"I see the last king bit the dust," the rogue snarled as Kiara and her company approached. "Good." Kiara recognized him immediately.

"I know who you are." He was thinner and more scarred, and either injury or illness had marred one of his eyes, leaving it swollen and infected. The past year had not been kind to him. "You faced King Simba last year with the other male."

Kiara nervously glanced at her brother, who couldn't take his wide eyes off the three males. The first rogue was brawny, but stiffness from an injury limited his mobility. The second was younger and thinner, striking quickly but poor posture and footing prevented him from delivery proper blows. They looked related, likely brothers. Simba whipped around, kicking the younger male in the throat, sending him reeling with a harsh choke, and in the same move dove into the first male's shoulder, his teeth sinking in. The two wrestled, snarling and slashing.

"Damn the law," Kiara heard her Bibi Sarabi hiss to Nala. "I am not losing him again!"

Simba had the right to call on his Guard or pride to help him face adversaries, but traditionally the pride was not asked to bleed on the behalf of the leaders, especially not the lionesses. Simba did not want Kion or the rest of the Guard getting hurt or, in this case, quite possibly killed, on his behalf either. So he had chosen to face the two brothers on his own, a decision that had startled and concerned the pride. They had expected him to ask Nala for aid. They were expected to respect his decision not to. The law demanded their obedience.

"I'm waiting for the right moment," her mother answered tersely under her breath. Kiara wondered how her father would take being aided by the Queen, but was relieved that her mother wasn't going to let these strangers kill her father. However, it didn't cool her anxiety that her mother would intervene too late.

All three males were bleeding. She hated watching her father bleed. To stand and watch stiffly while a stranger bit and scratched him felt intrinsically wrong. The challenge hadn't even been honorable, her father was outnumbered, it was an unfair fight. He was fighting honorably, while they were not. It wasn't fair.

A gasp from Naanda was her first clue that something had happened. Then, she heard it. The awful sound of a lion being asphyxiated. Wheezing, gasping. Choking. It was almost silent, but not quite.

"Dad!" Kion gasped in fear, held back by their mother. Kiara was then able to distinguish as the three bodies slowed that her father was between the two males, the younger attempting to pry him away from the elder, whose neck was between her father's incisors. She couldn't see his face. She didn't want to. The younger male was desperate, tearing and tugging her father's mane in a futile attempt to break his hold on the other. She was filled with relief that he was alive, but terrified that the fight wasn't yet over.

Her father released the body, which dropped stiffly, and whirled around on the younger male with a ragged growl, his bared teeth wet with red, red that dripped from his muzzle. Realizing that his comrade was dead, the male faltered.

"Well?" The King demanded hoarsely. The rogue, as if in shock, still didn't respond, his gaze shifting from the body to his opponent. "Then take him," Simba jerked his head at the fallen lion, "and get out."

The rogue ran, leaving the corpse behind. The King let out a roar announcing that he had won, and remained undefeated. Then, his posture sagged as his exhaustion became apparent. Nala sat between Kiara and Kion and silently comforted them for a moment before joining the group surrounding their father as they looked away from the dead lion. Behind them, Nala, Sarabi, Sarafina and Dwala fussed quietly over the King, examining him for serious wounds and advising that he drink water, doing their best to show their support as Simba stared blankly ahead, his eyes void of any emotion. Kiara had never seen him look so numb.

"And the bastard killed my brother!" The rogue barked. "He showed no regard for the rules of engagement, so I came to return the favor, but I suppose that's been done for me now, huh?"

"Your brother fought with strength and courage, but I suppose my condolences would mean nothing," the queen spoke calmly. "Do we have a quarrel on behalf of two lions who are not present?"

"You call blood vengeance a quarrel?" He bristled. "Perhaps we do! Your former king slaughtered my brother before my eyes, how is this wrong to be righted? If you have any honor, you will make amends!"

"You stepped into my lands without permission, you are trespassing, and you are an enemy of the pride, yet here you stand," Kiara narrowed her eyes. "Very alive. Any wrongs against you have been righted with every breath you still take. I have no interest in hashing this out any further, leave now if you wish to leave at all."

"I see this place has no respect for the common rules," he snorted.

"You both attacked my father with aim to kill him, your brother's death was not his intention, it was clear to witness. Insult my father's integrity as a king and opponent again and consider yourself a mortal enemy of the Pride Lands. Leave."

