all of them. But I swear, that your children, Nuka and Vitani will get what they deserve, a royal life! Kovu is the key to revive your power and glory! Scar!” she exclaimed with all her might. “I love you and I’m faithful to you! I will avenge you and give your children heritage of their father! But...” she finished quiet, almost whispering. “...help me! Be with us, support us. I will fulfil your will, or... unite with you on the sky! Soon!”

She stood and started to run in Outland’s direction. She was just a step from cry, but her eyes had no tears. Not yet. Mission was not finished.

*

“LET ME OUT!” was screaming Scar.

In Skyworld neither strength nor size matters not. Dead king was holding by tiny cub, who was hugging his head. They looked amusing – small one was keeping bigger in steel grip, in order to stop crying king.

“Scar, please!” gasped green-eyed cub. “You know why! You can’t interfere!” Black-maned lion stopped and felt motionless. Cub let his head loose and stepped back few steps. “You know, what have to be done.”

“Tarki...” said Scar with breaking voice. Lion was holding his head in paws, to hide his cry. “I know... But I still can’t get over it. I love them...”

Starcub came to black-maned lion and gentle stoked his mane.

“I know, my nephew... That why I’m here. To stop you from doing something you don’t want to...”

“I must stop this wicked Mufasa’s game!” whispered Scar. “I don’t care if it necessary or not. The Circle of Life? I hate it for sacrificing my family!” he looked on his uncle with anger in eyes. Shadows of lions, those who are living on the sky seldom are able to express their feelings. But Scar was. He was still bounded to world beneath him as strong, as he was alive.

“Calm down, boy!” replied cub. “Mufasa and Ahadi had to do their way... We both know, that they are wrong, but they have right to do this error. They’re Kings of the Past too.”

Scar closed his eyes and calmed down. His starbody was laying on unseen surface of lower sky motionless. He was crying and thinking at once.

“Tarki... I just want to speak with Zira...” he started. “Not about future... Just say, how I missed her and cubs... Can I do that?” asked with hope. But cub was relentless.

“No... sorry, Scar, but you can’t. We have a deal with Mufasa and Ahadi. No interference.” He noticed, that his nephew was already calm, but also still angry on brother. “Look... If Zira success, Circle will be restored. Maybe in harsh and painful way, but restored... And if she doesn’t... Well, then will came to our turn.”

“And Zira? Vitani? Nuka? Kovu?” whispered Scar. “They will suffer because my and Mufasa’s errors.”

Tarki looked on Scar with curiosity.

“You really care about Kovu. Why? He is not your son. You have never seen him by your own eyes...”

“He is son of Zira.” Replied dead king. “I love him the same love I love my mate.”

“Calm down, Scar... We will try to stop things, when they come too far.” Said Tarki. “We will be watching them all the time. Just... without interference. You can’t do anything. You promised.” Reminded cub.

“I know, uncle.” Said dead king. “All right... just get back up there.” Both lions started to walk on path of stars to higher firmament. Then Scar stopped. “Or... go by yourself. I’ll catch you there... I want to watch Zira for little more. Alone.” Tarki looked on him with uncertain stare. “I promised!” replied Scar. “I won’t speak to her... I won’t speak to my cubs...” Green-eyed cub narrowed his face. “I mean Kovu too. I just won’t say anything to any living lion. Are you satisfied?” asked dead king.

“I am.” Said Tarki. “Sorry, Scar, but it must be that way.” He started to walk in dark sky and soon he disappeared in space. Black-maned lion sighed.

“I promised not to speak with living.” He whispered. “But I gave no word... neither to you, nor Mufasa, about the dead ones.” He turned his head to western sky and called. “Amini! Hear me, Amini!” silhouette of lion with almost back mane appeared.

“Yes, Scar?” asked newcomer. “What do you want?”

Dead king smiled.

“You know, what... That what I always want... and you want it too.”

Another ghost came to Scar and they exchanged gentle bow for greeting. Amini said with uncertain voice.

“Aren’t they suspecting something?”

“Well.” Muttered Scar. “Tarki for sure, but he is with us with all his heart. Mufasa? I don’t think so. He know nothing about you nor Sparthi.”

Black-maned lion burst in laughter. It was laughter of satisfaction and joy. He was just happy, that he could serve the ones he love, in the best way he could.

“Thank you, Amini.” Said Scar. “Your protection over them is so helpful...”

“Kovu is my son, after all!” interrupted lion. “I’m worrying about him just the same like you.”

