A Change of Plans [PRIVATE: AC & The Whistlerify]

[AustralianChaos]

Scar turned to his nephew, forcing his face to adopt an understanding expression. "I understand this is hard, Simba...betrayal by those close to you is always hard to accept. But I know what I saw...and there is no doubt in my mind as to what these two were up to."

"I've seen the jealous looks they throw your way," he continued, gesturing to both Nala and Simba. "They must be jealous of the fact that the two of you will rule the Pridelands soon, and are seeking to take it for themselves. Greed and jealousy can make even the best of us do the worst things."

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Sarabi sighed. She looked to her son, and had to look away quickly at the helpless, pleading look he was giving him. He was looking to her to stop Scar, to convince him of Tanga and Marini's innocence.

But in reality, there was very little she could do. Scar seemed adamant that these two were attempting to betray the pride, and with him as acting king, Sarabi had long since lost her official status as queen, and therefore any ability to question Scar's rule. She, like the others, believed that Scar has severely misinterpreted a situation he had stumbled across, but she had no authority to stop him. Looking to Sarafina for support, she stood and gave it one, last go.

"Scar, listen to what you're saying. You're accusing two cubs, barely into adolescence, of inciting rebellion against a pride they have called home for years...including two of their closest friends. I've seen Tanga, and I know that neither he nor Marini are the type to be jealous of anything, let alone something that was never there for them to become in the first place."

"Just think, Scar! There's no proof that they've done anything wrong!"

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini couldn't believe this. She loved Nala and SImba and she enojyed the life she was having in the Pridelands. And Simba was right, what would she and Tanga do if the did overthrow the pridelanders with the hyenas? "Scar, please..." she begged, "we don't want to do anything, please, listen to me. We didn't talk to them, they came and tried to kill us." she said, the memory of the three mauling her mother to death that was just brought up a few minutes earlier by Shenzi storming her mind.

[AustralianChaos]

Scar sighed...he had not wanted to do it this way...but it looked like he had little choice.

As Marini spoke, he shoved his paw a little harder into her to quiet her down in the same way he did with Tanga, before looking back up at Sarabi. "I can see it now, Sarabi...they've corrupted you, just as I feared they might. They have obviously tried to make some sort of deal with the hyenas, and I hate to do this...but I have to take action, since you are all too blinded by your compassion, and the acts these two have put on, to see the truth."

He decided to hold his silence for a brief moment, to let the realisation of what he was about to do sink in before he actually committed to it. He had hoped to convince the others of Tanga and Marini's guilt, which would have made it easier for him to push for an execution without too much resistance from the pride. But since Sarabi and the others were too stubborn to listen to him, he would have to settle for exiling them permanently.

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Nala looked at Scar, her face growing more and more horrified as she realised what Scar was about to declare. She looked at Simba, finding herself unable to speak, although her mind was screaming what she wanted to say, as if thinking it hard enough might actually make the words appear out of nowhere.

No...no, he can't do this! He's got it all wrong! Her mind screamed. But Sarabi seemed unable to stop him, and as king, he could do whatever he wanted.

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Tanga looked to Marini, reaching a forepaw out to her, feeling that Scar was about to hand down his punishment for a crime they did not commit. He mouthed a silent 'I'm sorry' to her once more, unable to do anything but lie back under Scar's paw, and await whatever fate the acting king had come up with for them.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked at Scar and his friends, completely horrified. "Scar, don't do this." he begged. When his father died Tanga and Marini were there for him, besides Nala of course. He couldn't imagine living on without them.

[AustralianChaos]

Scar looked at Simba one last time. "I'm sorry, my nephew...but I have no choice," he said, even if he was anything but sorry. Despite his serious, reluctant look, inside he was feeling triumphant. He may not have secured a permanent spot on the throne yet, but a large part of the threat was out of the way.

With those last words, he reluctantly pulled his paws away from Tanga and Marini, allowing them to get to their paws once more. "I want the two of you out of the Pridelands by sunset...and if you ever set so much as a hair back inside these lands, I will have the pride hunt you down without any remorse...do you understand me?"

