Scarred

Chapter Two

The Fool and The Prince

Scar scowled, as he paced back and forth outside the sleeping cavern of Priderock. The sun was high, as the mid day fast approached. He looked into the deep shadows of the sleeping quarters, and let out a low inaudible sigh. A soft padding echoed from the place Scar's eyes bore into, as Mufasa's paws slowly hit the surface of the rock formation, and he walked out towards Scar, followed closely by Rafiki, and the Queen, Uru. She was a beautiful lioness, even Scar who could so easily dismiss beauty, could see the fabulous aura his mother could facilitate. However, she looked a shadow of her usually glamorous, browning self. The grief of watching her mate become ill had taken a toll on her like no other burden she had encountered in her long role as Queen. Her eyes had began to sink into her cranium and she rarely smiled or joked how she would've done before. Mufasa and Rafiki comforted her, and she wept deeply, looking into the sun.

The heir-apparent, Mufasa, looked to his younger brother and began to strut towards him. Arrogant as always thought Scar bitterly. The regal prince eventually came eye-to-eye with his contemptuous little brother, and looked deep into his jade eyes.

"Dad is ill-"

"Duh."

"He's got worse." replied Mufasa calmly, ignoring Scar's sarcasm. "Rafiki says it's a matter of hours."

Scar remained blissfully content, but appeared stone faced at this dark news. "Perhaps you should go inside," Mufasa looked to the sleeping cavern, and pause before mustering the strength to say, "and say goodbye."

Scar's mouth fell open, and he nodded solemnly, accepting his brother's suggestion. He strode past the King-in-waiting, nodded calmly to Rafiki, and looked sadly at his mother. Once they all had his back to him, Scar began to skip into the cave.

The sudden change from light to darkness, juxtaposed the shift in Scar's mood as he suddenly became quite joyous as he saw his father, Ahadi, slumped on the monarch's sleeping pedestal positioned in the centre of the cave. The face of the King was gaunt, and his eyes flickered slightly as he noticed Scar approaching. The King was weak, but tried to stand, failing as his knee's buckled beneath his great muscular weight. He was everything Scar wasn't, handsome, suave, strong, loyal and brave. The golden allure of his coat, only added to the majesticness which the King so brilliantly possessed. His mane had become shaggy and tattered, and his once all conquering paws were now wrought with crippling arthritis. Considering all of this, the ruler found it difficult to speak, but managed to splutter a few words as Scar stood before him.

"My son, it is brilliant to see you." he croaked. Scar glared at his father.

"And it is brilliant to see you also father." Scar returned, meaning to sound ironic, but instead saying it with a tone of sincerity.

"You must know," began Ahadi, but was interrupted by a deep cough and wheeze. "that I love you, with all my fragile heart." he said with a soft chuckle. Scar took this on board, and felt nothing.

"You are a fool." he spat at the King. Ahadi had expected this, and sighed at his son. "Don't you dare sigh at me! All these years you have favoured Mufasa, giving him special lessons, and knowledge. But now look, the tables have turned, you are weak and dying. I am strong and very much alive." As he said the last word, his eyes widened and a low growl erupted from his stomach. The King merely shook his head, and starred glumly back at the brown lion.

"Taka-"

"MY NAME IS SCAR!" roared the Prince.

"Sorry." said The King, only half meaning it. "Scar, Mufasa is destined to be King, there is no shame in being a Prince." he said kindly.

"Father, I don't need to listen to any of your whimsical, idiotic ramblings anymore. I am a lion, I am not a cub, and I shall do as I please."

Scar turned, and began to leave. Ahadi, his eyes quickly filling with salty tears tried with every ounce of energy he could muster, and using his large head as a crutch, managed to push himself into a standing position.

"Wait!" he cried out to the exiting Scar. Scar turned, curious to see the strength this old animal could muster. The great king feebly place his left paw forward, and thrust his hind legs, lurching to stand level with Scar. "Son please stay?"

Scar looked his pathetic father up and down, and smiled warmly, taking his paw out to fell the old monarch. The King returned the smile. Scar's eyes filled with a dark shadow and he swung his paw with great force, at the shaking leg of his father, knocking him to the floor. The King fell with a thud, and began to breath deeply and quickly as he eyes widened and his chest pounded.

"Quick," he gasped. "get Rafiki!"

Scar looked down on his father, and simply replied;

"No."

The shock of this statement couldn't been seen on Ahadi's face, as pain was taking it's hold on him. He clutched his chest and let out a meek roar before suddenly becoming still, and silent. After a final second of looking at his son, the King's eyes closed and his body sagged under its own weight.

Scar looked upon his father, life finally escaping his withered body. He turned suddenly, a ran out of the cave, with mock desperation.

"Come quick!" he screamed at the mandrill as he bounded out of the cave. "He's hurt!"

Rafiki, belying his old age, ran into the cave, followed by Mufasa, and Uru. The cried of despair, and grief soon filled the cave. Mufasa heard a sound that scared him to his very soul as his mother threw herself over the limp corpse of Ahadi; she wailed and cried deeply and loudly, a strong, happy lioness reduced to destruction. Mufasa could barely watch and accompanied his mother outside to a distressed looking Scar.

"He's gone Scar." said Mufasa. The younger prince then threw his body at his mother, crying with a deep regret.

"No! It can't be!" he wailed. His mother began to calm, and stared at her youngest son.

"Did you and him make peace?" she queried, gazing into the green eyes he had bequest from the ex-King.

"We did." came the reply.

"Well that's something." said Uru, as the three of them began to sob uncontrollably.

The news spread fast, the King was dead.

A/N My most sincere apologies for the late update, I have been snowed under with University work, and had major internet issues. I promise this story will reach a conclusion in the next 2 weeks at a maximum. As always, R+R, positive or negative. Than k you. Liam.