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.

And uh… sorry if the swearing offends anyone. It's just meant to express extreme emotion.

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Simba's POV

"Uru is dead?!"

"... yes." Whispered Sarafina.

"Dead?" Gasped Simba, as he took a step back in surprise and horror.

"Yeah…."

"Well….. shit." Said Shenzi, who hadn't yet moved as she gaped at Sarafina.

"Yeah….. shit." Echoed Simba, his eyes wide.

"Shit."

"Fuck!"

"Holy fuck!" Swore Simba, hardly able to believe his ears. Uru was dead? Dead? How? When? Where, what how?!

"When!?" Demanded Shenzi.

"Last night." Replied Sarafina, looking exhausted.

"How?"

"I'm not sure. She just sort of… collapsed as she walked into the den. And no one could resuscitate her, she became unresponsive. She kept breathing in these wheezy, gasping breaths for another hour, then opened her eyes and coughed something out about Taka. Then she spasmed, as if something inside her failed, and she coughed for another minute or so until she...….. died."

"Oh….. oh no!"

"What are we going to tell Taka?" Asked Banzai, suddenly voicing everyone's concerns.

They stared at each other, not daring to offer a solution for fear that the solution would involve actually…. telling Taka!

What were they going to tell him?!

"We're screwed." Whispered Shenzi.

"Screwed!"

"What are we going to tell him?" Asked Simba quietly, as he sat down. Taka loved Uru like nothing else! That he should receive this news, this horrible news that his own mother was dead was…. what was he going to say? What was he going to do, how was he going to react to this? Simba hardly dared imagine how Taka would feel about this….

Simba rather liked Uru. She had been friendly, she had protected Taka, and had been an all around good mother and friend. Of course since this was taking place in the past, Simba had always known she was going to die, and had gotten plenty comfortable with the fact. He was dismayed to hear this news, but…. Taka hadn't had the luxury of not getting attached.

Uru was Taka's own mother! His very first friend and playmate! The type of mother who was always there to clean up after him and comfort him when he'd had a bad dream. The type of mother who always understood, no matter what. The type of mother Taka had grown to become completely attached to, at least emotionally.

Oh, how were they going to tell him?

"Someone has to tell him. Someone has to tell him now. He has a right to know." Whispered Sarafina.

"It's not going to be me." Said Banzai, as Ed shook his head vigorously.

Simba, Shenzi, and Sarafina looked at each other. In each of their eyes was conflict, no one wanted to be the one to break the news to Taka. And yet, they each felt they owed it to him that they should be the ones to comfort him. They stared at each other, guilt ridden across their faces, as they silently debated.

"It'll be me." Sighed Shenzi, as she stood up.

"You sure?" Asked Simba, as guilty relief washed over him. And going from Sarafina's expression, she felt exactly the same.

"Yeah. No one else here as the balls to do it, so it'll be me." She replied, as she frowned.

"Thanks." Grunted Simba, not meeting Shenzi's eyes.

"Well….. are… are we going to go then?" Asked Sarafina.

"Yeah."

"Then…. what are we waiting for?" Asked Sarafina. None of them had yet moved. They stayed still for a moment, glancing at each other hesitantly.

"Fine! Fine, I'm going." Snapped Shenzi, getting up and trotting away. Banzai and Ed followed her, with Sarafina slowly padding after them. They silently walked up to their den, where Taka was probably still asleep. They stopped short of walking into the den, and glanced at Shenzi. Shenzi took a deep breath and walked inside.

Simba looked down at his paws as he heard voices from inside the den.

"Hey Shenzi!" Said Taka cheerily.

"Uh…. hi Taka…." Replied.

"What is it?" Asked Taka. "Hey, is mom back yet? She's due for another visit, it's been a week."

Simba could hear Shenzi swallow.

"Uh…. well….. actually…"

"What?"

"She's… Uru that is…. Uru is uh… she's…...dead."

There was silence for a moment.

"What?"

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Some time later….

Simba stood atop a hill, staring down at the little valley below. Next to him stood Shenzi, who was just as silent as he was as they watched the proceedings. Sarafina was to his right, leaning up against Taka. The entire atmosphere would have felt solemn and quiet if it wasn't for Taka.

"Why!?" He wailed, both his paws over his eyes. There were tears streaming down his muzzle, all the fur on his face was wet and matted from the tears. He'd been crying nonstop for the past two days, and absolutely nothing he, Sarafina, or anyone else said to him could calm him down. Personally, Simba would have been deeply annoyed by the constant sobbing if he didn't also feel deeply sorry for the lion.

He turned his head back down to what was happening below. Since they knew Taka would be wailing, they chose a spot as far away as possible while still remaining within view. Uru's funeral was taking place, and as they watched Ahadi and Mufasa were digging the grave.

