:Chapter 12:

To take a life

Ahadi had awoken in his den he had heard of Sarabi's promotion to queen by Uru, Ahadi knew what that meant it was time for him to do the same for Mufasa, he was certainly ready he had proven that but before Ahadi's reign could end he must first correct his greatest mistake, what he did to his son, their bond must be rebuilt, and there was only one place where this could happen, the very place where it all fell apart only then would Ahadi be able step down in peace, only after he had his son back.

He saw Taka sitting outside the den, "Scar, may I speak with you son." he asked softly.

"of course father." Scar said, just as he anticipated how pathetically predictable.

before they could depart a panicked Zira arrived, "your highness we have detected hyenas in the pride lands it would seem they are making their move sooner than expected, she said.

"very well where are they?" Ahadi asked. "they're moving in near the borders, a full squadron of them." Zira reported.

"then we must move immediately." Mufasa said as he emerged from the den.

"I can handle this Mufasa." Ahadi said.

"No, I must take care of this if I am truly to become king, this fight must be mine." Mufasa said.

"very well I trust your wisdom, the rest of you follow Mufasa he is your king." Ahadi replied.

Mufasa nodded "Zira mobilize our forces."

Zira bowed before taking off to comply.

Mufasa stood before the lionesses waiting for their leader, Sarabi emerged from the cave and joined the pack.

"where is the queen?" Zira asked.

"she's standing in front of you." Uru said as she appeared from the back bowing to Sarabi.

No words were needed if Uru was bowing to her then the truth was clear Sarabi was queen, "what an interesting turn of events, but there can only can be one queen Sarabi." Zira thought to herself.

Sarabi moved to the front of the Pride with Mufasa this was it, Uru looked to both of them, "lead us, guide us." was all she said.

with that she moved to the side of the pride, Mufasa and Sarabi looked at their pride, time to see if they had what it takes.

They took off through the lands as Ahadi and Scar watched, "Our pride is in good hands." Ahadi said.

"Scar come we need to talk." he said. Scar complied everything had fallen into place.

They made their way to the gorge where Ahadi looked down into it remembering what happened, "I made a mistake here son, this place here is where I made the greatest mistake of my life." Ahadi said regretfully.

Scar didn't care what his father had to say, by all means let it out, at least there wouldn't be any unfinished business when it was over.

"I'm sorry Taka I truly am sorry for what I did to you." Ahadi said while looking at the scar on his sons eye a forever reminder of the deed he did.

"I don't want us to feel apart, you're my son and I love you, this place may be where we fell apart but now it can be where we begin anew, please forgive me my son." Ahadi said with a hint of sadness

Scar had heard enough his father was pathetic where was the mighty king, well no need to prolong this anymore.

"everything's alright, I forget you father." Scar said.

"what?" before Ahadi could react Scar pushed him into the gorge, he hit the ground with a hard thud his whole body was aching, but nothing hurt more than his heart.

"Taka what are you doing?" he said pained.

Scar growled, "my name is Scar." he said coldly.

At the moment Ahadi heard laughter all around, it couldn't be, "king Ahadi what brings you out here?" Kecila said emerging.

Ahadi was shocked, "I should've smelled you." he said.

"I know how to avoid your senses what with our history and all." Kecila answered with a hint of a sly smile on her face.

Ahadi stared at Kecila with hatred their history meant nothing now he hated her and his past with her disgusted him.

he took a step toward her only for his whole body to ache, "aw it looks like you hurt yourself you poor baby." Kecila said mockingly.

"It doesn't matter how hurt I am I can still take you!" Ahadi roared.

Kecila smiled, "finally a challenge, though the odds hardly seem fair, let's even them." Without hesitation Kecila threw herself off the gorge and hit the ground, she clawed to her feet and stared Ahadi in the eye.

"Now let's settle this, I'll try to be gentle it's our first time in decades." she said teasingly with mad glee in her eye.

Mufasa and Sarabi led the pack to the border of the pride lands where they saw a large squad of hyenas.

