Chapter 8 – The Ascension of a Tyrant

For a long while, I remained at the edge of the cliff, denying to myself what I had seen. I was painfully willing myself not to believe that both Simba and Mufasa were dead. But no matter how hard or long I told myself this, no matter what I chose to believe, it did not change anything. My adoptive father and brother, whom I had grown to love as my own family, were dead now.

The sorrow that had subdued so long ago after my family's deaths had risen again and it had, if at all possible, grown tenfold. My heart, which had never fully healed from the pain of their passing, had shattered to pieces with the loss of Mufasa and Simba.

For some time, my tears pooled in the dirt in front of me as I wept, allowing my sadness to overcome every fiber of my being. After a while, I had shed enough tears to the point that I could no longer cry. It hurt my eyes physically to cry one more.

My eyes still burning, I looked up from the ground and saw that the sun had fully set now, letting the once blood-red sky turn to a deep shade of purple. Gray clouds had moved in, beginning to block the now appearing stars from view. The moon had began its' ascent to the sky. I found the crescent a striking metaphor to my soul. It was no longer whole. Part had disappeared with the loss of the ones I loved.

Shakily, I stood up. I glanced back down one last time at the small paw print that once belonged to Simba. I sighed, a feeling of defeat slowly building. Clearly, I was not meant to have family. I was to wander alone, friendless. I had nothing left now.

That is not true…said a quiet, hopeful voice in my mind.

"Sarabi…" I whispered.

And then I realized that she did not yet know of the events that had taken place. She had yet to find out that her mate and son were gone from this life, and had ascended to the stars with the great kings of the past.

With the speed that I always prided myself in having, I shot off back the way I came. As I reached the gorge, I ran the fastest I could let my legs carry me. I glanced at the broken body of Mufasa as I passed, and quickly tore my eyes away. I couldn't let my sadness interfere with my mission. I HAD to get to Sarabi and tell her what happened. In, what felt like, no time at all, I had traveled the gorge, scaled up the wall, and sprinted through the grasslands towards the silhouette of Pride Rock.

As I neared it, I noticed that the lionesses were congregating in a circle near the base of the rock. I saw some cubs sitting at their mother's paws, staring up and around, clearly wondering what the commotion was about. As I drew closer, I noticed they were gathering around a rusty colored lion with a black mane. I stopped dead in my tracks. Scar had survived the accident. He had to know what happened. He was the one who took Simba to the gorge.

A thought crossed my mind. Maybe now, Taka would shine through all of the darkness of Scar that shrouded him. Maybe now, Taka would show up in this time of tragedy. The sadness of this misfortune MUST have affected him in some small way, and I prayed that Scar would not act in the way I had come to expect from him.

I finally neared enough to where I could hear Scar's words. He was addressing the pride, and there was sadness on his face that was not reflected in his voice. I moved forward and stood between Ayana and Yetunde, staring up at the lion I prayed would have the heart to do the right thing.

"I bring grave news of our king. My brother and our king, Mufasa, was tragically killed today. He died in a stampede that occurred in the gorge to the east. And as heartbreaking as his death is, I am distraught to announce that our beloved prince, Simba, was also killed. He was trampled in the gorge by the stampede."

At these words, the circle gasped. Several lionesses let out a sob of grief. Their faces unsure and sorrowful, they stared up at Scar. My eyes were drawn to the lioness with whom my thoughts rested with. Sarabi was shaking with silent sobs and her head was lowered, but otherwise she stood very still. Pity welled up inside of me, and I moved closer to her. I wrapped my arms around her neck and hugged her, my eyes stinging with my attempt at tearing up. Looking down, I saw Nala sitting between her mother's paws, tears streaming down her sad little face. Sarafina shared the same expression as her daughter, but her face was turned to Sarabi and I.

Scar spoke up again. "Mufasa's death is a terrible tragedy. But to lose Simba, when he had just barely begun to live, for me, it is a deep and personal loss. So it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne."

His tone bore no implication that what he said were his true feelings, and I fought my instinct to glare at him for his lack of sympathy. Suddenly he became very rigid and his voice, harsh.

