#roarofancients

After Simba sent Scar flying over the edge and Scar tumbled to the bottom, he looked down for a moment to check if his uncle was alive or not. He saw him getting up, he saw the hyenas approaching and then came the flames… Actually Simba never knew the end of the story because didn’t follow the scene any further. He didn’t consider Scar as family anymore for the crime he had comitted and the seed of hatred was sown in Simba’s heart, but even so he couldn’t bear to watch him die. The young male left the peak of Pride Rock in the knowledge that his uncle was dead.

Leastwise, this was what Simba believed.

The young male became king, his roar symbolized the start of a new era and the rain washed away all the filth of Scar’s reign. With Aminifu's help, who was loyal to Mufasa and now to Simba, the animals returned to the Pridelands and the delicate balance got restored. The Circle of Life continued, and the Great Kings blessed him and Nala with a new heir: a girl, Kiara, and a son, who got the name Kion.

One day, when the sun just reached the peak on its path, Timon and Pumbaa arrived in a hurry to report to the king that Kiara and Kion were missing and they had seen cub pawprints towards the Outlands. Simba's heart missed a beat when he heard that, he felt as if the weight of the world were weighing on him. This meant not good, definitely not good. To not waste more time, the lion immediately set forth toward the Outlands and while on his way, he heard a too familiar roar along the border, accompanied by a familiar smell as well. As he entered the other kingdom, unfortunately, he had to face the fact that his fear got confirmed. Scar stood there grimly, just examining the cubs.

"Leave them alone!" Simba shouted as he landed among them with a single leap. It was a strange feeling to see his uncle again. It felt like the past returned, just in front of his eyes. He felt as if Scar had come back from the dead, and his legs would have quivered, yet there was no room for dread now.

@roarofancients / @arteriussovereign

Simba was observing the barren land from the edge of Pride Rock, deeply lost in his thoughts. The situation was becoming increasingly worrying because they still haven't found a solution for the problems. Scar and Zira was still haunting in the Pride Lands - at least this was what rumours said; what's worse, Scar was still capturing Kion and the Tree of Life was still under Narbe's control.

All seemed to be lost, although Simba could not be ungrateful, because even in the baddest time there were good things happening to him. He got back his sons, Kopa and Tanabi, whom he thought were long lost.

You can’t fight fire with fire. This sentence hit into his head again while observing the kingdom. Yes, he forgave Scar for what he had once done, and he was ready to start a new chapter. Simba also hoped this was what his father would want too.

The male started off, making his way to one of the neighboring kingdoms, Shari's kingdom. She was Scar's daughter after all, and Simba thought she would have some helpful advices how to get rid of Scar's spirit. She has proved to want to help Kion, so Simba decided to give her a chance. Not much time passed until he found some tracks that were quite fresh, probably belonging to Shar. The male traced the pawprints that led him to the lioness he was looking for.

A glance over at Kion, "Fraid not, at least that part. But, seems Scar is willing to help show what happened with him, and what he had been hearing..." On cue Kion walked up to them, "Not all stars are always visible. We always see the ones of light, but the reverse exist as well. Stars of Shadow, Dark Stars... Scar was a star out there, dark one though not of his choice. Anyways, he wishes to narrate or speak when the scenes shown of his time as roughly a teen leading up to the confrontation with yourself Dad, fight for the throne." Closing his eyes to focus, thus allowing Scar to speak through him - while Sora uses his key power again, the scene changes to the Outlands. Young Taka-Askari, patrolling alone with a Mark of the Guard. Meeting the strange lion, scarred eye. They spoke to him about wisdom, power, and that the most powerful should be king.

"Despite my facial expression then, I had intended to alert my king brother. What changed that though, well... See for yourself" Scar's voice came.

Indeed, a strange black cobra lunged. The young leader at the time trying to dodge the snake, almost succeeded but the snake still hit target. "Not all what affected me, but that venom is the main thing. Had the scar before, it healed as if I never had it. Until this time." Scar again. "Couldn't think, and I rather... hate being used, tricked like that. So, I roared using the roar in a rage. Lost control of the power, and as you can see that volcano erupted back then too."

Back at Pride Rock now, young Scar reported to Mufasa. Yet Mufasa just tease little brother with the nickname Scar now, and using his paw to push down Scar's head - which he obviously hadn't appreciated, young Mufasa strutting off after that Scar had caught sight of sealed the fates. "And, how and when I really became Scar, was right then. I don't mind the teasing so much, as I had the paw push and the way he strutted then..."

