+Wolfgirl619, thanks for the review, and I know right Great Kings and Queen! What the hell Ingine!

+Manfanikio, I know poor Nala, all captured and crap it's not her day. Thanks for the review!

+CandyLuv99, Ingine is a crazy/lost lioness over here, I'm excited to keep wirting and see what I can come up with lol. Mmm, maybe I can have some Tama and Ingine action thanks for reviewing.

+Money100, I know right! Why do crazy things have to happen to these two lol, and I'll keep you guys updated soon probably tomorrow, because I'm in the writing mood. Also I need to start my new storyline for the summer lol.

Chapter 19

The sun was still burning bright in the sky as the king and prince of the pridelands where heading home. The walk had given the father and son duo time to have a 'father and son' time bonding. They had talked non-stop. Like two old friends reuniting again after a long time apart. Simba had not realized how much he missed talking to his father as a father and not some over bearing dictator. Even though he is not, Simba was had the ' I'm your father first and friend never' vibe form him. Maybe he should have looked at is as, ' I'm your father fist and friend later'. Especially now that Simba is an adult, and soon-to-be-father. He and his father can see eye to eye on some things now. To say the least, the prince was finally feeling good about things. This relationship with Nala, finally getting rid of Ingine and having the blessing and support of his father again. it was all turning up Simba.

As the two reached pride rock they were greeted by a loving face. The lioness had walked over and muzzled her son and husband. Sarabi must have finished the hunt early, that or they had been walking longer than they had thought and where clueless when hearing the dinner call.

"You're home early, that or we're late" commented the king.

"No, hunting was earlier today. the wild beast seemed off their game today."

"Really that good for us."

"Yes, they seemed to be distracted by a rouge hippo." Mufasa raised a brow.

"Yes that's the news that I heard. There tension building up at the waterhole. I think you should look at it."

"Ugh…and everyone knows how hard it is to reason with hippos." Commented Mufasa, thinking of his last encounter with one years ago. During his first year as king and the start of the dry season. Water was scarce, everyone's tension were on high and the hippos were scaring everyone from the waterholes. Even threaten some of the animals. "This will be great."

"But dad, the dry season not until a few more months, why is he out wandering?" commented Simba thinking about the ordeal himself.

"That's a question you can ask him son."

"Me?" the prince stopped in his tracks.

"I mean if you want you, besides I think this would be a good experience for you. I already know the territory patrol. Next communicating with your subjects and fixing their many problems is next in order. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd be there is help if you had any problems."

"Really?"

"I think you should do it Simba, your father right it will be good for you. And with Mufasa there it shouldn't be long. Besides were still preparing the kill we can just wait some." Simba noticed the eyes of both his parents on him. Kings he thought, he really didn't want to go out and help his father-but it was an opportunity it rarely gets. He did want to each on Nala he hadn't seen her snice yesterday. The pause on his face caused his father to say something.

"Well I know you want to see Nala, so you can son."

"I do, but I also want to go help dad."

"Well I can't wait son, I have to head up and see what that rouge hippos is doing. You can join me later." This was true, but curiosity and his impatience nature got the best of him.

"It'll be quick, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, mom if you see Nala tell her I'm with my dad and I'll head over to her as soon as I can."

"No problem son, I'm sure she'll understand." A smile came across his face, and Sarabi could picture her young cub again. excited to go out and do kingly things with his father. Some things never change it seems. The red eyed queen watched as her mate and son made their way back into the pridelands. To handle todays agenda.

In the back of a cold dark cave, still tied together Nala laid still, breathing in the stale air. Her head hurt and her jaw was still throbbing. She didn't know what had happened between her and Ingine that night, but Ingine must have hit the crap out of her or something. She was still feeling that pain. Her tail flickered about, irritated. How long has it been? Do they even know she gone? What could Simba be doing? She tried to no avail to guess the time. Normally after the morning hunt the pride eats together, someone should notice she is gone. In fact, she had no doubt that they were out looking for her, right? She then looked over to the herbs that where placed by Ingine earlier.

"…what could she want with those…" she commented almost to herself, well to herself really she was all alone. The thought of what that crazy lioness could be planning honestly unnerved her. The last thing she wanted to deal with was Ingine. If she could even deal with her, she was defenseless. Both physically and mentally. As of now she had lost all the feelings on her left side. Nala was trying not to think about it too much, for it scared her. Her cub hasn't moved in the last hour or so, after doing some crazy kicking before hand. The cub was probably sleeping, yea, sleeping. That's what she told her. But she couldn't help but think about her cub. She has had no food and no water. She could feel this affect her body and cub in many ways. Her vison was blurry, and the unclear vision made her head throb as well as her jaw. The air in this den was so dry she had to breath threw her mouth. However doing this caused her throat to become extremely dry as well, she would have violent coughing spells that would pain her. It was not looking good for her, and with every second passing her belief that someone would find her grew weaker and weaker.

