This chapter took a bit longer than expected, but I'm not still completely happy with it. it could have gone a little smoother, but I got pretty sick of rewriting. XD The idea has been kicking around in my head for a couple of weeks, and I couldn't help but use it. It almost ended up being a seperate fanfiction altogether, actually.

I know some people may be thinking that the timeline I'm working with is a bit messed up (given the worlds, who appears when, etc.), but frankly I've lost my care for paying attention to that. It's just too much trouble, and I think I've done a decent enough job of sticking to canon to give myself some leway.

Thanks again for the reviews on the last chapter and the avalanche of emails I'm getting about Favourite Storie and Story Alerts adds. I'm seriously thrilled that people like my stories so much!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. And don't mind my horrible depictions of Disney characters. XD Also, lion-versions of some of the Organization members are just quick ideas in my own head.


The sun beat down on the open plains with unyielding, cruel heat. Various insects voiced their displeasure of the high temperature through loud, droning buzzes. The few trees in sight were only thin ones that offered no refuge from the harsh sunlight. It was the height of the dry season in the Pridelands, and not one living thing could fool themselves into thinking otherwise.

For Saix, the intense heat was but a close second to the irritating complaints that rose up from time to time; he was sure to go absolutely mad any second if Xigbar opened his mouth one more time. The two of them, with a smartly quiet Luxord in tow, were literally prowling through the tall yellow grass under the merciless eye of the sun. As important as this mission was, it definitely had its drawbacks. Number II's outspoken dislike for it was one of them.

"We're almost there." The Diviner growled over his shoulder before another word could be uttered. "Have an ounce of patience."

One thing that left his two companions in slightly sour moods was the fact that they were all very much out of their element. Upon entering the Pridelands through a dark portal, their bodies underwent an unexpected change. Where men had stepped through, three large felines stood. II and X, much to Saix's amusement, had spent the better part of an hour tripping over their own paws while getting used to walking on all fours. He, however, had absolutely no problem with it. For some reason it came as no shock to him.

As this was a world uninhabited by humans, it seemed to make sense that they would have to take the shapes of animals. At least they had a chance of blending in with the natives, if even a little.

Although they were three male lions, each one still looked like the hailed from another world. The pale blue hue of Saix's hair had carried over into this world, as his full mane was just that colour, while the rest of his fur was a very light tan – nearly white. The large scars on his face were just as visible as well. He was an intimidating creature, standing as the largest of the three although not by much.

"I'm just saying; we've got plenty of time. It wouldn't kill us to find a bit of shade right now." Came the delayed response. Xigbar's long shaggy mane, black with telltale grey showing through, and brown fur may have been why he suffered the worst from the heat. His usually covered right eye was simply closed with a patch of black fur surrounding it. He was scrawnier, but no less fearsome looking. His whole body was decorated with scars, as the one stretching across his face was apparently but one of many.

"Yes, that shrub over there provides a great amount of shelter from the sun. Or maybe the dying, leafless tree would be a better option." Luxord cut in with heavy sarcasm, seemingly just as sick of the complaints as Saix. Out of the little group, he stood the best chance of blending in. His mane was slightly thinner, but a natural golden colour and just half a shade darker than the rest of his body. His usual upright and proud posture was less prominent at the moment; his head was lowered as a subtle sign of fatigue. The heat and long trek over the savannah had drained a lot of their energy.

Xigbar, by some sort of miracle, kept his mouth shut and offered no response. They trudged onward, heading towards a large rock formation where they had been told was the home of what they were looking for. They were not searching for lions in general, but Vexen had a specific request for a Heartless formed from a powerful animal. Why he wanted such a thing; none of them really knew. Whatever the Organization's scientist wanted, he usually received.

Finally, much to their relief, they reached the massive rocks and managed to find refuge in some shade. They spied from the tall grass, well covered and out of sight. It was not long before movement flickered into their vision, as a dark-furred lion stalked along a low stone ground in a skulking manner. Even from a distance they could tell that he was in a very foul mood; his head hung low and his long tail flickered behind him. His black mane framed a pointed face that wore a sour expression. From his position crouched in the grass, Saix shifted his paws in pleased anticipation.

"He looks perfect. I'm surprised the Heartless have not swarmed him yet." Luxord uttered quietly, practically voicing the Diviner's thoughts. Yes, this feline certainly looked like a dark fellow. They remained still and watched as the lion paced anxiously.

Before long another came into view, and this one was drastically different from the first. His build was powerful through and through, and he carried himself with an air of confidence and utter majesty. He was a lot lighter in colour than the other, and his mane was full. His head was high, and the darker one kept his low.

Words were exchanged between the two, ones that the Nobodies could not hear. Occasionally one would curl his lips and growl at the other, and their postures were what Saix recognised as nearly hostile, yet it still seemed to be a civil conversation. After a short while the larger one left with a few 

words of parting that forced the smaller to take an impressive hold on his temper. He flashed his teeth and turned on heel as well, prowling away from the meeting place and around a corner.

