"Queen Janna, Grandmother, are you awake?" Rani called as she entered the den with Kopa.
"Yes Rani, I am, good to see you too, Orum," Janna replied once she saw that she had company. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, at least it is now," Orum informed. "We had a little trouble with a rock slide at the entrance along with some invading animals."
"Oh?" Janna asked. "Is that so?"
"Yes, they were led by a lion with a scar across his eye." Rani explained.
"A scar? Hmm..." Janna replied thoughtfully.
"But we fought them off and we told them to leave and never return," Orum then added. "I promise, Queen Janna, they'll never make it to the Tree of Life."
"I believe you. Well done, Orum and Rani." Janna said.
"The lion actually had a roar powerful enough to send Orum and Baliyo flying." Rani said with a wry laugh.
"Yeah, it almost reminded of my life back in The Pridelands when I accidentally stumbled upon the Lion Guard lair." Orum said.
"Lion Guard lair?" Janna asked. "So you know of that from back home?"
"Yes, ma'am," Orum nodded. "I was told a bit about it before I ended up here."
"So you know that the Roar has returned." Janna then said with a small, knowledgeable smile.
"Yes. The Roar of the Elders and that means the lion that used it was my little brother Kion. Who doesn't even know that I'm alive or that I'm his brother." Orum said.
"You mean you know that lion?" Rani asked Kopa.
"He was very young when I left the Pridelands, but it has to be him." Orum nodded.
"So this roar is a good thing?" Rani asked out of concern.
"Yes. And it can be a great thing." Janna smiled.
"What about the scar in his eye? Didn't you say-" Rani started to ask her grandmother.
"We all have our scars, Rani." Janna said.
"Sisi ni Sawa." Orum said wisely.
"Very true." Janna nodded as that was an important saying.
"We're the same?" Rani replied from the saying. "Yeah, but I'm still not sure I totally understand why you think.
"All will be clear soon enough, but right now I need you to go welcome this lion and his friends to the Tree of Life," Janna told her granddaughter. "Especially with the importance that Orum has taught you."
"Okay." Rani said.
"And hurry before they do actually leave for good." Janna smiled.
"Yes. Of course, Grandmother." Rani said.
"Thank you." Orum added before leaving with Rani.
"No, thank you, cubs." Janna smiled.
Orum soon walked out with Rani before they were met with Baliyo.
"Come on, guys!" Baliyo beamed as he stood with Nirmala and Surak. "Let's go!"
"Go? Go where?" Rani asked as she and Orum walked over to Baliyo, Nimala, and Surak.
"Back to the pass. We can't just tell those stranger to go away. We gotta make them." Baliyo said.
"Glad you're feeling better, Baliyo," Rani smiled at her younger brother before getting serious. "But the queen was actually excited about the strange lion's Roar and where he's Orum's little brother when he was named Kopa back where he lived before coming here."
"Huh?" Baliyo asked in surprise. "Really?"
"Really." Orum nodded.
"So it was the Roar of the Elders!" Surak smirked.
Rani glanced at the golden lion in their pride who nodded since that was true. "Which means we must welcome Orum's brother and his friends to the Tree of Life." she then said to the others.
"But we don't tell them my real name," Orum warned them. "Only tell them that my name is Orum, nothing else."
"Welcome them?" Baliyo asked. "Did you see that Roar? 'Cuz I felt it and-"
"Yes, Baliyo, I was there too." Orum reminded.
"It is the power of legends." Surak smiled knowingly.
"We'll need to treat him with care." Nirmala added wisely.
"Treat him with care? That Roar thing sent me and Kopa flying all the way through the pass," Baliyo said. "We gotta go do something."
"Baliyo? Let's think before we react." Orum told the younger lion.
"As usual, he makes a good point." Surak agreed with Orum.
"Arama Karo." Nirmala advised.
"Relax. Right," Baliyo nodded before sighing sharply. "Sorry."
"Give me a moment, too?" Rani asked before walking off on her own.
"Of course." Surak smiled in understanding.
