Running back towards the desert, Simba was trying to come up with a plan on how to confront his uncle. He knows that he can't do it alone. Scar took over the Pride Lands with the help of the Hyenas. So, if he wants to get a chance in becoming the new king he's going to need allies. Starting with finding his friend: Nala.

As luck would have it, he found her near the small pond where Timon and Pumbaa rescued him as a cub.

"Nala!" Simba yelled in joy and ran up to her.

"Simba?" The said lioness turned around and widened her eyes in surprise as Simba was running to her at full speed.

He stopped barely a few inches away from her beautiful, sapphire blue eyes. "Nala, you were right. I have to go home and become King of the Pride Lands."

Hearing those words, a relieved smile curled up on Nala's face. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that, Simba." She rubbed her face against his as they started purring for a moment. "But what made you decide to go back?"

"Well, thanks to a crazy, old mandrill I finally got some sense knocked back into me. I even have the bump to prove it," eyeing up to his the small bump hidden in his mane.

Nala chuckled as she knew who Simba meant. "Rafiki?"

"Rafiki," Simba confirmed and looked back towards the desert with remorse. "I haven't been completely honest with you, Nala. There's a reason why I didn't return home to become King," he lowered his head in regret and sat down.

Frowning, Nala sat down next to him and gently placed her paw on his. "I knew that there was something that you wouldn't tell me."

"Well, you deserve to know the truth. What happened on the day that my father died at the gorge," Simba remained silent for a few seconds to collect his thoughts. "It's a sad story… and it's all because of Scar…."

Simba told Nala everything that happened during the stampede. From how Scar lured him into the gorge with a 'surprise that is to die for'. His escape from the hyenas to the part where Timon and Pumbaa rescued him at the edge of the Oasis.

After Simba finished his story, Nala had a remorseful look on her face. She finally understood why Simba refused to go back and take his place as the rightful king. "I'm so sorry, Simba. I had no idea. What Scar did to you must've been quite traumatizing for you."

"It's not your fault, Nala. You only did what you think was right for the Pride Lands." Simba comforted her and slowly rose up again with pride in his eyes. "You know, once I become King I could use a Queen at my side."

The lioness was flattered at his words and bowed before him. "I'd be honored to become your Queen, your Majesty."

Grinning brightly at her, Simba jumped over her and started running into the desert. "Come on! What are you waiting for, my Queen? Let us go home!"

Nala mentally rolled her eyes as she saw how mischief and adventurous Simba still is sometimes and quickly ran after her best friend to catch up.

"Hold on just a second here!" The two lions immediately stopped in their tracks as they heard a familiar voice coming up from behind them.

A second, deeper voice joined in almost pleading. "You didn't plan on leaving without us would you?"

"Timon, Pumbaa," Simba recognized his favorite meerkat and warthog approaching. "What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like? We're coming with ya." Timon pointed out, standing on the head of Pumbaa.

"To serve you, my Liege," his warthog friend replied and bowed before Simba.

"We saw you running straight to a big, thunderstorm earlier in the night. Pumbaa and I tried to get to you but you were too far away to catch up, not to mention fast!" Timon explained.

"We kept searching for you until we ran into that old, crazy monkey and told us that you were going home. So we headed back to the desert in hopes to find you and we wanted to help you out with your past." Pumbaa added.

Simba gave them a genuine smile. He couldn't have asked for better friends during his time in the Oasis. "Thank you, both of you. But, are you sure you want to go with me? It's going to be dangerous."

"Dangerous? I laugh in the face of danger, hahaha!" Nala added with a laugh.

"While I don't like the thought of getting into fights with Hyenas, ugh," Timon shivered at the thought of those creatures but quickly shook his fear away. "Pumbaa and I are with you till the end."

"Yeah, 'Hakuna Matata' isn't the same without you," Pumba agreed, standing next to Simba.

The young lion smiled at his small group of friends. He took a few steps forward and turned around looking back at them with determination. "So you all are with me then?"

"Now and forever, your Majesty," they said simultaneously and bowed before him.

A small breeze was flowing through Simba's mane. In the distance, the sun was starting to rise again. Showing how majestic he has become. The true King of the Pride Lands had risen.

