Chapter 37: It's Not What's on the Outside That Counts, It's What's on the Inside
Alright everyone, seventeen chapters later, everyone finally comes home with some permanent guests and some unwanted souvenirs if you get what I'm saying.
In the Pride Lands, Mufasa II and Talia were at the border separating the Pride Lands and Outlands. They were staring off into the afternoon sun. It had been over a month since Simba and half the pride left, and the long rainy season had just begun. Mufasa and Talia were sick with worry for their family members. Worried about their brother, mother, father, grandparents, aunt and uncles, and friends.
The Lion Guard were standing a long, but not too long distance away from the two cubs.
"The poor guys." Beshte said with sympathy for the brother and sister.
"You know, I expect them at any time to just run off and go looking for them all, themselves." Fuli said.
"Yeah, I've noticed that the both of them sleep outside of Pride Rock's den at night. Hoping to be there when everyone comes back." Ono said.
The three friends suddenly heard a loud crunch. They looked to see Bunga eating a bunch of bugs rudely loud. Fuli began slapping Bunga on the back of his head.
"Will you stop eating!" Fuli said between slaps.
"Whoa, Fuli, easy." Beshte said, pulling Fuli away from Bunga by her scruff.
"Thanks, Big B." Bunga said, rubbing the back of his head before glaring at Fuli. "What was that for?"
"Your best friend has been missing for over a month along with the rest of the royal family, other than Mufasa and Talia. Both of them are sick with worry, and you're eating, very loudly!" Fuli snapped.
"I'm hungry." Bunga replied back, shrugging his shoulders.
"You're hungry!? Look at Mufasa and Talia. They're so worried for everyone that they haven't eaten for a week, and they're starting to look malnourished!" Fuli snapped.
"Oh, I haven't noticed." Bunga said.
Fuli facepawed herself. Griffin and Grey suddenly came up to the Lion Guard, with no adults accompanying them.
"Griffin, Grey, what are you doing here, with the possibility of the Scarred Pride being around it's dangerous to be alone. Especially if you're a cub." Beshte said.
"Sorry guys, we just wanted to see how Mufasa and Talia were doing, and if my sister and the others are back." Griffin said.
"No unfortunately." Ono sighed.
Griffin, Grey, and the Lion Guard watched both brother and sister for a while.
"I bet he's never going to come back." a voice said.
"Well good riddance I say." another voice said.
Griffin and the Lion Guard looked to see three lion cubs off playing near Mufasa and Talia.
"Mkaidi, Punda, and Mashimo." Grey hissed, seeing the three cubs.
Mkaidi, Punda, and Mashimo were three bullies. Mkaidi was the leader of the group, Punda and Mashimo were brothers, and Mkaidi's mindless lackies. The three liked to bully Taka because of resemblance to Scar. Mkaidi looked to Punda and Mashimo.
"Hay Mashimo, hang yourself off this rock like King Mufasa from King Simba's stories." Mkaidi said.
"You got it palio." Mashimo said.
Mashimo hung himself from the rock and pretended to be slipping off it.
"Oh, hey everybody, I'm Prince Mufasa II, hanging off a cliff like King Mufasa I was. You see I was chosen to be king instead of my brother Scar II even though he's older. Now he wants to kill me like Scar I did." Mashimo mocked.
"Yeah!" Punda said.
Mashimo looked up at Mkaidi.
"Scar, brother! Help Me!" Mashimo struggled to say as he laughed.
Mkaidi took a second to laugh before grabbing onto Mashimo's paws.
"Long live the king." Mkaidi said slow and evilly before throwing Mashimo off the rock like Scar did to Mufasa years ago.
Mashimo climbed back on the rock to his brother and their friend and the three of them all laughed. Griffin, Grey, and the Lion Guard glared over at the three cubs.
"What a bunch of a-holes." Griffin said.
"Griffin!" the Lion Guard scolded, looking at Griffin.
"I only said 'a' guys." Griffin said.
"They may deserve it, but that language is inappropriate for cub your age." Ono said.
Griffin caught a sight of Mufasa jumping off the rock and marching over to where Mkaidi, Punda and Mashimo were.
