Kion sneers. "Why are you doing this?"
He have been grouchy since this little adventure. He wants nothing more but to turn and run back home. For a moment, he have that idea... perhaps he can do it.
The lioness just smile, while they were a bit out they weren't far. And none of the group tried to stop him this time. Instead, they talked amongst themselves.
Kion didn't get far when he ran into something, or rather through someone which caused him a pause. The ghostly glow oddly familiar to him. At least from all the stories he'd heard, regarding his own grandfather.
"Who are you?"
The form was quiet, a sadness lingering as they turned to look at the young lion. "You're grandfather. And I'm sorry for what you and your family have gone through."
"I can't stop myself. I'm too much of a predator."
"Perhaps it is time, you start your Pride. And can still be close to family and friends,... These lands need a middle grounds of sorts, a neutral kingdom if you will."
"No. I'm not no leader, just-just a hunter."
The lion form laughs, but one of kindness and gentleness despite his strong voice yet even his smile faded as a more serious tone took on.
"Kion. I never was a leader at first, but a hunter. However, I admittedly pushed my little brother too far... and we all know what came after. This is my judgement, punishment to walk these lands as a ghost. For there's little I can interact with, but those that can hear me, I can try to give advice or just help with a talk."
"I'm a murderer. I killed many..."
"Not your fault, as it's not Scar's fault for the way he is." There was a silence between them of understanding, "Like me, you can restart the Pride generations. You have everything you need, and more. And once more, your pride your rules. If you wish to have two queens in place of the traditional one of our family, go for it. No matter what you choose to do, know that your family will support you in the end."
Giving that time to soak in, he continued "Plus, by being the middle grounds you essentially block the dark pride from directly attacking your former home, and can warn them faster. And secondly, you could play double agent safely between the two Prides. What I failed to do." The last bit was said by the form's more mischievous side, showing his grandson that even he had the same mischief as others in the family lineage.
"I'm not a good lion. I have forgotten my family for a long time until I seen them again."
"Neither was I, what you call a good lion."
"You are better than I. You only made a few mistakes. I would have probably killed my family should I not have escaped."
Mufasa's spirit shakes his head, "I'm no better than you are now. You see, when we were cubs our father wasn't the best. And one day, during our parents scrap my baby brother got caught up in the middle and as a result fell of Pride Rock. Thankfully not the peak, but the damage was done. Little Askari had landed wrong but survived. I checked on him as often as I could, even leaving lessons prematurely. One day, father disappeared. And soon after mother decided that her youngest was pretending, or faking his pain he felt which only fueled his frustration. The pain he felt affect him greatly, his walking around was slow and unsteady. I couldn't believe it on how mother was treating him, did she not know healing doesn't happen that instantly? And her treatment of him just damaged his innocence further, until one day he just broke."
Mufasa's form lowers his gaxe downcast, "He let all the pain out and told me everything, while sobbing into my mane. We grew, somehow managing. Then one day mother tried to hit him, over an argument regarding his not walking correctly and I found myself fighting my own mother, and the whole pride. But they wouldn't let up, claws and paws flying. Many were innocent lions, lionesses also, who ultimately paid the price. In the end aftermath, it was just myself and my brother. How would we survive, alone and without a Pride? The first few days were difficult, and hunting for prey was even harder. Often coming home empty pawed, we had little choice if we were going to survive and... admittedly ate the bodies of our once pride. Father returned eventually, but it was too late for apologies and we killed him. Askari was walking better the following days, but would always have back trouble. And finally, after taking many innocents just to get a scrap of meat, with Askari now by my side we found those willing to help us hunt until we were old enough to fend for ourselves, and eventually we found other lions about our age. But rather than fight, Askari managed to convince them to join us. That was about when he became Guard leader." The ghostly form lowered his head further, ears flattening, "But like the tales told of power getting to his head, the same happened with myself and the rank of being King. And at some point there I pushed him too far, that his guard and later myself payed the ultimate price, with Scar killing us."
Lifting his head to look at his grandson now, "You see Kion, I killed many as well. Many innocent. Many lives lost. An untold piece of our story is an uncle we didn't know about cubnapped us, and forced both of us alone in what he called training. Though we were able to talk to each other once back in our cells. We eventually escaped, and Askari destroyed him and his pets though not without one getting it's mark on him. And from there we all know what happens next."
Rumors has it you fought each other and you heavily wounded him."
"Uncle forced us to fight each other. At first he let me let Askari win those fights, but eventually... I had to actually fight."
"And you won..."
"No, uncle won. Forced to fight him after fighting anything he had us fight first than each other and once we were weakened and tired, had to fight him. Unfortunately he also..
Experimented on us with variety of toxins. I got to see the unfortunate effects it had on Askari. His reactions to it was a lot worse than mine ever were. Not that I never had any bad ones myself."
A sigh follows, "Kion. Scar may return, undoubtedly at some point. And in short this is why a go between middle grounds Kingdom is needed. Of all the living lions, you are best given your experience to lead them. And you have a pride already with your friends, and Kiara's tqo girl friends. Kiara's destiny still lies with leading the Pride Lands as queen in time." A look at his grandson, "While Mheetu may have 'lost' you, no doubt that he's under Scar gathering an army. And... there is a chance still that, somehow, our old uncle still lives..."
"I would never fight Kiara." Kion knows he would win.
"They wouldn't give you a choice there. Anyways, there is no Tree of Life anymore. The Kingdom is gone. Talk to the lioness that tries to help you to know what happened there. A lost kingdom's queen..."
"What happened to them?"
"That isn't for me to say"
Kion sighs. "You are making my life difficult."
"I have no part in this now."
Kion groans. "Lions..."
"Kids..."
And he disappears for now. Soon Kiara pokes her head out of the bushes. "Whatever you decide we're with you. And... brother? You should talk to Zuri... She's upset and hasn't moved since. Barely even reacting to Tiifu's attempts to comfort her."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do I need to talk to her? We're just friends, and you are basically sisters."
"You're the one that upset her saying that you had no feelings for her." Kiara goes up to Kion to sit beside him, "Kion. She loves you as I do Kovu."
"She shouldn't."
The least he expects is to be tackled by Kiara.
"Kion, you are totally being a idiot. She can't control her feelings for you as I can't for Kovu. Father may not approve but it is a natural instinct. C'mon silly head, we know you have some feelings for her in return. Kovu has shown the same to me in his own ways. Plus, we'd love to see our little neices or nephews." A sisterly lick on his cheek instead of the response Kion came to expect from his sister.
"We are hardly cubs!"
"You're always going to be my baby brother to me." A tackle now, but of a playful nature.
"Well many could have a misassumption given who's stronger." A wink.
"Now you, go on and get her..." A lion like purr as she got off. "Perhaps before she does anything we'd all regret..."