The Lion King: Dawn of the Nations
Episode 63: Resurgence
The gray clouds darkened the Pride Lands as the rain fell, accompanied by lightning and thunder. "Emba." Faeze expressed with worry. "It was an accident, none of us wanted that outcome." He placed a paw on his friend's back. The mix of rage and sadness remained intact on Emba's face, who just stopped walking and sat down on the wet grass.
"Patrol's over." Emba said with a broken voice, getting looks of confusion from the rest of the Guard.
"But we just star…" Usu jumped back by Emba's sudden reaction.
"It's over! Go away!" Emba exclaimed with great anger. "Leave me alone." He looked at Faeze lastly. "All of you." He lowered down his gaze.
Faeze looked at his friend with great pity, then he turned and started to walk away along with Usu. Chikere just flew by them. "I...I think he needs a bit of space." Faeze said as he approached Usu and Chikere.
"Oh he needs a lot of space." Usu said.
"Shouldn't we do the patrol anyway? It is our responsibility." Chikere suggested.
Faeze sighed. "Let's just call it a day, Chikere." He glared at the young eagle with sadness and disillusion. "Alright?"
"I second that." Usu shook his head as he walked downhearted.
Chikere looked at his two comrades with understanding. "Alright. I'll stay alert from above, just for a while." He flew away from them, watching over the Pride Lands as the rain and thunder kept going.
On the meantime, in front of Pride Rock, Keru and Anya played under the rain, laughing as they tackled and splashed each other with water and mud. "That looks fun." Jakir, Jaira's oldest son said as he and the other three little hyenas arrived.
"Those puddles are huge." Jaye opined.
"Uhm, do you think they are friendly?" Jenuk inquired.
"What you mean? Puddles can't be or not be friendly." Jakir looked at him with confusion.
Jenuk sighed. "Not the puddles, the lions."
"They're the king's children, I believe, so...I don't know, we should find out." Jara began to walk towards them.
"Wait, what if they bite?" Jenuk asked with concern.
"All lions bite." Jaye replied.
"I mean what if they bite us." Jenuk answered with annoyance.
"Oh, well then we bite back." Jaye replied as they walked towards Anya and Keru.
Keru smeared a big ball of mud on Anya's face with his paw. "Take that!"
"Keru!" Anya chuckled while getting the mud off her face. "I got mud in the eye!" She hit his shoulder with her paw playfully.
Keru chuckled. "Oh sorry...let me help you." He helped her by gently taking off the mud off her eye lids with his paw.
"Uhm, hi!" Jara said. "Can we play with you?"
Keru and Anya gasped a bit, looking at the hyenas with a subtle distrust. "Oh, uhm...I don't know, who…?" Keru was interrupted.
"Your dad received us here, uhm…" Jara thought for a moment, unable to remember the name of the king. "K...Kopa?"
"Kopa? Who's Kopa?" Keru inquired with confusion.
"Kion, dummy." Jaye corrected.
Jara grunted. "I was pretty close, Jaye! Don't you call me dummy!"
"Oh, no, Kion is my uncle." Keru got onto his paws and shook off the mud, followed by Anya. "Kovu's my dad."
"And what's your name?" Jakir inquired, looking at the two lions.
"I'm Keru." He smiled at the hyenas amicably.
Anya hesitated a bit to reveal her name. "A...Anya." She smirked subtly.
"Cool, my name's Jara, daughter of queen Jasiri and king Janja." She began to slowly get in a puddle of mud.
"I'm Jaye, also son of, well them." Jaye and the other young hyenas also began to play with the mud as the rain still fell.
"What about you two?" Keru asked.
"Jakir." The oldest son of Jaira revealed as he threw a ball of mud at his little brother.
"Gah!" Jenuk exclaimed as the ball hit him right on the face.
"Uhm, alright nice to meet you, Jakir and Gah." Keru toyed casually with the mud along with Anya.
"No! My name's Jenuk!" Jenuk clarified upset.
"Oh, sorry I thought…" Keru got hit by a ball of mud that was thrown by Jakir.