"Uh oh. It looks like Mufasa heard them." Griffin said.
"Yeah, now they're going to get it." Grey agreed.
The Lion Guard looked and saw the angry look on Mufasa's face as he walked over to the three bully cubs.
"He looks pretty peeved." Bunga observed.
"You think." Fuli said.
"It looks like we're about to have another Unastahili." Griffin said.
"A what?" Beshte asked.
Griffin looked up at the Lion Guard.
"You don't remember that time Mufasa beat up Unastahili for mocking Taka?" Griffin asked.
The Lion Guard shook their heads. Griffin began to explain the story.
"Do guys remember back when Taka was four months old, tripped over his own tail and nearly broke his front legs?" Griffin asked.
Everybody nodded in acknowledgment.
"Well, a lion from Malka's pride came and said that Malka's aunt had died and that he wanted Simba to come to her funeral. Well, me, Bluu, and our parents were part of the lions that went with him and the rest of the royal family. I was talking with Kiara and Kovu while Malka's grandson, Unastahili tormented Taka on looking exactly like Scar." Griffin explained
"Oh yeah, I remember now." Beshte said.
"Well, Kiara wanted to intervene, but Kovu, who still had some 'you have to take care of yourself' personality that the Outlanders had, said that Taka must learn to fight his own battles. But when Unastahili started to physically assault Taka and Mufasa saw it, he didn't take a breath. He acted on his first instinct. He grabbed Unastahili by the neck and knocked out half of his baby teeth. Of course, Kovu and Kiara were furious, but Taka was in danger and there was nothing else Mufasa needed to know." Griffin said.
The Lion Guard looked towards Mufasa. They were there at the funeral when that happened. They couldn't believe they had forgotten that moment.
"Mufasa doesn't hesitate when his siblings are tormented, he acts. Like Sarabi and Sarafina have told us, Mufasa has many qualities that Mufasa I had. His looks, some of his wisdom, a strong yet gentle voice, and even that fierce temper he could have, but… he doesn't have that restraint inside him that Mufasa I had." Griffin said, looking over at Mufasa worriedly.
"Then come on, we should stop him before he hurts them." Bunga said, beginning to run towards Mufasa.
When Mufasa got onto the rock that Mkaidi and his thugs were on, they were singing some song about how much they thought Taka would be a terrible king. Mufasa made a whistle as he walked up to them.
"Hay, Mkaidi." Mufasa said.
Mkaidi turned towards Mufasa.
"Well, if it isn't…" Mkaidi began to say before Mufasa punched him square int eh face.
Mkaidi clutched his nose, which was now bleeding.
"Your foul little fu…" Mkaidi began to curse before Mufasa threw another punch.
Punda and Mashimo came running at Mufasa from different sides. Mufasa jumped to the right and brought both his clenched paws down in the middle of Punda's back, sending him to the ground. Mufasa than put his clenched paw in front of Mashimo, making the bully cub run into it. Mkaidi wrapped his paws around Mufasa's neck from behind. Mufasa hit Mkaidi on the nose with the back of his head, causing him to let go of him.
Mufasa hit both sides of Mkaidi's head with his paws at the same time. Mashimo tried to lunge at Mufasa, but he jumped back, making Mashimo collide with Mkaidi. Punda was just getting up, but Mufasa shoulder charged him off the rock, causing the other cub to fall on his rump.
"Oww! I think he broke my butt bone?" Punda said.
Mufasa grabbed Mashimo's front legs and threw him down on top of his brother.
"Hay bro." Mashimo moaned.
"Man, that lousy Mufasa. I won't be able to sit for a week." Punda said.
"Don't worry, Mkaidi will take care of him." Mashimo said.
"Or Mufasa will break Mkaidi's butt as well." Punda said.
Mkaidi had just gotten up and swiped his claws at Mufasa. Mufasa dodged the attack and punched Mkaidi in the throat. Mkaidi croaked and clutched his throat. Mufasa went for another punch but Fuli had just jumped onto the rock and picked Mufasa up by his scruff.
"Fuli? Put me down!" Mufasa said.
