-"Be Prepared"-
"Have you completely lost all sense?!" King Mario roared at his brother, with an intensity that seemed to make the ground shake. Scar sat on the rock calmly, unmoved by his brother's roars. They sat out on the Savannah, a good distance from Pride Rock. Mario was furious with Scar over him giving Link the dagger and encouraging him to go exploring the Elephant Graveyard, "Why in the world would you have given my son a weapon?"
"We were barely older than him when we were first given weapons," Scar stated calmly, though far from getting defensive as Mario continued, "Yes, that's true, but AFTER we were trained to handle them properly! And WITH our parent's consent! Neither was the case when you gave Link that dagger!"
Scar simply shrugged, "A lapse in judgment I admit."
"And just where do you come off filling my son's head with fantasies of being a great lion hero by going to an incredibly dangerous area that you know full well I had forbidden him to go?!"
"I was merely conveying to him how we were at his age, and reflecting nostalgically on the mischievous adventures we used to embark on," Scar threw up his hands.
"Yes, we didn't always obey our parents at his age, but that doesn't make it right for him to think he can disobey me whenever he wants and run off to a hyena lair!"
"I am sorry if he misinterpreted what I was trying to say," Scar apologized half-heartedly. Mario narrowed his eyes and replied, "I hope he did misinterpret what you said. Because if I were to find out you deliberately manipulated him into going to that place, knowing full well what would happen to him… that would be considered a treasonous act of the highest degree… and I assure you, anyone who commits such an act under my rule will be punished in a way sufficient to the crime he or she committed."
Mario turned away and marched back towards Pride Rock. Once his brother was gone, Scar sighed, rubbing his face hard. He turned and marched away into the distance.
Deep in the elephant graveyard, Zant, Veran and Ghirahim sat together. Ghirahim was laughing hysterically at his two comrades. Feeling bitter, Zant slapped him upside the head, murmuring, "Oh shut up…"
"Yeah," Veran agreed, "How were we NOT supposed to be scared with ol Mario right on top of us ready to slice us to pieces? Then again I guess you're too stupid to be scared."
Ghirahim responded by laughing more as the other two rolled their eyes, Zant muttering, "Man I HATE lions…"
"Oh surely not all lions are so bad," The three heard a familiar voice say. They all turned to see Scar standing there, not looking happy. They all smiled and Zant said, "Oh hey Scar. How ya been? Did ya bring any food, huh, did ya?"
He said the last part very excitedly as Scar narrowed his eye and responded coldly, "Why in the world would I bring you three food?"
"Well, ya know, so we don't go hungry," Veran said, not catching on how upset he was. Scar replied, his voice getting louder, "Go hungry? I should gut you all for your utter incompetence!"
He drew his rapier as he said this, causing the hyenas to cower in fear before him as he shouted, "I gave you three one simple task: kill a mere lion cub! And the three of you combined couldn't do it!"
"Well, it wasn't just him," Zant said, fearfully trying to defend himself as Veran continued, "Yeah, there was this other cub with him, and that annoying little fairy-"
"Two cubs and a fairy?!" Scar shouted, "That was too much for three fully grown hyenas?! I practically delivered those cubs to you on a silver platter, and you couldn't even kill them! You have got to be the most incompetent imbecilic beings I have ever come across!"
"Well, we woulda killed him," Veran said weakly, "But then Mario showed up."
"Oh don't even mention my brother!" Scar retorted, "He blames me for the entire incident!"
"But why?"
"Because I was the one that gave him that dagger and sent him off to your lair! And he was the only that knew it! If you three had killed him like you were supposed to, no one could have found out I was responsible! And now, everything is ruined!"
"Don't worry, we'll just get him next time, "Zant said trying to reassure him.
"Next time?! What next time?! There won't BE a next time thanks to you three! That little brat won't dare come here ever again, and there's no way any of you could ever get to him on the Pride Lands! "
"So, what do we do?"
"All we can do now is bide our time, and wait for another opportunity to present itself,"
"That could be years," Veran pointed out.
"Yes and all because you three couldn't handle it now!"
"But if we get the opportunity to kill the prince, won't we also have to kill Mario?"
Scar smiled coldly and replied, "Precisely…"
An evil music began to play as green smoke began to rise up over the stage. A chant began to play as Scar circled the Hyenas, singing, "I know that your powers of retention are as wet as a warthog's backside. But thick as you are, pay attention!" He snapped his fingers, causing the three to stand up straight as he circled them from behind, "My words are a matter of pride."
He looked right as Ghirahim, staring blankly as he continued, the chant growing slightly louder, "It's clear from your vacant expressions; not all the lights are on upstairs. But we're talking kings and successions! Even you can't be got unawares!"
He then jumped onto a rock and began climbing up to reach a height towering over the hyenas as he continued, the chant in the background growing louder and more lively, "So prepare for the chance of a lifetime. Be prepared for sensation news! A shining new era is tip toeing nearer."
"And where do we feature?" Veran asked as Scar replied, "Just listen to teacher. I know it sounds sorted, but you'll be rewarded when at last I am given my dues! And injustice deliciously squared, be prepared!"
The chant had grown to its full liveliness as Scar now stood on a balcony-esque rock towering over the three below. Zant laughed and said, "Be prepared, haha, we'll be prepared."
He then look perplexed and asked, "For what?"
"For the death of the king!" Scar announced.
"What, is he sick?"
"No, fool, we're gonna kill him. And Link too,"
"Great idea!" Veran exclaimed, "Who needs a king?"
The three hyenas skipped around in a circle, singing, "No king, no king, la-la-la-la-laa-laa!"
"Idiots!" Scar shouted, "There will be a king. I will be king! Stick with me, and you'll never go hungry again!"
As he said this, the smoke and lighting changed from green to yellow as the three exclaimed, "Yay! Long live the king!"
Many dozens of hyenas then came out, chanting, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
The hyenas then began marching in an army formation, chanting, "It's great that we'll soon be connected, with a king who'll be all-time adored."
Scar then continued singing, "Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected to take certain duties on board. The future is littered with prizes and though I'm the main addressee, the point that I must emphasize is: you won't get a sniff without me!"
The smoke and lighting then turned to a vibrant red as Scar continued singing, with the hyenas singing in the background, "So prepare for the coup of the century! (Oooh!) Be prepared for the murkiest scam! (Oooh... La! La! La!) Meticulous planning, (We'll have food!) Tenacity spanning, (Lots of food) Decades of denial, (We repeat) Is simply why I'll (Endless meat) Be king undisputed, (Aaaaaaah...) Respected, saluted (...aaaaaaah...) And seen for the wonder I am! (...aaaaaaah!) Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared! (Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo) Be prepared!"
They all then joined in for the final note, "Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared! Be prepared!"
The light then grew dark as the laughter of the hyenas sent a haunting echo throughout the stage. A spotlight appeared on Scar, still atop his balcony rock, and one also on Zant, Veran and Ghirahim, far below as Zant asked, "So, when will you take over exactly?"
"Patience," Scar said, now far more calm than earlier, "In time, I will be given the opportunity I need and I will take it, I assure you. In the meantime…"
"Be prepared," the three hyenas said simultaneously. Scar smiled evilly and nodded.