-Pride Rock's Desimation-

A black sky loomed over the Pride Lands. The grass, once green and fertile, was now dried up, black, and blown away, leaving the bare, infertile earth behind. The trees were withered, leafless and a mere shadow of the beauty they once were. The rivers and streams that once flowed through the land were now dried up, leaving river beds bare as a bone. No animals moved across the plains, for there were little resources to be found to survive. Most had taken now to staying in little pockets of the land that still had any water or food at all to offer, no matter how little or insignificant the amount may be normally, for the animals of the Pride Lands had, in the past 8 years, grown accustomed to surviving on very little, though at a very heavy price. Disease and starvation waged across the kingdom. To make matters worse, the hyenas ravaged the animal tribes, killing without restraint or opposition, for no opposition to them was allowed under the rule of the new king. Within the first few years, just under half of the inhabitants had survived the far harsher new environment and conditions. And as the years passed, the population of the Pride Lands grew smaller and smaller. Now, after 8 years, the number of those who remained were just over 1/5th of that at the time of King Mario's death.

Inside the cave of Pride Rock, King Scar sat on a rock at the back of the cave. The shadows from the ceiling swept over his face and body, keeping him mostly in the dark as he sat there cross legged. He had his fingers interlaced, the silver hilt on his rapier shining as it reflected the little light that was in the cave. The only other part of his body that could be seen from the torso up was his scarred eye. In the corner of the cave was his deceased brother's broad sword, laying there collecting cobwebs as it had long been discarded.

Navi flew into the cave, approaching Scar and saying, "Sire, I must speak with you immediately."

Scar sighed and asked, "What do you want this time?"

"The elephants are discussing the possibility of leaving the Pride Lands and going south towards a new land,"

"What?" Scar demanded, "They are not going anywhere!"

"But sire, they feel there are too few resources to survive,"

"I do not care!" Scar insisted, "They are not to leave this kingdom whilst I rule. If every animal tribe decided it could-"

"Hey Scar!" Zant exclaimed as he entered the cave with Veran and Ghirahim, "We need to talk with you!"

"Ugh, you too eh?" Scar asked, "What do you all want?"

"It's dinner time, and we got no stinking entrees!" Zant exclaimed. Scar replied, "It's the lionesses' job to do the hunting. Besides, can't you hunt for yourselves?"

"There ain't any more animals on the plain," Veran said. Scar then got an idea, "Very well. Gather the hyenas and circle the elephants. Kill anyone who tries to leave."

The three smiled and exited. Scar then looked over to Navi and proclaimed, "There, solved two problems at once."

"But sire! You can't possibly-"

"Can't?!" Scar demanded, "I am king! There is nothing I can't do, fairy!"

Navi mumbled to herself, "Except be as good a king as Mario…"

"What did you say?!" Scar roared, freighting the fairy, who stuttered, "N-n-n, nothing s-sire…"

"I made it perfectly clear that no one is to ever say his name in my prescience!" Scar roared loudly, sending the fairy flying away fast as he could. Down below, at the base of Pride Rock, the lionesses heard Scar's furious roars. A lioness cub about ten years old asked her mother, "Mom, why can't we talk about King Mario around him?"

"It is as the king wants," the mother said simply. Zelda piped up and said, "It's because he knows he's nowhere near the king Mario was."

The lionesses all turned towards Zelda as she continued, "He does know it. He can't even handle the sword of the king, a sword that's been in the royal family for who knows how many generations."

"Yeah, well, he's the only ruler we have," one lioness said in a defeated voice.

"That's not true," Zelda insisted, "One day, the Circle of Life will choose another to take over as ruler."

"And when will that be?" another demanded, "It's been 8 years now, and things have only gotten worse! Why hasn't it given us a sign? Face it, the Circle of Life has abandoned us."

Zelda shook her head, exclaiming, "No! I refuse to believe that! The Circle of Life created all of us lionesses! It wouldn't just abandon us to our demise."

"Then where is our savior?" the lioness argued, "She must already exist if there is one, because no other lionesses have been born since King Mario died."

