Dumbo flew into a large tent where Ringmaster Baloo was watching Bongo and Lulubelle doing their acrobatics.
He shouted out in encouragement, "That's it now! Keep it up!" Dumbo used his trunk to tap on Baloo's shoulder getting his attention, "Oh, hey Dumbo, what's…" he trailed away when he saw the bunny riding on the elephant, "Listen kid, we're closed off to the public, so why don't you come back when we are opened."
"Sir, my name is Judy Hopps, and I've come to offer a proposition from Princess Kiara, heir to the Pridelands' throne."
Bongo and Lulubelle stopped with what they were doing as they listened on with intrigue. Baloo was beside himself as he asked, "What kind of proposition?"
"She wishes for the circus to perform at a reception that the princess will be hosting."
Timothy exclaimed, "Isn't that a great idea, Baloo?!"
Baloo smiled, "You better believe it. So, kid, how is it you know the princess?"
"I'm a ward of the castle and I grew up with her and her brother."
"Well then, you can tell her highness that we'll be there. When do you need us?"
"In one week."
"Then we'll see you there."
Once they left the tent, Judy felt so happy until they passed the gossiping elephants again and she made a scowl recalling what that elephant said to her. Timothy noticed the scowl toward the elephants and put two and two together.
"I see that you have met the gossip chain around here."
"That one elephant," she pointed to the leader, "Said that I had to watch my step or I would get squished and that elephants were above the smallest of the lot."
Timothy frowned, "Oh, is that so? Well, I bet they never told you how I was able to scare them out of their wits, and I'm just a tiny mouse! They were making some terrible comments about Dumbo and giving him the cold shoulder. I had to do something. Let me tell you this, Judy, if you ever see someone getting picked on, then you should stand up for them no matter what."
Judy looked at him with bewildered eyes as she took his words to heart. She slowly nodded. The mouse smiled knowing he made a huge impact in someone.
The day of the royal summit had arrived as everyone in the castle dressed up in their finest as they stood in the throne room awaiting the royal visitors.
Bambi and Faline were the first to arrive and were greeted with open arms by Simba and Nala. Then King Kerchak and his queen, Kala came in. Simba and Bambi respectfully greeted the stiff king while Nala and Faline warmed up to Queen Kala. King Louie then made his way in with an entourage as he shook the kings' hands enthusiastically. Simba and Bambi chuckled nervously at the king's energy while Kerchak made no emotion. King Lionheart then made his appearance with his own entourage consisting of his captain of the guard, Bogo and his chief advisor, Lady Bellwether.
As more royals arrived, the kids stood on the sidelines as the kings and queens greeted each other. Bunga gave out a bored yawn. A young gorilla who was the daughter to Queen Kala's lady-in-waiting also gave out a yawn.
She pointed out, "This is a drag."
Bunga agreed, "It sure is."
"Name's Terkina but I go by Terk."
"Cool! I'm Bunga!" they shook.
"Hey, let's go have some fun while the grown-ups do their thing."
"Yeah!" the honey badger exclaimed.
Kion had overheard them, "But we can't leave. Protocol demands you stay in place until you are dismissed."
Terk gave a devious smile, "Aw, whose gonna noticed? The adults are too busy as it is, they won't miss us."
Kion pondered on that and looked over to where his parents were and they did seem really engaged with their guests. Finally, he gave a nod making Bunga excited.
Terk, Bunga, and Kion quietly moved toward the doors but they had not gone unnoticed by a certain princess. Kiara whispered to Judy, "Think you can follow my brother to make sure he doesn't get in trouble?"
Judy smiled, "You know I can." and rushed off.
Kion and Bunga showed Terk around while Judy tailed behind them as she kept herself from being seen. They went pass Kion and Bunga's other friends such as Ono, Beshte, and Fuli.
"Hey, what's that over there?" Terk asked while pointing to a shady part of the kingdom.
Kion saw and replied, "That's part of Outsider Ward. We're not allowed to go in there."
The gorilla acquired, "Why not? Seems harmless enough."
"Well it isn't." stated Kion, "A lot of unsavory mammals live there and my sister ventured in there at one point and almost got kidnapped by crocodile bandits!"
"Well, I don't see any bandits right now. Come on, just one peek, I like seeing a kingdom's more darker side." Terk went on with Bunga following her.
"Bunga, no!" Kion shouted a little too loudly and went after them.
Judy had seen what transpired and was feeling conflicted on following after them. Judy had always followed the rules since… forever! But now that Kion, Bunga, and that gorilla of noble birth just went inside Outsider Ward she didn't know if she should go after them. Then remembering the promise she made to Kiara, she took a deep breath and ran after them.
All was dark and gloomy as they went down an alleyway that made Kion and Bunga feel uneasy even Terk was starting to have second thoughts. She said to them, "Um, maybe we should go back now? I've seen enough."
The boys said, "Good idea!" and they turned to go when suddenly high-pitch laughing filled the air, making them stop in their tracks.
