Most of the animals in the Pride Lands had long since awoken and begun their days when the sun shone directly above the savannah. They tended to open their eyes just as the sun peeked its way above the horizon, and the lionesses of Pride Rock followed this unwritten rule as well. As early as dawn, one or two hunting parties began looking for prey to bring back to the pride while the others confided in one another about their plans for the day, any strange happenings in the kingdom, and how much success they had had during their last hunting expedition. Early morning was a busy time for the animals of Africa, and hardly a single creature was still asleep by the time high noon came around.
King Scar, however, had just woken from a long sleep when the sun had halfway finished its daily journey. He rolled off his side in the comfort of his dark den before picking himself up off the rock slab he used for a bed. As usual, he began his day as king with a leisurely stretch of his leg muscles before listening carefully for any sound that might be a pair of flapping wings or a gossiping, nagging bird beak blabbing on about something or other regarding the kingdom. Hearing nothing but a few distant roars from his own lionesses, Scar relaxed considerably. He sat on his hind haunches and ran his tongue over the fur on his paws. If the insufferable hornbill had done as he asked instead of getting distracted by some idle gossip, then the future queen of the Pride Lands would be visiting him shortly in order for him to give her the news that she had been chosen to sit by his side for the rest of his long, powerful reign.
Scar continued his grooming, meticulously removing the flaws that his long sleep had wrought unto his brown fur. Appearances were everything and, although Zira would have no choice but to accept her new position as queen, it certainly wouldn't hurt to make himself presentable for the big news. Besides, Scar thought as his tongue passed over his skinny front legs, sometimes appearances were all he had to go one without the naturally powerful muscles that his brother had sported.
"You wanted to see me, your majesty?" Just as expected, a syrupy voice purred from the cave's entrance just as Scar licked a few rebellious hairs back into the shape of his black mane.
Scar turned to see his expected guest standing at the mouth of his den. "Ah yes, Zira," he greeted her, straightening his spine and walking towards her. His smile was winning and charismatic, and fueled by the motivation he had to acquire her as his mate and father the future heirs to his throne. "I have an important matter to discuss with you."
Zira bowed respectfully and, to Scar's delight, without any of the hesitation or half-heartedness that Sarabi and her companions often used. "I hope I haven't done anything to displease you, Scar," the lioness began, standing proudly yet submissively in front of her king. The perfect stance, Scar mused to himself. She will serve me as king, yet stand above the other lionesses of the pack.
"Not at all," the king reassured her. He began following the script he had devised since his talk with Zazu the previous day, finishing with the cordial greeting and moving on to flattery. "I've observed your hunting tactics, and I must say they are far more… elegant than the brutish way Sarabi and her hunting parties go about bringing down prey."
Zira bowed her head low to the ground so that her chin nearly touched the ground. "Thank you," she said graciously. "Although most of the skills that me and my hunting parties use come from our build."
"Yes, I've noticed that as well." Scar paced around his intended while letting his eyes inspect her body with intense scrutiny. "Very lean, thin, yet strong about the legs. Yes, these will be fine traits to pass on to little princes of the Pride Lands."
"Princes, your highness?" Zira asked, looking up at the king suddenly. Her expression was one of happy anticipation, although Scar could tell she was trying to suppress that excitement in front of him. A bubble of pride began to fill within his chest at the realization that Zira would actually be pleased to be his bride.
"Every kingdom needs a king," Scar continued on with his script, appealing to the logic of the tan lioness. "And every king needs a queen."
"I agree, Scar." Zira turned now to look at him, studying his face for any sign of where the conversation might be headed.
"A queen must be respected, saluted, devoted to her king, and dedicated to siring the continuation of the king's line. I have observed for you for some time," Scar lied between his teeth, "and I see the potential for you to fulfill these duties perfectly." Scar stood directly before the lioness, allowing her brown eyes to match his green ones. "Be my queen, Zira, and together we will rule the Pride Lands unlike any other king and queen before us."
A moment of silence passed between the two lions, but Scar had no feelings of fear of rejection. Every sign of the conversation had pointed to Zira accepting, and if not he knew that she was bound by law to respect his rulings. If necessary, he could bind her to him legally. "Scar," Zira began, bowing once again with full sincerity. "I would be honored to accept your proposal, though I can hardly be considered worthy of your choice for queen."
"Oh, don't sell yourself short," Scar said, waving his paw to dismiss the thought. "You will make a fine queen, an example for all the lionesses of the pride to follow, and a mother to my cubs."
"If you see me as worthy, then I cannot go against your wise judgment, Scar," Zira said. She brought her head under his chin and began to rub herself against his mane. "I will be your queen, Scar, and bring about the next generation of your glorious rule."
The pride Scar felt began to decline then as a creeping feeling of doubt began to worm its way into his heart. He blamed Zazu's ramblings for making him occasionally question his decisions as king, not to mention having to rule under Mufasa's shadow, but still he could not shake the doubts off as easily as he would have liked. "Do you really find my rule 'glorious'?" he asked Zira, cursing himself for showing any sign of uncertainty but craving approval from someone, anyone.
"Of course I do, Scar," Zira answered without skipping a beat. "Your decision to ally with the hyenas was nothing short of genius."
"How right you are," Scar agreed, feeling a bit more at ease. "And now our territory has grown significantly with the addition of the elephant graveyard that once belonged only to the hyenas."
"An elephant graveyard?" Zira asked, her expression moving from one of admiration to one of curiosity as she pulled away from him. "I had no idea we had such a place in the Pride Lands."
"It's a well kept secret between myself and the hyenas," Scar told her. His tail brushed against hers, and a rush of accomplishment ran through him when the lioness returned the gesture. "But I will, of course, share the secret with my new queen."
"Is this a secret we could explore before your blue-feathered lackey comes to bother you about some trivial matter?" Zira asked, rolling her eyes when referencing the majordomo.
Scar chuckled, a low rumbling sound coming from his throat when he realized that he and his new queen shared the same opinion on Zazu and his so-called "advice". "I think we could manage it," Scar said smugly. He stepped to the side and gestured with his paw, chivalrously allowing Zira to leave the den first. Purring contentedly, Zira made her way outside with Scar following closely behind. He took a great breath of fresh air into his lungs as he surveyed his kingdom, proud that at last he had a queen that would make him much more beloved than Mufasa had ever been.
And if that feeling of emptiness had still not quite left his heart and soul, Scar pretended not to notice as he lead Zira towards the Northern border and the elephant graveyard.