The Storm

[Mheetu]

No, Scar wasn’t a warrior. Mufasa was. This had always been Mufasa. Everything turned around the perfect King he was. He had the strength, the throne, and everybody’s love. But Scar was brilliant. Maybe too much for the sake of his family. Mufasa had paid that price with his life. And now, it was his turn to have everything.

Scar wasn’t going to let Tojo destroyed all so easily.

He missed Tojo, and was too slow to dodge his attack. He growled and stepped back. Tojo probably saw the rage in his eyes before he opened his mouth to talk. Blood was slowly dripping from his cheek. The hyenas were somewhere near him, growling.

But then, something happened. With a huge shocked Scar saw a ghost. A ghost that should have stayed where he was. « Mufasa. » he muttered. Scar’s past caught up with him as he saw what seems to be his brother, which recalled him what he did. But this feeling wasn’t even close from regrets. No, it was fear, even if he knew it wasn’t possible.

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[mistwolf]

Tojo's claws hit the king's face, and a smile spread over his long muzzle. He took the oppurtunity to raise his other paw, ready to strike again.

But something made the lion pause in his fighting. He wasn't excatly sure what it was. Some sort of....feeling. A feeling he didn't like. A cold breeze whipped through the cave, and Tojo's paw froze in mid-air, just inches before Scar's face.

Then, there was the voice.

Tojo swallowed hard, recognizing that voice.

No, his mind echoed. No! I was so close!

His blue eyes turned away from Scar to land on the lion that now stood inside the cave. His eyes narrowed as he glared at him.

Simba.

He had been so close to taking the Pridelands. And now Simba was here. Maybe then, he'd have to fight both of them.

But Scar first. Later, he could deal with Simba.

Taking Scar's fear of Simba for his advantage, Tojo threw the king off of himself and rolled up, looking from Simba to Scar. Who knew what was going to happen now?

[Simba]

A chill rippled through the lion's body as he stood in the den, his childhood home, for the first time in years. But now was not the time to take a pleasant stroll down memory lane, and Simba's lip curled back in a snarl, an enraged glare cast in Scar's direction. His uncle was visibly distressed by the sight of his nephew, who he did not recognize immediately.

"No, Scar. It's me." His voice was not as deep as his father's had been, but he stood tall, head held high in a show of intimidation over the aging russet tyrant. "Your time as king is over. Step down, or fight."

His attention shifted to Tojo, but a brown eye was kept on Scar, expecting an attack at any moment. "Tojo," he said to his old friend, eyes imploring. "Will you fight beside me?" A terrible sinking feeling warned Simba not to get his hopes up, for he sensed Tojo's true feelings for him. Frankly, Simba didn't blame the male for doubting him, but Tojo's blood was common. He had no right to become the next king, even if he were to defeat Scar now.

There was a time Simba had suspected Tojo was his own brother, but the idea had never been confirmed. He would never have expected Tojo, of all of his friends, to stand up to Scar. Time had changed them all in significant ways, it seemed.

[Nala]

Nala wasn't foolish. As a huntress she couldn't afford to be, lest she become the hunted herself. Did she know that the odds were against her? Of course. But giving up certainly wasn't an option, much to Ila's dismay she was sure. She would fight until she was unable to any longer and even then the only way she wouldn't attempt to still help Tojo in some way with his battle against Scar was if Ila somehow managed to kill her. That wasn't a victory she intended to give her.

She braced herself when Ila attacked again, knowing the hyenas would follow, but to her surprise something impacted the lioness to successfully prevent her attack. Or was it someone? Sure enough there was her friend Kayani coming to her aid, though as grateful as she was she also didn't like the idea of her getting hurt trying to protect her. Especially knowing Ila would try to get to Nala through her friend.

A hyena came from behind and jumped to attack Kayani, only to be hit down by Nala's powerful paw as she stood close to her friend. "With the two of us that's even more reason for you to surrender. Do you hear that?" They could all hear Tojo's and Scar's roars. "That is the beginning of the end of Scar's reign. He won't—..."

Another roar had her looking towards the den suddenly. Why did it seem so familiar? Hearing his voice afterward, her eyes widened in shock. Simba?...He came back? Needless to say the same hyena she'd just hit and a couple of his friends took advantage of this distraction and attacked her, while another two attacked Kayani as well.

[mistwolf]

Ila snarled as Kayani appeared. The cub she'd raised and guarded to patiently and motherly, and now she was turned so much against her! Well, Ila didn't care. If she wanted to oppose her, then Ila wouldn't mind taking her down. After all, there was no room for weakness in Scar's kingdom!

She leaped forward as the hyenas, too, leaped for Kayani. She snarled, and they fled to attack Nala instead.

Kayani barely recovered soon enough to see Ila leaping at her, claws extended. Immediatly, Kayani was knocked over, and the two rolled together, fighting. Kayani felt sharp claws digging into her shoulder, but she used back paws to push Ila off of herself, flipping her over. Kayani struggled up, and Ila, too rolled to rise again. The two lionesses faced each other, waiting for who would go first.

Kayani's ear flicked to the commotion going on behind her. She could only imagine was was going on between Simba, Scar, and Tojo.

