Alright, James gets a little...intense...after what he heard. He's on a mission, and nothing short of...well, you'll see.

Simba overlooked the Pridelands from right outside the den. Nala had taken to sleep like she hadn't had any in days. Kiara was thankfully safe, giving both of them some piece of mind.

The king sighed, his head dipping for a moment before rising to the sky.

"Father…I wish you were here right now. You would know what to do. I know wishing won't bring you back. I just…wanted more time with you." His eyes caught a light near the base of Pride Rock.

The light that had been clinging to me earlier was more intense, almost compacted tighter around me. The deeper color set Simba on edge, like an instinctive itch warning him of a potential threat. Then he saw a cowering form following behind me.

"James?" I stopped when he stepped in front of me.

"Yes, Simba?" I didn't meet his eyes.

"…What are you doing with that hyena?"

"Righting a wrong. You. Stay here until I call." The hyena crouched where she was, quivering in fear. I stepped inside.

Seeing Nala asleep with Kiara in her grasp helped me breath a little easier, the light around me lightening by a hair.

I locked onto Zira. Her eyes opened and she shot upright as I approached her.

"What do you want? Not satisfied with that soft bellied excuse for a king protecting you? Do you wish for death?" She hissed. A few other lionesses watched in concern, most of them not awake yet. They knew I actively avoided Zira. To see me confronting her, especially with the strange light coming off of me, put them on edge.

"I want the truth." I looked down my nose at her.

"What? What truth?"

"How Kopa died." Some pride members gasped. No one spoke of that cub.

"How do you know that name?!" Zira hissed.

"Answer the question," I said tightly. A silent rage simmered beneath my tone. She looked me over a few times before scoffing and raising her head.

"The weakling couldn't fight off a few measly hyena. It just goes to show he wasn't fit to be the future king." More gasps came from around us. "It wouldn't surprise me if you are planning on doing the same thing with the little princess over there." The temperature in the den dropped. The light around me grew enough to touch the farthest corners of the den.

"What." My whisper cut through the air like a blade.

"Oh? Did I touch a nerve? Better hope it doesn't snap like the little one's neck." My hand wrapped around her throat and I slammed her against the wall, shaking dust from the den ceiling.

"Never speak of Kiara!" I shouted as my energy flared. Tendrils of it lashed around wildly, rising up enough to nearly touch the ceiling. She kicked me off of her and leaped at me with a roar. I twisted out of the way and we faced each other in the middle of the den.

"I'll gut you like every other threat to this pride!" She said with pride herself as her claws dug into the floor.

"You mean like that pack of buffoons you manipulated?" I shot back.

"What are you on about?!"

"How was it that the killing blow, a bite mark to the neck, was that of a lion?" Her eyes widened and she looked around. The pride had all awoken by this point and watched in confusion. Some of them caught on and glowered at her. Others looked on in disbelief. "You were so unbelievably arrogant that you couldn't let them do it. You had to step in and deal the final blow yourself."

"I would never!" She spat.

"Be caught doing it? True, you're too smart for that. But you should have let the hyenas handle it."

"You have no proof! None!"

"Really?" I turned towards the entrance, calling out. "Get in here!"

From outside slunk the hyena. She was basically crawling on her belly as her eyes tried to keep every lion in sight. Whispers broke out. Simba watched from the entrance. Nala, who was wide awake by this point, stood up. Kiara watched from between her paws.

"James? Why did you bring a hyena here? You know they're banished from these lands!" The Queen exclaimed before something else occurred to her. "H-how did you even find her?!

"She's not staying." I leveled a look at the shaking form. "Tell them what you told me." The hyena flinched. It took her several moments, but she squeaked out that a lioness had paid in food for her pack to take out the first born of the king and queen.

"W-we had to accept. Our pups were starving-!" A sharp roar cut her off as Nala flew across the den, tackling her. The hyena screamed in the expectation of pain. Nala raised a paw high, claws flashing and her teeth bore in a snarl.

"You killed my son!"

"No! Please!" The hyena's eyes squeezed shut.

"Nala!" A hand grabbed her forearm. Her head whipped up and glared at me. I held her gaze for a moment. My voice turned low, steady, something for her to latch onto. "She wasn't involved. She only took the food from the ones who made the deal." I tipped my head forward, urging her to get my point. Realization dawned on her face a few seconds later. I let go of her leg. She turned to Zira, hot tears in her eyes.

"What. Did. You. Do." If I hadn't known that tone was directed at someone else, I would have felt my skin crawl.

"I didn't do anything! He's a liar! He probably threatened that fleabag with that beast of his until she promised to tell this ridiculous story!" Zira tried to defend herself. Simba stepped forward, deciding to get involved.

"What James said was true. The bite wound on the neck was a lion's."

"How can you believe either of them?! They're both outsiders!"

"So, you don't deny the bite mark was a lion's?" I pushed. She stiffened.

