This is the next one out of two stories I had promised to publish onto the list. This story describes the thoughts and feelings going through Simba's and Scar's mind in their final showdown between good and evil. Enjoy! --------------- STORY --------------- Betrayal. Pure and utter humiliation. That-s all Simba thought of as he approached Scar out of the smoke blanket and ash falling on his silk fur. He blinked and narrowed his eyes that would give Scar a sharp, incising thrash of fear through his heart. His step was light but the ash and ground felt the power of his step and backed away in fear. The wind tearing through the planes jetted upward to the summit of Pride Rock and made a ghastly caressing of Simba-s mane. Smoke that accompanied the gust made his eyes sting and water. But he didn-t care. He was faced with the monster that had killed his father and who tried to kill him. The thing whipped around and faced Simba with fear. The words from Simba were too evil to ignore anymore. "Murderer-" Simba accused him. He didn-t know what to do. He turned his head around in both directions hoping that his allies would show but his hope was engulfed by the flames of terror as Simba approached his humbling mass. "Simba- Simba please, have mercy- I beg you" were the only words he could think of. His voice trembled even more than the thunder itself. Simba overlooked the terrified body of his uncle, that monster. He stopped advancing on him and stared him right in the eyes. His frown became even more evil as he prepared to speak. "You don-t deserve to live." The words felt good as they tumbled out of his mouth and into the ears of the enemy. Scar-s eyes widened with the words. Adrenaline rushed into his body and he began to quiver like a worm at the end of a hook. His own family, his nephew, wanted to kill him and he had no escape. He tried to think of something that would make Simba back down, but only a pitiful plea for forgiveness came to his petrified brain. "But, Simba- I am, uhh- family." He started to regain posture as his conniving mind started to whir with possibilities again. "It-s the hyenas who are the real enemy. It was their fault"It was their idea!" Simba raised his eyebrows and then lowered them again to an evil stare. His head lowered a bit and wondered if his uncle was trying to sway him. "Why should I believe you"" he said with a deep, grave voice. "Everything you-ve ever told me was a lie." His voice lowered as the words were spoken. His tail swayed in signals of war. He watched as his uncle was crushed under the weight of the words that were spoken. "What are you going to do" You wouldn-t kill your old uncle-" Scar said with the deathly voice of horror. He hoped the tactic worked or for sure he-d be today-s dinner feast. His eyes started to water in the heat and smoke of the fire. His breath quickened as his heart started to beat faster. "No, Scar. I-m not like you." Simba said with a kind of pride. He was glad that the darkness in Scar hadn-t been placed also on him. He watched his uncle tremble under the rumble of his voice. The very fact that he overpowered his uncle almost bewildered him. For years, he was afraid to come back and face this monster, his biggest fear. And now the monster trembles at his feet and begs for mercy. In a moment of great relief, Scar could only think of thanking him. It was probably the first time he ever got the words of gratitude to his mind. "Oh, Simba, thank you. You are truly noble. I'll make it up to you, I promise." He stood up and regained the once-lost posture he had shown while being king. "How can I, ah, prove myself to you" Tell me, I mean, anything." He passed his paw over the ground cutting through the air in hopes that Simba would see the pretend sincerity of his evil works. Simba rose to his full height and prepared to speak. His mouth formed motions as he spoke the words. "Run-" The words struck fear and memory in both of their hearts. Simba remembered those fateful words that, for years, had rung in his ears. Run from your past, run from the present, and run from the future until you can run no longer when you lay down and die a gypsy with no pride. "Run away, Scar. And never return." The words cut through Scar-s soul like a strike of lightning into the air. He crouched around Simba and spoke. "Yes. Of course... As you wish." All the sudden, a light caught his eye and his thoughts stirred. He positioned himself to cast the glowing embers into Simba-s face. With that, he spoke the final words to him. "Your majesty!" The red fiery stones flew into the face of his enemy and he prepared the attack. With a cry of sheer pain, Simba paws away the simmering coals and tries to regain his position. Scar thrusted his weight forwards with all the power that he had. Paws raised in fury as each paw swiped at paw. Each claw cleaved deep into the flesh of the other as the blows of anger hit the other. The cuts echoed with pain as they were dug deeper and deeper as the claws slashed out at each other. An instant of pure terror in Scar-s foreseen fate created a surge of power through his limb. He hit Simba with such a blow that the thunder seemed to had been intimidated by the sound. Simba was thrown backwards towards the sheer cliffs of Pride Rock-s top. Simba hit the ground with such a force that it made his muscles spasm for an instant in pain. He rolled onto his back and, out of the hellish fire, saw his uncle lunge at him. Scar was for certain that he had Simba at his death when all the sudden he felt his strength transferred to a bodiless object. Simba-s paws pummeled into Scar-s chest and he was thrown over the edge. Simba whipped around to see his uncle fall to his death. "It-s over now-" he growled to himself as he saw the mass of the hyenas throw their bloodlusted fury onto Scar-s beaten and battered body. ------------------------------ END -- Simba Canuso ICQ : 3546725 AIM : Dragondomo Email: dragondomo@fast.net Site : www.purelionking.org (coming soon) Quote: It's perfectly normal to be different. # Extremely proud Official Nalaholic and soon-to-be staff member # Founder of "The Lion King and Simba's Pride" web ring ------------