"Ah," he looked between Kiara and the Lion Guard, who stood with hackles raised at her heels. "Daddy's little girl. Gotcha. Well, better sleep with one eye open, girlie."

"Kion!" Kiara shouted. Kion stepped forward with a snarl. "If this lion steps so much as a hair's width into the Pride Lands again, he will be executed without trial, do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly."

"I am sorry for your loss," Kiara addressed the lion as he backed away, his face dawning with the realization that Kiara was serious, "but I won't tolerate a threat against me or my Pride Lands. Our safety is not under the whim of your childish exercise in anger management. I will give you a ten second head start, then my Guard will hastily escort you to the border, and then a hundred paces beyond that."

The rogue turned and fled. One Kiara's mark, Kion, Kovu, Malka and Tojo bounded after him with aggressive snarls as the lionesses watched silently.

"Mmm, yes," she groaned.

"You're vocal tonight."

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all."

"Hurt me, Red."

He froze. That wasn't right. Beneath him, Nala's face transformed into Surani's. Seeing his disgusted shock, she laughed.

"What? Cat got your tongue?"

Awakening with a jerk, Simba recoiled away from Surani's sleeping body as if her fur were crawling with insects. Devoid of his warmth, she mumbled in protest but continued to sleep. He panted, looking at the scant shelter of the rocky overhang above them, shielding only against the light dusting of snow from above, doing nothing to prevent the gusts of frigid air that swept between the hairs on their backs like icy claws. He knew they hadn't fallen asleep so close, and rationed that she had moved closer to him in her sleep. It had been an accident. And his dream, nothing more than a freakish nightmare. Despite the fact that nothing had actually happened, he still felt dirty.

They had made decent progress and would reach Hafifu the next day, but Simba couldn't help but think that if it weren't for Surani and her stiff, still-healing ankle, they would have made it to their destination before a rest was needed. Anga, Zazu and Ono were nestled in a small cave a few meters away that was far too small for either feline, but considerably more sheltered and warm. Mjumbe had flown ahead to let the gorilla king know of their delay. Simba and Surani and settled down with (and he distinctly remembered this) only their shoulders touching, and she had moved herself closer after he'd fallen asleep.

"Come on," she mumbled with a shiver, curling deeper into the fetal position, "it's cold, lie back down."

"I'm up for the day," he leaned back, twisting until his back cracked with a satisfying 'crick.'

"Ugh, could you not? You know that sound grosses me out." He popped his neck. "Simba!" She glared at him. He snorted.

"I'm going to go stretch my legs," he stood. "Try not to freeze while I'm gone."

"Make yourself useful and hunt something, now that your leg is fine."

"Oh, right, I forgot to mention," he stopped, "it's considered not only extremely rude but directly offensive to hunt in another ruler's territory while on visitation for business unless you are expressly invited. King Hafifu will invite us to hunt, his family always has, but that can't happen before we get there."

"You're kidding me," her jaw dropped. "We seriously can't hunt until after we get there?"

"After we get there and have our meeting," he corrected. "And after we've spent the rest of the day helping him. Only then will we take him up on his offer, and we will do it out of his territory, where killing and eating someone's neighbor won't harm his territory's fragile political alliances. If things are as bad as Mjumbe says they are, we won't want to instill distrust in the gorilla king while he picks of the pieces of his family and tries to organize his citizens."

"I'm not waiting that long."

"Half of his family has just died," he reminded her sternly. "We'll wait until we're a day from starvation if that's what it takes."

"Easy for you to say, you can just eat bugs."

"I haven't done that since before I met you and I'd be hard-pressed to find a situation where I'd do it again," he lied.

"Bullshit, you were eating them while your ankle was broken, I'm not stupid. They may have fallen for your whole 'oh my stomach hurts, I don't feel good, my leg hurts too much, boo hoo' act, but I know you, Red. Being useful to someone else is what gives you the will to live, and while you were lying there, you weren't useful to anyone, so you didn't feel you deserved to eat the food your pride hunted, so you ate bugs and lied about it. Maybe it was to feel like you still had control, maybe it was guilt, I don't know, and I don't care. You were eating bugs and you lied to everyone."

"Let's say I did," he looked more closely at her. "Let's say I've been lying to my wife, my mothers, my daughter and son, the entire pride. Let's say I lied to all of them, for weeks. I ask you this; why would you care?"

