Disclaimer: I DO NOT take credit for The Lion King characters or their respective storyline. They are owned by Walt Disney. This story is just a depiction of said story with the characters turned human. Some original characters and ideas will appear, and I will take credit for them as they do. I hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think of the idea :). Note: this is rated T for possible language and possible slight violence.

The (Human) Lion King—the Retelling of a Classic Tale

Chapter Six: Lessons Learned

Dusk was falling as the entourage made their way home, casting pink and purple shadows across the ground. Samuel and Nina kept their distance from King Michael, whose stern silence unnerved them. Even Ezekiel was staying away. Samuel walked with his eyes cast downward, remembering the disappointed look he had seen in his father's eyes. He had let his father down.

"Ezekiel," Michael's booming voice interrupted Samuel's thoughts. Ezekiel jumped, then rushed to the King's side. He bowed, avoiding looking Michael in the eyes.

"Yes, sire?" he asked tentatively.

"The castle is but ten minutes from here. Take Nina home and tell the Queen that Samuel and I will follow shortly. First, I have to teach my son a lesson." Ezekiel nodded and silently led young Nina away, leaving Samuel alone. The prince stood awkwardly kicking his feet in the dirt, not wanting to face the wrath of his father.

"Samuel," Michael called in a voice that left no room for argument. "Come."

Samuel hung his head and slowly made his way to where his father was waiting. He stumbled, having tripped in a massive boot print his father had left in the mud. It was at least three times bigger than Samuel's. He suddenly realized how much smaller he was compared to the mighty king, and how insignificant he felt beside him.

"Samuel, I am very disappointed with you." Michael stated. Samuel's eyes stung with tears.

"I know."

"You deliberately disobeyed me. And what's worse, you put Nina in danger as well!"

"I—I was just trying to be brave like you!" cried Samuel.

"I am only brave when I have to be," Michael insisted, trying to make his son see reason. "Samuel, being brave does not mean you go out looking for trouble."

Samuel wiped his sleeve across his running nose. He could no longer stop the tears from flowing. "But you're not scared of anything!"

Michael's eyes softened. "I was today," he admitted. His son's eyes widened.

"You were?" he asked with disbelief. The king nodded and wrapped his arm around Samuel's shoulders.

"I thought I might lose you."

"Oh," Samuel lowered his eyes to the ground once more.

"You are my whole world, Samuel. If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do." The great King's voice was tight with emotion as he pulled his son into a crushing hug. Samuel loved his father's hugs. They were always so warm and comforting and they always made Samuel feel completely safe.

"So, I guess even kings can get scared, huh?" Samuel asked once they had parted from their embrace. Michael chuckled.

"Mmm-hmm."

"…You know what?"

"What?"

Samuel gestured for Michael to bend down close to him, and whispered in his ear, "I bet those crazy Turncoats were even scared-er!"

Michael laughed loudly and Samuel smiled, glad his father had returned to his normal, jovial self. "They were, weren't they? Because nobody messes with your dad!" he heaved Samuel close to him and ruffled his hair playfully.

"Hey! Let me go!" Samuel laughed happily. Freeing himself, the boy impishly tackled his father and the two began chasing one another.

"Tag, you're it!"

"Why, you little rascal…get back here!"

"You have to catch me first!"

"Ha! Challenge accepted my boy!"

These antics carried on until both father and son collapsed from exhaustion, laughing through the gasps for breath. They lay in the grass together in quiet contentment, silently watching the stars twinkling across the sky. Finally, Samuel spoke up,

"Dad?"

"Hmm?"

"Did it hurt when you punched him?"

Michael laughed. "Not one bit."

"So we're pals again, right?"

Michael chuckled with a smirk, wrapping his arms around the child. "Right." He agreed.

"And we will always be together, right?"

Michael paused, thinking his answer through thoroughly. Finally he sat up and, with a serious gaze, spoke, "Samuel, let me tell you something that my father told me when I was young, as his father told him: look at the stars…go on, look." He insisted. Samuel complied, raising his chin to the darkened sky glittered with stars. Michael continued, "The Great Kings of the past look down on us, guide us from those stars."

"Really?"

"Yes, son. So if ever you feel alone, just remember that all you have to do is look up, and those Kings will always be there to guide you…and so will I."

Samuel smiled, feeling much better than he had at the start of the conversation. He wrapped his arms around his father's neck in a tight embrace, his cheek rubbing the scruffy beard that grazed the King's chin.

