The Gluttony of King Scar

Scar's royal paunch continues to go up- which means something must come down. Scar's appetite may yet be his undoing- Enjoy!

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King Scar stretched as best as he was able, waking up in his royal chamber. He had woken up in an excellent mood; perhaps because he could already smell his decadently large breakfast, but no, that wasn't it. Scar then gasped softly, realization striking him— today was the fifth year anniversary of his crowning, and in a previous life, today would have been the birthday of his nephew, Simba. That little hairball had been the last straw, but now, with no Mufasa, Scar had reigned supreme.

Three figures entered, carrying with them a tantalizing scent. In the lead was Zazu, who, Scar had to admit, was far more tolerable as his minion and majordomo, bowing and scraping every time he waddled by. Then, there were his two most indispensable servants, Kamari and Azizi. They were the strongest hyenas Shenzi could provide, two impressively built specimens of rippling, sinewy muscle, strong and eager to please, and about as dumb as rocks.

Under a king such as his father— if King Ahadi had ever deigned himself to work with hyenas— they would be used as warriors or another pair of hunters, but Scar much preferred them as his personal guards, valets and when the mood struck him, companions. Who could blame him, really? When all day they attended to him, their sculpted, meaty bare chests and powerful, bulging arms pressing against his soft flesh to feed or bathe him, the king, with his massive appetites, hungered for more than the huge meals they plied him with.

Scar licked his lips lasciviously as he watched Kamari and Azizi, the two hyenas grinning wide as they set down massive trays of meat for the king's breakfast. They both moved in to heft the king and his impressive weight up— the lion had eaten, well, like a king for the past five years, with dramatic effects on his waistline. His belly alone was round and prominent as a boulder, spilling out beyond his lap, while his legs were thick around as the trunks of banyan trees. His chest was soft as dough, two large, bloated sacks sagging off the crest of his belly, a plush foundation for the pile of his multiple chins. His arms were even thicker around than Kamari and Azizi's, but of course, as the two hyenas dug into his sides to help hoist him up, their rock-hard biceps dug deep into the reams of fat wrapped around his arms.

Zazu waited patiently, showing a neutral face as the two hyenas dutifully plied their king with choice cuts of meat. "Sire, Sarabi, Zira, and the hyena leader, Shenzi, are here to speak with you, to report on the hunts this year."

"Mmph—" Scar gulped down a heavy mouthful, his round cheeks billowing against his mane. "Send them in, but before that, I wanted to speak about the five year anniversary of my ascent to the throne."

"Oh!" Zazu tittered. "That is today, isn't it?"

"I want a feast prepared— the biggest the Pridelands has ever seen!" Scar declared grandly, thumping his pudgy fist against his chest, causing his flabby breast to wobble.

The hornbill frowned softly. "Ah, well, Sire, the fifth year isn't normally such a grand event… I'm afraid some of the more traditional members of Pride Rock would think it a bit… self-aggrandizing. No king before has celebrated their reign so early."

Scar smirked, dimpling his cheeks. "Have these past five years not been some of the best the Pridelands have ever seen?"

"Well, yes—"

"And have my policies not proven themselves out?"

"Of course, sire, everyone is quite content—"

"Would you say that is not reason enough to celebrate?" Scar turned back to Kamari and Azizi, caressing their thickly roped arms. "Gentlemen, don't you think a feast sounds like fun?"

The two musclebound hyenas looked to each other then back to Scar, nodding eagerly. "Yeah, yeah! Feasts are loads of fun!"

"I wish we could have them every day!"

"Well, there you have it, Zazu," Scar said, waving the hornbill off. "A clear majority. Make the necessary preparations."

Zazu sighed, but bowed demurely. "Of course, sire."

With the majordomo dismissed, the three most powerful huntresses of Scar's court entered. Sarabi was a model of lion nobility, Zira approached her king with a devoted glint in her eye, and Shenzi had prospered, a powerfully built hyena who could go toe to toe with any lioness. All three of them bowed as Scar continued to gorge himself on his breakfast.

