Sorry for the late update, I just took a break from this story for personal reasons and I also made some improvements and a slight rewrite of the previous chapters! You guys should check it out!

Malka was crouched in a bush, enjoying some much-needed solitude, hoping no one would discover him. This was his most significant secret, and he didn't want anyone to know.

Suddenly, Mheetu's voice shattered the silence. "Hey, Malka!" he called out.

Malka was surprised. This was his alone time, and he wasn't expecting anyone to find him.

"Hello there, Mheetu," Malka greeted him.

"What are you doing here? You're alone," Mheetu asked.

"Just enjoying some alone time," Malka replied.

"Are you hiding something?" Mheetu inquired.

"What? No, of course not!" Malka defended himself.

"Your tone of voice tells a different story," Mheetu said. "Come on, we're best friends. You can tell me anything."

"I'm telling you, it's nothing," Malka insisted.

"Wait a minute..." Mheetu said, looking at the bush behind Malka. "What the?!"

"Were you spying on my sister?!" Mheetu snapped.

"Of course not! That's just a coincidence. This is where I hang out when I want to be alone," Malka explained.

Mheetu pounced on Malka. "Tell me the truth!" he demanded.

"Okay, fine!" Malka said. "I have a crush on Nala! There, are you happy now?"

"You've had a crush on my sister all this time?!" Mheetu exclaimed.

"Yes, but you have to promise to keep it a secret," Malka replied.

"How long have you had a crush on her?" Mheetu asked.

"Since before I even met you," Malka confessed.

"Did you only become friends with me to get closer to her?" Mheetu accused

"Absolutely not! That's not why we're friends," Malka insisted.

Mheetu continued to question him, and Malka grew increasingly frustrated. "This is why I don't tell people my secrets!" he spat.

"How did you even develop a crush on her when you two barely interact?" Mheetu asked.

"I don't know. I've always found her pretty, ever since I first met her," Malka admitted.

"Ew! I can't believe I'm hearing this," Mheetu replied in disgust.

"Come on, don't you think she's beautiful?" Malka asked.

"Well, yeah, but it's just weird," Mheetu said.

Malka sighed. "Now that you know, can you help me get closer to her?" he asked hopefully.

"What? No way!" Mheetu replied.

"Think about it. If we got closer, and if Nala and I got together, we'd practically be brothers," Malka reasoned.

"That's impossible, Malka. Trust me, being together with my sister wouldn't be easy, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone," Mheetu warned. "Besides, have you forgotten about Simba?"

"What about him?" Malka asked.

"Simba and Nala are close. Rumors say there's something between them," Mheetu explained.

"Nah, I know Simba. He's not into that mushy stuff, and they're just friends," Malka dismissed the idea.

"For now," Mheetu said ominously.

Suddenly, Nala appeared, asking if anyone had been yelling.

"It's nothing, really. Definitely not one of us," Malka lied.

"Sure..." Nala stormed off

"You lied to her?!" Mheetu exclaimed.

"What was I supposed to do? Get both of us in trouble?" Malka replied defensively.

Juu announced, "Hey Malka, it's been a good day so far. No signs of any threats or hyenas."

"Malka?" Juu called out again when he didn't receive a response.

"Malka?!"

"Oh, yeah, that's great!" Malka replied as he left the Lion Guard den. "Let's take it easy today."

"Sure," Juu replied, eyeing Malka with suspicion.

"Is there something wrong with him?" Haraka asked.

"He seems a bit off," Gumu added.

"Malka has a crush on my sister!" Mheetu blurted out.

"What?!" Juu exclaimed.

"What?! You heard nothing. Let's move on," Mheetu replied, trying to brush it off.

"Mheetu, we all heard that," Haraka pointed out.

"Tell us more," Gumu urged.

Mheetu reluctantly explained the situation to the Lion Guard, who couldn't help but chuckle at the news.

"Does Malka know that Simba and Nala are together?" Gumu asked.

"They aren't! Well, not yet," Mheetu clarified.

"Yeah, maybe we should keep this to ourselves," Juu suggested.

Malka pondered to himself, "Should I ask her out? Well, maybe... but not now. This is going to be so hard."

As Malka approached Nala, he noticed that she was with Simba. Could it be that they were together? Nah, it's probably just a rumor.

