On the very large spire that made up eighty percent of Pride Rock, Simba had a few tears running down his yellow face. Kion may have forgiven his family and friends that were brainwashed by Inuwa before his ultimate demise, but the king of the Pride Lands was still very guilty about unintentionally scaring his own boy for probably a life time.
"I'm sorry, Kion." he snivelled. "I am so so sorry. For everything." he also believed that be ashamed his father and mother by falling prey to Inuwa's dark magic.
Poor Simba wanted to apologize as many times as he need to his son when he gets back home, and he was more than ready to give him a big hug to show how much he loves him and how sorry he was. Little did he notice that Nala was coming up thr stone stairs to check on her husband. "Simba, are you up there?" Nala said before seeing him.
"Yeah, I'm here, Nala." Simba closed his eyes. "I feel like a terrible father, Nala." he said, "We looked like complete and utter monsters to our only son, and je might get nightmares in the years to come. Some king I am. I... never thought i would succum to-"
"Ssssshhhhh, it's ok, Simba." Nala said, sitting next to him on the right. "Please don't cry. It was not our fault. Besides, he's face worse dangers before and... oh, I think i am feeling guilty too." she felt like crying herself. Nala was suddenly thinking of how Kion was when he saw her a corrupted, brainwashed state with evil fueled in her heart. "I was pretty scary too. But... at least we didn't lay a claw on him."
"True, that's true." Simba wiped the mucus from his nose. "I'm glad we didn't claw him or scratch him under Inuwa's magic."
"But... we could have done it if Inuwa ordered it to." Nala pointed.
"Another good point made."
Suddenly, the scattered clouds in the sky began forming into a large sphere, and Mufasa's face was revealed in the sphere. "Simba," he said. "I am here, son."
"Father?" Simba looked with one tear escaping his left eye. "Is that you?"
"Yes Simba." Mufasa replied in his gentle, low voice. "I can sense a tremendous amount of guilt building up inside of you. There is no need to despair like this. I know that you are worried about what Kion thinks of you. I can most certainly say the same for you, Nala."
"But, we really scared him father. We could have killed him while brainwashed with dark magic." Simba looked away from his father in shame. "Some king and father I am. I'm probably not worthy of being a king after all me, Nala, and the rest of the family have done."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Simba." Said Mufasa. "We are all not perfect, but it was not your fault. If anyone was to blame, it would be my enemy himself that me and Scar had defeated all those years ago."
Simba and Nala did not look very convicned. "But, we probably traumatized our own boy." Simba said.
"Just imagine the nightmares that will come to him tonight, or probably for the rest of his life." Nala added with more tears. "I feel like a terrible mother right now."
"Nonsense, Nala." daid Sarabi. "I hage seen how well you have handled and taken care of your children. And I am always proud with how you manage to help them. You are most certainly a great mother, and a good queen."
"And it was not your fault that you were brainwashed. Inuwa manipulated all of us. And, I partially blamed this on myself." Mufasa admitted. "I should have foreseen this a long time ago. I never would have guessed that Inuwa was regenerating himself after his physical body was destroyed. But, as I have mentioned, no one is truly to blame. No one saw this coming."
Simba and Nala had less ears in their eyes than before now. "And Kion would never think horribly or negatively of you both. He knows very well that it was not your fault." Sarabi added. "So do not be too hard on yourselves. Just try and brush this off and continue being perfect parents for Kion and Kiara."
"And this time, I am certain it is the last time we have seen the last of Inuwa. If you ever need us, Simba, I will always be there for you. Just call out my name and I will do everything I can to make your internal struggles go away. Me, and your mother." He gave a warm smile to Simba and Nala. "Just like we will always be there for Kion, Kiara, Kovu, and other members of the Pride for hekp or advice."
"Farewell, my children." Sarabi said. "Until we meet again." Then she and Mufasa disappeared from the sky and the two lions that are alive were no longer sobbing. Simba and Nala lokked much more relaxed and at ease after the talk with Mufasa and Sarabi.
"They're right." said Nala. "Maybe we are being too hard on ourselves "
"Yeah, maybe we are." Simba agreed. "Inuwa is in the past, and you can't change the past. All we can do is... move forward and leave the past behind us." Then he got on a four legs. "I wonder how Kion is doing with Rani right now."
"I'm sure they are doing fine." Nala speculated. "I mean, those two are alone together and they are probably having fun together right now. Besides, Zazu is checking to make sure nothing bad happens."
"Oh. Right. I forgot about that. We should also give praise to Adewale, Chikelu, and all the other animals that fought against us and were not brainwashed by Inuwa. They are true heroes with my son and his friends."
"Yeah, maybe it might make the relationships with the other animals stronger than ever, especially the wild dogs."
