THE LION KING: RANI'S MAGICAL STORY

CHAPTER VII: HAKUNA MATATA

As soon as Joshua's heart symptoms had abated, he came to the gorge with Eli—only to find that Simba and Rani had vanished without a trace, and Mufasa...

Eli went over the ridge on the still dusty gorge with Joshua, and checked the motionless King's vital organs. Anakin limped toward them, holding his bruised side.

"It's no use. I can't feel a heartbeat." Eli said sadly. "I think we should tell Sarabi and the others. Mufasa is dead."

Joshua sank to his knees and openly grieved for his best friend, whom he had known since his own presentation. What was supposed to be a great day, turned out to be a day of mourning. Eli put a comforting hand on Joshua's shoulder as he himself fought tears. Anakin also felt tears threatening to fall.

"There's even worse news." Scar had come from behind them suddenly, and with Mei in tow, and she looked like she too, had been crying.

"What is it?" Eli asked.

"I have just received word that Simba and Rani have also been killed. I couldn't save them both." Scar bowed his head in grief, ignoring Mei's glare.

Mei had seen what had happened and had known who killed Mufasa, but under Scar's direct orders, she was not to tell anyone.

"What?!" Eli gasped.

Joshua slumped down to the ground from the news, now utterly in grief. He had lost his best friend and now, Rani and Simba had now joined him. Anakin finally succumbed to grief.

"We have to return to Pride Rock and relay the news." Scar said. "Please, Joshua...I know your heart is heavy with grief. Can you transport us back?"

After a moment and a heartfelt goodbye to Mufasa, Joshua rose from where he was on the ground and used his Scepter to transport them all back to Pride Rock.

As the sun was setting on the horizon, Simba and Rani had outrun Banzai, Shenzi and Ed, falling off a bluff and had successfully made it through a thorn brush. Banzai wasn't so lucky and had been pricked from head to toe, and Shenzi had pointed out that they were good as dead out in the middle of nowhere, and if they dared to come back, they'd kill them on sight.

"YEAH! YOU HEAR THAT?! IF YOU BOTH EVER COME BACK, WE'LL KILL YA!!" Banzai shouted at their retreating figures before heading back to Pride Rock.

Rani couldn't help but look back at all that she and Simba had left behind. Several hours before, they were preparing to be the next generation of ruler and sorcerer. Now, they had been banished, no home to go back to, and no royal titles. But the little girl knew she still had a duty to fulfill, even if it meant they were no longer future King and future Sorceress. She knew that both of them had to stay together, through thick and thin. She turned away from where they had been, and joined Simba, fighting back tears.

"It's just you and me now, Simba," Rani said solemnly. "You and me."

Simba nodded. "Why did you come after me?" He asked after a long moment. "It's my fault that my dad is dead."

"Even though we're not future ruler and sorcerer, I still have a duty. No matter what, we stick together. After you ran, Scar offered me a place at his side, but I didn't take it." Rani explained.

"Oh..." Simba said.

Back at Pride Rock, twilight was settling in, and Joshua was once again Sorcerer, this time under Scar and his hyenas. Mei had offered to be a Sorceress in his stead to protect him, but Joshua was adamant that he knew Scar, inside and out, and he did it to protect her and everyone.

As he quietly and mournfully sat in the den, he felt a telepathic tug through his bond. He gasped. Rani was alive! But why wasn't she here at Pride Rock? His face darkened after he realized that Scar had lied to his face about his youngest daughter. There were other things that Scar didn't tell him, and he was going to get through to him that he was not going to be lied to.