Ready to meet Jasiri's clan? I hope you enjoy this chapter!


Episode 31: A Hyena Reunion

Out in the Animal Kingdom, Jasiri excitedly lead Gabriel towards her home, the Outlands. The hyena queen was practically jumping with each step as they made their way into the canyon, Gabriel noting that the area looked a lot nicer than he remembered it being in the show. While it wasn't as lush as the Pride Lands, there were sparks of life, from budding grass to the occasional flower or tree. He had no doubt that in time, the Outlands could become a great place to live in.

"This place has really started to change since you were put in charge," Gabriel said.

"Well, it wasn't like this at first, but Simba once told me that the land changed when he was in charge as well," Jasiri replied. "Perhaps it's the Circle of Life telling us who is right to rule. How do your people decide a leader?"
"Well, some of us vote in a leader, and others are ruled by succession or force," Gabriel explained. "But whoever's in charge isn't the only thing that matters, the morals that we all hold are important as well. Just as you have the Circle of Life, people in the real world look to higher powers to explain what they can't or to provide guidance in hard times."

"But you don't have real magic in your world," Jasiri pointed out.

Gabriel nodded. "True, but even without the kind of magic you have here, miracles still happen in my world."

The two eventually made it to the Outlands Watering Hole, where Jasiri's clan had made their new residents. Gabriel noted that while most of the animals living here were hyenas, he spotted a few jackals, vultures, and other animals roaming around. There were even a few rogue lions that had joined the Outlanders.

"Here we are, my territory," Jasiri said. Almost immediately she was tackled to the ground, rolling a bit before pinning whatever had jumped her.

"Jasiri!" came two voices. The hyenas that had tackled her were a pair of pups, one a boy and the other a girl.

"Tunu, Wema!" Jasiri greeted warmly, letting the two get up. "You've grown since I last saw you."

"You've been gone a long time, Queen Jasiri," Tunu said.

"Yeah, but Madoa has been leading us well," Wema added. The hyena pup then looked over and saw Gabriel standing there. "Who's that?"

"Tunu, Wema, this is Gabriel," Jasiri said, introducing the raven.

"Hello there," Gabriel greeted, knelling down and patting the pups on the head.

"Why don't you two go and get the rest of the clan so everyone can meet him?" Jasiri suggested.

The two pups nodded enthusiastically, running off and gathering up the rest of the clan. The hyenas greeted their queen back with a warm reception, laughing and getting rowdy about the place. Jasiri had a tearful reunion with her sister, Madoa, while Gabriel greeted Shenzi and her clanmates, making sure they had stayed out of trouble in the time since they had last met. Once everyone calmed down, a particular hyena came forth, this one a male with a spiked-back mane that resembled banzai in a few ways.

"Jasiri, my queen," the hyena said, giving a respectful bow to Jasiri.

"Good to see you too, Janja," Jasiri rolled her eyes with a giggle. "I hope that you've been up to your best behavior while my sister was in charge?"

"Yes I was, Jasiri," Janja replied.

"Yeah, he only tried to hunt in the Pride Lands once," said Chungu, a large hyena.

"But he only ended up running away when Vitani's guard showed up," laughed Cheezi, Janja's other clanmate.

"I thought I told you boys not to mention that," Janja glared at them.

Jasiri sighed. "I thought we were past hunting the Pride Lands now. The Outlands are doing well enough that we only have to go over there when asked to by King Simba."

"I know, I know, but I'm still getting used to this 'being nice' thing," Janja said. He then looked at Jasiri hopefully. "But with you coming back, that means we can work on it together!"

"Speaking of which, what have you been up to, sister-of-mine?" Madoa asked.

"Well, I have picked up a little something," Jasiri said. She summoned her magic and created illusionary butterflies, flying over the hyenas that playfully snapped at the bugs. "Rafiki and Kion aren't the only ones with magic in this land anymore."

"So we've got a queen that's also a Witch Doctor now," said Tano.

"Very interesting," added Nne.

"That's great! We can use that to help out the Outlands even more, together," Janja said, looking at Jasiri with a smile.

"We can all work together to do that, but magic will help," Jasiri said. She moved past the male hyena and stood by Gabriel. "Also, I'd like to introduce someone special to all of you. This is Gabriel, the Dream Keeper of the Magical World."

The raven smiled. "It's great getting to meet all of you. Just so you know, I always believed that the hyenas could come around to the Circle of Life, and Jasiri and her family are doing a great job bringing it here to the Outlands."

"You've got that right, kid," Shenzi said. "We may not eat much, but the meals we do get are more satisfying than any hunting we did under Scar or before that."

"Here, here!" Kamari cheered, Banzai, Ed, and Azizi joining in. "Praise to Queen Jasiri of the Outlands!"

The other hyenas let out yips of joy but settled down with Jasiri got their attention. "Also, I'd like to announce that I've finally decided on who my special someone is."

The clan members muttered amongst themselves, with Janja in particular perking up at this announcement. "Well then, who is it?" he asked, siding up to Jasiri with a big grin on his face. "You don't have to keep everyone in suspense. I think well all know it's pretty obvious who our Queen's mate will be."