"I'm sure she'll reveal herself soon enough,"

"And how could you possibly know that?!"

"I don't! But I have to believe that. Because I cannot and will not give up on hope, because that's all we have left," Zelda finished defiantly. A long moment of silence passed by, before finally one lioness asked, "What about Prince Roy?"

"What about him?" another asked.

"Maybe he's the one that's supposed to take over," the lioness suggested hopefully, "After all, he is of age now. Maybe he's our destined king."

"Are you kidding?" One lioness demanded, "He's Scar's servant now! He would never defy him in a million years. Besides, he's been taught by Scar to be his successor; he would be no better."

"You are right, I could never defy my uncle," a voice announced. The lionesses all turned and looked up, seeing a young lion standing on the platform rock of Pride Rock, looking down at them. He was 17, had red hair sticking out from under his mane, and had eyes like green ice. A rapier was at his side as he looked down at the lionesses, continuing, "And if any of you are unsatisfied with our king, you can talk to me directly so that I may give you the proper response."

He rested his hand on his hilt, the threat made obvious to all those below as Peach stepped forward, saying, "There is no need for threats son."

"Treason more than calls for threats, mother," Roy said simply, before turning and walking into the cave. Inside, Scar stood up, opening his arms to the young lion, saying, "Roy, my boy."

"Hello Uncle," Roy said in a tone slightly warmer than when he addressed the lionesses. As he looked upon his middle aged uncle, he remembered 8 years ago when he learnt the truth of his older brother, Link, from him.

"Roy, I must speak with you alone," Scar had told the boy after Link and Mario's memorial. The 9 year old cub nodded and said, "Okay, Uncle."

Once the two went somewhere private, Scar said, "My boy, I am about to entrust you with a terrible secret. You must keep it from everyone, understand?"

Roy nodded, anxious to hear what Scar had to say. Scar bit his lip and continued, "Your brother, Link, my nephew, murdered your father."

"What?" Roy gasped in shock, "That can't be true…"

"Oh I'm afraid it is," Scar said sadly, "It breaks my heart to say it. My own nephew, who I saw grow up before my very eyes, turn traitor to family and kingdom and kill his own father. However, it is true."

Fresh tears welled up in Roy's eyes as Scar continued, "There's more. It will not be easy to hear, but you must listen to me. Link is alive."

"How?" Roy demanded, tears running down his cheeks, "You said he was…"

"I know," Scar said, "After he killed my brother, I confronted him. He charged at me, but I managed to defeat him. However, when the time came, I'm ashamed to say I could not bring myself to avenge my brother and deliver justice. And thus he ran off. I suspect he has retreated south."

"So, what'll happen to him?"

"He's now banished," Scar replied, "I hope he stays so, and never returns. However, he was so loved by his mother and his people, I could not bear to tell them the reality of things. I spared them, just as I spared him."

Roy looked up in admiration at his uncle, saying, "You're so merciful uncle…"

Scar smiled a bit and said, "Thank you, Roy. But I tell you this truth because I fear he may yet return to claim the throne. I have already proven unable to bring myself to deliver justice to him. And so, I entrust you with this duty; should Link ever return, that you will be the one to bring justice to him."

Roy's mouth dropped as he asked, "Me? But how? I don't know how to fight…"

"I will teach you," Scar said, "I will train you and teach you everything I know."

"Then I can go kill him," Roy said, his anger at his brother growing as Scar stopped him, "No, no young one. I ask that you not go looking for him. Let him stay in exile, left alone to wallow in misery. However, if he does return one day, and I strongly suspect he will, then the task falls to you to avenge your father and bring the traitor to justice."

Roy nodded, proclaiming, "I swear. I will learn everything from you, Uncle, and avenge my father's murder."

Scar nodded patting his nephew on the shoulder, "I know you will."

Well,now it's revealed what purpose Roy will serve in the story. I hope everyone's excited to see what happens next and is enjoying the story so far. Please, as always, be sure to leave plenty of lengthy reviews (the longer the better!... unless it's just filler)