Scar paced back and forth, his brown paws kicking up the dust of the Gorge's cracked earth. This was the place that it was set to take place.
For countless moons, the brother of the Pride Lands' king had been plotting something. From the shadows, his actions would shape not only his own destiny, but all of those around him.
Those who had doubted him, had looked down upon him.
After so many years of leering eyes and hushed ridicule, Scar had started to wonder if he was of royal blood at all...
Before the brown pantherine could sink into a spiral of bad memories once again, there was the sound of scrabbling paws against the brittle ground. His ear flicking and small hum of curiosity, Scar dared to look behind him, wondering what fool was approaching, no doubt to annoy him or show him false respect. But to his own surprise, it was none other than Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. As they approached the royal lion they looked around frequently, wearing looks of worry. A wise feeling to harbor, any creature from the pridelands was aware of Mufasa's hatred of hyenas.
Seeing those familiar faces chased away the darkness that was all but ready to engulf the lion. A subtle smile grew on his muzzle, nothing like the ones he wore when scheming or tricking others. No, this smile was genuine, a true display of the lion's relief and joy to not be alone in a place like this.
"Hey Scar, you seem rather chipper today,'' Shenzi huffed, her tone almost sarcastic. She dared to look over her shoulder once again, unable to shake the feeling that she was being spied on by some nosey Pridelander. Behind her Banzai and Ed were much more relaxed, more focused on Scar himself, well Banzai was at least...
"Hey, what's eating you, Scar?'' Banzai asked. "This place is already dry enough, don't need you to add anymore to it.'' The hyena kicked a pebble and smirked, trying to lighten the mood. It worked a little, getting a small huff of amusement out of the brown lion.
"It's the plan...'' Scar eluded. "So far it all seems perfect. Lure Mufasa to the Gorge during a set up stampede... But there's something missing, one last thing to tie it all together...'' He thought for a bit more but there was this heavy feeling within him, like there was something so close yet so far...he needed...bait. Something that Mufasa could not ignore.
"We kill the king and finally get out of the outlands. You'll get your revenge and become the boss of the pride. You'll have all the power your brother had and get all the cubs you could want...'' Shenzi shrugged, shaking her head, not understanding what more could be fleshed out.
"Cubs...'' Scar mused, that word made him realize something. "C-cubs! Simba! Of course, it doesn't matter if we kill Mufasa. Simba is the heir to the Pride Lands. As soon as he is old enough, he'll assume the throne, knocking me back here!'' Realizing his own grave error, Scar swiped his paw across the desolate earth, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. While the hyenas around him coughed and hacked, Scar himself remained static, only staring at the ground in fury.
"Unless...'' Scar said aloud, letting his raw emotions overtake him. "Simba is involved as well. Yes, he must be involved somehow, he must not be allowed to stand in my way either...'' the dark lion's tone becoming more and more manic.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!'' Banzai interrupted, taking a step towards the plotting feline. "Let's slow down a second Scar. Killing the king, we can do that... We would like nothing more than to shove Mufasa off a cliff. But this is a cub we're talking about. Son of Mufasa or not, he's never actually done us wrong.''
"I don't usually agree with Banzai on a lot, but this time he's making sense. This is between us and Mufasa. Leave the kid out of it,'' Shenzi put in. "Heck...isn't he your nephew?''
Ed said something as well, in his own unique way. To those on the outside it was a series of growls, yelps and whines but those who knew the dopey hyena long enough knew exactly what he was trying to say. Ironically, his reasoning was the most solid of the three.
Cubs were unpredictable, always getting distracted by every little thing. Even if they involved Simba, there was no guarantee he would play into their desires to a tee. Sure, they could tell him to do something, but there was no solid way to ensure that he would do it. The cub could also easily say something or do something that could ruin the base plan.
That and it was just...low to involve a cub, lower than what even they, as desperate as they were, were willing to go to get rid of the lion king who they wished nothing more than death upon for what he did to the hyena.
"I hope you're not planning to actually do something to him,'' Shenzi huffed, actually sounding a bit defensive and even a little motherly.
