Prologue
Hello everyone, There's Something About Shenzi's first chapter is finally here. Sorry for having to make you all wait so long for this, but we're finally here, and I hope you'll enjoy the first chapter. Reminder, I own nothing Lion King related, OC's however, I do own.
"His friends would say stop whining, they've had enough of that. His friends would say stop pining. There's other girls to look at. They've tried to set him up with Tiffany and Indigo. But there's something about Shenzi that they don't know. Shenzi. There's just something about Shenzi." a hyena sang as he played a banjo made of bones and vines.
The hyena next to him lightly played bone drums with bones. The hyena with the bone banjo stops playing, and looks towards the reader.
"You know the story of the lion king, Simba. How his uncle killed his father, and took the throne for himself only for Simba to return years later to reclaim it. You've heard the story of Simba's daughter Kiara. How she, and her mate Kovu, who was the son of the enemy bring the Outlanders and Pride Landers together in peace. But there's one story you haven't heard of. The story of Shenzi Marie Predatora Veldetta Jaquelina Hyena, and her two friends Banzai and Ed. The story of their lives before they ever met Scar, and when Ed could literally talk. Sit back dear friend, and I shall tell you the tale of the three." the hyena said.
"Do you see or smell any lions Sichaku?" Misuli asked his hunting partner.
Sichaku, a grey hyena with bushy eyebrows, and a hyena's mane that turned into mullet shaped hair, looked to Misuli. Misuli was a grey, muscular hyena with a hyena's mane that formed into a sort of short mohawk shape.
"I smell some zebras up ahead, but no lions." Sichaku said.
Misuli let out a sigh of relief.
"Good, I was starting to think that it was too quiet." Misuli said.
"Oh, come on Misuli. You're a big muscular hyena, if some lions came by, I'm sure that you could take them." Sichaku said.
"Not if we run into King Ahadi, or Queen Uru. I've also heard that Prince Mufasa is just as fierce" Misuli said.
Sichaku sighed, he knew that Misuli was right. If the both of them got caught, they were as good as dead. Hyenas weren't allowed in the Pride Lands, and haven't been for about five years since the hyena rebellion. Sichaku took another sniff of the air to make sure there weren't any lions around, there still wasn't any.
"Come on Misuli, let's get those zebras, and get out of here before some lions come, and decide to make chew toys out of us." Sichaku said.
"Yeah, and the last place I want to be is inside some old lion's gut." Misuli said.
Sichaku, and Misuli slowly creeped up on a heard of seven zebras. The two hyenas had to be careful not to make a sound, or the heard would panic, and run. They couldn't afford to go back to the elephant graveyard without any food.
"We should have brought more members to hunt with us. We'd have a better chance of catching something for everyone else." Misuli said.
"I feel the same way Misuli, but we'd just have a higher risk of getting caught." Sichaku said.
Misuli would have growled in anger if they weren't currently stalking zebra. He, Sichaku, and many other hyenas in the elephant graveyard had pups to feed, and many others were expecting pups. The clan barely even had enough food to support the members they already had. The worse part was that their matriarch Familia, was expecting to have a pup any day now. The hyenas were lower than the dirt that they stood upon.
The lions however, lived in the lap of luxury. They basically had an endless supply of meals, and they grew fat, and lazy off them. They knew that the hyenas in the elephant graveyard were suffering, but they just turn a blind eye. They worried about their cubs when food became scarce, but when it came to hyena pups starving to death, they just said that it wasn't their problem. Misuli hated lions. Misuli felt Sichaku tap his shoulder. Misuli looked towards him, and saw him pointing towards a zebra that had a limp in one of it's back legs.
"Misuli, go for it's uninjured back leg. Clamp onto it, and I'll go put the squeeze on it's neck." Sichaku said.
"Alright, let's get this overwith quickly." Misuli said as he got into position.
As Misuli stalked towards the zebra, he looked at the herd. With how zebras ran in tight groups, and aggressive defenses from the stallions, a team of hunting zebras would consist of fifteen to twenty. The hyena's banishment, and having to sneak into the Pride Lands to get food, however prevented that. Misuli knew that he, and Sichaku had to play this just right for them to take it down. When Misuli got into position, he waited until the zebra got closer.
