From the previous evening, Nala had discovered that her mother had no recognition of the events that had transpired during the whole Family of Blood incident. They must have erased her memory—or something like that. So it looked like she didn't have to worry about her mother raising any awkward questions.

Weird questions, however, were a different matter.

"Nala, have you noticed anything odd about Mufasa and Sarabi lately?" Sarafina asked her daughter, catching her as she was on her way out of the den.

"Uh… I guess," Nala replied. She was just about to go out and look for Simba. He'd been searching for Haiba for over a day now. She hoped they hadn't gotten themselves into any danger.

But there was also the horrible possibility that Haiba had somehow—in his anger—hurt Simba. After all, they knew how frightening he could be when he was mad. His anger made him stronger…

"Why are you asking me, anyway, Mom?" Nala questioned. She knew how insane Simba's parents had become in recent times. Luckily, her mother hadn't befallen the same fate. Even if she was half-vampire.

"Oh, I don't know," Sarafina sighed. "It's just that they're not the same animals I used to know. It's like someone else has taken over their bodies. But that just sounds silly."

"Maybe that's what happens when you get old?" Nala pathetically suggested with a shrug.

"I'm the same age as them, Nala," Sarafina informed her daughter. "If that were true, then I'd be acting the same." She smiled. "Do you see me acting any differently?"

"No," Nala thankfully agreed. A few weeks ago, she was trying to suck out Nala's blood. It was a relief that she had returned to her good old self. "So if I'm wrong, then what do you think?"

"I'm not sure," said Sarafina. "But I'd love to find out. I've been trying to find an excuse to discuss it with them—but they always seem to be busy. Their 'royal duties' just seem to get in the way all of the time." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "I'm sure that they're hiding something…"

"Well, good luck with finding out," Nala said, before heading for the exit. "I've got to go and look for Simba."

"Oh. Well, be careful, then."

"I always am," Nala assured her mother, leaving the den.

Sarafina counted exactly nine seconds before her daughter backed up, a disturbed look on her face.

"Mom, do you ever get those days when something really horrible happens?" she asked.

Sarafina became puzzled. "What do you mean, Nala?"

"Well, when I just looked outside, all of the trees were destroyed," she explained, before gulping nervously. "And Simba's Uncle Scar is making his way towards us."

"Scar?" Sarafina exclaimed in shock. "But—but… he died! Didn't he?"

"Um… I think he came back," Nala said worriedly.

She was trying to keep a cool head on things. The reappearance of Scar wasn't something to be taken lightly. As far as she was concerned, he was one of the very worst enemies they had ever encountered. One of the first, too. Greedy, evil, and always willing to team up with villains like Hago, he was a formidable foe. In fact, Hago was the lion who had killed him. Nala couldn't say that deplorable father of hers hadn't done at least something good.

"We have to warn the King!" Sarafina exclaimed. "Wait…" A realisation occurred to her. "Oh, no."

"What?" Nala asked.

"I just remembered. The King and Sarabi went on a trip this morning. They won't be back for two days!" Sarafina said with concern. "What are we going to do? The lionesses aren't going to be any match for him without the King helping us!"

"Somehow, I doubt that he'd help us out anyway," Nala mumbled, before affecting a brave look. "Well, I guess there's only one thing we can do."

"What's that?" said Sarafina.

"I'm going to have to become Queen Nala for the day," her cub replied. "I can take care of this. After all, I have this feeling that it's only me he wants. I wasn't exactly one of his closest friends." She thought back to all of the times Scar had attempted to kill her, and frowned. It didn't take long for her hate for him to return.

"Where is Simb a?" a voice boomed from outside the den. "Where is he?"

That creep. Of course. He wanted Simba as well. Both of them, probably. Lucky for him that he was searching for Haiba right now.

Nala gulped as Scar strode into the den, glaring at all of the lionesses. They gasped in surprise as who they were seeing. His sinister eyes locked onto Nala's, and he growled at the sight of her.

"Nala," he said with disgust. "How… unpleasant to see you again."

Nala stood firm, filled with courage. She wasn't scared of him. "Scar. I see you're back from the dead." She didn't sound so surprised at the fact. After all, she'd seen lions like Hago come back to life before.

"That I am, Nala," Scar said with a smile. "Now, where's Prince Simba? It is time for his execution. His punishment for disallowing my right to the throne."

"The Pride Lands will never be yours," Nala told him bravely. "You lost your right as soon as Simba was born!"

"I can remedy that," Scar retorted. "As soon as he and the King are dead."

"The King's gone," Nala said. "And so is Simba. The Queen, too. I'm the only one here."

Scar's eyes widened. "Oh, dear. Well, I suppose I'll have to leave, then. Search for him. After all, I can't allow the little weed to live as long as I'm here." He turned around and began to walk away.

Nala smiled. He was going? At least that would give them some time to fight back.

"But," Scar turned back around, grinning evilly, "I think that I'm going to need some assistance."

"What?" said Nala, not understanding.

"You will help me find Simba," Scar told her.

Nala laughed. "I don't think so! I'll never listen to you!"

"That can be rectified," Scar said, before holding out his forepaws.

Scar shot out several forks of lightning—yet this time they took on a different appearance. The lightning was green.

It struck the lionesses in the head, and their eyes began to glow a similar colour. Their expressions became blank, motionless. Zombie-like.

"We will ob ey," they said in unison.

"Huh?" Stunned, Nala looked around. In just seconds, Scar had taken over the minds of the entire pride. "Mom, you have to help me stop him! Mom?"

But it was too late. Her mother was under Scar's control, too. "I will ob ey," she said.

"Oh, no…" Nala moaned, turning back to look at Scar. "How are you doing this?"

"I'm doing it easily," Scar retorted, before firing more green lightning straight at Nala, laughing with glee.

Before she could do anything, it hit her right in the face. She stood there, stunned. A feeling of emptiness suddenly washed over her. She wanted to do only one thing. Obey Scar.

"I will obey."

"Oh…" Shocker moaned, putting a paw to his forehead. It was thumping. He could smell smoke. His whole body felt like it was on fire. "My head hurts…"

"I see you're up," said a voice.

Shocker yanked his head up to see the Interceptor sat on a nearby rock, looking rather bored with things. Froggy was still unconscious, lying beside a tree.

Suddenly, all of his memories raced back into his skull. Scar. That dirty little traitor. He'd tricked him. All of that work—all of that effort—he'd put into resurrecting the villain, and how was he repaid? By having his own powers thrust right back at him. What a reward.

"I see the plan didn't go as well as you hoped," the Interceptor told him. "That Scar wasn't exactly a friendly guy, was he?"

"I never said he was friendly," said Shocker, climbing to his paws. "I just thought he would be understanding of how much we had in common. And I believed everything that he said, too." He felt ashamed of himself for being so foolish.

"Then what do we do?" the Interceptor asked. "I wouldn't mind going after him and ripping his eyes right out of his sockets. The Pride Lands are only an hour away."

"You know what?" Shocker smiled. "I think you may have a good plan there."

Shocker suddenly felt a surge of power flowing through his veins. Scar could be stopped, all right—and he would make sure of it. Scar would pay the price for messing with Shocker. He would pay for it dearly.

Shocker looked at the Interceptor. "I like it!"