Here's a fic for any of you who are interested in such things. And it's going to be about Simba! Yeah, my first fic starring Simba. Kinda strange for me, I know. But you can't not love Simba.

Also, if anybody thinks they have a good idea for a tlk fanfic, be sure to PM the idea, and if I like it, I'll put it on my 'to do' list, and eventually, I'll write it! And if you're just a guest, leave a review on any one of my stories with the idea.

Anyways, be sure to leave a review! And enjoy the fic.

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Simba's POV

The four of them were standing in Rafiki's tree, getting treatment for Kovu.

"Will he be…. will he be all right?" Asked Simba, worry written all across his face.

"Oh.. he will of course be fine. You know dat Simba." Replied Rafiki, as he applied a salve to the scratches on Kovu's muzzle.

"Ah! Fuck, that hurt!" Exclaimed Kovu, his paw on the wounds. The salve did not apparently work well with Kovu awake.

"It's necessary Kovu, do you want it infected or not?" Asked Kiara, who stood close beside her mate.

"Of course I don't want it infected…. it's just that there's gotta be something that stings less." Seethed Kovu, grimacing.

"Well… der is. But I gave you dat one because I felt like it!" Said Rafiki, chuckling.

"What! Why the heck would you do that?" Demanded Kovu.

"I don't know! But it was fun seeing you whimpa!" Replied Rafiki, as he went off into the tree to retrieve a few more salves.

"You know…. that monkey will always be infuriating." Said Kovu, gritting his teeth from pain.

"It's okay, Rafiki has helped us out on a lot of things. He is wise, even if a little….. eccentric." Explained Nala, stepping forward.

"Huh. By 'eccentric' I think you mean 'weirdo'." Said Kiara, rolling her eyes.

"He is pretty weird, isn't he?" Said Simba distractedly, only half listening to the conversation.

Simba was very worried. He knew Kovu would be fine, the cuts weren't deep….. but nonetheless, it was he, Simba, who had put them there. On the way here, he had apologized profusely to Kovu, saying he had no idea what had come over him. And truly, he didn't. One minute, there was Scar, his worst enemy, and the next, he was standing on top of Kovu, blood on his claws.

Simba didn't know how it had happened, or how he had seen Scar walking and talking when he was dead. He had no idea how he could ever have mistaken Kovu for Scar, or how he hadn't heard his family's questioning cries as he apparently stood in silence for a few minutes.

It was like he had no control over what he was seeing and experiencing. He couldn't know what was real or not….. were his nightmares coming out from his sleep, and finding him while he was awake? And if something like that was happening, what was he supposed to do about it? He had never heard if something like this before.

But the worst part of it all was the black lion. Scar had haunted his dreams for years, getting progressively worse as time went on. And lately, things had seemed to have been ramped up. Nightmares were every night. Sleep was nearly impossible, Simba couldn't bear shut his eyes if it meant seeing the cold, cruel muzzle of the lion he feared. He couldn't bear go to sleep if it meant torture at his icy claws. It was horrible!

"Dad?... Dad… dad!" Yelled Kiara. Simba suddenly was brought out of his thoughts.

"Wha-what! I'm awake! I'm here!" He exclaimed quickly. He realized he had been sweating from stress.

"Dad! You were ignoring us! You weren't in another…. trance thingy, were you?" Asked Kiara.

"No! No, of course not." Said Simba, his eyes wide. "Of course not…. I was fine… all fine." He breathed.

"Really? You were sweating…. and twitching. Are you sure?" Said Nala.

"Guys. Believe me, I know that I…. uhh… accidentally may have scratched Kovu….sorry Kovu…. but just now I was fine. I was only thinking. That's all." He replied.

The three of them looked at him suspiciously.

"Okay then… well, I believe you dad." Said Kiara. She came up to him, and rubbed her body against his affectionately. Simba sighed. At least his family was here, and they were all safe.

Just then, Rafiki returned.