"And now you're the prince's royal guard?'' Scar snarled. "If we are to succeed we need this plan to be as foolproof as possible!''
"And it can be, boss, just without the kid involved,'' Banzai offered.
Ed spoke up again in his unique way. He proposed the idea of distracting Simba with something, once again playing on the idea that the prince was unfocused. Maybe instead of involving him, they needed to do the exact opposite, keep him as far away from when the deed happened.
Scar still wore a look of fury, but he listened to his friends, their words finally starting to pierce the barrier of anger within. Was there truth to their words? Simba was the son of Mufasa, the lion he hated only just slightly less than his own father. But that old lion was nothing but dust now... All the fury and pain Ahadi had escaped responsibility for was on the current king's shoulders now and it was high time that a reckoning came... But...
"Perhaps...'' Scar finally said, allowing himself to relax a bit. "Involving Simba is a step too far...''
The hyenas looked to each other and collectively sighed in relief. Glad that the lion was once again coming to his senses, they approached him once again.
"Look, Scar...'' Shenzi said, clearing her throat and sitting down next to the lion. "We get it. Mufasa made both yours and our lives a living hell. We want this just as much as you do.''
"We just wanna have a little taste of the Pride Lands like everybody else,'' Banzai added, sitting down as well.
Banzai turned to his fellow male hyena "What about you, anything to add Ed?'' Ed gave an answer of his own, one that left the other three a little stunned.
"Well...'' Scar winced. That actually was a good point, what was the point if they became monsters even worse than Mufasa's father in the process? Was that what he almost did? Scar thought, involving Simba, an unwitting cub...
The lion's thought was drawn back to the day he came to despise his father.
"It's your fault!'' his father's voice still echoed. He had just been a cub...how could it have been his fault?! Mufasa was standing right there, he could have told the truth, that the idea was all his, that he was the one who ventured off the path and dragged him with him... But he was the one who had been covered in muck and scrapes from the ordeal, so the blame fell on him...
Snapping back to the present, Scar looked around him. On all sides he was surrounded by friends. Those who truly cared about him. When he had been at his lowest they had taken him in and become his friends, when he had been heartbroken at his mother's death they had comforted him, not his father, not his brother. And here they were, yet again, stopping him from doing something he would come to sorely regret. Something that would have made him just like him.
"Hey Scar?'' Shenzi caught his attention. "You've calmed down now? You're not planning to put your nephew in danger, right?''
"Y-yes, I'm better now.'' Scar nodded, getting up. "and I think Ed had the right approach. I need to figure out what Simba likes. I'll then figure out a way to keep him distracted with what I find out when the day comes.''
Banzai and Shenzi looked to the dopey hyena with a look of jealousy but Ed didn't seem to notice, in fact he was hardly paying attention, instead just enjoying a moment to sit down after all that walking.
"Alright...maybe you should also take a few days to just...you know...cool your head. This whole scheme is clearly getting to you Scar, just relax a little, we will get him in time.'' Shenzi suggested.
This wasn't the first time her lion friend obsessed over the small details of their plan to the point of near madness. Though they one hundred percent supported him, it was clear that this meant much more to the lion emotionally than it did the hyenas. For Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed it was an act of necessity, to end the suffering of their kind, but for Scar it seemed to be his everything, one could argue the lion treated the plan as the reason for his very existence. It made the hyenas concerned many times over. They all knew very well that if anything went wrong Scar could truly go off the deep end. As their friend, they were determined to try and make him live for more than just revenge, give him a reason to...well...live.
Scar sighed, he didn't much care for getting doted on, but they had a point. He had almost gone to a very dark place just a short while ago. Maybe clearing his head would be a good idea?
After a brief parting of ways Scar was on his own again. With no clear place to go in mind, Scar let his paws carry him wherever they would. Of course, his natural instincts only led him back home to Pride Rock. This was the last place he wanted to be. To call this place his home would actually be wrong, he had long since begun to consider the hyena cave as his true home. There was nothing for him here but leers and contempt from the lionesses and overbearing disappointed looks and ignorance from his brother, hardly what one would consider a home.
