Chapter 7 Visionary

The wet season seamed to pass quickly. Stone found himself several more lionesses to have affairs with and Scar tediously started drafting plans of how to introduce his vision to the pride. As the wet season started to wane, the next task was finding and convincing Stone's frenemies to go along with the idea, even though they weren't sure King Mohatu would go for it. Scar knew that if his grandfather could just see their individual talents he would accept the idea. The rogues were skeptical at first, but it was an intriguing proposal. They could all have mates, much younger than they would if they had waited to be strong enough to overthrow a king. They would get the benefits of the Great Pride, equality and protection of their cubs and mates, even if something should happen to them. It sounded all most too good to be true. They all eventually agreed to go meet with King Mohatu. In worst case they would just be a month late in getting to the Great Lake, if things didn't work out…

"So let me get this straight," Dejen asked. "So Stone here is the Strongest…"

"Yes," Stone replied.

"And Enu is the Fastest…"

"I sure am!" Enu exclaimed.

"And Ifa's the Bravest…"

"I never see any of you volunteering to wade in the mud for food…." Ifa groaned.

"So what does that make me, exactly?" Dejen asked.

"You, Dejen are the Keenest of Sight!" Scar replied. "You can see much better than any of us…"

"Ya, but that's kind of lame in comparison to the others…" Dejen complained.

"Oh really?" Stone asked. "What is the blur over there?"

"A gazelle…"

"And what kind of bird is in that tree over there…?"

"A hawk… Wait a minute, you mean to say you guys can't see that stuff?!"

"Not clearly from this far away," Scar stated. "Just think of it from a patrolling standpoint: you'd be able to see any threats from much farther away than they could see you…"

"Hmmm…"

"I'm more interested in the prospect of our mates!" Ifa said cheerfully. "Is it true that we could really marry any lioness we wanted?"

"Well they would have to agree to it," Scar stated. "But otherwise yes. Granted a princess probably wouldn't go for it but a lower ranked lioness that normally wouldn't have a mate of her own would probably enjoy the stability…"

"Lots of ifs and maybes," Enu pouted. "But I'm not going to be picky. I would love any lioness that agreed to be mine. My father had five lionesses in his pride, with lots of cubs, but most of them died when he was usurped. Only me and a few of my older sisters survived. If my cubs could have a guaranteed place in the pride, regardless of my longevity, it would be worth it…"

"Agreed," Dejen stated. "We could all leave a legacy without having to risk it all."

"I never thought in my wildest dreams I would want to join a Circle pride," Ifa stated. "Then again one does not waste time with things that seem unrealistic…"

The band of rogues came to the edge of the Pride Rock pride lands. In the distance they could just make out the enormous rock from which the lands got their name as the sun was starting to set.

"We'll stay here for the night," Scar stated. "Tomorrow Stone and I will go speak to my grandfather. I will then send for you. A hornbill named Zuzu will come escort you to Pride Rock. Try to be on your best behavior. No one is going to attack you. Just stay calm and you should do fine…"

Stone and Scar got up very early so as to be at Pride Rock by sunrise.

"Look sire!" Zuzu exclaimed. "Your grandson has returned!"

"I see that," Mohatu stated happily as he watched Scar ascend to the den of Pride Rock.

"I'll set out with the hunting party at once!" Uru stated.

"No, wait Mother," Scar said. "I have an announcement of an idea I've had while out with Bitrus. I want all of the pride to hear it. Where is Father?"

"He's coming out slowly…" Uru said reluctantly. "Mufasa is helping him… These last few months have not been kind to him…"

From the den Ahadi slowly walked out, Mufasa at his side, helping him balance. He looked older and feebler then even Mohatu. He finally took a seat next to Mohatu. He still had his regal looks and imposing posture. But he was not the same lion Scar remembered only a year ago who had sent him out to live with Stone…

"What is this announcement you would like to make Taka?" Mohatu asked.

Scar took a deep breath in, centered his thoughts and then began his presentation.

"Over the past year, Bitrus has shown me the harsh, cruel world that lies beyond our Pride Lands," Scar began. "There are prides of lions, not descended from the Great Kings, who do not follow the Circle of Life. The kings in these prides are constantly in flux. Challengers come for the kings constantly and if defeated, the new king will kill any small cubs in the pride and rape all of the lionesses so they might bare his cubs…"

The lionesses gasped in horror at this prospect. None had ever heard of something so terrible.

"The Great King's prides have enjoyed protection from such outsiders by insuring that their sons stay in the pride to help defend it," Scar continued. "But the non-circle lions have also adapted…"

Stone now stepped forth to address the pride.

"I did not tell you before, King Mohatu, of how my pride was overthrown," Stone started. "Because such details would only have upset and hurt you at the time. But now it is time that you know the full truth. My pride was usurped by three rogue lions…"

More gasps from the lionesses could be heard, and Scar saw the color drain from Mohatu and Ahadi's faces…

"These three rogues were all in their prime," Stone continued. "My father and I had no warning. He was out on patrol, alone, as he always was when I heard him roar. I ran from the other side of our lands to help him but it was too late. He had been torn apart, like a freshly killed zebra! I could not do anything. I felt so weak and worthless. My only choice was to run. I never had time to even warn the lionesses, my mother or sisters that they were coming. My father's majordomo informed me later that all of the cubs had perished. That my virgin sisters had been rapped. My mother would throw herself off a cliff several years later because she could no longer take the abuse. My pride is no longer a Great Pride…"

"This surely cannot be a common occurrence!" Mohatu stated with conviction. "Such rogues cannot tolerate each other for very long. There can only be one King, and that King fathers all the cubs in non-circle prides. Why would other lions help in such an endeavor to only be forced out when breeding season arrives?"

