A/N: This one has a bit of fluff in it, but Nala turns a bit OOC and goes really icy later. (Just a little heads-up note.)
Chapter 19 – Banished
Simba glared at Ramenai's pride apprehensively. "Who are you?"
Ramenai kept his head raised. "Friends of Nala's. We met when she crossed the desert, and we wanted to help."
Nala interceded. "Simba, I would have died without them."
Simba nodded. "Thank you. Our pride would be gone if not for you as well."
He looked out over the plain and heaved a sigh. "It's going to take awhile for this to become what it once was. I only hope that nothing as bad as Scar's reign descends over it again."
Malena bowed her head in shame, then suddenly looked up. "Nala… Zira might still be out in the Shadowlands… if you want to find the cub…"
Nala glanced at Simba. "Yes." Her tone was steely.
"First," Simba said as they turned, "are there any others here who would still swear allegiance to Scar? Anyone?"
Everyone shook their heads, Malena still keeping her eyes on the ground. Nala nuzzled her comfortingly.
"It's okay," she whispered, "you turned away from him."
Malena nodded, and they set off for the graveyard.
As the pride crested a hill, the memories flooded back to Nala. She and Simba had ducked away from Zazu and had quite an adventure here. Luckily Mufasa was still alive, otherwise she and Simba would both be dead. The enormous elephant skull was still guarding the entrance to the graveyard. Timon clambered onto one of its tusks, his head snapping back and forth looking for signs of predators.
"Tch," he scoffed, "they musta heard us comin' and flew the coop."
He stepped on a particularly weak section of the old bone and fell through with a shriek.
"Timon, don't be playin' around," Pumbaa scolded him. "We've gotta help."
He picked up the meerkat on his own tusks and set off after the lions, who were edging carefully around the ancient carcasses.
Raka lifted her head. "Can anyone smell anything?"
Nala scented the air. "No; just decay. The rain probably washed away anything else. We'll have to find her without tracking."
They followed each other up a steep incline of bones, and Nala remembered again: This was where she and Simba had been trapped, against the wall and behind an enormous ribcage.
"Simba…" she whispered.
"I know," he said. "I remember too."
The group fanned out. If Zira was here, she wouldn't be able to escape the way they had come.
Ramenai's eyes flickered, and a growl formed deep in his throat.
"She's there."
Through the ribcage, they could see a lioness with unkempt brown fur lying with a cub beside her. A flash of cream told her that it was indeed Taka. He was play-fighting between her large paws, snarling squeakily.
"Zira!" Simba roared. "We know you're here! Come out, now!"
Taka cried in fright, and Zira stood up quickly.
"Who are you?" she snarled.
"Scar's been defeated, Zira. It's over."
She slunk between the bones, Taka following with his ears back and tail against the ground. Zira's eyes blazed when she saw Nala.
"Back already?" she said quietly. "Are you going to raise your son now?"
Nala stared back defiantly, but said nothing.
Taka nudged Zira's paw looking for comfort, but she pushed him in front of her, exposing him to the angry creatures now forming a circle around them.
Ramenai's brow furrowed. "This… this is your son, Nala?"
Her eyes softened as she looked at the cub, but her tone was harsh. "No. It is Scar's son."
But Taka was coming toward her on unsteady paws.
"Mama," he said.
She growled at him and he backed away, looking scared again.
"I'm not your mother," she said softly. "She has always taken care of you."
She indicated Zira, who recoiled.
"Nala, you can't—"
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do!" she exploded. "You didn't have to endure what I did, before and after he was born! I wanted a life that was mine! But no, I had to do as Scar said or lose my life. Those games are over, Zira. If you want to raise him, then do so, but I will never accept him as my son."
Zira seemed to be in shock.
Taka trundled back to her side, mewing pitifully.
"Mama?" he said, gazing up at her with wide eyes.
She looked back at him, and there was a longing in her eyes that Nala had never seen before.
"Yes, Taka. Yes."
Simba stepped in front of Nala, his tail flicking back and forth.
"It's me, Zira. Simba."
She regarded him warily. "I thought you were dead."
"So did everyone else. But now Scar is dead, and I've—"
"What?" she snarled. "Who did it?"
He glared back at her. "I did. And if you still owe allegiance to him—"
"He was… he was more than a mate," she cried angrily. "And you just see fit to walk back in here and kill him?"
"Yes, I did." His eyes narrowed. "And for maintaining your loyalty to him, you are banished forever from the Pridelands."
"And where am I to go?" she replied. "The cub is too young for me to leave—"
"Then take him with you," said Simba dismissively. "None here will care for him. You have one day to take your leave."
They turned to go, but Zira yelled after him. "One day, Simba, one day I will return! And both of you will regret sending the child with me!"
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A/N: Oooh, dramatic ending. Well, like I said, I think Nala was a bit OOC with how coldly she was acting toward Taka, but… that's for you to decide. I think the next chapter is gonna be the end, so hope you enjoyed the story!
Comments, reviews, you know what to do.
Phantomfreak07
