Chapter 18: Return to Pride Lands

While Simba cried for his father, because he thought was dead, a small glow emanated from him and came out drop by drop in each tear.

"Simba, what's going on?" Maya asked, making the cub stop for a moment and also notice that strange phenomenon.

Suddenly, softly and lovingly, a paw rested on his head.

"Thank you very much, Simba," said his father, who was looking at him from the ground and looked pretty good.

"Dad!" Simba exclaimed before launching into a hug, which made him fall again, "You're okay!"

Dan finally managed to get up completely.

"I'm not leaving yet with our family at the stars," he explained to his son, "After all, you need me and our new friends need us both."

"Ugh, thank goodness…" Sam commented, "I was already afraid that the same thing as my grandfather would happen to you."

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Ono asked him.

"Wonderfully," laughed the lion king, "Now, let's all get out of here."

The lion cubs and the dog followed Ono and Dan towards the exit, evading the rest of the unconscious circus performers (it is said that they lost all memory, having to change jobs and, if they tried something bad or dishonest, they suffered from severe headache). When they were able to leave through the main door, they realized that the rest of the animals had not escaped immediately.

"What's going on?" Badil asked, since he knew almost everyone.

"We are afraid that humans will catch us again," said an elephant, "But we don't know the city and it will be dawn very soon."

"Do you have a way out of the city?" asked a zebra.

"We could go as we arrived, but…" Ono opined.

"There are too many of us to go in a small boat…" Dan completed.

Everyone started thinking, until the new Milo remembered something important:

"Oh I got it!" He said, "The boss was going to rent a boat to go by sea to another country. We can use it to go to Africa"

"It is a good idea!" Daliah congratulated Milo. However, there was still a problem:

"It's true, it's a good idea," said one of the giraffes, "But it will be far away."

"Yeah, and going through the crocodiles again doesn't seem like a good idea…" Ono said.

"I have it!" Sam opined, "What if we use the circus cars? I have seen them quite a few times on the street and humans don't suspect a thing."

"Sounds good, but we need someone to drive," Dan said, "Milo, can you do it?"

"I only know a little," replied the baboon, "They've never let me drive enough and with this body now…"

"Don't worry, we will help you" then, he turned to the other animals, "Ok, go back to the cages so we can go safely. I promise to you all this will be the last time in those prisons."

The animals gladly accepted the idea and, contrary to what they would have done in the past, they helped finish assembling the cages with the carts, guided by Milo, since he had the experience in doing so. It didn't take long, since the humans already had them almost ready to go before the escape. When they were done, Dan opened the gate completely and then climbed into the main vehicle, which chained all the cages one by one.

The main car had its windows up and as Milo, now turned into a mandril, reached for the pedals, Sam had to help him while Ono made sure they didn't attract attention. Fortunately, not many people are out on the streets in the early hours of the morning and the traffic lights were not a big impediment.

"Ok, the port" Milo told them when they had arrived.

"Hapana!" Ono exclaimed, "There are a couple of humans near the ship we want to board, any more ideas?"

"I have one!" Simba shouted before running away, "Go up!"

"Simba!" Dan shouted when he saw the crazy thing he had just done.

"Don't worry, Mr. Dan, I'll go get him," Sam told him, "Go board."

"Wait, we will help you too," Maya supported, "Simba is also our friend."

"Yes, and he promised us freedom, so we won't leave him," Daliah followed.

"We'll take care of it," Badil finished, also going for him.

The cubs joined Simba and the humans, upon seeing that, went to chase them, thinking that they had escaped 'by accident'. Dan wanted to go get them, but he knew deep down that Simba would be fine and the priority for the moment was to help everyone board.

The king got out of the vehicle and opened the cages again very quickly. Ono took care of counting each of the animals so that none were missing, and also made sure that there were no more humans on the ship.

For his part, Simba and his friends ran around the two men holding nets in order to catch them (without having noticed the animal mess they had left behind). Finally, one of them managed to catch the group of cubs, but Sam suddenly arrived and bit his butt, forcing him to let them go.

"Do you need a paw, friends?" asked the dog.

