Entry 277: "Ceremony"

This was an important day. A week had past. It was time that the new heir would be presented to all the citizens of the Pridelands. The pride was awake before sunrise, and I have sent Zazu to spread the news. I stood over the promontory and awaited everyone's arrival. Finally, the important day has begun…with the rise of the sun.

The orange shade of light coated the prosperous Pridelands. The water in the background glistened as clouds surfaced from several animals racing toward my kingdom. The birds came soaring through the morning sky. The giraffes emerged from shadow while the elephants marched alongside the gnus. A song in each of our hearts, zebras led the way through the cold pools while other animals follow. The wind blew gently through my mane as I looked upon the animals who gathered here. Then, I noticed Zazu flying before me. He landed and bowed down gracefully. Then, he looked up, looking for a smile. I saw that grin over his face, and it brought me a grin as well. Then, I saw him. With Father's light washing over his old friend, Rafiki walked through the crowd. I watched him make his way atop Pride Rock and presented himself before me. I could tell he was happy for me, proud that I finally have an heir. We embraced in a friendly hug. After we broke away, I led him to Sarabi and our son, Simba. I nuzzled Sarabi, thanking her once more for this miracle. She licked over the boy's head, instantly waking him. As Rafiki came closer, he beheld the 2nd lion prince he would bless since his time as our shaman. He wasted no time in shaking those rattles hanging from his walking stick over Simba's head, provoking the young cub to throw his paws at it playfully. Rafiki then opened one of them and marked Simba's forehead with the red liquid inside. And finally, he poured sand over him to complete his strange blessing. But, it was a bit too much; it made Simba sneeze. I laughed warmly and comforted Sarabi as she sighed contentedly. Rafiki pulled Young Simba from his mother's arms and smiled at us once more before walking off with him. I exchanged proud looks with my beloved. I knew the Pridelands would be in good paws after I leave, and I saw that she agrees wholeheartedly. All we had to do now was watch with Zuhura and the rest of the pride in the background. Rafiki slowly marched to the edge of the promontory of Pride Rock. Then, briskly, he held our son to the heavens. Instantly, the elephants trumpeted, the monkeys screeched, and the zebras neighed and galloped with cheer. All the animals continued their joyous cries until light beamed from the clouds and over the little cub in Rafiki's hands. Simba has been acknowledged by the Great Kings of Past; he was blessed to become one of them when it was his time. The animals became silent, and they bowed graciously to their next ruler. It was long ago when that was me they cheered and bowed for. And finally, the recognition would go to my successor, along with the throne. The circle was truly complete, and it could start anew with my son. The Circle of Life would continue with Simba.

Zazu fluttered down next to me and laughed happily. "Look, sire, how they kneel before the royal son!"

I smiled and nodded, "Yes…although there's a strange smell in the air."

Rafiki walked past us to give Young Simba back to Sarabi. Zazu then took a moment to take a look at him. "Oh, look," he awed. "No doubt about it; there is a family resemblance." While he said that, I looked amongst the pride and saw that one specific member was missing. "Speaking of family, Zazu, have you seen my brother?" I asked.

"Your brother?! He's not here?!" Zazu gasped. "He should be! I'm sure I've told him!"

I quickly became annoyed and snarled a curse under my breath. "Why am I not surprised?" Sarabi sighed. "You'd think he would show just a little respect." Rafiki kept silent; he only shook his head gravely. I shut my eyes, seeking to control my temperament. I quickly circled around toward that rock shelter to the left of Pride Rock, Scar's den. "Zazu, go on ahead of me, and let my brother know I'm coming."

"Yes, sire."

Zazu quickly fluttered off to find my miserable brother as I followed behind. What could that lion be doing that he would dare miss a day as important as this one?

I came to Scar's den. Shortly, I came in earshot in a conversation between him and Zazu. "…when the king gets through with you. He's as mad as a hippo with a hernia," I heard Zazu.

"Ooh, I quiver with fear!" Scar replied mockingly and threateningly.

Scar and Zazu came into view, and Scar slowly came at him with bared fangs while Zazu backed away nervously. "Now, Scar, don't look at me that way. Help!" Zazu tried to fly away, but Scar easily snatched him out of the air and into his mouth! That was enough games. "Scar," I called, getting his attention. "Drop him."

Zazu's beak poked out of my brother's mouth. "Impeccable timing, your majesty."

