The Lion King Judgement - Book I: Cubhood

by Haradion

After Scar's death, that should have been it. He deserved oblivion for all he had done. Now, confronted with his crimes by the Great Kings of the Past, Scar is given one last chance to see his past, to explain his choices. Before Judgement is passed. This is the story of Scar's cubhood. This is why he became the lion he did. [Remastered 2018]. Saga of the Broken Throne: Book I

21. Chapter 20

Cubhood: Chapter 20

"You what!? What are you talking about?" Ahadi snapped, barely processing what Taka had said.

"I said that I no longer recognise you as King, Father. As your Son, I can challenge you for the throne. Mashindano." He demanded.

"You'd try to steal your brothers' claim to the throne?!"

"I don't give a blasted cinder about the throne, father. I want justice. I want vengeance. I want the blood of my Mother's killer – and the law of the land, your law, says I can take it. If, I can win in Mashindano. And I swear to you: I will see you dead for this Ahadi Oathbreaker!" Taka said.

Ahadi roared as if struck, and the lionesses around him moved back in fear. This was a new side to Ahadi that few had seen. This was blind rage, and Taka had no doubts that he would kill him if he could get the chance. If Ahadi won, then there would be no mercy. Not that he intended to show any himself.

"What are you doing?" Jicho hissed from his left, and Taka looked at him. "Think about what your about to do!" He said urgently, but Taka said nothing.

Ahadi meanwhile had stalked toward Taka, and stood right up to his face. Taka, to his credit did not even flinch from the lion nearly twice his size, and stood his ground.

"You dare… You would dare Challenge me? Do you have a death wish? You are a runt! A miserable, worthless runt of a lion!" Ahadi snarled. Several members of the lionesses began to murmur at this un-kingly display from their monarch. Some even frowned at him, their shock at his treatment of Taka evident. Others however, muttered their support of the king. It seemed as though the whole pride was divided. Taka's face contorted, and felt a familiar surge of power within him.

He let loose a roar, and the ground began to shake, the earth began to tremble, and the rocky floor of the canyon fractured and split.

"I am the leader of the Lion Guard! The Fiercest in the Pridelands, and that includes you! Do you think yourself stronger than the weight of the earth? Can you remain more steadfast than the mountains? I don't know if the blessing of the kings would let me bring them to their knees, but I promise you, dad, it can make you kneel." The roar shook the ground and reverberated.
Ahadi glared at him, and took a step back. Then he scowled.

"Lion Guard." It wasn't a statement. It was a command. Behind him, he felt Kasi, Nguvu, Imani and Jicho freeze. "Lion Guard. Take Prince Taka into custody, to the Lair of the Lion Guard, and hold him there to await judgement." Ahadi said.

There was a deathly silence, as Jicho gasped. Ahadi's narrowed at the sound of his shock. "Do you have a problem with that order, or need I repeat myself?" At this, Taka snarled.

"Don't you dare try and turn my friends against me!" He growled, the reverberation of the roar ending as a spike of fear struck Taka's heart, anger giving way to apprehension. He wouldn't. He couldn't do that. His friends wouldn't. He turned to them, looking horrified.

"Guys! Don't do this!" He said, as Nguvu took a tentative step towards him, then shook his head.

"Your Majesty… You can't mean… But Taka?! Taka is our leader!" Imani protested. Ahadi roared in anger.

"I am your King! I do not expect such defiance!" he raged as the Guard looked at one another.

"Guys… Help me here! He's a murderer! He doesn't deserve your loyalty, he doesn't deserve your respect!" Taka protested.

"You do your so-called friends no favours by sowing the seeds of treason, Taka." Ahadi warned him, a dangerous look in his eye. "Do as you are commanded! Or are you as traitorous as the Prideland's Fiercest?" Ahadi asked him. Kasi recoiled as if stung.

"I am no traitor! And I don't believe Taka is either! This is not right!" Kasi said quickly.

"I don't want your opinion, I want your obedience! Whom do you serve?"

"We serve the Pridelands!" Imani protested.

"I AM the Pridelands! You serve me!" Ahadi growled.

"Imani… What do we do!" Nguvu asked in panic.

