[1st POV]
"Hmm?"
After the whole magical coronation was over, I looked down from the top and saw someone missing among the animals.
Scar.
His corpse was missing.
"That's a bit concerning, isn't it?" I asked myself.
I turned and walked back down the Pride Rock. I noticed briefly the cubs and the sub-adults in the lions' den but I ignored them and scaled the hill sideways. I didn't see Scar leaving right under my nose but I could find him easily.
His blood left a trail and if I searched for his scent, I could locate him. The place where he went also seemed natural so after the flash of concern, there was nothing.
I walked to the back of the Pride Rock and into the cave located at the backside of the hill. It was Scar's den. Before he became king, he used to rot in that same cave.
The entrance of the cave was marked with his blood. From the stain, I could imagine that he was dragging his body here with all the adrenaline left in his system.
"Couldn't you just die where you are supposed to? Or does everything have to go your way till the bitter end," I asked as I entered the cave.
I saw Scar lying on top of the biggest elevation. His limbs hung loosely from there, the boulder was slowly getting waterfalls of blood as he stayed there.
He was still alive, his choked breath echoed softly through the cave as if the mountain itself was dying. His lungs were filling with blood.
But through all that, he managed a chuckle when he heard me.
"I survive. I always did," he said.
"Not this time," I answered.
"It would seem so," he said and then choked out a gurgle of blood.
I watched him die a slow and agonizing death. It was a bit strange to me why he wouldn't just die painlessly and why he must cling to life, knowing everything was over.
"Leo," he called me. His hazy eyes met my gaze with no fear. After all he was dying, he no longer had anything to fear. What was I going to do to him? Kill him harder? No.
He had no fear. I think he loved that feeling. I think that was the reason why he persisted on living. He wanted to feel, for at least a short moment, what it meant to be brave and fearless.
Why wasn't he born strong and courageous like his brother? I could almost read his mind.
"For what it's worth, I don't regret anything," he said. It was a brutal confession for someone who killed his own blood.
"You may call me weak, you may call me small, you may accuse me of cowardice but in the end, I am one of you. I die as one of you," he said.
"All tried but no one could stop me. I may not be a great one, but I too am a lion king," he said.
After saying that, he took his own, final, clean breath.
"So don't act so high and mighty with me, cub. I made you, just as the world has made me," he said his final bitter words and then died.
There was no more breath left in him.
A small growl left my throat at his last words. It struck my pride greatly and the worst thing was that I couldn't really refuse him.
After all, he was the reason why I got as strong as I did. In a world where there was no Scar and I continued living under Mufasa's rule, I would not reach the level I did.
It was a twisted way of looking at things. But I guess Scar was still able to infect me with his twisted thinking in the end.
Why do the enemies I kill always leave me with such bitter words? I still remember to this day what Roku said to me. No matter how great I became, I would still die as lowly as they. For all kings must fall.
And now, Scar left me with another thing to think about.
Who was I really when I was not driven by hatred or revenge? The real character of a person is shown when he is given everything.
It was one thing to become a king, but completely another to see what kind of king I am.
Till now, I have been driven by goals and desires. I was kind of a replacement, a cooler version of Simba. Whatever I did today, he would've done it too.
But take all those away and what am I?
I guess we will find out.
I left the cave with such thoughts but for the moment, my shoulder was high and my chest proud.
When I returned to my pride, we greeted each other with victories of our own. But nothing much took place as everyone was injured and weary. We cleaned each other's wounds and lay to rest.
That was quite enough for a day.
...
When the sun rose the next day, the light fell on a new kingdom, a new dynasty.
The sky was completely filled with flocks of vultures who were eager to feed on the aftermath of the war. The sound of their feeding and their satisfied cries were a sound that filled the Pride Lands.
But the sun was able to shine only for a moment before the sky darkened again. The clouds came and blocked the blue sky. They carried with them rain after a long season of drought where it only rained a few minutes in a day.
The hyenas left before I woke up. I decided to spare them like I promised but I made sure to tell them to never come in my line of sight again. The mandrills on the other hand retreated to the woodlands which was their old home. And the humans also disappeared.
I urged all the lions into the den when the rain started and we continued our rest there. The battle took a lot out of us. If we slept for two days after the first battle, we would rest for even longer now.
