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CheetahpawTheFastest is my co-author I thank her for helping me with this.
Prologue for "A Forced Marriage
War. That was what Kion had known for years.
He and his friends Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, and Ono had grown up in war.
It was Kion's own fault, at least that was what he believed, summoning Scar when he used his special power the Roar of the Elders in anger.
But now he was determined to set things right.
It was time for the final attack on the Outlands after many many years of violence, battle, and bloodshed. The previous night, Janja had came to them with valuable information, the way how to defeat Scar. Kion at first doubted Janja truly switched sides, and she still doubted it now, but, as Makuu had made a good point then, that 'if Janja's information is useful, we should use it to beat Scar.' Now, he, and the rest of the Pride Landers were going to attack the Outlands. Pride Landers battle cry rang through everyone's ears as they prepared to charge the attack.
"We'll fight for what's right," Kion began.
"Pride Landers Unite!" The Pride Landers finished.
They then charged in, blood was everywhere. Claws were unsheathed and ripping out fur. Kion tried not to look. He and the Lion Guard needed to get to the top of the volcano to defeat Scar, as Janja had said before, 'Only Kion can defeat him, by using the Roar. But it's gotta be the most powerful Roar you've got. And you've got to Roar inside the top of the volcano so the flames of the volcano overwhelm Scar.'
Luckily, the Pride Landers, Jasiri and her clan, and Janja and his clan held off the enemies while the Lion Guard made their way to the top of the volcano.
When they got there, Scar, as expected, was waiting for them.
"Kion, Lion Guard. Welcome," Scar said menacingly, an evil smile on his face.
"He does know why we're here doesn't he?" Bunga whispered to Kion, but he ignored him.
"I know why you think you're here." Scar said slyly, his menacing smile seeming to cut through each of the Lion Guard's souls themselves. "But destiny can be full of surprises..."
"Ushari, now!"
Then, faster than Kion could blink or look down, a red snake jumped up and bit him in the eye. He fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain as Ushari dug his fangs into Kion's flesh, making it bleed.
"Ushari!" Bunga exclaimed angrily, then tackled the snake off of Kion. Kion rolled back over, his head still spinning and hammering from the bite.
Scar laughed maniacally which made Kion's head pound even more. He started to taunt Kion. "Sisi ni sawa Kion. Now you'll have a scar, just like me. Sisi ni sawa means we're the same," Scar mocked. "Though you're made of flesh, and I'm made of flame."
A low growl escaped the Guard, barely audible to those around them.
"We're not the same!" Kion yelled, furious and enraged, "I'll never be like you Scar!"
"Ooh! Ooh! Use the Roar, Kion. Blast that guy back to where he came from!" Bunga shouted eagerly.
Scar's firefly spirit leaned closer in a creepy way, the light from his fire ilumminating the area. "You don't have the power to destroy me, Kion."
Fuli growled. "Don't listen to him!"
"We believe in you," Beshte added.
Kion took a step forward, but dizziness spun through him again. He lifted a paw to his face to somehow ease the pain, but to little avail.
"Finding it difficult to think?" Ushari smirked while being held down by Bunga. "My venom has a tendency to do that." Bunga furiously pushed down harder on the cobra and he grunted.
"Use the Roar, Kion. He's asking for it," Bunga told the lion.
"You have the mark of evil. Just like me, Kion. Accept your destiny. There is no other choice! At the end of the day we are fire and flame... sisi ni saw a, we are the same..." He laughed crazily and maniacally.
"Fire and flame?" Kion muttered, then Mufasa's words to him earlier rang through his mind
Stay true to who you are. Don't fight fire with fire...
"Of course! I do have another choice, Scar." He stepped closer to he was face to face with the spirit made of Fire. "Something only one Lion Guard leader can do to another."
Scar laughed. "And? What's that?"
"I forgive you."
Scar gasped in horror, shock, confusion, and surprise. "You... You WHAT!?"
"I can't judge you for everything you've done. The Lions of the Past need to do that." He blew into the air. Suddenly, the dark clouds above them formed into lion faces.
Scar gasped in horror, recognizing the faces. "Father... Mother... Mufasa... my old Lion Guard...?"
"Scar," Ahadi growled, pure hatred in his voice.
"My Taka... I can't believe this happened..." Uru bowed her head in sadness and grief.
"I'm sorry." Mufasa's voice wasn't pure hatred, but it wasn't love and longing either. "But you have come to the point where we do not have any other solution."
They all growled and rain began to pour down. Thunder boomed in the stormy sky, as the angry expressions of the lions' faces began to fade, although the rain stayed.
"NOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOO!" Scar screamed in horror as he began to fade away.
"What? Scar's plan failed?" Ushari said, still being held down by Bunga.