Mufasa had visited Taka yesterday, in order to tell him what had happened. All he'd been greeted with was a nearly incoherent Taka who shouted at Mufasa to go away until Mufasa relented. Simba could tell Mufasa was trying to be a caring brother, but he'd handled it rather foolishly. Mufasa had had no real idea on how to be a good big brother, and the way he spoke to Taka proved it. Incompetent.

"Try uh…. try not to yell too loudly, okay?" Whispered Shenzi, as Taka kept sobbing. Sarafina rubbed his shoulders comfortingly, frowning as her mate didn't respond. If anything, he got louder. Of course, they were much too far away to be heard, but Shenzi was simply being cautious. A little calloused, but cautious nonetheless.

"But whyyyy!" Sobbed Taka, as he removed his paws for a moment to look down at the funeral. He immediately stuck them back over his eyes, his chest heaving for air as he kept bawling.

"I… can't answer that." Whispered Sarafina, as she kept trying to reassure him with her paws.

"It's not fair!" He shouted, sniffling loudly. "It's-it's not fair!"

"I…. I know it's not fair…. just… try to be strong…" Whispered Sarafina, as she smoothed his mane.

"I…. I….. I didn't even get to say goodbye!" He sobbed, keeping his paws over his eyes."

"Be strong…. please Taka…"

"Why didn't I get to say goodbye?!" He wailed.

"That's just how these things are… without warning…."

"It's not fair!"

"It's okay Taka….. you'll be okay. I'm here for you.. I'm still here.."

"How is it okay?!" He sobbed, his chest heaving as he took short, strangled gasps.

"Because…. uh… because…." Sarafina stopped talking, realizing she had no convincing argument. She frowned sadly and kept rubbing his shoulders, saying nothing as Taka wailed.

Simba could certainly sympathize. When he lost Mufasa, he hadn't had the luxury of crying since the very first thing he had to do was run for his life. And even when he escaped the hyenas, he still had to survive the desert. But through it all he'd barely felt a thing, the pain of Mufasa's death blotting out all other emotions. It had so thoroughly depressed him that he likely would have lost the will to live, if it hadn't been for Timon and Pumbaa.

Taka looked as if he was holding on to the will to live, but not much else. Uru had been his closest friend and the perfect mother for so many years, he'd gotten completely attached to her and her presence emotionally.

So when he lost her, he lost it. Completely.

When Shenzi had told him, he ran out of the cave to find Sarafina, and he'd desperately asked her if it was true. When she'd confirmed, he began to sniffle, then burst into sobbing. And he hadn't stopped since then, not once.

As they watched the funeral, Taka took his paws from his eyes to see her get buried. He cried even harder when they started putting the dirt back, the sense of finality that it gave all of them was proving too much for him. They watched Rafiki as he wrapped up the funeral, giving a blessing to Uru that she should enjoy the stars. Eventually all the lions left, going back to Pride Rock.

They didn't move for another few hours, until Taka finally decided he'd had enough of staring at Uru's grave. They walked back to the Graveyard, with both Simba and Sarafina supporting Taka on the way back. He still hadn't stopped crying.

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Taka's POV

WHY?

Why why why why why why why!

Why was mom gone?

Why was she gone? Why did she leave? Why wasn't she here now to comfort him! Why wasn't she here to dry his tears and tell him everything was alright?

Why?

That single question reverberated throughout Taka's mind as he sobbed, lying alone in a cave. Everyone had somehow decided that they would leave him alone, so that he could be by himself. Taka didn't mind it. He was okay with it. It was all right that they had left him alone, it gave him time to think-

"Mom!" He wailed, turning over onto his back as tears flowed freely from his closed eyes. No matter what he couldn't stop crying, and he didn't feel like stopping. He didn't care about stopping! He just… he just….. wanted mom back!

"But why?" He sobbed, to no one in particular. No one was there. It was just him, lying in a cave…. without mom!

He should have known! He should've known mom wasn't all right when she had started coughing last week! He should have known she was in trouble, why hadn't he known? Why hadn't he known she was sick?

He could have done something about it! He could have talked to Rafiki and asked him if there was anything to do! He could have seen if maybe she just needed some sort of moral support! Maybe she had just needed her little Taka, and she would have been all right!

"I…. I…. why didn't I get to say goodbye?" He sniffled, as he tried to clear the mucus from his nose. Crying did that to you.

But why hadn't he been able to say goodbye? He just wanted to tell mom that he really really really really really really really really loved her! He just wanted to lie down with her one last time and cuddle up to her soft fur! He just wanted to- to - to tell her how much he very very very very much loved her!

That's all he wanted! Why didn't he get to say goodbye? Why wasn't he afforded one last chance to play with mom? Why wasn't he given one last chance to…. to…. lick her fur, and have her groom him comfortingly? To listen to her tell him that.. that he was special, that he was more than a Taka, that he was special because he was his mommy's son!

