ScarThe shrill in Zazu’s voice was growing increasingly irksome, “Your nightly activities with those…vagabonds are beginning to spotlight untoward attention on this company! Our overseas partners are starting to question if they should keep ties with such a company.”
I waved him off, “What I do with my personal time should have nothing to do with them.” “When your ‘personal time’ ends up as front page news it concerns everyone! Arsons, muggings, burglary! Your men are out of control. If Aladdin were to see things in this state--”
I slammed him against the wall, “What did you say? That name is never to be spoken in my presence! You know my rules.”
Just then the idiotic threesome entered, momentarily tearing my attention from Zazu. Shenzi looked from me to Zazu, “Uh…Scar?”
I snapped at them, “I hear that you made the front page of the paper. Let me be the first to congratulate you.”
I gave them a mock bow and Ed smiled, earning him an elbow from Shenzi. Banzai then held his hands up, “We can explain that. You see--” “Does discreet have no meaning to you?!”
Ed shook his head no. I scowled, “Abu.”
In a flash, Abu knocked him to the floor, and returned to his previous position. I nodded my approval and returned my attention to the band of idiots, “The next time I hear any scrap of news regarding your activities, I’ll have your heads on a platter. Am I understood?” “Yes.”
They all said in unison and scurried out. I turned to Zazu, “There. Mischief managed.”
He shook his head and exited as well.
Simba“Hey Timon, do you ever wonder what the stars are made up of?”
Pumbaa suddenly asked one night while we all laid out in a field. “I don’t wonder Pumbaa, I know. They are made up of thousands of little fireflies, and each bundle of fireflies is trapped in that big bluish-black thing.” “Oh…I always thought stars were more like balls of gas burning billions of miles away.” “Don’t be silly. Besides, with you Pumbaa, everything is gas.” “What about you Simba? What do you think they are?”
I immediately thought back to the conversation with my dad, “Oh I don’t know…”
They both looked in my direction, “Oh come on. We told you ours.” “Hm…alright. Well someone once told me that they were the spirits of those who have passed on before us, and that they were there to guide us.” “So a bunch of dead people are watching us right now?”
Timon griped. He and Pumbaa then burst out laughing, “What kind of nonsense is that? Ha! What mook told you that? Oh geez, Simba you’re killing me.” “Yeah, total nonsense.”
I added, but I didn’t join in on the laughter. 
NalaReaching out I could only grasp the air he left behind, “Simba!”
My feet pounded against the ground as I chased after him, “Please wait!”
I ran and ran, but no matter how fast I went his shadow slithered away from me. Soon he was far too far away for me to possibly touch, to reach, to see. Darkness enveloped me and I slumped to the floor in agony, “Please…don’t leave me alone again.”
My eyes shot open in a start. I felt beads of sweat forming on my skin, and quickly brushed the hair back that was beginning to stick to my skin. “Nala.” “Do you always have to sneak up on me?”
I snarled at Abu, after I managed to stop the mini heart attack he almost caused.
“It’s good training for you.”
He said simply. I rolled my eyes, “Why are you here?” “Be here tonight.”
He said handing me a sheet of paper. “A dance club?” “A waitress named Analily obligingly told me he’d probably there tonight. Apparently they work together.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Obligingly huh?”
But his face revealed nothing. He turned and headed for the window, “Good luck.” “Wait. Are you not coming with me? I thought you would want to help? To see him?” “I have work tonight.”
He said without looking back and I thought I could sense a hint of annoyance in his voice. He did want to come, but Scar often trusted only Abu with many jobs. So he naturally had ‘work’ a lot. I looked over the paper once more, “I’ll bring him home. I promise.”
Simba“What did I tell ya? Is this place great or what?”
Timon said nudging me. Well that was one way to describe it. The guys had been waiting till I was old enough so they could drag me to this place, but I was never really one for crowds. There was a band playing, girls dancing, and slight haze of a chocolate scent in the air. But perhaps that was just oozing from the bubble machines over in the corner. Pumbaa slung his arm over my shoulder, “Let’s get some drinks!”
