Chapter Four - Betrayal

Sadiki was confused. Very, very confused. She was now a young adult, but she'd been thinking about Scar and Zira since the day she heard their stories. And the more she thought about them, the more she decided she wanted to avenge them. She'd never even met them, but she found herself understanding their wishes. She talked to Vitani often, slipping in questions about Zira's plans. She had it engraved in her mind that her grandfather Simba had indeed murdered Scar, not the hyenas, and that if it wasn't for Kiara, Zira would have lived. She found it hard to be around Simba, Nala, Kovu and Kiara. She was even angry at Vitani at times for agreeing with Kiara and becoming a Pridelander.

Sadiki made sure to disguise her wishes by becoming incredibly loyal to her pride. She worked hard to be a skilled hunter. Though she usually liked to be alone, she tried to be kind to her parents when she was around them to ensure they wouldn't be suspicious. At first Sadiki had been disturbed by her respect for Scar and Zira, but now she ignored that feeling. Each day, she became a better hunter, a better queen. But the rest of her pride didn't know that each day, she became more cruel and dedicated.

In the old baobab tree sat Rafiki. A powerful gust of wind signaled the presence of the Kings of the Past, again warning him of an unexpected threat, just like they had when Sadiki was a cub. Rafiki sighed. The wind picked up again and sent a stray leaf flying. The leaf blew over to the image of Sadiki on the tree. The wind pushed the leaf against the image. Rafiki quietly gasped. The past kings were telling him that this threat had something to do with Sadiki. "No," Rafiki whispered, "She is a loyal princess, she has done nothing wrong."

But the kings were persistant, and the wind kept the leaf firmly against the drawing. "Okay," Rafiki said, "Okay!" The wind died down and the leaf fell to the ground. Rafiki decided he had to visit the Pridelands. He grabbed his staff and slowly made his way down the trunk of the Tree of Life.

Sadiki had brainwashed herself. She didn't know how, or why, but she had, and there was no turning back. She looked out at the starry sky outside the sleeping cave. Everyone else was asleep. She gazed from her mother and father to Simba and Nala.

Simba.

Without Simba, Scar could have been King and Zira could have been happy. Slowly and quietly, Sadiki stood and approached the sleeping form of Simba. He was old, his fur and mane were dull, and he was weak. Sadiki gave a low growl. Scar had deserved to be King...he was smart and wise...

The Princess lowered her head and sunk her fangs into his thick neck. The feeble and aging Simba grunted in pain, looking up to see his granddaughter biting his neck. His eyes widened in shock, then froze, dead. Sadiki smiled and released her grip on her grandfather's neck. Memories flooded her head, of playing with Simba as a cub, learning about the Pridelands with him, and the great bond they'd shared before she began seperating herself from family...

But she'd killed him. It was too late. She shook her head. She'd done the right thing. Scar and Zira were watching from the stars, and surely they were pleased! Sadiki took a look at her parents...her heroes as a cub, her enemies now. She licked Simba's blood from her teeth. The blood of family.

With one last look at Simba's dead body, Sadiki turned and ran as far as she could, away from the Pridelands.

Rafiki arrived at Pride Rock soon after Sadiki had began to run. He slowly climbed its side and quietly entered the sleeping cave. All looked peaceful, but Sadiki was nowhere to be found. Rafiki began to walk around the sleeping lions to look for her, when he saw the dead body of Simba. He gasped and examined the body. He found wounds on the neck and blood around Simba's lifeless form.

Simba dead, obviously murdered...Sadiki nowhere to be found...and, presently, Rafiki noticed a few bloody pawprints leading towards the back exit of Pride Rock. "No..." he whispered.