1There's really not that many new characters. Sabili is Sarabi and Scar's daughter who Sabili didn't know they were her parents and thought that Mdambi and Takua were (hence how Zuri was her "sister.") Kali is Sabili's twin brother that remained at Pride Rock, so it's like half brother against half brother for Nala. Hope that helped.

Also, some people did not understand that "Shrek: A Persuasive Paper" wasn't my real opinion. My real opinion is that it's fine for kids, but it's just easier to write negatively.

Please remember that usually the King is the only male and he "services" all the lionesses in his pride.

WARNING: Adult language is used in this chapter, hence it is rated PG-13.

Thanks for the reviews everyone!!

Sarafina approached her daughter quietly, sitting next to her. "You know, Nala, you're almost 6 months away from being two, which means you will need to have found a mate or be cast as just a member of the lionesses. We both know you could survive as just a anonymous lioness, without a life partner, a mate. There were so many great things planned for you."

"Well, they all went down the drain when Simba 'died.' Things only got more complicated from there," she sighed, dragging her paw in the dirt that covered the rock in a thin layer.

"I know. You have to make a decision soon, dear. Time does not wait for anybody or anything."

"It's so unfair," she muttered.

"Of course it's unfair. We're lionesses," Sarafina replied softly, licking her cheek. Nala remained silent.

Sabili eyed the lioness suspiciously. "Who /are/ you, anyway?" The lioness looked up at her.

"I'm Shistise," she replied, "A lioness of Pride Rock."

"So we must be close?" asked Zuri hopefully.

"Actually, a day away. I'm a messenger, on my way back from a pride close to here. Ubaya Ridge."

Sabili glance over at Zuri. She knew if she had any inkling of who Zuri was, that she was a first in line princess of that pride or any pride, she wouldn't show them the way. "Never heard of it. We're rouges, always passing prides, never really staying around to know their names." Shistese nodded.

"Well, Pride Rock is to the northeast, here," she pointed, "If your rouges, well I can't say this officially, but our King is very nice and will most likely let you join."

"Well, I can only speak for myself, but that would be wonderful," Sabili smiled, looking once again over to Zuri. Zuri shrugged.

"I might go back to where, uh, mother's buried?" It came out as more of a question, and Shitese looked over at her suspiciously. While she was looking at Zuri, Sabili's eyes got wide, and she mouthed, 'Don't be so suspicious'

Zuri straightened herself. "Mother's buried a couple days away from here, to the West," she added, looking at Sabili, who nodded.

"She was all she had, but she's gone from us now," Sabili said flatly, meaning it. Shistese nodded once again.

"We better get going if we're going to make it by sunset."

Nala roared loudly to get the attention of the Pride. They gathered, all whispering, wondering what was going on. "Thank you for responding," she said, "I have made my decision, about who I am going to become the mate too. I have chosen, I," she looked across the pride. "But I have chosen neither. I will not become the mate to either one of them. I don't think I can get close enough to either one of them to choose them for life." Shocked gasps erupted though the lionesses, and Sarafina rushed up.

"What are you doing, you cub! You don't realize what your throwing away, what your giving up! Let me tell you, you do /not/ want to become me, a mere lioness with no mate of your own! Ohh, I could just slap you right now!" she turned to the crowd, still gathered, "She has NOT made up her mind yet, and-."

"MOM! You can't make my choices for me!"

"-we will let you know as soon as possible. Sorry for the disruption!" she turned to Nala. "You are a stupid, stupid cub. You will make a decision between the two of them, you will NOT be just a lioness of this pride. Either you and Kali make a pride of your own, or you become Queen of Pride Rock. I cannot believe you! Risking not having a mate like that!"

"Mom, you can't make my decisions for me! This is mine and mine only, and you will have no say WHAT SO EVER!" She ran away from her mother, down Pride Rock.

"Don't you understand?" she said softly to herself, "I'm doing this for your future, your well-being. Don't hate me." She started to cry, silently, and went into the empty lion's den, willing herself to sleep.

Ruia was roused from his nap from the high pitched voice of the Queen, Mdambi. "Ruia! Ruia! GET UP!" she screamed. He leapt to his feet, still drowsy.

"Yes, Queen?" he asked tiredly, yawning.

"Where is Sabili and Zuri?" she demanded.

"What do you mean, where are they?"

"Don't lie to me, boy. I know you helped them runaway, saw them, they told you goodbye, something! Just tell me before they get to far, or, or–!"

"You'll be banished!" screamed Takua from behind him, and Ruia swirled around.

"Takua -"

"King."

"King, majesty, I promise you I don't know where they are! If I did, I would surely tell you!" His eyes pleaded with Takua's.

