Reunions and Remembrance
It has been two years since the eclipse that almost tore the Tree of Life and Pride Rock apart. The cubs are now teenagers about Kion's age when he received his scar. The Night Pride's royal family was summoned to Pride Rock for the funeral of the longest Royal Majousy ever. Kion and Rani hadn't come to pride rock since Timon and Pumbaa's death.
"Well, there it is. My old stomping grounds," Kion said.
"I don't really remember this place dad?" Jala said kind of confused that the big rock in the distance was the famous Pride Rock that her dad would talk about.
"Yes and that is also where you cubs were," Kion began to say.
"Kion! Don't say that," Rani said.
"Where we were what?" Kishindo asked.
"Um well let's just say if I told you, you probably would say gross," Kion said.
The cubs realized what their father meant.
"Wait hold on," Maisha said.
"Kion, Rani, and the famous cubs," Ono said.
"Ono, how are you old friend?" Rani asked with a smile.
"No better timing," Kion said rolling his eyes in relief.
"I'm okay, but the pride lands aren't right now. Everyone is devastated about Rafiki, even I'm a bit choked up," Ono said.
"I understand, my great-grandfather placed Rafiki as the Royal Majousy of the Pride lands, he saw five generations of the pride lands," Kion said.
"Dad I don't know if I can handle a funeral, you know I don't like those," Jala said kind of worried about having to face a funeral.
"Jala, remember what me and your father have taught every one of you. Life and death are a part of the circle of life, each should be celebrated and revered. Not something we should try to avoid or be afraid of," Rani said.
"Jala, we'll be okay, 'cause remember you've got us," Muhasi said nudging his sister.
Later on, after the lions exchanged pleasantries and a quick meal. The teens went to tour the pride lands with their cousins Kitu and Njia and their aunt Malkia.
"So Vitani how long until the cub or cubs arrive?" Rani asked.
"About a month away, and Rani how the heck did you carry four at once?" Vitani asked.
"Well this cute lion is a big part of that," Rani said hugging Kion.
"That's sweet, but seriously? Cause I love Kopa but I'm miserable," Vitani said.
"Honestly it's just thinking about the end goal instead of the current discomfort. I remember being miserable, but I remember the joy that I had when I thought about the cubs I was carrying," Rani said.
"Well Nala has been amazing through this so has Kiara, but I must admit I can't wait to see Kopa as a dad," Vitani said.
"Your majesties, the funeral is almost prepared," Ono said.
"Thank you, Ono, I guess someone has to go get the kids," Kovu said.
"I will, go ahead besides I need to take a walk before this," Simba said.
"Simba," Nala said with concern.
"I'll be okay, I just have to process this," Simba said.
As Simba walked away he had flashes of when Rafiki would walk with him and tell him about Mufasa, and Ahadi his grandfather.
"Hey Grandpa," Kitu said while on his back with Muhasi pinning him.
"Hey kids, come on we have Rafiki's funeral to attend. Where's Jala?" Simba asked.
"She is over there underneath that tree over there, she isn't that fond of funerals," Maisha said.
"Oh, do you four attend a lot of funerals?" Simba asked.
"Yeah, and as the royal family, we have to attend many. The pros and cons of being royal," Kishindo said.
"I know that feeling, I can't imagine that at your age, I guess that was the perk to not growing up royal," Simba said.
"Grandpa, is it true you weren't even a year old when great-grandfather Mufasa passed?" Muhasi asked.
"Yes, I. Don't wish that feeling on anyone, that's why I treasure each moment with my kids," Simba said hugging Malkia.
"I don't understand how you could do that as young as you were dad," Malkia said.
"Well it wasn't easy, but I had Timon and Pumbaa as my family. That's one thing I always say to your parents, and the advice I will give to your Uncle Kopa and Aunt Vitani. And I know one day you will have cubs one day. Treasure every moment you have with your family. Because you never know when it could be your last moments with someone," Simba said.
"That's really good advice Grandpa, that's why I love when my cousins are here," Kitu said.
"We love being here with some other lions our age. We love Binga, Haraka and Doa. But finally someone I can pin besides Muhasi," Kishindo said laughing.
"Why you little," Muhasi said pouncing on him and trying to pin him but he couldn't cause Kishindo had the strength of his great grandfather.
"Hey Muhasi it's okay, your grandmother still pins me," Simba said.
"Oh, I hope you're not meaning it in a gross way grandpa," Maisha said.
"Ha, ha. Well no not in that way, and besides your kids are getting to that age where you will be looking for mates. But I understand you don't want to hear about me and your grandmother," Simba said.
"Or mother," Malkia said.
Simba just laughed as he walked behind the teens who ran to where the funeral was to be held. Simba smiled thinking of how blessed he was to have lived to watch each of them grow up.
At the funeral, the animals of the pride lands and the outlands mourned a long-time royal majousy.
"Welcome all for the celebration of the life of the longest sitting Royal Majousy in the pride lands history. Rafiki was a great friend, the wisest animal I've ever met, and the best matchmaker the pride lands has ever known. I owe my mate to him, he showed me and Kiara that we are our Upendi. Without him I may would've never realized that I love Kiara. But honestly, I can't do the wonderful life of Rafiki justice. Which is why I am deferring the eulogy to King Simba." Kovu said stepping to the side as Simba wasn't prepared for Kovu calling him King.
