Chapter 10: Kaisi
Kion struggled to maintain his patience as the stress of fatigue mixed with hunger, and ushari's venom like a perfect storm. The Prince fought hard to keep his head up while patrolling the Tree of Life's borders with his companions.
"Kion, are you sure you're good to keep going?" Ono asked with growing concern on his and the others' faces.
"I'm fine." Kion muttered.
"No you're not, you're sssstarving, they have led you assstray. Eat all you dessssire." Ushari hissed as Kion passed a small herd of Okpai. He tried to ignore his growling stomach.
"Nirmala is insane!" Fuli growled. Kion's virtue for the day was Kaisi, it involved getting up earlier than usual, only eating and drinking exactly what he needed, and then working hard.
"The day's half-over Kion, it's almost lunchtime." Beshte tried to assure him.
"Don't say that, you'll just make him think about food." Anga scolded him.
"Guys I'm fine." Kion tried to assure them.
The minutes dragged on and Kion felt every moment of it. Until finally, they noticed Ullu flying towards them with great haste.
"Lion Guard! Lion Guard, I spotted Hisara's minions nearby at the northwestern border! Please hurry!"
"Alright, Lion Guard, let's go!" Kion fought back the hunger and drove himself on. Upon reaching the northern border, they spotted Makucha, his band of cheetahs, and Ora. However, not Hasira.
"Anga, see Hasira?" The eagle looked around but the lion was nowhere to be found.
"Nothing."
Hasira's absence unnerved Kion, but he couldn't ignore the others either.
"Grrr, them again!" Makucha growled.
"Seriously, how many times are you going to try this!. Tell your master he's not getting in!" Fuli roared.
"Grrr! I am my own master!" Ora hissed. He and his dragons surged forward while Makucha and his band came in a different direction.
"Attack!" Kion charged with Beshte and Anga while Bunga, Fuli, and Azaad went the other way.
"Huwezi!" Fuli slammed one of Makucha's bandits onto her side while another tried to outflank the cheetah. However, Azaad raced in and slammed him onto his back.
"Two more coming in to the left and behind you! Beshte to your right!" Ono advised his companions from above, helping them execute the battle more effectively. Bunga kept at Makucha, unleashing a feral assault upon his face.
"Grrr! Annoying little rat!"
"Rat! Ha, I'll give you something better than Tamaa to whiff!"
"No!" Makucha almost seized up when Bunga's stench hit him point blank.
"Anga Lenga!"
"Twende Kiboko!" Anga and Beshte both fought back one of Ora's Komodo dragons while Kion battled Ora himself and two more.
Kion barely avoided one's bite and used the same motion to slam the other onto his side with a paw-strike. Panting slightly, the Prince seized the first dragon by the tail and flung him into his companion, sending them sprawling back into a wall of stone.
"You're getting tired, in fact, you're sssstarving. Yessss, I can sssseee it in your eyesssss." Ora hissed in delight while closing in on the Prince.
Kion narrowed his eyes and snarled.
"I'm fine, unlike you!" With a feral snarl, the lion and komodo dragon entered into a furious combat. However, Kion's newfound training kept his fatigue and rage in check, allowing him to properly channel his adrenaline and testosterone like a weapon. Eventually he, Anga, and Beshte hurled all five dragons backward at the same time Fuli, Azaad, and Bunga did the same to Makucha's gang.
"Alright, Kion, time to send them packing." Bunga chuckled.
Arching his head back, Kion unleashed the Roar of the Elders and sent the poachers soaring through the air, out of sight.
"Geez, this is just getting annoying now." Fuli groaned.
"You think this is all a part of some new scheme of Hasira's?" Beshte asked cautiously.
"Perhaps, though to what end, I could not say." Azaad said with a bit of curiosity.
"Regardless, we got them." Kion exhaled deeply.
"Whoo! Well done! We appreciate it!" Ullu cried.
"It's no trouble." Kion and the others passed through the savanna where they noticed most of the Night Pride still fast asleep, save for Rani who stood beside a pack of striped hyenas discussing something.
"There you are." Nirmal said as she approached the Lion Guard.