"Of course I do!" She spat.

"Three against one. Nala and Simba both saw the wound and personally confirmed it was a lion's bite that killed Kopa. This hyena here brings the truth. You paid them to attack him, then finished him off yourself!"

"I did not!" I continued pressing her.

"So you didn't travel to the hyena's home. You didn't find the one pack that doesn't hate Scar. You didn't offer trade, blood for blood, kill for murder." She leaped at me with a snarl. Something large smacked into her side, sending her crashing to the ground. Leone stood in front of me, his protective growl vibrating the den. No one had seen his Bey sneak in, distracted by the events.

"Again, you didn't deny it," I said. She shot to her feet and roared.

"ENOUGH! If it means even a moment of peace, I'll kill your pet and then you!"

"M-mom?" Silence crashed down on the den. Kovu stepped into the middle of the cave. Vitani stopped near the legs of another lioness. Nuka watched from a distance.

"Kovu, go back to sleep." I nearly snorted at the ridiculous command. No one was sleeping during this.

"What did he mean by that? Did you, kill someone?" Zira's eyes went wide. They locked onto me.

"You. You turned everyone against me. Even my own cubs!" I scoffed.

"You did that when you couldn't get over your obsession." She roared to the skies, her hackles fully raising.

"I would rather die than be under the rule of that soft hearted fool any longer!" She tossed her head towards Simba. I tipped my head to the side.

"That can be arranged." Leone had her on her back within seconds. When she tried to get up, his paw slammed into her neck. It wasn't hard enough to cut off her air, but she froze all the same. I sidled over and crouched next to her, wisely staying out of reach. My arms rested on my knees.

"The only reason Leone isn't doing to you what you did to my friends' son is because cubs are watching. Even try and hurt this pride again and it will be the last thing you do." My voice fell as quietly as sand settling on the cave floor. A deep purple fire spread from my bad eye and around my entire body. Our combined presence pressed down enough to start suffocating her.

"I don't play nice with kid killers." Something in my tone made Zira stop. That wasn't a warning of a man who would bow down. That was the threat of a man who was willing to do unspeakable things in that very moment. One bad move. One twitch in the wrong direction, and she very well could lose her life on the floor of the den she loved in.

Her heart felt like it had been frozen by an icy wind. Fear shone from behind the mask she worked so hard to keep in place.

"James!" Kiara came into my line of sight.

"Kiara!" Nala cried. The cub ignored her as she stumbled, barely able to walk.

"You are scaring her!" The cub said in an infantile manner. She had only just started learning to speak a week or two ago.

My energy faded to a level that still allowed us to see. Zira gasped for air. Leone stepped back before shattering, his Bey spinning calmly. I scooped up Kiara and walked over to Nala. I set her down at her paws.

"Keep her away from that psychopath," I muttered, before turning to the hyena. She pressed further into the floor.

"Please don't hurt me…" The hyena's eyes darted between myself and Leone's Bey.

"Tell your little gaggle of giggles that if they ever harm another lion in this pride, they'll deal with me. Go." She nodded quickly before bolting, yipping and yelping, down the path of Pride Rock. Silence filled the den.

Only then did I realize just how far out of line I had stepped. I had outright ignored the king of this pride, casting judgment on one of his members. Threatening them.

I bowed my head to Simba, stepping back. Looking at him without raising my head, I was surprised to see him nod back.

He turned to Zira, who had pushed herself up onto her front legs, looking pained. Kovu and Vitani were both rubbing against her legs while Nuka was oddly the one to stay back. I figured his 'must please mother at all costs' attitude would have him dotting all over her.

"Zira," Simba said. She looked at him with a scowl. "You are accused of the murder of the former prince of the Pridelands. You are accused of planning such an act with the hyenas. How do you plead." Zira glared at most of us, especially me, before her eyes fell to her feet.

"She didn't do it!" Kovu shouted, startling a few of us. "There's no way my mom killed someone!" My heart went out to him. It couldn't be easy to hear such things. Vitani was oddly quiet as she pressed under Zira's chin.

"Kovu, this is a conversation for the adults." Simba's voice wasn't harsh. His eyes even showed sympathy.

"You're all bullies! That's all you are!" Kovu cried defiantly. He sniffed before shaking his head. "You're just bullies!" The pride stared solemnly.

"Vitani, Kovu, Nuka. We're leaving," Zira said. She stood up and gathered the two cubs at her feet. Simba took a step forward.

"Zira."

"Not another word out of you!" She growled, "Clearly, you're delusional enough to believe this, this monster you let into this pride! There's nothing for us here. You will regret the day you stepped out of tradition." I stayed silent as she glared at me. Leone's Bey shifted closer to my feet, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

"Nuka! NOW!" Zira howled.

"Yes, mother!" The cub scrambled after her. Kovu glanced back, his eyes meeting mine. Despite his words just a moment ago, he looked at me with sadness.

