Kion was racing into the dark night. He was following Fuli's scent that was distinctly getting weaker and weaker. He knew it was unimaginable to catch up to her, even when she was pregnant, but he had to try, he had to explain what had happened so he could prove he was innocent. But as he ran, her scent got weaker until it vanished completely. The rain had also started to fall and Kion gave a loud frustrated roar into the open night. His adrenalin was running wild after the run, but it could not match the anger he felt towards his wife right now. She had accused him for mating with a lioness when she perfectly knew he could never do such a thing. He walked to a nearby tree and curled himself together. He had no intension on turning back and explain to the others what had just happened. He had a nasty suspicion they would join Fuli's team instead of his. He tried desperately to fall asleep, but his anger kept him awake, or was it fear?

A red sun arose over the mountains the next morning and Kion blinked sleepily with his eyes as the sunlight touched them. He hadn't slept much last night and got awkwardly on his paws. He shook his wild mane and walked moodily towards Pride Rock where he hoped Fuli had returned home. He entered the cave and was immediately met by his cubs.

"Dad, mom didn't return," Amara said frightened.

"We have already been out looking for her this morning," added Akisi.

"Where did she go?" Tasha asked worried.

Kion took his time to digest their news but didn't reply immediately.

"I-I-" he began. He could feel himself go dry and an odd cold shiver took over him. "I don't know."

"But we have to find her," said Shida. "She could get herself hurt after what happened last night between you two."

The cold shiver in Kion was now replaced with the burning anger he felt last night. "So, if you think your mother is right, then you can just look for her," he snarled at them. "I'm going to patrol with The Guard, and I won't be needing your help today," he added angrily as he disappeared.

The four cubs looked shocked at each other.

Kion went down to the lair to find the three waiting guard members.

"Good morning, leader," Bunga greeted cheerfully.

"What's so good about it?" Kion hissed.

The three guard members looked puzzled at each other.

"Where is Fuli?" Beshte asked politely to break the awkward pause. If she hadn't joined them yet she must still be inside the lair, but the Guard always asked for her.

Kion snarled even louder. "What does it matter, we need to get moving," he said angrily. "Ono, you'll patrol the sky. Beshte and Bunga will take the watering hole and I will take the grazing grounds for myself," he added and walked away.

Ono caught the wind but followed Bunga and Beshte instead of flying in the other direction.

"What do you think is wrong between Fuli and Kion this time?" he asked the two.

"I don't know, sound like Kion is pretty angry," Bunga said, shrugging.

"It doesn't sound like their argument ended very well this time," Beshte pointed out. "Wonder where she is."

"Let's look for her and ask her, maybe she is more cooperative than Kion," Bunga said, climbing the hippo. "Ono, you'll fly ahead, see if you can spot her and we'll be waiting at the watering hole when we're done."

"Affirmative!" the egret said, rising in height. He flew across the grazing grounds, the woods and the watering hole, but no sign of the cheetah at all. For a second he thought he saw her, but when he looked closer it was just Shida getting chased by angry baboons.

"Oh, Fuli, where are you hiding," he said and headed back to the watering hole where the other was waiting.

"So, did you find her?" Beshte asked when Ono had landed.

"No sign of her at all," Ono replied. "Maybe she has gone hiding at Hakuna Matata Falls?"

"Or maybe she doesn't want to be found," Beshte sighed.

"What do you mean?" Bunga questioned.

"What if she is no longer in the Pride lands, what if she actually ran off?"

"Don't be so silly, Beshte," Bunga laughed. "She is pregnant, she can't have gone far. Beside she is vulnerable now, she needs Kion's protection."

"I agree with Beshte," Ono said. "I think this time it went really wrong between them. And Fuli is capable of taking care of herself."

Moments later, Kion arrived as well. His bad mood hadn't changed for the better.

"So?" he snapped. "Everything fine, or do I have to patrol everything again myself?"

"Look, Kion. We're sorry but-"

"But what?" Kion snapped. "Thought you take a dip without taking care of your duties? Ditching me like Fuli did?"

Ono's beak fell right open.

"We're sorry to her about you two having problems-"

"Problems?" Kion snarled. "She is the one making problems, not me," Kion snapped. "You can take the day off. I'll be taking care of the other patrols myself," he added, walking away in anger.

As the days went by, Kion's temper became more agitated by the smallest things and he often snapped at everyone. He spent most of the time to himself and no one dared to ask him if he had any plans on finding Fuli. His cubs, on the other hand, had joined The Lion Guard in search of their mother. They had started searching for her outside of the Pride Lands boarders, breaking in on other prides territories and therefore it was Shida and Tasha's job, since they were cheetahs and brought less attention towards themselves from the lion pride, but their search hadn't been successful yet.