When it did, Misuli shot forward, and bit down on the zebra's uninjured leg. The heard seeing the danger, bleated in panic, and ran. The zebra that Misuli had in his jaws, tried to run after it's heard, but it's resistance was futile. Sichaku leaped onto the zebra's back, and sank his vice like teeth into it's neck. The zebra suffocated to death within a couple minutes.
When the zebra fell, Sichaku got of, licked his muzzle clean of blood, and looked towards Misuli.
"Well done partner." Sichaku said.
"Thanks man." Misuli said.
"Alright, now let's get this back home before some lion spots us." Sichaku said.
"Yeah." Misuli agreed as he grabbed the zebra's neck. "If they see us, they'll just accuse us of over hunting, or killing for sport when they have no proof."
Sichaku sighed with frustration after Misuli said that. When he snuck into the Pride Lands last month to hunt, he been caught by a lioness. Despite his protests, the lioness had accused him of killing for sport, or over hunting. When the lioness told him to leave, Sichaku asked if he could at least take the warthog he had caught with him. The lioness had only roared, and gave chase.
Sichaku had barely escaped the the lioness. The encounter had scared Sichaku to death. Not because he almost died, but the fact that he had two pups to singlepawedly support. Sichaku took a deep breath to help him forget that day, and went to helping Misuli drag the zebra all the way back home.
Sichaku, and Misuli made it back to the elephant graveyard with the zebra safely. They sighed with relief, glad to be home, and that they had arrived safe, sound, and with food. The only thing to do now was to ask their matriarch, Familia what to do with it, and… her mate, and the clan chief, Grisi.
"Sichaku! Misuli!" the two hyenas heard a voice call to them.
The two hyenas looked to see a female hyena named Pikwamri running towards them. Pikwamri was the second highest ranking female in the clan, just under matriarch Familia, who was also her older sister. Pikwamri was also the mother of two pups, and Misuli's mate. Misuli smiled at the sight of his mate. Misuli jogged over to her, and nuzzled her.
"Hay sweet cake." Misuli said as he rubbed his nose against Pikwamri.
"Did your hunt go well?" Pikwamri asked.
"We got one zebra. It may not be much, but at least everyone in he clan will get a bite… I hope." Misuli said trailing off.
Pikwamri looked towards the zebra, and then back at Misuli.
"Yes, we'll have to ration the meat out, but most of the clan agrees that Familia should get most of this kill." Pikwamri said.
"Why?" Sichaku asked, coming up to the hyena couple.
Eventhough food was scarce for the hyena clan of the elephant graveyard, the fact that Familia was their matriarch, meant that she was entiltled to most of the food they got since they needed her to be strong in leadership. Familia, being the caring hyena that she was, always tried to make sure that pups got most of the food the clan could get through, even when Familia knew she really needed it. However, today, and maybe in the next coming months, she would need as much food as she could get, and so would a special someone.
"Why, does the clan want Familia to get most of the food? She may be the matriarch, but still, we should ration it out to where everyone gets a fair share?" Misuli asked.
Pikwamri smiled at both of them. She waved them in close. Sichaku, and Misuli hustled together with Pikwamri.
"Familia had her pup born today while you boys were gone." Pikwamri said.
Sichaku, and Misuli looked at Pikwamri.
"Really?" Sichaku asked.
"Yes, and she want us all to come, and see her together. So Sichaku, you, and your pups meet us at Familia's den. We'll drag the zebra there to her." Pikwamri said.
Sichaku without a word, went to go get both of his pups. When he reached his den, he heard the sound of wrestling inside.
"Come on man, give that back!" shouted the voice of a young pup.
"Hahaha! Never!" another voice.
Sichaku couldn't stop himself from grinning. Sichaku ducked his head while he walked into den. When he entered, he saw two young hyena pups, both about six months old. One of the pups had large, bushy eyebrows like he did, while the other's eyebrows were thin. The pup with the bushy eyebrows was chasing the thin eyebrowed pup, who had a bone in his mouth.
