The Circle of Life
All of the animals once again came to Pride Rock to celebrate another joyous moment in Prideland history. Mufasa's mate Sarabi had just given birth to the newest member of the pride. Mufasa sat at the tip of Pride Rock and watched all of the animals arrived. Zazu flew in from above and hovered over Pride Rock until his wings allowed him to float gently to the groung to bow before the King. Rafiki made it through the herd of wildebeest and oxen with his stick in hand and climbed all the way to the top of Pride Rock to grace the King and Queen with his presence. Mufasa lead Rafiki into the den where Sarabi lay and the Pride members surrounding. Mufasa nuzzled Sarabi gently and looked down at their new son. Rafiki stood in front of Sarabi, watching the little cub's first movements. Sarabi licked the little cub from head to toe and watched as he flipped his body around to face the baboon shaman. The little cub purred as Rafiki wave the gourds on his stick over the cub's crown. Rafiki took one of the gourds off of his stick and cracked it open over his head. Lowering the shell down from over his head, Rafiki dipped his finger into the gourd juice and wiped it over the cub's crown and then grabbed some sand and sprinkled it on top of the cub. The little cub sneezed and Sarabi and Mufasa just nuzzled each other. Rafiki picked up the cub and carried him over to the tip of Pride Rock where he was held high. Mufasa and Sarabi watched as their son was held high above the Pridelands and the animals kneeled before the royal prince.
That morning, Scar laid in a nearby cave sleeping until a mouse caught his eye. It squeaked all around until the predator was spotted. Scar laid his big paw on top of the mouse and pulled it up off of the ground by its tail. "Life's not fair is it,"said Scar. "You see I will never be king. And you...will never live to see the light of another day." Scar lifted the mouse above his head and lowered it into his slimy jaws. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food,"said Zazu. Scar lowered the mouse away from his mouth and hid it between his paws. "What do you want?"asked Scar with an annoyed tone.
"I'm here to announce that King Mufasa is on his way to talk to you about why you missed the presentation of the new prince; your nephew."
"I don't care if it is my brother's son because now I have lost my appetite."
"You'll lose more than that when the king gets through with you."
"Oh my, I quiver with fear at the sight of my brother." Scar stared at Zazu now not as his brother's idiotic sidekick but as a food source. "Now Scar, don't look at me like that," said Zazu as he started to fly away from Scar. Unfortunately, Scar was much faster than Zazu and caught the bird in the slimy clutches of his mouth. "SCAR!"cried a roaring voice from above. Scar turned around and saw his brother standing on a nearby ledge watching the whole incident play out. Scar scowled at his brother and spit Zazu out of his mouth in a puddle of saliva. "Why if it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners,"said Scar. "Sarabi and I didn't see you at the presentation of Simba. Is anything wrong?"asked Mufasa. "That was today? Oh I feel so awful. It must have slipped my mind,"said Scar. "As slippery as your mind is, as the King's brother, you should have been first in line,"said Zazu in an angered tone. Scar snapped at Zazu then smiled a conniving smile. "I always was first in line. Until the little hairball was born,"Scar sneered.
"That hairball is my son and your future king."
"Oh let me practice my curtsy. All hail the royal hairball nephew of mine." Scar began to walk away from his brother. Mufasa felt the urge to run after his brother and scratch some sense into his head but felt reluctant towards those actions. Zazu flew up onto the King's shoulder and watched as the resentful Scar walked out into the daylight.
The daylight turned to nighttime shine very quickly in the Pridelands. Everyday, the grasslands began to sing with the melodies of dancing fauna and swaying flora. Some days were hotter than others and some days were wetter than most. The tallest acacia tree stood through the best and the worst. This tree was where Rafiki lived for most of his days. In between the branches, Rafiki had several gourds filled with watery juices of many colors which he used to create drawings on the tree trunk and behind all of the branches. Rafiki had a drawing of every moment in Prideland history. He had a picture of Meisie and Uru and another picture of Zazu with Mufasa. He had every Pride member on the tree except for the newest. Rafiki cracked open a gourd and began to wipe some of the juices onto a spot of his tree trunk with no picture. Rafiki had drawn a picture of a cub. "Simba,"he said as he wiped a strip of juice across the cub's forehead.