Trying to take to his Lion Guard at the time, who refused to understand Scar's side of things and out of frustration lost control again of the roar, using it on his own Guard and losing the mark and roar thereafter. "Am surprised really, how they let Kion keep his despite some of the things he's done, even as a cub; which should have resulted in the loss of the mark and roar. Thing is, my roar then didn't kill the Guard so rather unfair of the lions of the past to take it away."

The scene now a bit further in time, Scar with a young lion looking much like Simba now except for the dark mane, and still much younger. Both hunting, gazelle or zebra. Out of nowhere, a wildebeest stampede. "While I avoided the majority of that, my son Takashi wasn't... so lucky. He still alive after the herd passed, but barely. As you can see, he died in my paws. This was still some time before you were born, Simba" Scar voice. Genuine upset at the scene. "And thus why I generally dislike wildebeest species" Sometime later when little newborn cub Simba born, and their presentation. And the confrontation between Scar and Mufasa after, "Never would've ate that bird. Just scare him at best. And besides, Zazu can be a bit of an annoyance. Regardless, reason I wasn't at the presentation... Brother forgot I had set my own anniversary settings, that day... was an anniversary of my own son's death, so you see..."

Later scene changes off to somewhere in the grassland plains, wildebeest grazing and a young calf curiously asks mother about the birds being allowed on their backs gaining the response that they're a community, and the birds help get the bugs off of them. The calf chasing after a bird that flies off, unaware of a certain male prowling.

watching from the grass and brooding about his earlier confrontation with his brother, Mufasa. Suddenly, Scar pounced, and Thema's son yelled for his mother. Just in time, Thema arrived and intercepted Scar's attack, knocking him away from her calf. She begged Scar to fight her instead of her son, and he confessed that he was not attacking them out of hunger, but because he had had a bad day and had chosen random "peasants" to have an even worse day.

Before Scar could attack again, Thema gave a call of alarm, and her herd charged toward Scar, jostling and kicking him until he lay, half-trampled, at the edge of a gorge. From his prone position, Scar lamented how he had been beaten by an inferior species and grudgingly acknowledged that even overwhelming numbers could beat power and royalty. As he found his feet, Scar realized that Thema had lingered behind and told her that even the "dumbest of beasts" knew to run from a predator. In answer, Thema proclaimed that she had stayed to see him fall and explained that it was not her herd's numbers that had beaten him, but her love for her community. She then charged at Scar and knocked him into a gorge.

"Might have noticed, that one was far higher up than the one I used on family... But, I hit my head quite hard then... never was the same after that, aware now that likely brain damage resulting in my aggression and such after then. But, now you get to see the nightmare I had..."

Crystalized dreamscape, yet glowing eyes watching unblinkingly from the sky. Scar awaking in the dream,

wandering the landscape, Scar spotted Mufasa on Pride Rock and called out to him. Approaching his brother, Mufasa demanded that Scar address him as the king, but Scar protested that he was supposed to be the king. Outraged, Mufasa attacked Scar and commanded him to bow before him and his son, Simba. Scar questioned where they were, and Mufasa started to walk away, explaining that they were in a "kingdom of woe," a place fit for a "faux king" such as Scar. Though Scar begged Mufasa to stay and asserted that he was destined to rule, Mufasa reminded his brother that it was Simba's destiny to rule and that Scar's destiny was his own.

Meanwhile, two vultures named Kabeer and Krass circled Scar's fallen form and debated whether he was dead or not. Together, they approached his body and found that he was still breathing but in critical condition. The two proceeded to mock him for having been killed by "livestock" and for having lost the throne of Pride Rock to a cub. Just then, Kabeer got an idea and told Krass that, were Scar to become the king, he would desolate the Pride Lands and leave behind enough carcasses for the vultures to feast on.

As a storm moved in overhead, Kabeer pointed out that they could feast on Scar's carcass if he died or take credit for saving him and help him become the king of Pride Rock if he lived. Kabeer worried, however, that they would need something to offer Scar, like muscle and numbers, in order to convince him. As one, Kabeer and Krass suggested recruiting the "bone eaters."

