Dawn on the Pride Lands came swiftly and silently. The first rays of the sun glinted over the hills and rested on a broken lioness, lying quietly on her side at the foot of Pride Rock. She slowly opened her eyes to meet the rays and blinked several times. She was weak and exhausted. She slowly stumbled to her feet as the events of the previous night fell upon her like a rockslide. She quickly ascended the slopes of Pride Rock, praying she had not been too late. She skidded to a halt at the mouth of the cave to see several little cubs lying lifeless on the ground. At her side the lionesses sat sobbing and whimpering over their heart breaking loss. Sarabi's eyes grew wide with horror at the sight of the little cubs, lying in their own puddle of blood. Tears once again were present in her eyes as she looked to see Sarafina huddled in a corner gently cradling little Nala and praying to the Great Kings to spare her.

Sarabi's eyes became fixated on the cave as Scar's scraggly figure became present in it's opening. He carried a lifeless little cub in his jaws and carelessly dropped it to the ground alongside the other cubs. Sarabi bared her teeth in furious rage at the lion, the one whom she once thought sinless by nature.

"You monster," she hissed.

Scar fixed his gaze on the proud lioness and narrowed his eyes into slits.

"You should no better than to talk to your King that way," he growled as he began to encircle her. "You know Sarabi that I am bound by the law as much as any lion in the pride would be," he said his voice rising, as he continued to encircle her. "You as a former Queen would understand how it cannot be avoided."

"It is a barbaric law King Ahadi did away with!" Sarabi roared.

"And it is a just law that I as King restored!" Scar replied. "The threat of mutiny is too great with young ones born under the old King. As a King, my line should be fresh. Cubs born should know only me as King."

Sarabi began to speak again, but was cut off by Kala, another lioness of the Pride.

"Please Sarabi, don't go on. Perhaps the law is unjust, but let my son be at peace now, as the deed has been done," Kala whispered with tears in her eyes.

Sarabi's jaw trembled as she tried to remain strong. All these beautiful cubs...all of them dead! Killed viciously at Taka's paw. How could he change the law his own father had set?

Scar examined his claws thoroughly, licking them clean of any blood. He looked around to see if he missed any cubs, and looked to see Sarafina shielding Nala. The lion smirked.

"Oh yes, dear Nala!" Scar exclaimed as he padded over.

Sarafina looked fearfully up at the lion with a pleading look in her eyes. She wrapped a paw about Nala's tiny body as the little cub clung to her crying uncontrollably.

"Please Scar, have mercy!" the lioness begged. "She's done no harm!"

"I cannot break my own law my dear," Scar replied. "It is an ancient law set down by our ancestors. And it must be carried out."

"Please Scar PLEASE!" she sobbed as she clutched her cub.

Impatient, Scar viciously struck Sarafina across the face, sending her across the ground and sliding to a halt. With the force of the blow, she lost hold of her daughter who trembled violently at the paws of the new King. Unable to stand, Sarafina sobbed where she lay, shaking uncontrollably.

Scar grinned and raised a paw to strike. He looked for a moment into her wide green eyes and suddenly, he stopped. Those eyes...how for so long he had hated to look at them. All the pain and regret of her father's passing still enshrouded the lion like a blanket. Kito...his beloved friend Kito. And a promise he made.

FLASHBACK

The night sky twinkled with the light of the stars as three lions quickly bounded off Pride Rock and into the grassy plains. Mufasa lead the way as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the night. At his sides, Taka and Kito briskly kept pace narrowing their eyes as they closed in on their targets.

"Where did you see them?" Taka asked his brother.

"About a mile off from the border," Mufasa replied.

"How many?" Kito asked.

"Three, if my eyes weren't mistaken and Zazu's sight unkeen."

They continued their pace until three scraggly, rough looking rogues approached them under the light of the moon. They were dirty and their manes were unkempt, and the stench of death was wrapped about them. They bared their yellow teeth that glowed in the light of the crescent moon.

"What business have you in the Pride Lands?" Kito asked, his voice booming. "Speak with haste!"

"We seek ownership and domination," one of the rogues growled as he sunk low to the ground.

"THAT remains to be seen," Mufasa said as he too lowered his bulky figure. "I am King of these lands, and you must get by me."

"I look forward to it," the rogue said as he pounced on Mufasa.

