Kion walked through the Dark Shadows Below the Savanna. His pelt pricked with fear. Zira and Jua would show up any moment. And they'd torture him. Every night was a terrible night he'd remember, and this would just be another one of them.
Sure enough, a voice called out; "Hello, Kion." The voice was menacing. It made Kion's fur stand on end. It was surely Jua.

He was proved correct as a white, almost glowing spirit made it's way towards him. She had amber eyes that seemed to glow - Kion couldn't tell whether her eyes actually glowed or not. Long front claws glimmered, despite there being nothing to reflect them.

"Oh Kion... Pitiful, pitiful Kion. Seeing you like this almost makes me want to go easy on you..." Her lips twisted into a crooked smile as Kion cowered beneath her.

"But, why would I do that?" She added. "Besides, me and Zira have a special... guest." She then motioned to a tan lioness with a dark stripe along her head. She wore a crooked smile and her red eyes seemed to pierce through Kion's soul itself. Following the lioness was a lion that seemed to walk with fire under his paws. He had orange-ish brown fur with a dark mane that seemed to spark with fire. His fiery eyes froze Kion in his place.

Scar!

"Ah, hello, great nephew." Kion was still frozen in his place as Scar walked closer. "About time I've joined the party, don't you think? After all, I've been more involved with this than you think..."

Kion tucked his tail between his legs. He shivered fearfully. Scar smiled wickedly and lightly pushed Kion. Kion quickly laid down, his heart racing. Scar ran his already unsheathed claws down Kion's side. Kion still didn't dare move.

Think about happy times... Think about happy times... Kion silently told himself, trying not to wail in pain. He remembered the times when he and Bunga would run through the Pride Lands playing Baobab Ball. He remembered the times when he would go on a run with Fuli in the morning. He remembered the times when he would play all day with his friends. He missed the times before Scar. Before the Roar. Before the Lion Guard. Before his scar...

"Too bad I can't do this to Simba himself..." Scar sighed, then his lips twisted into a wicked smile. "However torturing his son is still very... enjoyable."

"Sc-Scar please stop," Kion begged. His body trembled and shaked with pain. "Please!"

Scar looked like he was thinking, more like pretending to think. "I will stop, on one condition," he said smirking.

"I'll do anything!"

"Hmm.. Become me," Scar told him, grinning.

Kion cocked his head sideways in confusion. "Become you?" He asked. "What does that mean?"

"Don't you understand metaphors?" Scar asked, rolling his eyes. "Be everything that I was. Cunning, smart, sly, determined..."

Kion started to pick up on what Scar was implying. "Become evil? If that's what you're saying, than no. I'll never be evil like you, Scar!"

"Your choice- Oh wait, it's not your choice. You'll see, Kion." Scar started sliding his claws across Kion's side, drawing blood. "You'll see. Soon you'll be broken. Broken enough to do anything we ask. You might be standing now, but soon you'll fall to the ground, begging for mercy."

Kion raised his gaze to meet Scar's. He took a deep breath. "I won't break. You can't break me, Scar."

"We'll see about that." Scar held Kion's gaze as he raked his claws across his side. "We are the same."

Pain seared through Kion as Scar repeated one phrase; "Sisi ni sawa..."

**
Kion's eyes snapped open. Air filled his chest as he breathed heavily. He looked around, eyes wide and wild with fear.

It's okay, Kion, he tried to assure himself. It's over. It's all over now. Though he knew that even if it was over, they would be back the next night, or whenever he went to sleep...

Pain shot through him. I thought it was over! Then he hit a realization. His scar. He raised a paw and pawed at it. Ugh... I hate this scar...

He decided he'd wake the Guard. He nudged Ono and Anga who were snoozing beside him. Anga yawned and stretched her wings, accidentally hitting Fuli and waking her up.

"What's the rush...?" Fuli mumbled sleepily. Kion nudged her. "Wake up."

