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"C'mon, c'mon!" Nuka growled, pacing back and forth. "Where is he?"

Nuka looked up at the sky. The sun was getting higher and higher. Before long, he'd have to go back to the Out Lands, and Naba was nowhere to be seen. He and Naba had struck up an unusual friendship after Nuka had saved his life some years ago and had been meeting here in the Back Lands once a week in the mornings when they could, using an old oxpecker named Ujumbe that Naba had befriended as a means of communication. They hadn't been able to meet these last couple of weeks because Zira was preparing everyone for Kiara's solo hunt, getting everyone (but especially her cubs) ready to put her plan into motion to get Kovu into the Pride Lands. But Nuka was able to come today. He'd had even told Ujumbe to let Naba know he was free, and Ujumbe hadn't yet returned to tell Nuka that Naba wouldn't be able to make it. So where the hell was he!?

Maybe something happened to him, Nuka thought. The last time we met, he didn't look so good. But he insisted that he was fine. He has to be fine, right? We would've heard by now if he just up and died in his sleep, right? Nuka paused in his pacing as a feeling of sudden dread filled him. Unless something happened on the way here. What if that idiot collapsed somewhere in the Pride Lands? What if he's hurt or sick, lying on the ground out there all alone and vulnerable? I... I should go look for him. He might need help! Or maybe not... Simba or Naba's bratty brother Kion and his Lion Guard are probably patrolling the borders this time of day. If either of them saw me, they'd flay me alive! But... I can't just sit here and do nothing either!

Nuka looked towards the Pride Lands with uncertainty in his eyes.

I have to at least try. I have to make sure Naba's alive and not lying dead in a ditch somewhere. He took a step forward, then back, then forwards again, and then back again. C'mon, Nuka! Lion up! Stop being a mouse! The reddish-brown lion slaps his cheeks with his forepaws, trying to urge himself forwards. Go find Naba! If he's in trouble, then at least Simba won't try to kill you if you save him! Probably...

Before he could lose his nerve, Nuka bolted towards the border, running until he nearly crossed over into the Pride Lands. However, he had to skid to a stop when an old oxpecker suddenly swooped down and flew into his face.

"Whoa there, sonny! Just where do you think you're going? You got a death wish or something all of a sudden?" the oxpecker quipped.

"Ujumbe! It's you!" Nuka sighed in relief.

"Yeah, yeah, it's me. Honestly, what's wrong with ya whippersnappers these days? Runnin' headlong into enemy territory like that..."

"I wouldn't have tried that if Naba were here," Nuka grumbled. "I assume that's why you're here, to tell me where Princey is?"

"Yup. 'fraid the Prince won't be showin' up here for a while. Maybe not ever again." Ujumbe says, perching on a tree branch above the young lion.

Nuka's blood ran cold. "What do you mean, old man?" He asked slowly, afraid of the answer. "He's... he's okay, right?"

Did he finally get tired of me? Or maybe he's somehow found out about Mother's plan? No... no that can't be it. Something's wrong. He must be sick again. That has to be it. And it must be bad this time.

Ujumbe looked reluctant, as if he didn't want to say what he meant. But whatever inner turmoil he'd had about telling Nuka seemed to pass as the little bird fluffed up his feathers against a gust of wind and looked straight into Nuka's eyes.

"Look, sonny, I'm gonna be blunt with ya. Prince Naba is sick. Really sick. Like he's never been before. This is worse. Like his older sister before she passed." Ujumbe grunted. "The King has sent Prince Kion and his Lion Guard to the Tree of Life to see if they can find a cure for him, but who knows how long that'll take. Prince Naba might be dead by the time they get back."

Nuka's heart dropped to his paw pads. "So...that's it? Naba's going to die? Just like that? Can't those stupid monkeys do anything to help him?!"

Ujumbe looked at Nuka with pity in his beady eyes.

"Ol' Rafiki is doin' his best to keep the Prince alive until the Lion Guard return, but there's only so much he can do. He ain't a miracle worker. If the Great Spirit decides it's the good Prince's time, then it's his time." Softer, the old bird added, "All living things come to an end eventually, sonny. Some far earlier than we would like. But that's just how life is. I'm sorry about your friend. He's my friend too, ya know? Wouldn't be here talkin' to ya if he weren't. Just thought you should know what's goin' on, so you can prepare for the worst."

With that, the oxpecker took to the skies, heading back to the Pride Lands and leaving Nuka alone with his thoughts.

The sun rose to its zenith, then began to dip below the horizon. Nuka should have been home long ago, and yet he can't find it in him to move. He felt as if he'd frozen from within. His best and only friend was dying, and he couldn't even go say goodbye. What was he supposed to do now?

"Hey, idiot! What're you doing out here?" The grass next to him rustled, and his sister, Nyingi, stepped out. "You've been gone for hours now! Mother's furious!"

