[mlkfaa] - Julie Skywalker's Album -> zira-flee-watermark.pn

[Carl]

Okay, here's some concept art/text for the fic I'm working on. It will explain Zira's background as Scar and Mufasa's half-sister and other such information starting at Ahadi's "rite of passage" and going on into post-SP adventures from there. The text included with this image may not appear in the final work, but something similar certainly will. Here we go.

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"Each day, it was more of the same. Zira saw all the other cubs return to loving mothers after the day's activities. There, they were lovingly cleaned and then cuddled to sleep. Sometimes in the daytime, the other cubs' mothers would play with them even. Zira was the only cub left to her own devices each and every day. While she sat alone, she watched Sarabi and her sisters (Diku, Dwala, and Naanda) going to their mother to share food and being looked after with car. She watched the same happen for Sarafina, and even her own brothers, Taka and Mufasa.

After being out all day, they all got dirty. The girls from playing and practicing hunting skills; Taka from spending time with Zira, his hyena friends, or doing whatever he wanted; and Mufasa from following Ahadi and participating in a royal lessons to learn to be king. Ahadi did not show Zira any love, but she did not expect him to. She was not his cub and did not mind his interest in her half-brothers and not herself. But Uru, that was a different story. Uru was her mother, too, and she greeted her sons in the same way as the other mothers greeted their cubs. With love. Zira would have wondered if it was just because she was female, but she knew that was not it. Uru was kind even to the cubs who were not hers.

It was only Zira who was left alone like this.

And it was only Taka who ever showed her any sympathy. Her half brother always told her, as if he were trying to convince himself, that Uru was not so cold as she seemed, that this was strange and unexplainable, but that their mother surely had a good reason and that it couldn't be bad. It couldn't be. She had always been nice to him and Mufasa, after all.

At last, she'd had enough. Uru was nuzzling Mufasa welcoming him home from his lessons, and she had just greeted Taka as eagerly moments before. The other cubs were all happily in the den with their mothers and friends. Zira approached her mother with determination.

'Is it because I'm the youngest?' she demanded of Uru. At first the queen did not respond, she just looked around as if spooked by something, her eyes glazed over and frightened.

'Pardon?' she asked at last.

'You NEVER bathe me. You never welcome me home. You never show any affection at all; all you do is ignore me!' the cub accused.

Uru did not answer, she merely looked to the ground. Mufasa walked away from the awkward scene, but, like Taka, remained close enough to watch. But as time passed, still her mother did not answer.

'Answer me! Why do you treat them nicely and not me?' Zira shouted as her eyes began to tear up.

Still there was no answer.

'You love them, but not me!' the cub shouted again.

Once more, silence greeted her ears.

'WHY NOT ME?!' Zira demanded.

'Because you bring back the bad memories!' Uru finally snapped, tears in her own eyes.

Shocked, and unsure of how to respond, Zira turned and fled, tears streaming down her face as she wailed and abandoned Pride Rock."

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characters (c) Disney
Art & story (c) me

[Iri]

I love the theory!

[Carl]

Thank you!

[Nadra]

I love your theory! Poor Zira.

[Carl]

Thanks! Yes, it is very sad what happens to Zira.

[Iri]

Seems like Zira had it rough.

[Carl]

Yes, unfortunately she had to have, but she becomes very evil and manipulative because of it.

[Iri]

Your version of her past is interesting though.

[Carl]

Thank you, I've put a lot of thought into it.