Against his better judgement, the dark lion continued forwards, hoping that his instincts knew something that he himself did not. Perhaps this little journey could prove fruitful?
As soon as he stepped into the savanna near the landmark there was a rustle in the grass next to him. For a moment, Scar thought it was possibly a tasty morsel just waiting to be caught by him but upon looking closer the dark lion could see a familiar bundle of yellow against the dark green blades.
"Simba?'' Scar asked, looking around for a moment. "Just what are you doing this...'' he turned his head and Pride Rock was well within sight "''far"from Pride Rock on your own?''
"Uncle Scar?'' Simba asked, looking up at the older feline with bright eyes. "Uh... I was just...'' He was about to come up with an excuse, but the knowing look in his uncle's eyes quickly broke him down.
"I snuck away from Pride Rock and now Zazu won't leave me alone. I've been hiding from him all day,'' Simba huffed annoyed. He was so close to home still that if he was in danger he needed only to call for help, his voice would easily be heard.
"But of course,'' Scar said, looking up from the grass. "My dear brother just cares so much for his own...'' The familiar sound of frantic flaps were heard by both felines.
"It's him again!'' Simba whined. "All I wanna do is explore on my own a little. Everything the light touches is gonna be mine, right? Why can't I get to see some of it?''
In that moment Scar got an idea. As Zazu drew closer and closer, Scar dipped his head into the grass again and whispered. "I'll help but you have to be very quiet. We both know that Zazu is very...persistent.''
"Thanks Uncle Scar I-''
"Shhh...'' The dark lion quickly drew up and padded forwards just a bit, he stepped over his nephew, hiding the cub's body with his own. Not a second later, Zazu came down to land on a nearby rock.
"Well look who decided to grace us with his presence,'' Zazu huffed, looking none too thrilled at who he was speaking to.
"Is that any way to talk to a royal figure?'' Scar teased, drawing a claw against the grass.
"Ugh, I don't have time for this, the young prince has wandered off unsupervised! Mufasa and Sarabi entrusted his safety to me and he just went and took off!''
"Making the kingdom proud, aren't we?'' Scar chuckled, glad to see the self-righteous hornbill's feathers in a ruffle.
"Will you- Have you seen the prince or not?'' Zazu asked, at his wits end already.
"Oh sometime recently.'' Scar said vaguely, turning his head away.
"How recently?'' Zazu pressed.
"You know, dear Zazu there are times that call for questions and times that call for actions. A missing prince is no small problem. While I enjoy our chats you'd do best with finding him. Or should I tell my brother about you chatting while on duty?''
"Me!?'' Zazu fumed, feathers flying from his plume. "Wait! I'm the one asking you questions! Have you seen Simba around here?''
"Yes, recently,'' Scar answered with a nod.
The hornbill took a deep breath, swallowing a host of swears he wanted to say to the lion before him. "And recently means..?''
"Zazu, I thought you of all in the Pride Lands would know the meaning to such a common word-''
"That's it! This conversation is over!'' Zazu, seething, took to the skies once again, both to continue his search and cool down from the lion's word games.
"He could just have asked "where'' instead of "when''...a much more important question wouldn't you say?'' Scar asked Simba who was now able to laugh at hearing Zazu so mad. While the cub was tickled pink, Scar was a bit grateful the hornbill carried himself with restraint. Simba could have learned many colorful words in an instant from his large vocabulary.
"You do know that he will be back soon. Persistent, remember?'' Scar chuckled as he stepped to the side, revealing the smiling cub that hid underneath. "I can't imagine you'll have much more time. If Zazu can't find you he'll have no choice but to call your father.''
"Yeah, I know...'' Simba sighed... "It's just not fair. I'm royal and stuff. Why doesn't he treat me like it? I don't get to do anything...''