At that, the rogues leapt forward and attacked the trio. Taka dodged left, barely missing a hard swipe to his head. Kito tackled his opponent, and the two rolled across the ground grunting and snarling. Mufasa handled his own being the largest and the strongest. He struck his opponent hard in the jaw, sending him spiraling into a tree where he crashed and lay still. Taka swiped at his opponent and hit him square in the cheek. The rogue roared out in pain and struck him in the shoulder. Taka winced and gritted his teeth at the burning pain as he felt the warm blood begin to stream down the wound. Caught off guard, Taka looked to see a paw aim for his face, and his vision whirled as he took a hard blow. He roared loudly as he clutched his burning eye. It raged with pain as he realized the lion had clawed his eye. It was swollen shut and bleeding pretty bad. He looked up, injured and in pain to see the lion lunge for his throat. As the needle sharp teeth grew near, he suddenly saw a chocolate brown lion leap into the middle of the fray. Taka watched in shock and awe as the rogue bit into Kito's neck, delivering the fateful blow meant for him. Kito roared loudly and screamed as he hit the ground.

"NOO!" Taka roared as Kito went down.

Blood seeping down his forehead and his neck, Kito looked up at Taka, who's mouth hung agape. Kito smiled, then with a burst of strength, got back to his feet and viciously pawed the dumbstruck rogue. Taka, equally surprised, stood deathly still as he watched his old friend viciously attack the rogue. Even after the deadly blow was struck, the weakened Kito stood up for more. Mufasa, looking away from his own opponent caught sight of his frozen brother.

"Taka!" Mufasa yelled after realizing what had happened. "Help him!"

Suddenly Mufasa was struck and fell backward. He regained his footing and swatted his opponent again.

Realizing what he had to do, Taka cleared his head and leapt in to help his friend. As they fought side by side, Taka noticed Kito's strength steadily caving in. Blood continued to seep down his neck from the open wound, and from various other cuts and slashes he had undertaken. It enraged Taka. With new strength, the skinny lion roared angrily and with all his strength, struck his foe hard in the head. The stunned rogue fell to the ground, and Taka watched as his eyes rolled up in his head. He struggled for a moment then fell still. Taka knew the deed was done when he saw the blood seep out of the rogue's ear.

Mufasa finished off his opponent by tearing out his throat when he had a clear chance. He fell to the ground and died instantly. The lions panted heavily as they looked down at the three dead rogues that they had defeated.

Taka staggered about a little, dizzy from the loss of blood and the intense pain in his eye. He looked back to see Kito staring at the ground motionless as the blood caked his beautiful charcoal gray mane. Trembling, Kito used his strength to look over at Taka, who's good eye had become swollen with tears. Kito's eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.

"Kito!" Taka cried as he bounded over to him.

Kito was breathing heavily, and it was greatly labored. He was trembling from shock, and managed to turn his head to look at his old friend. A weak smile crossed his lips, and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Hey buddy," he whispered, his voice raspy and cracked. "That's gonna leave a scar ya know," he said referring to Taka's gash on his eye.

Taka smiled and just nodded, unable to speak. From a distance, Mufasa sat down, knowing that Kito's time was just about up. He felt it best to let Taka say goodbye in peace.

"That's your new name then," Kito said smiling. "Scar. It's a tough name," he said with a slight chuckle, trying to make the best of the situation. "I know how much you hate your name."

Taka smiled and put a gentle paw against Kito's cheek. "Kito...you took a blow meant for me...Why?"

"Why not?" Kito replied. "I love you old friend. Since the time we were little things, we've been friends. The world couldn't separate us if they tried. Not even now."

Taka could only smile at him as the tears fell down his cheeks.

Knowing his time was near, Kito spoke again, this time more urgently. "Taka," he said. "I wasn't gonna tell you this yet, but it looks like now I have to."

"What is it Kito?" Taka asked.

"You know Mufasa is to be a father soon," Kito stated. "And now...I'm gonna be one too. Sarafina is expecting my cub," he said with a proud smile.

Taka could handle no more. He wept into Kito's mane sadly and pitifully. His cub would never know how wonderful a lion he had been. They would never know him at all.

Kito wrapped a frail paw around him to comfort him. "Taka. You must do something for me."

Taka lifted his head. "Anything Kito. Anything you ask!" Kito's voice was weakening now. "I have...names for my cubs... If I have a son, call him Tano. It was my father's name."

Taka smiled. "Of course Kito."

"But if I should have a daughter...call her..." he started. Suddenly he coughed a hideous cough that made Taka tremble.

"What shall she be called?" Taka asked, praying he wasn't gone yet.

Kito looked up at him and smiled. "Call her Nala. It is the name of a beautiful lion goddess. She would have been my goddess."

Taka nodded, and gave his word to tell Sarafina his final wishes.

Kito smiled and kept his paw wrapped around Taka. It suddenly began to slip. "Tell them about me...eh old Scar? Tell them about ol' dad...and that I'm watching."

Taka just nodded again, and wiped the tears from his muzzle.

"The world is waiting my friend...em...embrace it," Kito managed to say. He took one last final breath.

