CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

As we cruised along the voids of space, we stopped when we saw something huge in the distance.

"What's that? That big... thing?" Chip said.

"Maybe that's the source of the weird reading we picked up before!" Dale said.

"And there's something funny about Twilight Town. I'm seeing two of 'em!"

"Look! It's another huge energy reading! And it's coming from someplace near the town."

"I dunno what's going on, fellas, but it sure looks like there's some big trouble brewing around Twilight Town!"

"We'll check it out later." Sora said. "There's still some worlds that we need to check out."

I caught a glimpse of something looming over the strange castle. Large gray clouds blocked it, but I could see glimpses of yellow and I could barely make out its silhouette.

I scowled and clenched my fists.

Upon arriving in the Pride Lands, we spent a few minutes teaching Callum how to master traveling around as a lion cub. His fur was light brown and his eyes were still blood red, like back in Halloween Town. His short brown hair rested on the top of his head with his pointed ears perked up. He adorned a few accessories: a black ring on his left middle finger with brown cords attached and wrapped around his arm, and two golden belts wrapped around his chest in an X.

"What kind of world is this?" Callum said after flipping over for the millionth time. "Maybe you guys should go on ahead. I'll catch up... eventually."

"Don't be ridiculous." I said in his upside-down view. "This is just taking a little longer than usual. You'll get the hang of this."

Callum rolled over to his feet. After a few more tries and fails, Callum mastered walking on all fours and fighting with Omega Weapon, which he held with his tail, the same way I did.

As we walked across the Savannah, we stopped when the three hyenas raced over to us.

"Oh, it's you guys." Shenzi said. "Man, we were hoping you were a meal!"

"Hiya!" Sora said.

"Don't gimme any of that "hiya" stuff! Thanks to you clowns, we're back to scavenging scraps for a living." Banzai said.

Ed cackled.

"Doesn't feel nice, does it?" I said.

"C'mon, it's not that bad. I enjoyed that week-dead elephant we had yesterday." Shenzi said.

"Hey, how's Simba?" Sora said.

Shenzi laughed.

"We gotta laugh every time we hear that dude's name." Banzai chuckled.

"Ooh. Say it again!" Shenzi said.

"Simba!"

Shenzi laughed. "One more time."

"Simba!"

The three hyenas rolled around in a fit of laughter.

"That's enough!" Sora said.

"Go on, then, see for yourself. Simba is one wispy-washy king." Shenzi said.

"Yeah, I bet about now, even some of those high and mighty lionesses were wishin' they'd gotten themselves a different king."

The three hyenas turned around and walked away.

"I thought that once we got rid of Scar, things would be better when Simba was king." I said.

"Gawrsh, whaddya think coulda happened?" Goofy said.

"Well, let's go find Simba and see." Sora said.

As we walked to Pride Rock, we stopped when we suddenly saw darkness collect in front of us. The darkness dispersed, revealing Scar.

"Scar?!" Sora said.

We ran towards him, but he disappeared.

"Huh?" Sora said.

"But Scar's dead." I said. "You think that was a ghost or something?"

"We better tell Simba about this." Goofy said.

As we walked up to the Pride Rock top, a lioness came to us.

"Are you here to see Simba?" she said.

"We just saw Scar's ghost!" Sora said.

"An omen like that could only be foretelling the end of our pride."

"Omen?" I said.

"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."

"Trust me. Simba will think of something." Sora said.

"The time for thinking is past. We need him to take action-" the lioness said. "As his father would have done. He ruled with courage and pride. I remember it like it was yesterday... The mighty Mufasa..."

"Simba'll do all that, too. You'll see!" Sora said.

"I'm not so sure."

The lioness walked past us.

We entered the Lion's Den. Simba laid on a slab of rock.

"You came back..." Simba said, smiling weakly.

"Are you okay?" Donald said.

"You don't look so good." Goofy said.

"Hey, Simba. Why don't we team up and do something about that Scar ghost?" Sora said. "Seems like everybody's worried about it. So now's your big chance to show 'em what you're really made of!"

Simba growled and stood up.

"That doesn't concern you!" he cried.

We jumped back.

"Sorry..." Simba said.

"It's okay..." Sora said.

"I just wish I knew what my father would do."

"But he's not here anymore, Simba." I said. "It's up to you now."

"And that means the important thing is what you're gonna do being the king." Goofy said. "Not what you're father would have done."

"So you're saying... it's all up to me..." Simba said.

"See, there ya go!" Sora said.

"Exactly!" Timon and Pumbaa said as the duo approached us.

