Hearts Never Lie

A/N: Here we go, with the first official chapter. Roll it!

Chapter 1

A Secret Friendship

Seven months later, the Pride Lands have been mostly at peace. Everyone seemed happy and content, as least as much during the dry season.

But near the barren canyons of the Outlands, wandering alone, was a young lion cub; a male. He had pale golden fur with slightly darker specks on his ankles, a bright red mane tuft on his head, matching the tuft on his tail, and light amber eyes. Kion, the Prince of the Pride Lands, and leader of the Lion Guard.

Kion knew that his father would never let him go into the Outlands alone. But one time, he did, on accident. But there, he made a new friend, and a surprising one at that. That was the reason why Kion was wandering around the border by himself.

A rustling nearby in the tall dry grass caught the cub's attention. He cautiously sniffed the air, trying to smell if there were any intruders in the area.

Suddenly, there was a familiar laugh, and before Kion could register it in his mind, he was tackled by a dark purple-gray blur.

A hyena. And a young female one at that, looking around his age. But she wasn't hurting the cub, just playfully pinning him to the ground.

"Surprised?" She asked with a giggle.

Kion rolled his eyes with a smirk. "You wish, Jasiri." He said, pushing her off him.

Jasiri only giggled again as her friend got back on his paws. The story of how these two became friends is an interesting one, to say the least.

A couple of months ago, Kion had gotten stuck in the Outlands. A mission gone awry. He told his friends in the Guard to meet him at Flat Ridge Rock, which sort of served as a crossing between the two lands.

On his way there, he had gotten lost and met Jasiri. At first, Kion refused any help from the hyena, for obvious reasons. But when he got stuck and slightly sore from falling into a thorn bush, he reluctantly accepted her help.

Needless to say, he was surprised that she offered to help, despite her sometimes non-serious behavior. But soon, Jasiri taught him "sisi ni sawa", meaning that they're the same deep down. That got Kion to understand that not everyone of a species is bad.

The two became best friends ever since then, helping each other out of some tough spots. Kion helped her when Outsiders were causing problems, and when Jasiri and two young hyena pups from her clan were trapped in a steam vent. The only ones who know of their friendship were the other members of the Lion Guard and Jasiri's clan. Well, at least they're on the good side. But if Simba were to find about his son's friendship with a hyena of all animals, pleased was the last thing he would be.

"How have things been?" Kion asked.

"Pretty well." Jasiri said. "Everyone in my clan's okay."

Kion smiled as he remembered that Jasiri convinced her clan to form the Hyena Resistance to help the Lion Guard fight their enemies in the Outlands. It was meant to be a secret, but then, the bad guys found out. So now, the entire Resistance moved to a different location in the canyons to hide from them.

Kion had offered to find them a suitable hiding place in the Pride Lands, but Jasiri assured him that they'll be fine. After all, "kwetu ni kwetu", meaning "home is home." Since then, the Hyena Resistance has been safe from any enemies, but the visits between the two friends have been becoming fewer.

"How about here in the Pride Lands?" Jasiri asked.

"Actually, things have been pretty quiet for a few days." Kion answered.

"That's surprising." Jasiri said. "In a good way, though."

"Yeah." Kion agreed. "To be honest, this is the most excitement that has happened in the past week."

"Wow! Fighting boredom much?" Jasiri asked rhetorically. "What about patrol with the Guard?"

"We already finished, and everyone's off doing their own thing." Kion answered.

"What about your family?"

He scoffed. "My sister is doing hunting lessons with my mom, and my dad hardly ever has time off these days."

Now Jasiri was starting to get a little annoyed trying to help Kion with his boredom problem. "Why don't you join the hunting lesson with your sister?"

"Psssh. You're kidding, right?" Kion asked. "The last time I did that, Kiara couldn't go a foot without making noise, and then she got mad because I did a better job than her."

"Okay, that is a problem." The female hyena said.

Just then, an idea came to her head. "Well, how about you show me those hunting skills of yours?"

Kion raised a brow. "Why?"

Jasiri just shrugged, trying to act indifferent. "Well, it's just strange that you claim to be so good, yet I managed to sneak up on you a good number of times."

Kion glowered. "That's because I wasn't paying attention!" He defended.

Jasiri chuckled. "Okay then, how about you prove it?" She challenged.

Kion smirked. "You're on."

The female hyena returned the playful smirk and then took off into the grass at a fast pace. Kion waited about five seconds before giving chase.

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It had only been five minutes, and Kion could tell that Jasiri wasn't going easy on him. He stopped running and began sniffing the air and the ground, trying to see if he can get her scent.

Soon, he saw some footprints that led to a dry patch of grass. He lowered himself into a pouncing position, getting ready to strike. When he heard a rustle, he made his move. He quickly turned behind him and pounced.

"Gotcha!" Kion exclaimed, tackling a surprised Jasiri, and the two young animals rolled around in the tall bristly grass until the lion cub had the hyena pup pinned down on the ground, on her back.

"How's that for hunting skills?" He asked with a smug smirk.