"I…"

"You don't do anything!" A voice shouted. They turned and saw Zira approaching. "His challenge still stands! It has to stand! The Guard can't do anything to a citizen who's declared Mashindano!" It was Zira! The beautiful, crimson eyed lioness, with a dark stripe down her spine stepped forward, and looked to Ahadi and Taka.

"Your Majesty, you must answer the challenge. To use others to respond would violate the terms of that challenge." Zira said.

"She's right!" Sarafina said. "The guard can't arrest him until after the duel!"

"Who says there's going to be a duel!" Sarabi asked, panicked, but Ahadi was growling.
They were right.

The law was very clear in that regard. It was tantamount to interfering in the duel itself.

"She's right." Imani said, as understanding dawned and he looked about desperately. "We can't… Sire… Forgive us… But the law is on his side… He…" He took a breath, unable to believe what he was about to say, but silently thanking all of the spirits and all of the gods, for not having to say it. Instead of saying anything that could be construed as treason, he simply focused on Taka. "He has the right to Mashindano. The Law of the Pridelands allows for it. We can't interfere. We can't take a side. Not without violating the sanctity of Mashindano." Imani said, and looked Ahadi right in the eyes.

"Can't take a side!" Ahadi growled. The black and gold lion stared at him for a moment, and Imani nearly buckled under his scrutiny. Taka breathed a sigh of relief, for he half feared that the Guard would turn on him at Ahadi's order. He couldn't use the roar against his own Lion Guard.
"Very well." He nodded.

"Wait! How are you even considering this!?" Mufasa shouted in anger for the first time.

"Mufasa, it's the only thing preventing your father from exiling Taka here and now!" Sarafina protested, rushing to Mufasa's side.

"And this is any better!?" he cried out, growling in frustration. "Shame on the both of you! Mother is… dear Kings…. Mother is dead, and she is not even buried before you start blaming each other like a pack of savages! She isn't even cold and you want to tear into each other like wild monsters! What is wrong with you? Is this what you wanted? Is this what she would have wanted? For you to fight over her death like a pair of jackals?" Mufasa's voice nearly broke. "The both of you played a small part in her death, but none more than the hyenas who killed her! Shame on the both of you for trying to hurt each other at her graveside! Have you no respect? We can blame the living later. For now, we honour the dead." Mufasa begged the two of them.

Ahadi and Scar looked at one another, each daring the other to break the silence first. Finally Ahadi spoke.

"Then let this be known throughout the Pride: Taka has challenged my right to rule before the pride. He has made his intentions clear – he would thrust this kingdom into anarchy rather than see me rule. I have no choice but to accept his challenge of Mashindano. Mortal combat before the Pride... let the kings decide our fate." He said, his expression gave no sign of regret in passing this ruling. He paused for breath and continued.

"I will face Taka before the pride in three hours' time, at sunset, at the tip of Pride Rock. First though… Mufasa is right… We must allow for the appropriate burial of Uru. My mate and my queen. Zuzu. Please spread this message to the rest of the pride not assembled here."

"As you wish Sire..." Zuzu said sadly. She gave one last look at Taka, before swooping into the air to tell her news to the rest of the Pride.

The air shimmered for Scar, and the sun moved unnaturally quickly across the sky, and they were in the den, in the heart of Pride Rock once again.

Taka with Zira by his side walked slowly up to Pride Rock, prepared for a climb to where he knew his father waited. Waiting for him at the base was quite the collection of compatriots and friends of his. The entire Lion Guard was present, and they were met just before entering the peak by Mufasa and Sarabi. They regarded him with sombre expressions. The dusk was coming in now, the sun already low in the sky.

"Brother." Mufasa spoke formally, without meeting his eyes.

"Yes, my Prince?" Taka spoke, venom practically dripping from his voice.

"Taka, please. You can't be serious. How can you want this, at a time like now!" The urging in Mufasa voice was apparent.

"For the love of the Kings, Mufasa, get out of my way. Stand aside and allow me to face our father."

"Taka! I have already lost my mother today! Do you really want to orphan me? Or just make me an only-child?"