"How are you feeling?" She asked Kion while taking a closer look at him.
"Tired, but alive." Kion panted, but with good spirits. The Night Lioness chuckled.
"I can see that."
"Whoo! They stopped another raid too!" Ullu reported, earning a nod from Nirmala.
"Well done."
"You hear that!?" Afia giggled, nudging a half-asleep Baliyo.
"Hmmm, oh, yeah, thanks for watching the borders during the day." He groaned.
"No problem, those guys aren't even trying anymore." Bunga said while moving his hand dismissively.
"And you did it while maintaining your temperance. I'm very proud of you, Kion. I'm confident in saying you've mastered Kaisi."
"Alright Kion!"
"Is that so?" Kion and the others heard a mischievous voice giggle, and before Kion could even react, he felt Rani pounce into him, hard, pinning the Prince onto his back.
"You mastered another virtue already, and kept out some poachers, haven't you been a busy little Prince."
"I try to multitask when I can." Kion's remark made Rani giggle even more and she brought her head in closer to nuzzle him.
Fuli shook her head slightly and looked back at Azaad.
"If I ever do the baby-talk, smack me."
Bunga and the others, however, merely laughed, all except for Baliyo, who glared at Kion.
"Aww lighten up, aren't you happy for her?" Afia asked, nudging her own face against Baliyo's.
Nirmala, smiled with particular optimism as she watched the two. A few minutes later, they rested beside each-other and shared a zebra. Perhaps it was his intense hunger, but Kion noticed the meat tasted particularly good.
"I didn't know you had time to hunt with all your duties." Kion said, half-joking, earning him a playful growl from the Princess.
"Watch yourself, tough-guy. You're good at protecting animals, I'll give you that. But I've yet to see you on a real hunt. Besides, in this case, hunting was my duty."
"Do tell." Kion asked with growing interest.
"Well, I was sorting out some territory disputes between two hyena packs, when we noticed this stallion trying to kill some foals, so I intervened."
Kion's smile faded and he nodded. He'd seen such episodes of violence among herds back in Pride Rock before. Putting a stop to these occurrences wasn't the duty of the Guard, but the King or Queen, Simba and Nala often did so, much to the appreciation of the herds as a whole.
"Good job, I'll bet you had some grateful mares." Rani nodded.
"It was nothing. I'm just glad those foals are ok, you had a pretty good morning yourself. That makes five virtues, doesn't it." The moment Rani finished speaking, both lions went silent as a terrible anxiety afflicted them. Since their date, Kion and Rani hadn't formally put a label on their relationship, but both agreed to acknowledge that they were a couple. Yet despite all of the incredible joy it brought them, both lions also endured a great deal of uncertainty for what this meant going forward.
For Kion, his longing to reunite with his family now clashed with the desire to remain there with Rani. He'd grown so fond of the Tree of Life, as had the others, but more than anything, the Prince couldn't deny that he was falling madly in love with Rani. She was everything a good Queen should be, devoted, caring, fierce when necessary but gentle too, spirited, lively, smart, and above all, loving. But to stay would mean never seeing his family again, and leaving them to believe him dead for the rest of their lives.
Rani saw the conflict inside Kion through his expression and felt a similar storm inside herself. She wanted him to remain at the Tree, to see where their relationship would take them. But having lost her parents, the Princess felt immensely guilty for keeping Kion from reuniting with his own.
Before either of them could speak, Cadoc came barreling in straight for her.
"Your highness! Your highness!" Rani couldn't remember a time when Cadoc appeared so frantic and distraught, which made her stomach tighten in fear.
"Cadoc, what's wrong?"
"Your highness, the Queen, she…." Cadoc choked on his words.
Rani began to tremble and the same fear soon spread to Surak, Baliyo, Nirmala, and anyone else who heard the fish eagle.
"Cadoc, what's wrong with my grandmother?"
All eyes now lingered on Cadoc who fought back tears.
"She wants to see you all."
Rani now trembled and nearly collapsed onto the ground, only kept up by Kion's support.
