Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King

My ribs poked through my skin, while my belly grumbled hollowly. I used my reserves of my little strength that I had left to walk into Scar's cave, where he had called for me. Zazu's sorrowful voice came floating towards me. "Nobody knows / the trouble I've seen / Nobody knows / My sorrows..."

Trying to strong, like my sister, I held my head up. "What did you want, Scar?"

He tossed his bone aside, standing up gracefully. "Ah, Kioni," he breathed, padding forward to stand in front of me. "I have a decision that I've been pondering for quite a while," he continued.

I kept my face stoic. "What would that be?"

He stopped his pacing to bring his face close to mine. "Whether to have Sarabi as my wife. As a previous queen, she would host a royal bloodline..." He sneered at me. I struggled to keep my rage in check. He would not touch my sister!

"Or..." He silkily began pacing around me again. "There is the subject of her sister. Strong, brave, like her, except in a different way. A beautiful lioness." He finished his circling to stand in front of me. "What do you think, my dear?"

I closed my eyes. No tears would come. I had no more left to cry. Scar was giving me a choice. Become his mate, or he would force Sarabi to. It was like one of my nightmares come true. I could never do that to Sarabi, but yet I would never want to be mated with Scar.

With my eyes still closed, I hissed out through gritted teeth, "And what will it take, Scar, for you to realize that you'll never be king?"

Scar's ferocious roar echoed around the cavern, and the next second I found myself pinned the to ground with his claws digging into my throat and side. Zazu's horrified yelps at the sight were muffled under Scar's roar. I made no move to struggle. I was too weak, in body and soul.

His breath was hot against my cheek, and he let out snarls of rage. "I am king, and will continue to be king, whether you live to see it or not!" I felt a paw raised from my side, and knew that he was going in for the killing blow. Sarabi, I'm so sorry...

"Hey, boss!" a voice called. My eyes opened to see three of Scar's hyena henchmen, Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed appear.

Scar growled as he heaved himself off of me. "Oh, what is it this time?" he snarled. Zazu breathed out a sign of relief. I didn't move.

"We got a bone to pick with you," Banzai continued.

"I'll handle this," Shenzi hissed to Banzai before turning to Scar. "There's no food, no water..."

"Yeah!" Banzai cut in. "It's dinner time, and we ain't got no stinkin' entrees!"

Scar let out an exasperated whuff of breath. "It's the lionesses job to do the hunting..."

"Yeah, but they won't hunt," Banzai explained.

"Oh...eat Zazu," Scar suggested. I couldn't see him from where I faced, but I could tell that he probably had that evil smirk on his face, that smirk that I had seen so many times...

Zazu began panicking. "Oh, you wouldn't want me! I'd be so tough and gamey and...ewww..."

Scar snorted. "Oh, Zazu. Don't be ridiculous. All you need is a little garnish."

"Eh, what about that lioness over there?" Banzai asked. "She looks dead."

"No," Scar replied coldly. "She's alive, and she's not for eating! She is simply...resting."

"Man, I thought things were bad under Mufasa," Banzai muttered to Shenzi.

Scar leaped into my line of vision, his eyes wild and angry. "What did you say?" he snapped.

"I said Muf-" Shenzi, smiling widely at Scar, thwacked Banzai on the head. "I said, uh... 'qué pasa?'" Banzai quickly amended.

Scar snorted softly, turning away. "Good. Now get out."

There was a pause when the hyenas looked at each other. "Mm...yeah, but we're still hungry," Banzai pointed out.

"OUT!" Scar roared, and the three of them scattered, Ed letting out a crazy laugh.

Scar let out a growl under his breath, collapsing on a rock ledge. I struggled to my paws and looked at him defiantly. He glared at me. "You. Get out. Now."

I turned my back on him and started padding out of the cave, me and Zazu exchanging a sorrowful look. Once outside, I swept my eyes over the ruined landscape of the pridelands. Hyenas were everywhere around Pride Rock, laughing eerily and gnawing on old bones. I closed my eyes before looking up at the stars. Ahadi, Mufasa, is this really how this is supposed to be?

A/N

Sorry for not updating yesterday. Things got really busy for me, because of New Years stuff. HAPPY NEW YEAR~! Though now it's weird because every time I hear someone say "2012" I immediately think apocalypse... Going to be an interesting year xD

The next chapter is either going to be really long or split into a couple parts. I don't know which yet. Depends on how much time I have.

Please review!

~Eva Sirico~