A/N: Finally we've come to the more exciting part(s) of this story :D Something's bound to happen now, mwahaha :D

The Lion King: Teal Eyes.

Chapter 9: Fallacious Beliefs.

The following night had arrived particularly slow for Zira. Mostly because she had done nothing that day but wait for the right moment to drag Sarafina away from Pride Rock. She hoped the lioness wasn't asleep already or something, this would totally ruin the plan! Leisurely, Zira crept over the rocks layered on the copy towards the entrance of the den- to where the moon had gently illuminated its light. The lioness had waited deep through the night for the right moment; but Sarafina didn't seem like the type to sleep early.

And she wasn't.

Finally Zira had gotten a glimpse of Sarafina sat on the promontory...talking to herself..? The lioness was that lonely to talk to herself even at the age of what would be nearly two years? Zira tried not to laugh. Instead, she pinched her lips tightly in order to not make any sort of sound, writhing closer towards Sarafina. But as her perspective shifted, she noticed Sara was not by herself. They stared at the moon and talked, and occasionally laughed. Sara and the prince? Zira had no idea they'd be together...Were they a couple or something? Whatever, she couldn't wait around for Mufasa to, very unlikely right now, leave Sara alone in order for her to go and snatch the lioness. Whatever the cost, she had to take Sarafina at this moment.

Zira coughed to make her presence known, dragging the attention of both the prince and the khaki-coloured lioness. They both stared at her with a skeptical smile, then back to each other with a relatively strong blush. Zira's brows furrowed.

"What are you doing out here so late with the prince?" the lioness asked, edging closer towards Sarafina. "We all knew Mufasa was nocturnal but now you too? Great..."

Despite her expression of irritation, Sarafina stuttered. "N-nothing. I just couldn't sleep- I've already told you I don't like to sleep!"

"Sure you don't..." Zira nodded in a faked disbelief, knowing that Sara wasn't the type to sleep either.

Mufasa stepped forward, a strong blush still abroad his muzzle. "What are you doing anyway, Zira? Why are you up so late?"

The addressed lioness sighed dramatically, stretching and inspecting her claws before she spoke in a rather lazy tone. "Oh Mufasa you don't know me at all," she reminded him. "It's not like you follow me all day or know what I like and don't like to do... I hate sleeping in the den. And I prefer to sleep out underneath the baking sun."

Sarafina rolled her eyes. "So we're all nocturnal then."

"Speaking of," Zira began, moving even closer towards the lioness, "I need to borrow you for a moment. Excuse us, Mufasa." She grabbed Sarafina's paw, ready to drag her around like she always had.

"Actually I wasn't done speaking with Mufasa!" Sara cried out loud, furrowing her eyebrows angrily. "And I won't let you drag me around like-"

"What did you say?!" Zira growled threateningly, prepared to rip her throat out if she needed to.

Mufasa looked around worriedly. "Guys! Keep your voices down!"

"That should be the least of your concerns," said the tanned-beige lioness in a deep voice. "But I need to borrow Sarafina. We won't be long."

"Then I'm coming too."

"NO! It's a girl talk!"

Sarafina released a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding. "Okay Zira, I'll go with you alone. But we must return to Pride Rock soon and we can't go too far."

Zira smirked. "Excellent. Let's go!"

It had been at least five minutes that Zira and Sarafina trailed across the grassy turf of the Pridelands. Sarafina barely listened to what the other lioness was blabbering about- she was sure it was nonsense anyway. Her concerns were more relative to Mufasa's, who was awaiting for her return in a short amount of time. But even so, Zira had managed to follow through a part of her plan and lure Sara towards the border.

Once they had arrived, the creamy lioness snapped out of her thoughts.

"Zira, why are we at the border?" she asked tiredly. "Can we not just return? Haven't you already said everything you wanted to tell me?"

"No," Zira told her sharply. "I'm not done yet. Plus, there's something I need to show you, come on."