'I already know who she's going to talk to they'll give her some advice.' Orum thought to himself.
"Do you need some space too, Orum?" Baliyo asked Kopa.
"Maybe just for a little bit," Orum replied. "Today was a pretty big day for all of us."
The young golden lion soon took a walk to clear his mind, but also to talk to someone he hadn't talked to before. Once he was alone, he took a deep breath and spoke one name: "Grandfather Mufasa?" he soon spoke up.
The clouds shaped and formed in the night sky before the clouds showed a crimson-maned adult lion with golden fur like Kion and Simba before he was soon shown with a small smile.
"Hello." Kopa greeted politely, deciding to go by his old Prideland name for the sake of the visit.
"Kopa..." Mufasa greeted back. "It's so good to see you. Is something troubling you though?" he then asked.
"Yeah." Kopa nodded.
"Care to tell me?" Mufasa asked.
"Well, it's a lot of things... Especially with Kion and his friends..." Kopa began.
"They are here because Kion and his egret friend Ono need help." Mufasa said.
"What happened to them?" Kopa asked.
"They need to pass through for their special journey as The Lion Guard." Mufasa replied.
"The Lion Guard? But Kion was the only lion I saw in the group," Kopa said. "And why do they need to pass? Does it have something to do with Kion's scar?"
"Kion wanted his best friends to be with him, even they are not fellow lions," Mufasa replied. "Also Kion's scar is from the one called Ushari."
"Who is that?" Kopa asked. "That name sounds familiar, but I'm not sure."
"A very menacing cobra," Mufasa informed. "He bit Kion and gave him that scar on his face."
"Whoa." Kopa said.
"Yes, but Ushari is dead now," Mufasa replied. "He fell into a pit of lava."
"A fitting end for an evil snake." Kopa said.
"You're telling me," Mufasa replied. "Especially with how much of a threat and danger he was to not just your brother, but anyone else around him."
"Well, I better go back to the Night Pride to welcome Kion and his friends to the Tree of Life." Kopa said.
"Just know that your brother is not an invader." Mufasa advised.
"Oh, I know for a fact he's not," Kopa nodded as he went to go off. "Thanks again, Grandfather Mufasa."
Mufasa smiled as he went back to the great kings of the past. Kopa soon went back to Surak, Nirmala, and Baliyo as Rani came running over.
"Orum?" Rani called.
"I needed some advice." Orum said.
"Guess we both got some advice then." Rani smiled.
"Yep." Orum nodded.
The five of them soon took off running to the pass.
"Keep up," Rani told her family as they ran off together to meet The Lion Guard. "We need to find them before they've gone too far."
"I still don't get why we're-" Baliyo spoke up before they all suddenly came to a stop in front of where the rock slide used to be.
"They cleared the pass." Nirmala smiled in relief.
"And yet, they didn't continue any closer to the Tree of Life." Surak smirked a bit.
"You're still here." Orum said to Kion and his friends.
"Yes. And I need to apologize," Kion replied as he came toward the two lions. "I'm sorry for using my Roar. And I understand if you won't allow me to enter, but could you let my friend Ono complete the journey to the Tree of Life?" he then asked.
The egret soon flew over and landed in front of Orum and Rani.
"He wasn't part of the earlier fight," Kion continued. "And his eyes need healing. Please?"
"Of course you are welcome, Uno." Orum smiled.
"Thank you," Ono smiled back. "But it's Ono." he then corrected.
"Oh, right, Ono." Orum then nodded.
"But anyone who is willing to put his friend's well-being is worthy as well." Rani smiled.
"You and your friends are all welcome at the Tree of Life." Orum added to Kion.
"Oh, thank you." Kion smiled back at them.
"By the way?" The honey badger known as Bunga smirked as he slid over. "We're called The Lion Guard."
"The Lion Guard? But you only got one lion." Baliyo said.
"You get used to it." Bunga said.
"Very well. Kion? Lion Guard? Follow me." Rani then said as she began to lead the way.
Kion and his friends soon followed Rani and the Night Pride.