"You know you don't have to call me king," Simba said.
"Yes I do, I might be king now, but you will always be the greatest king the pride lands have ever known," Kovu said.
Simba smiled, took a deep breath, and looked over to where Nala was seated next to Rani, Kion, and their cubs. But Simba saw next to Kion his father Mufasa sitting nodding his head as a sign of approval.
"Rafiki means friend to this land. And no truer words can be spoken about Rafiki. He raised me when I was a cub presenting me as the heir to pride got to witnessing two more generations after me. Without him, I would've never come home to become King. King Kovu already stated without him Kovu and Kiara wouldn't have got together. And the same could possibly be said for Kion and Rani as well. He truly was a guide, friend, advisor, and one of the greatest animals this land has ever known. The one who holds this staff will never replace Rafiki, but will always walk in the shadow of him. As we all will because this mandrill's hands not only touched my life. But the life of all of us." Simba said grabbing the staff that rested beside Rafiki with his teeth.
The pride landers applauded and celebrated the life of their royal majousy, but also applauded Simba for his eulogy.
Later that night Kion and Rani were walking together around the pride lands.
"So how are you Kion? I know it has been a while since we've been here," Rani said.
"I'm okay, Rani. I wish I could be with my family more honestly. I never regret the choice I make cause I wouldn't have you or the kids, but I wish my family at least lived closer. I feel like the kids would love that too," Kion said.
"Yeah, I see how happy they are here, especially with Malkia, Njia, and Kitu. But unfortunately, we can't just leave and come here when we want," Rani said.
"Excuse me." A young lioness said walking up to them.
"Oh hello, can I help you?" Kion asked.
"Yes. Is this the pride lands?" the young lioness said.
"It is, I'm Kion and this is Rani. We are just visiting, we're actually King and Queen of the Tree of Life," Kion said.
"Pleasure to meet you your majesties, my name is Sana. I'm honestly looking for a place to stay, I've lost my mother and I couldn't follow her scent so I've been wandering," Sana said.
"Well let's take you to see the King and Queen of the pride lands, and we'll see what they can do," Rani said.
"Thank you very much," Sana said.
Rani and Kion escorted Sana to pride rock where the teens were lounging on the peak of Pride Rock.
"Wow there are a lot more lions here than there were in my pride," Sana said.
"Which pride is that Sana?" Rani asked.
"Oh, not from any pride big enough for notability. Just me, my mom, two aunts, and my baby cousin. We are wanderers honestly," Sana said.
"Muhasi who is that?" Kitu said noticing Sana standing next to his Uncle and Aunt.
"I have no idea Kitu, why don't you go find out," Muhasi said.
Kitu got up to greet the new lioness.
"Um, Hi. My name is K-Kitu." Kitu said fumbling through his words.
"Great job Kitu," Njia said laughing from the peak.
Kitu glared up at Njia ready to say something.
"Hi, my name is Sana. You must be the prince here?" Sana asked.
"How did you know?" Kitu asked.
"Well that lioness you wanted to tell to shut up is obviously younger than you. And you don't have the mark of the Tree of Life," Sana replied.
"Pretty observant," Kion said.
"You don't wander around the world and not pay attention, if you don't you wind up dead," Sana said.
"So are you with your pride?" Kitu asked.
"No I got separated from my family, I don't know where they went. I was honestly looking for a place to stay and I found King Kion and Queen Rani here," Sana said.
"Hey, Kitu, whose this?" Kiara asked walking up and noticing a lioness she didn't recognize.
"Your majesty my name is Sana. I was separated from my family and I was wondering if there was someone who could help me find shelter for the night," Sana asked.
"Of course Sana. You are welcome to stay, but we are at max capacity with the cousins here. So maybe Njia can show you somewhere you can stay next to the watering hole," Nala said.
"Sure thing mom," Njia said getting up to climb down from the rock.
"Thank you, your highness, it was nice meeting you Kitu," Sana said walking away with Njia.
As she left Kiara looked at her son with a look of pride.
"What?" Kitu asked.
"Kitu and Sana sitting beneath a tree. K, I, S, S, I, N, G" Jala sang teasing him.
"Really Jala?" Kitu said kind of frustrated.
"Son, you liked her didn't you?" Kiara asked.
"Mom I don't know her, I was just trying to see if I could help is all," Kitu said going to walk away.
"Was she pretty?" Kiara asked.
"Very!" Kitu said walking away from pride rock.
Njia took Sana to Hakuna Matata falls and as they went Njia tried to get to know Sana.
"So you lost your family?" Njia asked.
"Yeah, although my family hasn't been the same in a long time," Sana said with her ears dropping down a bit indicating her sadness.
"How so?" Njia asked.
"I don't like talking about it honestly," Sana said.
"I understand, but just know that my family we care about others deeply. You picked the right place to wander too," Njia said.
"Thanks so what is this place?" Sana asked.
"This is Hakuna Matata falls, it's where two very good family friends lived. I never got to meet them, but everyone tells me they were amazing," Njia said.
"I see, well thanks for the hospitality Princess, I appreciate it, Sana said with a smile.
Coming up
Find out what the royal family is up to after the funeral. And what dangers, romances, and much more could be behind every rock?