Now…if you read TLK 3, then you'll notice a few different details between the two stories, as I promised. Yes, I like Kiara, but since this is Taka's story, and I want my fanfics to be connected, some things just had to change…
Chapter 21-Another Chance
Night had fallen on the Pride Lands, and the area surrounding the great mountain was in great chaos. For the first time, ever since Scar's reign as king, the greatest of enemies fought against each other- lion and hyena. As the battle took place, flood waters swept across the dead soil, leaving no room for anyone to escape.
At the time, Scar was locked in a battle with a small pack, some of the beasts once being his most loyal followers…
"Well, well, well…" a familiar female voice cackled. "Who's the weak one now, Scar?"
"My dear Shenzi," Scar growled. "I should have known this was all your idea…"
"Thanks for the compliment," Shenzi smirked. "Now…was I imagining things, or were you a lifeless corpse the last time I saw you?"
"Perhaps…" Scar replied, almost too casually. "But I've put that past behind me. Maybe you should too."
"Never!" the hyena snapped. Behind her, Banzai and Ed appeared, They came up to their former leader, and pinned him to the ground with their paws.
"You know, it's sometimes a wonder why I encouraged Kovu to be like you." Shenzi told her captive.
"Encouraged?!" Scar spat. "Forced is more like it! He had a kingdom, a family-and you grabbed it from his paws!"
"Yet he accepted, didn't he?" Shenzi pointed out. "It's in his blood, Scar…the lust for power, respect of all animals-"
"Which didn't get me anywhere!" Scar interrupted.
"Wrong, Scar…" the hyena chuckled. "Look at how you corrupted Zira! Remember her as a cub? When she was so angry over you trying to kill Mufasa?"
"Yes…" Scar admitted, realizing that with his relationship with Vitani, his true love, he had forgotten about Zira.
"Yet when she came back to the Pride Lands…" Shenzi continued. " 'Lookie here! My dear Taka is king! For killing somebody!'"
Shenzi sighed. "Why do you think it was so easy to change Kovu, when you were his role model? Face it- he may or may not be your son, but he's just like you."
Scar winced when he heard the truth, even though he knew it already. As much as everyone tried to deny it, it was his fault that Kovu was like this…he didn't deserve to be Binti's father, nor Vitani. He didn't deserve to be anything at all…
"Kill me."
Far on the opposite side of the battlefield, Mufasa and Simba were fighting their own pack of hyenas. Suddenly, Mufasa stopped. He felt a breeze rush by him, making his mane blow in the air. There was trouble…
"Dad! Grandfather!"
Simba and Mufasa looked to see Kiara and Vitani towards them. They both had panicked looks on their faces, and Kiara looked like she had been scratched several times.
"Kiara!" Simba gasped when he saw his daughter. "What happened?"
"Shenzi attacked her!" Vitani growled. "On Kovu's command!"
"Look!" Kiara shouted, nodding up towards Pride Rock. They all looked up, to see Kovu attacking Kimba and Kayla. "We have to help them!"
As Mufasa watched his great-grandchildren fight their father, he noticed something else was wrong…
"Kiara, where is your cub?" he quickly asked his granddaughter.
"He's right here," she replied, bringing her son Kijari out from behind her arm. "But Kovu took the other one…"
So that's what's wrong… Mufasa thought. But I think there's something else… "Vitani, come with me," he ordered. "Simba, distract Kovu as much as possible."
"Yes, Father." Simba replied, and then ran up Pride Rock. Mufasa and Vitani ran the other way, hoping to make it in time…
"What?" Shenzi gasped. "You're giving up that easily?"
"I have no right to live." Scar told her. "I've gotten in the way of my family enough…the only thing I can do is to leave them in peace."
Shenzi looked at Banzai and Ed, who shrugged in return. This wasn't at all what they expected. They had thought, like the first time, they would slay at the lion with all their might, with the lion begging for another chance. Instead, murder would make him happy…
On second thought…getting to kill Scar a second time was just too good to ignore…
At once, Banzai and Ed sunk their claws deeper into Scar's arms. Shenzi pressed her paw into Scar's chest, and raised her other paw above Scar's head.
"Long live the prince!" Scar heard in his head, remembering how this hyena's mother had nearly killed him many moons ago. Well…this is it…
Just as Shenzi's paw swooped towards the lion's face, she was knocked out of the way by a large creature. His arms were also released, as Banzai and Ed were pushed from their hold.
Scar sat up, and looked around. He felt something rubbing against him, and looked down to see Vitani.
"I really wished you hadn't done that…" Scar admitted. "I didn't deserve…"
"I know," Vitani replied, with a smile. "And in a way, I agree with you. But this wasn't my idea…"
She nodded towards the hyenas, now beaten, and were fleeing away from the Pride Lands. Scar gasped when he saw who watched them go.
Scar slowly walked up to the majestic lion that stood before him, and sat down beside him.
"But…why?" Scar asked. "After all I've done?"
"As much as you disagree, you do have a place on Earth," the lion replied. "You have children who need you, a past to be changed…"
Mufasa turned his head to look at him. "And someone who still believes in Taka."
Scar stared at his older brother, with tears in his eyes. As much as he wanted respect from such a noble leader, he didn't deserve it. But as he looked into the warm orange eyes, he realized that it didn't matter…
For the first time since he was a cub, Scar rushed up to Mufasa and nuzzled him. The great king smiled, and rubbed his paws through the lion's mane.
"Now, my little brother…" Mufasa whispered in Scar's ear. "Your destiny awaits."