Hey there, and welcome back to the Lion King novel. Well, this one's going to be the big one. I'm pretty sure everyone already knows what this part of the story is about. And heck, this might make it the longest chapter instead of the elephant graveyard chapter.
As for Scar's way of thinking in the previous chapter, he doesn't really mean any of it. While he proclaims to be the hyenas' ally and help them fight prejudice, he does it only to benefit himself. There are indeed people out there who do that, claiming to be tolerant only to be just as intolerant as they claim their opposition is, but now is not the time for that.
One more thing: the first element of The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride will appear at the start of this chapter.
Uploading Date: August 21, 2019
Enjoy!
...
To Die For
The next morning, Simba woke up, not completely bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He and Mufasa had stayed out later than they usually did, coming back for a late meal and a quick bath before going to bed. So when Simba woke up, he was still trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes.
Breakfast was served, a fresh meal of cape buffalo. Those huge beasts were a challenge to take down; even the most skilled hunters in the pride could easily get gored or trampled by a buffalo. As he ate, he caught snippets of the lionesses talking to each other.
"That was quite the adventure Simba and Nala had yesterday," Nala's mother Sarafina remarked. "Imagine, straying so far into hyena territory!"
Simba felt the skin under his fur grow hot. Mufasa must have told Sarabi about their son's adventure, and she spread it out to the rest of the pride. He really wished that less animals were that nosy.
One of the younger lionesses, who had gotten her ear nicked from the buffalo's horns earlier, scoffed. "If you ask me, Simba wasn't punished enough," she snapped. "He even put your daughter in danger, for kings' sake. What kind of father is Mufasa, to refuse to discipline a child?"
"Certainly not the way you'd do it, Zira," Sarafina retorted, her voice now stern. "From what I've heard, Simba was indeed sorry, and he and Nala are safe and sound. That's all that matters."
"What matters more is that he's been a troublemaker," replied Zira, giving Simba a nasty sideways look. "For once, I wouldn't blame Mufasa for still being angry with him."
The good feeling Simba felt from the night before faded, replaced by worry. What if Zira was right? Was Mufasa still mad at him for all that? He had already apologized to him and Nala, but what if it wasn't good enough? Now his appetite was gone, so he slunk away without letting Sarafina or Zira noticing him.
Once he climbed down to the bottom of Pride Rock, Simba went to find Mufasa to spend more time with him, and perhaps apologize some more. Unfortunately, he heard from Zazu that Mufasa had already set off before breakfast, to settle a dispute between two banded mongoose families, as well as patrol his kingdom's borders. So he decided to rest on the rocks below, to avoid the judgmental stares from the other lionesses.
As he prepared to lay down, he heard a familiar voice drawl, "Tough luck this morning, eh?"
Simba glanced up to see Scar gazing down at him, green eyes unreadable. As for Scar himself, he had come to Simba not to comfort him but to spring his plan into action.
"Dad was upset with me last night," replied Simba. Still is, he thought with a shudder, remembering what Zira said. He was glad that he and Mufasa spent a little father-son moment together, but the good feeling was gone. He really hoped that he could find the perfect way to make up for what he did.
"I think I have the perfect idea on how to make up for it," replied Scar with a smile. "Whatever he's mad at you about, it's a gift that will make him forget it ever happened."
Simba tilted his head and leaped down from the rock. "But he's the king. What can I give him?"
"Your roar," said Scar, not hesitating with his answer. "Why don't you come with me? I'll show you what I mean."
It did sound exciting for Simba. "But I gotta ask permission from Mom first," he reminded his uncle.
Scar rolled his eyes, but he covered it up with a nod. "Very well then. Do hurry up, though. The day's not getting any younger, you know."
He waited by his den while Simba ran off to ask his mother if he could leave. A moment or two passed before he came racing back. She had given him permission after all, and uncle and nephew headed off towards the savannah of the Pride Lands.
The two walked side-by-side, taking in the nature around them. Simba was eager to talk to other animals, to tell them about how he would spend the day with his uncle. He even wanted to see if Beshte, the young hippo, would play. Scar, meanwhile, did not want to stop to take it all in. The longer Simba got distracted by the things around him, the less time he would have for his plan.
Soon, they arrived at a gorge, its steep walls reaching up to the blue sky. There wasn't much shade anywhere, but at least the lizards and snakes would find cracks in the gorge walls to rest in.
Scar walked up to a rock with a tree overhanging ahead. "Now you wait here, on this rock," he instructed Simba. "If you give your father enough of a good gift, he may have a marvelous surprise for you."
