A dim figure walked through the hot African Savannah. The day hadn't even started but it was already very hot. Luckily this animal knew exactly how nature works, so this hotness didn't surprise him.

A couple of dunes and I should be there...

Rafiki moved forward with quick steps. His stick sank into the sand while he walked but this didn't bother him. He didn't have time to stop anyway.

Alright, you can do it, fool. You're not that old.

The Savannah wasn't a place for an unexperienced animal. You would die there in minutes without water or proper shelter. Such a lonely place to be. So what was this silly old mandrill doing around here?

My journey takes longer than expected...I'm so sorry, Sarabi. I must do this.

Rafiki had left The Pridelands a long ago to seek help and solutions to the fate of the kingdom. Scar's reign had only worsened over time and his visits to Pride Rock had become rarer and rarer. Sarabi and the rest of the pride were kept under close control and free movement was almost prohibited. That's why he couldn't speak to the queen as often as he would have wanted. All he knew was that this couldn't go on like this much longer.

"I wish you a great journey. Promise to come back soon", Sarabi had said before the mandrill parted ways with her.

"I will. I wish there was another way but..."

"It's alright. You could take Nala with you, but she's still way too young. Besides, Scar would become too suspicious."

"She's not an adult yet. Don't worry, I can handle myself. I'm an experienced traveler. But you need to watch your back when Scar is still ruling. He has turned worse if I may say so."

"I know...oh if Mufasa was still here...he would know what to do."

"He is watching over us. Remember, even death can't break the strongest love."

"Yes...but I must return now. Good luck."

"Farewell, my dear. We'll see again when fate decides."

Sighing, the mandrill looked at the sky. Traveling around the country wasn't the fastest job. And The Pridelands wasn't the only place in trouble, several kingdoms and lands suffered from lack of food and other stuff. Scar's reputation was well known almost everywhere so finding help to take him down began to sound impossible. He had not found allies but he didn't blame anyone.

"I must be close...", Rafiki muttered. Sun burned his head but he wasn't going to let it bother or stop. Besides, he already saw his destination behind the last dune and ran to the top of it. Taking a deep breath, he put his both hands around his stick, leaning against it.

"I made it...hah, see me up there?! I told you I still have the power within me!"

The wind blew around Rafiki, easing this hotness. His message got through.

"Alright, thank you. Now, where am I? Oh yes, here", the mandrill saw a green grassland appearing in front of him. It continued over the horizon and it was full of different animals.

What a perfect place to investigate. Well, better going.

Rushing out of the desert, Rafiki had yet no idea what he would discover indeed...

*Elsewhere*

"Woohoo, here I come!", Timon made a cannonball into the water.

"Hey, watch it!", Pumbaa warned. "Our lunch!"

"Always so negative. Look around you! We live in paradise! Food will never end here!"

"Uh-huh..."

"Boy, I sure was right when I suggested that we leave the oasis behind. I have never seen so many different places before! All that food, bugs, ahh...", the meerkat closed his eyes and smiled.

"Yes, sure it was your idea", the warthog answered bitterly.

"What?"

"Nothing...hey, have you seen Mufasa and Simba?"

"They are doing some training or something. Jeez, why can't they just relax and enjoy?"

"Well, they're lions. And besides, Mufasa wants that his son is strong if it's needed."

"Blah, how boring! What would seriously happen?", Timon wondered.

*Some miles away*

"Alright son, remember what I told you?"

"Yes. I'm ready!"

"Very well. Come when you hear my mark."

"Right."

Leaving his waiting son behind, Mufasa rushed to hide. During these several months (years?), Simba had reached adolescence and his mane had started growing. He was a teenager but not yet a full-grown adult. And his personality had also taken steps towards this direction.

"Can I come already?!", the impatient youngster yelled.

"Not yet!"

"Arrhhh", Simba walked in circles. If he had been timid and insecure as a cub, now these traits were gone and he was more rebellious and venturesome.

"What about now?"

"Almost!"

"I hate this...", Simba sat down. Some parts of him were still the same but spending time apart from everything that reminded him of his past had left traits. He and Mufasa hardly spoke about The Pridelands, stampede, or Scar anymore. Sure they both cared but knowing that they would possibly never return was too painful.

"Now, son! Come to get me!"

"Finally", the teen smirked, putting his nose against the ground. He had to find his father's scent before it vanishes.

"Here I come, be ready or not..."

Mufasa chuckled in his hiding place. When Pumbaa and Timon persuaded them to join the flock of elephants, he was hesitant to leave. He wanted to find a permanent place to live and dragging a young cub along didn't sound very wise. But when time passed and they saw different places and met different animals, he noticed how he actually enjoyed all of this. But it didn't mean that he had forgotten Sarabi and everything. He became even more homesick than he was when they arrived in the oasis for the first time.

I want to go home...but how can we?

The former king felt also guilty about enjoying life while his friends suffered under Scar's control. But then again, bonding with Simba had been worth it. If things would have gone differently, he would not be here to see his son growing.

And that's the greatest gift of them all.

"Son...?"

*Silence*

"Hmm, I hope that he did not..."

"Hah, found you!"

