Hey there, and welcome back to the Lion King novel. So far, we actually got our first review, and it's a good one. So I'd like to thank that person for it, and I look forward to more reviews in the future.

As for this chapter, it'll have a hint of the Broadway musical in it. But at this point in the story, anyone who's seen the musical or heard the music already know what song it is. Plus, after this chapter, I think I'll go ahead and call it a day. But tomorrow, I'll work harder on the next few chapters.

Uploading Date: August 20, 2019

Enjoy!

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Father And Son

Sunset had arrived by the time the lions and Zazu got back to the Pride Lands. Because of the light of the setting sun, the savannah was bathed in colors of golden, orange, and red. Many of the animals of the day would start retiring for the night, while the nocturnal animals began their night shift. Thus, sunset was usually Simba's favorite part of the day.

But not today. Mufasa marched ahead of the cubs, still irritated with his son and majordomo; his anger hadn't left at all ever since they left the elephant graveyard. The cubs trailed behind, Simba still ashamed of himself and Nala not sure how to comfort him. Zazu flew ahead, alternating between pity for the cubs and nervous about his king's anger.

"Hey Zazu?" Simba called up to the hornbill.

Zazu noticed him and flew down until he was right above Simba. "Yes, Simba?"

"I'm really sorry for treating you like that near the watering hole," Simba murmured. "And I'm really sorry I insulted you."

Zazu sighed and landed on Simba's back. "I forgive you. You're not the first cub who's said such things, and you won't be the last," he said, sounding touched by Simba's apology. "Though I'm afraid I'm not the only one you have to apologize to. You've upset your father. But don't look worried, young master," he added, seeing the immense guilt on Simba's face. "The king does not stay angry forever. He is slow to anger and quick to love. He will forgive you if you are truly sorry."

Simba really wanted to apologize, and he was indeed very sorry, but how could he? He had broken his father's trust. He had even broken his promise to his uncle, to not go to the elephant graveyard.

"Zazu!" Mufasa called almost immediately.

As fast as he could, Zazu flew over until he landed in front of Mufasa. "Yes, Sire?" he asked meekly.

"Take Nala home," commanded Mufasa. He was not looking at Zazu or the cubs, instead looking opposite the setting sun. "I have to teach my son a lesson."

Hearing this, Simba crouched low until he was barely visible.

Then to Simba's surprise, Zazu defended him. "Don't be too hard on him. He apologized to me for causing trouble," he told Mufasa. "Why, I remember a cub, a certain headstrong cub, who was always getting into scrapes. Yet he achieved some prominence, did he not?"

Mufasa nodded. He would be a hypocrite to deny that he had done anything wrong as a cub. For the first time since leaving the elephant graveyard, some of his anger started to fade away, though it still lingered like a burn.

"You know me too well, Zazu," he murmured. "And I apologize for being rough with you earlier. You did your best with the cubs, and I couldn't ask for more from you." A slightly relieved Zazu nodded, showing that all was well between them. "But you do understand that discipline is important in raising a child. If I don't discipline him, he might not grow up to be a good king."

Zazu nodded, not wishing to argue anymore. He flew over to where the cubs stood, as Simba kept thinking of the punishment his father would give him. He had also heard of the discipline part and winced. Was Mufasa going to beat him?

"Come, Nala," Zazu told the female cub before turning to the prince. "Simba...good luck."

The prince could only look on helplessly as Nala started leaving for Pride Rock without him. Zazu took flight and flew ahead of Nala, keeping an eye out for any danger coming their way.

"Simba!" Mufasa called from up ahead.

Simba winced and started to slink over to Mufasa. He didn't bother deliberately slowing down to stall his father, deciding to get it over with. As he walked, though, he stumbled literally across something and looked down.

It was one of Mufasa's pawprints, a huge print that could fit a newly hatched egret. The thought of following in his father's path made Simba's head swim with both shame and confusion. How could he follow in his pawprints if he kept messing up? With a sigh, Simba walked on until he sat beside Mufasa, daring to take a look upward.