"Come on man, give it back." the bushy eyebrowed pup demanded.
"Banzai! Ed!" Sichaku called to the pups.
Both pups immedadly skidded to a halt, and looked over to Sichaku.
"Dad!" the bushy eyebrowed hyena pup, whose named was Banzai shouted happily before running up to the older hyena.
"Sichaku!" the hyena pup, Ed shouted.
Sichaku smailed at both pup, and leaned his head down toward them. All three hyenas butted their heads together. When they were finished, Banzai, and Ed sat on their hunches, smiling up at Sichaku, who smiled back at them.
"What were you chasing Ed for Banzai?" Sichaku asked.
Banzai immedadly lost his smile, and glared at Ed.
"There was a little meat on that bone left. Ed, and me decided to split it, but he took it from me when I only just started eating." Banzai complained.
"No, I didn't, you had just finished your part of the meat on this bone, and were starting to eat my half." Ed said.
"No, I didn't." Banzai said.
"Yes, you did." Ed said.
"No, I didn't!" Banzai said.
"Yes, you did!" Ed said.
Sichaku couldn't help, but smile at the two squabbling pups. His son, Banzai may have looked like him, just without his mullet shaped hair that his hyena's mane turned into, but he had his mother's fiery personality. As for Ed, he was the oppiste of Banzai, and in more ways than one. Ed was Sichaku's son, but he was his adoptive son. Sichaku during his cubhood had been best friends with Ed parents, Akiku, and Moymku.
When Sichaku, and Ed's father, Akiku were just pups, they snuck into the Pride Lands to show that they could hang out with the 'cool' guys. That was a big mistake, because some young teenage lions found them. When the teenage lions saw them, they had went on about how if they killed some hyenas, and brought them back to the pride, they'd be hailed as heroes, and become even more popular than the king, and queen. While they were running from the lions, Akiku had fallen off a hill that had a drop off, and injured his leg, making him unable to run. Sichaku knew that he'd never be able to make it if he tried to help Akiku, but he was his friend, so he did anyway.
The lions had caught him, but thankfully some hyenas of their clan were hunting nearby, and saved them. Akiku had been so grateful to Sichaku for saving him that he said if he ever had pups one day, he'd make Sichaku their godfather, and he lived to fullfil that promise. Unfortunitly though, Akiku, and his mate, Moymku didn't get to be parents for very long. Moymku died in childbirth, and Akuki was bitten by a poisonous snake not even a week after, and the clan's healer didn't know how to treat snake would, and they couldn't ask for healer in the Pride Lands to help. After that, Sichaku took Ed in, and raised him as his own son alongside Banzai, who was born the same day.
Thankfully, Banzai, and Ed immedadly got along very well, and even to this day, they were very much brother, even if they did squabble from time to. However, despite all that, tragedy to, struck Sichaku, and his family soon after they adopted Ed. When Banzai, and Ed turned a month old, Sichaku's wife, Anzi grew sick, and died. All that had sent Sichaku spiraling down into a nightmare. He had been left alone with two young pups to care for, had no way to give them the milk they needed, and they were too young to start eating solid food.
Thankfully, Sichaku wasn't alone. He had his other cubhood friends Misuli, Pikwamri, who was pregnant at the time, and Matriarch Familia to help him. Hyena mother's would usually never nurse any pups, but their own, but Pikwamri felt bad for all that had happened to Sichaku, and she loved cubs, and was not about to let two who had just lost most, or all of their family to starve to death. So Pikwamri allowed Banzai, and Ed to get the milk they needed from her, while Misuli, and Familia gave him emotional support. Pikwamri still allowed them to along with her son, and daughter, Kiamu, and Binamu, since they were still too young to be weaned.
Though it saddened Sichaku that his mate, his best friend, and his best friend's mate were gone, he was still glad that he had friends like Misuli, Pikwamri, and Matriarch Familia. Sichaku was suddenly pulled out of his throuhts by Banzai, and Ed's bickering.
"I DID NOT STEAL THE BONE, AND YOUR SHARE OF THE MEAT! YOU WERE EATING MY SHARE OF THE MEAT!" Ed shouted angrily.
