+Money100, yes Ingine is just over and done with you all shall soon see.

+Wolfgirl619, YES, THEY ARE REUNITED AND IT FEEL SO GOOD!

+Mafanikio, I know, she took the cub! What the hell?!

Chapter 22

The tension was on an ultimate high for the red eyed lioness. In the back of the den, her paws cupped the back of her friends head as she tried to keep her awake and focused. "Nal, I need you to push for me!" she encouraged, however she felt like she was talking to a stonewall. The light furred lioness was melting in her own heat and sweat now, and her head spinning. "Kula." She voiced, grabbing the attention of the smaller lioness. She had a worried look on her face that she could not hide. It did not look good-she did not look good. It looked as if Nala was as standing on her last leg now. The traumatic events of the first birth had done a toll on her. Her body saw in a painful spasm that she could not control. "She dehydrated, she needs more water."

"Water?" asked Kula reassuming the answer.

"Water…"

"Got it!" Tama had watched as Kula had taken off into the night. And as she watched her leave she had to fight herself to keep from calling to Kula to come back, she didn't want to be left alone. Not now. What was happening was all too fast, and she dint know what she was doing either. It was only the tremoring voice of Nala that brought her back to reality.

"Nala-"

"..w..wher..simba?" she asked, again and again and again. Tama would have to say, 'he'll be back.' Or he's just outside- even though she knew he was gone. They had gone after that batshit crazy lioness Ingine, but that seemed like hours ago. Where were they? Were they okay…was the cub okay. Were they still chasing after her? They could have catch her by now- but what if she did something to the cub…Those thoughts ran all though Tama mind now, but she couldn't let Nala think it. She had to keep her clam and get this last cub out of her.

"He'll be here soon, I pro-"

"…w…whe..is HE?!" nala cried.

"I don't know, he'll be back soon Nala I promise, but right now you NEED to stay focused and have this cub-"

"NO!' now was not the time for Nala to have a temper tantum, so not the time. Yes she wants Simba with her-who wouldn't want their mate with them when they are having their cub, but right now, she can't have that luxury. She barely keeping it together.

Nala!"

"NO!...I..NEED-HIM! AARRRGGHHH!" the lioness had hunched over painfully, closing Tama off.

"DAMMIT NALA!" she cursed. The lioness had to practically pry Nala out of her tight ball. That is when she noticed the blood. As stupid as it was, Nala was desperately not trying to have this cub without Simba. The delaying of the natural process was causing her lower abdomen to bulge and swell, as tiny pools of blood began to collect. She going to kill herself if she didn't give birth and soon. But this distraught Nala had lost all of her normal senses- you could even say she was 'mad'. Tama was better off pulling the dam cub out of herself. throwing caution out of the window she got up and went to Nala rear side. She closed her eyes and took a breath. "…you'll forgive me for this." and as she bent down to gently grab the small arm just entering the outside world, Kula came running in.

"I got it I got it!" she mumbled, holding the sack leaf, filled with water. She paused when she say Tama. "…what are you doing-"

"Come here!" she seized the lioness by the forearm, dropping the water on the floor. The trickled that landed on Nala face, brought her back into her painful reality. "Here...hold her head and body own okay?"

"Why…" Kula voice was filled with fear and skepticism.

"Just do it…"

"…what are you going to do?!"

"I', going to get the cub out of her."

"…why…won't that hurt her?!"

"Only if we take too long, now C'mon!" hesitantly. Kula placed her shaking paws on Nala. The dazed lioness on the floor, panted heavy, unaware of what was to happen to her.

"Now, when I start you have to hold her still okay?" the frustrated Tama could see the words where going right over her good friends head. Kula was not going with serious situation, and not necessarily serious, but bloody. Oddly enough she could kill her prey if she had to-no questions asked, but watch another lioness getting injured of gashed up from an accident, and she went running for the hills. She couldn't handle it. and now having to watch all of this happen to her good friend, Tama was better off, going the job by herself. "Kula Look at me! just hold her while I pull…okay?!" the lioness didn't answer. Tama rolled her eyes, she did not have the time to baby her right now. She got low to the ground and slowly, began to pull the tiny cub out. Immediately the mother let out the bloody curdling cry, paralyzing Kula and even stopping Tama some.

"Stop stop! You're killing her!"

"We have too!"

"No-

"KULA?!" overwhelmed Tama stepped back.

"Just wait! Lets wait…NALA YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP?! OKAY." Words falling on deaf ears.

Deep in the dark brush of the African savannah. Figured of lighting fast creatures went falling into the night. The dark figures were all following a distance figure, Ingine.. he was running up ahead with the small cub dangling from her mouth. That trip of males followed behind her. She had done , she had really done It now. There was no going back, she just stole Simba cub. And was now running for her life. How...how did this all happening, this never would have happened if simba would have loved her! And her alone. She never wanted anything to happen the why it did, but things had gone out of her control and she was doing what needed to be done for her.