She slowly opened her eyes. Kion backed away to give her space. "Hi Kion. Good morning," Fuli said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

I sure wish it was, Kion silently replied in his thoughts.

A chill ran down his spine as he saw a shadow shaped like an animal. It's not Jua... Kion tried to reassure himself, shaking with fear. Please... don't let it be Jua...

He pushed himself to his paws. They had to continue on to the Tree of Life. When he stood he found himself weaker than usual. He looked up to the brightening sky. He walked, motioning for the others to follow. It need not be spoken that they were to continue on the journey.

"Kion, are you sure we should continue on now?" Fuli asked. "About what happened yesterday... maybe one more day of rest?"

Pain shot through him, reminding him of why he wanted to get to the Tree of Life in the first place. He pawed at his scar as his annoyance started to rise.

"No," he bit back a growl. "We continue now." He quickly realized he was growling and pushed his annoyance back down. Remember, he told himself. This is Fuli you're talking to. She's done nothing but help you on this journey so be nice to her.

"Sorry," he apologized. "What I'm trying to say is that I want to hurry to the Tree of Life."

Fuli gazed at him, her eyes flashing with emotion.

He saw a shadow. He flinched. He looked and saw a silhouette of a lion walking along beside him. The lion had unsheathed front claws, a thin mane, and a scar over his left eye. Scar..!

"Hello, great nephew. Peaceful morning, isn't it?" Scar seemed to say. Kion looked around. Could anyone else notice this?

Apparently not.

He broke into a run, trying to ease his spinning mind and free himself from Jua, Zira and Scar. Even for just one moment. He let his paws fly freely as the wind caressed his face.

This was what freedom felt like.

But not really freedom. He knew that in the end, he still had his team to worry about, to protect. From himself and Jua and every other danger that the world had to offer.

He looked back. The Guard was following him, also running. He slowly down a little bit to allow them to catch up. Suddenly, he felt slight pain. A desire to get to the Tree of Life rose inside him. He hated his scar and wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

"Come on everybody, keep going," Kion told them, looking back for a moment.

"Whew, Kion sure is in a hurry this morning," he heard Beshte remark.

"Well, we are getting pretty close to the Tree of Life," Ono replied. The thought sparked excitement in Kion. I'll be free!

"Yep," Fuli agreed. "And I don't mind moving fast for a change." Even she seemed to be in bright spirits.

"You said it, Fuli!" Bunga agreed. "Zuka Zama!"

Yes, today will be great. However, another thought rose inside him. Until tonight...

XXXX

Kion walked through the forest shamefully. His thoughts about the day earlier had been wrong. He had been terrible.

Tears of shame pricked his eyes, though he blinked them back. Scar had been haunting him all day. He could have sworn he could see the fiery lion walk beside him at that very moment.

His fur stood up on end and a shiver ran down his spine. He shook his head to clear it. Scar was gone.

He continued walking, the forest area around him diminishing and turning into just grass and bushes. He walked along a ledge along a gorge, thinking to himself. Everything Bunga said is true... His ears flattened.

"What if I really am turning evil? Just like Scar did," Kion asked himself softly.

He looked up to the sky. "I should talk to Grandfather Mufasa." Like all lions from Simba's pride, Kion could talk to his deceased ancestors. He then looked down at a puddle. He saw his reflection, but a detail that stood out the most was his scar.

"Oh, my scar." He scowled at his reflection, then looked back up nervously. "I can't let Grandfather see me like this. I look just like Scar. " And it doesn't help that Scar, his own brother, killed Grandfather and tried to kill my dad..

Suddenly, a fiery lion appeared in his reflection. Kion gasped in horror and backed away. Scar!

"You have the Mark of Evil, just like me Kion," Scar cackled. "Accept your destiny. There is no other choice!"

"No. You're wrong, Scar," Kion told him in defiance. He didn't know if he was trying to convince Scar or himself.

"Sisi Ni Sawa," the fiery lion cackled.

