"What?!" Fuli, Anga, and Beshte asked out of shock.
"But how is that possible? I don't ever remember King Simba or Queen Nala telling us about having a first born son." Fuli said.
"It's a very long story," Orum replied. "I'll tell you only if you promise not to tell Kion right away."
"I guess we could try," Fuli said. "What happened?"
"A long time ago when I was a young cub, I went to go play with my best friend," Orum explained. "Her name was Vitani. She wasn't awake, so I was brought to a gorge, but I didn't realize it at the time, but I was brought there to be killed after I was told lies about how my father did horrible things before I was born."
"Let me guess; the one who tried to kill you was Zira, right?" Fuli asked.
"Well, more like thought she had killed me. My scars can tell you that for sure," Orum said. "But how do you know about Zira?"
"We fought her and her pride of Outsiders including Vitani." Fuli told him.
"You fought... Vitani...?" Orum asked uneasily.
"She had it coming." Fuli replied.
"N-No... I may not have seen her in a long time, but Vitani and I are best friends..." Orum shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that."
"She didn't exactly show us any kindness," Fuli told him. "Anyway, Kion then used The Roar and sent them all flying further in The Outlands."
Orum walked off a bit as he looked like he was going to be sick.
"...Orum, are you okay?" Fuli asked softly.
"I've just been away for so long, I guess I didn't think it'd be this overwhelming to hold in this secret for my own protection ever since the Night Pride took me in when Rani and Baliyo were still young." Orum said, a bit wearily.
"So is your name actually Orum?" Anga asked.
"My old name from The Pridelands was Kopa." The golden-furred lion soon revealed.
"How'd you get called Orum?" Behste asked.
"Nirmala thought I could use a new name to blend in, so they named me Orum since my fur matches the sun." Orum explained.
"Awesome." Fuli smiled.
"Look, we can tell Bunga and Ono and Makini about who I am, but not Kion. At least not yet." Orum told Fuli, Anga, and Beshte.
"Might be hard to keep a secret safe with Bunga and Makini." Fuli remarked to herself.
"Just don't let Kion know," Orum replied. "It's very complicated."
"And with of how Kion or Kiara haven't been told about you from their parents we can already guess of how Kion will react." Anga remarked.
"That was probably for the best, especially with... Zira..." Orum said softly.
"Yeah, if Zira knew you were still alive, she would come here and attack." Anga said.
"Tell me about it," Orum replied. "...You're sure that Vitani would turn her back like that though?"
"We're just telling you what we know," Anga said. "Even if it sounds like your so-called old friend might be a villain."
"...Alright then." Orum sighed as he didn't want to believe that Vitani would ever be evil.
"Kopa, how would you feel if you heard Vitani was killed?" Beshte asked.
"...What?" Orum replied. "That can't be!" he then said. "She's my best friend! ...What did you do?" he then asked a bit firmly. The golden-furred lion soon saw what the hippo did as he realized how Vitani must have reacted when she heard that he was "killed".
"We didn't do anything," Fuli promised. "But do you see what Behste means?"
"...I suppose that's a good point." Orum realized.
"That must have been how Vitani reacted when she heard you were 'killed'." Anga said with air quotes around "killed".
Orum stared down at the ground.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Fuli said.
"No, no, I probably needed to hear that," Orum shook his head. "It's alright."
They soon heard Ullu hooting as she flew over to Orum.
"Ullu?" Orum asked as he looked up. "What is it?"
"There's an animal who's in trouble with a certain group of predators." Ullu replied.
"Let me guess; it's the same group of predators, right?" Orum asked.
"Yep." Ullu nodded.
"I'll go get the Night Pride and we'll rescue whatever animal they're chasing." Orum said.
"Maybe we could help." Fuli said to Behste.
"We'll see." Orum told her before dashing off to get Rani, Surak, Baliyo, and Nirmala.
Ullu soon followed Orum to lead them over to the predators to show them where they are.
Soon enough, Orum and the Night Pride arrived at where the predators and old animal were.
"Stop right there!" Rani glared as she and the rest of the Night Pride soon appeared. "Leave that animal alone."
"Why should we?" Makucha glared back.
"Becuase I said so." Rani retorted.
"Those sound like fighting words." Makucha glared.
"If that's what you want..." Orum glared back as he jumped down in front of Rani protectively. "With strength and respect..."
"Night Pride protect!" The other lions added before they came to take down the invading predators.
Makucha soon pounced and attacked Orum. Surak, Nirmala, and Baliyo then came down next to take care of Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora.
"You should get out of here, ma'am." Orum suggested to the elderly small animal who was free from the predators.
