Koda had seen a lot of amazing things in his life. But none of them came close to being as awe worthy as the roar. The clouds had roared with his sister! The Great Kings had fought by her side! That was… incredible.

I should have been the one roaring, Koda thought. I should have been the one protecting us all.

"Koda?" Shujaa, who was lying beside him on the end of Priderock, mewed. "Are you ok?"

It was the day after the whole Kucha attack. Koda closed his eyes and let the mourning sun soak his pelt.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" She asked. "You've been acting weird since Kucha attacked us? You didn't get hurt or anything did you?"

Wow, great going future king. Koda thought. You're jealous of a sister that loves you more than life itself.

"I'm ok, Shujaa!" He said, forcing his voice to be soft and reassuring. "I didn't sleep much last night. That's all."

"If you're sure..." His sister said. Both cubs looked up as their Aunt Vitani walked up to meet them.

"Hi." Koda greeted dully. He knew why she was here. His sister was about to get her mark. While he had to stay a useless, powerless, lion the rest of his life.

"Shujaa," Vitani began. She completely ignored Koda. "Do you know what happened yesterday?"

Shujaa nodded. She was bouncing from paw to paw.

"I used the roar!" She said. "Why?"

Why. Koda sneered to himself. Like she doesn't know.

"Well…" Vitani glanced at her Lion Guard mark. "Usually… when the second-born cub uses the roar… it means-."

"It means you're ready to lead the guard." Koda butted in. He kept his voice neutral. Barely.

Shujaa let out a squeal of joy.

"Really?" She cried. "Is he right?"

Vitani gave Koda a look. She turned to Shujaa and nodded. Before Shujaa could say anything. A loud yawn came from the entrance of Priderock.

"Who's right bout what?" Nguvu said, crawling sleepily out of the cave. He had stayed the night with them. Kovu didn't want him to go home until his injuries had healed.

"Nguvu!" Shujaa ran over to the older cub and threw her head against his chin. Nguvu blinked in confusion. Koda glared at him. He didn't like how close this ex-Backlander was getting to his sister.

Then again, Koda looked away. I guess Shujaa can just roar him away if he ever tries anything. She doesn't need me looking out for her anymore.

"I'm going to be leader of the Lion Guard!" Shujaa was saying. Nguvu rolled his eyes.

"Shujaa!" He said. He gently pushed her away from him. "You've known that all your life, kid!" He shook his head in disbelief. "You're just now getting this worked up about it?"

Shujaa giggled.

"No!" She said. "I'm going to be leader today!" She looked at Vitani. "Right?"

"Yes," Vitani said. She looked at her niece a heartbeat. Than picked up her paw and rested it against Shujaa's shoulder. Shujaa's mouth fell open as a glowing green lion's head engraved itself into her shoulder. Koda felt like crying. He was watching his dreams shatter, and he couldn't do a thing about it. His sister would be leader, not him. He had always known that, but… watching her receive the mark of the guard was… the worst thing that had ever happened to him.

"That's amazing!" Nguvu whispered. His yellow eyes glued to Shujaa's shoulder. Shujaa looked so delighted it was a miracle she wasn't exploding from excitement. Vitani was gazing at her own markless shoulder, her eyes blank. Shujaa suddenly jumped for joy.

"Can I assemble the guard now?" She asked. Vitani nodded.

"You'd better." She said. "Before Kucha finds out we're guardless."

Shujaa turned to Nguvu, she cocked her head at him.

"Nguvu?" She said. "Did you think about what I said?"

Nguvu met her eyes. He looked at her mark then back to her face.

"I…" he looked skyward. "Ya really think I can do it?"

Shujaa smiled.

"Of course you can!" She exclaimed. Nguvu wrapped his tail around himself.

"Ok…" he said slowly. "I'll be a part of the guard. Someone will have to teach you lazy cats how to really fight."

Shujaa ignored the insult. She rested a paw on her best friend's shoulder.

"Nguvu," she said. "You are the strongest."

Nguvu yelped in surprise as his shoulder began to glow like the sky. When the light had cleared. Koda could see a dark blue lion's head on Nguvu's shoulder.

He gets to be on the Lion Guard! Koda thought. But I don't? This isn't fair! I hate this system.

Nguvu and Shujaa gazed at each other a heartbeat. Shujaa grinned.

"We have to go and assemble the rest of the guard!" She gasped. She raced off down Priderock. Nguvu gave his shoulder one more look of awe before sprinting after her.

"Koda?" Vitani asked. She was watching him curiously. "Are you alright."

No, of course I'm not alright. Koda dug his paw pads into his eyes. My dreams just died right in front of me!

"I'm fine!" He said joyously. He turned to look at his aunt and gasped when he noticed the tears pouring down her face. His own troubles forgotten, Koda leaped to his feet and rushed over to her.

"Aunt Vitani!" He said. "What's the matter?"

Vitani gave him a watery smile.

"Oh," she chuckled. "I suppose I'm just a bit sad to be having to move on from the guard. Your sister will make a great leader I'm sure but…" Vitani shrugged glancing out across the Pridelands. "I'm going to miss playing such an important role in the circle of life."

"Why did you give it up then?" Koda asked. His aunt laughed.

"Oh, Koda." She said. "Because it was the right thing to do."

Koda blinked. He couldn't imagine giving up something as important as the guard without a fight. He just couldn't…

"Never forget Koda." Vitani said. "We all have our place in the circle of life. We can't manipulate it, we can't change it, we just have to accept it."