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

"Didya hear them, didya them? They invited us to come back tomorrow!" Exclaimed Taka, as he bounced up and down in the grass.

"You've repeated that quite a few times, but yes. I heard it the first time." Replied Simba, rolling his eyes. Taka was ecstatic about what had happened today, he had gained three more playmates, all for himself.

Of course, they were hyenas, but Simba supposed he couldn't hold that against him, not when Taka's only other playmate was Simba. The hyenas themselves hadn't been all that bad, one of them was smart, one thought with his stomach, and the other seemed to have something wrong with him.

Apparently, Shenzi was the daughter of the clan's Matriarch. The Matriarch was the leader of the clan, and when Shenzi grew old enough, she would be next in line for the position. But according to Shenzi, if she wasn't good enough she would be removed and a better hyena would take her place. The position was supposed to be merit based, to ensure the smartest female got the job.

Simba thought Shenzi was plenty smart.

Banzai was the strongest, which was strange because he was a male. Shenzi should have been the strongest, being the female. Of course, Banzai still couldn't best Shenzi in a fight, he had nowhere near the prowess and cunning Shenzi possessed, but Shenzi had grudgingly conceded that Banzai could hold her down if he ever managed to pin her. Which wasn't often, since Banzai thought with his stomach and not his head. But when Banzai did get the better of Shenzi, he definitely kept her pinned, since his victories were rare.

Ed was the wacky one. He apparently had some sort of defect as well, like Mzazi, but it had gotten his mind instead of his bones. Ed was constantly giggling, as if he found everything funny. It also sounded as if he had some sort of speech impediment, so if Ed could talk they might never know about it. He communicated through whimpers and squeals, which Banzai could understand perfectly. According to Banzai, Ed seemed to be able to grasp the situation just as well as anyone else, but had trouble producing accurate responses.

And all three of them had invited the two lion cubs back to play with them tomorrow.

"We're going back, right? I like them! They're fun." Said Taka, as he walked next to Simba.

"We aren't actually doing anything else, so I can't really think of a reason why not." Replied Simba.

"Yes! What do you think we'll play tomorrow?" Asked Taka. "We played hide and seek today!"

"I dunno…. tag, maybe? Racing?" Suggested Simba.

"Those both sound good."

"Well, I always liked playing them." Remarked Simba.

"Who did you play with them before?" Asked Taka, as he looked up at the stars. It was nighttime, and it was rather late. They had stayed in the Graveyard for much too long, it had to be near midnight, the apex of darkness.

"What do you mean?" Asked Simba, pausing.

"Well…. you seem to know a lot about these games, and a lot about other things too. Who was your family before you came here? You never told me anything at all about them." Said Taka. Simba frowned. He certainly couldn't tell Taka the truth, somehow telling him that his best friend was actually his nephew sounded awfully strange.

"I told you I lived with a small pride, right?" He started.

"Yeah. But you didn't tell me anything about them."

"The Pride had… uh…. six members. There was the king, the queen, my father, my mother, and the princess. The princess's name was…. er…. Nafasi. Yeah, it was Nafasi. Anyways, I used to play with her, but she was older than me. She taught me the games like tag and hide and seek. And I guess she learned the games from her parents…. or something."

"So why did you leave?" Asked Taka, as Pride Rock came into view in front of them.

"I didn't mean to leave, something bad happened. There was a…. hyen- uh… wild dog attack. There were lots of wild dogs, and they killed or drove everyone away. I'm pretty sure my parents are dead."

"You don't seem to choked up about it."

"I've worked through my issues." Replied Simba, looking away.

"Okay…. well, I'm sorry….. about, you know, that." He said awkwardly.

"That's all right."

"…."

Simba cleared his throat, unsure of what else to do.

"What is it?" Asked Taka.

"Nothing." He replied. The two of them kept walking, an awkward silence pervading amongst them.

"Taka! Little one!" Called a voice, coming above them from the slope that lead up to Pride Rock. They both looked up, seeing Uru bounding down to them.

"Hey mom!" Said Taka, as Uru skidded to a stop in front of them.

"Little one! Where were you! I was worried when you didn't show up for bed tonight!" Whispered Uru, looking concerned.

"I was out exploring mom."

"But where? Why didn't you come back for bedtime?" Asked Uru.

"Well….. we lost track of the time." Said Simba, jumping into the conversation.

"Yeah mom, but we had fun." Replied Taka.

He and Taka had gone through with an agreement, mostly headed by Simba, that they wouldn't tell anyone about their sudden newfound friendship with the trio of hyenas. Hyenas were still hated in the Pridelands, no matter how Simba now felt about them, and it was better if no one knew they were playing with hyenas.