"The subordinate males are given a small consolation prize…" Stone stated. "A single lioness, is given to the lower level males to share. In my pride's case, this was my mother…"

"No!" Ahadi said in anger. "This cannot be happening!"

"It is becoming more and more common…" Stone continued. "The non-circle lions have figured out the weakness of the Great Prides and how to overthrow them. It is only a matter of time before such a band of rogues make their way here…"

"I will be the pride's protector!" Mufasa announced. "Anyone who trespasses will have to deal with me!"

"You are an impressive sight my brother," Scar said. "But do you really think you could withstand an assault from up to four rogues in their prime?"

"No…" Mufasa admitted.

"No one would be able to…" Scar assured his brother. "So I have come up with a proposal. One that will insure our Great Pride is always protected and always has the upper hand if such challengers were to come for us…"

The pride perked up with a glimmer of hope in their eyes after hearing of so much dreadfulness…

"I propose allowing low ranking males born into the pride be allowed to stay in the pride," Scar continued. "They would join the Lion Guard, have an honorary title that displays their worth to the pride. And be allowed the mate of their choice, just as a King or Prince would have…"

Mohatu's eyes narrowed. "We have no such males…" he said gruffly.

"Ture," Scar admitted. "Which is why my secondary choice would be to recruit rogues to fill these positions…"

Mohatu eyed Stone. "I would accept Bitrus into the pride," Mohatu stated. "I trusted you with my grandson's life, I can extend that to the rest of the pride…"

"Thank you your majesty," Stone replied. "Would you be willing to accept my friends? Who I have trusted with my life for many years? Who have helped me survive all these years I have been alone as a rogue…?"

"It depends…" Mohatu growled. "Do these friends of yours come from Circle prides?"

"No they do not…" Stone admitted.

"Then how could we ever trust them?"

"They are young," Stone added. "They can learn the ways of the Great Prides. They are not in their primes yet. But will be soon. For the guarantee of a mate and protection of their cubs they would be willing to lay down their lives to protect Pride Rock…"

Mohatu thought for a moment. His grandson had indeed learned much more than he had anticipated. His idea of a Lion Guard was not too farfetched, and seemed like a reasonable solution. But trusting a band of rogues who might one day turn on the pride was a hard rational to accept…

"They are willing to prove themselves to you," Scar continued. "They have come to seek your approval…"

"You brought them here?!" Ahadi roared in anger.

"Calm yourself, my son," Mohatu growled. "The entire pride is here. They can't try anything with over a dozen lionesses who would fight them tooth and nail. Where are they Taka?"

"At the Outlands boarder," Scar replied. "They are awaiting Zuzu's escort…"

"Zuzu, go fetch them," Mohatu ordered.

"At once your majesty!" Zuzu chirped, flying off towards the Outlands.

Dejen, Enu, and Ifa slowly made their way to the imposing Pride Rock, not knowing what to truly expect. As the got closer they were amazed at what they saw. Three generations of golden lions. The oldest lion any of them had ever seen stood imposingly over the outstretched rocks. Beside him a middle aged lion who had seen better days, but still had a forceful look in his eyes. After him a young lion not much younger than the band of rogues, mirrored the old lion's imposing stance. A large fleet of lionesses stood around them. All of them well fed and in perfect physical condition. They gave the young rogues low warning growls as they approached.

"They are not going to attack us…" Dejen tried to reassure himself.

"Um… maybe this was a bad idea…" Enu said timidly.

"Oh for heaven's sake!" Ifa groaned. "If I have to die to the claws of those sexy lionesses, then so be it!"

The three rogues sat before the Great Pride next to Scar and Stone.

"These are the finest lions I have ever known…" Stone stated.

"Bitrus is the Strongest of the lions," Scar stated. "This is Dejen, the Keenest of Sight, our lookout. This is Enu, the Fastest, only a cheetah can outpace him. This is Ifa, the Bravest, the only one who can reliably go into the deep mud and come back unscathed…"

Mohatu eyed each of the young rogues carefully. They looked up at him respectfully, awaiting his judgment.

"I am Mohatu," he stated firmly. "King of Pride Rock. This is my son: Prince Ahadi. My grandson: Prince Mufasa. We are the Great Kings of these Pride Lands. Our bloodline has ruled these lands for generations before us and will do so for many generations after us. Prince Taka. Do you personally vouch for each of the lions before us?"

"Yes," Scar replied. "I will take personal responsibility for each of them."

"Very well," the King continued. "Bitrus, Dejen, Enu, and Ifa. Will you swear an oath of allegiance to me, my son, my grandson, and whatever future king may rule this land from this day, to the end of your days? To guard and protect these Pride Lands with your lives?"

"We will," Stone stated. "In exchange for this oath we want to insure the promise of a mate of our choice. Who will stay under the protection of the pride with our cubs regardless of our fates, however long or short it should be…"

"Agreed," Mohatu replied. "Now pledge your oath of allegiance…"

"We swear to guard and protect these Pride Lands with our lives…" the four stated in unison.

"You will be under the direction of Prince Taka. I bestow onto you the following titles: Bitrus, the Strongest of Stone. Dejen, the Keenest of Sight. Enu, the Fastest of Foot. Ifa, the Bravest of Heart. You may reside in the lower den, underneath Pride Rock…"

Scar let out a large sigh of relief as did the other rogues.

"Very well then," Mohatu said. "Mufasa, Taka, show our new Lion Guard the boarders, Uru send out the hunting party. Everyone is dismissed…"