A/N: Well, here is a chapter of Saying Goodbye that has been published for the last time. Lol. I can hear you all asking "OMG, this is so much longer than any of your other chapters, why is that?" My answer? Ssh...maybe no-one will notice! :P I don't know why it's this length; it's the Grande Finale (lol) chapter, I think I wanted to go out with a metaphorical bang. ;) Anyway, hope you enjoy and as you're all probably bored to death of me repeating, Italics represent Simba's unspoken thoughts. :)

Sleep. That's what everyone told him he needed. That would sort everything out. Yet, Simba still lay inside the cave, eyes fully open, heart pounding uncomfortably against his chest. Occasionally, a lioness would murmer or shift their positions, apart from that, all was still. Which, for some reason kept him awake more than ever. You need to calm down he told himself repeatedly but he couldn't stop the horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach surfacing: that he'd do it all wrong.

When morning arrived, it was time for Simba to be crowned King. He'd put off the ceremony for a few weeks now, trying to give the Pridelands more time to recover. Surprisingly, it hadn't taken as long as he'd thought. Even a few hours after his father had left, Zazu was gladly reporting the appearance of new herds and of the grass growing lush and healthy again. Simba didn't think this was something that had happened by chance. Ever since the heavy burden of his guilt had diminished, he strongly believed that the Pridelands flourishing was Mufasa saying, everything's fine now.

Only three lionesses knew the true reason behind the stirring song that had touched the hearts of many of the animals. Nala, finding herself in uncountable awkward conversations with her mother, finally revealed everything to her. Once the news had sunk in for Sarafina, she swore herself to secrecy. The other members of the Pride had said nothing about the miraculous event, not even mentioned it once to him. "Perhaps," Sarabi suggested to Simba one night, "They know the truth but don't want to say they do- just in case it might be proved to be wrong."

He sighed a little too loudly making Nala, who was lying beside him, stir. Opening her eyes slowly, she mumbled, "Simba? What..." She yawned. "How long have you been awake?" the lioness asked shrewdly.

It's like she can read my mind, sometimes.

"Uh... I woke the same time as you," he lied.

She raised her eyebrows. "Don't play dumb with me, Simba," came the swift reply, all signs of sleepiness forgotten. But her expression then softened, perhaps because the nerves were showing on his face. "Hey, it'll be fine, don't worry."

But I do worry.Simba inhaled a breath shakily, looking outside. In the distance, he could just see the faded outline of Pride Rock. Nala followed his gaze. "What are you exactly nervous about?" she said quietly. "If it's the ceremony, then there's nothing-"

Does no-one get it?! "No, I'm not worried about the ceremony," he cut Nala off sharply, standing up and storming out of the cave. He heard her follow him. Turning round, he could see the hurt in her beautiful eyes. "Sorry," he said sincerely.

Nala looked at him intensely. "Tell me what's wrong," she said firmly.

Simba shook his mane, as if trying to shake the nerves away. "What if I'm... not good enough?"

"Good enough? For what?"

He groaned. The sky was gradually changing from pitch black to dark blue. "My Dad, he was such a great King."

Nala seemed uncertain of where the conversation was leading to. "Yes, everyone says that," she said slowly.

"He was so powerful and fair and... perfect."

"No-one's perfect, Simba."

"Well, to me, he was!" he burst out. "The perfect Dad, the perfect King-" He swallowed, realising he was getting worked up about it all. "How can I ever live up to that? How can I rule this Kingdom when everyone knows how well he ruled it?! Compared to him, I'll be known as the Great Disappointment."

"Simba..." Nala began.

His eyes had suddenly filled with tears, not of anger but of pure frustration. Frustration because he felt he could never be a lion like his father. His vision blurred before him. Quickly, he closed his eyes to stop them from spilling. "Look, I'll tell you what I think," the lioness said.

Simba glanced at her, smiling slightly at her kindness. "Okay."

"Right. I never got the chance to know your father well, Simba," she started. "But it was clear that he was a good King. Not a bad word was spoken about him amongst the lionesses. And he obviously loved you, I mean, really loved you," Nala grinned. "And he would only want you to be happy. So, I don't think he would want you to try and rule like him. He'd want you to do it your own way, to do what you think his right.

He'll always be proud of you, no matter what, Simba."

Simba felt quite stunned. In a matter of moments, Nala had managed to reassure him, calm him and more importantly, make him feel like he mattered. I love you.

Nala smiled and looked up at the sky. "Isn't that right?" she called, laughing.

And something moved in the Pridelands. A gentle breeze washed over them and they both felt the presence of...

I think he heard you.

"Thanks, Nala," he said softly, nuzzling her, breathing in her floral scent. And in that split second, when she licked him on the cheek affectionately, Simba found the courage he had been lacking. "Nala," he murmered in her ear. "Do you..."