Jasiri nodded. "You're right, I've made no secret in hiding it." She moved closer to Gabriel and affectionately licked him on the cheek. "Everyone, Gabriel and I are officially boyfriend and girlfriend!"

Janja practically fell over in shock at that announcement, while the other hyenas either remained neutral or gave their congratulations. "Madoa, what's a girlfriend and boyfriend?" Wema asked.

"Those words are what humans use before they become mates," Madoa explained. "It's like when you have a crush on someone and you want to be with them, but don't want to be mates yet."

The two hyena pups nodded in understanding, with Janja recovered and gave a hardy laugh. "Haha, very funny, Jasiri. You almost had me there."

Jasiri raised an eyebrow. "That wasn't a joke, Janja. Gabriel and I are together."

"We've been on many adventures together, and after one eventful journey, we were honest with each other and realized we felt the same way about each other," Gabriel explained.

"B-but, you two can't be mates," Janja stammered. He pointed at Gabriel. "He's not even a hyena!"
"That hasn't stopped people before," Gabriel countered. "Another couple we met are a fox and rabbit, mortal enemies that put past their differences and found love instead."

"Besides Janja, most of us knew that Jasiri looked for more than just the same species in a relationship," Madoa added. "I'm glad that you found someone that makes you happy, Jasiri, especially after you and Kion couldn't be together."

Janja didn't have a reply to that, instead letting out a huff of frustration. "But what about me?"

"What about you?" Jasiri repeated in confusion. "Wait, did you think that… You actually… By the Queens, you did!" She laughed. "Janja, did you think that we were a thing?"

"I mean, yeah," Janja said, annoyance in his voice. "Remember when we were at Kion and Rani's wedding and you gave me that look?"

"You and I had very different meanings behind that look," Jasiri shook her head. "I thought it was a knowing look about how Kion and Rani would be okay together, but you clearly thought it was about you."

"It was about us, and the future of this clan," Janja said. "I mean, I was the one that vouched for you to become Queen of the Outlands, and I was obviously the best choice to be the mate of the queen."

"That's debatable," Nne muttered, Tano sniggering in response.

"Janja, if Jasiri doesn't want to be with you, then you need to move on," Gabriel said. "Dwelling on this won't do you any good."

The male hyena shook his head, getting low to the ground and glaring at his queen. "If you're going to pick this outsider over me, give me the reason why you didn't pick me."

Jasiri got into her own defensive position, the two slowly circling the other as the clan formed a circle around them. "You want to know why I didn't choose you? How about we start with the fact that you make everything about yourself. You just assumed that I would choose you because you were being nice to me, but that just means that you thought you knew what was best for me."

"I was a clan leader as well, you know," Janja said. "I think I was owed something after we joined our clans together."

"It wasn't your call to make," Jasiri countered. "Another thing, how about all the times that you tried to hurt my clan in the past."

"Hey, those times were in the past, and you always say we should move past that," Janja said.

"I dunno boss, we did try to attack her that one time when she first met Kion," Chungu stated. "We had her cornered and everything without backup."

"Oh, and there was that one time we trapped her and the little ones in the steam vents," Cheezi added. He then winced a bit. "Sorry about that, by the way."

"It's been forgiven, Cheezi," Jasiri assured.

She then turned back to Janja, the male glaring daggers at her. "Again, that was in the past, and you forgave me for all of that, right?"

Jasiri closed her eyes, then shouted, "And what if I haven't!?" The clan went silent at that, Janja looking like he had been physically hurt. "I let you into my clan, and I've seen you change, Janja. But even still, sometimes I still think back to all that you've done to me in the past and I wonder if I'll ever be able to fully forgive you for that."
Janja looked down at the ground, then turned away, walking out of the clan's territory. "So that's it, then. You didn't want me because despite how much I've changed, you still see me as a no-good, Circle of Life hating hyena, don't you?"

"Janja, I- " Jasiri started to say, only to stop when he ran way, the other hyenas moving out of the way to give him space.

Gabriel put an assuring hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. "Let me go talk to him. I think he needs time to cool down, and I might be able to get through to him. Come meet us after you cool down a bit as well, okay?"
Jasiri silently nodded, hugging her boyfriend before the two went their separate ways. Gabriel found Janja sulking at Broken Rock, the male hyena not even giving a glance at the raven as he sat down next to him.

"Here to gloat about how you beat me to her?" Janja said bitterly.

The raven shook his head. "Look, if I'm being honest, you weren't one of my favorites in The Lion Guard, especially for all the times you nearly got Jasiri and her friends killed. Teaming up with Scar didn't help my opinion of you either."

"Shenzi certainly never lets me live that fact down," Janja muttered.

"And even if I didn't fully buy your reasoning for turning sides, I can at least say you tried to change for the better, even if it was for selfish reasons like getting with a girl you like," Gabriel said. "But as with all things in life, doing the right thing doesn't always get you a reward, and you shouldn't expect to get something in return for it either."

