Here you are! The first chapter of the Sequel! This just basically sets the scene. Things will get better later on. ENJOY!

SIMBA'S POV

I did it. I was king. I did it. I looked down at all of my follower's faces, at their proud, grateful gazes. And felt the weight lift from my shoulders. I was home. I was HOME.

But then, thunder rumbled and lightning crashed. Water slipped into my eyes and I blinked to clear them. The adrenaline was over. And I saw my pride again. This time, beaten and bloody, tired, eyes rimmed with black, thin and sickly.

The weight returned.

I forgot for a split second, that these lionesses were living in Hell for a couple years. And they just fought a battle. I looked over at the grey lands. Dead and black, covered in skeletons. It itself was merely a skeleton, a shadow, of what I remembered as the Pridelands. Oh boy. I shook my head slightly and looked back at Rafiki. He walked up to me.

"The lands are in need of repair, but dat will come later. Right now, you must attend to your pride." He motioned to my waiting friends and family with his stick. I smiled and trotted down. My mother greeted me with a warm lick and soft nuzzle. I returned the favor.

But our small moment of joy was short-lived.

"Hey!" I turned to see the hyenas. Oh no. "Do we get to stay or..." it was Shenzi I believe, who spoke. I looked at my mother who nodded a faint 'No'.

"The lands can't take their overwhelming numbers. We already over-hunted and the black wasteland you see...is a result of them staying." she whispered. shooting a weary glance at the bloody creatures, carrying their fatally wounded and their dead on their backs. I took a deep breath and shook my head no at the Hyenas, conjuring every ounce of diplomacy I had in me.

"My father's law will prevail. You may not stay in the Pridelands. But I am sure that there are other lands beyond the Elephant graveyard." I waited for the attack of dozens of angry jaws. But they never came. Shenzi merely nodded and walked off. I opened my mouth in disbelief. Did that really just happen? They just left? When the last of the hyenas faded in the rain, my mother laughed.

"How did you do that?" she asked, looking at me in surprise.

"I...I have no idea!" I answered, still looking at where they dissapeared.

"I guess they were just as tired of Scar's reign as we were." she said, as if closing a case. She then looked at me with a huge smile. "You have to tell me EVERYTHING!" she laughed. I laughed a little.

"Of course, but right now, we might want to get everyone out of the rain and treat their wounds." my eyes raked the crowd for Nala, who gave me quite a kiss before I took my place as King, I never got to return the favor.

"Of course of course!" My mother said, as if waking from a trance. "Everyone! Let's go on in!" She called. Everyone gave a relieved sigh and started for the den. As soon as I got inside, I shook off all of the water that got in my fur and immediatly shivered. God it was cold! Everyone else followed suit. My mother sat down and motioned for me to do the same. All the others sat in a circle. Everyone excpet Timon and Pumbaa.

"Come on in!" I called.

"Umm. Mabye not buddy." Timon said nervously. I realized how unnerving it must be for them, considering there were about 12 lionesses who hadn't seen a meal in weeks inside. Wait. 10? I thought there were 13? Mom saw my apprehension and did a quick head count.

"Jari." She breathed. "We're missing Jari, Bonsu, and Livali." she shook her head and looked out at the now torrential rain. Timon and Pumbaa had now entered the den, encouraged by the stray rumble of thunder. But they kept close to me and away from the lionesses.

"We won't be able to look for them until after the storm. We can only pray to the kings for their safety." Sarfina said, from the opposite side of the circle. Everyone nodded in agreement. Right on cue, a dark figure staggered into the den, dripping wet, and collapsed in a heap on the stone floor. I shot up and rushed to their side, expecting it to be a hyena straying from the pack. Instead, it was a lion, skinny, dark brown fur with a small light brown mane. On his back, was a light lioness, with stormy grey eyes that were half closed. Livali! My Mom broke the shocked silence.

"Bonsu! Livali! Rafiki, get over here and help these two!" I snapped to attention and helped carry them further inside, away from the cold rain. Bonsu was breathing heavily, several long scratches running the length of his body, some patches of fur looked almost burnt.

"Jari...she...she was f-f-f-following m-m-me!" He exclaimed suddenly. Halllette patted his head reasurringly and told him to settle down. Rafiki was working vigorisly on Livali, muttering under his breath. Tal jumped up and started to converse with him, helping him with several things, keeping her voice low. I watched all of this in amazement. When did she learn all of this? The lionesses were silent behind me. This was just all to much to process.