"Taka, Mufasa is right." Jicho urged him, the young lion looking agitated and panic. "You can't fight Ahadi! He's the King!"

"And that excuses him?!"

"Taka!" Kasi said urgently. "We need to focus on the real enemy here! Caliban and his blasted clan of hyenas! We should go out there, into the Outlands and wipe them from the face of Africa! Not start fighting each other. We're wasting time here."

"You heard my Father. He blames me for Mother's death! You think he'll let me go about the Pridelands after what he thinks I've done? I'd be lucky he doesn't exile me over this! I have to do this! I have to do this for justice. I have to do this for me. For Mother!"

"Your mother wouldn't want this!" Nguvu said urgently, but Taka gave him a disapproving look.

"He's right, Taka. Please. Stop this!" Sarafina said.

"I cannot. Ahadi has already accepted the challenge, I cannot go back now even if I wanted to."

"But this... This is wrong Taka! This... is beyond you. He will kill you Taka!"

"I have the Roar of the Elders!"

"No." Rafiki said warningly. "You don't." he said.

"What do you mean?" Taka asked in confusion. Rafiki sighed.

"That roar is to be used only in defence of the Pridelands, and in defense of the Circle of Life! If you use that against your father for personal gain, even if you believe that gain is noble, then the Kings shall snatch it back! You will lose it forever." Rafiki warned him. The shaman looked troubled.

"Are you saying that I can't use the Roar?" Taka asked him. The mandrill made a noise.
"If you use it here, you will never use it again! Mashindano. Savage, ancient thing from the Law of the Strong in the Pridelands, from the old Emperors and High-Kings. It is against the Circle of Life, and everything it stands for! Listen Taka, the Kings will not punish you for what you are forced to do – but defend you here, they will not. They can only turn their heads in shame. Use the sacred power here – and they will turn their gaze away…forever." Rafiki warned.

"Now do you see, Taka!" Sarafina said. "You can't win this! You don't stand a chance!"

"I am the leader of the Lion Guard, Sarafina. With or without the roar. The roar is not all of who I am. I don't need it to win here." Taka said, but a cold sweat began to gnaw at him. Without the roar? The duel had instantly become much more difficult.

"Taka, please," Sarabi said. "Go to him now, apologise to him and beg him for forgiveness. Tell him that it was the grief talking, not you. He will understand, he will forgive you, and everything can go back to way it was!" She said. Jicho nodded.

"Taka, without the roar, this is the safest option!" Imani quickly said.

"Imani, you are meant to be the bravest…"
"I don't want to see my best friend get killed over something stupid!" Imani snapped, agitated.

"My Mother is dead! That's not something stupid! Ahadi, that failure of a King was responsible. Even if I didn't fight him… You know what he thinks of me now." Taka said.

The Guard didn't look him in the eye.

"I know." Kasi said, sadly. Kasi, of all of them, looked the most frustrated and the most infuriated. "But we need to be practical. You're right, Taka. You're right about Ahadi. But right or wrong, he's still the King. We have a duty! We have a duty to the Pridelands! You have a duty."

"He forbade me from attending my mother's death ceremony personally!" Taka said, his voice cracking. "They will bury her without me! Nothing will ever be the same as it was. I will not 'beg' that tyrant for anything ever again." Taka said, already sounding exhausted before the fight had even begun. Sarafina seemed defeated, and looked at her friend. She turned about for support.

"Tell him Zira! He can't fight his own father!" She cried.

Zira seemed likewise concerned for her friend, but seeing the anger the prospect of submitting to Ahadi had caused, she tried a different tactic.

"You don't need to do this. It's reckless. It's foolish. You need not genuinely want to beg for his forgiveness. You can simply lie." Then she paused, as if considering if she should go on. Finally, she did.

"If necessary... There are other ways of taking revenge. Not all of them require brute strength. Or public displays of bravado." Zira said carefully. Sarafina glared at her and interrupted her. She was not liking this one bit.

"Silence! That sounds dangerously close to treason Zira! Ahadi is still the rightful King, even if his anger is misplaced! He's grieving and mourning, just as Taka is!" Sarafina said. But Kasi and Zira shifted uncomfortably.

