Chapter 11: Impossible Decision
at XXX play two is better than one
Three days passed since Rani became Queen, and Kion stood at the Southern Entrance of the Tree of Life beside the Lion Guard, Rani, Surak, Baliyo, and Afia. Opposed to them came Hasira and his various minions.
The Fisadi Lion's reappearance put the two Guards on edge. Rani would've preferred simply allowing the Night Pride or Lion Guard to handle the situation, given her ever-increasing duties, particularly now that she was Queen. However, upon learning that Hasira himself was there, she decided to personally ensure the threat to her Kingdom was removed.
"I understand the Tree of Life has a new Queen, congratulations on your coronation, Capet." Hasira chuckled, earning a feral snarl from Rani, who looked ready to tear him limb from limb.
"You should've run when you had the chance!" Kion roared.
Hasira's expression hardened into a growl.
"I'm done running from you, Plantagenet. Come and get me!" It took every bit of restraint Kion had not to break formation. He knew Hasira well enough to know the Fisadi wasn't stupid enough to try and force his way inside. Instead, he surveyed the terrain around them, a canyon filled with loose sand and spiky rock formations flanking them.
"What do you think?" Kion asked Rani, who similarly looked around.
"He came here for a reason."
"I'm waiting?" Hasira said in a particularly smug voice.
"I think they're sssscared of ussss." Ora hissed.
"Hah, like we're going to fall for something so obvious!" Bunga laughed.
"Yeah." Baliyo chuckled.
"Very well." Hasira growled.
Ono took a closer look at the invading army and realized Mama Bingteroung wasn't among them.
"Hapana, Binteroung's not there!"
"I see her!" Anga squawked, pointing at her as she scaled the various rocks trying to gain entrance into the Kingdom.
"Oh, no you don't!" Afia snarled, racing off to try and intercept Binteroung.
"Afia, wait!" Rani roared, a mixture of fear and frustration in her voice. The Night Lioness lunged for Binteroung, fangs and claws out. Binteroung grinned at Afia, and before she knew what happened, a pair of ravenous baboons leaped out from behind the rocks and knocked the Night Lioness down into the sand.
"Kill her." Makucha, Chuluun, and the other leopards charged forward to swarm Afia.
"Grrr! Attack!" Rani roared.
"Lion, Guard forward!" Kion roared with her. Both Guards charged down into the sand, Azaad and Fuli speeding ahead of the others and knocking aside two leopards who tried to flank Afia as she got up and battled Chuluun.
"Anga Lenga!" Anga shouted, swooping down to slash the baboons as they tried to jump on top of the cheetahs.
"Beshte, break them up!" Kion roared.
"Surak, provide backup!" Rani added.
"Twende Kiboko!" Beshte huffed, and barreled his way through Ora's komodo dragons like a freight train, or at least as best as he could. The loose sand didn't give him good traction for his charge. Luckily, Surak was there to help him, and the Night Lion crushed the dragons with his paws and bites just after the Hippo struck.
By then, Baliyo joined Afia, Azaad, and Fuli, challenging Makucha. In doing so, he created an opening for Kion and Rani to rush Hasira, who'd yet to join the battle.
"Zuka Zama!" Bunga cried, slashing his claws across a striped hyena's face. However, before the honey badger could properly celebrate, he felt something off putting, movement beneath the sand.
"What the?"
Ono too saw tremors just below the surface and squawked.
"Hapana!"
Kion and Rani easily dispatched the last four hyenas between them and Hasira, who now grinned.
"You two are quite predictable, this time it will cost you your lives."
"Guys, watch out, beneath us!-" Bunga cried.
Rani was about to lunge for Hasira when Kion saw the tremor.
"Hevi Kabisa!" The Prince slammed himself into Rani, knocking her away. Before Rani could even ask why he'd done so, her eyes went wide upon seeing two horned vipers burst from the sand and strike where she'd just stood.