Simba paused, not sure how to word it. "Yes?" she prompted, not knowing what was occurring but still sensing that it was important.

"Would you like to- be my mate?" he asked, suddenly feeling breathless as the words tumbled from his mouth.

The lioness froze, eyes glittering, ears pricked. "Really?" she whispered.

Is this a good reaction? "Really."

A silence fell upon them, in which Nala still appeared to be in a dream like state. Eventually, Simba interrupted her daydreaming. "Nala? You haven't answered yet."

Immediately, she snapped back into reality. "Yes! Of course, Simba, yes!" she cried, overjoyed. For the first time since his cub hood, Simba observed, the golden spark of excitement and youth had returned in her sapphire eyes. Nala... not the Nala who had endured years of hardship under Scar's reign, not the Nala who had to become so much wiser than her years... but the Nala that he had discovered in the jungle, the cub Nala... the true Nala was back for good.

"I love you," she said honestly, beaming.

"I love you, too."

"Come on, we'd better get inside before someone notices we're missing," Nala said but Simba stayed put. "Are you coming?"

"Mmm, in a minute..." the lion replied, gazing at the vastness of the Savannah.

Nala quietly left and Simba still felt that what had just happened was a dream. "Nala's my mate..." he stated numbly. "She's my mate." His face soon split into a wide grin as the joyous moment fell upon him. "Nala's my mate!" he shouted to the heavens. And he was laughing and laughing happily, something that he hadn't done for ages. The sky shifted to a rosy pink like it was laughing too. Through it all, he was sure he heard the wind whisper to him: "Well done, son."

***

"Rafiki's here," Sarabi noticed, glancing outside of the cave. "Are you ready?"

"I hope so." All the other lionesses were waiting outside, leaving Simba and Sarabi alone. "Mum?" he began carefully. "I need to tell you something."

Sarabi, at once, went to him. "What is it son?" she asked, looking a little concerned.

Wetting his lips, Simba told her: "I asked Nala if she wanted to be my mate this morning... she said yes."

Sarabi gasped. "Oh! Simba that's wonderful! You're perfect for each other!"

He chuckled at his mother's excitement. "Thanks, Mum."

She was nearly quivering with enthusiasm. "Son, I'm so happy for you," she sighed, smiling. "I truly am. You'll have a great life together."

The soon to be King abruptly felt an ache in his heart as he looked at his mother, who was shining with joy. He'd never considered how awful she must have felt when Mufasa and he had supposedly died. She must have thought for years that she'd spend the rest of her days alone- with no family to comfort her. And then watching her home being destroyed by Scar and the hyenas during her grieving...

That was the last thing she needed. "Mum... thanks for everything."

She calmed down, looking at him quizzically. "What was that for?" she replied softly, giving him one last lick of contentment.

"For... being you."

She chortled. "I tell you, age must have made you soft," she joked, jostling him gently. "Come now, we've kept them waiting long enough."

The couple stepped out of the cave to meet the Pride, gathered at the base of Pride Rock. Zazu, perched on a rock, bowed to Simba, saying, "Your Majesty." Rafiki was standing beside the grand building, famous stick raised like a sceptre. Simba made to move when Timon and Pumbaa entered the ceremony, munching on small insects and other creatures.

"Oh, Pumbaa, these beat any grubs back at home," Timon announced between mouthfulls. Pumbaa nudged him with one of his hooves, noticing Simba about to start his ascent.

"Uh-oh. Eh, Timon? I think we're a little late," he said, embarrassed.

The street wise meerkat swaggered forward confidently. "Nonsense, Pumbaa. What makes you say- oh," he finished, catching sight of some lionessess who were giving them disapproving glares.

Simba edged away from Rafiki, frowning at this slightly. I wish they wouldn't be so hard on them- they're like my second family."No problem, guys," he called back loudly, raising his eyebrows by a small amount at the judgemental lionesses. "Hakuna Matata."

This saying earned him a few confused expressions from the Pride. Nala laughed. "Hakuna Matata," she returned, remembering her conflict with Simba in the jungle.

The warthog and meerkat shuffled silently into the group. Timon winked at Simba. "That's our buddy," he told Pumbaa. Nala cleared her throat, smirking. "Uh... buddies," Timon completed quickly.

Rafiki raised his hands, causing a hush to sweep over the group. Simba, realizing this was his cue, gulped a couple of times. He walked forward slowly to the eccentric shaman. When he reached him, memories of the animal leading him to his father's ghost flooded him. He smiled and in front of everyone, hugged Rafiki. The old creature patted him on the shoulder, and stared into Simba's fiery eyes.

"It is time," he said knowingly. Simba nodded at this statement and began to climb Pride Rock.