"It's not treason if I no longer recognize Ahadi as King…" Zira muttered, and Imani arched an eyebrow.

"Excuse me!" Sarabi gasped at that almost heretical statement. Jicho was wide eyed and panicked.

"Taka, think about this."

"I have thought about it. There is nothing left to think about. I am doing this. It's going to happen. I've made up my mind." Taka said.

"Taka this pointless show of strength need not be! There are others among the lionesses who feel the same way. Ahadi is respected certainly, and possibly feared, but as a king, he is not loved... His many failures and unnecessary laws have made him unpopular. The hunting limits, the mating ceremonies being compulsory if one wishes to have a cub... Some of the lionesses find them stifling, confining!" Kasi said.

"And many among the lioness also blame him for your mother's death. They will support you as I do if you proceed with this duel. But if not..." Zira said. Sarabi was shaking her head though.

"Taka, even if you survive this battle, you will never again be welcome in the main den – Ahadi will not have it, not if you raise arms against the king. He is your father! Just stop this madness now before it's too late!" She stopped, as if realising she had gone too far.

"Madness?" Taka breathed dangerously, and stood up glaring at Sarabi and Sarafina. "MADNESS!" He looked at Nguvu. "Is it madness to not want to lie oppressed by a Tyrant king?" To Kasi. "A murderer who betrays and kills his own mate as if by his own hand!" To Imani. "You call it 'madness'?" To Jicho. "No. Not Madness." He leaned in close to Sarafina, breath heavy, eyes wild. "I will face Ahadi before the pride." To Sarabi. "I will defeat him in fair combat." And to Mufasa. "Then I shall kill him." He said.

There was an entire spectrum of emotion. Fear. Horror. Concern. Frustration. Misery.

Sarafina looked at him, fear in her face.

"What is this?" She breathed, looking at her friend, aghast. "What has happened to you? Don't let your anger and grief consume you! This is not the Taka I remember."

Zira to her credit, seemed captivated by the ordeal, and was looking at Taka, not with fear, but with admiration.

"Taka..." She murmured... "You know I would follow you... to the edge of the earth and beyond if need be. Fight your father if you feel it is what you must do. I will support you whatever the end."

Imani nodded.

"You've won our loyalty many times over. You know… whether we agree with you or not… we'll support you." They turned to Sarafina, who looked at her best friend, terrified.

"You were my friend Taka... But now you are scaring me. This path will lead you to ruin. Murder and death will follow you till the end of your days. If this is a fight you have to have… You'll have to fight it alone. I'll be praying for you. One way or the other. Good luck, Taka."

Mufasa and Sarabi took a step away. "Brother…"

"Please. Mufasa. I have to do this. Don't make this harder." Taka begged him. Mufasa bowed his head.

"Spirits guide you…" And turned away, Sarabi close behind.

Now it was just Taka and his Lion Guard.

The Bravest. The Fastest. The Keenest of Sight. The Strongest.

"If you lose this… and Ahadi demands we help him… we will have a clear duty, Taka." Imani said, looking worried.

"Then don't do your duty. Do what feels right." Taka said. Imani ground his teeth, and embraced his friend.
"I try, My Prince. But doing one's duty is easy. Doing what feels right is much, much harder. Nothing feels right right now." He said.

"Good luck Taka." The rest of the Guard echoed similar sentiments. Then, they too left him, leaving him alone at the foot of the base of Pride Rock. Alone, apart from one lioness.

Zira turned to him and looked right into his eyes.

"It is time. If anything...goes amiss... You know you can count on me..." She said.

"This is not your affair Zira. Do not – under any circumstances – interfere. Do you promise me?"

"I do... My King." Zira said. Taka's eyes widened at her words. That was treasonous. And in saying it, Zira was showing him that that prospect, didn't frighten her.

"Let's go then. I have a mother to avenge. And a father to kill."

Taka climbed the final steps to the peak.

Someone had laid dust upon the rough rock surface, and a smooth even circle ran around its edge the lionesses ringed it, their eyes kept low, fully aware of the blood about to be shed. In the centre Ahadi awaited. When he looked up at his approaching son, there was no compassion in his gaze. Only bitterness and enmity. Behind him, the Sun was a blood red.