"Vipers!" Ono squawked. The Lion Guard and Night Pride looked down in horror at the tremors in the sand moving towards their feet.
"Watch out! One bite and you're dead!" Azaad roared, desperately trying to maneuver himself from the striking snakes while also looking out for Fuli.
Afia, Baliyo, and Surak all did the same, but in their distractions, the leopards and komodo dragons took advantage and slammed each backward.
"Hapana, we're going to need help! Wait, yes that could work! I'll be right back!" Ono squawked. Rani and Kion similarly found themselves on the defensive against four snakes who kept just out of sight and slithered beneath them.
"What's wrong, Plantagenet, afraid of snakes?!" Hasira laughed sadistically before charging forward and lifting Kion off the ground with his body-slam. Rani tried to intercept him, but the snakes struck again, almost hitting her.
Hasira viciously bit at Kion's neck, coming very close to sinking his fangs into the Prince's throat. However, fighting back defiantly, Kion used his back legs to push Hasira off him, though not far. He tried to follow up on this success, only for another two vipers to get in the way.
Once recovered, Hasira lunged ahead and slammed both opponents in the head with his paws.
"What's wrong? Afraid of getting bit, again!"
Kion grunted and got up with Rani as the snakes closed in. Yet even as they prepared to evade, something else came under the sand. Just then, two of the vipers flew up into the air, hissing in pain with deep claw marks all over their bodies.
"Keep away from my friends!" Bunga snarled. The other two vipers quickly struck him with their fangs in successive bites, but soon trembled upon realizing their attacks had no effect.
"Hmm, what does viper do if his venom doesn't work, oh yeah, he dies!" Rani blinked upon hearing such a response from Bunga, and winced again when she saw him mercilessly ravage the two vipers until they were dead.
Nearby, Afia, Surak, and Baliyo struggled to avoid the snakes' bites while enduring blows from the komodo dragons and leopards. However, Afia noticed someone else moving behind the snakes, and just like before, several burst out of the sand covered in deep slashes.
"You're not the only ones who can dig!" A familiar voice giggled.
"Binga!?" Baliyo muttered. Moments later, the female honey badger came up, still giggling.
"Don't worry about the snakes." She said, barely noticing as one definitely bit her side with no impact.
"Good!" Surak snarled, lunging forward and causing Ora to yelp as he picked him up off the ground.
Fuli and Azaad found themselves backed into a corner between three snakes, Chuluun, and Makucha.
"Nowhere to run!" Makucha laughed.
"Anga lenga!" Two of the snakes struck towards Fuli, but found more than they bargained for. Anga swooped in and snatched the serpents by their heads with her talons.
The third viper similarly came for Azaad, only to find the same fate as Cadoc came down upon him just as Anga did.
Fuli looked up and saw Ono over them, a relieved expression on his face.
"Nice work."
"It was nothing, I just had to remember snakes' natural predators."
"That's right, and I'm feeling a bit hungry." Anga said, staring down into the terrified snakes' eyes.
"Wait, you're a fish eagle, you eat fish, not snakes!" The one under Cadoc's talons pleaded.
"I'm not a picky eater." Cadoc responded.
Fuli grinned with Azaad and before the two leopards knew what hit them, the cheetahs struck with fast and successive blows.
Elsewhere, Kion and Rani both came at Hasira who desperately tried to keep them back. Occasionally one of his hyenas came back, but Bunga helped prevent them from overwhelming his companions.
Striking from two directions in perfect harmony, Kion and Rani picked Hasira off the ground.
"Use the Roar on him!"
"With pleasure!"
Despite this, Hasira smiled.
"Very well, I just hope you're ready to lose another family member, Capet." Rani's eyes widened and her stomach tightened as she looked back and realized Mama Binteroung wasn't there.
"Nirmala!" Surak heard Rani's cry and similarly sar Binteroung's absence.
"No!" He raced back inside the Kingdom, followed swiftly by Rani, Baliyo, and Afia.
"You're pure evil, you know that!" Kion snarled in pure rage.
