Zuka Zama Part II: The Scourge of Kopa | The Lion Guard

20. Help from Hippos

As soon as the roar sounded the Outlanders moved into action. "Jackals, move in!", Reirei commanded. She was about to give another order, but Janja shoved her and barked his own order. "Hyenas! Rough 'em all up!" Both jackal and hyena moved in on the Pride Landers.

Simba gave off a roar of his own. Soon both sides were barreling towards one another. Janja gave a signal and some of his hyenas broke off from the rest. The royal lions braced themselves to fight. Zira's lioness were the first to come in. One jumped at Simba, on quick reflex he swatted her away with his paw. Two more lioness came in and pounced upon the king. Simba swung his body in attempt to throw them off. The lioness hung on, digging their claws in causing Simba to wince in pain.

"Dad! Come on!", Kiara encouraged her brother. Kiara and Kion ran to their dad. Kiara jumped on the first lioness who clung to Simba's back. She clawed at the enemy feline's back, who yowled in pain. Kiara wasted no time, swiping at the intruder's face. The lioness finally let go. She fell to the ground and held her face, blood dripping from the claw wound. She turned back around and was met with Kiara pouncing upon her. The princess pinned her down.

"You better get out of here if you know what's good for you", Kiara warned, snarling. The lioness scrabbled from under Kiara and ran off. Kiara let out a sigh, and realized that there was another lioness attacking her father. She looked back to see Kion fighting the other attacker off. The lioness jumped on Kion and held him down. Kion struggled under the hold of his attacker.

"I thought the leader of the Lion Guard would be better than this", the Outland lioness snarled victoriously, raising her paw. Kion grinned and kicked his hind paws into the lioness' stomach. She recoiled as the wind was knocked out of her. Kion kicked her with his hind paws. Before she could retaliate Kiara was behind her and swiped at her flank. The lioness saw that she was in a losing situation and promptly retreated.

"Dad? Are you alright?", Kion asked Simba.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. Thank you two, but you have to focus. This is only beginning!", Simba reminded. Kion was a little hesitant to go.

"Hapana! Kion!", Ono's voice called from above.

"Ono, what's wrong?", Kion dreaded.

"It's some hyenas. Some split up and they're sneaking along the side", Ono informed.

"An ambush! I have to go warn the others!", Kion growled.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure everything is alright here", Kiara assured him. "You just go stop those hyenas."

Kion nodded and bounded off.

"Kovu! I need your help!", Kiara called as more Outlanders charged upon the front line. Kovu nodded and joined her in holding the line.

Kion ran as fast as he could, diving under and around various animals. He was led by Ono as he could see the hyenas curving into formation. Still running, Betshe quickly came into his view.

"Beshte! Beshte!", Kion called.

"Kion? Aren't you supposed to be way up there?", Beshte asked with concern.

"There's no time for that! There's some hyenas trying to ambush us!", Kion warned.

"It looks like they're targeting the zebras!", Ono called from above.

"Of course! Beshte, I need you're help!", Kion asked the hippo.

"The zebra are just behind us in position. Of course I'll help!", Beshte nodded.

"And so will we", Kion and Beshte turned to see Beshte's father Basi and some other hippos.

"Dad!", Beshte beamed, wiggling his ears.

"The zebras are about to be attacked by some hyenas. I need your help to drive them off", Kion explained.

"We'll do everything we can. Beshte come on. We'll beat the hyenas there and drive them off", Basi instructed. Beshte and the other hippos followed behind Basi as the ranks moved aside for them. Ono kept watch ready to announce any sudden moves the hyenas were making.

"Come on, boys they're just a little further", the hyena commander instructed the 4 others following behind him. They were ducking close to the ground behind the thick brush. Janja had given them the order to disrupt their formation. "The zebras are an easy target. Just a little spook and they'll be all over the place."

"Look at them, they're just standing there unguarded", another hyena added, licking his chops. "You sure we can't take a little nibble out of them?"

"Hmm, maybe one or two", the commander chuckled.

The zebras were standing guard behind the hippos and rhinos. They were standing guard along with the rhinos.

"You sure we should be doing this?", the quavering voice of Thurston spoke up over the others.

"Oh here he goes again", one of the other zebras groaned.

"Maybe it's not too late to get out of this", Thurston stammered.

"No one's going anywhere. Stand guard!", the golden zebra Dhahabu ordered. Once she heard about the incoming war she brought her herd to the Pride Lands to help. She considered the Lion Guard dear friends to her, it was the duty of a leader to help those in need.

Thurston whimpered to himself and stood in his place. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

The hyena commander gave his signal and the ambush began. The zebras gasped in fear and surprise as 5 hyenas burst out from the bushes.

"Surprise!", the commander hyena cackled.

"I knew it! Panic and run! Panic and run!", Thurston panicked.

"No! Keep close together! If we fight them off together they stand no chance!", Dhahabu shouted. The zebras followed her words and stood close together. 2 hyenas charged forward, but the united zebras flailed their front hooves. One of the hyenas was hit in the face with a hoof. He reeled back and winced in pain, blood already leaking from the hit.

"That's gonna be the first and last time you get away with that", he snarled. Him and the other hyena were about to make another attempt, but everything was stopped when a deep bellow sounded.

"Stop right there!", Kion yelled. Beshte, Basi and the hippos quickly followed behind.

"What-- None of you are supposed to be here!", the commander groaned, stomping his paws. His fellow hyenas looked to him for an idea of what to do next.

"What are you tail-brains standing around for? Get them", he pointed to Kion and the hippos with his paw.

"Boss, I don't think that's a good idea", one hyena spoke up.

"Yeah, there's no way I'm fighting them", another whined.

"How are we supposed to fight hippos?", another whimpered.

"Urg! Fine! Retreat! Lion Guard always ruining our fun", the commander grumbled as he and his hyenas retreated back to Janja.

"Thank you, Kion and Beshte. Once again the Lion Guard have done me a service. One I hope to repay", Dhahabu sighed in relief.

"Well you did well, too. Especially with rallying the other zebras", Kion acknowledged.

"Thank you. I imagine that you aren't really supposed to be here. We'll make sure to keep an eye out this time", Dhahabu chuckled.

"Well, even if you think so I think it woukd be good if I hung around here a little bit. Just to make extra sure", Betshe offered in a supportive tone. He didn't want Dhahabu to feel like she was not needed.

"Oh. Well if you are offering to.... Then I would be glad to have you watch over us", Dhahabu nodded.

Kion took Dhahabu's words to heart and knew that sooner or later he would be needed back on the front. Without saying anything to either the hippos or zebras he bounded off towards the front lines.