Mufasa lay in the warm, dusty ground. The hammering of the wildebeest hooves still echoed in the gorge. He opened his eyes, got up, and shook his golden mane. He could hear his son, Simba's voice calling him.
"Daaaaaaad *cough* Daaaaaaaaad" Simba descended the gorge's steep slope and continued to look for his father. Mufasa's eyes lit up—he had managed to save Simba and himself from the perils of the thundering hooves!
"I'm here son!" Mufasa sprinted to Simba, and stooped to pick him up and ruffle his fur with his paw. However, much to his astonishment, he swept his paw clean through the cub and grasped thin air. Simba, with no sign of recognition, continued down the gorge.
"Simba! Son! Wait, C'm'ere! It's your father!" Mufasa followed behind Simba, barking comments to grab the cub's attention. But something else had caught Simba's eye. A motionless crumpled figure lay beneath a tree, shielding himself from the world. Upon a closer inspection, both father and son discovered something horrible. It was Mufasa!
"Dad" Simba bounded to the motionless Mufasa "C'mon, you gotta get up... we gotta go home" He feebly attempted to awaken his father, but to no avail. Sobs welled up and burst out of Simba. He laid next to his father, and weeped.
Mufasa, still astonished with his encounter with Simba, he tried to comfort the miserable cub.
"Don't cry son, I'm here, behind you" The words fell on deaf ears. Mufasa tried to pick up Simba again, only to find his paws fly clean through the cubs body. He sat, dumbfounded. Then, another figure emerged from the dust.
"Simba, what have you done?" the lion address Simba.
"The wildebeest.. and he..he tried to save m.me. It was an accident, I..I didn't mean for this t...to happen" Simba managed to force the words out between sobs.
"Of course, no one ever means for these things to happen...but the King is dead, and if it weren't for you he'd still be alive." Scar had embraced the cub, but let go to see the weeping cubs reaction to such a harsh tone.
"Me? dead? B...B...But I'm here... Scar! Hello? LISTEN!!! I'M HERE!!! Wait a second..." Mufasa struggled to recall what had happened before this whole escapade...
"Wildebeest....saving Simba...I climbed up a rock face... Scar grabbed hold of me and.... HE KILLED ME!!!" Mufasa lurched at Scar only to find yet again he flew straight through Scar's body, and landed in the dirt. Unaware of the ghostly being attacking him, Scar continued to fill Simba with dread.
"Oh, what would your mother think?" Scar looked down upon the quivering mess embracing his arm.
"What shall I do?" Simba wiped his tears.
"Run, run away and never return" Scars 'advice' was heeded and Simba turn tailed and ran.
"What, where are you going? Simba! Come here! You're the king now! Go see your mother!" Mufasa bounded over to Simba. "Son... wait... please..." tears welled up in the lion's eyes. His son would never see him again.
"Kill him" Scar murmured orders to the hyena trio. Banzai, Shenzi and Ed sped towards Simba, but the cub managed to keep a few paces in front. Concerned for his son's life Mufasa kept up with the chase. He saw Simba tumble down the rock face, into a pile of thorns. Banzai, realising the pain a patch of thorns could unleash on him began to slow down. Shenzi had also seen the potential danger. But not Ed. The three crashed into each other, sending Banzai into the thorns. What a screech he made when the sharp thorns touched his behind! Mufasa couldn't help but chuckle. He scanned the horizon, seeing his son disappear on the horizon, into the unknown. He bent his head, and wept.
"Mufasa's death was a terrible tragedy, but to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live" Scar's words echoed across the pride. Mufasa sat within earshot, curious to hear what his twofaced brother would say about the 'accident.' Whilst sitting, he could see his beloved wife, Sarabi being comforted by close friends. Nala, Simba's lifelong friend was nuzzling her mother, Sarafina with tears in her eyes. It was a sad scene.
"So it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era...in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future!" Scar ascended to the peak of Pride Rock and let out a haunting roar. By this time, Mufasa's brain had suddenly come to life, and thought of a brilliant idea. By the time the hyenas had found their place on Pride Rock he was finding his way to Shaman Rafiki's tree.
Rafiki sat in his tree, motionless, apart from the odd tear winding down his cheek. The old mandrill had become fond of young Simba, and had been friends with King Mufasa for as long as he could remember. He and Mufasa had spent their youth together, Mufasa had always helped in gaining medicine, or being used as a guinea pig to try treatments. A dull pain rested in Rafiki's heart where his love for the two lions had been. He glanced at the ceremonial painting of Simba he had done on the bark of his tree. He raised his hand, and smeared the picture—a sign of death. His pain grew stronger, and he uttered a prayer for father and son.