Jakir laughed out loud while watching Keru clean the mud off his face. "Mud war!" The four little hyenas and the two young lions engaged in an intense mud battle, mud flew constantly from all directions as the rain fell, the laughter of the six animals stopped when hearing a splatter and a growl. "Kids!" Janja exclaimed as he cleaned the mud off his face. He had arrived along with Jasiri and Jaira.
"What did we tell you last night?" Jasiri inquired with a face of disapproval, which also reflected relief.
"That we should not exit the cave without permission." Jaye looked away with shame.
"What matters is that you are alright." Jaira looked at Keru and Anya. "And I'm glad to see you've made new friends." She smiled at the little lions.
"Yeah, they haven't bit us yet so...that is nice." Jenuk's comment made everybody share a brief laugh.
"Sisi ni sawa." Jasiri's smile showed love and nostalgia.
"What does that mean?" Anya inquired.
Jasiri chuckled. "It means 'we are the same', little one. Keep that in mind, and you will live in peace with all of your brothers and sisters in the Circle of Life."
The rain and thunder hadn't stopped, still making Emba's walk more gloomy and hopeless. He kept walking over the muddy grass until he reached a cliff, standing right on the edge as he breathed in and out rapidly, with a great rage consuming him from the inside, frowning and looking into the sky, the clouds getting darker above him as the thunder increased and got more louder and violent. "I…" He took a deep breath and adopted an imposing posture. "I can't take it anymore!" The ancestors began to appear in the clouds as the wind whipped the trees menacingly.
"Emba." An echoing voice sounded from the heavens, making Emba gasp and look around with confusion.
"Who's there?" Emba felt the sudden warmth of a powerful ray of light that came from above, he turned and gasped when seeing Simba looking at him from the clouds. "Wh...wha…" He rubbed his eyes with his paw, then kept looking at Simba with great awe. "Who are you?"
"I'm Simba, your grandfather." He smiled at him. "I met you when you were very little, during your first days in this world." Simba chuckled a bit, then let out a sigh. "If only I had more time to know you, to see you grow, but Mungu had other plans."
"I...I…" Emba took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "I am glad to meet you, grandfather, it's just that…" He sighed and shook his head. "It is kind of a bad timing." He lowered down his gaze while sitting down.
"That is why I'm here, Emba." Simba's statement made Emba look into his eyes again. "As the leader of the Lion Guard, you have to be strong, not only of body, but also of spirit."
Emba sighed with frustration. "What does that even mean?"
"To not desist, to continue fighting, always keeping your head up." Simba gave him a reassuring smile. "Especially when disaster comes."
"I failed, we all failed." Emba shook his head. "A little zebra died because of us."
"That is a great pity, for sure, but you also managed to save the anteaters." Simba replied. "Value the good things you do, and learn from the bad things."
"But...what can I learn from that?" Emba looked away for a moment. "We did everything we could, we tried our best and still failed." He shook his head as a tear ran down his face.
"Hm...maybe that's what you have to learn." Simba's words made his grandson look at him with a raised eyebrow. "Emba, there will always be things out of your control. It's part of life, the best you can do in these cases is to hope for the best, to have some faith and move on."
"How will I move on from this?" Emba sobbed. "The body, the...blood, the screams, all of…" He started to cry. "...all of that is still in my head!"
"I understand. Give time to the time, Emba, you will learn how to deal with those bitter memories from battle to battle." Simba reassured.
"Emba." A female voice echoed suddenly, then Emba looked into the sky again and gasped when seeing his grandmother, Nala, right next to Simba, looking at him with a loving gaze.
"Grandmother?" Emba inquired while cleaning a tear off his face.
"Mhm." Nala smiled at him caringly. "Remember that you are not alone, you have a loving family and friends to lean on when times are dark."
Emba's heart began to calm down. "I know…" He sighed as the tears subsided. "But I yelled at them...they must be mad at me."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Emba. You only let your emotions out, as everyone does." Simba reassured.
"You needed this time for yourself." Nala added. "Things went better, haven't they?"
Emba chuckled blissfully. "A bit." He smiled at his grandmother.
