KHD2 36
I don't own Digimon or Kingdom Hearts
The Cowardly King
Daisuke, Sora, Donald, Veemon and Goofy who were back in their Pride Land forms were walking or in Donald's case flying through the Pride Lands which looked the same as it did the last time they were there. Donald then quacked as he and the others saw Banzai, Ed and Shenzi running towards them. "Oh, it's you guys. Man we were hoping for a meal," Shenzi said.
"Hiya," Daisuke greeted.
"Don't gimme any of the "hiya" stuff! Thanks to you clowns, we're back to scavenging scraps for a living," Banzai said as Ed chuckled dumbly with his tongue sticking out.
"Come on, it's not that bad. I enjoyed that week-dead elephant we had yesterday," Shenzi said as she turned and began to walk off.
"How's Simba?" Daisuke asked making Banzai and Shenzi laugh.
"We gotta laugh every time we hear that dude's name," Banzai said chuckling.
"Say it again!" Shenzi told him.
"Simba," Banzai replied and Shenzi laughed walking over to him and Ed.
"One more time," she said.
"Simba," Banzai said and Ed and Shenzi began to laugh. "Simba!" Banzai shouted one last time before he collapsed laughing hysterically.
"That's enough!" Daisuke growled making the hyenas stop laughing.
"Go on then, see for yourself. Simba is one wishy-washy king," Shenzi said walking off with the other two hyenas.
"Yeah, I beet about now, even some of those high and mighty lionesses were wishing they'd gotten themselves a different king," Banzai said.
"Hyenas, I hate hyenas," Veemon said.
"Gawrsh, what do you think could have happened?" Goofy asked.
"Don't know. Let's go find out," Sora said as he and the others ran off towards Pride Rock. When they arrived there, several wisps of darkness flew around before they formed into Scar in front of the group.
"Scar?" Daisuke asked as she and Sora ran up to him but he vanished before they could touch him.
"A ghost?" Donald asked.
"We better find Simba and tell him about this," Veemon said.
"Wonder if he is up there," Goofy said looking at Pride Rock, the others nodded and headed up and saw a lioness standing there.
"Have you come to see Simba?" she asked them.
"Yeah, we saw Scar's ghost," Sora answered.
"An omen like that could only be foretelling the end of our pride. Yet, King Simba won't do a thing. I guess just being the son of the great King Mufasa doesn't necessarily mean he's ready to rule the kingdom himself," she said.
"Trust me, Simba will think of something," Sora told her and Daisuke nodded agreeing with him.
"The time for thinking is past. We need him to take action—as his father would have done, he ruled with courage and pride. I remember it like it was yesterday…The Might Mufasa," the lioness said.
"Simba will do all that, too. You'll see!" Sora told her.
"I'm not so sure," the lioness said walking off.
"Wait here, we're going to go talk to Simba," Sora said as he and the others walking into the cave to find Simba lying on the ground, he looked at them and lifted his head.
"You came back," he said with a smile.
"Are you okay?" Donald asked him.
"You don't look so good," Veemon said.
"Hey, Simba. Why don't we team up and do something about that Scar ghost?" Daisuke asked him. "I mean everyone seems worried about it. So, now is your big chance to show them all what you're really made of!" Daisuke exclaimed trying to cheer Simba up but he snarled.
"That's none of your business!" he roared making Daisuke jump back in shock. "Sorry…" Simba apologised.
"It's okay…" Daisuke replied.
"I just wish I knew what my father would do," Simba told the group.
"But he's not here anymore Simba. It's all up to you now. And that mean the important thing is what you're gonna do being the king. Not what your father would have done," Goofy told him.
"So you're saying….it's all up to me…" Simba said.
"See, there you go," Sora told him.
"Exactly," two voices said and Timon and Pumbaa walked up. "We know your dad was a great king, and all. But now it's your turn." Timon said walking up to Simba. "Remember what I taught ya, you gotta put the past behind you. It's time to go out there and show everybody things are gonna be just fine!"
"Yeah, you can do it," Sora told Simba.
"You gotta live for today," Timon told Simba.
"And find your own path!" Pumbaa added.
"Live for today…And find my own path…not my father's…" Simba said.
"That's it," Daisuke said.