Just then, Rafiki approached and ordered the vultures to get away from Scar. Using his staff, he beat the two until they flew off in a panic. Once Kabeer and Krass had gone, Rafiki knelt beside Scar and commented that the prince's actions had once again brought "dark clouds" upon him.

Later, at Rafiki's tree, Scar awoke in dismay from his vision. As he reared up, roaring, Rafiki cracked a baobab fruit open on his head, and Scar scoffed that he would be justified in mauling Rafiki for having struck a prince. Rafiki simply retorted that, if Scar tried to attack him, he would use the prince's head to open another baobab fruit. Recognizing the baobab fruit as what had been used to anoint Simba, Scar demanded that Rafiki tell him that he was the rightful successor to the throne of Pride Rock and the wisest lion in all the land. Rafiki complimented Scar's cunning but cautioned that his jealousy and hatred "murked the waters" of his soul and that his dark choices overshadowed his potential.

Incited, Scar reminded Rafiki that he had been training his entire life to replace Mufasa, only to get tossed aside, and demanded to know if his legacy should be sacrificed for the sake of tradition. Instead of answering Scar's questions, Rafiki urged him to sit and drink a healing mixture. After settling down, Scar commented that it was not fair, and Rafiki agreed, adding that a cub should enjoy his youth rather than worry about ruling a kingdom. Scar implored Rafiki to help him take over Pride Rock, but Rafiki warned Scar that his jealousy and ego led him to do terrible things. Taking this as Rafiki siding with Mufasa, Scar departed the tree. As he walked away across the Pride Lands, Kabeer and Krass flew overhead and resolved to introduce him to the bone eaters.

"Yes. Rafiki and I were once friends, not unlike how you and him are these days." A side-smirk, voice still Scar's.

While grazing with his herd, Elder confessed to an associate that he sensed a foreboding change in the air. His associate asked if his feelings related to the birth of Simba, the prince heir of Pride Rock, but Elder clarified that he was more worried about the previous heir, Scar, having lost power. He added that Mufasa was the only one who could protect the Pride Lands from Scar's reckless behavior.

Just then, Elder's associate picked up the scent of some nearby lionesses and sounded the alarm. Though the herd fled, the lioness Sofi managed to score a catch, and the huntresses paid tribute to their fallen prey. As they began to eat, the lioness Tish asked the hunting party's leader, Adea, if Mufasa and Sarabi would be joining them, but Adea explained that they were with the main hunting party. Sofi commented that two hunts seemed wasteful and that such a move was not in character for Adea, and she sadly agreed.

At that moment, Scar approached and mocked the lionesses for having performed a ritual for their prey. Adea reminded Scar that they performed the ritual out of respect for their prey as well as tradition and the throne, but he countered that, according to tradition, they should eat last, with the cubs. Though he asserted that the lionesses would eat like queens under his rule, Adea silenced him and chided herself for not having joined the royal hunting party. Scar argued that he was royalty, to which Adea called him a "bitter, selfish scavenger." Enraged, Scar attacked her, and the other lionesses ordered him to stay away from her. After the fight, the three lionesses left Scar to their catch, and Sofi remarked on how fortunate it was that Simba had been born and that Scar would never rule the Pride Lands.

"Well, she did insult me. Why would I not respond to such insults in such a way," head shake a bit.

With the lionesses gone, Kabeer and Krass approached Scar, and Kabeer dismissed the lionesses as "ungrateful females." Scar retorted that the lionesses filled his belly and asked what purpose the vultures served. At this, Kabeer formally introduced himself and Krass, and told Scar that they could help him become king. Suspicious, Scar asked for elaboration, and the vultures implored him to use the "bone eaters" as his secret weapon. Recognizing that the vultures were referring to hyenas, Scar dismissed the idea, but the vultures insisted that they were friends with a hyena and that Scar could fill a vacuum in their clan's leadership.

Intrigued but distrustful, Scar asked the vultures how they would be advantaged by his alliance with the hyenas, and Kabeer claimed that they wanted to see the Pride Lands' rightful heir on the throne. This incited Scar, who demanded the vultures stop patronizing him, and Kabeer quickly backtracked, confessing that they were hoping for extra meat and a seat in the royal court. With this admission, Scar agreed to take their advice and meet the hyenas.

