Chapter 12: Unyenyekevu
Fuli trembled slightly as she took her first step forward after landing.
"You're ok, you're ok." She said to herself, trying to keep her breakfast down.
"That was unbungalievable! Let's do it again!" Bunga screamed with pure enthusiasm, earning a glare from Fuli.
"Honestly, I don't know how you two handle flying." Fuli groaned towards Ono and Anga.
"That wasn't flying." The egret muttered, sounding just as sick.
"Come on, that was pretty fun." Anga chuckled.
Rani stood beside Kion and looked around at the somewhat desolate canyons and badlands around them. She saw faint signs of returning vegetation and fauna, but it clearly had a ways to go.
"Well, your home is quite, unique." Rani tried not to sound disrespectful, but earned slight chuckles from Kion and the others.
"This isn't Pride Rock, these are the badlands. By the looks of things, Jasiri's been busy." Rani nodded. Kion had already told her about his hyena friend.
"Come on, the borders aren't far." Kion led them through the badlands past a number of surprised hyenas.
"Woah!"
"Is that!?"
"No way!" The spotted hyenas yelped in shock upon seeing them.
"Kion!" A familiar voice snapped the Prince out of his single-minded focus, and he looked over to see none other than Jasiri. The spotted hyena's expression was a mixture of disbelief and exuberance upon seeing Kion and the others alive.
"Jasiri!" The alpha hyena reached Kion first and nuzzled the side of his head, making Rani narrow her eyes slightly, though she knew it was only platonic.
"You're, you're all alive! How is this possible?"
"I'm guessing the Roar had something to do with it." Before Kion could speak, he saw Janja emerge behind Jasiri. Though he didn't carrying the same overwhelmed expression, he did look somewhat relieved to see his old adversaries unharmed.
"What happened to all of you? Where have you been, and how did you get that?" Jasiri said, emphasizing Kion's scar. The Prince sighed, but kept his smile.
"It's a long story, Rani, this is Jasiri, and Janja."
"Rani?" Both hyenas only then noticed the Night Lioness beside Kion.
"Hello." She said in a warm tone, though more to Jasiri.
"Who?" Janja muttered.
"Queen of the Tree of Life, and punisher of poachers." Bunga said in a certain tone that sent a shiver down Janja's spine, especially as Rani gave him a slightly aggressive look.
Fuli and the others couldn't help but laugh a little, at least until Jasiri licked the side of Janja's face.
"Don't worry, I'm keeping Janja here on a short leash. He hasn't gotten into any trouble since then. Welcome Queen Rani." Jasiri respectfully bowed her head with Janja and any nearby hyenas doing the same.
"Thank you. Kion's told me a lot about you both."
"We also have another new friend. Azaad." Fuli pointed out.
"Greetings."
"So you've been where exactly?" Jasiri asked.
"The Tree of Life. During our battle with Ushari, he bit me and Ono lost his sight. We went to Rani's Kingdom for healing."
"Huh, you've still got that scar though." Janja pointed out.
"Not all wounds can be seen." Rani said before nuzzling Kion warmly and earned a very interested expression from Jasiri.
"How about that."
"Jasiri, we came back because Rani and I saw a vision of a great battle between the Prideland Lions and Zira's outcasts. What happened?"
Jasiri and Janja's expressions hardened instantly.
"We don't know, something happened yesterday evening during a storm. I wanted to help, but the storm hit us here too hard." Jasiri whined in deep shame.
Kion's face nearly turned pale and was only snapped out of his daze by Rani.
"Kion! We don't know what happened!" She insisted.
"Rani's right, let's get back to the Pridelands and figure this out!" Fuli cried.
"We'll come too!" Jasiri growled.
She and Janja followed the Guard in as they approached the Prideland borders.
"Anga, see anything!?" Beshte asked.
"Hold on, oh no!"
"What?" Bunga asked.
"I see outlander lionesses in the Pridelands alongside the Prideland lionesses."
Kion's heart raced faster.
"My family, do you see them!?"
"No, but wait, there's someone standing in your father's place at Pride Rock."
"Who?" Fuli muttered.
"A male lion, a little older than Kion with tan fur, not as tan as Rani's. He's got a black mane, green eyes, and a scar."
Kion froze, his muscles growing limp.
"Kovu! Zira's son." The Guard went silent and found themselves unable to move.