Kion used a lot of time infuriating himself by how stupidly Fuli had behaved towards him and accusing him for all sort of thing that wasn't true, but in the end, he ended laying on a rock, wondering where his wife had gone.

"Oh, Fuli where are you. I'm really sorry for what I did."

Where did Fuli go? Yeah, that answer need to be answered so let us turn time back to the night it all happened.

Fuli was sprinting as fast as her paws could carry her. She wanted to put as much distance between her and Kion. The lion had just broken her heart and tears was streaming down her eyes. It wasn't the first time their relationship had come to such a dramatic end, but this time she couldn't believe what she had just heard come out of the lion's mouth. Even if it was dangerous to go into the open night without company she didn't care. Right now, she wanted to be far away from the Pride lands and at someone who would be understanding. She came to a halt at the borders to the Outlands. She dried her wet eyes and began to walk into the narrow rocky paths of the valley, leading to Jasiri's home. She didn't know what she should expect or how she was going to explain it to her, but she really needed a friend right now. A shadow moved ahead and Fuli stopped dead, looking cautiously ahead.

"Hey, Fuli!"

The shadow stepped into the light and revealed the pregnant Jasiri. Her belly wasn't as large as Fuli's but it was still visible. She stopped as well when she noticed her belly.

"Fuli, you're-you're'"

"Pregnant, yeah, I know," Fuli sighed. "I'm so sorry I didn't say it, but I really need to talk to you. I really need a friend."

Jasiri approached. "What do you mean "Sorry I didn't say it"? it was Kion who-"

"Don't mention that lion," Fuli sobbed and without a warning she burst into tears.

"Fuli-" Jasiri said bewildered, hugging the cheetah. "What happened between you two?"

"It's him – he-he cheated on me!" she sobbed. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, honey, slow down, who cheated on you?" Jasiri asked, drying Fuli's eyes.

"Kion did."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Course I'm sure, he said it himself!" Fuli barked. "With that beauty to Moto," she added bitterly.

"Who is Moto?"

"His new mate!" Fuli said through her gritted teeth.

"Fuli, you don't make any sense, wha-why did Kion admitted he mated with-with her?" Jasiri asked.

"Because she is perfect!" Fuli hissed. "Beautiful, attractive, not chubby, can make him go wild in a sec. he wanted me to know I didn't mean anything to him anymore."

"Did he really cheat on you? What did he say?" Jasiri urged, not believing her own ears.

"He-he said," Fuli sobbed. "what if I told you she wanted me to mate with her," Fuli said rapidly, as getting the words out as fast as possibly would be less painful.

"Wanted him to mate with her?" Jasiri repeated. "That doesn't mean he did."

"And so, what! I know he wants her, also after getting mad on me because all of this is my fault," Fuli sobbed.

"Mad on you? How could he be mad on you?"

"Because he sounded like he was accusing me for Tani telling him I thought he spends a lot of time with her," Fuli confesses, breathing more slowly. "I haven't been kind or helpful the last few weeks."

"Why didn't you tell him himself?" Jasiri asked, brushing more tears away from her face.

"Because I rarely saw him," she confessed. "It was after my mother's death-"

"You mother died? Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Fuli. How are you feeling?" Jasiri said comforting.

"I-I found her bleeding and Ono got Makini but she-she told me her wounds was too large to heal, so-so she died," Fuli cried.

"Shh,"Jasiri said, patting her head. "Listen, you sleep her tonight, and then we fix all of this tomorrow, okay?"

"Jasiri, we can't fix this. I'm not going back," Fuli sobbed. "Kion wants to be with Moto and I'm not going to stop his happiness."

"But what about your unborn cubs, it is his cubs as well, right?" Jasiri asked, feeling uncomfortable to ask if Fuli had cheated too.

"Course it's his," Fuli said, starting to walk. "Who should it else be?"

Jasiir didn't answer.

They came to the entrance to the cave and Janja greeted them.

"Jasiri, how many times do I have-"

"Not now, babe," Jasiri said, stopping Janja. "Fuli is not well, she needs a place to stay for the night."

Janja watched Fuli go inside and dropped his jaw when he saw her belly. Jasiri came over and shut it.

"Don't ask her about anything until I know everything, all right?" she asked.

"But-"

"Janja," she said, looking him directly into the eyes. "She is hurt, something between her and Kion again. We both know I'm her better friend, so you let me handle her, all right?"

