi's questions. These simple questions met everything for her. Her questions of what he ate that day, where he slept, is he happy…Unfortunately, she didn't have the answers to most of her questions. But she could lie, she did lie, to make her feel better just to know her son well-being.

"He's good. He got taller…but I could probably still pin him haha…ugh he has his mane now. It's still growing obviously, but it's there…he looks good. Um he's probably eating now, like us and he sleeps in priderock…with Scar and his family. He's happy." Sarabi was silent for a moment.

"Good, I had worried for so long, how he was."

"He says he missed you."

"Did he?" this almost brought tears to her eyes. So he was no mad her at? That's what she figured, ever since that day where he said he would stay and live with Scar. She figured he had found out something about her, and was mad…even thought he was a cub and knew nothing of what was going on, but still. She wondered if she has done something wrong. At least now she knows, it wasn't that. "I miss him too…"

"I know, I told him. I told him we all miss him." Nala paused for a moment. "I even told you if he wanted to, he could always come back and see us, and –"

"NO, no he cannot come here." This took Nala off guard. She closed her mouth and refused to say anything more. She didn't understand why she could say this. She thought she missed Simba? Wouldn't she want to see him, face to face. Talk to him? hug him? Was she missing something? Sarabi could see the look confusion on the yearling face. And fought within her, whether to tell her or not. But in the end, she decided to voice her reason of 'why' after all, she was no longer a young cub anymore, and sooner of later she would hear about adults' affairs or be involved in them. "I'm sorry Nala, I didn't mean to sound like that."

"…Did I do something wrong? I thought you would want to see him?"

"No, you did nothing wrong and yes I do want to see him, I'm dying to see him, but I don't want him to see me…" she voiced lowly, trying not to be heard by her pridesisters ears.

"Oh…I see, but I mean…I think he'd-"

"I know you mean good dear, I do and I appreciate it. But with things are the way they are, and me not knowing what Simba is going thought…finding out about me and Scar, it would not be appropriate."

"You think he'd be mad at you?" she questioned with a raised brow. She Nala couldn't imagine him being mad at his mother for something she couldn't control.

"I wouldn't know." She voiced.

"He wouldn't! you're his mother, plus Scar forced-" before she could finish, she stopped herself from saying something she would regret. After all, no one knew that Nala had found out the truth about Scar and Sarabi. "..it's his baby brother or sister…"

"I know that."

"So, I mean…it's not it's fault."

"I know it's not, believe me, I do. But I don't want him coming here, at least until the cub is born, understood?"

"Yes…I understand." Which she did, but at the same time, she had already invited Simba to come back home. How could she uninvite him now? After all, she wanted him to come back, he was her best friend. She couldn't get herself to tell Simba 'never mind, don't come visit.' And she barely knew when she would see him. Besides these last two encounters, it had been months since she had seen him. Talked to him.

"Don't be upset dear, know I miss him too."

"I'm not upset, I'm fine."

"You can see him during the day for me? and tell me how he is going, how Scar is treating him?" this reminded the lioness that Simba did have a talk with Scar that had him seeming off, at least to her. However, Nala didn't want to make a deal of it yet, after all, she had no idea what they had even talked about. It could have been nothing, and the last thing she wanted was for Sarabi to worry about that. She'd just keep the information to herself.

"Sure, I can do that." She chimed, with a smile and a heavy heart.

In the center of the den, Nuka and his family sat huddled around in a circle, finishing up their meal. It seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves to their meal. All but Nuka, something had bee pressing on his mind. He had a slight attitude that could be felt looming in the room, and it was only a matter of time before something came of it. Nuka rarely kept his feeling in check, he had to make sure others knew how he was feeling. Meanwhile, while this happens, Simba was outside. Zira did not want Simba to get the idea that he was welcomed into the family, that he was one of them. Yes, he might have been his nephew, but he was another kings' son and blood. And no doubt a problem to her son and blood. Simba did not mind, it gave him time to be alone, with no hyenas, no Zira, no Scar and no Nuka down his back. He could finally be at ease.

"Ugh." Voiced the dark brown yearling. He flopped his meat down to the ground, with the flick of his claw. "This meat is too tough, what kind of kill is this. I mean you can barely chew it, what it takes them three years to take this kill down?"

"Well." Voiced his sister, already annoyed with her brother complaining. "If you can do better, why don't you go hunting yourself. That way you'll take down the kill within no time, and you'll have soft and tender meat." Nuka mad a face at his sister.