For a while, Mufasa said nothing, closing his eyes and thinking. Then, at last, he opened his eyes and stared down at Simba with a stern face. "Simba, I am very disappointed in you."

"I know," Simba mewed sadly.

"You could have been killed," Mufasa went on, his voice rising in some emotion. "You deliberately disobeyed me, and what's worse, you put Nala in danger! Do you understand what's at stake? You have jeopardized the future of our pride."

At this, Simba began to sniffle and cry, knowing that Mufasa was right. He had put Nala in danger and nearly gotten her and himself killed; he hadn't meant for that or endangering the pride. "I was just trying to be brave like you," he whimpered. "I wanna be like you, Dad."

Mufasa sighed and thought for a moment. While he did indeed feel that he had to discipline his son, he knew that Simba really meant it when he was sorry. He was a lion that would slowly come to be angry, yet he was very quick to love. Simba, in the meantime, was scared that Mufasa would never want to speak to him again. For a moment, he wanted to beg Mufasa to say anything, just one word.

"I'm only brave when I have to be, when I have no other choice," Mufasa told his son, his voice having gotten calmer. "Simba, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble."

"But you're not scared of anything," Simba said in surprise.

Mufasa blinked away the sadness from his eyes. "I was today."

Simba was amazed. "You were?" he asked. He had never known that kings could get scared.

"Yes," said Mufasa, lowering himself to look his son directly in the eyes. "I thought I might lose you."

Simba nodded. The bad feeling he had gotten in his heart and belly was now fading away. Mufasa wasn't angry with him anymore. Things were going to be okay now.

"I guess even kings get scared, huh?" Simba asked.

"Mm-hmm," his father replied, nodding. "More than you could ever know."

With a smirk, Simba leaned in. "But you know what?"

Mufasa smiled back. "What?"

"I think those hyenas were even scarder," Simba said with a snicker.

"That's because nobody messes with your dad!" Mufasa said, laughing and reaching over to him. "Come here, you!"

With a playful growl, he grabbed Simba and pulled him into a headlock, ruffling his head fur. Simba pretended to growl and struggle, laughing and reaching up to grab his mane. Mufasa jumped away, laughing as the two lions raced through the grass, sending up fireflies that glowed on the savannah grass. When Simba finally caught up, he pounced and grabbed a hold of Mufasa's ear with his teeth.

Finally, they stopped playing, panting from their exercise. Mufasa was laying down in the grass, paws tucked under him. Simba was resting on his mane, crawling up to look down at his father's face. All negative feelings he felt earlier were now gone.

"Dad?" he asked, which earned a good-natured grunt from Mufasa. "We're pals, right?"

Mufasa chuckled. "Right."

"And we'll always be together, right?"

Mufasa raised his head, leading to Simba sliding onto his shoulders. He frowned, not in anger, but in deep thought. How to break it to him but being gentle at the same time...

"Simba," he said finally, "let me tell you something that my father told me. Look at the stars." He lifted his head to the starry night sky, and Simba did the same. "The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars."

Simba rolled around until he rested in between Mufasa's forepaws. Above them, the starry sky expanded across the sky like falling snow, the moon shining bright upon them as well. "Really?"

Mufasa nodded. "Yes. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I." Then he looked down at Simba and said with a small sad smile, "They live in you, Simba, and they live in me as well. They're watching over everything we see. In every creature, in every star, and in your reflection."

"That sounds pretty cool," Simba remarked and flicked his tail. "Where'd you get that from?"

"It was part of a song my mother taught me and your uncle Scar," said Mufasa, looking back up to the night sky. "There are two variations of that song, to show that even those who are gone will always be with us."

There was indeed a sad tone in Mufasa's voice. It almost made Simba sad that he didn't know something that his father did.

Tilting his head back and forth, Simba tried seeing any starry lions leaping through the sky. "But I can't see them, Dad," he murmured.

"Keep looking, son," Mufasa rumbled with a smile. "Keep looking."

So father and son watched the stars together. Simba nestled in close to Mufasa's mane. He trusted his father, but more importantly, he loved him. All that mattered now was that they were under the stars, watching them together. And they would be together forever.

To be continued...