A/N: This chapter mentiones the name of the lion who fathered Nala and Mheetu; you'll hear more about him in later chapters...
Last updated: 30/01/2025, scene Sarafina/Scar has new dialogues.

Scar felt haughty and contented as he lounged on his rock, reflecting upon the events of the day. Marvellous—

"Sleeping again, I see?" Scar's moment was disrupted by a familiar voice; Sarafina's voice. Following Scar's announcement that he had chosen Nala as his queen, it was foreseeable her mother would pay him a visit. "I'm guessing you have nothing better to do, apart from hitting on my child, of course…" Sarafina continued, sarcastically.

With a deliberate slowness, Scar arose from his rock. "Ah Fina, what a pleasant surprise. You are the second lioness I see today, while on a normal day, all that wanders here are hyenas." Scar yawned.Whatever I did to lure the lionesses towards my cave, I must do more often... "Still, I prefer Nala."

Sarafina's expression soured as she glanced at Scar. "So, the rumours are true? You've gone completely insane?"

"I recall immortal was the word I used, not insane," Scar replied dryly, arching his eyebrow.

"Come on, you can't do this to her! She's still so young!" Sarafina pleaded, her tone slightly altered.

Scar sighed, his annoyance evident. "Nala isn't a child anymore! Besides, if I recall correctly, age was never an issue for you," he said, frowning. "I never quite grasped why you picked him over me. He was muscular, but beyond…"

"Is that what this is? An action of payback?" Sarafina responded. In Sarafina's eyes, Scar once more showed his well-known immature nature, which was one reason why she had preferred the elder lion Scar referred to over him.

Scar shook his head. "I figured you knew me better than that…"

"Still, she could've been yours!"

"She is! I mean, Nala was always destined to be mine. As my bride, not as my daughter," Scar said, rolling his eyes. "The identity of her father has always been obvious, thus, don't start now…" Subsequently, Scar altered his tone and flashed Sarafina a sly grin. "You know Fina, I've never really experienced the full joy of the female soul. Nala has a certain charm that is hard to resist. She awakens the fire within me… There's a fire within her as well, awaiting to be released by—"

"Stop!" Sarafina called out, cutting Scar off instantly. "This is her mother you are speaking to…" Scar's manner of speaking about Nala left a sick feeling in her stomach. "If Lio was here—"

"Ah, I had forgotten his name. Speaking of him, where is he now?" Scar reacted upon hearing Sarafina drop the name of her last mate, the lion who fathered both Nala and Mheetu. The lion in question had left the Pride Lands a long time ago. Scar recalled that it occurred somewhere before Sarafina birthed Mheetu. "What kind of father abandons his offspring?"

Sarafina growled. "Those words sound so foreign coming from your mouth!" The topic of Lio's departure had always been a sensitive one for Sarafina, but she knew if he hadn't left on his own, Scar eventually would've banned him anyway. Lio, similar to numerous male lions, had harboured a dislike for the black-maned lion, and vice versa, it was the same. "You do the same to Nuka!"

"That's different!" Scar pulled a face. "There isn't even any solid proof Nuka is mine…"

Sarafina, sarcasm predominating her tone, responded, "Oh, come on, who other than you could've possibly impregnated her? A hyena?"

"That—" Scar grimed, playing the joker. As twisted as Zira is, I wouldn't put it past her… "That wouldn't even surprise me. Look at him…" Depicting Nuka's unkempt, weak, and allergic state, Scar's face twisted with aversion.

"Want to know what I think, Scar?" A lingering thought had been preoccupying Sarafina's mind for quite a while. The way he stands there, pulling up his nose… Scar evoked in Sarafina the memory of a former ruling lion. "You are your father's portrait!"

Scar roared. "Don't compare me to Ahadi! I'm nothing like him!" Sarafina's awareness of Scar's feelings towards his father made her words especially impactful, striking him in the most hurtful manner.

Sarafina heaved a sigh. "Right… He at least had a heart," she said, her words dripping with sarcasm. Her words stung like the salt on a fresh wound.

"You dare to accuse me of having no heart?" Scar asked, emitting a low growl. "Mheetu and Nuka are still alive, aren't they?" To avoid his words from being taken as a threat, his voice remained calm. "I could've–"

"Taka—"

Scar heaved a rather desperate sigh. "I just desire to be adored. That's all."

"That's something you should strive to achieve and earn, not demand with… arrogance," Sarafina responded, frowning upon the black-maned king's words.

"Let's not go there…" Scar inhaled deep once more, shaking his head. "Let us refrain from mentioning my father, Nala's father, or any past events while we talk," Scar continued, calmy. "You're here because I've chosen Nala as my queen. It is in your best interest to accept what is happening, as it is inevitable and beyond your con—"

"That choice is mine to make, not yours!" Nala, upon interrupting the black-maned king, entered the cave. As she stepped past the shadows, she halted when she stood right atop the only spot in Scar's cave that was still illuminated by the light of the setting sun. The sun's orange-gold light poured a small ray into the cave, enshrouding Nala's slender frame with a warm glow.

"Nala! Ah, Nala…" Scar's eyes widened at the sight of the young lioness standing in the evening sunlight. "Perhaps you misunderstood me. It wasn't a request," Scar said softly, sounding peculiar. He winked. "The pleasures of ruling a kingdom..."

Nala frowned. "I heard you two talk about my father. He left the Pride Lands. Why can't I?"

"Nala!" Sarafina bestowed her daughter with a stern glare. Zazu, the hornbill, gasped for air as well. He, however, wisely kept his beak shut just as he had done during Scar's and Sarafina's exchange.

"And die? You'll never make it out there on your own!" Scar sounded convinced of his statement as he reacted.