Fuli ignored Mufasa and just jumped off the rock while Bunga and Beshte gathered up Mkaidi, Punda, and Mashimo. The two gave the three bullies a stern lecture before Beshte volunteered to escort them back to Pride Rock. When that was done, Bunga walked over to Fuli and Ono, who were also giving Mufasa a stern lecture while Griffin, Grey, and Talia stood by the sidelines.
"Mufasa, we know they made you angry, but picking a fight with them isn't going to solve anything." Ono lectured.
"But the three of them started it and they have no right to talk about my brother like that, or me, or any other members of my family." Mufasa argued.
"We know that Mufasa, but you might be able to win a fight with violence, but you can never win an argument with violence." Fuli said.
"If you want to convince someone that their wrong, try to use your mouth instead of you paws, claws, or teeth. Do you understand Mufasa?" Ono asked.
"Yes." Mufasa said in a voice that sounded forced.
"Alright, good." Fuli said.
The Lion Guard began to walk away to give Mufasa some space.
"But what about the traitorous way the three cubs were talking?" Bunga asked.
"They're only cubs Bunga, they'll grow out of it as they get older and more mature." Ono said.
"But what if they don't?" Bunga asked.
"Then we'll deal with it then." Fuli said.
Mufasa walked over to his sister with Grey and Griffin.
"You okay?" Talia asked her brother.
"No, of course I'm not alright. Everyone has been gone for over a month and those three dare to talk trash about Taka." Mufasa replied.
"Forget Mkaidi, Punda, and Mashimo, they're creeps, they have no life." Talia said.
Mufasa walked back over to the rock he and Talia were sitting on a little bit ago. As soon as Mufasa sat down his stomach roared. Mufasa groaned a little bit from his hunger pain. He and Talia hadn't eaten for a week and knew that they should, but they felt so worried for the rest of their family that they felt like they would throw up any food they ate. Mufasa felt someone pull him close.
Mufasa looked and saw that Griffin was the one who pulled him close. He smiled at her.
"You know, if Jamey has a daughter, she should name her Sarabi and I'll be a complete replica of my great grandfather." Mufasa joked.
Griffin laughed a little.
"Actually, I think heard Jamey earlier talking about what she would name her cub if it was a girl." Griffin said.
"Really, what is it?" Mufasa asked.
"Jua." Griffin answered.
"That means sun." Mufasa said.
"Maybe when she's born and your old enough, the both of you can get married." Griffin said.
"I'll be like a year older than her when she's born." Mufasa pointed out.
"Kovu is at most a year older than Kiara, and they got married still." Griffin stated.
"What if it's a boy?" Mufasa asked.
"Then maybe Talia can get betrothed to him." Griffin said.
"Yeah, that could happen." Talia said.
"But then how would we find out who me or Talia are going to get married to later in life whichever way it goes?" Mufasa asked.
Grey came up with his tongue stuck out.
"Come on guys, all three of us are like ten months old only. Isn't it a bit early to be thinking about that?" Grey asked.
Griffin gave a loud laugh.
"You're one to talk Mr. Hay Everybody, I Was Originally Betrothed To Talia But Now I Plan To Marry Griffin Later In Life Because I Grew More Romantically Attracted To Her Even Though I'm Still A Very Young Cub And I'm A Ladies Man." Griffin teased.
Mufasa and Talia laughed while Grey just glared and stuck his tongue out at Griffin.
"Maybe one of us could go for a dashing rogue." Talia suggested.
"Hay, I think I see something." Ono suddenly shouted out.
"What is it?" Talia asked.
Ono flew a closer to what he saw in the distance. When he got close enough, he looked with his keen eyesight and saw the Pride Lander lionesses coming towards the border.
"Wait, what's that entire group in the back?" Ono exclaimed.
Ono flew a little closer and saw what it was. What he saw shocked him so much that he almost stopped flapping his wings.
"Hapana, those are hyenas!" Ono exclaimed. "Oh, I should let everyone else know. We could be in danger."
After the death of Wraith and Simba making peace with Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, and the rest of their clan, they all rested up for a few nights for everyone to heal up, before heading back towards the Pride Lands. Ni's rebellion pride accompanied them along the way to make sure their allies and liberators got home safely. They all stopped at night and woke up right when the sun peeked over the horizon. They were all now in the jungle oasis and had decided to rest up there for a few more days before continuing on towards the Pride Lands.
