"I'm sorry," Nala said to Simba, a pleading look in her eyes. "I really didn't mean to do all of that to you," she insisted. "And I'm really, really, really, really sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
"No," Simba muttered, rolling onto his stomach, pushing his face into the ground. He wasn't in the mood to speak to Nala after the events of the past few days. Events that were out of his control. "You know what you did was wrong, Nala, and now you'll just have to live with it."
Simba was upset with Nala because for the past three days she and Haiba had made him his slave, all because Simba had found a diamond – a Uchoyo Diamond – which hypnotised anyone who so much as looked at it.
Instantly becoming greedy, Simba enslaved the entire Pride Lands, and would have enslaved the whole world if Haiba hadn't smashed the diamond into a thousand pieces.
Actually, the diamond was controlling Simba; not the other way around. It had made him greedy. It was influencing all of his decisions and actions. It made him want more power than anyone else on the planet.
But, after the diamond had been destroyed, its effect backfired, and Simba became completely hypnotised. Nala and Haiba had decided to take advantage of this, and made him do everything they asked him to. He made a very obedient servant…
That is, until Simba snapped out of the trance, and figured out what was going on. Needless to say, he wasn't very happy about it, and was now lying in the corner of the den at Pride Rock, feeling very miserable indeed.
"But it wasn't even my idea!" Nala argued, frowning. "It was Haiba who wanted to make you his slave for the past three days! It's his fault! Not mine! Besides, I didn't even order you around that much."
Simba laughed in response. "Ha! I don't think so, Nala. I'm more tired than I ever have been before in my life! And you're telling me that you didn't order me around constantly? That was just a mean thing to do."
"And it was also a mean thing to hypnotise me – your own girlfriend – and the entire pride!" Nala retorted, staring at him angrily. "That's just… evil! I think you deserved it, if I'm honest."
"But it wasn't my fault," Simba replied. "I was being controlled by that stupid diamond. Ever since I saw it, all I could think about was wanting to take care of it. I wanted to take care of it for ever. It was controlling me. Right from the very start. So, when I want into a psycho trance, you decided to make me your slave for three days – instead of trying to help me!"
"What else could we do?" Nala asked, shrugging. "Haiba said we just had to wait until you snapped out of it. There wasn't any way for us to bring you back to normal. So—"
"You decided to make me do everything you wanted me to," Simba finished for her, a disapproving look on his face. "I can't believe you. Do you think if you went into a trance then I would do that to you? No. I wouldn't. Face it, Nala – what you did was pretty cruel."
"I've already apologised to you," Nala told him. "How many more times can I say I'm sorry?"
"I'll let you know when you get there," Simba responded.
"Oh, stop being such a grouch!" Nala exclaimed, hitting him playfully on the side. "Why can't we just forget about the whole thing, Simba?"
"Because you made me feel like an idiot, that's why!" Simba snapped. "I'd never do anything like that to you."
"Yeah, you would," Nala mumbled. "You did it the other day."
"I was being controlled!" Simba shouted. "I only did it because the diamond made me do it! Can't you get that through your stupid head?"
"Stupid?" Nala exclaimed, her eyes widening. "So now all of a sudden I'm stupid? Just who do you think you're talking to, Mister I-Know-Everything-About-Nothing!"
"You've already called me that before!" Simba retorted.
"So what if I've already called you it?" Nala replied. "I can call you the same thing however many times I—"
She cut herself off when she saw Simba laughing. He was rolling about on the ground, laughing so hard that it hurt his sides. "Simba?" Nala called, glaring at him angrily. "Simba? I am talking to you!"
Simba laughed even harder. "I can't believe you actually fell for it!" he exclaimed through laughter. "You should see yourself! It's hilarious!"
"What are you talking about?" Nala asked, shaking her head in confusion. "Simba, is this a joke or something?"
"Yes!" he replied, sighing as his laughter finally came to a halt. "Oh, Nala, I'm not really mad at you. I was just kidding," he explained, smiling. "It's no big deal. Really. I'm fine with it – even if you have made me feel like I could sleep for years."
Nala seemed to become even angrier. "Why you… You… You… Oh, come here!" she cried, hugging him as tight as she could, almost crushing him. "Simba, I'm so glad to have you back! I've been worrying for ever and ever and ever and—"
"Nala… you're… crushing… my spine…" Simba said, struggling to escape Nala's tight hug.
"Oh." Nala let go of him. "Sorry," she said. "I'm just glad that we're together again. No more problems… right?"
Simba smiled and nodded at her. "Of course," he agreed. "There were never any problems to begin with. It's just that lots of things seem to be getting into my head lately." He shrugged. "It's not exactly in my control."
"That's okay, you silly cub," Nala said, putting a paw around his shoulder. "Just don't ever leave me again. Okay?"
"Okay," Simba replied with a nod. "So long as you promise not to take advantage of me the next time I'm in a deep trance? Got it?"
Nala giggled. "Yeah. Got it." She looked towards the outside of the den, and then at Simba. "So, do you feel like doing anything today, sleepy-head? Or are we just going to sit here all day doing nothing? I warn you – our brains might melt out of boredom if you pick the second option."
Simba chuckled. Nala could be so funny sometimes. Yet another reason why he loved her so much. She was wonderful, and she was beautiful. She was his best friend. His girlfriend. His Princess.
Simba shrugged in response. "I don't really mind," he told her. "Just so long as I'm with you."
Nala smiled, feeling her heart warm. Yep, she thought. Back to normal, all right.