Chapter V : Long Live The Rightful King

" Sarabi! "

Scar's voice echoed throughout the entire Pridelands whilst he stood before both Hyena and Lioness, calling over the head leader of the hunting party. He was furious with her, furious because she hadn't brought any food back to the Pride, and little by little the Pride was dying slowly. Surely, he'd place the entire rap on her, but it was his fault. But he was too proud to admit that the reason the Pridelands were like this, was because of him. He just awaited Sarabi's march up towards him.

Sarabi's name rang throughout Nuka's ears, and he just had to find out why Scar had been calling her, and calling her with such an angry tone, at that. He still liked Sarabi, even though he hadn't talked to her since his last babysitting; which was SO long ago. All that Sarabi needed was to be thought of plotting against her brother-in-law, and that would have been her life. Exiled, banished, what ever you would have called it … she would've never survived out of this Pride. Nuka's sense of curiosity was killing him, and it led him out of the cave that evening while Zira was with Vitani, and proudly talking to the Outsiders about her future son. On his way out, he quietly muttered to himself.

" Ugh, the Chosen One. Why wasn't I the chosen one? I could have done a better job then that little termite. Little Termite Kovu, that's what I'll call him … he deserves it for messing everything up. " With that said quietly, he sat a good distance away from Scar and looked on at the incoming feud.

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" Yes, Scar? "

" Where is your hunting party? They're not doing their job. "

" Scar, there is no food. The herds have moved on. "

" No, you're just not looking hard enough! "

" It's over! There is nothing left. " She focused on the floor, before saying something that would irritate Scar. " There's only one choice … we must leave Priderock. "

Was Sarabi mad? Scar pushed himself towards her face and then kept on walking, sneering at her while doing so. " We're not going anywhere. "

" Then you have sentenced us to death! "

Nuka looked on in horror, not liking where this conversation was heading. Zira, and the rest had come out at that moment to see the confrontation.

" Then so be it. "

" You can't do that! "

" I am the King, and I can do whatever I want. "

" IF YOU WERE HALF THE KING MUFASA WAS, HE-- " Sarabi's sentence would not be complete as Scar had slammed his paw into her face, knocking her a good distance away from where he stood.

" I'M TEN TIMES THE KING MUFASA WAS! "

Nuka wasn't having it. Sarabi didn't deserve to be hit, and he was on his way on heading down Pride Rock to finally confront his father about hitting her, until a deafening roar startled him. He didn't know where it came from at first, but then he noticed a figure standing far above where Scar and Sarabi were. The lightning illuminated his husky build, dripped in gold and a reddish mane covering his head. They could not cover his eyes; however … they were full of hate. Pausing in his steps, he glanced down to Scar who seemed to be frightened himself … and screamed out a name he hadn't heard since his coming here.

" Mufasa, no. You're dead. " Scar cowered and backed up into a wall. The lion made its way over to the fallen lioness, and nudged her to awaken. She had been temporarily knocked unconscious, but one nudge of his tender touch would stir her once again. She couldn't really believe who was in front of her … was it Mufasa? Had her dear husband come back from the dead to save her from Scar? Nuka listened on until he heard another name emit from Scar's mouth.

" Simba? Siiimba! I'm a little surprised to see you … " he choked, and continued whilst he looked up to a certain three hyenas. " Alive … "

Nuka watched as the lionesses began to help Sarabi up once Simba had stepped forward towards Scar. He hoped this lion wouldn't harm him … although he did things he wouldn't agree on … most of the time, Scar was still his father. Zira, on the other hand, knew this was heading into something she didn't want to be involved in, and quickly regrouped the Outsiders and her son, whilst the Pridelanders were below wondering what Scar was talking about when he said had they put their past behind him. He was as curious as to what it was, that he wanted to remain and listen to the conversation, but he wouldn't have time to. Zira had forced all those loyal to her, including Vitani and Nuka, secretly off Pride Rock through the back of the cave, and off towards where Scar's was. As they walked away from Pride Rock, Nuka paused while the rest began to walk on. Zira had no idea her son had stayed behind … didn't know her son was returning back to Pride Rock slowly.

Nuka was back on his way until by some sort of coincidence, fire engulfed the royal grounds. This happened when the lion who confronted his father, slipped off the edge of Pride Rock and was clinging on to dear life. Nuka never really wished death on anyone … maybe his not yet born brother, but no one in particular that he knew or didn't know. Not even the stranger who Scar had now pinned his claws on top of their own. For such a poor-in-health lion as he was, he had remarkable eyesight from him being at the base of Pride Rock … watching this scenario roll on. He spoke to himself quietly.

" What're you saying to him, father? … FATHER! "

He noticed that Scar had whispered something into Simba's ears, and then was suddenly found pinned underneath Simba's weight, being choked on and such. He hesitated to go up there, both lion and hyena waiting to hear what Simba was trying to tell them. Nuka, however, decided to go up anyway to where the lionesses were, and sheepishly hid behind Sarabi.

" Bi, whats the matter? "

" Shush, Nuka! You should be long gone from here! Please, leave! "

That would be the last said between the two, as everyone diverted their attention to Simba and Scar.

" I KILLED MUFASA! "

Nuka's ears dropped and his legs began to quiver. His father was a murderer to his own brother … but why? Was it the need to be King? It couldn't have been! Nuka just wouldn't believe it, and he never would. Scar couldn't have killed Mufasa!

