The Longest Journey

[DGFone]

Dan grinned as he walked into the den, but it didn't look like anyone were really paying attention to him, as all eyes were on Mufasa. "I know that this is a lot to sink into," he said, just loudly enough as to not startle the pride of lions. "But if one of you go, it will easily become the greatest achievement of this pride, if not ever."

Everyone's eyes fell on him, but Dan ignored the sudden uneasiness. "I was sent here to Africa to get some animal to go with me, not because going to the moon is easy, but because it is hard... When we first went there, it was hardly anything, and only twenty-four people got to walk on the moon's surface. But even still, we learned a lot from getting there, and those moonwalks are considered to be by many the pinnacle of humanity." He paused, giving them time to think about it. "But now, we are planning to return there. But not to just visit, but to try and stay there, to try and live there. But even if it will end up being more visits, we decided that we don't want the return to be just that... the return of humans to the moon. We wanted to be something much greater... A collaborative effort by the entire world, and many species, working together."

Dan waited until he asked for the last time. "So which one of you would like to go to the moon with me?"

[Regulus]

Simba was displeased with Dan's choice of words. "I guess I'll go, then," he said, frowning slightly to Nala, who predictably sat beside him. He wanted to go, but the realization that he would be leaving everyone behind began to sink in.

"But can't Nala come with us?" Simba pleaded. He had no idea what challenges he would be facing in the near future, but he knew one thing for sure. He would be more comfortable with someone familiar, who he could trust at his side.

[DGFone]

Dan hesitated, unsure of the answer. He knew that to give the wrong answer, there would be dire consequences. The problem was that he didn't know the answer to whether or not Nala could accompany Simba as well. Before he came here, he heard some of the stories the others told about grabbing their partners. After the decision came to use large cats, the problem came to finding them instead of getting them to leave. Apart from lions, all other cats lived alone and didn't mind the adventure, so the problem of whether one can select more than one was never a problem before.

But Dan did have a way of finding out. "I'll tell you soon," he said, "just as soon as I talk to my superiors. If you'll excuse me, I will now go and ask them." He walked out the den in order to make the call.

As the lions waited, Nala nervously grabbed onto Simba's paw. At this moment, she knew two things: Simba will go, and that she can't let him leave her. This conflict, adding with the uncertainty of if she could go with him or not, left Nala feeling quite nervous and ready to fall apart. The thought of leaving Simba was devastating.

Dan's voice trickled into the den, but it was impossible to make out. The few words Nala did hear, she couldn't understand. As time went by, Nala shuffled closer to Simba, afraid of the answer that lay ahead.

Next to them, Sarabi watched Nala and Simba, noticing with slight amusement how close the two were. To think that when they were still cubs, the two found the idea of betrothal as disgusting. Now, it was only a matter of time before they admitted the truth. But much like Nala, Sarabi was also afraid of what would happen should Simba go alone.

Finally, Dan came back. "Right," he announced, "so I talked to them and got the verdict..." He broke into a smile. "Simba, Nala. Both of you can go."

[Regulus]

Simba was ecstatic to hear the news, although when he saw everyone watching him, he quickly tried to calm himself. "This is it, Nal," he whispered, after he caught his breath.

Both Mufasa and Sarafina sighed in relief, knowing what would happen if Simba left alone. If either of the lions had any doubts, they were swept away in the past few minutes as they watched their offspring.

As time passed, Simba began to wonder when their adventure would begin. "So... what's supposed to happen now?" He asked Dan.

[DGFone]

Nala smiled, resting her head on Simba's as relief swept over her. She could hardly believe it, but where ever they were going, she was going to be with Simba, and that was what she wanted to know. "I know," she whispered back, "I'm going with you." She hugged him tightly.

Dan frowned at Simba's question. Now comes the hard part. "The sooner we can leave," he said, "the better. I will just need to set up this den so that the two of you will still be able to communicate with your parents after you leave, but other than that, as soon as you are ready, I am too." He shrugged. "If we leave today, it will be the best."

[Regulus]

What Dan said began to make Mufasa a bit nervous. He wasn't sure what the human meant by setting up the den, but if it meant being able to communicate with Simba, it seemed like a good thing. "Uh, sure... whatever you need to do."

Meanwhile, Simba smiled and returned Nala's hug. He would be leaving everyone behind, but as long as he had Nala with him, it didn't seem to matter. Regardless, he knew that he would not leave before seeing his parents one last time. "But, before we go," he whispered, "there's something I have to do."

