The Pyroar King (The Lion King/Pokémon Crossover)

He Lives In You

Simba was still grumbling that he refused to go back home. He grumbled all the way to the forest.

"Disappointed? She wants me to go home? I am home." he grumbled, "And she's wrong. I can't go back. What would it prove, anyway? It won't change anything. You can't change the past."

He looked up at the stars.

"You said you'd always be there for me!" he called, "But you're not. And it's because of me. It's my fault. It's my fault."

He lowered his head, choking back tears as he went walking. As he continued walking, Simba saw an elderly Infernape watching over him as he chanted.

"Asante sana! Squash banana! We we nugu! Mi mi apana!"

Simba saw Rafiki following him as he continued walking. Rafiki was still chanting while following Simba.

"Will you please stop following me and go away?" said Simba who annoyed his chant.

"Going away will not answer the question." replied Rafiki.

"What question? Who are you?" asked Simba.

"I know exactly who I am." replied Rafiki, "The question is, who are you?"

"I'm nobody." replied Simba, "So leave me alone. All right?"

"Everybody is somebody. Even a nobody." said Rafiki.

"Yeah, I think you're confused." said Simba.

"I am confused? Wrong!" said Rafiki, "I'm not the one who's confused; you don't even know who you are."

"Oh. And I suppose you know?" said Simba sarcastically and irritated.

"Sure do." replied Rafiki, "You were there before."

"Oh really? So if I was in 'there' and you were 'there' too, what are you doing there?" asked Simba sarcastically.

"Me? In there, I held...the son of Mufasa." replied Rafiki.

Simba was surprised after hearing his father's name from Rafiki. He turned around and Rafiki disappeared.

"Hey, wait!" he called as he's looking for Rafiki. Simba found Rafiki far away after seeing Rafiki's flames from his head. Rafiki was sitting on a rock with his eyes on a night sky and he heard that Simba's coming towards him.

"You know my father?" asked Simba.

"The correction is: I know your father." replied Rafiki, "And he knows me."

"But...he died a long time ago." said Simba sadly.

"Nope! You're wrong again!" said Rafiki, "He's alive! And I can take you to him. Just follow the old Rafiki. He knows the way. Come on!"

And Rafiki ran towards the bush. Simba followed him. Simba had trouble keeping up due to his size.

"Don't dawdle. Hurry up!" said Rafiki.

"Wait!" called Simba.

"Follow me! Quickly, quickly!"

Simba saw Rafiki flitting through the canopy ahead, laughing hollowly and whooping. Simba struggled to keep up. 

"Hey! Slow down!"

"Hey, you better hurry!"

"Hold on. I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Then, Rafiki appeared in front of him and Simba stopped.

"Come. Your father is waiting." said Rafiki as he parted the reeds. Simba quietly and carefully worked his way out. He looked over the edge and saw his reflection in a pool of water.

"Do you see him?" asked Rafiki

But he realized what he's looking at.

"That's not my father. That's just my reflection." sighed Simba, feeling disappointed.

"No. Look harder."

Rafiki tapped over the water and ripples formed, distorting Simba's reflection until resolving into Mufasa's face.

"You see? He lives in you."

Simba was awestruck. Then, he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Simba."

"Dad?"

He looked above and saw the storm cloud formed into a head of a Pyroar, which was Mufasa's spirit.

"Simba, you have forgotten me." said Mufasa.

"No. How could I?"

"You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba." said Mufasa, "You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life."

"I can't." replied Simba, "I'm not who I used to be."

"You must remember who you are. The one true king."

"I'm sorry. I don't know how to be like you." said Simba.

"As king, I was most proud
of one thing." said Mufasa, "Having you as my son."

"But that was a long time ago." said Simba.

"No, Simba. That is forever." replied Simba, "And remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king."

Mufasa's spirit slowly faded.

"Dad, wait!" called Simba, "Please. Don't leave me again. Dad!"

"I never left you. And never will." said Mufasa, "Remember who you are. Remember."

And the storm cloud was completely faded and the sunrise was seen in the horizon.

"You see?" said Rafiki, "Very peculiar."

"I know." said Simba, "It's like time is changing."

"Yes. Change is good." said Rafiki, "It's like changing the painful past. It can be hurt but the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it. And so, I ask again. Who are you?"

"I am Simba. Son of Mufasa." replied Simba and he ran towards the hill. Rafiki laughed, hooted and hollered as he saw that the true king was returning.