For a moment Scar saw some of his own cubhood within the golden feline before him. Though Simba was an only-child, his life seemed to mirror his own in how he hadn't been allowed to do many things, things that Mufasa of course got to do with their father's blessing. There were many times that he also hid out in the savanna, not wanting to be found. But even being the dark prince, it was only a matter of time before the entire Pride Lands would go searching and he would be found and returned.
"You know...'' Scar said. "There is a place that I used to go when I was young, when I wanted to get away from it all.''
"What kind of place?'' Simba asked, his ears perking up.
"It's actually quite nearby but hidden, a place that I'm sure Zazu wouldn't be able to find you,'' Scar smiled, knowing he was piquing the cub's interests.
"Can you take me there?'' Simba asked.
"Well, I don't know if I should. After all, everyone is looking for you...''
"We'll make it quick!'' Simba offered. "Come on, I wanna see it!'' He begged enthusiastically just like Scar knew he would.
"Alright, alright,'' Scar pretended to cave. "But we'll have to make it quick.''
Keeping pace with him, Simba pressed close to his uncle, partially hiding his body behind the older lion's. For some reason he didn't fully understand, most Pridelanders avoided his uncle, but the young cub was clever enough to use that to his advantage. Scar was aware of the cub's tactic and he was rather impressed. The two of them continued towards Pride Rock until Scar led Simba down a narrow path, overgrown with grass, a clear sign that hardly anyone tread that way.
Pushing through the grass, Scar led the way, hoping that his memory served him correct. It felt familiar enough and as he sailed through the green blades, more and more came back to him. This place was quite nostalgic to him, both good and bad memories were held here. Of course, everything looked drastically different from when he himself was a cub. He could see his old cave, hidden behind tall rocks and overgrown grass. The mouth of the hidden space was significantly shorter than he remembered. Of course, as a cub he had a much different perspective...
"Is this it?'' Simba asked, pushing his way through the grass. Despite the height and density of the countless blades, Simba could make out the hidden entrance. That impressed the older lion who simply nodded.
"Yes, this is the place that I used to retire to when I was young. Not even Mufasa knew about this place,'' Scar explained. Just saying that aloud gave the dark lion a feeling of satisfaction. Seeing the state that his old private spot was in, it seemed that it was still the case. The grass still had hardly even been touched by prey animals at all. Any scent that lingered in the air was stale. Scar was more than sure that they were all alone, just like he was all those years ago.
With a bit of care there was enough room for the older lion to squeeze into the cave. It was smaller than he remembered but still spacious enough for Scar and his nephew. He looked around the cavern, taking small sniffs of the stagnant, damp air. There was something comforting about the decrepit state of the cave, as if it had needed him to thrive.
"Whoa...'' Simba looked around the small space, it was so cool that this place was hidden so close to Priderock yet only his uncle knew about it. "How come you've never told me about this before?''
"Many reasons, but mainly because this place wouldn't be so special if it was widely known. It will be our little secret.'' Feeling an amount of weight on his shoulder, Simba nodded, determined to keep the secret his uncle had entrusted him with.
"It needs a bit of work,'' Scar pointed out. "But I think you can return it to its former glory and make it your own, I have no need of it anymore like I did in my younger years.'' The dark lion was sure it would make a great impression on his nephew to hand down this place to him. Perhaps this place would become a great source of comfort for him once everything was set and done...?
"Hey uncle...can we just...stay here a little bit?'' Simba asked innocently. Scar couldn't have wished for a better request, he did need to talk to Simba after all.
"Sure, just a little while.'' Scar agreed. He took a moment to take another deep breath of the cave's air, it still calmed him like it did in the past. "Tell me, Simba. Is there anything that interests you? Anything in particular that you like to do?''
"W-well...'' Simba started, looking down at his paws sheepishly. "I like exploring around and...well, I like spending time with you, Uncle Scar.''
Whatever mental process had been on Scar's mind it was utterly derailed by the young cub sincerely saying that. He couldn't have possibly imagined such a response considering the few times that they actually spent time together...