“I know, Amini.” Agreed Scar. “And I know, that you still love Zira. I can understand that...” he added, smiling. “And for Star’s sake, I’m glad of it. If Sparthi helps us, we will save them, whatever Mufasa intend. Are you with me, partner?”

“I am, Scar.” Replied Amini and raised his paw.

Dead king toughed paw of friend with his own. They alliance and friendship was strong. Just for hard times, where strength was to be needed.

*

Zira returned to Golden Hall about midnight. All lionesses were sleeping, just like Kovu. Vitani was not there – princess often was wandering late at night through Outlands. Nuka... well Nuka was probably with Hawaa... again. But this made a lioness only happier. Zira felt, that this night was peaceful and calm. Almost no one knew, what was about to happen.

“Sleep, my child.” She whispered, coming to Kovu and stroking his dark mane. Lion was lying next to trunk called ‘the golden throne’, where he used to sleep in cubhood. “Rest and get prepared to your mission.” She sighed with unease in her voice and added. “I’m so sorry, about that, Kovu, but you must do it. We all count on you. We all depend on you. Do it, for your father, your siblings and whole pride...”

She turned her head to lioness and looked on them with anxiety. Ten of her pride (counting absent Hawaa) were facing the greatest trial in their life. As soon, as Kovu would kill tyrant of Priderock, they had to retake lost home. This was necessary, for both revival of dead king’s glory, but also for survival. Outland was not able to feed thirteen lion for next dry season. They desperately needed for Prideland’s wealth. There was no way back, but straight path ahead – a war!

“You won’t starve... you will never starve again!” whispered Zira in darkness of their keep. “As your queen, I promise you, that I will retake, what is ours! Golden Pride will stand again... united with truly lions of Prideland... those loyal to the real king... King Scar!”

*

Hawaa was gray-fured adolescent lioness. Her comeliness was very unusual for pride of desert lioness and instantly betraying her true origins. Yes, she was Pridelandress, at least born in Prideland. In her heart she considered herself as Outlander and loathed those who lived at Priderock. And she loved her adopted family... especially one from it.

“Come down, Hawaa!” called Nuka to climbing lioness. “This mound is about to fall.”

“So you will catch me.” She replied with smile, while she was trying to get some eggs of quail. After poor supper of long dead carcass of mongoose, tasteful bird’s eggs would be delicious dessert. She was doing it for Nuka, but he was more scared of danger than pleased by lioness efforts. It looked quite fun – although Nuka was older, Hawaa was surely stronger one in their team. But Nuka treated his role of “caretaker” seriously.

“Please, come down!” he repeated. “Or I will climb to you!”

Wow, this was a serious threat – Nuka would fall in half a way that lioness had made. But she knew, that he was ready to do this. “O, my sweet Nuka...” she thought. “I’m ready to climb here everyday, just to hear, that you worry about me.” And she added aloud. “I’m coming... Just a moment...”

She almost reached quail’s nest with extended paw. She was standing on mounds ledge, about five meters above the ground and anxious Nuka. Agile lioness just jumped to nest’s hollow and plunged claws of one paw to mound’s wall. With second paw, she started to grab eggs.

“Watch out!” yelled Nuka, seeing, that lioness slowly sliding down.

“Just a minute...” replied she and took last delicacy from it’s hiding. But she was not able to maintain balance with just one paw – in next second she started to sliding down from mound’s wall.

“Hawaa!” screamed Nuka and jumped up to wall.

Because she was still holding her load, she managed just to slow her slippering a bit. It could be called ‘controlled fall’, at least in optimist’s eyes. But Nuka was not aand added. “I’m so sorry, about that, Kovu, but you must do it. We all count on you. We all depend on you. Do it, for your father, your siblings and whole pride...”

She turned her head to lioness and looked on them with anxiety. Ten of her pride (counting absent Hawaa) were facing the greatest trial in their life. As soon, as Kovu would kill tyrant of Priderock, they had to retake lost home. n optimist, so he was climbing up, as fast, as he could. They met in the middle of track – surprised Hawaa hit lion with legs and threw him down. But this caused her to stop. She got basis with legs exactly in the same moment, when Nuka hit the ground.

“O, thank... Nuka?!” she called with fear.

“Don’t... do that again...” replied lion with weary voice. He was lying at mound’s foot in cloud of dust.

Hawaa immediately jumped down, but so agile, that she didn’t break any of four eggs. She put her load on ground and ran to lion.

“I’m sorry! Nuka! Are you all right?” she sobbed with remorse. Lion seemed to be all right, except of temporary shock.

“Yes... I guess.” He replied, when Hawaa started to lick his face. “I’m not wounded... for sure not