"Oh, thank you, young lion." The elderly small animal smiled.
"You're welcome... Uh... I'm sorry, ma'am, but what exactly are you?" Orum asked. "I mean... What animal are you?"
"Oh, uh, um, I'm a ginterbong." The animal replied.
"Ginterbong? I've never heard of that animal before." Orum said.
"We're very, very rare," The animal replied. "You may call me Granny Ginterbong."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Granny Gingerbong," Orum gave a small smile before glaring at the predators. "I better get you out of here before you get hurt."
"Oh, yes, please." Granny Ginterbong smiled back.
Orum decided to help Granny Ginterbong away from the scene while the rest of the Night Pride took care of Makucha, Ora, and Chuluun. Chuluun was about to fight back, but Surak's roar seemed to scare her off. Rani tried to swat away Makucha who just laughed until he was suddenly hit and sent flying to the other predators.
"Okay, fine," Makucha smirked. "You win this time, Night Pride."
"And the next time!" Rani replied firmly. "Count on it."
"Come on, guys, let's get out of here." Makucha told Chuluun and Ora before they left.
Rani, Baliyo, Surak, and Nirmala soon went to Orum so they could meet the new animal.
"How do you feel?" Orum asked the new animal. "You gonna be okay?"
"Just my leg is injured," Granny Ginterbong replied. "Thank you so much and send my thanks to your family."
"No problem." Orum beamed as he felt good to have helped out a little.
Rani, Baliyo, Surak, and Nirmala soon came over to see how the new animal was.
"She's alright, just an injured leg," Orum told the other members of the Night Pride. "Still, we should get her to The Tree of Life."
"Yes," Rani nodded in agreement. "Good work though, Orum."
"I have a big heart after all." Orum nodded back.
"Perfect!" Granny Ginterbong smirked to herself before following them.
Orum and The Night Pride led Granny Ginterbong to the Tree of Life and as they made their way to the entrance, inside the den they saw The Lion Guard minus Bunga.
"Hey, Lion Guard." Orum smiled at the Prideland protectors.
"Lion Guard?" Granny Ginterbong asked as she tried to hide behind Orum.
"It's okay," Nirmala reassured the new animal. "They're our friends."
"No Bunga. Phew." Granny Ginterbong whispered to herself in relief.
Orum looked curious as he thought he heard something.
"Rani. You here for Ono's healing, too?" Kion asked the young brown lioness.
"Actually, no. We have a new animal to introduce to Queen Janna," Rani explained. "Come on, everyone."
They all soon went inside the den where Janna and Ono were.
"Welcome, traveler. I am Janna: Queen of the Tree of Life," The elderly lioness greeted. "What brings you here?"
"We'd rescued her from the villains lurking outside the pass." Orum explained.
"Why would they pick on a weak, old lady with a bad leg?" Granny Ginterbong pouted sadly.
"You no longer need to worry about them. You are safe at the Tree of Life," Janna smiled serenely. "We welcome all animals who need healing," she then added as Makini was shown to be helping heal Ono. "Perhaps we can even help your leg."
"I believe you maybe our very first, uh..." Rani said to Granny Ginterbong before trailing off as she looked unsure about the elderly animal's species.
"She told me she's a ginterbong," Kopa said. "Her name's Granny Ginterbong."
"I've never heard of a ginterbong." Ono remarked with his eyes covered.
"We're very, very rare," Granny Ginterbong replied. "You can call me Granny Ginterbong."
"Yes, and the Tree of Life is home to many rare animals. " Janna smiled warmly.
"So I've heard!" Granny Ginterbong beamed. "Queen Janna, perhaps you can take me on a tour of your beautiful land. "
"Unfortunately, I no longer have the strength to leave the Tree, but I'm sure my granddaughter Rani and honorary grandson Orum would be happy to show you around," Janna offered. "Once they and their Pride have rested from their patrol."
"So the Night Pride rests during the day? That makes perfect sense," Granny Ginterbong smirked to herself before facing Rani and Orum. "I won't trouble you for right now, dearies. Just show a tree where I can rest too?"
"Of course." Orum replied with a smile.
"Follow us, Granny Ginterbong." Rani added as she also smiled at the elderly female animal.
"Thank you again, Queen Janna." Granny Ginterbong smiled innocently.
"It is my pleasure." Janna smiled back.
Orum and Rani soon led the new animal outside as she caught a whiff of something.
"Oh? What's that smell?" Granny Ginterbong asked the two.
Orum and Rani gave small sniffs before Rani grimaced.
"Ew. That would be a honey badger." Rani told her.