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Simba." Nala said as she walked over to the group and stood beside Simba.
"Nala," Veemon greeted.
"Promise me you'll help Simba anyway you can," Nala said.
"As long as Sora and Daisuke handle the dangerous parts," Timon said and Daisuke and Sora both nodded.
"I'm counting on you, Simba… and so is our baby," Nala told Simba as she nuzzled him.
"Great! Now we're going to have to babysit!" Timon said making everyone in the cave laugh.
"We should go and see Rafiki first, maybe he'll be able to tell us what to do about that ghost," Simba said making Daisuke, Sora and the others nod agreeing with him.
"Well, let's go and find him," Daisuke said as she ran out of the cave followed by the others towards the Stone Hollow where Rafiki lived.
"Oh ho ho! The king—he is ready to be king?" Rafiki asked as he looked at the group.
"I think so," Simba answered.
"Can you tell us about Scar's ghost?" Sora asked Rafiki.
"Oh, yes….the ghost," Rafiki said growing serious. "A being with no body. It is created when the evil heart of Scar meets the hesitating heart of Simba,"
"Hesitating?" Simba asked.
"Ohhhh….You thought you were not?" Rafiki asked him chuckling.
"Gawrsh, that ghost sounds just like a Heartless," Goofy said.
"Hmm, I don't know," Daisuke replied before Rafiki whacked her on the head with his staff. "Ow! What was that for!?" she asked him.
"You're right. You don't know. But you do know it is upsetting. And it is upsetting the hearts of everybody in the Pride Lands. You may not know what it is, but it still IS. This world, it is full of many such things. And these things, a king must face. It is the test that has been set for you, Simba." Rafiki told Simba.
"That's all? Come on. You have to tell us more about the ghost…" Simba said.
"No, not today! But the hyenas in the elephant graveyard may know more," Rafiki told the group. "Does not matter, thought. There is little the Simba of late can do,"
"Aw, don't say that! Not when he's ready to try!" Sora exclaimed.
"In his head, perhaps…but what about his heart?" Rafiki asked.
"Forget it, Sora. Let's head to the elephant graveyard," Simba said and Sora nodded and the group left Rafiki's home and headed to the elephant graveyard. And when they arrived they saw Banzai, Shenzi and Ed standing there.
"Hey you!" Veemon shouted at them.
"Aw, c'mon, can't you guys just leave us alone?" Banzai asked them.
"Do you three know anything about Scar's ghost?" Simba asked.
"Huh? Scar's ghost?" Shenzi asked and Ed chuckled.
"Maybe," Banzai said as he ran, Shenzi and Ed turned and ran.
"You do know. Get back here!" Daisuke shouted at them but the hyenas laughed.
"After them!" Sora shouted as he took off after Banzai and Veemon followed him, Donald and Goofy chased after Ed while Daisuke and Simba ran after Shenzi.
"Catch me if you can suckers!" Banzai shouted at Sora and Veemon as he turned a corner and Sora and Veemon were right behind him.
"Not so fast!" Sora shouted as he jumped and tackled Banzai and both rolled across the ground, Banzai kicked Sora off and he rolled across the ground.
"V-Head-butt!" Veemon shouted as he rammed his head into Banzai knocking him to the ground and he groaned.
"Ow….that hurt," he groaned.
"That was the idea," Veemon told him. "Sora, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'll live," Sora groaned as he got back up to his feet. Meanwhile Ed was running away from Donald who was flying after him and Ed laughed stupidly and looked back at Ed and wagged his tongue around at Donald who quacked angrily.
"Incoming!" Goofy shouted as he slid in his shell towards Ed and crashed into him knocking him over.
"Strike!" Donald quacked and he and Goofy laughed. Meanwhile Daisuke and Simba chased Shenzi and Daisuke veered off to the side while Simba kept chasing her and Shenzi laughed.
"You'll never catch me," she taunted Simba before Daisuke tackled her from the side and they rolled across the side and Daisuke pinned Shenzi down.
"What was that?" she asked the hyena with a smirk. "Now tell us what you know about Scar's ghost,"
"Sorry, but I don't know nothing," Shenzi replied before Daisuke growled at her and bared her teeth at her. "Ooh, wait! It's coming back to me! That's the one that only hangs out around scaredy cats,"
"Enough!" Simba shouted as Scar's ghost appeared.
