Sunlight seeps into Priderock, and I feel releived as the day has come. I spent all night tossing and turning; it's all I can think about. It's like a little mealworm's burrowing inside my brain-and a nasty mealworm too. All I can think about is what if Zira or Sarafina get picked I know it sounds awful, but I don't love them-only as friends.Sarabi's the one for me. She made that clear two nights ago. We were sitting under the navy blue sky, after spending a king, long day with one another, hunting and mucking about. We looked at each Other, blushing, then at the stars. I told her what Dad told me; that they are kings of the past. Then she asked about Queens of the past...and how she wanted to be my Queen. I remember her words after I told her I loved her. She told me, in a hushed whisper "Mufasa, you would not take the honoure-I would. I want to be with you, as Queen by your side and as a star by your side. I will be what you want me to be."

I tried to tell Dad this but he was convinced that Sarafina and Zira were good for me. But I don't want Sarafina or Zira. I want Sarabi. 

When I told Taka what Sarabi told me, his face just twisted and he sneered oh so much. It was dreadful. He told me that Sarafina had said the exact same thing to him, so what Sarabi said was nnothin specai,. But he's lying. He loves Sarabi, it's as plain as a zebra's stripes.but if Dad doesn't choose Sarabi it looks like Taka could have a chance after all.

I'm so worried.

* 

It's drawing to miday now. Mum had been playing with my half-mane for ages now-flicking over. a tu their, fiddling with a lock here. She says I must look my best for my bride. 

'Mum, how did you and dad meet?' I ask.

'Well, your father was a very dashing young lion, and a bit of a schmoozer, I actualy found him really irritsable at first. But one day, he said to me; "Uru, would you link to go hunting?" And for some bizarre reason I said yes.' She's telling me, but now I'm not really interesting. I start to feel sick with nerves, I would never want to hurt Darafina or Zira's feelings, so I'd be stuck with them. Would that mean I'd never love my cubs? Would that mean I'd never love my grand cubs? 

Father lads into the cave, tossing his dark red, almost black mane. He looks so majestic, so regal. He was definitely born a king. 'Where is Scar?' He grumbled.

I'm fidgeting. 

'It's Taka, Ahadi. He's no beast.' Mum says quietly but firmly.

'Huh.' Dad grunts, once again getting the slip. 

To my relief, Taka strolls in, yawning. 'Sorry, just woken up. What's the gathering for?' He tries to look clueless, but he knows exactly what's going on. He's just pushing Dad's buttons.

'It's Mufasa's betrothed announcement today.' Dad snaps, gritting his teeth.

'That is today? Oh I feels imply awful! Must've slipped my mind.' He smirks, making the most wretched noise by sharpening his claws along the cave wall.

'Still, it won't be that special if you've chosen Zira or Sarafina, Father. It means Sarabi will be all mine.' Taka adds, his green eyes flashing evilly. I get really wound up, and I start to see red.

'Take it back.' I'm growling. Mum shuffles away, behind dad.

'No.' Taka chuckles, turning around.

'Dn't turn your back on ME Scar!'  I roar furiously, and I bound in front of him. He suddenly blinks at me then looks away, fighting tears. I can fee, realist ion flooding in me, pumping through me veins: I called him Scar. I promised him I'd never call him that, always Taka.

'Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on Me.' He mutters. Dad looks blazing,a nd he's about to shout at him, so I quickly pretend he's joking. 'Is that a challenge?' I grin. Taka smiled weakly at me for saving him. 'Bring it brother.' We're both about to play rough and tumble but mum steps in.

'Now now Mufasa, we don't want your half mane getting scruffy. A good teenage prince does not fight either.' She beams warmly. Taka rolls his eyes and sighs, but I'm smiling.

*

'Are you ready son?' Dad asked to me quietly. 

We are standing at the summit of Priderock, in the shadows. It's mid afternoon. Oh great Mohatu, the whole kingdom has turned up-thosands of zebras, elephants, girraffes, okapi, meerkats; all the animals I can think of. I can see mum and Taka wait below us, waving and smiling at the animals. Well, Taka's not smiling. He's sulking. Wait..now he's walking off? I can see mum trying to stop him, but he's not listening. I'm glad Dad hasn't seen. He'd be spouting steam trhough his ears.