Hasira chuckled.
"There are far worse lions than me in this world, Kion. I learned a long time ago that one does what one needs to for survival. That is why my house will return, and yours will die." Hasira disappeared into the rocks, followed swiftly by his minions.
With the threat gone, Kion and his Guard quickly rushed inside for fear of Nirmala's safety. Recently, her advancing pregnancy took its toll on the lioness's physical capabilities, and Rani gave her leave of her Night Pride duties until after the cubs were born.
Kion reached the grassy area first, but quickly sighed in relief when he saw a mangled Mama Binteroung and two baboons getting carried away by Idan and Gael.
"Whew." Binga said, wiping her brow in relief.
Kion went inside the Tree and saw Nirmala resting while Makini looked over her and Surak nuzzled her.
"Surak, relax, she never even made it inside." Nirmala tried to assure the Night Lion who's frantic expression hadn't fully disappeared.
"Is everything ok?" Kion asked Rani who similarly tried to ease her tension.
"Yeah, luckily Idan, Gael, and Kanda were on guard duty." Rani exhaled deeply.
"I just want Hasira gone already!"
"It's my fault he's here-" Kion started before Rani nuzzled his head with a slightly stern but still playful expression.
"None of that! You hear me!? By order of the Queen!" Kion smiled again and nuzzled her back. Baliyo and Afia watched the two with contrasting expressions.
"Just accept it, Baliyo." Afia teased him while nudging his head with her own.
"Whatever."
"Well, if the borders are secure, why don't you give the Queen a paw with her duties." Before Kion could answer Nirmala turned to him.
"Kion, I actually wanted to speak with you for a moment."
The two sighed and Rani gave Kion a quick nuzzle before leaving with Binga and Cadoc. At Nirmala's request, the others also cleared out, leaving her and Kion alone, save Makini who stood nearby.
"How are you feeling?"
"A lot better than when I first came here." Makini took a closer look at Kion's scar and smiled wider.
"It is a lot better than when we set off!"
"Just two more virtues." Kion said, perhaps quieter than he intended.
Nirmala took a deep breath, understanding his struggle perhaps more than he realized.
"I'll bet you're wondering why we haven't worked on them for the last few days."
"You're pregnancy is-"
Nirmala cut him off while shaking her head.
"I should've told you sooner, but with everything that's happened, Janna's passing, Rani's coronation."
"Nirmala, it's fine I can wait a little longer before we start."
"That's just it, Kion, the last two virtues before you're fully healed and the Roar unlocks its true potential cannot simply be taught like the others were. Unyenyekevu and Msamaha build off the others, humility, and forgiveness." Kion understood what Nirmala got at and lowered his head.
"You could master these at home with just as much ease as you could here, and the result would be the same." Makini tightened her grip on her staff with an anxious expression.
"So, if Kion wanted, he could go back to his family now?"
Nirmala nodded with an uneasy expression.
"Yes."
Kion's heart raced and he stared back at the entrance.
"Makini, do you have a minute?" The Mandril slowly nodded and followed Kion outside where the rest of the Guard waited.
"Alright, so did Nirmala give you your tasks for the day?" Bunga asked, his usual optimism returning. However, it faded with the others' as they saw the pain in Kion's expression.
"Kion, what's wrong?" Fuli asked, nervously.
"Nirmala told me the truth, I don't have to be here for the last two virtues. If I wanted, we could go home."
The Lion Guard went silent and felt their stomachs turn to stone as they understood what this meant.
"I guess that's true. You've got your rage under control, Ono's sight is back, and if you can take care of the last two virtues back at Pride Rock." Anga muttered.
"You could see your family again, we all could." Beshte said, though unenthusiastically.
"Guys, before Janna died, she asked me to do something." Kion said, making the others look at him closer with growing interest.
"What?" Makini asked.
Taking a long and deep breath, Kion stared back at the Tree of Life.
"She asked me to stay here, keep the Roar at the Tree of Life, and to protect the Kingdom with it."