"Dere. Now, rub this on de wounds, and you will be just fine." He said, putting the salve on Kovu's paw for him to apply.

"Okay…. this won't sting, will it?" Asked Kovu, examining what Rafiki had given him.

"You will see." Replied the monkey. Then, Rafiki left, going deeper into the tree. He was gone.

"Yeah… that was reassuring." Muttered Kovu. Fortunately, as it turned out, this stung a lot less, much to Kovu's relief as he rubbed it across the red marks on his muzzle.

"See? All better." Said Kiara, as she smirked at Kovu.

"You're not the one who got claws through their face." Replied Kovu, rolling his eyes. Simba frowned.

"Listen…. Kovu…. I'm very sorry that I clawed you. It's not you, don't worry. I just…. something came over me, I…. it's my fault, completely." He explained. Kovu looked at the ground, not meeting Simba's gaze.

"That's okay. But just….. do one thing for me." Said Kovu.

"Yes, of course." Replied Simba.

"You need to talk to Rafiki about what's been happening to you." Said Kovu, looking Simba in the eye.

Simba gritted his teeth.

"Dad, it's for the best. Maybe…. Rafiki knows what's been going on with you? Maybe he can help you." Said Kiara, her face pleading. Simba sighed. Then, Nala came up next to him.

"They are right, you know." She said.

"Well…. I don't know…." stuttered Simba.

"Your majesty. It's for the best, you can't get better if we don't know what's going on. And Rafiki is our best shot." Said Kovu, holding a paw up to his wounded muzzle.

"Why would you be afraid of finding out what's wrong?" Said Nala.

"I don't know!" Replied Simba, looking away,

"In that case, you have to go speak to him daddy." Said Kiara.

Simba looked at their gazes. They were all worried about him, they only wanted the best for him. Why should he deny them that? Of course, the reason he didn't want to see Rafiki was the very reason they wanted him to go. What if whatever was wrong with him couldn't be cured? News like that would be horrible.

He grimaced. He supposed with his family here, he didn't have a choice.

"All right. All right, I'll go see him, okay?" Said Simba, relenting.

"Good. Simba, this is for the best, okay?" Said Nala.

"Right right…. don't worry," said Simba, doing his best to smile reassuringly. His family smiled back. Simba felt relaxed, for a moment. He would always have them, at least.

He jumped into the leaves, making his way from branch to brach. Rafiki's tree was very extensive, there were many large, open areas that even a large lion like him could access. Rafiki had to be in one of them.

Simba scrabbled up another branch, using his claws to dig into the bark. Heaving himself up, he found that he was in a small cove, leaves pervading around the area. Very little light was allowed in. But fortunately for him, Rafiki was here too.

"Rafiki!" Called Simba, padding up to the monkey, who was hunched over something.

"Ah! Simba!" Greeted Rafiki, turning around to face him.

"Yeah, hi." Replied Simba, rubbing that back of his neck with his paw. "Yeah, I was wondering if I could…. talk to you."

"Ah, of course. Whatever you need, I am here for." Answered Rafiki, sitting down to listen.

"Okay….. thanks. Well… you know how Kovu got scratched in the first place?"

"Oh yes. It was you! Quite de accident." Said Rafiki.

"Yeah…. that's the thing… it wasn't really an accident." Said Simba, hesitantly. Rafiki's expression didn't change, as if expecting him to continue. Simba sighed. "Well….. I know this is wierd… but Rafiki….. I thought Kovu was Scar."

"Well.. that is strange." Said Rafiki, still smiling. Simba looked at him in disbelief.

"No, this wasn't a simple quick misunderstanding, I saw Scar standing in front of me! He and I talked, and when I attacked him, I realized it was Kovu all along! But…. it wasn't Kovu, I swear! It was definitely Scar…. same voice, same black mane, same cruel green eyes!" Said Simba, imploring Rafiki.

Rafiki now looked inquisitive.

"dat…. dat is strange. Now, listen carefully. Have you, despite knowing he was dead, seen Scar before?" Asked Rafiki.

