Authors note: I wish to thank you all for having joined me on this venture. And to those who have read as long as you have from the outgo of season 4 to here…that is quite a testament to a storytelling I didn't even think I would be doing. There are so many talented writers out there and people wishing to expand on a series that has meant so much to people. And again I never went into this attempting to tell a children's tale…I wanted to bring a new edge to all these characters, so, those going into this thinking they were getting a children's story or a tone similar to the show, that is on me. I made sure to make it T rated and I believe I touched on this from the getgo. I am a believer that in some sense that Disney should be bold in creating new opportunities for characters and it is often relayed in my work. If you have read through this entire authors note I am now attempting a grand feat…so for this chapter alone it will be lengthy in itself as it draws conclusions to several existing storylines.

Authors note 2: As I am writing this is it is New Years Eve and suffice to say I've made it to chapter 19 after all this time, it is my hopes that with some grounded determination all will be settled before the new year is brought in and you will have the entire final chapters to binge, or to look forward to the new year. It is never easy bringing something to a close and as such many chapters have been touched up on with new plots to make things make sense in other chapters. I have so much weight riding on this and in this time so many other stories have been going on, again I just wish to apologize for having kept you all waiting and just to note as anyone used to my work by now should know…some serious stuff is coming up so best brace yourselves.

CH.16: Bringing forth peace pt 1

Rani knew that they were about to do the impossible…and yet…something was eating at her. Kion found her and she let out a breath. There had been something on her mind of late and perhaps now was the best time to broach the subject. "Kion…do you ever think about having cubs?"

"W-Where is this coming from Rani?" Kion appeared to be taken aback by this and yet Rani knew that some part of him had been thinking. Perhaps given the fact that Chuluun was set to give birth soon made him realize it was time to…settle down.

"I am just curious is all…I mean we haven't really discussed it much and there is no telling what the future may hold…" Rani knew that both she and Kion had already faced near death experiences so sometimes it was best to put everything out in the open before a big battle.

"Rani, I'm not sure now is the right time…" Rani stared him down and he ran a paw behind his mane. "Ok…yes some part of me wonders what it would be like, I mean, my father has told me what a joy it has been to raise me and my sister Kiara, so…I kind of wonder how I would fare…"

"I see…well…thank you for that Kion," Rani wished she didn't have to pry so much for that. Kion stares at her curiously and she knows what question is coming.

"And what about you Rani?" Rani was about to answer when she heard Ono calling for them. She felt guilty in not giving him an answer and she would set things right soon, but, time was wasting and it was time to finally set things right…right…that is what they were doing…

The coming crisis was arriving and Kion, Rani, and so many others had assembled to make the march to the Pride Lands. Kion felt deep down that while Jasiri, Jabari, and Nirmala had gone off to sneak into MD's camp…he felt that if this was going to end…it would end in the very place where it began.

"Are you sure about this Kion? We are pretty much leaving the Tree of Life without anyone to look after it?"

"Don't worry your highness and majesty…I will stay behind to look after things. Besides, I am no longer keen of sight and at least having someone here to greet those who arrive, it is the least I can do." Ono spoke proudly and while Kion wished everyone could join them on this venture, well, he also knew that it was important to maintain a presence here.

"I am going to stay as well. Adnan has agreed to stay with me so it won't be too boring. Oh no offense Ono." Makini quickly corrects herself.

Ono appears to be fine and Kion is relieved on this. Nobody thought Ono was boring, in fact, his knowledge often came in handy and if not for him they wouldn't have made it to the Tree of Life.

"Ono is in good company…we are going to have a blast!" Adnan chimes in as he gives the guy a little rub of his head. Makini suddenly appears to pale or something and she rushes off and Kion thought he heard her…throwing up. Adnan for his part appears to not notice or if he had any concern would be to check up on her once they left.

"Yes, um, please hurry back Kion…not sure how much my head can take of this." They all laughed and Kion stiffened as he saw some blurs in the distance. "Anga can you tell us who is approaching?"

"I'm on it." Anga begins as she ascends up. However the other bird, Akili, also rose up and Anga had to veer away before they crashed.

Kion fought a laugh noting how Anga looked peeved by having another joining her. Rani gave him a look and he composed himself. True this could be a danger, but, he had to admit he was liking the development happening among them. They all had grown up one way or another and were finding their way in this new age. In some sense it was sad but it was also enlightening to know that most…including that of Anga could find a way to express herself. This was far from annoyance, no, ever since Akili was showing up more Anga was almost expectant and was not pushing him away as much as before.

