Chapter 10.

This is the tenth chapter. Hope you enjoy it. We're on the countdown to Christmas, yay! And a COVID vaccine has been approved in the UK! Even though, this one will most likely be given to the elder (the most vulnerable) and care workers, it's still good news.

11 years later, 1991…

The sunrose on a rough day in the Pridelands. The country was not what it once was. Scar, now king, had abolished the legislature (or the Parliament), and had assumed dictatorial powers. He turned the nations back on the West (who have broken off diplomatic relations when the tyranny started) turning to the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, and Gaddafi ruled Libya for support. But the Soviet Union's continuing economic troubles, along with Mikhail Gorbachev's new policies of Glasnost and Perestroika, along with the ending of communism in Eastern Europe meant they could offer no economic aid and military support. However, that did not stop stubborn Scar from continuing his tyrannical reign. The economy was nationalized, but went into steep decline, by now had virtually stopped, especially since the oil well ran dry. The nation was now deprived of its most useful industrial resource. Food was in short supply, and due to the country's isolation, none could be gotten from abroad, so people starved. That is, except Scar. The Zulu's became Scar's personal army. Political prisoners were set loose in the nature reserves, now in almost drought like conditions, and were hunted down by Zulu's, and sometimes Scar himself, hunted like animals. All this led to most of the population, those that were still alive and well enough, to flee the country. Many people in Europe and America called Scar the "White Idi Amin", due to his oppressive rule.

In the pretty much deserted capital city, its bare and barren looking buildings now empty and some crumbling away, except the royal Palace, the red with golden lion head flag flying off the roof flagpole. Inside, in a small room on the first floor by the main hall, sat against the wall was Sarabi, now demoted from her status as queen. She had aged quite a bit, her short hair now greying and her face getting wrinkly. She wore a red shirt and had thin black trousers with simple brown leather shoes. Nala, now a 19-year-old teenager, was walking around her again and again. Her body build was still skinny, but was now sleek and strong, her blonde hair shoulder length, and wore a khaki shirt with worn out Demin jeans with several tears in them, and white trainers. Her mother, Sarafina, had been taken prisoner by the regime, and she had been one of those hunted and killed. Before that, she had trusted Sarabi with her daughter. Nala now worked among the palace staff. Zazu then came up to the room entrance. His eyes were bloodshot, a few strands of grey in his hair, and wore a grey suit with black leather shoes. "Zazu, where have you been?" Nala asked. "I'm sorry, Nala. I came as fast as I could." Zazu answered her. "Something to report, Zazu?" Sarabi asked. Zazu has still been reporting to Sarabi and Nala about the latest new, both foreign and domestic. "Sarabi, the country is in imminent danger. The animal herds have all fled, as are more and more people. Soon there will be no one left except the sick and the elderly." Zazu said, before they heard a sharp voice. "Attention!" The voice cried, and Zazu and Nala both stood at the room entrance, standing stiff and rigid, at attention, as Scar came up the stairs and began walking down the hall.

Scar, now 59 years old, had gained a stronger body build, had greying hair which was now dirtier and mangier, a few wrinkles on his face. He had named himself "Marshal of the State" and fore a uniform to prove it: Green, similar to a Soviet General's uniform, a double-breasted tunic with gold buttons on both sides, green trouser and polished black shoes, and on his shoulder showed his rank; A yellow star with the red outline of a lion's head in the centre. He also carried in his right hand a golden military baton, which he raised up to his head as he passed Nala and Zazu. Shenzi, Azizi, and Kamari passed scar, all wearing green and grey camouflage uniforms and black military berets, and well looked after hiking boots. Besides a few strands of grey in their hair, they've barely changed at all. Once they passed and Scar entered the balcony room, now his office, with the doors shut, Zazu and Nala stood out of attention. "We have to do something, Sarabi. We have to fight!" Nala said as she faced Sarabi. "Nala. Scar is in charge." Sarabi said calmly. "But you are our queen! How can you just sit here while people starve?! We should leave before it's too late!" Nala said, impatiently. "We all must stay together in the Pridelands. This is our home. We must never abandon it." Sarabi said stubbornly. "This isn't the home I remember." Nala replied. "Our time will come, Nala. Be patient. Remember your mother left you in my care." Sarabi reminded her. "I've never forgotten. And I'm grateful." Nala said back, just as the left-hand door of Scar's office opened, revealing Shenzi standing in the doorway, her arms and hands holding the door open in front of her. "Sarabi. The king wants to see you." She said, before moving back into the office and closing the door behind her. "Don't go." Nala begged "I'm not afraid of him." Sarabi said as she stood up and walked towards the door.

