A/N: What's this you say? Another chapter so soon? Well since it is Feb 29th and that only happens every four year I figured why not give a new chapter. So here's ch 10 for ya and as usual see ch 1 for disclaimer. Enjoy.

Ch 10 An Unexpected Alliance

Later that night Thimin was still fuming mad about what had happened. The cheetah had had some bad experiences with lions in the past and had the scars both physically and mentally from those experiences. And he'd be damned if he was going to allow his daughter to get those same scars. "Thimin," Kuri said softly, approaching her mate.

"Don't start with me Kuri," Thimin growled, his dark green eyes stormy. "I'm really not in the mood for a lecture."

"I wasn't going to give you a lecture," Kuri said, sitting beside her mate and nuzzling him. "I was just checking to see how you were."

"I'm still really pissed off 'Uri," Thimin growled. "I mean who the Hell do those lions think they are?!"

"Honey I think you were too quick to judge," Kuri said. "Kovu was just being nice."

"Nice?!" Thimin growled. "Nice?! Kuri how can you be so dumb?!"

"Thimin!" Kuri hissed. "Be quiet! You'll wake Fuli."

"Kovu wasn't trying to be nice," Thimin said, his voice much lower. "He was trying to make our daughter a servant to his brats."

"No he wasn't," Kuri said. "He was giving her and the other children a very high position. Besides Fuli likes hanging out with the cubs. She finally made some friends."

"Well she won't be hanging out with them anymore," Thimin declared. "I won't allow my daughter to be hurt like I was."

"Thimin that was a long time ago," Kuri pointed out. "Not all lions are like Scar was. Most lions are really nice."

"Kuri," Thimin said, his voice low and threatening. "These lions are from the same blood as Scar was. They're just like him! They'll betray Fuli just like Scar betrayed me and my family!"

"Thimin as far as I can tell they're nothing like Scar," Kuri pointed out. "I mean they didn't ruin the Pride Lands like he did. And Kovu isn't from the same blood line as Scar was from."

"No but Kiara and her brothers are," Thimin pointed out. "Which means their cubs have that same blood in them."

"Its also the same blood line as King Mufasa," Kuri said, trying a different angle. "And lets not forget the Kiara are her brothers are Mufasa's grandchildren. They have his blood more than Scar's."

"Kuri nothing you can say is going to make me change my mind," Thimin said. "Fuli is not to see those cubs again. Period."

"Fine," Kuri said with a heavy sigh. She knew she was in a losing battle. "But I think you're making a huge mistake. Those cubs are the only friends our daughter has. She'll be crushed if she can't see them."

"She can see the honey badger, hippo and bird," Thimin said. "But not those lion cubs."

"Very well," Kuri said, as she began to walk into the cave. "But you're the one whose going to tell her tomorrow. Not me." With that the female cheetah went inside the cave to be with her daughter.

"I'm going for a walk," Thimin growled. With that the male cheetah left hoping a walk would calm him down so he could get some sleep.

TLKTLKTLK

That same night Kion was wide awake. The golden brown Prince couldn't get to sleep. He kept thinking about what Fuli's father had said and he was worried he'd never get to see his cheetah friend again. Sighing Kion tried to turn to his side. But he rolled to far and ended up rolling onto Kopa's head, which woke the creamy coated lion. "Hey there champ what's wrong?" Kopa whispered.

"I can't sleep," Kion admitted.

"Well lets talk about it," Kopa whispered, as he stood up. He bent down and picked up Kion and carried him out of the cave. "There now," Kopa said, as he placed his son on the ground. "Now we can talk without waking the others. Now what's wrong son?"

"I keep thinking about what Mr. Thimin said," Kion said. "You know about how he wasn't going to allow Fuli to play with me anymore. Why doesn't he like me Dad?"

"Kion," Kopa said, pulling his son close. "What Thimin said has nothing to do with you. He's just angry at all lions."