"The Roar is a curse, Kion. You'll see! Sisi ni sawa!" Scar screamed.
"Stop! You can't destroy him!" Ushari yelled before shoving Bunga off him and lunging towards Kion.
He sunk his fangs deeper into Kion's flesh and he screamed before Bunga tackled Ushari off, into the larval "Oh no you don't!" They screamed as they fell in.
"I've got you, Bunga!" Ono cried out and dove after him.
Splashing was heard, along with Ono's straining.
"You can do it, Ono!"
"Almost there. There!" Ono set Bunga down on the ground before wearily flapping over to Beshte, laying down.
Beshte gasped in amazement. "Way to go, Ono."
"Way to go, Kion," Fuli breathed in a proud voice.
"Scar is finally gone," Kion announced, a smile on his face. "We've won."
XXXX
'I'll never be like you Scar!' Kion replayed that sentence over and over again in his head, just a few minutes ago he had Roared at Bunga, his best friend. I could have killed him. The horrific thought lingered in his mind. At least we defeated Scar, he tried to comfort himself. And the Outlands are under good leadership - Jasiri the good hyena is in charge. But then, the pain of his newly acquired scar came back. He grunted in pain and started pawing at his scar. The rest of the Guard didn't seem to notice he had fallen behind as they all headed to Rafiki, hoping that he could help Ono, as Ono's sight got impaired as he flew through the smoke and ash of the volcano to save Bunga.
Kion winced in pain again.
"You know, pawing at it won't help it, it'll just make it worse." Kion heard a voice say.
He looked up. The voice turned out to be Fuli. "Fuli? When did you get here?"
"You're lagging behind," Fuli replied, looking at him as he pawed at his scar. "You okay there?"
Kion wasn't necessarily one to show weakness, so he reassured her; "Uh yeah, I'm totally fine! Heh, couldn't be better!"
Pain, please go away, he pleaded silently and desperately while aggressively rubbing his paw at his scar. Fuli must have noticed he was in pain, because he saw her face turn to concern.
"Kion," she said, her voice soft and comforting. "I see your cut's hurting a lot. Let's take you to Rafiki, he'll know how to help."
Kion wasn't normally one to show weakness, but right now, he would do anything to make this unbearable, torturous pain go away. He nodded, eager to be rid of this horrible pain that seemed to burn a hole into his eye. "Thanks sis."
"Of course bro." The reason they called each other this was because they loved each other like siblings and because when Fuli was young, she was abandoned by her parents. Nala found her alone and convinced Simba to let her take care of the young cheetah. Simba reluctantly agreed. Although Fuli lived alone now, she never forgot the family bond she had with the royal family. "Now let's go," Then they started following the rest of their friends to the Lion Guard Lair where they knew Rafiki would be awaiting.
They arrived at the Lion Guard Lair soon. Kion was especially grateful for this. They all walked in and saw Rafiki painting more of the Pride Lands history on the walls of the Lair. He turned out to be painting the fire at Pride Rock that had happened the night before, murmuring things. "Asante sana... squash banana..."
Then, apparently Rafiki finally noticed them. "Ah hello Kion, Lion Guard, hehe!" The mandrill shouted in a crazy tone. "What brings you here to ol Rafiki?" He asked inquisitively.
Kion opened his mouth to reply, but then he got hit by another pain in his scar. He tried his best to hide it though as he pulled a paw to his face. He felt Fuli's paw rest on his shoulder in a reassuring manner. He looked back at Rafiki.
Rafiki's gaze wandered to Kion and Ono, noticing their wounds. "Oh, oh, Kion, Ono, I see you are hurt?"
"Kion, Lion Guard." They suddenly heard Simba's loud, booming voice as he, Nala, and Kiara walked into the Lair. "I have something I need to talk about with Kion. Come, son."
"I'm afraid no can do." Rafiki quickly swung in front of Simba's face and lightly blinked him on the head with his bakora staff. "Kion and Ono are injured - they must see me for treatment first!"
"They're injured?" Nala asked worriedly. "What happened?"
"Will they be okay?" Kiara asked.
"I have to check on them to see that first," Rafiki told them calmly.
"But this is-" Simba began.
"You'll have to wait," Rafiki told the King sternly and bonked him on the head with his stick. He hobbled back over to Ono and started examining his eyes. "Now tell me, I know your eyes look so off, but what happened out there in battle?"
"The vog from the volcano," Ono explained, a sad tone in his voice. "Bunga fell in the volcano saving Kion... I had to help him so... I know you'll think this is foolish of me but... I flew through the vog to pull him out." Ono dipped his head in sadness.
"Foolish?" Rafiki echoed in disbelief. "That is not foolish, my friend! That is one of the bravest things one could do for their friend!"
