Fuli's New Family
The Lion Guard began heading towards a stampeding group of buffalos who were running from a mudslide. Ono flew over the herd and the rest of the Guard was busy keeping them contained, searching for higher ground to lead the buffalos.
"There's dry ground nearby!" Ono yelled below the bellowing bovines as he swooped down, hovering over Kion, "It's this way."
"Great work, Ono," Kion smiled at the egret, "Everyone, Ono's found dry ground!" He called out to the rest of the Guard, "We gotta round up the buffalo and guide them over there and fast."
"Nobody does fast better than me, Huwezi!" Fuli said with a grin as she sped towards the front of the herd.
"Hey, wait up, Fuls!" Kufu called out, "You need some help from a lion with some sly moves, Huwezi Kuniona!" The lion followed the cheetah behind, jumping over each buffalo to avoid getting caught in the stampede.
"This way, everyone, follow us!" Fuli called out as she and Kufu ran beside the herd, "This way, that's it."
The rest of the Guard followed behind, keeping the herd contained. As they neared the safe ground, a buffalo in the rear of the herd slipped in the mud and fell to the ground, letting out a grunt and a bellow.
"Uh-oh!" Kufu gasped, seeing this and he looked towards his leader, "Kion, buffalo down!"
"Hevi Kabisa!" Kion looked over his shoulder towards the honey badger and hippo, "Beshte, Bunga, that last one's yours."
"You got it, Kion," Beshte charged in with Bunga on his back.
Beshte went behind the buffalo while Bunga grabbed it by the horns.
"Come on," Bunga grunted, "Let's go, buffalo."
"Twende Kiboko!" Beshte grunted as he gave one last push, freeing the buffalo from the mud.
The sudden jerk from the buffalo's head sent Bunga flying, landing in a nearby bush. A second later he jumped out, letting out a 'yowch' with his hands rubbing his backside.
"Bunga, are you OK?" Kion asked, running to his friend's side.
"Yeah, what happened?" Kufu asked, following behind Kion.
"Something bit me," Bunga answered, "And it was him," he pointed towards a red cobra emerging from the bush with a hiss.
"Oh, God, Ushari!" Kufu growled, getting into a crouching position as he recognized the snake, "Of all the animals in the Pride Lands, it had to be him."
"We did it, Kion," Ono reported, landing beside Bunga, "The buffalos are all safe and...Hapana! Egyptian Cobra!" Ono gasped as he saw the snake near the bush, holding his wing in front of his face, "Whatever you do, don't let it bite you."
Bunga rubbed his backside, "He already did," he informed. Everyone had all gathered at this point and they all gasped.
"Hey, Ushari, why did you do that?" Beshte asked as he approached the snake.
"He landed on my head, Bessshte," Ushari hissed, "he'sss lucky I only bit him once."
"How about you scram out of here before I turn you into my snack?" Kufu threatened, showing his teeth. The snake rolled his eyes and slithered away, "Ugh, I really hate that snake. He's more of an Outlander than a Pride Lander, I swear he is."
"Both Kufu and Ushari got a point," Bunga agreed, trying to look at his rear, "I wonder if Ushari left a mark on me."
"Bunga, you don't understand!" Ono exclaimed, jumping in front of the honey badger, "That snake, his bite is venomous."
"You mean, it did leave a mark?" Bunga questioned.
"I mean his bite is poison," Ono clarified, holding Bunga's head between his wings.
"Poison?" Bunga gulped as his face fell, "That's not good. That's bad. That means...That means I'm a goner!" He fell back into Kion's chest with a moan.
"The venom's in his system," the Guard's Keenest of Sight noted, "We need to suck the poison out."
"OK, if you think that'll help," Bunga sat up and held his butt in the air, making everyone recoil.
"Really?" Fuli crinkled her nose.
"Maybe not," Ono covered his beak with his wing.
"No thanks," Beshte cringed.
"I'm not placing my mouth anywhere near that," Kufu gagged.
"I have a better idea - We'll take him to Rafiki," Kion informed, "Ono, have Timon and Pumbaa meet up at Rafiki's tree."
"Affirmative!" Ono saluted before taking off in the air.
Bunga let out another groan and fell back onto Kion's chest, "Hang in there, Bunga," he told the badger, "Rafiki will know what to do."
Kufu grabbed Bunga by his scruff and helped him onto Beshte's back before the Guard took off towards Rafiki's tree.
Bunga moaned in pain the entire way to Rafiki's tree. Ono, along with Timon and Pumbaa, met up with the Guard as they ran to the base of the tree.
"Bunga!" Timon cried out, standing on Pumbaa's head, "The bird said that a snake bit ya on the bottom."
"Oh, say it ain't so!" Pumbaa sobbed.
"Oh, it's so," Bunga answered, causing Timon and Pumbaa to burst into tears.
"Timon, Pumbaa, calm down," Kion said, calmly, to the crying meerkat and warthog duo, "I'm sure Rafiki-"
"Rafiki?" Timon cut off, still crying, "What is that old monkey gonna do?"
"Who, me?" The mandrill in question appeared from behind the tree, holding some fruit in his arms, "Ha, ha, ha, nothing," he answered with a laugh, splitting one of the gourds in half.
"Thanks, Rafiki, that's great," Pumbaa sniffed before realizing what he said, "Wait, nothing?"
"What the heck?" Kufu spoke up, stepping beside Kion, "Rafiki, Bunga was bitten by a poisonous snake and you're just gonna sit there and do nothing?"
