The Lion King: Dawn of the Nations

Episode 61: Outbreak

After they finished their meal, Kion and Emba took a walk around Pride Rock. "What happened, son?" Kion patted Emba's head briefly.

Emba delayed a bit to reply. "I…" He shook his head and sighed with frustration and doubt. "You will hate me if I tell you."

"Woah, Emba…" Kion nuzzled his head tenderly. "That won't happen, I promise."

"I…" Emba sighed and just let out what he needed to say. "I almost killed Sekani."

Kion let out a gasp of surprise as his eyes widened. "You what?"

"What you just heard!" Emba looked at him with frustration and embarrassment, with a tear in the corner of his eye.

"Don't yell at me!" Kion took a step towards him, standing before his son, imposing and serious, making him step back while glaring down, starting to cry. Kion took a deep breath and sighed with repentance. "I'm sorry." Kion got closer to Emba and patted his head caringly, laying down next to him, making him lay down as well. "We can lose control sometimes, you and I." He shook his head. "This rage you have inside...you got it from me."

"If Faeze hadn't stopped me...Sekani…" Emba cleaned a tear off his face with his paw, as he tried to speak with great effort as the sadness overcame him. He took a couple of deep breaths. "I wanted to end with…" He growled. "...with his life, dad." Emba continued crying, resting his face on his father's chest. "...he had s…" Emba sobbed. "...surrendered."

Kion nuzzled his head tenderly with his lower jaw. "I remember a time where I felt that...untamed rage as well, against one of my best friends." Kion pictured the memory of the conflict he had with Fuli back when they were in their journey to the Tree of Life. "I wanted to make her suffer…" He felt a phantom pain on his scar, thanks to the vivid remembrance. "I felt this enormous pride and anger that made me see others as stones in my path."

"Maybe I'm not ready, dad." Emba's crying had calmed down a bit.

"You are ready, son." Kion spoke with certainty.

"Dad, you would see me differently if you had been there." Emba sobbed. "How will I keep the pridelanders safe if I'm a menace to them?"

"I'll never see you differently." Kion licked his head. "I love you and I believe in you." Emba looked at him with disbelief. "Do you want to be the leader of the Guard? Do you want to defend the Pride Lands?"

Emba nodded. "I really do." He shook his head. "What I don't know is if I can."

Kion took a moment to think, to find a way to help his son overcome that anger as he did back then. "Hmm...tuliza could help."

"Who's Tuliza?" Emba inquired.

"Oh…" Kion chuckled birefly. "No one, it's a flower. Makini gave it to me when I felt stressed and angry during difficult times."

Emba raised an eyebrow. "And, did it work?"

Kion nodded. "For short periods of time, but yeah…" He patted him. "...It worked." Kion looked away for a moment. "But I think you will need something else as well."

"What?" Emba looked at his father with confusion.

"It was called 'The River of Patience', it helped me stay calm, focus on myself and the things around me, learn to wait." Kion looked around, pensive. "Urembo River could work."

"Oh, so...I just have to take a bath there and it's done?" Emba inquired.

"Not exactly." Kion smiled at him and licked his forehead. "We should get you tuliza first and see how you react, okay?"

"Mhm." Emba nuzzled his father's neck. "Thanks."

In Pride Rock, the rest of the royal family napped deeply, except for Ari and Keru. Anya was also awake, laying down right next to Keru. "So he saved you. That is quite impressive." Ari said.

Keru shook his head. "It was awful. I thought we wouldn't make it. Besides, it was my dad the one who took us out."

"Yes, but still. The way she told it, it pretty much sounds that way." Ari glared at Anya.

"I had never been that scared in my life." Anya looked at Keru gratefully. "Even so, I felt brave with you, a part of me always told me everything was gonna be okay in the end."

"I...I just didn't want to lose my friend." Keru looked at her with an honest smile.

Ari smirked, then focused her gaze on Anya's. "How is your life with the others?"

"The others?" Anya raised an eyebrow.

"The other lions, the refugees." Ari clarified.

"Oh, them." Anya shook her head. "They think I'm weird."

"What? Why?" Keru inquired with incredulity.

"I don't know, they just don't like me." Anya responded, looking down with sadness.

