I'm back! Did you miss me? Of course you did! Sorry I've been gone so long. I've been on vacation for the last three weeks and have had very limited access to the internet, in case you were all wondering. I've had lots to do and have only been able to use my family laptop, so sorry I haven't posted recently. But in return I'm posting another long chapter that will hopefully keep you interested.
New Chapter Up!
Note: I'm trying to type up two stories at the same time, so I'll try to post a new chapter every week or two. The two stories I am trying to do are 'Dreams and Nightmares' and 'Red vs. Blue: Finish It.' Yes, I am also a Red vs. Blue fan.
Also note that school is approaching and once that kicks off things will get really slow, with all the homework, clubs, and academics.
Enjoy! :)
Chapter 5: No, Not Again
"You got it, right?"
"Affirmative. I did exactly as you said."
"Good. Now it is only a matter of time."
"Are you sure this is the best way to do it?"
"I am sure. The plan is now in motion."
"This had better work. Otherwise we're dead and this will be all for naught."
"This will work. I assure you that. It will work."
Nala lurched up, her eyes wide open, panting from restless sleep. It had not been a good night for her, not at all.
The young queen looked around. She was inside Pride Rock, in the den, to be exact. Everyone else was asleep, lying calmly on the floor. Blinking a few times, Nala looked around the inside of the den. She saw her mom, lying down right next to Sarabi.
She saw Timon and Pumbaa, the odd meerkat and warthog pair that had raised Simba from the day he left to the day he returned. As annoying as they were to her, she was glad they were the ones who took care of Simba. If Simba wasn't taken by them she might have never found him again or something far worse…
She looked around the den again. She saw Tama, cuddled up right next to Jasiri, who was right next to the elder Uzuri. Uzuri was a dear friend of not only Sarabi, but her own mother as well. She had a strong, firm body and had a tan pelt that was fading into grey. The lioness had a pair of sharp brown eyes that looked as if they were from a hawk, calm yet deadly. Nala and Uzuri had gotten along so well when she was a cub, she had always considered Uzuri as an aunt, although the lioness wasn't related to her.
She saw Zira lying against the opposite side of the cave, her son Nuka snuggled up right next to her. Nala was worried about her, especially because of Zira's close ties to Scar. She, in particular, didn't take his death very well. He had meant everything to her, although Nala didn't know why.
Nuka was roughly six months old, growing at a rather fine rate. He was perhaps the only other person that didn't take Scar's death well either. Nala knew why, however. Scar was his father and was the only one who paid any attention to him, unlike his mother, so when he lost him he lost a part of his family too. Scar actually paid attention to him, supported him, and loved him, LOVED him.
Nala thought about that. Scar loving someone. It was absurd to think of at first. Scar had always had a cold, cruel heart. He had always been a lion that thought of only himself and used force or deception to get what he wanted. For him to love someone was to have a change of heart, for him to be different. It was different and it was strange.
Dismissing the thought, Nala looked around the dark cave some more. She saw Kula and Shani cuddled up against each other, right next to Dotty and Spotty. Just like Kula and Shani, Dotty and Spotty were near identical twins that were also the same age as the tan pair. They both had brown fur, sharp bodies, and slightly roughened out, but still smooth, facial features. They also both had practically the same voice. They were so similar just like Kula and Shani that the only way anyone could tell the difference between the two was by counting the amount of dark brown spots on their heads. Dotty has two spots on her forehead while Spotty has three. Their personalities were also just like Kula's and Shani's. Dotty's was more like Kula's, with a peaceful-minded personality, and Spotty's was more like Shani's, with a slightly more aggressive attitude. There was also something else unique about them. All four of them had grown up together as best friends, hunting together, sleeping together, and playing together. It was rather strange but nice at the same time.
Nala looked up, out towards the mouth of the den. It was nighttime outside. The sky was beautiful, filled with distant, twinkling stars against a blackened void. Although she didn't know what time it was, she could easily tell that it was very well into the night. She heard the sound of crickets chirping away, their uninterrupted beat echoing into the night.
