[A/N: Take a look inside Scar's chaotic mind... it begins with Scar having a dream/nightmare...]

Nala… Her eyes are so captivating that I fear one day I'll lose myself in them if I stare for too long. We're alone, side by side, in the water hole. It, however, is… water-less… Yet that's a concern to address later… Nala is my sole priority now. No one will take her away from me. My future is sealed…

"What are you hiding?"

Hiding? How does she know… What do my eyes reveal to her when she stares into them?

"Goodbye." Her sweet voice, slowly drifting away from me… Nala fades, and suddenly, a body of water emerges beneath us—separating us even further.

"Don't go! Don't leave me!" My call out is pointless as I witness her floating away from me, farther and farther away. "I cannot be alone…" My voice shivers, my weak words barely audible. Taka…

Nala… gone. The water… gone as well. Not a single drop remained, as if it had never been there. Nothing surrounds me. Emptiness is all there is. My view, cloaked in a black, endless darkness.

"Didn't I tell you, son?"

Father? No… just no…

"You cannot hide, Taka. It's impossible to create a future when there is none…"

"Stop it, father!" Please, make it disappear!

"You cannot ignore the past!"

If only I could erase you and Mufasa from the minds of the living, I could ignore the past… He's not here, he's not real…

"Pain remains. Scars may fade, but they shall never disappear..."

What? "How dare you speak of scars to me?"

"How dare—" Upon realising his wakefulness, Scar stopped mid-sentence and swallowed his words. "These imaginary conversations with Ahadi aren't the most pleasant ways for a lion to wake up…" he mumbled, his lack of comfort for his daily routine evident. Scar brushed his scarred eye. That day you marked me… He had always blamed his father for what, who, and where he was in the present day. "You did this to me…" he said, yawning. Whether they were mere illusions or the actual ghost of his father, they disrupted his sleep, luring the joyful dreams away from him. "Mark my words, I'll surpass you soon…" Scar strolled outside. The fresh air breeze would do him good, he hoped.

Later that morning:

"I'm the king! But why am I not satisfied?" Did I just say that out loud? Scar's thoughts were so consuming that he had lost touch with reality and was unsure if he was speaking out loud or not. Terrific, he assumed he thought. Allowing a deep sigh to go out, Scar settled himself on top of his rock, the coolness of the stone beneath him a welcome relief on a hot day.

"Sire, what's with the long face?" Zazu, the bird Scar kept behind bars, dragged the lion out of his chaotic mind.

"Zazu? Why am I not... loved?" Scar opted for a direct approach and cut to the chase. The lionesses… Why don't they like me? How are they able to resist my black manes? And I'm a king! What more could they possibly want?

"Well, why do you think you are not loved?"

Scar's irritation with the hornbill's wise tone was evident. It was like listening to his father or to his brother, neither of whom he wished to recall. According to Scar, they had experienced no shortcomings during their reign as kings, whereas under his rule, everything turned black, quite literally. Scar's mood shifted, and he made a gesture towards Zazu, motioning for him to leave him alone with his thoughts.

I'm perfectly fine! I'm better than Mufasa was.

"I'm revered."

"I am reviled."

"I'm idolised."

"I am despised!"

"I'm keeping calm."

"I'm going wild!"

"I tell myself I'm fine."

"Yes I am, no you're not."

"No, you're not, yes I am, no you're not."

"Yes, I am!"

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, no, yes, no! Who am I talking to...?"

The moment Scar realised he was speaking to a wildebeest skull, he threw it away. "I don't know what I'm doing…"

"Oh, pull yourself together, Sire! Or you'll get another one of your splitting headaches!" Zazu said, hoping to avoid a headache of his own.

"Too late! Perhaps you should sing something for me again," Scar responded.