"And there it is. There must be a scaredy cat around here somewhere!" Shenzi said with a smirk.
"Simba! Do something!" Daisuke shouted at him but he just stared at Scar's ghost.
"How does it feel to be the king, hmm? Why, you must be a truly inspiring ruler by now," the ghost said making Simba back up. "After all, you ARE the son of the great Mufasa," Scar said making Simba run away.
"Simba, where are you going!?" Daisuke asked him.
"Ah, Simba…running away as always," Scar said before he vanished in a cloud of smoke and Shenzi cackled as she kicked Daisuke off her and ran off as Veemon, Sora, Goofy and Donald approached her.
"Daisuke! Are you alright?" Sora asked her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But Simba ran off once Scar's ghost showed up," she answered.
"Gawrsh, Rafiki was right," Goofy said.
"You mean, Simba is still unsure?" Sora asked.
"Looks like it," Veemon answered.
"Do ya think there is some way we can help?" Goofy asked.
"Hmm…We should start by talking to Simba some more," Sora answered.
"Let's head back to the Pride Lands then," Daisuke said as she turned and walked off and the others followed her back to the Pride Lands, and soon they arrived at Pride Rock to find Nala and Rafiki waiting for them.
"Where's Simba?" Nala asked them.
"We, uh…" Sora said before Rafiki chuckled.
"Oh ho ho! He ran away! I knew it would not be easy for him," he said. "To face his fears, he must go somewhere where the only thing to think of is what to do, not what others think of him."
"Why didn't you just say so?" Sora asked him.
"But where's Simba now?" Donald asked.
"Hey, I know! He's at the oasis. It's our favourite hangout," Timon said as he and Pumbaa ran up.
"Got it! Let's check it out then," Daisuke said.
"I'll lead the way," Pumbaa said.
"Oh no you won't. Simba will smell you coming from a mile away. And if he's smart he'll run for the hills!" Timon told his friend.
"Oh…right," Pumbaa replied.
"Well, onwards," Daisuke said as she took off with her friends behind her towards the Oasis.
"You think they'll be able to convince Simba to come back?" Timon asked.
"Simba has something that Mufasa doesn't have. He needs to figure that out for himself. I'll be waiting for you Simba," Nala said to herself watching Daisuke and her friends head off to the Oasis. Meanwhile already at the Oasis, Simba was lying down on the grass before he looked up at the sky.
"Father," he said before he heard something and he jumped to his feet and looked behind to see Scar's ghost appear.
"It seems even your daddy have abandoned you Simba, how sad," the ghost mocked him and Simba growled at the ghost who walked towards him and Simba began to back up until he was on a ledge.
"Simba!" Daisuke shouted as she and the others ran up and Scar's ghost vanished.
"It's no use. I'll never be the king my father was," Simba said hanging his head sadly.
"But Simba…That's not what you're supposed to be," Sora told him. "You can't be Mufasa, you can only be you,"
"Yeah, everybody believes in you as a king. They just want to see what you'll do," Daisuke told him. "And if anyone's saying they liked your father better, it's because you haven't done much yet. That's all," she said.
"I know that," Simba said.
"Then stop sitting around moping and DO something!" Daisuke shouted.
"I can't!" Simba shouted back.
"Fine," Daisuke replied.
"Let's go Daisuke," Veemon said.
"Yeah. Why stick around if he's not even gonna try?" Daisuke asked as she and Veemon walked off followed by the others except Goofy. "Goody, come on," Daisuke said and Goofy followed him and Scar's ghost appeared in front of Simba again.
"The hesitant king will one day lose all his friends," Sora said as he hid behind some bushes with the others.
"King Simba the doubtful…" Donald added.
"Worried by a silly old ghost," Goofy said.
"Ooh, Simba the do-nothing king…" Daisuke said with a smirk.
"No!" Simba roared.
"Try and stop me," Veemon taunted and Simba jumped at the ghost and it vanished and Simba looked around confused as Daisuke and the others ran up.
"You did it. The ghost is gone," Sora said.
"We knew you could do it," Donald told him.
"Horary for Simba," Goofy cheered.
"You know, I'm really lucky to have friends who will stand by me…and help me see clearly. My father…wasn't so fortunate," Simba said.
