"I'm so excited Rafiki!" Makini beamed as she followed after the older baboon as he walked her somewhere. "I can't believe I'm finally starting my training! I can't wait to learn how to hear them!"
"This way, Makini, this way!" Rafiki replied.
Akito was soon hanging out with the Lion Guard after they took care of Kion's situation. "It's still cool no matter how many times I visit this lair." he smiled to the others.
"It's nice having you here too." Fuli smiled back.
"Very interesting." Ono nodded in agreement.
"Lion Guard! Come, I have someone I would like you to meet." Rafiki called out.
The others smiled as they looked excited to hear about this.
"This is my new apprentice: Makini!" Rafiki introduced. "Makini, this is the Lion Guard, and their Lair."
"Hiya, Makini!" Bunga waved.
"Greetings!" Ono smiled.
"Nice to meet you." Behste added.
"How are you doing, Makini?" Kion added.
"Good to see you again." Akito smiled.
"Hi, guys, I feel great. And wow! It's so fantastic to meet the rest of you!" Makini beamed. "I mean, obviously I've seen you all before while you're going around the Pride Lands, being all strong. And brave. And fast. And keenest of sight!"
"Sounds like a fan girl." Akito smiled.
"And always saving the day!" Makini continued.
"Yep. That's us all right!" Bunga smirked.
"And it's so exciting to meet you all up close and personal!" Makini smiled back.
"I'm sure it is." Fuli replied.
Akito just knew that Makini was like the animal version of a fan girl.
"It is! But I have to say, I really admire you the most, Fuli," Makini beamed to the cheetah. "Rafiki says you're the only girl to ever be on the Lion Guard! As in, ever!"
"Uh, I am?" Fuli asked.
"She is?" Akito added as even he didn't know about that.
"It is true." Rafiki smiled.
"Yeah! You've got to be so proud!" Makini beamed happily. "I'm proud and I'm not even you!"
"I can tell." Akito smiled.
"So... You're what they call... A hoo-man...?" Makini asked.
"Human, and yeah..." Akito replied before muttering. "Mostly."
"Mostly?" Makini asked.
"Uh... It's complicated." Akito replied bashfully.
"So Rafiki, why are you taking on an apprentice? Are you okay?" Behste asked, a bit concerned for the older baboon.
"Yes, Beshte, yes. I am fine," Rafiki replied before explaining through moving pictures. "You see, when Makini was born, the Lions of the Past told me that she would be the one to continue my role in the Circle of Life, and now that the stripes have appeared on her face, it is time for Makini to begin her training!"
"Rafiki, did you draw all of those paintings?" Makini asked.
"Only some. Most were done by those who came before me," Rafiki replied with a chuckle. "And someday it will be your turn to paint them!"
"Whoa, that must've been a long time ago!" Akito gasped about hearing that some of these were done before Rafiki had gotten involved.
"Ah, yes, even about the legends of a white lion." Rafiki said.
"Okay..." Makini replied.
"Nice." Akito smiled.
"Kion, can you assemble the Royal Family on Pride Rock for Makini's formal introduction?" Rafiki asked.
"Sure, Rafiki. I'll make sure we're all there." Kion smiled before running ahead before he soon made it out of the lair.
A certain snake seemed to be watching with a couple of skinks.
"So, this is the place?" Ushari asked.
"Yep," The female skink replied. "Nyeusi says Rafiki and Makini went in there, but if you ask me, we're already too close to Pride Rock for comfort."
"That'sss fine; I'll take it from here, thanks, Sssshupavu." Ushari told her.
"Yeah. Let's get outta here." Shupavu nodded to her fellow shink as Ushari went off.
Simon soon glared at the two shinks like he wanted to hunt them as he had a stake in his hand. Ushari began to slither in the Lion Guard's lair.
"So, Rafiki? Can I try out my bakora staff now?" Makini asked her mentor.
"Wait, your staff can bring paintings to life too?" Bunga smiled.
"We shall soon find out," Rafiki replied. "Go ahead, Makini."
Makini nodded before walking up to the wall.
"This is gonna be good, I can tell." Akito smiled.
Makini soon touched a lion print on the wall which made it come to life and roar.
"Whoa..." Fuli whispered in awestruck.
"And I was right." Akito smiled.
"Look at that!" Bunga gasped.
"It worked!" Makini beamed.
"I'll say!" Ono smiled.
"Ssso Makini's ssstaff isss more than a sssimple ssstick." Ushari whispered.
"It seems you have chosen your staff well, Makini." Rafiki smiled to his apprentice.
"That's Scar, isn't it?" Makini asked about the lion image that she made roar.
"Yeah. The worst lion to ever live in the Pridelands!" Bunga glared about Scar.
"Ooh, that reminds me, Rafiki; my question from earlier." Makini said.