"What would you like to hear today, Sire?" Whereas Scar delved deep into his psyche, searching for the one song that could lift his spirit, Zazu took a deep breath. "Oh, I never had to do this with Mufasa…"

In an instant, Scar sprang up with force. "What did you say? You know the law! Don't ever speak that name to me!" he yelled. The bird quickly backed away as Scar almost pressed his mouth between the bars of the cage. Scar's breath was so close that the hornbill could feel its warmth, and the scent of the lion's jaws filled his nostrils. Zazu shivered, and Scar took it as a sign he had successfully made his point. Scar often wondered if he still had it in him. The lionesses, the hyenas and even Zazu, Scar knew they often laughed behind his back. Where did the eerie lion go who murdered— Mufasa… He sighed, and decided that he still had a little, perhaps superfluous, conversation to finish. "Zazu, for this one time... What did my brother have that I don't have?" Scar asked, his aversion clearly present. He theatrically slid his paw over his forehead. I shudder at the thought of learning the answer…

"Do you want the short or the long list?" Zazu commented, frowning.

"Whatever, Zazu." Scar pulled a face.

"Well, he had respect for your species. And he had adoring subjects... a loving family... a devoted queen..."

Zazu's words caught Scar off guard, as he had expected a dull lecture on his character, but instead, the bird just cited the physical things he missed out on in his life. Now, that's what I like to call a rather unexpected twist! And he didn't even have to initiate the subject himself… A queen, a family... Scar had been considering finding a queen, but now he could use the bird's suggestion to his advantage by allowing the bird to believe he planted this idea in his mind. Which… was exactly what he planned to do… "That's it! I need a queen! Zazu, I have to hand it to you, you're a genius!" Scar grimed.

"Oh, no… Heavens…" Zazu sighed deep, regretting his own words. "Him I can still take, but two of those unbearable—"

"Don't make me regret calling you a genius, Zazu," Scar responded, immediately aware of who Zazu referred to. "Why should I make the same mistake twice, when I've got a bunch of prettier lionesses to choose from?" Scar frowned, continuing his play. "A queen! Without a queen, what am I? A dead end, no line, no descendants, no future? With a queen, I'll have cubs... A suitable heir! Immortality will be mine!"

"So, what will you do? Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo, or will you just pick the first one brave enough to enter this cave?" Zazu spoke, a hint of sarcasm evident in his tone.

Obviously, Scar already had the answer, yet time to share it with the bird, he had not…

"Hey, boss! Talkin' to the silly bird again?" Banzai greeted the lion when he, Shenzi, and Ed hopped in.

Ah, my friends! Well, 'friends'… Since when did 'boss' become a term of endearment for friends? Every so often, Scar wouldn't object to eliminating the hyenas. He observed them, his eyes narrowing. Shenzi, the female leader, who, according to him, at least possessed a fraction of the brain. In Scar's opinion, Banzai was nothing more than a cubbish piece of junk. The last one, Ed, who besides laughing and nodding lacked any manner of communication, Scar thought was completely beyond redemption. Scar rolled his eyes as he scanned the area, glimpsing everyone around him—including Zazu. "I'm surrounded by idiots, again…"

"Well, thank you!" Shenzi's immediate response left no room for Scar to doubt whether or not that was just a thought. "What's the matter with ya lately? You're not alone in having to skip breakfast!" Shenzi couldn't conceal that she felt slightly offended. "Has he been like this all day, Zazu?"

"Oh, he just needs a mate!" Zazu responded, surprising even himself with his own statement. Yet it gained him a slight amount of popularity among the hyenas, particularly with the two male hyenas as they had both burst into fits of laughter.

"Stop that, you fools!" Scar instantly responded. He deemed their laughter as exceedingly annoying, particularly when it overshadowed his voice.

"Someone please get Zi—" Banzai coughed when Shenzi instantly elbowed him.

"Cut it out, will ya? Too soon…" Shenzi whispered to her companion.

"You creatures know nothing about love!" Scar stated.

Suddenly, Banzai and Shenzi exchanged a look, grinning. "You're wrong, pal…" Shenzi giggled.

"What, you two?" Scar disliked the confirming looks on their faces. He realised he should've known they would end up together eventually. Therewith, he frowned upon glimpsing in Ed's direction. The look on Ed's face was suspicious, the lion thought. "No, he can't have a mate!"

"Ed? He's actually freakin' popular among the ladies!" Banzai said. When hyenas befriended lions, perhaps it could be deemed obvious their status within their own species skyrocketed. Unfortunately for Scar, vice versa, it rather had the opposite effect.