"Woah!" Ono muttered.
"That's quite a thing to ask, though who can blame her." Bunga said playfully before seeing the anguish remain on Kion's face.
"The thing is, I said yes."
"You what!?" The others all cried in unison, save Makini who smiled tenderly.
"Why would you promise that!?" Fuli screamed in disbelief.
"Gaaah, I don't know!" Kion groaned while pacing around in front of them.
"It was her dying wish! It just came out, with everything going on, and gaahh." Kion sat down, the emotions flooding through him.
"The thing is, I think I do want to stay." Fuli exhaled deeply and placed her paw on Kion's shoulder.
"Rani."
Kion slowly nodded.
"It's more than just Rani, this place, the animals here. You can't tell me you don't feel something different, more sacred about this Kingdom, you can't tell me you don't want to stay either!"
Fuli and the others hesitated.
"It is amazing, like something out of a dream." Beshte admitted.
"I could spend ten lifetimes here and still learn more." Ono said.
"Binga, Baliyo, Afia, and everyone else too." Bunga muttered.
"This place is probably targeted more and could use the extra protection." Anga said.
"Guys, what are you thinking!? Have you forgotten who we are!? The Lion Guard of Pride Rock!" Fuli roared, emphasizing the markings on their shoulders.
"We have responsibilities back home too! Whatever this story Janna told us about Kion's ancestor's creating the Roar here, the Roar is meant to protect Pride Rock, it's our home!"
"Home is where your family is, that's what you taught me." Azaad said, easing Fuli a bit.
"So now you want to stay too!"
Azaad smirked.
"I go where you go."
Fuli turned to Makini who nervously looked back at the Tree.
"I'm actually staying either way."
Fuli took a deep breath and gazed around at the Tree of Life again.
"Don't forget about Hasira! He's here because of us, we owe it to them to defeat him!" Bunga countered.
Fuli sighed again and turned to Kion.
"It's your choice, Kion. We've followed you this far, we're not stopping now." Fuli and the others embraced Kion and the Prince braced himself against the mounting pressure.
"I need some time alone to think."
"Take all the time you need." Beshte said.
Elsewhere, Rani finished up with two herds of elephants, whose' leaders bowed before her.
"Thank you, your majesty, we'll be sure our herds remain peaceful with each other."
"Good." At that, the two herds went their separate ways, leaving Rani with Cadoc.
"Alright, what's next?"
"Actually that's it for today, I'll do another fly around in case something else comes up."
"Thanks, if you see Kion let me know."
"Of course, your highness, I'm sure Nirmala's done with the proposition by this point." Cadoc was about to fly off when he suddenly realized he'd spoken too much and covered his beak.
"Well, got to go-" Cadoc tried to take off, but Rani caught him by the tail-feathers in her mouth and dragged him back down with a stern expression.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing! You're very busy, I should-"
"Cadoc!" Rani growled, making the fish eagle gulp.
"Queen Janna made me swear not to tell you!" Rani's eyes went wide.
"I'm your Queen, now, and I'm ordering you to tell me!"
Cadoc sighed deeply.
"Queen Janna didn't want Kion to leave. She and Nirmala discussed how they could convince him to remain, and a lot of it came down to you."
"Me?" Rani's rage subsided into angst.
Cadoc nodded.
"She hoped Kion would become your mate, I don't think she considered anyone else worthy. When he started to court you, she was overjoyed and hoped it meant the Tale of the Two Brothers would finally be fulfilled."
Rani panted slowly.
"But, he's not leaving yet. He still has two more virtues left to master." Rani almost pleaded.
"No, your highness, Nirmala says he doesn't need to be here for the last two virtues."
Rani let Cadoc up and tried to take it all in. Her grandmother wanted Kion there, she wanted him as Rani's King. Janna always did believe in the tale, but Rani quickly realized that Janna saw in Kion much the same she did. Rani couldn't deny she wanted Kion to remain too, but in doing so, it meant asking him to give up his home and family. Rani grit her teeth and slowly walked away, leaving Cadoc with a guilty expression.