Why wasn't he given that chance?

Why?

Unable to think coherently, Taka kept sobbing and curled up on the stone floor. He had to go to sleep… he had to stop thinking about….. he had to just fall asleep….. all this would go away, at least for the night…. he had to fall asleep!

As he kept bawling, he slowly felt the exhaustion that came from not sleeping last night creep over him, and he shut his eyes tight as he desperately tried to fall asleep.

He opened his eyes.

"Awwww….." he sniffled, as he looked around. He knew exactly where he was. "Please, leave me alone!"

"Leave you alone?" Asked a horribly familiar voice as Taka turned around the face the red lion.

"Yeah! Just let me sleep, okay? I can't do this right now!" He asked, his voice cracking as he tried not to cry.

"Why? Why can't you suffer my company?" Asked Uraziel, smirking confidently at Taka. Taka sniffed, wiping his eyes as they grew wet.

"Because…. because…. I just can't do this right now! I need to sleep, please, let me sleep!" He begged.

"Oh, poor you. What's gotten you so sulky? You're acting like a cub who's lost it's milk." Replied the Nightmare, as he towered over Taka. Taka tried to speak up, but he caught his voice in his throat. He couldn't say it…. he didn't want to say it!

"Well? Come on Taka, say something." Prodded Uraziel. Taka coughed, and sat down as he began crying again. He felt little tears sliding down his cheek again. He…. he didn't want to cry… but…. he couldn't help it! Because…..

"My mom died." He whispered.

"Died?" Said Uraziel, his voice suddenly filled with interest. "Really….. how long ago?"

"Two days." Whispered Taka, looking down at his paws.

"Two days ago? And you're still a wreck!"

"Shut up!" Whined Taka, growling up at him. "Just shut up! Don't you dare insult my mom!"

"Oh, but my dear Taka…. I wouldn't dream of insulting Uru. Have I ever spoken badly of such a fine lioness before?

"Uh…..I… I guess not." He replied, sniffling.

"Exactly. Your mother was a credit to her species. Smart, daring, and beautiful, if I dare add. So… you really miss her, don't you?" He asked, grinning.

"Yeah!" Sniffled Taka, as he looked away so Uraziel couldn't see how much he was crying.

"But…. it's been two days, hasn't it? You've had plenty of time to… make your peace with the whole affair, haven't you? So, why are you still so torn up about it?" Asked Uraziel.

"Because I loved her!" He replied, his voice cracking as he burst into a whole new set of tears. Uraziel looked down at him disdainfully.

"Yes, yes, but… any other reason?" Asked Uraziel. Taka sniffled for a moment, little spasms running throughout him as he sobbed.

"Well… well….. I… I didn't get to say goodbye!" He wailed, burying his head in his paws as he tried to wipe his tears away. He didn't see it, but a victorious flash appeared on Uraziel's face.

"Oh. I see…. that certainly is cause for alarm." He nodded, his toothy grin wider than before. "And…. why didn't you get to say goodbye?"

Taka looked up at him with blurry eyes, hardly able to contain his own sniffling

"Because…. because….. I wasn't there when she….. she died!"

"And why weren't you there?"

"Because I live here…. and….. and she lives at Pride Rock."

"And why are you here, instead of at Pride Rock, where you should have been the whole time! Why were you here instead of at your mother's side?"

"Because I'm exiled." He sniffed.

"And why are you exiled?"

"Because I got tossed out by Ahadi." He replied, feeling a little confused at his questions.

"And why did he kick you out of the Pridelands?" Asked Uraziel, his eyes alight.

"Because he found out I was playing with hyenas."

"And…." Uraziel paused, grinning wider than ever. "How did he find out you were playing with Hyenas?"

"Because….. because Mufasa saw me." Answered Taka, his voice dropping off to a whisper.

"So….. tell me Taka, whose fault is it that you couldn't say goodbye to Uru? Whose fault is it that you weren't even granted the ability to tell your mother you loved her as she breathed her last breaths? Whose fault was it that you couldn't hear her last words, that you couldn't hear her tell how much you meant to her?!"

"It's Mufasa's fault." Whispered Taka.

"Exaclty." Grinned Uraziel.

"It's… it's his fault I didn't get to say goodbye!" Wailed Taka, bursting back into tears again.

"Exaclty!" Said Uraziel, sounding triumphant.

"It's his fault!" Shouted Taka, slamming his paw against the ground angrily. He got up and growled, shaking with rage. Still sobbing, he grabbed a little pebble and threw it against the ravine wall, causing it to shatter. "I mean… it wasn't enough for him that he…. that he barely played with me when we were cubs? It wasn't enough for him that he did nothing to help me as I grew up? It wasn't enough for him that he couldn't realize that those hyenas were my friends? It wasn't enough for him that he got me exiled from my home? Was that not enough?" Sobbed Taka, unable to control himslef as the words flowed from him.