"Really?" Ono asked, looking back up at Rafiki.
"Yes," Rafiki replied, a smile on his face. It then faded and he placed a hand on the egret's shoulder. "Though sadly I cannot fix your eyesight. I am sorry, young Ono."
"What... but... I have to be the Keenest of Sight! I just have to!"
"I'm sorry..."
"No..." Kion's ears dropped with sadness and shame. This is my fault. Mine. My fault entirely. It all traces back to me. I summoned Scar with my Roar. If I didn't... this war wouldn't have even started... I'm so sorry, Ono. I'm so sorry... And if Bunga hadn't saved me, you wouldnt've had to save him.
Ono sighed and tucked his head into his wing.
"Ono?" Makini said worriedly.
"Shwari, Makini. Ono needs rest. Now Kion, about your eye..." Rafiki walked closer to Kion, lifting his face and brushing his fingers across the lion's newly acquired scar, making him flinch back a little. He gripped his face a little stronger and tried to examine to scar, only making Kion sharply wince and whimper in pain whenever he touched it.
Rafiki then gasped. "No... no... this cannot be," he muttered, shaking his head. "Now Kion, tell me where you got this bite," Rafiki told the lion.
"Ushari," Kion replied nervously. "Ushari bit me."
"Oh no... no... no..." Rafiki shook his head. "I have seen this injury before," the old mandrill said solemnly. "I'm afraid you will not recover."
"Recover from...what?" Kion asked, ears flattened.
"Yeah, what?" Fuli asked worriedly, meanwhile Bunga held Fuli's shoulder worriedly, which for once the cheetah didn't mind.
"You see Kion, the venom from Ushari's bite is still inside you. If it stays inside you too long..." The old mandrill shook his head, sighing. "How to say this?... I'm afraid you will not know the difference between right and wrong."
"You mean just like Scar?" Simba asked, an underlying tone of anxiousness in his voice.
"Yes, just like Scar," Rafiki sighed solemnly.
"But you can help him get better, right?" Nala finally asked, ears flattened in fear.
"I'm afraid there is no cure for Kion here in the Pride Lands," Rafiki told them.
"No!" Nala shouted in horror and rushed over to embrace her son. Kiara soon followed. "No.. no... this can't be... I can't lose my son..." Nala repeatedly licked him and he flinched back once she accidentally licked his scar.
"However, there is still hope," Rafiki finished, making everyone look up immediantly. "If Kion is to get better, he must seek out the Tree of Life."
"The Tree of Life?" Kion asked, confused. "What's that?"
"The Tree of Life is very far away and not easy to find," Rafiki continued. "The Tree
"That's where animals with nowhere else to go go to seek help," Makini explained
"Wait. You've been there?" Bunga asked.
"Yeah!" Makini looked slightly nervous and awkward when she added; "But it's been a while."
"Yes! The Tree of Life is where I first met Makini. And the Lions of the Past told me she would be the next Royal Mjuzi."
"The Tree of Life is a safe place for animals who are hurt or sick," Makini explained once more, knowing Rafiki never explained anything.
"The Tree of Life is very far away. And not easy to find. But there landmarks to help guide your way." Rafiki pointed his bakora staff to the moja kwa moja stones
Ono finally got up from his place on the rock and hopped closer to the paintings, squinting so he could get a clearer image. "Hmm, yes. I see."
"Yes, yes. Just follow the paintings on the Moja Kwa Moja Stones. It is only at the Tree of Life that Kion may find the cure he needs."
"That's perfect!" Boomed Simba's voice.
"What?" Kion asked, confused. "How is that 'perfect'?"
"You see son, I've betrothed you to the Tree of Life's princess, Rani. It's a deal that me and your mother made with the Tree of Life's rulers, in exchange for allies," Simba told his son formally.
Silence fell upon the room. Everyone except for Simba, Nala, and Rafiki were in shock.
"You WHAT?!" Kion echoed in disbelief.
"What in the Pride Lands?!" Bunga shouted.
"Wait what?! You're serious?!" Fuli shouted in disbelief.
"Wait, what?" Beshte asked, bewilderment and confusion in his voice.
"You can't be serious!" Ono yelled.
"The heck?!" Anga asked, both furious and confused as to why the King would do this.
"What?!" Makini shrieked in surprise.
"Why did you do this?!" Kion shouted angrily, his neck fur bristling.
"We needed allies for the war with Scar," Simba explained calmly. "The Tree of Life's pride, the Night Pride, promised that they'd send allies soon if I agree to betroth my son with their daughter, to prove that I will not attack them and so their daughter will have a strong mate by her side. So you see, this is perfect!"
"Wh-what..?" Kion asked, backing away.
