-The Final Showdown-

In the cave on Pride Rock, Roy sat on a rock, practicing a technique his uncle taught him. It was a similar device to the one he would use to shot rapier daggers from his wrists that were concealed; only this one would release a sturdy but thin rope that he could use to strangle someone. He practiced this technique and swiftly wrapped it around a large rock, pulling back, practicing strangling a person, or more specifically, Link. He smiled, satisfied he had mastered this technique. Once he did, he heard Navi say, "You must feel so proud of yourself…"

He looked towards the fairy, stuck in a cage made from rhino ribs and held together with a twine of Scar's creation. He nodded, paying little heed to the fairy's words as she added, "And your mother, too, I'm certain."

Roy's smile faded as he heard this. He kicked the cage hard, sending it against the wall, causing Navi to yelp in pain. Roy sighed, frustrated with himself and feeling no better. He thought to himself, "Something tells me that before the night ends, I will have avenged my father's death."

Link and the others climbed up the rocky slope behind Pride Rock. As they did, Link couldn't help but remember what Toadsworth showed them the other night. One part in particular stuck in his memory; it was his grandfather scolding Scar after his encounter with the Cape Water Buffalo, demanding of his son, "What were you thinking?! Have you lost all sense? How could you act so irresponsibly?! If you were half the son Mario was-"

"I'm ten times the son Mario is…" Scar said bitterly under his breath, tears building up.

Link couldn't shake thinking about this, because he couldn't imagine what it must have been like growing up like that, especially after knowing what something like that did to a person. Before he could think on it too much however, they reached the top and looked down. They were alongside the tallest part of the rock and overlooking the balcony part of the rock. There stood Scar, along with dozens of hyenas on the rock with him. Surrounding the base of the rock were many more hyenas, well into the hundreds. The group crouched down at the top to remain hidden as they watched the pack of lionesses, all 30 or so of them, make their way up the path to the balcony. Peach stepped out from the rest of them, facing Scar, who asked, "Now, tell me why it is you all refuse to hunt."

"Because there's nothing left to hunt," Peach said bluntly, the frustration in her voice clear.

"You're wrong! You're just not looking hard enough,"

"There's nothing left, Scar. The land is dead. We're near to hunting the other species to extinction. We must move on to another land!"

"We're not going anywhere!"

"Then you sentence us to death!"

"If that be the case, then let it come,"

"You can't do this!"

"I'm king, I can do whatever I want!" Scar retorted, turning away, "This matter is over!"

Peach marched towards him, accusing, "If you were half the king Mario was-"

"I'm TEN TIMES the king Mario was!" Scar roared, spinning around and back handing Peach, sending her to the ground hard. A great and powerful fury came over Link as he shoot up, drawing his sword and roaring, "SCAR!"

As he did, lightning flashed not far off from Pride Rock behind him and thunder shook the ground as he stood at the peak, staring down at Scar, who looked up as new fear rushed through him as he looked up at the lion, his eyes aflame with fury, the shadows of the stormy night making him seem as death itself, his black blade an eternal abyss even contrasted against the nightmarish clouds. The lion rushed down the slope as Scar muttered, "Mario?... No… you're dead…"

He backed away, terrified as the lion reached Peach, kneeling beside her as she opened her eyes, looking up, confused as she asked, "Mario…?"

"No, Mom. It's me," Link said, smiling as he helped her up. She looked at her son, shocked as she gasped, "Link…"

Scar's fear melted away into contempt as he said, "Link, how nice to see you again."

Link looked towards Scar with fury, starting to approach his uncle, sword in hand as he demanded, "Give me one reason I shouldn't cut you to ribbons."

"Link, my boy, you must understand," Scar said, trying to weasel out, "The pressures of being king-"

"Are no longer yours to bear," Link interrupted impatiently, "Step down Scar, or fight."

"Oh, must this all end in violence?" Scar asked, before turning to the lionesses, "Would you all follow one who takes a throne by force?"

"It's his rightful throne!" Zelda insisted, reaching the bottom of the slope, "And he's not a liar like you Scar!"