She turned her head, scanning the cave, until she laid her eyes on her mate, Simba. He sat there, lying on his side, his face relaxed and calm. He had an arm wrapped arm Nala, hugging her lovingly.
He's so handsome, she smiled to herself. Nala was glad he was there with her instead of someone else, anyone else. She wouldn't entrust her life to anyone else but him. ANYONE. He was perfect, just the way she wanted him. She wouldn't change anything about him and if he asked her she would say so.
Happy with herself, the cream lioness rested her head against the floor and drifted off into sleep once more...
It all came back to her. All of it. And it wasn't exactly pleasant. It was and wasn't a memory all at once. It looked and didn't look the same, almost as if it wasn't real. But it still felt real.
Nala looked around, trying to figure out where she was. She was back at Pride Rock, during Scar's last stand and Simba's return. The sky was dark and the land was laid to waste. There were hyenas all around her, grinning cruelly. She stood on Pride Rock with the other lionesses, watching Scar get pinned under Simba, panic streaked across the older lion's face.
"Tell them the truth," Simba said. He was as angry as he could be, ready to unleash full fury upon the one who lied to him, the one who took his father away. He stood there on top of Scar, the fire resulting from a lightning strike blazing behind him, haloing his majestic body.
"Truth," Scar replied, "but, truth is in the eye of the behold…" Suddenly Simba put a paw over Scar's throat, stopping him midsentence and causing him to gag.
"Alright," the tyrant gasped, "alright!"
Simba raised his paw a slight bit. "I did it," Scar whispered.
"So they can hear you," Simba growled in between his teeth.
"I KILLED MUFASA!" Scar shouted and, in a surprising burst of speed, the hyenas rushed at Simba, knocking him to the ground and causing Scar to disappear.
A split second later, Nala sprinted at them, roaring at the top of her lungs. The other lionesses quickly followed suit, roaring with all their might and charging full-force at the hyenas that were engulfing Simba.
The lionesses crashed into brown-furred animals, breaking bones and slashing bodies. Luckily for them, the hyenas were so focused on Simba that the charge took them by surprise.
Nala hacked her way through until she reached Simba. She bashed the hyenas off of her love, driving them away. Simba stood up, shaking from the initial assault.
Nala went up to him. "We have to find Scar."
Simba nodded, staring into her eyes. "I know, but we have to drive the hyenas off first. We won't be able to find Scar with them still here."
The lionesses all regrouped, forming a circle around them. The odds looked against them as the hyenas had an advantage in numbers. Nala looked around, realizing they were stuck in a tight spot.
Suddenly, the hyenas scattered as Pumbaa charged across the field, making a huge gap in the hyena's lines. On top of the warthog stood Timon, yelling as loud as he could at the hyenas.
Taking advantage of the situation, the lionesses pushed outwards, driving away the dog-like creatures. Soon enough, lines broke and everyone fought their own battles. Hyenas fell here and there and the pride unleashed a fury that had been building up for two years, one that had not been seen in generations.
Nala slashed and pummeled, twisted and ducked, feinted and countered as more and more hyenas were being driven away. This was their moment, this was their time.
Suddenly, above the commotion, the lionesses turned toward the peak of Pride Rock. The hyenas were in full retreat, so they could turn their attention elsewhere. But all eyes were focused on the top at the final battle.
It wasn't easy to see at first, but Nala could just make out Simba struggling desperately against his uncle. It looked as if he was going to lose. Simba fell on his back, looking at Scar as the dark lion leapt at him.
But he didn't lose. Simba, in an unbelievable turn of event, used his hind legs and kicked up as Scar landed, sending him spiraling over the edge of Pride Rock.
Everyone cheered as Scar fell, joyous as Simba stood up victoriously at the top. It was such a happy moment, seeing the rightful king take his place.
Then something happened. Simba turned around to walk back down when suddenly, out of nowhere, Scar jumped out of the flames that had built up behind Simba and smashed him to the floor. Everyone below them stood there, shocked as can be.
