The Revenant
Author's Note: I can't believe this story is almost done. Show your support so far by leaving a review and your thoughts on Zarifa and Sarabi's journey so far!
Chapter Summary: Zarifa and Simba return to Pride Rock, where difficult truths are uncovered.
Zarifa and Simba didn't miss a beat; they left for Pride Rock almost immediately. Rafiki told them that he would find Nala, Timon and Pumbaa about the plan so that Simba and Zarifa could get a head start. They would meet in the Pride Lands.
It was a mostly quiet journey back. The reunited siblings could only focus on getting back to Pride Rock as fast as they could without being detected by the hyenas. Even though she understood the need for focus, Zarifa still had so many questions for Simba that needed answering.
He had all but told her why he left in the first place, why the pride thought he was dead and why it was so hard for him to talk about Mufasa. These questions were at the forefront of Zarifa's mind.
When they arrived in the Pride Lands, Simba looked around at the desolate land with shocked eyes. He hadn't been expecting this.
"This can't be real," Simba said, mostly to himself. Zarifa sighed as she stood beside him.
"It's worse than I remember," Zarifa remarked sadly. In the distance, they heard someone calling their names.
"Simba! Zarifa! Wait up," Nala's voice echoed in the barren Pride Lands. "It's awful, isn't it?" Nala asked as she joined them.
"I didn't want to believe you," Simba admitted, ashamed.
"So what are you going to do?" Nala asked softly.
"This is my kingdom. If I don't fight for it, who will?"
"I will," Zarifa said, standing tall. Nala followed suit.
"I will, too." Simba looked at his younger sister and mate, his face unreadable.
"It's going to be dangerous."
"Danger? Ha! I laugh in the face of danger," Nala said in a joking tone, garnering a smirk from Simba. Zarifa didn't understand the inside joke.
Moments later, Timon and Pumbaa arrived, pledging their support for their friend. Timon looked over at Zarifa and raised an eyebrow.
"And who are you?" Timon asked. She offered a smile.
"I'm Zarifa, Simba's sister."
Pumbaa and Timon both gasped before turning to Simba. "You never told us that you had a sister," the warthog exclaimed.
"I didn't even know I had a sister," Simba defended.
"None of that matters now," Zarifa said. "All that matters is that we are with you until the end, brother."
The animals banded together and made their way towards Pride Rock, which they discovered as they got closer that it was guarded by hoards of hyenas. To distract them, Timon and Pumbaa begrudgingly agreed to bait the hyenas away.
As the hyenas chased after a screaming Timon and Pumbaa, the three lions made their way to Pride Rock without detection.
Looking at her brother, Zarifa could see Simba's determination. She was going to do whatever she could to take his place as king. Zarifa wanted to ask him how he was feeling about seeing their mom again, but she didn't have the opportunity to.
"Zarifa, Nala, go find mother and rally the lionesses. I'll look for Scar," Simba ordered. Nala dutifully nodded and nuzzled Simba.
"Be safe, my love," Nala whispered, to which Simba nodded with a smile. Simba turned to Zarifa, who had the same look of determination in her eyes that he did.
"As soon as we get mom, we'll come help you," Zarifa said. Simba nodded once more.
"See you both soon," Simba quickly said, turning away to climb up the side of Pride Rock.
Zarifa and Nala kept low to the ground as they made their way to the old Lion Guard lair, knowing that the lionesses would be hiding in there to get away from Scar. The young lionesses were not noticed when they first entered the den, as the pride was huddled together in a serious conversation. Sarabi was at the center.
Seeing her mother, Zarifa couldn't contain herself and ran in.
"Mom!" Zarifa cried, euphoria taking over. The lionesses were startled and Sarabi and Sarafina's eyes widened. Sarabi ran to Zarifa while Sarafina ran to Nala.
"Zarifa! Oh my daughter, what are you doing here? You have to leave," Sarabi said as she finished nuzzling her daughter. Zarifa was shaking her head.
"Mother, there's no time to explain, I have so much to tell you. We…" Zarifa tried to say, but she was interrupted.