"Hey, Kion? Just don't use that Roar thing at me again. Ever." Baliyo told the leader of The Lion Guard.
Kopa rolled his eyes slightly as did Rani.
"I won't," Kion told Baliyo. "I promise."
"Lion Guard? We're here." Rani soon said once they came to the end where bright skies were shown.
Kion and his friends were surprised by what they and where it was a good surprise as it looked peaceful.
"Welcome to the Tree of Life." Orum told Kion and his friends with a smile.
Kion looked amazed as he and the others soon approached the tree up close.
"Poa! The Tree of Life is huge." Behste gasped.
"Yes, it is," Rani nodded as she and Kion led the way. "Now follow us."
And when they entered inside, Kion looked amazed by how big it was inside. "Heyvi Kabisa." The Lion Guard leader said out of amazement.
Janna appeared to be asleep until she sensed that she had some company which made her wake up.
"Grandmother, as requested, I've brought Kion and the Lion Guard," Rani greeted once she stepped inside to see her grandmother. "Lion Guard, this is Queen Janna, Guardian of the Tree of Life."
"Be welcome here." Janna smiled warmly at the company.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Kion smiled as he and his friends bowed to Janna. "My friend Ono and I have come to be healed."
"Step closer, Kion and Ono." Janna smiled back.
The two soon did just that in front of the elderly lioness.
"You have the Mark of the Guard," Janna realized. "You are from the Pridelands then?"
"Uh, yeah." Kion nodded.
"Indeed." Ono added.
"And so, the Roar has returned." Janna then smiled.
"You know about The Roar?" Kion asked her.
"Of course, Kion. I take it that Rafiki sent you here?" Janna smiled.
"Yes. Ono's eyes are hurt," Kion nodded. "And my scar... I can't control the Roar."
"So. I have heard," Janna replied before calling to the younger lioness. "Nirmala?"
Nirmala soon stepped out once her name was called.
"Nirmala is a fierce warrior," Janna then told Kion and his friends. "But she is also a gentle healer."
Nirmala took a look at Kion before looking at Ono and then going over to Janna as she whispered something to her.
"Ono, healing your sight will be simple," Janna smiled at the egret. "But the remedy will take a few days to prepare."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ono smiled with a bow.
"Kion? Your ailments are more complicated. It is more than just a scar," Janna told him. "Your healing will take time. And patience."
"Then I'd like to start right away." Kion said.
Orum knew Kion was in good paws as Nirmala was great at healing before he saw Janna having a certain look in her, telling him that he would be involved with the ailments.
"I hope it works out then." Kion said to Orum.
"I'll help out in my own way." Orum replied.
"Good, because you'll be helping Kion in his healing," Janna told Orum before facing Kion. "Kion, this is Orum. He has been with us since he was brought here as a lion cub."
"Oh... Is that right?" Kion asked.
"Yes, it's very complicated, but I was given a home here because I needed to get away from my old home," Orum nodded as that was true. "The Night Pride is a very wonderful family and I wouldn't let them down."
"Nirmala?" Janna spoke up to the younger lioness next to her.
"We can begin today." Nirmala smiled.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Kion approved.
"This way, Kion." Nirmala said as she and Orum led Kion away.
"Rani? Please show our other guests around." Janna then told her granddaughter.
"Show them around? But I-" Rani started.
"Baliyo and Surak can handle the Night Pride duties for now," Janna interrupted as this was very important. "You must continue to take on the duties that I cannot perform."
"Yes. Of course," Rani sighed before walking over to Fuli, Beshte, Anga, and Makini. "Follow me."
"Little Makini. Please stay." Janna called out to the young baboon.
"You remember me?" Makini smiled once she was called on.
"Of course," Janna smiled back. "Though you were much smaller when you and your parents came here to meet Rafiki."
"Yes! This is where Rafiki said I'd be a Royal Mjuzi someday!" Makini beamed with excitement. "He started my training!
"And we will continue your training here, if you'd like." Janna offered.
Makini gasped in amazement. "I'd be honored!"