She looked back…they were getting closer, the look of utter death loomed on all of their faces. She had to get away from them, she had to get away. Going 0 to 45 to killed into a faster run, as much as her legs could muster. But it was hard, nearly impossible. She was exhausted-running out of breath by the seconds, the uncontrollable fast pace of her feet where starting to trip her up. She could only stay focus on what was ahead of her, but everything in her told her to look back, and see hoe close Simba and the other where to her. She did. their faces becoming more clear to her in the night shadows. Her heart began to race faster, because she did not know where to turn…to hide, to climb…then suddenly the ground disappeared from underneath her and she and the cub went tumbling down a small hillside. She landed hard the cub flying from her mouth and lading in the bush beside her.

"INGINE!" a voice roared from the three, storming down the small hillside. Ingine quickly got to her feet, shaking her head she went a swooped up the crying cub. "Stop, you have nowhere to run." And she didn't. as she looked around, she saw she had tumbled upon the banks of a cliff hillside. The grey lioness eyes darted about, looking to any sign of an escape route. But there was none, the boys blocked her in. she placed the cub down, putting a paw on the waddling cub to keep her from moving.

"Ingine its time to stop…give up the cub." Malka.

"No!"

"Ingine you've taken this too far, stop this while you can!"

"Can? I've tried to stop this…everything…but nothing worked- everything just kept getting out of my control!"

"Well you can control this ingine, you can change everything that about to happen-"

"I DON'T HAVE CONTROL, I'VE NEVER HAD CONTROL OF ANYTHING!" she began to hyperventilate, and the added noise of the crying cub did not help the matters. "shhh mommies here." She cooed to the infant. Simba took a cautious step forward.

"ingine, please. Just give my my cub…I'll let you go, you'll be free from any punishment I can promise you this, but you have to hand over my daughter, please…"

"Look at her…" tears fell from her face, staining her cheeck as she looked down at the tiny cub. "isn't she beautiful."

"ing-"

"Isn't she beautiful!" she cut off red mane male, with a sudden rush of anger when he did not anser her question…then within an instant she went back to be calm. "isn't she?"

"she is…right guys?" asked Simba to Malka and Tojo. All three males looked at eachother wide eyed, what the hell was happening to Ingine. They knew she was crazy but now she had just gone full psycho. It seemed as the cub continued to cry in further this crazy mindset of hers.

"She's a little cranky right now…" she continued to cooe the crying cub.

"Yes, she's probably scared…and hungry and wants to go back inside, we can go together, I'll walk with you- then can take her back to priderock and show her to everyone" the prince began to walk towards her.

" ..dude what are you going…" asked Tojo. Confused by his friends move.

" we need to distract her so I can get my daughter…" Simba then turned his attention back to the task at hand. " Look Ingine, I want that same fairytale life with you- we can still have it, us together…" the grey lioness grew my nervous as the larger male moved in closer and closer. "All we have to do, is go back to priderock, and everything will work put fine, I promise." Now he was just inches away from her, his attention was more on his cub that was still underneath Ingine paw. He knew if he made any sudden movement she'd snatch the cub up easily.

"…No-no we can't…w-what about her…you still have her!" demanding answers. Simba lifted a brow, and gave her a confused-dumb look.

"her?...what about her." He spoke, speaking as if the lioness of conversation meant nothing to him. " Who am I with now?...and who am I not with. " trying to make a serious point, to get her to be on his side a trust him. Ingine I've told you, you come back with me, and we can work everything out." And for a fleeting second, she left her guard down, and wanted to trust him. Then looking around she could see honesty in his eyes, but not in the eyes around him. Malka and Tojo were still on the fence with the whole situation and it could be read on their faces. They didn't care about her, and her needs- they just cared about the cub only. She wasn't going to be tricked- not this time, she wasn't going to let the thought of true love, ruin her life again. she snapped.

"NO! you ruined it…you ruined everything! I was trying to give you this- everything! You just threw it away, like HE did! you're NOT taking my only consolation of joy away!" she stepped further away, edging towards the end of the cliff. At the bottom it was darkness, and no-man land. Simba began to reach for her and the cub.

"Ingine NO…" she shook her head.

"Too late." Before his eyes, Simba watched at Ingine took the cub and they disappeared over the cliff side. The prince lunged for her, but his paws missed her by an inches.

"NOO!" he cried, devastated. Malka and Tojo rushed to his side, but before they could get there they watched as Simba threw himself into the darkness beyond the cave as well. Both boys hearts stopping in fear, as they called for their friend who had vanished into thin air.