"All right," Janja nodded, walking inside with her.

Morning rose and Jasiri woke up, remembering why she felt so confused. She looked around and noticed Fuli weren't there. She got up, forgetting to wake up Janja. She found the cheetah outside, sitting on a rock, looking down into the ground while the sunshine was slowly rising on her.

"Fuli?"

Fuli turned her head and looked at Jasiri, still looking shaken after yesterday.

"How are you doing today?" she aske concerned.

"I'm-I'm terrible," Fuli confessed.

"Come on, let's go for a hunt," Jasiri said comforting.

Fuli got elegantly down from the rock and beside jasiri, walking together to catch some pray.

"What are you plans?" Jasiri asked.

"I don't know," Fuli replied, looking into the ground.

"You know you don't got many options, Fuli," Jasiri said, looking concerned at her. "I'm positive Kion is missing you, and your cubs too."

"And what do I to return to?" Fuli asked. "I got nothing to go back to. Kion got a new mate and my cubs are grown. They don't need me anymore."

"They miss you, I'm sure of that. They are still depending on you. And you got cubs on the way, Kion wants to be a part of their life," jasiri said, getting more concerned.

"I won't let him. They are mine," Fuli said angrily. "If he wants to start a family with that lioness then be my guest, but I'm not going to be a part of his. Moto don't like me, and I want Kion to be happy, so he is better off without me."

"Listen to yourself, Fuli," Jasiri said, stepping Infront of her. "The last time you were like this you also wanted Kion to be happy, but he won't be happy if you're not there."

Fuli turned around, ignoring Jasiri's respond.

"Fuli, I'm doing this because I care for both of you, why can't you live with Kion having another mate?"

Fuli turned around furiously. "First of all, because Kion didn't tell me he had something going on with Moto, even though it was clear to me. He always escaped me when I wanted to talk about it, and now, she wants to mate with him!" Fuli hissed. "Yes, I know he is a prince and can have as many wives as he pleases but I just wanted him to admit he had something going on with her. I can't return to that," she added on the verge of tears.

"Fuli I-"

"You know what - go hunt for yourself, I don't feel hungry," Fuli said, turning around, leaving jasiri alone.

When Jasiri returned from her hunt she was met by Janja.

"Fuli seems-"

"Angry? Stubborn? Out of herself?" Jasiri asked. "I know her, Janja, she is difficult."

"I also wanted to tell you she went on a walk alone," he added, looking concerned at her.

"I just don't understand, Janja, why Fuli is positive on Kion having something going on with a lioness?"

"It's Fuli. She is a cheetah. She gets jealous on every female who is a threat to her relationship between him and her," Janja said smirking at her.

"I just hope I can talk her to her senses and make her go back. Kion must obviously miss her."

"You don't think he is going to pick her up himself?"

"I don't know," Jasiri sighed, pressing her head against his. "Poor her. She is really upset about this."

A week passed and Kion had given up persuading his cubs to stop their search, even though he constantly reminded them about the threat of going out after dark, into other prides territories and with Zira on the loose. But as usual they rounded on him, blaming him for not taking enough responsibility, going to look for her. He was so struck by these words that he left immediately, without a last word to his cubs. He walked for himself, small tears streaming down his cheek. He quickly brushed them of. No one was going to see him this hurt, but he deserved it. Afterall, it was him who had made Fuli run away and the painful guilt still burned in him. He rarely ate because the guilt made it painful for him to sink a single bite. He really missed her but still he hadn't the balls going looking for her, was he afraid she still was angry on him?

"Hey, Kion."

He jerked and quickly turned around. Right in front of him was Moto. She looked guilty and not hers usual charming self.

"What do you want?" he almost barked.

"Listen, Kion, I'm sorry for what happened. I heard what happened between you and your wife. I made it go too far. I didn't know what happened to me," Moto said, looking with big puppy eyes at him.

"I know," Kion hissed. "You did so Fuli left me!"

"I'm really, really sorry," she almost sobbed. "But-"

"But what," Kion hissed, his mane was on end. "Are you sorry for playing with me, for making me go behind my wife's back?"

"No, not at all."

"What is it then?"

"I get carried away too easily," she confessed. "I-I-I think I like you."

Kion's anger melted away and looked puzzled at her. "I'm married, Moto."

"I know but you're a prince and-"

"Look, I know what you think, but there is only one for me," he said, facing away from her. "Right now, Fuli is out there somewhere, hurt and scared and I'm not there. I'm not there to comfort, I'm the reason she left."

"I'm really sorry about this-"

"What do you even like about me, Moto?" Kion asked, looking back at her.

