Nala closed her eyes, ready for the blow, but it never came. Had Bora been caught by one of the adults? Nala meekly opened on of her eyes. There in front of her was Bora, paw in the air, the cubs standing still as statues and there was Simba, knocked on the floor, panting. Nala's eyes widened. "Simba? Simba!" the she-cub ran to her best friend in worry. Had he been hurt protecting her? Nala nudged him. "Simba? Simba, wake up." Nala felt hatred bubble inside her for Bora. With a quick turn, she snarled at Bora. "Look what you've done! How will Mufasa react? Bora, why did you do that to him?" Nala only wondered one thing. How had Simba got to her?

10 minutes earlier...

Simba was sitting with his best male friend, Toko. Toko was a small lion cub, barely older then Simba. He hard dark red fur with a light chocolate brown tuft where his mane would be one day. He noticed Simba was lost in his own little world. "Hey Simba? Is anyone up there?" Simba shook his head out of his trance. "What were you thinking off, Simba?" Toko asked his best friend.

Simba gulped.

"I was thinking about...Nala." he admitted sheepishly. Toko rolled his green eyes at his friend. After he did this, his tuft fell in front of his eyes. Using his left paw, he pushed it out the way. "Figures I'm best friends with the only lion who doesn't know how to talk to a girl." Toko muttered. "Simba, you really love Nala, don't you?"

Simba nodded.

Toko rose to his feet to teach Simba a lesson he had learned from Rafiki, the wise old shaman of the Pride. "Well, Simba, if you love someone, protect them. I saw Nala with Bora and the other girls earlier. Bora was bieng mean to her." Simba gasped. How could anyone hurt someone as sweet as Nala?

"Where are they?" Simba's demand came out more of snarl then a statement; Toko guessed he would be angry. But, Simba wasn't angry. He was furious. The thought of his sweet Nala, his Princess, bieng hurt sickned him. "Toko. WHERE IS SHE?" Toko shook with fear at his friends yelling. Simba's eyes were flashing with fury, his fur bristled and his back arched, as if he was going to kill Bora. Toko gulped. "Simba, follow me." The two walked off to the waterhole.

As soon as Simba saw Bora nearly take a swing at Nala, he jumped in between the two cubs and bravelly took the pain of Bora's claws cutting against his neck. Soon, everything was black.

"Simba? Simba, wake up. Please!"

Simba felt someone nudge him, then he groaned. "Mom, five more minutes."

Nala nudged him again. "Simba, it's me, Nala."

"Nala? Where am I?" he asked.

"Rafiki's tree. Simba, are you ok?" Simba smiled. Nala was so beautiful. Simba nodded. Nala sighed in relief.

"Nala?"

"Yes, Simba?"

"Can I stand up?"

"Yeah." Simba stood up shakingly. Nala nuzzled him and under his fur, Simba blushed.

"Simba? Why did you jump in front of me?"

"Because, Nala, I...I...I love you."

"Really? Because, I l-love you too. I loved you since we first met. But, Bora said you love her and when she said that, I knew it must've been true. Your the Prince. How could you love an ordianry cub like me?"

"Nala, your not an ordianary cub. Your my Princess, my Nala. I would do anything for you, Nala."

"But that doesn't answer my question though. Why did you jump in front of me? Rafiki says if Bora's claws got one cementier longer, it would have hit your vein and then you would have...died." Nala gulped. She didn't want to hurt her little Simba.

"Nala, I jumped in front of you because I learn a good leson. If you love someone, protect them. Even if it means sacrificing yourself. Nala, you mean the world to me. If you love someone, protect them with your own life."

Nala nuzzled Simba. Simba nuzzled Nala.

"Look Mufasa. De plan worked." Rafiki stood with the King of Pride Rock, King Mufasa.

"I know, old friend. It''s a good thing they are betrothed." Mufasa stated.

Epilouge.

Simba and Nala grew up to be mates. Simba did everything he could to protect Nala. Toko grew up to marry Bora. Bora changed to be good and started becoming friends with Nala. They also taught their cub a very special lesson too: if you love someone, protect them. Thier cub, Kiara, did just that when her new friend, Kovu, was attacked by crocidiles. Remember: if you love someone, protect them.

The End.

A/N: My first multi-chapter story! Thanks to my beta, IanTheShaf for beta-ing my story. Thanks to all my new friends on here too.