With Kabeer and Krass in the lead, the group traveled to the Elephant Graveyard. Upon realizing where they were, Scar reflected on how he had often come to the Elephant Graveyard as a cub so that he could be alone and commented that the Elephant Graveyard felt more like home than Pride Rock. Suddenly, Kabeer warned Krass and Scar that a large group of hyenas was close by and urged them to take shelter. Scar initially refused but relented when he realized that they could have the element of surprise. From their hiding place, Krass asked Kabeer what he could see, and he replied fearfully that he had spotted the queen of the hyenas.

"Now, sometime after this moment it will appear as if I had first just met the trio you know of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, yet I knew them before then. While I remember, they may not have due to their age at the time. Pausing here for the moment this time, wish to ask some questions? Next parts will show what happens with the hyenas, me, Zazu, Mufasa, and cub Simba. Will even backtrack a little after to that rock you now all call Broken Rock, it's a clue in of itself."

@thepaststillhurts:

"What? Scar? Scar himself?" Simba asked in surprise. His eyes then fixed on the ground, pondering. Was it a good idea at all? He just asked for help from the Great Kings and a dark king was there to reply instead?

Simba was sure that Scar had his own, subjective point of view and everything he was going to say should be treated with reservation (maybe Scar could even have some influence on the keypower?). On the other hand, the king knew there was no options here and he needed to take every opportunity to find any kind of solution.

"Just like Kion having to leave the Pride Lands to find help, we had our own... journeys away from the Tree of Life, we heard about your visit their regarding Kion and Rani but couldn't be there for it even if we had wanted to..." A small pause as a little cub burst out from some bushes and nuzzled into Tanabi's legs, "Hey son, where's your mother?" Cub giggles, "Not far, that way daddy" Tanabi look to his own father with a smile, "And here's the other reason... Meet little prince Dubu; Bear."

@thepaststillhurts

Simba stopped when the little cub showed up. It was heart-warming to see that his son had a son, his grandson. He felt happy, but also felt old at the same time. This was the Circle of Life.

The sun was rising behind the horizon, blinding Simba's eyes a little bit as he stood there on the edge, staring into the distance. The land was still barren, yet it felt different because now a new day started, a new sun rose that brought hope into his heart. Scar was gone, the Pride Lands had been reclaimed.

He was about to start his morning patrol when he surprisingly realized his sons had already been awake. They were talking in front of the cave, they even laughed about something - it was heartwarming for Simba to see the brothers already got along well despite that they had only known each other for a short time.

He walked up to them, greeting them with a smile on his face, "Good morning, boys. Anyone ready for a patrol?"

The meeting ended and it was time to go back to Pride Rock - and Simba wanted to check on his son anyway. Lost in his thoughts while heading back, he didn’t even noticed he just arrived. They say it’s dangerous to exile Scar from Kion. But then how could they get rid of him? Is forgiveness enough or there’s more?

With heavy eyes - he was tired to be honest - he entered the cave. He walked up to his son and nuzzled him gently before he questioned,

“Kion? How are you feeling? Feeling better now?”

Kion licking his fur on hos shoulder where a healing scar was, that had came from the challenge with Narbe. "Dunno about Kisasiian, but it was Narbe that challenged for the Tree of Life."

"Zira's spirit still about, however, now that it's been confirmed that she hadn't attacked Kopa back then as previously thought... Perhaps, next time meeting her an apology for the mistake? Might not do much to help, but mother's always been a bit tricky to understand" Kovu comes up to them, "Vitani also begged me to help Kopa at the time."

"Regarding the Tree of Life when Narbe took it, we learned shortly after however that it technically had been already under Scar's control." Takasa noted, whereas Shari was busy going through all old logged tales regardless how far back or of what species at the time, writings, paintings... occasionally mentioning an audible word here or there. "Seems ...transferring... expelling... too risky... cases of a symbiosis of respect between two beings, one body have happened before. Hmm." After a bit more mussing with things, turns to face the group. "You all probably heard some of my mutterings there, well thinking of it... By having Scar among us, even if the venom or curse can't truly be cured; Scar at least could warn Kion for when and if he starts to stray down the path Scar had fallen into. And Zira's spirit is aware Scar is with Kion now, gives us more chance to commune with her without too much troubles. Still, we will keep researching and learning what we can."