Taka looked fearfully at him, and looked to see his paw slip from him, and fall silently to the ground. His jaw trembled as he saw those once warm lavender eyes become a cold, stone gray. He wept painfully and used a paw to close his death colored eyes. Then he wrapped his paw about the body and buried his face in Kito's mane, where he wept in pain and agony over the loss of his only true friend.

From a distance, Mufasa wiped away some painful tears, and made to approach his brother. He noticed that he had at last ceased his weeping, and just lay over the body. He slowly made his way closer, not wanting to break Taka's mourning. He was still furious at Mufasa for replacing him as heir and giving the title to his future cub. He tried to be gentle.

"Taka?" Mufasa said quietly. "Taka, we best return to Pride Rock. We should tell everyone what has happened. Kito needs a proper burial."

No answer.

Mufasa spoke again. "Taka? Taka-"

"No."

Mufasa was startled for a moment as Taka rose from Kito's body, and looked with a cold, menacing stare at his older brother. "Don't call me Taka. Don't ever call me that."

Mufasa looked with shock at the voice of his little brother, and the tone he had just spoken in.

"Scar. My name is Scar."

END OF FLASHBACK

The memory made Scar shake his head to rid himself of it. He sighed, and ran his paw over the scar upon his left eye. He looked down at the trembling Nala, then at Sarafina a distance away. Ever since that fateful night, a vengeful, fierce, and evil lion had inhabited itself in his soul. He lost the will to love. The will to befriend. All he felt had been hate. The gods had taken everything. His family, his kingship, and then his best friend. That was the day he stopped caring about everyone else. He stared at the little cub who had stopped shaking, and just stared back up at him.

"Do you know about your father?" Scar asked her in a less harsh voice.

Nala just looked at him for a second. "Just his name. Kito."

Scar looked at her. "He was a good lion Nala. He is the one who gave you your name."

Nala looked at her mother, who nodded her head at her daughter.

"He loved you very much, he wanted me to tell you that."

Nala gave a weak smile at the comfort of a message from her father.

"He saved my life Nala. It was indeed noble of him, for he gave his to save mine. I am still indebted to him. Your life will be spared."

From where she lay, Sarafina gave a sigh of relief as tears of joy trickled down her muzzle. Sarabi walked over to her and helped her to stand. Scar backed away from the little cub as Sarafina ran up to her and kissed her. She sobbed with joy as she clutched her daughter and rocked her in her paws. Nala latched onto her mother and cried as well.

Sarabi smiled at them, knowing in her heart, that it would be the only noble thing Scar would ever do as King. She watched him make his way into the den, with an unimpressed Zira glaring at the little family from the mouth of the cave.

There was debate as to what to do with the fallen King's body. It was finally decided that the best course of action was to leave him where he had fallen, in memory of his own preaching about the nature of life. When we die our bodies become the grass. And the antelope eat the grass... and so, we are all connected in the Great Circle of Life...

The ceremony was a solemn one. Rafiki led the service and performed the last rites appropriate for the King. Yet to the dismay of Sarabi, Simba's body was nowhere to be found. It was concluded that the small body had been obliterated under the pounding wildebeest hooves during the stampede. One by one, each of the lionesses approached Sarabi and officially offered their condolences with gentle licks and nuzzles. Remaining stoic, Sarabi gratefully acknowledged their support. And yet when she at last had her chance to give final goodbyes to her beloved, she fell down where she was and just sobbed into his mane. The pride stood back, allowing her the time to grieve. Most just sat off to the side and wept quietly. At last Sarabi rose, and Rafiki led the procession away from the body so he could perform the private rites as prescribed by the gods.

Sarafina looked around. "Where is Scar that he should not attend the ceremony of his older brother?" she asked.

Sarabi sighed. "He refused to attend the ceremony. He said he had more pressing matters to deal with."

Sarafina shook her head. "Well, at least we were lucky enough to keep the hyenas from coming out here."

Sarabi nodded as she watched Sarafina escort Nala back to Pride Rock to go to sleep. The lioness turned around to look at Sarabi.

"Aren't you coming?" Sarafina asked.

Sarabi shook her head. "I think I'll stay out here with Mufasa tonight."

Sarafina smiled at her friend and nodded. "Sleep well Sarabi."

After everyone had departed, Sarabi walked up to her beloved's decorated resting place. She smiled as Mufasa's memory blanketed her thoughts and helped to heal her bleeding heart. She lied down on the small mound and rested her head on her paws. The future seemed so uncertain. All whom she loved were gone, vanishing as quickly as the sun behind the hills. All she had left were her memories and, if her heart didn't fail her, the determination to lead and encourage her broken pride. She looked up at the stars as tears began to flow once more.

"Mufasa my love...give me strength. Be with me now...be with us all."

Then at last, as the moon reached its peak, Sarabi fell into a comforting sleep. And unknown to her, the warmth that settled on her that night was the spirit of her beloved, nestled at her side through the cold, whispering night.