Simba got excited right away. Like lots of other cubs, he liked surprises. "What is it?" he asked, scrambling up the rock.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"
"But if you tell me, I'll still act surprised."
Scar chuckled. "Oh-ho, you are such a naughty boy!"
"Come on, Uncle Scar," Simba pleaded.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no," Scar said repeatedly. "This is just for you and your daddy. You know, a sort of...father-son...thing." A few awkward seconds passed before he spoke again. "Well! I'd better go get him."
He started to leave, and Simba tried going after him. "I'll go with you - "
"No!" Scar snapped, but he quickly regained his composure by chuckling. "Hehe...no. Just stay on this rock. You wouldn't want to end up in another mess like you did with the hyenas."
Simba's ears drooped. He had hoped that the news wouldn't spread, but news in the Pride Lands spread as quickly as wildfire. "You know about that?"
"Simba, Simba," Scar cooed, "everybody knows about that."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. Lucky Daddy was there to save you, eh?" Scar replied with a smile. "Oh, and just between us, you might want to work on that little roar of yours."
Ears perked, Simba sat straight up. "My roar?"
"Yes, I've heard about your attempt to roar. I have said that I found a way for you to do it better, and perhaps this gorge can help." Scar looked around the walls, looking wistful. "This gorge is where all lions come to find their roar."
Simba looked around the gorge in awe. "All lions...even my dad?"
"Oh yes, even Mufasa," replied Scar. "He and I came here when we were your age, and our father was testing his roar. Your father refused to leave until his roar could be heard above the rim."
"All the way up there?" Simba asked, following his uncle's gaze.
Scar nodded. "Yes. That's when you know you've found it. With a little practice, you'll never be called a cub again. When I was your age, I was teased for not roaring loud, even though I led the Lion Guard as the Fiercest. But lo and behold, I eventually got my roar to reach the rim."
And to demonstrate, Scar lifted his head and let out a roar. It wasn't as impressive as Mufasa's roar, but it did reach the rim of the gorge, just as he and Mufasa had done as cubs.
Simba had heard of the Lion Guard, a band of five lions that helped the royal family defend the Pride Lands. They were brave, fierce, strong, fast, and keenest of sight. Even if Simba was not to be in the Guard since he had no siblings, he wanted to be all five of those, just like his father. The leader was even blessed with a power called the Roar of the Elders, and he recalled hearing stories of how Scar was the lead of his own Lion Guard.
Then there was when Scar mentioned 'never be called a cub again'. Simba realized that this was the perfect gift for Mufasa. If he let his father know that he learned his lesson and found his roar, he would be proud of him.
"I can do it," Simba boasted confidentally. "Watch this!"
He opened his mouth to roar, but all that came out was a mew. It barely even echoed on the canyon walls. Simba flattened his ears in disappointment.
"You'll get there, Simba. It just takes time and practice," said Scar, patting Simba on the shoulder. He stepped away from the rock and started padding away. "I'll come check on you later and get your surprise ready."
Simba nodded. "Dad will be so proud of me, huh?"
With a smirk, Scar replied, "Oh yes, he will be. It's a gift he'll never forget."
He had just walked several feet away when Simba had another question. "Hey, Uncle Scar! Will I like the surprise?"
"Simba, it's to die for," was all Scar said before leaving.
As he watched Scar, Simba sat back down on the rock, eager to wait for the surprise from Mufasa. He made sure to sit under the shade of tree; as the dry season was slowly going to arrive, it was more important than ever to find the best shade.
Not far away, the five hyenas watched the wildebeests from a rock. The massive herd was just going to their grazing grounds above the gorge, stopping to graze and take care of their babies. Scar had told them where the wildebeest migrated, and they could even snag themselves a dead wildebeest for their hard work.
All of a sudden, Banzai's stomach growled. Shenzi turned to him, snapping, "Shut up, will ya?"
"I can't help it. I'm starving!" Banzai growled. "I gotta have a wildebeest!"
"No. Stay put," retorted Shenzi. "Now shut up and wait."
"Can't I pick off the little sick ones?" Banzai pleaded.
But Shenzi was not going to have any of it. She rounded on Banzai, giving him an icy glare. "No. We'll wait for the signal from Scar."
"I'm with Banzai on this one, Shenzi," Azizi whimpered. "Can we eat the baby wildebeest? I'm hungry."
Kamari sighed. "You're just going to have to wait. I'm hungry too, but we have a job to do first."
