I didn't know what to think, with all these hyenas around, it's way more intimidating than in the movie. Scar was sitting on Pride Rock, with a devilish smile, until he looked down at us. His eyes scanned us all, until they landed on me.
"You, boy, come up here." without another word, he went into the main den. I looked back at the lionesses, and Sarabi gave me an encouraging nod, "Athari, you'd best see what the new king wants with you." I can tell she isn't happy with all the hyenas, but I still walk up to the den, not without many hungry glances. As I reach the den, Scar's back is turned to me, and it gets uncomfortable as he's like that for a few minutes.
"So," he finally says something, surprising me, "you're the newest addition to our family, eh?". He turns to me, and his eyes are cold, calculating. He starts to circle me, and I can feel the drops of sweat fall down through my fur.
"Tell me, do you have any special skills, characteristics, anything that might make you worthy?". He finally stops in front of me, and he lowers his face right across mine. "What makes you so special?" he asks, before his eyes snap, and suddenly I'm on the floor, with my cheek hurting.
"Answer me, whelp, what made you so special, that Mufasa had the gall to let you in? Are you a trained killer, a wise advisor, or just another joke to amuse us all?". He finishes, with a sneer. I get up, expecting Scar to try to lure me in, and look him in the eye, "I guess I'm like you, not much of a fighter, but I'm smart, I look for every angle before I act, and I…I prefer not to make a sound." I'm still staring at Scar, when he leans in again, but when his eyes snap, instead of a blow, I feel a light pat on my head.
"Good, you have the right properties, you don't fear going for the kill when they're not looking, you don't care for that pretentious honor code, and best of all…." he smiles, not kindly, and he become almost nose to nose with me, "you scorn those who do." I don't really know where he got this, but he then leans back, and motions me to follow him.
"You've solved a future problem for me, young cub… no, that won't work, what's your name?" he looks back at me. I speed up a bit, "Athari, you- your Highness." He smiles at that, and when we reach the edge of Pride Rock, he roars, gathering the attention of the animals below.
"My subjects, I have called you…" he pauses, smiling at me with bared fangs, "to announce my new heir." I'm stunned, this-this can't happen, what about Nuka? He's supposed to be born later, and what about Kovu? and Vitani? I'm still thinking, when I hear a sound I never thought I'd hear. I heard cheering, more like howling, coming from every hyena down there. I look at the lionesses, and they're staring at me, but I can't tell their emotion.
"As my heir, you will all obey Athari, and if I find out you don't...well, you'll find out. Now, come Athari, you're training must begin." With that, he led me to the one place I didn't want to go to… the Elephant Graveyard. We went to a little clearing amongst all the bones, and when I looked around, Scar was on top of a nearby cliff. "Now, Athari, every day, for the rest of your princehood, you will come here in the morning and will train until dusk, but if you finish your training early, you may come back to Pride Rock. Now then…" I didn't notice at first, but a whole pack of hyenas had gathered around me, except for one exit. I looked at Scar, and his face was contorted into that of insanity, and pleasure." ...run." With that, all the hyenas started to chase me, and if I hadn't reached that exit in time, I was going to become bones.
1 MONTH LATER
I hated to admit it, but Scar's training was... effective. I had noticed that my legs were a bit more muscular, and I can run a bit faster now without tiring. I also noticed that a small, creamy yellow tuft of fur had begun to grow at the top of my head, and I don't mean to brag, but...I'm pretty handsome. That with the fur swept to the side on my head gave me quite the elegant look.
Since I became known as Scar's heir, the hyenas had practically worshipped me, which I don't know if that's a good thing, but at least the lionesses were still nice, but they were a bit more...aloof to my presence now. I guess with me replacing Simba was a disrespect to his memory, especially when they saw I had become his friend, and his saviour. Nala though, she was something else. She didn't really hang around with me anymore, spending her time with the lionesses, but I miss her.
