Thanks to everybody who reviewed the first chapter! I'm looking forward to bringing this story to life!
The Hidden Past
The Outlands were not as pretty as the Pride Lands, but to Jasiri, they were home.
Under Jasiri's matriarchy, the hyenas had begun to respect the Circle of Life, where past clans had not. The days of the Shadow Clan were far behind them, and Scar's shadow had long since faded.
Jasiri was not afraid to put her clan and her friends in the Pride Lands before herself. After Zira's pride had tried to force the hyenas from the Outlands, she had made the trip to the Tree of Life, looking to enlist Kion's help against Zira's impending attack on the Pride Lands.
Speaking of Kion, Jasiri was waiting for him at the border of the Outlands. She would escort him through personally. Not that she didn't trust him not to make his own way, but she enjoyed his company. After all: he was her first lion friend.
She soon saw the lion she was looking for, and she stepped down from her perch to greet him.
"Welcome back, Kion," Jasiri smiled. "Wow, your mane's really starting to come in now."
"Thanks, Jasiri," Kion returned, sheepishly rubbing his mane in response. "How have things been?"
"Peaceful."
"And Janja?"
"He's behaving himself," Jasiri smirked. "Just Fuli with you?"
"Queen Rani had tasks for the others," Fuli answered. "But she agreed that somebody needed to escort him. To keep him out of trouble."
"And he does get into trouble," Jasiri chuckled.
"I don't go looking for trouble, it usually finds me!" Kion protested. Fuli and Jasiri laughed.
"Seriously, though," Jasiri said. "You must be glad to get home and see your family."
"Yeah… it'll be good to see them all," Kion nodded. "I haven't seen a whole lot of them since…" Kion indicated to the scars on the left side of his face, framing his eye. The spirit of Kion's evil great-Uncle Scar had resurfaced and arranged for Kion to be bitten by Ushari, an evil cobra who had allied with Scar. The result was the scar – the so-called 'Mark of Evil'. Scar had been defeated by the Great Kings, but the Mark had caused Kion great pain, and he had suffered violent mood swings while under its influence. He had undertaken a journey to the Tree of Life to heal himself from its influence – a journey that had taken a long, long time. By the time he returned to the Pride Lands, a lot had transpired – Zira had attempted to use her son, Kovu, to assassinate Simba. When that failed, she went to war with Simba's pride – and lost her life when her own pride betrayed her and she launched a final gambit to kill Simba. And Kiara and Kovu had wed.
That wasn't the only thing, either: Kovu's sister, Vitani, had created her own Lion Guard in Kion's absence. In fact, Vitani had mistaken Kion for a hostile lion attempting to invade the Pride Lands and had attacked him until Kiara arrived to break up their fight. Kion had eventually surrendered the Lion Guard to Vitani officially, and he had married Rani, the Queen of the Tree of Life.
Kion had only visited the Pride Lands once since then, so he was looking forward to returning.
"Well, let's get going," Jasiri turned around and started walking. Kion and Fuli followed.
"I like what you've done with the place," Kion looked around. Plant life had started to grow in what was once a very barren area.
"Most of the animals here respect the Circle of Life," Jasiri reminded Kion. "You know that. We never take more than we can give. And with Zira's lot in the Pride Lands as part of Simba's pride now, life has started to come to the Outlands. That's what makes us different from the clans of old."
"I bet Dad's happy to not be dealing with anything bigger than a water hole dispute," Kion said.
"Yeah, about that…" Jasiri began. She stopped herself. "Well, I think I'll let Simba tell you."
"Tell me what?" Kion cocked his head curiously.
"It's not my place to say. Well… here we are."
Jasiri had brought Kion and Fuli to the border with the Pride Lands. Pride Rock was within sight. A gorge separated the two.
"Well, this is us," Jasiri said.
"You're not coming with?" Kion turned to her.
"Oh, you know. Somebody's gotta make sure the clan behaves itself," Jasiri shrugged with a slight grin on her face. "Besides, I think you and your dad should talk without me there. It's gonna be weird enough."
"Weird?" Kion raised his eyebrow in curiosity.
"It's not my story to tell," Jasiri shook her head. She stepped beside Kion and nuzzled him. "Just… try to stay as you are."
