Scar watched as the lionesses gathered under Pride Rock, confusion and annoyance obvious on their faces for having to abandon their Hunt. A bit away from the lionesses, the Pride's cubs were playing. Deciding not to wait any longer, Scar took a few moments to make himself to seem upset and called out.

"I know that you're all probably wondering why I called you today."

"Yes, we are!" Naanda growled. "We were in the middle of Hunting!"

"Well, if you'd let me finish you'd now that what I have to tell you is much more important than your missed meal!" Scar's reply was barely above a snarl and all the lionesses knew that whatever he had to say was obviously very important. "As much as it pains me to say this..." Scar paused dramatically, wanting to savor the moment "Unfortunately, there was a stampede and my brother has died." Below him the lionesses gasped and the cubs stopped playing, knowing that Mufasa's death was terrible. Sarabi began to cry silently, nothing but falling tears showing her sadness.

"And...Where is my son? Where is my Simba?" Scar lowered his head, the picture of sadness and regret. "No! Not my son! He can't be dead too!"

"I'm sorry Sarabi, but Simba was playing in the Gorge and then the stampede..." Scar shook his head as if to clear his mind. "I saw him and ran to fetch Mufasa, knowing I could not reach him myself. Mufasa, he..." Scar raised a paw to cover his face, no longer able to keep his face composed in sadness.

"However, do not fear!" The lionesses all looked up, confused by Scar's suddenly triumphant sounding call. Scar cursed internally, forcing himself to calm down so as not to appear suspiciously happy. "Despite the tragedy that has happened today, we will continue to move forward with the dawning of a new era with me as King! As she is my mate, Naanda will rule alongside me as my Queen." When no one said anything, Scar tilted his head to the sky and roared. Without missing a beat, Naanda roared back and the other lionesses copied her, more than a few feeling particularly hesitant.


In the weeks after Mufasa's and Simba's deaths, a kind of depressive air had hung around the Pride Lands. Even the cubs, normally rambunctious and full of energy did not play, instead lounging around Pride Rock as though unsure of what to do without Simba. One of the cubs had tried his best to keep his friends' minds' off the fact that the former King and Prince were now gone, to no avail.

"Come on, guys!" The little golden cub was determined to get his friends to do something, anything was better than the way they were now. "You can't spend all your time all sad!" They looked at him incredulously and he realized how he'd probably sounded to them. "I know you all miss Simba, and I do, too, but we're going to have to do something eventually." One cub sighed and lifted his head.

"Tojo's right, you guys. We're gonna have to stop moping eventually and it's better to do it now then later." Tojo smiled appreciatively at his friend, thankful that at least one of the others saw things his way.

"See? That's the spirit! If you just sit here thinking about Simba you'll just feel worse." An unconvinced creamy cub shook her head, even as the others looked like they were absorbing what Tojo had said.

"I get what you're saying, but... I can't just stop thinking about Sim-" She paused and stared at the stony ground they laid on. "Him that easily." One of the other cubs stood and padded over to her, giving her a friendly nuzzle.

"Nala, it'll be okay, promise." She pulled back, doing her best to give her friend a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come with us, Nal'?" Tojo took a step towards her, getting ready to try and convince her again, but she nodded before he could say anything. "Tama, do you want to stay back too?"

"No, I'd rather go with you guys." She started to get up, but turned to face Nala instead. "No offense, but I'd rather go outside and play with the others than stay sad all the time."

"I-I'm...it's fine, guys, really." She reassured Kula, who was beginning to look guilty. "I just need some time to myself right now." The other cubs looked at each other and they all seemed to think the same thing, surrounding Nala and each giving her a nuzzle or headbutt before padding out of the cave solemnly. After some time, the sounds of play drifted up to the cave and Nala scoffed. And to think, they'd said that they'd missed him. Oh, Simba, I feel like only Sarabi and I truly remember you.