"Ladies," Scar grunted between bites. "What have you for me today?"

"Well, first, sire," Zira stepped forward, bowing low. It was then Scar realized she wasn't alone. "I would seek your blessing. I have brought my youngest, Kovu, to court." The king glanced down at a young lion cub, still very much a child. He stared up at the enormously fat lion before him, eyes wide. "Would you allow him to train here, at Pride Rock? When you have an heir of your own, it is my hope my son would be their great champion— I pledge him to your service."

"Ah-haha, how delightful," Scar lumbered forward, Kovu nearly leaning back. The cub looked afraid the huge king would bowl him over. Scar planted one of his chubby paws atop Kovu's head, tousling his tuft of mane. "You may have the king's blessing, young one. We'll expect great things from you."

Zira looked like she was ready to kiss Scar's feet— not that he could see if she did. Sarabi then stepped forward. "Sire, we must talk about the hunts. The herds are beginning to thin."

"What?" Scar turned to Shenzi. "Is this true?"

The hyena glanced between Sarabi and Scar. "Well, yeah, a little bit. But it's not my pack's fault!"

"No one said it was," Sarabi rolled her eyes. "There is no need to speak defensively to the king."

"Peace, ladies," Scar held up his paw. "Now, why not go further afield? We can start pushing past the Elephant Graveyard."

Sarabi arched her brow. "Are you certain, Scar? The elephant herds will not be pleased— that graveyard is sacred to them."

"Would they rather go hungry? What's good for the lion is good for the land." Scar waved off Sarabi's concerns. "The elephants will grumble, but won't take it any further. Are they not calling me 'Scar the Wise,' out across the plains?"

"They are, but that's no reason to make rash decisions," Sarabi countered.

"You dare question the king?" Zira gasped.

"It's our job to challenge the king. Scar knows that," Sarabi returned. "Perhaps if the king were to join us for a hunt, and see what we're facing firsthand?"
Scar scoffed. "Really, Sarabi. Would you ask the same of my father? It's the lioness' job to hunt, and I would not confuse others about the way of things. Trust me, Sarabi— have I been wrong once in these past five years?"

"You have not, sire."

"Well, it seems a pretty good record for a king," Scar smirked again. "I believe I'm reasonable in asking for your trust in this."

"Yeah, you can trust the king!" Kamari said. "He's never wrong!"

Sarabi nearly sneered at the hyena. "Of course, sire."

"Well, you all have your orders, then. Happy hunting!" Scar waved the huntresses off, returning to the last scraps of his breakfast. The three exchanged looks with one another, but Zira and Shenzi left without another word. Sarabi, however, lingered.

"Scar," she began. "May I speak candidly?"

The obese lion sighed heavily. "If you must."

"The past years have been good, yes, and you deserve credit with that. But you have been king for five years now, and you've…" Sarabi pursed her lips. "Let some things go."

"If that is a comment on my weight, you should tread very carefully," Scar said, his mouth drooping into an indignant pout.

"I would never," Sarabi said placidly. "But you have yet to name an heir. You've yet to name a queen."

"No doubt you saw that title for yourself," Scar quipped.

"My family has served Pride Rock and the kings of these lands for a long time, and being queen would not be unexpected," Sarabi replied. "But that is beside the point— Scar, you are living entirely in the present. I heard you ordering a feast with Zazu. Haven't you heard it said that it is best to find shelter before it starts raining?"

"I know the one about if it's not broke, don't fix it. The Pridelands are at peace, and the tribes are prosperous— thanks to my leadership."

"You've not left Pride Rock for years. You've impressed your subjects, yes, and they are grateful— but if they go hungry, they won't die of starvation for love of you." Sarabi explained. "And people are starting to talk about your lack of an heir. Why do you think Zira asked for your blessing over your son? She sees an opportunity because you've left the throne in jeopardy!"