Sarabi opened the door to see Scar sitting at his finely made wooden desk (which was in between the door and the balcony, in the room's centre), facing the doors, eating a nearly empty plate in front of him, and held in his left hand a fat cigar (despite not being that much of a smoker). "Won't you join me, Sarabi? There's more meat than this to go around." Scar said, gesturing to the plate in front of him with his right hand. "You're over hunting, Scar. Your cavalry are chasing away all the civilians." Sarabi replied to her brother-in-law, referring to the hunting of prisoners. "I've simply perfected the art of killing. With the help of my army." Scar said to his sister-in-law, as he dabbed the cigar in an ashtray a few times. "You're killing and ruining everything and everyone." Sarabi said, keeping her tone. "Don't you see? There is nobody to challenge me. We can finally Take and do as we want." Scar replied, as he put his cigar in between his mouth. "We?" Sarabi asked, confused, as Scar moved the cigar out of his mouth. "Long ago, when we both had our eyes on you, and our families agreed for one of us to marry you, you chose Mufasa over me. But now there is a new king. So, stop being selfish." Scar said, right after exhaling cigar smoke. "You're the one being selfish." Sarabi said, slightly more aggressive. "The people look to you. As long as you resist, they will reject me. Take your place by my side, and we will live like…like… say... Napoleon and Josephine." Scar explained. "I will Never be your queen!" Sarabi said, disgusted, and a lot sterner and aggressively. Scar ate the last of his meal and stood up out of his chair before threw his cigar on the floor and stomped on it as he started to walk out of his office. "Then from now on… you and the rest of the staff will only eat my guard's leftovers. And they don't leave much behind." Scar said, as he passed Sarabi.

Later that night, the Palace was as black as the night itself, and completely silent. That is, except the sound of footsteps on the second floor. Nala was walking slowly around in the darkness, carrying a black rucksack, wearing outdoor boots, wearing a light brown shirt and light grey trousers. She moved as quietly as she could down the stairs, and when she reached the bottom of the stairs, we moved over to the front door, took out a hairpin and expertly picked the lock. She opened the door the least amount she could before moving out of it with her back against the door frame, moving along her front. She turned around and pulled the door shut as quietly as she could, and just as she turned around and took a step forward, she stopped in her tracks and almost screamed. Her mouth widened as she saw Zazu in front of him, holding a small lantern in his left hand. "Nala, what are you doing up so early?" He whispered to her. "Go away Zazu. I'm going to find help. Only a bullet's gonna stop me." Nala whispered to him bravely. "You cannot leave. Your mother and Sarabi made me swore to protect you, so I must order you back to bed." Zazu whispered. "She would've anted me to do this, Zazu. And I don't need protecting anymore, I'm 19 now." Nala whispered, just as they both heard footsteps and faint chatting. Nala looked to her left (where Zazu's standing, left) and saw two armed guards with torches coming round the corner of the palace left side. Nala then tuned back to face Zazu. "Good luck, Nala. I'll distract them." He whispered frantically, blowing out his lantern, Nala nodding in response. Then then started running, Nala to the front fence, Zazu to the guards. The second the guards saw someone moving towards them, they aimed their AK-47s in front them, only to see Zazu appear in the light of their torch beams. "Oh, guards! Guards! How lovely to see you. Sorry to drop in like this." Zazu said, stalling. When she reached the Palace fence, Nala threw her rucksack above her, over the top iron railing and grabbed the railing with both hands, before leaning her right-hand side of her upper body against the railing, her legs stretched, her feet on the ground. She then lifted her legs upwards to the top railing, moved them over to the other side of the railing and then rolled herself off the top of the railing, landing on her back on the ground. The guards head the sound, and then looked in the direction it came from. "Oh, wait! Have I ever told you about my brother who was a carpenter?" Zazu asked, as he jolted in front of them, blocking their view, again stalling.

Nala got up on her knees, grabbed her rucksack, got up on her feet, ran a few paces forward before she got up on old metal bike that was lying on its left-hand side on the ground, sat on it and started moving it forwards into the night. Up above, in her room, the light on, Sarabi looked out her window and saw Nala cycle away from the palace. She knew it was Hala because of the blonde hair, and the cunningness of her escape. "Nala… Godspeed." She said to herself, a slight smile forming on her face.

And that's the tenth chapter! Hope you enjoyed it. Please review. The next chapter will be out soon.