E.B's Christmas Carol

Chapter 2

As evening comes, Simba and Nala wonder through the dark hallways with flashlight, towards the kitchen. Because they have major trust issues, there're no staffs within the palace; no cooks, no butlers, no gardeners and no maids. As well as having guards that's outside of the palace, and the limo driver, the only ones working, are Zazu; Simba's Major-domo and Royal Advisor, and Rafiki; Shaman and Royal Mjuzi. But they both gone for Christmas.

So, although Simba and Nala cooks very well, the palace's furniture, paintings and items gets covered in dust and the garden gets wild.

Anyway, suddenly, the flashlights went out, "Oh! Stupid batteries..." Nala said as she and her husband unscrew the flashlight heads to change the batteries, unaware the hallway they in is faintly glowing green.

"There we go." Simba said after the batteries changed, "What do batteries become useless in the end." Simba muttered.

Nala then notices strange green light and turn towards the source of it, before jump back in shock and surprise. Surprised by his wife's reaction, Simba turn to see a green glowing painting portrait of his evil uncle and tyrant; Scar.

"What the...?" Simba started in confuse, "I thought I had that in the basement! How did it get back there?"

"And why is it glowing like a ghost?" Nala asked.

"Don't know." Simba said, "Probably some Scar's followers. No matter, this time, I'll put it in the fire."

Handing Nala his flashlight, King Simba heads towards the portrait. But, just as Simba grab the portrait, Scar's painting suddenly come to life and let out a spooky thunder roar, frightening the rulers whose no sooner after that, made a run for it.

A while later, the King and Queen are at the corner, panting before carefully, look pass the corner seeing Scar's portrait disappeared...

"Hallucination." Simba just said.

"Yeah, I agree." Nala said as she and Simba carry on towards the kitchen.

Soon, they are in the kitchen where Nala is cooking dinner. A few moments later, dinner is ready and Nala carry hers and Simba's as her husband lead the way with the flashlight. A while later, they arrive in their private dinning room and after Nala walk pass, Simba shut the door and put on many type of locks.

Then after turn the light on and place candles on the table before lighting them, Simba and Nala start eating their dinner. Just then, bell pull starts pulling itself, making a single bell sound, confusing the rulers. Deciding whatever was, is nothing, Simba and Nala went back to eating when the bell pull has pulling itself multiple times, making lots of bell noises before louder bells sounds from clock tower and church's bell tower, join in, forcing Simba and Nala covering their lion ears, trying to block out the bell noises. A few minutes later, the bell sounds has stop; thankfully, only for Simba and Nala hearing rattling chains from behind the door. Quickly, Simba and Nala grab their semi-automatic pistols ready as they watch the door...

As the locks unlock themselves, frightening the rulers even more as the door open itself, revealing two green anthropomorphic lion like ghosts with chains wrapped around them;

One of them has small, light and short link of chains with one long chain connect to a single concrete block.

And the other who has a scar across his left eye, has longer, bigger and heavy chain links with at least five long chains connect to concrete block each.

Simba and Nala can't help, shaking their hands with guns, in fear.

"I... It's still a Humbug!" Simba said

"This is not real! We don't believe it!" Nala said.

Suddenly, the big window open itself as the light shines from what could be heaven, surprising the rulers a lot, as four white hooded figures arrives.

"Hey now!" Simba said, "What do you want with us?!"

The hooded figures slowly remove their hoods, revealing more anthropomorphic lions; one lion and three lionesses.

"Much, Simba." Chainless lion ghost said, "Very, very much."

Nala in fear, fire her pistol at the second chained ghost, but the bullet went right through the ghost and fly through the dark hallway. A while later, there was a breaking sound.

The second chained ghost point backwards, "That's probably an expensive one." Before the door shut and lock itself.

Nala froze in fear along with Simba, as fourth chainless ghost arrive near them, "Young lady, Simba, give me those!" Fourth chainless ghost said as she take the pistols, "You should never play with guns. It's all fun and games till someone shoot an eye out."

"Who... what are you all?!" Simba asked.