The sun and moon switched places many times in the sky and as they passed, Simba grew into a young cub. As curious as any young cub, Simba wished to explore the world around him. Mufasa realized that Simba would need to learn all of his life lessons quickly. Before the sun rose one morning, Mufasa led Simba out of the den and brought him to the tip of Pride Rock. Mufasa sat with Simba and waited and soon enough, the sun came out. "Look Simba,"said Mufasa. Everything the light touches is our kingdom." Simba looked out into the distance and gazed at all of the wonderous realms of the Pridelands that would be his one day. "A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day Simba, the sun will set on my time here and will rise with you as the new king "Mufasa continued. "And this will all be mine?"asked Simba. "Everything,"said Mufasa. "The only place where we can't go are those shadowlands over there. That's beyond our borders and you must never go there Simba." "But I thought a king could do whatever he wants,"said Simba. "There's much more to being king than getting your way all of the time,"said Mufasa as he began to walk off of Pride Rock and into the grasslands with Simba trailing behind. "Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all of the creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope because when we die our bodies become the grass and the antelope eat the grass. So, we are all connected in the great circle of life." "Sounds great Dad,"said Simba. Mufasa continued to talk but Simba got distracted by a small grasshopper and no longer listened to his Father's lecture. Mufasa and Simba walked through the Pridelands for some time until Mufasa saw Zazu flying overhead overseeing intruding hyenas entering the Pridelands. "Sire! Hyenas! In the Pridelands!"screeched Zazu. "Simba follow Zazu home,"ordered Mufasa. "Awe Dad, can't I come?"asked Simba. "No son,"ordered Mufasa. On the way home, Simba saw his Uncle Scar in a nearby cave close to Pride Rock. Simba raced off to where Zazu couldn't see him and ran over to the cave where his Uncle Scar lay. "Hey Uncle Scar, guess what. I'm going to be king of Pride Rock. My Dad showed me the whole kingdom. I can't wait to rule it all. He only said I can't go into the shadowy place that's beyond our border,"said Simba. Scar sneered and glared a conniving smile. "He's absolutely right Simba. Only the bravest lions go there,"said Scar. "Well I'm brave. Why can't I go there?"asked Simba "I never said you weren't brave Simba but an elephant graveyard is no place for a young prince,"said Scar. Simba's eyes lit up with excitement. "This is so cool! An elephant graveyard; I can't wait to tell Nala,"said Simba. "Now Simba, I wasn't supposed to tell you that,"said Scar. "Now I want you to promise me something. Promise me you will never tell anybody about that dreadful place." "No problem,"said Simba with a smile. "There's a good lad,"said Scar. "Go run along now and have fun but remember this is our little secret." Simba pranced out of the cave with his Uncle Scar watching. Scar cackled as Simba ran further into the Pridelands knowing that everything was going as planned.
Simba pranced along in a proud manner. "Wouldn't Dad be so proud of such a brave cub,"Simba thought. Simba also knew that he would be disobeying his Father if he went into the elephant graveyard. "If only Uncle Scar didn't say that only the bravest lions go there. Then I wouldn't have to go there and disappoint my Father. I guess he'll forget all about his anger at me once I prove to him how brave I am,"thought Simba. Simba soon found Nala sitting with her Mother, Sarafina and Simba also found his Mother, Queen Sarabi. "Hey Mom. Can I take Nala to this really cool place I found over by the water hole?"asked Simba. "The Water Hole!"excalimed Nala. "What's so great about the water hole?" "I'll show you when we get there,"said Simba. "Mom can I go with Simba?"asked Nala. Sarafina just looked at her daughter and then at Sarabi. "I don't know Nala. You just had a bath." "I'll be really careful Mom. I promise I won't get really dirty,"begged Nala. "What do you think Sarabi,"asked Sarafina. "It's alright with me as long as Zazu goes with you. "No, not Zazu. He'll spoil all of our fun,"thought the cubs. "Step lively. The sooner we get to the water hole...The sooner we can leave,"said Zazu. With Zazu flying ahead to lead the way, Simba was able to whisper to Nala what he actually had in mind. "We have to ditch the dodo. We are actually going to an elephant graveyard. My Uncle Scar says only the bravest lions go there,"said Simba. Zazu turned around to find the two cubs whispering and it reminded him of when Mufasa was a cub. "Oh look at you two little seeds of romance blossoming in the savannah. Your parents will be thrilled. One day you two are going to be married,"said Zazu. "YUCK,"said Simba. "I can't marry Nala. She's my friend."
