Chapter Five

How they remember you!

The morning after Nala's passing. Rani woke up with Kion not next to her. But instead, he was sitting staring off into space.

"Kion. Good morning." Rani said nuzzling him.

"I just can't believe she's gone. My mom was my biggest supporter. No matter what she always stuck by me." Kion said.

"She was an incredible mother. Even to me, I learned so much from her. Are you going to be okay during the funeral?" Rani asked.

"Kion!" Bunga called out next to the den.

"Bunga? What are you doing here?" Kion asked.

"Well, when Makini said she had to go to pride rock for an emergency we had to come and be with you," Bunga said.

"Wait, we?" Rani asked.

Kion peaked around the corner and saw Anga, and Fuli standing there.

"You all came," Kion said with a huge smile.

"Your mom meant so much to all of us. We had to be here, not just for you, but for her as well." Fuli said.

"Thanks, guys. And listen you can tell me about the Tree of Life later." Kion said.

"King Kion can wait for now buddy. We're here for our friend Kion today." Bunga said hugging his neck.

In Kopa's den.

Kopa woke up all by himself in a pool of tears from the night before.

"Vitani," Kopa said.

"Oh right. Not only did I lose my mom, but I've lost my mate too." Kopa said dropping his ears, with a stream of tears flowing down.

"Kopa," Kiara said walking in.

"Morning sis," Kopa said getting up and trying to compose himself.

"How are you doing?" Kiara asked sitting beside him.

"Well let's see. The two females who loved me the most have now either died or left me. So honestly I feel like a big piece of Elephant crap." Kopa said.

"Kopa. You and Vitani are just going through some stuff, don't be so hard on yourself." Kiara said.

"Kiara, you don't understand. The other day she woke up after we had made up, and told me she didn't love me anymore, that she was done. But you wouldn't understand that." Kopa said.

"I would. We hid it for a little while. But for a while me and Kovu weren't seeing eye to eye. All relationships go through some rough patches. I mean Kion and Rani made up while they were here. Mom and Dad almost lost what they had. I know it's hard when your mate says things that honestly they don't mean, but you have to remember the love you have and the love you had for Vitani. Just like she has to remember the love she has for you." Kiara said.

"What time is the ceremony?" Kopa asked.

"At high noon," Kiara said.

"I'll see you there. I just want to be alone right now." Kopa said turning around and laying back down facing the wall.

Kiara slowly walked out, now having to process this loss along with the loss of her mother.

But Kiara walked out to a surprise outside pride rock. Simba was laying down and playing with the teens.

"Alright, I can't smell I promise. One, two, three." Simba started to count as the teens ran and hid.

"Dad? What are you doing?" Kiara asked.

"I'm playing hide and seek. What's it look like?" Simba replied.

"Wow, that sounded like Timon. Are you okay?" Kiara asked laying next to him.

"I will be. But your mother made me promise to love and be with you guys with the time I have left. And that's what I am going to do. Besides my grandkids are almost fully grown, this could be the last time I have all of them in one place. Four, Five, Six." Simba said aloud.

"Sorry, I just thought you'd be a little sadder is all," Kiara said kind of surprised that her dad was seemingly unphased by Nala's death.

"Kiara. Look around you. Look at Malkia, look at your babies, and your nieces and nephews. This is Nala's legacy. Not anything she did as Queen. But you, Kion, Kopa, Malkia, and all of her grandkids. I look at all of them and see her. I'm going to miss her for the rest of my life. But I can't grieve her so much that I miss what is right in front of me. I did that once, and it almost cost me all of you. I refuse to do that again. Ready or not here I come." Simba said getting up slowly.

Kiara lay there stunned but proud of her dad.

"We are going to be okay," Kiara said to herself.

"Hey, honey," Kovu said licking the top of her head.

"Hi, is everything set up?" Kiara asked.

"Yeah. And the former guard is here. Bunga asked me if he could speak at this." Kovu said.

"And what did you tell him?" Kiara asked.

"I told him by all means," Kovu said.

"Gotcha," Simba yelled out finding Malkia.

"Oh come on I got caught first," Malkia said kind of annoyed.

"Hey, now you can help me find your nieces and nephews," Simba said hugging her.

"Alright. Zuka Zama." Malkia yelled out running with her dad to the next spot to find the others.

At high noon, all the pride landers gathered to pay tribute to the late Queen. Nala and Simba both agreed that they would be buried next to Timon, Pumbaa, and Binga.

"Bunga, are you okay Little B?" Beshte asked walking up to him.

"Hey, Beshte. I'm okay, it brings back some emotions but. I know what I need to do. First I need to hug this beautiful girl." Bunga said hugging Beshte's little girl Esther.

"Thank you, Bunga. My dad says you are the bravest animal ever." Esther said.