"Hey Nala, hey Simba," Malka greeted them.

"Hey there, Malka. What brings you here?" Nala asked.

"Well... I..." Malka stuttered. "Would you like to hang out with me at the watering hole?"

"Come on, please say yes," Malka thought to himself.

"Sure, what's it about? You rarely ask me out," Nala said.

"Well... let's just say I want to spend time with you," Malka replied, feeling stupid for not having a better reason.

"What was that even about? Stupid, stupid," he thought to himself.

"Hey, can I come?" Simba asked. "It sounds like fun."

"Sur-"

"No, you can't!" Malka interrupted

"Why not?" Simba asked.

"Because this is only for the two of us," Malka explained.

"Okay..." Simba said, sensing that there was something suspicious about the situation.

"The leader of the Lion Guard is in love," Mzingo chuckled. "Scar is going to love this," he added.

Scar inquired, "Let me get this straight, Malka has a crush on Nala, is that what you're telling me?"

Mzingo affirmed, "Yes, Scar. You heard correctly."

Scar expressed his satisfaction, "Excellent. Simba and Nala are already betrothed, Once Malka discovers this, he will be infuriated. It will be the perfect time for him to have his scar."

Shenzi inquired, "What shall we do then, Scar?"

Scar instructed, "We wait. Ushari, I want you to inform Malka about this and then give him his scar."

"As you wish," Ushari responded obediently.

Malka grumbled, "Why is she taking so long?"

Suddenly, Ushari approached Malka and greeted him, "Hello there, Malka."

Malka was taken aback and inquired, "Who are you?"

"It's not important," Ushari dismissed. "But do you know that Simba and Nala are betrothed?"

Malka was incredulous and retorted, "What? Am I supposed to believe some random snake?"

"Unfortunately for you, I am not just any snake," Ushari whispered ominously.

Without any warning, Ushari sank his fangs into Malka's flesh, leaving a scar at his right eye. He swiftly fled the scene.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Malka shouted after her. "Yeah, you better run!"

Nala approached Malka and asked, "Hey there, Malka. What happened to your eye?"

Malka tried to dismiss it, "Nothing, just had an accident."

Nala didn't buy it and commented, "That doesn't seem like a normal accident."

Simba, who was secretly observing, whispered to himself, "What is this about?"

Nala persisted, "So Malka, what is this all about? What are we supposed to do?"

Malka nervously stuttered, "Well, Nala, it's... I-i... I like you."

Nala was taken aback, "Really? I mean, you didn't hate me before, right?"

Malka clarified, "No, not like that. It's just that I like you more than a friend. You're pretty and good-looking."

Simba was shocked at this revelation.

Nala kindly responded, "Well, Malka, that's really something. Thanks. But I don't feel the same way."

Malka was disappointed and inquired, "Why not?"

Nala explained, "I mean, you're good-looking, but sorry, I just don't feel the same way. We can be friends if you want to hang out with me."

Malka accepted the offer, but before leaving, he asked Nala, "Are you and Simba betrothed?"

Nala confirmed, "Yes, we are according to that Dodo, but I don't feel it. Simba is just a friend to me."

As Malka walked away, he suddenly felt pain in his scar.

Nala expressed her concern, "Malka, are you sure you're okay? That scar doesn't seem like a normal accident."

Malka insisted that he was fine and said, "Maybe I need to tell Rafiki about this. See you later, I guess..."

"Yes! She didn't feel the same way!" Simba cheered "Nala is still mine!" Wait a minute what is he talking about? And why is he so happy about the result? Whatever at least it didn't end up dirty

"Rafiki, there's something in my eye," Malka said.

"What happened to your eye, Malka? Where did that scar come from?" Rafiki questioned.

"I got it from a snake," Malka explained. "What's the big deal?"

"This is not good, Malka," Rafiki replied, concerned.

"Why?" Malka asked.

"You were bitten by a cobra. Your scar has venom in it. It will affect your emotions and your roar," Rafiki explained.

"No, that can't be true," Malka protested. "I can control it."

"Then why are you suddenly so angry?" Rafiki pointed out.

Malka realized that he had overreacted. "I'm sorry, Rafiki. You're right."

"Don't worry, there is a cure for it," Rafiki reassured him. "You'll have to take a Tuliza for now and you have to go on a long journey..."