"Bunga!" Granny Ginterbong growled to herself quietly.
"Must be either Bunga or Binga." Orum said before yawning.
"Now... About your tree?" Rani then asked as she also felt tired.
"Oh, don't you mind me, dears," Granny Ginterbong said to them with an innocent smile. "I see there are lots of trees here. You go rest like your grandmother said."
"Uh, okay," Rani shrugged before she walked off. "Thank you. C'mon, Orum."
"Right behind ya." Orum replied as he followed her.
"Oh. Oh, no. Thank you," Granny Ginterbong smiled innocently before she took a sniff and smirked to herself. "That disgusting smell is going to lead me right to Bunga."
Orum, even though he was very tired, couldn't help but feel something was wrong.
"You gonna rest?" Rani asked.
"Hm... Yeah, I guess..." Orum said sleepily. "I just feel funny about this Granny Ginterbong."
"Why? She seems so friendly." Rani smiled.
"Yeah, but I just can't help this funny feeling about her." Orum yawned.
"Try to get some rest, Orum," Rani told him. "We both had a long day."
"Fair enough..." Orum nodded before he began to lie down as his eyes felt heavy. "Mmph... Sleepy time."
During his sleep, Orum began to dream of how Kion was going to react when he would tell him who he really was.
Kopa came out into the plains and soon came to see his estranged younger brother.
"You wanted to tell me something?" Kion asked.
"Yes, Kion, my name isn't really Orum," Kopa replied. "It's Kopa and I'm your brother."
"No... That's not true..." Kion said, a bit dramatically. "...That's impossible!"
"It's true, I've been here ever since I was brought here as a cub and the reason is that I didn't want Zira to know I was alive." Kopa said.
"So you didn't think of how this would affect me or Kiara or Mom and Dad?!" Kion glared as storm clouds formed.
"I-It isn't like that!" Kopa frowned. "Zira's always been after me since I was born!"
"And I guess you can't help that, so you decided to take the coward's way out and just run away to a new pride without even thinking about us." Kion narrowed his eyes harshly.
"Kion, if I had returned home then Zira would have found out I was still alive and would do everything she could to finish me off for good." Kopa told him.
"You could've stood up to her if you're so brave like you are for the Night Pride." Kion retorted.
"Well, sorry if I wouldn't stand a chance against her and her entire pride," Kopa told him before frowning. "Including my best friend, I could never bring myself to fight her."
"You were friends with a member of her pride?" Kion asked. "So you were going to betray us?"
"What?! No!" Kopa replied. "I'd never betray Mom, Dad, or anyone else in the pride! I swear on Grandfather Mufasa!"
"Why should I believe a coward like you?!" Kion glared as he roared using The Roar of the Elders out of anger.
Kopa cried out as he tried his best to stay strong. "Kion, please, listen! We're brothers!" he then cried out.
"I have no brother if he's gonna be like you!" Kion snarled, sounding very angry and disappointed.
The Roar of the Elders continued to roar as Kopa was seen sent flying as he screamed...
Before he woke up, looking scared to death from that nightmare as he was panting. Rani was shown to still be asleep.
"What a horrible dream..." Orum sighed to himself as he put his paw to his forehead. "...I have to tell Kion the truth... But how would he react? I have to face my fears somehow."
After a little rest, he and Rani were in the den with Nirmala as it was time for Ono's time to heal.
"Now, Ono, it is time," Janna told the young egret before facing the young mandrill. "Makini, bring Ono over here."
Makini soon did what she was asked as she picked up Ono and walked over to the elderly lioness and set him down in front of her.
"Watch, Nirmala," Janna advised to the younger lioness. "Soon this will be your role."
Nirmala nodded in understanding with a small smile.
Janna soon took Ono and a magical aura appeared around them as the healing process began and was over quickly. "Ono, your eyesight will be better now, but it may not be as strong as it once was." she then said to the young egret.
"Uh, okay." Ono said, nervous, but still confident.
"Makini, please remove the leaves from his eyes." Janna soon requested.
Makini then did that next so that Ono could now finally see the world around him.
"Oh, yes. Yes! I can see so much better now!" Ono beamed before facing the others. "Everyone. Everyone! I can see all of you."
Orum smiled, happy that Ono got his eyesight back even though there was no reason to doubt that he wouldn't.
"Thank you so much, Queen Janna." Ono smiled with a bow to the elderly lioness.
"You're welcome, Ono." Janna smiled back.
"Now I-" Ono continued before he soon noticed something unusual. "Wait a tick... I don't see Bunga."