Outside the Tree of Life, Ora and Makucha shook as Hasira slowly paced in front of them. Chuluun and Binteroung both grinned smugly at the leopard and komodo dragon while listening to the Lion growl.
"I told you not to go inside."
"Please, we'd heard rumors that Prince Kion was weak at the moment and-" Makucha started only to go silent when Hasira backhanded him so hard the leopard was picked up off the ground and landed on his back, tasting blood in his mouth.
"For good reason!" Hasira snarled, turning his rage onto Ora.
"When my spy told me Kion wasn't eating, I considered the possibility he was ill, but sent him back to determine the truth about the situation and whether or not we could exploit it. Now, because of you, I've been robbed of this opportunity!" Ora slammed Ora onto his side.
"Forgive ussssss! We-"
"Master!" Hasira and the others turned as a bat flew through the air and landed before them, bowing to Hasira.
"I have information you'll find very interesting!" Hasira raised an eyebrow in interest.
"Go on."
Huge crowds of animals from every corner of the Kingdom and even the surrounding domains formed around the Tree of Life, all muttering and whispering in concern.
Surak entered the Tree of Life first, supported by Nirmala, the two followed by Baliyo and Afia, who likewise, helped Baliyo in.
Kion saw the overwhelming fear and angst in her eyes, nearly making the Princess turn pale.
"Rani, we need to go in."
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out and she refused to move forward.
"It's going to be ok, I'll be right beside you." Kion nuzzled Rani, and finally she began to walk. The rest of the Lion Guard remained outside with the others, including Binga who trembled as if covered in snow.
Slowly, Kion and Rani made their way further into the Tree interior, where Surak, Nirmala, Baliyo, and Afia stood around Queen Janna as Makini tended to her. The same fear and anguish Kion saw on Cadoc's face, afflicted his mandril companion.
Janna was still breathing, but did so slowly, and painfully. Kion's eyes reached Makini's and without speaking, she gave Kion the answer with a shake of her head, tears flowing down her cheeks as she did so.
"Mother." Surak muttered as he nudged his head against hers. Janna slowly opened her eyes and slowly smiled while looking up at her son.
"Surak, it's alright. I'll be with your father and brother soon."
Rani and Baliyo both gasped, choking on their anguish.
"Grandma-" Baliyo forced himself closer to her.
"Baliyo, it's going to be alright, I promise you."
Afia felt herself shake as Janna turned to her.
"Afia, you have the makings of a mighty lioness, I need you to be there for the Kingdom when the time comes."
She slowly nodded and bowed her head.
"Nirmala, you've been everything a Queen could ask for as a healer, and a daughter."
"Thank you, for giving me the chance."
Finally, Janna turned to Kion and Rani.
"Rani."
"Grandma, no! No, please! I can't lose you, not you too!" Rani collapsed beside Janna, tears streaming down her face.
"Rani, it's going to be ok. The Tree of Life has sustained me longer than most lions, but it is the circle of life, and my time has come." Janna placed her paw under Rani's chin and brought her to eye level.
"You're ready to take my place, you've been ready for a long time." Janna couldn't keep herself up and fell back to the slab before turning to Kion.
"Kion, I would speak with you one last time."
Fighting back his own sorrow, Kion approached Janna and bowed to her one last time.
"I'm glad you came here, to see the Roar of the Elder's return home was a blessing I didn't expect to enjoy."
Despite the overwhelming anguish inside him, Kion managed to force a slight smile.
"You wanted the Roar to come back here, and I get the feeling you want it to stay, and me with it." Janna's smile grew slightly.
"And here I thought I was being subtle, but it seems you saw through me." Kion saw Janna's smile fade as the life began to fade from her eyes and he too lost his joy.
"Kion, I know I ask the world of you, but please. I ask you to stay, this is where the Roar of the Elder's belongs, where it can do the most good, where you can do the most good. Once you master the last two virtues, unyenyekevu and msamaha, the Roar's true potential will be awakened, and with it, the Tree of Life's true potential." Kion's heart grew heavier than stone and he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Please, Kion. Promise me, you'll protect my Kingdom, family, and my granddaughter."
Slowly he nodded.