Bunga slid off of Beshte's back and let out another groan, "You have to help me. I don't have much time left," he sighed, resting his arms against his head, "I think this is the end. Goodbye, everyone. Hello, Circle of Life," the honey badger fell on his back, grabbing a nearby flower to hold over his stomach.
"Bunga?" Kion questioned, "Bunga!" Timon and Pumbaa burst into another fit of sobbing.
"Bunga," Rafiki leaned towards the honey badger, "Honey Badgers like you, you're immune to snake bites," he informed in a calm tone.
"What? Immune?" Bunga shot up in confusion.
"Beg your pardon?" Kufu asked.
Timon and Pumbaa halted their crying, "What?" They both said in unison.
"I thought I was a goner, but this is even worse - I'm immune!" Bunga cried out, "What's immune?"
Ono rolled his eyes, "If you're immune to something, they can't hurt you," he answered, flatly.
"So, if I'm immune to snake bites, they can't hurt me?" Bunga questioned. Ono nodded in confirmation, "Great, let's go, guys!" He jumped to his feet and dropped the flower onto the ground.
"Are you kidding me?" Fuli exclaimed with a raised brow, "We were worried about you and you were faking it?"
"Uh, not exactly," Bunga chuckled, dryly.
Fuli ran up to Bunga, glaring at him with narrowed eyes, "I should bite you myself!"
"Get in line, Fuls," Kufu agreed as he went to Fuli's side.
"Easy, you two," Kion said, calmly, pushing his friends away from the honey badger, "Bunga, we just thought you were really hurt."
"Me too," Bunga agreed.
"But he's not, he's fine," Timon sighed, wrapping his arm around his nephew's shoulder, "So, let's celebrate!"
"Yeah," Pumbaa agreed, "A feast at Hakuna Matata Falls, and everyone is invited."
"Thanks, Pumbaa, sounds great," Kion smiled, "But I gotta meet up with my family for dinner."
"Me too," Beshte agreed.
"The flock gets jittery when I don't show up for meal time, especially Kipo," Ono followed.
"How about you, Fuli?" Pumbaa asked, looking towards the cheetah, "Are you meeting your cheetah family?"
"Nah," the Guard's Fastest replied, "I think I'll just go hunt by myself."
"By yourself? All alone?" Pumbaa questioned, "That's the saddest thing I've ever heard. Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard, Timon?" He asked his meerkat friend.
"You're right Pumbaa. It is," Timon agreed, "Friends don't let friends eat alone."
"It's not like that," Fuli rebuked, "Girl cheetahs hunt alone. It's what we do."
"Not this girl cheetah, not today," Timon corrected, "You're eating with us and I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," Fuli tried to speak, but Timon raised his hand, "Not another word. I insist," he stepped aside, "After you."
"Ugh, OK," Fuli rolled her eyes and started walking towards Hakuna Matata Falls, and then she noticed Kufu following behind, "What are you doing, Kufu, don't you have to meet up with your moms?"
"Nah, my moms are having a date," Kufu answered, "And I got nothing to do, so might as well do something to entertain myself."
"Well, the more the merrier," Pumbaa said as they all went towards Hakuna Matata Falls.
"Is what Timon said true?" Ono asked as the rest of the Lion Guard watched Fuli and Kufu leave with Bunga, Timon, and Pumbaa, "Do friends not let friends eat alone?"
"If it is true, then we haven't been good friends to Fuli," Beshte noted with his ears falling to the side.
"We need to be sure Fuli knows that we're here for her," Kion spoke.
"How do we do that?" Ono questioned.
"From now on, if any one of us see Fuli all alone, we invite her to whatever it is we're doing," Kion answered.
"Good idea, Kion," Beshte agreed with a grin, "Then Fuli will know we're her friends."
"Well, I know you're always gonna be there for your cheetah, right, Kion?" Ono teased, causing Beshte to laugh.
"Leave those jokes to Kufu, Ono," Kion said in a deadpan tone with red on his face.
"I'm starting to regret joining you, Fuls," Kufu groaned as he watched Timon and Pumbaa eat bugs off a large leaf.
"Ugh, no kidding," Fuli agreed.
"Would you two like some delicious grubs?" Timon offered.
"They're slimy, yet satisfying," Pumbaa said, munching on a caterpillar.
"Um, no, thanks, I'm good," Kufu declined.
"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry," Fuli declined as well, moving to sit away from the water.
"Of course, how rude of me, how can you dive into a meal without a little dinner conversation?" Timon threw the leaf of bugs straight into Pumbaa's mouth and walked over to the cheetah who was cleaning her paws and hopped onto a rock to be at eye level, "So how are things going on your end of the food chain?"
"Um... good?" She answered, not knowing how to respond to that.
"Good, good," Timon replied, reaching out to stroke the fur on Fuli's cheek, "Oh, wow! Fuli, you're so soft!" He gasped, holding the cheetah's face between his hands, "Do you know how soft you are?" the meerkat continued to rub against her cheeks, making Fuli very uncomfortable.
"I, uh, don't really like having my fur touched," Fuli informed with gritted teeth.
Timon ignored the comment and continued patting the cheetah's face, "Pumbaa, feel this fur. You could drown in fur like this."
"Oh, I wanna feel," the warthog bounded up against the cheetah's side, "Mmm, ooh, cuddly," he muttered, half asleep.