"Oh, but you are being a bore… and you wonder why you're not my queen," Scar sighed dramatically, pulling himself up to his full height, his belly bouncing from the sudden movement. "Let me get back to the business of running my kingdom, Sarabi. Perhaps another five years of unprecedented prosperity will warrant your approval."

Sarabi clenched her jaw, then bowed. "Sire." She said curtly, turning to leave.

Scar shook his head, turning to Kamari Azizi. "Well, come now, gentlemen, I think I could do with a nice massage before we turn to affairs of state…"

"Already a tiring day, eh?" a squeaky voice Scar had not heard in years piped up.

Eyes wide, Scar whipped his head around, spotting a small mouse, Kipanya. An accidental act of mercy on Scar's part had saved the mouse's life— and earned Scar his apparent favor. He was only king because of this small creature.

"Intruder!" Kamari shouted.

"Get him!" Azizi roared. "Protect the king!" Both hyenas lunged for Kipanya, but the mouse deftly dodged their clumsy attempts, both of them slamming into one another and knocking the other out. Kipanya quickly scaled up the mountain of lion flab until he was face to face with Scar.

"I see you've had fun— why, you're ten times the lion you were last I saw you!"

Scar's frown deepened. "Charming."

"I thought I would check in with you— you know that it's down to the day, in this reality, that I granted your wish."

"I'm aware," the fat lion said bluntly. "And I think you'll agree I have done wonderfully. I knew I would make an excellent king."

Kipanya smirked. "You certainly have the stomach for it. But you know, no king reigns forever."

"Is that a threat?" Scar snarled.

"It's a warning. You've enjoyed yourself— evidently—" Kipanya paused to tap his foot, making tiny ripples in the lion's gut. "But are you ready for the types of challenges real kings face?"

"I am a real king!" Scar thundered, thumping his fist against his belly and almost knocking Kipanya off with the tremors across his vast body he caused. "I have been the king for years!"

Kamari groaned, as he and Azizi began to stir. Kipanya glanced back at them. "So… you won't want to go back to the way things were before?"

"Never! I am respected, saluted— seen for the wonder I am in this world! Why would I want to give that up?" Scar demanded.

Kipanya gave Scar a knowing look, the mouse smirking up at the huge lion. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown, no? And you've never been tested, not really. You knew every problem that would come up, and the solution to it. Have you really been ruling these past few years, or just following a script?"

"How dare you! You can't speak to a king that way!" Scar smacked his gut again, but missed Kipanya.

The mouse chuckled. "Well, far be it for me to stand in the way— good luck with the rest of your play, Your Majesty." Kipanya winked at Scar, then leapt off his belly. Scar quickly looked all around, but the mouse had disappeared.

Kamari and Azizi pulled themselves up, rubbing their heads. "Intruder! Where's the intruder?"

Scar rolled his eyes. "I ate him. There. Now quick, both of you, make yourselves useful— I want another morsel before getting to work."

Scar ate with a ravenous vigor, shoving fistfuls of food into his hungry maw. The past few years had not been kind to the king; a disastrous drought had led to widespread famine across the pridelands, and just like the streams that were now empty, dusty husks, the love and adoration of his subjects had dried up. He had been fielding nothing but complaints and pleas for food for months, now— ingrates. After all the good times he had given the pridelands, how could they turn on him now? Where was the gratitude, the respect for the monarchy? He grunted, gulping down a mouthful of tender meat. When faced with such inequities, who could blame him for stress eating?

He had only grown even larger— he hadn't even left his luxurious personal chambers in ages, and there was a serious question of if he even could— his belly spilled out like a landslide, smothering his enormously chunky legs where he sat, his tail hanging limply against an enormously inflated rear that propped up several layers of flabby back fat. His royal raiments barely wrapped around his blubbery frame, his gigantic, padded chest hanging listlessly along the crest of his gut. Lazily, he reached with sausage fingers at a tray of food, only to come up empty. "What? Where's the rest of my lunch? Kamari! Azizi! I demand more food! How dare you let the king go hungry?"

