Well, this was certainly interesting.
Two weeks until I become king and I find myself helping the guard chase Janja's pack out of the pridelands...again...but this time, I had fallen into a raging river with Kion.
Zira would be proud.
Ah, shut it. Anyway, I had ended up pulling Kion out of the water as we reached the other side of the river, with Kion coughing and sputtering and me breathing heavily as the guard was on the other side of the river.
''You alright, Kion?'' I asked him as I pushed my paw onto his stomach, causing him to spit out a large chunk of water.
''Don't worry...i'm fine.'' Kion coughed as he got up and looked at the river, ''Looks like it's too harsh for us to cross right now.''
''KION!'' Bunga shouted from the other side, ''ARE YOU ALRIGHT?''
''Glad to see your future king's safety is cared for.'' I muttered sarcastically as Mohatu chuckled.
Bunga was never one to take into account EVERYONE in danger.
That much is certain.
''We'll have to go through the outlands to get back to you!'' I shouted, causing Kion to look at me in surprise.
''The outlands?'' Kion asked in slight worry before hardening his face and looking at his team, ''We'll meet you guys at flat ridge rock!''
''Great..where is that, exactly?'' Bunga asked in complete confusion, causing me to sigh.
''Figure it out yourself, Bunga.'' I groaned, causing the guard to run off to find flat ridge rock as I looked up at the cliffs...where a few years ago, I nearly got myself and Kiara killed...that experience still sending shivers down my spine.
As we reached the top of the cliff, Kion ended up slipping and falling off of it, causing me to jump after him and catch him with my teeth, leading to me landing on the ground...hard.
''Ooh, that's gonna hurt.'' I groaned as I winced and let go of Kion, who rolled across the ground and coughed.
''That wasn't a good landing.'' Kion groaned as I got up, ''You alright.''
''Kion, the safety of my family is more important than the safety of myself.'' I reminded him, causing him to balk.
''But you're the-'' Kion started, ''...Whatever.''
As Kion looked around, his eyes widened.
''So this is the outlands…'' Kion breathed, ''Where you were sent to spy during the conflict to reunite the prides…''
''Indeed..'' I sighed as I swatted a rock, ''I had wished I didn't travel this deep into the outlands again.''
I looked over and saw that we were near that wretched termite mound, but realized something.
''This is Janja's territory.'' I said, frowning as Kion blinked.
''Hello!'' We both heard an australian-accented voice greet, only to look up at at a large rock at the cliffside and see a female hyena looking down at us, ''Surprise!''
Kion gasped as I raised an eyebrow and the hyena giggled.
''Didn't know I was up there, did ya?'' The hyena asked and Kion was visibly looking for a counter.
''No! I-I knew you were there the whole time!'' Kion protested and I scoffed, ''...Hyena.''
''Yeah, i'm a hyena all right, you lions are SOOO clever.'' The hyena mocked as she jumped in front of us, ''Especially you two...Kion, leader of the lion guard and Shujaa, prince of the pridelands.''
''You know about us?'' Kion asked and I chuckled.
''Just by reputation.'' The hyena answered, only to walk up to Kion, ''The mark on your shoulder's a giveaway though!''
The hyena then laughed as I snickered.
''So, you're not in Janja's clan?'' Kion asked and the hyena raised an eyebrow.
''Janja?'' The hyena started while rolling her eyes, ''Yeah, that's a good one. What exactly are you two doing in the outlands, not exactly YOUR territory.''
''Well, I have an extensive history with these la-'' I started, but Kion interrupted.
''We're going to flat ridge rock so we can get back to the pridelands if that's okay with you, hyena.'' Kion scowled as I rolled my eyes. Typical Kion, quick to judge hyenas based on what he's been told.
''The name's Jasiri and if you're wanting to go back to the pridelands, you're going the wrong way.'' Jasiri said and I did a simple 'heh'.
