The present queen of the pridelands wandered the vicinity of her home, which has always been known as Pride Rock. She explored every part to give herself exercise in the state she was in. The warm wind of the savannah blew through her short fur and gave her face cool relief from the hot sun above. It would have been best to lay in the shade of a crooked tree growing into the sides of the rock or even stay inside the cave, but she couldn't help but want to watch the young cubs play and enjoy their growls and laughter. Two of the cubs were named Nuka and Vitani (Nuka being the older sibling) who belonged to a very odd lioness named Zira. Wrapped in her thoughts, the young queen was approached by her mother, Sarafina.
"Nala, what are you doing out and about?" she asked. "You shouldn't be active in your state."
"Mom, I'm fine," Nala replied, smiling at her mother's concern. "The cub isn't coming for a while now."
"Even if it were, you'd still be active, wouldn't you?" Sarafina sighed, giving up trying to convince her headstrong daughter. "Just like I was when I was having you."
"Hehe, yes, Mom." Nala bowed her head and took her leave. She really hadn't been herself lately. She supposed being pregnant made her more tranquil, or maybe it was because her mate, Simba took good care of her. He was actually out scouting the area right now, doing his duties as king to make sure everything was in order. The hyenas hadn't been as active since Scar's death, but Simba couldn't take too many chances. Nala was walking along the western side of Pride Rock, when she heard familiar whispers. Thinking it was just cubs plotting out a secret game, Nala peeked her head a little bit from behind a rock. She gasped at the sight.
It was a group of lionesses, about six or seven, all gathered in a close circle and focused on the only speaking lioness, who was Zira. She had a longer face than the other lionesses, and she was pregnant with a cub that looked as if it was going to be due any day. Nala could barely make out what she was saying, so she listened more intently.
"Simba does not deserve to be king." Zira whispered, obviously with anger in her voice. "Remember how much order there was when Scar was king? We need to get that back!"
Nala's eyes widened. She could not believe her ears. So many things were running through her mind and her blood was turning hot with worry. How could a mutiny take place? How could anybody still follow that...monster! She knew that at least half of the pride was willing to be servants for Scar when he was in power. Zira became his mate around that time too (after Scar had tried to make Nala his mate. Hardly anybody knew about this, and Nala preferred to keep it a secret, even though she rejected him in the first place.) and obviously wanted revenge for her deceased love. Nala did not even know someone like Scar could love; she highly doubted it. But what was she going to do now? She had to warn Simba. She slowly turned around to run away from the area. She managed to slip away without making a noise, however she was assaulted from behind and was pinned to the ground on her back. She cried out in struggle. She shook her head to get back on track as to what happened, and Zira was towering over her, with unsheathed claws over her stomach, readied to pierce through flesh. The other lionesses were surrounding them, staring down.
"Well, well, Nala," Zira hissed with a wicked grin plastered across her grey-brown face. "Spying on us, are you?"
"I will NOT let you do this, Zira." Nala growled, not able to struggle because of the claws over her stomach.
"Oh? And how will you be able to stop me?" she replied, digging her claws a little into Nala's belly, but not enough to break skin. "If I get rid of his queen and his heir, Simba will be just as powerless as you are now." Nala gasped as she felt claws slowly dig deeper into her belly. She was objecting in her mind, not able to move without hurting her cub no matter what she did, praying that this was not be the end. She was done for.
The lionesses were plowed through and Zira was knocked clear off Nala. Without a second thought, Nala instinctively gained her footing and put herself in a defensive stance, ready to fight for her life. But seeing what caused Nala's opening of movement, she felt safer. Simba was standing in front of her, protecting her from the revenge-driven Zira. Other lionesses, including Sarafina, Sarabi, and her friend Kula were joined with Simba to create a protective wall.
"Get out of here, Zira!" Simba roared. "I will not tolerate you. You are forever exiled from the pridelands! As long as I am king, you will reside in the outlands; far enough to where Pride Rock will not be visible!" Simba looked to his side and witnessed Zira's cubs scrutinizing the situation. There was no way he was going to keep her children. "And you will take THEM with you. If you ever come back, I'll kill you."
Zira would have attacked and killed Simba right there if his followers were not there. But she was outnumbered, even with her own followers. Defeated, she growled and turned to leave, ordering her two offspring to follow. She turned around again to speak.
"Before I leave, I want you all to remember what I said earlier referring to Scar's rule! Do not be ruled by a young King! Scar's dying wish WILL be fulfilled, so join me!" And with that being said, she left, and the lionesses of her group followed.
Simba held his breath the entire time. He did not want any fraction of his pride to mutiny, but it happened anyway. He felt that he lost, but then again felt relieved that neither Nala nor their cub were harmed. He turned to his mate and nuzzled her. Seeing that everything was ok again, the other lionesses took their leave.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Simba sighed.
"Me too." she replied. There was a moment of silence before the two separated from their embrace. "But what I still don't understand is why you allowed them to stay."
"Zira was still pregnant with Scar's son," Simba admitted. "And she still had cubs. I would not have been able to live with the guilt if I made her fend for herself alone. And if I exiled the rest of them, it would not have been...right." He mentioned that he already knew that she was mentally unstable, but did not know she was crazy enough to try to kill Nala. He told her that he could not risk losing her nor his heir again.
"I see..." Nala said. "But what about now?"
"We'll all be fine." Simba stated, nuzzling his mate one last time.
The banished lionesses traveled far, never looking back at the place they've abandoned. They were forever faithful to their original king, forever thankful of Mufasa's death, forever hateful towards Simba the murderer. The night circle was high in the sky by the time Pride Rock was out of sight. It had been a long painful walk, especially for Zira and her aching children, who were crying from exhaustion and hunger. Nuka tried calming his young sister Vitani, but to no avail. The small pride walked a ways further and spotted deformed structures protruding from the ground that towered over everything around, almost as high as Pride Rock itself. These structures were termite hill ruins, which still seemed inhabited by many, but not too much to make it unsuitable for living.
"This...will be our temporary Pride Rock." Zira announced in a normal speaking voice. Just then pain ripped throughout her entire body and she screamed in agony.
Months passed and early one morning, before the sun rose, something called to the animals of the pridelands. Something called to them, telling them to travel to their king's palace. Before travel, each one of them knew that a circle of life was completed again, and their new heir was born. The animals traveled far, many together in groups, mixed species together, not caring whether or not they were natural enemies. They knew that this was a time to be brought together as one, to celebrate. The sun rose from behind the horizon, and lit everything until it was in bright hot colors. Even the traveling animals were colored oranges and yellows and reds, so that they all blended together like a painting. Hours passed like minutes, and finally their destination was close, and their excitement increased. Everyone surrounded the giant rock, which was the home of the lions. Many considered it a palace considering how beautiful its natural structure was displayed. All of the animals joined together to form one giant herd, not caring if they were beside one not of their own kind.
They all stared in awe up at their present king and queen, who were looking down on them with peaceful, happy faces. The two nuzzled each other lovingly. Appearing in between the two rulers was the honorable baboon everyone knew as Rafiki. He held the young king in his aged, caring, and delicate hands, and raised him up above his head for all to see, showing everyone their future king, who bared the king's mark on his forehead. The animals rejoiced at the sight of the cub and called out in their many languages how happy they were and how they accepted him as their prince. Then they all bowed together. Many loved the little cub at first sight. Two already planned on killing him. And very few did not like him. But the happiness outdid the hate, and it lasted throughout the morning, and hopefully for the rest of the day and beyond.
From above, their past great king known as Mufasa stared down at his beloved son and grandson. Simba could feel his presence and he was happy that his
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