Chapter 2

The Seed is Strong

Six moons came and went as swiftly as the wind. Young Simba had grown quite remarkably during that time. Scar was not surprised by this at all. He was very much like Mufasa had been as a cub. He remembered how Ahadi had beamed with pride at his youngest son while Scar cowered in the shadows. It was like night and day with Ahadi. He would be viciously scolding Scar for something miniscule and, the next minute, be praising young Mufasa for doing nothing at all. Back then, Scar resented his little brother. But that didn't last for long. Mufasa was glued to Scar as he grew bigger, more so than he was to either Uru or Ahadi. This made Uru proud of Scar, but it made Ahadi distain him even more. Scar, frankly, was not bothered by this. He felt loved by his little brother. Thus, it was worth it.

The dark lion stretched out with a lazy yawn as he watched his brother and nephew from afar. Mufasa had been showing his son the Pridelands throughout the day. At the moment, they had decided to rest at the watering hole. The two were playing with each other. Scar was taking advantage of the pitstop to rest for a bit. He had been hunting in the early morning hours and was still stiff from a minor sprained leg.

If those hyenas hadn't spoiled my trap and startled the zebra, I wouldn't have gotten tangled up in the bushes….

Scar had vented to Mufasa about how brazen the hyenas were getting when he had returned from his hunt. He ignored Zazu's not-so-subtle chuckling as he told Mufasa what had caused his leg to get sprained.

I will pay them a visit this evening.

The low growl in Mufasa's voice immediately shut Zazu up in shock, Scar recalled with a slight grin. He had to stifle his own chuckle when Mufasa then scolded the hornbill for not keeping a better eye on the hyenas. He was right to be annoyed at Zazu, for he was responsible for keeping an eye on things in the realm.

If he would stop focusing on insulting me, he would be much better at his role.

"How is your leg, dear brother?" Mufasa asked breathily as he laid next to Scar, interrupting the dark lion's thoughts. He was breathing rather heavily. The princeling had worn Mufasa out, it appeared.

"Stiff, but it no longer aches," Scar replied with another yawn. He turned his gaze towards the young cub in the distance, "The seed is strong in Simba. He's very much like you were at that age."

"It amazes me how much energy he has," Mufasa sighed; he, too, was watching Simba pounce about, apparently trying to catch a bug of some sort. After a moment, Mufasa made a peculiar face, "When will you find a suitable mate and have a cub or two of your own?"

Scar stared at Mufasa in shock, "Me? Having a mate and cubs?"

"Of course, dear brother! I don't recall it being forbidden for you to not have a mate and a cub of your own!" Mufasa chuckled as he stood up. Scar watched him silently as Mufasa trotted over to the watering hole to take a drink.

"Mufasa, I would not be a suitable mate," Scar muttered softly. Despite this, Mufasa heard him as clear as day. He turned and stared incredulously at his older brother.

"You are suitable, Scar. By the stars, are you still letting our father haunt you?"

Scar swallowed and dropped his gaze to the ground, "He wasn't wrong, dear brother." Mufasa was quiet for a moment. He then approached Scar and sat before him.

"He was wrong. He treated you most unfairly and we both know that. You would be a very suitable mate, and I do know of a few lionesses that have a liking to you. In fact, there is one who is enthralled by you!" Scar frowned, knowing exactly who it was, and he was not thrilled in the slightest.

"That Zira is a bit much," he muttered. Mufasa chuckled.

"When she was a cub, yes! Sarabi was the same way with me, you know!" Scar gave Mufasa a look. For Mufasa to try and compare Sarabi and Zira was utterly baffling!

"Sarabi never once acted the way Zira did, you silly thing. She never once tried to snuggle up to you in the dead of night!" Scar exclaimed as he remembered suffering a terrible fright back in his cubhood. When he awoke one night, Zira's face was so close to his, he could see the meat that was still stuck moldering in her jaws. Mufasa boomed with laughter, seemingly unaware of the sour look Scar was giving him.

"Your scream woke up the whole den! Our parents were so livid with that Zira. I recall that she was heavily reprimanded by her mother for doing that!" Mufasa chuckled fondly at the memory, "I personally found the whole thing hysterical!"