Once both of them were out of view Saix started forward again while motioning for the others to follow. They moved silently, trailing the darker lion that had everything but stormed away. He had not gone far, but only lay himself down in a slightly more secluded area to likely sulk. On top of a flat boulder the lion lay, his profound yellow eyes staring hard at the horizon. A thin scar over one eye was now visible with a closer look. Still, the tip of his tail danced with agitation.

In the distance, the soft skittering of Heartless could be heard. They were lurking, possibly watching this lion just like the three Nobodies. Yet something kept them at bay, when it would be so easy to consume such a troubled heart. It was not until a moment later that it became apparent that their target was not alone. Several ragged canines shuffled into view from a ditch against the larger rocks and clustered around the lion. The watchers could hear them talking to him with childlike excitement.

"So what do we do know?" One of them asked, sitting down in front of the boulder. All three of the hyenas looked nearly starving; their grey and black fur was thin and dirty and their frames looked disproportioned. The feline, apparently well aware of the crudeness of his companions, sneered at them.

"Keep your voices down. The last thing I need is Mufasa hearing your incessant chatter." He crossed his paws and looked back in the direction he came. The eavesdroppers had to be careful to stay out of view. Despite being a clear inferior to the other lion, it was obvious now that he still had a dignity about him that was nothing less than sheer pretentiousness. They way he looked down his nose at the hyenas was a sure sign of that. "He came by asking questions about the Graveyard incident, so we must tread lightly." His voice was kept low, but still audible.

"Shouldn't we wait a while, then? If he don't trust you-"

"I won't matter who trusts me when he is dead; I will be king, then." He interrupted the female to his right with impatience. "If we wait, Simba will grow stronger every day. I don't want to deal with two adult lions."

The conversation continued, with Saix and his companions soaking in every word. It seemed they had a usurper in the Pridelands. That was a pretty familiar scenario to Saix, but in this world it could, with some luck, come to the Organization's aid. In the clever Nobody's mind, pieces were coming together to form a bold yet wonderful idea. He could not help but smile to himself.

"Wait here." He told the others before stepping forward. Xigbar promptly pressed a large paw down on the tip of the Diviner's tail and quietly demanded to know what he was thinking. It only took a silent glare to both assure that Saix knew what he was doing, and to get the other to release him. "Just stay quiet and wait."

"Who the hell made you boss of this mission?" the Freeshooter sneered, obviously not pleased with being told what to do.

"Xemnas did." Saix replied stiffly before looking ahead again and prowling further. He remained hidden until the distance between him and the creatures had been narrowed a little. About fifteen feet away from them, he emerged from the grass and stepped into plain view. His head was held high.

It took less than a second for his presence to be known, and the dark lion reacted as expected. He jumped down to the ground and approached with his ears pinned to his skull and raised lips. The hyenas circled around the newcomer trapping him where he stood. Saix seemed unmoving and unafraid, even though a small part of him was aware that this could go sour quickly.

"Rogues are not welcome here." Although slightly smaller than him, the lion was able to look quite intimidating. Despite that, he was very calm and almost smug with the assumption that this stranger was outnumbered. His voice carried a growl. Even though Saix could hear the eager muttering and giggles of the canines behind him, he only smirked lightly.

"Is that what I look like? A rogue?" He asked with an amused tone. He knew that Xigbar and Luxord would be anxious and ready to jump in at a moment's notice, so he was not overly concerned. The real risk lay in the fact that the larger lion could come around that corner if he had enough reason to. "There is no need for hostility, friend. I bring no threat."

"That does not matter to me. Wandering males like you have no place in the Pridelands." The response was cold and embittered. A hyena snapped his jaws dangerously close to Saix's heel.

"I would advise that you listen to what I have to say. We may be able to help each other." Showing excellent composure, Saix did not move a muscle except for those needed to speak and keep his eyes on the other lion. "The throne seems to be the middle of enough conflict already; these lands are not what I seek." He gave a knowing smile, one that caused a moment's pause from both the dark feline and his canine associates.

With a hard scowl, the other turned away and made a motion with his paw. At the cue, the hyenas quickly moved to close in on Saix. Before they could even sink fang or claw into him, a pair of savage growls halted them where they stood. Luxord and Xigbar exploded from the grass and approached on either side of their fellow Nobody, chasing the yipping hyenas back towards their leader. Although he did not show it, the Diviner was endlessly grateful for the intervention.

The lion turned again to face them, seemingly struggling to hold his anger back. As he faced three strange lions, each fit and strong as a king, there was no arguing who had the upper hand.

"How many more?" he demanded, snarling at them in attempts to salvage his dignity.

"Only us three." Saix took one step forward, and the hyenas took two backwards. "If you feel like listening now, we have a proposal you might like to hear." Although irritation was clear on his face, a smirk remained. "Neither of us can afford to waste any time."

Trapped and perhaps a little intrigued, the lion sighed quietly and straightened up. "Aside from myself, none of us are safe here. Let us go somewhere more suitable for conversation." With a sneer towards his cowering lackeys, he walked past the three newcomers and into the long grass. As they followed, Saix felt a paw cuff the side of his head.

