Chapter IIV: Devastation in the Pride

Nala awoke that morning alone. She had gotten home later then she had expected, and her mother gave her no punishment, realizing how guilty she felt about the situation. She heavily opened up her bright blue eyes and stared out the cave's entrance; it was well after noon and Simba had definitely been awake by now. She wondered how she could have slept in so long; and why Simba hadn't come to wake her.

The cub yawned as she rose to greet the morning. She slowly made her way out the mouth of the cave to find Simba. However, only the lionesses were there. No sign of Simba, Mufasa, or even Scar. She padded down to her mother, who was lying around with Sarabi, like usual.

"Mom, where's Simba?" Nala asked, still not completely awake yet.

"He went off somewhere with Scar." the lioness then presumed her conversation with Sarabi.

"Do you know where to?" Nala interrupted.

"No, I don't."

Nala frowned a bit. What could Scar want to do with Simba? Maybe it's his punishment, she thought, giggling out loud. Soon, she joined other lionesses at the watering hole, but there was something suspicious about the water. It was... moving? The water seemed to almost shake, even when there were no lions drinking out of it.

"That's strange," Nala thought aloud. She stared off into the Pride Lands, as far as she could see. She perked her ears. What was going on? She couldn't see anything, but she could feel that something was terribly wrong. "It's probably just me," she whispered to herself. "I'm probably not awake enough yet." The lioness then joined her mother and waited Simba's return, to ask him where he had been and what Mufasa had said to him last night.

The hours were passing. Now, everyone was getting worried. It was late in the day. Nala knew something wasn't right. Simba would have come back by now... but Mufasa and Scar were still out as well. Not even Zazu was around. She rested her cranium in her mother's paws.

Lionesses were beginning to think that they should go search for them, but none did. They all just awaited their king's return, with his brother, son, and majordomo.

Just as the sun was setting, a dark, skinny lion seemed to be approaching. It was Scar, with his head hung low. He looked at the lionesses with great sadness.

Of course, it was all just an act they each were falling for.

Scar sighed as the lionesses circled around him. They all were asking questions, but he answered none. Nala hid behind her mother, who looked at Scar with eyes full of fear. Nala was scared as well. Neither Simba nor Mufasa were with Scar. She choked back any tears at the dreadful possibilities that could have occurred.

The lion took stand on the top of a boulder. He sighed before he began. "It is my duty to tell you all of what a tragedy has happened. This afternoon, I lead Simba for a pouncing lesson. However, he had wandered off into the valley..." Scar lied through his teeth. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I soon was worried of his absence. I looked over the ledge... Something had spooked the wildebeest and Simba was caught in a stampede." Lioness gasped. "I didn't know what to do. I went to go find Mufasa as fast as I could. I knew Mufasa would be able to save him." He sighed. "But, Mufasa was... unsuccessful."

There were tears trickling down the cheeks of lionesses.

"Mufasa's death was a terrible tragedy; but to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live..."

Nala let of a sob of tears. She had lost her king, and worse: her best friend. How was she to go on, now? She let her tears flow down her cheeks as they pleased.

"For me, this is a deep personal loss. So it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne." Sarabi gave Sarafina a disheartened look. They stared at the ground. "Yet, out of the ashes of tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together, in a great, glorious future!"

There was a bright smile on the new king's maw as hyenas emerged from around them. They seemed to cast an eerie glow, almost. Nala, frightened, ran away back to the den as the lioness exchanged horrified, yet grieving looks. None of them were able to hold back their tears.

"Simba," Nala cried, "You can't be dead! You have to be alive," she mourned. Her tears flew down her cheeks and splattered on the floor. "Don't leave me, Simba. This is all just a mean, cruel joke, isn't it?" she wept. "No. You... you..." she hushed herself, her sobs echoing through the cave, all the way until she cried herself to sleep.

Dream

Nala is running as fast as she can from the hyenas. They are gaining on her. She is breathing heavily; she's getting tired, but doesn't give up. Soon, she is at a dead end. The three hyenas have cornered her. Suddenly, a large lion leaps out from overtop of her and tackles the hyenas. Nala watches in amazement. Mufasa? Was it him?

The hyenas run away. "Mufasa?" she asks.

The lion shakes his head. "No. Simba."

Nala rubs her eyes. It is her friend, looking just as he did the last time she saw him. Her face brightens. "Simba!"

Simba looks at her, and says blankly, "I have to run away."

Nala raises her eyebrows and slightly gasps. "No. No you don't."

"Good-bye, Nala."

Simba walks away and gradually fades away as Nala tries to chase him. "Simba! No, don't leave me... No, don't leave me..."