"Well that's just how your Father was with your Mother. They were the best of friends as cubs but once they got older, they put their friendship aside and went into a more serious relationship." "Well, were not like that."
"Rather you like it or not Simba it's going to happen. It's tradition."
"Well when I'm king, that'll be the first thing to go. I'll just do as I please."
"With an attitude like that, you'll be a pretty pathetic king." Zazu flew ahead shaking his head and laughing at the cub. Simba dashed ahead with Nala closely behind "I can't wait to be king,"said Simba. "Just you wait Zazu, I am going to be the greatest king there ever was." Simba and Nala continued to run ahead. They sprinted in and out of animal herds, trying to get Zazu off of their trail. After running through the savannah, Simba and Nala finally lost the king's annoying majordomo in all of the hustling, bustling herds.
"It worked!"exclaimed Nala. "We lost him." "Now we have to look for the elephant graveyard,"said Simba. As a playful victory celebration, Simba tried to pounce on Nala. Nala was way to fast for Simba and jumped out of the way and pinned him on his back. Nala climbed off of Simba and moved slowly away from him. Simba was determined to retaliate and leaped out at Nala trying to pin her. Nala stepped out of the way again and jumped onto Simba. Together the cubs rolled down a hill until they hit rock bottom. The two cubs were startled by a large puff of steam that rose from a vent in the ground. The cubs slowly walked past the wall of steam when it dissipated into the sky. Behind the layer of steam was a large elephant skull. The skull was bone dry to the touch and covered in layers upon layers of dirt and muck. "This is it,"said Simba. "I can't believe we made it,"said Nala. The cubs got closer to the elephant skull and looked at it in awe. Simba and Nala looked over one of the elephant tusks and looked out further into the shadowlands. Piles of bones stood out for miles and never seemed to end. "Wow! It's really creepy,"said Nala.
"Yeah, isn't it great,"said Simba
"We could get in big trouble."
"I know but this adventure is worth it. C'mon let's go check out the dead elephant head." Simba and Nala almost entered the skull until Zazu showed up and stopped them. "You cubs aren't supposed to be here. We are way beyond the boundary of the Pridelands and need to go back,"said Zazu. "What could possibly go wrong Zazu?"asked Simba. "Listen this land is dangerous and if we don't leave soon we could all be in real danger,"Zazu said in a worried manner. "Danger? I walk on the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger. HA HA HA HA ,"said Simba. "HA HA HA HA HA HA,"echoed a strange series of cackling voices. Simba turned around abruptly and backed away from the elephant skull. Out of the eye sockets and mouth of the skull came the hyenas. Simba, Nala and Zazu quivered in fear at the sight of the laughing monsters. "Well, well, well Banzai. Now what do we have here?"asked Shenzi. "Oh, I don't know Shenzi. Now, what do you think Ed?"asked Banzai. Ed just cackled with his tongue flopping everywhere. "Yeah, that's just what I was thinking...a trio of trespassers!"screamed Banzai. "It was quite by accident. Let me assure you it was only a simple navigational error,"said Zazu. "Wait...I know you. Your Mufasa's little stooge and that would make this little golden fluff ball...,"said Shenzi. "I'm the future King,"said Simba. "Do you know what we do to kings who step out of that kingdom?"asked Shenzi. "You can't do anything to me you slobbery, mangy, stupid, pooches,"said Simba. "Who are you calling stupid?"cried Banzai. "Oh my! Well look at the sun. It's time to go,"Zazu panicked. "What's the hurry? Stay around for dinner,"said Shenzi. "We could have whatever is lion around! Or Maybe I'll have a cub sandwich!" The hyenas laughed until Ed started to jump up and down making strange sounds. Banzai looked around and saw no sign of the lion cubs. Shenzi continued to laugh uncontrollably and Ed just kept bouncing up and down as if he was trying to say something. "Hey? Did we order this dinner to go?"asked Banzai sarcastically. "No. Why?"asked Shenzi cluelessly. "Cause THERE IT GOES!"screamed Banzai. Simba and Nala ran as fast as their little paws would allow with Zazu trailing behind them. The hyenas soon caught up and grabbed Zazu by the tail feathers. Simba and Nala continued to run until Simba noticed Zazu was missing. "Did we lose them,"asked Nala. "I think so...Where's Zazu?"asked Simba. The hyenas chased Zazu out of the shadowlands laughing after their task was complete. The hyenas turned around and saw Simba and Nala standing