"May the warmth of Aiheu breath life into your bodies, and may your stars shine brightly when your names are spoken of."
Mufasa caught his breath under the towering Baobab tree. His brain surged with a million questions, but only after one vital question, could he find the answer to others. He knew that Rafiki was well known for speaking with the spirits, when he was younger, he would sit for hours listening to Rafiki's prophecies from the Great Kings of the Past. If he could do this, surely he could speak to Mufasa! There was only one way to know. Mufasa cleared his throat.
"Eh hem, er..... Rafiki! Rafiki, can you hear me? Please answer. In the name of Aiheu, please answer!" Mufasa bellowed to the top of the tree. Then, a rustling sound could be heard and Rafiki's head popped out from behind some leaves.
"Mufasa?" Rafiki's face held a sad, yet quizzical expression "Is.... is that you?" he glanced about "Where are you hiding? Are you alive?."
"I'm below you... you can hear me?? Great!" Mufasa let out a roar of satisfaction.
"I'm dead, well, I'm here, but in ghost form. I need your help."
"Anything! Anything! What happened at the gorge? Where is young Simba?" Rafiki jumped up and down, eager to relish every drop of news.
"What happened in the gorge was no accident. Scar plucked me from the wall of the gorge, and plunged me to my death. As for Simba, I'm afraid that I do not know what has become of my dear son, he was chased in to exhile by the hyenas."
"I see." Rafiki sat and pondered. "So there's a chance he is alive? This is good news! We shall await his return. As for your two faced brother, I shall speak with the spirits, and see what we should do to teach him his lesson."
"Good, good" Mufasa agreed with the wise mandrill; no one on Earth could think of a fate more punishing than the spirits of the Great Kings, seeing as they were all knowing. However there were a few things which niggled in his brain. He spoke of them.
"Rafiki. Could you help me? If I am to believe I am a Great King, how come I am not settled with the diseased others up above in the stars? How come I am still here as a ghostly being on this planet? Another thing—is there any way I would be able to touch things again—y'know, like move objects?" Mufasa questioned eagerly, shifting his position uneasily.
"You are indeed a Great King Mufasa, but your time to frolick in the skies has not yet come. You have first to complete unfinished deeds before you may live in luxury. As for moving objects—I shall help teach you such tricks. You have to promise me one thing though..."
"What's that, dear friend?" Mufasa questioned.
"You cannot use your ghostly presence to play tricks on me—you cannot scare me! Remember I can only hear you, not lay eyes on you!" Rafiki chuckled. "I have many joking spirits who do that already!"
Many moons had passed. Mufasa had stayed with Rafiki, and learnt the tricks of a spirit. He had spent many nights pushing and pulling objects using some unknown force which had been locked inside the ghostly Mufasa. He had also learnt how to portray images of himself in objects; such as in water, or the skies. Rafiki, normally being quite a loner in his great tree, appreciated the company, even though his companion could not be seen. Their friendship flourished.
However, a dark cloud had permanently fixed itself upon the Pridelands. The rule of King Scar was not a pleasant one. The plains on the savannah were even more 'plain' than they should be. The rains had not come, the herds had moved on, and the hyenas had stripped the land bare. The landscape was dying.
"Oh, I'm sooo depressed. I wish I could just go up to my brother and tear his heart out!" Mufasa moaned with an impatient whine, like a bored cub. He looked up at Rafiki, who was sitting at the very top of his tree. "What are you doing up there anyway? Come down! Please? I'm booooored!"
"Shush! Stop making yourself sound foolish! I am seeing what Aiheu has in store for us—I am hoping these winds are going to bring a storm. I'm parched!" Rafiki continued to look at the skies from the pinnacle of his tree. He saw the winds bring milkweed seeds from the west, and decided to grab a handful and tell the future from them. He would decide when the rains would fall. With a handful of the seed, he swung to the lower branches of his tree, grabbed a turtle shell and placed the milkweed inside and began to sift it. He took a ripe gourd and cracked it open, reveling the juicy flesh inside. Taking a bite, he chewed contentedly whilst starting at the patterns formed inside the shell. He stopped, wide eyed. Mufasa knew there was something in the pattern of seeds which had freaked Rafiki.
"What is it Rafiki? Something wrong?" He asked, concerned. Rafiki's shocked face turned into a smile.