Takua turned to his Queen. "Mdambi, assemble a group of lionesses, five big. That's as many as we can afford to send out. Have them travel in the direction of Pride Rock. Scan the area. Most likely, because Simba just came into power, he won't let you all in his kingdom, but ask if they're there. If so, demand they be brought back or be killed according to the laws of the lands."

Mdambi thought the certain law was fruitless and stupid, Takua had almost died once because he had taken a lioness in and then found out she was from a pride when the group had come looking for her. But in this case, it was in her favor, so she respected it. "Right away, my love," she replied. "LIONESSES! GATHER!" she screamed.

Takua turned to Ruia, once again looking disgusted. "Are you a lioness? I didn't think so. Get out of here, you, you, ASS!" Although his words were angry, his eyes were troubled.

Ruia's mouth opened wide. He had only heard Takua curse once, and that was when a large rock had landed straight onto his skull. Worse yet, Takua had never really even been /angry/ at him before, acting as a father to him! Ruia, close to tears, but trying to be a lion and suck it up, frowned at him. Not in a mad way a frown is usually used, but a disappointed, saddened frown.

"AHHHHHHH!" screamed Shistese, her claws clinging desperately to the side of the rock which she had slipped on. The narrow rock path, with two steep drops on the sides, was the only way to get to Pride Rock without having to go into "Small Pride" territory, where all of the smaller prides lived while trying to find land for the humble prides.

"Hold on, Shitese!" called Zuri. Sabili dug her claws into the lionesses paws.

"Sorry, it's the only way," she huffed, trying to drag the lioness up into safety, Zuri digging her claws into the back of Shistese, helping her up, as she cried out in pain of the claws digging into her.

Shitese landed on the flat surface, panting and moaning. Zuri eyed her worriedly as Sabili started to lick the wounds.

She back from cleaning the wounds, surveying her. "We better stay somewhere near for a night or two, we left deep marks," she said to her sister, then turning to Shistese. "What do you think?" All the lioness could do was nod, the pain overtaking her in waves, as if she had been bitten deep and sharp many, many times. Sabili continued to take charge. "Okay, Zuri, try to find a nice spot near here to rest, preferably a small den of some sort."

Zuri nodded. "Be right back," she said over her shoulder as she took off. Sabili continued to clean her savior's wounds again. Her savior, taking her away from a life of lies.

"We need someone royal to stay!" persisted Takua, to his Queen Mdambi. "And usually, that lioness would be both Zuri and Sabili. But they're both missing, and we need royal blood to be here at the pride. You /have/ to stay, Mdambi!" he repeated, his voice rising.

"NO! I will not be left out of the search for my girls!" she cried out, her chin quivering. Takua sighed.

"Fine. Come. But because of your selfish acts, if we get slain, there will be NO one to lead this pride. It will be all on your shoulders."

"If you want royal blood to stay here so much, YOU stay." Takua glared at her.

"You know I am the King and am required to go."

"Not required. It's not in the Laws Of The Lands," Mdambi challenged.

Takua roared at her in anger, about to claw at her face. "Are you challenging me?"

Mdambi roared back. "That would be stupid of me, now, wouldn't it? I'm a lioness. I can't match your power."

Takua was still roaring angry words at her. "Then I suggest you take your voice down many tones."

One almost grown lioness whispered to her female twin. "Look how those girls are tearing up the royal family. You'd think she'd just try to get pregnant again." Mdambi heard this and turned around, angrily.

"Unbeknownst to you, young one, I have good hearing. Also, you can't just replace my cubs."

The young lioness laughed. "Cub. Only one was truly yours." The two laughed, as Mdambi boiled over. Takua stepped in front of his Queen.

"Unless you two want to become rouges, I would suggust you shut your bitchy mouths." The King was in their faces, and the two crouched down.

Their mother rushed in-between them. "Please, I beg you, your majesty. They will learn good behavior, I promise," she pleaded, about to cry. "Just don't banish them from Ubaya. Please!"

Takua nodded slowly. "You better make sure they don't speak even slightly rudely to me or your Queen again," he said darkly, as the two shrank back even further.

The mother was now crying, and so was the Queen. The lioness nodded. "I promise. Promise."

Please R & R!!! Also, my next story after this one is done (Just the summary, well a long summary):

Surviving Death

Another "what if...?" story from me. Actually, I think all of mine are "what if's"

As Simba sat, crying, Scar told him to "Run. Run far, far away, and never return." But the young cub refuses, instead running up the gorge and back home to tell his family what happened!

(So pretty much, he didn't run away lol.Please tell me if you like this idea. Not sure where story might go, have NO plot planned lol. But I usually never have a plot planned. So it all works out.)

R & R!!! THANKS