there and bolted after them again. Simba and Nala ran faster and faster every time they took a step with the hyenas slowly trailing behind them and trying to take a chomp out of them whenever they were given the chance. A mountain of bones lay scattered in Simba and Nala's path and the only way to escape the hyenas was to climb up to the top. The cubs climbed and climbed the steep heep of bones. Nala struggled to climb all of the way to the top and found Shenzi climbing quickly behind her. Simba noticed his friend in distress and ran down the pile to save her. Nala began to climb away as Shenzi got ready to chomp. Simba smacked Shenzi in the face closing her jaws and sending her down the hill. Simba and Nala ran away into a cave with no escape. It was a dead end and the hyenas were closing in. Simba and Nala anxiously looked for another way to escape but it was too late; the hyenas were coming in for the kill. Nala stood behind Simba and quivered in fear. The hyenas approached slowly and sneered at the cubs smacking their lips along the way with their wet and slimy tongues. Simba stood still and arched his back. Trying to be ferocious, Simba belted out the biggest and most fierce roar he had in him. The hyenas cackled at the young cubs attempt to be brave and dared him to try again. Simba wasn't going to back down off a challenge and roared the biggest roar he had in him which sounded like an adult lion roar. The hyenas were dumbfounded by the young cubs roar but knew it wasn't him when Mufasa came out of nowhere and pummeled the hyenas to the hard ground. Mufasa stood over the three hyenas and listened to their ongoing babbling for mercy. "SILENCE!"Mufasa roared. "If you ever come near my son again..." The hyenas began to babble again until Mufasa roared with his teeth showing. The hyenas sprinted out of the cave in fear beyond any belief. Zazu flew in from outside of the cave and landed next to Mufasa. Mufasa glared at Zazu in a disappointed manner and then looked back at the cubs. "Dad...I...I'm sorry,"Simba sobbed. "You deliberately disobeyed me. Let's go home,"said Mufasa. MUfasa walked out of the cave with Zazu flying behind him and the cubs trailing behind. "I thought you were very brave,"said Nala. The cubs held their heads low, knowing they were in big trouble. Over viewing the whole incident was Scar on a high cliff ledge. He stared down at his brother and his nephew in disgust and disappointment. Scar disappeared into the darkness as the silhouettes of his unwanted family faded.
The sun began to set in the Pridelands when Mufasa furiously returned with the cubs. "Zazu,"called Mufasa. Zazu flew in front of Mufasa and hovered until his wings brought him gently to the ground. "Yes sire,"said Zazu. "Take Nala home. I have to teach my son a lesson,"ordered Mufasa. Zazu flew over to Simba and Nala and requested Nala to follow him. Simba watched as Nala disappeared into the night with Zazu flying ahead. Simba waited in the tall grass for his fate from his Father. "Simba!"called Mufasa in a harsh tone. Simba apprehensively walked towards his Father passing through the tall grass. Along the path, Simba stepped into one of his Father's paw prints imprinted in the ground. Simba looked down at his paw and compared it to how big his Father's was. "How can I ever be as great of a king as my Father. I can never fill his paw print,"Simba thought as he slowly trotted over to where Mufasa sat. Simba sat down next to his Father and held his head low. Mufasa looked down at Simba in a vexed manner. "Simba I am very disappointed in you. You could have been killed! You deliberately disobeyed me and what was worse was that you put Nala in danger!"exclaimed Mufasa. "I am very sorry Dad,"said Simba very apologetically. "I was only trying to be brave like you."
"I am only brave when I have to be. Simba, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble."
"But your not scared of anything."
"I was today because I thought I might lose you. If anything happened to you, I wouldn't know what to do."
"So even kings get scared too...but I thought kings didn't have any fears."
"Everyone has fears Simba. My only fear today was the fear of losing you and there was nothing I could do about it. If anything ever did happen to you, I would lose my pal." Mufasa wrapped his mighty paw around Simba and pulled him close. Mufasa used his other paw to give Simba a noogie. Simba . Simba evasively escaped the grasp of his Father and chased him off into the night. Simba pounced onto Mufasa and started to nibble on his ear. Mufasa lay in the grass with Simba tussling in the thickness of his mane.
"Hey Dad."
"Yes."
"We're pals right?"
"Right."
