A/N First I came up with a cub for Scar, and just said that her mother (not Zira) was dead. Then I wondered how Scar would react in a zoo. Over time, it changed to a sanctuary (actually, just an enclosed area in Africa that is miles in width and length) Then this story was born.

This is actually the first in three stories, forming one series: The King of the Sanctuary. I do not own any Lion King characters; only my own.

Anonymous: Thanks :) Perhaps he would be like Taka again, but with some Scar still in him. I don't want him to be TOO soft after all ;)

Reldor: That's a nice idea, but no; they'll be staying in the sanctuary. But that DOES sound interesting. In the writing of this, I thought of what would happen if Scar and Rose were released and came upon Pride Rock.


Chapter 9

Over the next few days, Rose and Scar spent much of their time together. Everyone, even the cubs, knew of their growing relationship. But that didn't mean everyone agreed with it.

One day, while Scar and Rose were on a walk, Kafil and Devil sat together under some trees. "What's up?" Kafil asked. "You look upset."

Devil just glared at the brown lion. "Wait, you're not mad about Rose and Scar, are you?"

"Do not even mention his name!" Devil snapped.

"That answers my question." Kafil rolled his eyes. "Why can't you accept the fact that Rose likes someone else? Maybe you and she weren't meant to be."

At this, Devil stood in an angry stance, growling deeply. "No! I will not, I repeat, notlose her! Not to some rogue!"

"Devil, enough, please!" Kafil exclaimed. "You're jealous, I understand. But you can't keep padding after Rose forever. The only way you'll win her heart is if she falls in love with you, or something happens to Scar."

At this, Devil's ears perked up. He slowly smiled. "Yes. Of course. You're right." He walked off in a random direction.

"When he smiles like that, that's not good." Kafil muttered to himself.


Rose led Scar to a field of flowers. They were round, with many open petals, and were yellow with a bit of orange. Their stems had thorns. "What are these?" Scar asked curiously.

"Roses." Rose answered. "Before I was born, my mother found this field. She asked Minerva what they were. She said, 'They are called 'roses'. When I was born, that is what my mother named me." She lay down and buried her nose in the roses, inhaling deeply. "Roses smell so sweet, and they look beautiful."

Scar lay down next to her and sniffed at the roses. They did smell sweet. He looked to the side and saw Rose staring at them with a sad smile. "My mother said she was sent to a zoo and bred with a male. She was sent back here when she was pregnant. When I was born, Minerva was the only other lioness. A couple of weeks later, Kenya and Kafil were brought here. They became like the siblings I never had. Then, a couple more weeks later, Savannah came. In about a month, Devil was brought here. As we grew up, Devil followed me around; Kafil did the same with Savannah. The only difference was she grew to like him, and I didn't like Devil that way.

"One day, a couple of years after that, Mother felt ill. She said she had a stuffy nose and sore throat, so we didn't think much of it. But after a few hours, she developed a high fever. Minerva said there was nothing she could do. We all gathered around her; Minerva and Matilda were here by now and were both pregnant, but that was unknown at the time. I sat near Mother as she lost consciousness. She told me, 'I'll always be with you.' She passed out. A few minutes later...she was gone.

"She was buried under the trees. We planted some flowers around her headstone, which is just a round stone that we fetched from the Rock Pit. There doesn't go a day I don't miss her. This happened about a year ago." Rose finally stopped and squeezed her eyes shut, as tears ran down her cheeks.

Scar felt something he rarely felt for anyone else: sympathy. This beautiful lioness had lost her mother when she was only two or three years old. That would make her three or four today. "I know how you feel." He said before he could stop. "My mother died as well."

Rose looked at him. "What was her name?"

"Uru."

She sat up and said, "Well, I told you my life story, I think it's only fair you tell me yours."