"You and your big beak!" He scolded himself.
As the sun began to set, Kion and Rani both came to secluded areas of the Kingdom. Rani rested atop a hillside in the savanna while Kion stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast canyon.
Both gazed out at the horizon longing for guidance and answers in this time of uncertainty. Rani wished more than anything that her Grandmother was still alive, to speak with her one last time. However, as day turned to night, the Lioness noticed clouds begin to form over the savanna in an almost supernatural manner.
Looking closer with growing interest, Rani lost her breath upon seeing two silhouettes form in the clouds in the shape of a lion and lioness, who stared back at the Queen with a loving warmth Rani had almost forgotten after so many years.
"Mom, dad." Rani muttered, unable to comprehend what she saw before her.
"You've grown so much, Rani, our sweet little cub is now a Queen." Ananda's warm voice carried through the gentle breeze around the Night Lioness, who continued to tremble.
"I don't understand, how-" Rani choked on her words as tears streamed down her face, before she remembered Kion's words.
"You have nothing to fear, Rani. We'll always be with you, us, your grandmother. You've become more than we could've ever hoped." Sahasi said, making Rani wipe some of the tears from her face.
In the canyon, Kion too saw clouds form over him with the silhouette of a Lion among them. Unlike Rani, he knew what this meant and jumped to his feet.
"Grandfather!?" However, as Kion looked closer, he realized the figure looking down upon him wasn't his grandfather, but another lion. Even so, this Lion carried the mark of the Guard, and bore a striking resemblance to both Mufasa, and Simba.
"The Roar has finally returned home, for that, I am glad."
Kion's jaw hung wide open in disbelief.
"Askari!" The Lion smiled with a great wisdom inside his expression and nodded.
"It does my heart good to see my brother's descendants haven't lost the strength and honor of our family. You truly are a worthy successor, Kion." The Prince stroked his scar.
"It hasn't been easy."
"It was never meant to be. I too faced the same trials and temptations as you, Kion. Yet, true strength does not come from avoiding such evil, but overcoming it, and you've done just that, far faster than I did. However, I can tell that something else troubles you."
Kion kept his head low.
"I don't know what to do, Askari. I came here so I could heal myself and then get back to my family. But everything's changed, Rani, this place. I need to know if it's true!?"
"If what's true?"
"Your and Geoffry's story! Janna said that when the Roar returned, it would stay and make this Kingdom what it was always meant to be!"
Askari nodded in understanding.
"I see, you wonder if this means you must stay. Or perhaps, you want to stay."
Kion didn't respond immediately.
Back in the savanna, Rani was still overwhelmed by the spirits of her parents and struggled to find words.
"I don't know what to do." Rani muttered.
"You do know, your grandmother taught you, she showed you." Sahasi said.
"It's not that….. I've met someone, I didn't trust him at first, but now, I've seen who he really is.."
"Go on." Ananda said, perhaps in a slightly teasing manner.
"He's the bearer of the Roar of the Elders and the truest Guardian I've ever seen. Grandmother wanted him and the Roar to stay. I know he could do great things for the Tree of Life, and if the Tale of the Two Brothers is true!?"
"Rani, this is about more than just what he can do for the Kingdom." Sahashi said, bringing more raw emotion to Rani's expression and she nodded.
"I want him to stay, I love him. But I'd be asking him to leave his home and family behind. His parents, his sister. I'd do to him what happened to me."
"Rani, the fact that such things burden you is proof of your sincerity and love for him. But even if you ask Kion to remain, he wouldn't necessarily have to leave his family forever. You would not be taking their lives, or holding him hostage."
Rani clenched her eyes shut.
"No, I'd just keep him here, instead of being there with them."
"In the end, it is his choice. But in guiding his decision, you must also ask yourself, are you willing to let him go?" Ananda said. Rani opened her eyes again and gazed up at the horizon.
