CHAPTER ONE
Scar sat in the shade as he watched his two cubs play. It was time for him to tell Annalina of her future. They were a few months old now and were developing different personalities. It was clear to him Alani was going to be the quiet, smart and inquisitive one while Annalina was beautiful, cunning and was constantly making mischief. In some ways, Annalina reminded Scar of his nephew Simba.
Simba is quickly growing, Scar thought to himself and it wont be long before he takes over. I must take action now! He stood up and walked over to his daughters. They were tumbling with each other in the sand.
" Annalina," he said and they stopped their rough-housing (as Tamali would put it).
" What is it Dad?" Annalina asked standing up and shaking herself. Sand went flying and some of it went into her father's black mane. She giggled, " Sorry Dad."
" It is time for some lessons," he told her.
" Lessons? On what?" and that's when he realised she doesn't know about her destiny.
" Come with me and we'll take a walk," he suggested and they started off, Alani followed close behind.
" Uh, Alani, I just want Annalina."
Alani sat down on the ground. " You do?" she answered looking hurt and left-out.
" Why can't I come?"
" No my dear. This is a matter between your sister and me. Run along now."
Alani frowned but didn't make a fuss. Unlike Annalina, she didn't make scenes. Annalina tended to throw tantrums if she didn't get what she wanted. She started to walk away when Scar called out a reminder:
" Remember to stay within the Outlands territory!"
" Annalina, you know about the King?" Scar asked his eldest once they were out of earshot. They were walking along a sandy path towards a dried-up lake.
" King Mufasa?" Annalina nodded, " Sure I do. What about him?"
" His young son Simba will become King once the present one is gone," Scar paused, " As a matter of fact, I was destined to become King before Simba was born."
" You were?" Annalina breathed and tried to picture her father ruling the whole Kingdom. Somehow, she couldn't. It didn't look right. But she wasn't about to tell him that. Scar got angry easily.
" Yes I was. And it seems I will never become King. If I cant be King, then you Annalina, will become Queen."
Annalina stopped in her tracks and stared up at her father, " Me?" she squeaked,
" become Queen? How…I mean, why me?"
" Because you were the firstborn," Scar explained, " It is traditional for the firstborn to take on a monarchy role. I refuse to see that nephew of mine become King when my daughter can be Queen."
" Dad, I-" Annalina sputtered, " I don't know what to do!"
" Don't you worry my young one. I will teach you. I can see you becoming the greatest Queen in the history of the Pride Lands!"
" Being Queen…I can get to do whatever I want?" Annalina was liking the sound of this. Her blue eyes were getting wide with excitement.
" Yes. Whatever your heart desires."
Annalina looked thoughtful, " What about Alani?"
" What about her?"
" When I'm Queen? What'll make her?"
" Your sister. She will never rule the Pride Lands. And I very much doubt she'd want to. Maybe you can make the leader of the lionesses or something."
" Dad, I want to be Queen! And I'll be a good Queen. I won't let you down." Annalina promised.
Scar patted her on the head, " I know you won't Annalina. Mufasa and Simba better watch out for my beautiful daughter!"
Scar sat in the shade as he watched his two cubs play. It was time for him to tell Annalina of her future. They were a few months old now and were developing different personalities. It was clear to him Alani was going to be the quiet, smart and inquisitive one while Annalina was beautiful, cunning and was constantly making mischief. In some ways, Annalina reminded Scar of his nephew Simba.
Simba is quickly growing, Scar thought to himself and it wont be long before he takes over. I must take action now! He stood up and walked over to his daughters. They were tumbling with each other in the sand.
" Annalina," he said and they stopped their rough-housing (as Tamali would put it).
" What is it Dad?" Annalina asked standing up and shaking herself. Sand went flying and some of it went into her father's black mane. She giggled, " Sorry Dad."
" It is time for some lessons," he told her.
" Lessons? On what?" and that's when he realised she doesn't know about her destiny.
" Come with me and we'll take a walk," he suggested and they started off, Alani followed close behind.
" Uh, Alani, I just want Annalina."
Alani sat down on the ground. " You do?" she answered looking hurt and left-out.
" Why can't I come?"
" No my dear. This is a matter between your sister and me. Run along now."
Alani frowned but didn't make a fuss. Unlike Annalina, she didn't make scenes. Annalina tended to throw tantrums if she didn't get what she wanted. She started to walk away when Scar called out a reminder:
" Remember to stay within the Outlands territory!"
" Annalina, you know about the King?" Scar asked his eldest once they were out of earshot. They were walking along a sandy path towards a dried-up lake.
" King Mufasa?" Annalina nodded, " Sure I do. What about him?"
" His young son Simba will become King once the present one is gone," Scar paused, " As a matter of fact, I was destined to become King before Simba was born."
" You were?" Annalina breathed and tried to picture her father ruling the whole Kingdom. Somehow, she couldn't. It didn't look right. But she wasn't about to tell him that. Scar got angry easily.
" Yes I was. And it seems I will never become King. If I cant be King, then you Annalina, will become Queen."
Annalina stopped in her tracks and stared up at her father, " Me?" she squeaked,
" become Queen? How…I mean, why me?"
" Because you were the firstborn," Scar explained, " It is traditional for the firstborn to take on a monarchy role. I refuse to see that nephew of mine become King when my daughter can be Queen."
" Dad, I-" Annalina sputtered, " I don't know what to do!"
" Don't you worry my young one. I will teach you. I can see you becoming the greatest Queen in the history of the Pride Lands!"
" Being Queen…I can get to do whatever I want?" Annalina was liking the sound of this. Her blue eyes were getting wide with excitement.
" Yes. Whatever your heart desires."
Annalina looked thoughtful, " What about Alani?"
" What about her?"
" When I'm Queen? What'll make her?"
" Your sister. She will never rule the Pride Lands. And I very much doubt she'd want to. Maybe you can make the leader of the lionesses or something."
" Dad, I want to be Queen! And I'll be a good Queen. I won't let you down." Annalina promised.
Scar patted her on the head, " I know you won't Annalina. Mufasa and Simba better watch out for my beautiful daughter!"