"The Guard has been entrusted to you from above, it is your duty to protect the Pride Lands and the Circle of Life. And we know you'll do it well, you already have the best teacher." Simba said with confidence and nostalgia.
Emba nodded. "Yes, you're right." He looked away, spotting Pride Rock in the distance.
"Go." Simba commanded. "Reconcile with your friends, tell your father how you feel, any doubts you may have, and get some rest after that."
Emba remained thoughtful for a long moment, then he looked back at his grandparents. "I will." He smiled. "Thank you both."
"Whenever you need us, just look into the sky and call us." Nala said. "We'll always be here for you."
Emba let out a sob of joy as a tear ran across his face. "Alright. I will, grandparents."
On the meantime, Faeze walked crestfallen under the cover of Ferezan's treetops, as the rain fell on the green grass of the cheetah nation. He was spotted by Fuli, who was just laying down over a rock along with Azaad. "Faeze?" Fuli jumped down the rock, followed by her mate, then they both approached their son quickly. "Son, you should be patrolling with the Guard." Fuli looked into his eyes for a moment, managing to see the hopelessness and disappointment in them. Faeze shook his head and got closer to his mother, resting his head on her chest, without saying a word. "Oh, son." Fuli stroked his back with her paw as she nuzzled his head. "What happened?" She licked his head tenderly.
"We tried to warn some zebras from falling, but they...they kept running, even after we told them to stop, many times." Faeze replied.
"Zebras, huh?" Fuli sighed while shaking her head. "They never stop panicking and running." She kept caressing her son with great love and reassurance.
"A little one hit his head on a rock." Faeze said with great sadness. "He died."
"Aw." Fuli licked his forehead. "That is such a shame, but…" Fuli sighed. "Accidents happen, son. There will be times when you won't be able to save everyone."
Azaad got closer to them, lowering his head to nuzzle his son's face. "When things fail, remember you can always come to us, as you just did."
Faeze sobbed. "Thanks dad." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as Azaad gave him a lick on the cheek.
In the Lion Guard's lair, Usu was laying over the cold rock with his arms crossed, resting his back against the wall, looking at the green vines on the ceiling, pensive and uncertain. Chikere arrived all of a sudden, flying in before landing on a rock right next to Usu, barely above the pool. The young eagle shook the water off his feathers, letting out a yawn and perching there. "Didn't find any trouble." The bird said.
"Awesome." Usu sighed.
"Mhm." Chikere responded without further ado.
Zale yawned and stretched as he walked towards them from the other side of the cave. "Hey guys." He said while yawning again. "How was your first day?"
"It was regul…" Chikere got interrupted.
"Crap." Usu replied coldly. "It was crap."
"What happened?" Zale sat down close to them.
Chikere sighed. "We saved the anteaters from being crushed by a zebra stampede, but a little zebra died."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Zale thought for a moment. "I'm sure tomorrow will be better." He smiled at them.
"How? Can you see the future?" Usu inquired mockingly.
"Uhm, no but...I think you guys make a good team, I just can see it." Zale spoke with a reassuring tone. "It's kinda stupid to be so hard on yourselves, considering it was your first patrol." He shrugged. "Just saying."
Chikere looked at Usu. "He's right, you know?"
Usu stood silent for a moment, then he let out a brief sigh. "Whatever you say, I guess." He yawned while turning, laying on his side. "All I need now is some sleep."
"Same." Chikere tucked his head into his feathers, pulling one leg to feel warmer.
"Alright, uhm...sleep well, guys." Zale mumbled and walked out of the cave.
The night had arrived, covering the forests of Ferezan with a dim starlight while Faeze entered Karu-Karu's lair to check on his friends. "Hey."
"Faeze!" Niri exclaimed with excitement, approaching his friend and nuzzling him.
"Woah, hi!" Faeze chuckled as Tizei and Aozo got onto their paws, followed by Jantu, the hyena.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the Pride Lands?" Tizei inquired.
Faeze sighed. "Long story." He yawned and laid down in the corner of the small cave. "For now, I just want to sleep and forget everything."
"Wait, did you get fired?" Aozo raised an eyebrow while looking at his friend.
