Ch 9 The Cold Truth

Uru walked inside just as Rafiki was finishing examining Taka. "How is he?" Uru asked, trying not to cry.

"He will be alright," Rafiki replied. "But I'm afraid dat de Prince will have a noticable scar on his left eye."

"A scar?" Uru asked the tears spilling out of her eyes.

"I'm afraid so," Rafiki said, sady. "He is vedy lucky dat he didn't lose his eye all together."

"Damn you Ahadi," Uru choked out. "My poor baby." The Queen layed down beside her son and gently nuzzled him. Taka groaned and opened his good eye and looked at his mother, "Mom?" Taka whispered.

"I'm right here baby," Uru said gently. "Don't you worry my sweet you're going to be just fine. I promise you that I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again." Just then Ahadi came into the cave and approached Uru and Taka. Uru shot her mate a glare and hissed at him, "What the Hell do you want?" Uru's amber eyes were like daggers as she looked at the golden King.

"I wanted to see if Taka's awake," Ahadi replied.

"I'm awake Dad," Taka said, looking at his father.

"Good," Ahadi replied. "Just wanted to clear the air here Taka. Are you listening to me?"

"Yes I'm listening," Taka whispered, dreading what his father was going to say. He knew that it wouldn't be anything good.

"I just wanted to say that you brought all of this upon yourself," Ahadi said, his green eyes like ice. "I also wanted to tell you to keep your distance from me."

"Ahadi," Uru began. "Is this really nessary right now?"

"Yes Uru it is," Ahadi snapped. Then he turned back to Taka and continued, "I'm tired of this farce Taka. So I decided to tell you the truth."

"The truth that you don't love me," Taka said, his voice monotone. "News flash here Father I already knew that. I don't need you to rub it in."

"Why you little..." Ahadi growled. Uru let out a roar and the golden King went silent. Then he bent down and whispered in Taka's ear, "You've been warned boy. Now remember what I said. Understand?" Taka nodded and Ahadi lifted his head and walked away. Uru looked at her said with concern and asked, "Are you ok Taka?"

"I'm fine Mom," Taka said, without emotion. "I'm tired. I think I'll go back to sleep now."

"Ok darling," Uru said gently. "I love you my sweet."

"I love you too Mom," Taka said, smiling at his mother. With that the brown Prince layed his head down and went to sleep thinking hateful thoughts about Ahadi and how much he hated him.

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The next day Taka was visted by Sarafina who looked at her friend with concern in her blue eyes. "Are you mad at me Taka?" the creamy lioness cub asked.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Taka asked. "It's not your fault that my father's a big stupid jerk. You were trying to defend me that's all."

"I still feel bad," Sarafina said, her voice almost a whisper.

"Well don't," Taka said, bluntly. "I already heard it from Mufasa. He feels guilty about not protecting me. I told him the samething I'm telling you. It's not your fault. I don't blame you. The only one I blame is Zazu. If that stupid bird hadn't ratted me out my father wouldn't have found out. If I hate anyone besides my father it's him."

"Yeah stupid bird," Sarafina agreed. "We should eat him."

"Nah," Taka said, with a laugh. "He's too scrawny. But I bet my hyena friends would like him."

"You're still going to be friends with them?" Sarafina asked, shocked. "After what just happened?"

"Screw Ahadi," Taka spat out. "I wasn't going to help them anymore at first. But now I changed my mind. He dosen't care about me so why should I care about him and what he says?"

"Good point," Sarafina said. "But still..."

"But still nothin'," Taka interupted. "You don't have to hang out with them if you don't want to but as soon as I'm able to get out I'm going to go back to the Outlands and give them some more food."

"Just make sure you're father dosen't find out," Sarafina replied.

"He won't," Taka declared. "I'll make sure of it this time." Taka meant this last part as was determined to do it come Hell or highwater.

TLKTLKTLK

A few weeks past and the whole pride was celebrating Mufasa's 1st birthday. By this time Taka had been allowed to exit the cave. The eight-month old lion Prince stepped outside and went to sit beside Sarafina, who smiled warmly at him. "How'd it go?" she asked, referring to the trip to the Outlands.

"Oh just fine," Taka replied with a grin. He looked over at Ahadi who shot his son a glare, telling him to be quiet. Taka let out a low growl and rolled his green eyes at his father. "Ah shut up yourself," he whispered. Sarafina let out a small chuckle and Fura glared at her daughter and said sharply, "Sarafina be quiet right now." Sarafina said a quick "Sorry" and was silent. She knew that this was not only an important day for Mufasa but for Sarabi as well. This was the day that Sarabi would be going out for her first hunt. As soon as Ahadi had given his approval she and another lioness her age went off to begin their hunt. "I wish I could go with her," Sarafina said as she watched Sarabi go. "But I still have four more months until my first hunt."

"Well don't worry your time will come soon enough," Taka relpied. Just then another cub from the pride came up to Taka and said," Hey Scarface they finally let you out of your prison." He laughed crully at the joke. Taka gingerly touched his scared eye and growled at the younger cub. "You had better watch your mouth young Akali," Taka warned. "I'm still a Prince of these lands and will be treated as such."

"King Ahadi says we don't have to treat you nice," Akali replied.

"Yeah Scarface," another cub piped up. "King Ahadi says that you are no longer a Prince and we can say whatever we want to you." With that the two cubs laughed and continued to chant "Scarface! Scarface!" over and over again. Taka growled as loud as he could and swung his paw at the two cubs striking them in the face. "That ought to teach you a good lesson about messing with me," Taka hissed at the pair. "And if I ever hear you or anyone else call me Scarface again I'll kill you. Understand?" The pair nodded and quickly got up and ran off. Taka growled and whipped his head around blowing his ever growing black mane out of his face. Just then Ahadi approached the two young lions and turned to Sarafina and said, "Ah there you are my dear," the King said, compleatly ignoring Taka. "Sarabi and Gira have just returned from their hunt and now I have an announcement to make and it concerns you. Will you please join us?"