Not possible, Nala gawked as she saw this, shocked and confused at the unnatural turn of events.
"Oh, it's possible, my dear," Scar's voice boomed across the land, almost as if hearing her thoughts.
Nala stopped as she turned and saw, to her horror, an unbelievably vast amount of hyenas. And these weren't the same hyenas she had fought only minutes before. These hyenas were even more vicious and sinister than the others, if such a thing was possible. They also had incredibly dark fur and each of them had a pair of glowing green eyes as dark and sinister as Scar's.
"It has always been possible, sweet, sweet Nala," his voice continued to echo down to them.
Scar stopped and laughed, his voice truly sinister and evil. Each laugh sent more and more chills down Nala's spine. The hyenas laughed with him, making the scene more frightening.
Finally, after some time, Scar and the hyenas stopped. Scar drew a breath in.
"Kill them," Scar ordered. At his command, the hyenas advanced on the now completely surrounded Pridelanders. But Nala wasn't focused on them. She was focused on the one person that mattered to her.
She looked up and saw Scar at the top, grinning down at young lion struggling to get up.
"Simba, NO!" she panicked.
Scar looked at the young lioness, then turned his attention back to Simba. He raised his right paw and extended all of his claws.
"NO, NOOOOOO!" Nala continued to scream at the top of her lungs. She couldn't believe she would lose the one she had loved her whole life.
"NOOOOOOOO!" she screamed. Scar brought down his paw in a killing motion and…
Darkness. There was no one, nothing. It had all disappeared.
Nala heard a voice in the distance, calling to her. She recognized the voice all too well.
It suddenly got louder and louder and louder, continually calling her name.
"Nala," it said.
"Nala, Nala," it repeated over and over again.
Nala jolted up, bringing her eyes wide open. The Pridelander hit her head against something and she yelped in surprise as she did. She couldn't tell who it was she hit since the person was so close.
Stepping backwards, Simba looked at his mate, his face filled with concern and worry.
"Ow," he said. Nala looked up into his amber eyes and relaxed, recognizing her own mate's face. He stood over her, his body overlapping her.
"Simba?" she asked. "What are you doing over me?"
Simba looked at her in surprise. "You don't know? I was trying to wake you up. You were having another nightmare."
Nala sat there, puzzled by the statement. "Another nightmare? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Besides, you woke up everyone else."
Simba got off her and the lioness looked around. She really had woken everybody else this time. Everyone was sitting up, looking up at her. Even Timon and Pumbaa were staring at her and they were often the hardest to wake up.
"Wow," was all that came out of her mouth.
Simba turned to the others and announced, "It's alright, girls. Nala was just having a bad dream."
Finished, the pride laid back down into comfortable positions and went back to sleep. Simba turned back the Nala. "I think we should talk about this tomorrow," he told her.
"Simba, I don't think…"
"Tomorrow," he repeated.
Nala opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it again. It was pointless to argue with Simba. He wouldn't leave it alone. He never did. Simba was always worried for her safety. And why wouldn't he? Nala was everything to him. That she knew well enough. He always did what he could to ensure her safety while trying to not get in the way of her royal duties.
Nala watched Simba as he went around her, finally settling down next to her back. He brought his paws up to Nala and pulled her close. The young lioness looked over her shoulder at her mate. Smiling, Nala kissed him. Simba looked back at her and kissed her back passionately.
After a few seconds, the lion slowly lifted his lips away from her own.
"Goodnight, my love," Simba whispered quietly.
"Goodnight, honey," Nala returned softly.
Happy, Nala faced forward again and laid her head against the ground.
Hopefully things will go smoothly tomorrow, Nala thought.
Sitting comfortably on her side, with Simba lying against her back, the queen fell into a deep sleep.
How was that? Good? Please review to give me a good reason to keep going.
Also note: the next chapter is due to come out next week and if it doesn't I will do whatever it takes to keep you all interested.