"Of course you would," Scar spat, "You were not punished for waking up the whole den, were you?" Mufasa looked ashamed as realization splashed across his face. Scar's own face softened, and he suddenly felt guilty, "I am sorry, dear brother. I shouldn't have snapped like that."

"No, I am sorry," Mufasa interrupted, "I forgot that father had unrightfully punished you for that. He had no right. You did nothing wrong!"

"It's in the past, Mufasa. There is no use being angry at him, especially now that he's gone," Scar replied quietly. Mufasa huffed.

"Well, I am still mad at him," he grumbled, "And I hope that I am never like that with Simba or any other cubs that I may someday have!"

"I know that you won't be, my dear Mufasa," Scar said softly with a smile, "You are nothing like our father when it comes to your personality."

"Dada," a small voice interrupted the two lions. Simba beamed happily at his father and uncle, and it appeared that something was firmly in his small jaws, "I cawght ith!"

Both Mufasa and Scar beamed at the young cub before them, "Well done, my son! Now, go and enjoy your afternoon snack." The cub bounced off to eat the meerkat he had caught. Scar watched him with pride.

The seed is strong indeed.

Simba was fast asleep by the time Mufasa had returned to Pride Rock. Scar could feel the anger radiating off of his brother as he entered the den. Sarabi looked slightly alarmed and she cautiously approached her mate.

"How did it go?" She asked him.

"They feigned ignorance, as always. They claimed that they were not aware of Scar's presence, which I know is a lie!" Mufasa spat angrily, "They even had the nerve to show amusement when I confronted them as well!"

"They have grown bolder since our father passed on," Scar noted bitterly. Mufasa frowned and nodded at the statement.

"Not just with the lions," Zazu added, "I gathered reports from the leopards. The hyenas have been disrupting their hunts as well. Perhaps you should send them a firm message, your grace." It was obvious to Scar that Zazu was trying to make amends for his incompetence. He didn't blame the hornbill, but he did find his kissing up to Mufasa grating.

"I gave them a final warning before I left their elephant graveyard. If they cross me again, they will learn a harsh lesson that they will never forget," Mufasa replied with a slight growl. When he was like this, he was like Ahadi. Though the anger was not directed towards him, Scar was uneasy, nevertheless.

"…well, I'm afraid that I must retire for the evening," Scar said as casually as he could, "I bid you all good night." Except for Zazu, Mufasa and Sarabi wished Scar a good night as he exited the main den. He frowned as he made his way around Pride Rock. As much as he loved Mufasa, he was bad about following through with threats. This was not the first time Mufasa had made a threat towards the hyenas and Scar knew that it would not be the last, hence the reason why the hyenas were being more and more defiant. The one blessing of having Ahadi as king was that he always followed through with his threats. So did Scar.

The one thing that we have in common, father.

When Scar reached his own den, he gingerly laid down, being careful to not irritate his stiff leg. He wondered how his young nephew would turn out as an adult. Will he continue to be just like Mufasa? Will he be like Ahadi?

…will he be like me? No. Not physically, obviously.

Scar did admit to himself over time that he was clever. Perhaps Simba will also be clever. That may come in handy to the cub someday. Scar smiled as he thought about Simba.

I doubt that he will become cruel like his grandfather. He's such a happy little cub. I strongly doubt that my dear father was a happy cub.

Scar shifted himself so he could get more comfortable. He still felt awful for snapping at Mufasa back at the watering hole. Even as a cub, he tried not to get angry at his little brother. Mufasa was so impressionable and innocent as a cub. Scar did not want him to lose that innocence.

Heh, he is still innocent, in a sense.

Yes, Mufasa became aware over the span of growing up of how their father treated Scar and was very bothered by it. However, he didn't understand the full scope of what Ahadi had done to Scar's mental state. He made Scar hate every single thing about himself and he didn't even have to actually say anything to do this!

Enough. It's in the past. Let it go and go to sleep.

Scar repeated this thought to himself over and over again before he finally drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, he did dream that night, and it was a nightmare that he has suffered through multiple times throughout his moons.