Back in the canyon, Kion kept his head low.
"I don't know what to do, Askari. I have to choose between my family and Rani!"
"Such is the burden of life, Kion. Never is there easy answers to these kinds of choices. But if it is wisdom you seek, then I will do what I can."
Kion looked back up at Askari's figure and saw the immortal prudence in his spirit.
"You asked if the tale about Geoffry and I is true? I did not intend to return here. My duties were to Pride Rock, to my family. However, my path is not necessarily yours either, and I knew one day the Roar would return here to stay. But know this, the Roar is not just the power, it is the one who uses it." Kion caught his breath.
"Your future is yours to decide, Kion. Should you stay, you would have a new family, not just of close bonds, but of blood too." Kion understood what Askari meant and for a brief moment, in their unity, Kion saw a glimpse of his potential future. He saw himself, in his prime like his father beside Rani, five cubs around them.
"Only when you have the true humility to give up what you believe you need, will you truly see your path, Kion."
Kion left the canyon and gazed up at the ocean of stars above him. It didn't take long for the Prince to lose track of where he was, and found himself in the savanna with Rani atop a hill.
(xxx)
"Rani." He muttered. The Night Queen saw Kion and both lions saw the emotion on each other's faces. They quickly tried to conceal such things and approached each other, enduring a long silence as they did so.
"Kion."
"...Did you still need any help with your queenly duties?" Rani smiled tenderly and nuzzled the side of Kion's face.
"I've gotten most of the important ones done, but there's always something. If you don't mind working late."
Kion returned her smile and nuzzle.
"Lead the way."
For the next few hours, Kion and Rani made their way across each of the Tree of Life's various regions, helping whoever they could, wherever they could. All the while, the two savored each other's company and presence.
Finally, they reached a roaring waterfall that almost glowed in the moonlight and lay beside each other near the edge, giving them a splendid view of the entire Kingdom. Rani rested her head against Kion and purred, doing her best to remain calm after the talk with her parents. Kion endured much the same, savoring his time with the Queen and wishing it would never end.
"Your healing is effectively complete then?" Rani asked, finally pushing them to the confrontation. Kion grit his fangs and nodded.
"Yes."
"I'm glad you came here. You and the others, I was wrong to ever doubt you."
Kion's smile returned and he passionately licked Rani across the face.
"I'm glad I met you, I'm a better lion because of it." Rani shook her head with a playful smile.
"You were already a great Lion, Nirmala just showed you how to move past the venom."
Kion gazed back out at the lands with a longing expression.
"This truly is a magnificent place, and I'm glad it's going to stay that way." Rani looked back at Kion with growing interest.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because of its Queen." Rani blushed intensely and felt her heart race faster than a speeding cheetah. Calling upon all her strength, Rani knew it was now or never, she'd go for broke.
"Maybe, but the Kingdom also needs a King." Now Kion's heart raced and he felt Rani place her paws on his before staring into his eyes with raw emotion.
"Kion, I know I'm asking the world of you, but I need you to know, I'm in love with you! Please, stay!" Tears flowed down the Night Lionesses face and she placed her paw over the Guard symbol on Kion's shoulder, causing it to gleam.
Kion couldn't hold back his own feelings and felt similar tears grow in his own face. The Prince stared back deeply into Rani's eyes.
"This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I came here so that I might see my family again-" Rani caught her breath.
"But now, I realize, I can't live without you, Rani." Before she even realized what hit her, the Queen found herself in an uncontrollable nuzzle/lick with Kion, both freeing all of their held-back emotions.
By midnight, both lions slept soundly, with Rani on top of Kion and her head against his, their faces still holding loving smiles. However, as the night went on, both lions' guard markings gleamed again.
Kion and Rani saw themselves in the clouds watching over an area Kion knew well.
"Kion! What's happening, where are we?!" The Queen muttered.
