Notes: The two hyena names are Zulu, meaning: Xolani (Peace) and Vala (Close). They come from a Zulu name generator.

BETA: TheSupernova


Chapter 7: Disbandment


With the Lion Guard and Jasiri's clan working together, Scar's invasion was successfully pushed back, but the damage had been done. Their victory was bittersweet.

The hyenas were in an uproar over the banishment of their leader Jasiri, and her injuries. Fuli had been banished as well, which left the Lion Guard one member short. It had been almost a full day since then.

Ono had gone scouting for answers over Simba's current stance on the Lion Guard. Kiara had asked her father, who seemed oddly indifferent to the state of things regarding the Prideland's protectors.

"Are you sure?" Ono asked Kiara.

She looked around, checking Pride Rock for signs of her father. After she was satisfied, she turned back to Ono.

"Positive," Kiara said. "He seems to think Kion will feel the same way he does, once he 'cools off' and thinks about the situation rationally."

Ono flapped his wings worriedly.

"Are you sure it was a good idea not to tell the king about Kion's relationship with Jasiri?" he asked.

Kiara sighed. "Maybe it wasn't. Maybe things would have been different; maybe he would have thought twice about banishing his grandson—or maybe he would have been infuriated with Kion for having a bastard son with a hyena."

"Come on, I would think the king would be more understanding if he knew the truth!" Ono tried again. "Maybe coming clean will make him change his mind?"

"Look," Kiara said, standing up, "for good or bad, the damage has been done. It's unfortunate that the Prideland invasion came so soon, but if the goal was to deepen dad's distrust of all hyenas, it worked. Even if we told him the truth, he wouldn't listen."

"But—" Ono began, but was quickly cut off.

Kiara cleared her voice, imitating her father. "No hyena can be trusted. Jasiri tricked Kion into thinking she liked him, just to get close to me, to the pride. The sooner he realizes this, the better."

Using her normal voice, she continued.

"Our dad will do what it takes to make Kion see reason, even if it means banishing Jasiri from the Pridelands.

Ono dropped his head. Surely the king wasn't that unreasonable; he had always been fair and just in the past, looking to see both sides of a situation before making judgement. Kion wouldn't accept an answer like that from his dad without putting up a fight. His friend stood up for what he believed in, and wouldn't accept an answer like that.

Ono's thoughts must have shown on his face, because Kiara seemed to see right through him.

"I know my brother," she said. "Even if our father accepted Jasiri, do you honestly think dad would let her pack into the Pridelands?"

Ono shook his head.

"Jasiri staying in the Pridelands by herself was always temporary. Her clan is her family," Kiara looked Ono in the eyes. "Tell me. Would you want to be separated from your family? To live knowing that the rest of your family is thought of as traitorous vermin in the eyes of everyone around you? In the eyes of your king?"

"No, I wouldn't," Ono admitted reluctantly. "I'll go report this to Kion."

Before he could leave, Kiara stopped him. A sad smile crossed her face.

"For what it's worth, tell my brother that when I'm Queen, Jasiri and her clan will always have a home here," Kiara said dolefully. "And… tell him that whatever his decision, that I'll always have his back."

Ono nodded affirmatively.

"Will do," Ono said. "And, I heard about what happened at the watering hole. So, thank you, for all you've done. For believing in Jasiri, and giving her a chance."

"It's no problem," Kiara replied.

Her ears perked up.

"I hear my dad coming," she said in alarm.

"Be well, princess." Ono said, bowing deeply in respect, before flying off.


Along the far border of the Pridelands, Kion and his friends were discussing the future of the Lion Guard. Madoa had taken her clan back to their territory, leaving behind two hyenas to guard Jasiri: Xolani and Vala (male and female, respectively). They stayed hidden within the shade of the nearby tree line, just inside the Prideland's borders.

The Lion Guard—Kion, Fuli, Bunga, Beshte, Ono, Mtoto—stood a distance off, letting Jasiri get some sleep.

"It's not too late to change your mind," Bunga said. "

But Kion shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Bunga." Kion looked around at the rest of the Lion Guard in turn. "Everyone."

"I can't believe this is really happening," Beshte said. "I always thought we would be together forever. We're the Lion Guard! But more than that, we're family. Families aren't supposed to break up."

"It was my dream to one day be a member of the Lion Guard," Mtoto said. He turned to Kion. "The day you asked me to join the guard was one of the best days of my life."

"I'm so sorry, Mtoto," Kion said. "But you need to remember that those who choose to stay behind have an important duty: to protect my sister, Kiara, and the Pridelands. Just because you don't have the mark of the guard doesn't mean you aren't still part of the guard in spirit. You'll be needed more than ever now."

The mood grew solemn; the time had finally come. They were stalling, avoiding the subject of who would stay behind.

"I wish I could go with you into the Outlands, Kion," Beshte said. "But there simply isn't enough water for me out there."

Mtoto trumpeted sadly.

"I'm not old enough to leave my herd, and even if I could, I… I don't think I could just pick up and leave my family behind like this."

Kion rubbed up against his friend.

"You don't have to, Mtoto," Kion said. "I don't blame you—any of you—for wanting to stay in the Pridelands. I can't ask that of you, and I won't. But know that I will not blame you for the choices we make right here, right now, because no matter how far apart we are, we'll always be family."

Ono flew up to Kion, setting down right in front of his friend.

"Well, I'm going with you, Kion," Ono said. "You'll need my keen eyesight out there. And… you'll need a friend."

"Two," Fuli chimed in. "Don't forget, I was banished along with Jasiri, so I don't have a choice. But, even if I did, I would be right behind you, Kion."

She walked over and sat beside Kion. He smiled at her knowingly, and nuzzled the side of her neck.

"Thank you," Kion said. "For your support, and for saving Jasiri. I… I know what it meant to you, what you gave up, and I thank you."

"Wha…" Bunga said. "Gave up what? What's going on?"

Beshte leaned over to his friend.

"I'm not sure," he whispered, "but something tells me its better not to ask."

For once, Bunga simply nodded in agreement, and let it drop.

"Bunga?" Kion asked. "What about you?"

"Pssh," Bunga said, "you think you can get rid of me that easily? No chance!"

Kion laughed.

"It would be awfully quiet without you around," Kion said playfully. "Thanks, Bunga. It'll be nice to have you around."

Kion looked between Ono and Bunga. "But you know, you two can go back to the Pridelands if you change your mind."

"I know," Ono said. "It'll be useful if you need me to carry messages or gather intel."

"And um," Bunga hesitated for a moment. "I think I might come back to the Pridelands from time to time, so I can check up on everyone, including my family. I can't imagine not seeing them ever again."

"I wouldn't want that for you either," Kion said. "And one day, maybe we'll all be able to come back."

"Correction, we will be back." Ono said. "At the very least, when Kiara is queen. As I reported earlier."

Kion turned his gaze towards the Outlands. A cold chill ran though the air; even though it was midday, the bright rays of the sun seemed to pass him by. Clouds gathered within the pure, blue sky. The wind picked up, and the trees felt its pull; leaves and bits of debris gathered around Kion.

The same roar that created the Lion Guard would now disband them. Kion didn't wait to ask if his friends were ready.

He looked up at the sky, took in a slow, deep breath, and roared.

The roar echoed its power over every living thing, and they shuddered; the spirit of the Pridelands shook. Storm clouds covered the lands, and they wept, for the madness that had broken apart a family, and had torn apart an entire kingdom.

The winds brought forth the message for every animal to hear: The Lion Guard was no more.


End Notes: Want to read more? Stay tuned for the next story in the series, "Romance of the Pridelands 3: Rise of the Hyena Guard".