"Ha, I'm never gonna let you live this down, Fuli," Kufu chuckled, humorously, "I bet Kion likes the way your fur feels."
"Shut. Your. Stupid. Mouth. Kufu!" Fuli growled in a threatening tone.
"Hey, Bunga, you try," Pumbaa opened his eyes and couldn't see his nephew anywhere, "Huh, where did he go?"
"Oh, I'm sure he's around here somewhere," Timon waved off, leaning against Fuli who was fighting the urge to eat the two who were obsessed with her fur much to Kufu's amusement.
"I'm right over here!" Bunga called out, standing next to a sleeping Makuu, "Now, open wide, Makuu," he opened Makuu's mouth and started dancing around much to the crocodile's annoyance, "Look at me! I'm immune! Whoo!"
"Bunga, stop!" Kufu shouted before rushing towards the honey badger's aid, grabbing him by the scruff of his white fur and yanking him from Makuu's mouth before the crocodile clamped his jaw shut, "That was close, and get out of here, Makuu!" He glared at the crocodile.
"Then keep your honey badger under control, Lion Cub, before he becomes my next meal," Makuu snarled before leaving Hakuna Matata Falls.
"Whatcha doing, Kufu?" Bunga asked, looking up at him.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He replied, angrily dropping Bunga on the bottom, "I'm saving your life, you imbecile."
"But you heard Rafiki - I'm immune. I can't be hurt," Bunga reminded, "I could have stayed in that croc's mouth all day."
Fuli rolled her eyes and got Timon and Pumbaa off her, "Fine, go get eaten if you want to," she scoffed, "I'm outta here," she sped off away from the falls.
"Bunga, want some more grubs?" Timon offered, holding another leaf with more bugs on it, "They're delicious."
"Are they poisonous?" Bunga asked, hopefully.
"Of course not," Pumbaa replied.
"Then where's the fun in that?" Bunga said before walking away from his uncles.
"I'm gonna go and make sure Bunga doesn't get himself killed, and I thought the Bunga the Wise incident was the dumbest thing he ever did," Kufu said before following his honey badger friend.
"Eh, kids," Timon shrugged as he ate a bug from the leaf.
After leaving Hakuna Matata Falls, Fuli spotted a lone gazelle grazing in the grasslands. She hid in the tall grass, stalking the gazelle. Her eyes focused on the target, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Meanwhile from the sky, Ono was flying towards his flock until he spotted Fuli all alone.
"Hapana! Fuli is all alone," Ono said, realizing what Kion said, so he went down to talk to his cheetah friend, "Hey, Fuli! Fuli!"
"Ono, what is it?" Fuli asked as she ran up to the egret perched on a small rock, "Is there trouble?"
"Trouble?" Ono repeated, "Uh, no."
The cheetah sighed, "Ono, I was hunting."
"Hunting?" Ono perked up, "That's perfect. I was on my way to hunt with the other egrets. You should join us."
"OK," Fuli smiled, "Nothing like a good hunt."
"And this is nothing like a good hunt," Fuli muttered under her breath as she walked a few paces behind the egret flock who were weaving between the feet of the elephants.
"What?" Ono asked over the elephants trumpeting, "A good hunt? Yeah, it's great!"
"Yeah, it is," Kipo agreed as he appeared beside Ono, "I'm actually surprised you decided to join in on this hunt, Fuli."
"That's because Ono invited me," Fuli groaned, "Ugh, what are we doing here, Ono? Do egrets even eat elephants?"
"No," Ono and Kipo chuckled.
"We eat the bugs kicked up by the elephants' feet," Ono replied.
"Bugs? Again?" Fuli rolled her eyes, "What is it with everyone eating bugs?" She stopped when some mud splashed onto her.
"What's wrong, Fuli?" Ono flew back to his friend with Kipo following behind, "Why did you stop?"
"Ono, I'm covered in mud," the cheetah stated.
Kipo hopped forward and sniffed the brown splash on the cheetah's fur, "Uh, Fuli, don't freak out, but that's not mud," he informed, "If I were you, I'd get to the nearest watering hole."
"Wait, what?" Fuli's eyes widened as she stared at the not-mud on her fur, "Ugh, gross! I'm outta here," she whined and sped off to the nearest watering hole, leaving the two egrets. Ono looked concerned by the way his friend was hunting with his flock.
As Fuli walked away from the watering hole, cleaning herself from the not-mud, she continued tracking the gazelle she was hunting, and right as she was about to pounce, she heard another one of her friends call her.
"Fuli, jumbo!"
Fuli turned and saw it was Beshte, "Ugh, Beshte."
"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that you were all by yourself," Beshte said with a smile, walking towards her.
"So?" She quirked her eyebrow.
"So, I thought that maybe you might join me for a swim," Beshte suggested, pushing his friend towards Lake Matope, "You can meet my whole hippo pod."
"Uh, that's OK," Fuli chuckled, dryly, jumping away from the lake shore, "I'm not a big fan of water."
"It's not so bad once you get used to it," Beshte grinned, "What do ya say?"
The Guard's Fastest looked at the lake and then towards her grinning friend, and then she sighed, "Well, maybe just my paws," she slowly padded towards the water.
"That's the way, yeah!" The hippo cheered.
Fuli looked towards the water and was hesitant to put her paws in it, and then she heard a familiar 'Hey Fuli'. She turned and saw Mzuri swimming towards her.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you here, girl."
"Yeah, that's because- WHOA!" Fuli yelled as she got launched into the water when Beshte stepped on the stone she was on.
