Copyright

All of The Lion King characters are owned by Disney, not me, Leo and Mlinzi are my characters and Aiheu whoever it was that came up with him, so there.

Hi everybody, sorry for my extended absence, There's a lot that's been going on with my mid-terms and everything so I couldn't move up the story. But now it's second semester, and as long as I stay on top of things I'll be all right (and you'll get your up-dates of course.)

Almost forgot, thanks to Kiara 01 for reviewing. Any new reviews are greatly appreciated!

Later!

-Guardian Panthera

Leo's Journal Part VII- Only Once Before

June 7, 1999

For the past week I've been thinking allot about Simba and Nala cubs, the brothers that live in the maned village pride, I've thought about it and I've decided that their cubs living in that pride probably doesn't mean much. After all the head male (or males) in lion prides often does banish younger males that they feel threatened by. But then again, why banish the cubs at such a young age? And how could Simba feel threatened by his own cubs? They have to be around Kiara's age...

I've decided to keep a closer eye on Simba and Nala cubs, all of them... wait a second, How am I going to do that if Kiara and her brothers are 200 miles apart? Umm... Yah, I'll have to figure that one out... I know! I'll just watch the brothers, besides it's not like anything new is going with Simba and "Drill Sergeant" Zira anyway.

September 18, 1999

It's been almost three months now I've been watching the cubs. I also named the three brothers, all three of them are the same size with some similarities in their coloring but they each have their own distinct personalities.

The first of the brothers is a deep golden color with brown eyes just like Simba. He's the leader of of the three of them and if the other two ever get out of hand (I mean paw) he's the one to straiten them out but will always stand up for them if either one of them are down. Not always the first one there but the last one to leave. I've named him Tanabi.

The second brother is about the same color as Kiara but with green eyes. He the most adventurous out of the three of them. If there's anything unknown or something to be seen or smelt he's almost always the first there. Sometimes hushing fool-heartily into dangerous situations, but, by the support of his brothers, and his own inter-strength, he always pulls through. I've named him Kopa.

The last brother is my own personal favorite. He's a darker color but with blue eyes (kind of like Vitani's). He's the trouble maker of the three brothers. If there's ever any chaos going on you can be sure he was just there. Along with that, he's quite stealthily and cleaver. However, If any of his two brothers are ever in a spot he always comes up with some sort of ingenious plan to get them all out safe and sound. I've named him Chaka.

One day these three brothers are going to grow up to be great leaders. I say that because even though they each have their own flaws they've always got each others back.

(realtime)

Leo closed his journal leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I got to in town soon to get some food...", said Leo in an annoyed tone of voice,"...then wash my clothes, clean my Desert Eagle, get gasoline for the jeep, (exhales)... and to think that someone once said that this would be an easy job..." After that Leo ran his hand through his hair, stood up, and cracked his back. Then he picked up his journal and went over to a small bookshelf and placed his journal next to the book Forever Free. "I'm going to bed," said Leo and then went to a place where he felt comfortable and fell asleep.

However rest wouldn't come as easily for one as out on the savanna Sarafina was far from tired as she plagued by questions, thoughts, and memories...

(Flashback)

It's about summer time the sun can be seen hanging halfway in the sky beating down on the earth below. Under the barrage of the heat a lioness can be seen taking cover under the shade of an acacia tree on top of a small hill, making herself comfortable by laying down in the cool grasses. It isn't long before a small cub comes bounding in up the hill to her.

"Mommy?" asked the cub.

"Yes, Nala dear?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course" said the lioness laughing slightly.

"Umm, I was just wondering, How come Simba has a daddy, but I don't?"

The smile quickly fades from Sarafina, and there is a short silence, quickly she regains her composure and replies.

"Sweetie, your father... died a long time ago, before you were born."

"Oh, I'm sorry mommy."

"Don't be honey, it wasn't your fault."

"I know, I just didn't mean to hurt your feelings mommy."

"You didn't, now go along and play Nala."

"Yes, mom," said Nala turning around, about to run off, but stops for one last question.

"What was his name mommy?"

Sarafina pauses for a moment, considering the question, but quickly makes up her mind.

"I'll tell you when your older, now run along Nala. I'm sure Simba's waiting for you."

"O.k., Bye mom I love you!"

"I love you too Nala, and be back home before dinner!"

(End flashback)

"If I had just told her then, she would've accepted him... but now, How can I tell her now? She would never believe me," thought Sarafina to herself.