"We're over the outlands, this is near my home, how are we in the sky?" Kion noticed the clouds beneath them darken into a storm with flashes of lightning and rain pouring down.
Rani's eyes widened in horror when she saw what lay beneath them.
"Look!" Kion too lost his breath when he saw two packs of lionesses in a violent battle in the rain, neither side holding anything back as they tore into each other.
"Hezi kabisa!" Kion cried, as he recognized one group of lionesses as the Pride Rock pride, and the others as Zira's outcasts. Then, he saw it, his father desperately fighting off Zira and four of her lionesses who tried to surround him.
"Father!"
Kion and Rani's eyes shot open and they panted heavily.
"Gaah, I just had a nightmare." Kion muttered, holding his head.
"Me too." Rani said, their faces freezing for a moment before slowly turning to face each other.
"What did you dream about?" Kion asked cautiously.
The next morning, Kion and Rani explained their shared nightmare to Makini and the others.
"Woah, now that's freaky." Bunga said in disbelief.
"Nirmala, have you ever heard of something like this happening?" Rani asked. Her aunt and Makini nodded to each other in concern.
"I believe the two of you shared a vision."
"A vision of what!?" Kion tried not to shout.
"The past, present, or possibly the future. The Roar is powerful, and as Queen of the Tree of Life, Rani has some connection to it as well. It's possible it reached out to Kion as a warning and since Rani was close, she heard it too." Makini explained.
"Hapana, does that mean Zira may have already attacked!" Ono squawked, his terrified expression spread to the rest of the Lion Guard.
"No! I refuse to believe it! This has to be a warning, the Roar wants us to go back and stop Zira!" Kion grit his fangs and turned back to Rani with pure anguish.
"I'm sorry, but I can't sit by and leave my family to be killed." He nuzzled her tenderly.
"I'll return, I swear!"
Fuli exhaled deeply, so that was it. They would stay, this was a big decision, but Fuli soon found herself smiling with the others.
"I guess this is our new home."
"We'll be waiting for you." Baliyo said, forcing himself to smile with Afia, Nirmala, and Surak. However, as Kion moved back he didn't see pain or sorrow on Rani's face, just pure determination.
"Alright then, let's get moving."
Her answer caught Kion and everyone else completely off-guard.
"What!?"
"If your family is in danger, then I'm not letting you go alone. We'll save them together!" Rani roared.
Kion's agony vanished in an instant and he roared in pure enthusiasm.
"Woah, woah, woah! Rani, you can't just leave! You're the Queen now, and-" Baliyo protested.
"Baliyo, if the Roar can take Kion instantly back to his home, then we won't be gone long."
"Has he even done that before!?" Baliyo shouted in frustration.
"No, but I'm sure I can pull it off."
"You guys can handle things without me for a day or two. Besides, I think this is a great chance to see what else is out there besides the Tree of Life." Rani said, smirking back at Kion.
"I wanna go too!" Binga cried, rushing out and wrapping her arms around Bunga.
"Zuka Zama! I say we do it!"
Baliyo frantically turned to Surak and Nirmala.
"Talk some sense into her!"
"I don't know, she is the Queen." Surak said.
"Come on! Her responsibility is to this Kingdom!"
"And she's done more than enough to ensure its well-being for the few days she'll be gone." Nirmala added.
Baliyo opened his mouth, but Afia brushed her head against his.
"Let it go, Baliyo." As soon as she withdrew, he felt his sister take over.
"I'll be back, I promise." With a heartfelt smile, Baliyo nodded and Rani went back beside Kion and the others.
"Ready?"
"Ready!" They cried in unison.
Kion stared up at the sky and heard Askari's voice.
"Concentrate hard, picture where you want to be, and let the Roar bring you there." Arching his head back, Kion unleashed the Roar around them, and the Lion Guard flew into the air, but in a controlled manner.
Later that day, outside the Tree of Life, a bat quickly flew to a secluded area and bowed down.
"The scarred Prince and Queen have left!"
"Hmp, perfect."