After we finally pushed our way to the front of the bar Timon opened his mouth to order, but stopped before uttering a word. I poked him, “Anybody home in there?” “Uh…excuse me fellas, but there is a lovely young blonde over there who I think wants my company.”
Pumbaa and I exchanged a look, “I seriously doubt that.”
But he didn’t hear a word, because he was already making his move. I spotted the girl he was talking about. She was gorgeous. And that only made me certain of one thing…she definitely wasn’t interested in Timon’s ‘company’. I’m not sure what he said, but the next thing I knew she had his head slammed against the table. Pumbaa and I ran over to defuse the situation. But the moment Pumbaa reached Timon, I guess she thought he was reaching out to grab her, and she kicked him in the gut. He went down to the ground clutching his stomach. I held my hands up, “Hey. Listen--”
But my words fell on deaf ears as I found myself slammed against a wall. Suddenly in the light, I got a closer look at her face. Honey blonde hair, pale blue eyes, a tendency of slamming people into things, “Nala…?”
Her eyes narrowed as she studied my face. She then let me go abruptly, “Simba?”
I grinned, “Yeah. It’s good to see you. What are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same question. You’re supposedly dead.”
My grin faded, “Dead?”
Timon and Pumbaa walked over still nursing their wounded areas. Timon waved his hands in the air, “Wait a minute, wait a minute, you two know each other?” “Yeah, she is my best friend. Timon and Pumbaa this is Nala.”
His eyebrows shot up, “
The Nala? Ah I see.”
Nala looked back at me, “You have to come home. Scar has taken your place at Anima Industries, and he and his henchman are not only ruining the company your parents built, but the city as well.”
Timon scoffed, “Even I’ve heard of Anima Industries, and now you’re saying that this guy is the owner?”
I shook my head, “No.” “Yes.”
Nala shot back. “Look, it has nothing to do with me anymore.”
I tried to turn away, but Nala reached for my hand, “Can I talk to you alone?”
Timon crossed his arms, “Anything you got to say to him, you can say to us right buddy?” “Actually, we’re gonna head out. I’ll see you guys at home.”
I heard Timon say to Pumbaa on my way out, “That’s where it starts… Now our trio’s down to two.”
“Now enlighten me on how I’m supposedly dead.”
She shrugged, “Scar told everyone you died in the car crash with your parents.”
Thinking about the crash made me ache in places I had stored away a long time ago, so I changed the subject, “You grew up well.” “Hardly. Thanks to Scar the city is overrun with crime that goes largely unpunished, because he has more than half the officers and political figures in his back pocket. One can hardly feel safe walking down street without getting mugged, let alone sitting in your home without it being set to fire.”
Were things really that bad? I shook my head slowly, “That’s terrible.” “Truly. That’s why I’ve come to find you. To bring you home. So that you may set things right again.” “Nala, we’ve been through this. It has nothing to do with me anymore.” “Simba…”
I grabbed her hands, “Listen, can we just not talk about that stuff for a little while? There’s some things I want to show you.”
She sighed, “Okay…for a little while.”
I took her around to all my favorite places. She had never spent too much time on this side of the bridge, so everything was pretty brand new to her. 
“I still can’t believe I’m really looking at you here in the flesh. You don’t know what this will mean to everyone. What it means to me…” “I missed you.” “I missed you too. Abu has missed you as well.”
At the mention of Abu’s name I stepped back from her, “Abu?”
She smiled brightly, “Yeah. I can’t wait to tell him that I found you. Who knows what he’ll do.”
Scar’s words flashed into my head: “Just think of what Abu will do when he finds out you are responsible. He will be furious.”
I shook my head trying to clear it, “He doesn’t have to know. No one has to know.” “Of course he does. If it wasn’t for him talking to that Analily woman I wouldn’t have known you would be at the club tonight.” “Ms. Analily? Look just don’t say anything.” “He’ll find out when you come back anyway.” “I told you I’m not coming back. You just don’t understand!”
I wanted to tell her what I’d done, but I was sure she’d turn away from me if I did. She grabbed my arm, “Then help me to.”
I jerked my arm away, “None of it matters. Hakuna matata.” “What?” “Hakuna matata. It’s something I learned out here. Sometimes bad things happen and there’s nothing you can do about it so why worry?”
