Well I hope to have this story finished by the end of December but we will have to see since I start working at Magic Kingdom soon and my hours will be really scattered, so if you don't here from me in a while that's what happened to me. Any way time to start this story.
A month passed after our first meeting with Zira ever since she had been banished. Kiara was on tight watch now. It was usually some member of the pride who watched her. They never really had any problems but after a long day of playing I would often find Kiara sulking at the back of the cave and wishing she was allowed to be on her own. No matter how many times someone would say why her father was so protective she would not care. She believed that if she played in the pride lands she would be fine and that Zira would not hurt her but we believed that spies wandered the area and we wanted to be careful.
Even though Kiara thought it was stupid to have an escort with her at all times she still enjoyed the times she spent with Sarabi her favorite grandmother. Usually they would spend the days talking about life and her grandfather who Kiara wished was still around so she could meet him.
I remember one evening in particular when I saw them both coming home and Sarabi looking more tired than normal. I flew down to check on her.
"Everything alright Madame?" I asked.
"Yes I am quite alright, just tired from a long day with Kiara, I showed her the gorge where her grandfather died," she said.
"It was sad," said Kiara in a low voice.
"Yes but at least you know where he fell if you ever wanted to visit him again," said Sarabi.
Kiara only nodded but then perked up when she saw Nala run toward her.
"Mom I saw where Granddad died," she said.
"Oh did grandma show you?" asked Nala.
"Yeah it's really quiet down there, and sad," said Kiara.
"Well it is a resting place, a place where a murder was committed," said Nala.
"Yeah I'm glad Scar is gone too, he sounded so ruthless," said Kiara.
"Oh yes he was, one of these days I will tell you my side during that time, he used me as his jester," I said.
"Yeah Timon said you were stuck in a rib cage when he first saw you," said Kiara.
"Yes and that was not a pleasant experience," I said.
Kiara was about to reply when she saw Simba walking down Pride Rock. She smiled happily and ran to greet him. Both then began to play and Nala joined in a few minutes later.
"If only I were that young again," sighed Sarabi as she watched the small family play together.
I said nothing but patted her paw as she continued to watch her son and granddaughter play. It was something she always dreamed of seeing but now it seemed she was too old to be around for them.
"I remember when Kopa was born and I was still as spry as I was then but ever since Kiara came into this world I feel my years slipping away from me," said Sarabi.
Hearing Sarabi feel that way made me sad for her. I sensed that she would have probably still had strength if it had not been for those terrible years with Scar. It looked to me like he had caused her to age early, that's why we all knew her time would come soon.
"But remember, where there was darkness comes light and that is what Simba did for us all, you should be proud of your son," I said.
"He has been a wonderful king so far hasn't he?" she asked with a small smile.
"Yes he has, he brought life back to this place," I said.
"If only Mufasa could see him," said Sarabi.
"I bet he has," I said.
Sarabi only smiled but then the smiled faded into a yawn. She gave as small stretch before walking up Pride Rock.
"I think its time I retired," she said.
"Then you have a nice rest, I will see you in the morning," I said.
"Goodnight Zazu," she said before vanishing into the den.
I gave a small sigh, I was a little worried about her, she had been tired more often now and I knew it was not good. Simba knew that too but he tried to keep it quiet, he knew his mother would keep saying that she was fine and not to worry about her but of course it was just the opposite.
For a few hours I watched Simba, Kiara, and Nala play while the rest of the lionesses of the pride went about their business and played as well or took one last walk to the waterhole for the evening. Binti came home from her evening meal and joined me in my watch until it was too dark to stay up any more. We retired to our nest together without any concerns or cares in the world.
It was late, the sun would not be up for many hours from now and everyone in the cave was asleep, that is until I was awakened by a noise. I opened one eye and looked down at the sleeping lions to see who made the noise. It had been Sarabi and she was standing up and looking outside the den.
"Mufasa?" she said as she walked out the den.
This worried me for I feared that she must be sleepwalking and she could fall off the ledge if she was not careful. I had to go out and watch her.
I made my way outside and saw her walk slowly to the tip of Pride Rock and look up at the sky. She finally stopped at the edge and looked up for at least five minutes before finally collapsing on her side, she did not move. It was Ahadi all over again and I panicked, I had to see if she was alright.
