I don't own any of the animals, apart from Mageuzi (Swahili for 'revolution'), Mwenzi (Swahili for 'colleague'), Haini (Swahili for 'informer'). I own all of the humans mentioned, including Uthisha (Zulu for teacher'), Umufi (Zulu for dead), Inkosi (Zulu for 'king'), Inzalo (Zulu for 'interest') and Inkosana (Zulu for 'prince').
The lionesses and the hyenas watched the humans move down Pride Rock. Even before the last humans had stepped off the rock, muttering and arguments started.
Before the scene could degenerate into violence though, Shenzi, who'd made her way over to one side, yelled, "hey, he-ey."
"Wha'd'you want" one of the hyenas called.
"I want every, and I mean every, hyena over here now" Shenzi replied in a yell.
"You're not the matriarch" said the hyena.
"No I'm not" Shenzi replied, "where is she anyway?"
"Down" Mwenzi replied. Everyone turned to look as he came to the fore, with Mageuzi's unconscious body slung across his back, "alive, but out of it for now."
"What happened" Shenzi asked, concerned.
"Took a pointed stick in the shoulder" Mwenzi replied, "the end's still in there."
"Which puts me, as an adviser, more or less in second place" Shenzi said, "so, I want every hyena over here now." Grumbling, the hyenas obeyed.
"Kiara" Kovu said, rushing in, "are you alright?"
"I, I think..." Kiara began, then grimaced, "...not."
"Rafiki" Simba called.
"I am here sire" Rafiki replied, then moved over to Kiara, "I need you to lie down."
As Rafiki was examining Kiara, with Kovu close by, Simba made his way over to the other lionesses and asked, "how many died?"
"At least four" one of the lionesses replied, "and there's several who won't be able to hunt for a while, if ever."
Simba nodded, then said, "less than I'd expected."
"What are they doing here" one of the lionesses asked, indicating the hyenas.
"They're here because I requested it" Simba replied.
Therte was a gasp from the lionesses. "Y-y-y" the lioness said, unable to believe what she had just heard. Before Simba could frame a suitable response however, there was the sound of raised voices from down by the cave, prompting several lionesses and hyenas, including Shenzi, to see what was going on.
They saw Banzai and another hyena involved in an argument, and the rest, but for a few taking a mild interest in the fight, were involved in a standoff with Sarabi Sarafina, Timon Pumbaa and several of the older cubs.
"Okay" Shenzi said, "there had better be a really good excuse for this."
Banzai continued the argument for a few moments, then turned and said, "bit of an obedience problem."
"You can't order me about" the other hyena replied, "I don't take orders from lowlifes."
"Lowlifes" Shenzi asked in a sweet tone of voice as she approached, "I'm a lowlife am I?"
Banzai cringed a little at the tone, knowing Shenzi was right on the edge. "Well, er..." the other hyena began, then trailed off into silence.
"Well me tell you one thing about this low-life" Shenzi said, "I'm an adviser to the matriarch herself, which makes me the second most powerful female in the entire pack."
"Erm..." the other hyena said, "...er, yeah."
"And another thing" Shenzi said, "Mageuzi is currently unable to maintain her position as a result of a rather nasty injury."
"Oh" the hyena said.
"So what was going on here" Shenzi asked, "I mean, really going on?"
"A bit of bullying" Banzai replied, "only, I didn't think you'd like that."
"I don't" Shenzi confirmed, "and I don't think Mageuzi would be too happy either." By now, the other hyenas were watching with interest, as was everyone else. No-one spoke for several seconds so she went on, "so let me make this absolutely clear, I will not tolerate anyone causing trouble between us and the lions."
"So you'd chose them over us" A hyena asked, the went silent at A glare from Shenzi.
"Them over us, no" Shenzi replied, "but I'd rather take out a few troublemakers out now, than see a lot of good pack members go down in a fight." She then turned and said, "now come on, the lot of you."
"Why did you invite them" one of the lionesses asked suspiciously, as they watched the hyenas regroup.
"The humans were too powerful to handle alone" Simba replied.
Before anyone could say anything further, there was a throat clearing noise off to one side. "Yes" Simba asked, turning, and seeing Shenzi there.
"Just wondering if we could get the matriarch looked at by your shaman" Shenzi said, her voice neutral, but a touch anxious.
Simba thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "very well, but if there is any trouble..."
"There won't be" Shenzi said. She then returned to the rest of the pack.
There was a brief and quiet discussion amongst a few of the hyenas, the Ed and Mwenzi moved Mageuzi's body over to where Rafiki was still examining Kiara.
Ed returned, but Mwenzi stayed on to keep Mageuzi from causing trouble if she awoke.
"I think you have some explaining to do" one of the lionesses said to Simba.
Simba nodded, but before he could begin explaining, Zazu said nervously from overhead, "sire?"
"Yes Zazu" Simba replied, "good to see you in one piece."