"Whoops," Beshte said, nervously, "Fuli?"
"I gotcha, Fuli," Mzuri went underneath the water and resurfaced with Fuli on her back, "There we go, are you OK, Fuli?"
Fuli coughed and sighed with her eyes slightly narrowed, "OK, so I'm in the water just like a hippo."
Beshte chuckled, dryly, "Well, uh, how do you like it?"
"It's great," Fuli answered, sarcastically, jumping onto the shore, shaking herself dry, "Maybe we can do it again some other time," she walked away with her eyes still narrowed and her patience wearing thin.
"OK, Fuli," Beshte said, watching his friend leave, "Some other time."
"Are you OK, Beshte?" Mzuri asked.
"Honestly, Mzuri, I have no idea," Beshte admitted, looking down with concern and guilt.
Right near Pride Rock, Kion and Kufu were laying on a rock and watching Bunga bounce a porcupine on his head.
"I gotta tell ya, being immune is un-Bunga-livable!" Bunga exclaimed, "Nothing hurts, not even bouncing a porcupine on my head."
Kufu rolled his eyes, "Bunga, you have thick skin," he pointed out, "Of course porcupines don't hurt you."
"Kufu's right, Bunga," Kion agreed, "You can pretty much do that with thick skin like yours."
"Pfft! Guys, skin has nothing to do with it. I'm immune," Bunga told his two lion friends.
"Just because you're immune to snake bites, doesn't mean you're immune to everything, Bunga," Kufu informed.
Kion chuckled at that and then he noticed Fuli tracking a gazelle all alone, "Fuli, there she is!"
Kufu smirked, "Heh, nothing new, you do this every time you see Fuli."
"Shut it, Kufu," Kion glared at the brown-furred lion, standing up to look at the cheetah, "Fuli!"
Fuli let out a heavy groan as the gazelle ran away. She turned her attention to Kion, Kufu, and Bunga, "Oh, come on now, ugh! Hey, guys," she greeted, unenthusiastically, as she approached them.
"Hey, sorry about the gazelle," Kion apologized, "But if you're up for a hunt, you can hunt with me and my family."
At the mention of hunting, Fuli's ears perked up, "Sorry, hunting with the Royal family? Yeah!" She agreed with a smile, "Thanks, Ki, asante."
"Hakuna Matata," Kion replied, "You guys in?"
Bunga, who had ceased bouncing the porcupine on his head due to it falling off, shook his head, "Nah, I'm gonna stay here and enjoy being immune."
Kufu shook his head in annoyance, "And I'm gonna make sure this dummy doesn't get himself killed," he said giving the honey badger a side glare, "So you two love birds go enjoy your date."
"I told you to shut it, Kufu," Kion said, sternly, blushing red same with Fuli before they started to leave, "See you two later."
"Bye, guys!" Fuli called out, following Kion.
"See ya!" Kufu called out.
"Yeah, later," Bunga waved at his two friends, "Now, back to bouncing," he rubbed his hands together and reached for the porcupine.
The porcupine backed off, "Uh-uh, ninety-nine bounces is enough for me," he grumbled, "Why don't you go play in a volcano?"
"Play in a volcano?" The honey badger pondered, "That's a great idea," Bunga then ran off to the nearest volcano.
"Wait, what?" Kufu said in shock.
"No, it's a bad idea," the porcupine rebuffed, "I was kidding."
"Well, thanks for giving him the idea," Kufu sternly said to the porcupine before running after his friend, "Bunga, get back here you idiot!"
A gazelle was grazing in the grass and just a couple of feet away was Nala and Tama teaching Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri some hunting skills.
"Alright, I see the gazelle and it doesn't know we're here," Tama informed, "We're clear to hunt."
"Thank you, Tama," Nala thanked her friend, and then she turned towards her daughter and her friends, "OK, Kiara, you ready to lead the hunt?"
Kiara nodded and then she looked at her friends, "Are you girls ready for this?"
"Ready when you are, Kiara. You're our leader," Tiifu giggled, "Though where is Dalia? Shouldn't she be with us?"
"She's gonna do her hunting tracking tomorrow," Kiara informed, "Though we should be glad she's not here, or else we'd have Kopa here as well."
"Yeah, good point," Tiifu agreed.
Zuri sighed and rolled her eyes, "Ugh, can we just get this over with?"
"Come on, Zuri, focus," Kiara told her friend before starting to track the gazelle.
"Ooh, Kiara is gonna be so impressed with how I hunt those gazelles," Tiifu said with excitement.
"Uh-huh," Zuri yawned.
Tiifu got into a crouching position, "Just wait 'till she sees what a tracking tracker and pouncing pouncer I can be."
"Yeah," Zuri said, unimpressively, "That oughta wow her."
Nala chuckled and turned towards Tama, "Do they remind you of anyone, Tama?"
"Me and Kula when we were cubs? Yeah, they do," Tama nodded, "Especially when we fan-girl towards Queen Sarabi."
"Yep," Nala agreed.
Zuri saw Nala and Tama looking at them and she gasped in excitement, "Queen Nala and Miss Tama are looking! Act all excited and hunterish."
"Uh, growl," Tiifu gasped as she and Zuri followed Kiara towards the gazelle, walking past Kion and Fuli who were standing a few feet away from them, though the cheetah looked unamused by them.
"Ugh, Ki, do I seriously have to hunt with those two?" She asked her lion friend.