"We need to leave Pride Rock, Zarifa. There's no hope here and we must leave tonight," Sarabi said in an authoritative voice. Zarifa continued to shake her head, desperately.
"Mom, no, listen, the Warrior Pride is on its way right now to help challenge Scar and take him down and…" Zarifa tried to say, but was interrupted once again.
"That Warrior Pride? We don't need to resort to violence," Sarafina said. "We're trying to calmly leave and make Scar see reason."
"Oh mother, would you just listen to Zarifa, please? She has something important to tell you all," Nala said, getting frustrated that no one was listening.
Zarifa was aware that all eyes were on her. "What is the news, Zarifa?" Sarabi asked.
Zarifa took a deep breath. Sarabi needed to know the truth. It may have been the only thing that would give Sarabi something to live for, to stay and fight for the Pride Lands.
"Mom, I found…" Zarifa started to say.
"SARABI!" Scar's booming voice echoed throughout the Pride Lands. The entire pride shuddered with fear. What did Scar want with Sarabi now?
Straightening herself out, Sarabi began to leave the lair. Zarifa jumped in front of her mother.
"Mom, please, don't go to him, I need you to listen to me, please," Zarifa begged. She didn't fail to notice how frail and thin her mother looked. Sarabi continued to hold her head up high.
"I am not afraid of him," Sarabi said, walking out of the lair like a queen. Zarifa was about to chase after her mother when Nala stopped her. Zarifa found comfort in Nala's kind eyes.
"Zarifa, climb up the side of Pride Rock and find Simba. I'll lead the lionesses," Nala said, urging the younger lioness to go after her mother. Knowing that Nala would explain the situation to the rest of the pride, Zarifa nodded and bounded off, to do her part in saving the Pride Lands.
Sarabi held her head up high as she walked past the snickering hyenas, who tried to intimidate her by nipping at her paws. She had been having dizzy spells all day, likely from not eating enough. But she was filled with adrenaline from seeing her daughter and being prepared to take a stand against Scar.
When she reached the promontory, Sarabi was greeted by Scar. Zira stood in the back, glaring at her. Sarabi sat down, looking every inch a queen.
"Yes, Scar?" Sarabi answered, purposely not addressing him as king.
"Where is your hunting party? They're not doing their job," Scar snickered as he began pacing back and forth to intimidate. It didn't deter Sarabi.
"Scar there is no food, the herds have moved on," Sarabi answered flatly.
"No! You are just not looking hard enough," Zira sneered from behind Scar. Sarabi continued to ignore their aggression.
"It's over there is nothing left," Sarabi spat, but regained composure. "We have only one choice. We must leave Pride Rock."
As the words left her mouth, Sarabi caught whiff of Zarifa's scent, making its way up the side of Pride Rock. But she also caught the scent of a distantly familiar Sarabi said a silent prayer that the hyenas didn't recognize the scent, and also that her daughter wouldn't do anything stupid.
"We're not going anywhere!" Scar hissed, his voice rough and severe. Sarabi felt years of rage bubbling up inside of her.
"Then you have sentenced us to death!" Sarabi exasperated, in the hopes that Scar would see reason.
"Then so be it!" Scar spat, getting into Sarabi's face. He was fed up with her questioning his decisions, all while refusing to be his queen. Sarabi's amber eyes were wide with shock.
"You cant do that," She whispered, shocked. Zira laughed in the shadows.
"He is the king, Scar can do whatever he wishes," Zira reminded callously.
Sarabi felt something inside her snap. She had lost everything—and everyone—she had ever loved since Scar became king. He was the reason why her daughter was gone. Why her home was destroyed. Sarabi was tired of letting Scar go on without accountability for his actions.
"Taka, you are nothing compared to Mufasa," Sarabi yelled, unwilling to stop her rage.
With all his might, Scar struck Sarabi with his paw. He had broken his own rule: he hurt Sarabi. She had broken his heart over and over again, and now she was going to disrespect him by calling him by his birth name, a painful reminder of who he really was.
"I am ten times the king Mufasa was!" Scar screamed as a weakened Sarabi flew to the ground.
