Hey all, for the record I don't know why fanfiction wanted to play me like this, but I did not post chapter 136 at 5 in the damn morning lol. I don't know what happened. I posted that chapter right after leaving the library at 8 pm. Anywho. Enjoy.

Chapter 137

NALA

That evening Simba and I spent most of our remaining time in the gorge getting familiar with Nkosi and his herd. After having conversations with him I can see why he and Rafiki are such good friends. They really are a lot alike and Nkosi has so much pearls of wisdom. To think that he is the last living elephant from the Great Ahadi time is amazing.

The stories he was able to tell, the events that he's seen…living through two kings-well four if we count Scar and Nuka. It really is something, but what has to be more incredible to me is the overnight change I've seen in Simba.

It's like I'm seeing him as a new lion in every way. He carries himself with more pride and self-assurance and I absolutely love that for him. He out of all lions deserves to feel proud of himself and how far he's come regardless.

"Today has really been a day, huh?" I turned to see Simba coming beside me. I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn't even noticed him.

"You can say that again."

"To really think it's going to happen is crazy Nala."

"Yes, it is. I want you to know you did an amazing job rallying the herds and speaking with Nkosi."

" Well, I'm pretty sure I stumbled over my words a few times."

"So, I mean it. I'm so proud of you." Without thinking I leaned into him, nuzzling myself into the warmth of his mane, taking him his familiar scent. Even being in this remote location as we are…it somehow felt like home. He felt like home. But then just as the moment began I found myself scared and pulled back. " …um….sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I voiced, getting my distance between us.

Simba cleared his throat. Being just as awkward as I was at my sudden display of affection.

" No no…you're fine. Really" No I'm sure he was just saying that, besides he has a mate who loves him dearly. And he wouldn't want someone as broken as me…kings. What the hell was I even thinking of doing that… "Nala i-"

"I'm going to call it a night, I imagine we're leaving early. Nkosi's told me of a closer den to rest in for the night….I'll see you later. Goodnight." As I walked away I could hear calling my name, but I refused to let myself turn back to look at him. I can't go down that path…I won't.

SIMBA

I stayed out longer than I should have. The sun had set hours ago and the sky was filled with its stars. Before the quietness of the gorge was intimidating, but now I find the stillness peaceful. So much was racing through my mind. Everything that seemed like a standstill in my life was now seemingly moving fast… maybe too fast.

" You have a long journey ahead of you, you should get some rest." I turned stunned to see Nkosi only a few feet away from me. How his giant elephants can weigh 7 tons and move as silently as a mouse is beyond me.

"I will I'm just thinking."

"Hmm, troubles of the heart." I turned with a raised brow.

"Why would you say that?" the African elephant let out a low humble of a laugh before coming closer.

" Simba, you think I got to be this old and haven't seen a few things. We males are simple creatures and only a few things can make us sit and think." I couldn't help myself but chuckle at that.

"Well when you say it that way, I guess you're right huh." I exhaled as I took in the cool breeze of the night's wind. "In your wisdom what do you suggest I do?"

"Well if it's who I think it 's about then, I would say go for it."

"I wish but…it's more complicated than that." I voiced.

"Son, it can't be that complicated if you're willing to jump in front of a herd of running elephants for her." Yeah, I did do that, didn't I.

"She was my best friend when we were cubs. But when she needed me most I abandoned her. She faced terrible hardships with no protection. She's different. I'm different."

"Different yes, but still remaining the same as well."

" There's also another," I confessed, thinking of Kenya. I can see her face as clear as day when I think about her- yet also when I first looked at her when she saved me…I saw Nala refracting back to me in her eyes. " She was there for me when I needed her most, a lifeline if you will and I've put her life in danger…. Now she's in the enemy's paws and it's all because of me."

"Well, I can say from experience nothing can hurt the heart more than not being there to protect the ones we love…I can attest to that. We think nothing can touch them because we love them. They are different and special. And we think the great circle of life should feel the same way too."

"Who'd you lose?" I asked, knowing that no animal could carry that much undertone of hurt in their voice and not have lived it themselves.

"I lost my mate Zuberi to the famine. She warned me to leave the pridelands before it was too late. But …I was a stubborn leader, thinking we would be fine. Our herds have stayed in the pridelands for generations…we wouldn't leave because things got little difficult. But we should have." Nkosi paused. " Zuberi got sick one morning and she was gone before sundown. Rafiki did everything he could but." There was a long pause between us.

"I'm so sorry for your loss…truly."

" Well that is life…nothing but a lesson to be learned. But from leader to soon-to-be leader, take my advice, and never be too proud or too stubborn to listen to others. Especially when that other is a loved one. They won't lead you astray. The Great Circle comes for us all…so let them know how much they mean to you."

