The Lion King 3: A New Menace

Prologue
The sun had just begun to peek out over the large, flat savannah, animals turning their heads toward Pride Rock. King Kovu and Queen Kiara's cubs had been born.

Rafiki stood at the top of Pride Rock, still strong after all these years of work. He grabbed a handful of white flower petals, flinging them into the wind. Animals gathered below him, Cheetahs next to Zebra, Leopards next to Gazelle, Wild Dogs next to Okapis, all joined in the great circle of life.

The three cubs were brought up to Rafiki, who took the golden cub from Kiara's jaws. Kovu and Simba held the two darker cubs next to him, raising the three royal cubs to the crowd of animals below.

Animals cheered as the cubs were returned to their parents, a smear of ceremonial red fruit juice on their heads.

Vitani pushed through the crowd with her own tiny cub, watching the ceremony from behind.

Nala nuzzled Kiara. "They're beautiful, dear. You must be so proud."

Kiara smiled. "Thanks, mom."

Kovu smiled at his cubs.

"Oh boy, here we go again. And to think, who'll continue the bug-eating tradition?" Timon asked, holding his hands in front of him.

Rafiki chuckled at the Meerkat's remark. "Da' boys, dat's who. D'ere is two of 'dem."

Timon and Pumbaa's jaws dropped at the same time, speechless.

Kovu looked at Simba. "Two males. What if they're like-"

Simba cut him off. "We'll make sure that won't happen, Kovu. Nothing like that will ever happen again." he said, his now greying mane billowing in the faint breeze like a red flame.

Kiara gently licked the golden cub's head. "And we'll love them either way."

Kovu nuzzled his mate. "We sure will."

Clouds sent a shadow over the two darker cubs, thunder rumbling quietly in the distance.

Chapter One
"Mfalme, get up!" Jeuri yelled, his rich brown fur flopping over his head in several spikes. "Come on, let's go play!"

Ushinda bit the golden prince's tail. "Wake up! My mom said she'll take us to the water hole if we're all awake in time! Get... up!" she said, trying to pull Mfalme off the ground.

"Ok, fine!" Mfalme groaned. "I'm up!"

A shadow cast over Ushinda's pale sand-colored fur. "Are you ready to go, Ushinda?" her mother's voice asked.

"Aunt Vitani!" Jeuri and Mfalme said happily. They ran to her.

Vitani caught Mfalme as he stumbled, still partially asleep. "Woah, now. Be careful, little prince."

Mfalme smiled nervously, embarrassment on his face. "Thanks, Aunt Vitani." he said, rubbing his head.

Vitani smiled at him. "Come on now, your sister's waiting for you."

The two princes and their cousin followed the tan lioness down Pride Rock and into the savannah, towards a small water hole where the rest of the pride waited.

"Jeuri, Mfalme! Check out what I can do!" Tuhuma shouted as she stood on top of the tallest rock there. Her pale green eyes narrowed at the edge of the rock as she smiled, running and jumping off into the water. Her head popped up again, soaking wet. "Was that cool or what?"

"Super cool!" Jeuri said. "I wanna try too!" He began to climb the rock, nearly slipping the whole way up.

Tuhuma pulled herself out of the water, shaking out her red-brown fur. "Be careful, Butthead. Don't hurt yourself." she joked.

"Yeah, yeah. Go jump in a thorn bush, Tuhuma." Jeuri said, preparing to jump. He ran forward, jumping and doing a full flip in the air before slashing in the pond below.

"Woah!" Mfalme and Ushinda said at once.

Tuhuma gave her brother a frustrated look. "Yeah, well that trick was pretty dumb anyway."

"Now, Tuhuma." Nala began. "Don't be like that."

Tuhuma looked at her soaking wet brother, a look of irritation forming on her face as her ears folded back.

"How about I show you something cool now." the former queen said.

"What is it, Grandma?" Mfalme asked, his red eyes gleaming in excitement.

"It's a really cool place your Grandpa and I went when we were just cubs." Nala responded.

"Oh really?" Kiara asked, a small smirk on her face. "And where is this really cool place?"

Nala smiled at her daughter. "Just on the other side of the savannah, dear."

"Uh, Nala." Simba interjected. "I don't think-"

"Oh, Simba. It's safe there now. Ever since the Hyenas ran off." she said quietly, as to not alert Kiara.

