The Lion King: Scar's Reign

Fate

Somewhere in the same canyon where Mufasa's death had occurred, the young Nuka practised shouting his best roars. He sensed improvement, which satisfied him. Of course, there was also a simmering rage behind today's roars, as he still harboured upset feelings towards Mheetu. His roar echoed in the gorge, developing a bright smile atop his face. "Yeah!" Nuka jumped from excitement, listening to his own voice echoing.

"Practising your roar, kid?" A deep voice which, from Nuka's point of view, came from out of nowhere, had distracted the young male. Scar approached his son, frowning and showing off his grin, adding, "Would you like to hear a proper one?"

"Dad?" His father, who rather denied Nuka's existence, would've been the last resident he expected to cross paths with. Nuka had been too absorbed in his own game to notice the lion observing him from behind a rock. "What—what are you doing here?"

"It's Scar or King Scar for you!" As he corrected his unwanted son, Scar rolled his eyes and bestowed the young lion with a rather irritating sounding growl.

Nuka froze. "I'm—sorry... Scar," he said, his voice stuttering. Nuka nervously scratched his leg, his stance displaying the utmost discomfort with his father's visit. "Look," he said, casting a quick glance around, "mama doesn't approve of me hanging out with you."

Scar squinted his eyes. "Then perhaps you should tell her to keep a better eye on you," he responded dryly. "I... also wouldn't recommend this area as a place to hang out... I speak from personal experience, because—"

"I'll find another spot, da—Scar, I'm sorry—"

"The echoes of my brother's fatal fall still haunt these very grounds you're standing on..." Scar continued, ignoring Nuka's mumblings. "It was tragic... I literally sat in the front row..." Subsequently, Scar adopted a sneaky approach and began to close in on the young male sideways.

"Very tragic, indeed. I'm sorry you had to witness tha—" Nuka said, his voice sounding utterly uneasy as he observed his father's peculiar manners of approaching him.

"I presume your mother doesn't want that to happen to you, hm?" Scar said with a frown, adapting a theatrical sad expression. "Sadly, accidents happen... One can't always prevent them..." Emitting a low growl, the black-maned lion sharpened his claws. A wide grin adorned Scar's face while Nuka took a small step backwards and small chunks of earth escaped the dry substance, appearing to disappear into an eternal void. In response to that, Nuka swiftly leapt away from the abyss. Why doesn't he run?  Next, Scar issued a forceful warning to his son through a bellowing roar. At last, Nuka, his eyes wide, took the hint and spun around. With a sinister smile, Scar's satisfaction grew as he watched Nuka taking off. "That's what a true lion's roar calls! Run to mommy, and tell her if that witch dares to come near my queen again, I'll rip you apart!" he called after him vilely. With Nuka out of sight, Scar turned and frowned as he surveyed his surroundings. Taking slow, measured steps, Scar inched closer to the edge of the abyss and peered down. A thick layer of fog obstructed his view, prompting nostalgic thoughts of how much higher he stood years prior. The present is still too wounded to relive history's disaster...

Shenzi, Banzai and Ed visited Zira upon having received Scar's message through Sarafina. The unpopular lioness had, after Scar evicted her from his cave, staked her claim on one of the most remote areas within the Pride Lands terrain. "Zira, Sarafina just told us Scar wants us all gathered. Have ya got any idea what's that all about?" Shenzi greeted the lioness.

"I already told ya, she has to let her little Nala go. What other reason would she possibly have to be sad?" Banzai guessed.

"Good!" Zira's lips curled into a large, cunning smile, evidently pleased to see the three hyenas, her friends. "That means Nala heeded my warning, and that we can cross off one lioness! A small win, yet one worth celebrating!" Zira stated, her slender body rising as if her energy reservoir had been replenished to the fullest extent. Her pride skyrocketed. "I dream a dream so pret—"