"Uh… yeah, okay…?" Kion replied, unsure what Jasiri meant.
"Kion!" A call came from the other side of the gorge. Jasiri stepped back and they looked across the gorge to see Vitani and her Lion Guard waiting for them.
"Looks like your escort for the rest of the way is here," Jasiri said.
"Yeah," Kion said. "Hey, Jasiri… we'll catch up soon."
"You bet," Jasiri nodded. "When you're finished, come and say goodbye to me before you go."
Jasiri smiled as she departed back into the Outlands.
"I wonder what that was about," Fuli said.
"She knows something," Kion said, looking for a crossing point. There was a dam holding back one of the branches of the Zuberi River that looked sturdy enough to cross over on.
"Well, whatever it is, Simba will tell you anyway," Fuli answered, following Kion over to the crossing. They clambered across to meet Vitani.
"Welcome home," Vitani nodded. Her gaze kept on Kion for a little while, enough for Kion to feel slightly self-conscious.
"Uh… something wrong?" Kion asked.
"No, it's… uh, your father will tell you." Vitani looked away.
"Jasiri said the same thing," Kion frowned. "Vitani, what's going on? Is something wrong?"
"Depends on how you look at it," Vitani answered cryptically. "Let's get going."
Kion exchanged a frustrated glance with Fuli. He looked towards Imara, Kasi, Shabaha and Tazama – each of them exchanging curious glances with each other as if also in the dark about what Vitani was alluding to.
The group headed towards Pride Rock, passing by herds of herbivores along the way.
"So, uh…" Kion began. "Any trouble?"
"Huh?" Vitani looked at Kion, broken from her thoughts. "Oh. Uh… no. Not really. A few minor things. Now the hyenas are behaving themselves our biggest worry is from rogue lions."
"And Kiara and Kovu?"
"They're fine," Vitani answered. "Kiara's been going out on more hunts lately. She's actually getting really good at it."
"Yeah, I heard she didn't start off well," Kion chuckled.
"Kovu taught her a bit at first, but now he's been learning the duties expected of a future Ruler, I've been helping her where I can, when I don't have Lion Guard duties to attend to. After what Kovu told me before, I thought she'd be a slow learner. But she's taken to it really well."
"That's good to know. At least she's in safe paws."
They had reached Pride Rock. Vitani stopped in front of the entryway at the base of Pride Rock.
"Well, this is us," Vitani said.
"Yep," Kion nodded. "Thanks for bringing us, Vitani."
"No problem," Vitani returned the nod. "And, uh… I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?" Kion cocked his head.
"You'll understand soon."
Vitani bowed her head slightly and walked away towards the savannah. Her Lion Guard, looking as confused as Kion felt, followed her.
"Well, I'll go find Dad," Kion sighed. "I hope it's nothing bad."
"It's probably nothing," Fuli replied. "If it were really bad, Simba would have sent word. Jasiri would have told us. Or even Vitani."
"Maybe you're right."
"I'll wait out here," Fuli sat. "Sounds like this is a family thing."
"Are you sure?"
"Just get going," Fuli nudged Kion with her paw. Kion began to climb the entryway towards the peak.
"Kion!" came a familiar voice from above. Kion looked up, and saw Kiara waiting for him. Kovu stood beside her.
"Hey, sis!" Kion climbed up the peak. "Er… what's going on?"
"I don't know," Kiara replied. "Dad's been… kinda funny all day. If you hadn't been coming, I think he'd have sent for you anyway."
"It can't be bad news," Kion frowned. "He'd have said… right?"
"Well… Kovu looked to Kiara. "Yesterday, Rafiki brought Vitani to his tree to show her something. And when she came back, she asked to see Simba."
"That's when he started acting funny," Kiara added. "Him and Mom, a bit."
"Mom too?" Kion cocked his head.
"Yeah…" Kiara nodded. "I mean, Dad always acts funny when something's up. Mom's usually the voice of reason for him but whatever's going on has Mom on edge too. It's just…" Kiara paused, thinking for a moment. She shook her head and then continued: "And then Dad said he wanted to speak to us both, said it was very important."
"It is," another voice came from within the den. Simba and Nala stepped out into the sunlight. Nala walked up to Kion and nuzzled him affectionately.
"Welcome home, Son," Nala whispered.