"Actually...I'd wish you were around more,'' Simba admitted once again, feeling rather awkward saying it out loud. Before today, the young cub had been starting to suspect that his uncle might not have liked him. And yet that very lion hid him from Zazu, irritated the majordomo so much he'd barely held back laughter and even led him to this hidden place, this cave clearly meant a lot to his uncle.
"Perhaps we do need to spend more time together,'' Scar admitted, clearing his throat. Now he could feel himself becoming flustered, far from used to admitting such feelings as these. It took a few more moments to sink in that his nephew genuinely cared about him, not since his late mother had any family done so, he felt oddly guilty for not spending more time with him. A shiver went down his spine, he had intended and almost planned to use Simba as bait to lure Mufasa into his trap...
In that moment Scar made a decision. For the first time in years he actually felt a pang of guilt for what he was about to do. But his resolve was still burning within him to see his goals through, only now it was slightly diverted. "I'll tell you something, Simba. How about you and I spend some time together, fixing up this whole place? We'll get here bright and early some day, just the two of us.''
"You mean it?'' Simba asked, his eyes bright and a wide smile on his muzzle.
Scar nodded, once again feeling a pang of guilt. In truth this was the distraction that he needed. He would indeed help Simba make a place of his own, but now the plan involved making an excuse to get away. He would tell Simba to remain there to not expose the secret location. While the cub is standing guard all that would be left would be to carry out the plan... And once Mufasa was gone, all that would be left to do would be returning to the cub. Of course, Scar would have to feign remorse, acting as if the news came as a painful shock to even himself.
Yes, now the plan was truly complete. Everything was perfect, everyone was accounted for and the details all fit together neatly. All he needed was to find a day Simba wasn't busy and spirit him away. With another deep breath, Scar looked down at his excited nephew. This cave would be a gift to the cub, a sort of precursory apology for planning to take his father away. It would be an unfortunate consequence, but a consequence that Scar was prepared to live with. After it was done, he would be spending the remainder of his life making it up to his nephew. After all, it was what the cub wanted most..
In a moment of lucidity Scar realized that was the first time he had actually thought beyond his plan, he had never really cared what was going to happen afterwards. All that ever mattered was getting revenge, but now? He had something he had to do afterward, he would be there to shield Simba from the worst of the pain he was going to feel and then care for him. He would have to lie and deceive and perhaps that wouldn't make him any better than his own father, but the dark lion could certainly try to make it up to Simba for what he was going to do, even if he would never fully do so.
Perhaps...one day, he would tell Simba the truth and let his nephew pass judgement on him for taking his father's life. He could only hope the matured lion would see his actions as more than black and white...if not...then revenge was rightfully his, he would not deny him getting it.
"Uncle? Are you okay?'' Simba asked, his uncle looked so thoughtful and a tear had slid down his chin.
Scar was immediately pulled out of his thoughts "Oh...I was just...feeling quite nostalgic from this place is all.'' He excused, trying to play it off, but Simba felt there was more going on than his uncle was saying. There were so many mysteries surrounding his uncle and almost no answers. He was aware of the...strained relationship between the older lion and his own father, but never knew the reason behind the tension between the two. The cub hoped none of those feelings reflected unto him.
They once had, but did no more. The anger Scar had long felt toward Simba, the dark lion now knew what they had been, it had been the same anger as toward Mufasa. He had seen Simba as nothing more than an extension of him, but Simba was not to blame, just like he hadn't been. For now, he would spend time with the younger cub, build a bond with his nephew and lift his spirits before the fated day came, hopefully it would lessen the blow a little.
"Simba! Simba!'' A voice called from close-by. Both recognized it as Mufasa's voice.
"Looks like it is time to go.'' Scar said and led Simba out of their hidden location. Barely had they left, did Mufasa spot them. Naturally, Zazu was there with the king, he sputtered once he saw the young prince alongside Scar.
"There you are, young highness, but what in the world are you doing with him?'' Zazu asked, perplexed.
"I would like to know that as well.'' Mufasa said with a bit of an edge in his voice.
