Chapter 6: We Are One
(In the afternoon...)
"Well, you were… good today" Vitani tried to encourage him as she led Dan back to the Pride Rock, "You are getting better"
"Sure? Well, it seemed to me that I made a fool of myself with the thorns and I was a coward when I climbing" Dan self-discouraged, "I don't think I'm skilled…"
"You are just a cub, buddy. Don't push yourself too hard. Someday you will be a great lion king"
There was a minute of silence, because Dan felt insignificant again.
"Auntie Vitani" he said, "Do you believe that I could be a good king?"
"Well…"
"Vitani!" shouted Kasi, who was rushing towards them.
"What's wrong Kasi?" asked Vitani.
"We have a problem: an elephant got into the Giraffe Watering Hole and got stuck on some rocks. Imara is trying to get it out, but it's too heavy"
"Okay, I'll go there as soon as I leave Dan at the Pride Rock ..."
"Don't worry about me, Auntie Vitani" Dan interrupted, "I can go back alone, it's not very far. Your lion's guard needs you"
Vitani smiled.
"I know you will be a good king. Come back to the Pride Rock without detour, okay?"
Dan nodded. Then, Vitani followed Kasi to another place. Despite what he had agreed to, Dan did not immediately return to Pride Rock, but was wandering from place to place as he remembered his failure and fear in training trying to hide his sorrows: despite his good performance in the first exercise, in the second, he had failed and from time to time he felt the small pains that the thorn. And then, there was his fear of the cliff… how could he climb the rocks of the Pride Rock, but was he still afraid of places like the ravine or the cliffs? He felt a little bad.
Then, he stopped near the Pride Rock.
"Could I really be a lion king?" he asked himself as he looked the Pride Rock, "No… it's not in my veins to be. I am ... just a child"
"Now you are" said a voice behind him. Dan immediately turned and met Simba, "But soon you will grow up and learn to be a real lion"
"Grandpa Simba… What are you doing here?"
"I was watching your training with Vitani. Nala told me that you were a little worry in the morning and Kiara asked me to help you. What's bothering you?"
Dan lowered his head, not sure what to say. His sadness was such that tears began to appear in his eyes. However, before answering, he felt the warm contact of the fur of the adult lion in a grandfather hug.
"Don't worry. You should not to try to force yourself to be the best while you are still a cub, it is part of growing up. It took Kion and Kiara a long time to mature"
Dan listened to Simba's words as he wiped his tears with his paw.
"But… it's not just that, but… I'm scared" explained the cub, "When I was climbing, I remembered that day when the hunters were chasing us: we both almost died. And you... you got hurt for protecting me"
"I thought I would die too" said Simba, "But at least I would die doing the last thing my father did: protect his family"
"But, I…" Dan started, but Simba stopped him:
"Dan, from the moment I know you, I know that you were very special. Then, when I realized that you are the reincarnation of my father, I did my best to protect you and my family even more. You remind me a lot of him: he lives in you"
"He lives in me?" asked Dan said in a muffled voice, " I don't know, Grandpa Simba... I don't know if I can be the same as him..."
Dan was silent not knowing what else to say: so much trust in someone that was from such a distant land, such affection for him, such revelation… it seemed like a dream. However, that filled the ex-human's mind with more and more doubts. Simba, seeing that, grabbed him with his jaws and placed him on the small rock.
"You don't have to be like him. Believe me, I also tried to be" said Simba," You must be yourself"
"But that is worrying me. Who I am? I'm Mufasa reincarnated? Or I'm Dan?"
Simba smiled about that, because he reminded him a lot of Kiara.
"You may deny it, but you are more like Kiara when she was a cub, even though you don't feel like her real son. Dan, there is something you must understand: you are no longer alone. You are part of the Great Cycle of Life. And now you have family and friends, we are part of each other and you must remember that we are always one "
And with that, he gave her a little push that made him so fall onto a pillow of dandelions.
Song: We are one
Disclaimer: The song does not belong to me and only Disney has all the rights.
(Lyrics from The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride)
[Simba:] As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Don't understand
As Simba was singing, Dan could see a family of birds at the top of the tree, remembering to him that he was no longer alone.
And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go
The way we planned
A little bird almost fell out of the nest, but its mother avoided it.
But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dream's come undone
Simba guide Dan to the Mbali fields. There, was a pair of adult wildebeest trying to teach their son how to stand up and run. The baby wildebeest managed to stand up and ran happily with his parents.
We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
We are more than we are
We are one
[Chorus:] Family, family
We are one
Family, family
We are one
Dan approached to a lake and saw his reflection.
[Dan:] If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
For a moment, instead of his own reflection, he could see Mufasa's
The way I am
I fish jumped to the surface and returned to the water, blurring the reflection.
Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?
A flock flew by in the sky. At the same time, a fresh wind flooded the atmosphere.
[Simba:] Even those who are gone
Are with us as we go on
Simba looked to the sky and then, he turned to Dan.
Your journey has only begun
Tears of pain
Tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride, deep inside
We are one!
[Chorus:] Family, family
We are one
Family, family
We are one
Simba and Dan ran happily through the field, while several animals watched them.
[Simba:] We are one, you and I
As they ran, they crossed a small stream and got their paws a little wet.
We are like the earth and sky
One family under the sun
All the wisdom to lead
All the courage that you'll need
You will find when you see…
We are one
Simba climbed on a rock and then he pointed to the Pride Rock. Dan looked the rock wondering what Simba wanted to say to him..
Family, family (we are one) (x5)
"As you long as you live here, it's who you are" said Simba hugging Dan, "You'll understand someday"
Dan just stared at the beautiful landscape Simba also gazed at from there: the Pride Lands as the dim light of the evening sun was fading.
(A few minutes later...)
Kovu came out of the cave.
"Simba, thank goodness you found him" Kovu said, with a slightly worried expression, "Dan, you worried us. Vitani told me that she sent you back to the rock, but when you weren't coming back..."
"I'm sorry, Dad..." Dan said sadly.
"Kovu, you don't have to worry so much" Simba interrupted, "I took Dan for a walk: I was teaching him a bit, I had a lot to show him and talk to him about. So, it would be my fault that he was late"
"Well, I'm glad he's at least with you, Simba" Kovu said. Then he turned to the cub "Sorry Dan. Well, we are waiting for you inside. Koda wants to see his brother"
Kovu went inside the cave again. Meanwhile, Simba had taken a step when he realized that Dan was looking the sunset.
"You keep thinking about that, Dan?" Simba asked.
The cub did not respond. However, he turned around to look directly into the adult lion's eyes.
"Grandpa Simba, for you... am I myself or the reincarnation of your father?"
"Dan..." his grandpa told him, hugging him, "For me, you are part of family and my grandson. and I'm sure one day you'll understand who you are"
"Well... I still don't know if I have what it takes to become a king. But I promise I'll try to learn more and uphold your father's legacy will"
Simba smiled at those words.
"That's the spirit that makes you unique, Dan" he told him as he held up a paw for him.
Knowing what he was doing, Dan raised his as well and they collided.
Author's Notes: I just wanted to give the story some feeling. If you don't like it, just let me know. In the next chapter, it's time to grow up a bit, we will see how time influences the protagonist.