"There you go again," Sora groaned.
"I mean…Everyone here, and in the Pride Lands wants me to succeed. Sora, Daisuke, Donald, Veemon and Goofy. Pumbaa, Timon, Rafiki…Nala. You all want what's best for me. But my father always had Scar lurking behind his back, trying to cut him down. I've got to make the most of my blessings, and rebuild this kingdom." Simba said as he turned and looked at the jungle around him.
"Are you gonna say it, or do it?" Sora asked him.
"Wait and see," Simba answered.
"Simba!" Timon shouted running out of the forest. "Simba! Come quick, there's like a bazillion ghosts of Scar haunting the Pride Lands, everyone but Nala hightailed it out of there. Now she needs help!" Timon shouted and Simba took off running back to the Pride Lands. "Our little Simba…all grown up and finding his place in the world…" he said.
"Nice try, you're coming too," Daisuke said picking Timon up and putting him on her back before she ran off with the others.
"Slow down!" Timon screamed holding onto Daisuke's fur for dear life as they headed back to Pride Rock and arrived to find Nala and Pumbaa on the edge with the ghost of Scar standing there.
"We're here!" Sora shouted running up.
"Where's Simba?" Nala asked and Sora, Daisuke, Veemon, Donald and Goofy bowed as Simba walked past and Nala smiled.
"I've come back Nala," he said as the ghost of Scar walked towards Simba. "Get out!" Simba demanded and the ghost vanished.
"Way to go Simba," Sora said as Simba walked up to Nala and nuzzled her affectionately before they all saw black and white clouds swirling around before flying down below.
"Are you with me?" Simba asked Sora and the others.
"Now and forever your majesty," Daisuke answered bowing as did the others.
"It's heading for the savannah," Pumbaa said.
"Then come on," Simba said running off and the others followed to see the black and white clouds forming into a giant four legged heartless with had large tusks and a statue with arms and two heads on its back.
"Whoa, that's one big heartless," Daisuke said.
"Come on, we need to take it down!" Sora shouted.
"Right, come on," Donald quacked as he flew off towards the Heartless and the other's followed and the Heartless roared and tried to stomp on the group but Daisuke jumped and stabbed it's foot with her Keyblade before she spun around and landed on its leg and she climbed up and ended on its back and she ran towards the statue and she jumped and swung her Keyblade with her tail at the statue hitting it before it began to roll around and fire laser blasts at Daisuke who jumped out of the way, Sora then joined Daisuke on the monster's back and Simba managed to follow and they joined in the attack and managed to knock the statue off the heartless and it shattered into dozens of pieces and the heartless roared and it collapsed to the ground and the group saw a black heart fly into the air before it vanished.
Later on Simba and Nala were standing overlooking the Pride Lands while Daisuke, Sora, Timon, Pumbaa, Donald, Veemon and Goofy and Rafiki watched.
"Simba's looking alright now," Daisuke said.
"Ha, the king has returned. The Pride Lands will not forget King Simba's courage. Or the courage of those who fought beside him," Rafiki said as Simba and Nala walked over to them.
"Do you think your quest will ever be over?" Simba asked Daisuke and Sora.
"I don't know. But I think, as long as the Keyblade stays with me…I'll have to keep fighting," Sora said and Daisuke nodded.
"Ahh…The Struggle never ends. That is the great Circle of Life," Rafiki said.
"Never ever?" Daisuke groaned before Rafiki whacked her on the head again.
"The secret to victory…is a strong heart," Rafiki said pointing to the sky before he began to laugh madly. "Go on, get out! Yes, yes! It is time! Your fight continues…" he said holding his staff in the air.
"Until we meet again, Your Majesty," Sora said to Simba.
"I hope that's soon," he replied.
"It will be, so long," Sora said.
"Later, but first…" Daisuke said as she grabbed Rafiki's staff and whacked him on the head knocking the monkey to the ground. "Now you know what it's like to be hit with that thing!" Daisuke shouted before she ran off after the others. "Wait for me guys," she called and Rafiki held his head and groaned before he smiled and walked to his home and he painted a picture of Sora, Daisuke, Goofy, Veemon and Donald under the painting of Simba and he smiled to himself.
The end of the chapter
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