"You know Pumbaa, we should pay my mom and uncle a visit while we're here. They missed out on all the crazy, thrilling, death defying excitement we've all been going through for the past few weeks." Timon suggested while they were in the oasis.
On their last day of rest in the jungle oasis, Simba found Ni laying on the edge of the highest waterfall. During most of their stay in the oasis, Ni had spent his time up here. Some either carried up here since he could use his back to legs or he dragged himself up here. Since he spent most of his days up here, someone usually brought him food and to give him some company. Nala had done most of that to catch up on lost time with her old friend.
Her throat was healing well, so she was able to talk a little more. Ni was currently watching the beautiful colors that the setting sun cast on the coming night sky. The purples and the blues of night, and the fading red and oranges of the setting sun, and the starlight and moon light coming out to wisha all of them a good night.
"Hay Ni, you doing okay up here?" Simba asked the old lion.
"Three years." Ni said without looking to Simba.
"Pardon?" Simba asked.
"Three years, for three years, almost four years, I've been part of the Scarred Pride. I only survived its cruelty and savage way because every night dreamt of this day. Of being free. Feeling the wind blow through my mane without it carrying the dying stench that the Scarred Lands had. To see beautiful vegetation like this jungle and not being forced to look at the black and greyness of the Scarred Lands. Watching a sun set or sunrise, not having to thinking 'will this be the last one I ever see?' I should be happy that I can finally see it all, but I'm not." Ni said sadly. "I feel strangely… empty inside." Ni said.
Simba understood what Ni meant. He walked over to Ni and stood beside him.
"I get it. The Scarred Pride is all you've known for years and you've wanted to be free. You've been a part of it for so long that you've gotten use to it, to be a resistance leader fighting for freedom, and have forgotten what freedom feels like. That's why you feel empty now." Simba said.
"Exactly." Ni agreed.
"Give it time Ni, you'll soon grow adjusted to being free again and it will be like nothing ever happened with the Scarred Pride." Simba said.
"Your wrong about it being like it never happened Simba." Ni said.
Simba looked to Ni and saw him looking at his legs. Simba knew what Ni meant. Ni was finally free from the Scarred Pride, but he had lost the use of his legs before he got that freedom. So, in a way, he was only partly free from the Scarred Pride.
"Oh, I get it." Simba said.
Simba turned back to the sunset for a few more minutes.
"What are you and your resistance pride going to do when you get us back to the Pride Lands?" Simba asked.
"Your pride is already large enough, perhaps too large. So, they're not going to stay. Some will probably go back to their homelands, or whatever is left of them. Some might stay together, some might decide to leave nomadic lives." Ni said.
"You say 'they,' what about you?" Simba asked.
Ni crawled over to a large pile of leaves and laid there.
"I'm not going to go anywhere else, but here. This oasis is my last stop." Ni said.
"You mean, you want to stay here in your condition by yourself. With your legs the way they are now, you couldn't defend yourself properly. You'd be as good a hyena bait." Simba said.
Ni laid his head between his front paws and closed his eyes.
"I know that, but you don't have to worry about me. I'm fully content with this jungle being the last place I ever see." Ni said.
Simba walked over to Ni and looked down at him.
"You may be an old lion, but you still got a good year or two left in you. So, you'd starve to death before you die naturally." Simba said.
Ni said nothing and just continued to lay there with his eyes closed. Simba looked at the old lion with pity. Ni was talking as if he'd given up on life after fulfilling his purpose on getting his resistance pride's freedom back and with the fact that his legs were now paralyzed.
"Why not come to the Pride Lands? Live out the rest of your life there." Simba offered.
This caused Ni to open his eyes and look up at Simba. Ni seemed to think about for a quick second before giving his answer.
"Thank you, Simba, but I can't except your offer. With my current condition, I'd just be dead weight to your pride, just another mouth to feed." Ni said.
"Nonsense. You helped us back in the Scarred Lands, you were a friend of Nala when she was still a cub, you're a Pride Lander and we take care of our own. You wouldn't be dead weight to us, everyone would welcome you to the Pride Lands as a war hero." Simba said.