"Tiifu and Zuri?" Kion questioned, "Sure, they are my sister's best friends. They're like family."
"Ladies, follow me," Kiara told her friends as she went towards the gazelle.
Fuli then sped off, passing by Tiifu and Zuri who were not impressed by what she did, and then she and Kiara were side-by-side stalking the gazelle.
"Ugh, who does she think she is?" Tiifu said in disgust, "Hunting right beside the future queen."
"Who cares?" Zuri scoffed, "Hunting is so overrated. Let the cheetah hunt for us."
"But, don't cheetahs hunt alone?" Tiifu asked, "Why is Fuli like 'Ooh, look at me, I'm Kiara's new bestie'?" Mimicking the cheetah.
"I don't even like gazelle - hyena food," Zuri said with an eye roll, "Also, who do you think invited her to hunt with us?"
"Kion," they both said in unison.
Kiara and Fuli hunted side-by-side with the gazelle in their sights.
"Alright, ready?" Kiara asked, glancing at the cheetah.
Fuli nodded to the princess and then let out a growl as Fuli leaped out of the grass and headed straight towards the gazelle about to pounce.
"And...stop!" Nala called out, causing Fuli to land flat on her stomach a few inches from the gazelle who then took off. "Excellent tracking skills, Kiara," the queen praised as she sat down beside Kiara along with Tama, Kion, Tiifu, and Zuri, "Really fantastic."
"Thanks, Mom," Kiara giggled, smiling with pride.
"But, the gazelle got away," Fuli pointed out.
"Of course it did, me and Nala are still training Kiara for her first hunt," Tama informed.
"Come on, girls, let's go," Nala said as she and Tama headed back to Pride Rock.
"Bye, Fuli!" Tiifu called out as she, Zuri, and Kiara followed the two adult lionesses.
Kion turned to follow, but was halted when Fuli pulled on his tail, "Hold up there, Kion," the cheetah snapped, "You mean, I don't get to eat?" She asked with a quirked brow, "What's the point of hunting when I don't get to eat?"
"You got to hang out with us," Kion answered, looking at his cheetah friend/crush, "Isn't that better than hunting alone?"
Fuli was not amused by his answer, "When I'm alone, I get to eat," she stated, taking a step forward making Kion step back, "Except for today when someone in the Guard keeps stopping me. What's going on with you guys?" The cheetah took another step, making Kion sit down, lowering his ears.
"We just thought you might be happier with company," he answered with a smile.
"Do I look happier?" Fuli asked with her eyes slightly narrowed.
"Not really," Kion noted as his ears fell flat to the side.
Fuli sighed, heavily, "I like being alone, Kion, I enjoy it," she informed with her voice raised, "It's been that way since I don't have any family anymore, and you know what? I never wanted to be more alone than I do right now," the cheetah turned on her heels and ran away.
"Fuli!" He called after her, but she was too far away. He sighed, looking down with guilt, "I really screwed up. That was a stupid idea," Kion then recalled what she said and it got him confused and concerned, "Wait, she doesn't have any family anymore? What happened to her family?"
Bunga was walking through the Outlands, heading towards the volcano while singing.
"Zuka Zama, I'm immune! Zuka Zama, Zum Zum Zum! Zuka Zama, I'm immune! Zuka Zama, Zum Zum Zum!"
Bunga then hopped on a bunch of rocks and almost fell into the lava, "Whoa! Good thing I'm immune or this would be a really bad idea."
"That's because it is a bad idea, you dummy."
Bunga turned around and saw his friend, Kufu, heading toward him, "Oh, hey, Kufu, what are you doing all the way out here?"
"I'm here to get you, you idiot," Kufu growled at the honey badger, "What in Mufasa's name are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" Bunga exclaimed, "I'm gonna go play in the volcano!"
"Bunga, you're not immune to lava," Kufu told the honey badger, "The only thing you're immune to is snake bites. That's it, nothing else."
"Pfft! Yeah, right," Bunga scoffed, smirking at the brown-furred lion, "You're just jealous that I'm immune and you're not. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a volcano to play in," he continued to head toward the volcano.
"Bunga, get back here!" Kufu yelled, following Bunga.
But unbeknownst to them, from above, the hyena named Cheezi was sleeping on a rock until he spotted the lion and honey badger passing through the Outlands. Then, he went toward the cave to alert his boss.
Inside the cave, Janja was sitting on top of a large rock while Chungu was scratching his back going, "Scratchy, scratchy, scratchy, scratchy."
"Oh, yeah, very good, now to the right," Janja said as Chungu scratched his back and then he glared at the hyena, "Your other right, fur-brain," Chungu then scratched the other side which caused Janja to tap his paw on the rock, "Oh, yeah, yeah, that's the stuff."
"Janja! Janja!" The hyena leader saw Cheezi rushing inside the cave, "You're not gonna believe this!"
"What are you looking at?" He asked.
"Dinner, and it's being delivered," Cheezi laughed as he ran out of the cave with Janja and Chungu following.
"Seriously, Bunga, this is the dumbest thing you have ever done," Kufu called out to his friend.
"Oh, calm down, Kufu. What's the worst that could happen?" Bunga asked.
"You could die!" Kufu yelled.
"Kufu, I'm immune. I won't be able to die," Bunga told his friend, and then a steam vent blasted out hot air which startled him, and then the honey badger smiled and laid down on the vent, "Ooh, now that is warm."
