Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Lion King or any of the characters or songs from both. I just own my own characters and this story.

In You!

*Simba's POV*

Here I am standing in a field in the Earth Pride's territory. If that was all I was doing then everything would be fine, but sadly no it is not. I am standing in this grassy plain and the wind is blowing a very cold breeze and yet that was nothing compared to how I was feeling. I was feeling sadder than a bird whose mom said he couldn't leave the nest because right now my father is about to lecture me for my actions. I never liked the lectures I got from him, but I always knew I deserved them, especially this one.

"Simba, I am very disappointed in you." I drooped my ears at my father's words. To hear him say that made me feel worse than ever. My Dad, my hero, is disappointed in me. It could not get any worse?

"I know."

"You could have been killed. You deliberately disobeyed me and almost got yourself and Nala killed, not once, but twice." I can't believe that I actually put Nala in danger. I remember the fear in her eyes as she slid down and almost got eaten by that hyena. Kings, she must still be feeling terrified as she is probably crying about it to her moth- WAIT! Did he say twice? What does Dad mean by that?

"Dad, you said 'twice' don't you mean I almost got me and Nala killed 'once'?" I raised my eyebrow at him in confusion and saw him give me a stern look. What?

"No Simba I meant twice." Is he serious? What? Does he think I put her danger again? Wh-, "You almost went into the avatar state again, Simba. You could have killed her if you had lost control, son." I froze and my eyes widened as I heard my Dad say those words.

"Oh Kings. What would I have done to Nala if I had lost control? What would she have seen me do if I had?" I broke down into tears as I realized the foolishness and the possible consequences of my actions. My Dad must be completely ashamed of me. I was about to walk back to Pride Rock in tears when I felt a pull on me and then crashed into something furry. I opened my heavy eyes and saw it was my Dad's chest. I was confused. Isn't he ashamed of me? Why is he hugging me?

"It's ok son. It wasn't your fault." Ok, now I am really confused. First, he makes me feel bad by telling me I could have killed Nala or traumatized for her life by killing and now he is telling me it is not my fault. What the hell? Make up your mind.

"Yeah it was Dad! If I had gone into the avatar state, then Nala would have been seriously hurt or killed because of it. I have no excuse."

"No Simba, It was your fault that you were in that area, but it wasn't your fault that you almost went into the state." He nuzzled my head and I got even more confused.

"What're you talking about Dad?"

"Simba, tell me something. What was on your mind before you went into the avatar state?" I raised an eyebrow but began thinking of what Dad asked. I thought back to that exact moment when the hyenas were cornering us. I recalled the moment just before I felt tremendous rage towards the hyenas, I was thinking about being brave in front of Nala and then, whoa That's it!

"I was thinking about keeping Nala safe from the hyenas." I felt my Dad nuzzle me and then saw he had a big smile on his face. Huh? Why is he smiling? I am in trouble and he is smiling.

"Dad are you ok? Are still mad at me?" I dropped my ears fearing the answer was yes.

"No son. I am disappointed that you went somewhere I told you not to, but I am more relieved that you are safe and that you realize that what you did was wrong and that though it was dangerous, I am proud that you tried to use your power to defend Nala." He gave my head a lick and I felt some of my guilt go away as I heard Dad say the opposite of what I don't like to hear. He said he was proud of me.

"But.." Oh great now what does he want to ask or say to ruin the moment. "I do want to know why you went to the Boneyard in the first place." I hesitated at this. I at first wanted to lie and tell him I just was curious and keep my uncle out of trouble but then decided against it cause I already broke dad's trust once, best not to do it again.

"I got interested after Uncle Scar told me the story about it." I saw my Dad's eyes widen and thought for a moment that he was going to yell at me for Uncle Scar telling me that story because I saw flames begin to form on his claws.

"What exactly did your uncle tell you Son?"

"He told me that it was a battleground left from Mohatu's days. He said a lion could prove himself an adult by going in there and coming out without fear." I saw my Dad sigh and felt the heat disappear and knew he frustrated but otherwise relieved.

