[Last edit: 05/02/2025 new Zazu comment...]
"Scar!" A rather upset voice resonated throughout Scar's den, capturing the attention of its resident. Sarafina, without awaiting a response, ran into the cave. "Scar, we have to talk!"
"Nala?" Recognising Sarafina instead, the male lion's countenance shifted to one of disappointment. Scar had mistakenly identified the echoed voice as Nala's, whose vocalisation bore a resemblance to her mother's. "Not the lioness I had asked for. I presume this means Nala has made her choice?" Scar frowned.
"You mean after the incident that occurred this morning?" Sarafina replied, wearing a worried expression as she looked at Scar.
"What incident?" Scar asked, glancing his eyes back and forth with confusion. Had he actually slept for such an extended period that he was completely unaware of the current state of situations in his kingdom? No one tells me anything! Scar sighed deep. The hyenas were aware it was their task to keep him informed of all news available to share. Yet another thing, according to him, they had failed to do. "The hyenas were here this morning. May I know what information they withheld from me?"
"See for yourself. Nala?" Sarafina glimpsed backwards, signing her daughter, who, beyond Scar's eyesight, stood waiting. "She was attacked!"
Scar's eyes widened as he witnessed Nala and her current state of being. The lioness entered the cave with a slight limp, emitting small moans of pain. The king ran towards her instantly. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice sounding slightly jolted.
"It looks worse than it is. Nothing more than a few scratches," Nala tried to stay strong.
"Nala, they threatened you. Tell him!" Sarafina urged her daughter.
"Who did this?" Scar asked as he tenderly ran his paw through her fur, brushing off the sand and revealing the affected skin. He could have spared himself the question because even before Nala spoke the name, Scar knew it. Zira…
"Besides the other lioness, there were four hyenas, but they weren't Shenzi, Ban—"
"I know. They were here." Scar, feeling a slight twinge of embarrassment, recalled his Be Prepared 2.0 he had bestowed upon the three hyenas earlier in the day. I'll better spare her this one… Recalling his theatrical performances, he shook his head, realising his singing had failed to impress Nala the previous day as well.
With caution, Scar touched Nala's injury. Nala's earlier statement wasn't far off; because of its freshness the wound appeared worse than it was. Although Nala was convinced her injury would heal into a mere graze by tomorrow, Scar wasn't planning to jeopardise the health of the lioness he had chosen to be the mother of his future cubs. "I demand you to take enough time to recover! Either your mother or Sarabi should temporarily adopt your role as the lead huntress."
Nala, witnessing Scar's struggles, felt slightly surprised by his reaction. Did he care? "If I accept to become your queen—"
"Nala! Remember what we discussed—" Sarafina interfered.
Nala, however, overshadowed her mother's interference and resumed her speaking. "Will you secure my safety, as well as my mother's and my little brother's?"
"Of course I will!" The surprise now fell upon Scar's face. "You are safe with me. However, in return, I expect you to be loyal to me," he added. "Nala, I care for you."
"That wasn't the impression you gave me yesterday," Nala said, looking down. In her mind, she relived her encounter with Scar the other day she had on the same ground she now stood on. "One way or another, you will be mine!"
"Ah, that… Nala, I owe you an apology. My behaviour was beyond reason," Scar started. He sighed and shook his head. "You caught me on a bad day, which was unfortunate. My mood was spoiled by a few… objects. Three shades of grey, something blue..." Scar flashed Zazu a sharp glare before he regained his focus on Nala. "It won't happen again."
"Oh, Sire, we spoil your mood every day!" Zazu, overhearing the entire conversation the lions were having, gave a comment. Yet the king was too distracted to give a reaction…
"I accept…" Nala suddenly said, her voice almost being a whisper.
"Nala!" Sarafina reacted by loudly shouting her daughter's name while Zazu's beak dramatically fell open.
"What was that? Nala, did you just say you accept becoming my queen?" Scar rarely waited for a second confirmation, especially when it involved something he greatly yearned for, as was the case here.
"Yes. You heard me," Nala said.
"That's—" Scar tried to withhold his enthusiasm. If the circumstances were different, he probably had swung her in the air for a welcoming dance. "You won't regret this, Nala!" Upon Sarafina instantly throwing the rabid lion a warning look, he created a respectable distance between him and Nala. "Nala, I want you to feel comfortable. It's essential for me to know who the involved hyenas were," Scar said, before turning to Sarafina. "Take Nala with you and make sure she rests plenty. At sunset, gather all lionesses and inform Shenzi of the king's command for her to do the same for the hyenas."
Sarafina nodded and turned. "I'll deliver the message," she said, gesturing to Nala to follow her lead.
Scar watched the lionesses leave his den. The emotions he felt were extremely diverse, and at this moment, he was uncertain which one was more dominant, his rage or his happiness.
"Why did you do that, Nala?" Sarafina broke the awkward silence that fell upon her and her daughter after they had left Scar's den. "Scar seemed reasonable enough for us to have tried—" I'll tell him I'll give birth to his cubs… I'll sacrifice myself. "It would've been the perfect opportunity for—"
"Mom, I'm rescuing our family's future!" Nala cut in. "Besides, he would've banned me had I declined! And even if he'd allowed me to stay, I firmly believe I'm much safer this way, because Scar would do anything to secure my safety." A smile lit up Nala's face as soon as she spotted her little brother Mheetu among the group of lionesses who were waiting for their return. "Just trust me on this one, mom, I know what I'm doing."
"Nala! I'm glad you're okay, though deep down I knew my sister had always been bad-ass!" Mheetu's enthusiastic voice sounded as he made his way up, approaching his sister.
Nala giggled. "Always!"
"Mheetu, I thought you and Nuka were playing together?" Sarafina glanced at Sarabi.
Sarabi gave Mheetu a frown. "Aren't you going to tell your mom about your conflict with Nuka earlier today?" she softly asked the boy.
Mheetu's face tightened, and then he looked down. "I got mad at him because his mama attacked Nala…" he mumbled.
"Sweetie, that's not his fault. Nuka isn't like his mother," Nala explained to her brother. "Promise me you'll make it up to him," she said, and when Mheetu nodded, she addressed the rest of the group. "I'm fine, perfectly fine!"
"No, she's not fine because she has chosen to imprison herself in Scar's bleak and constricting world!" Sarafina protested. Once the ceremony is over, he'll probably prohibit her from leaving his cave ever again!
"Mom, please!" Nala reacted, struggling to disregard the shocking glances several lionesses instantly directed towards her.
"Nala, I hope you're realising what you're getting yourself into," Sarabi said calmly, supporting Sarafina. Nala's impulsive actions had disappointed the former queen, as her strict look revealed. "Taking on the role of the queen is a heavy responsibility that shouldn't be underestimated. It demands a lot from you, and alongside Scar, please mark my words as a double fact!"
"My sister, a queen? Neat!" Mheetu responded, once more with extreme enthusiasm. His voice overshadowed Sarabi's. "Does that mean I'm part of the royal family now?" He showed Nala a broad smile.
"Mheetu, you silly boy," Sarafina chuckled. With his comment, Mheetu had lightened up the place since most lionesses couldn't withhold a tiny laugh. "You little—"
"You'll have the power to kick Zira's ass yourself!" Mheetu continued. He, obviously, was too young to fully understand the seriousness of the situation. With a playful leap, he pretended to kick an imaginary enemy in the air.
Nala laughed. "Well, I don't know about that, but I'll make sure they all face the consequences of their actions!" Her voice sounded confident as she was certain Scar's promise to her involved having Zira, her companion and the involved hyenas pay for attacking her. He has to. He owes me.