Chapter 6: Two Kings
"I don't understand," Shuja muttered to himself one morning, looking out over the Pridelands. "I thought they would have attacked by now. What's Hasira waiting for?" Every night for the last week, Simba had had lookouts guarding Pride Rock overnight. They assumed Hasira and his group would attack. There had been no sign of them since Nala and Shuja had been rescued, however, and each day made the Pridelanders more nervous than ever.
"Zazu," Simba called. "I want you to go to the Outlands, see if you can find any sign of them."
"At once, Sire." Shuja was worried. He was certain Hasira would be unable to wait any longer before attacking. The white lion was not one to let offences like Shuja and Nala's rescue go unpunished. Yet, he had not been seen for days. Something was very wrong here. Perhaps Hasira had realised how truly massive Simba's pride was. There were easily twenty lions and lionesses overall. Five lions, however strong and vicious, would be easily defeated were they to attack. Hasira was smart, it was entirely possible he sought to take a different approach to capturing Shuja. Zazu returned far too quickly, landing upon Pride Rock.
"Sire, I fear there is yet another intruder to the Pridelands."
"One of Hasira's?" Simba asked.
"I don't think so," the hornbill replied, surprising them all. "She doesn't look like the lioness I saw with Hasira."
"Kovu, Shuja, follow me," the King commanded. Shuja was straggling behind, looking around him for any sign of Hasira. A distraction like this would be perfect for him and his lions to enter the Pridelands unhindered and recapture Nala. She was the only thing preventing the Pridelanders from outright attacking their aggressors. Once Shuja came upon thescene, he heard the voice of the intruder. She sounded familiar.
"Tell us who you are at once!" Simba commanded her angrily. He was very on edge, as were the rest for that matter.
"Don't lie to us," Kovu added.
"Please, I don't mean any harm," she implored them. "I'm just looking for someone."
"The last lion that said that tried to kill us," Kovu mumbled.
"I'm telling the truth. Please, I just need-" Shuja came into plain view then, falling in beside Simba. The lioness before him had large, round eyes the colour of sunlight. A small tuft of fur sprouted from her head, falling down to reach her eyes.
"Tamu?!" Shuja asked, incredulous. He hadn't seen his childhood friend in weeks. He had assumed that she had been exiled to the Badlands. He would never have thought she would come looking for him.
"Shuja…I can't believe it's you."
"You know her?" Simba asked, relaxing his stance and raising his eyebrows.
"I do," Shuja replied, rushing to meet her, embracing her fondly. It had been far too long. Tamu merely laughed, still in shock that she had found her friend.
"Shuja…I had no idea I'd find you, I searched for so long." Kovu and Simba smiled at one another.
"I can't believe you're here!" Shuja told her.
"I tried to get here before Hasira but he was too quick. He the others watch me as he set off in search of you. I was stuck in the Badlands for days."
"It's alright, you're safe now." They returned to Pride Rock then. Tamu had a lot to learn about recent events. Once they finished telling her everything, she looked as shocked and surprised as she had when Simba and Kovu first approached her.
"We haven't seen any of them since," Shuja finished. It was clearly a lot to take in for Tamu. She had had a long journey and was obviously exhausted. More bad news wasn't what she wanted to hear right now.
"Do you think he'll come back?" she asked. Shuja grunted.
"You and I both know he won't let this go." Sadly, that was true. "He'll show himself eventually." For now, they needed to relax. Especially Tamu. Shuja took her to explore the Pridelands. As dangerous as it was, Zazu was patrolling the skies while Kovu kept watch around Pride Rock. They were safe enough as long as they stayed in sight.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" They found themselves just outside a wooded area, near a river. With the birds singing and a herd of zebra galloping nearby, it was quite serene. The sun shone brightly today, illuminating the full glamour of the Pridelands.
"It's a paradise," Tamu agreed. Her expression turned forlorn then. "Shuja…I've been so worried. I was sure Hasira would have killed you before I found you."
"It's okay, I'm fine," he laughed. Still, Tamu nuzzled him intimately as though to make sure he was really there.
"Do you remember in the forest when we were cubs?"