Nkosi's words settled on me heavier than I could have imagined. I knew what I had to do, despite this feeling of being utterly terrified. "Thank you, Nkosi."

"Don't mention it young one, you've still got a lot of living to do."

When I returned to the den Nala was silent, but the pattern of her breathing and the small twitches of her tail let me know she wasn't asleep. Likely up thinking.

"You awake?"

"Yeah… can't sleep." Nala turned to me and slowly sat up. " Everything okay? you stayed out pretty late." I cleared my throat. Before sitting down next to her.

" Just clearing my mind is all and getting some good advice from Nkosi."

"About ruling?"

"About life and not taking the ones you care about for granted." Nala nodded her head. She turned her head away from me. But I didn't want it to seem like I was awkwardly staring at her. Even though I was…I was just trying to read her expression. Maybe see what she is thinking. "Can we talk?"

"Yea…look…I'm really sorry about that. My emotions just got the best of me and I apologize."

"Look there's no need to apologize."

"Yes, there is, that was a boundary that I shouldn't have crossed." She argued

"I didn't exactly pull away from you either if I remember correctly."

"We're friends…"

"We are," I stated, but I found myself getting closer to her. "But I feel we have always been so much more than that…" Nala opened to mouth to protest but then closed it again. She wanted to say something and I could tell she was fighting with herself not to say it. "What? talk to me Nal."

"You have Kenya…I would never come between you and your mate."

" I love Kenya…. But I'm not in love with her. I don't think I ever was." There was a short pause.

" What do you mean by that?"

" She was a safe place for me to run to…away from my past. With her, I could forget about everything, be anyone I wanted to be…avoid the hard truth. Even though everything about her reminded me of...you. And when you came back into my life Nal you changed all of that."

"But you still love her."

"I love Kenya because she cared for me when no one else would. I appreciate her and will forever be in her debt but…I love you Nala. You broke me… and you're the reason why I changed." The words that I thought I could never say came tumbling out all at once.

"Me…how?"

"When we got separated by the mist, I felt this sense of panic that I never felt before. And at first, I thought I knew what it was. We simply got lost and then the idea of something happening to you, you being away from me. It… it sent me into a panic. Nala I prayed to The Great Kings not for me…but so I could help find you…and what you've said about me has been right all along. I was just too scared to see it. Nala you are the most important thing to me and I need you to know that."

By this time I could feel the butterflies fluttering in my chest and I could only hope no pray she felt the same way. As I looked into her blue orbs I could see them swelling my tears as she again turned her head to look away from me.

"…Simba you can't." I watched the rapid rising and falling off her chest as she looked at both me and then the ground.

"I can't what?" but she said nothing. " I can't what Nal? Please talk to me."

"…y-you can't love me. "

"Why can't I ?" Again she kept trying to look every way but at me. " Nal why can't I?"

"…Because…I'm broken…Simba." wait what? Sobs began to work their way through Nala's body. And it was hard for me to even want to believe what she was saying. "…why would you want someone…. l-like me….you're a king…I am nothing."

"No no Nala don't say that- don't ever say that." I leaned in and brought our forehands together. Her scent was intoxicating and the smell of her tears when she spoke about herself…it..it infuriated me. " You are not nothing, you are my best friend…the toughest lioness I know. Don't ever think of yourself as sell than the queen you are."

"...please Simba."

"You're compassionate and selfless…kings you care for others more than you care for yourself-you're so fearless…so so fucking fearless. And you see the greatness in others even when they can't see it in themselves. You saw it in me. And I see it in you." We stayed close together for a long while, taking in each other and after a moment I could see in her eyes she was finally starting to settle.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be." I voiced nuzzling her in a deep embrace.

" It's…it's just so hard to see myself that way when…I was treated terribly for so long…what I let him do to me willingly for so long. It felt like all the things Nuka said about me were true…I was worthless."

"Well you listen to me, you're not. And you need to believe that…. I love you Nala."

" And I love you too."

We left early before the sunshine that morning. We said our final goodbyes to Nkosi and his herds, and for safe measures, we went over the game plan. We know it will take them at least 4 days to reach the pridelands and even then, we won't know the condition of the land or the Nkosi and his herd. But we still have to play the long game. But at least we have the power behind our forces this time.

The journey back to the others was nothing compared to how we arrived at the gorge. Is must admit there are still times were I'm taken aback by the whole experience, half of it seems like a night's dream. And yet I can recall every detail bit by it. But I am stronger for it, we both are. And to finally understand the sense of connection that I have with Nala again is priceless.

We reached home by mid-evening. The beginning of a sunset was starting to form in the sky.

