AUTHORS NOTE: Alright guys, I am aware that this chapter is an extremely sad / heartbreaking one, but that is because of the emotions I want you to feel. It is my personal belief that every villain has some sort of painful past that has made them be this way. We see this in the constant speculations of Scar and Zira's pasts, and I already have written it in the forms of my other villains. So I hope that this hasn't scarred your opinion of my story – I just needed to write it this way to show why things are the way they are. Perhaps some of you may be able to feel compassion for this new character – that you might never have thought of before.

A soft breeze swept through the tall grass, as a shadowy figure made its way towards an opening in the rocky outcropping. Stopping just outside it, the lion waited, straining his ears to hear what was going on inside the narrow cave. He glanced up as a black lioness stepped out of the cave and made her way past him. She lowered her eyes respectfully – and in fear – but the lion paid no notice. She was the same to him as every other black member of his pride – his to command.

Stepping into the cave, his paws thumping on the ground, the black lion made his way over to where a lioness lay on the stones. Looking up and meeting his eyes, the lioness lifted her head to reveal a tiny sleeping form.

"He is handsome, Vengeance," she whispered, barely daring to speak. "He looks like you."

The lion scoffed, looking down at the young cub. Surely he had never been that frail. But it was fine. One day, his son would be strong and fierce. He would lead the pride with the same obsession that Vengeance possessed. The passion and hatred to kill and conquer all. The black lion chuckled. Suddenly, drawing back his paw, he struck the cub across the face.

Halima jumped in surprise, and let out a low growl as her first reaction. Then, realizing her mistake, she lowered her eyes to the ground in submission.

Bending down, Vengeance picked up the whimpering cub with the gentleness of a loving father. Carrying it out into the tall grass, he sat with the cub lying at his great paws. As the evening sky darkened, he began to speak. He told the cub of the pride, of the responsibility he had in leading it one day. He spoke of war, of hunting and of plotting. He talked about death and the hate that drives one forwards. Although the cub was only a new born, and had no idea what his father was saying, Vengeance continued. It was his way of teaching – of brainwashing his son, into what he wanted him to become.

As the stars began to slowly come out, Vengeance finally stood and carried the cub back into his mother's waiting paws. Setting his son gently down, Vengeance nodded once to Halima before leaving the cave.

As the new mother looked down at her small cub, her heart felt like it was breaking. She feared Vengeance, and knew that she could never stand up to him, for if she did, the Black Pride would hunt her down. Gently lifting the cubs face to look up at her, she smiled slightly. His small face peered up at her and his tiny eyes sparkled, although the side of his head where he had been stuck seemed a bit swollen. As the cub blinked, Halima realized that his right eye was a bit discolored. Standing and carrying the cub over into a beam moonlight, she saw that it was slowly becoming a dark shade of red, so unlike his blue eyes.

"Oh my son," she whispered, carrying him back to their previous spot and laying down. "How I wish for a better life for you." Glancing down, she noted the small cub's soft breathing. "I cannot free you of this terrible life I have brought you into, but I will always love you," she told the sleeping cub. "No matter what this awful pride does to you, you will always be my son, and I will do everything I can to keep you safe." Sighing to herself, she looked out at the stars. In her old pride, she had heard a story that the stars had special powers to watch over those who dwelt below them.

"Redeye," she said, he eyes reflecting the glimmering stars. "That is what he shall be known as. Please, watch over him."

As time passed, Redeye grew. Everyday his father took him and taught him. Slowly, the young cub's mind became poisoned, and he began to be exactly what Vengeance wished of him. As Redeye became more corrupted, he forgot about his mother, and slowly began to ignore and despise her. And all the while, Halima watched with growing sadness – the pain of it eating away at her very soul.

One night, as Halima slept alone under the stars, she was visited in a dream by a strange lioness. She was creamy colored, and beautiful, with knowing eyes. In her dream, the visitor walked the lands with her, never saying a word, but taking away the pain she felt. It was as if the lioness knew Halima's every thought and despair. Night after night, the same dream occurred. Always, the visitor walked along side her, silent but comforting. And Halima began to find that the nightly visits were what kept her going through the day.

Finally, one night as Halima walked with the lioness in her dream; she stopped and peered at the lioness. Over time, she had begun to realize that the lioness reminded her of someone, but she could never place who. As they stood in silence, Halima looked to the stars, secretly questioning if they really did watch over them. As if in reply, the lioness spoke.

Halima, there is one who will rescue you. One who will free you from your pain, and conquer your pride once and for all. We do watch over you, and we feel for your sorrow. But there is a place – a land of beauty – where a wise king shall rise. He will be the one to bring peace again to the world.

And as suddenly as she had spoken, the lioness vanished and Halima woke. Looking around her in amazement, she felt a mixture of emotions. For she finally knew who the lioness was. She was Vengeance's mother.

The one who had comforted her and helped her to survive the sadness in her pride – was Zira.