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My entry for 's What If contest.

Puppet

It was that time again. Viccha’s patience was running dry so it was in the young lion’s best interest to provide her with some results as soon as possible. The clan would not wait forever…or trust her for much longer for that matter. That fool Mohatu would’ve banished them all eventually, just because he couldn’t accept a hyena’s nature! At least with the charade she organized she had a fallback when the moment arrived. When she came to stand at the edge of the Pridelands she saw the lion she searched for coming out of the grass as he spotted her.

His face was blank, but as always his twitchy tail betrayed his nerves.

“So the King still lives, Ahadi?” Viccha shook her head disapprovingly. “I should’ve left you to die in the desert. This is the worst gamble I’ve ever made.”

Ahadi growled lowly. “Mohatu's a strong lion with a loyal pride and lots of eyes and ears on his side. I cannot simply kill him that easily! Not without raising suspicion hyena.”

She scoffed. “What about the princess?”

The young lion stood straight and looked back at the Pridelands.

“I have her absolute trust.”

His response wasn’t enough for Viccha.

“Why haven't you mated her yet?” She growled.

“She's young yet-” Ahadi hesitated but the hyena spoke over his words, not caring about excuses.

“We need an heir from the Pridelands for the plan to work. Once you're the father of the princess' hairball, you will be accepted as king....even after Mohatu suffers his "accident." Then, nobody would question your decisions!”

The lion’s teeth gritted. “I know what the plan is. But there have been complications. That clingy brown lioness doesn't let me breathe, let alone spent any time with the princess. There's also a new male, Prince Dumaka.” He said the name with disgust. “He's been courting Uru. Pompous idiot thinks he has it made.”

Viccha glared at him, searching his eyes. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy my young lion?”

“ You're delirious Viccha.” Ahadi’s tail swished angrily.

“The clan will deal with this Dumaka. He's but a pebble in our path.”

“No!”

The hastiness of his response made him mentally wince. But it was Viccha’s raised brow that made him even more nervous than he already was. He had to recover quickly.

“Guarding the princess' heart?”

“ Killing him will just delay the plans Viccha. The time Uru would be mourning could hurt my chances with her. No. I will just give her what she really wants.”

“That being?”

“Hmph! The fairy tale. The tamed rogue helplessly in love with the tomboy princess.”

The hyena was shocked for a minute before exploding in laughter.

“Love, Ahadi? Love!? Well you've proven yourself to be quite the actor yes. I'm sure you can push a little deeper.”

“I will.”

“Very well then. If I don't get an update from you in a month I will know you failed.”

She turned around ready to leave but she paused when she spotted his frown and downcast eyes.

“Tell me lion, does this fairytale of yours have a happy ending?”

He looked back at her, surprised at the question. Then his face hardened and he shook his head.

“There are no such things as fairytales hyena.”

Viccha chuckled. “And how do you know there aren't?”

“ Because then, only the good guys would get a happy ending.” He answered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Apparently satisfied, the hyena clan leader left, but Ahadi made sure that she was just a speck in the distance before he let himself sigh.

Description
My entry for 's What If contest.

Puppet

It was that time again. Viccha’s patience was running dry so it was in the young lion’s best interest to provide her with some results as soon as possible. The clan would not wait forever…or trust her for much longer for that matter. That fool Mohatu would’ve banished them all eventually, just because he couldn’t accept a hyena’s nature! At least with the charade she organized she had a fallback when the moment arrived. When she came to stand at the edge of the Pridelands she saw the lion she searched for coming out of the grass as he spotted her.

His face was blank, but as always his twitchy tail betrayed his nerves.

“So the King still lives, Ahadi?” Viccha shook her head disapprovingly. “I should’ve left you to die in the desert. This is the worst gamble I’ve ever made.”

Ahadi growled lowly. “Mohatu's a strong lion with a loyal pride and lots of eyes and ears on his side. I cannot simply kill him that easily! Not without raising suspicion hyena.”

She scoffed. “What about the princess?”

The young lion stood straight and looked back at the Pridelands.

“I have her absolute trust.”

His response wasn’t enough for Viccha.

“Why haven't you mated her yet?” She growled.

“She's young yet-” Ahadi hesitated but the hyena spoke over his words, not caring about excuses.

“We need an heir from the Pridelands for the plan to work. Once you're the father of the princess' hairball, you will be accepted as king....even after Mohatu suffers his "accident." Then, nobody would question your decisions!”

The lion’s teeth gritted. “I know what the plan is. But there have been complications. That clingy brown lioness doesn't let me breathe, let alone spent any time with the princess. There's also a new male, Prince Dumaka.” He said the name with disgust. “He's been courting Uru. Pompous idiot thinks he has it made.”

Viccha glared at him, searching his eyes. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy my young lion?”

“ You're delirious Viccha.” Ahadi’s tail swished angrily.

“The clan will deal with this Dumaka. He's but a pebble in our path.”

“No!”

The hastiness of his response made him mentally wince. But it was Viccha’s raised brow that made him even more nervous than he already was. He had to recover quickly.

“Guarding the princess' heart?”

“ Killing him will just delay the plans Viccha. The time Uru would be mourning could hurt my chances with her. No. I will just give her what she really wants.”

“That being?”

“Hmph! The fairy tale. The tamed rogue helplessly in love with the tomboy princess.”

The hyena was shocked for a minute before exploding in laughter.

“Love, Ahadi? Love!? Well you've proven yourself to be quite the actor yes. I'm sure you can push a little deeper.”

“I will.”

“Very well then. If I don't get an update from you in a month I will know you failed.”

She turned around ready to leave but she paused when she spotted his frown and downcast eyes.

“Tell me lion, does this fairytale of yours have a happy ending?”

He looked back at her, surprised at the question. Then his face hardened and he shook his head.

“There are no such things as fairytales hyena.”

Viccha chuckled. “And how do you know there aren't?”

“ Because then, only the good guys would get a happy ending.” He answered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Apparently satisfied, the hyena clan leader left, but Ahadi made sure that she was just a speck in the distance before he let himself sigh.