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Tojo heard Simba's words, but did not reply. He set his ears back, deciding that yes, he would fight beside Simba for the moment. But only until he had the chance to overthrow Simba for good and take the pride for himself. Simba didn't deserve all this. He was much too immature. He also didn't deserve Nala. Only he deserved Nala.

Tojo crouched and moved to the left, hoping Simba would move to the right so they'd surround Scar on both sides. Tojo's blue eyes fell on the hyenas, and he started to think how he could take them down or somehow distract them and leave Scar open.

With or without Simba, Scar had to be dethroned.

[Mheetu]

« Simba ! » he exclaimed. « I didn’t expect to see you… alive. » It was quite a surprise… but not a good one. It seems like the hyenas didn’t do their job as they should have. “Your time as king is over. Step down, or fight." That was the third time he heard this phrase and that was starting to get on his nerve. He was in a bad situation and had absolutely no chance against the two lion. If only he had killed Tojo when he was just a cub… « Oh, must it all end in violence? » He had to move carefully on this. « I would… But I’m confused, maybe you could help me? Should I let the throne to you, or him? » He took a look at the traitor. « Since he asked me first and attacked me for this… You know, I hate to disappoint people. »

[mistwolf]

Tojo blinked at Scar's words. He had let Simba know what he was doing. He had spilled his plans to Simba.

Tojo looked over his shoulder at Simba, the lion that, once upon a time, had been his friend. And now he was his enemy.

Tojo shifted uncomforably, and glared at Scar, baring his teeth. He'd wanted to kill him before it got to this point. Now it was too late for that. He'd failed. Becoming king seemed to be a long way away.

And now it had been revealed to SImba that he was against him. There was nothing now that he could do, but fight Scar and deal with the consequences later.

Tojo snarled and leaped at Scar, ready to bring him down for this.

[Simba]

The weight of Scar's words did not occur to Simba immediately. The golden lion was unaware that he had stepped into a battle for dominance, a fight to the death for the crown. Now, he looked at Tojo, eyes questioning his old friend, but this was not the time to discuss loyalties. Their common enemy was Scar, and the two lions shared at least one goal in common.

"I am the rightful king," he snarled as he curved to Scar's right, following Tojo's lead. Now the russet brute was surrounded on both sides, and the aging false king had no hope for winning this battle. Had it been Simba alone, perhaps Scar could have a chance, but with two younger lions now ready to attack, it would be suicide for Scar to stay. "You both know that this is my place!"

As he spoke, Tojo attacked Scar, and Simba followed suit, crouching low before pouncing his demonic uncle. Even without the knowledge that Scar had killed his father, Simba was ready for Scar's abrupt departure, whether he had to tear open his throat or exile him forever. This was his destiny, and no lion could stop him from reclaiming what should be his.

[Mheetu]

Why tell a lie when the truth was even better to hear. Tojo didn’t seem to like what Scar said about him. But that wasn’t his fault. That was Tojo’s fault. He forced him. At least, Simba couldn’t say that Scar never did something for him… even if that wasn’t enough. Of course, he knew that he had small chances that what he said could changed something. The fact still was that, for the moment at least, they had allied to fight against him. Tojo attacked first, followed by Simba.

Scar could only try to protect himself. That wasn’t turning the way he thought it would. He collapsed on the ground pushed by Simba that he had not seen coming. At first, he didn’t attacked back and stepped back. He said, with a bit of anger : « You really want to be responsible for another family member’s death, do you ? »

[mistwolf]

Tojo and Simba had him cornered, and inside Tojo a deep rage was welling. Scar had put him through far, far too many troubles during his life. And he wasn't about ready to let him get away with it.

But the rage wasn't only for Scar. Every time he saw Simba out of the corner of his eyes, his heart leaped in his chest, his anger thrashing inside of him. For months he had watched the love of his life, Nala, slip away from him and into the paws of this immature cub with a mane. This lion who was more jester than king. He had no idea what Tojo and Nala had gone through at Priderock. This lion, who had once been the prince, had spent his days lounging in cool, clear streams and lakes in the jungle, while they died of thirst and were scorched by an unmerciful sun. While they had fought for their lives, Simba had been content to sleep his days away among greenery and luxury.

And though Tojo hated Simba for taking Nala away from him, he hated him even more for one particular reason: the very fact that Simba, who had apperently left Priderock after his father's death, had never ever returned to help them, even though he was the king. No, he had left the whole thing to them. That was the reason that Tojo really hated Simba. And that was the reason that the young brown male believed that Simba had forfeited his title. He was no longer the rightful king.

But despite the fact that he hated the lion he fought beside, he and Simba slowly crept in on Scar, cornering him.

And then Scar spoke, and the words made Tojo glower at the false king.

"You may have said some truth about me," he snapped. "But I know that is a lie. I may not like Simba, nor do I support him as king, but I know he didn't kill anyone."

Tojo blinked and slowly turned blue eyes onto the golden lion. They narrowed in interest.

"Did you, Simba?" he questioned.