Ni looked at Simba, seeming to reconsider Simba's offer.
"Very well, if your pride wants, I'll allow you to take me to the Pride Lands." Ni said.
"We'd all be honored to have you as a pride mate." Simba said.
Ni laid his head back down between his paws, closed his eyes, and smiled.
"You've got a good family Simba, you know. They've got everything a good family and good people need. Unlike Wraith or your uncle, they don't value supremacy, or power, or anything of the sort. If there were more people like them, people that valued their family and home above power, this world would be a happier place." Ni said.
Ni turned his head to take another look at the setting sun before looking back at Simba.
"Do you know how my family died, Simba?" Ni asked.
"A group Scarred Pride lions and hyenas. Kiara told me that" Simba said.
"No, I lied. It was just Wraith. No one in my entire family or pride got recruited into the Scarred Pride, I alone was, and Wraith killed them all on his own. He didn't even have any backup to call on." Ni said.
"Because of his Roar of the Elders?" Simba asked.
"No, he didn't use his roar on them once. He killed them because he was just a better fighter, who could take on all of them at once without his roar. The thing is though, I beat him in a fight." Ni said. "When I had him down, he mocked me and encouraged me to kill him."
"So, why didn't you?" Simba asked.
"He killed my entire family and pride. So I had every right to kill him, but I wasn't going to let myself fall to his level. I turned my back on him and he used his roar on me, knocking me out." Ni explained.
"You knew he had the roar?" Simba asked.
"No, I didn't know that he used some magical roar on me, I thought he just attacked me from behind and knocked me out. I only learned of the roar after Kion told me what it is. Anyway, after he used the roar to knock me out, he took me to the Scarred Lands to be a Scarred Prider. In my act of giving mercy to a lion that didn't deserve it, I failed." Ni explained.
Simba laid down in front of Ni.
"Yeah, I've failed to, I failed Kiara and Kion. When I thought Kopa was dead, I decided to keep him a complete secret from them. I kept them in the dark because I thought that they did not need to know. I didn't want them to share my, Nala, and everyone else's pain when they never even knew Kopa. I wanted to give them the perfect life that they deserved." Simba explained.
"I agree that deciding to keep him a complete secret them was not the best choice, but still, you were only doing what any father would want to do. Protect their children." Ni said.
"Yes, this was a secret they deserved to know about, I just wished that I had realized it sooner." Simba said.
"What matters is that they know now, and that your all together again." Ni said.
"I wonder that if I had told her sooner that everything that's happened, wouldn't have happened? Kiara's friendship and love for Kovu and bringing the Outlanders and Pride Landers together" Simba wondered out loud.
"Even the smallest decision can change the course of the future." Ni said.
"If I could change the past I would." Simba said.
"The past should be left alone, we learn from it. Even from the darkest memories of our past. Think of Taka and Bluu for example. They'll learn from this experience, because one day they'll remember. Remember everything that happened, the good, the bad, and how lucky they are that they made it home." Ni said.
Simba walked back over to the edge of the waterfall and looked down where the whole pride was staying with the hyena clans. He couldn't see where every single one of them were, but he knew that Taka was at the edge of a lake, looking down at his reflection.
"Yes, but I'm still worried about my grandson. Getting a scar like he has now was always his greatest fear. He may not act it, but he's insecure about his appearance when it comes to his brother." Simba said.
"Because his brother looks exactly like your father and Taka looks exactly like your uncle?" Ni asked.
"Yeah." Simba confirmed.
"Taka should know that it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside that counts." Ni said.
Simba looked at the old lion.
"You're a wise lion Ni. I'm glad to have met you, you know." Simba said.
"So am I and thank you for saving me and my pride. Is there a way that I may repay you?" Ni asked.
"You helped save us from the Scarred Pride to, so, we're even." Simba said.
"Very well, just continue to keep that first born son of yours safe." Ni said.
"I intend to, and I'm still dumfounded that Siri was Kopa this whole time. Back before Kovu, Taka, and Bluu were taken, Rafiki had a hunch that Siri was Kopa for some reason, but me, Kiara, and not even he himself believed it." Simba said.