"We know your dad was a great king, and all. But now it's your turn." Timon said.

"Yeah! Ya gotta put your behind in the past!" Pumbaa said.

"No, it's "You gotta put the past behind you.""

"Oh."

"It's time to go out there and show everybody things are gonna be just fine!"

"Yeah, you can do it!" Sora said.

"You gotta live for today!"

"And find your own path!" Pumbaa said, rocking his head side-to-side.

"Live for today... And find my own path... not my father's..." Simba said.

"Yeah, that's the spirit!" I said.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Simba." Nala said, walking up to him. She stood beside him and turned to us. "Promise me you'll help Simba any way you can."

"As long as Sora and Hallie handle the dangerous parts!" Timon added.

We nodded. Nala turned to Simba.

"I'm counting on you, Simba..." she said. "and so is our baby."

Our jaws dropped.

"Baby?!" I cried.

"Great! Now we're going to have to babysit!" Timon complained.

We all laughed.

"Let's go see Rafiki first. I'm sure he'll be able to tell us something about that ghost." Simba said.

We went to Rafiki and told him about Scar's ghost. He told us that the ghost was a test set for Simba and he would have to face it himself. He told us to go and ask the hyenas more about it in the elephant graveyard.

We went to the elephant graveyard and found the three hyenas.

"Hey, you!" Donald said.

"Aw, c'mon, can't you guys just leave us alone?" Banzai said.

"Do you three know anything about Scar's ghost?" Simba said.

"Huh? Scar's ghost?" Shenzi said.

Ed cackled.

"Maaaybe..." Banzai said.

"You DO know!" Sora said.

The three hyenas split up and took off into the graveyard. We ran after them, and one by one, we took them out.

"Oh no... I guess you caught us ALL." Banzai said.

"What're we gonna do?" Shenzi said.

"Enough stalling!" I said. "Tell us what you know!"

"Sorrrry. We don't know nothin'." Banzai said.

"Oh, wait. It's comin' back to me." Shenzi said. "That's the one that only hangs out around 'fraidy cats. Right, Banzai?"

"Enough!" Simba said.

Ed cackled. There was a warping sound and Scar's ghost appeared before us.

"There it is!" Shenzi said. "Must be a fraidy cat around here somewhere!"

"Simba! Do something!" Sora said.

"How does it feel to be king, hmm?" Scar's ghost said. "Why, you must be a truly inspiring ruler by now. After all, you ARE the son of the great Mufasa."

Simba backed away, then took off.

"Simba!" I called.

"Where are you going?" Sora said.

"Ah, Simba... running away as always." Scar's ghost said.

"Simba!"

The ghost disappeared. The three hyenas cackled and walked past us.

"Gawrsh, Rafiki was right." Goofy said.

"You mean, Simba's still unsure?" Sora said.

"Seems like. Do ya think there's some way we can help?"

"Hmm... We should start by talking to Simba some more. Let's head back to the Pride Lands."

We returned to Nala and Rafiki.

"Where's Simba?" Nala said.

"Well, um..." Sora said.

"Oh, ho, ho! He ran away!" Rafiki said. "I knew it would not be easy for him."

"He just needs some time, that's all." I 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 said.

"But where's Simba now?" Donald said.

"Hey, I know! He's at the oasis!" Timon said. "That's our favorite hangout spot!"

"All right then, let's get going." Callum said.

When we arrived at the oasis, we saw Simba and Scar's ghost facing off. The ghost backed Simba up to the edge of the cliff.

"Simba!" Sora called.

We ran over to him. Scar's ghost disappeared.

"Are you okay?" I said.

"It's no use. I'll never be the king my father was." Simba said.

"But Simba... That's not what you're supposed to be." Sora said. "You can't be Mufasa. You can only be you. Everybody believes in you as a king. They just want to see what you'll do. And if anyone's saying they liked your father better, it's because you haven't done much yet. That's all."

"I know that..."

"Then stop moping around and DO something! You can't give up on yourself." I said. "You have to believe in yourself. You need to step up and become the king that you are destined to be."

"I can't!" Simba said.

"...Fine." Sora said.

"Let's go, Sora." Donald said.

"Yeah. Why stick around if he's not even gonna try?"

Donald and Sora turned around and walked away.

"C'mon, Goofy." I said.

We turned around and followed them. As we, walked I felt something tug on my tail and pull be back. I stumbled behind a bush.

"What the-?!" I said.

"Shhh!" Sora said.

We peeked behind the shrubbery and saw Scar's ghost appear in front of Simba again.