Kufu just had a dumbfounded look on his face, "Are you being dumb on purpose, or is this just natural?"
Just a few feet away from them, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu were right near the entrance of the cave, looking at them in confusion.
"I don't understand. That stuff is hot," Chungu pointed out, "And even I know not to go near that."
"Yeah," Cheezi laughed, "What is that honey badger thinking?"
"Who cares?" Janja smirked, "Our dinner is cooking itself."
"Ugh, the Guard always used to let me be by myself," Fuli said, walking around the grasslands, "What's gotten into them?"
Fuli jumped off a rock and walked past a couple of giraffes right as she started to sing.
Fuli:
Don't know why my friends don't understand
They can't deny that I know who I am
I love the hunt and the chase
The thrill of the race
She crouched down as she saw some gazelles prancing around the grass and started to chase after them.
Doing it on my own
Nothing wrong with being alone
As the cheetah was chasing the gazelle, she sped away as some bees started to chase her.
I thought my friends already knew
To myself I must be true
Be true be true
Fuli walked past a couple of flamingos before deciding to speed away, causing them to fly away.
I go my own way
My call every single day
No matter what they say
She avoided a family of elephants that were passing through.
Yeah I go my own way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Fuli sped away from the elephants and passed by a couple of rabbits through the grasslands, and then passed by multiple other animals.
You can try to run from me yeah go
But catch my eye
I'm faster than you know
Don't need to run with a pack
I got my own back
My life is what I make it
And I know where to take it
I thought my friends already knew
To myself I must be true be true be true
I go my own way
My call every single day
No matter what they say
Yeah I go my own way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
I thought my friends already knew
Being myself is what I do
I do I do
I go my own way
My call every single day
No matter what they say
Yeah I go my own way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
Choir:
My way
Fuli:
My way
I go my own way
Fuli finished singing, standing tall on a rock, looking around the grasslands, and then she jumped off and continued her tracking.
"I don't know what's wrong with the others. Is it wrong for me to be alone? It's been that way for a long time," the cheetah said, and then she stopped and thought back to after she left her friends after they invited her to join them in whatever they were doing, "Although they were being nice and good friends like they always are, especially Kion. Was I being a little selfish wanting to be alone when they just wanted to hang out with me? I need to think about this."
Kion was going across the Pride Lands, trying to find Fuli in hopes to apologize for what happened earlier, and then he noticed Beshte and Ono up ahead.
"Hey, guys," Kion greeted his hippo and egret friends, "Have you seen Fuli anywhere?"
"Um, not since I accidentally knocked her into the lake," Beshte said, nervously, "She was kinda upset about that."
"She didn't seem happy with my flock either," Ono mentioned.
"I asked her to hunt with my family too, but it didn't go so well," Kion said, looking down in guilt, "And she also mentioned something that kinda has me concerned."
"What was it?" Ono asked.
Kion was about to say what Fuli said, and then he thought about it and realized that it was probably a personal issue for her, and he really didn't want her to be angrier than she was right now if he mentioned what she said to him.
"It's not important," Kion told his friends, and then he sighed in sadness, "Though I do feel bad for making this idea. I was just concerned about her being alone."
"Maybe we shouldn't have tried to stop her from being alone," Beshte pointed out.
"Yeah, she said she likes it, and it's been that way for a long time," Kion said that last part quietly and, luckily, Beshte and Ono didn't hear it, "I guess we were being better friends when we let Fuli be Fuli."
Ono got an idea and perked up, "Hey, let's find Fuli and tell her, from now on, we leave her alone."
"Poa! Great idea," Beshte smiled with his ears wiggling.
"Lead the way, Ono," Kion said as he, Beshte, and Ono went off together to find their cheetah friend, though, in Kion's mind, he really needed to talk to Fuli about what she meant by 'she doesn't have any family anymore'.
"Bunga, come back, this is insane!" Kufu called out, still following his honey badger friend towards the Outlands volcano.
"Kufu, you need to relax," Bunga said, smiling, "Zuka Zama, I'm immune! Zuka Zama, Zum Zum Zum!"
Just then, the honey badger and lion cub were surrounded by hyenas that appeared out from behind the rocks, and Janja got into Bunga's face smirking, evilly.
"Hello, morsel," Janja growled.
"Janja," Kufu said as he got into a crouching position.
"Move it, Janja," Bunga pushed the hyena leader away from his face, "You see that volcano over there? I'm gonna go play in it."
The hyenas looked at the bubbling lava coming from the volcano and looked confused by what the honey badger said, and then they looked at Kufu who just gave them a deadpan look.
"Don't ask," Kufu told them.
"Uh, I don't think you get it, honey badger," Janja said, "We're gonna eat you and your lion cub friend too."
"Pfft! You couldn't eat me if you tried," Bunga scoffed, smirking at the hyena, "You know why? Because I'm immune. That's right...IMMUNE!"
Bunga announced so loud, that it echoed all the way towards the Pride Lands where a certain cheetah was nearby the border still trying to hunt the gazelle she was tracking. She perked up after she heard 'Immune' coming from the Outlands and she recognized the voice.
"Bunga in the Outlands?" Fuli said in shock as she turned towards the Outlands, "Oh, this can't be good," she raced towards the Outlands to save her friends.
"You're what?" Janja asked, looking confused.
"Immune," Bunga answered.
"What's immune?" Chungu asked.
"I hope it's not contagious," Cheezi said with concern.
