Simba knows how hard and difficult it can be to be a king of all the Pride Lands. Poor Nala knows that it is just as difficult to be queen as it is to be the king, even though the king has more power than herself. Alas, they both had royal duties since they were co-rulers over the Pride Lands, and it was their destiny to be rulers of the Pride Lands ever since they were born into this world. While they cared deeply about their family and subjects who praised them both for the big hearts they had in their bodies, Simba and Nala wished that they were cubs again since they had lots of fun together when they were Kion's age.
Both of them knew that it was only fantasy and they couldn't really become kids again. It was very impossible and not even Rafiki himself had the kind of magic like that. No, that too was out of he mandrill's hands. At least they can have some fun every once in a while when they were not fulfilling royal tasks that needed to be done like encouraging diplomacy.
The king and queen were having a friendly talk with Akilah and Veya, the African wild dogs in a friendly matter, along with thinking of a solution to deal with Reirei and Goigoi, the troublesome jackals who had devious and deceitful children under their wings. Yes, those jackals are quite a thorn on the lions side, along with the wild dogs since jackals can be troublesome kinds of mammals. "I don't know what to tell you, Simba." said Akilah. "I just wish I can just kill them and be done with them forever. But, I don't want to be a terrible animal. Besides, they have kids like we do."
"Very good point, Akilah." Simba agreed. "They might be bad, but they are not completely evil like Scar or Inuwa was. No, they might be like Janja and his clan. Maybe they can reform like Janja did."
"Possibly." Akilah nodded his head. "Could happen today, could happen tomorrow, we'll never know."
"And besides, there are other things to worry about besides them." Nala pointed. "There could be a major drought and many animals would die of thirst."
"Yes. That kind of power is out of our paws." said Veya.
"But, can we tell you guys something?" the king asked.
"Of course Simba, what is it?"
"We do love being rulers of the Pride Lands, and care about everyone, but sometimes; I wish I can be a cub again. At least do stuff whatever we wanted to do without a care in the whole Pride Lands. It can be... stressful being the king, and doing all this royal stuff at one setting."
"Well, we might not have as much power as lions do, Simba." Veya admitted, "but we know how you feel."
"Yeah, you are in charge of your pack, and we all got to take care of our own." said Nala
"Exactly." said Akilah. "It can be stressful for us to be leaders too, no matter how big or small your family or friends are. Heh, I remember when me and Veya were little pups and how we irritated our parents, and giving them a little bit of grief with our rambunctious playing."
Simba and Nala couldn't help but laugh. "Sounded like you had a blast when you were kids." Simba smirked
"We did." said Veya. "My parents would always bare their teeth at me when I get too rough with their ears while biting them."
"And my dad would threaten to feed me to the crocodiles if I didn't stop being too rough with my brothers and sisters. But don't worry, he didn't mean it. My dad just said those things to keep me in line and behave."
"Well, me and Nala would go off exploring without our parents' permissions all the time, and we would always get in trouble." Simba admitted. He smiled a little bit and frowned while looking downward. "But... I kinda blame myself for my father's... you know." Nala frowned and gently nuzzled him on the left, comforting him to try and make him feel better.
The queen of the Pride Lands then said: "Come on, Simba. We've been over this many many times. It was-"
"I know, I know." Simba sighed. "It was not my fault about what happened that day. Scar was the one to blame."
"Exactly." Nala smiled. "So come on, buck up."
"Yeah, you're right."
"Besides, we had fun when we were cubs, right?"
"Yeah. We did." Simba smiled, realizing his mate was absolutely right. "We did have fun. Hopping on hippo noses before the chomped on us, playing pouncing with Zazu while he wasn't looking at us."
"Well," said Veya, "Sounded like you did have fun as cubs."
"Of course, Timon and Pumbaa were fun when I lived with them." said Simba. "They're family too. Sometimes Akilah... I wish I was a cub again so that I can enjoy the good times I had. Not saying I am not happy."
"We totally get that, Simba." said the male wild dog. "Me and my mate sometimes wished the same thing. It makes us feel sentimental."