"There they are drive them out!" Mufasa commanded.

"with me!" Sarabi said as she and the lioness charged the hyenas squad, a squad that was led by Shenzi.

"they're here, fall back and follow me." she said as she and the hyenas began fleeing.

"after them!" Mufasa ordered.

The pack pursued them. Zira was confused what was Shenzi doing leading the squad and why were they fleeing what were they doing.

Ahadi and Kecila circled each other staring daggers, "so let's see if you still have that fire." Kecila said almost aroused.

Ahadi said nothing he merely growled and charged her. Ahadi and Kecila leapt at each other, they collided in mid air their paws wrapping around each others neck, they came crashing to the ground grappling each other, Kecila attempted to sink her fangs into Ahadi's neck, he managed to avoid it by catching her jaws with his paws, she retaliated by burying her claw into his side, he let out a cry of pain but maintained hold of her jaws using his momentum he threw her over his shoulders and slammed her into a rock, the impact stunned Kecila just briefly before she came at him, Ahadi prepared to moved to the side narrowly making her miss, but instead she slid underneath grabbing him by the shoulders and dragging him down. He hit the ground hard and Kecila climbed on top of him grabbing him by the throat, she began digging her claws into his neck, Ahadi struggled to break free, grabbing Kecila by the head pulling her forward he then kicked her in the chest as hard as he could, she let out a puff of breath and was sent hurdling across the gorge she crashed into a wall before smashing on the floor, impossibly she pulled herself to her feet again, blood dripping from her mouth.

"and here I thought I would have to hold back, well get ready Ahadi now our real tango begins." she said with a smirk.

Mufasa and Sarabi chased the hyenas through the pride lands despite their efforts they could not seem to catch them, they never engaged them they just kept running.

"something is not right, it's almost like the hyenas are being herded to a certain path." Mufasa said to Sarabi.

"yes in fact if we keep following this path it will lead us straight to the" Sarabi paused realization dawning on her.

"Mufasa they're leading us on we have to break off from them!" Sarabi shouted.

"No there's only one reason they would be heading for the gorge this isn't an invasion, it's an assassination!" Mufasa cried.

"Tell all the available lionesses to get the gorge immediately and don't lose sight of those hyenas!" Mufasa commanded.

Sarabi didn't ask she knew why. "great kings Ahadi and Taka have walked into a trap!" she cried.

Ahadi and Kecila tore into each other, Ahadi drove his paw into Kecila's temple, she stumbled from the blow allowing Ahadi to slash her in the chest, Kecila grabbed Ahadi and slammed her paw into his face before driving another into the side of his neck, Ahadi grabbed Kecila and pinned her against the wall driving his paw into her face again and again on the forth one Kecila intercepted him and sank her teeth into his paw, Ahadi roared in pain and struggled to dislodge her Kecila took this moment to stab her claws into his back, Ahadi roared again and began to collapse Kecila swiped her other paw into his chin she delivered a third strike to the back of his head, finally she kicked his legs out from underneath him and sent him toppling to the ground.

"is it over already Ahadi, I expected more, you've let your desire for peace weaken you." She said while placing a paw on his face and leaning in close.

"you're not the lion who made my blood race." she whispered.

Ahadi struggled but he wasn't sure he had the strength anymore, "tell me how does it feel to know your son betrayed you, does it make you feel anger disbelieve maybe both." she said mocking him.

"I once told you attachment was our greatest weakness" Kecila told him.

Ahadi was hurt by Taka's betrayal but he believed his son was not gone, he could reach him. "They don't matter it's just a feeling just like peace you've lived in it all this time and all it's done is make you too weak to challenge me, peace is only temporary war is inevitable." Kecila stated.

Ahadi did not believe her words, "Only the strong survive those who love peace die, those who can't fight die, those too cowardly to stand their ground and fight their enemy face to face die." Kecila said with contempt while glancing at Scar.