"We have something we need to talk to you about," Simba announced. "Both of you…"
"Dad, what's wrong?" Kion asked.
Simba glanced towards Nala, who gave him a small nod.
"Come into the den, we'll talk there," Simba turned and walked inside. Nala followed him inside.
"Well, guess we'd better go," Kion walked forward. Kiara followed, but stopped when she noticed she was alone.
"This feels like a family thing," Kovu said. "You go on without me. I'll be here."
"Kovu, you are family," Kiara insisted. "Whatever Dad has to say, you should hear."
Kovu followed Kiara into the den. Simba and Nala were sat in the middle, where Rafiki was waiting.
"Karibu nyumbani, young Kion," Rafiki bowed. "And how is Makini faring in her Mjuzi duties at the Tree of Life?"
"She's doing great," Kion answered. "She's learned a lot about the Tree of Life and its history."
"That is good," Rafiki stroked his chin.
"Is something wrong?" Kion asked.
"There is something we need to talk to you about," Simba said. "Both of you."
Simba took a deep breath.
"There are two lions who… we've never told you because…"
"Simba…" Nala whispered. Simba sighed heavily.
"Kiara… Kion… you had a brother and an uncle."
Kiara and Kion turned their heads to one another, looks of utter shock on their faces.
"What do you mean by 'had', Dad?" Kion asked.
"They… They both died… a long time ago," Simba bowed his head mournfully. Nala placed a gentle paw on top of his. "Before you were both born. My brother's name was Chaka, and your brother's name… was Kopa."
"I… I remember Chaka," Kovu said.
"Chaka was Scar's son, but never his heir," Nala bowed her head solemnly. "I hid him away from the Pride Lands, but once Simba took the Throne and Zira was exiled, he was brought back to us."
"Did… Did Zira do it?" Kovu asked uncertainly. Simba looked to Kovu.
"She did," Simba admitted. "After I banished her from the Pride Lands, she looked for ways to get revenge. I never told anybody this, but… I never killed Scar. We fought, but… I'm not like him. I offered him mercy, and in return, he would leave the Pride Lands. He made it look like he agreed, but he struck. I defended myself, but I didn't kill him. He said something… he said that it was the hyenas who were behind it all, and they must have come to back Scar up and heard that, because they came for him. After that… I couldn't watch. The hyenas attacked him, and the fire took them. We never found Scar's body, but… knowing those hyenas, they probably carried his body away and picked it apart. Zira thought that I killed Scar, and… I didn't want to dissuade the notion. Enough blood had been shed on Scar's count – both lion and hyena – and I didn't want any revenge attacks on hyenas, just when the Pride Lands were starting to recover. She wouldn't have believed me if I had told the truth anyway. And then she…"
"We were so happy the day Kopa was born," Nala continued for Simba. "We had hopes and dreams for him. He was just like his father was as a cub…" Nala nuzzled Simba. "He got himself into trouble once or twice, but we were there for him when he did."
"And then one day… Zira struck. Chaka was nearby, he came to Kopa's aid… and Zira…"
Simba stopped; his eyes were hidden by the bangs of his mane as he bowed his head.
"You didn't know?" He asked.
"No, I…" Kovu stuttered. "I knew Zira went into the Pride Lands every so often. And I remember her bragging about bringing down somebody who had come to stop her, but… I wasn't allowed near the border at all. The day I met Kiara was the first day I disobeyed Zira's order to stay away. Simba, I…"
Simba held a paw up.
"I believe you. Vitani remembered with Rafiki's help, but I wasn't sure if she ever shared that with you. It was just like Zira to not mention that. In any case, you were both cubs. You are not responsible for what Zira did."
"What… where are they now?" Kiara asked.
"We… we never found Kopa," Simba admitted. "Chaka is buried underneath Pride Rock, alongside other members of our family."
"It's… not easy to talk about this," Nala admitted. "Your father and I mourn in private every year, but… most animals in the Kingdom don't mention Kopa or Chaka to us. We never told you because… we wanted you to grow up away from the shadow of grief that losing them cast over us."
"Hevi kabisa…" Kion muttered.
"Now do you understand why I've been so protective over you?" Simba asked. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you too."
Kion and Kiara stepped forward and sat beside their parents. Nothing more was said.
