Chapter 13: Together

The rains poured down this morning to drench the Pridelands, as if to reflect the dark day that lay ahead. Hasira was out there, stronger than ever and ready to lay waste to Simba and his family. They could not let that happen. With all their strength, they would triumph over the white lion that had been terrorising them ever since he arrived here a short time ago. Then, Simba had no knowledge of Shuja or his past plights. These were all strangers to him, unknowns that potentially posed a threat to the security of his kingdom. Now, though, Shuja and Tamu had been welcomed quite warmly into the Pridelands. They were fighting for their home, for peace. A fight Simba recognised all too well. He would be pleased to assist them. After all, it wasn't long ago he was faced with the very same struggle against his own enemies.

Today would be harrowing, but it would also mark an end to the pain and chaos, one way or another. Thanks to Tamu, they had a significant advantage over Hasira. His two remaining allies were not his only sources of power, but they were very great threats. Or at least they would be had Tamu not succeeded in turning them against their master. Had she not, the outcome of today would be far from guaranteed. When the time came, she would call on her old friends to betray Hasira. If everything went as planned, he would be vulnerable. Not completely, but more so than before. If Zazu's reports were to be believed, the self-proclaimed king would still have a rather large pack of hyenas at his command. That would certainly make things difficult. The thought sent a shiver down Simba's spine, the memories of his childhood. But even with them, Hasira would not stand a chance against the combined might of the Pridelanders and Shuja's pack. That gave the King confidence as he rose this morning, Nala curled up beside him peacefully.

It was early. The sun had only just risen as its light spread across the land, despite the pouring rain and dense mist. It was a strange day out there, darkness and uncertainty all around. But there was light there, too, a light that would allow Simba's pride to see the way forward. Simba cautiously strode outside and went to the edge of Pride Rock, peering down through the mist below to see if there was any sign of Hasira approaching. It did not seem likely their enemies would arrive so early, nor was it plausible that they would attack Pride Rock directly. No, if anything, the Pridelanders would meet their foes out there somewhere, further into the land. As optimistic as Simba was about the approaching battle, he did not look forward to it.

"As always, you never fail to rise at dawn." The voice was Nala's as she sleepily strode up beside him, nuzzling him affectionately. "It's almost over, now."

"Yes, it is," Simba concurred, returning his gaze to the abyss below him. "I hope we're ready for this, Nala. I keep worrying we won't be prepared. Or Hasira will surprise us when we won't be expecting him."

"You worry too much, Simba," she told him a bit scornfully. "I know it can't be easy for you, bearing the burden of this. But we'll be fine. We're more than ready for this. We have been for quite some time." That was true, considering everything they had been through. It wasn't often the Pridelands saw torment the likes of which Hasira had brought with him, but when it did, Simba and his family went above and beyond to protect what was theirs. They had come out on top time and time again. That should have given the King hope. But Nala sensed he was not convinced. "It's alright to be scared, Simba."

"Scared?!" he asked as if the very notion offended him. It didn't, but fear was not something he had ever considered himself feeling. Ever since taking back his home from his tyrannical uncle, he had become much stronger and far more capable as a leader and a father. He never thought of himself as being afraid of anything. However, this was one of those rare occasions when he genuinely did feel frightened of what was to come. He did not want to put his family in danger, nor was he prepared to lose any of them if this went bad.

"Yes, Simba. Scared." She smirked at him. "I know as well as anyone how hard this must be. It isn't easy being King, despite what you thought when we were cubs." Simba couldn't help but laugh at the thought of how naïve and roguish he had been as a cub.

"I sure thought this was gonna be easy back then, didn't I?" He sighed deeply and shut his eyes for a moment. "I'm just…worried I might lose you. Any of you. When Kovu fell, I was terrified. I couldn't believe what had just happened before my own eyes. It's…well, nothing short of amazing that he's back. But next time, we might not be so lucky."

"I understand," Nala told him softly. "But we can do this, Simba. Just like we've done everything else. Together." He gave her an appreciative smile as the sounds of the others waking reached their ears.

"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'm sure you'd manage," she joked. "Not as well, of course. You may need Zazu to pitch in here and there to make up for my absence." Kovu, Kiara, Shuja and Tamu came up behind them then. They looked tired, but ready to get started. They all knew it was going to be a long day.

"This isn't going to be pretty," Shuja weighed in.

"I wouldn't think so," Simba agreed. "But we can do this. All of us. Are you all ready?" They all nodded obediently as the rest of the pride emerged from Pride Rock and assembled before their king. They would follow him into war loyally, as they had done before. Some of them had been his enemies in the past. His eyes fell on Vitani and the Outlanders at that thought. But now they were his family, his allies. They would not let him down. "Alright. Everyone stick together and stay close. Hasira isn't going to hold back. And neither are we." And so they marched from Pride Rock, out towards the gorge. Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa all waited not far from the cavernous formation, their figures shrouded in mist. Simba wasn't even sure it was them until he was close.

"Simba! Oh, pal, you aren't gonna believe this!"