"I suppose your brother was too arrogant." Smirked Uraziel.

"Yeah!" Agreed Taka, his voice cracking. "Why wasn't that enough for him? No! He had to…. he had to…. he had to make it that….he had to make it that I couldn't say goodbye to mom! Uuugh…." He blubbered, his voice mangled by his sobs.

"I hate him!" He added, as he tried unsuccessfully to bite back his tears. "I hate him for that! I hate him for never being there! I hate him for being….for being the worst brother ever!"

Uraziel grinned even wider, his eyes flashing with glee….

"And would you say he needs to be….. punished? For his sins?" Asked Uraziel, leaning down to look Taka in the eye for the most important question yet.

Taka sniffled, staying silent as he tried to think.

"Yeah. He does." Nodded Taka, as he wiped away a tear.

"Would you say he needs to feel pain? Pain like he's made you go through?" Asked Uraziel. So close….

"Yeah!" Answered Taka, as he closed his eyes.

"Would you say he needs to go through the ultimate pain?!"

"Yeah!" Nodded Taka, as he tried not to sniffle.

"Would you… kill him?" He said, staring Taka in the eyes. Taka dropped his jaw slightly in surprise, as he looked back at Uraziel's choatic eyes…

"No." He whispered, his face falling. Uraziel reared back, suddenly furious.

"What? Why not?" He demanded.

"Becuae I'm just weak little Taka." He replied. "I could never do anything like that… and Mufasa is my brother. Brother's are supposed to love each other, after all…"

"Ack!" Snarled Uraziel, growling at Taka. The orange lion drew back in fear, confused by the sudden change in demeanor. "For crying out loud! Even in your darkest, lowest moment, you still refuse to lash back at life! You still refuse to fight back at what made you so low in the first place! For crying out loud, what does it take, huh?!" He roared.

"What? Whaddaya mean?" Asked Taka, taking another step back.

"What do I mean? What do I mean?! I've been trying to guide you to this point all your life! And boy, have the circumstances ever worked in my favor! You had no friends as a cub, you got exiled, and now you've lost your mother! And even under my added pressure, you still don't break!"

"What?" Asked Taka, his eyes widening in shock.

"I mean…. your brother has done worse things to you than even I! And still you can't bring yourself to fight him! Why?!" He demanded, roaring at the cowering orange lion.

"I don't know!" Replied Taka, as he backed up to the wall.

"Oh, you don't know? You don't know?! Why won't you just hate him with all your heart!" He roared. Taka stared at him, unable to say anything in astonishment. Uraziel had been….. deliberately tormenting him? Why? For what?

Then, as Taka watched, Uraziel's furious expression suddenly changed. At that moment, Taka watched an evil, evil grin spread across Uraziel's muzzle.

"Why…. why don't you?" He asked, his creepy smile unsettling Taka. "You answered that question yourself! Because part of you is still weak little Taka!" He announced, looking triumphant. Taka didn't say anything, only gaping at the Nightmare.

"Well…. why don't we…. fix that?" Uraziel said, his eyes glowing red ominously.

With a sudden gasp, Taka opened his eys and lunged up, looking around. His eyes were met with the familiar confines of his den, and he let out a sigh of relief.

"It's over." He gasped, feeling safe now that he was awake again. "It's over… it's done….. I'm safe…."

"Are you sure of that?" Asked a voice. With a strangled cry, Taka whipped around to see the red lion standing at the back of the den, stating at him with a hideous smile.

"What! I'm awake! I'm awake, what are you doing here?!" Asked Taka, nearly choking on his fear.

"I'm more than just a simple Nightmare, you little fool." Growled Uraziel. "Now! It's time to end this foolish Taka nonsense! I've had enough of it!"

Uraziel walked up to Taka as he trembled, and in that instant Taka made a horrible mistake. He looked up into Uraziel's eyes as they glowed red with sinister intent.

And suddenly, he couldn't look away. He kept staring into his eyes for another moment, when suddenly he felt a twinge of pain in his skull. He winced, and to his growing horror, he heard Uraziel chuckling. Then, he felt another twinge of pain! And another! He gasped as they got stronger, a monsterous headache suddenly afflicting him. He couldn't pull away from Uraziel's gaze, and he let out a cry of pain!

"Agh!" He cried, as he groaned from the sudden and sharp pain in his forehead. "Ouch! What the hell?" He shouted, as the sharp and cutting pain grew stronger! "My head!" He cried, his paws flying up desperately to try and stop the pain. But it wouldn't stop!

"My head! What are you doing to my head!?" He shrieked, letting out an even louder cry as suddenly it felt as if there were claws digging into his skull! "What are you doing to my HEAD?!" He pleaded desperately.

"Splitting it." Snarled Uraziel, as he grinned wickedly.

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Good lord, please people, tell me what you think.