A group of hyenas came from all sides of the alleyway, and the leader of the cackle addressed them, "Well, look what wandered into our territory… Kion and his little friends…"
Kion shouted, "Janja! You better not do anything to us! Or else my dad will severely make you pay!"
Janja chuckled, "Sadly for you, Kion, Simba's not here to protect you…"
"But I am!"
Everyone looked to where the voice came from.
"Judy?" Kion questioned when seeing the bunny making her way to them.
Janja let out a loud laugh and his gang followed suit. "This is your rescue party?! A cute little bunny?!"
Judy scowled at that statement as she jumped to the nearest hyena which was Chungu and used her legs to kick the hyena to the ground. Making the hyenas cease with their laughter. Janja yelled, "Get her!"
The hyenas started to attack but Judy was too quick for them. Kion, Bunga, and Terk had joined into the fight as they kept the hyenas at bay.
"Morons! Can't even catch a fluffy bunny!" Janja jumped in and faced Judy, "You're nothing but a stupid dumb bunny!" he started to pounce but her hind legs kicked him away. He growled, "You don't know when to quit do you?" he lifted his paw showing off his claws.
Kion saw this in horror and yelled, "Judy!"
Too late, he managed to claw her cheek leaving three deep scratches in it. Bunga and Terk gasped. Kion was appalled as Judy landed on the ground from the impact. Something within him stirred and he glared at Janja.
"Janja! You've gone too far this time!"
The hyena merely smirked, "And what are you going to do about it?"
Kion kept on glaring and in mere seconds he found himself letting out a huge roar! But wasn't like any other roar. This roar was so fierce that it caused the clouds to roar was well in the shape of lions! This scared the hyenas so badly that they whimpered as they ran off.
Kion was shocked by what just happened as was Bunga, Terk, and Judy. When the shock wore off, the cub went to the bunny, "Are you alright, Judy?"
Bunga commented, "Yeah, that looks pretty bad."
Judy held her cheek to feel the blood before giving a tiny smile, "Well… at least Janja won't be back anytime soon for another fight, not when Kion has that roar of his."
Kion smirked back, "Or that Janja and his hyenas will think twice about calling you cute."
"He was right about one thing…" she gave off a determined look, "I don't know when to quit."
The guys smiled with Bunga saying, "You sure don't."
Kion put a paw around her, "Come on, let's get back to the castle so Rafiki can help clean that."
Judy winced at the medicine that Rafiki applied on her cheek as Kiara was right by her side with worry. Her parents, brother, and Bunga were presented as well looking on in concern.
Simba broke the silence, "Well, Rafiki?"
The baboon smiled, "Everything will be fine as long as you keep it bandaged until it has healed. But I'm afraid to say that the scratches were a bit deep so there will be scars, however her fur should be able to grow back to cover them."
That was a huge relief to Kiara before she scolded toward her brother, "You're lucky she wasn't seriously more hurt!"
Kion retorted, "Believe me, Kiara, I was very upset Janja did that to her!"
Bunga pointed, "Yeah! If Kion hadn't done that roar, who knows what else Janja would have done!"
"Roar?" Simba, Nala, and Rafiki said before the baboon jumped for joy.
"Of course! The Roar of the Elders!"
"Roar of the Elders?" the kids inquired.
"It is when the great lions of the Pridelands' past roar with you."
"You mean that's what happened to my roar?"
Bunga exclaimed, "Yeah, lions in the sky! I saw that!"
"Me, too!" Judy declared excitedly.
Rafiki gestured, "Which means it is time for Kion to assemble The Lion Guard."
"Lion Guard?!" the kids questioned.
After Simba and Rafiki gave a quick explanation to what the Lion Guard was, Kion then got Bunga and the rest of their friends as the Pridelands' best as The Fiercest, The Bravest, The Fastest, The Strongest, and The Keenest of Sight. Judy had watched firsthand of what The Lion Guard did to protect the kingdom and it made her feel inspired and she told Kiara as much months later.
"So what are you saying? You want to be a member of the Lion Guard too?"
"That would be cool… but no, Kion already has all of the chosen members needed to make up the Guard. Besides, I much rather stay by your side."
"Good. Because I want you by my side too. That's why I want to be my lady-in-waiting when we grow up."
"Well… as much as I would like that… I was thinking more along the lines of being… your personal bodyguard?" she asked with hopeful eyes.
"My personal bodyguard?!"
"I know, I know, it's unheard of for a bunny to be a guard but… I really want to do this, you're my best friend, Kiara, and I would protect you no matter what."
"But what about your protection, Judy?! You were clawed by Janja!"
"I never said it would be easy. Please, Kiara… I really want this…" she begged with pleading eyes.
Kiara looked into the bunny's eyes and her heart melted, she sighed, "Alright… but this doesn't stop me from worrying or change the fact that I can defend for myself…" she gave a tiny smile.
"Thank you!" the rabbit embraced the young lioness tightly.
AN: In case you didn't know, Bongo and Lulubelle were from Fun and Fancy Free.