Nala's Death - A "what if" TLK AU

What if Simba didn't help Nala by attacking Shenzi? What if Nala didn't come out of this alive? Story: The sun has set and the stars have shown. Everything is quiet as it should be. Until a heartbreaking song can be heard coming from the Priderock. A chant of lionesses and laments of Prideland's shaman - Rafiki can be heard throughout the whole Pridelands, disrupting the usual silent night. Nala - a very important member of the pride, Simba's best friend and future queen has been found dead in the Elephant Graveyard. Simba was found near her, tired, terrified and crying. He has disobeyed his father's wishes. Rafiki is performing the usual funeral ceremonials. The pride is mourning. But this time everyone seems sadder. Mufasa - not being able to properly collect his thoughts - has surrounded himself with silence and let his brother talk during the ceremony. Sometime after the ceremony Simba is still standing over his dearest friend's body. His uncle comes up to him, hugs him like he would like to comfort poor cub, but then confronts Simba with the awful truth. "I'd hate to be resposible for the death of a family member...", he says. "Wouldn't you agree, Simba?". The prince realises how it's all his fault and engulfed by anxiety and trauma he starts to recall all the awful events of this day he so desperatly wishes to be just nightmares and not reality. He could have saved her. He could have. But he didn't. He ran away and didn't even look back. "It was an accident!", the cub meows with desperation. "I didn't mean for it to happen!". "But Nala is dead", reiterates Scar. "And if it weren't for you she'd still be alive..." Filled with sorrow, Simba turns to his father for support. Mufasa, lost in thought up until that point seems to be surprised by his son's presence. "She's never coming back... is she?", he hears his son say and he feels his heart shatter. He can not respond to that. He simply doesn't know how. Simba realises not even his father welcomes his presence. No one can change his mistakes nor take responsibility for his own actions. Overwhelmed by guilt and dread, he decides to run away in the dead of night, exiling himself in his mind. ________________________________________________________________________ This is an AU - an alternate universe, meaning non of this is canon and is all a big "what if". Hope you liked it! Song: Brother Bear Soundtrack - Sitka's Death Footage: The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1/2 Resources:    • Resources