Ahadi knew what she meant she confirmed it anywhere, don't worry he's served his purpose and shall soon be removed." Kecila whispered to him to add insult she licked him on the cheek even worse for a but moment Ahadi felt his blood race, he was young again, It disgusted him he hated her. Ahadi felt his fury rise he would not allow her to hurt his son, he charged at Kecila and smashed his paws into her face with a savage fury.

Zira now understood the hyenas were luring the pride to the gorge but why what were those traitors doing she saw Shenzi and pounced on her.

"what are you doing!" Zira demanded.

"what I was told to!" Shenzi shouted.

"you're going to lead them straight to Scar!" Zira roared.

"yeah that's what she planned." Shenzi said.

"my friend why are you doing this." Zira asked sadly.

"she's going to kill my brother." Shenzi said fearfully.

Zira was shocked "what?" was all she could say.

"she was the one who made him like he is now, she's a monster!" Shenzi shrieked.

Zira remembered when she saw her smiling at her and realization dawned, Kecila was the demon, and she was going to kill Scar, probably kill all of them.

"Scar." Zira said fearfully as she bolted to the gorge leaving Shenzi behind who began following her shortly after.

Mufasa and Sarabi along with the hyena squad and pack had also almost reached the gorge, they didn't realize the simple truth it wasn't just a trap it was going to be a complete massacre.

Ahadi continued to unleash on Kecila in rage he delivered one final blow to her jaw which knocked Kecila clean off the ground and several feet in the air, she then came smashing into the ground hard, that was it that was all Ahadi had he collapsed. Kecila stood up spitting out a thing of blood she looked at Ahadi disappointed.

"so that's it you're spent how disappointing, I don't even need to finish this my self, eviscerate him!" she commanded.

The entire hyena pack emerged from the shadows there must have been hundreds of them, they poured into the gorge and piled on top of Ahadi, he threw them off of him before slicing one with his claws, he caught another one with his other paw by the neck and slammed it into the ground before smashing another one into a rock. They kept coming down on him one leapt at him Ahadi caught it in midair and threw it into another one, he then grabbed another ones claws and redirected it into another hyena, he immediately followed by kicking a hyenas feet out from under him causing him to topple over knocking several down with him.

"enough." Kecila said as she leaped down and ran at Ahadi herself.

The situation was dire now, he was outnumbered as it was, with Kecila in the battle again he was good as dead there was no way out that the hyenas hadn't secured except where Taka was standing it was a risky move but it was all he had, with what little strength he had he let out a mighty roar and charged the pack plowing through them like tissue paper, he then leapt into the air soaring to the wall of the gorge clinging to the wall he began to climb up toward Taka, hoping it wasn't too late.

Scar watched as his father continued to struggle he was impressed he had lasted this long, he was clearly king for a reason but it wouldn't matter now, Ahadi leaped past the pack and was now desperately climbing the gorge.

"Taka, help me!" Ahadi called down from below.

a million thoughts were racing through his mind at the moment he remembered the day Ahadi chose the king what he said to him, "every choice you make comes from your heart."

he thought about the pain he caused him, "Mufasa is worthy to rule!"

he thought he was worth nothing, "how dare you, you worthless piece of garbage!"

but didn't he see tears in his eyes, "there's that heart." wasn't that what he said.

"Taka my son!" Ahadi cried out again.

Scar watched him struggle while also struggling with himself.

"I love you dad."

"I love you Taka."

"father."

"you are no longer my son."

those words that image repeated in his mind, rage and hatred consumed him.

"my son!" Ahadi pleaded.

Scar reached down and grabbed his fathers paws digging his claws into them, Ahadi roared, Scar looked him in the eye.

"I have no father." Scar hissed, with that Scar let go causing Ahadi to plummet down the gorge into the ravaging hyenas waiting below.

"Takaaaa!" Ahadi cried it was his last words as the hyenas swarmed him, Scar watched as his father disappeared into the swarm there was no going back now he had done it, he had killed, he had taken a life.