"I wouldn't, I don't."

"Good," he briskly turned and walked into the frigid dawn air, leaning over to stretch, arching his back, feeling it stiffly flex, then slowly relax.

From her spot in the shadows, she watched how the miniscule droplets of melted snow glistened on his mane like dew, and his scarred, muscular build flexed under his healthy thick fur. His face had aged, more than hers had, making him seem older than he really was. However, he didn't look haggard, far from it. He was still full of fight, full of life. He looked sage, mature, even a tad more mysterious. He truly did look...noble.

Her eyes darted downward as he glanced over at her.

"What?"

"You look like a crocodile chewed you up," she quipped half-heartedly.

"Yeah," he let out a dry laugh. "On a good day, I suppose." She instantly regretted her dig, realizing that he seemed to harbor some insecurity about his marked pelt. This was a shame. Scars were considered conventionally attractive. But even in her flustered state of mind, she knew better than to mention this. Suddenly, his ears perked up.

"What?" She whispered.

"Shh." He listened for another moment. "Someone's coming. Someone big."

"Like what?" She felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle.

"I don't know," he rolled his shoulders. "If you listen to nothing else I say the entire time we're here, listen to this," he looked at her. "If I need to use the Roar, get behind me. My son can direct and control it, I cannot."

"Okay," she relented.

"Zazu, Ono, Anga," Simba hissed, looking up at the ledge where they were sheltered. Anga popped out.

"I hear it, I'll take a look," she took flight. Ono peered nervously over the ledge.

"Your maj-I mean, Simba," Ono whispered. "Shouldn't Mjumbe have gotten back? Like a long time ago?"

Simba nodded. Within seconds, Anga returned, landing at Simba's paws.

"It's a male gorilla, and he got Mjumbe," she whispered. "He's definitely trouble."

"It might be Hafifu," he reminded her.

"It's not. I meant 'got' as in killed, he's holding Mjumbe like a piece of fruit. I think he knows we're here."

"Get in the sky out of harm's way," Simba curtly instructed Anga before turning to Surani. "Remember, behind me."

The haunting sound of an angry gorilla call filled the air.

"Not a problem," Surani backed towards the rocks nervously. In response to the gorilla's call, Simba let out a vicious snarl, a defensive noise to let the gorilla know that he was willing to fight if provoked. The sound of a heavy body quickly crunching its way through the snow came closer as a large male thundered around the corner, rearing up on his legs and beating his chest. In one of his fists, which was the size of Simba's skull, was a lifeless eagle. It was Mjumbe.

"Shujaa!" Simba shouted, his hackles raised. "Stand down, we're here at the request of King Hafifu!"

"King Hafifu gone!" Shujaa bellowed. "Shujaa king now! Lions not welcome!"

"Your alliance with the Pride Lands hangs into balance right here, right now!" Simba shot back with equal ferocity. "We can talk, but do not dare raise your fists at me!"

"You," Shujaa pointed at him, "are no longer the great King! You are weak! Shujaa has no respect for the weak! It was you lions who brought the skinny apes, we do not need your help crushing them!"

"Shujaa, listen to me! Your strength is no match for their powers, they will kill you and take over the mountains!"

"You know nothing of my strength!" Shujaa puffed his chest. "You know nothing of the gorillas! Mjumbe says," he tossed the bird at Simba's paws, but Simba didn't take his eyes off Shujaa, "that you brought your son's magic roar. I say that's a challenge, and I accept! I plucked bird from the sky, I can break your head in my teeth!"

"I am not here to challenge you, Shujaa. I have no desire to take over your kingdom."

"Then leave in defeat!" He pounded his chest again.

"Surani, start running," Simba advised tensely as he stood against the powerful animal.

"But you said-"

"Dammit, NOW!" He barked. She clumsily leaped away, trotting as fast as she could manage, looking over her shoulder apprehensively. Ono followed her. "You have forfeited your alliance with the Pride Lands, Shujaa!" Simba growled. "We have had our last civil interaction!"

"Good!" Shujaa flung an armload of snow at Simba as he retreated, covering him with powder and tiny chunks of ice that he shook from his mane as he ran to catch up with Surani, Zazu and Anga flying overhead.

"What the hell," Surani panted, "was that?"

