It had been a long day for everyone. After Nala had brought back a pair of antelope for the late meal, she made sure that Fuli ate as well, but the cheetah still wouldn't open up. The sun was finally setting over the horizon, and the four felines waiting in that Baobab tree were growing tired, but they still waited. Simba could feel himself starting to nod off, but his wife ensured he stay awake. Almost the instant that the beautiful mix of orange, red and pink in the sky faded to a dark, near black, dotted with the beautiful white lights of the stars, Rafiki returned to them.

"Well, Rafiki?" Simba asked, in a half yawn. "How is he doing?"

"He is not looking much different," he explained. "I changed de bandages to have a closer inspection, but it should heal. His temperature has gone down, and he is breathing fine. If he has not awoken by de morning, however, there may be something more serious."

"What is the best case scenario?" Nala asked, her voice a mix of worry and hope.

"Best case? He just has a big bump. Worst case could be he does not wake up." He saw them visibly feel sick at this, with Kiara nearly crying. "I would stay hopeful, though- the odds of that are astronomical. My guess would be he has a concussion, and when he wakes up, he needs a couple of days rest, since he may experience nausea and dizziness."

"I see. Well, we should call it a night. Thank you, Rafiki."

"It is no problem, Nala. I will wake you if there are any changes."

With that, Rafiki returned to the other room. The three lions exchanged their 'goodnights' before Nala laid down. Kiara then curled herself up in her mother's front paws, and the two lionesses drifted to sleep. Simba was preparing to do the same, but he noticed Fuli was still awake.

'Still? How is that possible?' he thought to himself, before walking over to the cheetah. She tilted her head at him, and he could instantly see the tiredness in her eyes. 'Oh, boy.'

"Fuli, it's really late," he told her, softening his voice, both to allow his family to sleep and to show his sincerity. "Don't you think you should get some sleep?"

"I can't," she replied. Simba waited for her to explain further, but she didn't. He moaned, before walking out of the tree. "Where are you going?"

"I need you to come with me. There is something you should see."

Fuli wanted to ask more, but he kept walking, so she just followed him. He led her to a hill, not far from the tree. Once at the top, they sat down and looked out across the Pride Lands. The entirety of the place that was their home was in sight- the Watering Hole, glistening under the moonlit sky; the grazing grounds, where the grass was slowly swaying in the night breeze; Pride Rock, standing tall as if it was watching over the Pride Lands.

Fuli might have thought it to be breathtaking, but she was more concerned with why Simba had brought her here. She looked up at Simba, who had a happy, reminiscent smile on his face.

"I remember when my father first showed the Pride Lands to me," he said, but not to anyone in particular. "It had been one morning at Pride Rock, but it was still breathtaking and amazing. And then he told me after I got myself and Nala into trouble that the stars are the Great Kings of the past, watching over us. It makes me feel good to know that my father is-"

"Simba?" she asked, snapping him from his memories and prompting him to look at her. "Why have you brought me here?"

"Fuli, you can't keep pushing yourself like you have today. Ono told me what-"

"Ugh!" She stood up, growling. "First Bunga, now Ono! It's not as if I couldn't hear any of you talking about me earlier. But, so what? I had to! It was my fault that this even happened!"

"I know that cannot be true. I trust in you and the others almost as much as my own children, and I know you would never want any harm on my son." He put a paw on her back. "When my son first assembled you and the rest of the Guard, I feared he didn't understand the importance of his choice. But when you all saved my daughter, I knew he had made the right choice. He has chosen the bravest, strongest, keenest of sight," he strengthened his smile, "and fastest. You four are the perfect choices."

She hung her head. "But I wasn't fast enough today. I was too slow and it got my best friend hurt. So, maybe I'm not the perfect choice."

"Hey." He put his paw under her chin, so she had to look at him. "My son chose you for a reason, and it WAS the right choice. Now, listen to me- what happened today was in no way your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is Janja for setting up the trap in the first place. You have done more than enough today, and more than anyone should ever have to. When Kion wakes up, he will be so proud of you."

Fuli wanted to cry. First Nala, then Kiara, and now Simba- they had all tried to cheer her up, and cared for her so much. But she wanted to cry because she felt that it was misplaced. The one person she might have believed it from was currently unconscious. She swiped away the paw and gathered her breath to stop herself from crying.

"No!" she told him, forcefully. "I know what I've done today… and it wasn't enough to keep my friend from getting hurt! It wasn't enough to prove I belong in the Guard! It just wasn't enough. I'm sorry, but I've accepted that. If Kion doesn't wake up tomorrow, I'm leaving. That's just how it has to be."

"No, Fuli, you can't-"

"You might be the king, sir, but I couldn't stay here if I even thought that it was my fault, and I know that it was, so I really have no choice."

She walked back to the tree, ignoring Simba's plea for her to come back. When she got there, she sat in the darkest corner, with her back to the two sleeping lionesses. Simba entered soon after, and it hurt him to see her shut herself away. He sighed as he lay down by his wife, silently praying that Kion would wake up as he fell asleep.


Fuli waited for a while, making sure that Simba and the others were fast asleep, before she creeped towards the entrance.

"Psst!" She heard a silent his as she was about to leave. She turned and saw Rafiki, beckoning for her to come towards him. Hesitantly, she obliged. "I am glad you are awake, Fuli! You look like you were headed somewhere!"

"Erm, well-"

"I need you to come with me and watch over Kion. I'm making a medicine in case he wakes up and feels nauseous! Now, come along, asante!"

He practically herded her into the room where Kion was sleeping, and her heart sank. He was lying in the middle of the room, still, quiet. It pained her to see him like this, because it only strengthened her idea that it was her fault- the blood stained bandages over the lump on his head causing knots in her stomach. She looked at him with a concerned face,then turned to Rafiki.

"Do you really think he'll wake up?" she asked, in a whisper. This was both to avoid waking the others, and also because she was afraid of his answer. "I mean, were you telling the truth before, or were you just sparing our feelings?"

He chuckled heartily, but still quiet. "Your concerns warm my heart, Fuli. I help a lot of people doing what I do, but I truly meet few like you. You have such a wholesome heart, but you have to remember one thing." She tilted her head as she waited for him to answer. He lifted a hand to the air, before grinning widely. "Never let your worries replace your hope."

Almost as if the crazy mandrill had known, they both turned at the sound of groaning, coming from Kion. Fuli gasped as she saw her lion friend begin to slowly move. She saw his legs almost stretch, and his head lift slightly before falling back down. When she saw his eyes open and look around the room, eventually settling on her, only one word could escape her mouth:

"Kion…"