Simba didn't know why he had fallen asleep, and when he woke up and saw who was snuggled up next to him, he didn't really care.

He looked around. He was lying beside the water hole. The sun was burning down on him, making it a really hot day.

Simba didn't mind – as far as he was concerned, anything was better than rain. It was quite a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Simba turned his head to the right, and saw Nala snuggled up to him, sleeping with a smile on her face. She didn't exactly seem to mind sleeping with him either. She was so adorable when she slept!

Sometimes Simba wondered if Nala actually liked him back. The way she looked right now, snuggled up to him like that, made her look like there was nowhere else she would rather be.

Maybe it was just how close they had gotten. They did things that normal friends wouldn't do together. It was something they were used to.

"Having fun with your girlfriend, Simba?" asked a voice from behind him.

Simba turned around to see his mother, Queen Sarabi. "Mom, she's not my girlfriend!" Simba insisted in defence.

Sarabi gestured to Nala, who was still snuggled up to him. "Are you sure about that?"

Simba looked at Nala, and then back at his mother. "This isn't what it looks like."

Sarabi laughed. "Simba, you're not covering this up very well."

"Covering what up?" Simba asked nervously, pretending that he didn't know what his mother meant.

"Simba, you have a crush on Nala, don't you?" Sarabi asked, knowing full well that her son adored every part of his best friend.

"What makes you think that?" replied Simba, trying to avoid telling Sarabi his secret. No one was supposed to know this!

"I can tell, Simba," Sarabi explained. "It seems pretty obvious to me."

Simba looked back at Nala, and sighed, realising it was pretty useless to deny things now. "Okay, so maybe I do have a crush on her."

Sarabi smile. "There. Now was that so hard to admit?"

"She doesn't like me back though," Simba continued, looking rather angry at that fact.

"She doesn't like you back?" his mother repeated. "Simba, she's snuggled right up to you. She couldn't be any more obvious. Why don't you just tell her?"

"Because… I'm scared," Simba admitted. "Really scared."

"There's nothing to be scared about, Simba," Sarabi assured him, prompting Simba to give her a questioning look.

"How do you know?" he asked.

Sarabi rolled her eyes at her son. "Because, Simba, I went through the very same thing at your age. I met your father when I was just a cub."

"And…?"

Simba's mother smiled as fond memories of her cubhood returned to her. "We were the b est of friends," she continued.

"And I loved him. I still do."

"How does this help me exactly?"

"Simba, you are exactly like your father was when he was your age. Well, he was a little bit less mischievous than you were, but you two were more or less the same. He must have had a crush on me for months, but I never really noticed. I was too busy admiring how cute he was."

Simba couldn't help but laugh. So his parents were almost exactly the same as he was when they were younger? That was so coincidental it was funny.

"When did you tell him you liked him?" Simba asked curiously. Knowing his father, he probably did it in the most slickest, coolest way possible. His father knew no fear.

"I can remember it so clearly," replied Sarabi. She then laughed. "It was funny. He snuggled up to me while we were watching the sunset together. I noticed he was shaking. When he tried to tell me that he had a crush on me he was stuttering and choking. He was terrified! And then… when he told me, I felt like the most important lion in the world." She smiled. "We've been together ever since."

"So you're saying I should tell Nala?" Simba concluded when his mother had finished telling him her story.

"When you're ready," she replied. "Trust me, Simba. She likes you back, I can tell. Mother knows best," she said with a wink.

Simba grinned back at her, a little bit more confidence instilled within him. "Thanks, Mom."

Sarabi smiled back and turned away, but not before telling her son one last thing. "Don't let me catch you two kissing."

Simba blushed behind his fur, and Sarabi laughed as she walked away, hoping she had convinced Simba to open up to his best friend. He was the type of cub who could do with a good girlfriend…

"There're not many people who can say they've hypnotised King Mufasa," said Hago to himself as he looked over Mufasa, who was still under Hago's control. The King's glowing red eyes were a clear indication of that.

Just the mere thought of being in control of the King was exciting. Just think of the possibilities! All the things you could manipulate, all the things you could control!

Power was what Hago strived to earn, and power was what Hago had received. "Now Mufasa, I would like you to confirm that you are totally and utterly under my control."

"I am in your power, master," Mufasa confirmed in his deep, assertive voice. It was strange to hear something like that coming from someone like King Mufasa, but Hago found it more wonderful than odd.

"How about that?" exclaimed Hago. "The great and powerful King Mufasa called me 'master'!" He laughed maniacally.

"Now I'm in control!" Hago looked at Mufasa, knowing exactly what he wanted him to do. "Mufasa, I want you to act naturally, and pretend that I'm your most trusted friend. There is no doubt in your mind that I'm the must trustworthy person you've ever known, and you will not believe anyone who says a bad word about me. Do you understand?"

Mufasa nodded obediently. "Yes, master."

Hago grinned sinisterly. "Excellent. Oh, and – before I forget – ditch those red eyes. You look too conspicuous with them."

Mufasa's eyes changed from red to their original reddish-brown colour. He looked more or less normal – something

Hago wanted if his plan was going to work properly.

"To Pride Rock, Mufasa!" Hago ordered, pointing in the direction of Pride Rock. "I'd like to see my future pride."

"As you wish, master," Mufasa obeyed, walking proudly, like he usually did. Aside from his sudden devotion to Hago,

Mufasa looked completely normal. Nothing seemed to be different about him.

And that's why Hago thought his plan couldn't fail.