Simba“Oh come on. Where is it? Oomph!”
I suddenly hit the ground with a thud as someone pounced on top of me. I turned my head and sighed when I saw Nala. She smiled in triumph, “Ha, pinned ya.” “Yeah yeah,”
I muttered as I stood up and dusted myself off, “I’m working here. I’m trying to find a rainbow beetle. They’re really rare you know.” “Fine I’ll help you.”
I waited for her to start looking around, and jumped in for a sneak attack, but she suddenly went down on all fours and I flew right over her. Then she pushed me down, “Ha, pinned ya again.”
My mom came outside then, “You guys, it’s time to go.” “Yes!”
We both shouted as we ran towards the house. Today we were going water skiing, and I was super excited. My parents always took my brother, Nala, and I to go do fun stuff like riding in a hot air balloon, camping, fishing, and snorkeling. Nala’s mom had to work a lot, being a doctor and not to mention a single parent, so I don’t think Nala would get out much otherwise. Thankfully, just like my mom and Nala’s mom were best friends, Nala was my best friend in the whole wide world. It probably wouldn’t be as much fun without her. 
Later that evening I went up to bug uncle Scar. He had been really sullen lately, and I thought I might cheer him up, “Uncle Scar! I brought you a present.” “Well if it isn’t my favorite nephew…”
I punched his arm playfully, “We went water skiing today, and I found this really cool shell I thought you might like. You know because you like to collect stuff.” “How thoughtful, but I’m afraid I have nothing to give you in return. I had planned to show you the city, but it appears your father beat me to the punch…”
He tapped his chin for a moment, “Did he per chance acquaint you with what lies beyond the bridge?” “Not exactly. He just said never to go there…”
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes nodding, “Of course. It would be dreadfully dangerous if you aren’t a brave sim.” “I’m brave…I could do it.” “Oh no. I couldn’t think of putting my precious nephew in harm’s way.” “I’m tough! Nothing can bring me down.”
He eyed me carefully, “Well I suppose I could tell you that there is treasure lying hidden in the junkyard, as a return present of course. You were bound to hear about it soon anyway.”
My ears perked up, “Treasure?!” “But you must promise not to go there. It is quite dangerous.” “Sure Uncle Scar. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Nala and I exchanged another grimace as Zazu continued to drone on about education and our future. “How did we get stuck with this goofball?”
I muttered under my breath. “Your mom.”
Nala whispered, shaking her head. When the completely one-sided conversation took a turn towards marriage I thought to myself, “That’s it. We gotta lose him.”
I went up to a random stranger and tapped him on the shoulder. He bent down and smiled at me, “Hey little guy. What is it?”
I smiled back, “Hello. My friend here,”
I pointed at Zazu, “says you look like an ingrate with no morals or character. Can you tell me what that means, because he won’t? He just keeps laughing.”
The man turned red in the face, “Excuse me.”
He then stalked over to a pale Zazu. I shrugged to Nala, “I guess it doesn’t mean anything good. Well later Zazu!”
“Now where are we really going?”
Nala asked. “A junkyard across the bridge.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, “That’s forbidden.”
I smirked at her, “What are you a chicken?” “Tch. No!” “Then there’s no problem. I live on the wild side, and the wild side is calling me to the treasure hidden in the junkyard.”
Her blue eyes grew wide, “There’s treasure?” “See now you’re interested? I’ll race ya!”
I took off running and she charged after me, “Cheater!”
Neither one us was prepared for the other side. My dad had used the perfect word to describe it, wilderness. It was complete chaos with people everywhere. Rude people everywhere. It was nothing like what I had grown up to know. Luckily we spotted the junkyard pretty quickly.
I gazed around at everything in wonder, “Whoa, this place is massive and cool!”
Nala just nodded along in silence. “Found you!”
We both jumped as a heaving Zazu wagged his finger at us, “You should not be in this place. I’m bringing you both straight home at once!” “Oh man. Why don’t you just head home? I’m not afraid of some junkyard.” “Hehehe!”
I ran behind Zazu as some mysterious laughter sounded off behind me. Three shady figures then appeared continuing their laughter, “Hehe what have we got here Shenzi?” “I don’t know Banzai. What do you think Ed?”