Taka had also mentioned that Ahadi harbored an especially deep seated hatred for the creatures. And if he found out about it, he might punish him.

"I…. I'm glad you had fun little one. That's always good." Said Uru, smiling warmly as she rubbed the top of Taka's head with her paw.

"Thanks mom. But I'm tired." He yawned to emphasize his point. "Can I go up to sleep with you?"

"Of course little one." Replied Uru. She turned to Simba. "What about you?" She asked.

"I'll sleep down here, like normal." He replied.

"Are you sure? You two are still small enough that I could cover you both with my paws. Taka sleeps well enough underneath me, you could sleep next to him. I'd cover you two. Ahadi wouldn't know you're there, if that's what you're worried about." Offered Uru. Simba paused to think for a moment.

"I… I would like that, I guess."

"Good. Now, come on, it's very late." Said Uru kindly, as she bent down and picked both of them up in her jaws. It seemed they were still small enough for that too.

Uru slowly walked up the side of Pride Rock, padding up across the stones. She reached the den and went inside, lying down a few feet away from Ahadi, where Mufasa slept in his father's arms. Uru set them down and grabbed them both with her paws, drawing Simba and Taka up against herself.

Simba smiled. Uru wasn't his mother of course, but this brought back wonderful memories about his own cubhood. Uru wrapped them up and tucked them next to her stomach and chest, making them comfortable. Uru's soft fur felt wonderful, and Simba closed his eyes.

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Taka's POV

Taka opened his eyes.

He looked around. Hadn't he just been in his mom's paws? But as he scanned the deserted den, he saw neither his mother, nor Simba, nor his father or any of the many lionesses who usually slept here at night.

He was…. alone?

He gulped. He had a sneaking suspicion of what this meant, and what it meant was very bad. He immediately ran out of the den, as fast as his little paws could carry him. Outside, the night sky was dark, and the stars that had covered the sky just moments ago were all gone, as if clouds had very suddenly moved in.

Oh, this was very bad, this was very bad. A knot of dread formed in his stomach, and he stayed still, looking around as he tried to relax, breathing in and out. His chest rose and fell slowly, his eyes wide.

"What's the matter little one?"

Taka jumped around, facing the voice that had called to him. He gasped, as he saw the lion exit the shadows of the den. Unfortunately, he knew this lion, he knew this lion and he hated him with all his heart.

He wasn't actually sure if it was a lion at all. He had asked his mother about it, without mentioning that he had been having them, and she had told him about creatures called Nightmares.

Nightmares would visit you while you were asleep, and they were always bad news. This one called himself Uraziel, and was very mean to Taka. He always told him bad things, and would end the dream by hurting him. Taka didn't always get visited by Uraziel, only once or twice a week. But every time he appeared, Taka felt haunted by his sinister grin, and the horrible words that came from his mouth.

"H-hello." Stuttered Taka, backing away from the Nightmare. Uraziel had a brilliant red mane, and a muscular body, his eyes flashing evilly.

"Well, hello to you too." He replied, grinning with his teeth bared. Taka stood frozen, not saying a word as Uraziel stared at him hungrily.

"Uh….. what are you going to do?" Taka asked, swallowing. Uraziel raised an eyebrow.

"What am I going to do? My, aren't you impatient?" He jeered, taking a step closer to Taka.

"I'm not impatient!" Retorted Taka, taking a fearful step back.

"You know Taka?... you really aren't impatient, I must agree with you there. But you know what else you aren't?" He asked, standing over the little orange cub who was cowering beneath him.

"Uh… what?" He asked, looking up at the Nightmare.

"Loved." Sneered Uraziel, baring his teeth.

"What? I'm loved!" Replied Taka, crouching down.

"Oh really? And by whom?"

"Well, uh….. mom loves me!" He answered.

"Your mother loves you? Taka, that's a given! Have you ever heard of the expression that only a mother could love that face? That's how it is with you. Your mother loves you only because she is your mother! She almost has to love her sons, nature's hardwired that into them!" Sneered the red lion.

"But, uh…. Muffy loves me!" Replied Taka.

"But does he play with you?"

"Well….. no, no not really…. I have friends though!"

"Who?" He jibed.

"I made three new friends today! Their names are Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed!" He shouted, standing up in defiance.

"Friends? Taka, do you actually think they're your friends?!" Asked Uraziel, leaning down to look the frightened cub in the eye.

"Yeah! They played with me, I think they're my friends!"

"If you truly believe that… consider this. Shenzi is the daughter of Hatari, the clan's Matriarch. The job of the Matriarch is the clan's well being first and foremost. If they can help the clan, then they must do so. And Shenzi spends a lot of time with her mother, being taught how to become the next Matriarch. Shenzi knows the ins and outs of her clan's issues, and she, like her mother, knows they must fix it. What has eluded them until now, is how to fix it."