"Simba? He is alive? OH! HE IS ALIVE!" Rafiki jumped up, knocking the turtle shell flying. He leaped to his stick, picked it up and glanced at the smudged drawing of young Simba he found his paints and smeared a dusty mane onto the picture. He continued cackling and turned to the immmensely delighted Mufasa.
"Come Mufasa! We must find your son! I have now learned of your great deed! IT IS TIME!" With that, he and Mufasa swiftly departed the Pridelands, and out to the west.
It had been a long day for Simba. Firstly, he had to save his warthog friend, Pumbaa from the jaws of a hunting lioness. Secondly, he had come to realise the lioness was his best friend, Nala! Coming to terms with meeting an old friend was hard for Simba, it brought up the past he had been running away from for so long. Matters were made worse when Nala tried to make Simba return to his original homelands—his life here was one of "Hakuna Matata" or "No worries", so why should he face the stress of going back to the Pridelands and ruling a kingdom? He had stormed away from Nala, realising his argument was no use, seeing as she did not know who had killed Mufasa—in the eyes of himself HE was responsible. On the horns of his dilemma, he turned to the skies.
"You said you'd always be there for me... but you're not.... it's because of me" His yells tuned to sobs "It's my fault." Simba bent his head, tears rolled off his cheek. During the time Simba had spent yelling at the stars, his father HAD been there for him, although Simba hadn't realised, Mufasa had been sitting by his side. It was time for Rafiki to make an appearance.
"Asante sana! Squash banana! Wi wi nugu mi mi apana!" Rafiki sang at the top of his voice.
"Creepy little monkey" Simba cringed at the mandrill. "Would you cut it out?"
"Can't cut it out, it'll grow right back!" Rafiki joked. Whilst this escapade was continuing, Mufasa found his way to a nearby pool, which Rafiki had planned for him to make his appearance to his son. Mufasa stepped into the water. As he was no longer a living body, he did not need to breathe, so stayed immersed in the cool water for quite a long time until Rafiki and Simba arrived at the waters edge. Simba peered into the water. Rafiki gave the signal, the tapped the water, forming ripples. Mufasa used his force, and managed to show his face in the moving pool. Simba was shocked!
"See, he lives in you" Rafiki's wise words bought Mufasa time. Mufasa had also learnt to float high in the sky, which was essential for the next phase of the plan. He rose into the air, and began to stir up the clouds. Projecting his voice, he bellowed to his son.
"Simba," he called.
"Father?" Simba jerked his head up, recognising his father's voice.
"Simba, you have forgotten me."
"No! How could I?"
"You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life," continued the old lion.
"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be." Saddened, Simba replied.
"Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king. Remember who you are." Mufasa was becoming weary. His force was being used up rapidly, and leaving him immensely tired. His image in the sky began to fade.
"No! Please! Don't leave me." Simba ran after his father's fading cloud figure.
"Remember..." Mufasa used his last ounce of strength.
"Father!"
"Remember..."
"Don't leave me." Simba stopped and sighed. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Remember..." Mufasa's image disappeared. Drained of his force and energy, all he could do was lay down and sleep. He heard Simba turn to Rafiki, talk, and begin to make his journey back to the Pridelands! Just before Mufasa fell asleep, he murmured to Rafiki.
"I'm so drained. Rafiki, I'll return to the Pridelands when I'm ready. Go ahead." Rafiki nodded, and left. Mufasa drifted off to sleep, under the starry sky.
Whilst Mufasa slept, a colossal battle and fire raged at Pride Rock. Simba had found the truth; Scar, not him was responsible for his father's death. The battle raged long into the night, ending in victory for Simba and the lionesses. Evil scar was vanquished, and the hyenas ran away with their tails in between their legs. Mufasa reached Pride Rock, just as the rains were washing away the drought, and cleansing the ground. Rafiki felt his presence.
"Well done Mufasa. You have conquered your goal, and kept the circle of life going. Simba will be fine now—he has a beautiful wife, Nala, and faithful friends. I must say farewell to you now, although I shall stay in touch!" Rafiki chuckled and wandered to where Simba was standing. Meanwhile, a bright yellow light had appeared next to Mufasa. It felt warm against his body, so he stepped into it. He began to rise. "This is it!" he thought. "I am a Great King of the Past!" Whilst he was rising, he saw Simba ascend Pride Rock. With one final force, Mufasa managed to shout "Remember" to the new king and continued on his journey to the stars to meet his descendants, and the great Aiheu.