"So you have come at last. I had thought you would have done the honourable thing and ran to the outlands in exile. I wouldn't even have ordered the Lion Guard to hunt you down if you had… But once again you have disappointed me my son." Ahadi said.

The lionesses which ringed the circle watched in total silence. Some he had known from when he was a cub and many were practically aunts and cousins. Some were those he had watched grow up and a few adolescent lions he had seen grown from their birth – even watched them whilst their mothers hunted a few times. The whole Pride was there. Only the cubs were missing, and he guessed that Zuzu was watching them. Everyone else he had ever known was here watching him. Watching him as he delivered justice.

"I am pleased to have disappointed you father." Taka spat the word with as much anger and hatred that it could have been a curse or insult. Ahadi gave no response.

"Your tyranny has come to an end at last." He nodded at the setting sun behind him, which was now only a crescent beneath the horizon.

"We will see. Taka. You have no chance in this fight. Rafiki told me. You cannot use the roar here. This is older than the roar." Ahadi said calmly.

"I don't need the roar. I never have." Taka said.

"The roar was the only thing you had that made you great."

"Now I know you're insane." Taka said, sardonically.

The two lions crouched down as they faced each other, and the Sun dipped lower, barely a hairs width across the horizon. Taka braced himself and hissed, his voice carrying over the Pridelands. The sun set. The wind stood still. The eyes of the whole of Africa turned to the King and the Prince, and the earliest Star in the heaven faded into existence. For a single moment the sunlight flashed green in the instant it set. And then sank out of sight.

And the two lions launched themselves at each other.

The two collided with a monstrous roar, and struck at each other, both landing glancing blows to each other. Sarafina flinched and looked away. The two lions snarled at each other and Taka leapt at Ahadi's throat, trying to finish it quickly before the king would bring in his bulk into play. Ahadi was ready for him, and swatted him out of the air with a single paw swipe. Taka crashed to the ground and something that might have been a rib cracked with the force of the blow. Instead of rushing in for the kill, Ahadi waited as Taka stood up, and shook himself. Several of the lionesses groaned at the slight, a large purple welt already forming on his side.

"That was not unexpected."

"And not undeserved."

"Ooh. I am going to enjoy this!" Taka hissed.

Taka suddenly launched himself at Ahadi, using his speed to dodge a blow, and darted past raking his claws deep into Ahadi's right flank. Eight identical lines were torn into his side and Ahadi roared in anger and pain. He dug his paw into Taka's flesh around his neck, trying to lift him off his side, but Taka jerked forwards and bit down savagely on Ahadi's neck trying to carve through his neck, either his windpipe, or some vital artery, but with enough ferocity, it looked as if he were trying to decapitate the lion, to cut right through his spine. It was brutal and savage. Onlookers gasped in horror. Ahadi pulled away from him at the last moment and Taka lost the momentum he had gained. Off balance and overreached, he struggled to maintain a grip, as Ahadi pulled away, spun, and landed his clawed paw across Taka's flank. Some of the lionesses shrieked as the blow sent Taka reeling and crashing into the ground. He rolled across the dusty ground, blood from Ahadi's side staining the rocks, the broken ribs on his own flank screaming in protest. Once more the two lions separated and they circled each other growling menacingly. Ahadi was shedding the most blood. The wounds Taka had inflicted showed clearly on his side, but they were shallow and did not hinder the king in the least. Furthermore, he was still fresh. Taka on the other hand was panting hard, the ribs broken in his side an invisible but persistent hindrance. He experimented, flexing his side and more waves of pain flowed down his arm and into his chest. The injury was hardly life threatening, but was certainly an impedance.

Ahadi roared, and charged Taka. Taka leapt out of the way diving into the air beside him, whilst Ahadi's claws ripped through empty air. Taka landed roughly and snarled his defiance. Ahadi stopped, the difference between the two's fighting now apparent. Taka was faster, nimbler and quicker, but Ahadi had the muscle and strength of a fully-grown Lion. Taka was little more than a cub. The weight of the imbalance showed. Taka was tiring as dodging took a lot of energy, whilst Ahadi could simply endure the injuries and reply with blows twice the power.