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Sarabi sighed heavily as Scar ordered the two cubs into exile. She was convinced the two cubs were innocent, but Scar seemed adamant that they had conspired against him and Simba, and would not listen to any arguments. And while she had no choice but to accept Scar's decision, she intended to help the cubs as much as possible...and maybe even get them to defy Scar's wishes without him knowing.

So the former queen sat back, and waited for Scar to leave, and give them all a chance to say goodbye. She got a strange feeling that there was more to this than she was seeing, but without anything more than her hunch, she could not act in any way.

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When Scar told Tanga and Marini that, after sunset, they would no longer be welcome in the Pridelands, Nala had expected herself to cry out in one last protest. but that cry turned into an anguished sob at the last moment. "No..." she whispered, before burying her face into Simba's fur, struggling to accept the idea that she would never see two of her best friends ever again after today.

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Tanga was struggling to figure out how he should feel as he pulled himself to his feet, backing away from Scar fearfully, but staying close to Marini at the same time. He was relieved that Scar had not ordered their execution...but he was shocked that he was going to have to leave the Pridelands. He was devastated that he would never see Simba and Nala again...but managed to draw some small comfort from the fact that he would be with Marini.

In the end, Tanga just stood there, his shock making him imitate a statue as he struggled with the whirlpool of emotions and thoughts.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini tried to hold her tears back. This wasn't happening. The beginning of the day made it seem like it was going to be another normal day, and everything went like a normal day.

Simba couldn't believe what Scar did. He remained quiet untill Scar left. He then walked over to Tanga and Marini. He looked at them, still not believing that he would never see his friends again and then he looekd at his mother. "We can't let this happen." he said, hoping his mother will be able to do something

[AustralianChaos]

Scar left, heading for the graveyard, to tell Shenzi and the others that the plans had once agains been changed, but they had still managed to achieve their goal. Once he was out of sight of all the others, he smirked as he thought of the fact that he was now a lot closer to taking complete control of the Pridelands.

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Sarabi looked down at Simba, feeling the early signs of tears in her eyes. She wanted to tell Simba that she would stop Scar from doing this...she really did. But she could not lie to him about something like.

"I'm sorry, Simba...there's nothing we can do. Scar might be wrong, but while he's king, he has every right to do this, even if it's wrong."

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Tanga looked at Simba and Nala, barely able to believe this was most likely going to be the last time he was ever going to see the two of them. He tried to understand why Scar had been so convinced he and Marini were plotting against him, but in his stunned state, he could not think straight.

He finally walked over to Marini. "Rini..." he said shakily. "Are...are you alright?"

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As Scar left, Nala did not move an inch, even as Simba moved away from her. It was all too much...Scar was banishing two of her friends for a crime they didn't even commit. "It's not fair..." she managed to mumble after several moments, wandering over to her mother's side and resting her head against her, tears running down he cheeks. "Why is this happening, mum?" she asked.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked at his mom. "He is wrong." he said angrilly. "He's the worst king ever!"

Marini looked at Tanga, a few tears in her eyes. "I'm not okay..." she said and sighed, "What are we going to do now?"

Sarafina hugged her daughter, "I'm sorry Nala, I believe Tanga and Marini... But there's nothing we can do."

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga came up beside Marini and nuzzled her, letting her know he was there for her. "I don't know, Rini...I just don't know..."

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Nala returned Sarafina's hug, clinging to her mother like she was a lifeline. "I don't think I could bear to live without them, mum...I don't want them to go..."

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Sarabi looked down at Simba. "Yes, Scar is a terrible king...but what you have to remember is that he's only king until you become an adult, then you can take over...and bring Tanga and Marini back." she gave her son a weak smile, letting him know that, once he became king, he would be allowed to do that.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini looked at Tanga, the only thing that kept her from breaking into tears is that he was going to be with her. "Well... at least we have each other." she said, trying to reassure herself, though her tone was still shaky.
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"I know." Sarafina said, trying to calm her daughter. "But Simba is still here," she said, hoping that the fact Simba would still be around would help her relax, "and once he's old enough, he'll become king and Marini and Tanga will come back."
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Simba sighed. "That's just great." he said and looked away, "And how exactly are they going to survive untill that happens? Even if they do how will I find them?"