Kopa seemed to remember a moment back when he was a tiny cub, a little older than a toddler; giving a bit of a sheepish look. "Oh, when I was a tiny cub, I was able to see certain... well, ghosts. Spirits. Always was talking to them, I know now that one of them at the time was Scar himself. I didn't know any better back then, calling him the lion with the funny Scar - no offense! And they had been talking to me too..." The wolf Alpha walks up on hearing that old ability, both wolf and lion exchanging a look then in sync look to the outcrop of Pride Rock. "Of course, we need your friend Simba. Brown lion cub ages back, blue eyes. Sora." "Their Keyblade, is still a Key. That's the Key to discovering the cause of all the trouble these lands faced." The wolf wagged their tail quickly, happy they were close to see what had happened. "And, it might be able to show us exactly what happened with Scar, as well as Kopa and Tanabi's adventures at the times when they were thought dead. Even I thought I lost Kopa," Vitani had joined the group awhile ago. Sharing nuzzles with said lion, "As for those mentioned - Sora, he's not far from here actually. Had just some to report some males, and overheard the description. Nala and Sarabi and Sarafina were there and confirmed to me about the old encounters and friendships you had with him."

@thepaststillhurts:

They arranged themselves in a circle and they talked like that in front of the den, Simba sitting next to his sons. Honestly, it was nice to see that these animals were here to help him and the kingdom, especially those ones he wouldn't have thought of at all. He felt grateful.

"Sora? Is he here?" Simba asked in surprise finally. "He is my friend indeed. He helped me defeat Scar back then." Realizing that it was not a bad idea at all made him take a short pause. The wolf had a point here. The Keyblade was truly a great weapon, and if it's on their side, there is a chance to win.

Simba stepped out of the circle to start off, looking back at the group.

He chuckles as leading the cub off to find others, after getting permission and finding those to fill the roles with them. "Simba, don't be disappointed. Rather, what you did to Shenzi at the graveyard to save Nala; you'd be Leader role of the Guard rather than Bravest. And your cub friends easily fill in the other roles; Malka the Brave, Tojo the Keen, Chumvi the Strong, and Mhiitu the Fast. You'd be the Fierce." The Lioness Nash was with them, and just knew when talk was friendly or not, which would help keep the young Prince safe. They found others willing to fill in the temporary roles; a Cheetah, Leopard, Hyena, and Cape Dog. The hyena a Brown, not one of the kind that caused trouble before.

Back in the Lair now, he started with the first ones. About Mufasa and himself, and how the tradition usually went with firstborn and secondborn, and the roar and about what happened to cause him to lose control at the time though there definitely was more to the story than was let on. Moving on to the others, "This wall here tends to have the paintings of each Lion Guard that once upon a time existed in the Pride Lands, however you might notice some are quite faded. Reasons for that. Anyways," to the next one - about Askari, and his time. "Well, he is called the First Leader of the Lion Guard but that isn't true; what happened before his is the first but something happened to change them. Askari defeated the original guard thus saving the Kingdom of the time. You might notice the original leader of the guard lacks a painting here, Askari was named after him as he had been legendary, Ascari before his downfall to darkness." Further in the lair, about the other paintings - what he knew of them anyways, until they reached the hole in the ground. He picked up the cub, and jumped down in - missing the slide and sharp rocks; the rest of the group proving able to get in without a scratch. Placing Simba down again, "Now, stay very close to us. There's cliffs around and other traps, and there is further in a maze puzzle and invisible bridge. And try not to touch any random seemingly innocent rocks, if it gets dark here that we can't see anything just wait then follow my voice."

“Really?” Simba asked with true joy in his voice. Him? The Fiercest? Wow, that sounded very inspiring to him. And maybe ... yes, he definitely fitted that role better. As Fiercest he was supposed to lead the Lion Guard - and as prince he couldn’t imagine other role for himself. “Yes, I am the Fiercest.” The cub laughed and jumped on a rock to show himself. “I have the Roar of the Elders, hear me!” He even got himself into a “ready-to-pounce” position before starting to roar, however it sounded more like a yowl. “Did ya hear it uncle Scar? Did ya...?” Words got stuck in him when he noticed the brown hyena behind Scar. Simba immediately went into a defensive mood to show he was worthy (and of course because Scar was with him now it was easier to seem to be brave).

“Hey! Hyenas are not allowed to be in the Pride Lands. Leave these lands now!”

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The little cub was amazed by all these stories. They were just as inspiring to him as the stories about the Great Kings of the Past. He would listen to them all day.