"Bunga's with his new friend," Behste explained. "Wanna go tell him the good news?
"Yes! Now that I can see again, I can find him. Let's go!" Ono beamed as he flew all around happily. "I can see!"
"Kion? Are you ready to continue your healing?" Nirmala asked the young lion.
"Yes," Kion nodded before telling his friends what was going to happen. "Everyone? I gotta go. Ono, I'll see you later."
"And I'll see you, too!" Ono beamed at that.
"I've never seen anyone so happy in all my life." Orum chuckled to himself.
"You coming, Orum?" Nirmala smiled.
"Yeah, I'm coming." Orum smiled back.
While flying upward to look for Bunga, Ono couldn't help but shake the feeling that Kion and Orum almost looked exactly alike. "Okay, now to find Bunga," The young egret said to himself before he found himself unable to see like how he used to. "...That's strange."
"Ono? You okay?" Behste asked in concern.
"Yes, but Queen Janna was right; my eyesight isn't what it used to be," Ono explained. "I swear that even Kion and Orum almost nearly look like they could come from the same pride."
"Uh, there's a reason why they look alike." Anga told Ono.
"I'm listening." Ono said.
"You see..." Fuli said before starting to tell the egret what Orum had told them as they were alone.
After a few moments...
"WHAT?!" Ono yelped.
"Shh!" Fuli shushed before nodding. "But yes... Orum is not who he wants Kion to think he is, the same for us before I found out." she then said to him.
"So we gotta keep this information from Kion until Orum tells him the truth of who he really is." Anga told Ono.
"Alright, I'll be sure to keep this information to myself," Ono said. "By the way, Anga do you think you can find Bunga since my eyesight isn't what it used to be?"
"Yep," Anga nodded before she took a look and saw two certain honey badgers bonding together. "Got him. He's with his new friend." she then told the egret.
The rest of the Lion Guard soon decided to go and get to the two honey badgers, but along with someone else who was planning on being there herself.
"Bunga is around here somewhere. I can smell it," Granny Ginterbong said to herself as she sniffed around before finding the young male honey badger and beamed darkly. "There he is!"
"Hey, there, Granny Ginterbong." Behste suddenly called out as he and the others came and saw her on the spot.
"Oh. Hello there." Granny Ginterbong smiled innocently.
"Hello. I'm Ono. Nice to actually see you," Ono smiled back once he got to take a look at her. "I've never seen a ginterbong before."
"Oh, well, we are very rare. And where is the Lion Guard off to?" Granny Ginterbong informed and then asked them.
"We're just meetin' up with our friend, Bunga," Beshte told her with a smile. "You wanna meet him?"
"Oh, I'd love to yes, but I'm too tired now," Granny Ginterbong said as she started to leave. "I need to rest. Bye-bye now."
"Bye." Fuli, Behste, and Anga said as they went on ahead as she left.
"Nice meeting you," Ono added before he heard rustling and looked over to see the elderly animal appeared to be climbing a tree with no trouble. "Hmm... That's strange. Granny Ginterbong's not limping."
"Hey, guys!" Bunga's voice greeted his other friends. "Where's Ono?"
"Bunga! Great news!" Ono beamed as he flew out to his honey badger friend. "My-"
"Oh, Ono! I wanna introduce you to my new friend, Binga," Bunga beamed as he soon grabbed his bird friend and held him out to the female honey badger. "She's a honey badger. Just like me!"
"Yes. I can see that." Ono replied.
"You can see?" Bunga gasped in amazement. "I must've healed you when I touched your wing! Bet you can't do that, Binga! Oh, yeah!" he then smirked at his new girl friend.
"Bunga, Queen Janna healed me," Ono explained, slightly deadpan in tone. "At the Tree of Life."
"Oh, yeah." Bunga then said, feeling a little dumb now.
"So, Bunga..." Binga drawled on.
"Oh, right. Guys, this is Binga." Bunga introduced.
"So you're the honey badger that's better than Bunga at everything." Fuli smirked.
"That's me alright." Binga smiled.
"Hey, we haven't tried everything," Bunga said before noticing Kion wasn't there. "Oh. Where's Kion? I wanted him to meet Binga too."
"He's with Nirmala and Orum, just like every day since we've been here." Fuli reminded Bunga.
"Nirmala's helping our friend Kion get better," Behste soon said to Binga. "He hasn't been feelin' too good lately.
"Hmm... So Kion is sick, the Night Pride rests during the day and the Queen is lying helpless under the Tree of Life," Granny Ginterbong said to herself before rubbing her paws together with an excited grin. "Mama's got a plan," she then noticed a tiny rodent animal who had some food that interested her. "Tuliza! Excuse me, kind young fellow." she then beamed as she dropped down in front of the rodent.