Jasiri was laughing uncontrollably as Kion began tickling her sides. "Okay, okay! You made your point!"

Kion laughed as he got off his friend, and Jasiri rolled onto her stomach, laughing as well. But then, the cub heard someone calling his name.

"Kion!" Both Kion and Jasiri looked up to see Zazu flying above.

"Stay down." Kion whispered to his friend. Jasiri nodded and crouched down to her haunches to try and hide within the tall dry grass.

Zazu came down to land in front of Kion. "There you are." He said. "I take it your patrol is finished."

Kion nodded. "Yeah, about an hour go." He said. "Things have been pretty quiet around here."

Zazu looked around the area. "Yes, it would seem so." He said. Kion felt his heart would jump out of his chest as he hoped that the hornbill wouldn't discover Jasiri. However, after a few tense seconds, Zazu faced the young cub again. "Your father is meaning to speak with you." He said.

Kion raised a brow. "What about?" He asked him. He hoped that he wasn't in trouble again.

"Oh, nothing too serious, I suppose." Zazu assured him.

"Okay." Kion said. "Tell my dad I'll be home soon."

"Very well, Kion." Zazu said, and he took off to the sky again.

Kion breathed a sigh of relief. He turned back to Jasiri as she got back to a normal standing position. "Sorry about that, but-"

"It's okay, Kion." Jasiri said, cutting him off before he started to ramble. "I understand."

Kion smiled bashfully. "I'll admit, I miss seeing you."

The hyena smirked at his comment. "Aww, so you care." She cooed.

Kion playfully rolled his eyes. "I wish we can spend some more time together."

Jasiri's teasing grin turned softer. "All joking aside, me too." She confessed.

Suddenly, Kion had an idea. "Hey, how about once a month, we meet up at Flat Ridge Rock?"

Jasiri had her ears perked up in consideration. "Sounds promising." She said with a smile. "We can meet up at sunset on one of the days when the moon is full."

Kion smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

Jasiri giggled again. "Are you really that eager to see me again?" She asked teasingly.

Kion scoffed playfully. "Don't push it." He replied in the same tone.

Both the lion and hyena laughed until Jasiri turned to leave. "Until then, Jasiri." Kion said.

"Until then, Kion." Jasiri replied softly. But then her smile turned cheeky. "Or sooner if I have to help save your sorry tail!"

"Or yours!" Kion called back after her as she disappeared towards the Outlands. The lion cub stayed where he was for a few more seconds, staring in the direction his friend ran off. Then, he turned around and started towards his own home of Pride Rock.

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And that was how once a month, during the very few nights when the moon was full, Kion and Jasiri would meet up and spend some time together. The only ones who knew about these meetings were Jasiri's clan and the other members of the Lion Guard. Kion couldn't tell his family about these meetings, knowing that his father would be furious, for sure. His mother might be a bit more understanding, but he felt too nervous to take that risk.

His sister, Kiara, was another story. Kion had once considered telling her, knowing that she had a similar experience with an Outsider back when they were younger. There's just one problem, she couldn't keep a secret even if her life depended on it.

But none of that really mattered. Whenever he would see the moon getting brighter and fatter by the night, Kion could feel a smile on his face.

Time flew by quickly, and the lion and hyena were no longer a cub and pup. They were now adolescents, nearing maturity. Their meeting by the moon at the end of twilight were what both Kion and Jasiri looked forward to every month. But neither of them could understand why they would get so excited and giddy, knowing that they would see each other soon. And every time, they would accept that they're just excited to see one another again. Maybe a little bit too excited.

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One sunset, Jasiri was waiting for Kion at their usual place at Flat Ridge Rock. The sun was almost down, and that lion still had yet to arrive. The hyena was starting to get a little worried.

What if he got caught sneaking out? She thought. Or worse, what if he forgot? Then, she shook her head rapidly. Whoa, there. Getting a little too worried, huh? If anything happened so that he couldn't make it, he'll let me know somehow.

Finally, she heard the soft padded paws that she'd come to recognize. "Sorry I'm late."

Something had triggered inside of Jasiri when she heard how deep Kion's voice had gotten since the last time they met up. She turned to face her friend, and her eyes really liked the animal that stood before her.

Kion had become quite a handsome young lion, his mane now larger and down to his nape, his shoulders more broad and his upper body slightly more muscular. He even seemed a few inches taller. But he still had the youthful and adventurous spark in his eyes.

Somehow, Kion lost all speech when he saw Jasiri. She had become a very pretty hyena. Her mane had grown past her shoulders and onto her back, and she was about his height, maybe even an inch shorter. But she still had that strong, confident posture that made her different than the other hyenas.

The two of them were silent as they just stared at each other, amethyst eyes lost in light gold. Finally, Jasiri broke the silence.

"Like what you see?" She asked him teasingly, shifting herself into a stance more suitable for viewing pleasure.

Kion slightly blushed at her implication, but then smirked coyly. "If I say 'yes', will you admit that you were doing the same?"

