This isn't right. Not right at all.
The thought echoes through Dalia's mind as she lies awake in Kilio Valley. She groans, turning to her side and attempting to block out Janja's snoring from the other side of the clearing. The pair wrapped up their discussion hours ago, and Janja was asleep shortly after. In fact, all of Scar's Army is sound asleep. All but Dalia, that is. She turns to her other side restlessly.
She just can't stop thinking about what Janja had told her. It gave her a different perception of things. It altered the way she views the Pridelanders versus Outlanders struggle. Granted, it hasn't completely changed her mind about the situation. No, she still detests Scar and is still willing to bring him down. She doesn't think she'll ever see eye-to-eye with a lion that so closely reminds her of... Kali.
The lion who killed her mother. The lion who's been keeping her on the run for this long. The lion who ruined her life. Sometimes, when she closes her eyes, she sees him. Him with his charming smile and smooth words. She was a fool to trust him.
She shakes her head, clearing her mind of the invasive thoughts. No, she'll never ever be able to understand a monster like Scar (or Kali for that matter), but she does understand Janja. And she feels bad for him. Like an ache in the back of her throat kinda bad.
So before she could fully think through her actions, Dalia is up on her feet and slowly creeping out of Kilio Valley, careful not to wake anybody up.
She needs to talk to Kion. Now.
Kion is on his nightly patrol, biting back a yawn. It was a long day for the Guard. Long and tedious. A tired sigh escapes his lips. He likes helping other Pridelanders and enjoys being the leader of the Lion Guard, but sometimes, he wishes he could go back to the days he spent carefree and wild. When his only concern was whether or not Bunga was willing to play baobab ball with him.
Now, there seems to be no end in sight for the young prince. Now he's stuck fighting a battle with his father's dead uncle, fixing a mess caused by lions before his time. It was hard enough leading the Lion Guard before Scar showed up. Now? It feels impossible.
He yawns as he tiredly trudges along the border of the Pridelands. One last loop and then he would go wake up Fuli for her shift, he decides.
As he walks, he vaguely hears someone approaching him from behind. Suddenly attentive, he slides his claws out and turns sharply on his heel.
"Relax," a tired voice says, "I mean no harm."
Kion tilts his head to the side and slides his claws back in. "Dalia?" He relaxes his position and watches as the lioness eyes him warily. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you."
"It's okay," she says with a shrug, "I should've known better than to sneak up on a lion on patrol."
The prince snorts. "No kidding." After a beat, he cocks a brow. "So what's up? Did you want to tell me something or...?"
She makes a face. "Yeah. A lot of things." She gestures with her head to the left. "C'mon, let's go find somewhere to sit and talk."
...
The two lions eventually find a good area, and Kion watches as Dalia makes herself comfortable. He takes note of the tiredness in her eyes. But beyond that, there's an undecipherable emotion lurking in those green-gray depths. And that's what worries him. He automatically expects the worse. Perhaps she accidentally blew her cover? Or maybe Imba got hurt?
Before his imagination could get too out of hand, Dalia starts speaking.
"Look, Kion," she says with a sigh. "I think you're a good lion. And I am not blaming you for what I'm about to tell you, and it's not going to affect the way I view you. I still have a lot of respect for you. After all, you did save my life, so I am still indebted to you."
"Dalia, saving and protecting others is my job. You don't owe me anything." His voice is insistent.
The lioness tips her head into a nod, though his words do little to change her mind. "Right. Well, like I was saying, I just have a few things I need to get off my chest."
Kion gives her a nod to continue.
"I... I had a chat with Janja earlier this evening. He was talking about how hyenas get the shorter end of the stick when it comes to their relationship with the Pridelanders. And I'm inclined to agree."
Kion knits his brows together. "I don't understand."
She lets out a sharp exhale. "Just think about it, Kion. You lions are in charge of everything here in the Pridelands. If you want something done, all you have to do is ask. Hyenas and other animals don't get that luxury." Dalia meets his gaze. "And even if certain hyena clans follow the Circle of Life and listen to the Pridelanders, they're treated with contempt. Like they're less than. They get judged prematurely, and it's not fair."