"Vitani don't mock your brother, the meat is rather tough." Voiced Zira, always standing up for her first born. "They could have certainly done a better job." A heavy sigh left out of the cubs lungs. Why? Why did she always have to side with him, and then, why does everyone give the lionesses such slack? I mean, Vitani was not close to the prideland lionesses, all she did was talk to Nala, and that was barely. Now that she was helping her hunt, they would obviously talk more. But nonetheless, Vitani knew hunting was hard, she knew her mother knew hunting was hard. Yet she still complained, when it came down to it, Vitani hated complainers. There was something about a lion or lioness blaming someone else for their problems, that always seemed to tick her off. Vitani was a lioness of action, if she didn't like something, you do something about it. No one else will do it for you.

"Siding with him again I see, that's crazy… you know mom if y-"

"Enough Vitani." Scar voice broke out. He looked up from his silence still eating his meal. "you know how sensitive your brother is." Muttered the king.

"I'm not sensitive!" voiced Nuka in the out roared, he hated when others said he was prissy or…sensitive. He wasn't he just had a way he liked things, like his meat. He liked it tender, not tough. Was that too much to ask for? It seemed like everything the prince did and said was wrong in his father's eyes. And the only one who had any faith in him was his mother. "Mom, tell them."

"Nuka isn't sensitive Scar. He just has a preference."

"Does he?" he didn't look up from his meal.

"Yes." Zira voice had a certain tone to it like she knew something, and there was more meaning behind her words. " Just like his father…" Scar stopped eating and looked at his mate, with a stale face. They shared a small glance to one another, un-be-known to the twins, who had no idea what was going on between the two.

"What did you two do today?" asked the twins father, changing the subject.

Nothing much- oh actually, I've become Nala teacher, she sucks at hunting and asked me for help." Informed Nala.

"The blue-eyed lioness daughter?"

"Yea, her…Sarafina I thinks her name." she shrugged not really knowing the answer, but her mother did not care at all really.

"Why are you wasting your time helping her? when you could be helping me get ready for your soon-to-be-here baby brother." Scuffed Zira, my lionesses can't do everything for me."

" Well one, because there nothing to do here, and two you don't want me helping you, remember? The last time I tried to put in my two cents you told me to leave. So why be where I'm not wanted."

"Ugh really, Vitani? I'm starting to think you call your brother overly sensitive because you secretly are." Vitani rolled her dark orbs in the back of her head while breathing out a sigh of irritation.

"Is that your way of saying you miss me?" Zira said nothing.

"If I missed you Vitani I would have said that."

"Okay, mom-" Nuka had left his portion of the kill and made a motion towards his father. With a raised brow he asked.

"Dad, what did you talk to Simba about?" he tried to voice it, with a nonchalantly. Like the matter didn't tick at him. "I mean its' not like I care, but I'm just curious, that talk took foreverrrr I mean." Automatically Scar knew where this would lead to, he didn't have to look in his mate direction to know she was glaring at him.

"Nothing that would concern you son."

"I disagree, I feel all matter would concern him, being the future king." She was pushing her luck, but she knew she could. There was no way Scar would lay a paw on her in front of everyone. Not like he hadn't in the past, but the less he had to deal with coming home the better, not to mention he wanted his cub to surpass Nuka. So even if he killed him, he would make sure nothing would cause Zira to fly in a fit.

"Right but this was a small matter, I just wanted to see how the boy was doing."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Guilty as charged."

"Well, as I mention to Nuka before you came, I think you should start spending more time preparing him to rule Scar. Let him spend the days with you, and learning, instead of wasting his time with Mufasa boy."

"Sure, I'll start when he's ready-"

"I am ready dad! So ready!" eagerness all in his voice, it danced about in his brownish orbs. "In fact, I was thinking of joining you on your early pa-"

"No don't bother yourself with that, just yet son. I'll get you when the time comes."

"But dad-"

"I said, DON'T bother with it." Nuka stood torn, he couldn't figure whether he should argue with his father or ask for reinforcement from his mother. Vitani was amused either way with her brothers' situation. So pitiful, but at times, even she left somewhat bad for him. No one took him seriously.

" But-"

"Oh drop it Nuka, you'll just irritate daddy." Voiced his sister, mainly to herself, but she didn't care if he heard her. A smirk came to her face as she saw the expression of annoyance on Nuka brown face. But that wasn't the only lion who shared the same annoyance that night.

Next morning

"Get up." The voice in his eyes was sudden and shook the yearling form his sleep. His red orbs popped opened, to see a blurred vision of his uncle inches away from him.

"Ugh…u-uncle Scar…w-what are you doing here?" Simba rose to his paw within seconds. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"follow me." he voiced before turning around. Suddenly three more heads came into view, along with their sinister laughter.