"YES, YOU DID, AND I DID NOT!" Banzai shouted back.
"Oi!" Sichaku shouted, stomping his paw on the ground to get Banzai, and Ed's attention, and it worked.
Banzai, and Ed looked up at Sichaku, startled before lowering their head in shame, with their tail between their legs. Sichaku sighed. He hated having to raise his voice at the two pups, but their fight was starting to get out of paw, and he had to stop it. He looked at them with a kinder face, and a gentler, yet still serious voice.
"Listen you two, I don't care who ate more meat than you agreed on, but what I do care is that you apologize, and make up." Sichaku said.
"Fine." Banzai sighed.
"Sorry sir." Ed said.
Banzai, and Ed looked at each other. The two smiled at each other, and shook paws.
"Sorry that I tried to eat your split of the meat Ed." Banzai apologized.
"It's okay, I'm over it now." Ed said.
Sichaku smiled at the two cubs. The two could get on each other's nerves quickly, but they were quicker in making up.
Ed's stomach suddenly growled.
"But I am hungry still." Ed said.
Sichaku slightly laughed.
"Well, that'll be no problem. Misuli, and I caught a zebra." Sichaku said.
"There any wildebeest to?" Banzai asked.
"Wildebeest is his favorite you know." Ed added.
"Not today I'm afraid, but there's something even better than wildebeest for you two." Sichaku said.
"What?" Banzai asked.
"A future playmate for you two." Sichaku said.
"Huh?" both pups questioned.
"Matriarch Familia had her pup today." Sichaku announced.
"She did?" Ed asked in an excited tone.
"Yes, would you like to see her pup?" Sichaku asked. "The zebra is there aswell."
"Well than what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Banzai said, running off with Ed.
"Hay, wait for me, you two." Sichaku said, running after the young pups.
The three hyenas soon arrived at Matriarch Familia's den. The zebra was in the front of the den. As soon as Banzai saw it, the long pup ravenously licked him lips, and walked up to it.
"Oh boy, oh boy." Banzai said.
Banzai was about to sink his teeth into it, bt Sichaku pulled him away.
"Hold on a minute son. We've got to see Matriarch Familia, and her cub first." Sichaku said.
"Oh, sorry dad." Banzai said.
Sichaku, and Banzai followed Ed into Familia den.
"Hello, any matriarch's home?" Sichaku called out.
"Come on in Sichaku." Sichaku heard Familia call from inside the den.
Sichaku, Banzai, and Ed walked further into the den. The saw Misuli, Pikwamri, and their son, and daughter with Familia.
"Hay, Binamu! Kiamu!" Ed excitedly shouted, running over to the two younger hyena pups with Banzai.
Binamu, and Kiamu ran over to their friends. The four hyena pups each touched one of their forepaws together.
"The milk brothers, and their one milk sister unite." Binamu shouted along with her friends, and brother.
The four hyena pups took a moment to laugh.
"Hay, have you two seen our cousin yet, she's really cute." Kiamu asked.
"Why do you think we're here?" Banzai said with a laugh.
Banzai, and Ed looked over to Matriarch Familia, who smiled at them.
"Hello Banzai. Hello Ed." Familia greeted the two young pups.
"Hi Familia." Banzai, and Ed said.
"Would you like to come see my daughter?" Familia asked.
"Heck yeah." Banzai said, immediately walking up.
When Banzai walked forward, he saw a newborn hyena pup against Familia's belly, sucking for milk. Her fur was blackish brown, but it would fade to grey, and gain spots as she got older. Familia looked down at her daughter, and gave her a lick.
"Come on sweetheart, there's someone who want to say hello to you." Familia said in a honeyed tone.
The newborn hyena pup stopped nursing, and turned towards Banzai, cleaning her own messy, damp face with her tongue. When the newborn hyena pup turned fully around, Banzai saw that her hyena's mane formed into five prominent bangs that hung over her face. Banzai, and the new born hyena pup stared at each other for a few moments before the hyena pup smiled at Banzai, showing her tiny, barely developed teeth.
