Chapter 1: Dawn
First off, I'm still not taking requests now at the moment, but I have decided to do some of the already requested fics to get them out of the way. Secondly, the only reason why I am doing a request is because the Guest reviewer, which I thank you this idea, has been waiting very patiently for their idea to be done. I hope you think my work made up to your standards.
This is the full length, sequel to my previous story, Kion's Coming. In case you have not read the first one, the timeline is set post-LK2 and where Kion is born then instead of in between the first and second movies. The story will go along the Lion Guard movie, but since Kiara is older and has taken Kovu as her consort and the Outlanders are united, there will be some added/altered scenes.
I own nothing. The Lion King and Lion Guard and all their content belong to Disney. I don't own the cover image either.
Enjoy the story!
On bright, sunny days in the Pridelands, there was an aura of tranquility that would often permeate throughout the savanna. The rich air was pleasant to breath and you could not help but relax. A light breeze blew across the tall grasses, making it appear like waves on the ocean.
Peacefulness swept through the animals with the breeze. Predators and birds alike rested in the shade, while hippos lazily paddled in the watering hole. Grazers and browsers took to the plains and trees, feeling comfortable enough to munch on the foliage without fear of being hunted.
In one such area, an antelope chomped down on the tender, sweet grass, a few paces away from the rest of their herd. As they were engrossed with their meal, they did not realize the soft orange blur slinking through the taller grasses towards them. The cat silently moved across the ground on silent feet, barely making a sound that would otherwise surprise their prey.
The predator's red eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of the antelope. Well-fed, medium-sized, just enough to feed several members of the pride. Her body sank lower to the ground, trying to keep level with the shortening grass. The antelope grazed on, unaware that she was just a few feet behind them. The lioness stopped, prepared her front and back legs for launch and acceleration as she countdown the seconds and-
"Kiara!"
The antelope bolted, followed immediately by the rest of the herd. A lioness watched as they fled from her spot, legs splayed from beneath her as result of her missed jump. Her head then swung back behind her, an annoyed expression at the little gold cub that had popped out from the grasses. He scampered out closer to her when he saw that she saw him.
"Wow Kiara, did you see how close that antelope was? You could have touched it. That was so cool," he said excitedly as she picked herself up. She shook the dust out of her coat and sighed down at him.
"Well it would have been even cooler if I had actually caught it and it hadn't been spooked away," she replied. The cub's smile faded and his eyes widened in realization of what he had done. He sat down, bowing his head and lowering his ears in shame.
"Oh. I'm sorry, sis." Kiara sighed again and shook her head before extending a paw and brushing back the tiny red tuft that was just beginning to bloom out on his head.
"It's okay, Kion. Just please try not to scare the prey again when I'm trying to hunt them." His expression perked up again and he nodded his head.
"I promise," he replied.
"Kion! Kion! Are you out there," came a voice from behind the two. Kion stood up and looked in the direction it came from.
"I'm over here, mommy," he called out.
"Right here, mom," Kiara added as a peach-colored lioness came over the hill and ran towards them. She leaned in to nuzzle Kion before staring sternly at him.
"Kion, I thought I told you not to wander off," Nala scolded. Kion's features returned to the way they were a few moments before.
"But mom, I saw a butterfly and I went over to catch it, but then I saw Kiara and I went to go see her and she was really close to this antelope mom, but then it ran away and then you called me and came over-"
"Kion, what did I say about Kiara's hunting," she asked.
He flinched at the stern interruption before replying, "Don't get in the way between Kiara and her hunt." He then looked up, his eyes shining excitedly. "But mom, you should've seen Kiara. She was so close to the antelope. Like really close. And it was a big one too! A really big one!"
"Is that so?" Nala smiled and turned towards Kiara.
She blushed and smiled awkwardly. "It was, um, a good-sized one." A gasp escaped her throat when Kion then leapt onto her back and scrambled up to her head. He grinned wildly while Kiara tried not to complain as his paws dug into her neck and forehead.
"And she almost caught it!"
Nala held back a chuckle at her daughter's expense and nodded. "I'm sure she did dear, but how about you get off your sister and we'll all head back home."
"Aww, but mom, can't we stay out a few more minutes?" She giggled and shook her head.
"I'm afraid not son. Your father was hoping we get back in time so that he could take you, your sister, and Kovu on a further tour of the kingdom. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"I guess," he mumbled, but the disappointment wasn't so concealed on his face.
Kiara let out a snort and tried to look up at her brother. "Hey Kion. How about if you stop standing on my head, I'll let you warthog-back ride me back to Pride Rock.
His enthusiasm was instant. "I want a warthog-back ride," he yelled excitedly as he jumped off her head and then jumped back onto her back before lying down and hugging her shoulders and sides securely. She and their mother let out a chuckle before heading in direction of the great kopje.
"Dad! Dad," Kion called out excitedly once Simba came into view. He jumped off of Kiara's back and towards their father, nuzzling against his forelegs. Simba smiled leaned down closer to him.
"Hello Kion. You ready to see the Pridelands?"
"You bet." His eyes then spotted the brown lion watching amusedly at him from beside Simba. He trotted over and planted his paws on his.
"Hey Kovu. You excited to see the Pridelands?" Kovu chuckled and patted his head, a bit harder than Simba's though.
"Kion, I see the Pridelands every day on patrol," he replied.