"MOM!" Zarifa screamed, emerging from the shadows. Their was a unison of gasps from the hyenas and Zira, as they watched the young lioness run to her mother's side. Zarifa desperately tried to get her mother up off the ground, but she was too weak and injured.
"Mom, please, come on, you have to get up," Zarifa begged, but was met with her mother's groans. Scar jumped in front of them, fire in his eyes.
"You can both die together," Scar hollered as he raised his vengeful paw, claws ready to take two lives.
The sound of a powerful roar against the thunder caused all of the animals to jump.
Looking to the other side of Pride Rock, Simba stood, his teeth bared and his body leonine and strong. He looked every bit Mufasa's son as he bounded down towards Sarabi and Zarifa. Scar backed away, his eyes wide with fear.
"Mufasa? No, it can't be, you're dead," Scar whispered in terror as he continued to stare at this living revenant.
Simba gently took a side beside Zarifa and he nuzzled his mother, urging her to get up. Groggily, Sarabi turned to look at the lion nuzzling her. She was taken aback at what she saw.
"Mufasa?" Sarabi whispered, incredulous. Simba shook his head, now aware how much he looked like his father.
"No, mother, it's me."
"Simba? You're alive? How can that be?" Sarabi asked, taking everything in. Zarifa and Simba both nuzzled their mother.
"It doesn't matter, mom. Simba and I are home," Zarifa whispered as she cuddled into her mother, inhaling the familiar and comforting scent that she had dreamed about for years.
Scar and Zira circled them as the sky began to darken and thunder boomed in the distance. Some of the hyenas were cowering with shame.
"Simba, Zarifa, it is a real treat to have you both back in the Pride Lands. Alive," Scar said with a sneer in the direction of the hyenas. Simba and Zarifa both walked towards Scar, ready to attack.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart," Simba threatened. Zira stood in front of Scar, as if to protect him.
"He is the king," Zira said firmly.
"No Zira," Zarifa said. "Simba is the rightful king, the heir to our father's kingdom."
"Step down Scar, I am here to take back my kingdom," Simba said with bared teeth. There was a chorus of hyena laughs and Scar grinned.
"Oh Simba, you know I would love to be seen agreeing with you, but the hyenas…they think that I am king," Scar said slowly for emphasis.
In that moment, Nala and the rest of the lionesses arrived to the promontory. Scar narrowed his focus on Nala, yet another lioness who would not love him.
"Well we don't," Nala said. "Simba and Zarifa are the rightful heirs to the throne. Your reign is over!"
Zarifa stepped forward and stuck out her chest. "The Warrior Pride is on their way as reinforcements if need be."
"The choice is yours, Scar," Simba said ominously. "Either step down, or fight."
Zarifa saw the ominous grin on Scar's face as he began to circle around her and her family. She also noticed that Scar was specifically looking at Simba and noticed that even though her brother looked stoic, there was some underlying of anxiety there.
"Must you two resort to violence? I'd hate to be responsible for the death of someone I loved, to destroy an entire family, isn't that right, Simba?" Scar asked, stopping in front of Simba. The younger lion shook his head.
"That's not going to work Scar. I've put that all behind me," Simba said.
"And your loyal subjects? Have they put it behind them?" Zira sneered. Nala inched closer to the royal family, confusion on her face.
"Simba, what are they talking about?" Nala asked, which made Scar laugh spitefully.
"Ah, so you haven't told your mate your secret? What about your baby sister? Does she know what you've done?" Scar jeered.
Zarifa turned to Simba, who wouldn't look at her. He also wouldn't look at Sarabi. Would this explain why Simba left in the first place? She needed answers.
"Simba, I don't understand. Is this why you've been gone for so long?" Zarifa asked, trying to not assume the worst. Simba nervously licked his lips.
"I can explain," Simba said, his voice shaky. Scar bellowed and the hyenas snickered.
"What are you waiting for Simba? Tell your faithful followers who is responsible for Mufasa's death. Tell Zarifa why she had to grow up never knowing her father. Tell them!" Scar ordered, taking a spot in front of the hyenas.