"The reason I hate politics," Simba grumbled. "Alright, Zazu, what's the procedure for when you're turned away from providing aid to a territory because their king and majordomo have been killed while you're en route?"

"I haven't the slightest," Zazu admitted. "This is unprecedented."

"Do we accept his authority?" Simba slowed to a stop, glancing behind them. They weren't being followed. Surani and the birds stopped as well.

"What do you mean?" Zazu asked.

"I mean, do we help anyway?" Simba looked at him. "For all we know, most of the mountain thinks Hafifu is still in power. We don't even have proof that he's not."

"Did the majordomo with a broken neck not signify a change in authority?" Ono shuddered.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Ono," Simba sounded sincere. "If you want to head back, you are more than welcome to do so, we understand."

"No, no, I'm not leaving the mission."

"You might have more allies here than Shujaa," Zazu remarked dryly. "Furthermore, you could challenge him and take this land for your Queen."

"Not a single chance of that happening," Simba didn't even consider that possibility. "Now, do we return to the Queen and ask her for direction, or do we finish what we came here to do despite the disruption?"

"What disruption?" Surani demanded. "Simba, he threatened to kill you, the king who asked us to come here is dead! I was wondering what my role here could possibly be, but now I know it's to keep your thick skull from ending up between that monster's jaws! This is where turn back!"

"Is that how everyone feels?" Simba looked to the birds.

"Oh, were we voting?" Anga asked. "I was just following you, I figured you were in charge."

"Well, I'm asking what you think is best."

"The mission was to help the mountain stand against the walking snakes, I say we complete it."

"Ono?" Simba asked.

"Um, well, see, I interpreted the mission a little differently," the egret looked nervous.

"I won't bite, Ono."

"Well, see, I thought the mission was to help the king. 'The king' now happens to be someone who doesn't want help, ergo, our mission is now to go home."

"Zazu, care to break the tie?" Simba asked.

"I agree with Ono," Zazu sighed. "It gives me great pain, but retreat is the proper thing to do, according to law. Technically we are now unwelcome guests. Any animals who wish to avoid the consequences of Shujaa's leadership may seek refuge among our lands. That is all the help we can offer."

"Doesn't do much good for those whose habitats aren't available elsewhere," Simba muttered. "But, fine. I'm acting under Queen Kiara's orders, that makes me an ambassador of her reputation, so I will obey the law. We go home."

"Simba, you're back!" She ran forward to greet him eagerly. Instead of welcoming her embrace, he shied away from her, avoiding her gaze. "What's wrong? She cocked her head. Then, behind him, she noticed a set of green eyes on them. Surani was watching with a knowing smile. Nala felt a feeling of unease in her stomach. "Simba," she frowned, "what is it?"

"It's just," he bit his lip, chewing the inside of his mouth nervously. "Nala, it's hard to explain."

"He's coming back," Surani stepped forward. "With me."

"What did you just say?" Nala stepped towards her aggressively. Simba put out a paw to hold her back.

"Nala, wait," he cautioned. "She's right. It's not her you should be mad at, it's me."

"Y-you're leaving?" She felt her chest tighten. "For how long?"

"I'm going back to where I want to be," he stated firmly. His eyes were on her now, stern and devoid of any affection. There was guilt, but not remorse. He looked like a different animal. Detached.

"Why?" She choked out as she felt as if she were fixed in place as her world began to fold in on her. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"I did what you asked," he explained. "I killed Scar, and I was your king. Now you have a new leader, you don't need me anymore. I can go back now."

"Were you always planning to do this?" She felt tears of rage and grief fill her eyes as her voice trembled.

"No," he looked back at Surani with a look he'd once reserved for Nala. "But, I got to thinking, I had a life there, too. One I'd like to finish. The one I preferred."

"We're going to find Aisha," Surani stepped beside him. "And be a family. A family he chose, not one that was forced on him."

"What about our family?" She asked, desperate to appeal to his sense of reason. She didn't understand what was happening, she felt powerless and scared. "What about the baby?"

"I didn't want this one," he reminded her coldly. "You did. I didn't want any of them, actually. Remember?"