"Watch this." Sora said. "The hesitant king will one day lose all his friends."

"King Simba the doubtful..." Donald said.

"Worried by a silly ol' ghost..." Goofy said.

I giggled to myself. "Nothing but a big old scaredy-cat. Why bother with such a wash-out?"

Simba growled.

"No!" he cried.

"Try and stop me!" Donald said.

Simba roared and attacked Scar's ghost. It disappeared. We came out from the bushes and ran over to Simba.

"You did it! The ghost is gone!" Sora said.

"We knew you could do it!" Donald said.

"Hooray for Simba!" Goofy said.

"All you had to do was have the courage to take a stand." I said.

"You know, I'm really luck to have friends who'll stand by me and help me see clearly." Simba said. "My father... wasn't so fortunate."

"There you go again!" Sora said.

"I mean... Everyone here, and in the Pride Lands, wants me to succeed. Sora, Hallie, Donald, 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."

"Are you gonna say it, or do it?"

"Wait and see!"

"SIMBA!" Timon came running into the oasis. "Simba! Come quick! There's a bazillion ghosts of Scar haunting the Pride Lands! Everybody but Nala high-tailed it outta there. And now she needs your help."

Simba took off into the forest. Timon sighed.

"Our little Simba... all grown up and finding his place in the world..." he said.

"Nice try. You're coming, too!" Simba called.

"Who said we weren't?" I said.

We ran to Pride Rock. At the top, we saw Nala and Pumbaa standing before another of Scar's ghost.

"We're here!" Sora said.

"Where's Simba?" Nala said.

Simba stepped forward. Nala smiled.

"I've come back, Nala." Simba said.

Scar's ghost approached Simba until their faces were inches away. Simba scowled.

"Get out." he growled.

The ghost disappeared.

"Way to go, Simba!" Sora said.

We looked over the land and saw streams of darkness flying around.

"Are you with me?" Simba said.

"Now and forever, Your Majesty!" Sora said.

We all bowed to him.

As we ran to the Savannah, we watched as the streams of darkness collect together and created the Groundshaker.

Its head turned upside down and began swinging it against the ground. As we sprinted across its feet, we jumped as it brought its feet down, dodging the shock waves it created. The Groundshaker brought its front paws down on us. Sora and I jumped up and drove our Keyblades into its paw. As we fell down through the air, we landed as the Groundshaker collapsed to the ground. We ran over and attacked its head. When the Groundshaker stood up, its head turned over right-side up and a giant Shaman Heartless stood on its back. We ran forward and jumped high into the air and landed on its back. We attacked the Shaman Heartless.

The Groundshaker struggled to walk forward. The Shaman Heartless looked around in a panic. The Groundshaker collapsed to the ground, sending the Shaman Heartless spiraling to the ground. Both Heartless faded into darkness. A giant heart came from the Shaman and floated up into the sky.

We watched Nala and Simba stand together, looking over the Pride Lands.

"Simba seems fine now." Sora said.

"Ha! The king has returned!" Rafiki said. "The Pride Lands will not forget King Simba's courage. Or the courage of those who fought beside him."

Simba approached us.

"Do you think your quest will ever be over?" Simba said.

"I don't know..." Sora said. "But I think, as long as the Keyblade stays with me... I'll have to keep fighting."

"Hey, I'm a Keyblade wielder, too! I'll be right there fighting alongside you." I said. Sora smiled.

"Ahh... The struggle never ends. That is the great Circle of Life." Rafiki said.

"Never ever?" Sora said.

"The secret to victory... is a strong heart." Rafiki said. "Go on, go on, go- go then! Go on, get out! Yes, yes! It is time! Your fight continues..."

We turned to Simba and Nala.

"Till we meet again, Your Majesty." Sora said.

"I hope that's soon."

"It will be. So long!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Ever since Simba was crowned king of the Pride Lands, it seems he's still having doubts about himself. He's convinced that he'll never be as good as his father, Mufasa, and it sends him into a depression. Not only that, but it appears the ghost remnants of Scar are lurking around and haunting Simba. Hallie and the others tell Simba that he wouldn't be like his father, but that shouldn't stop him from being who he should be: himself. With renewed confidence, Simba reclaims the Pride Lands once again as his own and banishes Scar's Ghost forever. With the king's help, Sora and Hallie defeat the Groundshaker and restore peace to the Pride Lands.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

Personally, I hated the Pride Lands, both in the game and writing it. I'm glad that it's over so I can move on to content I actually do want to post.