Taka tried to dodge another charge but Ahadi, anticipating Taka's movement struck him down with both paws. Taka howled with pain as another rib shattered under the force of the blow and his cry was echoed with Sarafina's yell.

"Stop this!"

Neither lion gave any indication that they had heard as they snapped at each other's throat. Ahadi missed, but Taka, possessing extra speed darted forwards and landed another bite on Ahadi's sustained injury. Ahadi yelled again and swiped at Taka. His energy spent, Taka took the full force of the blow and fell down, claw tips ripping into his side and drawing blood. Ahadi seized the moment and grasped Taka's head in his paws. Lifting it, he slammed it down upon the rocks.

"This. Ends. Now." Each word was punctuated by dashing Taka's head upon the rock as he struggled in his father grip. With the third blow, the right side of his head split open, blood pouring onto the ground. With the third blow Scar placed both his feet on Ahadi's chest, aiming at his injured side and kicked hard. Ahadi was pushed off as Taka rose groggily to his feet, his vision swimming. The blood from his head was flowing freely from the other side of his head into his eye.

"Oh no you don't!" Taka stood to his feet. Some of the lionesses who supported him gave a low cheer, but it was clear now who had the upper hand. Ahadi was panting, but the injuries Taka had sustained were horrific. Ahadi gave a victorious shout as they met the third time, clawing at each other, aiming for the eyes. Ahadi roared into Taka's face and the noise was deafening. The concussion from before brought spots of light into his vision as he clawed at Ahadi, aiming for injuries he had already inflicted to cause more damage. Ahadi gave another roar and struck at Taka's front leg. The muscle rippled. And bone broke. It shattered and was driven, searing through muscle and flesh.

Taka screamed, clutching his mutilated foreleg, a shard of bone just visible, glinting wet with blood. The pain was terrible. He looked back up to his father, or rather the monstrosity of rage and anger that had been his father, and stared into his face as he made a final swipe at his son's head.

"And so it ends."

The blow took Taka across the face. It was like fire. As if the whole of the sun had been squeezed, crushed, pressured down to the size of a bush, to that of a fruit, to that of a walnut then pressed into his eye. Burning, searing. He could almost smell the incinerating flesh.

He screamed into the sky. At the darkness. Night was fast approaching. He screamed at the stars. At the kings who had let his mother die. The silent tormentors above him.

Another blow to the side brought him crashing down to the ground. One eye was mutilated, and the other peered through a mess of blood and fur at Ahadi before him, his golden pelt streaked in blood, his black mane running in sweat. His eyes, the colour of fires burned as he beheld his son. Unforgiving. Ruthless.

He leaned forward and whispered in his ear.

"Here on Pride Rock, before the whole pride and beneath the kings. Every single lion that has ever lived has seen your shame. Your failure. The wicked Tyrants of ages long past scream from the deepest chasm below up to you. Now go join them."

He raised his Paw, bloodied claws fully extended shining like knives. Taka tried to move but his energy was spent, his whole body alight with pain and with despair.

"Enough!" A loud female voice commanded. Zira was the one who had spoken. The young lioness had stepped forwards out of the circle of lionesses to face Ahadi. He turned in surprise and anger to her.

"What is this?" he demanded of her.

"Don't. He is beaten. Enough royal blood has been spilled today already." The rest of the Pride gaped at her boldness.

"This is not your affair lioness." His eyes narrowed. "I know your face. Zira. You were his friend from when you were cubs."

"Don't you dare hurt my Prince..." She growled at Ahadi. He seemed taken aback by her aggression. Surprise turned to anger and it leaked into his voice.

"I am the King, Zira – My word is law. My sentence is death. Rejoin your betters." When she made no movement. His eyes narrowed. "You will do as your King commands!"

"Zira!" One of the lionesses begged. "Come away!" Taka looked and recognised the lioness as Zira's mother, Sauda. She was standing next to Sarafina and the young lioness' mother. Kasi was nearby, along with the rest of the Lion Guard, their eyes wide not just with concern for Taka but now also for Zira's welfare. Zira ignored them. Instead she lowered her body, descending into a battle crouch.