Nuka turned to look at Nyingi, and his face must've said it all because the next thing he knew, he was being pulled into a hug. That was all it took for the young lion to start crying into his sister's shoulder. "Oh, Nuka. Don't cry. Did that dumb Prince stand you up or something?" Nyingi asked after a bit, rubbing his back soothingly.

Nuka startled at this. "You know about Naba?" he asked, looking at his sister with puffy red eyes.

"Yeah, I know about him. You haven't exactly been subtle about sneaking off to meet him, brother." Nyingi chuckled. "Only reason Mother doesn't know is because she barely ever remembers you exist unless she needs you for something. So, what's going on with him?"

"N-Naba... he's ill. Like, really, really ill. He might die and... a-and I can't even say goodbye!" Nuka sobbed. "I-I don't even kn-know why I care about h-his stupid face. I shouldn't. He's Simba's son! I shouldn't c-care if he lives or dies. But I do, a-and I don't even know if he knows I care about him."

Nyingi sighed, looking at her brother with pity in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Nuka. I wish I knew what to say to make this better, but I don't. But to be honest, this is probably for the best."

"W-What do you mean?" Nuka whimpered. "How can this possibly be for the best?"

"Well... he's Simba's son, like you said. Mother would never let him live once we take back the Pride Lands. So, it's probably better that he's going to die now from some illness rather than at Mother's or Kovu's claws. At least then, you won't have to see it."

Nuka hadn't thought of that before, and honestly, he should have. The thought of his mother or Kovu killing poor, defenseless Naba made him sick to his stomach. "I... Yeah, you're... you're probably right."

"Of course I am." Nyingi smiled. "Now let's hurry up and go home. Mother will have our heads for being gone so long. We're supposed to be doing more training right now." Nyingi stood and made her way towards the Out Lands, glancing back to make sure Nuka was following. Slowly, Nuka pushed himself to his paws, taking one last look towards the Pride Lands before following after his sister.

~*~*~*~*~*~

EDIT: Thank you for taking time out of your day to go through this and edit this. Now it doesn't look as much like a mess.

NOTES: This story takes place about two weeks or so before Kiara's first hunt. This is when Naba becomes deathly ill, causing Kion, his Lion Guard, and Makini leave for the Tree of Life to find a cure. This leaves the Pride Lands open for Zira and the Outlanders to attack later on. Nuka, sadly, does not see Naba again for years after this. But they do reunite eventually, with both parties being overjoyed and relieved to see the other still alive.

Base:
Base (c)
Background:
Background (c) and Disney
TLK and TLG (c) Disney

Description

"C'mon, c'mon!" Nuka growled, pacing back and forth. "Where is he?"

Nuka looked up at the sky. The sun was getting higher and higher. Before long, he'd have to go back to the Out Lands, and Naba was nowhere to be seen. He and Naba had struck up an unusual friendship after Nuka had saved his life some years ago and had been meeting here in the Back Lands once a week in the mornings when they could, using an old oxpecker named Ujumbe that Naba had befriended as a means of communication. They hadn't been able to meet these last couple of weeks because Zira was preparing everyone for Kiara's solo hunt, getting everyone (but especially her cubs) ready to put her plan into motion to get Kovu into the Pride Lands. But Nuka was able to come today. He'd had even told Ujumbe to let Naba know he was free, and Ujumbe hadn't yet returned to tell Nuka that Naba wouldn't be able to make it. So where the hell was he!?

Maybe something happened to him, Nuka thought. The last time we met, he didn't look so good. But he insisted that he was fine. He has to be fine, right? We would've heard by now if he just up and died in his sleep, right? Nuka paused in his pacing as a feeling of sudden dread filled him. Unless something happened on the way here. What if that idiot collapsed somewhere in the Pride Lands? What if he's hurt or sick, lying on the ground out there all alone and vulnerable? I... I should go look for him. He might need help! Or maybe not... Simba or Naba's bratty brother Kion and his Lion Guard are probably patrolling the borders this time of day. If either of them saw me, they'd flay me alive! But... I can't just sit here and do nothing either!

Nuka looked towards the Pride Lands with uncertainty in his eyes.

I have to at least try. I have to make sure Naba's alive and not lying dead in a ditch somewhere. He took a step forward, then back, then forwards again, and then back again. C'mon, Nuka! Lion up! Stop being a mouse! The reddish-brown lion slaps his cheeks with his forepaws, trying to urge himself forwards. Go find Naba! If he's in trouble, then at least Simba won't try to kill you if you save him! Probably...

Before he could lose his nerve, Nuka bolted towards the border, running until he nearly crossed over into the Pride Lands. However, he had to skid to a stop when an old oxpecker suddenly swooped down and flew into his face.

"Whoa there, sonny! Just where do you think you're going? You got a death wish or something all of a sudden?" the oxpecker quipped.

"Ujumbe! It's you!" Nuka sighed in relief.

"Yeah, yeah, it's me. Honestly, what's wrong with ya whippersnappers these days? Runnin' headlong into enemy territory like that..."