"What does that have to do with me?" Asked Taka.

"This is where you come in. You are a prince. Perhaps not the crown prince, but a prince nonetheless. The solution to the hyena's problem is to get back into the Pridelands, but they can't do that while our species keeps them out. You are their way in, because you are a lion in the Pridelands who sympathizes with them. That's a first! That hasn't happened for a generation or so! Maybe someday, you'll help them get back into their homeland! That's why Shenzi's your friend! And her two companions are her mindless followers, they're your friends because she asked them to be!" Sneered Uraziel, grinning with malice.

Taka paled. That…. that couldn't be true! Shenzi was friendly….. she was really his friend! She was his friend because she wanted to be not to…. not to use him as some sort of tool!

Right?

"There's…. there's still Simba." He whimpered, backing away.

"And that's the best part." Grinned the Nightmare.

"What do you mean?" Whispered Taka, horror filling his features. Simba was his truest friend, the one that had stuck by him no matter what! Why would Uraziel be smiling unless that wasn't true?

"I mean he isn't your friend either." He snarled, his white teeth gleaming.

"Ye-yes he is! You're lying!"

"No I'm not, you pathetic little cub. I know things you could only dream of knowing, I know that at this moment I'm telling the truth, and that it is your friend Simba who has been doing the lying."

"Simba isn't a liar!" Retorted Taka, staring weakly back up at the Nightmare.

"Oh, but he is. Remember when he told you about where he came from? Well, he was lying! None of that was true, don't you remember he took pauses, trying to think of some bullshit story to come up with? And how, as he described the deaths of his entire pride he showed zero emotion?!" Said Uraziel, grinning widely.

"Uh…. he'd just gotten over it!" Stuttered Taka.

"Over it? Really? You don't simply get over losing everyone you've ever known! Especially not when you witnessed it, and it was violent! So if that never happened to him, where did he come from?"

"Stop this! Simba's my friend!" Squealed Taka, frightened by Uraziel's sinister smile.

"He isn't your friend because he likes you! In fact, he hates you! He hates you with all his heart and soul and yet he sticks around because he has to! He pretends to be your friend because he wants to know what will happen to you! He was never, ever friendly to you because of who you are! You have no true friends you pathetic little cub!" Roared Uraziel, making Taka cringe fearfully as he absorbed his words.

"That's not true!" He yelled, tears beginning to form in his eyes. He had friends, he wasn't pathetic, he was just as valuable and important as Mufasa!

But….it had been Uru who had told him that….. someone who Uraziel said would have loved him anyways… He looked up at the Nightmare, his lip trembling.

No one else had told him, not ever.

Did he….. have any real friends?

"Why don't you think about that tomorrow?" Whispered Uraziel, his eyes alight with malice. "Think about how pathetic and worthless you really are, think about how alone and sad you really are." Sneered the Nightmare.

"I….. I have lots of f-friends." Choked Taka, as Uraziel towered above him.

"No you don't. You're all alone, you're pathetic, and you're weak. That's why Ahadi thought to kill you when he saw you, he knew you would never, ever amount to anything."

"My mom says I'm special! My mom says I'm important!" Sniffled Taka, as he watched Uraziel extend his claws.

"She would say that even if you were a cripple. You saw a cripple today, didn't you? Little Mzazi, the hyena pup who can't walk or stand because of the lion's gluttony. And does his mother ever love him, when she isn't hunting she feeds lies into Mzazi's ears, telling him that he's important, that he's just as good as any other hyena. But he's not. He's just a cripple who'll never amount to anything. Just like you."

"I'm….. I'm….. stop it!" He whimpered.

"Little insignificant Taka. Always in the shadow of your brother. Your big brother, Mufasa, the crown prince! The one who's actually going to achieve something, the one who'll become the Lion King! And you'll be sitting next to him, watching as even he eventually casts his useless baggage off and you finish your life alone. All alone."

"Stop!" Pleaded Taka, as Uraziel growled. The Nightmare lunged forward, grabbing Taka with his paws and pinning the little cub harshly to the floor. He pressed down without mercy, making Taka gaso for air.

"And you're never going to do anything about it, will you?" He sneered. Taka whimpered, as Uraziel raised his paw up above him with his claws extended.

Taka felt a tear slide down his fur, landing on the stone beneath him.

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Nightmares are the worst, wouldn't you say?

Anyhow, I wrote this chapter in one day. Inspiration struck me, and so I wrote an entire chapter in one day. Normally this takes me a week. Anyhow, leave a review if you liked the chapter, tell me what you thought of it!