THE LION KING: RANI'S MAGICAL STORY

CHAPTER XIII: KING AND SORCERESS

"MEI-MEI!!!"

Atop Simba who was now running to where she had fallen, Rani shouted for her cousin, her panic rising. Anakin and Jamie were also calling Mei's name.

"Let's split up. I'll check this side of the summit, you check that side." Simba suggested. "Let me know if you see anything."

"You got it, Sim." Rani nodded. She dismounted and looked down a trail that wasn't consumed by fire yet. She decided to search for Mei there.

"MEI! MEI-MEI! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Rani called.

"Rani?!"

Recognizing the voice, Rani breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had a response. Mei's features came into view.

"MEI-MEI!!!! SIMBA, I FOUND HER! SHE'S SAFE!" Rani screamed in relief and hugged her cousin who shouted her name, both sobbing their eyes out. "I thought we'd lost you!" She wailed.

"Ooh, I was afraid of that myself!" Mei said through relieved laughter and tears.

A lion came into view from behind Mei, and Rani instantly recognized him.

It was Scar.

Startled out of her wits, Rani suddenly pushed Mei behind her and prepared to blast the conniving lion—

"WHOA!!! Wait, Rani, wait!" Mei stood in front of Scar now, further confusing Rani.

"Oh, no-no-no-no. Mei, it's all right. She has every right not to trust me or believe me. I...I did just try to kill her and Simba a few minutes ago." Scar said, and now Rani was even more confused.

"Huh? Mei, what's going on?" Rani asked suspiciously.

"This is gonna sound crazy, but when I fell, I saw two Scars." Mei explained. "This one saved me, and the other one's down with the hyenas."

"Wait...Two?!" Rani gaped.

Mei nodded.

"What do you remember about our battle?" Rani then asked Scar, still not quite ready to trust him.

"Well...I remember pouncing for the killing blow. I also remember that you were in front of Simba, arms outstretched, magic shooting from your hands. When I landed, your magic shot through my body, and the next thing I knew, I saw another version of me falling the opposite direction of where I was falling. I heard you yelling for help, which I watched with bated breath, and thankfully you're still here, and then I saw Mei falling, and I caught her." Scar summarized in honesty. "I don't know what you did, Rani...but somehow, your magic removed the snake's venom from inside me. I think you might have saved me without realizing it."

"I...I did that?!" Rani looked at her hands in shock.

"I know you don't believe me, and you have every reason to not trust me. All I've done is hurt you, and Simba, and I'm sorry. I just hope you know that you and Mei saved me." Scar said softly, coming closer to Rani now. "With that said, I am officially stepping down as King. I should have done it when you and Simba first asked me to."

"I don't know why...but I think I believe you. You're telling the truth." Rani finally said, lowering her hands, magic dissipating from her hands.

"Rani! Mei, oh thank goodness!" Simba had heard Rani and had run from where he was looking for the cousin. He eyed Scar suspiciously.

"Long story short, he stepped down. I'll tell you what happened later." Rani said.

"All right, but I'll be watching him the entire time." Simba said, glaring.

"Yeah, you remember that crazy fiasco with Jafar?" Mei said. "Jafar was a royal usurper. He didn't kill the Sultan but he wanted to take over Agrabah." She added in explanation to Scar and Simba.