It was that dream again. Fire. Agony. Smoke. Moving just on instinct.
"Oh, are we playing that one again?"
The voice echoed through the smoke and fire, which began to billow upward and take shape. An unnatural, malevolent glow came from within.
"Don't worry, I'll give you something else to play back," the voice, so much like Askari's, said in a dark tone. Askari winced as a memory flashed up… he was stood atop a kopje in the Outlands, with four lions below him.
"I will ask you one last time!" Askari shouted, unable to control himself. "Join me in overthrowing Mufasa!"
"You have let the power of the Roar and the poison of that Mark go to your head," one of the lions below retorted.
"We will never betray the King!" Another added.
"Ah, so that's how it is, eh? Mutiny? Insurrection?" Askari growled. He roared loudly, and the roar echoed, as if many lions roared with him. The vision blew away as if made by smoke, and Askari found himself before another lion.
But he couldn't see this lion's face, or hear his voice. But he felt an immense shame wash over him. He felt angry.
"N… no… I don't want to see it…"
"Ah… the frightened little kitten is trying to block it out?" the voice sneered. "No matter… I will win. After all… I have nowhere else to go now. Sleep tight, Askari, because it won't be long… before I return…"
Askari bolted upright, breathing heavily and looking around in panic. He was in a clearing, with Tanabi lying next to him. The night sky was clear and the stars shone brightly.
The sinister voice, very like Askari's own, still rang through his mind. Askari got up and walked a small distance. He sat and stared up at the stars, his mind turning over what he saw in the dream.
Was that voice really him? Was it really trying to show him his past? Or was it simply a concoction of his mind?
Something deep inside Askari knew that it definitely wasn't the latter.
And there was that name he had spoken with such venom.
"Mufasa…" Askari repeated, the name feeling alien on his tongue.
Askari was not thrilled with the thought of going back to sleep and finding out. He turned around to find that Tanabi was already awake.
"Couldn't sleep?" Tanabi asked. Askari didn't answer. Tanabi sat beside him and looked up at the stars.
"Do you think… that maybe those who have passed on… look down upon us from those stars?" Tanabi asked. Askari turned towards him, a frown on his face.
"I don't believe in such silly superstition," Askari answered. "It's…"
"For cubs," Tanabi chuckled. "Yeah, I know."
Tanabi looked back up at the stars, deep in thought.
"Hey, do you believe in fate?" Tanabi asked.
"No," Askari replied. "I don't like the idea that my path is set for me before I even existed."
"What about destiny?"
"What's brought this on?"
"I don't know… it's just… seeing that lion and cheetah yesterday, it got me thinking. Do you think we were fated to meet? Or was it destiny?"
"That depends. What brought you to me in the first place? Was it determined for you?"
"I… don't know… But…"
"'But'?"
"Ever since yesterday, I've… had this weird feeling. Like… like I've found the thread that leads to the truth, and I'm close to being able to pull on it. And when I do… I'm just scared of what I might find at the end of it. I guess… I wondered if it was all preordained for me."
"Let me put it to you this way. Do you like the idea that a bunch of dead lions set your path for you? Because if that were true, it would mean that you were taken from your family, made to forget everything about them and live out your days with a tormented, twisted-up lion such as myself. And those lions didn't just allow it to happen, they made it so. Now… why would you willingly believe that to be so?"
Tanabi bowed his head.
"No. I don't like the sound of that at all."
"I didn't think you would. I might not remember where I came from either, but I do know this: nobody controls my path."
The Outlands…
What was once many clans were now united under one banner. Once, the hyenas had been duped by Scar into believing they were wronged, and that he would personally right that wrong.
How wrong the hyenas had been.
But even after Scar's betrayal of the hyenas, some still pursued their ways of hunting for sport, killing for pleasure.
Jasiri's clan had never been among them. They had been labelled pariahs by other clans for living as part of the Circle of Life rather than against it. No hunting for fun. No killing for sport. They only took what they needed. But ultimately, their ideals won out. The last hyena clan in opposition was Janja's clan. The clan was directly descended from the Shadow Clan – the clan led by Shenzi, and heeled to Scar during his reign over the neighbouring Pride Lands. Janja himself was Shenzi's son, though he didn't like to talk about it – not even to Jasiri. All she had learned was that he had been abandoned in the Outlands when the Shadow Clan fled seasons ago. Other hyenas remained in the Outlands and they formed a new clan that still lived off the principles of the Shadow Clan. In an unconventional move that cemented their position against the Circle of Life, the new clan had made Janja its leader when he was old enough – the role traditionally taken by a female.
