Chapter Eight Talk with Mufasa

I woke up in some soft grass. I was in front of a huge rock formation and there were lions and other animals everywhere. I had been laying down in the grass but I was fine. The lions were on the rock formation. What was interesting is that all of the lions look regal and kingly. They sit together on top of the rock formation. I wonder if they are going to hunt me but they do not. One of them a large male lion comes over to me. He is bigger than Simba or Pretty Boy and is gold with the longest red mane I have ever seen on any lion.

"Who are you and where am I?" I ask. "Please don't eat me!"

"Do not worry, Pumbaa," the large lion said. "No one eats anything here. This is the Kingdom of the Great Kings and Queens who have passed from life. Besides why would I eat the one creature who saved my son's life?"

It dawns on me that I am no longer alive. I have made my peace with it.

'"How is Simba?" I ask.

"Simba is fine and everyone in the Pridelands is well. Pretty Boy and Kinky Tail have been defeated and are dead. There is no more coalition and Simba is still king of my kingdom."

It suddenly dawns on me who this large lion is. And I feel very humbled. "Listen Your Majesty, King Mufasa, " I tell him. " I am sorry that I was not such a good guardian for your son. My friend Timon tells me that I am naive in the ways of the jungle."

Mufasa stares down at me perplexed "Why would you say that Pumbaa? You and Timon did a great job with my son."

"We did not teach him to be a king," I point out." And I did a worse job than Timon. Simba feels closer to Timon than me and he respects Timon. Both of them think I am too naive and too trusting. I wonder if Simba even likes me at all. He either talks to Timon alone or to Timon and me together. I do not think Simba would even want me around if Timon were not there."

"You greatly underestimate your impact on my son. You could not teach him to be king but you helped him recover from the trauma of my death. And while you did not prepare him to be king, you gave him the ability to carry on when he was depressed. And what's more you had an impact on Timon as well. You underestimate your influence. You have one ability that gives you a great influence on the animals around you. It is your greatest gift.

"And what is that, Mufasa? My ability to fight?"

"No, it your ability to give love without expecting anything in return. It is your ability to protect and defend creatures smaller than . Timon and Simba would not have a family if it had not been for you. You followed Timon to protect him and he accepted you. You found my son and decided you wanted to raise him without any benefits. Timon only agreed to it after you told him that it would be good to have a lion on his side. You taught both Timon and Simba how to love because you are unselfish. You led them by example. You were also there for Simba when ever he needed you. You caught him when he fell out of the tree and you grabbed him when he fell from the water fall. You even taught him how to hunt. You helped him live through his childhood when he was a cub. You even made his childhood happier. And for that I can never thank you."

"But Mufasa, Simba is still closer to Timon. And I could not teach him how to rule. I could not teach him how to avoid being fooled. I do not know about sarcasm or about being devious. I do not have the wisdom you have. And I could not teach him how to fight like a lion."

"Pumbaa you lived some of the principles I taught my son. You taught him how to treat animals kindly. You embodied the principle of respecting all of the creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope. Because you showed your love and friendship for my son and for Timon he was able to live this principle. He was able to control his own strength when he dealt with the both of you. Pumbaa you,Timon, and Simba were a family. You were a good parent to my son and you taught Timon how to parent. If Timon did not know you, he would be more taught him how to be also went to help my son when he tried to win back his throne from Scar. You told Timon you were going to help Simba and you did not want him to face Scar alone. It took awhile for Timon to decide to help Simba but you were already willing to help. And finally you killed Pretty Boy. You even told that large lion to leave your boy alone. You are Simba's parent Pumbaa whether you like it or not."

"Yes, I did that and I would not hesitate to do it again because I love Simba. I may have been an influence but you cannot deny the fact that Simba loves Timon. I was always just there. I do not know how he feels about me. I do not know if he even mourns my death."

"What makes you think you are dead. Pumbaa?" a female voice says. I look up and see Sarabi but she is young and beautiful.

"I am here, " I say. "I am not dead already? By the way you look great, Sarabi."

"You are only dying," Sarabi says. "It is up to you if you want to return to the world of the living. It would be easier for you to remain here but it would be harder on my son to lose you."

"Pardon me ma'am but I do not think I mean that much to Simba."

"Mufasa, he needs to see how Simba really feels." Sarabi states.

"Pumbaa you are one stubborn warthog. Do you not see what we are trying to tell you? You mean a lot to Simba." The big lion roars. "My son lost me, Kopa, and Sarabi. Losing you will break him." I shake my head. I cannot possibly mean that much to Simba. "I guess we will have to show you. We will take you to the Mirror to the World of the Living."

The two lions guide me to a cave. In the wall there is a mirror. They both tell me to look into it. I see a golden lion with a red mane in the mirror. He is at the bottom on the gorge in the Pridelands. He is laying on the ground and there is a brown broken body he is clasping with his forepaws. As I gaze into the mirror, the lion becomes bigger and I recognize him as Simba. The body he is holding is is crying over me. "I am sorry I said you were naive, Pumbaa, " Simba sobs. "You were the best friend and parent I ever had. I have lost too much. I lost my father, my son and my mother. I have seen too many deaths. I do not want to lose you, too." He puts his head down on my body and sobs. I cannot stand it any more. It is heartbreaking to see my boy like this.

I turn to Mufasa and Sarabi. "I cannot stand this. I must go back. How can I do that?"

"All you have to do is step into the mirror and wish with all your heart that you are with Simba. Your love and his tears will bring you back." Mufasa tells me. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," I reply.

"Take good care of my son." Sarabi tells me. She hugs me. Mufasa hugs me too then he grabs me with one paw and throws me into the mirror. Strangely enough I land inside it and find myself in darkness once again.