"That's odd, I like you." Keru's glare widened as he blushed. "I mean as a friend, you are cool and all, and...yeah."

Anya chuckled as she blushed a bit. "Thanks, you are...decent.".

Ari let out a brief laugh along with them. "You two are adorable."

Zale was sitting before the lair's lake, whispering words that echoed inside the cave, reaching Usu's ears, who frowned and sighed as he was trying to sleep. "Zale, could you go to other side of the cave to do...whatever you're doing?"

"I'm almost done." Zale kept speaking in silence.

Usu grunted. "That is not what I asked." He stood up and kept looking at him. "Zale, I'm trying to sleep."

Faeze yawned and stretched, looking at them as he laid over the cold rock. "What's going on, guys?"

"Zale won't stop doing his weird thing." Usu pointed at Zale with his paw as he looked at Faeze.

"What?" Faeze raised an eyebrow.

Usu sighed, covering his face. "He's talking with his...imaginary friend."

Zale's glare widened as he got onto his paws and turned to face Usu. "Excuse me?"

"Your 'Mungu' thing." Usu crossed his arms. "You are always whispering crap to him."

"It's not...crap." Zale approached him, looking at him seriously. "And it's not 'imaginary' as you say, don't talk about things you don't understand."

"Guys, come on." Faeze yawned again and stood up.

"I understand this is our lair, not yours, it's meant for warriors, not...losers like you." Usu crossed his arms.

"Usu." Faeze walked towards them and stood between them.

"What? It's true, he doesn't train or anything, he just gets in the way." Usu tried to get closer to Zale, but Faeze stopped him by getting his paw on the way.

"I do more for the team than what you know." Zale kept looking at him with seriousness. "I'm always asking him to protect you, all of you guys."

"We don't need the protection of a ghost, thanks." Usu replied with a frown.

"He is not a 'ghost'." Zale responded, starting to growl at Usu.

"Zale, calm down." Faeze warned.

"You are right, he is nothing, actually, no one." Usu suddenly raised the volume of his voice.

"Shut up already!" Zale exlcaimed, taking his claws off their sheaths. "Why don´t you leave me alone?"

"Where was he when my parents got killed, huh?!" Usu yelled, still being pushed back by Faeze. "My mom wouldn't shut up about that...lion or whatever, and yet he let her died as she did! And my father!" Usu shook his head as a tear ran down his face. "So, you stop talking to the air or I'll shut you up myself!"

"Do that and you'll deal with me." Kion said as he walked in along with Emba, giving Usu an imposing look of warning.

"What is going on?" Emba asked firmly as he and his father approached them.

"Zale?" Kion inquired.

Kion's nephew just shook his head and started to walk away, getting out of the cave. The king looked at the cheetah. "Faeze, what happened?"

"Whatever…" Usu started to walk away.

"You stay." Kion spoke firmly, his voiced echoed loudly in the cave, making Usu stop walking, standing next to Kion and Emba. Kion glanced at Faeze again. "Tell me."

Faeze took a moment to respond. "Well, Usu got mad at Zale because he was talking to, uhm, Mungu." Faeze looked at Usu for a moment, the meerkat had his arms crossed and a frown on his face. "And...well he wanted to sleep."

Kion waited for Faeze to keep talking, as he thought there would be more to the matter. He raised an eyebrow and looked at them both. "Is that it?" He locked his gaze on Usu. "That's why you threatened my nephew?"

"I didn't 'threaten' him, you are overreacting." Usu responded coldly.

"Hey!" Emba approached him. "Don't talk like that to my dad, Usu! He is your king!"

Kion sighed. "Son, I can handl…"

"Or what? Are you gonna kill me?" Usu inquired with a challenging tone, clenching his fist.

"Enough!" Kion let out a strong roar, which made several rocks fall from the ceiling and the walls, making Emba and Usu step back from one another instinctively. "Usu, you are part of a team, a family, there has to be union! You have to respect every member of the Guard."

Usu shrugged. "Zale is not a member of the Guard."

Kion let out a sigh of frustration. "No, he is not. But he is Emba's cousin and he is my nephew and I will always protect him as if he was my own son." Kion took firm steps towards Usu as he got his imposing gaze locked on his. "Do you understand that? Or do I have to be more clear?" Kion lowered down his head, putting their gazes at the same height.