Simba rubbed against her. "Ok, but if you see anything, promise you'll come right back."

Nala gave a small laugh. "I'm not that old. I can still have a little bit of fun, can't I?" She turned to the four cubs. "Let's go now, little ones."

As they walked, the trees grew smaller and fewer, becoming nothing more than spindly twigs jutting from infertile soil.

"Uh, Grandma. Where are we?" Mflame asked, scared. "It's creepy here."

"I like it." Ushinda said. "It's really is cool. Thank you for bringing us, Miss Nala."

"You're very welcome, Ushinda." She stopped. "Welcome to the Elephant Graveyard."

Jeuri looked around, his light green eyes scanning the landscape. "Where did all these bone come from, Grandma?"

Nala shut her eyes for a moment. "They came from creatures called Hyenas, dog-like animals who eat everything in sight."

Mfalme sunk closer to the ground. "What if one finds us?"

"Don't worry, Mfalme. They haven't been around since your Grandpa and I chased them out." Nala reassured.

A deep maniacal laughter filled the graveyard as a huge Hyena emerged from over a rock ledge. She had one bloodshot, red eye. A sickening smile spread across her face.

Nala raised her lip in a growl at the Hyena, pushing the cubs behind her. "What are you doing here, Hyena? You shouldn't be here!"

The Hyena still smiled, ignoring Nala's threatening tone. "My question is... what are you doing here, lion?"

Jeuri took a step in front of his grandma. "You're not supposed to be here because my brave grandpa chased you away! Because you're nothing but a big chicken!" He began making clucking noises at the now infuriated Hyena.

The red-eyed Hyena jumped down in front of Jeuri, her extended claws digging into the stone.

Jeuri fell silent, his mouth hanging open in shock.

The Hyena smiled wider as her good eye inspected Jeuri up and down. A growl came from her throat as a line of drool dripped from her teeth.

Nala lunged at the Hyena, tackling her to the ground. "Don't touch my grandson!" she roared, showing her teeth.

The Hyena's spiked hair hung in her face as she looked up at Nala, hate in her eyes. "I remember you, Nala." the Hyena said. "Do you remember me?" She snarled, luning back up at Nala and attempting to slash her.

Nala leaned back just in time to avoid the Hyena's claws as they swiped at her. "How do you know my name? Who are you?"

The Hyena laughed, throwing her head back. "I am Hatari! Matriarch of the Hyena Clan!"

Nala pushed Hatari back, turning her head to look at the cubs. "Run!" She ran after the cubs from behind, keeping Hatari from reaching them. "Don't stop!" she shouted after them.

Tuhuma tripped on a stone, causing her to fall as the others continued to run.

Nala looked back as the other cubs continued to run. She rushed to Tuhuma, who was staring in horror at the oncoming Hyena. She grabbed her in her jaws, turning to run back after the other cubs, who were now further ahead.

"Grandma! I'm scared!" Tuhuma cried out.

"I know!" Nala said through gritted teeth as she carried her back toward the Pridelands. She could see Mfalme and Jeuri ahead, with Ushinda nearby. "Keep running!" she yelled.

The three cubs gasped and continued running toward the Pridelands as Hatari surged around the corner, still in pursuit.

As they reached the border, Hatari stopped, not daring to follow them there. She growled. "I'll get you if you ever set foot in my Graveyard again!"

The cubs, now tired, slowed to a stop, with Nala still behind them carrying Tuhuma.

Mfalme was shaking from fear, eyes wide. "Let's not ever go there again!"

"Agreed." Tuhuma said in a shaken voice as Nala set her down. The black dorsal stripe on her head was ruffled and messy.

Chapter Two
Hatari retreated to her den, a snarl still on her face. She curled her tail around a few times before letting it go limp.

Three Hyenas followed her in.

"Hatari, we can't keep doin' this no more." Shenzi said, her tuft draping over her forehead.

"Yeah, you don't let us do nothin' anymore." Banzai followed up.

Ed laughed.

Hatari snarled, sending a silence over the cave as the trio whimpered in fear at the intimidating Hyena's growl. "I didn't ask for your opinion." She got up, bringing herself to the ledge to look over at the three. "What do you want?"

Shenzi recoiled from Hatari, taking a few steps back. "The cub that Lioness was with. It looked so much like-"

"Scar?" Hatari smiled. "I know. And that's why I have a plan for him."

WIP