Long time no see! My little tribute to Mufasa, since he is one of my favorite TLK characters. Deeper taking for his thoughts, after his death.
"Long live the king."
Those were the last words, which I heard before my death. Scar, my brother and my blood relative, killed me. I can only remember little pieces, like Simba's screaming and my own roar. Then came pain, and nothing more.
It took me some time to realize what had happened. I was able to stand up, but when I turned around, I saw my broken body which laid on the ground. My whiskers were torn, my mane was covered with blood. It surprised me how peaceful I looked, I could have been sleeping.
But seeing my body or remembering Scar's evil grin was nothing compared to what would happen next. Those words which I was going to hear, would burn my soul forever.
"Dad! Dad, come on! You gotta get up! Dad, we gotta go home! Help! Somebody! Anybody..."
There he was. Simba, my little son. Trying to wake me up, tears running down his eyes. My own eyes were full of tears as well. I wasn't able to hug Simba or warn him about his uncle. When Scar came and told him that my death was his fault, my heart broke into pieces. I saw the whole thing, how my evil brother gave Simba false sympathy and manipulated his mind. My poor cub.
Then, Simba started to run. I watched and wanted to run after him, but there was nothing I could do. I only watched horrified as those three hyenas chased my son away from The Pridelands. From home, from his destiny. From me.
Even if I was dead, I saw everything that happened to my beautiful home and to my loved ones. How Scar took over and my beloved Sarabi and the rest of the pride were forced to live under his sadistic control. Sometimes I sent my whispers down to them. I was full of misery and missed them more than I could ever tell.
Still, they weren't my greatest concern. It was my son. My Simba.
After he left from The Pridelands, I didn't stop watching him. I promised that I would always be there, and that was a thing I could never undo. I saw how he was near death in a desert, exhausted and lost. I wanted to bury him in my mane so bad, that my heart hurts. I felt huge guilt by leaving him behind and so brutally. My innocent child was forced to carry the sins of my brother, and somehow I knew it would only turn worse.
A warthog and a meerkat were answers to my prayers. Those two saved Simba's life and took him into their jungle paradise. I was happy that my son didn't die yet, he was so young and full of life. It gave me a little hope.
But then came troubles.
As time went on, I saw my son grow from a little cub into a teenager, and then into a full grown adult. I can't describe how surprised I was. He looked so much like me with a golden pelt and a big red mane. Eyes and that childish smile came from his mother. At first, I was happy, but then…
What horrified me, was that Simba was going to lose himself. He still blamed himself for my fate and covered his problems with a free and wild lifestyle. Hakuna Matata, like his friends, says. I didn't like that a bit. I didn't raise my son to forget his problems, or who he truly is.
When Nala found my son, I felt a huge peace. Finally, someone would make some sense to him. I watched as they fell in love. Those two little cubs, who once hated the idea of getting married. I couldn't help chuckling a bit for that memory.
But then…
"What has happened to you? You're not the Simba I remember."
That's right Nala, he isn't…
"You know, you're starting to sound like my father."
Like me? Was I like that? Oh…
"Listen, you think you can just show up and tell me how to live my life?! You don't even know what I've been through!"
Trust me Simba, I know. But this isn't the way…
"I would if you just tell me!"
"Forget it!"
Then my son ran away. This had gone way too far. I can hear his depressing words, as he screams at the sky. At me.
"You said you'd always be there for me!"
But I am Simba. If you just look harder…
"But you're not...and it's all my fault."
No. No, it's not! God, what I'm gonna do? I can't let this get any worse. I must do something, remind him who he is. Luckily, I have a friend who will help me. I just hope that my plan works…
"Look inside yourself Simba."
"Remember, who you are. You are my son and the one true king."
"Remember, who you are..."
As I appeared to him for the first time after my death, I was nervous. I saw him shaking and how he swore he hadn't forgotten me or himself. I knew that deep inside it was true, but I couldn't admit it. I wanted to make sure that he will remember. When I faded away and saw him running after me, I almost cried. But I couldn't do more. It was up to my son now, what he was going to do. He had to figure out the truth by himself so that he could fill his destiny.
Luckily he chose what I expected from him.
When the final battle at Pride Rock began, I watched every move what happened. How my brother finally admitted that he had killed me and how lionesses fought with hyenas. How Simba and Scar battled against each other. I was so proud of my son, even if I felt sadness for my brother, who wasn't able to escape his dark side.
"It is time."
Finally, the war was over. Simba had taken his rightful place as the king like he was always supposed to do. I saw how rain washed all the pain and misery away. I was part of their joy. I was the rain in their fur, and I was the wind which will blow life back to my home.
When Simba started to climb towards the top, I watched him with full of pride. My son, who I gave my life for. My little boy, who once tugged my ear and wanted to hear all about the ruling, was now king and would raise his own children to continue our family legacy. I smiled and whispered my greetings from the clouds.
"Remember."
I saw him looking up smiling, and then he roared.
And somehow, I knew he will.