Dead dove: do not eat. Almost literally, in Zazu's case. If discussions about the idea and circumstances of these characters' deaths isn't something you're going to be comfortable reading, you may want to sit this one out. You've been warned.

So.....after the end of TLK2, end of Lion Guard, the last point we see these characters at....who's dying next? Or...sorry; who's *"Completing Their Journey In The Circle Of Li-"*

Sad to say, but I think Zazu goes first, although not until Kovu and Kiara's cubs are the age that their mother and grandfather were in the first half of their movies. He's been through a lot, never stops, and I think the stress would eventually catch up to him. I like to think of him flying around the Pridelands, unknowingly on his last morning patrol. He thinks about Mufasa, not as a King, but as a friend, and how he would sit on his shoulder and chat away; and about how he got to do the same for his son and grandaughter. He flies over a hill, sees Pride Rock, sighs, and then just falls, straight out of the sky.

A cub is watching from Pride Rock, sees the little shape drop, and runs to get his parents. The whole family rushes to the scene, and Simba recognises the pouncing lesson rock. Nala notes that his wings are still spread, his feathers still wind-rustled, and the corners of his beak are curled in a smile. Zazu never feels himself hit the ground.

Timon and Pumbaa I see lasting until said cub generation are Lion Guard/teenage-ish age. I love the headcanon of them dying in their sleep together because my heart can't process them being separated, but [this fanfic](https://www.tumblr.com/hyperfixated-maybe/793717062905282560/hey-fellas-cammiko-arts-main-just-aal) where one goes before the other is really beautiful, if absolutely gut-wrenching.

Rafiki outlives these three, but not Simba and Nala I think. He's gotta go eventually. I picture Simba being solidly grandpa-aged, and Rafiki is firmly in 'ancient' territory. Like the Shifu and Oogway age gap, and a similar dynamic. They're out walking together talking about problems and feelings and such. Maybe even Simba finally has some words of wisdom of his own that makes the old monkey stop and think. Rafiki says some things that imply what's to come, and Simba gets to say a sort of goodbye, then Rafiki excitedly and dramatically points at something. Fooled, Simba turns to look, at nothing. When he looks back, Rafiki is gone. No rustling leaves, no scent, no sound, just gone. The staff is lying on the ground. Reverently, Simba crouches down and gently 'bonks' his head on it. He laughs. 

Years pass, X cubs are young adults now, and it's Simba's turn. I like to imagine he's been abdicated for a while, possibly before Rafiki died and shortly after T&P's passing. He and Nala retired to the jungle for a bit, but came back when they could feel themselves *really* slowing down. [This](https://www.reddit.com/r/lionking/comments/u2y73h/comment/i54eejh/) happens. At the funeral, Ma Tembo tells Kiara the story of Simba's slip-up at her own fathers' service. Kiara chuckles and says "Yeah, he *always* made me laugh..."

I think Nala outliving Simba is a fairly popular headcanon, and I like the idea of her surviving the longest out of the original cast. Maybe she even gets to be a great-grandmother. I like to imagine her surrounded by faces largely unknown to us, but loved by her.

...Beyond that, I think the rest of the cast is too young or too ancillary for me to headcanon, but if anyone has hcs for the later lives of anyone in the cast, including the ones above, feel free to drop 'em below!

Omitted Sarabi cause I get that she's a sore spot so, what about her? I like to imagine her dying in the middle of one last hunt, but not solid on a timeline. 

.........I promise I've had this post idea for a while and I'm not feeling any specific type of way lmao



Let's get morbid.....who's going next?