There Kion stood in front of the Night Pride, all of them longing for an answer. He hopped off of Beshte, his muscles recoiling in pain due to his wounds. Fuli gingerly followed him, the same painful reaction coursing through her.

"Well... I don't know how to explain..." Kion began, nervous and scared shivers rippling through his body. Scary thoughts flashed through him making him shudder.

"It's alright, young one. Take your time," Janna said calmly.

"It's... well... Jua's a spirit and-AAAHHHHHH!" Claws raked down Kion's side. Pain seared through him and he gasped in horror.

"I told you NEVER to tell ANYONE! Apparently you didn't listen... and you will face consequences..."

"I've actually been waiting for this moment..."

"Ah yes... let the FUN begin..."

"Kion?! Kion what's going on?!" Fuli's voice could barely cut through his thoughts. His heart pounded out of his chest as pain seared through him. Blood trickled onto the ground. He gasped and turned to look at his body. His eyes widened - so many new wounds littered his body, all from three lions.

Jua, Zira, and Scar.

X

What's going on?! "What's happening to him?! Why is he getting wounded?! Why are there cuts?!" Fear spiked inside of Fuli whenever she looked at Kion. "What's going on?!"

"Ah yangu... I think I may hold the answer..." Nirmala turned her head away, her face glum.

Hold the answer? What does she mean? Fuli's mind wondered, trying not to panic. How is she not panicking like crazy right now?! Her mind screamed.

Nirmala paused and sighed. Fuli looked at Kion, the lion struggling to breathe. Come on Nirmala, tell us!

When the lioness didn't speak, Fuli snapped; "Then what is it?!" Though it might seem she was angry, she wasn't. Instead she was fearful.

Nirmala sighed. "Jua is the who I feared she was... Let me tell you a story..."

Who she feared? What does that mean?! Does she know anything about Jua that we don't?! Even if she did there's no time for that! We gotta help Kion... we have to help Kion...! Her gaze drifted to the struggling lion who was looking at her with fear in his eyes. He squeezed her paw tighter and squeezed his eyes shut.

Fuli turned back to Nirmala, fear pulsing through her."Story?!" Fuli snapped, not angered but instead fearful. "We don't have time for a story! We need you to help Kion!" Each of the lion's ear piercing screams were horrible to listen to, to imagine his suffering... his pain...

"Fuli, I need you to listen." Nirmala's voice was stern yet calm. Firm yet reassuring.

"Why?!" Fuli snapped still out of fear.

"Do you trust me?" Nirmala asked innocently.

Fuli knew what Nirmala was trying to do. "Don't try to guilt trip me!" Fuli growled, frusturation bubbling up inside her as more of Kion's screams of agony rang through her ears.

"You have to hear this," Nirmala told her firmly. "To help him you have to know what's going on."

Fuli was about to protest, but found herself unable to. Nirmala had a good point. "Fine," she reluctantly agreed. Kion screamed loudly again as more blood poured from his skin and fur. "Here, hold my paw," Fuli told him, finding that as the only current way she knew of easing his pain. She reached out her paw in his direction.

"O-ok- AHHH!" Kion wailed in agony as he squeezed Fuli's paw tight. Fuli looked at Nirmala, silently pleading for her to begin. The sooner she began, the sooner it would end and the sooner they'd all be able to help Kion.

"So... this all began a while ago... before any of you or your friends were born. This first began during Scar's reign in the Pride Lands."

"You know about Scar?" Fuli asked belwildered, raising her voice so Nirmala could hear her over Kion's screaming. She could tell Kion was trying his best to keep quieter... though that was hard for him due to the amount of pain he was going through.

"I know many things," Nirmala replied. "Now, Scar loved a lioness who I'm sure you know about. Zira. Everyone knows he made her his queen and that they had two cubs - Nuka and Vitani, who I know you know of. And as for Kovu, he was from another lion, though Scar took him in."

Kion was trembling and struggling to breathe. He still gripped onto Fuli paw tightly as he struggled to get his second wind. Fuli looked at Nirmala urgently. We already know this! "What does this have to do with Jua?!"

