So here it is. Chapter one of the much wanted sequel to Self Exile. Now before we start there's just a couple of things you should know:

1. This story will take place during my story Dark Revelations, the finale of a series of Lion King fics I did, and will retell some parts of it from a more Fuli oriented perspective with some extra bits added in as well. Please, if you have time, go and check out my TLK fic series, starting with The Master Plan, because the context will be helpful. But if you want to read this one first then I'm trying to write it in such a way that it isn't completely necessary to first read the others (although of course you'll need to read Self Exile first as this is the direct sequel to it).

2. So if you haven't read Dark Revelations then I should just tell you now that the story focuses on what is basically an alien invasion of sorts in the Pridelands that links into the stories before it (also Scar and Zira are back from the dead for the second time in the series). So if you think this is a little strange then just keep in mind my series isn't a traditional kind of Lion King story (and by extension these short stories based on said series aren't either). So I think I'll let the story tell the rest of, well, the story... Enjoy.

Chapter 1

The noise outside was horrible. Screams, tremendously loud bangs and the sound of something no one in the Pridelands had ever encountered before. It was like a battleground. One that had come about so sudden that nobody had had any time to prepare for it. Who knew that something like this would happen without so much as a warning or a hint beforehand.

Most animals seemed to be staying clear of the den she was in but a lot of them ran past frequently. One animal, a zebra, was sprinting so very fast when it was suddenly cut off by a huge beam of light that struck below its feet. The animal was instantly set on fire and burned into nothing in mere seconds. No wonder there was so much chaos.

Without moving from where she was, safely inside the cave, Fuli peered outside and saw what was causing all this destruction. In the sky were many light blue creatures, flying around with multiple tentacles dangling and somehow emitting the same light that had made the zebra vanish just now. It was like nothing she'd ever seen before. Nothing the Pridelands had ever seen before. And nothing the world had ever seen before.

"Jeez." Fuli muttered, slowly creeping back further into the den, paranoid that she'd be spotted by one of those things any minute now.

Perhaps this was it? Perhaps she would die here, without the others even knowing she been here for months now. Her presence was a secret to everyone, except a lioness that Fuli vaguely recognized from one of her missions with the lion guard. Her name was Vitani and she'd been the first living soul she encountered upon her return...

After years spent away from the Pridelands after... That tragedy that messed up Fuli's mind enough for her to effectively exile herself from her home, the cheetah, now supposedly wiser from age, had decided that it was time for her to return and face what she'd been fearing all that time. By the time Fuli had made it back to the border the stars had begun to come out and she later discovered that the pride was already asleep. There had been just one animal out that night, Vitani. She had found the lost cheetah wandering around and after some explaining and giving some back story the lioness offered to let Fuli live in her old den.

Fuli remembered specifically requesting that her being back was to be kept a secret until she decided otherwise, as although she'd managed to bring herself to return there were still doubts in her mind as to the reaction her surprise appearance would cause among the inhabitants here...

And ever since then Fuli had remained in this den, never finding that courage she was waiting for. Never finding the courage she was relying on to fix her life. Instead the place she once called home, and had hoped to call it so once again was being, ravaged by these strange beings. And there didn't seem to be much of a chance that anyone would survive it. And if that happened it would render all the effort required to force herself to come back utterly pointless. And that was not how Fuli wanted things to go down one bit.

She just wished she could understand all of this. All hope was seemingly fading away until one glimmer of it reappeared at the entrance to the den. Rather than a random cowering animal on the run or one of those rampaging airborne death machines, Fuli was greeted by the sight of a familiar ally. The only creature she'd had proper contact with for months now during her hiding.

"Hey, there you are. Listen, you have to come with me. It's not safe here any more." The lioness stated.

Fuli stood up and came a bit closer, replying simply with "What?"

"I'll explain on the way. Just follow me and stay alert."

Vitani turned to leave and Fuli could see that she was serious about moving out of the safety of the den heading to wherever was the intended destination. Vitani took a few moments to scan the surroundings outside, checking if the coast was clear which seemed to be the case.

"Where are we going?" Asked Fuli.

"To the only safe place left currently. Rafiki's tree. That's where the rest of us have gathered. Now come on before they come through here again."

Vitani started off expecting Fuli to follow on immediately, however, she was staying put because of what Vitani had said. The others were all gathered at Rafiki's tree. Others. This was completely the opposite to what Fuli wanted. She wasn't' ready yet. She wasn't ready.

And yet she had no choice in the matter. She had to reunite with her old friends now or never, regardless of what reactions it would motivate. She could only put this off for so long before she was forced into facing it.

OK, so what did you think of it? Fuli's been back in the Pridelands for a while but has been hiding away all that time Poor Fuli.. And yeah, the Pridelands is kinda going to shit here. More answers will be given in the chapters to come and the story will begin to make perfect sense. So please favorite and follow to get notifications of when those new chapters are up and if you can please leave a review (guest reviews are fine too).

I think I'll be able to get the next chapter up within a week or so, so keep an eye out guys!