Pride Lands Christmas Carol

T’was the night before Christmas
And all through the lands
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a… HEY! ENOUGH POETRY!

<Mufasa> Good night brother! Merry Christmas!

<Scar> Bah humbug. It would have been merry, but… <assumes different posture> You know what would be a great Christmas present from you, brother?

<Mufasa> <raising eyebrow> What?

<Scar> If you would let me be king for a day… I’d be—

<Mufasa> <frowns> That’s out of the question! Never would I let another uphold my duties! Ugh, the nerve… <walks away>

<Scar> <whispers> And just how many nerves of mine do you think you’ve stepped on, dear brother of mine…

<Scar continues to doze off. Just as he was to slip into the dream land, he hears a jingling sound. Very faint but it’s somewhere within the cave of Pride Rock. He gets up and wanders to the exit of the cave and stands to listen. His ears twitch as something from behind brushes up against his fur. He quickly turns around.>

<Scar> Who are you?!

<Apparition> Come with me, Scar. You need to follow me to the past.

<Scar> Past? What are you talking about?

<Apparition> Shhh… Just follow.

<A burst of light from within the apparition blinds Scar for a moment as he leaps backwards in pain>

<Scar> ARGH! What was that?!

<Apparition> Look down there… <points in the direction of underneath Pride Rock’s precipice>

<Scar makes a disgruntled look and, with caution, makes his way down as the apparition just hovers in it’s position and continues to point. He reaches the bottom and suddenly, he feels something that he hasn’t felt in a long time. Hurt.>

<Scar> <whispering> Wha… what is going on here?

<Apparition> Do you not realize who they are, Scar?

<Scar whirls around, being taken by surprise>

<Scar> Why… Yes… I do remember who they are. But I can not believe I am seeing this. How are you doing this?

<Apparition> No questions, just watch.

<Scar sits and watches the lion and lioness as they caress each other and talk about their love. The moment had almost made him cry, and for years he had NEVER felt that sensation before. He could not believe what was happening.>

<Apparition> Scar, why did you leave her?

<Scar> <almost in tears> Why? I don’t know… I wanted to be with her forever. She was so perfect and the nights we spent together were so magical. I don’t know… I don’t know… <hangs head>

<Apparition> You left her for power, Scar. Power corrupted your soul and you lost the best thing that ever happened to you. Now you live with the pain you have brought upon yourself. And now, you will never be king with Simba. So you have destroyed your hopes of power… Your dreams of ruling… Your life.

<Scars tears turn to anger as he lets out a bloodcurdling roar and pounces at the apparition with all his might. The light from the apparition disperses and Scar falls flat on his face. He rises to his paws and shakes it off. He looks over underneath the precipice of Pride Rock and find the lion and lioness gone. He starts to walk back to the cave trying to piece together what went on. In is deep thoughts, he walks right into a lion standing tall and strong over his body.>

<Scar> And what do you want?

<Lion> I want for you to see. Come and I will show you.

<Scar> Oh no! No, no, no… I am not going back down there. If you want to show me something, do it right here.

<Lion> <bellows> I intend to.

<Scar> Ok, proceed. <returns an annoyed look>

<Scar sees his nephew run out to the edge of Pride Rock in tears. He overlooks the land and then sits down hanging his head. Scar moves closer to hear what he’s mumbling.>

<Lion> Go ahead, Scar. He can not see nor hear you.

<Scar glances over his shoulder at the lion with a disoriented look. He continues toward Simba and listens.>

<Simba> Why do I have these <sniff> nightmares… I want my <sniff> uncle to like me <sniff>, but everything I do seem to get him <sniff> angry. I love him so much and <sniff> he doesn’t love me. No one loves… me… <cries once more>

<Scar feels that same hurt inside his soul. His heart aches as he sees the little cub cry his life out. He wishes he could do something to comfort the poor cub. Comfort his nephew? His nephew that he wanted so much to be dead so he could be king? He was so confused.>

<Lion> This is the pain you put on your nephew, not to mention the others of this pride. Why do you do such things?

<Scar> <looks up to lion in tears> I don’t… I don’t know… Isn’t there any way I can comfort him?

<Lion> Only you can answer that, Scar. Only you…

<Scar turns back to Simba who is still crying. He glances around and the lion is gone. He runs down Pride Rock and sees no one around. All the sudden, the sky turns dark red and the moon is covered by incoming clouds. The stars seem to die as if the night swallowed them into oblivion. The trees turn black and grey and the leaves crumble and fall to the ground like ash. The grass beneath his feet dies and withers away right before his eyes. Smoke rises from the ground and fire consumes many of the trees. The ground cracks and splits as the life and water are sucked away to some unknown place. The rivers start to boil and then disappear as they become steam. A hot air blows over the planes as white branches appear on the ground.>

<Scar> Wha… What is this place?

<Litch> <taps Scar as he whirls around in fright>

<Scar> AH!! What are you?! You can’t move, you’re dead! I must be going mad! A lion skeleton…

<Litch> <points to the top of Pride Rock>

<Scar, seeing a lion on top of Pride Rock, he walks up. The lion is laying on it’s belly, gasping for air. The lion seems to be beckoning Scar to come over and listen to his last words.>

<Lion> Save yourself… my friend. I order you to… move and get… get away from… from here as fast as you… can.

<Scar buckled under the familiar voice and face of the lion. It was him.>

<Lion> Go… save… yourself…………

<The lion lets out his last breath and dies in front of Scar. Scar looks at the body, trembling with fright.>

<Scar> <thinking to himself> This is my future? As king, this is my future?!

<Scar raises his posture in hearing a growl of some animal. A horde of hyenas approaches him with their teeth bared. The growls are unholy as their eyes glow red with hate. Scar moves backwards as he tries to find a way out. The hyenas move in on him and one swipes at his face. Scar jumps backwards too far and his footing gives way as he starts to slip off of the precipice of Pride Rock. A hyena looks at him and grins evilly. He thrusts his claws into Scar’s paws as Scar lets out a growl of pain. The hyena leans over to his ear…>

<Hyena> Long live the king…

<With one swift motion, the hyena detaches Scars grip as he falls to the fiery ground below and screams in terror and all vision goes black>

<Scar> AAARRRGGGHHH!!! NOOOO!! <pants hard and squints as he sees the sun shine in on the cave ground>

<Mufasa> <runs over to Scar> Something wrong, brother?

<Scar> What? Wrong? Why… I don’t know…

<Mufasa> You don’t know? Are you ok?

<Scar> I’ve… I don’t think I’ve ever been better… Merry Christmas, brother! <pounces playfully onto Mufasa and gives him a hug> It’s so great to be back!

<Mufasa> Back? Where were—

<Scar> Oh, and don’t worry about what I said last night about me being king for a day. I think you’re doing such a MARVELOUS job at it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something very special planned for Simba from me for Christmas.

<Mufasa> Oh? Mind if you tell me?

<Scar> Oh, not at all! We’ll be going to visit a place of his choice and I will PERSONALLY escort him and make sure he’s safe. I need to spend more time with my most beloved nephew.

<Mufasa> He’s your only nephew, brother.

<Scar> Oh… yes, well I just love him so much it takes the space of two people to love him! Well, Merry Christmas, brother! Have a great day!

<Scar walks off>

<Mufasa> What has ever gotten into him?

<Zazu> Christmas, sire?

-- Simba Canuso
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