Faeze sighed. "Of course not, pal. I just need a little break, so please…" He yawned and stretched. "...let's just leave the topic aside."
"We hunted some oryxes, there is some outside." Jantu offered.
"Thanks Jantu, I'm not really hung…" Faeze's ear twitched as he heard steps outside as well as a long and monstrous growl.
Jantu approached the entrance of the cave and stuck his head out to take a look, sniffing a couple times. "Lion."
"A friendly one, maybe, don't you guys think?" Niri inquired, trembling while standing behind Tizei.
"Guessing by that growl...I don't think so." Aozo opined.
"Stay here." Jantu commanded firmly and exited the cave.
Faeze steeled himself and after a deep breath, he followed Jantu. "I'll go with you."
Jantu sighed. "No Faeze, I have a better chance with h…"
"It is my responsibility to protect." Faeze showed him the Lion Guard symbol on his shoulder.
Jantu didn't know what to argue against that, so he just turned and exited the cave. "Alright, but stay behind me."
"Alright." Faeze said, mumbling as they walked cautiously between the bushes, seeing a dim purple glow on the trunk of the trees. "What is that light?"
"I don't know." Jantu replied. "It comes from that bush." They walked towards the bush as the glow got brighter, a pair of white glowing eyes appeared all of a sudden, followed by a loud roar. "Stay behind me!" Jantu adopted a hostile position, growling while focusing on those mysterious eyes. All of a sudden, the purple glowing creature jumped towards Jantu and tackled him. She was a lioness, who had a tuft on her head, her fur was tattered and of an opaque yellow color, which could be seen through the purple glow that surrounded her. Jantu bit her neck and threw her fiercely onto the side of the cave, making her screech loudly, hurting their ears.
"What is that thing?!" Faeze inquired.
"How could I know?!" Jantu gasped as he got onto his paws and approached the lioness again, who had already stood up. She growled at him and when Jantu approached her, she threw a strong blow at his face, making him bleed and fall onto the ground briefly, but he managed to stand up again, ignoring the pain on his face.
The lioness jumped at him and before she could land her paws on him again, Faeze tackled her and started to throw quick blows at her once they both landed on the ground. "What do you want, monster?!"
The lioness bit his paw with strength and threw him to get him off her. Faeze groaned while landing strongly over the ground. "Ouch...my paw." He stood up effortfully, limping on his paw. "Dang it."
The purple glowing creature rushed towards him, but Jantu approached her and hit her snout strongly with his paw, sending her a couple of bushes away from them. "Hide with the others, Faeze!"
"No! I'm o…" Faeze groaned as he had stepped on his wounded paw.
"Go hide, Faeze!" Jantu insisted.
Fuli and Azaad arrived, having been alerted by the noises of battle. "Hyena! Get away from my son!"
"No! He's a friend, mom!" Faeze didn't even think about the scolding his mother would give him for hiding and caring for an animal unknown to her.
"What?" Fuli's eyes widened when seeing the lioness approaching Jantu rapidly. "Look out!"
"What the heck is that?!" Azaad exclaimed with great intrigue.
The lioness jumped at Jantu, bringing him down while biting his neck. Jantu resisted the bite and then he turned to have her against the ground, then he pressed her neck tightly with his paw, while also biting her neck fiercely, shaking his head violently as the lioness screeched by the pain and the suffocation that Jantu caused her. Suddenly, as the lioness roared, an invisible impulse threw Jantu away, causing the surrounding grass and bushes to move as if a great gale had fallen.
Fuli, Azaad and Faeze got onto their paws as the impulse had also brought them down. "Where did it go?" Fuli inquired.
"There!" Azaad started to chase the mysterious lioness as he saw her purple glow from afar, she had already gotten fairly away from them with her quick steps.
"Wait! Azaad!" Fuli sighed as she ran after him, managing to approach him quickly as the glow got dimmer on the distance as the two cheetahs ran and panted in a diminishing hope of reaching the creature, a hope that finally vanished when the glow disappeared completely. "That thing…" Fuli had stopped running, breathing in and out deeply, recovering her breath, just as her mate. "...is fast."