"What's, huh." Banzai exclaimed.
Familia giggled, leaning down to Banzai.
"Oh, don't be shy Banzai, she's just giving you a sweet look." Familia said.
"Hay, I ain't shy of nobody." Banzai said, slightly offended before looking back at the hyena pup.
Ed suddenly came up, and used Banzai as some sort of stool to look at the newborn hyena pup. The newborn pup smiled at Ed, and giggled.
"Hay, how come she giggled at you, and not me?" Banzai asked.
"Maybe she just doesn't like you." Ed laughed.
"Says you." Banzai said.
Ed got off Banzai, and sat down. Banzai sat back up, and shook himself off.
"So, uhh, what's…" Banzai began to ask before a deep, lazy voice interrupted him.
"So, what's her name?" the voice asked.
Everyone looked towards the entrance of the den to see who the voice belong to. The voice belonged to Familia's mate, and the clan's chief, Grisi. Grisi looked like a slob, because he was one. He was morbidly obese for a hyena, so much, so that his eyes were almost lost in the fat, and fur of his face. Everyone was surprised that Grisi's legs could support his enormous gut.
His fur was greasy, ungroomed, and matted with dirt, and sweat. Hyena clans were always run by females, so everyone would think that she ran the clan, but anyone who thought that was wrong. Grisi was the direct descendent of the hyena matriarch known to history as Bloody Mary, the one who started the hyena rebellion, and got the clan banished to the elephant graveyard. After they were banished, Bloody Mary promised the hyenas that one day they would return to the Pride Lands, and have their revenge. She had also decreed that only her direct descendants would run the clan, even if they were male.
Bloody Mary had only one child, a son, Grisi's father. After Bloody Mary died, he ruled the clan, and after he died about a year ago, Grisi now ruled the clan. So, after Grisi died one day, his daughter would rule the clan. Grisi however, wasn't a good leader. Grisi was greedy, savage, he always got the lion's share of any food the clan caught, without even think of the starving cubs, even when he ate his fill, he would share the food with anyone also, and just continue to eat.
Grisi also treated Familia, and evey other female in the clan with no respect. Sichaku, Misuli, Pikwamri, and Familia just knew that if hyena rape was possible, Grisi would do so to evey female in the clan. Grisi walked up to Familia. Banzai, and Ed retreated to Sichaku in fright of Grisi. Binamu, and Kiamu did the same. When Grisi got directly in front of Familia, and his daughter, his daughter did the same. Grisi took a glace at his daughter before looking at Familia, who looked visibaly scared of Grisi.
"What's her name?" Grisi asked.
"Her name is Shenzi." Familia answered.
Grisi looked at his daughter named Shenzi, who was still following her instincts, and cowering in fear of Grisi. Grisi than looked back at the zebra.
"I see that Sichaku, and Misuli caught a zebra." Grisi observed.
"Yes, we were just going to give it to Familia. Most of the clan has agreed that she should most of it." Sichaku stated.
"Most? Sichaku, I am the most of the clan. So, I say that I'll eat my fill, and you all can divide whatever is left." Grisi said.
Sichaku growled at Grisi's greed.
"Grisi, the clan is starving, and there are pups who need to be fed." Sichaku challenged.
"If pups are starving, then their parents should go hunting for them, or the pups should try to hunt rabbits, and small ground birds." Grisi said.
"But Grisi, you know it's risky to send out hunting parties multiple times a day." Pikwamri argued.
"You've not forgotten that we hyenas are not allowed in the Pride Lands, have you?" Misuli asked.
"I'm well aware of that Misuli, I just didn't ask you, because I never intended to." Grisi said.
Sichaku growled, and looked towards Familia. Familia had her gaze lowered from Grisi. Grisi began to walk towards the zebra. As Grisi passed, he whispered to Sichaku.
"Either you, and Misuli can go on another hunt, or the clan can hunt for their own pups like I suggested." Grisi said.
When Grisi got to the zebra, he grabbed it by the neck, and dragged it off. Everyone looked towards Familia, who still had her gaze lowered in defeat, and shame.