Scar raised his eyebrows surprised. What would she say if he told her about what he did to Mufasa? Maybe he'd leave that part out. "I was born to Uru and Ahadi, my father, after my brother, Mufasa. He was gold-yellow colored with yellow on his toes, underbelly, chest, and snout. He had reddish-brown eyes and a full red mane. Since he was the oldest, he was to be king. He was also Father's favorite; he spent most of his time with him, teaching him about being king. He rarely spent time with me. My mother was my only friend; so were the hyenas, but that was kept secret. There were two other cubs: Sarabi and Sarafina. But Sarabi liked Mufasa. Figures she became his mate. Sarafina had a mate for only a short while, and produced one cub. Mufasa and Sarabi had a cub as well.

"But back to the main subject. I wanted to prove I could be just as good a king as Mufasa. There had been a vicious female rogue in the area, and I thought I could drive her away. I was wrong. How could an adolescent beat a full-grown female? I fought her, but she bested me. I was lucky Father and Mufasa were there, or I wouldn't be here today. Most of my wounds healed; this didn't." He gestured at his scar. "It was a constant reminder of how foolish I was. The cubs called me 'Scar' constantly, so it became a nickname for me. I also became tougher. Mother and I met that lioness again about a year later on a walk. Mother tried her best...but she couldn't do it. I managed beat the lioness and avenge Mother's death though. But to my surprise, the rogue had an adolescent cub.

"Her body-structure was of Kenya's. She had light tan fur, with cream on her underbelly, chest, throat, snout, and toes, a dark stripe running from her forehead down to her neck, and red eyes. Her name was Zira."

Rose's nose wrinkled in disgust at Scar's mate's name, but he didn't notice. "I found her in a nearby cave. I dragged Mother's body back to Pride Rock and explained what had happened. After her funeral, I returned to the adolescent and told her that I found a dead lioness that looked like her a few yards away from the cave, and asked if it had been her mother. I lied because I thought she could be on my side. She bought the lie, and I secretly met with her periodically. Over time, Mufasa became king, with Sarabi as his queen. Father...he was found dead in the elephant graveyard. Over time, my nephew, Simba, was born. Flash-forward a few months; I was walking in the gorge, when I saw the last of a wildebeest stampede run by. I found Mufasa's body under a lone tree.

Rose gasped, eyes widened. "Oh no!"

Scar nodded in fake sadness. "Simba was beside him. When he saw me, he ran away. I went back to Pride Rock, and told everyone of what I found and saw. I became king, with my hyena friends under my paw. About three years later, Simba returned, and accused me of killing Mufasa so I could be king. After a long fight, I ran to the Elephant Graveyard, which was where I was captured."

Rose sat silently to let the story sink in. Scar had a worse life than her; at least she had plenty of friends, and wasn't framed for murder. "I'm sorry." She finally said. When Scar said nothing, she scooted closer to him so their sides were touching. He still didn't do anything. Hesitantly, she licked his cheek.

At this, he turned his head slightly towards her. Thinking she did something wrong, she froze, staring forward. To her surprise, he nuzzled her cheek. Smiling softly, she laid her head against him under his chin and nuzzled his mane, while he laid his chin on her head. Both were thinking the same thing:

Yes, I am in love.

Unknown to them, a lion, glaring poisonous daggers, was spying on them from the bushes.


A/N If you watch Osmosis Jones, you'd recognize the symptoms of Rose's mother's illness. I based them on the disease a virus named Thrax, from OJ, causes because I've become interested in the film. When I finish this, and aren't too busy with my other fanfics, I may write a fangirl fic based on that film. No promises though.

Ok, back to this story. I came up with my own theory on how Scar got his scar, how his mother died, and how he met Zira. His father being killed by hyenas is a borrowed one. You probably noticed Scar changed the details, including Mufasa's death. But that, and the truth about his father's death will be revealed later ;)

No guesses for who the lion glaring "poisonous daggers" is.

This story, so far, has gotten over 1,600 views and counting! I had no idea it would be so popular! I'm glad people are liking it :D