Chapter 13, A new Reign

The Elephant Graveyard was a place that was rarely spoken by any of the animals. Known by many as the shadow lands beyond the Northern border of the Pridelands. Though none of the animals in the Pridelands would ever dare to venture. Where only the elephants ever come once their journey in the Circle of Life. Though it was a place where Hyenas resided to feast upon the remains of the tusks giants.

Within their den somewhere deep within these baren lands, Shenzi feasted upon a dry bone of one of the many elephants. All as Banzai, Ed and the other hyenas of their pack watched on in envy. Having starved for many days without a single ounce of flesh to eat. Only the remains of the long decayed elephants. While a single bone may stratify their hunger, a hyena's belly was truly never full.

Sitting over a ledge, Banzai groaned at the rumbling in his stomach.

"Come on, Shenzi, I'm starving over here!" Bazai proclaimed to her.

Shenzi growled, chomping down on the bone. She then glanced up at him.

"Quite your winning, I'm almost done." Shenzi proclaimed to him.

Though as she continuing chewing over the bone, Banzai and Ed's stomachs continued to rumble. Watching as she continued to chew the bone.. All the while, shifting her stern gaze back at them. As if to warn them and the rest of their pack off from getting any ideas.

Their patients having longed weaned as their hungers became more unbearable. Banzai shook his head, growling.

"That's it!" He exclaimed before pouncing down from the ledge.

Landing in front of Shenzi, he growled as he beard his fangs to her. Shenzi in turn stood up and took a defensive stance to him. Uttering a growl back as she too displayed her canines in warning.

"Back off, Banzai!" She warned him.

"You back off! Quite hogging all the food." Banzai exclaimed to her.

"You wanna go?" Shenzi egged on.

Banzai suddenly pounced at Shenzi, who leaped up at him. The two rolled over the floor of the cave, biting and clawing at each other. Ed and the other hyenas watched in excitement at the two fighting. Ed laughed aloud over the ledge as the other came up and cheered them on. All the while, Shenzi and Banzai continued to brawl with each other.

Coming up over Banzai, Shenzi pinned him to the floor of the Cave.

"Okay, Okay, I give!" Banzai pleaded with her.

Shenzi uttered a hiss at him.

"That's right, I'm the top Hyena around here! Y'all hear me!" Shenzi proclaimed to him.

The other hyenas all but slowly slinked back from Shenzi, whimpering. It was no secret amongst the Hyena that Shenzi was indeed the top of the pack. As it was common for females in Hyena packs. For one to be in such a position, one must be fierce and cunning, able to put others in their place. And Shenzi was certainly one of that nature and thus was now the head of the pack itself.

"Fighting over scrapes?"

Shenzi and Banzai glanced over and saw three lions standing in the mouth of their den.

"Hey, who's there?!" Banzai said,

One of the lions entered their den, stepping into the light, revealing to be Taka.

"Are all you Hyenas so crood and plain as you all?" Taka asked, curiously.

"Hey, Taka! Long time no see!" Banzai said, shifting his mood quickly.

"How you've been? Brought us anything to eat?"

Shenzi got off of Banzai as she came up to him.

"What are you doing here, Taka?" Shenzi asked, curiously.

Zira came up next to Taka, uttering a growl to her.

"I would suggest to watch your tone, Hyena." Zira growled to her.

Shenzi only uttered a growl back to her. Their gazed becoming locked on each other with a display their of their fangs and claws. Taka glancing to them, raising an eye brow in disbelief.

"Zira, that's enough. After all, we need to all get along." Taka insisted, walking into the den.

Zira, Kovu and Shenzi glanced to Taka, curiously.

"Say what now?" Shenzi asked, curiously.

"Father?" Kovu asked, curiously.

Taka came up to the bone she had been chewing on. He then paused, glancing down in disgust at the dry remains of whatever animal that had died. What could hardly be considered a meal to a lion. To a hyena through, a single bone could be considered a meal.

"It is said that a hyena's belly is never full. And yet you feed on the scrapes of others." Taka insisted before swiping away the bone with his paw.

"Haven't any of you wished for a place where you could eat to your hearts contempt. Where the Mighty are free to take whatever they please?"

"In case you haven't noticed, but Mufasa doesn't exactly let us near the PrideLands." Shenzi insisted to him.

"Yeah. You lions get all the game while we get the scrapes!" Banzai insisted to him.

Taka came up over a ledge where he turned to face them.

"And that is why, it is time for a new regime." Taka insisted to them.

Shenzi and the other Hyenas stared up at Taka, curiously.

"Mufasa has proven to be blind sighted to all of you. Forbidding you to enter the Pridelands." Taka proclaimed to them.

