Kion clambered through a pile of heavy rocks that had collapsed into the canyon years ago. The effort to keep his tired, bruised body going was taking its toll on Kion, but this was what he was born to do - save the Pride Lands. Mzingo flew between him and the sun in circles, causing shadows to constantly flicker across the ground, distracting him further. As a result, Kion couldn't exactly tell where he was going, although it didn't make much of a difference considering that he didn't know the canyon anyway... he was just hoping he was right.
Kion blinked and saw a wall ahead. Left, another wall, right, another wall. A dead end. He sighed and collapsed in a brief moment of defeat despite his mind screaming at him to get up and run.
"Hey boys, looks like dinner's served!"
A surge of adrenaline pushed Kion's eyes open. Janja was on top of huge boulder, opposite of him. Other hyenas were emerging from the cracks and holes between the rocks, with hungry grins on their faces. He had been expected.
Mzingo landed next to Kion. "Oh, I'm sorry, Kion. But I'm afraid my moment of antagonistic indulgence comes at a price. Can't have you spoiling my relationship with the others by telling the truth about my plans, you know! And I am woefully ill-equipped to kill you on my own, so..." he gestured with his wing towards the hyenas, who were already licking their mouths in preparation.
Kion snarled and turned towards Janja. "Janja! You can't trust him! He's a vulture - he's trying to manipulate everyone just to fill his stomach! If his plan works, Jasiri will die too!"
Janja threw back his head and laughed hoarsely. "I don't know what you've been eating, but I'd sure like some! Mzingo's probably the only one who cares about my wishy-washy sister!"
"Of course!" Mzingo replied, flying to a boulder next to Janja, taking up position below him. Winking at Kion, he said: "She's a thinker, like me, so naturally we must be on the same side, right?"
"Hah, right!" said Janja. "Now then... who's ready for some corn cubs? HAHAHAHA!"
"Stay back, hyenas!" Kion threatened, limping away. "I've still got my Roar!"
Janja wasn't perturbed. He jumped off the boulder and walked towards Kion through his hyena subordinates with Mzingo behind him. "And I've got what, 20 hungry hyenas? Your bad breath ain't gonna scare off nobody!"
Suddenly, a kind, but hard voice boomed through the air, automatically relaxing Kion's muscles. "Then maybe mine will. Touch one hair on my son and I will personally tear every last scrap of meat off of your gangly body, hyena. "
Nala and the lionesses surrounded the canyon from on the top, having sneaked up on the hyena group. As they all leaped down, Janja and the hyenas all fled, ignoring Kion and screaming in terror. Mzingo flew away without a care in the world.
Whilst the other lionesses chased after the hyenas, Nala immediately tended to Kion, licking over his injuries and letting him rest against her.
"Mom," Kion began. "We have to find Fuli... and Jasiri." Tired beyond belief, he couldn't lie to his mother. All he wanted at the moment was comfort and trust. "She's my friend, she's a good hyena. And Mzingo made... Fuli think that she's not, they're going to kill each other!"
Nala swallowed, nodded and called towards a nearby lioness who had stayed behind to guard her and the prince. "Tama, I need you to take my son to Rafiki's tree and get him tended to. There's something I need to do."
Jasiri breathed heavily as the cheetah came into view. For the past few hours, she'd been making her way back to the Lion Guard's den, hoping that the so-called "Lion Army" wouldn't kill her on the spot. She doubted that Simba would just let that slide. From what Rafiki had told her, he was a great peacemaker and successor to his renowned father, so with any luck, he would give her a chance, even if she opposed his ways.
To the hyena's surprise, Fuli appeared to be alone. A trap? she wondered. The cheetah did not move. In fact, she stared at Jasiri almost fearfully and sat on her rump, waiting for her to talk first. Jasiri didn't understand her, but went ahead with what she'd planned anyway.
"Hey, Fuli..." she said. "Whatever you want to do right now, don't. I'm just here to talk, and I'm fairly sure that Pridelander laws count for negotiating. So you're going to listen to what I've got to say."
When Fuli silently nodded, she continued: "I'm a hyena. You know what else I am? I'm your friend. I believe in the Circle Of Life and I also believe I'm a part of that. I mean, why else am I here?" She shrugged. "And just because I'm a nasty part of nature... doesn't make evil. It just makes me... nasty. Everyone has one nasty friend. The one you always try to hide and make excuses for. But I think... I think there's a reason why those friends exist. Because deep down in that part of your furry head you won't even let yourself in, you know... you're nasty too."
Fuli bit her lip. "Are you really Janja's sister?"
Jasiri's eyes went wide. "How... I mean, yes! But how do you know that?!"
Fuli sighed. "It doesn't matter. Jasiri... I'm sorry. I don't think you're evil. I don't even think you're nasty. You're just a hyena, that's it. That's what scared me. That laugh. Some animals roar, some growl... you laugh. My parents told me what it was like when Scar ruled the Pride Lands. When they were driven out of their homes and hunting grounds with the sound of laughter. The sound of mockery. From the moment I was born, I was taught that your very existence is a mockery of us all. Eating the dead..." she shook her head. "But I know the truth now. You're just a hyena, that's it. And I'd be happy to have someone as clever as my friend. I mean, look at us."
The two of them started giggling together.
Author's Note: Aww, we're getting fluffy! Next chapter: the reunion you've all been waiting for! And the vulture... will... PAY.
*AlphaWolf97100 - IKR?
*Juimy1 - Janja's more of a bully than anything, really... he's living his life like the rest of the animals, he's just being really mean about it.
*I'm A Jesus Freak - Sorry about the delay! I'll try to be quicker next time.
*pinksakura271 - Yes, Mzingo is incredibly clever... he's playing everyone. Who knows... considering his age, he might've even had a part to play in Scar's plot.
*Juria - I hope this satisfies you! Mzingo is one character that I feel like the show really doesn't take advantage of. He's got loads of potential, but they overuse Janja(although I adore Janja).
*ThatTexasKid - Thank you! What exactly do you think makes it unique, if I may ask?
*cherry12 - I think Simba didn't really become the way he was in LK 2 until something further traumatic happened between the films. Before the Lion Guard, I always thought it was Kopa's death. Now... well, the Guard doesn't seem to be a thing anymore in LK 2...
*v.t.7 - I think Janja can be quite intelligent at times, he just doesn't really use his brain that often. He's a lazy sort of villain, but I love him so much. I used Mzingo in this one because of his more manipulative nature and his ability to multitask(he can fly between the characters fast, allowing him to manipulate them all at the same time). I prefer Janja's character, though.
*Anonymous13 B - You're welcome! Your love of Mzingo added a lot of fuel here. I don't think I would've realised the character's potential without you. Thanks!
*Warfang(Chapter 3) - I wasn't referring to the pride when I said "herd". I meant it more generally, like "don't tell the whole crowd". You're right about "people" though, I should've checked the exact definition there. I'll go fix that.
*magicmadness(Chapter 1) - That was a reference to a Lion King comic I read recently, lol.