"Sheesh and I thought Bunga was dumb," Kufu said with an eye roll.
"Stuff it, fur-brains," Janja ordered before smirking, evilly, "It doesn't matter. Let's just eat them."
As the hyenas were about to attack, they hear someone say 'Huwezi' and they saw Fuli speeding to the rescue, grabbing Bunga by his scruff and knocking Janja away.
"Huwezi Kuniona!" Kufu followed, shoving Cheezi and Chungu away, turning towards the cheetah, "Thanks for the save, Fuls, now I see the second reason why Kion chose you to be part of the team."
"Shut it, Kufu," Fuli glared at the lion cub, "Let's just get out of here."
"Really?" Bunga huffed, looking towards Fuli, "You and Kufu always jump in just when things are getting fun."
"Fun?" Fuli questioned, looking at the honey badger.
"How is this fun?" Kufu asked, sternly.
"Whoa!" All three animals yelled when the rock they were standing on came loose and the trio found themselves floating on a river of lava.
"Come on, fellas," Janja ordered his two goons, "Follow that rock."
"Why do we always have to work for our food?" Chungu sighed.
"Ain't no such thing as a free meal," Cheezi answered as the two followed after Janja.
"I take it back, this is even more fun," Bunga cheered while Kufu and Fuli were shoulder-to-shoulder, looking for a way off the rock.
"This is not fun, this is a death sentence!" Kufu yelled.
"It's OK, I'm immune. It's not so bad," Bunga told his friend, calmly as another piece of rock crumbled away, causing him to fall against Fuli's chest, "Hey, Timon was right, you really are soft."
The cheetah just rolled her eyes, "Kufu, can't you just get us off this rock? You are the slyest," she groaned, glancing at the lion beside her.
"I can't, Fuli," Kufu replied, moving his paw away from the rock's edge as another piece fell into the lava, "I can't jump across with both of you combined. If I do, we'll fall into the lava."
"Well that's just great," Fuli said in annoyance.
Bunga sniffed the air, "Do you guys smell something burning?" He then looked around and saw a small ember on his tail, "Ow!"
Kufu saw this and gasped, "Don't worry, I got it," he swatted it away into the river.
"That lava's hot and it hurts!" Bunga exclaimed.
"Calm down, it's gone now," Fuli said.
Bunga's face fell, "But...But...This means," he then turned towards the two felines, "I'm not immune."
"I told ya so, you knucklehead," Kufu told the honey badger, and then more rocks started to fall into the lava, "Guys, get on my back."
Fuli and Bunga got onto Kufu's back. The brown lion cub was trying to keep his balance and not fall into the lava.
"This can't possibly get any worse," Fuli sighed.
Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu continued to keep pace with the three Lion Guard members, running alongside the river of lava.
The hyena leader laughed, "A little bit further, then they'll be ours for the eaten," he then licked his lips, "Honey badger with a side of cheetah, and lion for dessert."
"Spoke too soon, Fuls, it can get worse," Kufu recanted, rolling his eyes, "Oh, boy, we could use the others right about-"
He stopped mid-sentence when he heard Kion's voice, "Till the Pride Lands end..."
Beshte and Ono joined in "...Lion Guard defend!"
The three males ran and flew onto the scene, causing the hyenas to yelp and the two felines and honey badger sighed in relief.
"Are we glad to see you guys," Fuli said as Ono flew up to them.
"Yeah," Bunga agreed, "You won't believe it, but I'm not immune to lava or fire."
"I believe it," Ono sighed.
Kion looked around to see if there was anything to save his friends, and then he saw a tree up ahead, "Beshte, the dead tree," he told the hippo, "Knock it down, so they can use it to get to safety, hurry!"
"You got it, Kion," Beshte ran towards the tree and pushed against it, "Twende Kiboko!"
The tree came loose and fell over, making a small bridge and the two felines jumped onto the tree, sighing in relief.
"Aw, there goes dinner," Chungu whined.
"Oh, they're not gone yet," Janja snarled, "After them!"
The three hyenas jumped onto the tree, which caused it to tilt, making Kufu and Fuli slide down towards them.
"Fuli, grab Bunga and jump for it, now!" Kufu told Fuli as he kicked Janja in the nose as he was about to bite him. Fuli grabbed Bunga by his scruff and jumped across to the side where their friends were waiting; and Kufu jumped on the edge of the tree, causing it to rock back and forth, and Kufu did a flip, landing safely on the ground, "Alright, we're safe now. Let's get outta here."
"See ya, hyenas! Definitely wouldn't wanna be ya right now," Bunga called out as the Lion Guard ran back to the Pride Lands.
When the rock stopped rocking back and forth, the three hyenas felt a little bit dizzy, and then Cheezi and Chungu smelled something.
"Mmm," Cheezi sniffed.
"Something smells delicious," Chungu smiled.
"Wha- That's us, fur-brains!" Janja exclaimed, which caused Cheezi and Chungu to panic and jump on their leader's back, and Janja tried to keep his balance and not fall into the lava, "Get off of me!"
"Thanks, guys," Kufu said as the Guard neared Pride Rock.
"Yeah," Fuli agreed, "I don't know what we would have done without you."
"We're the Lion Guard," Kion reminded, glancing at both of his friends who were walking side-by-side, "We come through for each other always."
Fuli looked over her shoulder and saw Bunga still laying on her back, "Uh, Bunga, you can get off me now. We're safe," she stated.