''I could have told him that.'' I added and Kiara narrowed his eyes.
''Uh-huh and why should I believe you, hyena?'' Kion asked and I sighed.
''Kion, allow me to handle this.'' I said and Kion looked at me, flabbergasted.
''But..she's a-'' Kion started, but I interrupted him.
''You're so quick to judge someone based on their species that you can't see past that.'' I spat and Kion went silent, ''Thank you.''
I turned to Jasiri and sighed.
''Jasiri, if you may, could you lead us to flat ridge rock?'' I asked and Jasiri smiled.
''Sure, because I want you both out of my territory.'' Jasiri answered and I smiled. Well, it's a start.
As I nodded, Jasiri began walking towards the opposite way of where me and Kion were about to go, causing us to follow her.
''I don't trust her, Shujaa.'' Kion whispered and I scoffed.
''Let's just get through with this and get out of the outlands.'' I said as we followed her.
''Still following me?'' I heard Kion say as we walked, Jasiri lagging behind.
''Still ignoring my advice regarding where flat ridge rock actually is?'' Jasiri ask and Kion growled.
''I'm pretty sure i'm going the right way.'' Kion said as we went up a trail leading up a cliff.
''Maybe so, but you can't get there on this trail.'' Jasiri informed Kion, who did a simple 'hmph' as I rolled my eyes.
''Yeah? Well, why not?'' Kion asked and Jasiri chuckled.
''Because the trail ends...here!'' Jasiri shouted as Kion began falling off of a cliff into thorns, but I quickly grabbed him with my teeth and pulled him back up.
''Heyvi Kabisa!'' Kion screamed, seeing the thorns below.
''Gotta be more careful next time, Kion…'' I said in a muffled voice as Kion did a nervous laugh.
''Yeah...I guess I do.'' Kion said as Jasiri laughed, ''What are you laughing at, hyena?''
''At the fact that you, leader of the lion guard, are relying on your brother-in-law just to keep you out of considerable trouble.'' Jasiri laughed, causing Kion to growl, but blush.
''Why are you even helping us?'' Kion asked as we walked down the trail, ''You're a hyena!''
''You lions really DO think all hyenas are bad!'' Jasiri balked, causing me to shake my head, which also caused me to accidentally fling Kion into a pile of bones.
''I think that with the right way of thought, lions and hyenas can live in peace, not ruined by one group.'' I said, causing Jasiri to smile.
''Well, at least I know you're not judgmental.'' Jasiri said and I nodded before she turned to Kion, ''But as for you…''
I observed Kion and Jasiri from a rock a few feet away, smiling at Kion showing Jasiri a bug grabbing food.
''See that? That's the Circle of Life for you.'' Kion said and Jasiri scoffed.
''Wait..you don't think I know about the Circle of Life?'' Jasiri asked and Kion shrugged.
''Well, you are a hyena.'' Kion said, causing me to roll my eyes.
''Look, I know Janja's clan is greedy and eat more than their fair share, but most hyenas respect the Circle of Life.'' Jasiri started, leaping onto the rock I was on and smiling, ''We're the clean-up crews - picking up after all of the sloppy hyenas eat what you lions leave behind.''
''I guess I never thought of it that way.'' Kion admitted.
You think?
''Hahah, of course not!'' Jasiri laughed, ''You think lions and hyenas are so different...but we're not. We're more similar than you think, Kion..Sisi Ni Sawa.''
''You're saying we're the same?'' Kion asked, ''No..I don't think so.''
I started tapping a paw as 'Sisi Ni Sawa began playing. Oh, how I love this song.
You think that life is one big game,
You joke, you laugh, you take no blame,
I'm telling there's no way that we're the same.
You have to look past what you see,
Try not to judge so easily,
YEAH, PRIDELANDERS!
Believe it or not, you're a lot me,
Say, believe it or not, you're a lot like me!
Sisi Ni Sawa means we're the same
I hear what you say and what you need to explain.