Shenzi didn't answer. She had suddenly looked upwards to a ledge just above the wildebeest, her eyes narrowed. On that ledge, Scar had made his appearance. When he spotted the hyenas, he gave a nod before leaving.
"There he is," Shenzi announced to the hyenas. "Let's go."
So she and her fellow hyenas slunk through the grass towards the wildebeest herd. They split off into different directions, to corral the herd together once the plan went off. As a wildebeest and her calf came grazing together, Kamari sprang at them with a snarl, teeth bared. The mother and her calf cried out, and the herd looked up while the hyenas flanked them from behind and to the sides. With a bellow of fear, they began to run, right for the gorge. The hyenas chased them and snapped at their heels, Shenzi nearly giving one a broken leg in the process with her powerful jaws.
They watched the wildebeests stampede into the gorge from a higher ledge. If they were successful, Scar would get his throne, and the hyena clan would get their free meals.
Back in the canyon, Simba was already getting bored. He tried batting around rocks, but it was no fun with just one player. He sharpened his claws on the tree to keep himself focused on his father's surprise. He even tried catching his own tail, though he failed to see the appeal. Little roar, he scoffed to himself. He would make up with his dad and show his uncle that he could roar.
He was about to fall asleep when a chameleon came walking out, eyes darting left and right on their own as its skin slowly changed to brown. It flicked out its tongue and caught a dragonfly, bringing it to its mouth and chomping on it. Simba smiled and crouched; perhaps this chameleon would be the perfect practice target for his roar.
He gave a growl as the chameleon walked by. The lizard merely looked at him and walked on. Simba tried a second time, this time a little more drawn out. As like last time, it just kept walking. Finally, Simba went up right behind it and let out a loud yowl, scaring the chameleon into running. As he did, his growl echoed off the gorge walls like he was in a cave. The chameleon suddenly turned back to green and darted to a crack in the wall, leaving Simba briefly confused. But the chameleon didn't matter right now.
I did it! Simba thought with glee. My roar reached the rim! Wait till Dad hears that!
Suddenly, the earth started to rumble beneath his paws. Simba was confused; had his roar meant to do that? Were roars supposed to make the earth shake? Then he looked to the sky at the rim of the gorge; it seemed to be getting darker. Perhaps it was a storm coming earlier?
But then he saw the figures of horned and hoofed animals starting to run down the ledges leading into the gorge. It was no thunderstorm. It was a wildebeest herd, a massive one, stampeding into the gorge. Simba stood there for a moment, frightened and unable to figure out what to do.
Then as the wildebeests got closer, Simba did the only thing he could do. He ran.
...
It had been a very busy morning for Mufasa. During his patrol, he had to sort out a feud between two banded mongoose families and got sidelined by an angry juvenile male elephant. Other than that, the morning was nice, and Mufasa allowed himself to take a break. The sun warmed his golden fur and reddish mane, but it wouldn't take long until the sun would get even more unbearable.
He definitely remembered the elephant graveyard mishap just yesterday. While Mufasa had been disappointed in Simba for going there, he couldn't stay mad at his son; he was slow to anger and very quick to love. He had hoped that Simba liked looking up at the stars of his ancestors, just as his own father, King Ahadi, had done as well.
As he was climbing the slope, Zazu flew down to rest on his shoulder. "Look, Sire!" he announced. "The herds are on the move."
The king followed Zazu's gaze out towards the gorge. Just not too long ago, the wildebeest herds had moved to their summer grounds. It was too soon for them to turn back like this. "That's odd," he murmured to himself.
"Mufasa!" Scar was scrambling up the rock, looking frightened. He had burst out from the bushes below the rock to catch up with his brother. "Come quick! Stampede! In the gorge! Simba's down there!"
"Simba?" Mufasa asked, frightened. Whatever else he had planned, it paled compared to what he just learned. "He's in danger? What was Simba doing down there, Scar?!"
"I was taking a walk with him, and helping him find a way to make up with you," Scar panted, sounding frantic. "When I got to the top of the gorge, the stampede had begun. I couldn't go down there in time, so I had to find you."
Mufasa shook his head. "We can't stand here talking. My son's in danger! Come!"
He took off running towards the gorge as fast as he could go, Scar on his heels. Above their heads, Zazu flew ahead of them.
...
Simba ran faster than he had ever run before, even more so than when the hyenas were chasing him and Nala. That was nothing compared to over a million wildebeests thundering into the gorge and stampeding towards him. If he ever got out of this alive, he would never leave Pride Rock again.
