"Is everyone okay?" Nala asked once the wild dogs were out of sight.

"We're all okay," Kion answered, with Beshte and Bunga each giving a nod.

"Are you okay, Mpenzi?" Kasi asked her daughter, beginning to check her over.

"Mama, I'm fine," Fuli insisted. "Really, they're no tougher than any other group we fight. We can handle them."

"Are you sure?" When the younger cub nodded, she relaxed. "Okay. I know you can handle yourself, Fuli. I just…"

Fuli smiled, not needing to hear her finish this as she nuzzled against her mother's chest. "I know, Mama."

Kasi smiled, returning the affection for a moment, before another voice spoke up. "Kasi," they all turned after hearing Simba say, seeing a stern look on the king's face. "It would appear you have some explaining to do."

"Dad, it's not what-"

"It's alright, Kion," Kasi interrupted, giving a nod to the lion cub and walking away from her daughter to stand in front of the king. "I can explain everything."

"I certainly hope so. Who were they?"

"That was Mjinga and his pack of wild dogs, and I assure you that they are NOT friends of ours. They've been a bother to deal with for some time now."

"And why is that?"

"Do you remember when I told you that there were a number of groups that wanted to take Kushangaza from us?" After a brief moment of recalling this, Simba nodded. "Well, Mjinga has been one of the most persistent. We've never had any issues keeping him away, but he kept coming back time and time again."

"It's true, dad," Kion spoke up. "When we first got to the rainforest, we bumped into them, and it quickly turned into a fight."

"I see. I don't doubt your allegiance, Kasi. It seemed quite clear that you weren't an ally of theirs. So, why are they here?"

She sighed, looking down and shaking her head. "I wish I knew, your majesty. Now that we're gone from Kushangaza, I would have thought that they would take control of the area, since they no longer had to fight us for it."

"Perhaps it was the panthers?" Aliye suggested. "After all, they have been our toughest force to face in the past." She glanced at her tail before adding, "I found that first hand."

"It could be, Aliye, but I doubt Mjinga would have just given up and followed us if that was the case. Being beaten never stopped him from trying when we lived there." Her expression darkened as a thought came to her mind. "I hope it's not because of us that they've come here."

"Would they really do that?" Nala asked, to which Kasi gave an even heavier sigh.

"I couldn't tell you for certain that they wouldn't. I know nothing about what goes through his mind, or how he thinks…" She steeled her expression and met the king's eyes once more. "If they come back, me and my cheetahs will be there to send them back where they came from, you have my word. We didn't come here to cause trouble- we came to find a home, and we will do what we can to protect it."

"And we'll be there, too," Fuli agreed. "After all, it's our job to protect the Pride Lands from anyone who seeks to threaten the Circle of Life, and those that live within it."

The others all nodded, but Simba didn't respond to them. The king's eyes were locked on Kasi, giving no indication for a good ten seconds about what he was thinking or what he was going to say. Eventually, though, he cracked a smile. "Spoken like a true Pride Lander," Simba finally spoke, bringing a smile to Kasi's face. "I'm sure everyone will appreciate that, should it ever come to it. For now, though, we should return to Pride Rock. It won't be more than a couple of hours the herd leaders gather there, so they can give their verdict, and we can decide if your tribe will become permanent members of the Pride Lands."

"Of course, your majesty."

"We'll join you when it's time," Kion interrupted. "We need to wait for Ono and then go see if the zebras are okay, but once that's handled, we'll meet you there."

"Alright, Kion," Simba agreed, before turning to the cheetah tribe. "Everyone, follow me."

As they began to make their way towards Pride Rock, Kasi quickly walked over to Fuli, telling her "I'll see you soon" and giving her a quick kiss on her forehead before joining her tribe in making their way back. Whilst Fuli watched them leave, Kion saw Ono flying towards them. "Ono! Is everyone okay?"

"They're fine, Kion," Ono called back as he descended to their level. "They were starting to panic and run, but Muhimu managed to calm them down. No one got hurt."

"Well, that's a relief," Beshte acknowledged. "Still, why did they come here?"

"Who cares?" Bunga boasted, flexing his arm. "We sent them running, and we'll do it again if they come back! They ain't so tough."

One look to his friend told Kion that Fuli didn't agree, the look on her face being one that was quite grave. "Fuli? You okay?"

She didn't say anything for a while, eventually lifting her head to meet his gaze, showing him just how worried she was. "Why did this have to happen now?" He tilted his head slightly, confused by the statement and how her voice sounded… almost fragile. "Why today? Why at all?! Why did they follow us all the way out here?!"

"Fuli, calm down-"

"No, I will NOT calm down!" He jumped back slightly at how she snapped at him, her fangs bared. "Those jerks came all the way here, started trouble and just walked away as of it was nothing! Do you not find that odd?"

"I know what you mean, Fuli, but there's nothing we can do about it now. They're gone, and they won't come back straight away. If they do return, we'll make sure to send them back."

They basically stared at each other for a moment or two, Fuli's chest rising and falling heavily, before her scowl faded and a guilty look took its place. "You're right… I'm sorry, I don't know why I…"

He smiled at her. "It's okay. You have every right to be mad at them, but we'll face this together. Okay?" She nodded. "Alright. Now, let's go and check up on the zebras, see if we can understand better what happened."