Kion thinks back to his first interaction with Jasiri. He was much younger back then and hardly had any interaction with hyenas, yet he was so quick to judge her and mistreat her. If that was a cub's reaction to a good hyena, he imagines the older Pridelanders treat hyenas in a similar manner.
"My best friend is a hyena, Kion. When nobody else was there for me, he was there. And now he's living in the Outlands with Jasiri's Clan. If this issue keeps up..." Dalia pausesm "I... I guess I'm having second thoughts about all this, Kion. I'm still willing to help take down Scar, but everything about this is just so... so hypocritical."
And this time, Kion can't help but narrow his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, for one thing, this whole dynamic between the Pridelanders and the hyenas. The Lion Guard is supposed to protect and defend other animals? Doesn't that extend to the Outlanders, as well?" Dalia questions.
"How are we supposed to defend the ones threatening the Circle of Life?" Kion rebuffs.
Dalia shrugs. "Fine. I'll give you that one. But aside from that, I can't think of a good reason why you're keeping Scar a secret from the Pridelanders. Isn't the Lion Guard built on integrity and honesty?"
He meets her gaze head-on. "I have reasons for that," he insists.
"I know you do," Dalia says sincerely, "but I don't think your reasons are rational. I think you're scared. Scared that once the Pridelanders find about the return of Scar, they're going to think poorly of you."
And as it has been for the entirety of their conversation, there is no anger or malice in Dalia's voice. Not even a hint of it. And somehow, that made it much, much worse for Kion.
Kion swallows thickly. "I'm trying my best to keep the Pridelanders calm. To keep them from worrying."
"That's not up to you to decide, Kion," she argues, "They live here too. They have the right to know." She looks up at the sky once more. "Kion, I want you to know that even though I have a few concerns, I'm still on good terms with you. I'll respect whatever decision you make in this matter. You're the one who's gotta deal with the backlash of all this, after all."
Her eyes find his gaze once more. "But please keep in mind that all secrets come to light eventually; it's only a matter of time."
His conversation with Dalia from last night plagues Kion's mind. She was honest and earnest when she spoke, and even he had to admit that she was right. She was right in everything she told him, and that's what's bothering him. Reflecting back on his life, he realizes that lions do have an unfair advantage.
His own father wasn't too happy about Kion's Guard consisting of only one lion. Even now, Kion sometimes wonders if his father would be more pleased if he had selected only lions to be part of his Guard. At the time, Kion and his dad made amends, but Kion's still doubtful of his father's view of non-lions.
And he realized today after reflecting on the situation, that if he ever wants to make peace amongst the Outlanders and Pridelanders, he needs to start changing this mindset that lions are somehow superior. And this change needs to start with his father. If the King of the Pridelands accepts the Outlanders and is willing to make peace, perhaps the rest of the Pridelanders will too.
And that brings us to the present, Kion currently approaching his father from on top of Priderock.
"Dad?" Kion calls, interrupting Zazu who had been conversing with Simba. Both Simba and Zazu turned to look at Kion expectantly. "Uh," the prince shuffles with his paws for a second, "Can I talk to you, Dad?" After taking a look at Zazu, he quickly adds, "Alone."
Zazu and Simba exchange glances for a beat. "Zazu, you are dismissed," says Simba. The bird gives a curt nod in Simba's direction before taking flight. Both father and son watch as the hornbill sails through the evening sky. "Yes, Kion?" Simba asks once they were alone.
"I need to ask you something, Dad," Kion blurts. Simba gives him a nod to continue. "I... I want to know why you didn't approve of my Guard. Why you still don't necessarily approve of my Guard."
Simba stiffens noticeably. "Who said I don't approve of your Guard? I know you and I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye in the beginning, but I have no concerns regarding those you have selected to defend the Pridelands."