Then she heard a noise, a welcomed one at that. It was the noise of rocks being crushed underneath each other as the larger boulder was seen being moved aside. The lioness vision became blinded by the outpour of sun making it's way to the back of its den. Nala pinched her eyes shut to cope, then she felt a force pull her by the nap of her neck, flopping her onto her other side. Nala grimace in pain from the force, it almost knocked the air out of her. "Argh!" she curled her body into a ball to combat the discomfort.

"Sit up." Ordered Ingine. Nala opened her eyes slowly.

"w-what?"

"I said, sit up." She was tied together, what could she really do. Nala just looked at her baffled. " I have to do everything I see." Ingine rolled her eyes, over this lioness. She forcefully took Nala by her neck again and dragged her closer to the caves back wall and placed her against it.

"Mmm.." Nala bit her lip to keep herself from crying. Ingine eyed her dully.

"Please, it hasn't even begun yet and you're already tearing up." Yes she was crying. She was scared, alone, afraid no one knew where she was and was terrified for her cub. So yes, the strong Nala was crying. She didn't try to hide her tears, not that she really could. She was too weak now to keep in all together. Tears stained her face and the floor below her as the water droplets fell from her face.

"…p..please..let me go..I promise I won't tell anyone!...just let me go!"

"I will." She confessed.

"When…WHEN?!"

"Soon actually. I won't need to anymore." Won't need her? What did she mean by that. She didn't have time to pose the question, because Ingine was back and carried the sack of herbs with her. "Open." She order.

"W-what is that…"

"Open." She voiced again. no emotion in it.

"What is that?!" Nala shook her head in objection. She eyed Ingine, she couldn't read her, she couldn't understand her. How could she save herself if she didn't know what Ingine wanted. Was it Simba, her home…her future was queen? What? What is it. "…I-ingine-Aaaargh!" Nala felt a rock hard punch enter the middle and lower ribs. The air run out of her lungs like lighting and her mouth opened dropping small droplet of dried spit came flying out. Nala gasped for air was Ingine took her lower jaw and shoved it upward. Then with one paw she forced the various herbs down the chocking lioness throat. It was all a matter of seconds and then it was over. She dropped Nala jaw and her head went slamming back towards the ground. Air…air was what she struggled for. As Nala regained air in her lungs Ingine took out a claw and cut the tied vines on Nala back legs. "…w…what…what did you do?!"

"Relax, I just untied your back legs. You'll thank me later."

"…w-why?" the grey lioness walked out of the den once again. "Wait!...my-my stomach hurts!"

"Girl, it hasn't even started yet." She mouthed. "I'll be back for you when it begins to start."

"What?!...wh-what starts?!"

" Your contractions." Nala eyes shot up and widen with absolute fear. She was frozen-paralyzed even. She could move nothing, and sense nothing but the fast beating of her acceleration heart. "I'll be back soon, I'm starving I gotta grab something to eat." She winked, and even had the audacity to smile at her. As she went back to moving the rock over the opening, closing Nala off to the world.

Noon was soon leaving the pridelands when Simba and Mufasa returned back from their little agenda. They weren't gone for too long maybe an hour or so. Finding common ground for a two ton animal isn't the easiest thing in the world. But with some words of advice from his father and a lot of talking, Simba was able to get the rouge male hippo to go somewhere else. Needless to say by this time they had missed their breakfast, but would catch another meal later.

"I have the say, that was good son. I'm impressed."

"Thanks dad, I just did what you told me honestly. And it made sense to get myself in his position to really under him- well actually that part I got from mom." He teased.

"Hmm, I'm sure. Well I'm sorry you missed breakfast, and kept you from Nala for so long."

"No problem, and like you said I needed it." the prince chimed, nodding to his father that he would be taking his leave. The king retorting back and the two soon parted ways. Simba knew Nala would be up by now, and was probably wondering what the heck he had been doing all day. But he was sure she'd understand and it would be a good story to tell her while they just chilled. He turned and walked right into the lioness den, beginning to speak to her before he even rounded the corner. "I'm sorry I'm late Nal, but you won't believe what I just did- Nala?" he stopped in his tracks when she wasn't in the den. That was odd, she should be here- okay, maybe she went out to get some fresh air. Usually she just stayed inside and rested this days lately- that's what Tama had told him that night. He had asked how Nala had handled the whole situation with he and Ingine. And Tama said she just stayed inside the den mostly. So he expected to see her here. But it's not the early morning now, she probably left to find him or to stretch her legs. Maybe she was with the gang, or the girls. He hadn't seen them all morning.