Rani, Azaad, Jasiri, and Janja tried to find the words to comfort them but soon heard something, or rather, someone else.
"What do we have here." A dark voice growled. Kion and Rani looked up first, and saw an viscous adolescent lioness staring down at them with a horrible grin.
"Vitani!" Kion snarled, the rage in his stomach boiling over like a volcano.
"There sssshe issss, ssshe undoubtedly murdered your family, your dear ssssissster." Ushari hissed.
Four more lionesses like Vitani soon flanked her.
"What do you think, girls?" Vitani asked the four lionesses around her.
"Looks like that fool Janja went and got him some help." Tazama growled.
"Fool!" Janja barked.
"A scarred lion and a strange lioness, friends of the hyenas I see." Vitani growled.
"Vitani, this is your one warning, step aside and let us through or face the consequences!" Kion snarled. Neither he, nor anyone else in his party, including Rani and Jasiri were in the mood to deal with the outland lioness's blatant aggression.
"How does he know your name?" Kasi asked.
"Who cares!? They're not getting in! Attack!" Vitani charged in first, going straight for Kion. Rani prepared herself to intercept the outland lioness who'd lunged forward, claws and fangs out, but quickly realized it wasn't necessary.
Unlike his fight with Baliyo, Kion kept his rage under control, but proved no less dangerous. With immense strength, he counter-struck and lifted Vitani further into the air, slamming her hard into the cliffside she'd just charged down.
The other outlander lionesses gasped in horror and almost felt the agony as her body made contact.
"Vitani!"
"That's it!" Shabaha snarled and rushed in, trying to attack Kion's flank, yet she soon wished she hadn't. Rani finally stepped in and with a thunderous roar, she pounced into Shabaha, sinking her fangs deep into the outlander lionesses back before dragging Shabaha across the ground as she cried out in pain.
Beshte huffed and bore his tusks before Imara who charged down to challenge him. They butted heads and the hippo was taken back by just how strong the lioness proved, managing to hold her own against him for several moments, however, it ultimately proved futile.
"Twende Kiboko!" Moving his head lower to gain better leverage, Beshte flipped Imara up and off her feet. Once her stance was broken, the hippo immediately pushed forward, eventually smashing Imara into the cliffside.
"Ouch." She groaned.
Fuli and Kasi raced each-other across the canyon floor, neither able to land a precise blow, though Fuli proved slightly faster.
"Grrr! We're too evenly matched!" Kasi growled.
"Good thing I'm not alone!" Before Kasi could even inquire, Azaad slammed into her side, knocking the lioness onto her back.
"You're not very keen!" He laughed.
"Grrr! Tazmana!" Kasi growled.
"I'm a bit busy!" The other lioness groaned while Anga and Ono swooped in to attack her from multiple directions.
"Too bad for you!" Fuli snarled, pouncing onto Kasi with Azaad.
The fight had drawn the attention of four more outlander lionesses who rushed onto the scene and nearly crashed into Shabaha. The adolescent lioness looked as if she'd been mauled by a pack of hyenas with deep claw and fang marks across her body and a look of sheer terror like they'd never seen before across her face.
"Woah, Shabaha what's wrong?" One asked.
"She's gonna eat me!" Shabaha bellowed out, pushing past them to flee.
"Huh?" The four lionesses went pale as they looked back and saw Rani charging towards them with a feral expression.
Rani pounced into the nearest one, slamming her onto her back. The other three tried to help but soon found themselves face to face with a pair of honey badgers.
"Hi!" Binga said,waving her paws.
"Honey badgers? That's it?"
"Ohh, you should've said that." Binga giggled before emphasizing Bunga who then latched himself onto the lionesses face and went to work with his claws.
"Gaaah! Get it off! Get it offf!" The other two found themselves unable to do anything as Binga unleashed a cloud of foul stench into them. As they struggled to get out, violently coughing, the lionesses found themselves facing Janja and Jasiri.
"I remember you two, you helped take my watering hole!" Jasiri snarled.
Elsewhere, Kion was about to charge Vitani again when two more outlander lionesses came in at his flanks to back her up.
"Hmp, I don't know what you thought you were going to do, outsider, but this is our Kingdom now." Vitani growled. Kion had to call upon all five virtues to keep himself from exploding in hatred towards Vitani. He heard Ushari's hiss as the horrible image of Zira,Nuka,Kovu,and Vitani killing his family flashed through Kion's head.