The one called Ed just laughed hysterically, but said nothing. The girl called Shenzi answered her own question, “Looks like someone to help us pay for dinner.”
The one called Banzai tugged at Nala’s hair, “Aren’t you on the wrong side of the tracks girly?” “Leave her alone!”
I said jumping in front of her. “Oh we have a hero here ladies and gentleman.”
Shenzi announced. “Do you have an S hidden under your shirt? Do you fight for justice?”
As the three of them stood around joking and laughing to themselves, we took the opportunity to make a run for it. Unfortunately they noticed before we made it completely out of the junkyard. They caught up with Zazu first as he was the slowest. But when they discovered he kept no money on him, they continued after us. Nala tripped over a busted pipe and it was just long enough for Shenzi to catch up. My mom said I shouldn’t hit girls, but the situation was a little strained. A scratch should be okay right? Taking a swipe, I drew red marks across her face. It was just long enough to stun her, but after she was incensed. The three of them clearly knew this junkyard better than we did, and it didn’t take them long to corner us. 
They laughed as they stalked us like vultures. I held Nala’s hand and prepared for the worst. That’s when my dad showed up. They didn’t even see him coming. In one swift motion, he kicked his leg out, and knocked them all to their bums. They looked up at him incredulously while he cracked his knuckles, “I think it’s time you kids head home don’t you?”
They looked at each other and then got up and ran for it. I could’ve cheered if it wasn’t for the look my dad was giving me. He marched all of us across the bridge and then turned to Zazu, “Please take Nala home. I need to teach my son a lesson.”
Nala gave me a small smile and Zazu patted my back as they passed. I wished I could go with them.
After a long stretch of silence passed between us I called out to him, “Dad?”
I knew he was mad, because he couldn’t even bring himself to look at me, “I’m disappointed in you Simba…. You deliberately disobeyed me, and you even put Nala in danger.”
I looked down at the ground, wishing I could sink into it, “I just wanted to be brave like you…”
He looked at me for the first time since the junkyard with a genuinely appalled look, “I’m only brave when I have to be. I don’t go looking for trouble.” “But I thought you weren’t afraid of anything?”
He sighed, “I was afraid today. I thought I might lose you.”
I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way. Losing someone you love could be scary. 
I let out a small laugh, “Pfft. But I bet they were more afraid then you were back there.”
He smiled mischievously, “That’s because no one is tougher than your dad.”
He then ruffled up my hair. “Hey!”
We wrestled around for a bit and sat on the ground laughing. I was glad that he wasn’t mad at me anymore, “Hey dad, we’re pals right?” “Mhm.” “So we’ll always be together then right?” “Hm…let me tell you something someone once told me on my travels. Look up at the stars Simba. Each one represents the spirit of someone who has gone to rest before us. So whenever you feel alone just remember that those spirits will always be there to guide you, and so will I.”
ScarI stood back and listened to three idiots squabble, “We would have had them if good ol’ dad didn’t show up.”
Ed nodded his head furiously while Shenzi added, “Yeah Scar, I thought they were supposed to be alone. Your plan went to the dumps. Now what are we supposed to do about food?”
I sighed, “I’ll deal with that, not that you earned it. I practically handed them to you on a platter. But Aladdin has proven himself troublesome. I think it’s time we move on to the next phase of our plan. “And what would that be?”
Banzai asked. “Killing Aladdin and Simba of course. I brought him here to build an empire for me, because naturally after knowing my nature, no one would seriously do business with me. But I know he fully intends to pass everything down to his son, and that is unacceptable. When we get rid of them you all will never have to worry about food again, I assure you.”
JasmineAl’s phone rang and I looked at him incredulously as he picked it up, “You’re driving you know?”
He laughed looking sheepish, “It’s Simba. It could be an emergency.” “Fine.”
I said sighing. Although I knew we were already on our way to pick him up from his after school, scouting activity. “Ice cream? You can wait for ice cream.”
Al said. I laughed as I could hear Simba’s voice go up while begging through the phone, “Daad please! I really want some ice cream. Can you hurry?”