"In life," The first chainless ghost started, "I was your father; Mufasa." Mufasa then, point at the second chainless ghost, "Your mother; Sarabi." Then, at third chainless ghost, "My mother and your grandmother; Uru." Then, at the first chained ghost, "My father and your grandfather; Ahadi." And finally, at the second chained ghost, "I assume you remember my brother and your uncle; Scar."

"And Nala," Fourth chainless ghost said, "I surprise you didn't recognise your own mother; Sarafina."

"And now that we done with introduction." Uru said, "Simba, Nala, we need to talk."

Simba and Nala stare at the ghosts in surprise and a bit of fear, for the while before Simba asks, "Do ghosts sit down?"

"We can." Sarabi said.

"Then do it then." Nala said.

With that, the ghosts went to the table and sit on their chairs as Simba and Nala slowly made their way towards their chairs.

"You do not believe in us, do you two?" Scar asked.

"...Not really, Scar." Simba said.

"Why do you doubt your senses when they're right in front of you?" Ahadi asked.

"Because for all we know," Nala started, "All this could be the figment of our imagination."

"Agree." Simba said, "Ghosts are not real. It's all Humbug."

Uru stand up from her chair and walk through the table towards Simba and Nala... BEFORE SLAP THEM ON THE CHEEK!

"Did that feel like the figment of your imagination, to you?!" Uru asked.

"Ow!" Nala said as she rub her left cheek, "That hurt!"

"So, do you believe us now?" Uru asked as she rise her arm...

"Yes! We do!" Simba said.

"What Simba said! Just don't slap us!" Nala said.

Uru lower her arm before went back to her chair.

"But, why coming to us?" Nala asked.

"And why is Grandfather and Scar in chains?" Simba asked.

"We wear the chain we forged in life." Ahadi said as he stare at his chain.

"We made them link by link and yard by yard." Scar said, "And now, we can not escape of it. Nor can you escape from yours, Simba and Nala."

"Ours?!" Simba and Nala asked in shock.

Scar nodded with a grin, "They're bigger, longer and heavier than this 28 years ago. Some from Hell, believed they are the ponderous chains."

Simba and Nala looking at each other then themselves.

"We don't see any chains." Nala said.

"They are invisible till the day of your deaths." Sarabi said.

"Bu...but it can't be!" Simba said before turn to Mufasa, "Father, tell me that not true."

"I can not, my son." Mufasa said, "In life, my father pay too much attention to me and pushed aside my little brother. My family are slowly torn apart due to my father's neglectfulness."

"But it wasn't Grandfather's fault!" Simba said, "It was one of the royal duties!"

"Duties?!" Uru asked, "Loving his family was a family man's duty. Cherishing his family was a family man's duty. Caring, protecting and guiding his family was the real family man's duties!"

"My wife is right. I paid the prize for my misguided deeds." Ahadi said, hold up his chain, "But it's not too late for you two. You will be haunted by three spirits."

"What?! More Ghosts?!" Nala asked, "I already had enough of that!"

"Without them, Nala," Sarafina said, "You and Simba will never escaped the path Ahadi and Scar walked."

"Expect the first one tonight." Mufasa said, "When the bell tolls one."

"Can they all come at once and get it over with?" Simba asked.

Suddenly, there was the knock on the door, "Your Majesties?! We heard a gunshot! Anything OK?!" A soldier's voice asked from behind the door.

"The door's lock!" Second Soldier's voice said.

"Help me break the door down!" First soldier's voice said before the banging sounds was heard.

Ignoring the banging door, the ghosts got up from the chairs before went towards the window.

"Remember, when the bell tolls one." Uru said, "Heed their warning. Learn your errors. Or you two will suffer far worst than Scar."

Then, Uru towards her husband and younger son and blow them a kiss before all the ghosts fly out the window and went different ways.

Then, the door break down and few soldiers charge in, armed and ready.

"Your Majesties, anything alright?" Captain of the soldiers asked.

"Everything is fine." Simba said, "Now, fix the door!"

Not wanting to make their king angry even more, the soldiers starts fixing the door they broke. Meanwhile, Simba and Nala look out of the window in worry and fear. Before they calm down and turn to each other.

"Humbug." Rulers said.

(And done! Now that the ghost family paid a visit and three more spirits coming, will Simba and Nala change their ways or will they suffer far worst than Scar had? Stay tune to find out! Till then, see you all soon!)