"I tried to convince him to not do it, Kion. I'm so sorry but he wouldn't listen..." Nala shook her head and tried to embrace her son once more, but he quickly backed away.
"LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU ALL THINK I'M NOTHING BUT SOME TOY TO PLAY WITH! YOU'RE FORCING ME TO MARRY SOME STRANGER AND MOVE FARAWAY WITHOUT ME KNOWING!" Kion screamed.
"Kion, it's for the interest of the Pride Lands."
"Interest of the Pride Lands or YOU?!" Kion yelled back.
"Kion, calm down. It's what had to be done. Now do what you're told in the favor of our lands."
"NEVER!" Kion yelled, getting into a fighting stance.
"KION!" Simba growled, his neck fur bristling. "GET IN CONTROL!"
"NO!" Kion unsheathed his claws in fury, digging them angrily and furiously into the ground.
Simba saw this and his eyes widened, making an incorrect assumption of what Kion was about to do. "Don't you DARE HIT YOUR FATHER!" Simba hit Kion with unsheathed claws, sending him sprawling on the ground.
"KION!" Fuli shouted and rushed between him and Simba. She looked at Kion, lifting up his face with her paw. The bleeding claw marks were visible to her and she gasped.
She turned to Simba, standing over Kion protectively. "How could you do this to your son?" She growled. "It's like you WANT him to leave."
"I never said that," Simba defended. "I said that it's perfect for the situation we're in."
"HOW COULD YOU!" Kion was about to attack Simba but Fuli stopped him. Tears were now streaming down the young lion's cheeks. "How could you... I thought you loved me..."
"Kion..." Fuli consoled, but for once she was lost for words.
He buried his head into her fur. The rest of his friends -including Makini and Anga- ran to embrace him, murmuring words of comfort. He sobbed into their embrace. "I thought he loved me..."
XXXX
"I send well wishes to my son and his Lion Guard as they travel to a new kingdom to seek out the healing he desires," Simba announced formally, standing on top of Pride Rock. Nala and Kiara were standing there too with a solemn look on their faces.
'Desires'? More like needs so the venom doesn't hurt me more. He's making me sound selfish like that, Kion thought, disgusted. He also noticed that he left out the cruel betrothal. Probably not to ruin his reputation, he thought bitterly.
He walked through the crowd of animals with his friends who had agreed to go with him - all of his Lion Guard plus Makini. Anga came along too - Kion had given her the position of Keenest of Sight due to Ono's injury, and had given Ono the new position of Smartest. They wanted to join him, actually. His father did too, probably just to make sure they wouldn't have a chance to tell the other animals of the Pride Lands of the cruel betrothal subjected upon Kion. Simba had said that his friends 'should help keep him in control.' Kion was offended at the thought. He could perfectly control himself! How would anyone react when they just found out that they were forced to marry someone they've never met AND permanently leave the home they've known for life to a strange place they've never been?
"It's gonna be okay Kion," Bunga said softly, snapping Kion out of his thoughts. They had passed the crowd of animals and were on their way to the Back Lands. Bunga patted his shoulder as they walked.
"Yeah. We'll help you adjust, don't worry," Ono tried to reassure him from his place on Beshte's back.
"What's the point? Not like anything'll get any better," Kion growled lowly. His voice softened with concern as he added; "You don't have to do this, you know. We're leaving everything we've known behind. Are you absolutely sure you all want to do this?"
"You kidding?" Bunga asked. "Where you go, we go. We're your friends till the end. That'll never change."
"Bunga's right," Fuli told the lion. "And friends stick together till the end. Now and forever."
"Yeah. But you're not just our friend. You're family," Beshte added. "You're a brother to us and we'd do anything for you."
"Yep," Anga agreed as she flew alongside them.
"And if you ever need to get something off your chest, you can talk to us," Makini told him. "Like you might now," she implied, noticing Kion's head drooped and his tail dragged.
Kion looked up at her. "It's just... I'm worried. I'm not ready to get married. I'm still so young... I don't WANT to get married yet. And what if Princess Rani turns out to be.. horrible towards me? I mean, what if she turns out to be, you know..."
They all knew what he was going to say. Abusive. An abusive mate.
"That won't happen," Fuli softly reassured him.
"But what if it does?"
"It won't. I promise you."
"Yeah," Bunga added. "Besides, even if something bad did happen, we're here to protect ya."
"That's right. We won't let anything happen to you," Makini promised. "We promise."
"Yep," Anga agreed once more.
Kion managed a smile. "Thanks guys." They soon neared the border to the Back Lands and got ready to take the first step across it.
"You guys ready?" Kion asked
"Ready as we'll ever be," they all replied.
"Okay then. Here we go..." And they walked across the border, prepared for whatever might await them on their journey and in the Tree of Life...