I reached halfway but I was quickly held back when a bright light suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I felt a cool breeze whip around me while I watched the bright light engulf Sarabi's body and stretch up to a nearby star that then began to glow brighter than ever. I looked back down at Sarabi, at first I thought she was getting back up but then I realized her body was still where it had fallen, her spirit was the only thing that was still alive.
She circled her body as if she was trying to make out what was happening. She stepped on her body but her paw went right through. She gasped and looked up at the sky toward the star.
I looked up at the star with her when suddenly; it became brighter until I saw an image run down toward her. I recognized it almost immediately to be Mufasa, there was no way to mistake that thick mane.
Mufasa soon reached her and for a moment, Sarabi stared not sure what to make of this ghost who came out of nowhere. But fear soon changed when she realized who it was and began to nuzzle him.
"I thought I would never see you again," said Sarabi.
"Nor I you, are you ready to come home?" asked Mufasa.
"After seeing you again, I don't want to let you go," said Sarabi.
"Then come but first I must bid farewell to an old friend," said Mufasa.
I did not know he was referring to me until he walked toward me. I was amazed by the glory that Mufasa's spirit possessed, his mane was more beautiful than ever and he still looked the same after all these years. He truly was magnificent.
"Zazu," he said.
"Sire?" was the only word that could come out of my beak.
"Thank you for helping keep the pride lands alive," he said.
"Oh but I could not have done it without Sarabi sire, she kept everyone's hopes up," I said.
"Yes but you were the one to help overthrow Scar by calling for Tahir, too bad my brother cheated and let the hyenas win," said Mufasa.
"Speaking of your brother how is he?" I asked wondering if lesser kings were able to get a star up in the sky like the great kings.
Mufasa turned around and there behind him stood Scar looking down at the floor shamefully and talking to Sarabi who only listened with caring and understanding.
"He realized his mistakes after he died, he realized that he only wanted power and that it was power that killed him. He does not get a star of his own because of his deeds but he is still able to sit beside me because he apologized for his mistakes," said Mufasa.
Scar looked up at me, his face no longer held the icy stare but one of forgiveness and sadness. He was no longer Scar to me now, he was now Taka.
"Now that Sarabi is with me, will you take care of Simba for us?" asked Mufasa.
"I would be honored to," I said.
Mufasa smiled and patted my head with his huge paw, but I felt no heaviness, only a soft feeling you get when you brush your body against a leaf.
"Take care of that wife of yours too, you don't want to ever loose a treasure like that," he said.
I smiled I was glad Mufasa knew everything that happened down here. I wondered if he even guided Simba through the hard times he had to deal with when Zira was still part of the pride.
"Well I guess it is time for Sarabi to go, we have a lot to catch up on," said Mufasa.
"Then since I never had a chance to say goodbye to you, goodbye," I said.
"Goodbye Zazu, if I ever need an advisor I'll call you," he said.
"I would be honored to help you but wait until I can barely fly, it would seem more likely to do that," I said.
Mufasa laughed. "I'll remember that," he said.
Then with a nod he turned around and walked up to Sarabi who nuzzled him once again. They watched as Taka began his descent back up into the heavens and once he disappeared from view they ran to the edge of Pride Rock and then made a decent up into the sky and toward the star. The light followed them which faded once they crossed it. Soon they reached the star and it slowly returned to its normal form.
I adjusted my eyes to the changing light and that's when I saw it, a smaller star standing beside it. Sarabi would now be with Mufasa always.
I looked down at Sarabi's lifeless form and slowly walked over to it. As I moved closer to see her, I noticed that she had a smile on her face. I knew she was at peace now and I did not feel uncomfortable around her body, probably because I saw her spirit after she died.
I patted her paw before I decided to fly back to the cave. I would not tell Simba, I would let him find out by himself in the morning. To this day I have never told him that I saw his father or his mother, it was a secret that only Rafiki knew about which I did not tell to him but one could only hope who did.
Sarabi was buried the next morning beside Kopa, her first grandson and Ahadi, her father-in-law. Condolences were made by everyone in the pride. I would tell them to you but it would fill a whole book and it lasted well into the afternoon.
It was the saddest funeral I had ever been to, tears fell down every cheek and stories of old were told by each member. They were sad memories but they were also memories that would last a lifetime.
A/N: Hope you all like that chapter, I feel that something is missing to it but I am not sure what, oh well just as long as you guys like it I am happy. So please review everyone. Oh yes and if anyone cares or is wondering what I look like just check out a link that has my pics. They are in my profile. Have a nice weekend.