"I wasn't finished yet," Nirmala told her. "Scar and Zira were parents to Nuka and Vitani, and like parents to Kovu. But, little know there was another cub. That cub was Jua."

Wait... what?! "Wait, Jua was Scar's cub?" Fuli asked in bewilderment. Kion, unable to speak at the moment, just widened his eyes.

Nirmala nodded. "Yes she was. Now as I was saying, Jua was an adventurous cub and loved to make friends. But that fun-loving and adventurous cub was lost when her father died. While somehow Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu were able to find some way to somewhat cope with Scar's death, Jua couldn't. She was furious at Simba and even Nala. She made a vow to avenge Scar before disappearing in the middle of the night. Only a few hours after Jua ran away, Zira, her cubs, and her followers were banished from the Pride Lands. Then, unknowingly to us, Jua formed a pride that was located in the further reaches of the Back Lands. The Sun Pride. Once she heard about Simba banishing what was left of her family, she and her pride launched a surprise attack Simba's pride. Jua decided that she would make Simba feel what she felt when Scar died so in the attack she had one of her pridemates kill his mother, Sarabi."

Kion panted and trembled heavily. Fuli took in a breath, her mind spinning with questions. "How do you know all of this?"

Nirmala turned her head away. The sadly familiar aura of grief surrounded them. Nirmala continued, ignoring Fuli's question and obviously trying to brush away the sorrowful feeling. "Simba was outraged and tried to kill Jua and the pridemate in the battle, but failed. Luckily, the Sun Pride lost. Jua and the Sun Pride fled back to the Back Lands and reestablished their territory there. Many battles emerged from the two prides. That is, until they found out Jua inherited the Power of the Spirits."

"Power of the Spirits? What's that?" Fuli asked in wonder, her mind still spinning with questions. "It is good or bad?"

"If it's in the wrong paws, bad. Very bad," Nirmala answered. "The Power of the Spirits is a gift that has been inherited through the royal bloodline for many generations. Since Jua shared the same bloodline, there was a possibility she inherited the power. And she did."

"Wh-what does the powe-AHHHHH!" Kion's question was cut off and he tensed up again, holding Fuli's paw even tighter as he continued to wail in agony. Fuli licked his forehead repeatedly in a soothing manner, trying to offer at least some comfort and relief.

"That," Nirmala replied. "The Power of the Spirits is capable of many things... a lot of which we do not know. But.. we know it's capable of following a certain animal and locking onto them so they cannot escape your presence. When you do that, you are capable of giving them nightmares, phsyically and mentally torturing them, entering their mind, making certain elements of nature work in your favor, bend fate itself, and more. Then, Jua and the Sun Pride made the decision to leave the Pride Lands. Jua made it clear to Simba and his pride that it wasn't because she had given in, instead because she felt a calling to greatness leading away from the Pride Lands."

"Bend fate itself?" Fuli echoed, feeling her forepaw hurt from Kion gripping onto her so tightly. "And do you really think that Jua might be torturing Kion with that power?" Though Fuli thought that deep down in her gut, Nirmala wasn't telling them everything. Yes, she would certainly leave out the part with giving Nala her cub, but all the pieces don't quite fit together...

Nirmala nodded. "Yes. There is no other explanation."

"AGGGHHHH...!" Kion moaned and groaned, unintentionally interrupting.

"But we need Kion to tell us exactly what happened so we can be sure," Nirmala added.

Fuli turned to Kion. "Kion can you speak?"

Kion shook his head before letting loose another wail.

"He has to," Nirmala told them. However, Kion still had a look of fear in his eyes.

Fuli looked at him and their gazes locked. "I'll be right here," she reassured him, still holding his paw.

Kion stared into her eyes for a few long moments before nodding. "O-ok- AGHH...-!" Kion held Fuli's paw tighter as he struggled to get his second wind. "Jua's like a- agh..! Spirit... and there's more spirits... Scar and Zira... they.. they come every night and torture me." Kion paused and shuddered while trying not to wail.

