Mufasa stared at Banzai, who had Nala in his grip. The young one was horrified, staring back with panicking eyes.

"So…what's it gonna be your highness?", Shenzi grinned. "Who will you save?"

Gritting his teeth, Mufasa thought. He had no idea what to do…he was surrounded by hyenas and there was no way he could take them down.

And the king must put everyone else before himself.

"Let Eshe and Nala go, then you can have me", he finally nodded.

Gasping, Nala and Eshe stared at Mufasa. Shenzi looked surprised.

"Sir…no! You should not do that!", Eshe tried.

"Yeah Uncle Mufasa! Please, don't do it!", Nala begged as well.

"I'm sorry sweeties…but I can't let them hurt you. Free them, immediately!", Mufasa commanded hyenas.

"I see…well, if that's what you wish", Shenzi nodded. "But before doing that…let's play a little, shall we?"

Girls and Mufasa stared back, confusedly. What was happening?

"What do you mean?", Nala asked.

"Oh well, we really like to take care of our visitors. Get them to the arena!", Shenzi commanded. Hyenas forced Mufasa, Nala, and Eshe to move and out of the cave. In their hiding place, Timon and Pumbaa stared in shock, as the group passed them. When they were gone, the duo stared at each other.

"What do we do, what do we do?!", Pumbaa panted.

"There is only one thing we can do Pumbaa! When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. That's our motto!", Timon slammed his hands together.

"I thought our motto was Hakuna Matata…"

"Pumbaa, stop living in the past! We need a new motto. Come on!", Timon started running. Pumbaa gasped, but ran after his friend. And somewhere up, they were watched by evilly glowing eyes.

Excellent…

Hyenas escorted three prisoners to the center of the area. Eshe gasped and was trembling all over her body. Nala hid between Mufasa's paws and trembled as well.

Hopefully, Timon and Pumbaa got away…

"What's happening to us…?", Eshe whispered.

"I don't know…I'm really sorry about this", Mufasa answered.

"Oh, I don't blame yourself, your majesty. You are a great king. I'm so sorry about your son…"

"Yes…thank you", Mufasa closed his eyes.

"So…", Shenzi sat down, facing the trio. "Foolish king, talking black and white meatball and a scared kitty cat. What a team we have here!", she laughed and another one followed her example.

"What is this nonsense?", Mufasa spat. "You promised to let girls go!"

"And I agreed, but first we are gonna play a little game of ours. It's called Predator's prey."

"What is that…?", Nala trembled even more. Mufasa gazed at her and remembered Simba's face.

Oh, son…luckily you aren't here to see this...

"What kind of game is that…?", Eshe gasped.

"Oh, it's a really funny one! Since we have a predator and its prey here already, it will be very easy", Shenzi nodded.

"H-how come?", Eshe asked.

"Well", Banzai spoke. "Your lovely majesty has to hunt you down. If he does that, we will let her go", he gazed at Nala.

All three gasped.

"What…?", Mufasa's eyes widened.

"Yep yep kingy. You are gonna kill this talking meat…or else you all will be dead."

"But…you said you will let her go!", Mufasa's eyes were burning.

"Nah, we lied. After all, we are pretty hungry. And thanks to your majordomo, we are only but slobbering, mangy poachers from dawn until dusk. We have no brains you know…so how can we keep promises?", Shenzi made everyone laugh.

Eshe nearly fainted. Mufasa was getting more and more furious.

"I would never kill my subjects! Never!"

"But how come you still hunt them?", Banzai asked.

Mufasa was silent. This mocking was driving him crazy.

"It's because we need food to live! Just like you do!", Nala spat.

Shenzi gazed at Nala. Hearing that made her laugh even more.

"Hah hah hah! Look who's talking! Isn't that the prince's girlfriend. Where did you leave your hero?"

Nala hung her head. Mufasa pulled her back and glared at Shenzi…full of anger.

"I told you not to mock my son. His memory will not be ruined by you!"

"Say it again Muffy", Shenzi provoked. "Didn't hear you!"

Mufasa closed his eyes and counted. He was nearly getting nuts.

One…two…three…do not lose your temper. It's right what they want.

"But now, enough talking. Get on with it!", Banzai yelled. Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa hid behind one of the skulls and leaned to look at the sight.

"How do we get them out of there? They are trapped like rats!", Pumbaa said.

"I don't know…let me think", Timon muttered.

Suddenly, Pumbaa heard cracking. Gazing up, he spotted something.

"Timon, look! Someone is up there!"

Timon gazed there where Pumbaa pointed. And then they saw Scar standing above them, watching the area.

"Who is that? Another lion!", Pumbaa gasped.

"I don't know…but oh, look his eye! It has a wound…", Timon whispered back.

"Didn't Nala say that the brother of the king was Scar? And this guy has…"

"Yeah…it must be him. What a relief! Now he can help his bro and Nala!", Timon said happily.

"Well, should we warn him?", Pumbaa asked.

"Yeah…let's do it."

The duo started approaching Scar, carefully. They were just about to go to him, but then stopped as they saw him grinning.

"Why is he smiling like that? His own sibling is in danger!", Pumbaa looked confused.

"I don't know…something smells here…", Timon nodded.

The duo spied Scar, who didn't seem to be worried at all, despite seeing Mufasa in trouble. Timon and Pumbaa's ears pricked up…and what they heard, made them gasp.

"That's it...", Scar grinned. "Soon Muffy will be dead…and I can be the next king!"

TBC...