"And it's not even a…cheetah." Azaad said as he and Fuli turned in order to go back with their son and the stranger.
Fuli sighed. "I didn't notice." She said sarcastically.
"So...what do we do? It...it doesn't seem to be, you know...from around here." Azaad commented.
"We'll address that later, right now I would like to make your son some questions." Fuli said with an upset tone.
The two monarchs of Ferezan had returned with Faeze. "Mom, he needed help, he was wounded and we thought it would be, uhm, cool to have him in Karu-Karu."
Fuli let out a chuckle of mockery. "For your little game? Son, we don't know him."
"I know him." Faeze said with a straight tone. "He saved us, you saw it."
Fuli sighed. "Son, I don't think that's enough reason t…"
"Uhm, your highnesses." Jantu bowed awkwardly at Fuli and Azaad. "May I have a word?"
Fuli and Azaad stood quiet for a moment, then the queen let out a sigh. "Go ahead."
"Thank you." Jantu looked at Faeze. "After I escaped from those wild and violent animals in the midst of our...obligated migration, uhm...I just woke up here, among your son and their friends. I had nothing, in that moment." A lump formed in his throat. "Nothing, no one, and they just decided to welcome me, to take care of me." Jantu lowered down his gaze. "And I couldn't be more grateful with them, with your son. Since that day I've been trying to be grateful and repay them for what they have done for me, but…" He sighed. "I don't want to be where I'm not welcome."
"Mom." Faeze looked at Fuli with pleading eyes. "Dad, please let him stay." He had switched his gaze to Azaad.
Fuli looked deeply into the eyes of the hyena, considering his words and what she had witnessed earlier on, knowing that there was a big chance that her son wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him. "What's your name?"
"Jantu." The hyena said humbly.
"Alright, Jantu." Fuli said, looking at her mate for a moment, who just nodded briefly at her, then she looked back at the hyena. "You can stay."
"Yes!" Faeze exclaimed with excitement.
"Hurray!" A childish voice sounded from a bush nearby.
"Niri, hush!" Tizei expressed with annoyance from the same place.
"What?" Niri got out of their hideout. "They know already, anyway." Aozo and Tizei came out of the bush as well, looking at the monarchs with guilt.
"You should have told us about this." Fuli looked at the four cubs with a straight face.
"Sorry, queen Fuli." Aozo said with his gaze lowered.
Azaad let out a sigh. "The past is the past, the next time something like this happens, you will tell us so we can work on a solution together, alright?"
"Yes, king Azaad." Faeze's friends said in unison.
Faeze sighed. "Yes, dad."
"Alright, then." Fuli gestured towards the cave. "Go back to sleep." She told the cubs then looked at Jantu and Faeze. "Except for you two." The cubs obeyed her and entered their cave.
"Where did that thing come from?" Fuli asked.
"We just heard noises outside, Faeze and I went out to check and that...creature just appeared and attacked us." Jantu's neck was bleeding, and Faeze still limped on his paw.
"I will have a healer check you." Fuli commented. "Follow me."
"It's alright, I'm not feeling anything reall…" Jantu groaned. "...well not too much."
"I wasn't asking, let's go." Fuli said as Jantu and Faeze followed her and Azaad.
"Jantu." Faeze groaned as he felt pain on his wounded paw. "You defeated that thing all on your own, it's very impressive."
"You helped a bit." Jantu replied with a smirk.
"No, I mean...you are very strong, like, you had her completely subdued." Faeze praised.
"I saw that." Fuli added. "You are probably the strongest hyena I've ever seen, and I've met a lot of hyenas."
Faeze looked at Jantu with a hesitant yet hopeful gaze. "Jantu, I think you are what the Lion Guard needs."
"What?" Jantu inquired with great doubt. "Uhm, do you really think so?"
"I mean, we need our 'strongest' and you kind of meet the requirements." Faeze replied. "What do you say?"
"Faeze, it is up to Emba to make that decision. Take Jantu with you tomorrow and let them meet first." Fuli advised as they walked past the rocky caves and the tall and green trees.