"And yet he has welcomed Man to live amongst the Pride."

The mention of man had certainly gotten the attention of the Hyenas. As well as earning their stern expression from them. Despite the things they've done, man was allowed to live within the Pridelands with the lions. All while they were banished to the Elephant Graveyard.

"But when I'm King, the hyenas shall be welcomed to roam the Pridelands. Just as all the animals." Taka proclaimed to them.

"But Mufasa is the King." Banzai insisted to him.

"And that is why we are going to kill him." Taka proclaimed to them.

The mention of killing Mufasa was indeed an intriguing proposal to the hyenas. Glancing to Taka with much anticipation of the plan he had. So too did Zira gaze up at her mate, smirking. Like them, she was eager to know what plan he had for overthrowing Mufasa. That was all except for Kovu, who stared up with an express of intrigue. All but to hide the feeling of uncertainty that he had deep down.

"Mufasa is old and weak. Now is the time to strike!" Taka proclaimed.

"Stick with me and we will take the entire Kingdom. And you will never go hungry again!"

The cave became filled with the laughter and cheers of the Hyenas. Earning a sly grin from Taka, seeing they were enthralled by his plan. The days of being within his brother's shadow would soon be of no further thought. Nor the idea of a human being the King of the pride lands. For soon, he shall be given all that he was denied.


The watering hole was a place shared by all the animals in the PrideLands. Where both Predator and prey can stand side by side in peace. As it was forbidden for hunting to take place. Emerging from the narrow path through the long grass, Jay came to bask upon the many animals gathered along the banks. While it was nothing new to him as he had come to see it many times growing up here in the PrideLands. Though despite the years that passed, seeing a lion and a zebra standing side by side was a sight that never ceased to amaze him.

He paused for a moment, stretching his arms as he gave a sigh of relief. Having returned from morning patrol with his father. A common practice that all the past Kings of the Pridelands. As it was the duty of a king to protect their territory and all who roam within it. To tend to whatever needs of their subjects.

"Aw, man, I'm beat." Jay said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mufasa came up from the path behind him. He shook his head as he now grayed mane flayed in the air. He then turned to his son, chuckling.

"As am I. Though, it is nice to see everything is still in order in the Pridelands." Mufasa proclaimed to him.

Jay smirked, placing his hand behind his head.

"Yeah, but i wouldn't mind seeing some action every once in a while." Jay insisted to his father.

"I'm all for helping the other animals with their troubles and all. But when am I going the chance to chase some Hyenas?"

Mufasa chuckled to him.

"In time, I am sure you will get your chance, son. But remember what I told you." Mufasa insisted to his son.

Jay nodded his head to his father.

"I know, Father." Jay insisted to him.

Jay then turned and made his way over to the banks of the watering hole. Mufasa watched on as his son before turning to join Sarabi and the other lionesses, who napped atop the nearby rocks. Coming next to the other animals there, who hardly reacted to a human coming to stand next to them at the watering hole. Having grown up amongst the animals of the Pridelands, they had grown to be used to him and accept him as part of the pride.

Reaching his hand down, he cupped some water into his palm before bringing it up to drink.


Mufasa came up over the Rock, where he found Sarabi laying along side with both Sarafina and Nala. The three seeming to be deep in conversation with one another. Something that he had noticed since her and Jay's first hunt. Nala had been spending more time with Sarabi. Perhaps Sarabi had chosen her to help with with future hunts.

Nala had proven to be a capable hunter since their first hunt. It would be certainly be beneficial for her and the Pride to have Nala be Sarabi's top hunter.

The alpha lion approached the three lionesses. Sarabi glanced up at her mate as he came up to them.

"My love." She said, the two pressing their heads together.

Mufasa then shifted his glance to Nala.

"Nala." He gretted her and her mother.

"Mufasa." Nala greeted back to the lion King.

"How was your Patrol with Jay?" Sarabi asked. curiously.

"It was well. We can only be fortunate that the Peace Times continue to remain." Mufasa proclaimed to them.

"Jay has followed my example well. He has proven to be helpful with the other animals. He might just yet prove himself to be a Good King."

Sarabi was full of much happiness at the news of her adopted son. Not that she had any doubt that he would. She knew that her adopted son will become a great king under Mufasa's guidance. And when the time would come to take Mufasa's place, he would no doubt be as good a ruler as he.

"He's not the only one." Sarabi insisted, glancing to Nala.

Mufasa noticed Sarabi's gesture to Nala and assumed his intentions were so.

"Yes, I assume that Nala shall be great for helping lead the hunts." The Lion King proclaimed to them.