The two lionesses attacked simultaneously, but to no avail, Kion blocked and then counter-struck, drawing blood as he did so and knocking both lionesses unconscious. However, this distraction allowed Vitani to claw his side twice, making the Prince snarl in pain. Before he could react, Vitani bit down on the back of Kion's neck and pressed down with everything she had.
Kion struggled to keep himself upright, and refused to let the outlander's win.
"Graauuu!" The Prince forced himself up and into Vitani' pushing her back enough for him to bodyslam her back into the rocks. Despite what was undoubtedly immense pain, she gave him a defiant look and got back up.
"You're 'huff' not getting past us!" She declared, even as Kion's Guard continued to overcome Vitani's lionesses.
Kion growled louder and earned vigorous nods from his companions. Arching his head back, Kion prepared to unleash the roar upon Vitani.
"Kion!?" The Prince's aggression vanished entirely as he heard another voice, and he went still.
Rani saw the look on his face which soon spread to the others as well. Kion slowly looked up at the cliffside where another lioness had arrived and gazed down at Kion with the same disbelief and raw emotion that he did.
"Kiara." Kion muttered.
"Kiara!" Rani cried. This was her, Kion's sister!
"Kion! That's Kion!?" Vitani muttered.
"That can't be true, Kion's dead-" One of the lionesses started before Rani knocked her out with a backpaw strike.
Finally finding her strength, Kiara raced down past Vitani and the outland lionesses, tears streaming down her face until she finally reached her brother and nuzzled him. Kion couldn't keep himself from crying either, and let the raw emotions through as he embraced his sister.
"Awwwww." Binga said as she hugged Bunga.
Azaad smiled until he looked over at Fuli.
"Are you crying?"
"Am not!" Fuli protested, unsuccessfully.
Rani couldn't help but tear up a little seeing Kion reunite with his sister, seeing the pure love between them just like her and Baliyo.
"That's it, I'm gonna!" The same lioness snarled as she came up behind Rani only to get knocked out again from a blow from the back of Rani's paw.
"Kion, I, I thought you were dead!" Kiara sobbed, barely able to keep herself standing.
Kion tried to speak, but his muscles tensed up when he saw Kovu on the cliffside.
"Kovu!" He snarled. The Guard's defenses quickly rose up, and Rani raced beside Kion as Kovu came down towards them.
Kiara saw this with a horrified expression.
"Kion, no!" Acting out of instinct, Rani seized Kiara and dragged her behind them, placing herself and Kion between Kovu and Kiara.
"Get back!" Kion snarled, Rani joining in as Kovu backed up slightly and took a defensive stance.
"Kion, wait, you don't understand!"
"Kion?" Kovu muttered.
"Hold on, woah! I think it is him!" Vitani almost yelped as she came up beside Kovu.
"Kiara, what's going on!? Why are these outland lions in the Pridelands!?"
"Kion, they've joined our pride!" Kiara cried.
"What!?" Kion and the Guard shouted in disbelief.
"That's impossible, the vision, I saw a battle, Zira fighting dad!"
Rani saw great pain overcome Vitani and Kovu and both took a deep breath.
"Our mother is dead." Kovu muttered.
"Dead!?"
"There was a great battle. Kovu and I convinced dad to let go of what happened years ago." Kiara muttered, and Rani saw Vitani turn away with an immense amount of grief on her face, even more than when they mentioned her mother's death.
Rani was now curious over what this meant, but decided not to press the matter. Kion and the others eased their stances slightly, though not entirely.
"So mom and dad-"
"They're fine! When they find out you're alive!" Kiara teared up again. Kion was about to speak when he saw Kovu push past him and Rani to nuzzle Kiara. The Prince and his companions now felt their mouths drop wide open.
"Hapana!" Ono squawked.
"Kovu and Kiara?" Fuli muttered.
"Hold on! Back up, Kiara, you're not telling me-" Kion muttered in disbelief. But upon seeing the expressions on her and Kovu's faces, he got his answer. Everything happened so fast and Kion struggled to take it all in. Despite this, he still felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing his family was unharmed.
Only then the Kiara truly notice Rani.
"Uhh, Kion, who's this?"
Rani smirked towards Kion in a manner that nearly made the fur on Kiara'a back stand up.