"Thank you very much Sam," Simba said, "I'm glad we're friends…"

"Ah… guys…" Daliah interrupted.

The other man had helped his companion and had an even larger net ready to throw at the lion cubs and the puppy, who were growling, ready to have to face him. However, when they were about to catch them, two flower pots fell on both of them and made them faint.

"Are you okay, kids?" a voice above them told them.

"Ono!" Simba exclaimed happily.

"The boat is ready, your dad said hurry up."

"Brilliant!" the other cubs exclaimed.

The egret guided the cubs back to the ship, while the port's emergency siren began to be heard. In a few seconds, they were already boarding along with the other animals.

"Dad!" Simba exclaimed as he reunited with his father.

"Well done, son," Dan thanked him. "It's time to set sail."

In the 'sailing' part it was a little difficult to control the ship, but Milo managed to make it sail because the controls were very similar to those of a crane he had seen at the circus. Furthermore, all the animals (not the largest ones because they did not fit in the cabin) supported him to drive straight ahead, in the direction that Ono pointed out.

(A few hours later...)

By the time security men arrived at the crime scene, the ship had already disappeared completely over the horizon. On board, the animals were happy with their new freedom and eager to reach Africa as soon as possible to enjoy their long-awaited new life. Such was the joy that they organized a small celebration with the resources that some had brought from the warehouses (we must not forget that it was the ship where they were going to be transferred).

For his part, Dan only managed to find a few...

"Fish again?" Simba asked when he saw the food.

"It was to be expected…" Badil lamented.

"Well, at least this one is fresh," Maya commented when she gave it a taste, "It's cold"

"I like it," Sam supported him.

Dan, who didn't care about the boys' comments, took one of the fish and ate it in one bite.

"Woah, dad…" Simba exclaimed.

"You don't have to be surprised," Dan joked, "This isn't much compared to watching a worm-eating contest years ago."

"What?"

"It's... a story to tell another day"

"Your Majesty," Maya asked, "Will it really not be a bother if you accept us into your pride?"

"Bother me? Of course not, kids! The strength of the pride lies in the union and it will be a pride for everyone to be part of it. More than a pride, you will be part of the family"

"And there are no rules?" Badil asked.

"Of course, there are," Ono interrupted, resting on Dan's shoulder, "All to keep the cycle of life firm and they will have time to learn them in a much better environment than the one you have lived in until now."

"But what if we get lost?" Daliah asked.

"Well, Simba can help you explore the Pride Lands. Although..."

"Although he will first have to receive the queen's sermon as soon as he arrives…" Ono laughed.

The cub didn't like that at all.

"Well, we'll talk later," Dan stated, "Now, enjoy what we have for now."

(More later...)

Night was falling as the group of animals slept below and the lion cub, Simba, was watching the horizon in front of them.

"I will return home… but…" he asked himself.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" asked Dan, who had walked up behind him.

"Dad… will mom be upset with me?" Simba asked.

Dan shook his head happily.

"Well, maybe you'll spend a minute or two with her," he replied, "Besides, your paw is already healed, so I think everything will be fine."

"Yes, Milo cured me."

"Hmm…" Dan thought, "Maybe your friend can help Rahisi as his new apprentice. Besides, I think he would make a good royal Mjuzi for you, don't you think?"

Simba looked down crestfallen, where the waves were gently lapping the ship.

"I don't know if I could be a good king... a friend died for me and... you almost died too" he said, regretting his actions.

However, he calmed down when he felt the contact with his father's fur in a hug.

"I know what it feels like to lose someone without being able to do anything," he told him, "But your great-grandfather Simba taught me that I could run from the past or learn from it. I grew up caring for others and guided by the spirits of those who supported me. I swore I would protect my family... with all my heart and soul."

"Then what should I do?" the cub asked.

"You have saved me and protected your friends, I think you are on the right path, my little prince. Now, let's rest: we will arrive in Africa tomorrow."

"How do you know?"

Dan pointed to the sky, where four bright stars formed a diamond that stood out from the rest.

"The four stars," he said, "Old Rafiki told me about them. I assure you: we are close"