Sarafina didn't particularly feel comfortable being led by a cub (that certainly disliked her now) into the dangers of the Outlands alone at night- with no adult, Sarabi or Mufasa or any of the other cubs. And Zira had been talking for a particularly long time.

"So while we're still going there..." the lioness had begun yet again her boring conversations, "What was it that you and Mufasa were talking about?"

Sara gulped. "And why is it that you need to know?" she asked with a little more courage.

"It's nothing, I'm just wondering." replied Zira softly. "It seems you have feelings for each other."

"It's really that obvious?!" As soon as she had realised the most embarrassing mistake she had committed, she muzzled herself with her paw. By then, Zira had stopped ambling and stared at the lioness with the most unusual expression- it was as if Sara had grown two heads!

"Well you've already hinted it so you might as well tell me," Zira edged.

Sarafina sighed. "If you promise not to tell anybody...well..." she was slightly hesitant to start. "Me and Mufasa both couldn't sleep tonight...I had come out to peer at the stars like I always had before we arrived in the Pridelands. A-and Mufasa had come out- it turned out he couldn't sleep too..."

...

"Can't sleep?" Mufasa inquired casually as he approached the dazed lioness.

Sarafina stared at him in an uncomfortably shy manner, blushing and shifting her paws as she allowed him to sit beside her. "No... Not something rare though. I barely got enough sleep before I came here."

"Why not?" asked the prince, intrigued. "I-I mean... Nevermind, I can't sleep much either."

The lioness stared at him in awe. "A-actually Mufasa? There's something I need to tell you," she announced, turning to face him properly, "and it's something I haven't told to anybody else because I'm just so afraid of telling them."

Once Mufasa stared at her, she continued. "I was a rogue," she confessed. The words easily slipped out of her mouth, as if she had no trouble at all. When actually, on the inside, as the silence had enveloped them both for several minutes, she mentally stabbed herself for every seconds of silence. The tension was intolerable; she wanted him to say something but she was so afraid of his reaction. So petrified of rejection.

After all, he could rat the news out to the others. And they'd hate Sarafina for who she used to be.

Though now, he'd considered breaking the silence. "That's not bad. Why're you so afraid?"

Sara wanted to cry. Not only had she ridiculously been overthinking things, but she had made herself a complete fool and coward in front of the prince! Could she be anymore stupid?

The lioness shook her head. "It is bad," she argued back gently. "Rogues are known to be vicious and brutal killers. If I tell everyone that... they'll hate me for who I used to be even if I never killed anyone before."

Mufasa nuzzled her tenderly, smiling at her. "Don't be ridiculous Sara- of course you're not a killer! And you're the most friendliest prettiest lioness I've ever-"

He stopped mid-sentence, and they both blushed fiercely.

"T-that's... you mean that?"

Mufasa's eyebrows furrowed in what Sarafina seemed to think of as a sort of cute anger or embarrassment. The prince scratched the back of his head skeptically.

Sara smiled sweetly. "This sounds stupid but... I like you too."

...

"And from there, I guess we made a commitment to each other," Sara concluded as they finally finished crossing the borders of the Pridelands.

Zira smirked. This was an excellent way of getting Mufasa into trouble- and Naanda was certain to do all the dirty work for her. Sarafina was dating Prince Mufasa- who was already affianced to the Princess Sarabi, behind the kingdom's back? This was just too much of an opportunity to slip. Mufasa'd be in trouble soon enough.

"What's so funny, Zira? Something I said?"

"What!" The lioness was startled, and her sudden outburst seemed to have let Sara a little suspicious. "Oh! Nothing, nothing! I was just excited of that thing I was gonna show you. It's right there. Behind that rock," she told her rather briefly. "Wait here!"

And so Sara sat on her haunches while Zira slipped behind the rock.

"You took your time." Shenzi muttered once Zira had slipped towards her, Zuraya and some other hyenas.