Simba could see nothing, everything was happening so fast. The rocks and outward branches poked and tore through his skin as he went smashing down the cliffside. It was only when he felt a similar feeling next to him, did he open his eyes. It was ingine , tumbled next to him. Instantly Simba reached out his paws and grabbed her hind legs. She fought him back, kicking him on his arms and face. They tossed and tumbled with each other over the cub, hitting rock by rock, until a sudden force stopped them, and everything went black.

In the chaos of the tumbling lions, Malka and Tojo ran hectically down the cliff hillside, racing blinding into the night, still calling for Simba. Their calls came to a stop when they were drowned out by a shield of dust. They coughed violently to clear their lungs as their watery eyes slowly opened to scan the area around them.

"Look!" voiced Tojo, in the direction not too far. Up a head were shadows of two figures against the ground. Their path downward matched the direction that Ingine and Simba jumped in. "It's got to be them!" the two males raced over to their larger figure. He was dark , covered in rock and dust alike. With odd twigs and leaves sticking gout from his matted mane. "Yo Simba, simba!?" Tojo shook his still friend.

"Dam, Simba everyone going to kill use if you die man, wake up…" Malka voice, was shaky. His ears pinned to the side of his head, deflated. His eyes closed tight at the thought of his best friend being gone. And then, there was a cough. The cough of a desperate sounding lion trying to get some air into his lungs. "Simba!" he cheered. The poor battered simba eyed his two red eyes slowly.

"Man are you okay, you had us worried!" the silent, but almost still headshake gave them their answer. Then Malka intrude the joyful moment with a serious question.

"The cub…" slowly, and griting his teeth from his aching neck. He raised his head, uncovering the tiny ball of fur, untouched by the madness around her. They all gave a sigh of relief, sitting for a moment. But one can never sit and relax with simba.

"..C'mon, I have to get back to Nala…" he looked o his friends to help him up. Tojo did the honors but was hesitant.

'Dude, you just fell from a cliff. You need to rest."

"I'll…rest, when I'm with her, c'mon." Tojo sighed, he didn't think Simba needed to be racing back up a hill right now, but who was going to stop him from trying. It's not like he didn't have a reason, they were all worried about Nala too, but knew she was in good paws with Tama and Kula. Simba on the other paw, better hope he doesn't have any internal injuries because with Malka and Tojo he's be screwed. As Tojo helped Simba to his feet, Malka took the tiny cub of the scuff of her neck.

"alrigh, you sure you're good?"

"Yea I go-" Simba eyes, tried warned to a still figure, covered in the same dust and dirt as he was. For a moment be forgot about everything. He took a first few wobbling steps towards her. Ingine lay still, wide eyed with an extended tree branch running though her heart. Even if he hated the lioness he didn't want to see her last like this. The Malka and Tojo stood by, as they watched Simba close the lioness eyes. In his heart he knew ingine was not an evil lioness, she was just…trouble. But her trouble consumed her and made her do things a normal lion wouldn't do if they had the right mindset. She was in pain, a lot of pain. And now it was over. He turned slowly, putting her and everything that happened, behind him. He walked over to his friends. "Let's go.."

It had now been long enough. Time was still ticking the others had not returned. Tama had let her wait long enough it needed to be done. She had been standing outside for what seemed like a while. When she came back into the den, nothing had changed- if anything Nala looked worse. And now it was now or ever. Kula stayed by her friends' side. Holding her head, as she tried to talk gently to her. When she saw Tama come in she knew what they had to do, even if she wanted to avoid it. with a stern look on the red eyes lioness face, Kula stepped back. "We have no more time."

"I know…" she voiced, looking at Nala pant heavily on the floor. "I'm with you."

"Good." Tama made her way over to Nala. She gave her a good luck kiss on the check. The lioness was obviously to what was going on, but Tama needed to do it, because she left terrible otherwise for what she was about to do. "Okay Nala, I'm going to ask you to push for me, one more time…can you do that? Just ONE more time." Tama voice was desperate, her face even more so. She watched as Nala closed her eyes and shook her head in objection. Her answer was no. when Tama eyes met with Kula, they knew it was time. As Kula petted Nala sweat covered head. A voice was heard calling from the distance.

"Wait! We're back! We're back!" soon the voice was matched by a figure, Malka. He had the tiny cub still secure in his mouth. As Kula ran over to him, she took the cub from him.

"Where are you been? Is everything okay?!" Tama, the panting Malka nodded. Catching his breath it stood over to the side. Nala lifted her head slightly.

"sim…ba?"

"He's right outside, they're coming…" sure enough, speaking of the devil Simba came limping in with Tojo right at his side. Tama eyes grew wide as she compared the condition of her friend to the ohers.

"What the hell happened?!"

"l-long story…" chimed simba, limping over to Nala. He sat next to his beloved. Placing his paw in hers. "How's she's going?"