"Sure," Sarafina replied. "Can Taka come too?"

"I suppose," Ahadi said, still not looking at Taka.

"You coming Taka?" Sarafina asked.

"I guess," Taka replied with a shrug. "Only because it means a lot to Mufasa." With that the brown Prince followed Sarafina to join the rest of the pride.

TLKTLKTLK

Once Taka and Sarafina had joined the rest of the pride Ahadi began to speak, "I just want to congratulate young Sarabi and Gira for their successful hunt today." He smiled at the two young lioness who were beaming with pride. Selena proundly nuzzled her daughter as did Gira's mother. Ahadi contiuned, "As you all know today is also a special day for my mate Uru and I. For today our son Mufasa turned a year old. Now granted he's still got another year before he's a full grown adult we are still porund of him none the less." Uru smiled and nuzzled Mufasa lovingly as did Ahadi. Taka glared at his father as he nuzzled his brother and was surprised that he felt a pang a jealously towards his brother. "Now as King of the Pridelands it is my responsibility to choose a proper mate for my son. This lioness will have to be not only a good mate for Mufasa but also a good Queen for the Pridelands. I have choosen the perfect lioness for him. " Sarabi's smile got bigger as she was sure that she was this lioness. "And this lioness is..." Ahadi said. "Sarafina."

"Sarafina?" Mufasa and Sarabi cried at the same time.

"Me?" Sarafina squeaked, her blue eyes wide with surprise. Fura also looked surprised as did Selena and Uru.

"Ahadi I thought we had a deal that Mufasa and Sarabi would be mates," Selena stated.

"Yes I thought so too," Fura said. "We never discussed Sarafina being Mufasa's mate. I always thought she'd be Taka's mate."

"Well Taka won't be getting a mate," Ahadi declared. "And besides I think that Sarafina is much more suited to be Queen than Sarabi."

"No you don't!" Uru cried out. "You're just doing this because you know it would hurt Taka. You know how much he likes Sarafina. Ahadi you and I both know that Mufasa and Sarabi belong together."

"Yeah Dad," Mufasa piped up. "Please don't make me marry Sarafina. I don't love her. I love Sarabi."

"And I love him," Sarabi chimed in.

"You'll learn to love Sarafina," Ahadi declared.

"No I won't," Mufasa declared, his voice rising. He turned to Sarafina, "No offense 'Fina."

"None taken," Sarafina replied.

"My decision stands," Ahadi stated. "Mufasa and Sarafina will be mates and that's final." The King looked directly at Taka who growled fiercly at him, "I hate you you mean son of a bitch! You'll do anything in your power to hurt me!"

"Taka," Uru warned, fearful of what Ahadi might do.

"No Mom I'm sick of this!" Taka shouted. "You know how I feel about Sarafina and you don't care. You're just a mean, cold, heartless bastard who dosen't give a damn about anything but hurting me."

"I'm warning you boy you had better shut your mouth," Ahadi said, taking a step towards his son.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore," Taka shouted. "I haven't been ever since you gave me this." He pointed to his scar when he said this last part. "So you can just take your threats and shove them 'cause I'm pissed as Hell right now. And guess what Father? I'm not going to take your abuse anymore. It's clear that you don't want me here. So I'm going to give you what you want. I'm outta here." With that Uru shouted, "Taka no! Don't go! You'll never make it on your own out there! Please!"

"Your mom's right," Sarafina said. "Don't go Taka. Please."

"I'm sorry 'Fina but I have too," Taka replied. "I can't take him anymore. Maybe I'll come back when he's gone but until then I have to go. Please don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"Where will you go?" Uru asked, her eyes filling with tears.

"The Outlands," Taka said. "I've got friends there. You hear that Father? I've been helping the hyenas. At least they appricate me and have better manners." Taka gared at his father as he spat out this last part.

"I knew it!" Ahadi roared. "You little tratior! Get out now! I hearby exile you. If you ever come back to the Pridelands I'll kill you. Understand?"

"Whatever," Taka said, rolling his eyes. He turned to his mother and gave her a nuzzle, "I love you Mom," he said.

"I love you too my son," Uru said. Taka then turned to Mufasa and said, "I'm sorry your birthday got runied brother.""

"You didn't do it Tak'," Mufasa declared. The golden Prince then embraced his brother and said, "You be careful. I love you."

"I love you too brother," Taka said. "Take good care of Sarafina." He smiled at the creamy lioness cub who had to sniff back tears. She then embraced Taka and said,"I love you Tak'."

"I love you too 'Fina," Taka replied. Ahadi loudly cleared his throat and said roughly, "If you don't leave now I'll have no choice but to kill you."

"Whatever Ahadi," Taka replied, not even bothering with the formalaites. "I'm gone." With that Taka walked down the side of Priderock and began to walk towards the Outlands. He looked up and saw Zuzu following him. "Buzz off bird brain," he hissed.

"You're father gave me orders to make sure you get to the Outlands," Zuzu replied, flying in front of Taka.

"I said beat it!" Taka growled, swinging his paw at Zuzu catching the bird in the face, killing him. "Oh man what did I do?" Taka thought. He pushed Zulu with his paw but it was clear that the bird was dead. "Oh crap I'd better get out of here," Taka thought. With that the former Pridelander Prince ran into the Outlands hoping to find his hyena friends.

A/n RIP Zuzu :( Poor Taka. Now comes the part where Taka dies and Scar is born. Hope you all enjoyed ch 9 and please don't be shy about giving me those reviews.