"The same to you sire" Zazu said, then indicated the hyenas, "but, er..."
"They're not a threat" Simba replied, "but I understand the sentiment."
"Not a threat" Zazu asked, "but sire, they're hyenas."
"I'm well aware" Simba said, "now go and check on Kiara, please."
"As you wish sire" Zazu said.
"Now, Simba" said one of the lionesses approaching, "no more dodging the issue, what is it with you and the hyenas?"
"I knew we couldn't beat the humans alone" Simba replied.
"But hyenas" the lioness exclaimed, "I mean, are you out of your mind?"
"No I am not" Simba replied, "and while we and they do not get along together most of the time, there are occasions where we cannot do without each other."
"I never thought I'd hear that off you" said the lioness, "especially not with your experiences."
"Sometimes we need to put our pasts aside" Simba said.
"Yeah, and I er want to talk to you about that" said a voice. Simba turned to look, and the lioness whirled.
"What the hell are you doing here" the lioness growled, "what are you up to?"
"Hey, wow wow wow" Shenzi said, "geez, go and bite my head off why don't you."
"Why are you here" Simba asked, glaring at the lioness.
"To put a few bits of my past behind me" Shenzi replied, "a few bits that might as well come out now."
"A few bits of what" Simba asked.
"Mostly dark memories" Shenzi replied nervously, "memories that I should've told a long time ago."
"What kinds of memories" Simba asked.
"Mostly Scar's plots" Shenzi replied, "damn it, I should've stayed out of them."
"What of Scar's plots" Simba asked, his voice turning cold.
"Er, like the graveyard" Shenzi said, biting her lips.
"What about the graveyard" Simba asked.
"It was one of Scar's plots" Shenzi replied.
"What" Simba exclaimed, then darted forward, his face only inches from Shenzi's, "explain."
Shenzi, her expression, fixed terror, nodded. "Well, er, you know, Scar used to be second in line to the throne" she said shakily.
"I can guess" Simba said.
"But after, er, you were born" Shenzi continued, "well, that put him out of the running for the throne."
"And this has what to do with the graveyard" Simba asked.
"After that" Shenzi replied, "Scar figured he'd need to kill you to have a chance at the throne."
"And the graveyard" Simba asked again.
"Scar's first plot" Shenzi replied, "he'd get you into the graveyard, then keep Mufasa off while we killed you." Simba's face twisted with distaste, but he didn't accuse her of lying. She closed her eyes, thought for a moment, then said, "and there's more."
"What" Simba hissed, "how much more?"
"His second plot was the stampede..." Shenzi said, but was cut off when Simba knocked her down and placed his paw on her throat.
"You say one more word..." Simba began.
"Hey, what the hells do you think you're doing" said a voice. Simba looked up and saw Banzai and Ed standing there trying to look threatening.
"Guys" Shenzi said, wheezing, "get out."
"The hells we will" Banzai said, "there's no way we're going without you."
"Guys" Shenzi said, "that was an order."
"Well, shove it" Banzai replied savagely, "no way are we going to let you take this."
"You're way out of your league" Shenzi said, "get out while you still have a chance."
"Then we'll be way out of our league together" Banzai replied, "and you reaslly think we have a chance if you die?"
Was he confessing love, Shenzi wondered. Before she had a chance to ask though, Zazu flew in and said, "sire, Rafiki wants you."
Simba gave Shenzi a poisonous look, then turned and raced over to where Rafiki was.
"You okay" Banzai asked.
"Yeah, fine" Shenzi replied.
"What the heck was he so mad about anyway" Banzai asked.
"I just told him about the stampede" Shenzi replied.
"What sta..." Banzai began then it clicked, "...oh."
"Yeah" Shenzi replied. She didn't get to say any more, though, because there was a roar from where Simba had gone, causing her to tense.
"What's up" Banzai asked.
Shenzi turned to look at where the sound had come from, thought for a moment, then muttered, "the heck with it" and took off. She was followed a moment later by Banzai and Ed, both confused.
"What happened" Shenzi asked Mwenzi when she found him, a little way from where Kiara and Kovu, and now most of the pride, were.
"Something to do with Simba's daughter" Mwenzi replied, "a bad wound or something."
"Ouch" Shenzi said, "nasty."
"Hey" Banzai asked, as he and Ed arrived, "what was that about?"
"What was what about" Shenzi asked.
"You hear a roar, tense, and run off" Banzai replied.
"I'm not sure" Shenzi replied, "interest, curiosity, and just a bit of concern."
"Concern" Banzai asked, "after what he..."
"Yes" Shenzi replied, "I don't know why, but yes."
"After what who" Mwenzi asked.
"Him" Banzai replied, "oh so high and might king Simba damn well knocked Shenzi down, then..."
"I had just told him about the stampede" Shenzi interrupted, "you can't expect too much."
"Still..." Banzai said
"So" Mwenzi asked, "what now?"