*Chapter 10: Be Prepared!*

Within the dark, green, and misty caves of the elephant graveyard, Nia was sitting on top of one of the ledges as Shenzi was circling around her. Nia was brought in by Scar and wanted to speak with her. Nia was afraid of what he was going to do to her. What he doesn't know about her is that she is born special. Nia will keep her power to herself. Shenzi turned to the hyena cub.

"I don't know how you did it, Nia. But you managed to survive in the Pride Lands without getting spotted by Mufasa or any of the lionesses. What were you thinking? Running away that long ago when you were so small?" Shenzi asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Nia said.

"Try me." Shenzi said, leaning towards her face. Before Nia could respond, they hear Banzai growling.

"Man, that lousy human and Mufasa! I won't be able to sit for a week!" He said. Ed laughed idiotically in response, causing Banzai to grumble with the scratch marks all around his rear. "It's not funny, Ed." Ed busted out with more laughter, causing Banzai to snap. "Hey! Shut up!" But that didn't stop Ed from laughing, causing Banzai to growl and lunge out at him. The two started to fight until Shenzi had enough with their nonsense and snapped.

"Will you two knock it off?!" The two broke the tussle, with Ed chewing on his leg and Banzai arguing while pointing to the dumb hyena.

"He started it!"

"Look at you guys! No wonder we're dangling at the bottom of the food chain." Shenzi said coming down from the ledge as Nia followed behind her.

"Man, I hate dangling." Banzai sneered while drooling.

"Yeah? Ya know, if it weren't for those lions, we'd be runnin' the joint." Shenzi said.

"Man, I hate lions!" Banzai added.

"So pushy!"

"And hairy!"

"And stinky!"

"And man, are they ugly!" They both said. They cackled with laughter. Nia shook her head at them. But they were soon interrupted as Scar spoke up from a small perch above the geysers as green mist shot above. Nia's ears lowered in fear.

"Oh, surely we lions aren't all that bad." He said with a smirk. The hyenas sighed in relief.

"Oh, Scar. It's just you." Banzai said.

"We were afraid it was somebody important." Shenzi said.

"Yeah! You know like, Mufasa."

"Yeah!"

"I see." Scar responded with a look. As the hyenas talked, the lion looked down at Nia who didn't even bother to look at him. "How wonderful for you to join us, little one." Nia looked up at him with a sneer.

"I was forced to come here by you, Scar. Like I don't have a choice." She said.

"Oh, you do, Nia. You do. But right now is not the time to tell you details." He stopped when he hears the three hyenas giggle over Mufasa's name. "I'm surrounded by idiots." He sighed. Nia would smirk at him but decided to hold back.

"Not you, Scar! I mean, you're one of us! I mean, you're our pal!" Banzai said.

"Charmed." Scar replied sarcastically.

"I like that! He's not king, but he's still so proper." Shenzi said.

"Hey! Hey, did you bring us anything to eat, Scar? Old buddy? Old pal? Huh? Did ya? Did ya? Did ya?!" Banzai asked rather excitedly.

"I don't think you really deserve this." Scar said as he dangled a zebra's leg. The hyenas got on their hind legs and drooled, begging for food. Nia sat there in silence. "I practically gift wrapped those cubs for you, and you couldn't even dispose of them. Same goes with that human boy." And he released the zebra leg, dropping it down in front of the hyenas and causing them to dig into it.

"Well, ya know, it wasn't like they were alone, Scar." Shenzi asked, chewing the meat.

"Yeah! So, what are we supposed to do? Kill Mufasa and the human?" Banzai asked, swallowing the meat.

"Precisely." Scar responded with a sinister grin. Nia's eyes widen in fear. All three of the hyenas gave Scar confused looks as the dark lion jumped down from the canyon walls to the ground as the geysers shot up green mist beside him, and he proceeded to sing.

"I know that your powers of retention.
Are as wet as a warthog's backside.
But thick as you are, pay attention!
My words are matter of pride."

Catching a glimpse of Ed chewing on a bone, Scar swiped the bone away from him and the stupid hyena immediately gave him a salute. Scar then proceed to circle around Ed and waved a paw in front of the hyena's face as he remained still, with Ed to give the dark lion a wink and letting his tongue hang out. Banzai and Shenzi began to laugh, but Scar caught them by surprise, making them fall back on two geysers that sent them flying as Scar proceeded to sing while walking along the cave.