"When me, you and Hasira would get lost in the forest?" Shuja asked.
"Our parents would get so angry at us!" It was oddly nice to reminisce about those days. Hasira had been their friend, and a good one at that. The three of them would play together for hours on end. Shuja sighed.
"It's terrible to see how much he's changed. All of them have, actually."
"Malkia?" Tamu asked hopefully. She knew the answer. After all, it had only been a few weeks since they were all together. Still, Tamu hoped every day that Hasira's followers would see what they had become and change their ways. It was wishful thinking. Shuja simply shook his head.
"I'm sorry. They're all as loyal as ever to him. When he comes, they will all follow." There was no use dwelling on it. They both laid down together in the soft grass then, enjoying the cool breeze that swept across them. It was nice to relax. Even with the threat of danger looking overhead, they needed to wind down. Tamu had been especially on edge lately. The next few hours would do her good. For moments, they simply lay in silence, both ignoring the world around them and taking it all in at the same time. They listened to the sound of flowing water, the gentle breath of air, the elegant chirping of birds overhead. The Pridelands were indeed a paradise to behold. It rivalled even their homeland that Hasira retook. They slept there that night, completely undisturbed. Shuja awoke the next morning to the sight of his friend. He loved her greatly, that much was certain. In what way he loved her he was still unsure. When she awoke, they made their way back, being greeted by an anxious Kovu.
"Where have you two been?!" he asked, looking more nervous by the second. "I've had Zazu looking for you all morning. Hasira's headed this way."
"Of course he is," Shuja said. The hatred in his voice was palpable. "What's the plan?"
"We're going to go and meet with him, see what he wants," Simba told them. "He's approaching with his followers in plain sight so I'm guessing he wants us to know he's here." The King headed out then, followed by Nala, Kovu, Kiara, Shuja and Tamu. They stopped once they spotted Hasira's white mane. The white lion was not long coming into plain sight. He stopped mere feet from the King.
"Simba, I take it? We finally meet!" he growled, mischief dripping from his every word.
"Save the formalities, Hasira," Simba retorted. "Why are you here?"
"You're hardly that dim-witted, Your Majesty. I want what I've always wanted…Shuja! Hand him over."
"No. Turning him over to you won't change anything. My family will still be in danger."
"Oh, come, Simba, don't be so unreasonable! He's not yours to protect." Kovu extended his claws, locking eyes with Makku, the volatile hothead. The tension was building with each passing second. Kovu picked his target now should the negotiations turn hostile, which he assumed they would.
"I have a counter offer, Hasira," Simba told him. "Turn your miniature pride around and go back to the wasteland you grew up in That way, you might get out of the Pridelands in one piece." Simba's own allies flinched at his abrasive words. Hasira was visibly furious now, growling and breathing heavily. Once he had composed himself, he took a step forward.
"Aggressive words, Simba! Perhaps you'd care to take me on instead?" So it was straight to a challenge then. "No interferences, just you and me. Right here." His grinsent shivers down Shuja's spine. Tamu and Malkia locked eyes also. The animosity between the once good friends was growing. Neither of them would hold back in a fight.
"Nice try," Simba scoffed.
"Too afraid, Your Majesty?! I don't blame you. Backing down from a challenge, though…that's either very brave or incredibly foolish." Simba bared his teeth then as if preparing to roar. "What will your pride think of you?" As much as he hated to admit it, he was considering this challenge.
"Don't do it, Simba!" Nala begged of her husband.
"I agree, don't be foolish," Shuja added. Hasira, however, could not help but smile. He knew he had the King convinced.
"What are the terms?" he asked. Hasira chuckled. This would be more fun than he had expected.
"Simple. I win, you give me Shuja and we leave your pride alone. You win, and we leave your home, never to return. That's it." Should Simba win, it would be a worthwhile victory for both the Pridelanders and Shuja. He had no choice. It was either accept the challenge or begin an all-out war with these outsiders.
"Fine, have it your way." With that, the two kings stepped forward. Their allies backed up to give the fighters some room. This would be a particularly ferocious fight to say the least.