"I will." At that, Janna gave one final tender smile at those around her.
"I'm glad I could be with you all, those I love." Janna closed her eyes and passed on to the afterlife.
"Grandma, grandma!" Rani nudged her head, but there was no response. The Princess broke down, unable to control the tears streaming down her face as she sobbed with wails of anguish. Surak shut his eyes tightly and felt Nirmala brush up against him, neither saying a word.
Baliyo, in contrast, continued to stare at his grandmother's body, unable to move, speak, or anything else except cry.
"No, no, no, no!" Rani lost all strength and collapsed, however, Kion quickly caught her. He didn't speak, but instead just provided her comfort. Makini slowly placed her hand over Janna's face.
"Rest, sweet Queen, you've earned your peace."
The minutes went by and finally, Makini walked out of the Tree. By then, most of the Kingdom gathered alongside Maquis George, Duke Advik, and Prince Rune. All went silent when they saw Makini emerge.
"The Queen has passed."
Prince Rune's mouth hung open while Old George clenched his eyes shut, and Duke Advik teared up.
The Lion Guard found themselves going cold, Binga broke down into tears and Bunga quickly held her up. Once the rawest emotions passed, the Kingdom's subjects gathered in a line before Janna's body placed on a hillside near the Tree. One by one, they came up and placed flower pedals upon Janna before saying their final goodbyes. Old George set down many lilies and struggled to look upon her.
"Goodbye, old friend."
Eventually, the Night Pride each took their turn and placed flowers upon Janna's body. Surak, Nirmala, and Baliyo struggled more than anyone, at least until Rani's turn came. The Princess trembled while holding a golden lily in her mouth, unable to move. Finally, with Kion's support, Rani placed the flower on her grandmother and choked in tears.
Kion himself stood with the Lion Guard, who each took their turn placing a flower down before Kion set a Genista, the flower of house Plantagenet, down on Janna. Her final request to him and his promise to her lingered in the Prince's mind.
"Sssso, what will you do? Go back to your family, or sssstay-" Kion shut out Ushari's voice.
Makini slowly spoke with Nirmala while holding a small bowl of blue paint.
"It has to happen, Makini." The mandrill slowly nodded, and both looked around. That was when Kion noticed Rani was nowhere to be seen.
Anga nudged Kion and pointed across the grassy centerlands where Kion saw the Princess standing before a pond.
Taking a deep breath, Kion came up behind her. He didn't speak at first, giving Rani time to try and catch her breath.
"Rani, I'm sorry."
The Night Lioness rested her head under Kion's for support.
"I can't do it, Kion. First my parents, now my grandmother….. I can't do this without her."
"Janna disagrees." Kion placed his paw under Rani's head and brought her eyes to his.
"Your grandmother believed in you more than anyone, and from what I've seen, she's more right than you realize. Rani, this world and the physical things in it aren't everlasting, but some things are, love, devotion, and teachings. Those parts of Janna are still here, in you, Baliyo, Surak, and everyone else Janna loved. Just like your parents, she lives on in you."
Rani's trembling finally stopped, and slowly Kion saw the Queenly authority return to her.
"You are the Queen this Kingdom needs, and deserves, just like your grandmother. Now she needs you to live as that Queen." At that, Rani stood up on her own and with a loving smile, passionately licked Kion across the face.
With him by her side, Rani came back to Nirmala and Makini. The two bowed their heads and led her to the rocks beside the Tree of Life, overlooking the Tree of Life's subjects.
"Queen Janna has passed from this world to the next, but she has left behind an heir worthy of this Kingdom. One who's already proven herself as the Guardian and caretaker of the Tree and all those who live in her Kingdom!" Nirmala declared.
Rani lowered her head and allowed Makini to paint the same blue mark on her forehead that Janna wore.
"All hail, Rani of House Capet, Queen of the Tree of Life! Long may she reign!" Nirmala roared.
"Long may she reign!" The animals around Rani, including the Kion, his Guard, Advik, Rune, and George all bowed their heads. At that, Queen Rani roared loud enough to be heard for miles, formally beginning her reign.