"What is it, Timon?" the King asked his old friend. They didn't exactly need bad news right now, though it seemed inevitable given the circumstances.

"The white lion awaits, my king," Rafiki explained solemnly. "At the edge of the gorge. The hyenas have joined him in full. There are…many of them, Simba."

"I'm afraid it's true, Sire," Zazu chirped as he flew in to land before the pride. "Hasira isn't making any move to march on Pride Rock. I believe he wanted you to come to him."

"Where is he exactly?" Simba asked pointedly. The memory of this place was not pleasant for him. This gorge was where his father died, where his uncle's grand betrayal reached its pinnacle. The fact that Hasira chose this spot for the battle was upsetting.

"On the plain, Sire," Zazu explained. "At the other side. They have…driven the wildebeest away, it seems. Into the gorge itself." Zazu spoke carefully, knowing full well how difficult this must have been for his king. But Simba had no time for that now. He had more pressing matters at hand.

"We'd best not waste any time," Simba told them all. "This is it. I don't want any of you here that don't want to be. I know we've all had our differences…but this is unlike anything we've been through before. It's not too late to turn back, to leave before it's too late." Kiara went to her father then, almost moved to tears by his words as she gently nudged her nose against his mane.

"We're not going anywhere," Shuja said adamantly. "This is as much our fight as it is yours. We're seeing it out to the end."

"He's right," Tamu concurred. "If it wasn't for us, your family wouldn't be in this mess. We have to stay." Simba smiled and nodded approvingly. He was grateful for their friendship in this. His eyes fell on his own pride, then. There were some who may not be too keen about laying down their lives in defence of somewhere they had only been calling home for a year now. Simba was glad to give them the chance to leave if they wanted, to flee in case Hasira was victorious. Vitani stepped forward.

"Simba…I know we…haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye," she began nervously. "And there was a time when I would have gladly taken your home from you in the name of justice. Or what I thought was justice. But now?" She paused, her eyes locking with Kovu's. They both nodded as Vitani once more looked to the lion she served, the lion she called king. "I'm with you. We all are." Simba breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you. All of you." Without wasting any more time, they pressed on towards where Hasira waited. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the grassy plain, though the short journey felt like it lasted forever. Their arrival was announced by the squawking of a vulture they had not initially seen. They all halted at the sound of it, only ten feet or so from the large pack of ravenous hyenas. The mist was thinning out now, though the sun had been obscured by large grey clouds. The rain, too, had almost stopped only to be replaced by the startling rumble of thunder and lightning above. Hasira emerged from beneath a structure of rocks that provided shade from the sun above, though what purpose it served on this gloomy day was a mystery. Yama and Malkia were close behind.

"Well, it took you long enough, Simba!" the white lion mocked as he came forward. The hyenas all came to their feet at the sight of the pride before them. They all looked quite frightened considering they were staring down a pride of at least twenty angry lions and lionesses that they had no chance of beating in a fight alone. But Hasira would not tolerate fear today. And they all knew that. "My, my. And you've brought everyone along with you. That wasn't the smartest idea, surely. No one back home to guard that rock of yours?"

"It's over, Hasira," Simba spat, ignoring him. "Stand down. You've lost."

"Oh, I hardly think so," Hasira retorted gleefully as he paced up and down the ranks of hyenas behind him. "I thought you'd be a little happier to see your old 'friends' again, isn't that right, Shenzi?" Simba's gaze momentarily fell on the three hyenas at the head of the pack, the three beasts that tormented him as a cub in service to his uncle. He growled at the sight of them. They almost looked embarrassed to be here today, considering everything. But as long as Hasira was in his current position of power, they would serve him. That was where Simba had the advantage.

"Enough, Hasira!" Simba growled.

"Yes, I agree. Very well, then. You've come here today expecting to win. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but today marks the demise of your little kingdom. Yama, Malkia. Do it." They had him. Neither of the two made a move at their apparent master's request. Instead, they just remained still for a few moments before coming forward and joining Simba's pride. "What is this? What are you doing?!"

"It's over," Malkia told him firmly. "We're done taking orders from you, Hasira. It's time to end this once and for all." It took the lion a few moments to realise that he had been beaten before the conflict even began. Yama and Malkia were the only reasons he had any hope of winning. The hyenas on their own would not suffice. And now, Hasira was practically powerless.

"You can't be serious! I gave you your home back, I drove those invaders away! I DID THAT!" They were all silent.

"I know," Malkia said regretfully.

"We're sorry, Hasira," Yama told him softly. "That it came to this. But we're not following you anymore. You've gone too far." And so the white lion was left alone, probably for the first time in his life. There was no way this ended well for him now that his two most powerful allies had turned on him. They could see it in his face, he was beaten. Even the hyenas now looked about ready to leave. But something kept them there, uncertain about how to proceed. Whether it was their fear of Hasira or a strange respect they had for him, his next move would decide theirs. Without warning, he launched himself at Simba and pinned his rival to the ground. It took only seconds for the fighting to start.