As miserable as she was personally, Nala was a good cub at heart, and she didn't want to disappoint her parents. So she accepted the pitiful portions they gave her, and after a while, she learned to ignore her ever-grumbly belly. What she didn't do, though, was lose any weight. Her hanging stomach was surprisingly resilient, and though it dissipated some as she grew taller, she never actually lost it. Her mother and father trusted her, though, so they didn't accuse her of sneaking food on the side.

One morning, weeks after her diet had begun, Nala woke up to see Sarafina standing over her.

"What is it, mom?" she groaned. "I just had a bath yesterday!" But Sarafina's expression didn't say I'm going to pin you down and bathe you. The full-grown lioness looked concerned.

"You really hate dieting, don't you?"

"...Yeah," Nala admitted after a moment. She winced, expecting her mom to lecture her about knowing what was good for her.

"And you haven't lost that weight..." Sarafina said. "Well, your father and I talked it over last night, and since it looks like your stomach is here to stay, we don't see any point in trying to control your diet."

"You mean...?" Nala, formerly groggy, awoke instantly, hope singing in her chest.

"Yes, Nala. You may eat whatever you'd like."