Zira's Tale

[changa]

Some parts may refer to my last fanfic: /viewtopic.php?f=8&t=16925
~~~
A lioness, carrying a cub in her womb, didn't much like the situation. She was in the middle of a barren wasteland, and she had just spotted three hyenas. "Hyenas! Prepare to battle!" She was certainly not in the best state for battle, but she had to live. If only for her cub. The lionesses behind her got into their attack positions, though none of them were ready for battle either.
"Girls," said a female hyena, "and your cubs, we have been sent by the king himself to welcome you to our lands. He requests that your small band see him immediately."
The leader looked warily at this hyena, but she supposed it was better than fighting. So she pursued the hyenas to a cave within a huge, strangely shaped rock.
"Ah, thank you, Shenzi. Welcome, poor wanderers, to our humble pride. I am Scar, your king."
The leader gulped. "You'd really let us stay?"
"Certainly. It's not much, as most of the herds had moved on, but we have enough to spare,"
"Thank you so very much, your majesty," the leader said, truly and utterly grateful. She noticed that he had a nice smile. And a nice everything else. "My name is Zira,"
"Well, Zira, you and your small pride may go on to the den around by the back, where the lionesses are. There you may converse and get to know each other."
"Thank you once again. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"No problem."
Zira made her way around to the back, where she saw some new faces. One of which was crying.
"My Mheetu," she sobbed.
A darker lioness put a paw on the first's back. "It's alright, Sara. He may come back. You never know." She looked up to see Zira and her pride. "Oh, hello. Welcome to the Pridelands. I'm Sarabi."
"Er, hello," Zira replied awkwardly, "I'm Zira. And here is my pride. We are starving, especially the cubs. And some of us are carrying cubs within ourselves."
"Oh!" Sarabi cried sympathetically, "Make yourselves at home." She ran out of the cave, a few lionesses following her. Zira lay down, and her pride did the same.
"So, where are you from?" asked a caramel-colored lioness. Zira looked down at her paws.
"Oh. That's okay if you don't want to talk about it," she said, concerned.
"No," sighed Zira, "I suppose I need to get it off my chest. So, I actually lived a rather normal childhood. My father was the leader of our small pride, and he did a fine job of it. And so I grew to be a young adult, learning the ways of leadership. One day, he went off to show some hyenas their place, as they were trespassing. He was getting old, so though he fought hard, and won, he was covered in scratches and bites and bruises. Not long after the fight, father began to get a little crazy. He would bite at us randomly, especially mother, who was closest to him. Soon, he just went insane beyond reason," Zira sniffed, remembering her poor dear father, "and killed mother. After that, he forced us out, killing those who wished to stay and some of those who tried to escape. It was horrible," she said, choking back a sob.
The caramel-colored lioness looked at Zira. "It's okay, Zira. Here, that... that won't happen." But the lioness, Raha, regretted her words as soon as she said them. Hyenas were everywhere, and would attack if necessary. But perhaps she should wait to tell Zira that.
"Raha!" hissed Sarafina. She had dried her tears and had been listening to the story. She knew Raha shouldn't have said that either.
"What?" asked Zira, "Is something wrong?"
Sarafina glared at Raha and then looked at Zira. "Zira," she began slowly, "how long have you been traveling?"
"Many, many days. So long, I wouldn't leave."
"I see. Zira, here, the king's advisors, helpers, and killers are the hyenas. They might kill you, but if you get on Scar's good side, they won't. Try to be careful."
Sarabi delivered a small, weak gazelle. Zira nodded, and every lioness that had come with her dove in. They even let the cubs eat like this, despite the pecking order.
Their meal was soon finished, but they were quite satisfied. After all, they had not eaten in days. But their stomachs still growled, as did everyone else's.
"So," began Zira, "why must I be careful around the king? Is something wrong with him?"
The lionesses looked at Sarabi. She sighed and stepped forward. "Scar... Scar was... well, what he really was--"
"Girls," Shenzi said, upon entering the side den, "you new ones. Scar wants to see ya." Zira looked nervously at the hyena, but followed her, as did her pride.
"So," Scar said, as the lionesses got in a line in front of him, "I see you have been on a long journey. Tell me your story."
Zira stood rigid and straight, not looking Scar in the eye. "Well, you see, Your Majesty--"
"Now, don't be so straight. Relax. Make yourself at home. I am not the sort of king that will punish you for doing something like that. I am a kind king, one that will see you through to the end. Now continue."
Zira lay down and told him her story. She was sobbing by the end, and buried her head in her front leg.
"Oh, Zira, it's alright. My life wasn't much better. It was horrible, really, and I could do nothing to change it. Would you like to hear it?"
Zira nodded, and her stomach growled unexpectedly. "Oh, Shenzi, take your clan and get me the most animals you can find. These girls are hungry."
"My WHOLE clan?"
"Yes, you need all the help you can get." He chuckled. Shenzi grumbled and went to get the many hyenas that resided in the Pridelands.
"So, it looks as though you are expecting," Scar observed, "Who's the father?"
"Oh," said Zira nervously, "Well, I... you know..."
"Is that a bad question? I'm so sorry," Scar said, putting a claw to his lip.
