Title: Romance of the Pridelands 2: Home in the Outlands
Related: Romance of the Pridelands 1: Secrets

Series: The Lion Guard (TV)

Pairing: Kion/Jasiri
Tags: Drama, Angst, Romance, Established Relationship, Banishment, Anger, Danger, Outlands, Lions, Hyenas, Cross-species Relationships, Pregnancy

Summary: No hyena under Simba's reign has been welcome in the Pride Lands, but Kion manages to convince his father to give Jasiri a chance. Kion's plan goes awry when Scar gets involved and in the aftermath, Kion is left with two choices: remain the leader of the Lion Guard, and protect his father's kingdom or betray everything he stands for by following Jasiri, and her unborn cub, to the Outlands.

Notes: In my FF, when a species cross-breeds, the resulting cub is either the same species as the mother, or the father, but never a mix of the two. If the cub is a difference species than the mother, then the pregnancy is almost twice the length of a normal pregnancy, according to the mother's species.

Oh, and I'm NOT going anywhere near the female/male hyena reproduction method (which is disturbing enough as-is). Let's just pretend that female hyenas give birth the same way as female felines or canines. Two holes in the back, just under the tail. If you want to know more about how a female hyena gives birth, type in "hyena female anatomy" in the google search bar, but don't say I never warned you.

BETA: TheSupernova

Chapter 1: A Tiny Addition

Kion sat across from Rafiki, watching the mandrill carefully mix a mushy green poultice. It had been almost a week since Kion had rescued Jasiri from the outlands. The hyena still can't remember what happened to her, but as long as she was safe, that's all that really mattered.

"That stuff works great, Rafiki!" Kion said happily. Jasiri was currently sleeping, even though it was midday, but her injuries were almost healed.

Rafiki chuckled. "Leave it to old Rafiki, he knows a thing or two."

Kion always found it strange when the mandrill spoke of himself in the third person, but it wasn't like Rafiki had ever acted, in the general sense, 'normal'. And Rafiki's knowledge of medicines wasn't to be questioned, so Kion just went with it.

"You're absolutely positive they're both okay?" Kion asked, for the hundredth time that week.

"Yes, Kion." Rafiki said, heaving a sigh. "Jasiri and her unborn cub were extremely lucky. Now, quit worrying. Another day or two and she'll be good as new."

Rafiki paused, mortar and pestle in hand. He turned to Kion. "Now why don't you go get some fresh air? You haven't left the cave for two days, and I'm sure your friends are missing you."

The mandrill sounded slightly annoyed, which was unsurprising. The last time Kion left the cave, the lion guard had to drag him away from Jasiri to police an incident in the pride lands, and to go on patrol.

Rafiki wasn't often completely serious, but with the look he was giving the teenage lion…

"Okay, okay," Kion said, giving up. "But are you sure she'll be—"

"Yes, yes!" Rafiki shouted. "Now shoo, shoo!"

Rafiki picked up his stick and attempted to swipe Kion upside the head.

It didn't take long for Kion to scurry out of the den.

Kion met his sister, Kiara, just outside the entrance.

"I see you finally got kicked out of the den," Kiara said, with a little laugh.

"Heh." Kion grinned. "Looks like I finally managed to wear out his patience."

Kion walked with his sister to the edge of pride rock, overlooking the rest of the pride lands. They sat side by side.

"Have you told our dad yet?" Kiara asked.

"About what?" Kion replied innocently, though he knew full well what she was referring to.

She swiped him on the shoulder with her paw, giving him the look.

"Don't give me that," she said. "You've been avoiding talking about Jasiri to anyone. Dad already suspects something more is going on, but mom managed to hold him off on questioning you two until Jasiri was well again."

"I…" Kion hunched over, the words getting stuck in his throat.

"I already know you're dating her, but I can tell, there's something you're holding back." Kiara sighed. "You know, I asked Fuli about it, but either she can't tell me, or she really doesn't know."

"She doesn't know," Kion said. "No one does, not yet."

After a few minutes, Kiara lowered her head, and slunk over in front of her brother, catching his attention.

"I promise I won't tell anyone," she said. "Tell me what's really going on? Rafiki said Jasiri would be fine, so, why don't you look more relieved?"

Kion heaved a sigh.

"She's pregnant."

Kiara jerked back in surprise. "She—"

"She's two weeks pregnant," Kion admitted. "Rafiki found out she's carrying a lion cub, instead of a hyena cub, which means her pregnancy is about six months instead of three and a half, give or take."

Kion laid down, placing his head on his front paws. Kiara watched him silently.

"So, she's been able to hide it until now. Not that I'm ashamed or anything, and Jasiri's clan already knows, but I can't seem to get myself to tell dad about it."

He looked up at his sister. "You know how he feels about hyenas."

Kiara relaxed her posture, a smile crossing her face.

"Yeah, I know," Kiara said. "You got it pretty tough. Dad is not going to be happy about this."

She laid down next to her brother. "I'm glad you told me though."

Kion lifted in head in surprise.

"That's it?" Kion asked. "You're glad I told you? You're not surprised?"

"Well, I am, but I also know how much you like her." She shrugged.

After a few seconds, Kiara nudged her brothers shoulder. "I think congratulations are in order—"

"What's this I hear about congratulations?" Simba interrupted. "What's the occasion?"

"Uh…" Kion looked to his sister, who just shook her head and shrugged again.

"Oh! I think I, uh, hear mom calling!" Kiara said apropos. "Later, Kion!"

Kion stared at the retreating back of his sister. Looks like he was on his own.

End Notes: This story is loosely based on the first FF in the series, Romance of the Pridelands 1: Secrets. This means there will be some discrepancies between the ending of the first story and the beginning of this one.