"It's clear from your vacant expressions.
The lights are not all on upstairs.
But we're talking kings and successions.
Even you can't be caught unawares!
So, prepare for the chance of a lifetime,
Be prepared for sensational news.
A shining, new era,
Is tiptoeing nearer."

"And where do we feature?" Shenzi asked.

"Just listen to teacher." Scar replied by pinching her cheek. Shenzi rubbed her cheek with an annoyed look on her face as Scar continued to sing while jumping up onto another ledge of the cave, kicking Ed off of it and sending him flying into a pile of bones.

"I know it sounds sordid.
But you'll be rewarded.
When at last, I'll be given my dues.
And injustice deliciously squared.
Be prepared!"

The three hyenas popped up from the pile of bones, wearing different kinds of skulls on their heads.

"Yeah, be prepared! We'll be prepared! For what?" Banzai asked.

"For the death of the king!" Scar said.

"Why? Is he sick?" Banzai asked. Scar grabbed Banzai by the neck.

"No, fool, we're gonna kill him. Ajani and Simba, too." He said as he dropped Banzai to the ground.

"Great idea! Who needs a king?" Shenzi exclaimed. Nia joined the hyenas with worry in her eyes. The three of the hyenas chanted as Banzai and Shenzi ran circles around Ed.

"No king! No king! La-la-la-la-la-la!"

"IDIOTS! There will be a king!" Scar snapped, making Nia flinch.

"Hey, but you said, uh..." Banzai started to say, but Scar cut him off.

"I will be king! Stick with me, and you'll never go hungry again!" Shenzi and Banzai both cheered with joy as Ed looked to them with joy. Nia looked at each of them in silent. She is against this. But no one will listen to her.

"Yay! All right! Long live the king!" The rest of the hyena clan sat among the walls of the cave as they chanted.

"Long live the king! Long live the king!" The hyena clan sang as they all proceeded to march like an army preparing for war.

"It's great that we'll soon be connected.
With a king who'll be all time adored."

Scar sang as he sat on another perch, gazing down at the marching hyena clan.

"Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected.
To take certain duties on board.
The future is littered with prizes.
And though I'm the main adressee.
The point I must emphasize is..."

And he jumped down and roared at one of the hyenas, causing it to fall in between the forming cracks of the cave. Nia watched in horror as she avoids the cracks and geysers.

"You won't get a sniff without me!" Scar proceeded to sing as each geyser from the cave began to rise up, taking him up towards the night sky.

"So prepare for the coup of the century!
Be prepared for the murkiest scam!
(Hyena Clan: Oooh... la, la, la!)
Meticulous planning,
(Hyena Clan: We'll have food!)
Tenacity spanning,
(Hyena Clan: Lots of food!)
Decades of denial,
(Hyena Clan: We repeat!)
Is simply why I'll...
(Hyena Clan: Endless meat!)"
Be king undisputed.
Respected, saluted.
And seen for the wonder I am.
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared,
Be prepared!"

The hyenas started shaking skeletons around and playing them like they were instruments as they and Scar finally sang. Nia watched from one of the ledges.

"Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared!
Be prepared!"

And Scar gave an evil cackle that echoed through the elephant graveyard. Nia covered her ears with her paws, not wanting to hear this madness. She needs to warn Ajani. She must find a way to get back to the Pride Lands. Everyone is in grave danger.

Nia walked out of the cave as all of the hyenas are asleep, but she gasped to see Scar there. He smirked down at her. Nia gave him a look. Scar gestured her to follow him up to the ledge.

"If you go against me, Nia, you will be in my teeth. Just like how your parents died trying to escape from me." Scar told her. Nia's ears went back.

"You're the reason why we wanted to run away." Nia argued. "You're a monster! You're using us to take over the Pride Lands! By killing your own blood! Why do you want to get rid of Ajani? He's kind to me!"

"He's a human! Humans don't belong in the Pride Lands! Long ago, a Lion Guard used his roar to be rid of humans and lions. Ajani understands us and he will be next in line to be the leader of the new human tribe one day. Humans are savages." Scar replied. "You have a choice, Nia. Stick with me, and I promise your life will change forever. You will no longer starve and you will have a family again. Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are your family. If you refuse, you will face death."

"One day, Scar, the hyenas will know what you did." Nia said. She turned away from him to return to the cave. Scar chuckled.

"Our little secret."