"Hey, morning kid." Voiced Banzai. "You're up early." Simba paused, what were they doing here? Well, Simba knew Scar never went anywhere without his backup…as Simba liked to call it. There is safety in numbers and well, the hyenas have a lot of numbers on their side.

"Whats with the face? Aren't you happy to see us." Voiced the Shenzi the leader. Moving to the front, her nose in the air. "geeze well good morning to you too, then."

"Ugh…i-"

"Hey hurry up kid, boss is waiting!" Simba stood for a moment, bewildered, he didn't know what to do, or really what to think. Why was Scar summoning him all of a sudden…and this early no less. Plus, with the added strength of the hyenas, he more or less felt forced to follow his uncle.

"…okay…"

Simba walked down priderocks steps. Darkness welcomed him everywhere. How early was it? it was still dark outside, was it even truly morning? What on earth…

"C'mon Simba, let have a walk, shall we." The five odd companions seemed to walk a great distance. The whole while, Simba was trying to think in his head, what on earth was happening, which was nearly impossible because Simba was not a morning lion at all. He had half a mind to fall asleep where he stood, or rather walked. His eyes began to grow heavy, but he knew it could not sleep. But added shoves from the three hyenas when Scar wasn't looking, or rather wasn't caring-kept Simba on his paws. He gave them looks of annoyance. "Ahh, here we are."

The five stopped on top of a small hill, overseeing the still dark valley. By this time now, the great circle was peeking through the darkness and was slowly beginning to start its journey to the skies. Scar turned and looked at Simba, this made his nephew feel…odd.

"Ummm Uncle Scar…"

"I bet you're wondering why I brought you here, hmm?"

"ugh, yes."

"Well its simple really, we need to start preparing you asking Simba." Even hearing his again, Scar wanting him to be king, after everything that has happened, and even with his own son supposedly being next in line- he wants him, to be future king? It didn't add up, and he was confused. " we need to start building your strength and endurance, you'll need them for future battles." Scar wore a smile on his face, thinking to himself that his son Nuka was probably a failure, and would never amount to anything, at least nothing to him.

"But Uncle, I thought…what about Nuka I mean he is your son. Shouldn't this be something you do with him?" asked the red mane lion, with a raised brow. "I mean, I'm not saying I haven't thought about it…or- I don't know, I'm not honored, but I just feel weird about it, ya know. Nuka would be mad."

"Oh I can understand, believe me, I know of the tension of sibling rivalry." Well if he looked at it like this, then yes, I guess you could consider it that way. after all, Nuka was always calling Simba is brother this, or bro that. Ever since he joined Scar….family. "But my son lacks what it takes to be a king, as you very well know. His bronze for one thing, and then his brains another. it's sad really. But know the less." Scar looked over the overpass. "Tell me, what do you think makes a good king?"

"huh?"

"You heard me, what do you think makes a good king? Do you think I am a good king?" was this a trick question? What was he suppose to say, he Definity wasn't the best or most popular king of the pridelands that was for sure. But good? What made a good king? "I ask you this because I want to know what you think."

"I don't really know."

"Sure you do, I think I am a good king, do you want to know why?" Simba nodded his head slowly." A good king brings peace and uplifts the underdogs and by doing so, makes orders. And that is exactly what I did."

"Yup that's for sure boss!" Banzai.

"Amen to that!" Shenzi. Both spotted dogs shouting in unison.

"yea but…I thought-"

"you thought otherwise?"

"Well yes, only because-"

"What your father had said, hmm." Simba said nothing. "Tell me what do you think a good king is, don't keep me waiting boy."

"…strong…feared…respected…I really don't know."

"Yup, everything the boss is!" voiced a spotted dog.

"Yea everything a good king but Mufasa, man that guy let us starve! He bullied us!"

"Made us homeless!" Ed shaking his head in agreement.

"And did I mention he made us starve!" Scar watched as Simba held his tongue. He knew it wanted to say something, anything to defend his father. "Well, it's the truth kid! Your old man sucked!" Banzai getting in Simba face, ready to put up a fight.

"Oh calm down fool!" voiced Shenzi.

"But he-"

"Enough Banzai, don't bad mouth Mufasa, after all, he was my little brother." Scar was still for a moment, that had everyone off guard. Was he having a moment? " But my brother was not the lion main thought he was. He had a jealous side and evil side."

"My dad…no way. He didn't have a mean bone in his body."

"Oh no, why he didn't tell you? He was the one that gave me this scar on my face form one of his jealous rages."

"what…"

"Oh, my boy, let me tell you the story, while we start your training."