Chapter ten: Power With Responsibility
After Kion had recovered a little more, they all headed back to Pride Rock. As they entered the Lair, Kion came across a blue mess on the floor next to him.
"Oh sorry that's my whoops painting." Makini told him, picking up the paint bowl that sat next to it. "I was painting, and mixing up some new paints when I accidentally dropped the blue one on the floor and then I started painting the floor with it..." As Makini continued to ramble on he suddenly felt a strange thing, something that drew him to the painting of a face drawn into the rock. A growl from below made him look down; the Mark of the Guard on his shoulder seemed to come alive, as it roared. As it did so, he felt an almost nonexistent breeze flow up and around him. The lion mark froze once more, but glowed in the process. He suddenly felt the urge to touch the painting, and, obeying it, set is paw right next to it. He watched in amazement as the face flowed and started laughing then froze once more.
"Woah! Hey did you guys see that?" Kion gasped, earning the glance of everyone else.
"Uh, see what Kion?" Ono wondered in confusion. Kion then thought of something. He strode over to the paintings, and began pacing in front of them; as though searching for something. The rest of the animals watched the cub curiously. Kion finally stopped in front of a picture of himself using the roar for the first time. Feeling the urge again, he touched a paw to it and they all marveled at the sight as the painting moved. Kion touched one of Simba defeating Scar and it too move upon his paw's command as well. Each one he touched all came to life, the same way that Rafiki's and Makini's staff do. But even the Royal Mjuzi and his apprentice were amazed by this act.
"Zuka Zama!" Bunga breathed. "Kion! How are you doing that?!"
"Not sure Bunga?" Kion shrugged, still surprised himself. "Maybe Scar's attempts to turn me against myself unlocked something in me, I didn't know I had."
"Is that even possible, Rafiki?" Simba wondered, looking to his adviser. The old mandrill stroked his beard quizzically.
"Hmm... well it is not unheard of, but I do not recall a time when something like this has ever happened." He said, shrugging wisely. "You appear to be more special than we anticipated." He told the cub, coming to stare face to face with him. "You seem to unlocking powers that even the great lions of the Lion Guard's past never did."
"So Kion's had this ability... all along?" Nala concluded.
"Most definitely." Rafiki confirmed. "But something had to awaken this ability, as did his roar." Everyone fell silent thinking deeply on this, their minds blown by all that they'd just heard. Even Kion was thoughtfully pondering this, when a light below him grabbed his attention. Looking down he saw that the ground under his right paw was glowing. The glow began to grow and suddenly he felt something surge within him. The cub's legs buckled, but he remained standing. It felt as though a weight was being set in him and it was growing heavier. In addition to the pressure on his body he began seeing the paintings in his head. They came in flashes... some he recognized,... others he didn't; but somehow understood all their meanings as they seemed to animate themselves. The other animals stood and in awe as veins of golden light extended from Kion's paws. As the light spread throughout the Lair each painting it passed came to life. It started at the walls and branched out, some running across the walls and some reaching up them. Kion kept seeing these paintings, almost seeming to get a download on each of them. The visions finally began to slow, as the light retracted back to him; then decimating when it reached him. Kion's eyes opened once more and he shook off the strange feeling he'd just felt; the weight having finally lifted.
"Kion?!" Ono gasped, earning the cub's glance. "H...h...how did you... how did you do that?" The egret still looked completely blown away, as did everyone else.
"I... I don't know, Ono." Kion sighed, also a little confused himself. Rafiki thoughtfully stepped forward and bent over to carefully inspect the slight glow of Kion's Lion Guard mark.
"Hmm... well Kion you are a very special cub." The mandrill told him, standing up at eye level with him again.
"So... this is normal?" Simba questioned, a little uneasily.
"Yes, but it has never happened before in the history of the Pridelands... until now." Rafiki gestured to Kion intently.
"So then... how do you know this is supposed to happen?" Nala wondered. Rafiki simply smiled and rolled his eyes up, not having to utter a word.
"The lions of the past." Simba finished aloud. "My father." Rafiki nodded slightly.
"Wait so Kion's has this power all along?" Bunga recapped, covering his face with his hand and leaning his head back.
"It sure seems that way Bunga." Kiara spoke up, she slowly stepped up to her brother. "But then, does that mean you can understand the paintings in here?" She asked him. Kion looked over and up at the many paintings on the walls. Standing before them once more he found one he didn't recognize and touched a paw to it; watching it come to life it's meaning suddenly became clear.
"It seems that way." Kion responded finally. Ono took off from Beshte's back and Kion looked back at the paintings. The egret hadn't been gone long when...
"Kion! Kion!" Ono burst back into the Lair.
"What is it, Ono?!" Kion responded becoming defensive.
"A fire! Near the cliffs!" The egret cried frantically.
"We need to stop that fire!" Kion decided starting to leave.
"Hold up, Kion." Fuli interrupted, stepping in front of Kion, stopping him in his tracks. "How do we know this isn't another trap set for you by Scar?" The cheetah's eyes challenged his.
"It doesn't matter." Kion returned firmly. "It's our job to protect the Pridelands. Whether or not Scar's behind this, we still have to stop it. I'm not running from it,... just because Scar is attacking us. I'm not running just because someone like Scar wants to hurt me."
"But Kion-" Nala began.
"I'm not afraid to stand up for myself, and the Pridelands... even against Scar." Kion insisted, cutting her off. Everyone looked from Kion to Simba, who stared at his son. After a few moments he sighed, lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"Alright, you win." Simba gave in.
"Right, now come on! Til the Pridelands end!" Kion called, taking off out the door. Fuli rolled her eyes the Guard followed with:
"Lion Guard defend!" Though their tone was very uncertain.
The scent of smoke caught Kion's nose as they approached, they'd been able to see the smoke for a while. The ashes burned the cub's amber eyes as the flames came into view, reflecting off them clearly. Kion suddenly stopped; the glow of the fire taking on a strange look, and he could swear that he heard something echoing around him.
"Kion? You ok?" Full asked slowly.
"Why'd you stop?" Beshte asked, feeling a little worried. Kion was silent, keeping the dazed look on his face. As the sound continued echoing here and there among the orange and yellow flames.
"You guys hear that?" Kion asked, kind of distantly, slowly inching forward.
"Uh...hear what?" Ono wondered from his perch on Beshte's back.
"That screaming..." Kion replied simply peering into the fire. "It's everywhere. Ono, is someone in there?" The egret took off to scan the area.
"I don't see anyone, Kion." Ono called down to them.
"Are you ok?" Fuli asked again, stepping up next to him and lowering her head to gain his glance; to which she succeeded. Just then Kion's face flashed and he shook his head, as if waking up from a dream.
"We've gotta stop that fire!" He called, his head finally in the game again. And they set to work tossing dirt onto the flames and digging fire breaks.
Hey guys, here's the next chapter!! Soooo glad you guys have been enjoying it! And more is yet to come, still. I'm still not completely sure how much and where it'll end. But I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Thx!!