Zira rolled her eyes. "It took me quite an effort. Especially since her boyfriend - Prince Mufasa - won't let her out of his sight for even a second!"

"THE PRINCE IS HER BOYFRIEND?!" the hyenas all shrieked in unison, only to be silenced by Zira who released a veracious roar.

"Just do what you have to do to get her stuck in that ditch!"

"Well ain't this gonna be fun... C'mon, you mutts!" Zuraya barked, leading a small clan of hyenas towards where Sara was standing.

The African wildlife went on, dawn nearing every second that went by. Mufasa was too stubborn to enter the den- he didn't trust Zira at all, especially with his girlfriend. Why was she so eager to speak to Sara now anyway? They'd had a brief, but unnecessary, parting for some days now. And it was mostly Zira's fault. What did Zira see in Sarafina that she didn't see in the others?

Soon, the prince grew tired of sitting on his haunches and decided to lay down. But he wouldn't sleep until Sara and Zira returned in one piece. And he wouldn't hesitate to go out looking for them either. He cared far too much for Sara, and was slightly intrigued in what took Zira this long to talk to her. And it wasn't only him who'd be worried for Sara's safety. Mantler, Sara's mother, would be absolutely petrified of losing her only daughter and failing second time as a mother.

The rest of the lionesses and cubs would also become anxious to the female lioness' disappearance. Zira's mother, Maisha, and the king and queen (believe it or not), would be concerned for Zira also.

"Mufasa?" it was undoubtedly the gentle voice of Mufasa's mother, Uru, who was currently pregnant with the third heir to the throne. She didn't wait for Mufasa to acknowledge her for her to approach him. Cautiously, she stole a seat beside her clearly worn out son. "What are you doing out here?"

At his mother's presence, the golden cub sat up- but couldn't help slouching. "Oh, it's nothing," he replied in a forced jolly tone, though it was laced with some sort of exhaustion. He was elated this night; he had finally taken a commitment to Sarafina, and he wouldn't let her down. Although, the day had been for too much for him. Not to mention, he didn't want to risk getting Sarafina in trouble. He'd keep their absence a secret for now.

The queen sighed sadly. "You know, if there's ever something you need to talk about, I'm here," she reminded him as if he had completely forgotten that. And in a way, he had. Mufasa had been so focused on trying to be the perfect son, to not bother his pregnant mother or his busy father, concentrate on his lessons and bond with his friends.

It was almost as if he purposely avoided her.

Mufasa shrugged. "I know that," he lied. He moved closer to her, remembering that she was his mother and not his pridemate. Princes still needed some sort of affection too. She nuzzled him in return, a fake smile laid out on her muzzle.

"Something's wrong, Mother? Is it the cub? Shall I get-"

"No Mufasa," Uru quickly hushed her son, chuckling slightly. "The cub's fine. But actually, she's the reason I can't sleep. It's only been a few days, but I can't even find a position to sleep."

Mufasa didn't know what to say. He didn't know much about this stuff anyway. So he nodded. "So what's bothering you?"

His mother sighed again, with less effort. "It's Taka," said Uru. "He's been so distant, I'm worried. It's been going on for ages... And I know you've tried your hardest to get along with him, but we're all starting to feel like it's impossible."

Mufasa held her, detecting her incoming tears. Her emotion was something that angered him. Not her in particular, but the reason for it: Taka. Taka hadn't known how much pain he had caused his family and the pride, and Uru seemed to have been absorbing the most pain out of all the them. And for her pregnancy, this anxiety wasn't something positive.

"By the time the cub arrives, Taka will begin to warm up to us again," Mufasa assured with a smile, feeling a little despondent himself. "He won't be the only one with no authority over the throne."

"But that's not it. None of the other cubs have authority over the throne. I don't understand!" she almost shouted, but Mufasa's comfort suppressed this action. "A throne is nothing without family and friends. He should be happy he's even in a pride."