"So, what's your story?" asked a lioness, trying to change the subject.
"You want to know? Well, I was a fairly young lion. I had a mane about me, but it was just around my face, not a full mane, like it is now. So...

Scar's--well, he was Taka then--Taka's mother, Uru, was very sick. She was so sick that she could hardly stand. Mufasa was very close to Uru, and he was with her every day. Taka and Ahadi tried to draw him away; to give Uru air and space. But Mufasa wouldn't have it. He would rather stay with his mother. So Scar and Ahadi did the things they normally did: practiced hunting, learned the lessons of the Pridelands and how to rule, and so forth. He was to be second-in-command, so he needed to know how the Pridelands worked, just the same as his brother did. He worked hard for it, and in these days, Mufasa would skip lessons, sometimes for a week! So Taka was excelling in the kingly businesses. Hoping and hoping that somehow he could be king kept him with Ahadi instead of Uru. But he wasn't all that fond of Uru, so it wasn't hard. But he hoped and hoped, knowing it was a childish hope, and one that may never come true. Mufasa, when he did get away from his mother, was too focused on her and her well-being that he could not focus on the lesson. So Taka excelled even more.
Ahadi felt that, despite tradition, Taka should be king. Although he did care for Uru, he really paid attention to his duties. So he proclaimed Taka to be the future king. This excited Taka, and made his almost leap for joy. However, he was born with a sore and stiff back, so he couldn't jump. He made sure Mufasa knew this, and proceeded to rub it in, in most of his spare time. The rest of his spare time was spent somewhere else.
The Elephant Graveyard was stumbled upon by Taka, during his patrolling for hyenas. He found dozens of hyenas, that he didn't even try to fight. He tried to reason with them to let him go, and they explained they would let him go on one condition: that they stop dangling at the bottom of the food chain. Taka promised this, and even that they someday live in the Pridelands. He saw that they were really no different from him or the other lions. They just had different status. And that needed to change. He vowed that as soon as he was second-in-command, he would give them their freedom.
Now, Uru never got better. She got far worse. So bad, it was, that the sun set on her time as queen. Mufasa was heartbroken. Ahadi was, as well, but he knew that his kingdom needed him more than a lifeless body did. Taka wasn't, however. He shook his head at the fact that she had died before her time, but left it at that.
Mufasa returned to his lessons, falling farther and farther behind.
"She's gone," he muttered to himself, "completely gone."
"Yes. She is. So drop it. It's over, Mufasa. Just forget her. She is no longer part of your story," Taka sneered.
"You didn't love her," snarled his brother.
"Love is petty," Taka responded simply, "So forget she ever entered your life."
"Taka, you idiot! She is our mother, and you have to respect that!"
"I do. I just don't... love it," he spat out the word love as though it were a stray bone in his antelope meat.
Mufasa shook his head. "Taka! Why don't you have feelings?" He was so enraged by Taka's disrespect that he lashed out at him, claws digging deep. He left many scratches and bruises, but nothing like the wound on his eye. He couldn't open it.
Rafiki said that when the eye did open, he would be blind in it-- for a limited time. Soon his sight would return, but he would have a permanent scar. Ahadi was disappointed in Mufasa, and tried to keep his attention on Taka. Or, to Mufasa, he was Scar. Mufasa noticed the extra attention given to his brother, and toughened up. He forgot his mother, and worked toward being king, like he was originally supposed to. Ahadi saw this, and eventually, Mufasa rose higher than Scar. Scar vowed from that day on to be king-- no matter how he did.
He grew unpleasant, and cruel. He kept away from the lessons, as he knew he would never get back up to Mufasa's level. And Mufasa grew up, dropped his grudges, apologized for mistakes and wrongdoings, and became a new lion. But Scar stayed the same. He never changed.

Scar told this story, but changed some of it, to make him sound like the good guy, and the hyenas sound less desperate and more murderous. According to him, they FORCED him to agree to their conditions, and that's why he was here. But it was only to gain their sympathy.
"Now, don't speak about it to them, or around them. The hyenas will kill if they hear this, as they believe they are the good ones. But stick with me, and you'll never be in danger. I'll take care of you."
"But... But, the lionesses, they--"
"Have been brainwashed by the hyenas to believe what they believe, and join them. Luckily, they have some common sense, and dislike them."
"Oh. So, why, exactly, did you ask us here?"
Scar sighed. "Well, the lionesses hate me, and I need an heir to the throne. You are just the girls to make that happen."
Zira blushed. "Us? But we... we only just got here. How are we to be queens already?"
"Zira, Zira, Zira. I'd trust you with my life. I'd trust all of you with my life. And I bow before you, asking to have your acceptance."
The lionesses agreed immediately. They were given a small den separate from the others, where food was delivered to them by the hyenas. I suppose it’s not so bad, thought Zira.

Soon, Zira's child was born. He was a grayish-brown, and a bit scruffy. Scar suggested the name Nuka, and Zira accepted it without thinking. So Nuka grew up in the Pridelands. Zira grew to become as hard-hearted as Scar, and told herself that she was his true queen.
