"Shh…quiet down Kula, you'll alert the hyenas.", Tama scolded her tan friend who made a sound when she stubbed her front foot on a rock.
"I can't help it Tama- sorry.", Kula apologized as she continued to walk, "How long do we have to walk though? My foot's starting to hurt and I'm hungry."
"It's not that far now, and your hurting foot- I believe Chumvi can kiss the hurt goodbye once we get there.", Tama reassured and to her delight, Kula stopped questioning as she tried to catch up to her two friends. Nala's with them, even though she has no purpose at the end of their journey, she just wanted to make sure her friends make it to the male lion's base which was located outside the border of the Pridelands.
Unfortunately, Scar had banished all the males that used to live in the lands, scared that they would be a threat to his rule, he did leave out the male cubs to stay a little longer, but once they've grown, they will be chased out by Shenzi and her army of hyenas. That's when the males decided to live together instead of becoming rouges, they thought that they'd be stronger together and they were apparently right. The lions had also secretly been in touch with the lionesses, as they often gave extra food that they caught to the females whenever it became too scarce, they even formed romantic relationships which Nala was out of the picture- only her friends had mates waiting for them at the border.
"What about you Nal? Got a lion waiting for you at the border this time around?", Tama asked, teasing her cream-toned friend.
Nala could only roll her eyes at her, "You know I don't have a mate, Tama, apparently…I'm not ready for that- yet."
"But you do have a suitor you know…good boy Zuberi eh.", Kula added to the tease.
"He's- a good lion…but I don't like him in that way Kula.", she admitted, her two companions had long known she didn't like anyone at the stay. Although Zuberi is a nice lion- she just didn't have the guts to ever replace her late betrothed yet…Simba, she's only now realized what he truly meant to her.
"Simba's long gone- you have to at least give yourself a chance to live a life La.", Tama said as a matter of factly.
"Living a life with Scar as king is worth nothing…", Nala looked down as she took steps forward, "I don't think I ever can, girls."
—-
Back in the present, she looked at a distance as she rests outside Pride Rock, she looked at Zuberi curiously and she's noticed that ever since she was announced to be Simba's queen- as well as her pregnancy with the heir, he's started to avoid to be near the rest of the pride. Although she shouldn't be assuming anything, she's still guilty of how she rejected the lion.
"I want you to stop Zuberi, I've told you before that I'm only visiting here to accompany my friends…I'm sorry but I don't plan to have a romantic relationship with anyone right now…"
She really wanted to apologize but never the guts or the chance to do so, her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Simba's familiar touch as he crouched down to rest beside her, "What's on your mind Nal?", he asked, noticing her mentally occupied state.
"N-nothing, just…it's not that important.", she decided not to tell him, it wasn't necessary for him to know that part of her life.
Simba can only nod, he knew something was bothering her, "Is Fluffy giving you a hard time?", he asked if their unborn cub was the problem. They decided to call their baby 'Fluffy' for now, since they don't know the gender yet. Simba crouched down to her abdomen and whispered, "Hey there little one, this is daddy speaking, please don't give mommy a hard time okay?"
Nala smirked at him, "No Simba, it's not Fluffy…"
"We promised La, we said- no more secrets right?", he reminded her.
"I-", she sighed, wanting to protest, but she gave in eventually, "It's just- I'm just thinking of something I said to…Zuberi in the past.", she finally admitted.
Simba glanced at the said lion who's resting in the distance Nala's been staring at him, he thought, a bit jealous- he knows he shouldn't be and so he listened attentively, having knowledge of the said past.
"What about him? Did he do something bad to you for you to tell him off?-", Simba asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No Simba, it was mostly my fault.", Nala defused once more as her mate finally stopped his questioning to listen, "He courted me for a bit in the past…you know how there was a rogue pride just outside the Pridelands during Scar's reign right?", Simba nodded, his male friends had told him the experience they had there.
Nala continued, "It would happen everytime I'd accompany Tama and Kula to see Malka and Chumvi, he would always be there to- accompany me as well I guess, but he never did try anything weird- he's just there to be a friend until I noticed that he seemed to have liked me- Tama pointed it out too.", she paused to look at Simba's reaction, he appeared to be calm about it and so she talked again, "He was a good lion, he really was but- I didn't have those feelings he had towards me and so one day I just- snapped and rejected him completely…I'm afraid I might've hurt him, and I haven't apologized since.", she finished off, gazing down.
Simba understood, he nuzzled Nala after that, "I believe that you have the right to- reject someone, and I'm glad you did or else I might've never had the chance to be with you…", he tried to joke and she smirked a bit, "But- putting myself in Zuberi's paws…I do think that hurted him, especially if you shouted at him- I'm not saying you did but-", he gave up.
"I should apologize to him.", Nala finished, gazing at Simba.
Simba nodded, "I think it's for the best.", he then noticed Zazu flying above and knew it was time again, "Our blue majordomo's here, it's time to king up again, unfortunately.", he told her before he licked her cheek as he stood up, he turned to her once more, "I'll leave you for that to fix, my queen.", Nala's eyes grew wide as Simba then referred to Zuberi before walking down to meet Zazu.