Sarabi, Nala and Sarafina each shared a glance to each other. They each shared a smile at one each other, amusingly. Earning a raised eye brow from Mufasa, who glanced to them, curiously.

"What is it?" He asked, curiously.

"Nala will not just be the one to lead the hunts after me. I've chosen her to be the next Queen." Sarabi proclaimed to Mufasa.

It was a surprise for the aging Mufasa to hear his mate chose who would succeed her as Queen. Never before had it ever been done. That was usually a decision that was left for the Kings of the past.

"You've chosen Nala?" Mufasa asked, curiously.

Sarabi nodded her head to him.

"Times have changed, my love. Jay will need to have a Queen to rule beside him." Sarabi insisted to her mate.

"Regardless of him being human."

Sarabi was right. Times were much different now with Jay succeeding him as King of the Pridelands. Being a human, none of the lionesses were suited to be a mate for him. Though the role of queen was still to be filled. And with no other humans here, he couldn't think of any other better to be Queen then Nala. Strong, brave, caring and loyal to a fault. The qualities posed by Sarabi and all the Queens that had come before them.

Not to mention, with her and Jay being so close, she would be a perfect queen for Jay.

Mufasa smiled, gesturing a nod of his head.

"A wise decision, Sarabi." Mufasa complemented.

Sarabi and Nala turned to each other, smiling.

"Does Jay know you've chosen him a queen?" Mufasa asked, curiously,

The queen shook his head.

"I have not told him yet. But perhaps it should be the one who will rule beside him." Sarabi insisted to him.

Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafia each turned to Nala. Narrowing her eyes, Nala glanced back to Jay, who was washing his face with the water. she knew that the Queen was right. She should tell Jay of her mother's decision to make her his queen.

"Your right, your majesty. I'll tell him." Nala proclaimed, turning back to them.

"You should not wait. It will be best that he knows now." Mufasa insisted to her.

Nala nodded her head to Mufasa.

"Yes, your majesty." She said.

Nala then stood up as she turned and made her way over to Jay.


Jay splashed some more water over his face as he breathed a sigh of relief. Washing away the dirt and sweat from his face. As well as cooling off from the heat of the savannah.

"Jay?"

Jay paused, glancing back to see Nala standing behind her.

"Hey, Nala." Jay said, standing up over the bank.

"Could we talk for a moment?" Nala asked, curiously.

Jay glanced to her, curiously.

"Uh, sure. What is it?" Jay asked, curiously.

Nala gestured with her head to follow her. She then turned and lead him somewhere to talk. All as Mufasa, Sarabi, and Sarafina watched on at the two with much anticipation. To the future reign over the Pridelands.


Jay and Nala made their way into the the outer plans. Some ways from the watering hole. The two came up to an acacia tree, overlooking the Pridelands's far reaching Serengeti. Where the other animals roamed and grazed freely. A land that they would soon rule together. Nala came up under the tree as Jay came up next to her.

"Nala?" Jay asked, curiously.

Nala turned as she glanced up to him.

"There's something you mother wanted me to tell you. About when you become King." Nala insisted to him.

"What about it?" Jay asked, curiously.

"Every King needs to have a queen to rule beside them, Jay." Nala insisted to him.

Jay sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, yeah. Mother and I already talked about that" Jay insisted to her.

"But I don't really see how I'm supposed to have one. I mean, I'm not even a Lion, how am I suppose...?"

Jay then paused at the mere thought. Causing him to shake his head, trying to rid his mind of such a thought.

"I don't think I need to go there." Jay joked with her.

Nala smiled, nodding her head in agreement.

"Actually, Sarabi has chosen me to be the next queen." Nala proclaimed to him.

Jay paused upon hearing Nala. He the cocked his head to her, both confused and surprised at what she had said.

"What...?" Jay asked, curiously.

Nala nodded her head to him.

"Your mother thinks that you will still need a queen to rule by your side. And she's chosen me." Nala insisted to him.

Jay shifted his eyes to the side. He was conflicted to say the least at the nothing his mother chose him a queen. Though it was something that was bound to happened. But for it to be Nala of all the Pride who would be his queen. While they were close friends, he never thought that it would be her that would be his queen.

Jay cocked his head to the side, pondering.

"Gees... that's... uh." Jay said, trying to find the right words to say.

"What?" Nala asked, curiously.

Jay shook his head.

"I just... never thought that..." Jay said.

Jay's glanced then turned to the horizon overhead, where he noticed there was smoke in the distance. He then paused.

"Wait... look!" Jay said pointing overhead.

Nala turned where she noticed the smoke overhead.

"Fire?" Nala asked.

"Somethings wrong, come on!" Jay proclaimed, before rushing ahead toward the sight of the fire.