"Yeah, I know. You're just so soft," Bunga smiled, petting her neck. Fuli huffed and sat down which caused Bunga to slide off her back, "On the outside at least," the honey badger muttered under his breath, "Hey, anyone wanna cool off at Hakuna Matata Falls?"
"For sure," Beshte agreed.
"I'm in," Ono followed.
"After today, I could use some cooling off," Kufu said.
"Then, let's go," Kion voted, but then he stopped and looked at the Guard's Fastest, "But if you rather be alone Fuli, that's okay too."
"Thanks, Ki," Fuli replied with a smile, "I do like being alone, especially when I'm hunting, but I really like hanging out with you guys too."
"You do?" Kion questioned.
"Well, yeah," Fuli chuckled, "It's like your my...My family."
That comment brought tears to Beshte's eyes, "Wow, Fuli, that's a beautiful thing to say."
"Ugh, you all want a hug, don't ya?" She groaned and rolled her eyes as the hippo, honey badger, and egret nodded, "All right, just this once," she sighed and the three animals then hugged Fuli. She glanced over at the two lion cubs, "Yeah, you guys too," Kion and Kufu joined in the hug.
"You are right, Little B," Beshte spoke, "She really is soft."
"Told ya," Bunga said, and then they broke the hug and all went towards Hakuna Matata Falls to spend some time together, not just as friends, but as a family.
As the sun started to set, Fuli was sitting on a small hill, watching the sunset before she found a place for her to sleep. She sensed something heading towards her and got into her defensive mode about to attack until she saw that it was just Kion.
"Oh, Kion," she exhaled and sat back down, "Sorry, I thought someone was sneaking up on me."
Kion chuckled, "It's OK, Fuli, I know how defensive you are. Mind if I watch the sunset with you?" He asked and the cheetah nodded, and he sat beside her. The two felines sat in silence for a while until Kion spoke up, "I'm actually glad you're here because I wanna talk to you."
"About what?" Fuli asked.
"I just wanna say...That I'm sorry," he apologized much to the cheetah's confusion, "I just...When me, Beshte, and Ono heard Timon say friends don't let friends be alone, I thought we weren't being good friends to you, so it was my idea to have us invite you to whatever we're doing, so you won't be alone. I'm sorry, Fuli, I really am," Kion finished looking down in guilt.
Fuli now understood why they wouldn't leave her alone. She should've been mad at that, but they were just trying to be good friends to her, and she saw that Kion was feeling guilty because of it.
"It's OK, Kion, I forgive you," Fuli told her best friend much to his shock, "You were just trying to be a good friend, even though you already are, same with the others, and I understand you were just looking out for me like you always do," she gave Kion a smile that made him blush.
"Thanks, Fuli, that means a lot," Kion smiled.
The two felines continued to watch the sunset. Kion looked towards Fuli and wanted to ask her something that was on his mind and he was conflicted about asking, but he had to know.
"Hey, Fuli," the cheetah looked at him, "When you told me you like being alone, you said something about you don't have any family anymore, and I know this may seem personal, but what happened to your family?"
Fuli was shocked he asked that but then she looked down in sadness, "That's the thing, Kion, I don't really know what happened to them or even remember them," she answered much to Kion's shock, "I've been an orphan all of my life: No parents, no siblings, no family, nothing. I don't even know where I come from or who I am, and I always feel alone knowing that I don't have a family," the cheetah explained as she started to have tears in her eyes.
Kion was heartbroken hearing that, and he really didn't like seeing Fuli all sad and upset.
"No, you're wrong, Fuli," he told her which caused the cheetah to look at him, "You do have a family...Us: Kufu, Bunga, Beshte, Ono, and me. We're your family. I don't know what happened to your parents, but I know that you don't have to feel alone when you're with us."
Fuli smiled at Kion's words and she wiped away her tears and started nuzzling under his chin which caused the lion cub to blush red, and even though she didn't like anyone touching her, her best friend was an exception.
"Thank you, Kion, you always know how to make me feel better," Fuli said.
Kion smiled and nuzzled back, "You're welcome, Fuli, and remember: Me and the others will always be there for you as your family."
The two felines stayed in that position, and Fuli for once didn't feel alone, because she knew that as long as she had Kion and the others by her side she had a family.
A/N: And that was Fuli's New Family, and I didn't add anything for Kufu to do with Fuli, so I made it where he tries to make sure Bunga doesn't do anything stupid, and I gave Makuu a little cameo because he deserves more screen time, and I extended the ending so it can start an arc for Fuli about trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs and what happened to her family. I hope you enjoyed it.
Up next: Fuli doesn't know when to take a break and Bunga is on the hunt for some rare grubs and explains how Timon and Pumbaa found him.
Here's the cast list
Max Charles as Kion, Caleel Harris as Kufu, Joshua Rush as Bunga, Diamond White as Fuli, Dustin Brown as Beshte, Atticus Shaffer as Ono, Nathan Lane as Timon, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, Gabrielle Union as Nala, Vanessa Marshall as Tama, Andrew Kishino as Janja, Kevin Schon as Chungu and The porcupine, Vargus Mason as Cheezi, Eden Reigel as Kiara, Madison Pettis as Zuri, Sarah Hyland as Tiifu, Skai Jackson as Mzuri, Jace Norman as Kipo, Khary Payton as Rafiki, Blair Underwood as Makuu, Christian Slater as Ushari.
This chapter was written by marvelomac1010 and beta-read/edited by DemonGirl123.