As he ran, he noticed a small dead tree up ahead. It wouldn't protect him much from the stampede, having been dead for a long time, but he would be out of their way for the moment. Once he reached it, he took a flying leap and sank his claws into the bark, scrambling up the best he could. Simba climbed to the top and clung on for dear life, watching the stampede race below.
Then he spotted Zazu. The hornbill was flying far above the stampede, looking left and right. When he found Simba on the dead tree, he flew down to the prince.
"Zazu, help me!" Simba cried out in fright, yelping as a wildebeest crashed into the tree.
"Your father's on his way, Simba!" Zazu called in reply. "Hold on, and don't let go!"
"Hurry!" screamed Simba. Zazu was here to help; if he told him to hold on, he would definitely hold on.
Zazu felt his heart breaking, watching the young cub trying to hold on. It was true that Simba had given him a lot of trouble, but he wanted nothing more now than to fly down and rescue the prince. But he lacked the strength and agility to do so.
As he flew on, he noticed Mufasa and Scar coming to a stop at a ledge, looking left to right frantically for Simba. Zazu flew over to Mufasa, shouting, "There! He's over there! On that dead tree!"
Mufasa followed his gaze, frightened. Then he spotted Simba dangling and trying to cling to the bark. "HOLD ON, SIMBA!" he bellowed.
As another wildebeest hit the dead tree, Mufasa jumped down the ledges until he was at the edge of the stampede. He took a deep breath and leaped into the fray. The last of him Scar and Zazu could see was him racing along the outer band before plunging through the herd.
"Oh no, this is awful! What will we do?!" Zazu squawked. "I know! I'll go back for help - "
But Scar did not want Mufasa and Simba to be rescued, and he certainly couldn't afford the bird forming a rescue party. So as Zazu started to lift off, Scar swatted him to the side. Zazu hit the canyon wall and fell flat on his back, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Mufasa ran a bit before turning and running the opposite way. He ran as fast as he could, so fast that he even crashed into an oncoming wildebeest. The animal stumbled before getting back up and joining its herd.
Then he heard a nasty crack. The wildebeest had charged into the tree so hard that it snapped. Simba was flung through the air, screaming. Mufasa jumped up and caught Simba in time before he could be trampled underneath the hooves. With his son in his jaws, the king tried to maneuver his way out of the stampede, leaping this way and that.
Scar was watching them from above. The plan was working well so far. The hyenas had succeeded in doing this task, and he would make sure they were rewarded. But for now, he had to keep his eye on his brother and son.
Back in the stampede, Mufasa crashed into another stampeding wildebeest, dropping Simba. Once again, Simba was left alone in the middle of the stampede. The wildebeests didn't seem to notice or care that a lion cub was lost and scared and trying to get out. To his relief, Mufasa came running over and picked him up, making a break for it when a brief opening appeared. He leaped up the ledge above the stampede and gently dropped Simba off there, nuzzling him. Simba almost smiled; they were both going to be okay.
That is, until another wildebeest came charging. With that, Mufasa was thrown back into the stampede.
"DAD!" Simba shouted. But his mew was barely heard above the roar of the stampede. He tried looking for his father beneath the hooves, but he didn't find anything except more hooves. A pang of fear made him flatten his ears; was Mufasa being trampled right now?
And then, moments later, Mufasa emerged. He leaped out of the stampede, clinging to the rocky wall with all of his claws. While he started climbing, Simba looked around to find a place to meet him at. He waited until Mufasa was out of sight before climbing up his own way. He would meet Mufasa at whatever side he would appear at.
Back with Mufasa, the great lion king struggled to get his grip on the rocky wall. It didn't matter that he was exhausted and battered; what mattered the most was that his son needed to be safe.
He had just reached the edge of the cliff when he spotted someone watching him from that ledge. It was Scar, eyes unreadable and whiskers twitching.
"Scar!" Mufasa called, scrabbling on the cliff face. "Brother...help me...!"
For a moment, Scar said nothing. He looked down at Mufasa as if he was a stranger, not his own flesh and blood. Panting, Mufasa tried his best to haul himself up to his brother's side. Please, Scar, he begged silently. I need your help.
Then Scar moved...and sank his claws into Mufasa's paws. Mufasa roared in surprise and pain, and Scar took the chance to lean in, seizing the chance to use a claw to drag it across Mufasa's left eye. Taking in the shock and horror in his brother's eyes (the new scar on Mufasa's face slightly seeping blood), he leaned down and whispered four words into his ear:
"Long live the king."
And with that, he let go and flung Mufasa off the cliff. He felt cold satisfaction run through his veins as he watched his brother scream and fall to his death, and he welcomed it.
To be continued...