"Yet out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to meet the dawning of a new era…" His voice carried out piercingly across the company, and the lionesses all snapped their heads up to stare at him. Even Sarabi had looked up to see what he was talking about.

Scar continued, "…in which lion and hyena come together in a great and glorious future!"

At these words, a great stir of movement occurred around Pride Rock. From countless places, hundreds of hyenas appeared, grinning evilly. They slowly moved down the slope and from around towards us. The lionesses all stood up and growled as the hyenas came closer. I released Sarabi and reached for my knife in my pocket. Anger boiled in my heart as I stared at the murderers of my brother. I wanted to kill every last one of them.

Yet as I prepared for them to attack, they all passed by and made their way into the Pride Lands, some packs chasing off after the herds in the distance. They were making themselves at home, and it sickened me to see these horrid creatures befouling the beautiful Pride Lands.

I felt a rush of air at my side, and looked around to see Sarabi running up to Scar who was making his way to the mouth of the cave. She blocked his path before he could enter, and began a heated argument with him over the admittance of those monsters into the Pride Lands.

Scar smirked and replied, "All are equal in the great circle of life, Sarabi." He slunk past her to the cave but stopped in front of it. "Oh, and another thing, Sarabi. You have been relieved of your responsibilities as Queen of the Pride Lands. I know my brother would not want me to have you for myself."

Sarabi's expression turned from one of anger to shock. I too had not expected this, and I lost my focus for a moment, unsure if what I had heard had happened. I did not hear Scar's next words, but when he finished, Zira stepped out of the cave where she had apparently been waiting. She stood next to Scar and licked him. It was then that I understood that this was Scar's chosen mate.

They both turned back to the cave, and for a second time, Scar stopped before entering it. He turned his head to Sarabi, who still looked completely shocked.

"Oh, and one last thing Sarabi." His eyes shone with a powerful hunger, and a sneering smile curled his lips. "Tell Sarafina to give her final goodbyes tonight, for at dawn shall be the slaying of the cubs born under my brother."

If I had not been listening intently, I would have thought I heard Scar wrong. I felt my jaw drop and saw that Sarabi's had done the same. When Scar and Zira disappeared into the cave, Sarabi staggered down to the base of Pride Rock, and fell. There, she wept the tears of her broken heart. I knew exactly how she felt. To lose two people so close to you was not an easy feeling to endure. And to top it off, Scar had replaced her mate as the King. Not even five minutes into his kinship, he already ruined what Mufasa and his forefathers had worked so hard to achieve.

My heart fell at the sight of Sarabi in this pitiful state, and I walked forward and kneeled down next to her.

"Sarabi..."

My voice shook violently as I spoke. I searched for words to console her with, but I could not think of any. There were no words that were consoling to myself, how on earth could I expect console her? I looked away to Sarafina, and my heart plummeted ever further. She was nuzzling onto Nala nonstop, sobbing her eyes out. Nala too, was crying tears of fear and sorrow.

This sight was too much to bear, and once again, my eyes began to water. I cared no more if it pained me. The sadness that was caused by the tragedy was too great for me to hold back my overflowing emotions anymore. I buried my face in my hands and wept for the loss of peace, the passing of a great king, and the loss of a young soul who I had grown so close to.

That night, Pride Rock echoed with the devastating sounds of mourning and sadness. The crescent moon rose silently into the night sky that slowly became shrouded in gray clouds. The ascension of King Scar had been fulfilled. The dream I had so many weeks ago about Tahri, and his proclamation of hyenas overtaking the Pride Lands had come true. And it was all because Scar allowed it to be.

I'm sorry for all the sadness, but a good story like this always has very saddening moments. Those of you who have read Amase's The White Water Chronicles will notice that the rest of the fan fic will be very similar to that story. That is because it is based very closely to it (yes, i have prior permission to do so). It will still be told from Ayden's POV though, and i have several ideas that will take a new direction from Amase's INCREDIBLE story! If you have not read them, i reccomend doing so before you continue with my story, but it should not be absolutely necessary. I will have brief details throughout my story that will help you get the basic jist of them, but reading The White Water Chronicles before continuing here would be a very wise decision, and if not, oh well. My story is still different and will not be a direct reflection of THOSE stories...