Scar - The One True King

Chapter 2: Everybody's Fool

Perfect by nature,

Icons of self indulgence

Just what we all need -

more lies about a world

that never was and never

will be. Have you no shame?

Don't you see me?

You know you've got

everybody fooled.

Upon waking to the early morning light, Taka realized that it was time to go. Time to face his so-called fate awaiting impatiently for his return at Pride Rock. Even knowing this much, he still did not move. Morning had come too soon, and he had refused to believe it. He gingerly opened his left eye, anticipating the pain, knowing that the scar hadn't healed. It stung, but not with the same intensity as it had the night before. He saw a red haze, but it quickly melted away, and his vision was somewhat clear. Taka shook his head, so that he wouldn't be so disoriented.

Standing up, he took another look around, seeing that everything now, looked the same - in the reflection of the warm, golden sunrise. By now, he couldn't believe he had enough courage to go back to the very place he had been shunned from, to see his father, mother, and the one whom he was forced to bow down to, the one he must call, "king". He knew that he wouldn't go back to Pride Rock unseen, that his father's lions and lionesses would be neatly lined along the den, waiting for him. Because of this, he took his time, but still hurried so that no one would see him walking from the waterhole.

Finally, Taka saw Pride Rock from a far distance, and his heart sank. He swallowed hard, and walked towards his home. He had to apologize to everyone, he figured. His pride, and Mufasa, the same brother who had hogged all of the better genes, for he was the first born, the soon-to-be king of Pride Rock. It was clear that Mufasa, in a sense, was far more prettier than Taka, with his golden fleece, and stronger build. Mufasa was always said to be better than Taka, the second born, Taka, the one never to rule, Taka, the lesser prince. He hadn't even a ceremony like Mufasa - a few acknowledgements or observations of the new born child, but he was never "shown off" to the pride, merely pushed aside in the shadow of his superior. Taka was to know his place, he was to know that his brother was always going to be the important one. He was to always show respect to the one whom was always better.

Look, here he comes now.

Bow down and stare in wonder.

Oh how we love you, no flaws

when you're pretending.

Taka looked around him as he walked on the hot, dry grass. Every step he took, it seemed as though he walked a mile, and was a mile from Pride Rock. He sighed as the zebras and elephants eyed him, knowing exactly who he was and knowing exactly what he had done. They could easily predict his fate, as well, it seemed. The morning sun was hot, and it made Taka nervous. He could hear the whispers such as, "there he is!", or "isn't that the king's boy? Heard he ran away." Everyone seemed to make a line, waiting for him to cross paths with his father, the one who would decide his fate. Ahadi easily stood out in the crowd - his stern, almost evil expression opposed to the troubled and worried ones. He stepped out in front to face his troublesome son.

"Where were you?"

Taka practiced this in his head so many times, knowing that was what he was going to say, but no words seemed to form in the prescence of his father.

"I..."

"You...?" Ahadi seemed to mock him now, seeing that Taka was frightened. He lowered his head to the small cub's level, a spark of fire in his angry ruby eyes.

"I was at the waterhole - I spent the night there..." the last two words were hushed to a mere whisper. He was careful not to raise his voice.

"You're lying." Ahadi insisted. "What makes you think that you can't come here - where you belong?"

Without the mask,

where will you hide?

Can't find youself -

lost in your lies.

"It's the truth!" Taka cried, a little bit louder than privileged. Why was he always caught in these conversations? Why was his father so convinced that he didn't behave like "the son of the almighty Ahadi" should?

I know the truth now,

I know who you are,

and I don't love you anymore...

Ahadi growled - he couldn't believe his son's defiance! Hate, this was an awful word, but it was the only emotion he could describe toward Taka. He sighed, angrily, about to speak.

"I'm tired of this, Taka - tired of your foolishness." he leaned in closer, so that he could hear Taka's heart beat, and occasionally skip in fright. "I no longer wish to deal with you."

Taka's eyes widened, and his heart throbbed as he heard his father's last words:

"Run. Run away Taka. And never return."