"Is it too much to ask for a little sympathy?" Scar dramatically said, acting as if his pride had been deeply wounded. "Don't mistake the colour of my heart with the colour of my manes," he gushed, almost in a singing tone. With a dramatic gesture, Scar held his paw to his chest, feeling his heart race beneath his fur.

"Here we go again..." Shenzi mumbled, unamused.

"Tell me I'm adored! Please, tell me I'm adored!" Scar sung.

Banzai struggled to contain his laughter. "A door?"

Scar took a deep breath, feeling burdened with the wrong public. He moved his paw towards his eyes, hoping to see everyone being gone upon lowering his paw again. The reality of his view was a far cry from what he had envisioned and thought he had signed himself up for all those years ago. The lionesses don't even fear me anymore and apparently, the hyenas prefer reproducing themselves above following my orders... I may hope they at least killed that little hairball! Scar hastily uncovered his eyes and, upon observing no change in Zazu's behaviour, he breathed a sigh of relief. Had Scar said that particular thought out loud, the hornbill definitely would've gone ballistic. Fortunately for the lion, that didn't happen. Once more, Scar narrowed his focus towards the three hyenas. Ed, now rolling on the floor laughing, emitted noises Scar couldn't even recognise. Scar's patience grew thin, and he lashed his claw out towards the hyena, which threw him off balance. Witnessing Ed's slow attempt to rise to his feet, Scar was slightly surprised by his own actions. At least I still have some strength left in me…

"Pal, aren't you a little overreacting?" Shenzi reacted, protecting Ed by stepping in between them.

"Please, Sire, set me free!" Trapped amidst the drama between lion and hyena, Zazu voiced his pleas.

"What is it you want this time?!" Scar called out, ignoring Zazu. He knew the hyenas never visit him for fun. Despite their tendency to mock him, they always needed something from him. Of course, vice versa, it was the same.

"We've got a bone to pick with you," Banzai jokingly said.

"I'll handle this..." Shenzi instantly turned to Banzai. Stepping forward, she took over her mate's wheel. "There's no food, no water..."

Scar, as per customary, was uninterested in their complaints. "Oh... eat Zazu," he said, teasingly pointing a paw towards the hornbill.

"Oh, you wouldn't want me!" Zazu instantly responded, slightly jolted. "I'd be so tough and gamy!"

"Zazu, don't be ridiculous. All you need is a little garlic," Scar joked.

"Seriously, Scar, that rotten spout won't solve any problems!" Shenzi hissed as she threw Zazu a look of aversion.

Scar was on the brink of losing his temper once more, his eyes narrowing. "It's all your fault! You've been hunting excessively!" he yelled. "Work it out with Nala!"

"See, there lies the problem. We don't think Nala is the right lioness for the job," Shenzi responded, carefully leading the conversation to the next level.

Scar took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his body as his blood started to boil. "You don't have the authority to judge a decision I've made. Are you questioning my way of leading?" he replied, using a calm yet threatening tone.

Banzai sighed. "And I thought we had it bad under Mufasa…"

In a split second, Scar leaped in front of the hyena, blocking his path. "What did you say!?" he growled.

"I said—"

Reacting instantly, Shenzi once more elbowed her mate. It seemed as if her sole duty these days was to make sure Banzai didn't accidentally speak any of the names belonging to Scar's forbidden list.

Banzai cleared his throat. "I said, uh... Que pasa?" He flashed the black-maned lion a rather uneasy smile.

Scar averted his gaze from the hyenas, deciding he had heard enough from them. "Good, and now get out..." His gaze fixed on the cave's wall, Scar frowned. They're still behind me, aren't they?

"But we still have no food!" Banzai's voice confirmed Scar's thought.

Scar roared. "I said get out!" Fortunately, this time, the hyenas received the message and retreated. Scar grinned as he turned his head to catch a last glimpse of them running out. "Zazu, where were we before those three beggars came in?" Since the hyenas had spoiled his mood, Scar figured resuming his little game with Zazu could help restore it.

