Chapter 17, A Brother's Betrayal Part I
A pack of hyenas surrounded Mufasa, circling him like a lone antelope. Despite Mufasa's growls and defensive gestures, the hyenas only mockingly chuckle at the aging Lion King. In the past, hyenas would run for the outlands when they met with the King of the Pridelands; those times were well and truly gone. Mufasa was old and much weaker without the rest of the Pride to aid him.
Amongst the pack, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed grinned schemingly.
"Shenzi!" Mufasa said.
"Well, well, look why we got here, everybody. Looks like the King is a little lost," Shenzi proclaimed.
"Hey, yeah, he's a little far from home. Wouldn't you say, Ed?" Banzai asked curiously.
Ed laughed at Banzai's remark, as did the rest of the clan. Mufasa growled.
"What are you all doing in the Pridelands? Return to the Outalnds or else!" Mufasa growled.
Shenzi chuckled.
"Oh... I don't think so. We got an old score to settle with you," Shenzi proclaimed to him.
The other hyenas growled, bearing their canines at the aging Lion King, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Mufasa, who shifted his glance around at the hyena clan. None had ever dared show such hostility toward Mufasa, not without having faced the consequences that came with it. However, Mufasa would not allow such a gesture to consume him with anger. He would indeed answer their hostility accordingly, as he had done in the past.
"I will only give you this final chance, Shenzi! Leave now!" Mufasa proclaimed.
"Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?" Shenzi continued to say.
"Yeah, there's more of us than there are of you," Banzai insisted.
With that, Ed and the other hyenas attacked the aging Lion King. With a single swipe of his paw and a mighty roar, Mufasa sent some of the hyenas flying back from him. However, it was not long before the pack began overwhelming him. One of the hyenas leaped atop his back, where they sank their canines into his neck, which caused him to growl in utter pain.
The hyenas came at him from all sides, and they bit and clawed at Mufasa. An act that caused the Lion King to roar in pain. It was up to him to react accordingly as he continued swiping his paws at them, though it would prove ineffective.
Returning from scouring the west, Zazu could hear the lion's roars. He paused mid-air, hearing the roars of Mufasa from overhead. He then gasped. It sounded as if the King was in trouble. With haste, the Majordomo flew ahead to see what was happening.
Jay and Nala also heard Mufasa roaring from the distance. However, this time, it sounded much different. Jay stood there as he gazed into the distance, staring with both awe and worry. Jay had grown up hearing all the times that Mufasa would roar in the past; he came to hear just how different they were and what they meant, and the one he heard now signified danger in the Pridelands.
A danger that Mufasa was at the very center of.
Jay turned back to Nala.
"Somethings wrong! Father is in danger!" Jay exclaimed.
Without a second thought, the two took off in the direction it was coming from.
Zira and Kovu watched the two from a close distance. Along with them were a small group of hyenas. Zira stared, squinting his eyes in contempt. While things seemed to be going as planned, there seemed to be a loose thread.
That being Nala.
They had not counted on her being with him. Typically, this would not be of any concern, as they would dispose of anyone who would jeopardize their plan. However, she and Taka agreed that Nala would be Kovu's mate and the next queen. Thus, no harm could befall the future queen, yet they still needed to ensure she would not be in the way of what was about to happen.
Kovu turned to his mother.
"Nala?! You didn't tell me that Nala was here," Kovu proclaimed.
"Do not fret, Kovu. This is but a minor inconvenience," She insisted to him.
Zira shifted her glanced back at the hyenas, gesturing a nod of her head.
"Go!" she said.
The Hyenas all scurried after Jay and Nala, much to the dismay of Kovu, who was looking on worryingly. He then shifted his glance back at Zira sternly.
"I never agreed to this!" he exclaimed to her.
Zira shook her head.
"Calm down, Kovu. Nala will not be harmed," She reassured.
"She is to be Queen, after all, and no harm can befall our future queen," Zira insisted to him.
"They are just the distraction."
Despite his mother's reassurance, Kovu was still left worried, especially about what he was about to do.
Jay and Nala plowed through the tall grass as they made their way to aid Mufasa. They paused momentarily, gazing over the plain as they listened for Mufasa. They heard Mufasa's roar from off to their right as if in reply.
"That way!" Nala exclaimed.