"The choice is yours Scar," Link said, "This can either end peacefully, or badly."

"How can I be expected to make such a choice? After all, I'd hate to be responsible for the death of a family member… wouldn't you agree?" He whispered cruelly to his nephew, who retorted, "That's not gonna work on me Scar! I've left that behind me."

"Left what?" Zelda asked, overhearing this, "Link, what is he talking about?"

"Ah, so you haven't told them your little secret," Scar smiled wider, addressing the lionesses, "Do you know why I lied? I lied merely to protect you from the horrible truth. Well, Link, now's your chance to be a 'real' king, starting with telling them all who's really responsible for Mario's death!"

All eyes fell on Link, and a great silence over came them. Link bowed his head, now forced to say something he hoped he'd never have to say, "I am."

All the lionesses looked shock at the prince, unable to believe what they had heard. Even Zelda looked stunned by hearing this, unable to know what to say. Link sighed to himself, now pessimistic what would happen, fearing they would now turn on him. Scar smiled, sharing the same expectations, asking them, "So, will you still follow a lion king you know to be responsible for the death of the last?"

"Yes!" Peach answered. Everyone looked towards her, not expecting that as she stepped forward, "He deserves to tell his side of the story, and I know for a fact he would never have been purposely responsible for Mario dying, and as such, Mario would never want him to be denied his throne over it."

All the lionesses stepped forward in agreement, all now still determined to support him and follow him now that the shock had past. Link couldn't help but smile at this sight of loyalty, and relieved he would be forgiven for his actions, and given a fair chance to explain himself. He turned to Scar, saying, "You see now Scar, you've lost the loyalty of your own people."

"All of them?" Scar asked, his smile not fading as he motioned towards the cave. Link turned, and gasped at what he saw. There stood his younger brother, now a grown lion, his rapier drawn. What shocked Link was the look in his eyes, the great inferno of pure and untamed hatred as he stared down his brother.

"Roy…"

"Is it true? You admit you were responsible for our father's death?"

"Roy, yes, but-"

"He confessed it himself!" Scar interrupted him. Roy lunged forward, stabbing at Link's chest. He raised his sword in time, knocking Roy aside. He stared at him, preparing again for his attack. The lionesses tried to move forward, but dozens of hyenas lunged in front of them, keeping them at bay. Roy once again swung at Link, this time from above coming down at his head. Link blocked this with relative ease, but was more concerned about stopping this fight before one of them got hurt or killed. He pushed Roy back, backing up towards the end of the balcony, "Roy, listen to me. I can explain, it doesn't have to be this way."

"If it hadn't been for you, his father would still be alive!" Scar accused, speaking for the young lion who was too filled with fury to speak for himself, "Do you deny this?"

"No,"

"Then you are guilty!" Scar condemned, causing Roy to once again lunge at his brother, slashing at his sides, then at his legs, and then once again stabbing at his chest, then his gut. Link blocked all these, once again relatively easy, but he was still focused on trying to end this without bloodshed. Roy slashed at his chest, which Link blocked, causing their blades to lock, silver against black as Roy pushed up against Link, who reasoned, "I don't want to hurt you Roy."

"That makes one of us!" Roy exclaimed, breaking the lock and slashing at his face. Link dodged, but the tip of the blade scratched his left cheek, stinging him. This caused him to remember the feeling when Ganondorf had scratched the other cheek and left a permanent scar. And with that brought back all the feelings associated with it: the helplessness he felt then, the rage of seeing Malon senselessly murdered, the hatred he felt in that exact moment. And with that, Link fell into a deep, fathomless anger as he swung up hard, hitting Roy's blade and sending him stumbling back, falling hard on his back. Link lunged forward, prepared to bring his sword down and finish it when he looked at Roy's face, his anger temporarily subsided, and he remembered the last time he looked at him, when he was still a cub who looked up at his big brother in admiration and said, "I'll be just like you Link…"

As Link became lost in memory, he was unable to process in time Roy jumping up, slashing at his brother, sending his sword flying out of his hand and falling to the ground. Link jumped back as Roy slashed at his gut, and backed up more as Roy approached him, determined to fulfill his revenge. Link tried to reason once again, "Roy, please, I'm not a murderer!"