"I'm sorry everyone, I was afraid he'd hurt one of you, or Shenzi if I challenged him." Familia apologized.
"We're not angry at you Familia, we're angry that Grisi can treat his entire clan, and you like that, and get away with it." Misuli said.
Banzai, and Ed finally came out from Sichaku's shadow. Banzai's stomach than growled.
"Dad, what are going to do now?" Banzai asked.
Sichaku sighed.
"Stay here son, continue to say hi to Shenzi." Sichaku said.
Sichaku than walked off with the intent to quickly find a rabbit or something for his son, and his friends. Banzai, and Ed went back over, and continued to say hi to Shenzi. Within about half an hour, Sichaku came back with four small rabbits, one for Banzai, and each of his friends. Sichaku handed two to Misuli, and called Banzai, and Ed over to him. Ed immediately ran over to Sichaku, but as Banzai turned, he felt something warm, and wets brush against his cheek.
Banzai looked, and saw that Shenzi had just licked him. Banzai, surprised started at Shenzi for a moment.
"Banzai come on, it's time to go home." Ed said, running back to Banzai, and dragging him along.
Banzai stared at Shenzi as Ed dragged him out. Banzai placed a paw on his cheek, which was still wet with Shenzi's saliva. Banzai looked towards Ed with a smile on his face.
"Ed, man. I think I'm in love." Banzai said.
"Huh?" Ed questioned.
Banzai looked back towards Familia's den.
"There's something about Shenzi." Banzai said with a smile on his face.
Just to let everyone know, this isn't a Lion King version of There' Something About Mary, the name of the fanfic story and the song are just a parody, and because it just seemed to fit, and because there truly is something about Shenzi. Banzai and Ed are getting renamed Kamari, and Azizi in the upcoming Lion King Live Action Remake if you somehow didn't know, but Shenzi is still Shenzi, and that shows that there's something about her that made them not want to change her. So there's the little story of why this story got it's name. For those of you who don't know, I'm doing this like Kion's Homecoming, write, and upload one chapter for one story, do the same for the other story, and so on, and so forth.
Sichaku's name is made from the Swahili words "Simba," and "Chakula," meaning "Lion," and "food," foreshadowing his future to get eaten by Nala's mother, Sarafina, which the Broadway Musical says happens, and yeah, for those of you who don't know, Simba is basically named after his own species. Shenzi's lousy father, Grisi's name is the Swahili for "Grease," and her mother, Familia's name is the Swahili word meaning "Family." Misuli's name means "Muscular" in Swahili, Pikwamri's name is made from the Swahili words "Pili Kwa Amri," menaing "Second-in-command," Binamu's name means "Cousin" in Swahili, and Kiamu's name is made from Binamu, and "Kiume," which is the Swahili word for "Male," since he's Shenzi's male cousin, and Binamu is Shenzi's female cousin. As for Ed's parents, Akiku, and Moymku, their names mean "Big brains," and "Big heart" with the Swahili words "Kubwa, Akili, and Moyo." I hope you all liked my take of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed's families, and friends.
Last thing, you all are probably wondering somewhere along the lines of "Reference Man, why did you make Banzai, and Ed way older than Shenzi, aren't they supposed to be the same age, or at least a couple days apart from each other on being born?" Well, there's a reason on why I made them these ages. On Deviantart, there's a guy who calls himself Madarao123, and in the description of one of his Lion King memes, he says he heard from some guy who claims to have read a magazine series from the 90's called Lion King Nature Fun and Learn Series, and in one of the magazines, it says that Shenzi was 2 years old at the beginning of Lion King 1, and Banzai, and Ed were 3 years old at the beginning of the movie. I found this interesting, and decided to follow that, but I didn't want to make Banzai, and Ed exactly a year older than Shenzi, so I made them half a year older than Shenzi. Now, I've never read the magazine before, neither has Madarao123, and he doesn't know the guy who told him this information, so like he said, take this age information with Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed with the tiniest grain of salt possible. Until next chapter I bid you a good day/night, a happy holiday if your reading this during the holidays, and God bless, and There's just something about Shenzi.