Just then, lionesses began to charge towards Scar, and the Hyenas had all launched themselves at Simba, pinning him against the floor. Nuka, being as cowardly as he was before, showed it once more as he hid behind one of those protruding boulders around the area and peeked over the top just to see the chaos going on at the moment. Hyenas were being picked off left and right, thrown right off the edge of Pride Rock, or trying to flee. He noticed Rafiki had also gotten into the mix, and for once … he was happy. The hyenas got what they deserved, all of them. He never liked those mangy poachers, and he was happy finally someone was taking action. But he noticed after all the Hyenas were plucked off from Pride Rock, Simba stood still. That was, until lightning flashed and showed his father cowardly running up the side of Pride Rock to get away from Simba; who was right on his heels afterwards.

Nuka looked up to the sky, hoping to get a prayer in to the Great Kings that everything would be okay, but it was to no avail. The sky was darkened with shades of black, red and orange. The fire had spread quickly, and it seemed death was all around him. This, this was something he never anticipated when he moved here to the Pridelands a year ago, or less. Who knows? He spoke to himself, reassuring that the Great Kings were there regardless, and that they knew Nuka didn't want anyone to get hurt.

That's where his silent prayers were thrown out the window.

He watched his father be tossed off the peak of Pride Rock, and tumble down to his doom below where the hyenas awaited him. Nuka didn't know what Scar had done to make them all angry, but it was something that in the end killed his father. The hyenas who had remained, launched onto Scar and were all engulfed within the flames. Nuka screamed out in horror.

" NO! "

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As if the Kings had been there all the time, a healing shower of rain poured down upon the Pridelands once the turmoil and chaos was over. The King, no … the tyrant, was no more. And a new King would take his place, the rightful King … Simba. However, Nuka was still in shock that he now had no father, just like Kovu and Vitani. He shared similarities with them after all, and it killed him. Hunched over, he glared down to where Scar took his final breath, and embraced the rain.

" Father, don't cry. Don't cry, father. " Nuka sobbed, as he turned his body to see Simba had taken his right to the throne and was joined in roaring by his faithful companions below. Simba … he vowed he would never forget that name … He was the reason his father was dead, and he would vow that Simba would one day get his. That for the pain he caused him this one night, he would haunt him for the rest of his days until that time came to finish him off. Scar wasn't the best of the fathers, but there were times where he DID take time out with him. Where he DID teach him lessons, where he DID act like a father. From now one, his obsession with the stars would never cease. He would always look to them to see if Scar was up there, watching over him.

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Once Simba had finished his taking to the throne, the Outsiders returned solemnly and wondered who the rogue lion was who had just took his title as King. Zira wickedly sneered at him as she was surrounded by her sisters of the Outlands.

" Simba … you are alive … we all thought you died with Mufasa. Pity. "

Simba wasn't having it, either. " Don't you speak ill of my father … "

" Zira. Scar's Queen. "

Simba looked to his mother who was lost in the grouping of Pridelanders, and then back to Zira. " Scar is no more. Your faithful subjects, the Hyenas, killed him. "

" Liar! YOU KILLED SCAR!"

" I did what I had to do to protect the pride! I ordered Scar to leave, but he refused to! He paid for it with his life, thanks to the Hyenas. He's in peace now, Zira! He lives on with my father now."

Zira snarled and went to go leap at Simba, before Sarabi stepped forth in front of her son; blocking such an attack. Zira was furious. " I don't want his place to be among the stars! HIS PLACE WAS DOWN HERE! TO RULE THE PRIDELANDS … and you took that away from him … MURDERER!"

" I AM NOT A MURDERER. He put every one of you in jeopardy and he KILLED the rightful King and attempted it on his son! How can you still side with him?! "

" Because he is the rightful King! And if I have to, I will avenge him myself and KILL YOU. "

Simba roared ferociously, and began his descent back towards the base of Pride Rock. " Zira … you and these Outsiders are banished from the Pridelands. EXILED! Don't you ever step foot into these Pridelands. Because of your loyalty to a tyrant and a murderer, and your relentless threats, you are GONE. Take your Pride and leave … you have no business here. " He looked towards Nuka, who had been shivering the entire time from Simba's words.

Banished? No, he couldn't be. He loved it here, and now he was being sent right back into the Outlands.

Zira was equally enraged and vowed her loyalty to Scar. For King Simba would not get away with this … for King Simba did not know that the one she was bearing would be the one who would be the cause of his downfall. Angrily turning around from Pride Rock, she began her long and treacherous walk back to the Outlands, followed by all the lionesses.

Nuka scooped up Vitani, who had been crying relentlessly from all the screaming and roaring, and began to follow his mother and the Pride. He exchanged one solemn look of goodbye to Sarabi, and then went on his way. How could Sarabi, as sweet as she was, birth a monster like that all those years ago? For that reason and that reason only, he hated Sarabi. Other than that, he was going to miss her terribly, and she too returned the feeling of sadness towards the departing adolescent. She loved him during Simba's absence, and now … now, she didn't know what was to happen. The Pridelanders all just returned back into the cave in order to heal, in order to rest, in order to settle things between Simba and the Pride. There was much to discuss, much to clear up.

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Nuka trailed far behind anyone else as they made their death march back towards the Outlands in the rain, and he took one final glance at Pride Rock. He managed to mumble something out, being he had Vitani suspended by the neck in his mouth.

" I give you my word, Simba. I will avenge my father, win the heart of my mother, and have my brother kill you … no, wait. I will kill you. "