Scar calmly spat the hornbill out as I approached him. Then, he came at me, trying to play the innocent one. "Why, if it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners."

"Sarabi and I didn't see you at the presentation of Simba," I said.

Scar came to the shelter's wall and gasped melodramatically, "That was today? Oh, I feel simply awful!"

He ran his claws through the wall, making an irritating screeching noise which especially grated on Zazu's nerves. After he was through sharpening his claws, he marveled over them as he sighed, "Must've…slipped my mind." I didn't believe him of course. After what happened to him, there wasn't any way he would forget a day like today. And Zazu knew, too. He flew at Scar's face and shot back at him. "Yes, well, as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother, you should've been first in line!" Scar taunted the haughty bird with his fangs, and he quickly flew behind my paw. "Well, I was first in line," Scar sneered at Zazu, "until the little hairball was born."

I bowed down to look my brother in the face and replied, "That hairball is my son and your future king."

"Oh, I shall practice my curtsy," Scar mocked coyly.

Then, that miserable brother of mine tried to walk away like this whole conversation was no big deal. How insulting! "Don't turn your back on me, Scar!"

"Oh no, Mufasa," he replied. "Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me."

Quickly, I ran in front of Scar with an annoyed snarl. "Is that a challenge?!" I growled.

But, Scar remained calm and collected. "Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of challenging you."

At least that bit of him was making sense. He did pick a fight with me twice and lost both times, after all. Zazu came between the confrontation and scoffed, "Pity. Why not?"

"Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But, when it comes to brute strength…"

That 'brute strength' part was directed at me, and Scar stared at me like he was trying to look past me. "…I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool." With that, Scar sulked on by me and left elsewhere in the Pridelands. I watched him go and sat down, my anger replaced with pity. I could see it. He still thought I was all strength and no intelligence. I don't know anything about him anymore since he doesn't let me into his world, but the feeling was mutual. And the fact that we're supposed to be brothers was what hurt the most.

Zazu's sigh pulled me away from my thoughts. "There's one in every family, sire," he said. "Two in mine, actually. And they always manage to ruin special occasions." My feathered friend perched on my shoulder as I watched Scar disappeared from my sight. "What am I going to do with him?" I replied.

Zazu joked, "He'd make a very handsome throw rug."

"Zazu!"

That was a terrible thing to say, but I couldn't help but find his suggestion amusing. It wasn't like I haven't thought about anything like that, after all. Zazu flew off my shoulder and continued, "And just think. Whenever he gets dirty, you can take him out and beat him." I only chuckled as Zazu and I headed back to Pride Rock.

I went behind Pride Rock to find Sarabi watching Simba try to walk to her. He fell on his belly a couple of times before he eventually made it in his mother's arms. Sarabi saw me as I walked to her. "Well?" she asked.

"He was too busy being a child," I replied.

Sarabi sighed in exasperation. "I don't know why we put up with him. It'd be much easier if he wasn't around anymore."

"I know. But, if something ever happens to me and Simba isn't old enough yet, Scar would have to be the fill-in. That's the reason why he still remains here now, the only reason. I only gave him his own shelter to keep him from harassing you and the other lionesses."

"Yes. Ever since Zira's departure, he was on speaking terms with us again. But, those mood swings! He would be kind and gentlemen-like one moment; then the next, he would snap whenever things don't go his way. He's kinda scary, especially when I catch him staring at me with those ugly green orbs he has."

He would even stalk my mate with intentions that God knows what. I wouldn't be surprised if he was looking at Zuhura. For his sake, he better not let me catch him in the act. "Just be strong, Sarabi," I said. "You should know better than any of us that you can't let someone like that scare you. Now, that's enough about Scar." Then, I nestled down next to Sarabi and nuzzled her once more. "Thank you for everything, you beautiful cat."

"Thank you, my darling king," she purred back.

As we rubbed our heads against one another passionately, we stared down at our little boy with the dark golden fur coat. While I watched over him, I immediately saw that he will be known for great things, maybe even more than I was. I knew that there will be rough times that will challenge him, but I believed he would live through it just fine. Also, seeing him in his mother's arms reminded me of how small our Zuhura used to be. But, she's a young adult, and now that we have a suitable heir to the throne, we had to let her go. We gained a child, but we would lose another. Simba has come into our lives, and Zuhura would soon have to leave to make her own. This was indeed…an important day…