The red mane male went out in screach of his friends. In his mind he ran his map of their two main places, the lagoon or the valley hillside that they normally hang at. He ran over his options and decided to go to the hillside. It was a nice day too, so they were probably their fooling around. As he got there the sound of distance laughter rang in his ears. Bingo. Making his way thru the green thicket he came out onto the field. There Tojo and Malka where having it out in a wrestling match, while Tama and Kula watched from the side lines. Talking smack to distance the boys as normal.

"Yo Simba! Come tag in!"

"Why? So you have two guys kick your tail!" mocked Malka as he had the skinnier male Tojo in a headlock.

"Hah no, I'll pass for now." The two boys shrugged their shoulders and went back to their play. The prince walked over to the lioness. The two prideland beauties gave their future king a smile.

"Hey, wassup Simba." Voiced Tama. "We haven't seen you all day."

"Yea I was with me dad."

"King stuff?" voiced Kula curiously

"Yea king stuff."

"Oh so you did work things out with your dad." Tama.

"I did, this morning. We actually had a nice talk to clear the air from last time. It was good-we needed it. I also learned some interesting things about my dad as well."

"Hmm? Mufasa has secrets?"

"I'll tell you later." The purple eye lioness could see, even though Simba was talking to them, his eyes where someplace else.

"You looking for something?" she asked.

"Yea, is Nala around?"

"Nope." They voiced not too concerned.

"No?" he echoed, now looking at them. "Do you know where she is?"

" I don't know, back home at the den."

"No I just left the den she's not there."

"Well I don't know Simba, I thought she was with you?" she voiced rolling over onto her side. This was her napping position. "Why are you so worried?"

"Well she not, and I haven't seen her all day!" he wasn't yelling but the distress in his voice could be heard a mile away.

"Yo what's wrong?" asked the two males now joining the conversation. "Simba?"

"I don't know, I think something wrong with Nala."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen her and normally she usually around."

"Yea, but maybe she went for a walk or something."

"Ha Kula, as big as she is now. She's not walking anywhere." Chimed Tama in fun.

"Guys I'm serious. I think something up."

"Well look, we can go look for her, how that sound. We can split up that way we cover more ground."

"Sounds good." Before they could say a 'break' or for Tama to even get up. Simba was already making his way down the hillside.

"Oh…okay, break." Tojo.

"Yo Simba wait for us! You girls good by yourself?" asked Malka

"Yea were good-"

"But Tojo can come with us…if we wanted of course." Tama rolled her eyes.

"Well looks like i'm needed elsewhere." He walked over to the lioness side. Malka nodded.

"Cool, met up with you guys later…yo Simba wait!" he retorted to the red mane lion, who now seemed to be miles away. "Great." He complained. Now he had to catch up with him.

"Looks like you better get to moving." Teased Tama.

"yea yea…" the dark brown made slowly made his way down the hillside.

On the other of the pridelands a cream lioness lay collapsed on a cold cave floor. The herbs were slowly starting to make their way inside of her body. "Oww..mmm!" should couldn't clench her stomach to easy the discomfort snice her paws where still tied, so she tucked her head inside of her chest to try to combat it. Ingine raised her head slowly, a stale emotion on her face as she was trying to sleep. She had just eaten her meal and like all lions a nap would soon follow after. But not for her, after all who could sleep with someone crying next to them all the type.

"Could you please be quiet, I'm trying to sleep here, I've had a long day." She voiced, resting her head back on her paws.

"Y-you…b-bitc…Mmm!" another small wave of contraction right, and then slowly dissipated. She was finally able to calm herself. Her eyes went straights towards Ingine. "…Ingine…"

"Nala.." she voiced calmly.

"Please, take me home! I need to go home-"

"I wish I could but…"

"I'm serious…I can't have my cub here."

"Well don't worry, you won't be alone. Lucky for you, you have someone who is experienced."

"…in-Ingine please. I can't have my cub here-" the lioness that was on the other side of the den said nothing. But continued you take her nap. Then she slowly opened one eye, ugh, maybe she should explain herself to the blue eyed lioness. After all, she didn't want Nala stress to affect her cub.

"Look as soon as you have the cub, I'll want nothing to do with you. You give me what I want, and I'll give you want you what. You want to go home and I'll give that to you, once you give me what I want." By this time Ingine had gotten up and had walked over to Nala. She was rubbing her swollen belly. Which gave Nala her answer.

"NO! NO NO NO NO! you'll stay away from my cub! You won't touch it! I wont let you!"