Sometimes, history repeated itself. Because of their absence from the Battle of Pride Rock, Janja's clan were totally unaware that Scar had betrayed the hyenas the first time. And since history did sometimes repeat itself, Scar had done it a second time: upon learning of Janja's doubts, Scar had arranged to have Janja and his allies killed along with the Lion Guard.
Janja had honestly expected Jasiri to rub it in his face. Instead, she had leapt to his aid. Jasiri had saved his life, and saved his clan. Janja felt he owed her, and so he did what he could to impress her.
Of course, that had meant Janja had started becoming the butt of a few clan members' jokes. In particular, gossip about his feelings towards Jasiri.
All of that, however, paled in significance with what Janja was about to face.
"Well, well, well, Banzai, what do we have here?"
Janja had been cornered by three hyenas during the night inside a cave. He couldn't see their faces, but he sure remembered that voice.
"Gee, I dunno, Shenzi. What do you think, Ed?" Another voice, also painfully familiar, answered.
"Hehehe… ooh, hahaha!" A third voice could only laugh.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinkin'… our little Janja's all grown up!" Banzai said.
Janja growled in response.
"Ooh, he's a feisty one!" Shenzi laughed. "Does he get that off me, or you, Banzai?"
"Get out," Janja snarled.
"Well, we could, but we came all this way! We'd hate to have wasted the trip!" Banzai said. "Besides, we wanna meet your new leader."
"I'm not taking you anywhere except out of the territory," Janja glowered.
"Kids these days, they just don't want to listen…" Shenzi shook her head.
"Yeah, no respect for their elders," Banzai agreed.
"I mean, we were hoping this would be clean as we could make it, but since you're forcing our paws…"
"Ed, be a pal and escort our 'guest' in, will ya?"
"Hee-hee-hee…" Ed laughed, his tongue dangling out of the side of his mouth. He turned around, left the cave, and within minutes, he was back.
Janja's angry expression only deepened when he saw Ed carrying Wema in his mouth.
"No! Lemme go!" Wema cried out.
"Leave her outta this!" Janja shouted.
"Oh?" Shenzi smirked. "You care for this little one? Funny… I heard a rumour that you tried to kill her once. Her and that hyena who's running this joint. Would have done us proud, getting rid of traitors like that."
"Only traitors I see are the ones in front of me! I'm living within the Circle of Life!"
Shenzi's expression dropped. She exchanged glances with Banzai… and then the three hyenas burst out laughing.
"The Circle of Life?" Shenzi wiped away a tear. "You've been hanging out with old Red Mane for too long! But that's why we're back here. Whole family's nothing but trouble. See, I could blame them for everything, but there's a rumour a little birdy told me… Wasn't it you who summoned Scar's spirit?"
Janja gritted his teeth.
"And I heard he tried to kill you too. Sisi ni sawa…"
"I ain't nothin' like you! I didn't leave my clan!"
"Ooh, touchy! Well, we're back now, and we're gonna reclaim this territory, whether you help us or not. Tell you what, kiddo: we won't harm these little sprogs… if you come quietly and take us to Jasiri."
Janja snarled. He was not happy with the situation forced upon him. But one look at Wema made his mind up.
The memory of Janja and his clan being kicked to the curb by Jasiri alone came fresh and it gave Janja some hope that there was a way out of the situation.
"Fine. I'll give you exactly what you want. Follow me." Janja said through gritted teeth, leading the older hyenas out of the cave. Ed picked the wailing Wema up on his way out, as if to remind Janja not to pull anything on them.
On his own, Janja knew he stood no chance. But with Jasiri… Janja was sure his 'elders' would regret ever returning.
And that's a wrap for this chapter! Once again, thank you for reading!
Translations (as if some of these weren't already known, but…):
-Karibu nyumbani – welcome home
-Hevi kabisa – totally intense
-Sisi ni sawa – we're the same
Until next time!