Scar came up behind Roy, taunting Link, "Oh Link, it looks like you're in trouble again. Only this time daddy's not here to save you. And now everyone knows why!"

As he finished this, Link reached the edge of the balcony, his foot slipping off the edge as he fell flat on his belly, sliding off as Link grabbed onto the rock for support, leaving his abdomen down hanging off the edge as Zelda cried out, "Link!"

Lightning struck behind the prince, hitting the dead grass and igniting it, leaving a fire directly below Link. He could already feel his grip starting to loosen, and soon he'd slip more and inevitably fall to his doom. He looked up desperately at Roy and Scar, the former looking down with the same fiery hatred, but now more hard and focused upon seeing Link was now doomed, and the latter standing at his nephew's shoulder, as he had a puzzled look on his face as he asked himself, "Hmm now where have I seen this before?..."

After a moment, a cruel smile appeared as he said, "Oh yes. My boy, this is exactly how your father looked before he murdered him."

"Murder?" Link whispered, looking up confused at Scar. Roy's lips formed into a furious expression as Scar continued, "A just end for a murderer."

Roy raised his blade, prepared to bring it down and end his brother's life. As he brought it down, however, a blur rushed to Roy's side, fast as lightning, swinging a black blur up and slicing clean through the rapier, sending the broken sword flying out of Roy's hand and off the edge of the balcony. Before Link knew it, Zelda was standing between Roy and Scar and Link as he hung there, her back to her love as she threatened the pair, "Either of you touch him, and I'll kill you."

Roy's anger faded as he realized he had been beaten. Scar held his paws up backing up. Zelda turned around to help Link up. He smiled at her, saying, "Thanks hun."

She handed him his sword as she pulled out her own. Link looked over and saw several fallen hyenas that Zelda must have fought through to get to him, but they reformed and blocked the other lionesses. Zelda went forward and held her sword at Roy's neck, taking him aside so that it was just Link facing Scar. Link then remembered what Scar had said just a moment earlier as he asked him, "What did you mean murderer? Why would you tell Roy I was a murderer?"

"Oh, I might have been exaggerating," Scar said nervously, his paws still held up. Roy piped up, "But uncle, you told me Link had murdered Mario so he could get the throne…"

"Why would you tell him that? And how did you know how my father looked before he died, unless you were there. But why wouldn't you have helped him-" Link demanded, and that's when he realized it. Roy had attacked him because he was under the impression Link had murdered their father, to get him to kill his own brother should he ever return. And the only way he would know how his father looked before he died, was the same reason he wanted Link dead.

Link roared and lunged at his uncle, pinning him to the ground as he held his sword to his throat as he heaved in fury, demanding, "Did you murder him?"

"Oh really, now, murder is such an ugly word, I mean-"

"Yes or no! No more weaseling Scar…"

"All right…" Scar said, and then mumbled to himself. Link put some pressure on his throat, exclaiming, "So everyone can hear you!"

"Yes! I murdered Mario!" Scar roared. Link loosened his grip in shock of this confession as he stood up. All fell silent as this confession as Scar stood up too, clutching his throat as he continued, "But don't act so innocent! If it hadn't been for you causing that stampede to begin with, I would never have had the chance to kill him!"

Link fumed at the traitor, countering, "My part in that was accidental. But yours was treason and murder!"

Link lunged at the older lion, stabbing at where his heart should have been, but he managed to duck and jump away as hyenas swarmed down on Link, over a dozen of them coming between him and Scar. Link looked them down, knowing he wouldn't likely be able to fight them all off himself. Then he heard a war cry in the distance, "For the Pride Lands!"