Usu kept looking into the king's eyes for a moment, then he looked away and sighed. "Fine."

Kion maintained his gaze focused on his, then he slowly raised his head and sat down before the meerkat. "I will go talk to Zale, on the meantime, reflect on this and work on your apology."

"Apology?" Usu inquired with annoyance, getting an incisive look of warning from the king. Usu just turned and walked towards a corner of the cave, sitting down against the wall with his arms crossed. Kion got onto his paws and walked away.

Zale was laying down under a tree a few meters away from Pride Rock, crestfallen. "Zale." Kion approached him and sat down before him. "Faeze already told me what happened, but, I would like to hear your version of the story first."

Zale sighed. "I was just talking to Mungu and Usu got mad at me, he hates him or something, and now he hates me."

"Why would he hate him?" Kion inquired.

"His parents got killed, he must be...blaming him for it or something." Zale shook his head. "He wouldn't stop saying I believed in a ghost, in someone who didn't exist."

"That shouldn't affect you, Zale." Kion's words made Zale look at him with confusion. "If you are sure of what you believe in, and we all can tell you are, what others say shouldn't matter at all."

"I know but, the things he said they just...hurt." Zale sighed with dreariness. "I wish he wasn't in the Guard."

Kion looked away, thinking for a long moment, then he got closer to Zale and laid down next to him. "The paintings you've read in the cave, they tell a story that I'm sure you understand. The tale of how Askari started the first Lion Guard."

Zale nodded. "Yes, I've read the story."

"Good, so, you should already know who blessed it as his unstoppable force, to protect the Circle of Life." Kion looked at him with a warm smile.

"Yes." Zale looked into the sky. "And why would he choose someone like Usu?" He looked at Kion with doubt. "He's not a good animal."

Kion took a brief moment to answer. "We all have things to work on inside us, that includes Usu." He nuzzled him caringly. "Give him another chance, and try to be patient, you and I know everything happens for a reason."

"Even him being a meanie?" Zale inquired.

Kion sighed. "As strange as it sounds, yes." He got onto his paws. "Come on, let's go back to the lair.

"But, uncle." Zale stood up and looked at him with worry. "What if he hits me or something? I don't want to hurt him...I was close to doing so, honestly." He looked down with shame.

Kion patted his head. "I won't let that happen, now, follow me."

Emba was talking with Faeze at the other side of the cave, mumbling. "Do you think we were hasty in bringing him to the team?"

Faeze sighed. "I don't know, pal." He looked at Usu for a brief moment, who remained in the same pensive position. "He's been through a lot."

"That I know, but...I don't want him to ruin our Guard, it's not what the Pride Lands deserve." Emba also looked at the meerkat. "He is so brave and strong as well but, he hurt Zale and...also me, honestly." He shook his head and looked away with frustration. "He had to bring Sekani's matter up."

"Usukani." Kion spoke loudly as he and his nephew entered the cave. "Come here." Usu sighed and stood up, walking towards the king. Emba approached them as well, followed by Faeze. "I assume you know what I want you to do."

Usu looked at Zale. "I guess…" He sighed and scratched his nape while looking away. "I guess I could've waited or...I don't know, nap elsewhere."

Kion had his glare locked on him, he raised an eyebrow while moving his head forward a little. "Continue."

Usu sighed. "And sorry for, uhm, the things I said about you. And...about Mungu."

Kion nodded, then he looked at Zale and gestured at Usu. Zale approached Usu with hesitation, standing before him with a serious face. After thinking for a moment, looking directly into Usu's eyes, Zale patted his shoulder gently. "I could've been more considerate, you all had a long day and, well, you needed to rest." He bowed his head slightly. "We're good."

Usu smirked, grasping Zale's paw briefly. "Alright." He looked at Kion, then at Emba. "Are we good as well?"

Kion let out a silent and brief chuckle. "Yes, Usukani."

Emba took a moment to reply. "Just don't do it ever again, okay?"

Usu looked down and nodded. "I'll try."

"Alright then." Kion turned and started to walk away. "You'll do your first patrol tomorrow."

"What?" Faeze inquired.

"As you heard." Kion winked at him, then he was followed by Emba on his way to the exit.

"Dad, are you sure? We haven't trained that much." Emba inquired.