"I-I don't believe it…" Anga's voice came in a bit of a disbelief and he and Rani exchanged worried glances.

"Anga what do you see?" Rani spoke up first and Kion grew quiet. Anga doesn't say anything at first and Kion begins to feel his patience wane.

"Fuli, Azaan, and…Surak," her voice was quiet and yet Kion was certain he had heard what he had and even then he didn't believe it.

"Wait…did you say-?" Rani was starting to cry and Kion places a paw on her shoulder as in the distance the shapes that were mere blurs start to form into actual shapes, actual existing beings that shook the entire community.

"Hey guys…I-." Kion saw a flash of movement off to the side and Jax threw himself at Fuli. The two collide and roll along the ground growling and playfully trying to top the other. Honestly it got quite the response and they nuzzle one another.

"Well that was quite the reaction I did not see coming. Um…I deeply apologize to everyone here on account of my having been…shall we say partly alive, it was not my intent…but…unfortunately my circumstances prevented me from-."

Rani had proceeded a few uncertain steps before she was joined by Baliyo who had come to see what the commotion was. The siblings made their way to their Uncle and in that moment they rejoiced and there was a celebratory cry as the son of Queen Janna had returned to the Tree of Life.

Kion used this time to greet Azaan who had stood off to the side. "I take it you are to thank for the return of Fuli and Surak?"

"Yes, well, both of them had some rather nasty falls and I couldn't just leave them be." Kion saw him look back at Surak and Kion began to understand something.

"Surak is lucky to have you," Kion noticed the shocked look on Azaan's features but it quickly turns to an embarrassed blush.

"Well, I mean, how did you know?" Kion gestured for him to walk alongside him and for a moment they depart the scene of happiness as those lost were returned. Beshte and Bunga were now joining Jax as they reunited with Fuli.

"I never could figure you out, but, it was never my place to question who you loved. In this great plane of existence, the circle of life, we are free to be with whomever makes us the happiest. Look at Baliyo and Chuluun, Binga and Bunga, Makini and Adnan, and there are so many others as well who gravitate towards their opposite or their neutral partner. If we close ourselves off based on preference we learn nothing…we become stagnant, set up on the principles of the past…our parents or their parents before them. Azaan, it is time that you quit running around and start focusing on what really matters…the Tree of Life would be happy to have you here."

Azaan smiles some and the two of them share a smile, an understanding. "I will consider it, and, thank you for your understanding Kion. There are those out there who would just look the other way or pretend I didn't even say anything at all."

Kion let out a sigh as he sat on his haunches. It was true…but…it was not their place to change minds, merely to open them and let those who disagree decide on their own. Kion had not been raised this way…it was something he had come to on his own, his own principles that would make him different from Kings of the past.

"Kion…what is this about you going to the Pride Lands?" Fuli had joined them after a bit and the rest of them were gathered around as well.

"Well…a small group of us are heading to the Pride Lands to put an end to this whole MD stuff. The Betrayed as a whole is a group centered on revenge and somehow believing that by changing fate, by ridding those who had ruined their lives they can somehow be better-."

"Azaad had done that same thing to me…and honestly I would have been dead if not for Surak and Azaan showing up when they had. The Azaad I had known…it was like he had disappeared and was replaced with an imposter believing that the only way to be free…was to be rid of me, the bane for which his suffering was."

"I am going to end him!" Jax notes but when he gets a look he backs off. "Maybe it is best if I stay behind, I might not be the right force to take into such a situation."

"It is fine Jax, I will return to you once this over." Fuli licks him and appears to volunteer, not that Kion would expect anything less.

"Well where my king goes…I go," Rani sat right by him and gives him a look that dares him to question her.

"Ooh…Binga and I should go go…this is going to be some fun!" Bunga hurries over and Kion was beginning to notice Beshte and even Anga and Akili and suddenly it is dawning on him just how big this party was getting.

"Whoa, hold up, we can't all go. I do appreciate this, I do, but the more there are of us…the more that MD will be able to pick off. Come to think of it…Beshte I have an assignment for you and Binga and Bunga, one that will prove important in the long run."

"Oh yeah Kion…what did you have in mind exactly?" Beshte had recently just lost his father and hadn't been himself. Kion figured that he needed something to get his mind off that and this might be the best idea.