Kion frowned and batted the paw off his head. "But you'll get to see it with dad and Kiara. We'll have lots of fun and we'll see lots of animals and birds and-"
A dusty lioness with bright lilac eyes then strolled closer before placing her paw on his head. "Slow down, squirt. You'll get to see it all on your walk, so don't tire yourself out before you even go on it."
"Don't call me squirt," he replied as he batted her paw off and smoothed down the fur on his head.
She chuckled before turned towards the monarchs and the future ones. "Well, guess I'll see you guys later. Me and the other ladies are going off to catch some dinner." She then took note of Kiara standing beside Nala. "But we'll try not to hunt too much. After all, Kiara had her hunt today."
"And failed it," Kiara replied, looking towards the side disinterested. "Had an antelope right before me and then-" Her eyes darted over to Kion. Vitani gave a small nod before he leaped up before her face.
"You should've seen it, Tani. It was this big." His forelegs stretched as far as they could go while he was on his hind legs, but he quickly lost balance and toppled over. Luckily, her paw shot out and came under him before he could fall onto his back.
"Easy squirt. I bet it was that big. Just try not to tell the prey where your sister is next time."
He nodded and flipped off her paw. "I will."
"Alright, we've got everyone together. Let's get a move on," Simba called. Kion started off towards him but stopped and wheeled around to hug Vitani's foreleg before darting off to join the other.
"Bye guys! See ya later!"
"See ya later, Kion." As the four figures headed off into the plains, Nala came over towards Vitani.
"You know you could join if you want to. You technically are a princess, through your parents and your brother's future marriage." Vitani turned towards her and scoffed.
"Me, a princess? Pfft, not for me! Besides," she sent a toothy grin towards the queen, "those gazelles aren't gonna hunt themselves."
"So, where we're going dad?"
In all his years of ending arguments between elephants, breaking up fights between the crocodiles and he like, monitoring all the most tedious things, such as the number of dung beetles, and all the times his paws ached from patrols, he would endure it all again just to get his son to stop pestering him on where they were going.
"Eight times."
He perked up and turned to Kovu. who was keeping in a steady stride beside him.
"Eight what?"
"Eight times. Kion's asked you eight times where we were going. You'd better tell him or get us there soon, I don't know how much anticipation he can take."
As Kion kept yammering in his ears, Simba finally decided he was at his limit. Luckily they were there. He flinched a bit when he stopped and Kion bumped into his back leg, but calmed down when he hopped curiously closer to him.
"Dad, why'd we stop?" Simba smiled and directed him towards the top of a grassy hill. The cub scampered up it, confused of why his father would choose such a boring place to stop at. When he reached the top, all previous confused feelings were replaced by sheer awe at the sight before him.
The afternoon sun illuminated the grasslands where gazelles, zebras, and other herd animals grazed. In the watering hole, hippos, flamingos, and egrets gathered and enjoyed the sparkling, crystal-clear waters. In the distance, giraffes and elephants browsed in the tree tops while flocks of multicolored birds flew overhead. Kion had seen the entire Pridelands from on top of Pride Rock before, but never had he ever had the chance to see it so close up.
"Beautiful, isn't it," Kiara asked as she joined by his side.
He gave a small nod, unable to take his eyes off the view. "It's so cool. And you'll get to rule all over this," he replied.
"Mm hmm. It's a big responsibility ruling a kingdom. That's why it takes two lions to do it." She gave a kind smile towards Kovu. He returned it and ruffled his brother-in-law's head.
"But don't worry sport. We'll be fine and so will you. We each have our part to play in the Circle of Life and you'll have your role too." Kion finally broke his gaze away and stared up at him.
"You mean it." When Kovu nodded, he began prancing around with joy. "That's so cool. I can't wait." He then stopped and looked over at his father, who had just joined them. "But what is my role, dad?"
The king looked down with a slightly confused expression. "What?"
"What's my role in the Circle of Life? Kiara and Kovu are going to rule someday, Vitani's part of the hunting party, so what's my part to play?" The king just stared at him before reaching out to pat his head.
"Son, I will be honest with you. I'm not sure what path the great Kings have laid out for you." Noticing his son's expression drooping, he quickly continued. "But I do know that whatever it is, it will play an important role in the Circle of Life. You may not know what it is now and it may take some time to understand it, but when you do realize your part, it will be all yours. Does that make any sense to you?"
"I guess so," he muttered, before gaining a more hopeful face. "I bet when I find out what it is, I'll help out the entire Pridelands with it."
"I'm sure you will son," he replied, before turning to face the view as a breeze wafted over them, blowing through their fur and stirring up the scents of the world around them. Each of them took deep breaths of it and exhaled, feeling peacefulness sweep over them. Kion watched them in curiosity and followed the suit, instantly understand how wonderful it was. He felt calm, yet full of energy. He stopped a few paces ahead until he was right at the very top of the hill, standing in the sunlight. He stuck out his chest and lifted his head up proudly, staring out onto the landscape with a strong, yet hopeful look.
"One day I'll play my part. One day I'll help out the Pridelands and Circle of Life."
I'll be the first to tell you that the story will have major influences from the film, but will be altered greatly to make it feel like your just reading the transcript of the original thing. I thought making the first chapter pre-film and having implications of Kion's future would make it more interesting, rather then how it was just hand-fisted to us in the original.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter, I have more on the way. Please leave a review, feel free to check out some of my other stories, and stay tuned for more chapters. Sincerely, v.t.7
