Commission from Percy-McMurphy

The cool breeze of morning brushed through Nala’s fur like a slow and silky brush. She’d always been an early riser, at least after Simba’s supposed death from the stampede. Someone just had to take the mantle of being that cub that was eager to get out and play. Even after she’d grown and matured, even after Simba had returned home to take his place as the rightful king of his homeland, she still never stopped getting up early. But now, it was her land too. Unsurprisingly, after how close they got after reuniting, Nala was immediately chosen to become queen to Simba, which she accepted without any delay.

That was three months ago. Now, she was already fulfilling one of her main duties as the queen. Providing a legacy for her kingdom. With a deep breath, Nala walked fully outside of the den she and the others slept in. She would have briskly trotted out into the grass any other time. But these days, the queen of Pride Rock had no reason to run. She was pregnant. Very pregnant. The Queen’s swollen belly swayed idly to and fro as she slowly strode up the slope of Pride Rock’s lookout point. Walking around at this point was slow and arduous. Nala simply felt fat, and what was worse, her back ached from the weight. It was a good ache to her, however, and she took the growth of her litter in stride, as slow and tiresome as those strides were getting, at least.

Out in the distance was the rising sun in all its bright glory, just as Nala stood out on the precipice of her kingdom in all of her rotund glory. She had no shame in the way she looked at the moment. If anything, she was proud of how much she’s grown with her future children. Nala could feel it within. The cubs did not move as one, and she was said to have grown bigger than two of the former queens before her when they were expecting their cubs. It could only mean that Nala was about to give her kingdom three new potential heirs. All that from one night of feeling the love. Nals really hadn’t intended things to go this way. To be pregnant so early in her rule as queen. It hardly mattered. What happened happened, and as the old saying went that she’d been harangued with since Simba returned, it was pointless to live in the past.

That’s why she came out of the den so early. To watch the daylight unfurl before her, to feel her future princes and/princesses jostle around, feeling the increasing warmth from outside as the sun’s light finally casted upon Nala. She closed her eyes so as not to damage her eyesight, and simply smiled, welcoming a new day with her soon-to-be-born cubs joining her all the way, making herself and her surroundings a sight to behold. She could feel the wind still swirling around her body, causing more activity from the cubs within her belly. Like there was someone, or multiple spirits in the air greeting all four of them. Nala wondered who this could be. Mufasa? Or perhaps all the close friends who were lost during Scar’s terrible reign, giving her and her cubs love and blessings from beyond her world. Whatever it was, she welcomed this feeling as long as it would last….

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I am VERY happy with how this one turned out. I’ve been familiar with Percy’s work on the “Anything to Win” fan comic series that was recently completed not too long ago. I’ve held that Percy is one of the best TLK artists out there, and to work with them is a great honor. They’ve captured Nala perfectly here, as she’s the Lion Queen, pregnant with her king’s cubs, and proud of it. I hope you all love this piece as much as I do.