"I love you dad." He muffled without unburying his face. The King smiled warmly.

"I love you too, Samuel. Now, it is getting very late. We must return before we give your mother a heart attack."

o-o-o-o-o-o

Back at the palace, the Queen and her best friend, Lady Elizabeth, were anxiously awaiting news of their children. Not one hour before, Ezekiel had burst through the palace doors, frantically ranting about Turncoats and graveyards and children in danger. Michael of course had sprung into action, valiantly leading a search party to save them, with Ezekiel showing them the way. But what could Sarah do? Nothing. She paced the great hall anxiously, feeling completely and utterly useless.

"Sarah, please," Elizabeth pleaded from the couch. "Come, sit down. You have done nothing but pace for an hour. You'll exhaust yourself."

"I do not care," she snapped. Elizabeth sighed. Sarah was a vigorous, wise Queen, but sometimes she could be very stubborn.

"You need to calm down." Elizabeth insisted.

Sarah whipped her head in Elizabeth's direction and narrowed her eyes. "Calm down?! How can you possibly tell me to calm down?! Our children are in danger!"

"And you working yourself up about it is NOT going to help anything!" Elizabeth retorted forcefully. "Now please, sit down."

The Queen sighed in resignation. Slowly, she moved to the couch to sit by her friend. "I'm sorry, Liz. I just feel so…helpless."

"I know my dear," she held Sarah's hand for support. "But you must have faith that everything will be alright."

"I just can't bear to think about losing him." Sarah's eyes were beginning to water, showing uncharacteristic weakness from the usually strong and poised queen. "As I am sure you feel about your Nina."

"Of course, your majesty. No mother ever wishes to think about that. But we must be strong. Besides, you know Michael won't let anything happen to them."

The Queen nodded with a soft smile. "I will always have you to talk sense to me when I need it, won't I?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "It's a gift."

The two women laughed and hugged, the atmosphere in the room now calm. Sarah sighed. Now all she had to do was try to wait patiently…

Not seconds after this thought occurred, the great room doors opened and in walked Ezekiel, along with a very filthy, very guilty looking Nina.

"Nina!" Elizabeth jumped from the couch without graces and ran to her daughter, wrapping her in an air-crushing embrace. "Thank the Great King's above, you're alright!"

"I'm sorry, mother," Nina whispered, ashamed. "We weren't trying to make you upset." She downcast her gaze when she saw that Queen Sarah was looking at her.

"It's alright Nina, we can discuss it later. Right now, let's get you cleaned up and off to bed."

Nina was about to protest that her bed time wasn't for another half hour when she saw the stern look her mother was giving her. She sighed. "Yes mother." She bowed to the Queen before turning to leave, followed by her mother. Elizabeth turned back to Sarah, concerned.

"Would you like me to stay?"

The Queen shook her head. "No, that's alright. Go with Nina, where you are needed."

Elizabeth nodded and bowed gratefully, leaving Sarah alone with Ezekiel. The Queen's heart now pounded, racing with anticipation. Why had only Nina returned, and not Samuel and her husband? Had something happened to them? She desperately turned to the Grand Vizier for answers.

"King Michael and Prince Samuel are on their way. Both are fine and request for me to tell you not to worry, your majesty."

Sarah let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as the weight of worry lifted off her shoulders. "Oh, thank heavens." She poised herself. "You will accompany me to my carriage and I shall ride to the gate they will enter through and wait for them there."

"Yes, madam."

Ezekiel dutifully led his Queen to her carriage and instructed the driver to take her majesty to the Southern border. Queen Sarah, alone in the carriage, finally allowed tears of relief to flow down her cheeks. The short ride to the palace gate could not have ended at a better time, as Sarah could see her boys trudging their way up the path. Unable to stop herself, she ran to them, not caring about the mud catching the hem of her dress or that her hair had fallen out of place. All she cared about was that her son was safe.

Without a word, Samuel began running at the sight of his mother. They collapsed into a fierce embrace as she wept with joy. Michael looked on with a soft smile, not wanting to interrupt such a tender moment.

"Oh Samuel," Sarah whispered. She pulled back so her son could look her straight in the eyes. "Don't you EVER scare me like that again!"

"I'm so sorry mom," Samuel told her, his voice cracking slightly. "Can you ever forgive me?"