Zarifa was aware that all eyes were on Simba, including her own. Her whole life, she had felt like there was a piece of her missing from the absence of Mufasa and unconventional upbringing. And Sarabi deserved to know why she had to go through the years believing that her son was dead. And if Simba knew who was responsible for their father's death, Zarifa wanted
Zarifa nudged her brother gently.
"Simba, who killed dad?" Zarifa whispered, desperate.
When she saw the brokenness in her brother's eyes, Zarifa knew the answer. And she hated it.
"It was me," Simba said, regretful.
Gasps were heard throughout the pride. Nala looked like she had the wind knocked out of her. Trying to make her head stop spinning, Zarifa looked over at her mother. Sarabi looked like the picture of heartbreak.
Zarifa saw the guilt in Simba's eyes and she felt a hole in the pit of her stomach. Her brother killed their father? She had to grow up without a dad because of him? And Simba left Sarabi to pick up the pieces? No, it couldn't be. Simba couldn't have done this on purpose.
"It's not true. Tell me it's not true," Sarabi begged, pleaded. She had her son back – she couldn't bear the thought that he took her mate away. Simba's eyes were downcast.
"It's true," Simba admitted with great regret.
"But…you were just a cub. How could you be responsible?" Zarifa asked, putting all of the pieces together.
Simba had just been a cub when Mufasa died. Zarifa knew that the two shared a close bond. Simba could never kill Mufasa. Even if he wanted to, Mufasa was too powerful and strong for the little cub. Zarifa just couldn't see Simba doing it. Could she see Scar killing his own brother? Absolutely.
And it hit Zarifa. Scar killed her father and tricked Simba into believing he was guilty.
"What does it matter? Don't you see? He admits it – murderer!" Scar yelled before Zarifa had the chance to reason with her brother.
Scar circled around Simba, accusing him of Mufasa's death and goading him into an admission of guilt. The lionesses stood there helplessly as Scar and the hyenas made Simba walk up the tallest point of Pride Rock. Simba wasn't looking at where he was going.
Sarabi was in such a state of shock she couldn't move. Zarifa was in such a state of shock that she had to move.
"Simba! Simba, don't listen to him! You didn't kill dad!" Zarifa screamed, trying to get past the hyenas, refusing to get out of the way.
To her horror, Scar backed Simba too close to the edge of Pride Rock and he fell, At the last second, he grabbed the edge. Below him, lightening struck the bushes, resulting in a blazing fire.
"Simba!" Nala yelled, trying to run over to help, but Shenzi, Banzai and Ed blocked her.
Screaming, Zarifa started to run up the promontory, but Zira pounced on her, roughly keeping her to the ground. Zarifa tried to squirm her way out from beneath Zira's hold.
"Stay down, Zarifa. If your brother wanted a challenge, then he's going to get it," Zira sneered with a low laugh.
Zarifa watched helplessly as Scar taunted Simba, saying things that she couldn't make out. But she imagined the terror that could've been in Simba's eyes. But she just could not get out of Zira's grasp. She managed to look back at Sarabi, and saw that she was still paralyzed by shock.
"Mom! Mom, help him! Scar's going to kill him! Mom, please!" Zarifa desperately screamed as Zira continued to hold her down violently.
Sarabi was shaken back to reality when Sarafina took her side and nudged her.
"What are you doing? Go save Simba!" Sarafina cried. Sarabi fumbled with her paws.
"I-I don't know what to do, it doesn't make sense," Sarabi said, and Sarafina knew she was referring to Simba killing Mufasa.
"It doesn't. But you don't have time to figure it out," Sarafina urged.
While Sarafina was helping Sarabi get out of her shocked state, Zarifa saw Scar lean down and whisper something in Simba's ear. Suddenly, with a great roar, Zarifa and the Pride watched as Simba leapt up and pinned down his uncle.
The fire in his eyes matched the one growing beneath Pride Rock.
"MURDERER!"
To be continued…
Only two more chapters! Any guesses on Zarifa's role in the battle for Pride Rock? Tell me in a review!