A/N: I promise now that I am in a LK mood to work on this a little every day and update ATLEAST once a week, don't stop reading guys.

-----CHAPTER NINE: Return-----

Simba couldn't sleep. Dreams of Li were now plaguing him worst then ever. He stood up pacing again. Timon frowned hiding in a bush wondering what was wrong. He decided to turn around and sleep in a big tree with Timon and Pumbaa. Maybe that would get his mind off it. Thinking about it wasn't improving the situation. Simba sat down in the bed of leaves, and said goodnight to Timon and Pumbaa. They said goodnight and all three fell asleep.

It wasn't long before Simba was up again but not for the same reason. He poked Timon in the chest. He snorted and rolled back over mumbling. Simba frowned and tried to get Pumbaa awake. He did not budge even when he put a bug in front of the warthog. Simba decided to poke Timon harder. He jabbed his ribs whispering. "Timon...Timon.."

"What Simba its too early for this.."

"I gotta go..."

"Go where?" Timon muttered lightly.

"Go...you know GO!"

Timon's eyes ripped open. "OH, that go!" He stood up and hasted Simba away across a log.

Nala lay in the cave wondering what to do. But before she could come to a decision Scar was approaching her smiling in that malicious way that meant he was up to something. "Nala, Nala." He said circling her watching her closely. "How you've grown. I think it is time you soon became my queen." He smiled again. "Marriage."

Nala's eyes widen. "No Scar." She said suddenly. "Go away." Scar didn't move. "You will marry me. I am the king! My word is law!" He said standing to his full height. Nala shook her head. "You will never be the true king Scar, Simba was the rightful one and now that he's gone. We have no king."

"Listen you brat!" Scar said enraged now walking to her. The Hyenas in the background watching closely. "You will marry me. And you will bear the next King after me!"

Nala stood up. She wouldn't do it without a fight. "I would die before I did that Scar."

Scar smiled viciously, then to his henchmen who began laughing. "You want to die rather then marry a handsome King like myself?"

"I wouldn't marry you. I'd rather die in first. You are despicable. And a horrible lio-" That was as far as she got as Scar ripped his paw across her face. She yelled and skidded across the cave floor. Several Hyenas giggled. And Sarabi covered her mouth. Sarafina horrified ran over. Scar shoved her away. "Get away Sarafina!" He looked down at Nala but Another body leapt onto Scar bringing him down. Several hyenas stopped laughing and replaced it with shock. Sarafina stood watching, but nudged Nala awake. "Nala! Nala wake up!" Nala groaned and looked at the two males fighting. It was Scar and someone she knew that looked familiar. "Seart!" She whispered.

Sarafina covered Nala's mouth making a shushing sound. There was a break in the fight as the two lions circled. Scar's scar over his eye was shining with fresh blood. and Seart seemed to be healed. Both males growled but Scar seemed to be hyped up. "Who is this young male?" He asked watching Seart calmly.

"I am Seart. I just saw this lioness needed help and wanted to." Seart said calmly watching Scar closely.

"Hmm. You ,A stray male decide to help young Nala here? What is it you expect in return eh?"

"All I want is the lioness's respect that I get rid of you." Seart growled preparing to fight back.

"You want to fight? FINE!" Scar leapt at Seart and Seart at Scar both swiping at each other. Scar slapped Seart across the face and he returned it, and turned around head butting Scar. Scar stumbled but roared angrily and bit into Seart's back where there was no Mane." Seart roared in pain his legs shaking. Nala couldn't watch anymore. She got in front of Scar and slapped him across the face. Scar roared and fell to the floor which gave Nala a chance to help Seart up and run out the cave with him. The other lioness's ,shocked just watched as she carried Seart as far as she could get.

Nala headed for a secluded spot far from where Scar and his minions could go. It was in a small underground cave hidden by bushes. Sarafina had plopped Nala inside it once before to hide her from a leopard that had tried attacking Sarafina's new baby. The cave then had seemed so large, and indeed it was. Seart looked into Nala's eyes and smiled. "You saved my life Nala..."

"No you saved mine Seart, how can I...No I know exactly how." She whispered down to his ear "I love you too." Nala was going to try to forget about Simba. It was time to move on. And now that she had attacked Scar she would not get back there alive. The hyenas would jump her. Worse then that Scar would force Nala to marry him, and force her to mate and bear a child of his bloodline. That was surely worse then death. She nuzzled against Seart to notice that he was bleeding badly. "Your bleeding. Really badly!" Nala said concerned nursing his wound.

Seart laughed. "It. Was nothing. That Scar doesn't have that much of a bite does he." Both laughed. "No, he doesn't." Nala admitted. Both began laughing more rolling over and playing. Seart had never noticed how pretty Nala's eyes were. Nala suddenly felt as if this was wrong. She suddenly got off Seart somewhat killing the mood. "What's wrong?"

