Deep within the heart of the Outlands, Janja and his hyenas were licking their wounds. Another outing, another 'ingenious' plan, had ended in disaster, and yet nobody had challenged Janja's rule or leadership. Perhaps they were too desperate to believe that he would lead them into defeat again, maybe he was just charismatic enough to keep his position, but for how long that remained the case was now uncertain. Either way, he was the only one capable of leading his followers back to their previously glory: that of the golden age under Scar's leadership, which had died with the brother of Mufasa.

Years previously, as the Battle of Pride Rock came to an end, Shenzi and her clan killed Scar after watching as he double-crossed them. With his uncle dead, Simba was victorious, and the surviving lions of the pride chased down Scar's army. Amid the retreat of the hyenas from the Pridelands, there was much controversy about the death of Scar, as many of the hyenas who weren't present as he met his fate were skeptical of Shenzi's claim that their leader had betrayed them, and as the argument grew more heated, the clan took sides. The final straw happened when Shenzi made the decision to abandon the Pridelands and instead search for a home elsewhere, which pushed her opposers to violence, starting a bloody and terrible civil war, at the end of which both groups agreed to simply part ways, Shenzi leading her supporters into lands unknown, and loyalists to Scar remaining in the Outlands, forever plotting their revenge on Simba and the lions.

At some point after the civil war, Janja rose to power in the loyalists, eventually becoming their de facto leader. As he promised of enough food to sate any hunger and swore revenge on the lions, his clan grew in power, gaining the support of the vultures, and he planned day and night until he was ready to strike. All was going as expected, but one thing stopped Janja from reclaiming control of the Pridelands: the Lion Guard.

Now, here he was, once again beaten by his nemesis, once again back to the drawing board. It was almost as if the lions were unbeatable, as if Kion was an invincible enemy. If it wasn't for the Roar, the Pridelands would already be in Janja's paws...

While Janja pondered, Cheezi stumbled over to their leader, distraught and limping from their most recent failure. "Why can't we have a roar?" he complained, attempting to release his anger by kicking a rock, only to misjudge the weight of it and injure his foot with a yelp and a laugh. Janja rolled his eyes and sighed, but suddenly stiffened, his ears sticking up and eyes wide open.

Slowly, he nodded his head. Another plan was in the making. "That's not a bad idea..."

The vultures were, as per usual, in a deep parliamentary debate atop the dead, grey remains of a tree. Their talks were cut short by Janja below them, who butted in with a cough for attention. "Vultures, I need you to find out as much about Kion's roar as you can, and tell me." He was met by glances from each vulture.

After a prolonged silence, Mzingo adressed his parliament. "Well then, shall we continue on our debate for-"

Once again, Janja cut the vulture short. "I don't quite think you understand me, bird-brain. I want you, all of you, to investiage Kion's roar and I want you to start right now." This emerging disrespect from the vulture offended Janja. He took it as a sign that he had to defeat the Guard soon, before all support for him faded away and his cause lost forever. The vultures departed, flying for the Pridelands, and Janja chuckled to himself, going back to plotting for the time being.

The next morning, he was prematurely awoken by the flapping of wings and rustling of feathers. Mzingo craned over him, looking quizzically at the hyena. "You won't believe it, Janja. You're going to want to come and see this for yourself."

Before long the two were sneaking through the Pridelands, Mzingo leading the way. They stopped outside an inconspicuous opening in the cliff face of Pride Rock. "Why have you taken me here, Mzingo? We might be seen by the lions..." Janja asked, checking around for an ambush or unwanted attention.

The vulture landed. "Go in and see."

Inside was a large cave festooned with vines and colourful flowers, and on the ground lay a body of clear, blue water, but the main feature was a stone wall decorated with detailed paintings of groups of lions, the picture on the end being that of the current Lion Guard. The hyena cackled. "Well, well, well, the Lion Guard's home base! Well done Mzingo."

The vulture grinned. "That's not all." He flew over to the wall and pointed at one of the paintings. Janja walked closer and there, clear as day, was a drawing of what was unmistakably Scar. "These are the previous Lion Guards, and it seems an old ally was once among their ranks."

The cogs started turning in the cunning hyena's mind. "Let's just assume for a moment that Scar didn't die... this means he would have the roar?"

Mzingo was unsure himself. "Perhaps, I'm not sure whether it's passed on by blood or by merit."

Janja considered his options. "We need answers before we make our move. Keep an eye on things while I'm gone. I'm going to track down some old friends."

Meanwhile, Kion had awoken and was arguing with his father, the other lions in the king's court watching with interest. "We should counter-attack now while they're recovering, we could stop the attacks permanently!" Simba was having none of it.

"No Kion, we're better than them. I won't stoop to their level." He asserted with a firm glare at his son. "If you want to stop the attacks, there are far better ways than slaughter."

His son lashed back. "Like what? You're just doing what Mufasa did, and look where that got him!" Pride Rock went silent, and rage burned in Simba's eyes.

The king frowned. He quietly ordered his son, "get out." Kion left without a word or looking back, and sulked his way to the Lion Guard's cave.

Janja had just left and was hiding in the bushes, making his way back to the Outlands. Behind him he saw Kion enter the cave, and picked up the pace. There was no point risking a fight which he would undoubtly lose.

It was too early for the rest of the Guard to arrive, so Kion had some time to himself. He kicked a stone into the still water, sending ripples to every end of the pool. Looking into the clean surface, he expected to see his reflection, but instead a dark maned, mature lion stared back with bright green eyes. Kion recoiled, then looked again, confused.

Again, the mysterious lion grinned at Kion, who was completely bewildered "What the-"

The figure in the water interrupted him. "Oh, come on, surely you recognise family members when you see them? You talk to your grandfather all of the time." He seemed to gag at the word 'grandfather'. "Kion, is it? How is my great-nephew doing?"

Kion realised who this being was, turning to look at the paintings on the wall. The resemblance was uncanny. "Scar?"

The figure chuckled. "So you do know about me? It's good to know I wasn't forgotten. So, tell me, what are you moping about?"

The lion cub stepped back and shook his head. "That's not your business. Go back to wherever you came from, you aren't welcome here."

Scar put his paw to his chest. "My, my, why all of the hostility? Did you get that from your father?"

Kion talked through clenched canines. "He told me all about the atrocities you're responsible for."

Again, Scar defended his apparent innocence. "Why should you listen to him, you don't seem to do so about anything else." This caught Kion's attention. He moved closer to the water. "Oh, that's right, I know about that. How Simba refuses to retaliate, how he just waits for the next attack. If I was you, Kion, I'd do it myself. You're stronger than Simba, you can do what he cannot. You can bring peace to the Pridelands."

Shaking his head, Kion growled at the apparition. "I know better than to listen to you, Scar." He put emphasis on the last word, as if that name was taboo (which, to a certain degree, it actually was). Since he was very young, it had been maintained that Scar was a deciever, an evil example of what happens when you disregard the Circle of Life and a tyrant.

As the figure in the water began to fade away, the ghost made another chuckle that echoed around the room. "You know better than most. That's why I know you'll do the right thing..." and with that, Kion was once again alone to contemplate.