Fuli was surprised, her jaw slightly dropping to show it. What..?

Kion continued; "And... and recently they can come during the day and hurt me too. And they.. they sometimes have... have control over me... Well they... they tell me to run and I do. They've been able to actually hurt me... even through me."

"Explain this?" Nirmala pressed, still keeping a calm demeanor. Fuli didn't know how animals could seem so calm - heck, Fuli was trying her best not to have a panic attack herself!

"Ever since we got closer to the Tree... they've been able to.. like.. I don't know... possess me. They constantly tell me things... and sometimes... they... they control my body.. control my mind... and use it to hurt myself. And they... they threatened that if... if I ever tell anyone... something.. something... will... they'll... do... get... rid... of...of.." He shakily inhaled while trying to get his words out, "Fuli..." His frail body quivered with fear as he looked into her emerald eyes.

Fuli gasped as he sobbed more.

Janna sighed out of nowhere. A different aura emerged from the elderly queen unlike the one Fuli was used to feeling whenever she was around her. "Kion... what you're going through is impossible to cure. I'm sorry."

"What?!"Fuli shouted in disbelief. "I thought you said he still had a chance!"

Janna turned away, not speaking.

"Wh-what?" Kion backed up, shaking. A horrified look was plastered on his golden furred face. "N-no...!"

"What?!" Nirmala turned to Janna, a protesting expression on the younger lioness' face. "It must be cureable! I know it is!"

"It is not," Janna told them. "I have seen this before. I'm sorry."

"N-no!"

Kion backed up, trembling and shaking like never before. Every muscle in his body seemed to twitch with fear. He collapsed on the ground, trembling. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he shook. Fuli limped over to him, hoping she could comfort him. He backed away then collapsed to the ground again, shivering.

"It really was pointless... I shouldn't have said anything... I can't even be helped... You're hurt because of me."

Sorrow welled up inside Fuli. "It's not your fault, Kion..."

"No... it most certainly is," rumbled a female voice.

Kion froze and his fur bristled. Fuli could've sworn she could hear his heartbeat and breathing spike. Tears welled up in his eyes. His next words came out barely more than a whisper; "J-Jua..."

"Yes, coward. It's me."

Fuli turned around and saw a white lion standing there near the enterance of the Tree of Life, her jaws twisted into a crooked smile. She gasped in surprise and fear. "Jua?!"

"Jua," Nirmala snarled, disgust in her voice. She stepped forward in front of the young lion and cheetah. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here... I might ask you that same question, Nirmala..." Jua snickered and walked in circles around Nirmala, the lioness' tail tip occasionally brushing against the healer's chin. "After all... didn't you have a cub to care for?"

"Leave my cub out of this!" Nirmala growled, furiousness clear in her voice.

"Why?" Jua asked in an innocent and mocking tone. "It proves how irresponsible you are... didn't even stick around long enough to know his name..."

Fuli tensed up at the rising tension, especially since she knew what cub they were talking about, and what they might do if they knew he was right there in front of them...

"Oh." Jua interrupted her thoughts. "Forgot what I came here to do. Might as well give little Scar-heart some more torture for all to see... since you already know what's going on now." Jua walked over to Kion, claws digging into the earth.

Kion shivered and whimpered. Round wide eyes looked fearfully up at Jua. "Jua... please no... it already hurts a lot..." His voice broke as he said his next word; "Please..."

"Too bad, Scarred-face. You don't get a say."

No! "Don't hurt him," Fuli growled, standing up and -despite the pain- limping over to them, putting herself between Kion and Jua.

"But why?" Jua asked in a mock-innocent voice. "It's so much fun to watch him cry in pain."

"It isn't right!" Nirmala protested.

"Why should I care?" Jua's voice still held the innocent-mock tone. But when she spoke next, her voice was dangerously low. "It wasn't right for that Simba to kill my father, yet you still defend him." Jua peeled her lips back in a menacing snarl.

