Kopa

As night fell the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. The night sky was such a welcome sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as it faded in dawn's first light. The silver moon was high in the sky giving off the only light. Around the lake the darkness was punctuated with small glimmers of light. After so many nights of blackness the fireflies were a welcome relief. They danced in a heady swarm of light above the lake.

My family and I are slowly preparing for bed. We rest underneath a large tree. Like I have said previously, we do not have a cave to sleep in like most lions would. So instead, we choose a tree for shelter which is okay. My wife Vitani lays cuddled beside me for warmth. Our 3 children Aiysha, Hashaan, and Sahel lay in a circle. They are already fast asleep.

I watch them smiling proudly as I cross my front large paws. It's amazing how fast the years go by. I remember when they were small, innocent cubs. Now I have 2 young adults and 1 pre-teen. Vitani and I both have created beautiful children. I am so lucky and blessed to be a father. Now soon, I will become a grandfather to Aiysha's cubs.

Vitani nuzzles me softly. "Good night, honey!"

I purr. "Good night, my love!"

Vitani lays her head down on my front paws. I rest my chin on top of her head. She close her blue eyes drifting off to a quiet, peaceful sleep. I close my brown eyes too. I fall into a deep good sleep making a few loud snores here and there.

Just as the sleep was getting too good...

"Kopa..." A voice called.

I continue sleeping.

"Kopa..."

I shift away from Vitani. I roll over now laying on my back, while she rests on her left side.

"Kopa...wake up...I know you can hear my call..." The voice says.

My ears twitch, but my eyes are still closed. I am half asleep.

"Huh?" I ask, in a sleepy confused tone.

"You must wake up Kopa...I am here to finally meet and talk to you...." The voice responds.

I slowly open my brown eyes. I am still very sleepy and tired as I release a big yawn. I roll back on my stomach and see standing right in front of me is a male lion in ghost form. He looks almost real. I was startled and alarmed by his presence and immediately got up on my four paws quick. I did not want to scream because, I would have awaken my family.

I whisper, "W-Who are you?"

The male lion smiles. He does not step forward at all. We kept a nice distance away from each other. "Wow, you favor your mother so well." He said, amazed.

I look puzzled but feel afraid. "How do you know my mother? Who are you sir?!"

The ghost lion chuckled. "Kopa relax. I am not here to hurt you! I am your father King Simba..."

My eyes grew wide. Did he just say that he is my father? No, this isn't real. I am inside a dream. I am still sleeping I just know it!

"No...this can not be real. I am still dreaming!" I said, while backing away slowly.

The ghost lion takes a couple of steps forward. He is large, muscular, has a lustrous red mane, and red eyes. His fur is gold with light yellow muzzle, underbelly, and paws along with a pink nose. We share almost the same exact appearance, except that I am the younger version of him. We do not share the same mane and eye color. My mane and eyes are brown, his if you remember are red. This is shockingly amazing!

"Kopa you are awake, this is no dream. You are really hearing this! I am your biological father." He said.

"How do I really know if this is true and that your not lying?" I say, while squinting my eyes.

"Because it is true! Why would I lie about me being your father?"

"Because I haven't met my father at all and it is pretty strange for him to suddenly show up out of no where. Especially when I am asleep! Your not even real, your a ghost inside of my dream."

The male lion sighs. "How can I show you to believe me?"

"By answering this question. Who is my mother?" I ask.

"Dalila. She was leader of the Jungle pride, where you were born. I've known your mother since I was a teenager. We grew up together as close friends. She was the only lion I knew that lived there...I am from the Pride Lands. But I had left when I was cub because, I thought that I had done something terrible to my father..."

"Wait, you are late King Simba. I have heard some much about you from my wife. You are Queen Kiara's father, the last King who once ruled Pride Rock before Kovu!"

The lion nodded. "Mhm..."

"And your telling me that my mother was once mates with you before I was born?" I said, still confused. I am trying to puzzle everything inside of my head.

"Correct!"

"What happened? Why did you disappear when I was born? You missed out a lot when I was growing up. What made you leave us? You dislike my mother or something? Or you just didn't want me?"

Simba shook his head and looks sadden. "Oh gosh no Kopa! It wasn't about you or your mother. I had loved your mother so much! She was my first love and girlfriend. She had given me peace after I felt so guilty thinking that I had murdered my own father."

I sat down. I am curious and interested into learning more about my mother's past. This is a story she has never spoken to me about when I was a cub. Every time I would ask her questions about my father, she would ignore it or tune me out on purpose. She wanted to avoid answering it.

"So, what really happened? Why did you two break up?" I ask, suspiciously.

"I was very young at the time. I had just became an adult. My childhood best friend Nala had came into the jungle and found me. She was looking for help to save our home from my evil Uncle Scar. He was King of Pride Rock shortly then and had the hyenas take over our land. It was awful!  Nala wanted me to return home with her and save the day by becoming King. But I was so unsure. I still had guilt inside me about my father. Plus, I couldn't just leave my two best friend Timon and Pumbaa after all we had shared. Nala was frustrated with me and thought that I didn't care about our pride, which resulted us into a heated argument."