"I'm glad you two found each other again, and you made a right choice in giving the hyenas a second chance for their daughter." Ni said.
"Thank you. Need help getting back down to everyone else?" Simba asked.
"No, let me sleep up here for our last night in the jungle." Ni said.
Simba nodded in respect for Ni's wish and began to walk back down towards where everyone else was.
The next day, Ni announced to his resistance pride that he was going to go live in the Pride Lands. Ni's resistance pride said farewell to their leader, saying that it was time for them all to part ways. Simba told Ni's resistance pride that they were all welcome to visit the Pride Lands anytime they wished, lions and hyenas both. They all said that hopefully they will come to visit someday. Everyone than began to go their separate ways.
When the Pride Landers, former Outlanders, and Shenzi's clan finally got to the borders of the Pride Lands, they saw Tojo with the entire pride and Lion Guard behind him. They were all staring directly at Shenzi and her clan. Tojo demanded to know what the Shenzi's hyena clan was doing with Simba and the others. Simba stopped everything before a fight could break out. Tojo stared at Simba in confusion.
"Simba, what's going on? Why are you defending all these hyenas and is that… Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed?" Tojo asked, spotting the three said hyenas.
"We've got a lot of explaining to do." Simba said with a slight laugh.
When everyone returned to Pride Rock, everyone happily reunited with each other; Taka and his siblings along with their parents, Bluu with her sister Griffin and their parents Tojo and Tama, and many others. Simba than gathered a meeting of all Pride Lands animals. Everyone weary of Shenzi's hyena clan and were amazed that she and her friends were still alive. Simba explained everything from Scar and Zira being alive and the rulers of the Scarred Pride, Wraith and his evil deeds, especially with what he did to Sarafina and Mheetu, to the truce with Shenzi's clan, to Ni, and to Siri being Kopa. When everyone heard that the long thought dead prince had returned alive, everyone looked at the lion in shock a disbelief.
"Hay everyone, it's no joke, it's me and it's great to be back." Kopa said cheesily.
Everyone cheered and welcome the long thought dead prince back.
"Yeah, that's right, your prince is back now." Banzai said to the entire crowed.
"And also, us the hyenas you all know and hate but will soon know and love are good guys now to. Alright Simba now write us the check." Shenzi said.
"There's no check; whatever a check is." Simba said.
"Also, we have more important business to do." Sarabi said.
Everyone looked towards what the old lioness was talking about. Sarafina and Mheetu's bodies. They were rotting and smelt deathly awful. Some lionesses carried their bodies to the back of Pride Rock while everyone else followed. They came to a lion burial ground where the pride's dead were buried.
Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed dug a hole big enough for both Sarafina and Mheetu. Sarabi and Nala both placed them gently in the hole and the three hyenas buried them. Everyone stayed in silence for a few moments.
"Finally, it's done with." Sarabi sighed.
"Yeah, finally." Kopa agreed.
Everyone stayed in a few more minutes of silence.
"This might not be the best time to bring it up, but now that Kopa's back, who's going to be king one day, him or Kovu?" some random animal suddenly asked.
Everyone looked at each other. They hadn't thought about that, they all had just been too glad to have Kopa back and were focused on beating the Scarred Pride at the time. Kopa, Kiara, and Kovu all looked at each other. Neither of them really cared which of them got to rule but decided to get it settled with.
"The rules state that it's the first born who becomes king, so it should go to Kopa." Zazu immaturely said, being the strict to the book rule follower that he was.
"But Kiara has had more training that I've had, is married and she's got three heirs to succeed her already." Kopa stated.
"But Zazu is right. Rules are rules." Kiara said.
Kopa looked towards his sister and thought about what she's done compared to him. She brought two prides at war together in peace when it should never have happened and brought peace between the Pride Land lion and hyenas. As for Kopa, all he's done for the past nearly five years is lay around in a den with an old hyena, getting fat.
"Kiara had accomplished so much more than I have and she's earned the love and respect of all Pride Landers more than I have. So, quite frankly, I think she'd make a better ruler along with Kovu than me." Kopa said.