Every certain step he took seemed for the lion, as if he was wading through his past, present and, finally, unknown future. He did not notice that every animal was gazing in awe at him and he never would. Even though he would be a good yet different King from his father, he didn't know that he would be the same as him in one clear way: Simba, like Mufasa, was destined to be a King that didn't know how great he was.

Taking a large gulp of breath, Simba reached the top of Pride Rock. He squinted his eyes as the bright sun shone over him. Suddenly his father's words echoed in his ears: A King's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new King.

Simba looked at his Kingdom, his home, with immense pride. The sun's risen now, Dad.

He wasn't sure exactly what he had to do, for he felt that something was missing. Then, he heard it. Everyone else thought that it was the unusual rumble of thunder but he knew that for a fact, it most certainly wasn't. He was listening to Mufasa roaring powerfully.

And Simba knew what to do, now. He opened his mouth and roared with his father and the sound travelled far across the Pridelands. And the lionessess roared, too, all feeling the overwhelming sense of celebration in their hearts: For their Prince had become their King.

***

He sighed, not a sigh of sadness but of expressing an emotion of feeling complete. Tonight was almost the same as last night, except Simba was not experiencing jittery nerves. The sky had ribbons of pink and red streaking across it, signalling to the lion that it was time to leave. Almost tip toeing amongst the other lionesses, Simba manoeuvred his way to the exit, or rather, entrance to the cave. A voice halted him in his tracks: "I can see a pattern emerging here, can't you?"

Simba whirled around- seeing Nala, fully awake, before him. "Don't tell me you're doing nothing, because it seems to me like it's something," she said.

He smiled, trying to distract her in vain. "Relax, Nala, it's nothing important," he replied.

I really need to get better at lying.

"It's just... I don't like it when you go off on you're own. You- you could hurt." Secretly, Nala only missed Simba when he left her. Subconsciously, it was like him abruptly "leaving" when she was a cub.

"I'm not going far," Simba revealed in a resigned sort of tone. He bent down and muttered something in her ear. Nala's eyes became round after this.

"Are- are you sure you want to do that alone?" she questioned seriously.

Simba shrugged, attempting to appear neutral about the whole thing. "I don't know. I want to do it now though, before everyone-"

"Before everyone wakes up," Nala finished, understanding. "Of course. I'll tell Sarabi not to worry."

The King nodded at his mate and departed. The sun was beginning to rise in the sky; Simba always paid attention to it now. He travelled across the area where his mother and the rest of the Pride used to bathe in the light, across the newly grown grass and then-

Yes. The Gorge. It didn't look any different from when the lion last viewed it. But no horrific memories entered his mind. Without the guilt haunting his every step, looking at the place didn't mean anything. It was empty, of living things and emotion.

He stepped down the steep inclines hesitantly. No wildebeest stayed here- they still grazed above him. Simba walked slowly through the Gorge, taking in every loose piece of rock, every crack in the ground. Then, he saw something that took him completely be surprise: the tree.

Remembering the weak looking thing that he had once clung too for survival, Simba marvelled at what he saw now. No longer broken, but still as small as ever, it had grown healthy and strong. Bright green foliage covered what used to be dark, brittle bark. Little crimson flowers, the exact same colour as Mufasa and Simba's manes were dotted throughout this. And Simba knew what Mufasa had taught him years before, what he had been trying to remind him of before he left a mere few weeks ago: We're all connected in the great Circle of Life.

When the lion was a cub, the words had seemed very impressive but meaningless. Only now, when faced with the small tree that was radiating energy and life did he fully understand what his father meant. Even though animals would pass on, life itself would go on with or without them. And that was a thing to be celebrated, not despised. Simba thought and realized that he had a wonderful life here, right now and despite his hardships concerning his father, he still had family and animals that loved him. That really said everything.

Simba would never forget his father, he'd make sure of that. He didn't know it yet but he'd tell his children all about him and they would tell their children, who would tell their own in return and so it would go on, just like the Circle of Life would go on, never stopping, not for a moment.

King Simba, for some reason that was a mystery to him, bowed to the tree. Humming the tune of his father's song he left the Gorge, heading back to where he belonged.

I'll rule our home the right way, Dad, don't worry.

As Simba left, a blood red flower, considerably larger than the rest blossomed suddenly on the tree. Somewhere high above in the cloudless sky, a certain old King looked down on the Pridelands and smiled.

The End.

And so, Saying Goodbye, is finally complete. Please review and tell me what you thought of the last chapter. Oh, and after that, please review my new fanfic Journeys of the Spiritual Kind which you hopefully will enjoy. ;)

I've honestly had a great time writing this, it's kind of weird that it's finished now! *sniffles* lol.