"They're back! look Simba and Nala are back!" bounding around the bend at the speed of lighting was Roho. He all but tackled Nala and I to the ground. I watched as Nala embraced him, practically bringing tears to her eyes. " What took you so long!"

"It was two days." She whined nuzzling him.

"Oh. Haha, I missed you, and guess what?" Nala raised a neat brow to the cub who had a devilish smile spreading across his face. Wow… is this the same cub we left two days ago? He seems completely different.

" Hah, what Roho? "but as soon as Nala asked the question we both looked up to see Kye, Limpo, and four other lionesses. Nala and I both stopped in our tracks when one face stuck out the most. "..mom… Mom!" before I knew it Nala was bounding over to her mother. Their foreheads touched and they shared a moment." I-I thought you went back to the mountain pride?"

" I was when we decided to leave that morning, but I was stopped halfway and was told to return. " Explained Sarafina, she then nodded her head over to the right where there were two other three lionesses.

"Wait…what?"

"It turns out our King and Queen did listen to your precautions. I'm Sefu these are my pride sisters Amara and Zuri."

"Thank you for helping us." I voiced.

"You're welcome, but our king has one condition. We will only stay to help for three. Last time we fought with the Mountain pride both sides took heavy losses and our king lost his father." Stated Sefu " If what the lioness said about there being true peace with this new queen, we are willing to help- but if I sense if myself or my pridesisters life are in danger by those lionesses this deal we have is off."

"Yes, understood, do you know if the King and Queen plan to send any more to our aide?" Voiced Nala looking at me.

"No, we are the three strongest lionesses in our pride. Our numbers will be enough." Amara voiced from the said of Sefu, well I can't say I don't admire the confidence.

" Rafiki told us you two went to seek help, how did that go?"

"It went better than we could have expected." voiced Nala, and I knew her words meant more than what she was simply implying. " We got the help of the herds' leader Nkosi, he and seven of his strongest elephants will help us take back Pride Rock."

"Elephants?" everyone voiced in an almost unanimous unison.

"Well, you two must have a way with words to get an elephant on your side." Said Sefu.

" Nkosi is the longest-living animal from the pride lands. He's from my grandfather, The Great Ahadi's time. The lion who founded the Pride lands. But when the dough came and the overhunting happened- all the herds animals followed his herd out of the pridelands to gorge. That's the only place they have been protected." I explained " But the herd will return once Nuka and the hyena are gone- but I made a vow to Nkosi and keep his herds safe."

"Well, that's the best news I've heard in a while." Voiced Sarafina.

"Then it sounds like we can get this plan into motion." Stated Sefu " we rest tonight, and launch a surprise counter attack. The Mountain pride is only a days journey away if we travel overnight. The more we catch this Nuka and his hyena off guard the better." Spoken like a true lioness who's been in battle before.

There seems to be an underlying agreement with everyone because no one offered a counter. Sefu the right, after all, now more than ever our spirits are up, we have the numbers. We need to take every advantage we can find.

"I'll leave tonight, " said Limpo. I can sneak back into the pride and let my Queen and my pride sisters know ahead of time."

"No, are you sure Limpo? That's too dangerous for you to go alone."

"Sara, someone has to do it and if anyone's returning it will be me."

"And what if you get caught?"

"And What if I don't? My sister, we need every advantage. I've rested I'm ready for the journey. I'm ready to get this plan in action so we can return home." And to that Sarafina didn't' argue.

"Hey." Voiced Kye stepping forward, with all the others talking I had forgotten he was even here. It was nice to see him up and standing strong again, like I lion I grew to know. But still, I found myself wanting to avoid his eye contact. Though I know he was coming from a place of hurt, the last words he said me to still haunt me. " Why don't we let these two rest? I'm sure they are both exhausted."

There was again no argument. Slowly our welcoming party dissipated. I watched as Nala went to be with her mother and Roho. They all said their goodbyes to Limpo and when she turned to leave I stepped forward.

"Thank you for doing this." I stated, " This is very brave of you, truly."

" I am just doing my part to help get our home back, your home back my king." King…King.

"Safe travels." I prayed " May the Great Kings be with you." Limpo bowed and I watched her go off, hopefully not for the last time.

"Simba." My name was called from behind me. When I looked it was only Kye and I standing in the clearing. " Can we talk?"

"Yes sir."

" You're going good son. Look I know what I said to you the last we talked…and I'm not ashamed to say I still feel that way. But I see you are trying…and for that I am grateful. I am an old lion now and I can't help you get my daughters back how I would like…but…I believe you can. I know you can."

"Kye thank you, you have no idea what it means for me to hear you say that. You're right I messed up a lot, and I wasn't honest with you…or Kenya. But I a going to fix it and do right by everyone."

"You better. Now go spend time with your others, you all still have one hell of a journey ahead of you."

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