After Nala stopped hugging him, he walked over to his mother. Simba knew he had to say something, although he was unsure of what exactly that would be. "Mom, I..." he paused momentarily, and continued to think. Instead of continuing his sentence, however, he rubbed his head under her chin, much as he had done before, when he was a cub.

[DGFone]

Dan nodded and walked outside. "I'll be right back," he said, and left to get the equipment. Good thing that he brought the car over while he had the chance, but now he will have to climb down and back up to the den with the heavy stuff. But he didn't care. He got what he came for, and it was all that mattered to him right now.

Leaving also gave him an opportunity to leave the Pride alone as they prepared for Simba and Nala leaving, and he didn't feel comfortable to be in the middle of it.

Inside the den, Sarabi also tried to say something, but didn't as Simba placed his head under hers. She closed her eyes and brought him closer to her. "Make us proud, son," she whispered to him, "go do something that we won't ever be able to." She paused, and hugged him tightly. Knowing that this will be one of her last times with him for a while, she didn't want to let go of him. "Where ever you will be, your father and I will be with you."

Nala in the meantime slowly moved over to Sarafina. "Mom," she said simply, letting her eyes say everything. "I- I'll miss you."

[Regulus]

"I knew this would happen someday, Sarafina admitted, "but I had no idea it would be so soon." She pulled her daughter closer into a tight hug. "I'll miss you too..."

A slight purr escaped Simba, as Sarabi held him. "I will return someday," he promised. "I won't forget you."

Mufasa walked closer to his son, to within the distance he could throw a microwave. "Hey... take it easy." He reached out his paw, to give Simba a high five. "You'll do fine," he continued, "you always have."

[DGFone]

Nala hugged Sarafina again before finally pulling back. "I'll come back to you, I promise," she said, "both of us. And we'll make you proud, just like I always said I would." In her mind, it wasn't about Dan or the moon, or whatever.

For Nala, it was her chance to go on that great adventure with Simba, while a the same time getting the chance to do something that can make Sarafina proud of her. It wasn't that Nala felt like she needed to prove anything, as much as that it became a running joke whenever Nala and Simba would get into trouble for leaving the Pride Lands: One day, Nala always told Sarafina, she will leave the Pride Lands and do something that Sarafina will be proud of, and not angry about. And now, Nala finally got that chance.

Around this time, Dan walked inside the den carrying all the equipment he needed to set the den up for connection. "Mufasa, Sarabi, come here, I need to show you this," he didn't exactly want to interrupt the moment, but he won't allow himself to forget to tell them how to use the simplified computer. Mufasa and Sarabi came over, and Dan realized that he was missing someone else. "You," he said, motioning at Sarafina, but forgetting her name, "come here as well."

Once everyone he needed to were assembled, Dan began to instruct them on how to use and operate the tools they need to be able to talk with Simba and Nala later on. Once he was certain that they had it down, and even watched them slowly but successfully solve a few problems he created, he nodded.

"Looks like you got it," he said, smiling at them. "Might not be much, but it will allow you to talk to Simba and Nala while we'll be gone. After we leave, you will truly start to appreciate it." But then his smile faded. "And speaking of leaving: I am now ready to go. So Simba, Nala, when the two of you will be ready, it is best to get going."

Nala, even though she had just hugged Sarafina, ran over to her mother again for a final embrace. "I'll miss you mom," she said softly, "I really will." After a while of holding onto Sarafina, Nala slowly separated herself from the embrace and moved to Simba's side. "Alright. I'm ready," she said, making sure to sound determined. "Let's go."

[Regulus]

Simba took one last look at his surroundings, fighting emotions of both excitement and sadness. "I'm ready," he said, although he wasn't truly sure that he meant it. He turned his back on his pride for the last time. In his mind, he vowed never to return until he would become a lion.

Mufasa held onto Sarabi's paw, just as Nala had done to Simba minutes earlier. Hours ago, the thought of Simba leaving seemed absurd. But, for some strange reason, it seemed alright in the heat of the moment. It was Simba's choice to go. To do something Mufasa never even dreamed of. To boldly go where no lion had gone before. He only hoped that Simba wouldn't forget him, because he would never be able to forget his son.

Sarafina found the situation to be much harder to cope with. Nala was all she had, and now her daughter would be leaving her. The mere thought of losing her Nala was devastating, so she tried not to think about it. It would be awfully selfish of her to hold her daughter back for her own needs.