"Don't worry, sire. You can have this."

Scar turned as best he could, the thick rings of his multiple chins inhibiting how far he could twist around. Standing in the doorway was a powerfully built lion— Scar flinched, certain he saw Mufasa standing before him, and breathed an audible sigh of relief when he saw Kovu standing there. Zira's son had bloomed under his blessing, and was now a mighty warrior and hunter— the king's champion.

"Ah, Kovu. It's so gratifying to see a loyal face in these trying times." Scar rocked his humongous body, his belly rolling in waves as he built up the momentum to force himself to his feet.

"Of course," Kovu nodded, settling the tray laden with meat down. He watched, his face stony as Scar laboriously waddled forward, his gut starting to drag along the floor as the lion huffed an wheezed under his own weight.

"Ah!" Scar immediately snatched up a cut of meat, greedily shoving it into his mouth. "You are a treasure, my dear boy."

Kovu smirked bleakly. "Shenzi and my mother wanted you to have something to… take your mind off things, especially with today."

"Today?" Scar asked between mouthfuls. "What's so special about today?"

Kovu's grin widened, and he waited until Scar's mouth was full. "It's my coronation."
Scar coughed, swerving to look back up at Kovu. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Scar, but the court is in agreement— you are no longer king."

The lard-filled lion scoffed. "Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?"

"No, but you are. Scar, you used to be a great leader, but no one can remember the last time you've left your chambers. You gorge yourself when entire herds are starving, and the hunters are watching their own families go hungry."

Scar quivered where he stood, shaking with rage. "This— this is intolerable! You can't get away with this, you traitorous—!" Scar swung his heavy arm at Kovu, but the lion easily side-stepped him. "On what right do you claim the crown?" Scar demanded, huffing from the sudden exertion.

"I've served as your champion for years, Scar." Kovu held out his powerful arms, thumping his firm, muscled chest. "I'm what you should have been."

"You'll never get away with this! The second I reach the peak of Pride Rock—"

"Which you'll never do." Kovu calmly outpaced Scar's laborious slow-waddle, and stepped back outside his chambers. "Scar, I will undo all of this, beg forgiveness from you, recognize you as the true king, and even go into exile— if you can make it out of your room and reach me."

Scar's eyes were wide with righteous indignation. With a low, rumbling growl, he threw all his weight against the door frame, thick sheets of blubber spilling out, but Scar could only squeeze out one lard-laden arm and half his doughy chest before he was wedged into his own door. "This— this is— treason!" he snarled.

"No, it's good politics," Kovu replied simply. "Don't worry, Scar— this will be best for everyone, even you. I intend to be a merciful king." Kovu leaned down the corridor. "Kamari! Azizi! Quickly, Scar needs you!"

Dutifully, the two musclebound hyenas rushed to Kovu's side.

"Oh no! Scar, you got stuck again!" Kamari said.

"Don't worry, we've got you!" Azizi said, both of them gripping fistfuls of Scar's love handles and began using their great strength to push the former king back.

"No, you idiots! Help me out!" Scar demanded. "This young cub is trying to overthrow me!"
"I wouldn't worry about it, boys— Scar is very hungry, he doesn't know what he's saying. I left a full platter of meat back inside, so you can feed him," Kovu said, speaking over Scar's protests.

Kamari and Azizi gasped. "Don't worry, sir! We'll feed you." With an almighty heave, the two hyenas forced Scar back in, the lion rolling back on multiple folds of fat, his flabby, atrophied legs kicking helplessly.

"No! I don't want anymore fo— mmph!" Scar was silenced with a thick slab of steak shoved in by Kamari. Kovu stepped back into the room, smirking.

"As I said, I'm going to rule mercifully. You will have your every need attended to— I know these are traditionally the King's chambers, but… I don't think I'll get much use out of them." He smirked. "I'll be very busy running the Pridelands. Don't feel too bad about it, Scar— some people were just never meant to be king."