"No, we're not the same," Kion told him once more, though doubting his own words. "I may look like you, but I'll never act like you." Kion hit the puddle with his paw in fury and defiance, distorting the reflection.

Kion turned away from the puddle. "I guess I kinda have been acting mean today..." He admitted. "I gotta go apologize."

As he started to walk back, he felt his paws slip. Oh no! The ground is loose! He felt himself slide towards the edge of the gorge. He panicked as he scrabbled for a pawhold, but there were none. It was all just loose ground and sand. He continued sliding towards the edge. Blood roared in his ears as he flew off the edge.

He saw a branch in the corner of his eye. On impulse, he reached out to grab it. He caught it for one moment, but it broke off. He then quickly grabbed onto another branch, hanging under the overhang.

His belly churned as he looked down at the drop below him. "Great," he muttered sarcastically. He dug his claws into the branch. The Guard will never find me here... He thought sadly.

"You better hope you're so-called 'friends' will find you..." He heard a familiar voice taunt. It was Jua, Zira and Scar, looking down from the overhang above him.

He started to panic even more. His hind legs churned in the air as his front paws held onto the branch tighter.

"Help!" Kion called out. "Someone! Anyone! Help!" He glanced at the ground a long way below him. His belly churned at the thought of falling. He gripped even tighter on the branch in fear.

He saw something in the distance. It looked like a bird. Is it Anga? Kion squinted, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tell.

His attention was brought back to Jua, Zira, and Scar when they all cackled. "Losing hope, eh?" Scar seemed to snicker.

"No," Kion protested sharply, growling.

"Nah, ah, ah," Jua chided. "Don't speak to us like that. Or do you want a punishment when you go to sleep next?"

Kion flinched and sighed sadly. "No," he mumbled.

He suddenly heard a familiar voice call out; "Kion! Kion!"

Jua, Zira, and Scar disappeared as he saw a familiar bird fly towards him.

Anga!

"Anga." His surprised and scared expression turned into one of relief. He almost slipped from the branch for a moment but quickly regained his grip. "Am I glad to see you."

"Like some help?" Anga asked.

Kion smiled. "Yeah, that'd be great."

"Okay." She tried to fly under the overhang, but she couldn't fly close enough without flying into the cliff. "Can't... get... close enough."

"Maybe I can reach you." Kion reached out his paw towards Anga, keeping an even tighter grip on the branch with his remaining paw.

They both tried to reach each other, but after a few moments Kion realized it was no use.

"No use. Hang on, I'll be back," Anga told him and flew off.

"Thanks Anga." He suddenly lost grip on the branch before quickly regaining it. "Just don't be too long."

"Oh she will, Scar." Zira's voice rang in his ears.

"Oh, we're naming that lion after me? I'm honored," Scar said, an evil grin plastered on his face.

"Of course we are, my wittle Sweetie Scar," Zira said, her voice for the first time loving. "Its settled now. We'll be calling Kion 'Scar' for most of the time now."

Jua looked at Kion. Her fiery amber gaze bore into his pelt making him shiver.

Suddenly, they disappeared and Kion heard a voice say, "Kion's down there, hanging from a branch."

"Anga? Is that you?"

"Yep," the eagle replied. "We're all here." She motioned with her head to the rest of the Guard standing on the edge of the gorge, right above him.

"Hi Kion!" Makini waved her hand.

"Don't worry, we'll help you," Beshte assured him.

"Just hang in there," Fuli added. Bunga quickly pulled her back

"But Fuli," Bunga began, "what if this is an evil trap?" Those words, though probably not meant to hurt him, pierced him in the heart. He hadn't been any help during the entire journey. He had been a burden. A cub that they had to look out for. Various times during the journey, he lashed out at his friends randomly when they were just trying to help.

"Ugh, Bunga," he heard Fuli groan, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Just saying," Bunga said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Thanks guys. Listen, about what happened back there, I really didn't mean to-"

Fuli cut him off before he could finish his apology. "Kion, don't think about that now. Let's just get you off that branch."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

"He's too close to the overhang," Anga informed him "I can't reach him."