"And we'll always be together right?" Mufasa paused for a moment and didn't answer Simba. Mufasa sat up in the tall grass and felt Simba loosen his grip on his mane and slip down to his shoulders. "Simba...Let me tell you something that my Father told me. Look at the stars...The Great Kings of the Past look down on us from those stars. Whenever you feel alone all you have to do is remember that those kings will always be there to guide you...and so will I." "But what if I can't find you?"asked Simba. "You will always be able to find me. Spirits are capable of achieving anything that is thought to be impossible. You can always find me because I will be in your reflection and anywhere else you can imagine." Simba looked up at the stars and then yawned with his head snuggling into Mufasa's mane. Simba fell asleep moments after his head touched Mufasa's mane. The night grew darker and several more stars appeared in the sky. Mufasa carried Simba on his back all the way to Pride Rock and into the den. Mufasa laid next to Sarabi with Simba still on his shoulders and fell asleep during the stillness of the night.
The night grew old in the Pridelands and darker in the shadowlands. In a cave with many steam and fire pits, the hyenas lay on the cold ground still traumatized with their run in with Mufasa. "You know if it weren't for lions, we'd be running the joint,"said Shenzi as she chomped on a dry elephant bone from the elephant graveyard. "I don't even know why they are in charge,"said Banzai, trying to take Shenzi's bone. "Their pushy, hairy, stinky and their terribly ugly!" Ed began to laugh neurotically as he rolled on his back all over the ground. "Well I'm sure we lions are not all that bad,"said Scar as steam rose up from the ground and revealed a high ledge where Scar laid. "Hey Scar has finally come in to hang with his buddies,"said Banzai. "Did you bring us anything to eat old buddy?" "I don't think you really deserve this,"said Scar as he pulled out a zebra haunch. "I practically gift wrapped those cubs for you and you couldn't even dispose of them." Scar dropped the zebra haunch for the hyenas and they immediately attacked it. "Well it wasn't exactly like they were alone Scar,"said Banzai with his mouth full. Shenzi swallowed a huge chunk of meat and said "What were we supposed to do with Mufasa there to defend those hairballs. I assume you will want us to try and kill Mufasa next instead of the cubs." "Precisely,"said Scar as he leaped from rock brother end rock until he hit rock bottom where the hyenas lay. "We will have to be prepared for any task to remove Mufasa and Simba from the picture." "Why do we have to get rid of them?"asked Banzai. "Because oh oblivious one, with Mufasa and Simba out of the way, there will be no king and no heir to the throne leaving me the only one to rightfully take the throne. So we must prepare for the death of the king,"said Scar. "Why must we prepare for the death of the king? Is he sick?"asked Shenzi. "No fool we are gonna kill him and Simba too,"said Scar. "What a great idea! Then we will have no king! Who needs a king anyway,"said Shenzi and Banzai in unison. "Scar looked at the hyenas enraged with anger. "IDIOTS!"he exclaimed. "There will be a king! I will be king and if you stick with me, you will never go hungry again!" The hyenas cheered in a felicitous manner and screamed "LONG LIVE THE KING!" As they screamed, more hyenas appeared in the distance and all around the shadowlands. Scar bowed towards his new subjects. "The plan is simple and will get rid of both Simba and Mufasa but I will need assistance from my hyena brother end. When I assume the throne I will have full power over the Pridelands but I need you to remember who your leader was who assisted you to power. My ambitions to take over the Pridelands will include making sacrifices and myself being the main addressee to any changes. And...if any of you plan to replace me at any point in time, just let me remind you that I was the one who brought you to this point and you WON'T GET A SNIFF WITHOUT ME!" The hyenas were oblivious to what Scar was talking about and concentrated on their future meals which would be received. Scar didn't notice the dazed looks on the hyenas faces and knew that their happiness was a sign of loyalty and celebration for their new king. "LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!"screamed the hyenas into the night.
The sun came up sluggishly the following morning and didn't have the same shine it had always had. Scar led Simba into a dry and simmering gorge with many cracks in the land. "Now you wait here. Your Father has a marvelous surprise for you,"said Scar. "What is it Uncle Scar?"asked Simba as he climbed up onto a small rock under an adolescent acacia tree.
"If I told you Simba it wouldn't be a surprise."
"Awe, c'mon Uncle Scar. I promise I will still act surprised."
"No, No, No, Simba this is just between you and your Daddy. You know, a Father son kinda thing. Well, I should go get him."
"I'll go with you."
"No! Heh, heh, heh...no. Just stay on this rock. We don't want you to wind up in another mess like you did with the hyenas."
"Wait...how did you find out about that?"