I never really thought about it, but I didn't know how old I was here. In my past life, I was 17, but here… I guess I'm maybe, what?, 7, I guess. I hate being a kid, never really being listened to, always being restricted, plus with the fact that Scar, I'm sorry, King Scar never let me go anywhere, except the graveyard to train, the waterhole to rest, and Pride Rock to sleep, and be taught how to be king, at least, in Scar's eyes.
He saw kings as figures of great intimidation, who all animals feared, and he governed his lands with an iron fis-paw, and if an animal broke the law, their sentence was the same as everyone's...death. I was supposed to never show mercy, never lower myself to help others, and never, ever thank others. I should expect gratitude, not ask for it. If I didn't show these qualities, I would be forced to train again at different times, forcing my body to be overwhelmed, my punishment for not being the prince I was expected to be.
I never asked to be prince, I never expected to be prince, but for some reason, Scar had chosen me, instead of the child he was supposed to have. When he chose me, he disregarded Zira, who wasn't even pregnant, because he couldn't wait for something that might not be what he wanted. With me as heir, Zira despised me, she thought that she should be Queen with Scar, but because of me, he can't see that he needs her. However, she doesn't seem crazy yet, just terrifyingly enraged.
When Scar gives me a day off, which is very rare, if I fulfill my lessons to his satisfaction, I like to roam around the Pridelands, seeing things that weren't showed in the movie. For instance, there was this secret little patch of trees, with a rock in the middle. I don't know why, but when I rested there for the first time, I felt all my stress and exhaustion melt away, giving me more energy. It's like, the area's alive, caring for me when I need it. One time I rested there, I thought I heard someone call my name, my real name, but I figured it was the wind.
LATER
I woke up, prepared to go train, when I saw Scar standing at the entrance. When I walked over, it looked like he was deep in thought, but that was interrupted when he spoke to me.
"Athari, I have a special lesson for you today, so skip the other, and follow me." He started to walk down Pride Rock, so I had to jog to catch up. We reached a patch of bushes, and when Scar pushed it back, there was a small antelope child behind it. I didn't know what was happening, but Scar's eyes told me everything.
"Athari, you see this child?" I nod, confused. "Good, now...kill it." I'm shocked, and when I turn to Scar, his face was extremely serious. "This lesson is to show me whether you have cut away any merciful side of yourself, and to see if you truly want to be prince. If you don't complete this lesson, I will banish you, and you will be scorned by everyone you've met here. Now, what do you consider important? Your status," he smiles, "or your reputation." his face becoming a scowl.
I look at the child, and my thoughts are ones that split my moral compass. On the one hand, I could refuse, but then I can never protect the others from Scar's wrath. On the other, I can kill something not much younger than me, seeing as I'm just a cub, and I can remain prince, but I can never wash away the filth of my action. When I finally make my decision, I can't help but whisper, "I'm sorry." Within a second, my claws had sliced the antelope's neck, and Scar laughed, not one of joy, but of cruelty.
"Good, you're ready, and Athari…" he had started to walk away, leaving me with the corpse, which had a puddle forming around it. "Call me father from now on." I didn't want to, but in that moment, I couldn't help but cry for what I've done.
Oooooohh, dark chapter. Now, in the reviews, having Athari become king won out, and I'm not sure if I'm happy or not. In a way I am, seeing as it makes for a better story, in my eyes. However, It gives me a problem to work out. Now, I ask you, should I have Athari have a relationship with Nala, or should I have someone pop in. I've already got their thing going on, but I don't know, it's up to you really. Also, I don't know if I sound pretentious here, but if you want, you can draw fanart, and if you also want, I'll upload it as the cover for every version of Athari we get to, you know, child, teen, young adult, adult. If you want to send it to me, send it to lonewolfgamer56 (gmail account) (don't judge me), and I'll pick the best one. I don't know if you remember, but if you don't know Athari's appearance, go to chapter 2 to find out. Too early?
Remember to follow and review, I'll see you next chapter.