Just as the two dashed off in that direction, the familiar sound of a hyena's laughter stopped them. They turned back and saw rustling in the grass behind them and the continuous cackling of the hyenas as they emerged from the grass. Jay and Nala turned back to face them.
"Hyenas?" Nala said.
"What are they doing in the Pridelands?" Jay said.
The hyenas snarled at them, attempting to encircle them. Jay and Nala take a defensive stance before the intruders. Reaching down his hand, Jay gripped the handle of his knife. Only to hear Mufasa in the distance once more, causing Jay to turn back in the direction.
"We don't have time for this. Father needs help!" Jay insisted.
Nala shifted her glance back at him.
"Go!" Nala insisted on him.
Jay turned back to her.
"What?" He said.
"Go help him. I'll distract them," Nala insisted.
Jay paused hesitantly. He shifted his gaze ahead before turning back to Nala. He didn't wish to leave her alone to fight. While Nala could handle herself in a fight with hyenas, she could not fend off for long. Yet the sounds of Mufasa's struggles continued to tear his attention away. He wanted to rush to his father's aid but did not want to leave Nala.
"Jay, go!" Nala proclaimed.
Jay took one final glance at her before nodding. He then turned and ran off to help Mufasa, though he regretted leaving her alone. He had to help his father, though.
Nala turned back to the hyenas, who circled her. One lunged in attack, only for Nala to pounce and pin them to the ground. The other hyena attempted to attack, but Nala was too swift as she leaped aside. She then swiped her paws at any other that attempted to attack her.
Zira grinned, seeing that her plan had worked. With Nala out of the way, they could now dispose of Jay much more quickly and without any unwanted trouble.
"Perfect, now your chance, Kovu! Go, now!" Zira proclaimed.
"It's time to claim your rightful place."
Kovu nodded.
"Yes, mother," he said.
With that, Kovu made his way down the hillside, disappearing into the tall grass as he pursued Jay with Zira to watch on with much anticipation to see him claim his rightful place.
Mufasa found himself overwhelmed by the many Hyenas. Despite his efforts to fight back, the aging lion king became exhausted quickly. The many wounds from the bites and claw marks caused him to slow down. Despite inflicting many of the Hyenas who attacked him, they remained persistent. No matter how many he knocked away, they continued their attack.
Finding himself ganged upon by other hyenas, Mufasa made a stitch effort to eliminate them. Musting his strength, he swiped at them, swatting them off his with mighty blows. The lion king was being forced back to the canyon's edge behind him.
Jay emerged from the grass and paused. Overhead, he saw what looked to be Mufasa fighting off a pack of hyenas. They seemed to be overwhelming him, much to Jay's worry. Mufasa had fought off hyenas, but he was much too old. He was not as strong and abled as he had been in the past. To make matters worse, Jay could see Mufasa being pushed back toward the canyon's edge.
And he didn't even realize it. Jay widened his eyes. He had to hurry and get to his father before it was too late.
"Oh no! Father!" He exclaimed.
Jay quickly rushed ahead, all but determined to reach his father. Then suddenly, he felt a sudden force knocking him down onto his stomach, along with a lion's roar to be exclaimed. Jay was thrown to the ground, knocking all the air from his lungs. He got back up, looking to see who had knocked him down.
Which was why he was left confused and in shock to see it was Kovu.
"Kovu?" Jay said.
Kovu faced Jay, bearing a stern expression and a low growl, leaving Jay confused at his gesture of hostility. He got back up quickly, squinting his eyes.
"Kovu, what are you doing?" Jay asked.
Kovu did not answer and stood defensively before him, blocking his way to Mufasa.
"Kovu, knock it off! Father needs our help!" Jay insisted.
Yet just as Jay attempted to step forward, Kovu gave another growl before speaking up.
"I'm sorry, Jay. But I can't let you," He said.
Jay glanced at him curiously.
"What?" He asked.
"Lions lead prides. Not humans," Kovu insisted.
"The PrideLands need a true King. And that is my father."
Jay was stunned by what he had heard. He squinted his eyes and shook his head. He couldn't believe what his friends were saying.
"W-what are you talking about? Father is the King," Jay said.
Kovu shook his head.
"No... he's not. And neither are you!" Kovu proclaimed.
"This is my father's destiny. As well as Mine! I am the true king!"