"Well, I don't like to brag but, I'm pretty brave," Bunga said.

"Bunga it's about to start. You sure you've got this?" Kovu asked.

"Kovu. You paid a tribute I can never repay you for with my Binga and little one. And Nala meant a lot to me. I've got this." Bunga said standing up on a little mound.

The crowd settled down and turned their attention to Bunga. Bunga took a deep breath and looked down at Simba, as he smiled and nodded at him.

"Pride Landers. Friends and family. We are here today to say our goodbyes to the great Queen Nala. I could ramble on for days about how wonderful Nala was. She is survived by her best friend and the love of her life King Simba, and her four kids Kopa, Kiara, Kion, and Malkia. And all her friends and family that she made an impact on. My uncles told me that when they first met her, they tried to split Simba and Nala up, cause my Uncle Timon feared it would ruin their Hakuna Matata. But years later she looked back and realized that Nala perfected it. Someone said I was the bravest animal the pride lands has ever known. And while that was my title for a long part of my life. I disagree. Nala was brave enough to run away from home to find help. And she found Simba. She was brave enough to have four cubs even after she was put through torment by Scar. But then I even think about how she had a paw in some of the best years of my life as a member of the Lion Guard. It was Nala who was a mother to me, Fuli, and Beshte who all had lost ours. She believed in us even when we were kids just trying to figure out life. The love she showed for everyone was unmatched by anyone. I'm going to miss her, but I will always remember her, not just because she was my best friend's mom. Not just because she was the queen. But because she was a mother to all of us. And I know when we look to the stars above, the great kings of the past will be watching. But right beside them will be the greatest Queen the pride lands have ever known." Bunga said

There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. Even the tough Shujaa who came to pay his respects cried.

As Bunga climbed down, Simba walked up to him and gave him a big hug.

"She never looked at you as a son. She always thought of you as a little brother." Simba whispered in his ear.

"Even with me being what was the word. Trying." Bunga said with a chuckle.

"Don't remind me of that day. I still have a headache." Simba said laughing.

Bunga walked over to where a purple flower had bloomed. He picked it up and set it on top of where Nala was buried.

"It was an honor Nala," Bunga said.

And at that moment Bunga turned around but there was no one around. And saw Binga and their little one embracing Nala.

"You okay Bunga?" Rani asked looking to where He was but she couldn't see anything.

"I am now!" Bunga said wiping a tear from his eye.

Later that night all but the current guard was sitting around talking about the great stories of Nala's life.

Simba just sat back with a smile, hearing how much his mate meant to everyone.

"You know. I'll never forget when she came to me when I was about to have Esther." Makayla said.

"Yeah, she was so kind to you. I'll never forget that." Beshte said.

"I know I couldn't have given birth to my cubs without her there. She was such an incredible mother to us all. Even when we weren't her kids." Rani said.

"That was the difference with Nala. She never viewed herself as the Queen of the pride lands. She was the mother to the pride lands. She defended, protected, and loved every one of you as if they were Kiara or Kion." Simba said.

Kopa shook his head and walked away, which made Simba wonder if what he said hurt him. But no one was going to address it. But Simba went and followed him. Kopa was sitting in his den and just couldn't help but feel sad.

"Kopa. I'm sorry if I hurt you by not mentioning you." Simba said.

"No dad, it's not you. I just wish the one who I need right now, would be here to comfort me." Kopa said.

"Well Kopa, I know things are bad between you and Vitani. But you have to take one thing at a time. You can't blame Vitani for not being here." Simba said.

"No, I can't. That's my problem. I'm the reason she's not here. Dad, you can go back to the group. I just need to be alone right now." Kopa said.

"Son, I'm here for you if you need me," Simba said walking away, knowing he had to help Kopa somehow.

While Kopa was sitting there he began to softly sing.

"And I bless the day I met you. And I thank God that he let you, lay beside me for a moment that lives on. And the good news is I'm better for the time we spent together. And the bad news is You're Gone!" Kopa sang breaking down into tears.

In the middle of the Night, Simba walked out to the peak of Pride Rock. Just thinking about all that had happened.

"Nala. I know you can hear me. You were right. It isn't about if they remember you. It's how they remember you! I know my journey isn't over I've still got some things to do." Simba said.

And softly Simba heard a whisper.

"You can do it, my love." Nala's voice whispered to him.

Author's Note

Credit to Diamond Rio's song You're Gone for the lyrics to the song mentioned.

Credit to Rascal Flatt's song How they remember you for inspiring a piece of dialogue featured in this chapter.

Coming Up

As the Night Pride heads back to the Tree of Life. What will happen when the King and Queen are introduced to Stari and Zara? And will Vitani and Kopa get back together? Find out in Chapter 6