"I could get close enough, but I couldn't carry him," Ono said, stating the obvious.

"Ooh! Maybe I can reach him!" Bunga slid down the small slope and grabbed onto a stump where another branch once was.

Bunga reached out. Kion reached out too. "Just... out... of reach. Sorry Kion."

"Hey Bunga, it's okay, " Kion assured him.

Bunga didn't climb back up yet. "And you know what I said before about you turning evil and stuff?"

"Yeah?" Kion asked, expecting an apology.

"Are you?" Bunga asked innocently.

Not the words I was expecting, but... "I don't think so, even if I was kinda acting like it."

"Just checking. And just so you know, even if you do then evil, I'll still be your best friend."

"Thanks Bunga," Kion replied while struggling to hold on to the branch.

"Okay, Fuli. What's the plan?" He heard Bunga ask eagerly.

"So," he heard Fuli say, "someone's gotta climb down and help pull him back up.

"Oh, maybe I can-"

"You're definitely strong enough, Beshte. But you're not much of a climber."

"I wasn't thinking me, Fuli," Beshte replied, "I had someone else in mind."

"Who?" Fuli asked.

"Yun Mibu. I'm sure he'd be happy to help," Beshte explained.

"Okay. Anga, see if you can find him."

"Got it. Anga Lenga!" The eagle flew into the air.

Kion dared to look down. His heart began to beat faster as he tried not to panic. What if... What if I fall?

His hind legs thrashed in the air as he felt the branch slipping. He looked up at the Guard fearfully.

Fuli caught his gaze. "It's gonna be okay, Kion," she tried to reassure him.

"Yeah," Beshte agreed. "We'll have you off that branch in no time. "

As if on cue, Anga came flying back. Apparently Yun Mibu was with her, because Kion heard Beshte welcome him; "Hey Yun Mibu. Good to see you. Our friend needs help and we were hoping that you could help."

Kion was Yun Mibu glance down at him, then obviously turn to Beshte. "I can climb down there," the clouded leopard began. "But you didn't tell me it was the scary guy who needed to be rescued.

"Don't worry Yun Mibu," Beshte assured him, "Kion's really a nice guy."

"Yeah," Bunga agreed. "He was just feeling kinda evil today. But he's over that now." Really, Bunga? Kion thought to himself in amusement after hearing the honey badger's words.

"Please help him," Makini pleaded. "Please."

Yun Mibu leaned down to where Kion was. "Kion, is it?" The clouded leopard asked.

"Yeah, that's me. And I think I owe you an apology."

Yun Mibu smiled. "How about a promise instead?"

"A promise?" Kion echoed.

"No more growling," Yun Mibu said. Kion knew that he meant more than just growling at him, but he just kept it at that.

"No more growling, I promise."

"Then let's get you up from there."

"Are you sure you can do this?" Kion asked warily.

"Oh, yeah," Yun Mibu replied confidently.

"Clouded leopards are about the best climbers in the world. Common knowledge, really," Ono assured the anxious lion.

When Yun Mibu wrapped his tail around a stump and hung upside down to reach Kion, Kion was amazed. "Wow, I see what you mean, Ono."

Yun Mibu reached out his paws towards Kion. "Reach out. I've got you," he told him reassuringly .

"Okay," Kion said, still anxious. "Here it goes." He reached out a paw towards Him Mibu, but suddenly the branch started to break. "Heyvi kabisa!" Kion exclaimed in fright.

"Uh-oh," Anga said.

"'Uh-oh' what? " Ono asked, panicking. 'Uh-oh' what? "

"Jump!" "Jump Kion!" Bunga and Beshte shouted.

With very much effort, Kion grabbed the branch just as it was about to fall and jumped. Luckily, Yun Mibu caught him. "Got ya!" But due to the added weight of a teenage lion, he started to slip. "I think..."