The child's voice was so sincere, as if he believed his actions somehow stripped him of his mother's love. Sarah caressed his cheek affectionately. "Of course, my sweet child. I will always forgive you. You are absolutely forgiven." He nodded, burring his face in his mother's neck. "Come, let's get you home, shall we?"

Sarah lifted the boy in her arms and carried him to the carriage, Michael following close behind. As they rode in silence back to the palace, Samuel drifted off to sleep by his mother's side. Sarah spoke softly as not to wake him while she stroked her son's hair. "We could have lost him today."

Michael reached out and grasped Sarah's petite hands in his. "But we didn't. And we never will, my love, because I will not let that happen. I promise."

The Queen let herself be comforted by his declaration. She nodded and rode the rest of the way in peace. Once back at the palace, servants were waiting to assist the royal family. They helped the Queen carry young Samuel inside to his room. Michael told her to go in without him and that he would be in soon. He stayed behind, reflecting on the worry his wife had expressed: today they had almost lost their son. Lost. Forever. The thought truly terrified him.

"Something troubling you, old friend?" a voice asked. The King spun around to see the shaman, Renée, leaning on her walking stick as she approached him. "The lines of worry on your brow do no suit you."

The great King sighed. "I almost lost my son." He said.

Renée grew solemn. "I know. The Queen sent for me and told me about the graveyard."

"What if I had been too late? What if I had not been able to get to him in time?"

"You cannot dwell on a future that could have happened," Renée said, resting a reassuring hand on the King's shoulder. "You must be grateful for the future that has been set in place. A future where your son is safe, because of you."

"I cannot lose him." Michael's voice was strained, almost desperate.

"And you won't," Renée insisted. "He is only a child, Michael, and he will learn your forefathers' wisdom through you. And until that time, you will have to run and save him when he gets himself into trouble. That's what parents do."

"But I can't always have him in my sight," the King argued, voicing the doubts and fears that he secretly kept to himself. "Does that make me a terrible parent?"

Renée chuckled. "Of course not, Michael. Learning your weaknesses helps make you stronger. And Samuel is not alone. He will always be surrounded by people who love and care for him." The King nodded, feeling reassured by their conversation. Renée continued, "Besides, I seem to remember having a similar conversation with your father when you and your brother were boys and would get yourselves into trouble, and you seem to have turned out alright."

Michael laughed. "I guess it just runs in the family then?"

The shaman, using her walking stick, moved to a nearby bench and took a seat, inviting Michael to do the same. "Do not worry, my dear friend. The spirits have a plan for your son, as they do for us all. Everything will fall into place as it should. I guarantee it."

"Thank you, Renée. I would go mad without you."

"It is my job, your majesty," Renée smiled genuinely and bowed her head. "And I am pleased to do it. Now go, be with your wife and child, and sleep soundly tonight. Tomorrow is a new day that brings fresh starts and new opportunities."

She stood and hugged the King, bowed, then left. Michael smiled and headed inside the palace, feeling relieved. Renée was right: a King shouldn't worry about the future. He knew everything would be alright, and looked forward to the fresh start of tomorrow.

For character references, here is who has been introduced from the movie so far:

Michael- Mufasa

Ezekiel- Zazu

Sarah- Sarabi

Samuel- Simba

Thomas- Scar

Renée- Rafiki

Nina- Nala

Elizabeth- Sarafina

Shay- Shenzi

Benny- Banzai

Ed- Ed :)

So I know what you guys are thinking: RiverStormWho is alive and posting!? How can this be!?

First of all, it has been a CRAZY year at my house and with my family. We moved twice, had cars break down on us, lost some stuff, yada, yada, yada, excuses, excuses. The point is, I may not be posting at a regular rate, but I PROMISE that it will not take as long this time between chapters. I finally, (after many weeks of waiting) have a keyboard to go with my Surface Pro 2 Tablet, so I have been on the role in typing! I already have many more chapters typed and ready to be posted!

So don't worry, this story has not been abandoned. I have loved writing it so far, and some of the best chapters are coming up! So I applaud those of you who are actually still interested in reading this for waiting this long. Again, I am truly sorry for the wait. Thanks for reading! Stay in school, don't do drugs, and tell your friends about that amazing Human Lion King story! *wink wink ;)*

This has been Hannah/RiverStormWho saying thank you and have a nice day! :D