"Yesss." Ushari smirked evilly and quietly.
"I know the bakora staff can help me hear the Great Lions of the Past, but is there a way to hear the Bad Lions of the Past too?" Makini soon asked.
"Hm, that is a good question." Akito had to admit.
"Hmm... That is a serious question, young one, but you must know the bad as well as the good," Rafiki replied. "As you know, Makini, your bakora not only brings images of the past to life. It can help you hear the Lions of the Past. The Great Lions of the Past are in the sky. Their voices are in the wind, and you have all seen Kion use the Roar to make those Great Lions appear, but the Roar can also summon the worst lions of the Pridelands' past. Instead of clouds, these lions appear in fire. Once summoned, the bakora can be used to talk to evil lions as well."
"Luckily, a bakora staff can only be used by, um, what is your title again, Rafiki?" Akito asked.
"You mean my job in the Pridelands?" Rafiki asked back to make sure.
"Yeah." Akito nodded.
"I am the Royal Mjuzi." Rafiki replied.
"Right..." Akito then nodded. "The staff can only be used by the Royal Mjuzi."
"Indeed." Rafiki nodded.
"So then even if Kion used the Roar out of anger which I will be able to stop with my magic; anyways, even if he did use it out of anger by accident, then whoever would try to use the bakora staff to summon Scar, it wouldn't work, right?" Akito asked.
"Yes, but-" Rafiki frowned.
"Oh, no... Could he still be summoned with the Roar and if someone were to throw the bakora staff into a volcano?" Akito asked.
"You haven't done anything wrong, have you?" Rafiki soon asked, almost suspiciously.
"No, just asking." Akito said.
"Well... It's very possible that the summon could still work, even with all of that to consider." Rafiki told the boy.
"Well, let's just hope that no one tries to steal either bakora staff." Akito said.
"I'm sure with someone as smart and strong as you can help." Rafiki replied.
"Oh, thanks, Rafiki." Akito smiled to that until he soon had a chill roll down his spine as he looked up to where Ushari hid.
"Yesssss... Thissss feelsss perfect~" Ushari grinned from where he hid.
Akito could hear that thanks to his super-hearing. "We have an intruder." He said firmly.
"An intruder?" Bunga asked. "Here?"
"Oh, yes, and he's very cold and slimy," Akito glared before pointing. "And he's right up there."
They soon saw where Akito was pointing at. Ushari began to slither away until he soon looked back towards the Lion Guard as he left their lair, hoping to go unnoticed, but he didn't as Ono saw him slithering away.
"Found him!" Ono said as he flew up to stop the cobra.
"Get out of my way, you fowl!" Ushari glared at the young bird.
"Ushari!" Akito glared.
"You meddling hairlesssss apessss ruin everything," Ushari glared back to Akito, even mocking his species. "It'sssss no wonder you're usssually not welcome to the Pridelandssss..."
"I believe you are referring to poachers." Akito glared back.
"Precissssssely..." Ushari replied.
"Well, I'm not a poacher, and neither is anyone in my family," Akito glared. "We all love animals, especially Mom!"
"Now, tell us, why are you here?" Fuli added.
"Why should I tell you anything?" Ushari glared.
"Because you're in the Lion Guard's lair." Fuli glared back.
"Maybe I should squeeze it out of you like a python." Akito threatened, looking like he wanted to do it.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you!" Ushari told them.
"What are you doing?" Akito demanded.
"I'm going to help bring Ssssscar back to the Pridelandsssss." Ushari replied.
"Are you insane?!" Akito glared. "Is this just because of all the times you were run over whenever you were near the Lion Guard?"
"I wanted to sssshow you that I meant businessss, you brat," Ushari glared back. "I wasss going to be the mossst loyal member of Scar'sssss new army."
"Luckily, Kion and I found a way to use my magic to stop the Roar from doing damage when it's used out of anger." Akito glared back.
"Oh, you think you're sooooo sssspecial..." Ushari glared. "How do you know it'll work for sssssure?"
"Because we practiced." Akito glared back.
"I may not know a lot about magic and what you can do, Akito, but I believe in you." Ono helped.
"Thanks, Ono." Akito replied.
"Uh, guys, Ushari got away." Bunga spoke up.
"WHAT?!" Akito glared. "HOW?!"
"I guess he slipped out of your hand when you looked away?" Bunga smiled nervously.
"We have to find him!" Akito told them.
"Come on then!" Bunga replied.
They soon left the Lion Guard Lair to go and track down Ushari while Rafiki went to introduce the others to Makini. Finding him would be easy, but the location wouldn't be easy.
Meanwhile...
"I'm looking forward to meeting Rafiki's apprentice," Nala smiled. "You've already met her, Kion?"