"Neither my Guard, and we kicked tail on our first day." Kion chuckled and patted his son's head playfully. "I believe in you all."

Emba sighed as they walked under the evening's sun. "Okay." He said with great doubt.

"Is the tuliza helping?" Kion asked.

"I don't know, I guess. I kind of feel like floating, is that normal?" Emba inquired.

"Hmm...maybe I gave you too much." Kion chuckled. "But yes, it's normal. Just keep me informed, alright?"

"Mhm." Emba nodded.

"I'll ask Musabi and Zaire to administer it to you. They are great healers." Kion added.

"Dad." Emba looked into the sky. "Where are we gonna find our 'keenest of sight'? I don't know any bird or animal who fits that description."

"I...I think I know someone." Kion said with clear doubt. "I don't know if he'll accept though."

"Who?" Emba raised an eyebrow, looking at his dad with curiosity.

On the top of Maajabu mountain, located on the edge of the Pride Lands, a young and majestic eagle of dark purple feathers, seamlessly mixed with a silky brown plumage, flew over the steep mountain peaks daringly, letting out young laughs of joy that echoed in the place as the sun was starting to hide. Emba sighed tiredly as he and his father walked up the winding road to the top of the mountain. "Dad…" He panted continuously. "...why didn't you just send a bird to bring him to Pride Rock instead?"

"I want to tell his parents first." Kion panted as well. "And they don't go there very often."

After a few more tiresome steps, they reached the top of the mountain. "Finally." Emba recovered his breath while looking around. "Is that him?" He said when spotting the young eagle flying way above them.

"Yes. Chikere." Kion nodded while also admiring the eagle's flight. "We should look for his parents fir…"

"Kion." A cold female voice sounded from behind after a clear flutter.

Kion and Emba turned, finding out who had arrived. "Hey, Anga!" Kion said as he and Emba walked towards her, she maintained a serious gaze.

"What do you need?" Anga inquired coldly.

"Uhm...sorry, is everything okay?" Kion inquired with worry.

Anga sighed. "No, Kion. Not with you, at least."

Kion raised an eyebrow. "What? Why? I'm sure you already know I broke the decree."

"I know, I was there." Anga replied. "Do you think a simple 'Oh, I messed up, my bad' will change how I see you now?" She shook her head. "No."

"Anga, come on." Kion looked at her with sadness. "You are my friend."

"And you were my friend." Anga responded firmly. "Now, tell me, what do you want?" She looked at Emba's shoulder, raising an eyebrow and rolling her eyes. "Of course."

"What?" Emba inquired.

"Chikere won't join your Guard, look for someone else." Anga told Emba with coldness.

"Please, Anga, we need him." Kion took a firm step to the front. "Let him try at least."

"You don't even know if he wan…" Anga got interrupted by her mate.

"Your majesty! What brings you and the Prince to our humble abode?" Hadithi said as he landed next to Anga, embracing her with his wing. "Did you invite them, my love?"

Anga maintained a straight face, still looking at the king and his son. "Not exactly."

"Hadithi." Kion smiled at him. "It's been a while, how's your son?"

"Oh, Chikere is well and healthy, thanks my king! He is as strong and vigorous as his father!" Hadithi got a raised eyebrow from his mate. "And as his mother, of course." He chuckled nervously.

"Wait...I thought you lived in the Tree of Life. At least that's what I heard." Emba asked Anga.

Anga hesitated to reply but she finally relented and responded. "I did live there, until this mulish bird visited me and stole my heart." Anga smiled at Hadithi slightly, but with pure honesty and love.

"I can't help it." Hadithi stroked her face gently with his head. "I'm Hadithi, after all. Brave, obstinate, and quite handsome as well."

"That I know." Anga stroked the feathers of his face gently with her beak.

"Things weren't easy without our keenest of sight in the Tree, but your happiness was more important to us." Kion smirked at Anga, who just looked away.

Hadithi nodded. "And I'm in debt with you for that, your majesty." He sighed. "Losing your friends there...the way it happened, I can only imagine how much pain you went through, Kion."

Kion looked away with great sadness and guilt, nodding and glaring back at Hadithi. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

"For sure." Hadithi changed the topic abruptly. "So, what may we help you with, your majesties?"