"Me?" The rodent asked.
"You wouldn't happen to have some Tuliza left for a hungry old lady?" Granny Ginterbong asked innocently as she fluttered her eyelashes.
"...I don't have much left, but you can have a little." The rodent offered.
"I don't think you understand." Granny Ginterbong said with a dark grin.
"So Bunga? Snowball fight?" Binga asked the male honey badger.
"Oh, yeah." Bunga smirked.
"Before you go and do your next honey badger challenge, Bunga, there's more to Orum that you need to know," Ono said. "But you have to keep this information a secret from Kion."
"Ooh, I'm great at keeping secrets!" Binga beamed.
Ono looked unsure about also telling Binga what he knew, as well as the others in the Lion Guard, except for Kion. "Well, okay..." he then started to say with a sigh.
ONE MOMENT LATER...
"Orum is actually Kion's long-lost brother?!" Binga and Bunga gasped.
"Keep your voices down!" Ono told them strictly.
The two honey badgers looked sheepish in response.
"It's pretty big," Ono then said. "No telling anyone else, especially not Kion."
"Our lips are sealed." Bunga and Binga said together before going off to do their next honey badger challenge.
Ono smiled as he soon flew out to explore more of the Tree of Life as the rest of the Lion Guard ran off, away from the honey badgers.
"I WANT IT ALL!" Granny Ginterbong's voice suddenly called out.
"What's that?" Ono asked himself before he saw Granny Ginterbong take all of the plant away from the rodent so she could take it all. "Hmm..."
"Hey, Ono. Come on!" Behste soon called out.
"Uh, right," Ono replied as he flew after his friends. "Of course."
Meanwhile, Granny Ginterbong was shown as she was with the three animals that had chased her before.
"What took you so long?" Chuluun asked the elderly animal.
"I got distracted looking for Bunga, but now I have a plan," Granny Ginterbong explained. "The Queen of the Tree of Life is old and weak. She can't even leave her lair. We take her out, and everyone will panic."
"Then all those rare, delicious animals will be ours." Makucha grinned darkly.
"So what are we waiting for?" Ora soon asked impatiently.
"You're gonna wait for my plan. Now, listen," Granny Ginterbong informed. "The Night Pride only patrols at night. So at sunrise, when they're all tired, I'll distract them with a crisis far away from the Tree. Then you three can go to the Tree of Life, and get rid of the Queen."
"You truly think that your plan will work?" A dark voice smirked.
"Of course it will," Granny Ginterbong said, very sure of herself. "Just gotta wait for it to work of course."
"Wait, who said that?" Chuluun asked.
"That would be me." The dark voice smirked before showing who they were.
Dakarai, Akata, and Abrafo were soon shown, only older but still looked strong enough to handle anyone.
"And who are you three?" Granny Ginterbong asked.
"I am Darkarai and these are my associates: Akata and Abrafo," The dark lion replied. "I see you are familiar with the Night Pride."
"Yeah? What's it to ya?" Granny Ginterbong retorted.
"I happen to know a great deal of them myself," Darkarai smirked. "Especially with Sãhasí and Ãnanda."
"Who and who?" Makucha asked.
"The two rulers before Akata and Abrafo and I killed them. Well, they killed them while I had to deal with a lion cub," Dakarai said before glaring at the last part of the sentence. "If that cub hadn't been a good fighter back then I would have killed Janna and then her granddaughter and grandson. That way there would be no heir to the throne."
"You had difficulty defeating a lion cub?" Ora smirked.
"That lion cub is unlike most you might have ever seen," Dakarai defended. "He put up a good fight for someone his size and age."
"Whatever you gotta tell yourself." Ora mocked.
Dakarai growled at that sharply.
"He must be destroyed as well as that old lioness at the Tree of Life." Akata spoke up firmly.
"As well as any living descendants as long as there's a living heir they will still have a king or queen to rule over them so they don't panic." Abrafo added.
"Hmm... Interesting." Chuluun said.
"But don't mind us, go and do your plan," Dakarai smirked. "The three of us will just be right out here."
"Like you have a better one." Granny Ginterbong glowered.
"Really, go ahead," Abrafo replied. "We'll just wait for you while it succeeds."
"Yeah, that's the word." Dakarai chuckled.
"So, what about the Lion Guard?" Makucha soon asked.
"Kion and Bunga aren't even with them; they'll be easy to take care of," Granny Ginterbong told the other animals. "Just leave that Bunga to me!"