"Scar ruined the land and murdered his brother to gain power," Fuli told her. "Simba saved everyone by taking back the land. After all, it was rightfully his in the first place."

"No it was NOT!" Jua snarled, baring her teeth. "That land ALWAYS belonged to SCAR! And now I will help him get revenge... by getting rid of that useless pathetic scrap of fur that he calls his son."

"Over my dead body," Fuli growled furiously, fury and anger coursing through her at the thought.

"If that's the way this has to be... I won't have a problem with that." Jua walked closer to Fuli. And closer. So close that she could feel the lioness' hot breath on her spotted fur. Jua leaned close, giving her a stare that was both as fiery as the sun and as cold as ice. "Look, if things are going to be this way, I warn you. Never mess with me. Anyone who does so always regrets it."

"Don't you dare try to hurt either of them," Nirmala growled and walked closer to Jua, claws unsheathed.

"And if I dare?"

"Then I'll..." Nirmala began to trail off. Nervousness surrounded the healer lioness as she began to stutter, trying to get the words out. "I'll..."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, exactly," Jua tsked mockingly, "you're powerless compared to me. Now if you'll excuse me, time to hurt a little scared cub."

Jua started to walk back to Kion before Fuli gathered all her strength to drag herself between the two. "No," she growled fiercely. "If you get to him, you'll have to get through me."

Jua chuckled darkly, her voice dangerously low. "Eh, no problem doing... THAT!" Jua suddenly lunged for Fuli. Fuli's eyes widened. She tried to spring out of the way like she normally would, but pain shot through her leg and up her spine, She collapsed to the ground. Jua advanced on her quickly and took her teeth in her injured leg, shaking it violently and drawing blood. It was like it was writhing her open, tearing her leg apart. The pain of her leg seemed to pierce through her entire body as she tried not to scream in agony. She tried to wriggle out of Jua's grasp, but the lioness was too strong. Her leg was being ripped open and there was nothing she could to about it.

Nirmala was frozen in place watching the scene with a look of horror on her face. "Nirmala, what are you waiting for?!" Fuli bit in pain. "Help me!"

Nirmala shook her head and seemed to snap out of it, She thrust herself in the middle of it, forcefully tackling Jua off of Fuli. However, Jua refused to let go so easily so while doing so, Nirmala accidentally ripped more of Fuli's leg. "AGH...!"

"NO!" She heard Kion cry. He tried to force himself up but collapsed onto the ground. He tried again and just barely succeeded. He then basically dragged himself over to her. "Fuli, are you okay?!"

"Not really..." Fuli squeezed her eyes shut as pain ruptured through her. Even though Jua wasn't attacking her anymore, her leg still felt tremendous pain as if it was still being ripped open. "I can't... agh... get up."

"Of course you can't, dear," Jua chuckled, cutting through her thoughts. She had an amused look on her face as she held Nirmala to the ground. "You can't really run again, can you?" Fuli's face fell when she said this, sadness spreading through her once again, almost enough to overwhelm her. She almost let herself get lost in those sorrowful thoughts, but snapped herself out of it. I can't let her distract me...!

Jua continued speaking, a crooked smile twisting her jaws. "I just made sure you won't walk again either."

Fuli gasped in horror. Her mind struggled to process what Jua just said. When it did, tears of shock welled up in her eyes. She laid there for what was a few moments... but seemed like lasted a thousand seasons.

"How could you?!" Kion shouted, snapping her out of her thoughts. Fury suddenly lighting in the lion's eyes, he forced himself to just barely take a step forward. "Why did you do that?!"

"To see you suffer, since I've come to the realization that if I want to hurt you the most, I'll have to hurt her," Jua told him.

Kion's eyes widened in shock. He froze. He looked at Jua then Fuli then back again. His breathing intensified and he shuddered as Jua gave him a stare colder than ice.

"Well, time to leave you here. This is where the fun begins..." Jua pushed down roughly on Nirmala one last time, then got off of her and walked out of the Tree without looking back.

Fuli took a breath, her mind spinning and trying to process everything that happened all at once.

