PAST

Once again, Zira has given birth; a girl this time. A couple of months ago, she informed Scar that they were expecting a second cub. His first response was 'this one better be impressive'. Zira found it quite shameful that Scar couldn't show Nuka unconditional love. What worried Zira the most about this newborn cub was the fact that it was a female. Scar spoke incessantly about raising a future king but never once did he mention the possibility of a future queen. Once the newborn cub was licked clean and dry, she opened her eyes. Zira gasped in amazement. The cub had the strangest yet prettiest purplish-blue eyes she has ever seen. Unbeknownst to Zira, purple eyes were a rare genetic trait on Scar's side of the family. He once had a grandmother with purple eyes.

"Oh, aren't you beautiful," Zira cooed.

Moments later, Scar and Nuka entered to see the new cub.

"Look sweetie, your daddy and big brother are here," Zira said.

Nuka slowly approached his new sister, staring at her in awe. Scar examined the cub closely and frowned.

"It's a girl," Scar commented, in obvious disappointment.

"Yes Scar, this is what nature has blessed us with," Zira stated, sternly." Why can't you be happy?"

Scar didn't reply; he just watched Zira, Nuka and the newborn cub huddle together. First, Scar fathered a son he saw as a complete idiot and now, he has a daughter; females being the weaker sex according to him. Only his selfish, twisted brain would interpret the birth of his own children as mere curses. But suddenly, Scar saw something that amazed him. Nuka, being dirty as usual, had a few flies circling him. One of them flew near the newborn cub. Within a fraction of a second, the cub caught the insect in mid-air with her tiny, dull teeth and ate it. Zira, Scar and Nuka were all astonished; cubs have very rarely been known to display a killer instinct, even with a small insect.

"Well, I'll be damned," Scar smiled." She's a fierce little one."

"That was pretty impressive," Zira agreed.

"Look at that, Nuka," Scar said." Your sister has barely taken her first breath and already, she has taken her first prey item."

"Dad, I really don't care, so shut up," Nuka muttered, quietly.

"Nuka, is there something you'd like to say?" Scar asked, firmly.

"No Dad," Nuka replied.

"Then don't mumble anything under your breath; do you understand?" Scar snarled.

"Yes sire," Nuka responded.

"Please dear, not right now," Zira pleaded.

"Fine," Scar scoffed." Move over, darling."

Zira moved over so Scar can cradle the cub.

"Aw, Daddy's little princess," Scar cooed." You made me so proud."

"What should we name her?" Zira asked.

"How about…..Vitani?" Scar suggested.

"I like it," Zira nodded.

For the next two years, it was a joy to watch Vitani grow. She went from a feisty infant to an even feistier toddler. Scar was pleased to see his daughter grow so fiery. Even though he was a hoping she'd be born a male, he preferred to appoint her as his heir than Nuka. Every day that has gone past, Scar's dissatisfaction with his son failed to change. He may have loved him but he certainly was not proud of him. Nuka gave up all hope of winning his father's approval as he watched both of his parents dote on Vitani. One would think Scar would have at least some sympathy for his son, being that he knew firsthand what it was like to feel not good enough for his father. However, this is Scar and everything he did or said was justifiable in his malicious mind, including murdering his own brother.

To make matters worse, Zira slowly began to stop coming to Nuka's defense whenever Scar belittled him. In fact, she may have even allowed herself to agree with her husband. Her love for Scar was sordidly never-ending and consequently serving as a stepping stone to her inevitable downfall. The beginning of her Zira's breakdown took place on an evening she would never forget.

Nala was drinking from the murky waterhole or at least what was left of it. Despite the constant deteriorating conditions of Pride Rock, Nala has grown into a regally beautiful young adult. It seemed like yesterday that she was just a cub, so to say that her mother and the rest of the pride was amazed at how much she's grown would be an understatement.

Scar, in particular, has noticed this beautiful change. Just as as Nala finished taking her last few sips of the water, she turned around and saw Scar standing there. She gasped.

"Sorry I startled you, Nala," he said.

"Um, it's alright," Nala responded.

She attempted to walk past Scar but he blocked her path.

"Scar, I'm going back to the cave."

"Nala, you've grown so beautifully," Scar flirted, disregarding her statement.

"Um….thanks."

"I've known you since you were just a cub," Scar stated." Never would I have imagined you'd grow up to be such a gorgeous lioness."

Nala began to feel a little nervous.

"Monogamy is not the typical lion's way," Scar continued." It has only been practiced within my family and possibly very, very few other families."

"Scar, what is your point?" Nala asked, annoyed.

"Now that you're grown, you can be my second queen," Scar proposed.

"No, I don't think so," Nala remarked, bluntly.

"Why not?" Scar frowned.

"Because I don't want to."

"Can you explain it to me a little better?" Scar asked, stupidly.

"Scar….what would Zira think?" Nala pointed out.

"Oh please, I have Zira eating from the palm of my paws," Scar boasted." She'll accept anything I want. She loves me that much."

"Well, that's too bad," Nala told him, coldly." Because I'm not interested and I never will be."

"Aw, are you saving yourself for a special somebody?" Scar teased her.

"What are you talking about?" Nala responded, confused.

"Has it still not dawn on you that my nephew is dead?" Scar stated.

Nala fought back tears.

"I asked you a question, Nala," Scar spoke.