"My son Emba is the leader of the Lion Guard now, as you can see." Kion gestured at his son's shoulder. "A couple of other animals have joined already, but the team isn…"

Anga sighed. "He wants Chikere to join the Lion Guard. I already told him he won't b…"

"Of course he will! Oh, your majesty I don't know what to say!" Hadithi expressed with excitement, on the verge of tears. "I will go get him right n…"

"Hadithi, no! He won't be joining!" Anga expressed with anger, making her mate step back a bit.

"I won't be joining what?" Chikere arrived and landed between his parents and the two lions. "King Kion." Chikere greeted with respect while bowing his head, then he looked at Emba. "And Prince, uhm..."

"Emba." He replied with a smile.

"Nice to meet you two, such an honor." Chikere covered his chest with his wing. "I am Chikere."

"The honor is ours, Chikere." Kion smiled at him. "We were presenting an...offer, to your parents."

"Offer we have declined." Anga said coldly.

"I haven't." Hadithi got a look of warning from her mate. "What? I want him to join the Guard, my dear."

"Guard?" Chikere's eyes widened. "The Lion Guard?!" He turned to face the lions again, noticing the Guard's symbol on Emba's shoulder. "Yes! It's a yes!"

"No!" Anga approached him and looked at him with a straight face. "You are not joining, Chikere." She looked at Kion and Emba. "It was a pleasure to have you here, Kion, Emba."

"What the? Mom, I want to join." Chikere looked at Kion. "It's a yes, my King, a resounding yes."

"No, Chikere!" Anga exclaimed.

"Why not?! Tell me?!" Chikere asked angrily.

"Watch your tone with your mother, Chikere." Hadithi looked at Anga. "But...I would also like to know why do you insist on declining this great offer, my love."

"Anga, I know you and I aren't on the best terms, but…" Kion was interrupted by his son.

"I need your son, Anga." Emba took a step to the front, to which Anga just raised an eyebrow in a conceited manner. "The Guard needs eyes in the sky, to watch over and alert." Emba looked at Chikere briefly. "He looks strong as well, and I saw him fly, I can tell he has what it takes, way more than that." Emba's comment made Hadithi look at his son with pride. "Please...the Pride Lands deserve him."

Anga stood silent and pensive for a moment, then she looked at her son, who just nodded at her. "He's right." Chikere said.

Anga sighed. "You really inherited your father's arrogance, son." She glared at Hadithi, who just gave her a firm nod. Anga looked at her son once again. "It seems you have made your decision." Anga just flew away from them, entering the peaks of the mountain.

"Uhm...I'm in then!" Chikere said with a chuckle of excitement.

Emba laughed briefly as well, with great relief. "Welcome to the team!" Emba approached him and placed his paw on the wing of the young eagle. "As the leader of the Lion Guard, I name you...the keenest of sight, so you protect our land and the Circle of Life from the heights." The area illuminated and the Guard's symbol appeared on Chikere's wing.

"This is amazing!" Chikere looked at his father and extended his wing before him to show him the symbol. "It's official! I'll be a hero like you!"

Hadithi chuckled with great pride and happiness, embracing his son with both of his wings. "And I'm sure you'll do a great job, Chikere! This is such a blessed day for the family."

Chikere sighed as they broke the embrace. "Not to mom, apparently."

"It's not your fault. Neither is hers." Kion looked away with shame. "It is mine, I made decisions that broke the trust we had built for so long. It will take a while for her to forgive me, if that ever happens."

"When do I start?" Chikere inquired eagerly.

"Tomorrow." Emba replied with a smirk.

"Kushangaza!" Chikere celebrated. "I should get some good sleep then...if I can get some." He smirked and bowed at the lions. "Thanks, your majesties."

"Thank you, Chikere." Kion bowed at him in return. The young eagle began to fly away.

"Meet us next to Pride Rock!" Emba exlcaimed.

"Yeah, I'll be there!" Chikere replied before getting lost between the rocky peaks.

Hadithi approached Kion. "I am so grateful that you came to offer my son such an honor." He bowed at them with a wing on his chest and the other extended towards the sky.

"Thanks for your trust, Hadithi." Kion patted his son's head tenderly. "Here's where the story of our offspring begins, and it will be a great one, one to be remembered for the ages."