"But the line of succession…" Zazu began to say.
"This isn't about the line of succession, it's what's best for the kingdom and the people they rule. You all know exactly what Kiara and Kovu are, they've done so much more and know so much about everything that's going on in the kingdom than I can do. Me and everyone knows that they'd be better king than me." Kopa said.
Everyone took the time to process what Kopa just said. Simba and Nala looked at each other. There was the line of succession to think about, but Kopa did make valid points. Kiara had everything that Kopa didn't have for the future generations and everyone did know about how she would prefer to rule more than Kopa. Simba looked towards Kiara and Kovu.
"Up until minutes ago, you were still the heir to Pride Rocks throne Kiara. If you and Kovu still want it, you can have it if Kopa is willing to allow it." Simba said.
Kiara and Kovu looked at each other. Each thinking about it.
"Let me and Kovu sleep on it for a night or two." Kiara finally said.
"Very well." Simba understood.
Vitani came up to Kopa.
"That was one good short speech and also, I'm glad your back." Vitani said, rubbing her head against Kopa mane.
Kopa looked at Vitani. He would have to explain their current situation to her later. Though everyone was enjoying welcoming back Kopa, and giving a warm welcome to Dalia, and even Nuka, and trying to give Shenzi's clan a chance seeing as they were going to be staying for at least a while, there was one who wasn't enjoying it; Taka. Taka stayed in the back of the crowd, avoiding his brother and family. He had a paw placed over his bandaged eye.
"How can I face them; how can I face him?" Taka said to himself.
Later that night, everyone gathered in the cave where they celebrated the Unification day feast about a two months ago. Only this time, they were celebrating most of the pride's return from fighting the Scarred Pride, but most importantly Kopa's return. They had invited Jasiri and Shenzi's clan to join them in the feast, along with Dalia. Kopa and Dalia were watching as everyone was entering the cave.
"I still can't believe it. You're a royal Sir… I mean Kopa." Dalia said.
Kopa smiled down at the elderly hyena.
"We're going to have to start getting use to that." Kopa said.
Once everyone was in, they all laid down, ready to eat. However, someone wasn't among them.
"Where's Taka?" Grey asked.
Everyone looked at each other, guessing what was going on. With his scar and his physical appearance, his secret insecurity about it was showing by him avoiding the pride. Without letting anyone know, or asking for permission, Mufasa got up and walked outside.
"Should we stop him? It's dangerous out there at night" Tiifu asked.
"No, this is brother to brother talk." Simba said.
Mufasa first checked the den, then the top of Pride Rock, then Scar's old cave. Taka was in neither of those places. Mufasa made his way to the watering hole, which was his next guess of where Taka was. Thankfully Taka was there when he got there, and he didn't have on his leaf bandage. Mufasa took in a deep breath before walking up to his brother.
Taka had a strong will, but with now having a scar like Scar had put him in his vulnerable position.
"You know, we haven't seen you since you got back earlier this morning." Mufasa said from behind his brother.
Taka's body jumped when he heard his brother's voice. Taka covered his eye with a paw a look towards his brother.
"How's grandma and everyone else doing back at Pride Rock?" Taka asked.
"They're all doing fine, but please don't go off topic. How's your eye?" Mufasa asked.
Taka turned around so that we wouldn't have to face his brother.
"It's fine, it won't go milky white like Uncle Kopa's." Taka said.
"You know, it's funny to think that a while back we saw him as a friend, but he was actually our uncle. As for Dalia, she's like the most famous hyena in the Pride Lands right now for saving him as a cub." Mufasa said.
"Yeah, I guess." Taka agreed in a quiet voice.
Mufasa walked up closer to his brother. He placed his paws on his brother's shoulders and turned him around to face him. He grabbed his brother's paw and pulled it away from his eye. Mufasa sighed after he looked at his brother's scar. When he was told that his brother got a scar, he didn't believe it at first, but he couldn't deny it, seeing it now.
"How did this happen?" Mufasa asked.
"Shenzi gave it to me." Taka answered.
"And grandpa just let them come to the Pride Lands and forgave them?" Mufasa asked.