I also pushed back my responsibility of dealing with Scar's pride. I would decide what to do with them when I woke up refreshed. For now, they were cooped together at the corner of the cave, never even making a sound or sleeping comfortably.
On the other hand, I slept in my usual spot. My usual spot meaning where I used to sleep when I still lived in the Pride Lands. Nala, Zuri, Eshe and Tala slept beside me.
But at one point, I got up silently and left the pride. I did for two reasons, to check the condition of the weather and also to take a piss.
When I went out of the cave, I noticed that the sky was still dark. It was raining but not so heavily. It was sparse rain.
I walked out into that rain and gazed at the horizon.
Nature was truly a wonderful thing. Only one day had passed but the cycle of life already began. All the blood that spilled for this land and the decaying flesh and bones would work to nourish the wasteland. The rains of the monsoon would only complement this and with no horde of hyenas to eat up any new life, the Pride Lands would once again regain its former glory.
My thoughts also went out to my other kingdom when I looked into the horizon. What had become of my Serengeti? I suppose the wet season was beginning and the land would be filled with growing green by now. It was near the end of the dry season when we left after all.
But most importantly, how many motherfucking frauds are living like kings in my absence? Would I have to face another challenge upon my return?
"You seem to be thinking a lot for a lion that just won his kingdom," Rafiki's voice suddenly came from my side, spooking the hell out of me.
He had a wide smile on his face when he saw me flinch. "Finally got you," he said under his breath but I still heard it with my lion senses.
"What are you doing here Rafiki? Don't tell me you stayed outside of the den all this time," I asked with a grumble.
"That's not any matter of importance," he said smugly, "What is important though is what is on your mind."
"There are only useless passing thoughts on my mind," I said.
"No," he said and wiggled his finger, "You are thinking about the right things. Good for you. A king can never rest."
"What do you mean good for me Rafiki?" I asked, my body finally turning to him.
"The gods are not done with you just yet," Rafiki said vaguely, "Fate whispered to me again last night."
"What? I thought you said fate doesn't know about me," I said.
"Yes, but she knows everyone else," Rafiki said, "Your brother for example."
"Simba? He is alive?" I asked, acting half surprised.
"Surprising right? The promised prince still lives," Rafiki said and there was a wide, genuine smile on his face. I could tell he was excited.
"But what's even more surprising is that his fate remains unchanged," he said.
Now that shifted the mood instantly.
A deep frown settled on my face, "The Prideland is mine and it will remain mine until I take my last breath. I don't care if my brother lives."
"I am not saying anything! For all I care you are the rightful king in my eyes," Rafiki said quickly, "Which is why I'm snitching on an old friend for you."
"What is it exactly that you know Rafiki. Speak clearly," I ordered him with a bite of my teeth.
His words did not give me peace at all. And I was angry because right after the war was supposed to be where I rest and finally have peace.
"A great storm is coming. A storm that will change everything and finally make kings whole. Fate remains unchanged but without you going against it," Rafiki said.
"Make sense shaman," I asked, "What is coming for me?"
"It's you, you are the storm," Rafiki said, "I can't hear anything about you but I get clues from what kind of fate awaits the rest."
Finally, that clarified some things for me. What he just said sounded like typical foreshadowing except I am the one the prophecy warned about.
"Just a small advice, my king," Rafiki said after a moment of silence.
"Speak,"
"To go against fate is like walking against a river current. Although that sounds hard, it also has its benefits. It shows you a path, it gives you a challenge that makes you strong and it gives you water to drink for nourishment. But from now on, you are on your own," he said.
"You are equally strong and intelligent. Now be wise in your decision, remember what's important and who you are," he said.
...
"Well, that's about all I have to say. Just remember for whatever may come, this old monkey is always here to help," he said and gave me an exaggerated bow.
"You are not the king I was promised, but the king I have chosen," he said, "And I realize that means more to me than anything else."
Rafiki left swiftly after saying that. But even way after he left, his words remained.
I returned back to the cave. The thoughts buzzing in my mind needed release. So I looked at my lionesses and headed towards the most uninjured one and promptly mounted her.
What can I say, small benefits of being a king.
After I was done, everything became clear.
Challenges? Why the hell was I worried about that? When have I ever worried about that? Life would be way too boring without them.
So come, make me stronger, make me better.
Let me be greater.
..
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Author : Exam is coming up yet again and I missed update yesterday so today is double.