Moto looked puzzled at him for a moment. "Your fierceness, you're bold, strong-"

"That's not what's counts," Kion interrupted. "That's not why Fuli liked me," he added, he turned around, starting to walk. "You got a lot to learn before you can enter a relationship."

"What am I going to make you forgive me?" Moto asked. "I said I was sorry, I admitted I went too far."

Kion paused and looked back at her. "I forgive your foolishness and be happy it didn't go further, you might had regret it," he said and resumed to walk.

Moto looked down in the ground. "There is so much I already regret," she whispered.

Kion continued his walk in a much grumpier mood. It looked like Moto wasn't the only one who wanted a word with him because the shape of Tani was getting visible and she was heading towards him. He changed direction but Tani ran up beside him.

"Hey, Kion I want a word with you," she said.

"Not now, Tani, I'm not in the mood for a chat," he said grumpily.

Tani frowned. "Since when did you change from angry, to hurt to be grumpy?"

"I said I don't want to chat," Kion repeated, not looking her in the eyes. Tani, on the other hand, gave him a judging look.

"You have been seeing Moto, haven't you?" she asked.

Kion turned and looked fiercely at her. "She was the one who came to me, she wanted to apologize, nothing happened!"

"You don't need to get angry, Kion," Tani said calmly.

"So why did you want a chat anyway?" Kion asked, getting fueled with anger for every minute. "Want to mock me and say what a bad husband I am, that I'm weak or you just want to tell me "I told you so"?"

Tani looked taken aback. "I just wanted to ask you why you haven't gone looking for her. Instead you pity yourself, that's pathetic-"

"You know what else is pathetic?" Kion hissed. "Not telling someone you love them."

Tani went red. "What do you mean about that?" she questioned alarmed.

"You are keeping something secret. I know you and Fuli have talked about it. Go and confess before it's too late," he said. "Or do you fear to become like me and Fuli are right now?" he added, turning away from Tani.

Tani stood open mouthed and looked at him, then she closed it. "Really, just fuck you, Kion. Yes, you're a horrible husband, you haven't even gone out looking for her while you endanger you own cubs, but no, what matters more to you is to please yourself!" Tani hissed and ran off.

000

"let me try and talk to her, honey," Janja said to Jasiri. He had been trying to persuade her to let him have a go, but she was suspicious he wasn't going to be gentle about her.

"Why do you even want to talk to her anyway?" Jasiri frowned.

"Just because I'm not her best friend doesn't mean I can't try."

"What is your tactic, Janja? Are you going to do something I wouldn't do?" she questioned.

"Just because I was her enemy once, doesn't mean I can't be friendly."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, babe," Jasiri apologized. "Just remember to be gentle with her."

"I will," he replied, grinning. He went into the cave where the pregnant cheetah was cleaning herself. "Want to go on patrol with me?" he asked. Fuli looked puzzled on him. "Come on, I need someone who is trained, and four eyes are better than two."

Fuli got up and followed the hyena, still looking suspicious. Janja gave her a grin.

"Jasiri is out walking, so I got you for myself."

Fuli looked more suspicious. "What rubbish are you talking about?"

"Jasiri haven't made you come further, but maybe I can," giving her one of his old evil smiles.

Fuli stopped. "Out with it, Janja, what do you want," she said harshly.

"You haven't returned to the Pride Lands yet."

"Course I haven't!" Fuli barked. Because-"

"Because you're too scared, you're too afraid was Kion is going to say. You're too afraid he actually has hooked up with that lioness, aren't you?"

"How dare you!" Fuli barked.

"You know this is true, Fuli," Janja snarled. "You are pathetic. You're cowering behind your fear instead of facing it. You don't seriously believe Kion found another one, do you? It's Kion we talk about. You better get your ass back and sort this out before something happens that's actually going to hurt you and him!"

"How dare you, you little-" Fuli said, ozzing with anger. "You really don't deserve jasiri, she is too good for you, she should had found a different hyena."

"Oh, don't push your shit on me, Fuli," Janja sneered. "This is your own fault you ran away and your fault Kion is alone with your cubs-"

"Shut your mouth or I'll do it for you, you know nothing about what I feel, Janja!" Fuli barked.

"Yeah, I actually think I do," he smirked. "You're insecure, just like I was when I confessed to Jasiri I had feeling for her, and so did you when you confessed to Kion, so we are not that different."

Fuli looked madly at him. He could see her anger was shining in her emerald eyes but also a conflict.