"Well, better than you…" Tama chimed, she needed to get the details on why Simba looked like he just got hit by a whole stampede. "But you need to talk some sense into her now- I know she's exhausted but she needs to have this cub." Simba took a moment, he really didn't know what to say, now was a great time to be worst for words.

"Nal, look. You're going great…but I really need you to try pushing, just one more time. So we can see our beautiful cub- can you do that for me? I'll be right with you the whole time." Barely a noticed nod, but a nod still. Nala decided to give her all for this cub, one last time. With the encouragement of the others and most importantly Simba, she took a breath as Tama counted down.

"three, two, one-PUSH!" everyone stood still on edge as the Nala pushed one last time. Her screams rattling threw the den as she squeezed the remaining life out of Simba paw. Then she went still, and silent, panting to herself. she was finally finished. Everyone was on edge, looking over curiously as Tama cleared the way for the cub. "Congratulation…" she breathed, and soon the cave was filled with an extra tiny crying mouth. "It's a boy!"

"Whoa a boy and a girl…good luck raising them into teenager." Chimed Tojo. A new of laughter filled the inside of the cage. Kula brought over the older sister to her younger brother, while Simba nuzzled Nala.

"I love you so much.' He chimed to her.

"Well after what she's been though you better." Again Tojo. Him knowing what to say, and at the right time, did make him a charmer. "Now we can finally go home…right?" looking for an encore, but by now everyone watched in awe at the new family that would be joining pride rock.

As the days passed and the adventurous gang had made it back home, two extra members in toe. The pride could not get over the new added members. It had been a while snice the pride had little cub to care for, and now these two would be spoiled rotten by everyone. Rafiki had come and given the cubs a full badge of health, and told Nala to rest up some. She would need it, with caring after twins. She made sure to tale his advice, but she told him, she wouldn't be doing it alone. Her cubs had a wonderful father, and a pawful of ager aunts and uncles to help out whenever they could. And today was no different, Nala was being looked at by the other lioness of the pride, Sarabi making sure everything was going well for her new grandcubs. Even kicking Simba out, to get some rest, but mainly so she could have the tiny furballs to herself for a while. Which the prince did not mind at all.

"Well, I would normally saying, how are you doing son, but now I should say how are you doing dad?" teased Mufasa. He had just left the cave, a few other lionesses where still in there. Simba laughed as he turned to see his father.

"yea I guess…still crazy to me still."

"Have you held them yet?"

"No not really, they're so tiny…I don't want to drop them." He added

"Haha, Simba that would be the last thing you'd do trust me. you'll find you'll be able to manage ten things at once, while still holding your cub- or I should say falling, you'll get beat up but the cub will be fine. That whats' dads do."

"I guess so…" he smiled. remember the incident. It had been a couple of days passed, and Simba injuries were healing better now, with the help of Rafiki of course. Mufasa sat next to his son.

" Take every moment with them as you can. They'll soon grow up right before your eyes ad you'll be wondering where di the time do. Right now you're a father, soon you'll be a ruler- tell me son, have you learned anything from this, experience."

"Oh yea, a lot. I now I know why we have parents they keep us from making decision we'd regret."

"do you regret anything?"

"actually…no, and if I had a choice, as odd as it sounds. I wouldn't change it. I've heard a lot about himself, what I can and can't handel, how I need to talk to other and know…its okay to screw up, as long as you fix it…oh and another thing" he added his with a smile " Just bring your tail home. Nothing wrong can happen after that."

"Haha" Mufasa was liking the sound of that. Simba got up and stood next to his dad.

"I'm a dad now, I have to teach them right from wrong. How the pride works, how to become future leaders."

"Sounds like a lot of work."

"Naw, not when I have you to follow as an example." Mufasa barely showed his son much affection in a lovely way, but to hear those words come from his sons mouth meant a lot to him. A brought a huge smile on the old kings face as he gave Simba a heavy pat on the back, which knocked some of the air out of his lungs. He did still have a little more to recover. He nodded back at his father in respect. Leaving, he was making his way out towards the pridelands. He had a job to do, and now that his cubs were here, being the best parent he could be meant more to him now than ever. Mufasa watched as he son,-met up by his two companions-made their way on down priderocks steps to their patrol. It was hard for the king to believe now, that his son was no longer a cub, or some ' I can-do everything' myself teenager. He was a lion now, a true ruler of a kingdom and father. He had watched how the last few months had not only changed his son, but others around him. This event had brought Mufasa out of his shell when it came to talking to Simba. He didn't have to try to be the prefect dad, he just had to be his best. He'll make mistakes, and so will Simba, he'll even make more, but he'll learn from and grow form them. As long with the others, and with that all Mufasa could do, was say.

"Well done my son, well done."

End

I want to thank everyone who read my story, and commented with review on what they thought. I truly appreciated it and couldn't have finished the story without you! I will be back with another fanfiction soon for my summer series, so until then, thank you and stay tuned 😊