"But why?" Kion asked, looking at his father with wide amber eyes. "What did we ever do to him? Alls Uncle Kovu did was try to be nice."

"I know buddy," Kopa said, with a sigh. He hated that his son was experiencing these things at such a young age. Kopa knew Kion would eventually have to deal with this but Kopa had hope it wouldn't be until Kion was older. "Some animals just have a chip on their shoulders. My guess is some lion probably hurt him at some point in his life. And now he hates all lions because of it."

"But that's stupid," Kion said. "Not all lions are the same. We should all be friends. That way no one would ever get hurt again." Kopa smiled at his son's innocence. He just wished all animals felt the way a two month old cub did.

"Oh Kion," Kopa said with a laugh as he nuzzled his son. "That would be the best thing ever."

"What's going on out here?" Cala asked, as she joined her mate and son.

"Just having a father/son talk," Kopa explained, as he gave his mate a nuzzle.

"I couldn't sleep Mom," Kion said, nuzzling into Cala's front leg. "But I think I can sleep now." Kion yawned as if to prove how tired he was

"Well then lets get you inside," Cala said as she picked up her son and carried him inside with Kopa right behind them.

TLKTLKTLK

Meanwhile Thimin had walked a pretty good distance and now he found himself in the Outlands. "Great," he muttered. "Next thing you know I'll be running into..." Before he could finish the thought he heard cackling. Looking around Thimin saw Janja, Chungu, Cheezi, Hasila and Karaha heading towards him.

"Well well well," Janja said, his black eyes gleaming. "Look what we got here. A lost little cheetah."

"Yeah," Karaha said, licking her lips. "Looks like dinner is served a little late."

"Oh please," Thimin scoffed, surprising the hyenas. "You aren't going to eat anyone tonight."

"And why not?" Janja asked.

"Because I'm here to offer you help," Thimin declared, thinking quickly.

"You want to help us?" Janja said, the surprise clear in his voice.

"Why would a cheetah want to help hyenas?" Hasila asked.

"Because," Thimin said. "As much as I despise all of you I despise the lions far more. And I want to be rid of any trace of Scar's bloodline."

"Well it just so happens you have perfect timing," Janja said. "We're coming up with a plan just for that."

"Oh?" Thimin said. "And what's that?"

"Huh uh," Janja said shaking his head. "Not here. Tomorrow. You come back here tomorrow night and we'll fill ya in."

"very well," Thimin said. "Tomorrow it is." With that Thimin left to head back to his home.

"Janja what's wrong with you?" Karaha asked. "You can't trust him. He's a cheetah."

"Yeah no kidding Karaha!" Janja snapped, glaring at the female hyena. "I'm gonna have Mzingo keep an eye on 'em. Then if I can really trust 'em he's in. We could use a cheetah to enact out plan."

"Good idea boss," Chungu said.

"Of course it is!" Janja snapped. "Now c'mon lets go. We need rest for tomorrow." With that the hyenas left hoping they'd soon have a new ally in Thimin so they could be rid of Kovu and his family once and for all.

TLKTLKTLK

The next day Janja was up unusually early. He had been up most of the night thinking about his plan. "What's up Janja? Mzingo asked, perching on a tree stump in front of the male hyena.

"Keep tabs on that cheetah that was here last night," Janja ordered. "And report back to me."

"You got it Boss," Mzingo said, flying off.

"Daddy," Suni asked, approaching Janja.

"What Suni?" Janja asked, turning to face his daughter.

"Can I go play now?" Suni asked. Really Suni was just looking for a reason to leave again. She had tried to find Kion before and had come up empty handed and she was anxious to try again.

"Go," Janja said roughly. "Be back before dark."

"Ok Daddy," Suni said running off to play. But little did Janja know that Suni wasn't heading to play with her usual friends. Instead she was heading to the Pride Lands to see for herself how the Pride Landers really lived.

A/N well there you have it folks. Ch 10 complete. Did you enjoy it? Let me know in a review please.