"But, we all know we can't just magically turn into kids again by some wave of magic." Veya nodded her head.
"So true, Veya." said Nala. "At least we can all dream about that." All four of them laughed with each other and stopped after a few seconds. "Well, we wish we can stay with you longer. But me and Simba have to go hunting."
"That we do." Simba nodded. "I can eat a whole elephant right now. See you guys later."
"Take care, Simba, Nala." Akilah warmly bid his temporary farewell to the lions.
Meanwhile in the Back Lands
Poor Rani was still very conflicted and under so much pressure from being the queen of her own pride someday. "Kion, I don't really know what else to do. I might fail and I might screw things up so bad. What if I cause a drought in the land because of being a bad leader?"
"Oh don't talk like that." Kion begged. "That's completely crazy talk. And, you want my opinion?"
"I'm sure you will tell me what it is." said Rani flatly but sarcastically.
"I think; you will be a great leader of the Night Pride. And besides, you shouldn't have to worry about it just yet. Your parents were only trying to help you.
Rani was silent and she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kion. I was just under so much pressure and I didn't know what came over me. but... do you really think I will be a good queen?"
kion smiled and sat next to her. "Rani," he said, "I think you will be the greatest queen of the Night Pride in history."
Rani had a tear of joy going down her right cheek and she was so happy to hear those words from her sweet boyfriend. "oh Kion." she said, hugging him tightly. This lioness was lucky to have a boyfriend like Kion here.
Deep down, Rani realized that any lioness would he lucky to have him as her boyfriend.
"Do you feel better?" he asked her.
"Yeah. I do." rani replied, letting go of him. "thanks to you." she gave him a kiss on the forehead to show him more thanks.
"So should we look for your parents?"
"Yeah, they are probably worried sick about me. Gah, I'm used to them worrying about me."
Kion chuckled and said: "overprotective parents. Am I right?"
Rani burst out a small laugh and she said: "tell me about it."
Back to Simba and Nala
The king and queen were going back to their home and they had a nice conversation. deep down, they were, indeed, wishing they were cubs again and that they had the happy-go-lucky lives without a care in the world like all children would be like
Suddenly, the queen stepped on something very thin and found herself falling down a circular hole in the ground, yelling in fright.
"Nala!" Simba exclaimed in horror. "I'm coming to get you!" the king immediately went down the hole to rescue her and the two lions fell in what appeared to be an underground lake with glowing flowers and mushrooms as far as the eye can see. "Nala, are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, Simba." They both got up and wiped the dirt and dust off themselves like getting out of a river.
The King and queen looked around and it wss absolutely beautiful in this little cavern. "whoa." they said in awe.
"look at this place." Simba said. "it's so... beautiful down here."
"Yeah, the elephant graveyard is nothing compared to this. I mean, look at it." Nala agreed.
"I know. this makes the elephant graveyard look like a desolate wasteland. although, it kinda is. the water looks so shiny."
"I've never seen any water like this before." Nala said
"Neither have I. but, let's take a drink before we find a way out of here."
"Gotcha." both lions took some sips of the sparkling water and it tasted like any other kind of water on the surface. After they got their share of sipping, they both saw a staircase on the right that could lead them both back to the surface.
"I think this is the way." said Simba. "Let's get out of here, Nala."
"I'm right behind you."
"hopefully we can get out." suddenly, while walking more upward, Simba's voice sounded a little highe, leaving Nala a little confused.
"are you ok, Simba?" Nala asked.
"Yeah, but are you? Your voice sounds a little higher than usual." Simba replied.
"maybe it's just the air down here."
"Yeah, that could be it. come on, let's keep going."
at last they saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel, and it was the sweet surface on the Earth. "we made it!" both of them exclaimed. they looked surprised and confused. "wait a minute." they added in a more calm voice.
They looked at each other and they both yelled. "Simba?"
"Nala?"
for some reason, both the king and queen were turned into cubs again. "uh-oh." they both said.