"I'm Rani, his Queen." She purred before licking the side of Kion's face. Kiara's mouth dropped open just as Kion's had and the Prince almost laughed when he saw her shock turn into subtle aggression.
Kion led Rani across the Pridelands, allowing her to take in the savanna around them. Many animals they passed gasped in shock and awe upon seeing the Lion Guard and their Prince alive.
"Prince Kion!?"
"The Lion Guard are alive!?"
"Woah! Am I dreaming?"
"So what do you think?" Kion asked with a warm smile.
"Hmmm, alright, I'll admit, it's better than the savanna portion of the Tree of Life, but overall the Tree of Life is better!"
Kion chuckled slightly and nuzzled Rani, earning a dubious expression from Kiara.
"Who is this Lioness, and why does she think she can do that to my brother?" She growled.
"Hmp, aren't you a little happy?" Kovu said with a slight chuckle.
"...Not yet." Kiara said, eyes still narrowed as she stared intensely at Rani.
Finally, they reached Pride Rock itself and Kion felt his heart race faster. The lionesses gasped when they saw their prince alive, but scarred.
"Kion!" Rani saw two adolescent lionesses roughly Kiara's age joined the other lionesses in shock.
At last, they reached the rocky ledge where a single lioness and lion stood. Kion froze, and felt his breathing grow heavier. Only with the aid of Rani and Kiara did he have the strength to press on.
"Mom, dad." Simba and Nala froze, their bodies trembling slightly when they heard the voice of their son, whom they believed was dead. The King and Queen lost their breath, both gazed deeply into Kion's eyes as Kiara joined them.
Without words, Simba and Nala raced to Kion and embraced him, showing him the same Love that Rani remembered her own parents gave her.
"Kion! How is this possible!?" Nala muttered, barely able to breath as she nuzzled her son.
"Does it matter, our boy is alive!" Simba sobbed, nearly driving Kion into the ground.
Fuli and the others struggled to maintain their composure as they saw the royal family reunited.
After the initial shock, Kion explained how he and the Guard survived.
"The Roar, I should've known!" Simba almost laughed.
It was only then that he and Nala noticed Rani behind Kion, a nervous expression on her face.
"Who is that?"
Kion took a long breath and gazed at Rani with a loving expression.
"Mom, dad. This is Rani, the ruler of the Tree of Life, my Queen." Rani approached the King and Queen with a look of respect.
"It's a privilege to finally meet you both."
"The Tree of Life! It's Real!?" Simba muttered.
"Your Queen!?" Nala yelped, giving Kion the same expression Kiara had.
"Kion, where did you get that scar!" Simba only now saw the scar on his son's face and Nala slowly nuzzled it with similar concern. Taking a deep breath, the Prince explained everything that had happened since he last saw them.
"Kion." Simba muttered.
"Yep, we've been through a lot, more than any Guard I reckon." Bunga said, earning a smirk from Fuli.
"What?"
"No, this time I agree with you." She laughed.
"Zuka Zama! I guess that officially makes me second in command!"
"How did you get that from me agreeing with you!" She laughed louder.
"Let him have this." Azaad said.
"A scar from Ushari! Let me see!" Kion hear Rafiki's voice and saw him approach before carefully examining the scar.
"Well! How about that, you've mastered five of the seven virtues!" Rafiki laughed before noticing Rani.
"Good heavens! A Night Lioness of House Capet!"
"House Capet!" Simba yelped.
"I am Rani of House Capet, Queen of the Tree of Life. I came here at the behest of your son, the finest Prince the world has ever known!" Rani said, emphasizing her point by nuzzling him. Simba couldn't help but smirk upon seeing the fruits of his son's courting.
Nala and Kiara slowly eased their expressions upon seeing the love in Kion's expression.
"We're honored to have you here." Nala said.
"Let the Pride Lands cry out in joy, our son lives!" Kion roared.
"Bunga!" Timon and Pumbaa raced over to Bunga who quickly embraced them.
Beshte, Ono, and Anga eventually made their way back to their own families, all the while the Plantagenets became acquainted with Rani.
"The House of Fisadi lives?" Simba muttered in disbelief.
"Yes, and Hasira is keen on ruling the Tree of Life." Kion sighed.
Simba shook his head.