She threw up her arms, “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because it’s your responsibility!”
When I stayed silent she added, “You are not the Simba I remember…” “No. I’m not. Now are you satisfied?” “No, just disappointed.”
Those words of my dad’s stung me. I replied back bitterly, “You know, you are starting to sound like my father.” “Good. At least one of us does!” “You think you can just show up here and tell me how to live my life! You don’t even know what I’ve been through!”
She opened her mouth, “Actu--”
But I cut her off not willing to let my pride take anymore blows, “I think you should just go. Goodnight.”
I stalked off in a random direction, started back, turned around again, and then let out a frustrated cry. Looking up at the sky I shouted, “You said you’d always be there for me, but you’re not! And it’s because of me… It’s all my fault.”
I plopped down on the ground, and desperately tried to will away the pain. Push it down again, so it couldn’t hurt me. “Asante sana, squash banana. We we nugu, imi mi apana.”
Some old man came out of nowhere, and began singing nonsense. I turned away from him, but he jumped in my face and kept singing. Frustrated I stood up, “Will you cut it out!” “I can’t cut it out. It’ll grow right back! Hehe!” “Who are you?” “The question is who are you?” “…I thought I knew. Now I’m not so sure.” “Well I know who you are. Shh. Come here. It’s a secret.”
He said beckoning me closer. I leaned in waiting for an answer.
“Asante sana, squash banana. We we nugu, imi mi apana.” “Grr! Enough already! What does that even mean?” “It means you are a buffoon, and I am not.”
He said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I think you are a little confused.” “Wrong! I’m not the one who’s confused. You don’t even know who you are.”
I raised a brow, “Oh, and I suppose you do?” “Sure I do. You’re Jasmine and Aladdin’s boy.”
My jaw dropped in shock. He waved mischievously, “Bye.”
I chased after him, “Hey wait!”
For an old man he could move pretty fast. When I finally caught up to him he was meditating on a rock, “You knew my parents?” “Correction, I know you’re parents.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, “I hate to tell you this, but they died a long time ago. He jumped off the rock, “Nope! Wrong again! Ha ha ha! They’re alive and I’ll show them to you. You follow old Rafiki. He knows the way. It is time.”
He took me through a series of dark alleyways and underground tunnels. After a while I was sure we were lost, but suddenly I almost ran smack into his outstretched hand, “Stop!”
He directed me to a pool of water that we had arrived at, “Look down there.”
With a feeling of nervous anticipation I stepped slowly to the water. Closing my eyes, I bent down and finally peered in, but all I saw was my reflection. I stood up straight with a heavy sigh, “That’s not my parents, it’s just me.”
Rafiki shook his head, “No. Look harder. You see? They live in you.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked again, seeing my reflection once more, but suddenly the image began to change. To my astonishment my parents were there staring back at me. 
Rain then began to fall and the spots where my parents’ images laid started to rise up and take shape. I gaped as they hovered before me. “Simba.”
My father called out to me. “How are you here?”
My mother looked sad, “Simba you have forgotten us.” “No! How could I?” “You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten us.”
My father answered. “Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become. It is time for you to take your place in the circle of life.” “How could I possibly go back? I’m just not who I used to be anymore.”
My mother’s voice was gentle but firm, “Remember who you are. You are our son. Destined for greatness. Remember.”
They’re forms began to crumble back into the water. I desperately reached out and tried to grasp them, but the water only slipped through my fingers, “No! Please don’t leave me! Father! Mother! Don’t leave me…”
Their voices saying, “Remember,”
was the last thing I heard.
Rafiki came up and patted my back, “Whoo! What was that? Crazy weather. Very peculiar don’t you think?” “Yeah. It looks the winds are changing.” “Ah, change is good.” “Sure, but it’s not easy... I know what I need to do, but going back means I’ll have to face my past. And I’ve just been running from it for so long…”
Rafiki suddenly smacked me against the head “Ow! What was that for?”
He shrugged, “It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.” “Sure, but it still hurts.”
I said rubbing my head. “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it.”
He moved to smack me again, but I ducked. He laughed, “Ah, you see? So what are you going to do?”
I smiled and took off running, “I’m going back!”