At that moment, Mufasa remembered how Sarafina had notified him of her old life- being a rogue was definitely not easy for her. Perhaps Taka would need some more gratitude.

"Don't worry, Mufasa," Uru said, breaking the silence. "It's not your fault. We've all tried our hardest with that lion. Well, I'm going to try and sleep again. Pray to the stars your brother changes- for all our sakes."

Her son nuzzled her goodnight, before she edged her way back into the cave beside a sleeping Ahadi. Ahadi gave his mate lot of attention. But the queen seemed mentally distant from her pride and family. Taka was edging her deeper into stages of depression, and sooner or later if this continued, the queen would end up just like her son: dejected. Distant. Away from everyone, and a cold heartless being.

The thought simply caused Mufasa to shiver. He couldn't let his mother fall into Taka's trap, and Taka was going to have to change in order for the pride to move on happily.

Suddenly, Mufasa caught a glimpse of a small silhouette. The silhouette crept cautiously, ceasing on occasion and peering around, before scurrying on again. Just like a mouse. It was visibly tiny, but that was only because it was far. Not too far though, Mufasa could catch it. Maybe it could be a reward for himself, or a new commitment gift to Sarafina. It would be a start of the new relationship.

Quietly, the prince stalked. He neared the silhouette with a fair amount of patience. It was only then that he had begun to realize that the silhouette wasn't a snack, but he'd already pounced on it. Everything was black for a while, and once the prince's jaded eyes slid open, he was a little vexed to find that what he had encountered wasn't a snack.

"Get off of me, you fool!" It was Zira. Of course it was her. Nobody else would react in such a way towards the prince. Not even Taka. But... Where on earth was Sarafina?

Ignoring Zira's pleas for help, Mufasa scanned the area with his amber eyes- whilst still holding Zira down. His girlfriend was nowhere in sight. He allowed his anxiety to bring him down for a second, and Zira had taken the opportunity to kick her opponent off of her. The prince hadn't even properly subsided, and he was already on his paws again.

"Where's Sara! You told me you wouldn't be long, but you took years!" Suddenly, Mufasa's adrenaline pressured him to the point where he was choking the adolescent lioness beneath him. "Then you have the nerve to return without her! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Zira closed her eyes. Remember the plan, Zira, remember the plan!

"What I have to say is that Sara's in trouble," she replied calmly.

"What?! Where is she now?!"

"She ran towards the Outlands!" the lioness said, tensing herself and making herself look more like a panicked lioness. "I told her to wait, but then she said she wanted to prove how strong she was and how she could defend herself! She went to pick on some hyenas..."

Mufasa gasped, immediately dashing down the kopje. "I'll go look for her! If things get scary, go get my mother!"

"Where's Zira?" Sarafina yawned after moments of Zira having slipped behind the rock. It was awfully suspicious of her to randomly disappear behind there and not return. The breeze was beginning to pick up a little, the moon dominating the lands. As a lioness cub that was only one, Sarafina was extremely vulnerable alone in unfamiliar territory. Had she known of Zira's plan, she wouldn't of come at all. But Sara was often naive and curious. She needed to know what Zira wanted to say.

Shivering, the lioness cub stood up and scanned the land. "Zira?..."

Out of the blue, a fairly small hyena with three strands of hair looming out over her face popped up, lunging for Sarafina. However, with experience as a rogue, Sara managed to dodge the attack. Out in the wild, you always had to stay cautious for lurking predators and their attacks.

She gasped in fear as Zuraya's minions revealed themselves, drooling excitedly for some late night drama.

"Stay back! I'm warning you...!"

Ed's fangs were a claw-length away from biting off her feet. She swiped at him, sending him across the grass and managed to slip away for a moment as his companions fawned over him. He was covered in some bruises, but not severely injured.

Whilst the others aided their fallen clan-mate, Sarafina was being chased by Shenzi and Zuraya. The two hyenas appeared so vicious, it was as if they were competing against killing Sarafina first, but that wasn't going to happen.