Despite his stern expression, inside Kovu felt utter contempt for the things he said. He felt riddled with guilt and contempt for what he was saying. He knew it was all a lie, every word he had said, but he knew there was no choice. He needed to follow the will of his mother and father.
Jay continued gazing in awe as he shifted back toward his father. Slowly, the pieces began falling into place as he realized this was all planned—and by Taka of all in the Pride—so he could be King. Jay had his suspicions of Taka in the past but never would have thought he would ever overthrow Mufasa, his brother!
And what was worse?
Kovu was a part of it as well. The only other he thought was his friend.
His brother!
Slowly, Jay's expression turned to a stern anger.
"So... it was all a lie! All of it!" Jay exclaimed, turning back to Kovu
"Everything?!"
Kovu only turned away in silence, proving Jay's suspicions were true, which caused him to scowl in anger. He couldn't just stand there and let it happen. He had to stop this.
Jay attempted to rush to his father's aid, only for Kovu to pounce upon him again, causing them both to land on the ground. Jay kicked him off with his foot, sending him flying off. Jay rolled over onto his stomach, standing back up with his knife drawn. Kovu stood up, growling.
"I'm not going to let you do this!" Jay proclaimed.
"Nor am I," Kovu said.
With that, the two lunged at each other, clashing into a struggle. The two stood over their hind legs, where Jay attempted to hold back Kovu, who growled and swiped his paws. The two struggled for a time before Jay threw Kovu to the side with all the strength he could muster. Kovu rolled over onto his side, only to quickly stand again.
"I won't fight you, Kovu," Jay said.
Kovu only stared at him for a moment. Only to roar as he pounced at Jay again with a roar to follow. Jay leaped back from Kovu, who attempted to slash his claws at him. However, Jay proved to be too swift. Jumping to the side, Jay slashed at Kovu with his dagger as he tried to come at him again. The agger slashed Kovu's face, which caused him to roar in pain as he sauntered backward.
He turned back to face Jay, revealing the bloody scar on his face. Kovu once more pounced at Jay, but he was knocked to the ground before he could react, causing him to lose his grip over his knife. Jay held back Kovu, who stood over him. Yet despite this, Kovu swiped his paw and pierced Jay's shoulders with his claws, which caused him to groan in pain. Jay rolled them over onto Kovu's back as they continued to struggle.
Shenzi and her pack continued to attack Mufasa as he sauntered back from them. The aging Lion King was just a foot from the edge, precisely where they wanted him. It was all part of Taka's plan for them to be rid of Mufasa. They had managed to hold his attention for this long. Now, all that was needed was one final push.
Shenzi grinned with anticipation.
"Time to finish this! Distract him," She said to Banzi and Ed.
The two nodded their heads with a conniving grin. The two came around to each side of Mufasa with their pack members to support them. Mufasa shifted his glance back from one to another, seeing the hyenas that closed the distance upon him, which caused him to backway further, too wounded and weak to continue fighting them off.
Yet upon doing so, Mufasa had come to feel the very edge of the canyon. He shifted his glance back to see the bottomless pit that lay below. However, he would not be given the chance, for as he turned back, Shenzi pounced upon him, pushing him back with her body. Mufassa was shoved back over the edge, where the ground had given in beneath his paws and caused him to fall over the cliffside.
The aging Lion King seeped his claws into the cliff, sliding to a stop.
Jay heard his father's sudden roars. He turned back and saw Mufasa sliding down the steep hillside.
"Father!" He exclaimed.
His gaze shifted to the significant fall below him. He then turned to look up at the cliff edge above. There he was, the Hyena, looking down and chuckling. Shenzi turned back to the other hyenas.
"Come on! He's as good as dead anyway!" Shenzi insisted.
Mufasa suddenly felt himself sliding down. Slowly, he saw it growing farther from his reach, feeling his claws slip down the steep cliffside. He couldn't hold on for long; he needed to reach the top fast.
Mufasa slowly began climbing up the cliffside, attempting to reach the top. He felt himself slipping down momentarily, but he quickly caught himself and continued climbing, paying little mind to his exhaustion and the wounds he received from the hyenas. He was all but determined to reach the top of the cliff. He could only hope that Zazu had gotten word back to Sarabi and the rest of the pride.
As he reached the edge above, Taka met him, staring down at him.