Nala watched him go, he had really matured so much ever since she was reunited with him, and she's very proud of what Simba had become. She turned back to where Zuberi was supposed to be but it turns out that he left too…perhaps it wasn't the right time to face him and make amends, but she will when she comes across him, she promised to herself.
"Sooo- queen it is now, Nala?", a familiar lioness approached and flopped down beside her, while another did at her other side, it was Tama who spoke and Kula followed.
"It suits you- we can call you momma too since you're about to become one.", Kula teased as Nala's halfway through her pregnancy. She rolled her eyes at her friends as per usual to how they normally treat her, but she wouldn't trade them for the world.
"Oh shut up!", someone from behind them shouted, the three friends flinched and quickly turned back to see Zira, Scar's loyal follower and former mate…she's also one to be considered as- Nala's biggest hater to say the least, "Being arrogant about your whore of a friend becoming queen- oh how to be cursed to be in the same pride as you.", the thin lioness, viciously told Nala, as she narrowed her eyes on her circling enemy.
"You know you can leave any time you want Zira, no one's stopping you.", Tama growled.
"I refuse to, you're the ones who should leave- and your king, these lands belong to Scar, you have no right over it.", Zira insisted.
Kula stood up, and got into a defensive position to cover Nala's view of Zira, "You know that's not true, Simba's the rightful heir to the throne, he's always meant to be king."
"Scar was first in line, before that king of yours was even born!", she growled, getting irritated by the counter arguments.
At this point, Nala has had enough of her and she stood up, Tama tried to stop her but she wasn't fast enough as her friend walked over to face the other lioness, "Simba's the son of the late King Mufasa, the wisest lion to ever rule these lands, and the law states that the first born of the king will always be first in line to the throne…Scar assumed the throne.", she confidently stated.
"Shut up Nala! You already took enough from me! I do not need your opinion, you whore!", she roared at the young lioness, but Nala wasn't gonna step back. She knew why she called her that.
"I didn't take anything from you Zira! Scar forced himself unto me!", Nala growled, Tama then warned her to calm down, at this point the whole pride heard the heated argument, as well as Sarafina and Sarabi who quickly made their way out of the main den, "It was not my fault you weren't good enough for him!", she snapped, Zira then lunged towards her quickly, Kula wasn't able to catch her as her friend began to fight with the lioness, Nala fought back as her friends and a couple of pride lioness tried to get a hold of Zira who's currently attacking the future queen.
Nala was managing to avoid getting hit in the stomach, which Zira was targeting, it felt like forever when she did until they managed to get a hold of her…Zuberi surprisingly as he had Zira pinned down, Nala breathed heavily as her mother, Sarabi and her friends checked on her.
"Nala! What the fuck! You shouldn't be fighting like that you know-", Tama shouted unintentionally, panicking as she saw how the fight went.
"Did she hit you anywhere?", her mother frantically checked every part of her body.
Nala nodded, "I'm okay, I didn't get hurt.", she reassured, still panting a bit.
"You lion! Get off of me! I'm pregnant.", Zira growled, she is and everyone knew, Zuberi roared at her before letting her go, she practically ran off. The lion then glanced at Nala to see if she got hurt- he still did care, but he knew his boundaries as he took a step, he's supposed to leave, but she noticed him.
"Zuberi!", Nala called out to him, he looked back to see the beautiful lioness he once dreamt to call his own, "Thank you.", she told him sincerely as almost all the lionesses looked at him too, they knew of his past infatuation with Nala…thanks to Kula's loud mouth unfortunately.
He replied, "A thanks to say is an overstatement, I'm only doing my role while the king and the other lions do theirs.", he said wisely, he's always been like that. Nala gazed at him, he felt too awkward and so he turned to walk before he was once more called.
"Can I meet you later? I just- have to say something.", Nala said without an explanation.
He wondered what it could possibly be but agreed anyway, "I'll meet you by the watering hole, your Majesty.", he finally took off.
Nala got judging looks by asking what she did. She's betrothed, in a relationship with the king and is to be queen, carrying the future heir, now she's meeting her former suitor. It doesn't look good, but she didn't mind the judgment, she's only doing what she could to bring the pride closer together.
—-
Meanwhile, at the far side of Pride Rock, Simba with Zazu on his shoulder watched the river flow throughout the Pridelands for the first time in years, it was being blocked by heavy logs and he tried to carry it himself…but to no avail. Thankfully, the elephants came around and noticed their struggling king and offered to help, Simba gladly accepted, as they carried the logs by their trunks with ease and from there on came the water rushing in, as a few animals began to drink from it. The king once again restored a part of the Pridelands, he thanked the elephants for it before they moved on.
"Great job, sire.", Zazu praised, "Perhaps, my idea of your reign before was far from what you're really capable of.", he said, recalling the times Simba has gotten in trouble as a cub.
"I could say that- I grew up, Zazu.", Simba replied, with a grin on his face before he stood up and his majordomo flew from his shoulder, "So, any other mission left for today?"