"Scar, this has nothing to do with Simba!" Nala cried." I can't believe you would taunt me like that!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Scar said, disingenuously." I didn't mean to remind you of the little boyfriend you had when you were only eight years old!"

Scar chuckled wickedly.

"Just leave me alone, you creep!" Nala screamed.

Scar growled and said." If you ever talk to me that way again, you'll be sorry."

"No, you'll be sorry!" Nala yelled." We'll just see how well you think Zira would take this when I tell her!"

Suddenly, Nala began running across the plains with Scar chasing behind her, angrily.

"Get back here, you little bitch!" he roared.

Barely ten seconds later, they both came to a halt when Zira appeared on the scene. She had a bewildered expression on her face.

"What the hell is going on?" Zira demanded.

"Nala made me angry!" Scar replied, loudly.

"What do you mean she made you angry?" Zira asked, suspiciously.

"She tried to seduce me!" Scar lied.

"NO!" Nala shrieked." He's lying!"

Zira was shocked; her mind didn't register the accusation right away.

"Zira, my darling, she's been talking about leaving Pride Rock for the longest and I wouldn't allow it," Scar continued fibbing." So she tried to seduce me into changing my mind!"

"You bastard!" Nala cried.

"Scar, that makes no sense," Zira firmly stated.

"Zira, who are you going to believe?" Scar asked." Your husband or this….whore!"

Zira didn't respond. She just glared coldly at Scar, looking as if she was going to rip his face off at any given moment. After what seemed like forever, Zira's face suddenly softened and she let out a sigh.

"I believe you, darling," she said.

"Zira, no!" Nala wailed.

"You believe me?" Scar asked.

"Yes," Zira replied, softly.

"Oh, my love, I knew you would," Scar said.

Nala was appalled as Scar and Zira rubbed heads together affectionately.

"Zira, he tried to come on to me!" Nala cried out, desperately.

Zira ignored her.

"Zira, I can't believe you!" Nala screamed.

Suddenly, she turned around and ran off, crying hysterically.

Later on that night, Zira and Scar were slumbering in their secluded section of the main cave with their children. Scar, Nuka and little Vitani were all asleep, but Zira remained wide awake. She couldn't forget about the incident that transpired a few hours ago. She loved Scar and she wanted to believe his lies. Perhaps she forced herself to believe him. Zira felt awful. Nala seemed too hurt and panicky to be guilty of what Scar accused her of. Zira has earned Nala's love and trust ever since she joined Pride Rock; now she let her down. Something was not right about Scar's story. Taking a stand, Zira nudged Scar a few times. Sleeping heavily, he wouldn't budge.

"Scar, get up!" Zira snarled.

Scar popped awake and asked." What is your problem?"

"You know what my problem is!" Zira growled.

Her angry voice also woke Nuka and Vitani up.

"Zira, what is it?" Scar snapped.

"Nuka, take your sister and go sleep with your aunts tonight," Zira ordered." Your father and I need to talk…..alone."

"Yes mother."

Nuka nudged his sister and motioned for her to follow him. Once both of them were out of the room, Zira and Scar stood up face to face.

"Scar….Nala has been nothing but the sweetest young lady for as long as I've known her," Zira stated, in a raspy tone." Tell me…..what….did…..you….do?"

"I did nothing!" Scar lied.

"You're a liar!" Zira screamed." I saw you chasing her!"

"Zira, I already explained it to you!"

"And you're a lying bastard!"

"You dare speak to me that way?" Scar raged.

"You dare lie to me?" Zira roared.

Like two mortal enemies, husband and wife stared at each other with contempt. Finally, Zira broke the stare and proceeded to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Scar demanded, harshly.

"To talk to Nala!" Zira replied, loudly.

"You better stay put," Scar said, threateningly.

"Scar, I swear if you try to stop me…..I'm taking the kids and we're leaving your bullshit kingdom," Zira growled.

Scar was enraged; he was tempted to strike Zira for making such a hurtful threat, but he decided not to. In all honesty, he believed Zira loved him too much to leave him. He felt that he was in complete control over her, so he allowed her to walk away.

She'll be back, Scar thought, I'll give her time to cool down.

Zira made her way down to the lower level of the cave where the other lionesses slept. However, they weren't sleeping. They seemed to be fretting over something. Suddenly, Sarafina came running towards Zira.

"Zira! Zira! Nala ran away!" Sarafina cried.

"What?" Zira gasped.

"She ran away," Sarafina sobbed." She told us about her argument with Scar and that you didn't believe her. Zira, how could you? I thought you were my friend?"

"I am your friend," Zira insisted.

"So, how could you doubt my daughter?" Sarafina continued, angrily." Now, she ran away. We tried to stop her but she said she's not coming back. She can't deal with Scar anymore."

Sarafina broke down and cried her eyes out.

"Sarafina, please calm down," Zira said, softly." I do believe Nala."

Sarafina stopped crying and said." You do?"

"Yes."

"So please, Zira, you have to find her," Sarafina begged." Scar won't let us leave but you're the queen…he can't question you. Please!"

"I'll find your daughter, Sarafina," Zira promised.

"Thank you so much, Zira."

"Did the hyenas see her escape?" Zira asked.

"I don't think so," Sarafina replied.

"Okay, I'm leaving right now."

Without another word, Zira quickly headed out of the cave, through the grasslands and made her way into the dark, chilly night. She had to find Nala and settle this matter once and for all.