Hot, salty tears began to trick down Sara's somewhat petrified face as she ran from them. Just as they gained on her, she fell.

Everything was dark.

But once Sara manged to lift her head up, she could see the blue-purple night sky and the moon that seemed to be controlling the night. She then realised she had fallen in a ditch - though she didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"You're trapped, little kitty!" Zuraya leaned down and screeched, before turning the other way and ambling away from the ditch. "And there's no escape.."

"Let her go!"

Everyone froze; Sara's ears perking up. She recalled such a voice - the voice that belonged to her favourite lion in the entire kingdom. Instantly she smiled, and gained the determination to climb out of the ditch. "Mufasa!"She unsheathed her claws. They worked like hooks, clinging to the earth as Sara writhed her way up.

Shenzi and Banzai, who were beside each other at the moment, spun their heads immediately. Their hostility said all - they didn't need any more company.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Banzai shouted, edging closer to the prince. "You weren't part of the-"

Shenzi slapped her paw over his mouth, glaring at him. "Isn't it obvious? He's come after that little girl in the ditch! The numbskull..."

"Well let's show him what forth!" Zuraya barked, triggering a whole handful of hyenas to attack Mufasa.

The prince tried his hardest to fend the brutes off to rescue Sarafina, but one against four wasn't exactly a fair fight. As he rammed his claws into one of the hyenas, another hyena bit down his rear, causing him to utter a roar of agony. "Sara!"

His cry of agony so loud it propelled a great strength in Sarafina, causing her to pounce out of the ditch to rescue her boyfriend. As she mindlessly joined the fight, she could apprehend the paw steps of more than one. From the direction of the Pridelands came Ahadi, Jahi, Mantler, Rafiki and two lionesses. King Ahadi ran straight for Zuraya, pinning her with incomparable hostility.

Mantler and the two lionesses dived into Mufasa and Sarafina's battle, causing the hyenas to scatter and retreat, whilst Jahi and Rafiki fended off any other surrounding hyenas - that immediately fled at their sight.

"It's a crime that you've committed, Zuraya!" Ahadi yelled at the top of his lungs, gaining the attention of everyone else. "An unforgivable one! You attacked my son, the prince, and a pride member!"

Zuraya's powerful gaze pierced through Ahadi's. She was still under him, but she could very well do damage if she wanted to. "They're on my land! I shall do with them as I please!" she countered. "Besides, if it wasn't for that stinky little brat causing trouble here...!"

"Hey! I did nothing at all!" Sara defended from beside Mufasa and Mantler. "They attacked me!"

Ahadi craned his head to glance at Sarafina, who looked extremely irked and then back at Zuraya, who seemed even more irked.

"Let's go home," he demanded, turning back to the others. "Mark my words, Zuraya, if anything happens again, there will be consequences."

He and the other adults led the way to Pride Rock. Jahi and Rafiki broke off half way to head off to the baobab tree, while Ahadi, Mantler and the two pride lionesses led Sarafina and Mufasa home. Both of the adolescents couldn't tell whether their parents were blazing with fury at them or not. But it was most likely, and soon obvious when they reached the cave's entrance.

Ahadi simply ambled past Mufasa, expressionless and without a single word. Mufasa sauntered in dejectedly after him. Mantler only glared at her daughter, before following the royals inside the den.

"Even when I do nothing, I cause trouble," Sara whispered, glancing over at Zira who still forced on a fake expression of shock. Sarafina scowled at her before proceeding to the den as well.

There was only just a crack of dawn. And while that day was simply awful for Sara, so would the next day be.

Gossip found its way easily across the Pridelands and the pride. Sara had no doubts that the other cubs would find out about the incident and simply blame her for getting the prince in trouble, and believe Zira's lie that Sarafina wanted to brag about how powerful she was- even if the cubs already knew how tough Sarafina could be. Everyone would hate her all over again.

Naanda and Zira would make sure of that.