Chapter 9:

Gone Too Far

Shenzi, Banzai, and Zazu race through the rain in search of Kiara and I. Banzai brings up the rear of the trio having trouble keeping up with Shenzi's speed, determination pulsing through the ground with each step made. Zazu tries to stay ahead so he can warn them of any obstacles or foes, but he cannot see with it being as dark as it is and winds up crashing head on through a hole in a dead tree, his beak sticking out the other end. This causes the two hyenas to stop dead turning back only to find part of an orange beak sticking out of a tree. As Zazu struggles to free himself, an Emu appears from the mist the rain has created carrying what appears to be black fur in its beak. Shenzi notices as the bird approaches them.

It places the bit of fur down on the ground then says, "I thought you two might want to know where your buddy is. I've seen you play with the furry lion; this should be brought to her."

"What is it?" Banzai asks as he goes to sniff it. He jerks his head back in shock exclaiming, "This is Edd's mane!"

"The hell is going on? Where's Edd?" Shenzi demands.

The Emu replies, "He's by a river just down that way. I can show you if you like."

"Take us there!" Shenzi says before calling to Zazu, "Hey Zazu! You keep looking for the girls! We'll rendevous near the gorge!"

Zazu replies barely able to move his beak, "Wait! Where are you going?"

Banzai replies as he and Shenzi rush off with the Emu, "To find Edd!"

Meanwhile, Simba and his lionessess along with Timon, Pumbaa, and Enlil, gather at a field the borders an embankment quickly becoming flooded with water, only to have logs damming it up. Zira and her pride stand across the field ready for battle. Timon and Pumbaa decided to moon the Outlanders making Enlil facepalm. Buzzards begin to circle overhead knowing they'll be able to reap any rewards from the upcoming battle should either side face losses. Both sides stare on at each other with Zira taking her position up on a large rock.

Zira starts, "It's over now, Simba! I've dreamed of nothing else for years!"

"Boy... does she need a hobby." Timon says.

Simba speaks, "Last chance Zira: Go home."

Zira states, "I am home!"

The sound of thunder crashing with a flash of lightning help to emphasize the intensity of the moment. Zira tells her pride to attack, and both sides start to advance towards each other. At first they walk, then it becomes a sprint, and finally a full speed run at each other. Both prides clash biting and slashing violently, blood and fur flying through the air with each vicious swat. Zira coaches her pride from the safety on top the huge rock with two of her back-up lionesses. Enlil does his best to avoid getting injured by whipping the enemies with his tail and swatting with great force at their mouths. The Outland lionesses don't want to risk having their jaws broken and quickly turn tail as the tiger advances towards Zira, having the right idea to go for the leader. He is quickly caught off guard when four Outlanders pile on his back, one managing to stop his tail with her teeth. He rears back attempting to knock them off, but they jump back on, the one lioness keeping hold of his tail, ruining his only strategy.

The Pridelanders are outmatched in vicious nature as the Outlanders manage to get the jump on winning the battle by being tricky and agile. Timon and Pumbaa briefly converse brefore leaping into battle trying to appear as menacing as they can. However, they soon turn tail and run when one Outland lioness snarls at them, a few lionesses giving chase.

Just a distance away, Kiara, Kovu, Nuka, and I are able to see the battle under way. I look on in disbelief over the brutality of it all. Before we go to rush over to stop the fighting, we hear Shenzi and Banzai call out. We turn to face them as they come to an immediate stop, Banzai face planting into the ground; he never was the best at applying the breaks. As soon as he pulls his face out of the mud, both gain serious and worried expressions.

Shenzi says, "Mwezi, there's no way to sugar-coat this... But... Edd has been... Ngh, he's been killed by the Outlanders!"

All four of us ask simultaneously, "What?"

"It's true," Banzai goes on, "an Emu brought us to him. He said he saw everything, that at first Vitani was going to attack, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. So, Zira took control and made her do it."

"Mwezi, Vitani isn't your enemy. It's Zira! Anyway, you're going to rush into battle, right? We're coming with you!" Shenzi says.

I couldn't believe it... Edd's gone? Permanently? Unable to cope and adrenaline beginning to course through my veins, I start to dig my claws into the ground bearing my teeth to the point it hurts. Intense anger grows in my eyes, up to the point I close them tightly and let out a roar that rivals the sound of thunder. I then jump down running at full speed towards the battlefield, effortlessly flying across the embankment. The others call out to me giving chase unable to keep up. Banzai and Shenzi are the first ones across the logs, followed by Nuka who almost slips, Kiara who glides across, and finally Kovu who nearly falls of when the logs start to shift.

Out in the battlefield, Timon and Pumbaa are chased up to a rocky wall becoming boxed in by the enemy. Scared, Pumbaa faces the wall trying to hide while Timon panicks looking around. He looks over at Pumbaa who's behind is pointed towards the enemy instantly seeing a way out.

He jumps onto Pumbaa's back, grabs his tail, cocks it and holds it like a gun warning, "Don't anybody move! This thing's loaded. I'll let ya have it!"

The lionesses shriek and turn tail, fleeing into the horizon. Timon feels victorious having scared them away so easily. In the field, Simba assists Enlil in swatting the lionesses away. The two suddenly become overwhelmed being jumped on by more Outlanders. Enlil manages to break free just as Simba does by swatting at the enemies as Zira advances towards Simba with her two back-up lionesses saying Simba is hers. When she gets close, Simba goes to attack but Zira swats him across the face with enough force to knock him on his back. Both sides quickly pause and look over at the two Pride Leaders. As Simba recovers Zira starts to pace back and forth, the two soon walking in a circle across from each other keeping cold glares on each other, as the lionesses form a circle around the two.