Did all of this just happen?!

Fuli looked behind them. Much to her shock, the rest of the Lion Guard and Night Pride were all passed out on the ground. Even Janna was not conscious anymore. Fuli and Kion gasped, looking at each other and Nirmala. Before they could speak, Nirmala did. "I'll take care of this," the healer lioness assured them. "I need you both to rest."

Fuli was about to protest and say that she could help, but found that Nirmala was right. Fuli nodded in agreement to Nirmala's words - even though she would love to help she knew there was no way she or Kion would be able to help in their condition.

Out of the corner of her vision, she noticed Kion dragging himself to the corner of the area inside the Tree of Life. "Kion?"

"Let him be," Nirmala told her softly, her voice calm and reassuring. "He probably wants some time to himself."

She nodded. Nirmala is probably right.

She laid her head down while Nirmala gathered stray feathers and other soft things for her to lay on. Nirmala then left the Tree to get herbs to help the rest of the Lion Guard and Night Pride. The lioness didn't want to leave the injured Kion and Fuli alone, but she had to. She told Fuli to keep an eye out for trouble and scream if there was.

She sighed. Jua's words played in her head. Sorrow and sadness overwhelmed her and she shuddered. Never walk again... The tears that pricked her eyes once before forced themselves down her cheeks. I can't believe this happened... why did this have to happen to me? I won't even walk anymore...

She sobbed more and buried her face in her paws - she didn't want anyone to see her like this, especially Nirmala. Fuli knew she wouldn't be herself anymore, not ever again. She wouldn't be the Fastest... heck, she wouldn't be able to run or walk at all! Kion would replace her on the Guard... and she would be forgotten. The Fastest in the Pride Lands... wouldn't be the Fastest anymore.

But the main thought that Fuli's mind was thinking and the one she softly spoke aloud was; "Why me?"

X

Kion sobbed in a corner of the Tree of Life. Don't cry Kion, he scolded himself. It's not like it'll do you any good. He tried his best to hold in the many tears that were to come, but it was no use. N-no I-I can't live like this forever... Kion shook with fear. They'll keep coming back... again and again... They'll keep hurting the ones I love... like Fuli... she won't ever run again... He knew what it was like to have something you loved taken away from you. This isn't fair to her... this shouldn't have happened... what did she ever do to deserve this?! His gaze drifted to Fuli who was resting in the other corner of the area. She didn't deserve this, he knew.

But I do... He silently added.

His sharp feline hearing suddenly heard quiet sobbing. She's... crying? Kion got to his paws and walked over to her. When he was close enough he could hear her whimper; "Why me?"

He laid down next to her and gently hugged her, trying to comfort and assure her. "It's okay Fuli..." He murmured comfortingly.

It was clear that she was taken by surprise, but she leaned into his embrace nevertheless. "Thank you Kion," she mumured.

He managed a soft smile but his thoughts and gaze wandered back to her injured leg. She won't ever run or walk again... and it's because of me. She won't ever be able to do the things she loves ever again... She's crushed... and it's all my fault... If I hadn't practically led Jua here, Fuli would still be okay... He then recalled something he had considered before, but never actually followed through with it. He had great reason to then, because if it weren't for him, Fuli would be okay!

She won't ever get to do the thing she loves... EVER again. Because of ME. Guilt squirmed in Kion's belly as he looked at the injury once more. A thought popped in his head, one he had occasionally thrown around before. If I go far away from them... they won't be in danger anymore, Kion thought. They'll be safe and happy... Fuli and my friends would be better off. But a realization hit him, mixed with a question.

Would they miss me?

Kion shook his head, sighing sadly. They won't miss me - why should they? I cause nothing but harm and destruction. If anything... they'll be glad I'm gone...

Then another realization hit him. But my wounds? How will I travel? I could just wait till they're a little better... If I get caught because my wounds slowed me down too much, they could prevent me from escaping. After a little thinking, he finally came to his conclusion.

Okay, that's it. When my wounds are healed, I'm leaving the Tree of Life. And no one can stop me.