Hey, y'all! I decided to start where this one left off after some time thinking and encouragement from everybody. Will eventually delete my earlier thread about it but thank you for supporting this current one!
Time had passed for Demona while she and Simba lived with this odd friend couple Timon and Pumbaa. They had a lot of adventures together with their new friends and Demona even began to get used to bugs, but sometimes secretly went on hunts out of Timon and Pumbaa's sight to ensure her cub ate like a proper lion without needing to eat the meerkat and warthog.
But overtime, she could see that Simba was growing happier, though at the same time, something changed in her little nephew, like he was forgetting about Pride Rock. And for Demona herself, she too felt at times that they didn't really need to go home either. There was plenty of food, shade, and happiness.
One night while sleeping once, Simba kept bothering Timon by waking him up for reasons such as being thirsty, and needing to go to the bathroom, leading to incidents where Demona had to help Simba get out of trouble while Timon paid the price for agreeing to raise a lion cub.
Suddenly again, Demona felt Simba wake up against her, looking terrified about something. She nuzzled him. "What is it, little nephew?" She murmured gently. Simba glanced at her in fear. "N-nightmare, want Timon and Pumbaa," He whimpered. Demona understood, nudging the cub to his feet, guding him to where the duo were sleeping. They were under a tree; Timon snoring while lying on top of Pumbaa's big belly, Pumbaa grunting in his slumber.
"Uncle Timon?" Whimpered Simba, making Timon yelp, sitting up and looking sleep deprived, and Demona couldn't blame him. "What have you got against the concept of getting a good night's sleep, huh?!" Demona put a gentle paw around her nephew. "My cub had a nightmare, and wanted you." She said in a firm tone to get through to the bossy meerkat. Timon rubbed his neck, looking nervous, especially at her sharp teeth. "Uh, yeah, well, um…" He nudged Pumbaa sharply, making him snort and wake up. "Wasn't me!"
"Junior had a bad dream," Timon explained. Pumbaa's ears lowered. "Aww!" He smiled. "Why don't you two sleep here with us?" Demona was surprised. "You don't mind a full grown carnivorous lioness sleeping nearby?" She asked, tilting her head. Timon waved his paw in the air. "No, we insist! More comfort for Simba!" Simba smiled. "Alright!" He climbed onto Pumbaa's stomach, curling up, eyes beginning to close while Demona herself curled around the three.
Simba gave a yawn. "Good night!" He chirped. "Sleep tight," Timon replied. "Dream of bed bugs tonight!" Pumbaa finished, head falling back and snoring again. Demona rolled her eyes, licking her nephew gently. "Sweet dreams, little one," She said softly, Simba smiling at her, the foursome all now asleep under the stars together, feeling at peace, unaware of what was going on back at Pride Rock under Scar's reign.
A few months later…
Simba was now a full on teenager, as well as his mane just starting to form. The four unusual family were sleeping in the mid morning, Demona curled around her not so little anymore cub. She missed his small size, wishing to go back in time but that wasn't possible here without the Phoenix Gate which she clearly didn't have anymore.
Simba soon gave a yawn, waking her up. To her it felt like a teenager yawn which made her smile sleepily. "Good morning, nephew," She mumbled, stretching. Simba nuzzled his aunt Demona. "Hi," He greeted, while Timon muttered in his sleep. "Ugh, what a wake up call!" He grumbled. The teen lion smirked. "Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the warthog. What's the matter, pops? Not enough Hakuna Matata?" He teased. Demona smacked Simba slightly with her paw. "Show respect to your elders," She said playfully, Simba swishing his tail.
"Come on, live a little auntie! It's a new day for more Hakuna Matata! Let's go get food!" He said, while Timon spoke again. "And sonny boy, I invented Hakuna Matata." But Simba wouldn't let up his teasing. "Oh yeah? Well I perfected it." Timon keeps sleeping much to Demona's amusement. "Sure you did, sure you did. Pumbaa? Who holds the record for the world's largest bug belch?"
The chubby warthog looked up. "Uhh, that'll be Simba!" Demona rolled her eyes, she usually hunted while the boys did the gross stuff. Timon jerked up straight. "Alrighty then. Who's the champion at slug swallowing?"
"Simba again!" Pumbaa responded, Simba sitting there smugly. "Cricket crunching?
"Simba!"
"Maggot munching?" Timon whimpered, Demona seeing him looking nervous.
"Simba."
"Grub gubbling?"
"Still Simba!"
Timon then had a desperate gaze. "Snail slurping?" Just the idea of eating snails in general never appealed to Demona who only wanted meat. She felt her stomach crawl. Pumbaa sat up too. "Oh, uh… nobody. We never had a snail eating contest before!"
Simba then took it. "Challenge accepted then! I know I'll win as usual!" Timon gave him the evil eye. "Oh ho! We'll see, young lion!" He snapped, walking off to gather the slugs they needed. Demona felt concerned for her cub. "Simba, please, you really need to watch your diet. Slugs just don't sound so… appetizing to me or any lion." Simba licked her on the cheek. "You've really gone overprotective auntie. This is just one last contest then I'll eat all the antelopes you catch. Promise."
Demona sighed in defeat, watching her nephew run off to meet Timon for the contest. She and Pumbaa looked at one another, uncertainty in their eyes at this, both going to watch. Before them in a bush in a clearing were Timon and Simba before two big piles of slugs for them. Demona's face felt like turning green at the sight of those slimy things.
The two began to eat back and forth, slurping them out of the shells, going faster and faster, Demona and Pumbaa's heads moving back and forth while watching, both ears falling when nearing the end with only two snails left.
Simba pulled one over with what strength he had, shuddering a little, then slurping the last, giving a huge burp, leaning on his elbows with a triumphant grin. Timon on the other hand, nearly barfed, throwing his final snail away. Demona couldn't help but feel proud of her cub once again, seeing how grown up he was.
She ran to join him, nuzzling his side. "Is your stomach ok?" She asked. He playfully pawed her. "Alright, though an antelope can wash this down with some water," He mumbled weakly. Demona agreed to his request, going to catch him one out of reach of Timon's eyes.
And that was how it was for them in his teenage years, living happily in this great forest, blissfully unaware that the hyenas have taken over Pride Rock by now, along with one particular lioness going out to find help. Simba had at last grown into a full on adult with Mufasa's red mane. They had gone swimming on that morning while singing their song again, dancing/walking into the sunset together, Demona feeling happier than she ever felt.
Did my best for a long chapter but praying for the Battle of Pride Rock to be the longest one.