"Fine, fine," she spat. "If you don't want me here, I'm not going to disturb your little utopia you have here with jasiri. I was just a burden to you, right? Taking all Jasiri's time while you had no time with her at all?" she added, turning around and disappeared. Janja smirked to himself. He had achieved what he wanted. He was positive the king cheetah was back again and on her way home. He walked back to the cave where Jasiri had returned from her walk.

"Where is Fuli?" she questioned when she couldn't see her.

"Oh, she is on her way home," he smirked.

"Wait, you mean you persuade her, how?" Jasiri questioned amazed.

"Oh, I just knocked some sense into her."

"Really, Janja, what did you do?"

"I hit her where it hurt," he confessed. "You were not blaming her but comforting her. We know Kion couldn't do it, so it had to be Fuli-"

"JANJA! ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU MADE HER RAN OFF!" Jasiri barked.

"She is on her way home, sweetie, trust me."

"I did trust you."

"Why can't you trust I know what I'm doing?" Janja questioned, feeling he had messed up telling the truth.

"Because Fuli could do something stupid."

"But she won't because she is going back to Kion."

"And how can you be so sure?"

"Because she is not a loner anymore and needs company and I saw a conflict in her."

"You saw a conflict in her?" Jasiri asked disbelieving.

"Just trust me and if I'm wrong-"

"Then I hope you can explain to Kion why Fuli got herself killed," Jasiri interrupted.

"She is not going to get herself killed," Janja said, following Jasiri inside.

Night had fallen upon the Pride Lands and Kion was laying outside of Pride Rock, thinking about where Fuli might be right now.

"You don't want to come inside, honey?"

Kion turned his head and saw his mom approach her.

"No, I'll stay a little longer outside," he sighed.

Nala laid beside him. "I think I know what you're thinking of but staying here is not going to make it happen," she said. Kion looked puzzled at her. "You want her back and so do we. She is your wife, Kion. You have a responsibility as her husband to protect her."

Kion looked amazed at her.

"I just wanted to tell you we miss her, but we don't want to trouble you and your new partner," she said, getting up.

"If you mean Moto then you're wrong. I got nothing with her," Kion said angrily to his mother.

Nala looked puzzled back at him. "Then why did you go out with her when you wife needed you?" she asked.

"Because-because – I don't know," he sighed, looking away. Nala gave her son a last sad look before she went inside the cave.

No sooner than later Moto showed up. She gawped at the rock. She had never been close to the prides home, only seen it from far away but up close it was much more impressive. She walked up to Kion.

"Hey, Kion," she greeted timidly.

"Hey, Moto," Kion sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry if I was angry at you before. I was just in a bad mood," he added. Moto looked as if she was trying to read him. "I guess this week just been terrible."

"Someone needs comforting," she said, laying a paw across his. Kion didn't do anything.

"Moto, do you think I'm weak?" He asked, looking into her blue eyes. "If you were my wife and I went out with a friend a little too often, would you be suspicious at me?"

"No, I would still love you, fierce boy," Moto said. A weird shivering went through Kion went she called him "fierce boy". It was only Fuli who called him that, and hearing someone reminding him about it, made his guilt and fear to have lost her even larger. He removed his paw from Moto's. She looked oddly at him.

"Do you want to go on a night walk?" she asked in her sweet voice.

"No, you go, I'll better stay here."

"But I really want a bold protector like you by my side," she said, adding a seducing tone. "You know Zira is out there."

"No, you go, my cubs are probably out there as well, so you'll be safe," Kion sighed. But Moto didn't move, instead she leaned up against him and brushed his mane. Kion immediately came up on his paws. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked alarmed. "Why do you keep on treating me like I want you."

"Come on, Kion, you're upset because Fuli left you, and I understand that. I would be mad too if my husband left me," Moto said. "But you need to move on."

"You got a husband?" Kion asked surprised.

"No, I meant if I had one, someone like you-"

"When are you going to get it, I'm not interested in you, and I possibly will never be. I'm not always bold or fierce, sometimes I cry too," Kion confessed, looking angrily at her. "Sometimes I'm not the fiercest, Fuli is."

"And there is nothing wrong with that, let's go out and talk about your feelings, poor you."

"You just stay away from me, Moto!" Kion barked, stepping away from her. "You really-really-"

"What," she asked. "Look I'm sorry if I go too far, but I know you need comfort and someone like me to-"

"You're a slut!" it blurted out of Kion. He was even surprised he could call a female such a rude word. "Never go near me again, I'll be going," he added, walking past her.

"Where?" she asked, bewildered by what he just had called her.

"Finding my wife, something I should had done long ago," Kion said, starting to sprint.