Jasiri felt her face heating up, but she was never one to turn down a challenge. "Maybe." She teased.

Then, Kion took a small, tentative step closer to her. "Then, yeah." He said softly. "You're much prettier than when I last saw you."

When did he get so charming? Jasiri thought, finding it harder to suppress her blush.

"But you're still the same sneaky and quirky hyena I know." Kion added, a wide and cheeky smile on his face.

Jasiri giggled at his little quip, kind of glad that he's trying to lighten up the mood, making Kion laugh as well. "Well, I'll say this, you're not too hard on the eyes, either. For such a crazy and knuckle-headed lion."

Both of them laughed as they each took a step closer to the other. But their little moment was cut short when they heard a voice.

"Kion!" Both lion and hyena tensed up when they heard that. Instinctively, Jasiri leaped over the rock to hide, but this time, Kion followed her. Both of them were silent as they pressed up against the large rock in the narrow hiding place.

Jasiri was about to ask Kion why he was hiding instead of answering the voice like he usually does. However, she soon found out why.

"Kion?" The voice was feminine. And by the look on her friend's face, it was an unwelcome one.

From up above their hiding place, there were three young lionesses all about Kion's age. One of them was his older sister, Kiara, and the other two were her best friends, Tiifu and Zuri. All three of them had grown into great beauties.

"Where did he go?" Zuri moaned. "And why does he like being near the Outlands?"

"I don't know." Kiara admitted. "But Zuri, as much as I love you like a sister, whoever Kion chooses is up to him."

"Come on, Kiara." Zuri said. "He's such a strong and handsome lion."

Hiding from view, Jasiri saw the annoyed look on Kion's face growing deeper at Zuri's swooning words.

"Look, I won't disagree with you about Kion." Tiifu spoke up, ever the peacemaker. "But I have to agree with Kiara. It's really all up to him if he even wants a companion."

Zuri just grumbled under her breath.

"But I will say this." Kiara said. "Whoever my brother chooses, she must be something else if she manages to catch his attention."

Tiifu giggled. "True." She said, knowing how thick-headed and dense the lion prince was when it came to matters of the heart.

The pale cream lioness then nudged Zuri. "Come on. Let's just head back home. It's almost dark."

Zuri groaned. "Fine." She hesitantly complied, disappointed that her little search for the handsome prince had to end fruitless.

The three lionesses soon left the area. Carefully, both Kion and Jasiri peeked over opposite sides of the rock they were hiding behind to see if they were really gone.

Seeing that they were, both of them breathed out a sigh of relief. But then, when they turned back to face each other, they were practically touching nose to nose. Awkwardly, they backed away.

"Sorry." They said at the same time, embarrassed. Kion just chuckled lightly, staring at his friend. Jasiri returned the gaze, giggling.

Then, the lion ascended up the rock, his hyena friend following him. They both sat at the top of it, admiring the last few moments of sunset transitioning to dusk.

Jasiri stole a glance at Kion. His light gold eyes seemed to glow brighter in the red hues of the sun. His golden fur looked like it was glowing as well. A gentle wind started to blow, softly ruffling his still developing mane, and his Mark of the Lion Guard on his left shoulder was in her view.

Kion caught her staring and smirked playfully. "See something you like?" He asked, turning the tables on her from earlier.

Jasiri rolled her eyes with an amused smile. "You goof, I already said that you're handsome."

Kion laughed. "I know. I was just teasing."

His friend just playfully shoved him, but didn't push him off the rock, and both of them laughed.

"And I wasn't lying when I said you were pretty." He continued.

Jasiri laughed again. "Charmer." She teased.

Both of them continued to laugh as they once again fell into a comfortable silence, admiring the horizon as the sun faded into the background. Eyeing her friend beside her again, Jasiri decided to test something to find out what she was exactly feeling towards him.

Slowly, she scooted towards him. He caught what she was doing, so she stopped, looking down at her paws, her face flooding with intense heat. But then, he inched closer to her. She looked back up at him and the soft smile he was giving her made her cheeks heat up again, but this time, the warmth was much more gentle. She returned the smile as she continued to scoot closer to him until they were sitting side by side closely.

Then, Jasiri started to carefully nuzzle under Kion's chin. The lion froze for a second, his heart pounding furiously. But then, he had a feeling that somehow, not only did this feel really nice, but right. Kion started returning the nuzzles down to her face, making Jasiri's heart leap with an unknown but joyous emotion.

The two of them just continued giving each other careful but affectionate nuzzles as the first bright stars in the dark purple twilight sky started to appear above them. Whatever this feeling was, it felt wonderful, powerful, exhilarating, and most of all, right. Well, both of them had a slight idea as to what it was, but they needed further proof.

A/N: Yeah. That's pretty fluffy. And it's only gonna increase in the next chapter before things get more interesting.

And okay, I admit it, I was basically listening to this song from the movie while I was writing this. 

https://youtu.be/M5uZLyTAOcA

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment about what you think.

Until next time! Got to fly! ;)