"I wouldn't have tried that if Naba were here," Nuka grumbled. "I assume that's why you're here, to tell me where Princey is?"

"Yup. 'fraid the Prince won't be showin' up here for a while. Maybe not ever again." Ujumbe says, perching on a tree branch above the young lion.

Nuka's blood ran cold. "What do you mean, old man?" He asked slowly, afraid of the answer. "He's... he's okay, right?"

Did he finally get tired of me? Or maybe he's somehow found out about Mother's plan? No... no that can't be it. Something's wrong. He must be sick again. That has to be it. And it must be bad this time.

Ujumbe looked reluctant, as if he didn't want to say what he meant. But whatever inner turmoil he'd had about telling Nuka seemed to pass as the little bird fluffed up his feathers against a gust of wind and looked straight into Nuka's eyes.

"Look, sonny, I'm gonna be blunt with ya. Prince Naba is sick. Really sick. Like he's never been before. This is worse. Like his older sister before she passed." Ujumbe grunted. "The King has sent Prince Kion and his Lion Guard to the Tree of Life to see if they can find a cure for him, but who knows how long that'll take. Prince Naba might be dead by the time they get back."

Nuka's heart dropped to his paw pads. "So...that's it? Naba's going to die? Just like that? Can't those stupid monkeys do anything to help him?!"

Ujumbe looked at Nuka with pity in his beady eyes.

"Ol' Rafiki is doin' his best to keep the Prince alive until the Lion Guard return, but there's only so much he can do. He ain't a miracle worker. If the Great Spirit decides it's the good Prince's time, then it's his time." Softer, the old bird added, "All living things come to an end eventually, sonny. Some far earlier than we would like. But that's just how life is. I'm sorry about your friend. He's my friend too, ya know? Wouldn't be here talkin' to ya if he weren't. Just thought you should know what's goin' on, so you can prepare for the worst."

With that, the oxpecker took to the skies, heading back to the Pride Lands and leaving Nuka alone with his thoughts.

The sun rose to its zenith, then began to dip below the horizon. Nuka should have been home long ago, and yet he can't find it in him to move. He felt as if he'd frozen from within. His best and only friend was dying, and he couldn't even go say goodbye. What was he supposed to do now?

"Hey, idiot! What're you doing out here?" The grass next to him rustled, and his sister, Nyingi, stepped out. "You've been gone for hours now! Mother's furious!"

Nuka turned to look at Nyingi, and his face must've said it all because the next thing he knew, he was being pulled into a hug. That was all it took for the young lion to start crying into his sister's shoulder. "Oh, Nuka. Don't cry. Did that dumb Prince stand you up or something?" Nyingi asked after a bit, rubbing his back soothingly.

Nuka startled at this. "You know about Naba?" he asked, looking at his sister with puffy red eyes.

"Yeah, I know about him. You haven't exactly been subtle about sneaking off to meet him, brother." Nyingi chuckled. "Only reason Mother doesn't know is because she barely ever remembers you exist unless she needs you for something. So, what's going on with him?"

"N-Naba... he's ill. Like, really, really ill. He might die and... a-and I can't even say goodbye!" Nuka sobbed. "I-I don't even kn-know why I care about h-his stupid face. I shouldn't. He's Simba's son! I shouldn't c-care if he lives or dies. But I do, a-and I don't even know if he knows I care about him."

Nyingi sighed, looking at her brother with pity in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Nuka. I wish I knew what to say to make this better, but I don't. But to be honest, this is probably for the best."

"W-What do you mean?" Nuka whimpered. "How can this possibly be for the best?"

"Well... he's Simba's son, like you said. Mother would never let him live once we take back the Pride Lands. So, it's probably better that he's going to die now from some illness rather than at Mother's or Kovu's claws. At least then, you won't have to see it."

Nuka hadn't thought of that before, and honestly, he should have. The thought of his mother or Kovu killing poor, defenseless Naba made him sick to his stomach. "I... Yeah, you're... you're probably right."

"Of course I am." Nyingi smiled. "Now let's hurry up and go home. Mother will have our heads for being gone so long. We're supposed to be doing more training right now." Nyingi stood and made her way towards the Out Lands, glancing back to make sure Nuka was following. Slowly, Nuka pushed himself to his paws, taking one last look towards the Pride Lands before following after his sister.

~*~*~*~*~*~

EDIT: Thank you for taking time out of your day to go through this and edit this. Now it doesn't look as much like a mess.

NOTES: This story takes place about two weeks or so before Kiara's first hunt. This is when Naba becomes deathly ill, causing Kion, his Lion Guard, and Makini leave for the Tree of Life to find a cure. This leaves the Pride Lands open for Zira and the Outlanders to attack later on. Nuka, sadly, does not see Naba again for years after this. But they do reunite eventually, with both parties being overjoyed and relieved to see the other still alive.

Base:
Base (c)
Background:
Background (c) and Disney
TLK and TLG (c) Disney