''So what's the exact purpose of this patrol, Nala?'' I asked my mother-in-law, the queen of the pridelands, as we were walking through the grasslands, having been greeted formally by various animals, ''Aren't the patrols Simba's thing?''
At that, Nala chuckled.
''Not everything is Simba's thing, Shujaa…'' Nala began as we neared a rock, ''The lionesses hunt while Rafiki is the healer...and Zazu is the majordomo who reports everything to all creatures of the pridelands. Kion is the leader of the guard and his friends are the members.''
''Then where does that leave me and Kiara?'' I asked with my head down and Nala smiled.
''You're the land's future rulers, and as such, when your time comes, you will be at the top of the rock.'' Nala replied before she saw something in the distance, ''What's that?''
As I squinted my eyes, I growled.
''Janja, Chungu and Cheezi.'' I said and Nala's eyes widened.
''The hyenas from two months ago?'' Nala asked and I nodded.
''For you, yes…'' I started, ''But I ran into them while Kiara and I were put in charge for a day, when I was the leader of the guard during the trail and when Kion and I went into the outlands to get back to the pridelands.''
''Why the long face, Shujaa?'' I heard a voice say as I turned around and saw a group of hyenas closing in on us, pushing us off of the rock and in the middle of Janja's entire pack, with said hyena in front smirking.
''Well, what do we have here?'' Janja asked as Nala and I stepped back against a rock, with me getting in front of her, '' A prince protecting his queen?''
''Shujaa, don't…'' Nala said, but I persisted on protecting my mother-in-law no matter what.
''What's the matter? Not gonna make the first move?'' Janja asked and I chuckled.
''What would be the point?'' I asked back, only for me to hear a voice that made me instantly regret not attacking.
''Leave them alone!'' Kion shouted in the distance.
Doing a cunning grin, Janja turned towards Kion.
''Or what?'' Janja asked, intending to get into Kion's head, ''You'll use your roar and get us away?''
Then, Janja turned to us.
''Get 'em, boys!'' Janja shouted, causing the hyena pack to close in and me and Nala, causing Kion to growl and take a deep breath.
''Let...them…'' Kion said before preparing to roar, causing me to leap towards him.
''WAIT, DON-'' I started, but was interrupted as Kion used a more powerful version of the roar, sending me into a large and hard tree, causing me to sprain one of my paws as the hyenas flew past me and back into the outlands.
I fell to the ground in pain as Kion and Nala ran towards me.
''I-I didn't mean-'' Kion tried to say with shock and horror in his expression and voice, ''What have I…?''
I blacked out from the pain as Kion nudged me in fear.
I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in the den of the pridelands, surrounded by my family as I cringed, trying to move my sprained paw, only to find a vine around it as Rafiki smiled at me, having been called to the den, apparently.
''Hey guys..'' I said hoarsely while I tried getting up, only to be set back down by Nala and Rafiki while Kiara was laying next to me, worried, ''What happened other than the fact I sprained my paw?''
''Well, the incident itself caused Kion to stop using the roar out of fear of what he could do with it if he got out of hand.'' Nala started, ''We tried to help him, but nothing has been working. He keeps saying that he has visions and nightmares while trying to nap and it's demoralizing him.''
''Like father, like son…'' I said, looking at Simba, who blinked, ''Thinking an incident was your fault even though it wasn't...though, under different circumstances.''
''W-Well, I am sure Kion would want a lesson on something like that.'' Simba stammered.
''And I know who to take him to for that.'' I said before managing to get to my paws and looking towards to the end of the den to find Kion sitting where Simba and Nala would sleep, having his head down.
As I walked towards him, Kion heard me coming and his eyes widened from it, causing him to back away from me.
''S-Shujaa, I didn't mean to do it, I was just wanting to help you and mom!'' Kion shouted in fear, ''But these visions...these nightmares...I can't do it! I can't use it anymore! I'll become like Scar if I do it!''
As I saw the crying cub, my heart wrenched at how similar he was to me when I was a kid. Afraid of what he could do out of anger and pushing away everyone out of fear. But out of that, I smiled...yes, he was like me...but what was the harm of helping someone from experience?
''Kion…'' I sighed, ''Come with me for a minute.''
''W-Why?'' Kion asked, but I slowly pulled him in for a hug.
''Because I will take you to someone.'' I replied before he sniffled and slowly started walking out of the den with me.
Hey, old man?
Hm?
Mind grabbing Mufasa for me?
Hmm...very well.
After a few moments, said great king ended up showing his face in the sky...a giant...floating...face...i've seen it all, folks.
''Kion…'' Mufasa started, but Kion's eyes widened.
''G-Grandfather Mufasa…'' Kion gasped before his ears went down, but my paw on his shoulder encouraged him to keep on and speak with Mufasa, ''I-I don't know what to do..''
I sighed in relief as Mufasa merely smiled.