All turned out towards the distance, and saw dozens of leopards charging towards Pride Rock, wielding the weapons of their former captors and led by the Cape Water Buffaloes, their battle axes raised high. Many dozens of the hyenas charged from Pride Rock out towards the fast approaching army to clash. Unfortunately, this left far fewer to keep the lionesses at bay as they all drew swords and started fighting off those that were there. A few facing Link left to aid the others, letting Link charged forward and start fighting through those who remained. Zelda left Roy and jumped into the fray, fighting off hyenas with Link. On the ground below, the buffaloes crashed against the hyenas, slashing through them with ease as the leopards jumped in, furiously fighting through them.

Link made his way through the hyenas and faced Scar, who had his sword drawn. The two locked eyes for a moment, then Link lunged forward, slashing furiously at Scar as the two dueled. Scar managed to throw in a few stabs and slashes at the prince, but for the most part Link was bearing down angrily on Scar, driving him back against the towering Rock. Finally he brought down his blade so hard it cut his sword in half, sending the hilt falling to the ground. Before he could do anything else, however, Zant, Veran and Ghirahim jumped in front of their fallen king, swords drawn. He sliced from left to right, slicing through Ghirahim's saber, knocking Veran's saber out of his hand and off the edge, and meeting Zant's saber hard. He pushed him back Zant, slicing at his left side, right shoulder then at the top of his head. Zant barely blocked all of these before Link kicked the hyena hard in the chest, sending him falling back. Veran and Ghirahim came up behind him, wielding sabers from their fallen hyenas as the moved to strike him down, but were caught off guard by a charge cry as they turned to see Yoshi charging towards them, Toad on his back swinging a bone as a club. Yoshi's tusks hit Ghirahim right in the buttocks, sending him flying into the air in pain as Toad knocking the blade out of Veran's hand, then hit her in the head with the bone club.

Before Link could react properly, he heard from behind, calling out from the cave, "Help! He's gonna eat me!"

"Navi!" Link gasped, turning towards the cave as he saw Zant running out, holding Navi in a cage for her made from a rhino's ribs, accompanied by half a dozen hyenas. Link tried to rush forward, but was intercepted by a group of hyenas he had to fight off, but he knew he'd never fight them off in time to save her. He heard a monkey cry out, and looked up to see Toadsworth leap down upon the kidnapping hyenas, using his staff to hit Zant right in the head, causing him to drop the cage and break it open enough for Navi to fly out as Toadsworth clubbed all the hyenas, sending them running away. Link looked around and saw that all the hyenas were retreating. One of the buffaloes cried out, "Chase them out of these lands!"

All the buffaloes charged after the retreating the hyenas, forcing them towards the Elephant Graveyard from whence them came. All the lionesses and leopards cheered at this. Link couldn't help but smile in relief, but then turned and saw Scar sneaking his way up Pride Rock towards the top. The two locked eyes once more, and Link could see the terror in his eyes. He growled and charged up the path pursuing Scar, who ran up fast as he could. As they ran up, Link saw the fire that had started was now starting to surround Pride Rock, the smoke and fume building up around as the color red dominated the sky. Scar jumped onto the top, but tripped on the landing, falling down onto his belly as Link lunged right behind him. Scar turned onto his back, backing up towards the edge as Link slowly approached him. His eyes narrowed, his eyes like cold steel with hatred, muttering, "Murderer…"

"Link, link, please, have mercy I beg you," Scar begged, continuing to back up until he was at the edge of the rock as Link further approached him, saying coldly, "You don't deserve to live."

"But Link, you must understand, it's the hyenas who are the real enemies! It was their fault, it was their idea, they tricked me!"

"Why should I believe you?" Link scoffed coldly, reaching Scar and pointing the tip of his sword at his throat, "Everything you ever told me was a lie."

"What are you going to do?" Scar asked, terrified, "You wouldn't kill your own uncle would you?"

Link looked down with hated contempt, keeping the tip at his throat and keeping him on edge. Link did in fact consider doing just that. After all, he had murdered his own family, why should he be spared? It's just as he said, a just end for a murderer. But as he looked down at this pathetic person, and saw the petrifying terror in his eyes, Link, despite wanting so much to act in the contrary, knew one thing: if he did kill him now, in cold blood, he would be no better himself. He sighed, pulling his sword back a bit to let Scar relax as he answered, "No Scar… I'm not like you."