"Man, if you ever pull something stupid like that again, I'm letting those mutts chew on you." Xigbar growled, glaring through his one eye. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

In any other circumstance, the Luna Diviner might have been angry with someone treating him in such a way. However, he gave a smug smile. "Vexen wants a Heartless from a powerful animal, and he will receive one. To achieve this, we are getting a little bit of aid from the locals."

The place they arrived at was significantly less impressive than where they had been, and it was obvious where the borders of the Pridelands ended. The caves and the open area around them were bare and dry; the only forms of plant life were the thin clusters of dying moss that desperately clung to walls. As they were led into a large cavern, it became quite clear that hyenas made their home here. The smell was not very pleasant, and the abominable creatures lurked just out of sight behind endless shadows. The presence of a few Heartless was notable as well.

"It's no wonder why this bloke wants to be king," Luxord muttered to Xigbar, his blue eyes scanning the distant, dreary cave walls. "if this is what he controls."

"Yeah, but at least it's out of the damned sun." The Freeshooter pointed out, grinning. This was true. The cavern was still muggy, but at least the harsh rays of sunlight were off their backs. Only thin threads of light, leaking in through holes in the walls, lit the way. It was a rather unsettling place, especially for the three of them. They were not exactly at an advantage here, despite knowing that they could escape through a dark corridor if needed.

The lion in question, who they had been told was aptly named Scar, stopped as they reached the large open area of the cave. Light poured in through a large gap in the stone ceiling, making it look more like a steep canyon than anything. Dozens of hyenas watched from a distance as the lions sat in a loose circle, but none were brave enough to approach.

"That other lion you were speaking with before," Saix began, apparently eager to get straight to business. "That is Mufasa, correct? The king?"

"Indeed, that would be the king of Pride Rock." Scar said with a tint of bitterness. "My dear brother."

"And who is Simba?" Luxord questioned, recollecting the mentioned name.

"He is the king's son. Simba is still a cub, but if Mufasa were to die he would take his place. Hence why I need him out of the picture as well."

"I'm assuming that you were the sole heir to the throne before the boy was born." Saix smirked.

Scar's eyes narrowed spitefully for a moment before he looked to the blue-maned lion. "And if you have no intentions to rule these lands, why would you be interested in my business?" There was no doubt that he still did not trust them completely. That was probably why he had brought them into his domain, where his loyal servants awaited his command. The three Nobodies looked at each other in a collective moment of thought. It was rather hard to explain.

"You ever heard of Heartless?" Xigbar asked, gesturing the general size of most Heartless with one paw. "Little black shadowy... things."

"Very eloquent." Luxord commented while rolling his eyes.

"Ah, those strange creatures that have been meandering about the savannah recently?" Scar seemed to understand. "They showed up last season, but have caused us no trouble."

"Well, you could say that we are trying to learn more about them." The Luna Diviner spoke up again. "More specifically, how they affect certain creatures. We know that Heartless can take over a complete being and, simply put, take their heart away." His expression turned almost malicious. "They feed off of darkness; if they can find the darkness in one's heart and overpower them, they are essentially doomed. They will turn into a Heartless themselves."

Scar looked very pleased with this information, yet still suspicious. "So am I to believe that you would like to turn Mufasa into a Heartless? What do you have to gain from that?"

"We've got a friend who wants to do some extended research. He would greatly appreciate a Heartless coming from a specimen like Mufasa." Saix leaned forward a little. "And I'm sure you would appreciate the elimination of the greatest obstacle between you and your future rule."

Scar thought for a moment. "Will there be nothing left of him afterwards? I need a corpse for the pride to see."

"I think we can call in a favour from someone else we know." Xigbar contributed, casting the others a look. The future king scanned his eyes over the three of them, seeming to come to a conclusion in this own mind.

"You three are peculiar; not from this world, even." He commented, although the distrust had almost completely lifted. "But if we can arrange an 'accidental' death of Mufasa, in which the Heartless can overpower him, all of us may end up very happy with the results." He then glanced to Saix again. "And the child?"

The Diviner snorted. "If you and your hyenas cannot rid yourselves of a mere cub, then I would seriously doubt your ruling capabilities. However, I think we can hit two birds with one stone."

Annoyance only briefly crossed Scar's face before he smiled again. "Fair enough. Now, how do you suppose we pull forth the darkness in the King's heart? Other than being awfully protective of his family and his lands, he has not a mean bone in his body."

"If we put his son in harm's way and evoke enough fear or anger in Mufasa, the Heartless will swarm him." Saix carried such resolve that not a soul in the cave could say otherwise. "Even the most sincere and loving hearts can be overwhelmed by darkness."

Another moment of thought was taken as Scar looked up towards the hole in the cavern ceiling. He was definitely a strategic thinker and not an outward fighter. There was no sign of remorse, as if there was no heart to be taken if they had continued pursuing him as their target. There was something in him that directly reminded Saix of someone he knew all too well, and it felt almost criminal that they were pledging to help him usurp the kingdom. The more he considered that similarity, the more intensely the phantom pain wrapping around his front leg stung.