At the end of the day, it's like water and rain,
Sisi Ni Sawa, we are the same.
Well, the song is still going on...not that I mind of course, since we're at the closing moments of the it anyway.
Sisi Ni Sawa, we are the same….
Ah, there it is.
As we were approaching a cliff not too far from where that song broke out, There was a weird smell, causing Jasiri and I to sniff around.
''What's wrong?'' Kion asked us, causing me to frown.
''We're in Janja's territory.'' I said with a sigh, ''I can tell by the awful stench.''
''And believe it or not, we don't get along.'' Jasiri said, gesturing towards a rock at the top of a cliff, ''But don't worry, Flat Ridge Rock is over there. You're almost home.''
I jumped up several rocks on the way up there as Kion smiled.
''Asante, Jasiri...thanks for your help.'' Kion said as he walked up a trail behind me.
''Sure.'' Jasiri replied while shrugging, ''Bye, Kion! Bye, Shujaa!''
''Farewell.'' I said as Kion lagged behind me.
''Hey, Jasiri.'' Kion started, ''If you ever need our help-''
''Help? From a lion?'' Jasiri asked with a playful tone before laughing, ''That's a good one.''
''Okay then.'' Kion said as we reached flat ridge rock, ''That was an interesting experience.''
''Got to see the other side of hyenas, didn't ya?'' I asked the cub, who nodded, ''It let you see that there is more to hyenas than just what prideland propaganda says.''
''Well...yeah…'' Kion sighed before we heard Jasiri shout.
''That all the hyenas you got, Janja!?'' Jasiri shouted, causing the two of us to snap looks at each other.
''Jasiri!?'' We both shouted to each other before we started heading back down the trail.
As I looked down to where Jasiri was, I noticed her being cornered by Janja's clan.
''Faster, Kion!'' I said, speeding up as soon as the cub was getting ahead of me.
When we reached the bottom, Kion pounced on a hyena that was on top of Jasiri as I got in front of her.
''Kion? Shujaa?'' Janja asked, baffled, ''What are you-''
''We're here to help.'' I said before she could finish, causing her to blink.
''If you say so.'' Jasiri replied doubtedly, but frowned at the hyena pack anyway.
At the sight of both me and Kion, Janja had a look of slight fear while he looked his pack, which obviously weren't at their full numbers.
''Well...uh...we won't leave!'' Jania stammered, but I smirked.
''I have a solution for that..'' I said before looking at Kion, who smiled, ''Do it.''
Suddenly, Kion used the roar of the elders to send the hyenas flying out of view, eliminating the threat from Jasiri.
''...Whoa..'' Jasiri gasped as Kion had a cocky look. Oh, you little cub…
A cocky and confident cub who fights for his friends no matter what...remind you of someone?
Yeah, yeah, the young me, I know.
When Kion and I reached pride rock after saying our goodbyes, I was instantly pinned and nuzzled by Kiara, who kept asking me where I was and that she was worried sick for both of us.
''You went into the outlands?!'' Kiara shouted, shocked.
''Yeah, but it's fine.'' I replied.
''So that was Kion's roar…?'' Kiara asked and I nodded, ''Let's just hope he doesn't go down a dark path into finding his place in the circle of life.''
As we looked at The Lion Guard, I smiled.
''I think he already has found his place in the circle of life…'' I said with a proud smile before I walked off, but not before turning to my wife, ''You coming, princess?''
''Of course, Emery.'' Kiara replied, causing me to chuckle as she called me by my human last name.
We walked back to pride rock as The Lion Guard cheered and laughed at the tale of the adventure we had.
Next: When Kion accidentally uses a form of the roar not seen since Scar, he puts Shujaa in the line of fire and sprains his right leg. Guilty, the cub decides to never use the roar again, but recurring nightmares and visions the prince tells Shujaa about convinces the human-turned-lion to seek to help his young brother-in-law.