"For the first time today," Sarafina said, "I actually agree with something that comes out of your mouth…" The lioness exchanged a look with Scar whereafter she shifted her focus towards Nala again. "I won't let you go."

Scar emitted a sigh. "Look, I understand you need time to adjust," he said to Nala. I at least owe her that… "I suggest you sleep on it tonight, but I require your answer tomorrow." He retreated a few paces. "I expect to see you here after tomorrow morning's hunt," Scar continued. "I hope you come willingly because I'd rather not send the hyenas to fetch you!" Scar figured they'd only scare her off, and he desired to avoid that. "For now, you ladies are both dismissed…" he added, withholding a yawn. Upon being left alone, Scar sighed and shifted his head a tad to face the hornbill. "Zazu, am I putting too much pressure on her?" he asked, his eyes filled with doubt. She can't depart! They both know she's destined to become my queen…

"For what my opinion is worth to you, Sire," Zazu said, "from my perspective, I have observed worse of you in the past…"

As the night wore on, Nala found herself with her eyes still open, her mind too active to fall asleep. The longer she brooded over her options, the closer tomorrow's early hunt loomed. What's the matter with him? I can't be his queen! I was destined to be Simba's queen… Nala also realised clinging onto a future that was lost, served no purpose. It died in that gorge, along with Simba and Mufasa…Becoming Scar's queen or leaving the Pride Lands behind forever, these were the two possible futures life had granted her instead. She figured for both futures her surviving chances were uncertain. Nala understood if she agreed to become Scar's queen, it was a fact clear as water that giving birth to his cubs definitely would become her primary task. Should I choose to be banned or should I become Scar's wife? I must communicate my decision to him tomorrow.

Nala hardly knew Scar, she figured. Yet she would discover the details of living beside the scarred king, if she would accept his proposal. How did he end up with that scar on his eye? Would he open up to me? Nala harboured doubts about whether, with Scar, she could lead the life she had romanticised in her dreams. "I can't make head nor tail of him! "Nala remembered her mother frequently expressing her annoyance regarding their black-maned king. If you catch him on a bad day, you'll definitely feel tempted to use the tail for strangling him… I need to think about this thoroughly, because the outcome will have a permanent impact on my life…

"Poor girl…"

"I'm fortunate not to stand in her skin…"

"Tell me about it! Had he chosen me, I'd rather die!"

The following morning, Nala found herself in a state of utter discomfort as she met the remorseful gazes of those around her. Nala struggled concentrating during the hunt and she regretted the little amount of sleep she had granted herself the previous night. Yet because of their awareness of her situation, no one blamed her for her lack of focus. Valuable time was wasted awaiting the leading hyenas, Shenzi and Banzai. The lionesses had debated for a while about how long they should wait for them, whereafter Nala eventually agreed to Sarabi's proposal that they should proceed without them.

Nala drew in a sharp breath, gasping for air as the antelope she chased escaped. The lioness glimpsed her surroundings, but due to the haze of sandstorms that enveloped the area, she failed to spot the other lionesses. Where's everyone all of the sudden? Annoying laughter filled her head, coming from every direction—behind her, to the side, and all around. Beyond the dry sandstorms, hyenas appeared, their giggles echoing in the vast emptiness. Two silhouettes followed; lionesses. Nala's eyes widened. Zira…

"Your mother's traits are so evident in you!" The voice of envy, spoken by Zira, broke the silence. Zira's loyal companion, a lioness, stood beside her, growling in unison with bared teeth. "Was it really necessary to flaunt your charms in his presence?" Zira hissed, her anger escalating at the mere thought. "Lead huntress wasn't enough for you that you also aspire to attain the title of queen?"

"No, you're mistaken! Scar wants me as his queen. That's beyond my control!" Nala responded, her voice sounding frightened. Slowly and carefully, she retreated a few steps. "I don't even want it!"

Zira growled. "Oh, but there's certainly something you can do about it…" she said, threatening. "Stop existing!"

The group continued to enclose Nala. The hyenas' sharp teeth were on full display, and their slobber revealed their intense desire to sink them into the young lioness. Zira, her killer eyes drawn to Nala and her growls becoming louder, gestured to the hyenas and her companion a sign to attack. They instantly flew at her, their claws ready to strike. Nala fought back against the hyenas, and her powerful kick sent the other lioness flying. Despite that, a hyena managed to bite her leg. Nala emitted a moan and tumbled.

"Stop!" Zira commanded her companions. Subsequent to that, she stepped forward and came to a halt upon facing a shuddering Nala. "You will decline Scar's ridiculous request…" Zira said, her tone calm yet threatening. "Because otherwise…" The lioness gave a sly grin, her claws glinting menacingly in the sunlight. With a curt gesture, Zira turned away from Nala and motioned for her companions to follow. Nala made no movements, yet not until the sounds of her opponents' footsteps and their laughter had ebbed away…

As Nala slowly rose, she held her breath upon hearing footsteps yet again. Yet she breathed relieved as she discovered her mother and Sarabi coming closer. "Nala, my baby! Are you all right?" Her mother stood by her within seconds and Sarabi asked what had occurred. "Zira…" Nala panted. "She hates me…"

"This has to end now!" Sarabi stated, glimpsing Nala's leg. "You're injured."

"I'll be fine," Nala said as she sought comfort whilst leaning on her mother. "Walk with me to Scar, mother. I need to talk to him urgently, and moreover, he insists on seeing me."

"We'll certainly pay him a visit. It is imperative he maintains control over both the hyenas and Zira!" Sarafina exchanged a look with Sarabi. "I'll tell him I'll give birth to his cubs," she added, pressing her daughter close. "I'll sacrifice myself."