Love Beyond Reasons

A/N: Here it is, Part Three!

Chapter 9

Meet the Outsiders

Part Three

Further down the pass, Zira began to speak. "Kion. Son of Simba." She said to the young cub trailing behind her. "I'm so glad to meet you."

"You are?" Kion asked.

"Oh, yes." Zira said, turning to face him. "After all, it doesn't matter where we live. We're all lions, and that's what's important."

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Then, she started to sing as she jumped off the rock she was on a few moments ago.

Zira: There is no greater power
Than to rule over the land.
We both have it inside us.
It's here where we stand.

She had reached into a hole in the ground and pulled out a terrified mouse by the tail. It trembled in her paw as she gently rubbed the top of its head. Kion watched the scene with cautious eyes.

My friend, you know it's true.
Look close and you will find
Ruling every animal
Is destiny for our kind.

She then released the mouse, and it quickly scampered away. Then, she led Kion into a darkened cave that had a bridge over a river of lava and steam vents.

So if we join together,
We will never fall.
Lions must rule forever.
Lions over all.

Swarms of bats flew overhead, making the cub stop in his tracks briefly as he looked up at them with wide and fearful eyes. Then, he looked over at Zira again.

Lions over all.
No animal is more grand.
Lions over all.
It's why we rule the land.

She jumped onto a ledge a little higher above the cub. She then pushed down some old bones that were there, and they landed in front of Kion, making him back away.

We crush any resistance
So enemies keep their distance.
Lions, lions over all.

Kion narrowed his eyes at the adult lioness, coming up to the ledge where she was.

Kion: If we do what you suggest,
We'd be evil and cruel.
Using force and threat,
That is no way to rule.

As she kept on singing, the ledge underneath them began to raise due to the pressure of the steam. Both cub and adult began to circle each other as the steam began blowing rapidly.

Zira: But if we're joined together,
We will never fall.
Yes, lions must rule forever.
Lions over all.

Zira then showed Kion a swarm of beetles on the ground, running rampant. The cub watched with horror as they scattered everywhere, but then it turned to suspicion as Zira swiped them all away.

Lions over all.
No animal is more grand.

Kion: Stay noble and grand.

They then stood on another ledge, which appeared sort of similar to the peak of Pride Rock.

Zira: Lions over all.
It's why we rule the land.

Kion: We must protect the land.

Zira: We crush any resistance (Kion: Friendship and kindness)
So enemies keep their distance. (Will always find us.)

Zira: Lions, lions over all.

Kion narrowed his eyes at the lioness in front of him, not sure if he trusts her philosophy. "Zira, you and I have different ideas on how lions should act." He said.

"And that's why we're here." Zira said simply. "To talk."

She then led a wary Kion back outside to a large stone that looked a bit like a lion's head. It even had sharp rocks jutting out from the ground and above it that acted like they were teeth. "Whoa." He breathed.

"It may not be Pride Rock, but we call it home." Zira said, covering up her lie of what her real home in the Outlands was. "This way." She said, beckoning Kion to follow her into the mouth of the stone lion.

But Kion wanted no more mystery as they walked through the narrow entrance. "Okay, Zira." He said. "We're alone. Tell me about the Roar."

"Don't worry, Kion." Zira said, turning back to him. "I'll tell you all about it. But first, you need to tell me. Which side are you on? Lions? Or hyenas?" She asked.

Kion narrowed his eyes at her. She was trying to make him betray Jasiri by saying that he was on the side of the lions. But it doesn't matter what animals they are. What really mattered is if they respected the Circle of Life. From what he had learned, it seemed that Zira doesn't. And that was his answer.

"I'm on the side of the Circle of Life." He said. "And the animals who respect it."

Zira briefly glared at the cub, but then sighed. "You do take after your father, don't you?" She asked, nearing the end of the tunnel entrance with Kion following her. "I was hoping you'd choose to side with lions. With me. But if that's your answer ..."

Once they were out, Kion saw that there were a couple of lionesses blocking the entrance they came in from. And they were growling at him. "Zira, what's going on?" He asked, stopping in his tracks.

"It's your choice, Kion." Zira said, turning back to face him. "With me, or against me." As she spoke, more lionesses appeared behind her. "But if you're against me, you'll never leave the Outlands."

Kion glared at her. "Jasiri was right." He said, taking a couple of steps back. "She knew not to trust you. Now tell your lionesses to back down." He demanded. "You know I have the Roar, and you know what it can do."

Zira just smirked. "I knew someone else with the Roar." She said, approaching the cub. Then she started to circle him. "And when he used it against his fellow lions, he lost the Roar. Forever!"

"You're talking about Scar." Kion realized.

"That's right." Zira confirmed. "Scar and I were close. Very close. He taught me all about the Roar. If it weren't for your father, he'd still be King of the Pride Lands!"

"Scar was never the true king!" Kion shouted, baring his teeth.

For a brief image, she thought she saw Simba in place of Kion, by the way he was glaring at her. It seemed that the scar meant nothing to him. Like father, like son.

"How dare you!" She hissed at him. Then, she turned to her followers. "Lionesses! Attack!"

Kion's eyes widened when he saw all four lionesses starting to surround him. He got himself in a battle ready position.

"Wait!" Zira said, stopping them. Kion looked back at her with confusion. "I'll forgive you for that little outburst, Kion." She said. "If you join me."