'I...I'm ready.' I say, and now we're walking off the summit, down to where mother is. Dad hasn't got time to ask questions about Taka.

He's focusing on Rafiki, the friendly mandrill who lives in a tree. The animal's are making a path for him, and Dad's beaming so broudly. He welcomes Rafiki with a hug. Rafiki bows and kisses my mother's paw, and he pat's my head. 'Are you ready Mufasa?' he asks, like dad asked. 'Yes, Rafiki.' I reply.

Oh I'm not ready, not ready not ready! I don't want to do this! This is awful. Rafiki is speaking the animals below. And now he's turning to the cave. Ghe's going to bring out the selected one. I can see...I can see...Tanglemane. What's HE doing here? He loathes dad after Dad yelled at Zira because she yelled at him, and Tamnglemane loves Zira. I hate Tanglemane. I think he's crazy. I can also see....wait...is that a flock of birds?

Suddenly thousands of fishing eagles swarm around us, scratching my face. I can feel their talons sinking in onto my muzzle, I cry, and the animals shuffle nervously below us. Mum screams and runs into Pride Rock, and dad's bellowing out for them to stop. he's jumping up and taking them down from the sky, pinnign them, sinking his claws into their chest and wings.

Taka's so lucky he missed this.

Wait. Taka? It's not as if the birds just decided to attack us on their own,. I mean, who would dare tackle the King of the savannah? Tehy've been asked to do it. But by who...? Taka wouldn't do such a thing. He would't. if he did he wouldn't use birds. Right...?

Dad's furious, and he apologises to all the animals and asks Rafiki to bring out the select one. Rafiki's not sure now. He's looking the distance...and I can see what he's looking at. A sea of hyenas. This is getting worse and worse. Dad roars so loudly, it rings in my ears . He marches down from Priderock to the ground, and with the rest of the pride, attacks them. Taka is seen at this point. He's skulking near the summit, and then he dissapears. Now he's over here, on the presentation bit of the rock. The animals are running away.

'What happened?' he murmers.

'LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW!' Thunders dad.

Now there's a huge fight. Mum is tryign to distract dad, but dad hits her. Taka gets realy cross, and now they're walking there seperate ways. I hate this. 

I guess the selection's called off?

*

A new day.

A new start. 

Dad's really, REALLY sorry for hitting mum, but he's not sorry for hitting Taka. Tehy're not speaking, not even looking at each other. I thought it would be better this way, but it's not. At least there's no more tension.

Today dad pormised the selection would be done, but this time, the animals can stay away, justy in case anything "happens". I know he means in ase Taka try's to ruin it again. But Taka's insisting he didn't. And I have a weird feeling. I don't think it was him. 

It was someone else. I know it was. I have two prime suspects.

Zira-She likes Scar. A lot. She's addicted to him, ever since he stopped her from drowning. She could be preventing the betrothal in case she gets selected.

Tanglemane-I did see him at a certain point. He loves Zira and hates dad, so that gives him to reasons to stop all this.

*

'The selected lioness...' Rafiki comes out, and out of the shadows...steps Sarabi.

My stomach knot instantly disappears. She looks so radiant, so beautiful, with a purple flower tucked behind her ear, bringing out her orange eyes.

She walks over to me and nuzzles me. 'Hello...mate.' she smiles.  I beam at her. 'We're nots mate yet. We're still to young. 'I wink, showing her that I can't wait till we're older. Rafiki and the pridesisters are throwing flowers over us. Sarabi's nuzzling her sisters nad her mum and her dad. Taka's sitting in the corner, his face emotionless. I feel sorry for him. His lvoe of his life was just ripped from his arms. There's something different in his eyes. Something...like it's snapped. He looks like he wants to kill me. But he wouldn't do that.

Soon everyone's shouting 'Long live the future king!' and Taka's sayign it too, only his smile is twisted a little, like he's planning on saying them in the future. I have no idea for what. At least he's cheering me on though.

Everyone's bowing: mum, dad, Rafiki-all stooping for me and Sarbi. Sarfina's smmiling, and Zira's also smiling with releif. I notice she's eyeing my brother massively. Poor Taka. Ha ha!

Suddenly there's a hugee cry, and there's a blur of goldish brown. I'm being pinned!. I fight blindly, not knowing the face of the attacker. I can see everyone coming to help me. Tehy tear us apart, and only then can I have a look at the random

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