"I will kill you if you touch him." She said.

Ahadi looked at this display of loyalty from Zira. Taka's cubhood friend. He seemed to mull it over. The sky was well and truly dark now, the stars coming out one by one. Ahadi seemed not to notice their radiance.

"Fool." He hissed. Turning his back to her dismissing her as a threat, he raised his paw again, and Taka knew that this time, there was no delay. No pause. This was the end.

"Your Majesty, No!" Kasi shouted, looking at the King in Shock. Jicho and Kasi pulled forward, breaking past Sauda, and moving closer to Zira and Taka. Ahadi roared at this display of defiance.

"You stay back!" he roared, growling at Nguvu and Jicho. They both paused, but Kasi moved closer. Ahadi roared in anger. Sauda gave a shout of alarm and Kasi became still, freezing in place.

"Kasi! If you move a muscle, I will have you exiled! I don't need to remind you, Kasi Son-of-None, that you're a Rogue male allowed here at my whim! Unlike your two friends, I don't need an excuse to have an Outsider exiled!" Ahadi snapped. Kasi pulled up short at the insult, and there was murmuring from the other lionesses. Sauda gasped, and Imani and Jicho stared at the King.

The threat was empty, it had to be. Of course it had to be. Ahadi would never do that. But then Ahadi would never duel his son to the death atop Pride Rock either.

But even so, Kasi had frozen, and stared at the King in Shock. He was right. Technically. Imani, Jicho and Nguvu were born to Pridelander lionesses, and Zira was adopted into the Pridelands by Jicho's mother. But unlike his sister, he was a Male Lion. It didn't matter that Kasi had been adopted by Sauda just the same as Zira had, it was a quirk of Pridelands law that the protection it afforded Zira simply didn't extend to male lions. Sauda couldn't shield him.

Prides across Africa always welcomed new lionesses. New blood was valued, new hunters and mothers a prize. Other than the queen, most lionesses mated with rogue lions, and the lions stayed that way, occasionally visiting. On rare occasions though, the male lion would seek to join the Pride. To be involved in the lives of their cubs, to remain with their beloved mates. It was rare though, and not without controversy.

Technically, a male lion with no familial connection to the Pride was a rogue, whose acceptance and entitlement to the Pride could be withdrawn at the Kings' leisure.

It was an archaic law, often considered a barbaric one, from the days when Rogue lions were all viewed with suspicion and distrust, considered by some to glorified breeding stock that had outlived their welcome.

Kasi was stunned with the pronouncement, and Zira's expression twisted into anger.

Even the other lionesses looked alarmed and angry (for who could say a bad word about Kasi? The pride was very fond of the light-coloured young lion that was known as the Fastest in the Pridelands!) Sauda, for her part, was shocked into silence.

"I am a Pridelander." Kasi said quietly. "Not an Outsider." He almost whispered the word.

"Then act like one!" Ahadi growled.

That was enough to quiet Kasi though, who looked on in dread and in silence. He didn't move back, but neither did he move further forward. Jicho was also motionless. He looked nauseous and seemed stunned.

From the ground where he lay bleeding, Taka tried to summon the strength to stand and failed spectacularly. Instead, he spat at his father.

"You… Really are unbelievable… You… call yourself a King?" Taka spat, and he spat blood. "You would do that? To a Lion of your own Lion Guard?" And now he felt rage, true and terrible rage. How dare he threaten his friends. How dare he condemn Kasi for defending his sister and his friend. How dare he!

Taka crawled to his feet, eyes blazing with fury.

"I'll show you the Lion Guard!" And heedless of the Shaman's warning, ignorant of the laws of the Pridelands, and the will of the Spirits, Taka inhaled deeply, ready to unleash the roar and blast his father from the top of Pride Rock. Seeing the movement, Ahadi's claw lashed out, his eyes widening, knowing what Taka intended. Zira shouted, and moved. His claw sliced down and into lion flesh. But not its intended target.

