A/N Alrighty then folks here's the deal. This story started out being ThatTexasKid's story and he asked me to finish it for him. That being said as many of you know I already have a story called "What Started Out Good" which is about Mufasa and Scar's childhood. So I'm going to skip Taka being born and such and just go straight to their cubhood. Oh and just in case you don't know what ThatTexasKid's story was about I'll tell you. It's basically about how Taka was mistreated by his father and is jealous of Mufasa. Only he has a dream or vision if you will that will change the course of his history. Ok that being said I give you the first chapter of "Shadows of a Tyrant" enjoy and the usual disclaimer applies. I don't owe "The Lion King" or any of it's characters. I just own any OCs that may appear.

Shadows of a Tyrant

Ch 1 A Plan Form

It was a beautiful day in the Pridelands and everyone was in particularly high spirits today. Everyone that is except for one lone brown coated cub with emerald green eyes. This lion cub was Prince Taka of the Pridelands. Taka was in a fowl mood because his father, King Ahadi had promised to take him out and spend the day with him. Only instead the golden coated King had taken Taka's older brother, Prince Mufasa out. When the six month old cub voiced his objections his father merely slapped him across the face and growled at him, "You had better shut your trap boy. You know your brother is nine months old now and I have to begin his training to become King." Taka had gotten up and wiped the dirt and blood off his face. Just then Taka's mother, Queen Uru came into the cave with her golden coated son right behind her.

"Is everything alright in here?" the brown coated Queen asked looking at her youngest son, who was rubbing his face. "Taka are you alright?" Uru asked, her amber eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah," Mufasa piped up his amber eyes wide. "What happened to your face?"

"I.." Taka began. Then he looked up at Ahadi, who narrowed his emerald eyes at his youngest. "I'm fine," Taka said softly. "Don't worry about me Mom I just fell. You know how clumsy I am." Taka wanted so badly to tell Uru and Mufasa what happened but he knew better than to do that. The last time he told his mother his father had hit him she threatened to leave him. Ahadi had convinced Uru not to but he was furious with Taka to say the least and the consequences had be very severe. Ahadi made it look like Taka had tripped and fallen down the side of Priderock but in fact it had been Ahadi that had pushed his son down the side to teach him a lesson. Ever since that had happened two months ago Taka had kept his mouth shut whenever Ahadi hit him. But usually that was only when Ahadi was in a bad mood or Taka did something that he didn't like. But Ahadi always made sure Uru or anyone else wasn't around when he hit his son. No one had seamed to be even aware of the abuse. Except for Taka's best friend, Sarafina. Sarafina was a creamy coted cub with blue eyes that was Taka's age. Taka told Sarafina everything and she urged him to tell his mother but Taka told her he couldn't because of what had happened before. So Sarafina stayed silent. She didn't tell her mother or even her and Taka's other friend Sarabi what was happening to Taka. Sarabi was a tan coated lioness with amber eyes and she was Mufasa's age. Taka didn't tell Sarabi because he knew she would tell Mufasa who would then tell Uru. So Taka remind silent about the recent events. "Well I've gottta go," Taka said quickly before his mother could ask any questions. "Bye Mom. Bye Mufasa. Bye Dad." With that Taka ran out of the cave at top speed.

"Well that was odd," Uru said with a frown. "I thought you and Taka were going to spend the day together Ahadi." The Queen looked a her mate when she said this part.

"You know how emotional Taka can be," Ahadi said waving his paw. "One minute he was all excited to go and the next he tripped and fell over his own paws and I guess that upset him because he told me he didn't want to go anymore. Go figure cubs sometimes."

"Well maybe you and I can spend the day together Dad," Mufasa said with a grin.

"I was just thinking the same thing son," Ahadi said smiling back at his oldest. "It will give me time to begin you training to be King."

"Cool," Mufasa said with excitement. "Come on let's go!" With that the Prince and King gave Uru a nuzzled and headed out of the cave. But Uru wasn't alone for long. Soon she was joined by her best friends Selena and Fura. Selena was a tan coated lioness with amber eyes. She was also Sarabi's mother. Fura was Sarafina's mother and she had a creamy coat and green eyes.

"What's wrong Uru?" Selena asked sitting down beside her friend.

"It's Taka," Uru said with a sigh.

"What'd he do this time?" Fura asked. She knew that Taka had a knack of getting into trouble a lot.

"That's just it," Uru said. "He was supposed to spend the day with Ahadi and all of a sudden he changed his mind about it. And what's worse is.." Uru stopped not really sure if she should continue or not.

"What?" Selena asked when Uru didn't continue. "What's is it 'Ru?'

"Yeah come on you can tell us," Fura urged her friend. Uru merely looked at her friends debating if she should voice her concerns. But just then Sarafina came running in with Sarabi right behind her.

"Why does everyone look so upset?" Sarafina asked her blue eyes darting from one adult to the other.

"Sarafina honey have you or Sarabi seen Taka?" Uru asked, worried that her youngest son wasn't with his friends.

"No ma'am I haven't," Sarafina replied. Sarabi shook her head in response.

"I wonder where he took off too," Uru wondered.

"Oh Uru you worry too much," Fura said with a laugh. "I'm sure Taka is just fine."

"If you want we could go look for him," Sarabi offered.

"That would be great," Uru said smiling at the eight month old cub. With that Sarabi and Sarafina left in search of their friend.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile Taka was in an area no one would ever suspect him to be. This area was a barren wasteland called the Outlands. Taka was there in search of his hyenas friends, Shenzi, Banazi and Ed. As luck would have it the brown coated Prince didn't have to look very far for them. "Hey ya Taka how ya doin' pal?" Banazi said coming onto the scene with his brother and sister right behind him.

"I'm ok Banazi," Taka said with a sigh.

"Yeah," Shenzi said sitting beside the lion cub. "You don't look ok. What happened to your face?"

"I uh fell," Taka stammered.

"Yeah right," Shenzi scoffed rolling her black eyes. "Come on Taka you know you can't lie to us. We may be only five months old but we ain't dumb.' Your old man did that didn't he?"

"Yes," Taka said softly lowering his green eyes in an attempt to keep from crying.

"Man that Ahadi really burns me up," Banazi growled. "I mean first he kills our Dad then he attacks poor Ed here and makes him all stupid and now this."

"Someone needs to teach that creep a lesson," Shenzi said roughly.

"Psh. Yeah right," Taka said rolling his eyes. "No offence Shenz' but that's really dumb. I mean I would love to put Ahadi in his place but there's no way I'm going to be able to do that. I'm only six months old."

"Maybe your ma will help you out," Banazi said.

"That won't work," Taka said. "I already tired that and when Ahadi found out he almost killed me. We have to leave my mother out of it."

"Well perhaps I can help," a voice said. Taka and the triplets looked over and saw a larger female hyena standing there. This hyena was the triplets mother, Frita. She also happened to be the alpha female.

"You'd be willing to help me?" Taka asked, his eyed wide with surprise.

"Of course I would little one," Frita said with a smile. "You've been a very good friend to my pups and I'd be more than happy to help you."

"Even if it means taking out the King?" Taka asked.

"I would love to take down that brute," Frita said with a growl. "After everything he's done to my family he deserves every bit of pain that's coming to him."

"Yeah plus if the clan helps he wouldn't stand a chance," Shenzi piped up.

"Agreed," Frita said with a nod.

"So what's the plan?" Taka asked his green eyes filled with excitement.

"The plan is very simple," Frita said. "All we have to do is kill Ahadi."

A/N Well there you have the first chapter. If you like please tell me.