Nala shook her head. "I don't know." She said slowly. "I feel as if this is wrong." Seart pressed his nose against her's. "Just erase the memories of the past. They are no longer a problem." Nala smiled feeling her continuous say no but she ignored it for now. She was comfy relaxing against Seart. And it felt like all the trouble that had passed over the last hour, that of Scar were washed away.

Simba had finally convinced Timon to talk. He needed a man (in this case mere cat ) man talk. But Timon was still a guy. He understood the problem he was facing and sighed. "I had a girl once...well sorta, she never talked to me at all but I know how you feel Simba but you have to put it behind you."

"How does that help anything to forget about it?" Simba asked. He had grown a little more wiser and the hair on his head was growing more everyday. Timon sighed and patted his paws. "Look, lets go down to the lake. And just forget about it. Get your mind of it Ok." Truth was Timon had no answer for Simba's question. "Should I go back, and find Li. Or return to my old life and return to Pride Rock." Timon had responded by stuffing a bunch of green bugs into his mouth, then mumbling something while his mouth was full. He had his own ways of getting out of it.

Simba thought a moment, then nodded. "Ok lets go to the lake." He picked up Timon by the arm with his teeth and walked towards the lake, which after a while opened up into a spectacular waterfall that fell over two hundred feet. Simba had picked up on Timon's game with which they grabbed a giant leaf, and floated on it carrying a stick (in Simba's case his mouth) and paddling down the river as fast as they could. Whoever would reach the beginning of the rapids would win and get to pick that days "Bug of the day." Which was just what it sounded like.

"Err Simba," Timon said nervously looking at the edge. "We're doing the waterfall again?"

"Yep I'm not gonna let you go till you answer my question."

"Which is that Simba?" Pumbaa asked walking towards them from the forest.

"Nothing." Timon said quickly but Simba interrupted him

"I can't decide if I want to go back to Li…I really miss her or stay here…or…" He stopped sitting on his haunches with his head sagging and ears drooping. "Or go back to Pride Rock."

"Oh boy…" Timon said slowly. Unsure of what to do or say. "Pumbaa you take care of this problem…I'll be over there." He walked off. Simba looked at Pumbaa hoping he'd say something to comfort him.

"What do you want more Simba?" He said seriously. This was the first time Simba (and Timon ) had heard Pumbaa talk seriously without turning it into a joke right away. Simba shrugged. "I don't really want to go back to Pride Rock…so I have the option of going back to the mountains and find Li…or staying here. You and Timon are like my second family." Pumbaa began to tear up. "Awww, Simba." He sniffed.

"You taught me a lot…but…" He couldn't find any more words or even how to explain how he felt right now. He was feeling a lot of emotion at once; sadness, anger, and a mixed emotion of love. Simba got up and headed off and into the woods. "I need some time alone to…think." Pumbaa frowned wanting to help but feeling it best to let him be.

Seart and Nala were now continuously with each other every time they got. But they still had to be careful because of Scar's henchmen and Scar himself. Because well, Scar had been trying to get at poor Nala for the entire time she was around him. And each time she said no. But the last time she lost it and scratched his eye where his scar began bleeding fresh.

Seart and Nala had not had official time alone because they were only in the cave, which was relatively cramped, and the whole time they talked. Which for the most part made Seart happy.

One day he was considering something. He looked at Nala. "Nala, would you run away with me? Right now…we could start our own pride, an-"

"What?" Nala said slowly shocked. "We…I can't not with Scar here…"

"Nala. I want to challenge Scar. I want to take his place…with you at my side."

Nala was speechless. She didn't know what to say. Could he really take on Scar? But what happened if…INo Simba is dead/I she told herself firmly. IHe can't come back. If Seart won…he would be king. Do I want to be his queen/I She looked at Seart deciding on answer. "You wouldn't win. His hyenas would jump you. You would be killed instantly." She looked away hiding her tears.

"You…don't want me to even try?" He asked looking into her eyes. She shook her head. "I lost one friend…I don't want to lose…you Seart." They shared a nuzzle and rested.

Simba sat in the fields where he could think alone, and where no one else would bother him. He looked up to the sky letting the soft wind brush what little mane he had. "Father…" Simba sighed holding back his tears, unsure of why he was crying. "Father I don't know what to do!" when there was no answer he suddenly yelled letting all of his frustration upon the world. His roar shook a nearby tree scattering some trees. Surprised he even had it in him, he looked back to the sky. No answer. Nothing.

"I know what to do. I'm going back to see Li." And with that he stood up again and headed for the north, where he would eventually run into the mountains.

-----END CHAPTER NINE----