"I can't believe Kion thought this would be a good idea. What do I have to say to her anyway?" Beshte was floating down the river along with Binga and Bunga who were atop him.

"Yeah, I mean, this really blows…where is the action in talking? Mschiana is without a doubt a horrible, terrible, no good-."

"Bunga, please, have some compassion…but yeah he pretty much hit it over the head and would not-."

"Guys, I appreciate what you are saying…and…in some sense if I could loathe or despise her this would be so much easier. The problem is MD made her this way. I mean yeah she was likely this way with Queen Janna, but, she is bitter and not used to anyone telling her no. MD has gone and warped her into hurting others…exacting what she believes is revenge but inside I imagine it is quite hollow."

"Well Big B…you sure know how to put things into perspective. I imagine if anything ever happened to Binga here I might lose myself as well. Maybe that is how MD gets those to join him, seeks out their weakness, has them talk…and just uses some flowery words to get them to join him-."

"Little B, that's, very deep." Beshte felt like they would just go around in circles if he told him that the whole Betrayed storyline had been sold for a while now.

"I know right? I mean thinking deep though makes me have a craving for some grub. Are there any stops along the way?" And there he was back to being Bunga.

"Come to think of it I am getting a hankering for some food as well. However we need to focus Bunga and be there for Beshte no matter what." Beshte felt like Binga complemented Bunga in the best way and for Bunga, well, he certainly did bring the fun.

They were nearing their destination and as they get out of the water Beshte immediately recognizes the male hippos barring their way.

"Do you have business with Queen Mschiana?" Beshte found the title a bit offputting but didn't say anything as Binga and Bunga stood to his left and right respectively.

"Tell her that I wish to speak to her…oh and it is Beshte." He knows they know him but they pretend like they don't. Beshte wanted to know in full detail what happened the day his father died but he knew he wouldn't get a straight answer from them.

"Oh, is that you Beshte, part my hunky hippos." The hippos part ways and there she was…in all her loveliness but she was sided with MD so he knew he shouldn't be too relieved to see her.

"Mschiana, I mean, Queen…no, you aren't a Queen. Listen…we need to talk. I know that MD is just coercing you to do his bidding because he feels he can help you with whatever it is you need help with, but, it doesn't have to be this way-."

"Beshte…you made your choice the moment you turned me down. How many times must we do this? I swear you are as stubborn as your father…he was like you, sticking to what he believed even as he had no chance in stopping the coming wave-."

"Wait…what?" Beshte felt his heart stop and even Binga and Bunga take a moment to process this bit of news.

"Oh, right, you didn't know. Turns out your father was a bit slow in telling you, then again, he only had a few seconds to even give you warning. I was the one who managed to get that water running, flood all of the Tree of Life…but turns out the roar managed to get in the way. So…has your opinion changed on me?"

Beshte let out a howl of grief as he raced towards her. A few hippos blocked his path but he charged forth using his strength to ram into them and what followed was hard to say as his blood was racing and his normally calm demeanor just left him.

"Big B…calm down!" Bunga was heard but not seen and Beshte went to push out but in doing so he saw Bunga fly back and hit a tree. In that moment he began to shake his head looking around him at hippos who wound up bowled over from his attack and Bunga who was left dazed and tended to by Binga.

"Beshte…do you see what your actions have done? Do you see what letting your emotions cloud your judgement has done?" Binga cried out and Beshte bowed his head as he had to let the grief and the anger settle, coalesce into something that he could work with.

"I am sorry Binga…and…so sorry little B. I-I don't know what overcame me, well, no that isn't true I know what happened. Mschiana…all of you here who worked with my father loyally all those years, please reconsider your stance and go home to the Pride Lands-."

"And why would we do that? Mschiana has given us a home here and all of these female hippos who actually like us. We never got this much attention there-."

"It was never about the attention…don't you see?" Beshte implores them to see beyond what Mschiana had placed upon them. "My father, he was wise and caring and did his best to support you all in all of your endeavors. He was never strict or forced any of you to do what you weren't capable of handling; you have to remember he carried the weight of our species on his shoulders…or rather those who were part of the Pod."

"Yeah without him though who will lead us?" Beshte can see that Mschiana was enjoying herself here but he knew that he had to reach them somehow.