Before Mufasa could react, Simba pinned him down. Despite being smaller, he was still an experienced prankster.

"How...ah fine, you won", Mufasa smiled and sat up. His son smiled proudly.

"Impressed, huh?"

"Yes. How did you find me?"

"I just did."

"I understand, but what technique did you use?"

"Blah, who wants details?", Simba showed his tongue. "The result is what counts!"

"No, son. Working to get to your destination is the most important part. It shows what you have learned and what not. It's part of..."

"The Circle of Life", Simba interrupted his father. "Look, Dad, you should forget that topic. It's so old."

"Simba, that is very rude. Life is the most valuable gift you can have and if you're not respecting it, then you are not ready. I said this when we were still...", Mufasa went silent. He couldn't speak further.

"You mean...?"

"Yes."

"Fine. I'm heading over to Timon and Pumbaa. They promised we could have a watermelon football match. If our lessons are done for today?"

"Yes, go ahead", Mufasa released his son from his duties. He sensed boredom in the air and he wasn't in a mood to argue with him.

"Okay. Thanks, Dad! See ya later", Simba disappeared into the grass. When Mufasa was left alone, he decided to continue his earlier patrol. He didn't want to become completely lazy, so he took the unofficial title as the leader of this Savannah. He had plenty of experience, after all.

And it's a beautiful day. What could happen?

*Meanwhile*

"Guys!", Simba rushed to his friends who were already waiting for him.

"There you are! Boy, your father sure won't let you laze", Timon patted held his foot against the watermelon. "We started thinking that he will not let you have fun at all today."

"Now now, he's just trying to teach me how to take care of myself. But sometimes he forgets that I'm not a cub anymore", Simba shook his half-mane.

"What do you mean taking care of yourself?", Pumbaa wondered.

"You know, he's not getting any younger and I must take the place as our leader at some point. He doesn't say it but I know him."

"Once again, you're underestimating your father, kiddo. Mufasa is not as weak as he seems. Even I see it now", Timon said.

"You don't know him like I do. Just see and that day will come."

"Hakuna Matata! Okay, are we playing or not?!"

"Yeah!", the trio ran to have fun. The day was perfect: the sun shone, the sky was bright blue and the air was warm.

"Hakuna Matata, here I come!", Simba kicked the ball. "Now who's the king of this game?!"

"Not fair, your twice bigger than us!", Timon said, annoyed.

"Let's just enjoy this moment", Pumbaa advised. "Playing with your best friends is better than winning."

"Maybe you're right...but I can still try! Yeaahhhh!", Timon passed Pumbaa who facepalmed. Some things never change. Yet...

*On the other side of the savannah*

Mufasa walked through the grass, enjoying the warm breeze. Even though he loved spending time with Simba, sometimes it was good to be alone. It was part of his nature.

Soon the lion arrived on a cliff and he sat down, eyeing the view. Thanks to years of patrolling, he was able to notice with quick glances if something was wrong. And of course, there were.

Hmm, what is that smoke?

Landing down, Mufasa started running. He could have asked Simba to join him but he doubted the teen would want to go. Besides, they had practiced enough.

What if it's a fire? Then we're in big trouble.

"Sir, sir!", some animals ran towards Mufasa, panicking.

"What is going on?! What is that smoke?"

A bush fire! Big one! And there is some trapped in the middle of the area where burns strongest!"

"Thanks for letting me know. I head over there right away", Mufasa thanked and kept running. No one had died under his patrols and he wasn't going to let it happen this time either.

"Everyone! Get to safety!"

"Yes, sir! But what about you?"

"I'll be fine. Just run!"

It didn't take long until Mufasa reached the fire. Coughing, he examined the area. Where was this poor soul?

"Hey, is anybody there?"

Mufasa didn't hear anything at first. But then...

"Help!"

"Where are you?!"

"Over here! Please help me!"

"Alright, alright...", Mufasa searched for a proper spot to sneak in. Finally, he found one and ran.

"I'm here now! Please talk if you can!"

"I...this smoke...help..."

Where...where?!

Failing was not an option. Mufasa was not a failure and he didn't come this far to let this poor soul die. He survived before and he would survive now.

"I think I'm close! Yell once more!"

"I...HERE!"

When Mufasa heard this voice, he stopped in his tracks. No, it could not be...

"I must be wrong...it just...", he jumped over fallen trees, avoiding flames smoke. If his doubts were true, then...

"I can't breathe, hurry..."

"There!", Mufasa muttered to himself as he noticed a dark silhouette behind the trees. He ran there...and his heart skipped a couple of beats.

"Rafiki! It is you!"

Turning around, the mandrill couldn't believe his eyes. He was sitting on the ground and he was too exhausted to move.

"M-Mufasa...?!"

"Not now, we must get out of here. Are you all right?!"

"I guess so...but is that really you?!"

"Yes old friend, it's me. I'm..."

"This can't be...I must be dreaming...", Rafiki said before he fainted. Picking him up, Mufasa started heading back. This was a miracle...how did Rafiki end up here, so far from The Pridelands and they happened to meet?

Is this a sign? I can't wait to talk to him. So I better hurry!

TBC...