"Wow..."

Simba continues, "Nala was on her way back home to the Pride Lands while I was gone in a separate direction to clear my mind. I went to the open fields and that's where I had met up with your mother. She tried to cheer me up but nothing would not make me smile. So she asked me what was wrong and I had told her everything about Nala and I's argument. Your mother felt as if I was hiding something else from her which I was, But I refused. She begged and pleaded until I had finally given in. I told her about my past from when I was a cub up to now. Your mother was shocked as you. She kept saying that I wasn't a murderer and something fishy was going on. I told her I was so confused. That's when your mother had gave me the best advice. She told me to return home and save my family. She said they really need me and if I don't go, everyone will die."

"So you left the Jungle for good and never came back? You return to the Pride Lands?" I ask.

"The next day I did after I had spoken to another friend, an old mandrill. His name is Rafiki! He introduced me to my father's spirit and that is when I had received my courage and bravery to defeat Scar."

"I see. How come mother didn't join you by coming to the Pride Lands too?"

"I don't know. I guess the Jungle Pride is where she truly belonged. Her pride needs her just like Pride Rock needed me. We had to return to our important duties."

"That's understandable. You two both had moved on without any guilts or bad reasonings. Let me guess, when you returned home that's when she found out that she was pregnant?"

Simba nodded. "Yep."

I shook my head. "Wow...did you know about it?"

"No, your mother kept it a secret from me which I still do not know why. She knew I would have been there every step of the way. So what the Pride Lands is far from the Jungle Pride! We could have worked something out. On the days I am free and she is free, that's when I could see you. Nala wouldn't of mind it. She was actually okay when I explained this all to her like I am doing with you. She was just only upset that I kept it away from her for years."

"So how did you find out that I am your son if my mom didn't tell you?"

"My father's spirit."

"Oh..." I said, sounding surprised.

"After hearing that, I wanted to find you so bad but it was too impossible. I didn't know where to start. I could have traveled to the Jungle Pride, but I didn't have the courage to talk to your mother. It would have been a waste of time. She wouldn't want to see me again knowing that I am King with my own mate and 3 children. Plus I knew that your an adult now. I already have missed out on your younger years."

"And? I still wouldn't mind meeting you! I now regret after saying so many bad things about you. I understand both sides of my parents story. You guys were young and I was a mistake to be born. Things happened quick!"

I looked down at my paws with my ears lowered. Simba's ghostly figure walked up to me close. He placed a paw on my right shoulder. Strangely, I can feel his paw.

"Kopa, you are not a mistake. You are my first child and I am glad to be your father. Yes, I missed out on you growing up. But that is okay! My spirit will always be around with you. I live inside your heart just like my other 3 children. Whenever you need something like advice or just someone to talk to, I will hear your call no matter what time of day. Previously, I had heard your call a few days ago when you were talking to my grandson Makosa. You said you wish you knew your father. That is why I am here!"

My brown eyes well up with tears. For some reason I am feeling so emotional. I can't believe it, my father is King Simba! After all this time I had no idea. Back when I had first encountered the Pride Lands meeting Vitani, Simba was ruling then. I could have stayed and lived there knowing that I am his son...

"Thanks. I just wish I've known this years ago when I had first came into the Pride Lands. You were still King at that time. We could have gotten to know each other more and possibly hung out."

Simba smiles. "And we still can Kopa. It is never too late!"

I sniff, my brown eyes meeting with his red ones. I smile back with a nod.

"Simba, I have another question!"

Yes, I still call him Simba because that is what I am use to calling him for years. Calling him dad is going to take time and get some use to.

"Yes Kopa, what is it?" He asks.

"Can you tell me if my mother is still alive?"

"Nope. She died the year after I did. I often see her around a lot in the skies with the other spirits. We are still friends! Your mother has lived a good life. She is happy to know that I have decided to meet you finally."

I smile happily. "Good to know."

"She is also proud of you for having your own family and growing up into the handsome, great lion she had hope you to be. She told me to tell you that."

"Wow, thank you! I miss her a lot...I haven't seen her since I was a cub."

"Don't worry, you can still see and ask for her like how you did with me."

"Okay. Thanks for coming down! I can't believe this is all so real. How would I be able to tell Kiara, Kion, and Maha this? This is a lot of hard understanding and explaining to do." I said.

Simba laughs. "Don't worry, I will handle all of that."

"It's nice to know that I have siblings now. I was wondering if I did..."

"Mhm..."

I hugged him. "Thanks for stopping by, Simba! The truth was what I needed. Now my questions that I have saved over the years have finally been answered."

Simba hugs back and smile warmly. "No problem! And you can call me dad whenever you are ready Kopa."

I nod. Simba's ghostly figure rises up to the night sky. He is beginning to fade away.

"Bye, see you soon! Remember you are my son...I live inside your heart always and forever..."

"I will remember dad..."

Simba gives me one last smile before disappearing in the skies. I lay back down under the tree next to my wife.

I can not wait to tell Vitani this in the morning...

My father is the late King...