Scar sighed with relief, saying, "Oh Link, my boy, thank you. You won't regret this I promise. Now, what can I do for you?"

Link held the tip more at the traitor's throat, saying, "You're coming with me, Scar. You're going to stand trial for high treason and murder, and once you're found guilty, you'll be given a just sentence."

Scar looked nervously up at him as he said, "Yes, of course. As you wish… your majesty!"

As he said this, he shot out his rapier dagger from under his wrist, stabbing at Link's hand that held the sword, causing him to cry out in pain and drop it as Scar sprung up, shoving Link to the grown as he made a run for it. Link jumped up to pursue when he saw Roy appear on the rock, jumping onto his uncle's back, pulling out his rope and wrapping it around his throat from behind as he began strangling him. Scar gasped hard for air as he stumbled around, trying to shake off the lion as he held on, continuing to strangle him. Link watched in awe as Roy continued to strangle Scar as he stumbled towards the right edge of Pride Rock. Roy pulled harder than ever as the last bit of life began to leave Scar, and the traitor slumped to his knees as he began to lean forward, no longer conscious as his body threatened to topple over the side with Roy. Link rushed forward and grabbed Roy as the two fell over the edge. Link managed to pull him up as Roy released Scar's body, and the two brothers watched as it fell many stories down into the flame.

Thunder shook the Pride Lands once more, and the lionesses and leopards that had gathered at the base of Pride Rock looked up to see rain was beginning to fall down from the sky. It fell heavy, quickly dosing the flames out as all went quiet. Zelda, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Navi and Toadsworth all stood on the balcony, near the path up the rock, and saw Roy and Link make their way down. They reached the bottom as Peach rushed forward throwing her arms around her sons, pulling them in tight. After a moment, Link pulled away, adjusting the bandage Roy had wrapped around his hand, while Roy told her what had happened. He looked over at Zelda and his friends, who smiled at him proudly. He turned back to his mother, as she said, "Your father would be very proud of you. Of both of you."

Roy smiled a bit, but then frowned as he said, "Mother, Link… I'm sorry. Well, sorry doesn't even begin to cover or make up for what I've done-"

"It's okay," Link assured him, putting his hand on his brother's shoulder, "Scar manipulated you, he manipulated me, all of us. What matters is you did the right thing in the end."

Roy smiled, saying, "I can tell you'll make a great king, Link."

Link nodded appreciating, as he turned to Zelda, who gave him a big hug. The two looked at each other warmly; as he saw Toad and Yoshi approach him, carrying a familiar looking sword. It was his father's sword, the golden hilt glowing in the rain as it washed away the dust and cobwebs. Navi said, "It is the king's sword after all, your highness."

He looked surprised at her. He could remember when she thought he was nothing more than a trouble making cub that had a long way to go to become king. But then, Link knew he had indeed come a long way, and he trusted her judgment in believing him ready of being king. He reached forward and grabbed the hilt with his good hand. He held the broad sword and felt it heavy and mighty, not unlike the duty of being king, but as he knew what it meant to be king, he could humbly wield it efficiently. Toadsworth put his hand on the lion's shoulder as Link turned to hear him say, "It is time."

Link nodded and he began to make his way up the balcony towards the edge. All the lionesses and leopards on the ground looked up in admiration and awe as he made his way up, a mighty lion king rising to take his place, wielding the mighty sword only he could wield. He reached the top, looking up at the sky as he held the sword up, facing the blade. He saw the clouds part a bit to reveal some stars, amongst which he knew his father now lay. In his mind he heard his father's voice remind him, "Remember… who you are."

Link raised the sword high as he could as he gave of a mighty roar that shook the land like thunder. All the lionesses and leopards joined in as they all roared in unison, celebrating the Lion King's return.

Well, this was by far the longest chapter I've written in this story. Next is just the epilogue that'll bring everything full circle, and then my closing statements. Hope the pay off was satisfying :)