It was a few days after the cubs had been born. There had been a presentation ceremony, with Rafiki holding Kovu out on top of Pride Rock for all the kingdom to see. Zira had been so proud that she had hardly noticed the reluctant applause. Her son was going to be King; that was all she knew.

She and Scar were walking through the Pride Lands together. They were discussing trivial things like Doa and Kata becoming full hunters and Nyomda's new cubs when the King asked abruptly, "Are you okay with me choosing Kovu as my heir?"

Zira was puzzled by his sudden question. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be? It's an honor I never could have expected."

Scar tipped his head in question. "Never? But you are a princess, the daughter of a King."

The princess narrowed her eyes and replied irritably, "That doesn't mean I can automatically expect my life to be perfect. You and I both know that. We had to work for all that we have now. You're the one who taught me that."

The scarred King nodded. "True enough. But we've won now. We're the ones on top. I have a kingdom and a Pride under my command, and you..." He trailed off, the confidence fading from his expression. He lowered his head in an almost shy manner, if the King could even feel such a thing.

Zira prompted him a curiously, "And I... what?"

Scar looked at the lioness with longing and some other gentle emotion in his eyes. "I've been meaning to talk to you about this for a while, but I wasn't sure... I mean, I didn't know how to ask..." He sighed, then said in a quiet voice, "Will you be my Queen?"

Zira gaped at the King, stunned. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. "Q-queen? You want meto be your Queen? But... but why would...?"

Scar sighed, forcing himself to look straight into her eyes. Zira felt dizzy as she looked into his serious green gaze, unable to look away. "Because I love you, Zira."

The princess felt her heart falter and pause for a moment, before exploding into a quick, ecstatic tempo. He loves me... Scar loves me...That was the only coherent thought she could manage. The love in his eyes was so strong that it made her head spin just to look at them. She was thrilled, and yet... the memory of those words being spoken in a different voice was too vivid.

Scar saw the hesitation in her eyes and said quickly, "Of course, I'll understand if you say no. I understand about Khali, and how hard it is for you to trust people. And I'll understand if you don't love me. I probably shouldn't have asked."

Zira shook her head slowly, her scattered thoughts scrambling to form a coherent train of thought. "No, I... I do love you." The joy that lit up on the King's scarred face was indescribable. "I've been through a lot with Khali, and I'm not as trusting as I was before. I don't know if I can promise to trust you as a mate."

Scar said in a soft voice, "I may have done wrong in my life. But believe me when I say this; I will never hurt you, Zira. I don't know if I'll always be able to protect you, but I will never do anything to hurt you. I'm not Khali. He's gone, and now we can move past that together." He hesitated. "That is, if you want."

The princess nodded, soothed by his solemn oath. "I do." She replied with a warm smile.

It was the second ceremony of the week. Zira was waiting several paces away from Pride Rock's edge, waiting for the ceremony begin. She could hear the impatient muttering of the sparse crowd below, but that didn't bother her. In a few minutes, she was going to become Queen of the Pride Lands.

Finally, after several minutes of waiting, Rafiki was seen walking through the crowd towards Pride Rock, Sarabi and Scar trailing after him. He led the lions onto the rock. The ceremony had begun.

Scar stepped past Rafiki, as he had already had a coronation. He stood at the edge of Pride Rock and roared out to his subjects. There was some faint cheering from the hyenas and jackals, but the lionesses said nothing. No prey animals had attended the ceremony, for they were too scared of being attacked by the starving hyenas.

Rafiki bowed before Zira, then pointed his staff at Sarabi. The former Queen looked at Zira with an unreadable expression. After a few moments, she sank into a graceful bow, giving her title as Queen to Zira.

Her heart pounding with both fear and excitement, Zira came to stand at the edge of Pride Rock, beside Scar. Together, they roared out to their subjects, finalizing the transition of monarchs. Zira was now Queen of the Pride Lands.

It was a few hours after King Scar and Queen Zira had roared at the edge of Pride Rock. Sarafina was sleeping on the edge of Pride Rock, her dreams filled with Mheetu and Tojo, when she felt someone prodding her awake. She opened her eyes to see Nala standing in front of her, grim determination in her green-blue eyes. "I'm leaving Pride Rock." She told her mother in a hoarse whisper.

Sarafina looked around to see if anyone was listening, but they were all asleep in the cave. She replied in a low voice, "Why? You know that if you leave, Scar won't let you come back."

Nala straightened, drawing herself up to her full height. "That's why I have to go." She whispered firmly. "Scar's getting out of control. If we don't do something soon, everyone's going to starve. We need help to overpower Scar."

Sarafina felt a flash of fear for Scar. Although he was a neglectful and somewhat cruel King, he was still her friend. "Please don't do this. Zira is the Queen now. She'll be able to get the hyenas under control."

Nala frowned at her mother, her eyes flashing with impatience. "Zira has been with the Pride for months now, and she hasn't done a thing. I know she's your friend Mom, but she's in love with Scar. She'll believe him over you, and you know it. I have to stop Scar now, before he gets any more powerful."

Sarafina felt despair in her heart at the truth in Nala's words. She sighed, then rubbed muzzles with her daughter. "Very well. Go with luck, Nala. But if it is at all possible, don't kill Scar. His life has been hard; he deserves mercy."

Nala sighed. "I will try. Goodbye Mom." With those words, the lioness turned and bounded silently off of Pride Rock, her creamy pelt shining silver in the moonlight as she shrank into the distance.

So we're almost at the end of The Lion King. Don't worry, I won't end Fall to Hatred 'till Zira dies. If you're wondering why Scar is so OOC, it's because Zira brings out the good in him. Or that's my excuse anyway.

Zira, Nala, Scar, Sarabi, Sarafina, Kovu, Rafiki (c) Disney

Khali (c) Me