Rogues would come through every once in a while, and many lionesses would be blessed with a cub not long afterwards. One of these lionesses had great significance.
She looked at the cubs nestled in her arms. There were two: a boy and a girl. The girl looked like her mother and the boy looked like his grandfather. Then she remembered someone she certainly didn't want to remember: Zira. Zira was determined to make sure everyone knew that she and she alone was Scar's queen. It didn't matter if the cubs weren't Scar's. They were all killed. You could never be too sure. The only cub surviving besides the two in the lioness's arms was Nuka, Zira's son.
She quickly hid her cubs behind her as Zira came in. "Hello, Digger."
"The name's Chekua."
"Whatever! So," she said, in a sweeter tone, "I hear you've been given some gifts. May I see them?"
"What gifts?"
"I've been told that you currently have some gifts. Quite small ones, you know. Ones you would do anything for, you know the sort." Zira's voice was hardening with exasperation.
"I'm sorry; I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh, don't play dumb. Give me the cubs."
"Cubs? What cubs?" Zira growled, and pushed Chekua aside. There was nothing behind her.
"Where are they?" asked Zira through clenched teeth. Suddenly she spotted a ball of brown fur. She dragged it toward herself and raised her paw lazily. This would be a quick kill. Then the cub's eyes opened, and Zira stopped. If, at a faraway glance, you couldn't see Scar's likeness in this cub, you could look at the bright green eyes, and all would be revealed.
"Who gave you this little gift?" asked Zira, not taking her eyes off the cub.
"No one you would know."
"So, it's not Scar's cub?"
"No..." Something bit Zira's tail and she whirled around, ready to strike. A little blond cub with a bit too much hair on her forehead had her teeth in Zira's tail. Zira picked her up by the tail and raised her to eye level. The cub was wriggling to get out of Zira's grasp, her blue-purple eyes filled with rage.
"Alright, your cubs may live." Chekua's heart was pounding. Yes, her cubs would live, but Zira would twist it. "But," continued Zira, "I get to keep them. And no one will know about this, okay?" Her tone was stern. Chekua nodded. Anything to keep her cubs alive.
Zira exited the cave and lay down in Pride Rock's cave. "Scar, darling!" Scar moaned, and lazily picked himself up to see whatever Zira had to show him. He stopped at the sight of the male cub. Could it be his?
"Zira, you gave birth to these?" He thought of Zira's last cub. Zira just smiled. "Zira, do not lie to me." He was raising his voice.
"No. A lioness by the name of... of... well, I don't know, she looks like this." She held up the female cub.
"Oh, her." said Scar thoughtfully. "Are they yours?" Zira ventured.
"No..." he replied. The boy turned over and opened his eyes. "The boy will be the next king. Rafiki!" The mandrill took his time climbing down the tree and walking toward Scar. "This cub will be presented as the future king. We will have the ceremony soon. I will say when."
"Yes," replied Rafiki. He made a mental note not to say 'Your majesty.' He walked back to his tree, mad at Scar.

Zira looked over the Pridelands, a barren wasteland. She felt as though something big was about to happen. But she just shrugged and padded inside, where she began to nurse her cubs, Kovu and Vitani. Soon, the two were asleep, and she felt as though she should too. And so she did.

When she woke, the Pridelands were pelted with rain. She set the cubs aside and walked to the front of Pride Rock. What she saw disgusted her. A rogue lion was at the tip, roaring for the whole kingdom to hear. She also saw a pile of bones, ones that looked like lion bones. Vultures and small hyenas were nibbling at the remains. When the rain stopped, she looked around. Sarabi was nuzzling the rogue, and Zira realized with a start that this was Mufasa. The description fit, all except for his reduced size. But what could you expect from him being half-dead, and alone in the desert, or who-knew-where?
"What is this?" she roared, "Where's Scar?"
"Zira," Sarabi said quietly, "Simba isn't dead. He has returned. Scar is dead. The hyenas killed him.
"No."
"What?" questioned Sarabi, confused.
"You're lying. I know Simba killed him! Liar! LIAR!"
"Zira, no."
"Mother, who... who's this?"
"Zira. She supported Scar."
"Oh. Will she ever see the truth?"
"I don't know," she sighed.
"You lied," Zira mumbled, again and again. "YOU LIED!" She attacked Sarabi, clawing and biting until the life left the old lioness.
"No..." Simba choked. "Murderer!"
"That's right. Just like my dead Scar." She chucked evilly. Simba approached the insane lioness and growled. He tried to hold himself back from attacking. But he couldn't help it. He leaped forward, but, in an attempt to control himself, he veered of, his claw ripping a chunk out of her ear. Zira screamed in pain and growled at Simba.
"You, and all of Scar's other followers, are hereby banished from the Pridelands. Forever."
Zira grumbled, and gathered the lionesses and her cubs. But she was happy. To have caused this murderer grief was easy, and fun. She had to keep Scar's heir alive, or she would have kept on fighting.
They left, never to return, until one day...

[Daenerys]

O.O This is awesome. I gives you a Pride Point.

[changa]

Thanks! You= awesome.

[TheLionQueen]

I like it! It's very interesting. You are very good!

[changa]

Thanks. ^_^