"Your grandfather knew about Hasira's parents and even offered to let them back into the pridelands, but they refused."
Kion thought more about Hasira and the generations of hatred his family had for the Plantagenets.
"Welcome to Pride Rock, Queen Rani." Simba said with a deeply respectful tone.
"So you and Kovu?" Kion asked, turning back to Kiara and the other scarred lion who embraced each other.
"I'm sure there's quite a story behind that." Fuli said.
"Since you're here, why don't we show you around." Nala offered.
"I'd love that."
The Royal Family took Rani across Pride Rock while the Lion Guard each went back to their respective families, save Fuli who also took Azaad on a tour.
Rani found herself lost in the Pridelands beauty but even moreso, Kion's family. Simba was just as she imagined in both appearance and personality, sharing his son's sense of duty, and handsome demeanor. Kiara and Nala proved just as incredible, with Kiara also using the tour as an opportunity to handle some royal duties with her parents and mate.
In one encounter, Kiara, Simba, and Kovu settled a dispute between the zebra and antelope herds over their contested grazing areas.
"Because we need to eat more!" Thurston protested.
"That's hardly fair!" The lead antelope groaned.
"Calm down, both of you!" Kiara growled at Thurston while Simba did the same to the lead antelope.
"One at a time!" The King growled before Kovu gestured both leaders forward and beside Kiara and Simba.
Kion, Rani, and Nala watched from nearby, the Prince and Queen keeping a close eye on the rowdier members of both herds, dissuading them with some stern looks. However, after a minute, both noticed a somewhat restless look on Rani's face while she watched the matter sorted out by the others.
"Rani, are you ok?" Nala asked, her motherly tone coming out in a way that almost took the younger Queen aback.
"Huh!? Oh, I just, uh."
"You think you need to take care of this dispute, don't you?" Kion said with a playful smirk. The Night Lioness sighed and gave the two herds a longing expression.
"I can see you're a very devoted Queen, Rani. Your parents would be proud." Given she knew Rani was already a Queen, Nala managed to piece together that her parents probably weren't alive. However, the way she spoke and her overall presence still warmed Rani in the same way her grandmother had, and the vaguest memories of her own mother.
"However, you don't need to always be pushing yourself so hard." Nala's expression grew concerned as she placed her paw on Rani's face and took a closer look into her eyes.
"My, I can see the stress you've been through dear."
"Rani was leading her own Kingdom's Guard and also acting as regent for her grandmother." Kion explained. Nala's eyes widened.
"Rani, that's quite a burden. You shouldn't have to carry it alone, dear." Rani almost trembled before Nala, but not in fear. However, she quickly regained herself and smiled back at Kion.
"I don't want to do it alone, not anymore." She purred and Nala quickly understood, a mixture of excitement and fear rushing through her mind.
Simba, Kiara, and Kovu eventually finished up with the herds, allowing them to continue towards a lake where Rani spotted Beshte with his family. The float of hippos dashed about in the water, celebrating Beshte's return, however, it wasn't just hippos near the water.
Rani noticed a pair of adolescent lionesses Kiara's age resting near the water's edge.
"Sire, not to dim the tour, but this would be an opportune time to handle the matter of the overflowing floodplains." Zazu said, having landed beside them.
"Right, excuse us, Rani." Simba and Nala went off with the hornbill, leaving the four younger lions.
"This is quite the Kingdom Geoffry and Askari built." Rani admitted.
"Geoffrey and Askari?" Kovu asked, slightly confused.
"Our ancestors." Kiara chuckled before nuzzling Kovu's face. Rani noticed a growing impatience on Kion's expression the same as Baliyo and couldn't help but laugh a little.
"So, that means one day, Kovu will be King here. Sad to see the house of Plantagenet won't be continuing 'here'." Rani said in a manner that eased Kion and momentarily made Kiara look back at the Night Lioness with suspicion.
"Actually, I've formally been adopted into the House of Plantagenet." Kovu said.
"Welcome to the family." Kion forced out, and then motioned towards Kovu.
"Do you mind if we talk alone?" Kovu became slightly anxious, but Kiara gave him a reassuring look and he followed Kion.
"Soooo, Queen Rani." Kiara said with a growing smirk of interest on her face as she closed in on Rani.
"Kion told us how he got to the Tree of Life, but I'm more interested in what happened between you two." Rani narrowed her eyes at Kiara slightly, but then softened up as the memories of her and Kion's courtship flooded the Queen's mind.