"Simba, everybody knows about what happened. You are very lucky your Daddy was there to save you. Oh, and just between us, you might want to work on that little roar of yours. Hm?"
"Okay Uncle Scar." Scar began to walk away and left Simba on the rock. "Hey Uncle Scar! Do you think I'll like the surprise?" "Oh my goodness Simba you will love it. This special of a surprise is to die for,"Scar sarcastically exaggerated. The young cub believed his Uncle's lies and laid down quietly under the rock as Scar walked away. Above the rock where Simba sat, was a high ledge with grazing wildebeest on the top. Along with all of the wildebeest, there were three hungry hyenas waiting to make their move, each with an empty belly. "Banzai, tell your stomach to shut up,"said Shenzi. "I can't help it. I'm so hungry. Can't I just pick off one of the little babies or maybe a sick or injured one,"said Banzai. "NO! We have to wait for the signal from Scar,"said Shenzi. Scar appeared over an arched rock formation. "There he is. Let's go,"said Shenzi. Simba laid on the rock very bored. "Little roar? It wasn't a little roar. That was the biggest roar I had in me. What does Uncle Scar know about little roars anyway,"said Simba. As Simba put his head back on the rock, a small lizard came down onto the rock from a branch on the acacia tree. Simba looked at the lizard and roared. The lizard wasn't scared and then Simba roared a bigger roar. The lizard still wasn't scared. Simba was getting annoyed at the lizard and finally roared the biggest roar he had in him sending the lizard running miles away and an echo of the mighty cubs roar throughout the gorge. Simba looked around in a proud manner noticing that there was a shaking motion going on in the gorge causing the rocks on the ground to vibrate. Simba looked up at the top of the ledge and saw the wildebeest herd stampeding down the ridge. Simba stood frozen in fear and watched as the wildebeest inched closer and closer. The ground vibrated with every step the stampeding herd took. Simba bolted away as fast as he could but couldn't escape the speeding herd. As the last few wildebeest rushed down the ridge, the hyenas stood atop the ledge and watched the young lion cub run to his doom. Simba kept running and running but eventually got caught in the herd. Simba kept sprinting until he ran into a dried up tree with a single branch left. Simba climbed up the tree and clung onto the branch for dear life. Off in the distance, Mufasa stood on a path in the grasslands with Zazu on his shoulders. "Look sire. The herd is on the move already,"said Zazu in a puzzled voice. "That seems odd,"said Mufasa continuing to walk to Pride Rock. "Mufasa,"cried Scar in a sarcastically panicked tone. "There is a stampede in the gorge! Simba's down there!" "Simba,"cried Mufasa. Scar ran off with Mufasa running behind him into the gorge. Mufasa and Scar are frantically looking for Simba but see no sign off the cub. Zazu flew down into the midst of the stampede looking for the cub and found him on the branch. Rushing back to the top of the gorge, Zazu flew to Mufasa's side. "He's down there on that tree,"said Zazu. "Hold on Simba!"shouted Mufasa. "Help Me Dad!"screamed Mufasa as the branch began to break. Mufasa ran down into the stampede trying to save his son. "Oh Scar this is so awful. We have to find some way to help! Help I'll go back for help,"cried Zazu as he tried to rush out of the gorge to retrieve the lionesses. Scar growled at Zazu and smacked in the head causing him to hit a rock wall causing him to fall. Mufasa ran as fast as he could against the current of the stampede. Constantly being thrown to the ground, Mufasa never hesitated to turn around; he kept pulling and moving forward to save Simba. The branch kept cracking and cracking and poor Simba could barely hold on. A wildebeest ran towards the tree and snapped it in half. Simba flew through the air and looked down towards his doom until Mufasa leaped into the air and snatched Simba from out of the sky. Scar watched from a distance as Mufasa kept running through the stampede with Simba in his jaws. Mufasa climbed onto a small ledge and placed Simba atop and away from the danger but then, Mufasa was swept away by the quick moving herd. "DAD!"hollered Simba. Simba frantically looked for his Father but saw no sign of him. Simba began to panic until Mufasa burst out through the rushing stampede and clung onto the nearest ledge. Mufasa began to climb up the steep cliffhanger with Simba watching from a distance. Simba climbed in between the small rocks and hoped to get to a higher ledge to help his Father. Mufasa reached the top of the cliff where Scar stood. "Scar! Dear Brother...help me please,"cried Mufasa. Scar stared at his brother and then launched forward slamming his claws into Mufasa's paws. Scar stared Mufasa straight in the eye and held onto his paws. "Long live the king,"said Scar sinisterly towards his brother as he threw Mufasa off of the cliff. Mufasa's body fell through the air helplessly. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO,"cried Simba as he watched his Father plummet to his doom. Mufasa disappeared in a thick cloud of dust and smoke as the last members of the wildebeest herd bustled past. Simba hastily ran off of the rock ledge from where he stood to find his Dad. When Simba reached the bottom, he was blinded by the smoke overcast. No sign of Mufasa was visible in the gorge. "Dad!"hollered Simba. Looking around at the bottom of gorge, Simba found no remnants of his Father. "Dad?" The last wildebeest of the herd ran by Simba revealing an arched tree branch with Mufasa laying underneath. Simba looked at his Father's body and wasn't sure if he was dead. Simba inched closer to Mufasa and was sad to realize the fate his Father suffered but denied it all. Simba slowly walked towards his Father and wished hopefully that he was still alive. "Dad...awe c'mon Dad...you have to get up. Dad we have to get home. Mother and the pride will be worried about us. Simba nudged his Father's head and pulled his ear but nothing would awaken Mufasa from the slumber of destruction. Simba's soul finally admitted to itself that Mufasa was dead. Simba was frightened and looked around fro help but no one was there to comfort the traumatized cub. With tears flooding his eyes, Simba approached his Father slowly and rubbed his body against his mane. Simba crawled under his Father's paw and laid there with his eyes over flowing with tears. Scar appeared through the smokey dust fog and stood behind Mufasa's body. "Simba...what have you done,"Scar said. "Well there...there were wildebeest...he tried to save me. It was an accident Uncle Scar I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Of course, of course you didn't. No one ever means for these things to happen." Scar pulled Simba close as the cub buried his face into his Uncle's foreleg.
"I want to take it all back."
"I know you do but you can't. The king is dead and if it weren't for you he would still be alive." Simba couldn't believe what he was hearing and took in the guilt of his Father's death. Simba was crushed and looked up at his Uncle for signs of sympathy. "Oh, what will your Mother think?"
"What am I gonna do?'
"You must run away Simba. Go! Run away and never return." Simba ran off as far as he could with his shadow disappearing slowly into the overcast dust. Scar sat there and gave a slight smirk as the hyenas approached him slowly from behind. "Kill him,"said Scar. The hyenas chased after young Simba with their teeth revealed and their jaws ready to chomp. Simba approached a dead end and heard the hyenas approaching from behind. Simba climbed through the crevices in the gully until he reaches the lip where there is a steep drop ahead. The hyenas gained speed and drew near the young cub quickly. Simba had no choice but to jump down the sheer drop. Tumbling all the way down the hill and into a field of dry briars, Simba pursued his escape as the hyenas pursued their attack. Stopping right before the fall into the briars, the hyenas watched as Simba walked off into the night. "Hey there he goes,"said Shenzi. "So go get him,"replied Banzai.
"There ain't no way I'm going in there. He's as good as dead out there anyway."
"But we gotta finish the job."
"He doesn't have a chance out there anyway and if he comes back, we'll kill."
'Yeah! Did Ya Here That! If You Ever Come Back, We'll Kill Ya!" The hyenas walked away as Simba continued to journey into the realm unknown.
Returning back to Pride Rock, Scar addressed to the lionesses in the stillness of the night what has happened. "Mufasa's death is a terrible tragedy but to lose Simba who had barely begun to live." Zazu and the other lionesses consoled Sarabi who held her head low in complete despair. Nala hid underneath her Mother's body and rubbed head against her Mother's foreleg with tears dripping down her cheek. "For me this a deep personal loss it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Getting out of the ashes from this tragedy we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era in which lion and hyena come together in a great and glorious future!" Hyenas came from every corner emerging from every point on the savannah. Rafiki watched from a distance as the hyenas invaded the Pridelands. Sitting in his tree, Rafiki looked at his picture of Simba and swiped his hand across it smearing the picture along with all of his hopes and dreams of the new prince out the door. Nala walked off into the night and sat next to Rafiki's tree and prayed. "Mufasa...I miss you and I miss Simba too. Please bring him back to me. I need you Simba. You're my only friend,"pleaded Nala into the night. Unknown to Nala and the rest of the pride, Simba was still alive.