And of course the answer was before him…within reach and after all this time having seen Kion join Rani as King or Kiara take over for her father along with Kovu…the answer was there. "I will take the position my father held…and…I will do my best to uphold the tradition but also the strength and unity he did so well to do."

"Beshte…what are you doing? Do you realize what are you saying? If you go back to the Pride Lands and-."

Beshte let out a sigh bowing his head as he knew just what it was he was saying. The males all began to reconsider their position and they approached him. The females seemed to care little about this as they went over to Mschiana.

"Do what you will Beshte…but…there is no way they will join you. They have everything they need here, and, you…no way you would abandon your friends and run back to the Pride Lands…given how settled you are at the Tree of Life-."

"I hereby forfeit the mark of the Night Pride in order to return and take over for my father. I understand what this means and I will uphold the responsibility to the best of my ability." Beshte can hear Mschiana laughing at this and Bunga looking on like he is losing a best friend.

Beshte for his part remains hopeful that his request would be answered. Sure enough the mark of the Night Pride began to disappear from him and unlike the time when he had lost the mark of the Lion Guard…there was no sadness, in fact, if anything this was him recognizing his role in things and much fun as it was being with his friends whom he considered family…it was time for him to return to the Pride Lands and take responsibility in the absence of his father.

"Beshte…you gave up the mark…for us?" The male hippos were all a bit perplexed by this and as Binga helped Bunga up the two friends exchange a look.

"I gave up the mark for the future. My time at the Tree of Life was great, but, in my time there I have come to realize I have been gone too long away from home…it is time I return and hope to make my father proud."

"Big B…I'm going to miss you!" Bunga hugs him and Beshte smiles down at him. "It won't be the same without you around-."

"Hey, who says friends can't visit? I'll be sure to pay a visit…um…when I have some free time and you can do the same…when you have free time. You have Binga now though…so promise me that no matter what you will have her take good care of you."

"I promise…say what now?" Bunga pulled back and the two broke into laughs. Mschiana for her part was none too pleased.

"I don't get this…not only am I losing my males but you are finding humor in this situation even when I did what I did with your father. I was promised revenge, I was betrayed…and yet all I feel is this empty hallow feeling inside."

Beshte knows that some sort of punishment should be met given her act against his father, and yet, Beshte was not a violent person. If she were brought to the Tree of Life she would either be banished or sentenced to a prison of sorts but would the message be well received? Beshte was not one to give up on others so he approaches her. The females are quick to step in his way but Mschiana makes a noise for them to stand aside.

"Mschiana…come with me to the Pride Lands and perhaps a bit of time helping others might help sway your mind on your current actions. I am not going to say it will be easy, but, in time you might see how others live…strive to even do better in your personal life. What do you have now that you can say that you are happy about…that you have worked for?"

He can see Binga and Bunga exchanging confused looks and the male hippos appear to also consider what he is asking. The females though appear to look to their leader on this. Either way Beshte knew that the only way to move forward was to seek a road of forgiveness and while he was pained at the loss of his father, well, he also knew that if he could help save Mschiana he would.

"I don't know…what about my females?" Beshte mused this over but he knew that they were pressed for time. While he would not be joining his friends in the big battle he felt that perhaps this was his battle he needed to overcome.

"They can join you. Trust me you will all have a place but given you did side with Mschiana you will also be working off your crimes. Trust me having a clear conscious is far better than having to live with what you have done and hide away. The one you work for…he is not one you should follow…nor revere, his path to peace is not one that you can live with…but rather carry with shame."

Beshte sees the females consider their options and there was a bit of heated discussion with Mschiana before she approaches him.

"You have a noble heart Beshte, and, while I don't expect you to accept this…know that I am truly sorry for my actions. I perhaps let things get carried away…and your father paid the ultimate price. Lead us now…and we will follow."

Beshte nods his head and finally he goes to say his goodbyes to Bunga and Binga. He wondered though if Kion knew that this would be his departure point. Maybe he would see him and the others in the Pride Lands when it was all said and done. The trio converse a bit till Binga and Bunga leave and Beshte goes to lead the others to the Pride Lands.

Authors note: For now at this point this will serve as Beshte's exit along with the storyline of Mschiana, we may yet see them again at the end at some point but for now in the next chapter the big clash with MD will happen. As I am writing this I have also been attempting to tackle other chapters so by the time this is put up I should be nearing completion of season 5.