"Unofficially, yeah," Kion smiled back to his mother. "She's, uh, very talkative."
"Any word of Ma Tembo's first water hunt?" Kiara asked.
"According to Ono's last report, she's still searching." Kion replied.
"I hope she finds water soon." Felicity frowned for Ma Tembo.
"Though with the baboons shouting 'Water! Water! Water!', it'll be a big challenge." Cherry said.
"Can you imagine anything more boring than having to look for water?" Zuri scoffed.
"No." Tiifu chuckled.
"So you think searching for water which is very important, boring?" Cherry asked Zuri and Tiifu.
"Well... Yeah..." Zuri rolled her eyes.
"So, you think it's boring to die of thirst?" Cherry replied.
"She's right, finding a new water source is very important." Estelle said.
Zuri and Tiifu looked to each other, nervously.
"Mom? Dad? Would it be okay if I tried to help Ma Tembo?" Kiara soon asked her parents, disagreeing with her best friends.
"I'm not sure there's anything you can do to help, Kiara." Kion said to her.
"I'd at least like to try." Kiara said.
"Very good, Kiara." Mo smiled upon hearing that.
"Finding the new water source is Ma Tembo's responsibility, but even if you can't find the water yourself, it might be a good experience for you to learn to work with Ma Tembo." Simba soon smiled.
Kiara smiled back to hear her father's support.
"Especially as future queen." Nala then added.
"And you can take Makini with you." Vincent smiled.
"Oh, can I?!" Makini beamed. "I'm Makini, Rafiki's new apprentice."
"Makini! The official introduction is for me to do." Rafiki told his apprentice.
"But why would Makini introduce you?" Zuri asked.
"Yeah! We already know who you are, Rafiki." Tiifu added.
"Rafiki is supposed to introduce Makini." Kion told them.
"Oh! Now that makes sense." Tiifu smiled.
Simon face-palmed and shook his head.
"Yes, yes. Thank you, Makini," Rafiki smiled before he soon introduced the younger baboon. "King Simba. Queen Nala. Royal family and friends. May I present my new apprentice: Makini!"
Estelle could already tell that Makini was going to be a great Mjuzi.
"It's a great honor to be chosen as the next knowledge keeper for the Pridelands, but as Royal Mjuzi, you are always welcome at Pride Rock." Simba smiled to the young baboon.
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Makini." Nala added.
"Thank you, Your Majesties." Makini smiled and bowed.
"Someday, Makini will be Royal Mjuzi for Queen Kiara and King Kopa." Rafiki smiled.
"That sounds amazing." Cherry replied.
"Then maybe Makini should come with me to help Ma Tembo and the elephants find water." Kiara smiled to her parents.
"Ooh! Yes! Yes!" Makini eagerly added, hoping it would be alright.
"I think it's a good idea." Kopa smiled.
"Wow! Thanks, Kopa!" Makini beamed. "You're so brave and smart!"
"Oh, come on now..." Kopa smiled bashfully.
"They will have to learn to work together," Nala said to her mate. "Just like you and Rafiki do."
"That is true," Rafiki smiled before bonking Simba on the head with his staff. "Eh, Simba?"
"Yes," Simba groaned from the whacking. "And the sooner they learn how to work together, the better."
"Couldn't agree more." Atticus said.
"Oh, thank you, Your Highnesses!" Makini beamed as she hugged the royal family out of excitement. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You're welcome, Makini." Nala smiled to the young baboon.
"Okay, my future adviser, let's go!" Kiara told Makini before leaving with her.
"Wait, I thought we were Kiara's royal advisers?" Tiifu asked.
"Royal pains in the butt if you ask me." Cherry murmured about the lioness cubs.
"Yeah! She can't go looking for water without us!" Zuri added to Tiifu.
"Wait! We're coming, too!" Tiifu called out as she went to go with Zuri after Kiara.
"Wait, girls, why don't we let Makini and Kiara go off for now, and you can stay her at Pride Rock?" Kopa suggested, stopping them.
"With you?~" Zuri and Tiifu asked, hopefully like they had crushes on him.
"Uh, yes?" Kopa smiled nervously.
Zuri and Tiifu giggled and sighed dreamily. Kopa hid a slight roll of his eyes.
"I'll help you look after them." Nala smiled to her older son.
"Thank you." Kopa smiled back.
"I'm so excited to be working with you, Princess Kiara!" Makini beamed to Kiara before running off ahead. "I'm sure I can learn so much from you!"
"Good luck, Kiara." Kion told his sister.
"Thanks, Kion." Kiara replied.
"C'mon, Princess Kiara! Let's go!" Makini beamed.
"I might need it." Kiara then said to her twin brother.
Just as Kiara and Makini left, Akito and the rest of the Lion Guard returned back from their search for Ushari.