"No, no that..." She thought back. Kiara had been, of course, a surprise neither of them had felt prepared for, but they were both so young, and the lands were still rife with conflict. Their fear was understandable, but they'd loved Kiara nonetheless. Kion had been born under much better circumstances. He hadn't exactly been planned, but something they'd agreed they were both open to, something to be left for a higher fate to decide. 'We'll see if it's meant to be.' She realized that she couldn't recall Simba specifically stating that he'd wanted another cub, only that he was open to the idea because Nala had asked. And the cub she was now carrying, Nala realized with a sinking feeling, had been conceived almost as a favor. Something he had done because he knew she wanted it. Nala was struggling to recall a time Simba had ever explicitly stated the desire for a cub. Any cub.

"The pride will take care of you," he assured her, talking to her as if she was a stranger he was granting shelter. "And who knows, maybe-"

Nala awoke with a disconcerted mumble as her mother gently shook her shoulder.

"Nala, did you hear what I said?" Sarafina asked quietly. The den was cool and bright. Judging by the color and angle of the light, it was nearly midday. Nala couldn't believe how long she'd slept. She sat up, rubbing her face with a sigh.

"No, what?"

"Kiara and the boys went out to patrol this morning, but apparently there are some lionesses wandering around the Outlands, so they went to investigate. I thought you should know."

"How long ago?"

"A few egrets just flew by. Friends of Ono, I think."

"Alright," she nodded, still trying to orient herself with the reality that Simba hadn't returned from the mountains yet, nor had he said any of the horrible things he'd said in her nightmare. She felt a mixture of disturbance and relief. She was glad this hadn't happened, but the image of her mate leaving her for another life had settled into her mind, like a swelling bruise after a hard kick.

"Nala?"

"What?"

"I asked if you were thirsty. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I just, I don't know, I had a nightmare."

"Ah," her mother settled down next to her. "Well, what about?"

"Nothing real."

"Are you sure you're alright? You don't usually have nightmares."

"I'm fine," Nala forced a smile. Before her mother could retort, a quiet voice interrupted them.

"Nala?"

Nala turned with a frown.

"Yes, Vitani?" The lioness was standing in the mouth of the den, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable.

"What does this mean?" She stepped so that her shoulder was visible. From the distance, Nala could see that something was on her shoulder. Nala stood and curiously walked over to the young lioness, her mother following close behind.

"It's the mark of the Lion Guard," Nala realize aloud. "The original one."

"You're right," Sarafina examined it. "It's not the mark the boys have. What does that mean?"

"I have no idea," Nala admitted. "But I know who we can ask."

"Ladies," Kiara approached the group of rogue lionesses confidently. "What can I do for you?" They were at the border where the desert met the Pride Lands, the ground hard-packed and silt-dusted, with a few sprigs of green sprouting between the cracked earth.

"Kiara," one of them stepped forward. "It's us, we're back."

"Whoa, Shabaha?" Kovu raised his eyebrow. "What are you guys doing here?"

It took a moment, but Kiara did recognize Shabaha, Imara, Kasi, and Tazama from Zira's pride. They had been among the lionesses that had decided to peacefully seek out greener pastures shortly after their assimilation into her father's pride. Tazama, Kiara recalled, had especially bumped heads with some of the elder lionesses.

"You tell us," Kasi jerked her head at her shoulder, revealing the telltale mark of the Lion Guard. All four of them bore it.

"What happened to Big Daddy?" Imara asked in a tone that indicated that she didn't particularly care what the answer was.

"My father is on a mission in the Thelugi Mountains," Kion answered with a note of irritation, unfamiliar with the lionesses.

"Who're your friends?" Tazama glared at Tojo, who took a step back.

"They're members of the Lion Guard," Kiara frowned at her brother. "At least, that's what we've been calling them."

"Yeah, well, we've got the mark now," Shabaha scratched her chest. "So what does that mean?"

"I don't know," Kiara admitted. "Kion?"

"I don't know," he shook his head. "We'd better ask an expert."

"I am SO HAPPY you're all here for the big reveal!" Makini grinned. Nobody else was entertained.

"Makini, can you tell us why the boys and the girls have different marks?" Nala asked, as if reminding the young creature to stay focused.

"I totally can, your highness!" Makini's enthusiasm could not be snuffed out. "See, the boys aren't really the real Lion Guard!"

"What?!" Kion demanded. "Then what are we?"

"How can Simba and Kion use the Roar if they're not the real Lion Guard?" Malka added.