"Well we didn't get off on the right paw, but once I got to know who Kion really is, one thing led to another." Kiara too softened upon seeing this and smiled.
"I'm glad he's found someone, and a Queen at that."
"A King needs a Queen, and a Queen needs a King."
Kiara's heart raced faster as she looked back at her brother, whom she'd only recently believed was dead.
"So you want Kion to stay with you at the Tree of Life." The Princess muttered, making Rani's smile fade. She saw the pain and fear in Kiara's eyes and understood. The Queen opened her mouth to speak, but soon found herself surrounded by the other two lionesses.
"Kiara! Who's this!?" One shouted.
"Tiffu, Zuri, meet Queen Rani. Rani, Tiffu and Zuri, my ladies in waiting."
"A Queen!" Zuri squealed.
"Ohhh! Why didn't you tell us there was visiting royalty!?" Tiffu cried.
"Hello-" Rani started.
"What Kingdom do you rule!?"
"What's your House!?"
"Who takes care of your grooming!?"
Rani became overwhelmed by the two and tried to back up, only to find herself trapped by Kiara who gave a mischievous grin.
"Rani is here to court Kion."
"She is!?" The two turned back to Kion having already heard he was alive.
Rani couldn't protest Kiara's claim considering she wasn't actually lying.
"Ohhh! If there's going to be a royal wedding we need to get her ready!" Tiffu screamed in pure excitement.
"Wait, what!?" Before Rani knew what happened, the three lionesses dragged her over to the water and started grooming her.
Nearby, Kion and Kovu stood together overlooking the Pridelands.
"I'm glad you're ok. Kiara was heartbroken after what happened with the volcano." Kion sighed, easing himself into a relaxed state.
"I'm glad the feud between our families is over." Kovu's smile became more sincere and he noticed Vitani nearby watching them closely.
"I'm sorry about your brother and mother." Kion's words caught Kovu completely off-guard and he winced. Not so much the part about Nuka, but Zira, especially considering what she'd done to his family. Kiara and Simba had moved past it, though barely in Simba's case. However, Kovu knew that Nala probably would've killed Zira had she gotten the chance.
"What's done is done, together, Kiara and I can create a new future for Pride Rock. I just hope I can be as good a King as your dad."
Kion finally smiled, especially after hearing the sincerity in Kovu's voice.
"You've got Kiara with you, plus plenty of time to learn from my dad. I wouldn't worry about it. Still, I have to ask, where did you get that scar?"
"My mom gave it to me." Kion blinked but soon realized it was probably true.
"At least she didn't have any venom in her claws."
Kovu looked closer at Kion's face.
"She told me about Ushari, and his venom. How are you doing?"
"Well enough, I could be healed very soon."
"Then what? Are you staying?" Back at the Tree of Life, Kion made his choice, and deep down, he knew he was ready to stay by it, but telling his family would be the hard part.
"Kion, we've got poaching crocs!" Beshte huffed. Kion and Kovu quickly turned and saw a group of crocus who were clearly from outside the Kingdom swarming on towards the local crocodiles and Beshte's float.
"Hevi Kabisa!"
Vitani sprung up and snarled.
"Lion Gua-" Before she could even finish, Kion had already dashed over to the water alongside Beshte.
Rani also saw this and broke free of her captors to join them.
"Wait, you can't fight, you've just gotten groomed!" Tiffu screamed in horror.
Vitani snarled in frustration as she waited for her Guard to assemble.
"Come on, where's Shabaha!?" The lioness snarled before finally seeing her companion approach, still quite mangled from her fight with Rani.
"There you are!? Let's go, we-"
"Uhh, Vitani." Tazama muttered. Vitani looked back to see the rest of Kion's Guard already assembled and successfully drove back the poachers.
"...Great."
Later that night, Rani and Kion walked through Pride Rock itself and past Bunga, who sat beside Binga, Timon, and Pumbaa who laughed as Binga told them about their time at the Tree.
"Kion, may I see your scar again?" Rafiki asked, revealing himself.
"Huh? Oh, sure. Be right back." Kion left with the mandril and Rani found herself near the rock's edge, gazing out at the Kingdom at night.
"I remember the first time I saw it too." She looked over at Simba, who'd come up beside her. Rani eased herself a bit upon seeing him.
