Mufion

Mufion
GENERAL
The Lion King
Character	Mufasa
Character	Kion
Canonical?	Canon
Status of Relationship	Grandfather and grandson
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Family

1

Kion – “Grandfather Mufasa?”

Mufasa – “I'm here, Kion. It has been a long time. I was worried that you had forgotten about me.”

Kion – “No, Grandfather. I didn't forget about you. It's just... I was afraid to face you. I've got this scar now. And I was worried that I might turn evil, like Scar. Especially since I kept losing my temper and losing control of the Roar on our way to the Tree of Life.”

Mufasa – “Kion, you could have talked to me anytime. I told you I would always be here for you. No matter what. That hasn't changed. And it never will.”

Kion – “Thank you, Grandfather. That makes me feel better. I'm sorry I stayed away. I promise I won't be afraid to talk to you again.”

Mufasa – “Good. I missed you.”

Kion – “I missed you too.”

— The Lion Guard, "Long Live the Queen"

Mufion is the family ship between Mufasa and Kion from the The Lion King fandom.

Canon

Mufasa is Kion's paternal grandfather, and though he died long before Kion was born, Kion is able to communicate with his spirit due to being the leader of the Lion Guard.

Mufasa first manifested himself to Kion in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar shortly after Simba had rejected Kion's choices for the new Lion Guard. Mufasa spoke of Kion's destiny as leader of the Lion Guard, but Kion confessed fear that his father would never treat him as such. Mufasa assured Kion that Simba's concerns came from love for his son and a desire for Kion to do well. Kion then admitted his fear that he might emulate his great-uncle Scar, who had also been leader of the Lion Guard, and that he felt unprepared for the role he had been chosen for. In response, Mufasa assured him that the power of the Roar of the Elders would always be at his disposal, and that he could call upon Mufasa if ever he needed to.

In "The Rise of Makuu", Kion seeks Mufasa's counsel for dealing with the aggressive new crocodile leader Makuu. Kion wished to put a stop to Makuu's aggression without resorting to such tactics himself. Mufasa encouraged him and helped Kion to recognize that he could oppose Makuu without needing to fight him. In "Bunga the Wise", Kion sought advice over the matter of dangerous rainy season storms. When Kion contemplated using the Roar to disperse the storms, Mufasa reminded him that the rains were a necessary element of the Circle of Life, and Kion bowed to this wisdom.

In "Can't Wait to be Queen", Mufasa spoke to Kion as his grandson was in the midst of a feud with his sister Kiara. Through Mufasa's words, Kion was able to recognize that although he and Kiara didn't always get along, she would always need him. In "The Mbali Fields Migration", Mufasa appears to Kion as he is on the titular journey. Having had his abilities as a leader questioned, Kion begins to doubt himself. Mufasa encourages him to put aside the opinions of others and have confidence in his own worth.

In "Never Roar Again", Kion approaches Mufasa over worries about using the Roar of the Elders after he accidentally unleashed it in anger and nearly harmed his mother Nala. He reiterates his old concerns about becoming like Scar, but Mufasa is quick to counter that Scar failed because he was motivated by selfishness. After hearing that Kion's mistake was motivated by concern for his mother, Mufasa suggests that Kion should speak to Nala about the incident. In "The Savannah Summit", Mufasa counsels Kion after he lets his suspicions of his old antagonist Makuu jeopardize the titular event. Mufasa urges Kion not to act on assumptions, encouraging him to give others the benefit of the doubt.

In The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar, Kion spoke to Mufasa about his concerns for the dry season then prevalent in the Pride Lands. Mufasa offered some practical advice about the challenges Kion would face but also warned him to be cautious in his use of the Roar of the Elders. Sometime later, as Kion and Simba enjoyed time together, Mufasa would be seen observing his son and grandson fondly. In "The Wisdom of Kongwe", both Simba and Kion would consult Mufasa on the return of Scar, whose spirit had been summoned by various animals antagonistic to the Pride Lands. Having never faced such a challenge himself, Mufasa nonetheless expressed confidence in his descendants and in the denizens of the Pride Lands when it came to defeating his brother's ghost.

In "The Kilio Valley Fire", the titular event prompted Kion to ask Mufasa's advice yet again. Knowing that Kion had been shaken by the negative opinions of others and by defeat, Mufasa counseled his grandson to recognize that he could maintain self-confidence in spite of such circumstances. In "The Fall of Mizimu Grove", a discouraged Kion again sought out Mufasa. Mufasa encouraged his grandson, noting that hope could be found even in the darkest circumstances.

In "Battle for the Pride Lands", Kion's preparations for the titular conflict included speaking with his grandfather's spirit. Hearing that Kion was expected to lead a final attack against Scar's army, Mufasa questioned whether Kion felt concerned. Kion expressed worry over the fact that Scar himself was seemingly invulnerable. Mufasa assured him that there was always a way to overcome evil, but that Kion must not forget who he was in the pressure of the conflict. Mufasa also noted that the key to true victory was not to "fight fire with fire."

This advice allowed Kion to defeat Scar by calling upon the Great Lions of the Past to judge the evil spirit, rather than trying to defeat him with force. Having been injured during this battle and receiving a scar upon his face, Kion became afraid to speak to Mufasa. Even when he wished to ask Mufasa's advice on the way to the Tree of Life in "Friends to the End", Kion felt that his grandfather would no longer wish to speak with him now that he somewhat resembled Scar. Fortunately, in "Long Live the Queen", Kion heeded the advice of his new friend Queen Rani and spoke to Mufasa. Kion confessed his reasons for staying silent so long, and Mufasa kindly responded that he had missed speaking to his grandson and would not cease to do so, or to love Kion, for any reason.

In "The Lake of Reflection", Kion began to contemplate giving up the power of the Roar of the Elders, both from fear that he could no longer use it safely and the belief that a true leader didn't require such power. He confided his thoughts in Mufasa, who encouraged Kion's convictions but noted that he didn't have the ability to take the Roar from Kion. Mufasa thus directed Kion to Cikha Escarpment, where Kion made contact with the spirit of Askari, leader of the first Lion Guard. In "Journey to the Pride Lands", having mastered the Roar with Askari's tutelage, Kion now found himself torn between remaining at the Tree of Life or traveling back to the Pride Lands. He sought Mufasa's counsel, but Mufasa urged Kion to do what his heart felt was right as it was Kion's decision alone to make.

In "Return to the Pride Lands", Kion returned to the Pride Lands after hearing of an imminent threat, only to find that the conflict had been resolved in his absence. Reunited with his family, which now included Kiara's mate Kovu, he would call upon Mufasa upon Pride Rock. The living royals apparently enjoyed a conversation with Mufasa before he disappeared. Later, after Kion returned to the Tree of Life and was married to Queen Rani, Mufasa would appear in the sky with other Great Lions of the Past and look on proudly.

Fanon

This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.

Mufion was, at the time of its introduction, a fairly unique relationship within The Lion King fandom in that it depicts the bond between a grandparent and grandchild. No such characters were present in The Lion King. While Mufasa’s presence was felt in The Lion King II, he did not interact directly with his granddaughter Kiara. Kiara’s known grandmothers were entirely absent from the film. Mufasa speaking directly to Kion as he does in The Lion Guard was thus unprecedented.

Though Kion and Mufasa's relationship is fairly prominent in The Lion Guard, it is not touched upon in much if any fan-made material. Currently, there are no works on AO3 tagged for the relationship.

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Grandfather Mufasa’s Advice, a chapter of the fanfic Kion and Fuli