"Well...when I heard my nephew had gone missing I naturally had to go looking for him.'' Mufasa turned to his son.
"Is this true?'' He asked, surprised.
"Y-yeah, I had gotten lost, but uncle found me. He's so cool.'' Simba played along. Mufasa had no idea what to say, Scar had...helped? It was a bit hard to believe considering the dark lion's reputation within the savanna and the strained relationship the two of them had, but he saw no reason why his son would lie to him about this.
"It's time to come home, Simba,'' Mufasa said, looking at his son with a stern face.
"Oh...okay.'' Simba went with his father, but turned and said goodbye to his uncle. Once more to Mufasa's bafflement, his brother actually waved at his son with a small genuine smile.
After they had walked a bit Simba turned to his father "Umm...dad? Aren't you glad Uncle found me?'' There was something bothering Simba so he had to ask.
"Of course I am grateful, why do you ask?'' The king of the pridelands asked his son.
"Well...you didn't thank him.'' Mufasa briefly halted his stride, he didn't even realize that he hadn't actually done so, it actually made him feel like kind of a jerk.
"I...I must simply have forgotten. I will be sure to thank him later.'' Mufasa promised. That seemed to satisfy the younger cub, but the king's mind was still shook. Why had he neglected to thank his brother? If anyone else had found his son he would surely have done so. The issue would continue to niggle at his mind throughout the night.
Having watched his nephew and brother walk away Scar turned and walked his own path. He hadn't expected any thanks from his brother, but somehow it still annoyed him. Mufasa fully believed he had helped, but still voiced no gratitude, so typical. Not that something so insignificant would matter soon. He would be taken care of... But before that, Scar was actually looking forward to seeing the young feline once again. For now he would retreat back to his real home.
"Look who it is,'' Shenzi said as Scar arrived. To the hyena's surprise he looked a lot more collected than he used to. "Hey...everything alright?'' she asked.
After a bit of a nerve wracking pause the lion looked at them, "Thank you.'' They had no idea how to respond, Scar rarely voiced his feelings if they weren't anger. Ed put his paw on the lion's forehead and comically acted as if he burned himself on it.
"Yeah...he's gotta be sick.'' Banzai chuckled.
"Why the "thank you''?'' Shenzi asked, ignoring the other two hyenas. She felt it was important.
"You stopped me from making a terrible mistake. Simba...I met with him...I-'' he had a bit of trouble putting what happened into words. Thankfully the three seemed to understand.
"Hey...anytime, that's what friends are for. Glad there actually is a heart beneath all that dark fur of yours, I was beginning to doubt.'' It was said in jest, but Shenzi actually had worried. Scar actually winced at the comment and felt a sting of guilt. The visible wince made the female hyena feel bad for voicing her thoughts out loud.
"Anyways,'' Shenzi said, clearing her throat. "What are we gonna do now, Scar?''
"I have amended the plan, I only need to bring Simba to a hidden place and act as if I saw him being taken away toward the gorge, Mufasa will come running right into our trap. The only issue is when it will be possible to do.'' Mufasa would no doubt have Simba kept under close watch for the next few days at least.
"Mhm...sounds like we can take it easy for a couple of days,'' Shenzi sighed, glad to see the lion in mostly sound mind again. That meant there would be a lightened load on her shoulders. It was stressful enough dealing with Banzai and Ed but worrying about Scar on top of those two made the female hyena sure she was getting even grayer.
A few moments passed in silence before Ed broke it with his usual unusual way of speaking, Banzai smiled at his suggestion "Yeah...it's been a while since the four of us just relaxed and spent some time together.''
Shenzi hummed "It has...say...why don't we go to that spot of ours?'' All the hyena turned to Scar expectantly.
Scar rolled his eyes and smiled, quickly caving from the hyena's pleading looks. "hmm...I suppose I have nothing better to do.'' he said teasingly. Ed had been right, it had been far too long since he had spent time with them. Maybe just for now...he could put any thoughts of the plan on hold and just...enjoy the company of his friends, true friends.
