~ Note ~
The name "Taka" is Scar's real name and was the name he was called by before he had a scar. "Muffy" is Mufasa's nickname as a cub.

"Scar," a voice echoed throughout the cave, a demanding tone in the single word.

The lazy king gave a drawn-out sigh and rolled his eyes. He turned his eyes barely to see a hyena step into the den out of the rain.

"What?" he asked, boredom laced in his voice.

"The lionesses are bothering us again," the female hyena whined.

"Not my problem," Scar said, turning his back on his visitor and finding a nice place to rest for the evening.

"What are we supposed to do-" she began, but Scar cut her off.

"-I said, 'not my problem' Shenzi!" he thundered.

The hyena stood there, stunned for a moment. Then she scoffed with a snarl on her face and darted out of the den. Scar rolled his eyes and laid down on the raised rock in the middle of Pride-rock's den-the place specially set aside for royals.

"How did I get here?" Scar growled to himself, the words echoing slightly through the empty cave.

About an hour earlier, he had sent all the other lions and lioness out to spend the night in the rain because he felt he needed the den to himself to think and rest.

Scar spent hours tossing and turning in the dark den, alone. Finally, he drifted off into a light sleep.

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(In Scar's dream)

"Hey, Taka!" Mufasa called out, training his eyes on his little brother.

Taka turned to lay his eyes on his big brother, Mufasa. He watched as his brother hopped down the stacked boulders he was standing on.

"What's up, Muffy?" Taka asked, his bright green eyes wide with joy.

"I've been looking all over for you!" Mufasa said, trotting up to him. "I was wondering if you knew what is going on with mom and dad,"

"What do you mean?" Taka wondered, tilting his head in confusion.

"I mean, they left the den early this morning and I haven't seen them since! I watched them leave and they looked serious." Mufasa's amber brown eyes were round with concern.

"I'm sure it's nothing bad. Probably just another rhino disagreement." Taka shrugged.

But when he saw Mufasa's gaze fall to the ground with worry, he decided he needed to get his brother to lighten up.

"Hey, don't worry about it! What did worry ever fix?" Taka said, pulling his brother's chin up.

Mufasa gave his little brother a small grin.

"I admire your carefree spirit, Taka. I wish I could share your sureness." Mufasa smiled.

"You just need to take you mind off it, Muffy! C'mon! Let's go find Sarabi and Sarafina! I'm sure they'd love to play a big game of tag!" Taka said, getting down to the ground and wiggling his haunches playfully.

"Okay," Mufasa agreed. "Let's go,"

The two brothers and their cub friends began a huge game of tag that lasted until lunch time. When meal time rolled around, Taka and Mufasa's parents, who were also the King and Queen, came back around to the den. The lions' faces were full of seriousness.

"Hey, mommy! Hiya, daddy!" Taka called out happily when his parents strolled into the den. The little cub smacked his lips and ran to greet his parents.

Mufasa also stepped away from his meal to see his family, because he had a suspicion that the following conversation had something to do with him.

Mufasa rubbed up against his father's leg, lifting his gaze to search his dad's bright green eyes for any clue to what was going on.

Out of the two cubs, Taka had inherited his father's vibrant green eyes and his mother's dark fur color. However, Mufasa had gotten his mother's brownish red eyes and his father's golden fur.

The king's stern gaze was even more stern than usual. Even gentle Queen Uru's eyes were hard.

"We have something important to tell you two," Uru said softly, turning her kind smile to her youngest son. Taka brushed up against his mother's side and smiled back at her.

"Cool!" Taka called, trotting ahead and leading the way for his family to follow him to the top of Pride-rock.

The family of four lions accended the great rock to the flat top. The two adults exchanged intense glances as they slowly climbed up the steep pathway, Mufasa catching each one with a frown.

Once they reached the crest, Ahadi took a seat on the edge of the towering rock, his regal mane blowing in the gentle wind as he flicked his thick tail patiently. Mufasa watched his father cautiously, following him and taking a seat next to the King's massive left paw. Taka trotted eagerly around the smooth rock surface for a bit, looking excitedly over every drop off at the vast surrounding kingdom. 

"Taka!" Ahadi finally bellowed.

The little cub cowered at his father's mighty voice.

"Please, sit down. Your mother and I have a very important discussion to have with you boys," the king explained.

"Yes, father," Taka meekly said, hanging his head and going to sit next to down.

Queen Uru gave her youngest son a gentle nuzzle before joining her mate's side. 

"Now boys," the king said, sending his gaze to the horizon. "You know that one day, one of you must take the throne in my place."

"You mean when you join the great Kings and Queens in the sky?" Taka wondered.

"Yes," Ahadi replied.

"And may that day be far off," Uru quickly added.

Ahadi gave her a smile.

"Your mother and I have been discussing the matter deeply, along with some wise elders, and the final conclusion has been found," the kind said, turning and only meeting eyes with his eldest cub.

Mufasa quickly lost his worried gape and sat straighter, with squared shoulders and a stern face. Taka leaned forward and almost frowned.

"Mufasa," the great Ahadi said, watching his son and leaning down closer to him.

The older cub took a deep breath and stared at his towering father, watching his great golden face crinkle into a kingly smile.

