Nala hopped over a tiny river, following the paw prints on the ground. Paw prints that she recognised as belonging to Simba. "Come on, Simba…" she muttered, looking around the area of the jungle she was in. "Where are you? You can't just keep running for ever…"

She didn't really know what she was going to say to Simba when she found him, but she knew that she had to convince him to get some help. He needed to tell his parents about these constant nightmares he was having. They were beginning to seriously affect him, and Nala feared that it could get worse. He needed to put a stop to it, before it was too late…

Maybe I stand a b etter chance of making up with him, too, she thought hopefully, thinking back to the horrible things Simba had said to her earlier before he ran away. It's not going to end like this. I'm not going to let that happen. Me and Simba are supposed to b e together for ever… I know it.

Nala looked up ahead, and could see the paw prints leading into an area thick with trees and bushes, branches sticking out from every angle. What's he doing all the way out here? she wondered. He's going to hurt himself if I can't get to him in time. I know what he's like when he's angry.

"Ow!" Simba cried as a thin tree branch suddenly lunged out at him, smacking him in the face. "What is wrong with this jungle?" he groaned angrily, glaring at the branch. "Does everything in the world just want to hurt me? 'Cause that's what it feels like! Stupid branches…"

Simba took a few steps forward, and felt twigs snap under his paws. "I knew I should have turned left," he said, frowning.

"Now I've got all of this mess to deal with. I hate my life…" He looked up at what was ahead of him, and his frown only managed to widen. The trees were very close together, and their branches were tightly intertwined with each other. Escaping this area would be tough… "Just my luck."

Simba ducked under a low branch, squeezing his body in between two trees. He popped out into a clearing, which was thick with bushes. He sighed, looking around. "Now what?" he asked himself. "Just how the heck am I suppose to get out of…"

Suddenly, Simba saw something in one of the bushes. Something… bright. Something… twinkling. Something… shiny.

"Here?" he finished, turning around so he was focusing on the bush. Taking a few steps towards it, Simba found himself instantly intrigued. "What is that?" he wondered.

Using one of his paws, Simba reached into the bush, and gripped something hard. "Huh?" he exclaimed, before pulling his paw back out, along with the object inside the bush. "Whoa…"

It was some kind of diamond. A big, transparent, sparkling diamond. It was the shiniest thing Simba had ever laid eyes on. "Wow…" he gasped, his eyes widening as he stared at the object. "I've never seen anything like this before. I wonder what it does…" Simba's eyes darted left and right, to make sure no one else was around. "Well, whatever it is, I know it's mine now."

"Simba!" Nala's voice echoed through the clearing, catching Simba by surprise. "We really need to talk about your problems. You can't just keep running away from them all the time."

Simba groaned, rolling his eyes. Great. Now Nala was here to try and get him to admit that he was 'crazy' again. "Oh, what do you want now?" he asked, turning around to face her.

Nala stood in front of him. "Simba, I need you to admit that you have a—" She suddenly stopped when she saw the shining diamond Simba held in his paw.

"Nala?" Simba called, staring at her. "Nala? In case you haven't noticed, you've stopped talking. Which actually surprises me a little."

Sunlight shone down on the diamond, causing it to reflect light all over the place. Nala stared down at the shiny object, her eyes wide, completely mesmerised. A goofy smile appeared on her face, and spinning red spirals appeared in her eyes.

"Nala?" Simba waved a paw in front of her face, but got no kind of response from her. "How are you doing that with your eyes? If anything, you're the one who looks crazy! Not me!"

Nala just stared down at the shiny diamond, entranced. "Pretty, pretty, shiny, shiny…" she muttered, totally lost in the diamond's beauty.

Simba's eyes widened. "Wait…" He looked down at the diamond, and then chuckled. "You want your paws on this?" He held the diamond up. "Well, you can't have it! It's mine! Stop being so selfish all the time. Do you always have to have everything you see right in front of you?"

Nala continued to look totally hypnotised. "Pretty, pretty, shiny, shiny…" she repeated.

Simba thought for a moment. But then, a smile slowly spread across his face. "Wait a sec…" He grinned. "It's hypnotised you," he concluded, staring down at the diamond. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"You are my master…" Nala replied in a hypnotic tone. "I will obey your every command…"

"My every command?" Simba snickered, loving every second of this. "Oh, this is genius!" he exclaimed. "You're totally in my power! Finally! I actually have control over something!" He lay down on his back, thinking. "Hmm… So if you're under my control, then just think of the other people I can hypnotise with this baby!" he said, holding up the diamond. "I could make myself the King! That's what everyone wants from me anyway!"

"I obey your every wish…" Nala said, sounding dazed and distant. "Every wish…"

A sinister smile spread across Simba's face. "Good," he said. "Which means that you can be my loving Queen! A Queen who won't complain about everything! A Queen who won't try to make out that I'm crazy!"

"Anything…" Nala obeyed. "You are my eternal master…"

"It's about time," said Simba, staring down at the diamond, his eyes glinting with greed. "Me and you are going to have a lot of fun," he told the inanimate object. "Lots and lots of fun…"

The diamond seemed to glint in response, and that just made Simba even greedier. He wanted power. Lots of power. He wanted to control the whole of the Pride Lands. The kingdom would be his! He'd be the best King of them all! Everyone was going to obey his every command!

He was sure of that, because with his newfound power, no one would be able to argue against him.

"Come on, Nala. We have much to do," he said with an evil chuckle, before popping the diamond in his mouth and walking back the way he came. It won't be long before I'm ruling it all…