"I'm sure when the time comes you wont have much of a chose-"

"Over my dead body will I let you take my cub! I swear to the kings I'll ki- ARGH!" this time a harder contraction hit her. Stabbing her like a claw in raw meat. The pain dragged and dragged itself down her womb. "crap!…oh my god…oh my god…" her blue eyes shot blood red, and wide.

"What?" she leaned forward over her large stomach to see a pool of water around the back end of the lioness. "mhm, this is working faster than I thought."

"…my-my water...my water just broke!" panicked Nala. "w-what.." she couldn't even get a sentence out without hyperventilating. "Ingine!" she begged. Tears starting to flow from her eyes. "Take me back-please! I'll do whatever you want…just please! I have to see-"

"See Simba? You're friends? Oh, or be surrounded by your annoying stupid friends? ' oh Nala! Oh Nala! Nala this, Nala that!' great kings! If anything I'm helping you. I'm keeping you from that suffocating pride of yours-"

"They'll find me! and when they do, you'll be in big trouble! Exile will be the least of your worries."

"Rights, that IF they find me, and if they do, they won't find you. Those herds I gave you not only cause pre-labor, but also the aroma hide the scent of nearly anything. They could be standing right above you and not get your scent at all."

"Y-you're a monster!"

"Not always-but it looks like I became one thou. Well I guess that's life, and how much it sucks. But I guess in your case your life was always picture prefect and nothing goes wrong for you. Even with your falling out with Simba, you guys still managed to get back together…isn't that love for ya"

"….i have to go back… what if something goes wrong-Ingine I've never had a cub before I'll need help!...I'll need Sarabi...or Rafiki-"

"YOU HAVE ME! good old loveable, reliable Ingine! And yet that seems to not please anyone!"

"You're putting my cub at risk!"

"My cub will be fine! I'll make sure of that…even if I have to cut it out of you myself!"

"…I'll die if you do!"

"That sounds like a personal problem…" shrugged Ingine. Yet again another wave of contraction hit Nala like a bull. Knocking the wind right out of her lungs and locking in her lower stomach.

"Aaargh!...aaargh!" she rolled over in agony. Eyes almost rolling in the back of her head. " Aaaaaaaarghhh! KINGS SIMBA WHERE ARE YOU?!"

They had searched all evening and nothing, absolutely no sign of the lioness. They had met back up at the valley hillside. Simba worries where only confirmed when he saw the faces of the others. Nothing. The red mane heart felt heavy as his worst fears seemed to be happening.

"Look don't worry dude, we'll go to your parents they'll know what do to, right."

"…r-right." He voiced distantly.

"Right, lets go!" Malka, taking the lead, as everyone followed. Simba head was too lost in thought to think clearly now. What happened to Nala, where could she be?! Was she okay. Was she hurt. Then a voice came and brought him back to reality.

"Don't worry Simba, we'll find her." It was Kula her purple eyes where filled with hope and promise.

"I know."

They took no time returning back to pride rock, and no thought od question when it came to storming into the main den. There the king and queen sat talking, they gaze went straight the entering adults.

"Son? What wrong?" voiced Sarabi.

"Mom…something wrong, I cant find Nala anywhere. She been done all day- I think something happened to her!" he pat out all the information at once, nearly losing the two.

"Wait, wait…what?"

"Nala…" Kula voiced, "We don't know where she is, we looked all over."

"Well maybe she went for a walk?" Mufasa trying not to seem alarm and clam the crowd.

"No dad, something wrong. I feel it, we have to do looking for her!" the king and queen soon got up. They had never seen Simba like this, and if he was this worried, they should be too.

"I'll send a screach party." Voice the king. "Malka, Tojo, come with me!" the two males nodded and followed their king. Sarabi came forward and took the girls.

"Kula, Tama you come with me-"

"What about me mom?"

"Stay here, just in case she comes back we'll need someone here at priderock-"

"But I want to go with you!"

"I know son, but trust me. you'll be better here…worrying won't help you find her. Just…Stay here, until we get back." Reluctantly he listened. Almost storming away, he couldn't think of the thought of something happening to Nala and him not being there. "we'll be back soon son." Then the three lioness found themselves leaving pride rock. "Tama?" asked Sarabi.

"Yes Sarabi?"

"Did you see Nala last night, after dinner?"

"I don't think so, we were out late last night. I think I remember seeing her in the den but…honestly I can't remember..." then the rough and tough lioness, Tama nearly found herself in tears. Sarabi had to stop to comfort her.

"Don't worry it'll be fine, everything okay."

"…She's my best friend and I- I should have- what if something did happen to her…I mean something has to be wrong! She wouldn't do something like this Sarabi…"

" Well right now we don't know that for sure. We'll find her. Until then, we have to keep out hopes up." Kula and Tama tried to take her words to heart. "C'mon we have to go."