"Did you feel overwhelmed, knowing everything and everyone you'd be responsible for?"
Simba took a deep breath.
"I didn't understand what it meant to be a King, I didn't understand it for a long time."
Rani placed her paw on Simba's shoulder.
"Kion told me what happened to your father. I'm so sorry." Simba managed to hold in his emotions and smiled back up at the stars.
"He never truly left. Neither has your father." Rani let otua single tear and nodded.
"I know. Kion made me realize that. He's lucky to have you as a father."
"I've made mistakes, some I've been able to fix, others-" Rani noticed immense pain in Simba's voice, perhaps more pain than when she'd lost her grandmother. The Queen could only wonder what grief could surpass such a loss.
"But Kion is alive, that's what matters." Simba let out tears of relief as he saw his son walk over.
Rani felt her stomach harden again when he came up beside her. Asking him to stay was easier when she'd never met his family, not that she had…
The next morning, Kion and the others showed her around their cave, as well as the numerous paintings.
"And this is when we stopped a massive wildfire, it was intense!" Bunga shouted.
"And scary, I'll bet." Binga muttered.
"Nothing we couldn't handle." Fuli assured her.
"Well, this place is ok, I guess." Rani started.
"But not as good as the Tree of Life." Kion finished, earning a mischievous smirk from the Queen.
"Well, you said it."
"Woah, this wasn't here before." Ono said, emphasizing the newest painting.
Kion and the others looked closer and realized it was the Battle of the Pridelands, as well as the volcanic explosion. However, Rafiki was currently adding to it, emphasizing how the Guard survived.
Yet their joy faded as he painted another Lion fighting Kion, and at that he and Rani stared back at each other.
"You're leaving!?" Simba roared. The Guard and Rani stood before the rest of the Royal Family.
"I'm sorry, dad. But Hasira's still out there, I promised Rani I'd defeat him, and that's not all I promised." He looked back at Rani and nearly brought his family to tears.
"I'm sorry, but I love Kion, I need him at my side, as my mate, and my King." Rani couldn't hold back her own tears of guilt for what she was doing to the Plantagenets. However, after a long silence, Kiara stepped forward, barely keeping herself together.
"Take care of him, you hear me!?"
Rani nodded sincerely, and after another few moments, Simba approached with Nala. They, along with Kiara, nuzzled him.
"So I guess you're all going too." Timon muttered.
"...Yes." Bunga said, following Kion's example and embracing his guardians.
"You'll still come back from time to time!" Nala growled.
"I promise!"
Simba looked down at his son and gave a proud smile.
"You'll make a true King, Kion."
"He's not going anywhere!" Vitani snarled. All eyes turned to the furious lioness in disbelief.
"Vitani, what are you talking about?!" Kovu demanded.
"He's got the Roar! He's the leader of the Lion Guard, his place is here, defending Pride Rock!" She roared, emphasizing the mark on Kion's shoulder.
Kion opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Rani, however, snarled back.
"You don't get to decide that! The Roar was born at the Tree of Life, and as for Kion, he's my King now, if you want to keep him here, it's over your dead body!"
"Ahhh!" Shabaha backed up again as she saw Rani bear her claws and fangs. Vitani, however, remained firm.
"The Lion Guard is supposed to defend Pride Rock! If he's leaving then the Roar stays with me."
"What?" Kion muttered.
"Vitani-" Kiara started.
"Make your choice!"
"You can't-" Rani started, but then Kion silenced everyone as he stepped forward and placed his paw on Vitani's shoulder. There was no hesitation in his expression, but all saw the anguish inside him as the Guard symbol vanished from his shoulder, followed by the others'.
It then reappeared on Vitani as well as her lionesses.
"Kion." Rani muttered.
The Prince almost wobbled, as the presence of the Roar, something that had been part of him for years, now fell silent. However, at that moment, the pain in his scar also lessened.
"It's done, now send us to the Tree of Life!" Kion growled, his Guard forming up beside him with equal resolve.
"Not just him." Simba's growl shook the new Lion Guard as he stood with Kion.
"Me too!" Kiara roared, followed by Nala and Kovu.
Rani's pain vanished and she almost laughed in excitement.
Trembling slightly, Vitani arched her head back and felt the wind picking up around them. Thrusting forward, the lioness roared.