"If you would allow me to finish without bursting out to me, that would be great," Zazu answered.

"Well then, Zazu… Tell me I'm adored. Please tell me I'm adored!"

Zazu sighed dramatically. "Is this necessary?"

"Fine! You've spoiled my mood anyway!" Scar sank back down onto his rock, the weight of his disappointment heavy on his shoulders. So much for today's excitement…

Later that day:

"Scar?"

Scar's thoughts were once more interrupted, but this time by a barely audible, gentle voice. The black-maned lion, however, lacked facing to see whoever bothered him this time. His latest hyena visit still had him irritated. "Am I running a guest house for you to keep wandering in all day or what?!" he shouted.

"Oh Nala, you couldn't have picked a moment worse for your visit!" Zazu commented upon noticing the young lioness entering the cave cautiously.

Nala? How could I have possibly mistaken Nala for a hyena?— , Scar thought to himself. He turned around promptly, a surprised expression on his face, and then broke into a wide but uneasy grin.

"I knew this was a bad idea!" Nala softly said to herself. She hesitated and in her mind she began to play out her chances of retreating.

"Ah, Nala..." Scar smiled slyly. "No, actually, your timing couldn't have been more perfect. Please, accept my apologies. Your voice just sounds so unfamiliar to me." Those freakin' hyenas, one day I'll kill them all! I can't screw this up. I've got to do something! "Be my guest, Nala. Grab yourself a gazelle… Shoot—" Scar heaved a disappointing sigh. "I'm out of them!"

"That's why I came to speak to you. Scar, you've got to do something. We're being forced to over-hunt. The hyenas—"

Bla, bla, bla... "My dear, there's no need to waste your pretty voice on that," Scar gently said. "Let me guess? Even though I made you the lead huntress, the grey faces aren't taking your authority seriously, am I right?" He refrained from mentioning they had visited him earlier, complaining about her.

"Indeed, they are—"

"Well, then we'll make them obey you! I've just figured out the perfect solution…" Scar continued, flashing Nala a rather odd smile.

Nala couldn't believe her ears. He's actually planning to do something about it?—, Nala thought to herself in her mind. "You have?" Whereas Nala responded with a hint of surprise, her inner voice whispered not to unleash her excitement just yet…

Scar's promotion of Nala as the lead huntress had been driven by the hope she would eventually visit his cave. Within himself, Scar had already plotted a plan for sailing the ship off to another course. "Yes, but there's—" Similar to how a predator sneaks up on his prey, Scar began walking around her. "Nala... my, how've you grown!" Quickly, he cleared his throat. "Before we can make this plan work, there's just one small title upgrade you need to receive from me. And there's more to it! I'm brightening up both yours and little Mheetu's future!" With an air of seduction, he let his tail slide below Nala's chin.

Nala blinked. "And what's that title?" Even though Scar had aroused Nala's curiosity by bringing up her younger brother, she remained perceptive. She knew somewhere in this story there was a catch, because involving the black-maned king, there always was one!

Suddenly Scar's energy-metre filled itself to the max. "I shall tell you, but first let me deliberate it with myself a bit," he said, sounding utmost mystifying. Whilst still circling around Nala, he seemed to perform some peculiar dance manoeuvres. Scar cleared his throat once more, this time in a highly dramatic manner. Then he continued his, perhaps if seen from anyone else's perspective, odd presentation in singing. "She's got those assets feminine..."

Nala, not being amused by Scar's vocal talents, interrupted him. "Please Scar, I'm being serious here!"

"So am I, Nala. So am I!" I have to make her mine! She has to be my queen! "Nobility in every gene. A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer!" He straightened his back, tightened his muscles, and for a moment, indeed, was tiptoeing near her. "Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected… to take certain duties on board…" Hey, that sounds familiar. I should renew my old song next!

"I'm not following you!" Riddle after riddle… Why can't he just be straight to the point?— , Nala wondered.

"My cylinders are firing with fervour. And you, my sweet thing, fit the part…" Scar pressed his head against Nala's neck and softly nudged her forward.