Zira howled in pain as Ahadi's clawed paw dug deep into her ear. He pulled it away, and with a terrible tear it ripped away, a chunk of her ear obliterated by the blow. She howled in agony and Taka shouted in alarm, the gathered power he'd drawn to himself with the roar evaporating like mist in his shock and panic. The various gathered members of the Pride cried out in alarm as Ahadi looked in anger at this interference. Taka rushed towards his father, in a reckless charge, and Ahadi span, dragging his claws across Taka's chest. The young lion was hurled to the ground, screaming with the maddening pain.

"Enough! Stop this madness. I command it!" Mufasa cried from the sidelines, as he moved out of the ring placing himself between Ahadi and the wounded lions. Sarabi moved to join him and Sarafina made as if to as well, but a look from Ahadi made her shrink back.

"Mufasa! Stay out of this. The Laws of the Pridelands demand you not interfere with the Mashindano." Ahadi said, looking at his son in shock.

"The Mashindano is over!" Mufasa snapped. "You just struck at someone who wasn't participating. That ends the duel." He said. There was a moment as people digested this. "The duel is no longer just between you and him. So it ends. Now." He said again with urgency.

"He's right my King!" Zuzu said urgently, the purple hornbill hovering by Mufasa's shoulder. A little too urgently, as Ahadi could hear the relief in her tone and shot her a dark look, that sent her swooping behind Mufasa's mane.

But Zuzu was an expert in the Law of the Pridelands. What she said was indisputable. The duel was over, with no fatalities. To continue, would only invite an all-out brawl, with no restraint. Zira continued to shout in pain, and Kasi rushed to his sister.

With that realisation, Ahadi noticed that Mufasa's claws were unsheathed.

"My son..."

"Will you kill me too Father? Are you willing to?"

"I…"
"What of Sarabi? Will you kill her once my body is broken upon the rocks? What of the Lion Guard! Kasi spent years serving this pride, Dad, does that count for nothing! Taka challenged you to a duel. That challenge is over. You are the undisputed victor. Leave it be." Mufasa urged him

"No! He has to die for what he has done!"

"He has done nothing, and neither have you! You are both innocent of the crimes you've accused each other of. This is your grief talking! But I am not allowed to grieve, am I? I have to store away my grief, keeping my sanity to stop you from murdering each other!"

Mufasa snarled at the two of them.

There was silence.

"Go on, Father. Will you kill Zira too? Because she has supported him? You've already maimed her ear. And what of Sarabi and I? What if we chose to go to the aid of our friends? Jicho and Kasi will aid their sister. And do you think with three of her children there, their mother will remain loyal to you? What of Sarafina's, and Sarabi's mothers? Do you think they will go against king and land to defend their loved ones? What of the Lion Guard? What about all those other lionesses who have supported Taka over your rule? That amounts for a third of your Pride! Will you execute them too, just to satisfy your longing for revenge? Murder of those who disagree with your rule? That's not what you taught me. That's not what you've been teaching me. I know that's not what you want much less what you'll do. Prove me right." Mufasa said.

Ahadi looked at his son, confusion, pain, and anger shifting through his face. Of course he didn't want that! Of course he didn't want civil war! He didn't want to hurt his lionesses, or his people! He looked at the mangled and mutilated body of Taka, whose audible panting was interlaced with coughs of blood. And from there, he looked at Zira, defiant, standing between them, her face contorted into a snarl of pain and fury, as blood dripped to the floor around her. Blood he'd spilled. The ground was covered in it; Taka's head was drenched in it, from wounds to the side of his head and to his eye. Slowly Ahadi turned around, taking his eyes away from the sight. He looked at the lionesses. There were some faces of support there, loyalty evident in their expression. There were also defiant expressions of anger, revulsion and judgement in others. But most looked scared. Scared, confused, and unsure. He beheld his sons, and for an instant the old Ahadi was returned to them, his faced filled with compassion. Then it hardened. Like cold steel, he turned his eyes to Mufasa.

"You speak with reason. Very well. Let him be spared. But to my eyes he is far gone already. I doubt he will live to see the dawn."

Turning, he stalked away from the Pridelanders, and descended to the front of Pride rock, and went outside, at the edge of the shard that overlooked the kingdom.

And Taka's eye closed – the one not sealed shut with blood, and he saw no more.