The cub just narrowed his eyes at her. "Think about it while I fetch my children." She said as she began to leave. "I want them to hear your decision."

After she left, the lionesses once more began to surround Kion, growling at him. Kion just readied himself in his battle position, in case they tried anything.

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Meanwhile, at the watering hole, Jasiri and the children of Zira were waiting. Nuka was pacing the ground growling in impatience, Vitani was standing on a rock perch, while Kovu and Jasiri were just standing, the latter looking back to where Kion and Zira had went off to every few seconds.

"What's taking Mom so long?" Vitani asked.

"I don't know!" Nuka said. "But I'm tired of waiting."

He stopped his pacing and ran to try and attack Jasiri once again. But Kovu quickly jumped in front of him. Jasiri raised a brow at what Kovu did. He might have just done it because his mother told them to be polite, but then again, they knew that this was a plan. He knew that Nuka didn't like her, no matter how much of an important piece of the plan she is. Maybe, just maybe....

"Nuka. Don't start anything." He reminded his older brother. "Mom said to play nice."

For some reason, ever since this whole plot started, he felt a sort of kinship with the female hyena. They both had befriended a royal cub from the Pride Lands, and they're reluctant to carry on with the scheme. They just wanted to be friends with Kiara and Kion, and they sort of forced to go on with the plan. How can he not feel a sort of bond with her? Maybe, if things were different, they could end it all and be with the twins.

Jasiri just laughed. "Don't worry, green eyes." She teased. "Any game your brother wants to play, I can play better."

"Oh, I'm not planning to play at all." Nuka said sinisterly. Kovu narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"Hey, remember?" He said. "Mom said not to hurt her."

"Why?" Nuka scoffed. "Because apparently, she's the key to get closer to that golden puffball of a prince?"

Jasiri bared her teeth at him. "You better watch your tongue." She warned. "Otherwise, it's gonna get ugly."

Nuka just snarled and jumped over his brother to attack. "Nuka!" Zira's voice called out before he could strike.

Kovu breathed out a silent sigh of relief. "Mom! You're back!" He said.

"Mother!" Nuka called out as she came forward. He quickly placed a paw over Jasiri's shoulder to pretend like he didn't try and pounce on her a few short seconds ago. "Nothing's happening here! We're just playing nice!"

Jasiri scoffed and backed away from his grip, making him fall flat on his stomach. "Where's Kion?" She demanded.

"He's fine, my dear." Zira assured her. "He's just... busy."

The female hyena narrowed her eyes. "Now, my dear, I want you to bring his Lion Guard over here." Zira said.

"Why?" Jasiri asked. "You know that he is never going to join you, and that if the Lion Guard comes, he'll just send you flying back to that termite nest of yours."

"I want to see what he is truly capable of, along with his Guard." Zira explained to her. "And besides, he wouldn't use the Roar on his fellow lions. Unless he dares to lose it forever." The lioness then glared at the young hyena. "So unless you really do want your little family to die of thirst, you will bring his Lion Guard here."

Jasiri took one step back. "I know Kion better than you think." She said. "He won't ever give in to you. And you're gonna regret this day." She spat those last words venomously as she ran off.

Kovu watched silently as she ran off. He knew that what they were doing wasn't fair to her, but he couldn't refuse his mother.

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Back with Kion, he looked up at the lionesses who were watching his every move. "Keeping me here doesn't make any sense." He said. "I just want you lions to share the watering hole."

"You can tell that to Zira when she gets back." One of the lionesses replied, jumping down from her perch on one of the larger rocks.

"I don't think I wanna wait around that long." Kion said, a smirk forming on his face. He then got himself in a battle ready position, crouching down.

The lioness tensed up and then tried to pounce on him. But the young cub gave her a mighty headbutt to her stomach, and he took the chance to run. The other lionesses went after him, but Kion had already changed direction. When one of the lionesses also tried to pounce on him, he ducked down low and she crashed into the wall. He then bolted towards the empty entrance.

Unfortunately, a lioness had jumped in front of him, blocking his escape. "Whoa!" He slid across the ground to slow down and try to run, but he was already being pinned down on his stomach by two of the lionesses.

"Nice try." One of them said, keeping a struggling and squirming Kion down on his stomach under her paws. "Now why don't we just wait quietly for Zira to come back?" His response to that was a fiery glare.

************************

Jasiri was running through the narrow passes and over the jutting rocks. She knew that she had to bring the Lion Guard because Zira ordered her to, but at the same time, they can rescue Kion and teach her a lesson of not to underestimate him and his team.

Suddenly, the animals she was looking for appeared, running towards her. "Lion Guard!" She called to them.

"I know that Kion said that he'll be fine." Bunga began.

"But we think he might be in trouble." Fuli finished. "Do you know where he is?"

"Yes." Jasiri answered. "Zira is holding him hostage."

"Zira?!" The whole Guard exclaimed.

"Hapana! Rafiki was right!" Ono said.

"You know Zira?" Jasiri asked.

"We've heard about her." Beshte replied.

"And if Kion is in trouble, then we need to get there. Fast." Fuli added.

"Right." Jasiri agreed. "Follow me." Then, she began leading the Guard to where Kion was being held at.

A/N: Part Four will be ready soon!