Nebula

TRIGGER WARNING: OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN (OR IN THIS CASE, LIONESSES).

I would strongly recommend reading Ent's biography first, and then reading Nebula's.

Ent was out on one of his usual territory patrols. It was a fine morning, so fine in fact, that Ent decided he would go on a stroll after patrolling. He returned to his pride and placed his sister Galadriel in charge before setting off. Ent didn't recall his jungle home looking so beautiful before. Little did he know though, that he would soon set his amber gaze on something- no, someONE- even more breathtaking. As he reached the edge of the jungle and looked out onto the savannah, he spotted a lioness, who seemed to be on a walk as well. Ent's jaw dropped, but he quickly regained his composure and started to approach the lioness cautiously. She had found some shade under a nearby tree and layed down, not yet noticing the young male walking towards her. As Ent got closer, however, she turned her head toward the sound of his pawsteps and startled at his presence. He didn't have time to get a sentence out before she hissed at him, backing away a few steps. "Who are you!? What do you want!?" she growled, not taking her eyes off him for even a second. Ent, confused by her behavior, cleared his throat once more. "My name is Ent. I'm the king of a nearby pride in the jungle. I mean you no harm, I promise. I just want to know your name." He layed down, to show he really wasn't a threat. The lioness relaxed a little, but refused to let her guard down. "My name is Nebula. It's.. nice to meet you, I guess." Nebula couldn't help admitting to herself that this stranger she had met was a bit handsome. She shook the thought from her head as Ent spoke again. "Nebula.. that's a pretty name! It sounds so.. celestial." Nebula smiled a little at this compliment. She hadn't ever received one like it before. "Thanks.. your name is nice too. It's very.. um.. naturey?" She gave Ent an awkward smile, and he smiled back at her, appreciating the compliment more than she would ever know.

The two began to converse, and before they knew it, the sky had grown dark. They bid each other goodnight, agreeing to meet in the same spot the next day. Ent returned to his territory to find that the whole pride was asleep except for Galadriel, who looked at him with a scowl of disapproval on her face. "Ent, where have you been!? When you said you were going on a walk, I wasn't expecting you to be gone the rest of the day!" She came up to him and checked his body for wounds, but found none. Ent looked at his sister, a guilty and sorrowful expression on his face, and Galadriel sighed. "I can't ever stay mad at you, can I?" she said with a little laugh. "But seriously, I want to know where you've been. We can chat about it over some zebra."

Galadriel listened attentively as her brother described to her the lioness he had met, and the things they had talked about. Ent had a faraway, dreamy look in his eyes, and Galadriel smiled. "Well, it looks like someone's in loooooooove!" She began to giggle as her brother looked at her, shocked. "How did you know???" he asked. "Oh Ent, a sister ALWAYS knows." she responded. The siblings talked a bit more, and Galadriel agreed to continue watching over the pride while Ent went out to talk to Nebula, as long as he returned by dusk.

Time passed, and at first Nebula refused to acknowledge any feelings she might have for Ent. But the more she talked with him, the more she fell in love. Ent made it rather obvious that he felt the same way, as he would bring her flowers and other gifts each time they met up. They sat down together one day, in their usual spot under the tree, and Nebula spoke. "You know, Ent, you're not like any other lion I've met before. You're actually.. nice." She smiled at him. Ent smiled back. "I'm glad you see me that way!" He paused, looking down at his paws before looking back at Nebula. "You know, there's something I've been wanting to tell you.. let me just grab something." Nebula watched as Ent reached into his pouch. He turned his head toward her. "Close your eyes," he said. She closed them. Ent grabbed two items out of his pouch, and she heard as he dropped them gently at her feet. "Alright, you can open your eyes," he said. She opened them, looked down, and gasped. At her feet were two beautifully crafted blue and gold bracelets. "Oh my.. Ent, where did you-" but before she could finish her question, Ent kneeled down before her (as best as a lion can kneel), looked into her eyes, and asked her a question that she never imagined any lion would ever ask her. "Nebula.. will you accept these bracelets as a token of my loyalty, and be my mate?" Nebula looked back down at the bracelets as Ent anxiously awaited her answer. She began to tear up as she smiled and looked back at him. "Yes, yes of course I will!" Ent breathed a sigh of relief, and the two embraced each other. Ent assisted her in putting on the bracelets, and it was just then that Nebula remembered something. She stepped back and looked at Ent with a serious expression on her face. "Ent.. the king of my pride.. I'm not sure he'll let me go too easily." Nebula had told Ent a little about the king of her pride before, a lion named Colton, and he sounded like a rather questionable individual. Ent considered her words, and decided that she should lead him to her pride so he could talk with Colton. Nebula agreed, and the two of them walked together towards Colton's territory out on the savannah.

Once they arrived, Nebula quickly introduced Ent and Colton to each other, and Ent explained their situation. Colton considered what he had been told. "So, my lioness has taken your paw in marriage, and you wish to take her to live in your pride?" he asked. "That is correct," Ent answered. Colton nodded slowly, again considering. He then raised his head and spoke. "Well, alright, you can have her, but she's not free. You're going to have to give me some beetles." His request shocked and confused Ent. "Excuse me? Since when were lionesses objects?" he asked Colton, who gave a smug smile before answering. "Fellow king, lionesses are good for producing cubs and hunting prey, but they do not exactly have any other purpose, don't you agree?" Why, the audacity! Ent couldn't believe what he was hearing. He could sense that Nebula was angry at Colton's words as well. He felt sorry that she had to live in this lion's pride for so long, being treated as if she were an item. Disgusted, Ent grabbed some beetles out of his pouch and threw them at Colton's feet. "Here, have your beetles! But I do not approve of your sick opinion on lionesses, not in the slightest!" Colton scoffed. "Whatever, just take her and get out of here." And that's what he did. Ent and Nebula walked side-by-side to Ent's territory in the jungle, and his pride was delighted to welcome Nebula, especially Galadriel.

Ent and Nebula have been married for some time now, and they have six daughters and one son, who is to become the next king. However, Nebula's time is drawing nearer and nearer. She and Ent look back on old times and fond memories, cherishing every moment they have left together. Thank you for reading, and have a nice day ^^