"None for today, at least not anything urgent…I think I could give you the rest of the day.", Zazu announced, it was only the afternoon, but he decided it's for the best if the king rests for now…Simba walked back to Pride Rock after hearing the blue majordomo, and as he got closer, he could already catch a glimpse of Nala and- Zuberi by the waterhole…and it looks like they're getting along well as he sees Nala laugh at whatever the other lion was telling her and he does in return…seems like she's already apologized to him and he forgave her. He continued to walk, wanting to go unnoticed to not interrupt their conversation…even though a part of him was burning with jealousy, negatively thinking of the lion as he thought that he's slowly pulling Nala away from him. But his rational side pulled him out of those thoughts, he knows Nala loves him and he trusts her with that, and- she's already pregnant with his cub, if that doesn't already prove enough that she's stuck with him. Thoughts raised until Zazu flew a little higher and apparently saw a few lions near the border, entering the Pridelands…they didn't look like any of the males already staying inside the borders- at least from Zazu's perspective, they were rogues. He quickly flew back to the king, "Sire- rouges at the border! North of Pride Rock.", he warned the king and Simba couldn't react any faster as he ran towards the direction. This also got the attention of Nala and Zuberi.
"Simba?", Nala worded out, confused on why he's running away, followed by Zazu, Zuberi too raised an eyebrow.
"Seems like trouble, I'll go after him.", he told her and she nodded, as she also ran towards Pride Rock to inform the lionesses.
"Get the males, Zazu!", Simba ordered and the bird quickly flew away, finding the other lions.
Simba ran furiously, who could possibly enter his lands, but deep down, he's also nervous as well since Zazu didn't tell how many they were and that he could be heavily outnumbered, he could only wish his friends could get there in time to back him up.
"King Simba!", a male voice called him and he turned back to glance without stopping, there he saw Zuberi, "Is it an urgent call?", Zuberi asked, catching up to the king's pace.
"Yes, Zazu saw rogues entering the boundary.", it took the two males a few seconds before they caught a glimpse of the rogues- there were two of them…Simba's not outnumbered as he thought to be, "There!", he pointed out as Zuberi nodded, "I have your back, your Majesty.", he reassured.
Once close enough, Simba roared loudly at the lions, warning them back, it was a younger and an older lion, assuming a father and son as they also look alike. The two strangers also got into a defensive position, yet they didn't look like they wanted to fight back. The king snarled while Zuberi growled…it was until the older stranger spoke up- he was a big lion, almost the same size as Mufasa.
"We mean no harm.", he calmly voiced out, yet Simba still didn't let his guard down, "I was once a Pridelander…long ago, my son here too, he was born on these lands. Only exiled by Scar during his reign, we heard he was dethroned.", he revealed, hoping the two lions before him will believe him.
"And can you prove your statement, sir?", Simba questioned in a serious tone, this time the king backed down, curious.
The older lion thought about it for a minute before he looked back at his son, "I have a daughter here too, I believe she still lives here, her name is Nala.", he added, "I was hoping to see how she and her mother are doing."
"Nala?", Simba and Zuberi said at the same time, they never met her father, at least Simba never did, "You're Nala's father?", he asked once more, shocked by the information.
The brown maned male nodded, "I am proud to say that I am. Although I couldn't tell if she can still remember me, last time I visited- she was a young cub."
"It's- nice to meet you sir, I'm sorry I got defensive earlier.", Simba apologized for his past actions.
"It's Khairi.", he told them his name, "And no need to apologize, I suppose you're the one who dethroned Scar?"
Simba nodded, "I did, I'm- Simba, Nala's childhood best friend- just if ever she mentioned me to you.", he said awkwardly, he wasn't ready to reveal the parts where he and Nala got together. After all, this was her father.
"Wait- Simba? As in Mufasa's son? We thought you were dead!", the younger lion asked, surprised, "I'm sorry I'm Mheetu, Nala's younger brother- but still, you're Simba and you're alive? My sister talked about you all the time."
"Yes, Mufasa was a good friend of mine as well, it's sad to say he already passed on.", Khairi looked at the sky with a sad expression, he looked back at the king before him, "But it's nice that I met you, his son."
"It's a long story actually- I'll tell you two-", he was interrupted when he heard countless roars approaching behind him.
"Nala- I swear to the kings above I'm gonna slap the shit out of you if you don't stop running right now!", Tama shouted as she, Kula and their male friends charged towards Simba, chasing after Nala who's running surprisingly faster than everyone who's sprinting after her.
"What's happening?", Zuberi asked, confused and surprised.
"I'm going to unfriend you after this! I don't care if you're gonna be the queen!", the tufted lioness warned and all of them halted once they reached the two males. Nala stopped almost immediately, barely avoiding crashing onto Simba, she stood in between Simba and Zuberi.
"Queen?", Khairi repeated, did he hear that right- his daughter, a queen? He then immediately glared at Simba, the king noticed and could only smile nervously at his mate's father.