Both Zira and Simba are about to slash each other when Kiara and Kovu jump between them, staring at their respective parent. Enlil makes his way to Simba's side relieved to see Kiara is okay, until Nuka jumps over everyone standing on Kiara's other side glaring at Zira. I let out the same roar I let fly only moments earlier, causing the lionesses to panic and move aside. Shenzi and Banzai are on my sides bearing their teeth and growling at Zira; intense rage can be seen in my eyes. Vitani takes instant notice having a strong feeling that we've found out about Edd. Zira looks over, cocking her head up with a smirk seeing how enraged I've become.

Vitani quickly says sensing my anger, "Uh Mwezi, before you slash anyone's eyes out, I was forced to do it! I really didn't-" Shenzi cuts her off, "Silence you! Mwezi isn't here to fight you."

Zira laughs before saying, "Ah, then the Outsider is here for me. Yes Mwezi, you ARE and Outsider...and yes... I killed Edd."

"You what? Why did you kill him?" Simba demands.

"I noticed back in the canyon she wasn't very serious about fighting. Her heart is in the right place, but where's the emotion?" Zira replies as Simba growls at this. She goes on, "I simply wanted to see how far I can push her to get her to act like who she really is."

Banzai explodes, "You did that for your own sick enjoyment? Edd did nothing to you to deserve such an end! How would you like it if it were the other way around, huh?"

Zira responds, "It already did the second Kovu turned on us. I knew Nuka was weak, but when I saw he was on their side I got to see how weak he really is."

"For your information, I'm a lot stronger than you think. You just never paid any attention to notice." Nuka says before he blind sides her biting down on her muzzel, making it gush blood.

As soon as he lets go, I lunge at Zira quickly overwhelming her knocking her to the ground on her back. Everyone around is shocked as I start to press down hard on her throat attempting to choke her to death. Enlil rushes over to try and get me off but I whip him in the face with my tail. Shenzi and Banzai lose al sense of reason and join me with Banzai biting down on her tail and yanking it while Shenzi bites down on her side almost trying to rip off the bit of flesh. Everyone starts to call out to us until I decide to viciously bite at Zira's jugular attempting to rip her throat wide open.

Simba rushes over quickly biting my scruff grabbing a tight hold and pulling. Kovu and Enlil find Banzai and Shenzi's scruffs easily puling them off; I wasn't about to move. Kiara rushes over smacking me upside the head finally getting me to let go. Simba drags me aside so I'm no longer close enough to lunge in one shot. Nala comes over taking a hold of me so Simba can return to his spot, all the while Zira is laughing maniacally.

Kiara, Kovu, and Nuka return to looking at their respective parent as Zira recovers and stands up, loving the attempt I tried to mak at killing her. I try to struggle flailing wildly until I run out of energy. Knowing I can't move anymore, Nala lets go quickly stepping over me so I don't get back up. Enlil has taken the hyenas aside seeing as how they won't attack unless they become provoked again. Both Simba and Zira tell their kids to stand down, but neither budge.

Kiara starts, "Daddy, can't you see now? This has to stop!"

Zira says to her sons, "You two are weaker than I imagined. Get out of the way!"

Nuka turns around mooning her, "Sorry old hag; not gonna happen!" he turns back around getting serious, "I'm gonna make sue you don't hurt Mwezi anymore. You've claimed your last victim."

Kovu replies, "You'll never hurt Kiara... or Simba. Not while I'm here."

"Gragh! Just let me slit her f*cking throat! She'll pay for what she did to Edd!" I shout out becoming upset.

"You girls need to stay out of this!" Simba commands.

Kiara says, "A wise King once told me 'We Are One'. I didn't understand what he meant... now I do."

"But... they..." Simba tries to say before Kiara says, "Them... us. Look at them... they are us. What differences do you see?"

"I hope you mean aside from the fact Zira killed Edd." I pester.

Kiara looks at me replying, "I'm not defending her, sis. Calm down."

With Kiara's statement at the Outsiders "being us", both sides start to really see. The rain begins to stop while Simba and Kiara look at each other, the battle having finally come to a stop. The clouds start to clear up and Simba and Kiara nuzzle. Zira, however, isn't listening at all. She tries to get Vitani to attack, but she refuses saying Kiara's right, and walks over to Simba's side turning to face Zira saying it's enough. The other lionesses look shocked as Vitani starts to make her way towards me. I lay there growling while Nala moves aside, sensing no danger.

Vitani lowers down to look at me face-to-face and says sincerly, "Mwezi, I didn't mean to take Edd's life. I didn't wnt to in the first place; I simply wanted to scare him off. I'm not your enemy... not anymore. Can you at least forgive me?"

I growl, "Only becaus Kiara's right, I will. But I will never forgive your action."

Banzai asks Shenzi, "It's gonna be a while before she's her old self again, isn't it?"

Shenzi replies, "I think so. I've never seen her get this upset. Well, except for the time we took all those feathers she collected away. She didn't talk to anyone for a good five days."

Zira soon says gaining attention back, "Fine, if you won't fight, then you will die as well."

The other lionesses look at her disgusted, quickly moving over to Smba's side. Zira's eyes start to panic as they leave her side. Enlil smiles at this knowing everything is all over now.

"Wha...? Where are you going? Get the hell back here!" Zira calls.

Simba says, "Let it go, Zira. It's time to put the past behind us."

Zira yells as more logs in the embankment pile up, "I'll never let it go!"