''Kion…'' Mufasa started, ''You are afraid….I know that feeling…''
''But my dad told me you were brave.'' Kion pointed out, with tears still slowly coming down his cheeks.
''Yes...but there is one thing that scared me.'' Mufasa sighed, ''It's the safety of my family that overcomes all of my duties as king. To be who you are, you must defend those you love and if they are in danger, you must do anything you can to defend them...they just might forgive you.''
As Mufasa smiled at me, I chuckled at Kion's surprised expression.
''You mean you-?'' Kion started, but I simply nodded, ''But I sprained your-''
''It was an accident, little buddy…'' I pointed out, running my paw across the cub's mane, ''Nothing can change that it was an accident.''
''Kion...part of being leader of The Lion Guard is that you need to view the responsibilities of holding such power as important.'' Mufasa started, ''Make sure to not use the roar out of rage for that could cause harm and destruction...like Scar used it for..''
As Mufasa's words sunk into Kion, the cub slowly wiped away his tears and nodded.
As Kion continued talking to Mufasa, I made my exit to walk around the pride lands to try to get my sprained paw working again.
Knowing you, you'll be better in no time.
Well, time to check up on Sarabi since I haven't talked to her in what feels like ages.
I was walking through grasslands to try to find Sarabi until I found blood on the ground. I looked ahead and noticed a blood trail.
That doesn't look good….
No kidding….
I quickly ran towards the blood trail, following it until it led down a hill to reveal...Sarabi...on the ground...oh no.
''No!'' I shouted, running towards the elderly lioness out of fear of her safety, ''Sarabi!''
I managed to get to her and carefully roll her over using my paws, listening to her breathing to see that it's slowing down.
''No...no,no,no!'' I said, nudging Sarabi, ''Sarabi, talk to me!''
The former queen simply coughed blood out, causing it to get on the ground in front of me before chuckling.
''...Do not worry…'' Sarabi slowly started, ''Soon...I will reunite with my husband….''
At those words, my ears went down and my eyes widened, but she wasn't done.
''You all have grown so much...Simba and Nala are the king and queen...and you and Kiara are about to take that mantle..'' Sarabi said through groaning, ''I may be leaving the world of the living...but remember something, Shujaa..''
''Y-Y-Yes, Sarabi?'' I asked, choking on my own tears as someone I had thought of as a mother was dying in front of me.
''Some tragedies are unavoidable...but no matter what…'' She started, ''I will be there to guide all of you...always..''
Then...she just...closed her eyes...smiled...and stopped breathing. As I kept nudging her, tears welling up as I was panicking, I had realized...she's gone.
I just sat there before roaring in sadness.
''SARABI!'' I roared...having lost one of the most important people to me in this world.
Well...it's coronation day...three weeks have passed after Sarabi's death, an announcement I sadly stated that sent shockwaves across the pridelands and caused Simba and Nala's resignation to be postponed until today. Simba was hit the hardest, now having lost both his father and his mother in murders.
However, even though the pridelands was saddened, they gathered to pride rock as I woke up to find Rafiki in front of me, startling me enough to send me backing into a wall, hitting my head in the process.
''Wake up, Shujaa!'' Rafiki shouted, ''IT IS TIME!''
As Rafiki cackled in glee, I just smiled and walked out of the den to find Simba, Nala, Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa, Zazu and the others standing around. Kiara went up to my side as Simba and Nala approached us and just smiled.
''The new king and queen…'' Simba said, chuckling, ''Let's just hope you don't lead another human to here.''
At that, I snickered.
''Very funny, Simba.'' I said, smiling, ''But seriously, neither of us could have done this without you...and I couldn't have done this without Sarabi…''
At the mention of his mother, Simba did a heavy sigh.
''Yes...my mother was a great lion..'' Simba sighed, but slowly smiled, ''But what the pridelands needs is not a king who will spend his time grieving and locking himself away...they need a strong and capable one...and I believe you are the one they need.''
At the statement, I did a determined frown and nodded before nuzzling Kiara.
''Let's go..'' Simba said before him, Nala, Kiara and I started making his way up the edge of pride rock.
When we got up to there, I looked down at the animals...who in a few minutes, I will have complete control over. As Kiara and I smiled at the sight, Simba and Nala gave their final roar as rulers before stepping away from the edge and allowing us to smirk at each other.
''Ready to do this, Princess?'' I askedand Kiara raised an affectionate eyebrow.
''That's QUEEN to you, Connor..'' Kiara said before roaring at the crowd of animals the same time I did, officially cementing ourselves as the new rulers of these lands, ''However...there is something that I have not told you yet.''
''Yeah?'' I asked as the animals cheered loudly, ''And what's that?''
''You're going to be a father.'' Kiara said, causing me to freeze.
''Wait...WHA-''
End of Season 1!
Next: Six months after his ascension to king of the pride lands, Shujaa must spend time with his five month old daughter, Sara, having been caught up in royal duties.