"…Bye…"

"Goodbye," I whispered, hoping his mom wouldn't hear. He stared for a moment longer before following her.

Total silence slammed down on the entire pride. Shock at what happened slowly settled in.

I walked over to my little corner and sat down. Leone spun over and settled near my feet.

"I'm okay, Leone. Just, exhausted." Nala walked over.

"James…thank you." I nodded to her, but my eyes went back to the cave entrance.

"I only wish the cubs weren't involved. They don't deserve this."

"You're right. But we won't separate them from their mother. That would be even crueler." Simba walked over with Kiara in his jaws. He set her down between his front feet. Kiara looked at me with a look only she could pull off.

"Kiara…" I started.

"You sent away Kovu," She begrudged. She pressed against Simba's leg, hiding part of her face.

"I didn't want to."

"You sent away my friend." I closed my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kiara. But his mother was dangerous."

"Zira didn't do anything!" I winced at her biting tone. Her ears were pulled back, making her look both mad and adorable. I sighed before gesturing for her to come closer. She shuffled her paws before walking over. I gently scooped her into my lap.

"Kiara, sometimes people do bad things we don't see. Those people need to answer for those actions."

"But Zira never hurt anyone," She insisted. I sighed through my nose as I pet her. I glanced up at Simba and Nala.

"It's not my story to tell," I said, more to them than her. They looked at each other before nodding.

"We'll tell her," Simba said. I pulled Kiara into a tighter hug. She was shivering.

"Did I scare you, Kiara?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"No." I closed my eyes and sighed through my nose. Her young age made her vulnerable to the power I had shown. I had nearly gone too far. Again.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not scared," She protested.

"I know. I'm sorry." I hugged her a little tighter.

"…I thought you were going to hurt her," Her whisper made my heart ache.

'There it is…'

"I almost did. Thank you, for stopping me." I meant what I said. "…Your parents have something to tell you."

"What is it?" I looked away.

"That's for them to say." She turned around, looking at them with a creased brow.

"Mommy? Daddy? What's he talking about?"

"Come walk outside with us," Nala said. Kiara hopped out of my arms and padded after her, her head tilted in a curious manner. Simba's head lowered and he sighed.

"I had hoped to never tell her."

"She deserves to know she had a brother," I said, barely keeping the edge off my tone. It wasn't right to keep that kind of information from her. Waiting until she was older? Understandable. But never telling her was wrong. Exhaustion pulled his head down.

"She does…" He turned to follow his family.

"Simba." He looked over his shoulder. "I overstepped my boundaries. I apologize." I dipped my head to him. He stared at the ground.

"You did something I didn't have the strength to do. For that, you have my thanks."

"It's not always easy to confront the ones we have a duty to protect. Even if they deserve it." He nodded and stepped outside. I didn't miss that his tail was dragging.

'Mufasa, if you can hear this, they're going to need you now more than ever.' I watched the entrance to the cave. I could barely see stars in the now dark sky.

Part of me wondered if I should have waited until morning to accuse Zira. At least then the cubs would have been traveling during the day and not the middle of the night. But it was too late now.

"I hate you!" Kiara followed her cry, running past every lioness and plowing right into my chest. I snapped out of my stupor as the air in my lungs was forced out. I was nearly knocked backwards, and only an arm snapping behind me kept my head from bouncing off the rock floor.

"Oof! Hey, wha-!"

"I had a brother!" Her tears soaked my shirt. "Why would they lie?!" I glanced around, noting the lionesses staring in sympathy. Sarabi got up and walked over.

"Oh, little one…" She started. Kiara rounded on her.

"You lied too!" I felt her needle like claws poke through my pants.

"Kiara!" Her viciousness towards her grandmother shocked me.

"She lied! Liar!" She buried her head into my chest again, refusing to look up. Watching the cub for a moment, I reached out my hand and placed it on Sarabi's neck.

"I'll watch her," I whispered. Sarabi looked like she had aged another 5 years. The pain in her eyes made my heart twist. She nodded before slowly stepping back to her spot and laying down, though her eyes didn't leave us for long. I shifted around until Kiara and I were laying down.

"Why…" The cub sniffed as I laid my blanket over us.

"They didn't want to hurt you. They thought they were protecting you by not telling you."

"They should have told me," She tried to growl. I tried not to find it cute.

"I agree. But how do you tell your child their older brother was killed? At what age would you have understood that?"

"I understand now…"

"And as painful as it might be, today might have been the right day."

"I hate them," She repeated. I gently flicked her ear. She shook her head and glared at me. "Hey!"

"You don't hate them."

"Yes, I do," She said adamantly.

"No, you don't. You're in pain." We went back and forth a few times. She tried to stay angry, but like any young child, it quickly wore her out. It was late enough anyways.

"I hate them…" Her head rested on the ground and her eyes were drifting shut. A tired sigh escaped my lips. I rested my head on my arm as I rubbed her ears.

"…I know."