"Mufasa, my son, you will be the official heir to my throne,"

Mufasa let out his breath slowly, relaxing a bit, "Thank you, father,"

The king let out a hearty chuckle as he placed a paw on his son's back and Uru went over and gave her oldest a kiss on the forehead.

"Congratulations, Muffy," the queen smiled.

There was a happy family moment, full of ambitions for the future and smiles for the worthy cub. Then Taka broke in, disappointed and angry.

"Why not me, daddy?" Taka meekly squeaked.

The great king's head whipped around sternly, sending his glare directly to his frail youngest son.

"What did you say?" Ahadi demanded.

Uru and Mufasa watched together, suddenly concered for little Taka.

"I said," Taka growled, much louder this time, sitting up taller. "Why not me, father?"

"How dare you question my judgment?" Ahadi seemed angrily surprised.

"Because!" Taka called back, standing up and trying to stand his ground. "I had just as much chance as Mufasa!"

"Don't you take that tone with me, young man! Watch your tongue!" the king stood up and bellowed in the kid's face.

"Ahadi, please," Uru begged.

"Not now, Uru!" he replied.

"Why do you get to choose the next king? I don't think Mufasa is fit!" Taka suddenly burst.

Mufasa silently looked on, hurt. He thought his sweet younger brother would be happy for him.

"That is it!" Ahadi called. "No one talks to me that way!"

The great king batted his son to the ground, causing little Taka to squeak. He placed a massive paw on the squeaking cub and used his other paw to give Taka a large, long gash on his eye.

"Dad!" Mufasa cried out, watching it all in horror.

Ahadi turned and saw the pleading look in Mufasa's eyes. The king sighed and released crying Taka, watching as the cub's mother, Uru, immediately rushed to the little child's side.

"Are you okay, Taka?" Uru whispered into her son's ear.

Little Taka curled up tighter into a weeping ball as his mother nuzzled his head gently. Mufasa watched his sweet little brother with a broken heart.

"Congratulations, Mufasa," the king said quietly, turning to leave back down the ramp. He gave his youngest son one last glance before smiling at Mufasa. "Your training to become king starts tomorrow."

With that, the king left his children and his wife on top of Priderock.

Mufasa watched his father leave before sprinting over to little Taka. He looked over his brother's scratch with pity.

"I'm so sorry, Taka," Mufasa said, cautiously approaching him.

Uru nuzzled into Taka's back as the little cub stood to his feet once more, tears running down his furry cheeks.

"Don't say that, Mufasa," Taka spat angrily, scowling at his big brother. The one he used to look up to and adore. "We both know it's not true."

Mufasa saw the fire in his brother's once sweet eyes and he suddenly felt ready to cry. Taka shook off his mother's kiss before strutting past Mufasa in a rage. He thundered down the ramp and out of sight.

A few days later, Mufasa managed to catch Taka alone between training sessions. The dark furred cub was laid out in the very corner of the shadowy den, resting his head on his little paws and staring blankly ahead at the rocky wall.

"Brother?" Mufasa softly inquired, his deepening voice echoing through the den.

"What do you want?" his brother asked, moving his head farther away.

"I wanted to see how your scratch is doing." Mufasa replied, stepping slowly closer with ever word.

"Mother says it's going to be a scar." he huffed back.

"Oh," Mufasa sighed, not sure what else to say.

"It that all?"

Mufasa pondered his question.

"We haven't talked much lately," he responded.

Taka stayed silent.

"I'm really sorry, Taka--"

"Don't!" his little brother stopped him standing up to his feet but still avoiding Mufasa's gaze. "My name isn't Taka anymore, brother. Father gave me that name thinking I was foolish enough to forget its meaning. But just because the king thinks I'm trash, doesn't mean I'm going to tolerate being called that every day of my life."

"I apologize," Mufasa said, lowering his head.

"Enough with the apologies, Mufasa!" the dark cub demanded. "I'm sick of hollow words."

There was more silence.

"So, little brother, what should I call you?" Mufasa asked.

His brother sighed, keeping his gaze away from Mufasa.

"This is the end of an era, dear brother. I'm going to miss my childhood. . .our childhood. But that is the way it must be, for things change," the cub sighed, turning to meet his brother's eyes for the first time.

Mufasa saw the grief and sorrow in his brother's sparkling emerald eyes. He felt his heart sink with the reality of Taka's words.

He watched as the scrawny dark cub lowered down into a bow and slowly said, "May I present myself, Prince Mufasa?" Taka drew out the word 'prince'.

"Please do," Mufasa gave a kingly nod.

"Scar, at your service my liege," he finally said, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Scar it is," Mufasa nodded, seeing the child fade out of his brother's eyes once and for all.

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King Scar awoke with a start, a rumbling thunder shaking the rocky den he was resting in. He let his eyes drift to the pelting rain outside and sighed in relief when he remembered he was alone in the cave.

His dull emerald eyes gazed silently around the dank den as he recalled the memories that had just resurfaced in his dream.

"Look here, father. Your trash of a son made it to the throne after all. Now I'm a high king above all the lands, worthy of the best treatment. I guess value is truly in the eye of the beholder, isn't it father?" Scar said, settling back down and knowing he wasn't kidding anybody.

~Author's Note~

This one shot is about how Scar got his scar. It was requested of me by a friend of mine, fang_shae. I know there is already a story about it in the Lion King: Six New Adventures but I thought I would write it my own way.

I hope you enjoyed!! Leave a like!!