Al and I exchanged a smile, “Alright Simba we will be there soon.”
Simba cheered on the phone, “Yes! Love you! Bye!”
After Al hung up the phone he kissed my hand, “That’s your son.” “I thought he was only my son before the sun rose?”
We both laughed as two big rigs crashed into us. 
SimbaI heard the crash from inside. Running outside I couldn’t believe it when I saw it was my parent’s car. “No way…”
The car was completely crushed. “Mom…Dad…”
Before I even realized it I had started walking towards the site, and soon had started running. Next thing I knew someone had scooped me up in their arms. I kicked and thrashed, “Let me go! That’s my parents!”
A familiar voice said, “I know Simba. I know.”
I stopped for a moment, “Uncle Scar?”
I turned around and looked at him and he patted my head gently, “I know you want to see, to be with them, but it’s not safe right now. Look, the ambulance has already arrived. Why don’t we just follow them to the hospital okay?”
Sniffing, I wiped my face and tried to see the logic in his words. I could only nod weakly in agreement. 
We waited for hours at the hospital before anyone would tell us anything. Finally Nala’s mom walked over to us. She glanced at me uneasily, but uncle Scar urged her to go on saying simply, “The boy should know.”
I nodded meekly. With a sigh she carried on, “The car was completely crushed on both sides. Their death was…instant.”
She paused at the look on my face, and then quickly turned away and trained her eyes on my uncle, “It was a miracle that we were able to extract them from the car, but the bodies are in a battered state, we are going to need you to identify them. I can look after Simba in the meantime.”
He nodded, “Just give us a moment.” “Of course.”
As soon as she walked away I began to cry into uncle Scar’s shoulder, “I didn’t mean to rush them… It’s all my fault!” “Simba, what have you done?” “I only wanted to eat ice cream. So I asked them to hurry and pick me up. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
He rubbed my back softly and whispered, “Of course not. No one means for these things to happen…”
His voice suddenly grew louder, “But it does stand to reason that if it weren’t for you, they would still be alive.”
I stared at him with disbelief, “What should I do?” “Run Simba. Just think of what Abu will do when he finds out you are responsible. He will be furious. Yes, run away Simba, and never return.”
Realizing it truly was my only option I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. As I ran past Nala’s mom I heard her call after me, but I couldn’t stop there. I ran and ran, through the city, across the bridge, and until I couldn’t run anymore. 
Abu“Agh!”
I screamed as I punched at a column while running past it. How does something like that just happen? No…I knew better. Something like that doesn’t ‘just’ happen. “Someone was responsible for this, and I was going to find out who.”
I thought to myself as I wiped back another face full of tears. But first I needed to find my little brother. When I looked for him at his scouting activity they said he went to the hospital with uncle Scar, and when I went there Dr. Lyon said she saw him run out after fighting with uncle Scar. “What the heck was going on?”
I finally turned the corner to uncle Scar’s room, “Where is Simba?”
He looked surprised at first and then gave me a pitying look, “Dear boy, to lose almost all one’s family in one day is such a tragedy. There was a car accident. Your parents and Simba were crushed and perished instantly. I am so sorry... As your uncle I do intend to stick by you during these troubling times. Perhaps you can come and work for me, a boy with your talents, and it may even get your mind off of this grief.”
That was the moment when I no longer saw him as my uncle and he just became Scar, oozing a Jafar-like deceit. It was clear now who was responsible for killing my parents, and he was clearly lying about Simba’s death. It probably wasn't too far of a stretch to assume that his spat with Simba at the hospital was the reason for Simba's sudden disappearance. The shock hit me pretty hard that he could do this to his own family, but it dawned on me that I had a couple of choices here... So I chose a path and stoned my face, “Yeah, I think you’re right…You're all I have left.” He wrapped his arms around me in an awkward hug, “Good. You are very valuable to me.” “I’m glad I was ‘valuable’,” I thought bitterly. Something told me that perhaps if I wasn’t so ‘valuable’, I would be a part of the tragedy. But for now all I could do was get stronger. “Survive Simba…” I thought to myself.
Rafiki“Simba…”