Feeling overwhelmed by her relentless onslaught Sarafina spoke out in a whisper, "I just don't know what to do, Mlinzi I wish you were here" just then she heard a slight movement in the grass, gasped for a moment, then quickly pounced in the direction of the sound pinning a white lion to the ground.

"You know Sarafina, we seriously need to work on your leonine greeting skills..."

"Mlinzi!" gasped Sarafina, "You almost scared me half to death," sounding as if she was ready to kill him.

"Well you seem to be well on top of things," replied Mlinzi.

"Oh, sorry," laughed Sarafina while getting off of Mlinzi, "It's just that it's been so long since I've seen you."

"Same here."

"So what brought you back?" asked Sarafina.

"I don't know it was just a feeling I had, So what were you just doing?" said Mlinzi to Sarafina.

There was a long pause as Sarafina stopped for a moment. She had just been thinking about her daughter Nala... and how to tell her about her father. Nala was starting to wonder more nowadays about her father. But Sarafina just couldn't bring herself to say it, to say that Mufasa murderer, the one who had robbed her of her cubhood, and whose mate killed her sons, was also her father.

"Mlinzi, can I trust you?" said Sarafina in a dead serious tone.

"Of course! why couldn't you?"

"It's just Nala, she's starting to ask me more often about her father."

"And what's wrong with that," replied Mlinzi now growing a little concerned about Sarafina.

"It's just that... I can't tell her," said Sarafina trying to get away from the secret that she had kept hidden from Mufasa, Sarabi, Nala, even herself for so long.

"Why can't you," Mlinzi asked now starting to wonder why Sarafina was so reluctant to tell anyone, even her own daughter, about who Nala's father was.

"Mlinzi, surely you must understand what it means to have to hide something" said Sarafina desperately trying to get away from the topic.

"Sarafina, you can't hide what you don't know, I can't even remember my own cubhood let alone any of my past at all, so what have I to hide," stated Mlinzi.

"Well you aren't like me," shouted Sarafina as she finally lost control of herself and her emotions. "Some of us aren't lucky enough to not remember anything! To not remember our sins, our losses, our sorrow! We have to live with it all our lives until we die and return to Aiheu."

Mlinzi looked puzzled for a moment, "Who's Aiheu?"

"It doesn't matter right now, my point is you may not have anything to hide but some of us do," and with that Sarafina collapsed to the grass and started to cry.

"But if you if tell me it's weight won't be your's alone to bear," said Mlinzi trying to calm her down, "Now tell me, who is Nala's father?"

"I... I... I can't!" cried Sarafina starting to run away cursing the world for all the pain it had brought upon her. For destroying her love and leaving nothing but hate and sorrow in it's wake. For robbing from Simba and Nala the chance to know their fathers. For killing her grandsons. For taking all that she had once held dear to her heart and letting it die. What if this white lion, Mlinzi, betrayed her? Caused her more pain and suffering? No, she wouldn't let herself be hurt anymore, she would put an end to it herself. Just one leap off the cliff, the sudden rush of air and adrenalin as the ground closed in on her, and then, nothing, putting an end to her sorrowful life. Yes, that what she would do she would finally put an end to it all... but her path was suddenly blocked by Mlinzi.

"Sarafina do you remember when we first met?" said Mlinzi stopping Sarafina dead in her tracks.

"We've only meet once before Mlinzi, now get out of my way!" roared Sarafina. Eager to finally putting and end to her suffering she took a wipe at Mlinzi with unstealthed claws, but Sarafina, in her state of mind, couldn't hit him as Mlinzi easily sidestepped her and pined her to the ground.

"LET-- ME-- GO," shrieked Sarafina, struggling with all her might to get out from under his paws.

"Then tell me do you remember when we first met," Mlinzi asked calmly.

"I told y-you..." said Sarafina beginning to tire out and calm down, "...We- We've only met once before." just then she stopped struggling and laid her head down sideways to rest on the cool earth.

"But then you remember when we first met you thought that I was lying to you about who I was, but then you looked into my eyes and you knew that I wasn't," nurtured Mlinzi in a caring voice that would calm the most violent of storms. "Look into my eyes and tell me Sarafina, Do I look like I would ever lie to you or do anything to hurt you?"

Sarafina looked up and into Mlinzi's eyes. They were bright blue like her daughter's, but not with sorrow as Nala's were after the death of her sons, And yet, not the cold and hardened stare of war as Vitani's. Nor the fear they had that first fateful meeting. Instead they shone with a deep and caring love that could gain the trust of all within his presence. It was this look that stirred a feeling deep inside her and she knew, with all her heart, that she could trust this white lion named Mlinzi.

End of Leo's Journal Part VII