"That is true about the boneyard, but that idea was put aside because lions who do this are not brave, but out of recklessness and often paid the consequences with their life. " I myself didn't even manage to come out without fear, I ran out of there screaming like your mother did whenever I scared her as cubs." Two thoughts went through my head as my Dad spoke. My mind was spinning as he spoke. How could anything frighten Dad in there when he practically owned those hyenas? The idea of him running with his tail between his legs was unfathomable unless it was because of Mom. Oh ho I think not! I am sure Mom will have something interesting to say about that.

"Come on Dad. I am sure you walked out there with your head held high." My Dad is the bravest lion I know, so to hear him say he was scared is having me skeptical. Then, hearing him chuckle has me even more so. What could he possibly have to say? (Redundant, unless any of these thoughts have not already been stated some way before in this chapter?)

*Mufasa's POV*

"Simba, I was tarrified during my first trip through the Boneyard. I barely was able to use my flames to get out of there alive." I saw my son's eyes widen as I said I could have died while in the Boneyard. Time to make his jaw drop or make him scrunch his cocky face in confusion. "But Simba, I have been in scarier positions than the Boneyard after my first trip there." Yep, I made him scrunch his face, score one for Daddy deviousness.

"What do you mean by that? There can't be anything scarier than a yard filled with bones and three flaming hyenas chasing you in it." Oh how wrong my young son is.

"I have been scared at least twice in my life Simba. One of them quite recently." I saw him lower his head in shame as he realized what incident I was talking about. "Simba, when I heard you were in there I was absolutely terrified because I thought I might lose you." I have actually been scared three times in my life, the other is something you already know but the third I won't tell you cause it was this time I pushed Sarafina and Sarabi into a muddy waterhole and then got chased all the way back to pride Rock while screaming like a whipped lioness. For non benders, those girls are scary but, I do not intend to let Simba know that.

"I am so sorry Dad. I thought that going there would make me brave like you." I smiled as I knew very well that Simba, like his brothers, saw me as a role model and so I decide to humble him a bit.

"Simba, being brave doesn't mean trying to find trouble like those benders in the past did, but reacting the right way when it finds you unexpectedly." As I said the words my mother said to me when I got reckless like Simba, I saw a smile approach his face when he realized another thing I was getting at.

"As we were leaving, Nala said I was really brave. She meant when I protected her." I smiled at him and gave him another nuzzle. For two reasons mind you. One, that Simba got one of my lessons and two, which he was getting protective of his betrothed. I heard from Momo that Simba and Nala made an impressive musical number to one-up him and I must admit, I wish I had done the same to the lemur's predecessor Zazu, when I was a cub.

"Yes Simba. That is the perfect example of proper bravery. Protecting the one's you love is true bravery as opposed to the assumed bravery of conquering the boneyard." I saw him smile again as I praised his bravery and gave back some of his pride. Maybe now we can head home without any more long talks because despite the fact I give good lectures, I absolutely hate them. I start to race home with Simba hot on my tail. We made it back to Pride Rock when Simba suddenly stopped and looked at me with a look that said he had a big question on his mind. Great. Just when I thought I would get to rest. "Something on your mind son?"

"Dad, what was the other time in your life you were terrified?" I raised my eyes in surprise at my son as he asked that. Huh. I never considered telling him that but I guess tonight's incident makes it as good a time as any.

I gestured with my paw for him to follow me and I lead him to the grave of my father. Once there, Simba bows his head in respect. He and his brothers have learned that even the dead deserve respect, especially their grandfather.

"Simba, the first time in my life I have ever been scared was after my father died. When he died, I was told I was to be the next king and I was not sure I would measure up to him or was ready to be king." This was not a complete truth, but was only a partial lie. I was serious about how I felt but again it was not the first time I felt true fear. Sarabi still holds the gold in that category. Seeing her angry is scarier than running from a hungry hyena in the dark.

"How did you deal with it Dad?"

"Two things I knew helped me put my mind at ease. I remembered something growing up that helped me create my tribute during his burial. I knew then he'd always be there to help me make the right decision." I saw my son raise his eye in curiosity. I already know what he is going to ask.

"Which was what, Dad?"

"He told me once when I was a cub, that I should look at the stars," My son and I looked to the beautiful night sky and then I took my paw and formed a flame in it, "the great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. Like these flames that we firebenders wield, the stars burn with the wills of our ancestors." My son was still looking at the stars as I made the speech, so I decided to add one bit of information I got from my grandfather, Mohatu, before he died.