"Oh, Sire, it is inappropriate to verbalise such statements!" Zazu, the bird Scar clearly had forgotten about, snarled.

Did I? Scar used his paw to cover up his mouth.

"What are you talking about?" Nala hissed. She declared to herself if Scar wouldn't cut the ridiculous act soon, her inner bucket of how much she could take soon had reached its last drop.

Don't tell me I have to spell it out for her!—, Scar said in his mind, pondering over his thoughts, searching for the perfect one-liner that would do the thing. "Come on, sweet Nala, be my queen."

"Excuse me?" Despite all the scenarios Nala had played out in her mind, this one caught her off guard.

Scar raised his head, his mane fluttering in the breeze. "It's written all over in the stars." Scar clearly was in for more than one bite. He approached Nala again, gaining on his goal of guiding her closer to the walls. "We'll create a host of little Scars!" Whilst singing, Scar flashed Nala a rather greedy grin.

"You act highly inappropriate!" Nala hissed.

Zazu, in a state of panic, covered his eyes. "Couldn't you have taken a class about making advances first? Oh, even for me, this is too embarrassing to watch!"

"Argh! Why won't you just button your beak?!" Scar aggressively yelled towards the hornbill. I refuse to believe my brother never felt tempted to eat that chatterbox!

Scar continued to back Nala into a corner until he had her in the desired position. His front paws came down near her head, pinning her between him and the wall. "Ooh... Nala, you delicious little… Just become my mate! I can sense that you—ARGH!"

Nala's claw struck the greedy lion with force, causing him to lose his balance. Scar stumbled back a bit. "No one, not even a king, has the authority to treat me in such a manner!" Nala was furious. She recalled how Scar had slid his tail over her back that day he made her the lead huntress, realising he had chosen her for reasons other than her abilities. He doesn't care about the Pride Lands at all!

Scar rubbed his cheek and chuckled while he rose himself back up. He admitted to himself he deserved the slap Nala had given him. "Ooh, Nala... You know, even though I loathe violence, there's just something about your inner rage that attracts me to you even more." There lived a small, mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "One way or another, you will be mine!" Nothing seemed to steam Scar off, but Nala had stormed out of the cave already. For now, she'd successfully fled from his greedy, uncensored mind where he planned to add her in.

Scar's blood still flooded through his veins like a raging river full of energy flashes, similar to what was depicted outside. A heavy, oppressive thunderstorm overshadowed the sad-looking Pride Lands. Rain poured down from the skies, rinsing and quenching the lands beneath. Lightning came pulsing through the atmosphere, reaching the sandy grounds in fire-coloured streaks as if it had to be revived. Scar's enthusiasm only grew bigger when a bolt of lightning caught his attention. Perfect! He stormed outside, and upon standing on top of the Pride Rock, he halted. He glanced up, allowing the rain to soak him. The rain had flattened his long, black, gleaming mane, causing it to stick to his skin. Scar was completely fearless of the lightning. From afar, he spotted several lionesses, including Nala. Of course, hyenas were present too. He saw fear in some of his subjects' eyes. Scar grimed. He imagined the sight of him, the lightning and the terrifying sounds of thunder combined frightened his subjects. Scar's heart raced as he experienced the touch of power he had been yearning for.

This moment requires a speech… Scar felt the weight of the eyes upon him. Scar was never at a loss for words, yet they often proved to be more harmful than helpful. Regardless, Scar was adept at being prepared… "Listen! I just named Nala as my queen!" His words echoed down to his audience, and within moments, gossip followed. "Silence! This is my reign! My rules!" Scar wondered why his head was suddenly filled with the sounds of annoying hyena laughter. He rolled his eyes upon looking down sideways, crossing his view with their sources. Oh no, you will not share the stage with me this time! "No, quiet! I gave you minions no permission to—" He visaged a palm-face. "Just stop!" Where was I? "Ah, Nala… You belong to me! You ALL belong to me!" He cast a fierce gaze towards the heavens, as if yearning to be heard by someone who watched beyond the veil of thunderclouds. "Immortality will be mine! Just mine!" At last, according to Scar, he was the one with the last, and only laughter. The king is back!