Anga quickly dove down towards him. "Anga lenga!" She caught Kion by his scruff and pulled him up. Kion's belly churned as she carried him back up the cliff. What if she drops me? What if-

His thoughts were interrupted when she set him down on solid ground. He panted heavily in exhaustion. Holding onto that branch for so long made his forelegs and paws sore. "Phew. Thank you," he said in-between pants.

"Nice save, Anga," Makini complimented the eagle.

Way to go. Yun Mibu. I knew you could do it," Beshte said, gratitude audible in his voice.

"You gotta teach me how to use my tail like that," Bunga said.

"Ah, you're going to need a bigger tail," Yun Mibu told him in amusement.

"Thanks again," Kion thanked the clouded leopard. "Is there anything I can do for you in return?"

"Just remember to never growl at a clouded leopard. We don't like it." Yun Mibu's tone sounded almost... amused?

"I'll remember," Kion promised

"Bye, everybody. See you, Beshte."

"Bye, Yun Mibu."

All eyes went on Kion. He tried not to shuffle his paws. "Everyone, I don't know what to say. Other than I'm really sorry about the way I was acting. Especially you, Beshte. I was really mean to you."

"It's all right, Kion," Beshte forgave him. "It wasn't you talking. It was your scar." Wait, he's not mad?

"Which reminds me..." Makini reached into the gourd that they kept the Tuliza in. She pulled some Tuliza out and held it out in front of Kion. "Maybe the Tuliza's not working like it used to, but it can't hurt."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fuli had an anxious expression. Is she okay?

Kion turned his attention back to Makini. "You're right." He ate the Tuliza out of the mandrill's hand. "Thanks, Makini." He then walked forward. "I know we lost a lot of time today and it was totally my fault, but if we leave now we can make up for-"

Fuli stepped in front of him and cut him off. "Hold it Kion. I'm still in charge, remember?"

Kion nodded submissively.

Her face turned into one with concern. "And you need to rest. You've been through a lot today."

"Better listen to the cheetah in charge," Bunga told him.

"Tree of Life's not going anywhere, Kion," Beshte reminded him.

Kion opened his mouth to protest, but Fuli spoke before he could. "Soon, Kion. We'll move on soon."

"But we're so close," Kion protested.

Makini stepped in before they could potentially get into an argument. "Shwari, Kion. With a little rest you'll feel like yourself again."

Kion looked around at the Guard. They all gave encouraging nods with smiled on their faces.

"Shwari," Makini repeated.

Kion felt his body relax. "Shwari." He walked over to a nearby rock and curled up on it. He closed his eyes. As soon as he did, alarm rippled through him.

Another night of torture...

**
"So, what do we do while Kion rests? It's still the middle of the day," Bunga asked while looking down at Kion's sleeping form.

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I could use a rest," Beshte said. The others nodded in agreement.

"Welp, okay." Bunga shrugged his shoulders.

Fuli laid down on a rock next to Kion. Bunga did too. So did Makini And Ono and Anga. Beshte just laid down next to the rocks.

Eventually, Fuli felt herself slowly drifting into sleep.

**
Fuli walked along beautiful fields with lush, green grass. She admired a butterfly that flew past her, along with a pretty blue bird of some sort.

Everything was beautiful beyond what could be described. No soul could explain how blue the sky was, how beautiful the flowers were. A flock of more blue colored birds flew past. Again, not a single soul could explain their beauty. The grass waved gracefully in the wind. The clouds seemed like paintings. The sun shines with the beauty of a thousand stars in the night sky. Everything seemed so beautiful. So... unreal

Suddenly, the scene changed. Everything was dark. There was only light from a sudden fire, flickering above a thrashing river.

"No!" A voice screamed in terror. The pain of the voice echoed in her ears. Suddenly , a lioness appeared in front of her.

Suddenly, she saw blood. Everything was blood. No more beautiful field. Just blood.

"Beware..." A voice echoed in her ears. "When it all bleeds, tears of blood will be shed."

"What?" She asked the voice softly.

"Beware..."
**