"Simba, in your case, being also the avatar, you have the guidance of not only the Great Kings up there like Ahadi's star," I pointed to the star in the night sky that I knew to be my father with a paw and saw Simba's eyes direct their attention to me as a sign to continue, "You also have the guidance of your great grandfather Mohatu and all of the past avatars available to you for wisdom." I pointed to the brightest star in the night sky with a paw and saw Simba's eyes direct their attention. I saw him tilt his head in confusion and I already knew this was going to take a while.

"What do you mean by that Dad? How can Mohatu guide me? Would he want to guide such a pathetic avatar like me?" Hearing Simba call himself pathetic was a sting to my pride because it feels like I am a failed father. Maybe I should take a page out of my son's book and try some musical schooling.

"Simba," I saw my son slowly lift his head up to meet my face, "Listen to what I have to say," I cleared my throat and thought why the hell am I singing when all of a sudden I heard something.

"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala [Here is a lion and a tiger]" Ok where the hell did those voices come from, is this some kind of joke. Deciding to go for broke, I decided to sing.

"Night and the spirit of life, calling" Not a bad start so far, maybe my deep voice is good for singing.

"Oh, oh, iyo" Really?! Now the voices are joining in with me. Oh well! "Mamela [Listen]" Again, I think I am a little deep but it sounds good, "Oh, oh, iyo" They joined in again. What in Mohatu's name is going on?

"And a voice, With the fear of a child, answers," I already know they are going to join in so I go, "Oh, oh, iyo" I get ready for my line. "Oh, mamela [Listen]" And cue the anonymous voices, "Oh, oh, iyo."

"Ubukhosi bo khokho [Throne of the ancestors]! We ndodana ye sizwe sonke [Oh, son of the nation)]!" Where in the world did a crazy lion's voice come from? Does this look like Kenya?! I can't understand anything this guy is singing.

"Wait" Great! Now they are joining in more of my lines. What is next?! I get no lines? "There's no mountain too great. Oh, oh, iyo. Hear the words and have faith. Oh, oh, iyo. Have faith!" This is really confusing to me but my son's reactions really make me think it could get the point across.

"Hela hey mamela [Hey, listen]" I think this guy should have shut up because I think anyone is going to listen to this. But as I was about to sing the next verse, I was baffled again when I heard a whole chorus clear their throats. A whole chorus?! Where the heck did a group of trained musical animals come from? And who the heck told them the lyrics of a song I just came up with?!

"He lives in you. He lives in me. He watches over, everything we see. Into the water, into the truth. In your reflection," I gestured for Simba to look into the pool around my father's grave with me and finally sang the last verse, "he lives in you." I saw my son's eyes grow wide with surprise and a look of realization reached his face that I thought I would have to wait till he was at least a year old to see.

"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala [Here is a lion and a tiger]" Seriously? They are not gone yet?! What, are they trying to harass me?! GO AWAY! I thought mentally.

"Hey Dad! I realized two things from that song!" I turned to my son and looked at him in curiosity. Did my song really get through to him?

"What would that be son?" I was curious to hear what my son had come up with. I really hope it was the wisdom I wanted him to get.

"Well, I realized that for one thing, if I ever feel like I am lost or don't know what to do, I can just look to my ancestors for guidance or look deep inside myself for wisdom from my past lives." I was practically squealing with cublike joy inside since my son had gotten what I wanted him to from that interrupted song.

"That is great son! And what was the second thing?"

"In terms of your singing, Dad, may I say, you sir are totally pathetic!" I heard the telltale 'Wah Wah Waaaah' from nowhere and got an amused smile on my face and rolled my eyes. He has obviously spent time with Zazu or as we used to call him as cubs, Simon Fowl.

"Ok Son. Now what do you say we go inside and get some rest?" His frantic nodding and then seeing him run off with a fire launch made me realize he was just as anxious as I was to get sleep. I was about halfway up the way to the den when out came Sarabi with a glaring face and I already knew what was coming.

"You said I was scared by you as a cub huh, Muffy?" Yep! Just like me, Simba has a big mouth. I better get my flame aura prepped, it is really cold outside tonight.

1) DO any of you think Mufasa should have gotten a song to sing in the movie that fit his voice?

2) Who in avatar would you think it would be hilarious to hear sing?