CHAPTER 5 – Meet King Scar

It was a very hot day, and many animals have gathered creating a crowd around the waterhole. A family of lions was also on their way there. Leading it was the father, a large male with dark brown fur. He was filled with joy.

-Right, Zira! Our luck might change for the better yet. I just can't believe that king Scar permitted me to join your pride! Oh you must be so happy to finally live with your friends again!

His mate, who was visibly pregnant, did not answer. She just followed him in silence. Beside her their son moved impatiently. She had to watch over him, because despite being malnourished he was still quite lively. She thought that Siri was actually right- indeed, this day will definitely bring her joy.

They stopped at the edge of the waterhole. It might have been small, but it was still big enough to have hope that thanks to it the Pride Lands may survive the drought.

-Isn't it beautiful here? Your fatherland isn't a wasteland at all, contrary to what others say.

Zira sat among the reeds, Nuka on the other hand threw himself into the water and started lapping it greedily.

-Yes, my home is a wonderful place… but in order to get there, you must first see Scar.

-Where did he want me to wait for him?

-Over there, on that rock.

Siri looked towards a high, stony shore on the other side of the waterhole.

-All right… Wish me luck, my love!

He approached Zira and licked her cheek. She grinned her teeth at him.

-Oh, I'm sure you'll need lots of it! Go on, I'll wait here with Nuka.

Siri ran enthusiastically through the grasses growing near the shore. He had high hopes on making a good impression on the king, in order to become a rightful member of the pride as soon as possible. Never since the time he had left his own family did he think that something like this can still happen. At last he will be able to start a peaceful life along with Zira and their cubs…

He climbed a tall rock on the edge of the waterhole. From top of it he could observe the Pride Lands, destroyed by the drought, yet still beautiful. He directed his sight towards Pride Rock- a place he'd never been to yet. I wonder how it's like over there? – he thought. Turning away, he saw movement among the thicket. An oldish lion had just emerged from beyond it. He was very slim, with a black mane, and a clearly visible flaw disfiguring one of his emerald eyes. Siri knew, that his name was Scar and that he was the king of Pride Lands. He bowed profoundly before him.

-Your majesty.

The king glared carefully at the rogue. He knew perfectly who he was, but he saw him for the first time in his life. The lion resembled him a lot, but was significantly larger and more muscular. Scar was flattered, that Zira chose him instead of this much younger and stronger male.

-Siri. I understand you are the mate of my dear friend Zira?

-Yes, it is I. It's an honor to meet you, sire.

-Right… - said Scar impassively. He came closer to the still bowing lion and looked towards the horizon.

-So you say that you want to live here, in the Pride Lands, Siri?

The young outlander raised his head and approached the king.

-Yes, my lord.

-Come here, look over there. Do you know what you see?

-That's Pride Rock.

-Indeed. How do you like it?

-Why, it's beautiful!

Scar laughed. He circled around Siri and placed himself behind his back. The young lion hastily turned around, confused. He knew that having one's back turned at the king was considered an insult.

Perfect, thought Scar.

-So you are really enjoying Pride Rock so much, aren't you? Well, I'm sorry to inform you… alas, it will never be yours!

He suddenly battered into the frightened Siri with all of his weight. Standing on the edge of the rock, the rogue lost balance and with a loud roar fell straight into the waterhole. It was deeper than it seemed at first sight.

-Ha-ha! No one can challenge ME, understand? I am the king here! I alone! – growled Scar from above Siri, who was struggling in the water. All of the other animals stood in shock, observing what was going on.

-Zira…! Zira! Help me… I can't swim! – desperately cried the lion, drowning.

-Why Siri, you know perfectly well that so do I! – yelled his unusually calm mate back to him from the shore. Their son on the other hand was petrified with the gruesome spectacle.

-Dad… Daddy! Daddy! – wept Nuka, jumping up and down, crazed with despair. Only after a minute did Zira realize, that the cub should not watch this. She embraced him and pressed closely against herself.

-Hush, Nuka, hush… everything is going to be all right.

A moment later it became peaceful again. A gloomy silence fell over the land. Scar looked down once again from the top of the rock, but did not notice anything.

-Hmf! He only contaminated our waterhole. But no matter. Now it's time for the more pleasant part of our deal, Zira…


AN: Those bastards! They killed a totally innocent lion and left poor Nuka without a father! Yeah, I believe that is exactly why we love the evil characters so much XD

I like to think of Scar and Zira as of partners in crime, very much like Mickey and Mallory Knox in 'Natural Born Killers'- destroying everybody around's life, but crazy in love themselves.

Getting rid of Zira's first mate was her dastardly masterplan, to which she used Scar kind of like he had used the hyenas to wipe out Mufasa (and I think that the hyenas also were there, hiding among the reeds, just in case something went wrong… but it didn't). I made it look like that crime backfired later, because Zira dies in TLK2 just like she had murdered Siri- by drowning.

This is the last chapter of Part III. The end of the whole story will be revealed in 'A Scarred Heart: Part IV- The Queen'.