"It's kinda complicated, you weren't exactly with everyone when grandpa told everyone what happened since he told all cubs to go and play while he debriefed. Me and mom will give you the full details of the story… or on second thought, she will." Taka said before pulling away and walking off.
Mufasa watched his brother as he walked off.
"You know, I don't see you any differently with that scar." Mufasa said, getting straight to the point.
"I look exactly like Scar, more so now that I have a matching scar like he did. Think about what other cubs are going to say about me. They're going to start referring me to Scar." Taka said.
"That doesn't matter to me or anyone else." Mufasa said.
"What about grandpa? He's suffered from Scar more than anyone else. I know that he already looks at me strange, but when I grow into an adult and I look exactly like his uncle did, just think about what he'll think of me. He might start looking at me suspiciously and other things." Taka said.
"No, he doesn't, and he won't. You're his grandson and he loves you for who you are, not what you look like. It's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside you know." Mufasa said.
"You say nice things to me, you treat me with brotherly love, and you protect me from others who judge me based on my appearance… but admit it." Taka said.
"Admit what?" Mufasa asked.
"You looking exactly like what our great grandfather looked like, me looking exactly like what our great-great uncle looked like, and us knowing their story. Admit it, it bothers you, don't try to deny it." Taka said.
Mufasa looked into his brother's eyes and couldn't afford to lie to him.
"Okay, I'll admit it. Maybe it did bother me when we were younger, but it doesn't anymore, or at least not as much anymore, and neither should it bother you." Mufasa said.
"Why?" Taka asked.
Mufasa took his brother's paw in his hand and turned it over. Taka looked and saw the small scar on his main paw pad. Mufasa than overturned his paw, showing the scar on his main paw mad.
"You and I made a promise to each other when we were younger. We made a promise to see and treat each other as brother's first and royal princes second, …" Mufasa said.
"We promise to be brothers forever." Taka finished.
Both brothers looked at each other. Taka finally understood. His scar didn't matter, it didn't make him who he was, his appearance didn't make him who he was. Both brothers embraced each other for a couple minutes before pulling away.
"Come on, everyone's probably worrying about us." Mufasa said.
"Yeah, and we got a lot of lost years to make up with Uncle Kopa, and I won't to get to know Dalia better now that we're not right under the Scarred Pride's noses." Taka said.
"It's Aunt Dalia now." Mufasa said.
The two brothers began to walk towards Pride Rock, ready for the feast that was to welcome the return of their long thought dead uncle home and the new members of the Pride Lands. As they got closer to Pride Rock, Mufasa broke the silence.
"And you know, I don't think you'll look exactly like Scar when your older." Mufasa said.
"What do you mean by that?" Taka asked.
"Well, your face is far more soft expression-ed than his was, your eyes are more emerald green like dad's, and speaking of dad, maybe your mane will be more shaped like his than Scar's." Mufasa explained.
Taka smiled at the image of his adult self with Kovu's mane shape. Kovu's mane may not have been as luscious red and majestic looking like his grandfather and Uncle Kion's or bird filled like Tojo's, but Kovu's mane was the coolest looking in the Pride Lands. Some even said that Kovu's charm came from his mane.
"I may have to start messing with may mane tuft to make sure it will look like dad's when it grows fully in." Taka said, beginning to fiddle with his mane tuft.
And with that, chapter 37 is settled and done with. The Pride Lander animals and the rest of the pride know the whole story and say hello to some new residents, Sarafina and Mheetu are finally buried in their homeland, whose to rule one day is still up in the air with everyone, and Taka II and Mufasa II have another moment of brotherly love. Even if some of you think giving them the same names and appearance as two canon characters is strange and a waste of a chance to come up with more creative names, I do agree with that in some way but you gotta admit that their scenes together like this is showing a beautiful and proper brotherly relationship that Scar and Mufasa greatly lacked. As for the Swahili name meanings of Taka's bullies, Unastahili, Mkaidi, Punda, and Mashimo, they names apparently mean 'deserved,' 'bully,' 'ass,' (excuse my language here, but that is what Punda's name means in Swahili according to Google Translator), and 'hole.' See you all until next time, please read and review my other stories if you haven't already to kill time, good night/day, and God bless.