Kion gives a frustrated shake of the head. "No, but I feel like you'd be happier if I had selected lions to be part of the Guard."
"Well of course, I would've been happier if you had selected a few more lions but—"
"And that's the problem, Dad," Kion insists. "You have this notion that lions are somehow more responsible — somehow more capable of defending the Circle of Life. As if we lions value the Circle of Life more than the other Pridelanders. And the other Pridelanders share this notion, as well. For some reason, lions hold more respect than any other creature in the Pridelands."
Simba looks out across the Pridelands from his vantage point ontop of Priderock. "Kion, for as long as I can remember, lions have always been the ones to defend the Circle of Life. When I reclaimed Priderock, it was us lions who had to take the initiative and bring the herds back. It may not feel right, but it has always fallen upon us lions to restore balance."
"But it's always been the lions to mess up the balance of things, as well," Kion shoots back, "Like Scar."
The older lion gives his son a stern look. "Kion, it wasn't solely Scar. The hyenas played a large role in Scar's rise to the top."
"Dad, the hyenas were tricked by Scar!" Kion says, the frustration in his voice palpable. "And when it came down to it, they betrayed him and helped you defeat him." He looks up at his father, his amber eyes trying to reason with the older lion. "I was recently informed that even after the hyenas did the right thing and betrayed Scar, the Pridelanders still didn't accept them. The hyenas were driven out of the Pridelands and treated horribly."
Kion lets out a frustrated sigh. "How can we ever hope for peace between us and them, if we're not willing to give them a chance?"
His father's eye winces. "Kion, I am glad that the hyenas of the Outlands made the right choice in the end. But they did a lot of unforgivable things before that. Remember, Kion, they were partially responsible for my father's death. They hunted in excess, to the point that herds were forced to flee the Pridelands. They terrorized my subjects, and attempted to take my life."
Kion immediately quiets, and whatever anger was building inside of him dissipates at the revelation. He had been so focused on one side of this struggle, he had entirely forgotten about the other. Everything has two sides to it, he realizes. Nothing is black and white. Ever.
Simba continues after a beat, "I know that you're eager to make peace, and you forgive easily. That's one of the things I love about you. But forgiveness for many is difficult. You have to understand, many Pridelanders here today witnessed with their own eyes what the hyenas helped Scar accomplish. I can't expect them to be the most forgiving. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I've forgiven them."
Both father and son are silent for several moments. "So... so what're we going to do?" Kion finally croaks, weariness getting the best of him.
He can't imagine a lifetime of fighting with the Outlanders over this. He refuses to envision a future in which he's carrying the burden of forever bickering with Janja and his crew. He's burnt out already as it is, he just can't live the rest of his life like this. There needs to be peace. He may have inherited the problems of the past generation, but there's no way he's going to stand by and accept it.
His father lets out a sigh, "I don't know, son. There are some things in life we don't have the answer to."
Simba looks down at his son, and Kion suddenly notices the tired bags underneath his father's eyes. The way his forehead wrinkles. The way little gray is beginning to streak his mane. Being king has taken a greater toll on his father than Kion cares to admit. He's suddenly very glad that Kiara is next in line to the throne. If he can't picture a life bickering with Janja, he surely can't imagine a life as a king.
Before he could get too caught up in his worry, Kion felt his father lean over to give him a quick nuzzle.
"But I promise you, Kion, time heals all wounds," says Simba, "We just need to be patient."
Author's Note: I was feeling in the mood for some writing so I got half of this chapter done in one sitting. I went to save the work I had completed and my computer crashed. Was this piece of information necessary? No. Was Maddie in the mood for some shameless complaining? Yes.
Either way, thoughts on this chapter? I felt like being the leader of the Lion Guard took a greater toll on Kion than what we saw on the show, so I just wanted to express that. Also, we were briefly introduced to a new character, Kali, who will be talked about more in-depth later. As always, criticism/questions/feedback/suggestions/PMs are always welcome.