Simba looked down at his paws.

"Yes….. yes, I have seen him. It used to only be in dreams, just regular Nightmares. That was all. But then, a week ago, things got worse. I've been seeing my nightmares in real life!" He said, laying his situation out. Rafiki raised an eyebrow.

"dat is quite the dilemma." He said.

"I know! And it's not just when I'm awake, when I'm sleeping too! He used to only come a few times a month, and it wasn't bad even then. But now, I can hardly close my eyes without his claws reaching for my throat! And his voice…. his silver tongue…. I can't stand it!" Exclaimed Simba, his voice becoming panicky. Rafiki looked serious, which was rather rare for him.

"Dis is… dis is a problem. You will have to anseh some questions. First of all. Do you believe Scar is dead?" Inquired Rafiki.

"Yes… yes, he's dead. He could never have survived such a fall. And I saw the hyenas leap onto his carcass afterwards. He's got to be very, very dead." Replied Simba.

"Good. Dat is good. Derefore, whatever is happening cannot be his fault. Do you believe dat statement to be true?" Asked Rafiki.

"Well…. yeah, that sounds right." Said Simba.

"Also good. Now, if I am correct, you are rather afraid of Scar?"

Simba swallowed. "I can't even get any sleep anymore. He's… a nightmare! Whatever this is…. it won't leave me alone! It tricked me into attacking Kovu! I am… I am…. very…. very afraid of it." Rafiki looked deep in thought.

"When you say 'it' you are referring to Scar, are you not?" He asked.

"Yes…. I guess so." Replied Simba.

"So, it is specifically Scar you fear, despite knowing he is dead." Said Rafiki.

"Yes. That's…. that's it."

"Very well. Follow me." Rafiki got up, and jumped down onto another branch. Simba got up as well, and followed him, slowly making their way up higher into the tree. As they climbed, the branches got thinner, forcing Simba to go slowly and carefully.

Eventually, he caught up to Rafiki.

"Okay, come in here." Gestured the monkey. Simba hopped up into another cove, this one smaller and darker than before. There was only enough room for him and the shaman, another lion could never have fit in with them.

"What are we here for?" Asked Simba, looking around.

"We are here for this." Replied Rafiki, as he used his stick to gesture towards a painting on the wall. Simba turned to look at it.

It was a small painting, only a bit bigger than his paw. It depicted a lion cub, drawn much the same as his own had been. It looked lonely, there were no other paintings accompanying it. And rather old as well.

"This cub has no mane….. Rafiki, why doesn't it have a mane? Did it never grow up?" He asked, turning to the shaman.

"Well…. in a manner of speaking." Replied Rafiki.

"Huh… so what does a dead lion cub have to do with this? I thought you were going to help me." He said.

"If you want help, you will listen. You fear Scar, do you not?" Asked Rafiki.

"More than…. anything…. else." Said Simba.

"And would you say that it is an irrational fear, considering Scar is dead?" Inquired the Shaman.

"I suppose it is." Replied Simba.

"Den you have your answer in front of you. Place your paw on the painting." Directed Rafiki. Simba gave Rafiki a strange look, then did as he was told.

"What are you even trying to do?" Asked Simba.

Rafiki smiled.

"You will see."

Then, everything disappeared.

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Simba got up, groaning.

He had blacked out….. or something. Either way, as he surveyed his surroundings, he was certainly no longer in Rafiki's tree. In fact….. he wasn't sure where he was at all. Everything looked strange, and bigger somehow. He was sure grass was not normally this tall-

Simba looked down at his paws in horror. They were…. different! Simba examined himself, his mane was gone, his teeth were duller, his tail was shorter!

He was….. he was a cub!

How?!

Then, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He whipped around, his little claws extended. He was faced with… another cub! Then, the cub spoke, a large smile on his face.

"Hi there! My name's Taka! What's yours?"

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Dun dun DA DA DUN DUN

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