"Well no, they're real Guard members, just not what we traditionally call 'the Lion Guard,'" Makini explained, motioning to the other side of the tree where they had gathered. The followed her around the base of the tree. "I made a painting, see?"

"Who's that?" Kiara examined the painting closely.

At the bottom, a red-maned lion appeared to be roaring, waves of energy pouring from his mouth towards two mountain peaks. In between those peaks was an orb of bright blue. Above the orb floated a dark lioness with green eyes.

"Well, I'm pretty sure it's Simba and Surani!" Makini chirped. "They were in my vision!"

"Why is Surani floating above that blue circle?" Kion tilted his head.

"Okay, so, here's the deal," Makini smiled at Rafiki, who sat beside Nala and had chosen not to speak. "The Pride Lands actually used to be much bigger than they are now, the mountains actually used to be part of the Pride Lands! And between two of the mountains, there's something very special and very ancient that one of the Lion Guard leaders of old hid between the two mountains so that only one with the power of the Roar could ever find it! And that lion is going to be Simba!"

"Why is Simba going to find and reveal something that one of the older Lion Guard leaders hid?" Nala narrowed her eyes. "This is news to me."

"Well, see," Makini put a finger to her lip as she thought. "I don't think he's going to do it on purpose, Nala. Sometimes the Roar works in mysterious ways. It's wielded by him, but it doesn't come from him, and the place it comes from wants the mountains to open so the fountain can be used again!"

"How do you know this is going to happen if it hasn't happened yet?" Kovu asked.

"Oh, the Great Kings told me," she smiled. "They're never wrong."

"Is Simba in danger?" Nala demanded, clearly unsettled by this information.

"Well, Simba would only use the Roar if he felt he needed to, and he doesn't know about the fountain, so, I'm not sure why or when he's going to use the Roar," Makini admitted. "But I know he's going to be okay. This is something that's supposed to happen."

"What's the fountain, and what does Surani have to do with it?" Kiara asked.

"The fountain's full name is Chemchemi ya Waliopotea, 'the Fountain of the Lost.' It's a place where the living can communicate with the souls of animals who have completed their journey in the circle of life, but aren't ready for the afterlife yet. A sort of in-between place for those still learning from their experiences in life, or those with unfinished business" she explained. "The Great Kings say it's time."

"Why?" Kovu asked.

"I guess if they wanted us to know, they would have told us," Makini shrugged happily, seemingly unbothered by the incomplete set of information. "Maybe they'll tell Surani."

"Surani?" Nala asked.

"Mhmm, she's supposed to be the fountain's guardian," Makini gestured to the painting with her staff. The orb of blue seemed to glow. "The fountain needs a guardian, someone who is lost and needs redemption, usually. I guess Surani is qualified. She's going to volunteer. It's an honor to be the fountain's guardian. The guardian must get to know all of the souls, and tend to them as she herself is cleansed of her own faults. Becoming the guardian makes you wise beyond your years, but it tethers you to the space between the living and the dead. She can't leave the fountain. But, she knows that."

"So...she'll just be trapped there with a bunch of dead animal souls?" Malka balked. "On purpose?"

"It's a very peaceful, lovely place," Makini assured him. "The Great Kings wouldn't have chosen her if she wasn't right for it."

"So, what about us?" Vitani asked, seated with the other lionesses who bore the mark.

"Well, you're the Lion Guard, and you protect the Queen from all physical threats and help her rule the Pride Lands, just like the boys were doing," Makini nodded at Kion. "You boys will now be a different king of Guard. I like the name Mountain Guard, but that's just me. I'm not really sure what you'd be called, but, I think you're supposed to guard something in the mountains, maybe the fountain, I'm not sure."

"The Thelugi Mountains aren't in our territory," Kion argued. "That doesn't make any sense."

"I don't have all the details," Makini shrugged. "That's all I know."

"Why would the Great Kings tell us we're part of the Lion Guard only to then immediately put us in a different group?" Kion looked to his mother, but it was Rafiki who answered.

"Your mark has been the same mark for some time now, Kion. You are still the fiercest in your Guard, a Guard chosen by the Great Kings. If it was always your destiny to guard the Mountain Pass that your father will open but it was not your place to know yet, the Great Kings may have simply used words you would have understood. It doesn't mean they lied, or that anything's changed. Only your perception has changed."

"Right," Kion nodded, his gaze falling to the ground. "Our destiny."