The Fallen King

After the dust had settled, the prince was in exile, the king was assumed dead, and a ruthless usurper had seized control of the Pride Lands all within a single tragic afternoon. Old Rafiki went down into the canyon and found the fallen king. He was not dead as his son and his brother both believed, but it was near enough. Using his old magic, Rafiki aroused the king and led him out of the canyon.

"You must come, and follow me." he said, "You must leave this place."

Confused and not at all sure of where he was or why he was there, Mufasa followed the Shaman out of the canyon where he had nearly died in a wildebeest stampede that had been carefully orchestrated by his wicked brother Scar.

As soon as he had Mufasa out of the canyon, Rafiki knew his work was only just beginning. The son would have to fend for himself, now the fallen king needed his help. Mufasa would have to remember who he was and what he was, and someday he would return to the Pride Lands and make things right again.

At Pride Rock, Scar took full control of the kingdom and reigned with his wicked hyena minions doing his every bidding. The Pride Lands became a barren waste; there was no water, no food, and all of the herds had moved on. The dust was scattered with the twisted skeletons of dead trees and the remains of animals killed by the false king's hyenas for sport as often as they were killed for food.