The next chapter may sound like deja vu.
Disclaimer: The song does not belong to me and only Disney has all the rights.
(In the afternoon...)
"Well, you were… good today" Vitani tried to encourage him as she led Dan back to the Pride Rock.
"Sure? Well, it seemed to me that I made a fool of myself with thorns and was afraid of climbing" Dan self-discouraged, "I don't think I'm skilled…"
"Easy, you just have to..."
"Vitani!" shouted Kasi, who was rushing towards them.
"What's wrong Kasi?"
"We have a problem: an elephant got into the Giraffe Watering Hole and got stuck on some rocks. Imara is trying to get it out, but it's too heavy"
"Okay, I'll go there as soon as I leave Dan at the Pride Rock ..."
"No, don't worry about me" Dan interrupted, "I can go back alone, it's not very far. The lion's guard needs you"
"Ok... take care of yourself and come back without detour, okay?"
Dan nodded. Then, Vitani followed Kasi in the direction of the giraffe watering hole.
Despite what he had agreed to, Dan did not immediately return to Pride Rock, but was wandering from place to place as he remembered his failure and fear in training trying to hide his sorrows: despite his good performance in the first exercise, in the second, he had failed and from time to time he felt the small pains that the thorns had left him.
And then, there was his fear of the cliff… how could he climb the rocks of the Pride Rock, but was he still afraid of places like the ravine or the cliffs? He felt useless. Then, he stopped near the Pride Rock.
"Could I really be a lion king?" he asked himself as he looked the Pride Rock, "No… it's not in my veins to be. I am ... just a child"
"Now you are" said a voice behind him. Dan immediately turned and met Simba, "But soon you will grow up and learn to be a real lion"
Dan didn't respond, but lowered his head.
"What 's the matter, Dan?" Simba asked.
"Grandpa Simba..." he started to say, but didn't hold back and instead hugged the lion, "I'm a clumsy... the training..."
"You don't have to tell me anything, I've been watching you all the time"
"You watched me…?"
"That's right. I just have to tell you not to try to force yourself to be the best while you are still a cub, it is part of growing up. It took Kion and Kiara a long time to mature"
Dan listened to Simba's words as he wiped her tears with his paw.
"But… it's not just that, but… I'm scared" explained the cub, "The Urembo river… I remembered that day in wildebeest valley: we both almost died. And you... you got hurt for protecting me"
Simba sat next to Dan as he gazed at the stars.
"It was not my first time there" said Simba, "In that same place my father died"
Dan gasped at the knowledge.
"I thought I would die too" continued Simba, "But at least I would die doing the last thing he did: protect his family."
"But, I…" Dan started, but Simba stopped him:
"Dan, from the moment I learned that your arrival here was my father's business, I did my best to protect you and my family even more. We also made you part of the family because I saw something in you: as if I saw my father's eyes in yours"
"My eyes…?"
"Yes... it's strange, isn't it?" he asked while pointing to the stars, "I haven't been able to talk to my father in a long time either... maybe he's no longer among the stars..."
Dan didn't know what Simba was trying to tell him. For a moment, he found himself looking at him questioning it, until vaguely, a memory popped into his head:
"Earlier, I told you that a part of me was in your heart. But now, my whole being will always be with you..."
And then, he understood:
"He lives in me?"
"It seems so" said Simba calmly, "My father is gone, I cannot hear him or see him in the sky as he used to since you mentioned that you saw him in your dream. Maybe it's because it's closer than I thought "
"Then…"
"So, you not only have the heart of a lion, but the king's soul"
"I don't know, Grandpa Simba..." Dan said in a muffled voice, "I don't know if I can be the same as him..."
Dan was silent not knowing what else to say: so much trust in someone that was from such a distant land, such affection for him, such revelation… it seemed like a dream. However, that filled the ex-human's mind with more and more doubts. Simba, seeing that, grabbed him with his jaws and placed him on the small rock.
"You don't have to be like him. Believe me, I also tried to be "said Simba," You must be yourself"
"But … how? "
"You may deny it, but you are more like Kiara when she was a cub, even though you don't feel like her real son. Little one, there is something you must understand: you are no longer alone. Now you have family and friends, we are a clan and you must remember that we are always one "
And with that, he gave him a little push that made him so fall onto a pillow of dandelions.
Song: We are one (From: The Lion King 2)
Simba:
As you go through life, you'll see
There is so much that we… Don't understand
As Simba was singing, Dan could see a family of birds at the top of the tree, remembering to him that he was no longer alone.
And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go… The way we planned
A little bird almost fell out of the nest, but its mother avoided it.
But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dreams come undone
Simba guide Dan to the Mbali fields. There, was a pair of adult wildebeest trying to teach their son how to stand up and run.
We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
The baby wildebeest managed to stand up and ran happily with his parents.
We are more than we are
We are one!
Family, family (we are one) (x2)
Dan (as he was approaching to a lake and seeing his reflection):
If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
The way I am?
Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?
A fresh wind flooded the atmosphere.
Simba (looking at the sky):
Even those who are gone
Are with us as we go on
Then, he turned to Dan.
Your journey has only begun…
Tears of pain, tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride deep inside
We are one!
Simba and Dan ran happily through the field, while several animals watched them. As they ran, they crossed a small stream and got their paws a little wet.
We are one you and I, We are like the earth and sky
One family under the sun
All the wisdom to lead, All the courage that you need…
You will find when you see, We are one
Simba climbed on a rock and then he pointed to the Pride Rock. Dan looked the rock wondering what Simba wanted to say to him.
Family, family (we are one) (x5)
"As you long as you live here, it's who you are" said Simba hugging Dan, "You'll understand someday"
Dan just stared at the beautiful landscape Simba also gazed at from there: the Pridelands as the dim light of the evening sun faded into the moonlight.
(At night...)
Dan was walking alongside Simba around the Pride Rock. Kovu, who had come out of the cave, was waiting for them.
"Simba, thank goodness you found him" Kovu said, with a slightly worried expression, "Dan, you worried us too much. Vitani told me that she sent you back to the rock, but when you weren't coming back..."
"I'm sorry, Dad..." Dan said sadly.
"Kovu, you don't have to worry so much" Simba interrupted, "I took Dan for a walk: I was teaching him a bit, I had a lot to show him and talk to him about. So, it would be my fault that he was late"
"Well, I'm glad he's at least with you, Simba" Kovu said. Then he turned to the cub "Excuse me Dan. Well, we'll wait for you inside. Koda wants to see his brother"
Kovu stepped forward and climbed towards the cave. Meanwhile, Simba had taken a step when he realized that Dan was looking at the stars.
"Again, Dan?" Simba asked.
The cub did not respond. However, he turned around to look directly into the adult lion's eyes.
"Grandpa Simba, I still don't know if I have what I must to have" he said, "But, I promise you that I will try to learn more and keep your father's legacy"
Simba smiled at those words.
"That's the spirit, Dan" he told him as he lifted a paw.
Knowing what he was doing, Dan also raised his and they high five to each other.
Author's Notes: I know what some might say: that the song doesn't belong or that it doesn't look good on reading ... blah, blah, blah. I just wanted to give the story some feeling. Anyway, if you don't like it, just let me know. In the next chapter it will be time for time to pass.