"He said Jari was following him," Mom whispered, "Where is she?" she looked worried and I simply sighed heavily.

"I don't know, but where ever she is, I'm sure she's fine." I reassured her. Mom simply looked at where Rafiki finally sat down, wiping several beads of sweat from his forhead. Tal smiled at him and bowed her head slightly and stood next to Kuju, looking slightly tired.

"Dey will be fine," Rafiki said wearily as he leaned against the cave wall, "Dey just need a little rest." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Dank you Tal dear." He added. Tal simply smiled a small smile and nodded. I looked at her questioningly.

"I kinda learned a couple of skills, before I met you guys and after you and Nala...died." She said embarrased. I nodded, finally understanding. The rest of the pride layed down in the previous circle shape. After a while of silence (which was EXTREMELY awkward!) My mother spoke up.

"So, begin the tale!" Mom said excitedly. "Tell us everything!" she leaned foward, eager to listen.

"Well...um...I guess it started when..." I said, trying to begin the tale but my mind was still on Nala. Where was she? Suddenly, I felt a warm body settle next to me. I turned to see Nala, lying down, like everyone else, waiting for me to begin. I smiled slightly and turned to the rest of the pride.

"Oh!" Cried Tal, raising a paw. "Can I tell it?" I laughed. She always loved stories.

"But you don't even know the whole story!" I protested.

"Fine, you tell your part, I'll tell ours!" She pouted slightly but rested her head on Miko's paws, content with telling part of it and drawing a blush from Miko. But his light pink cheeks paled in comparison to Kuju's crimson ones as Kiki gave him a light lick on the cheek and laid her head on her paws. Kuju merely touched his cheek in disbelief before smiling a mile wide and nuzzling her head, obviously content.

-Later-

"So then, two lions stumble out from behind the bushes and-"

"Ow!" yelped a lioness. This happened frequently. Hallette and Rafiki were going around, treating wounds and healing gashes as I told the story and apparently could not do so without inflicting pain.

"and-"

"And it was Me and Miko!" interrupted Kuju. I rolled my eyes. Why was it so hard to let me tell the story? "We met up with Nala and the girls, who found each other a little bit before we found each other and-OW!" Rafiki had bound a gash on his leg tightly. We all laughed. Well, most of us. Some had drifted off to sleep. Like Tal, who had fallen asleep, head pressed against Miko's chest. He had fallen asleep as well, head on top of Tal's. But cracked one eye open at Kuju's outburst. Mom finally realized the lack of attention and yawned.

"It's getting kinda late Simba. We can continue the story tommorow." she smiled and woke up the sleeping lions with a small roar.

"It's time to go to bed everyone!" She called, recieving some annoyed grumbles and muttered complaints about being woken up. I yawned and laid down, but was stopped by a laugh.

"Oh no dear." she chuckled. "Your king now. You and Nala get to sleep on the platform!" I looked where a small platform stood, raised about a half foot from the ground...before the full sentence clicked in my head.

"Me and...and Nala?" I asked, stuttering slightly. Why wasn't Nala saying anything? I looked and saw her blushing, pawing the ground slightly.

"Of course! It was obvious from birth you two were inseperable, and that little kiss earlier proved my suspicions." mom laughed and settled down some feet away. I looked at Nala, but found her halfway to the platform already. I did a little dance inside and hurried over to the platform, greeting Nala with a soft lick on the cheek. She giggled and laid down. I laid down next to her and wrapped my arms around her, bringing her close. My heart sped up as she nuzzled my neck. I licked the rim of her ear and smiled when she let out a soft purr. This was almost perfect. I swallowed my fear.

"Nala?" I asked softly.

"Mm hmm?"she asked, looking up at me.

"I...I...I love you." there, I said it! She looked at me with wide eyes. Did she not love me? Was this a bad time? But all my doubts dissapated when she laughed softly and gave me a sweet, loving kiss. My heart sped up to a dangerous rate and my whole body buzzed.

"I love you too." She smiled and kissed me again before settling her head in my neck again. I touched my nose to her head, breathing in her scent and tightened my grip on her, bringing a soft giggle from Nala. I started to purr in sync with Nala and closed my eyes, letting out a content sigh.

Okay, NOW it was perfect.