"Right."


Mjinga and the others eventually came to a stop in a secluded clearing, surrounded by trees. "Alright, we did what you asked us!" Mjinga barked, looking around. "What now?!"

Suddenly a group of leopards began descending from the trees, walking up to the wild dogs and surrounding them. "Well, that's easy," a certain green-eyed leopard spoke in a sly tone. "We wait."

"Wait? That's it?!" A voice from another tree yelled, the leopard it belonged to jumping down from another tree to come face to face with the first leopard. "We should attack them now!"

The first leopard simply cackled. "You're too headstrong. Relax." His gaze turned towards the monument in the distance. "Soon enough, our plan will come true, and once it has, then we can attack. We take out the cheetahs, it'll lower their moral- and with it, their defence." He licked his lips anticipation. "And once their defences are down, they'll all fall down. One. By. One."


Evening was beginning to set over the Pride Lands, the skies now a darkening orange. The royal family stood at the peak alongside the Lion Guard and Kasi's tribe. They were waiting for the Pride Lands' herd leaders to arrive, the big decision resting on their vote. As they waited, Kasi looked down at her daughter and noticed that she seemed nervous, so she gave a soft nuzzle behind her ear. "It's going to be okay," she assured her. "No matter what happens, we'll make this work."

Fuli gave a small smile and replied, "I know, Mama."

"It's time," Simba declared, alerting everyone to the approaching presence of the herd leaders. One by one, they made their way up the monument, gathering in front of the royal family and giving them a small bow. Once everyone was there, all twenty one herd leaders stood ready and waiting, the king cleared his throat. "Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you doing so at this time, and I plan to make this as short as possible, so that you can return to your herds and watch over them. However, we can not let this wait any longer. As you all can recall, a couple of days ago, this tribe of cheetahs- accompanied by the Lion Guard- ventured here from Kushangaza, hoping to join the Pride Lands and become members of our community. You got to meet the tribe yourselves, and since then, Kasi has gotten to know you and your herds better. Kasi has agreed to the conditions for her and her tribe to join our home, so all that remains is for you to make your vote. If the majority of you vote in favour of this, then they will officially become Pride Landers. If you vote in opposition, then they will leave the Pride Lands."

Fuli gave a small gulp at this last part, but she quickly shook it off as Nala stepped forward. "Before you vote, I think it is only fair to give our guests a chance to speak." She turned to face the leader of the cheetah tribe. "Kasi, is there anything you want to say on behalf of your followers?"

Giving a nod, Kasi stepped forward. "Thank you, your majesty," she replied. "First of all, we wish to thank you for your hospitality these past days. We are truly grateful for allowing us this chance." After a quick nod from the queen, the cheetah leader faced the herd leaders. "When we first got here, for many of my followers, it felt like a whole new land. For me, it felt like I was truly home, and part of that was due to the reception you gave us. That first night, when we got to speak with you and get to know you better, you were welcoming to us. Yesterday, when I got to meet all of your herds, you showed me just how beautiful the Pride Lands are, and why they are that beautiful. More than that, you showed me how strong this community is, and that truly touched my heart. I know that, if you let us join that community, it will be a change, but I want to assure you that we want to be part of this community. To help make it stronger… and should it ever come to it, to protect our home."

The cheetahs behind her all nodded, even Fuli, which made Nala smile. "Thank you, Kasi." She then turned to the herd leaders. "Is there anything that you wish to say before you vote?"

"Actually, I would," Muhimu spoke up, stepping forward and clearing her throat. "As you might be aware, earlier today, my herd were attacked by a pack of wild dogs. After we had gotten to safety, Thurston came running towards us, saying that they were friends of yours. Is this true?"

"No way!" Fuli blurted out, ready to refute the accusation, before Kasi placed a paw in front of her.

"It's okay, Mpenzi," she assured the cub, before returning her attention to the zebra. "Mjinga and his wild dogs are foes of ours, not allies. They repeatedly tried to take Kushangaza when we lived there, and each time, we defeated them and sent them running. I don't understand why they've followed us here, but I refuse to let them cause any harm to any of you or your herds. I swear."

Simba watched as Muhimu gave a slight nod, indicating she accepted the answer. "Is there anyone else that wishes to speak?" He gave a pause, waiting to see if anyone would speak up, before deciding that no one would. "In that case, I ask that you speak with each other and make your vote."

The herd leaders all nodded, turning to face one another in a somewhat large huddle as they began to discuss. Fuli felt her nerves growing stronger, causing her to begin biting her lip as her heart beat faster. She felt a slight shiver run down her spine, finding the tension almost unbearable, until she felt a tap on her paw. Turning to see where it came from, she saw Kion doing his best attempt to comfort her, giving her a warm and gentle smile, and though her nerves weren't settled, she appreciated the effort he gave, so he gave him a smile of her own.

Eventually, the huddle was broken, and Ma Tembo stepped forward. "After some brief discussion, we have reached a decision. It was by no means unanimous, and was a tough decision to make, but we have made it nonetheless. As the herd leaders of the Pride Landers… we vote in opposition of Kasi and her tribe joining the Pride Lands."