Simba opened his eyes to find himself staring up at the late evening sky. He coughed a few times. His chest was burning with an intense amount of pain. To say that it hurt was an understatement. It felt like agony. He was all on his own, with only pain for company. A sad frown formed on his face. He hated his life. He hated this life. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. He wanted things to go back to the way they once were. He'd give anything to have his old life back. Anything.

"Hey – are you okay?" A voice Simba never expected to hear again spoke. Turning his head to the side, he could see Nala staring down at him, an awkward smile on her face.

Simba rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. "Nala… is that really you?" he asked. "Or… or am I dreaming?"

"You're not dreaming, Simba," Nala told him. "Only Haiba is fit enough to dream about me. You're not good enough for that. It's really me, which – luckily for you – is actually better than a dream."

"But… but why?" Simba wondered. For some reason, he could feel the pain in his chest slowly fading away. As if Nala was easing it, somehow. "Are you and Haiba still… still…?"

Nala nodded. "Yes, Simba. Me and Haiba are still together. It's only been a few hours. What, did you expect two cubs like us to break it off before the day was even over? Get real, you idiot."

Simba looked down at the ground, feeling depressed again. Why did she have to be so cruel to him? If she disliked him so much, then what was she doing here right now?

"Oh, don't feel bad," said Nala. "I was just kidding, that's all."

He looked around, and saw that he lay by the edge of the water hole. "What am I doing here?" he said, sitting up and turning to Nala. "Did I sleepwalk or something?"

To his surprise, Nala actually giggled in response. "No, silly," she replied. "I carried you here. You were in pretty bad shape after Haiba roughed you up. I'm… Uh… I'm sorry about that, by the way," she said rather hesitantly. "I didn't mean for you to get beat up or anything."

Simba help up a paw. "You don't need to apologise," he told her. "It's all because of that stupid jerk, Haiba."

"Don't call him a jerk!" Nala snapped angrily. "I know you're jealous, but can't you respect my decision to be with him? Stop being so arrogant. You don't care about anything – not even that I carried you here and tried to help you!"

"Nala, look, I'm sorry, okay," Simba said quickly, not wanting to get on Nala's bad side. He wanted to try and make her like him at least a little bit. "I'm grateful for what you've done for me."

"I don't need your gratitude!" Nala retorted. "You ungrateful little idiot!"

Simba sighed, resting his head on the ground again. "All right," he said. "I'll just kill myself right now."

"I don't want you to kill yourself," said Nala. "It's just that… I get… snappy sometimes. I can't help it. It's just… something that Haiba taught me. I've got to be tough in an unforgiving world like this. It frustrates me how you can be so easygoing."

"Easygoing?" Simba's eyes widened a little. "You've gotta be kidding me. All I've felt the past few days is completely miserable. I haven't felt happy at all. All thanks to you," he remarked coldly.

"Me?" Nala frowned. "Well, Simba, maybe you should be a bit more mature – like me and Haiba. After all—"

"You and Haiba? Mature?" Simba chuckled. "Don't make me laugh. Haiba's just a bully, and he's brainwashed you into becoming just like him. A few more weeks and you could pass for his clone."

"Well, I will admit he's a little… mean sometimes," Nala agreed. "But he's still very kind, sweet and gentle. And he's the best kisser in the world!"

"So where do I come in?" Simba asked. "Do I even register as a friend to you? Is that why you rescued me? Did you finally realise that there actually are some redeeming qualities in me?"

"Simba, I've always known that there were redeeming qualities in you," Nala informed him. "Ever since I first met you, I knew. I just treat you so badly because… I don't know."

"I still point the blame at Haiba," Simba remarked flatly. "How did you even get mixed up with that guy?"

"We attacked each other," Nala replied. "He thought I was one of the male cubs trying to play a joke on him. I kind of thought the same thing. And ever since then, we've been inseparable."

So basically, Haiba's taken my place, Simba concluded. "And what about me? How did I ever meet you, Nala?"

"Simba, we've known each other since we were babies," Nala explained. "I used to play with you quite a lot, actually. Well, until I tried to make some more friends, and then I met Haiba… After that, I just decided to kind of keep an eye on you. You're like a little creature I need to look after."

"You haven't done a very good job so far," Simba said. "Just look at me. I'm bruised all over!"

"I can't look after you all the time, Simba," Nala told him. "Just… some of the time. Other than that, you're on your own, mister. Got it?"

"So where's Haiba now?" Simba asked. "Shouldn't you and him be making out or something?"

"Nope," said Nala. "He went off to go and take care of some 'business'. That's when I decided to try and help you out. Once I found you, I carried you here, gave you some water, and the rest is history."

"Thanks," Simba mumbled, burying his face in his paws. "I guess that makes everything better now."

"Simba, I just want you to know that I care," Nala told him. "I care a lot more than you think I do. But at the moment, I've got other things on my mind. Why don't you try to make some other friends – instead of hanging around me all the time?"

"I had two good friends once," Simba replied. "And they were the greatest friends anyone could ever ask for."

Nala gave him a funny look. "Whatever that means," she laughed. "I haven't seen you hang around with anyone but me!"

"'Cause you're the only one I can be bothered to care about right now," Simba muttered, staring down at the ground.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Simba looked up at her. "It means that I love you, Nala." He noticed Nala's shocked reaction. "Yes, I always have, actually. Ever since I met you. And in fact, I actually ache for you, physically. Whenever I see you I just want to reach out and touch you and… Well, you know what I mean. That's why I'm telling you – I am telling you that I love you! I know there's Haiba, okay, but… but I think that… In fact, I know that we would be amazing together, if you would… If you would just give it a chance."

Simba stared into Nala's wonderful eyes, and awaited her response.