"Yeah, but it still hurts knowing that Jasiri still sees me as a bad guy," Janja huffed.

"She didn't mean that, at least not entirely," Gabriel interjected. "Sometimes, even the kindest person can have a hard time forgiving someone that's wronged them in the past. It's more the fact that you expected her to fall for you that annoyed her rather than that you're trying to become a better person."

"So then, what should I do? I don't want Jasiri to hate me, but at the same time, it sucks knowing that I never had a chance with her at all," Janja sighed.

"Hey, being friends is still a win in my book," Gabriel said, patting the hyena on the back. "And there are other hyena girls out there for you to find. Just be honest about your feelings and respect the decision that Jasiri made. That will make her respect you more than you trying to stay on her good side. How many times have you screwed up when learning how to respect the Circle of Life?"

"More than I can count," Janja laughed quietly. "She always supported me, Madoa too. Said that I would get it right someday."

"And I'm sure you will," Gabriel nodded.

The two boys just sat there for a while, before the sound of paws caught their attention. "There you two are!" Madoa called, coming over to them with Jasiri in tow. "You guys sure did go quite a way away from the watering hole."

"We just had a heart-to-heart about things," Gabriel said. "Janja, did you want to say something to Jasiri?"

The male hyena stood up, then gave a nervous cough and faced his queen. "Jasiri, I, uh… Why is this so hard to say? Look, I know that I did some horrible things to you in the past, and that I was being selfish thinking that I deserved your love after everything I did. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry."

"And I should apologize as well," Jasiri replied. "Maybe I haven't forgiven you for everything you've done in the past, but I'm working to move forward. I've seen you try to change, and I hope that one day, the two of us will be able to work together with our pasts fully behind us. Friends?" She held out a paw.

Janja accepted the shake. "Yeah, friends. I don't think that's something I have a lot of."

"Are you kidding? You have Cheezi and Chungu and all of us back in the clan," Madoa said. "We're all like friends and family. You can count me as your friend as well, Janja."

"See, told you it would work out," Gabriel said with a smile.

The hyenas laughed at that, with Jasiri giving the raven a hug. "Indeed it did." She then cracked a devious smile. "Although, if Janja is looking for a mate, perhaps we can help with that."

"I mean, it is my job as the Dream keeper to help others in need," Gabriel said, taking on a similar smile. "Do you have anyone in mind, Jasiri?"

"I might," she giggled, her eyes glancing over at her sister. "Madoa, any ideas?"

The older female looked a bit flustered at the question. "What? I, uh, don't have any ideas, Jasiri."

"Oh, I think I see it too," Gabriel said with a smirk. "I did always think that Janja would be a better match with Madoa over you."

The two hyenas looked at each other, blushed, then looked away. "What me, with him/her? There's no way!" They said at the same time.

Jasiri laughed, Gabriel joining her. "We shouldn't tease the two so much," she said. "Let them figure it out on their own."

As the two continued laughing, they were pulled out of it by a roar in the distance. Looking up, they could see lion heads appearing in the clouds, a sign that someone was using the Roar of the Elders nearby.

"Woah, someone must have really ticked off Vitani for her to pull the Roar out," Janja noted, glad for a distraction.

"If it's nearby, we should check it out," Gabriel said.

"I'll be right at your side," Jasiri said. "Madoa, Janja, want to come along?"

"Why not?" Madoa replied. "I haven't gotten to truly see the Pride Lands like you have, so this will be a great chance to do so."

"And if I'm with you guys, then they probably won't kick me out this time!" Janja joked.

The four of them ran off towards the sound of the Roar, ready to see what trouble the Lion Guard was facing this time.


Author's Note

If it wasn't obvious by the fact that Jasiri is a main character in this story, I love the hyenas of the Lion King world and how complex they are despite how they look. They just want to survive like the other animals, but while some respect the Circle of Life, others fell into the wrong crowd and tried to take more than they deserved. It was Jasiri that made me realize this complexity, and she's now my favorite Lion King related character, besides maybe Zazu.

It was inevitable, but I had to address Janja at some point in this story. He's the main reoccurring antagonist for the first half of The Lion Guard, and honestly, I find him a bit basic when it comes to Disney villains. His redemption arc leaves a lot to be desired as well, as he has a last-second change of heart in the Season 3 premiere and then acts like a completely different person at the end of the season (another thing to chalk up to Season 3 being the weakest season of the show).

As for shipping him with Jasiri… yeah, I was never on board with that. I was in the Kion/Jasiri camp until the bitter end, and to me there were too many things against Janja that I saw that turned me away from shipping him and Jasiri. How insistent his fans are that he and Jasiri are "meant for each other" and stuff also annoys me. If I want to ship then with other people, then let me do it! Not every animal relationship has to be of the same species, and you shouldn't reward someone with a love interest when they haven't even earned it yet.

With that rant out of the way, I'll leave you guys off here until the next chapter. Next Time: It's the Lion Guard versus... The Nation of Wakanda!?