Simba had traveled far away from the Pridelands and into the desert jungle area. Simba had traveled for many days and nights without any food or water and it wasn't long before he past out in the hot desert sun. Vultures circled over the cubs body in hopes he would make a decent meal. The buzzards touched down on the ground and began to peck at Simba's body. From out of nowhere, a mahogany red warthog charged at the buzzards with a meerkat attached to his ears. Ramming all of the buzzards in sight, the dynamic warthog and meerkat cleared all of the buzzards out of the dry desert. The little meerkat jumped down off of his warthog companion and kicked a small pebble around. "I love bowling for buzzards wouldn't you agree Pumbaa?"he said. "Yep! Nothing beats the best Hakuna Matata day than kicking and tossing around the buzzards,"replied Pumbaa. As the two friends mollycoddled around for a while Pumbaa stumbled across young Simba. "Hey Timon! Come over here and see what I found."
"Well what do we have here?" Timon sniffed the young lions body with curiosity and then lifted the cubs paw off the ground revealing his face. "It's a lion! Run Pumbaa! Let's get out of here." Pumbaa put his hoof in front of his friend cutting off the escape route.
"Timon...relax it's just a little lion. Look at him. He's so cute and all alone. Can we keep him?"
"Pumbaa are you nuts! Your talking about a lion and lions eat guys like us."
"We shouldn't worry about him Timon. He's only a cub. Sure he'll get bigger but maybe he'll be on our side '
"That's the craziest idea I ever heard. Maybe he'll-. Wait...I got it. What if he's on our side. You know having a lion around might not be such a bad idea." Timon climbed back onto Pumbaa's back as Pumbaa scooped Simba up. Pumbaa carried Simba over to a shady area next to a small oasis. Timon slid off of Pumbaa's back and landed in the oasis with a small splash. Pumbaa laid Simba down onto a palm frond as Timon splashed water onto the cubs face. Simba slowly awoke from his slumber and looked at Timon and Pumbaa with a blurred focus. "Are you okay kid?"Timon asked. "I guess so 'replied Simba as his vision became clearer. "You nearly died but we saved you,"said Pumbaa. Simba slowly tried to get up but collapsed from exhaustion. "I appreciate your help,"said Simba attempting to get up again. "So where are you from?"asked Timon. "Who cares...I can't go back,"said Simba. "So that would make you an outcast. That's great cause so are we,"said Timon as he tried to cheer Simba up. "What did you do kid?"asked Pumbaa. "Something terrible but I don't want to talk about it,"said Simba as he felt the guilt from the incident rushing back in his head and flooding his mind with terrible thoughts. "Is there anything we can do?"asked Pumbaa with sympathy. "Not unless you can change the past,"said Simba. "You know kid in times like this I like to put the past behind me. Sometimes bad things happen and there is nothing you can do about it. So when the world turns it's back on you, you turn your back on the world,"said Timon. "But that's not what I was taught,"said Simba. "Then we'll have to teach you a knew lesson. Repeat after me...Hakuna Matata,"said Timon. Simba was speechless and didn't say anything. "What does that mean?"he asked. "Hakuna Matata means no worries,"said Pumbaa. "Okay...Hakuna Matata means no worries. I got it,"Simba rejoiced. "Perfect! Well I'm starving and I hope you are too,"said Timon with a gurgling stomach. "I am so hungry I can eat a whole zebra,"said Simba. Timon and Pumbaa looked at each other and then back at Simba. "Well we don't have any zebra but let us show you the kind of things we eat,"said Pumbaa. Timon and Pumbaa took Simba to their jungle home to show him where he would be living. Simba adapted to his new home rapidly; lush waterfalls, plenty of room to run, lots of trees and grass and tons of food but not the food Simba was used to. "This looks like a great spot to rustle up some grub,"said Timon as Pumbaa lifted up a log revealing tons of creepy crawly bugs. "These are very good." Timon grabbed a small red beetle and took a bite out of his head. "That's gross,"said Simba. "It may look gross on the outside but their really good on the inside and besides if you want to live with us, you have to eat like us,"said Timon. Pumbaa grabbed a leaf off of a nearby bush and filled it with all kinds of slimy yet satisfying bugs. Pumbaa pushed the leaf towards Simba and watched as the young cub took a bite of his first slug. Simba slurped up the slug and swallowed it with a big gulp. "That was pretty good,"said Simba as he took another bug off of the leaf and ate it with great pleasure.