The group of friends had traveled for an entire day through the intense heat of the desert. Despite the warmth, Simba remained optimistic and thought that they could all have a drink at the watering hole before heading to Pride Rock. Though that thought was quickly pushed away as they entered the Pride Lands again.

Death, the entire land was death. Barely any grass, dried trees, bones scattered, even the river was completely dried up. No animals were around as far as the eyes could see. Even the sun was blocked out by thick, grey clouds.

Simba couldn't believe his eyes, it was like the Elephant Graveyard had expanded all of the Pride Lands. In the distance, past the dried-up river, he could see Pride Rock. He glared at the thought of his Uncle and how badly he mistreated the land. It made him wonder, how could the hyenas have agreed to this?

Nala noticed Simba's sorrowful look. "It looks awful doesn't it?"

"And I didn't want to believe you," Simba sighed in shame.

"You're here now," Nala comforted him. "We're gonna make it right."

"Aww, seriously? We're gonna fight your uncle for this?" Timon chimed in, looking at the land surrounding them.

"Yes, Timon. This is where Nala and I grew up, our home and soon our Kingdom."

"Well this place has certainly seen better days," the meerkat mumbled to himself. "So your Highness, what's your plan in ascending the throne?"

"You do have an idea, right Simba?" Pumbaa asked, a little uncertain.

Simba replied with a smirk and motioned with his paw for them to come closer. "Alright, this is what we'll do. There's no doubt that we'll meet the hyenas first before we'll be able to reach Scar. So, we're going to need a distraction and it involves… life bait…." he eyed his two friends.

"Hmm, that's a good idea," Timon then widened his eyes on what Simba meant. "Oi!"

"Timon, please," Nala tried to reason. "If they see me or Simba they'll attack us and we'll be weakened or even eaten up before we reach Scar and dethrone him."

Timon sighed, the lioness had a point whether he likes it or not. "Then what should I do? Present Pumbaa on a silver platter to them while I dance the hula?"

Hilariously enough that's exactly what the meerkat and the warthog did when they approached a huge group of hyenas, who were getting ready for some shut-eye. The hyenas immediately licked their lips as soon as they saw the two friends do their performance.

Luckily their song was short and it gave them just enough time to escape with the hungry hyenas following their trail.

Seeing that their distraction plan worked perfectly, Simba and Nala quietly continued their way to Pride Rock. Simba prayed to the old kings above that Timon and Pumbaa escape those hyenas without any harm.

Hiding under some rocks, close to Pride Rock, Simba went over his plan with Nala one final time. "Remember the plan, Nala?" No matter what happens trust me with this. I know what I'm doing," he winked at her.

Nala reached for his face and gave him a quick lick on his cheek. "I know, Simba. Just be careful. I'd hate to lose you for real this time," she said with a little worry in her voice.

"I'll be fine," he assured her and rubbed her face in comfort. "Gather all the lionesses and we'll meet each other at the entrance of Pride Rock while I go on ahead and look for Scar."

Nala ran off to find the others while Simba sprinted away to the back of Pride Rock and climbed up some rocks to have a bird's eye view from what's happening down there. He instantly recognized the voice of his treacherous uncle.

"SARABI!" Scar's angered scream echoed through the lands.

Simba widened his eyes as he saw his mother walking calm, collected, and completely ignoring the growls from the angered hyenas towards Scar. Simba barely understood what they were saying as the wind was becoming stronger and thundering clouds were gathering above Pride Rock. But as soon as he saw that Scar attacked his mother, Simba let out the loudest roar he could muster as lightning strikes behind him followed by thunder. Everyone looked up as he furiously ran down to his mother in worry. He could hear his uncle mutter the words.

"Mufasa? Impossible! I killed you..."

Simba completely ignored him and tried to wake his mother that he missed for so long.

Opening her eyes, Sarabi thought she saw her husband. "Mufasa?" She asked in disbelief.

"No, mom. It's me, Simba."

She widened her eyes. "Simba, you're alive! But how?"

"Doesn't matter now, mom," as he lowered his head and rubbed her face. "I'm here now."

Sarabi began to purr as she recognized her long-lost cub. At last, mother and son were reunited during desperate times.