[Simba]

Simba's rich brown eyes fell immediately as Scar spoke. He knew what his dark uncle was referring to, but was ignorant to the fact that his father's death was not his own responsibiility. Falling silent, he simply didn't respond, allowing Tojo instead to speak.

But his old friend's words were a crushing blow, and Simba could feel his resolve weakening. The lost prince had finally returned, but even the ones he had once been close to had lost faith in him. Finally, after a long pause, he answered, voice forlorn, "It was an accident. It wasn't my fault." Then, something occurred to Simba that he had never considered before. Why had he been in the gorge that day? He hadn't willingly gone, he had been lead there...

His heart began to pump double time as he cast a hateful glare towards Scar. "It was you. You're the one who brought me to the gorge." Now, he seemed to forget about Tojo entirely. Simba felt a surge of unlikely power as the reality of the situation sunk in: It had been Scar's plot all along, somehow.

Perhaps it had taken far too long for the red maned prince to understand, but now, glaring into his uncle's bright green eyes again, he knew better. Without another word, the younger lion leapt for his aging uncle, claws attempting to rip at the flesh of his shoulders. Scar had destroyed his entire life, Simba was now certain. He didn't need Tojo's help.

Everything he had ever believed was a lie, and now Simba was furious. He slashed with the fury of a devil unleashed, uncertain if he was even doing any damage, but now no longer to control his outrage. The whole scenario was surreal and wrong, and Simba had had enough.

[mistwolf]

Tojo snarled as Simba leaped at Scar, and he lashed out himself at the king, but a hyena leaped into the fray and cut him off. Tojo snarled and threw his weight against the ugly canine, fangs flashing as he bit down into its scruff. He was so tired of these idiot hyenas! How he loathed them! How much of his life they had taken away! Always watching every move anyone made, forcing him to stay away from Nala when he desperately loved her....

Where was Nala? He thought he had briefly seen her, but maybe it had been a mistake. Had she been killed? The thought made him stumble, and the hyena knocked him down. Briefly, he glanced back towards Simba and Scar. If Simba won this fight, he'd be king, and Nala would be Simba's queen.

He couldn't let that happen.

He threw the hyena off, slamming it into the side of the cave. It slid down with a whimper and did not rise. Tojo leaped forward, but instead of at Scar, he grabbed Simba roughly by the mane and pulled him back, away from the false king.

"I will not allow to take the victory which I have worked so long to achieve!" Tojo snarled, his teeth clenched around Simba's mane as he pulled.

[Abasi/Malka]

As they approached the Pridelands, each lion was in shock at the current state of it. Malka gazed at Pride Rock as both males drew nearer on the barren and cracked ground. From the commotion of sounds, it appeared they arrived in the middle of battle. "I hope we're not too late!" Malka didn't hesitate and raced forward with an angry roar echoed by Abasi's, the orange and black pair worried for their friends and furiously determined to protect what they could. The easiest and first targets were the filthy hyenas.

A few didn't realize what hit them at first when claws met their flesh and soon several of them turned to focus on new enemies. Malka desperately hoped there were no cubs around and if they were, that they were well hidden. Abasi smirked a little when one hyena backed away upon seeing just how large he was for a lion. "Malka, any frustrations you had with me during lessons, well, now's a good time to let it out!"

Malka couldn't help but find some amusement in the jest. "Not to worry, plenty of that to go around!" As they fought their way further into the fray, the new arrivals each shared the same thoughts: Where was Scar and were their friends still alive?

[Mheetu]

So it seems that at the very end Simba remembers. Maybe it was about time he realized who was the real murderer of Mufasa. But, in fact, he had no proof of that, and his words had no weight. Scar tried to destabilize the false King. Instead, he had him quite upset. And, in the precarious position in which he was, that wasn’t a good thing.

He intercepted Simba, blind with rage, and replied to his attack. A roar of pain came out of his throat when the claws of his opponent burned his flesh. Blood spread at his shoulder. What saved him from his nephew was another lion. Tojo realized he had no choice but to attack Simba, if he wanted the throne for himself.

Scar was tie between the idea of leaving them fight each other – because he was no match for the two lion - or try to took advantage of this situation, if that was still possible. He took a look at the scene, saw some hyenas and snarled at them : « What are you waiting ? Help Tojo. Attack Simba ! » Was is too late now to take Tojo’s side ?

[Nala]

"Kayani!" Even in the midst of her own battle with the hyenas Nala saw her friend being attacked by Ila, but she knew she needed to trust that she could handle herself. Focusing once more on her own battle, although her mind was still reeling with the thought that she'd heard Simba's roar, the lioness knocked a few hyenas away from her with her claws unsheathed on her large powerful paw. She was ready to attack the other surrounding herself and Kayani when she was certain it was Simba's roar that sounded. He was here and from the sounds of it, probably being ambushed. It was just like Scar to pull such a stunt- coward that he was.

Teeth bared, she charged her way through the hyenas 'guarding' the entrance to the den, but at the scene before her was brought to an abrupt stop. Simba's fighting...Tojo? But... Her roar echoed against the walls as she charged at the two males, hoping to at least separate them. Were they out of their mind? Scar was the one they should all be fighting; how could they win when they were fighting each other?