The Mbali Fields Migration
The Guard went about their morning patrol when suddenly their Keenest of Sight found something a bit unusual. "Everyone, everyone!" The egret alerted, circling back to the rest of the Guard. "There's trouble with the zebras!"
The Guard's Fastest rolled her eyes. "Oh, what else is new?" She groaned.
"And the gazelles!" Ono added, landing on a medium sized rock.
"The zebras and the gazelles are in trouble?" Kufu questioned, quirking his brow.
Ono shook his head. "No, they are the trouble." He corrected. "They're fighting each other!"
"But zebras and gazelles don't fight," Beshte noted.
"You seein' OK, Ono?" Bunga asked, stepping up in front of the egret. "Look, how many claws?" He held up two claws in front of the bird's face.
"I know what I saw!" Ono exclaimed, outstretching his wings.
"If the zebras and gazelles really are fighting, we better check it out," Kion voted, looking between the rest of his team. "Till the Pride Lands end..." the prince took off towards the direction from which Ono flew.
"...Lion Guard defend!" The rest of the Guard finished as they followed their leader.
The two herds were easy to find because there was overlapping whinnies and grunts coming from both.
"Hevi kabisa," Kion breathed as the Lion Guard came upon the fighting herds.
"So weird," Fuli shook her head, standing on Kion's right. "I've never seen zebras and gazelles act like this."
"Hey, wait, I know these herds," Beshte informed, the rest of his friends glancing at him. "Those zebras follow Muhimu, and the gazelles follow Swala," he informed. "But Muhimu and Swala are friends."
"Something's not right here," Kion muttered, which made Kufu and Fuli shift their gazes to glance at him. Kion looked up at Ono. "Ono, can you see Muhimu and Swala?"
"Affirmative!" the Keenest of Sight replied, focusing his eyes and spotting the two herd leaders. "Looks like they're in the middle of everything and it also looks like their mates are trying to calm them down."
"Then that's where we're going," Kion ordered. "Come on!"
The Guard ran down to the field. "Let's move, zebra-deebras!" Bunga clapped his hands as the Lion Guard walked through the herd. "Black with white stripes on one side. White with black stripes on the other." He tried pushing two zebras away so they could continued.
"I think I can handle this," Beshte volunteered with a grin. "Twende kiboko!" he charged ahead, forcing the zebras to part so the Guard could get through them.
"Nice one, Big B," Bunga praised, grinning at the hippo. "Uh-oh!" the honey badger's eyes widened as Muhimu backed up and sat on him. "Uh, hello?" Bunga grunted, glaring at the female zebra sitting on his back.
"Ohh!" Fuli and Kufu cringed. "That's gotta hurt."
Swala, the gazelle leader, laughed, "Nice move, Muhimu."
"What do you mean, nice move?" Muhimu huffed. "You pushed me."
"So?" Swala scoffed. "What are you going to do about it?" She challenged with a wave of her head.
"Swala, don't do anything you'll regret," Swala's mate said as he tried to keep his mate from going after Muhimu.
"Out of my, Wkabi!" Swala sternly told her mate.
"Not until you calm down," Wkabi said in a calming manner.
Muhimu got back on her hooves and charged into Swala, knocking her back a few paces.
Bunga got to his feet and brushed off himself. "I know whose side I'm on." He muttered under his breath.
"I heard that!" Muhimu glared back at the honey badger.
"Muhimu, please, I don't want you to stress yourself out," Mbaku tried to calm his mate down.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Muhimu told her mate with a deathly glare.
"Muhimu! Swala! Stop!" Kion shouted, stepping between the two female leaders. "Enough!" Kion yelled, letting out a low growl, frightening the two leaders. "What's going on? I thought you two were friends?"
"We were," Muhimu corrected with a roll of her blue eyes. "Until Swala and the gazelles tried to steal our grazing grounds."
"Your grazing grounds?" Swala repeated with bite. "Muhimu, these are our grazing grounds!"
"No, they're ours!" Muhimu retorted.
"Girls calm down," Wkabi said, getting in front of Swala.
"Yeah, we don't want anyone getting hurt," Mbaku added, getting in front of Muhimu.
"But this is the Pride Lands," Beshte spoke up, "Can't you just share?"
"Beshte's right," Kufu agreed, as he stood beside Kion. "These grazing grounds are for everyone." The lion cub glanced between the two leaders. "There's plenty of grass for zebras and gazelles."
"Um, Kufu...that's not exactly true," Ono corrected, flying over the Guard and the two herds. "Except for where you are, I only see dirt."
"Wait, what?" Kufu questioned before looking down at his paws, then around him. "There's no other grass at all?" He asked.
"Seriously?" Fuli raised her brow.
"Wait, so you zebras and gazelles aren't really mad at each other," Beshte spoke up, "You're just hungry."
"I do get cranky when I'm hungry," Swala agreed with a nod.
"It's true, she does," Wkabi nodded in confirmation.
"And now you see why we're hungry," Muhimu huffed with a stomp of her hoof. "There's not enough grass."
"Well, then we just need to find a place with enough grass for all of you," Kufu deduced, glancing between the two herd leaders with a smile on his muzzle and a swish of his tail.
Swala lowered her head to look the lion cub in the eye. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, where is all this grass?" Muhimu also looked down at the prince.
Kufu's ears flattened against his head. "I...don't know."
"But I know who will," Kion added, glancing to his left. "Will you two come with me?" Kufu and Fuli nodded and the three felines ran toward Pride Rock.
Kion, Kufu, and Fuli stood opposite King Simba, explaining the situation between Swala's and Muhimu's herds.
"Hmm, I knew the herds were large this year," Simba stated, walking to the edge of Pride Rock, "But I didn't realize they'd outgrown their grazing grounds."
"Isn't there somewhere with enough grass for the herds to share?" Kion asked, walking up to stand at his father's left, with Kufu and Fuli on the prince's right.
Simba looked out over the Pride Lands, a smile forming on his pale orange muzzle. "You three see that patch of green, far out in the distance?" He asked, glancing down at the three cubs.
Fuli focused her eyes on what the king was talking about, "Mbali Fields?" She questioned, looking up at Simba, her tail swishing behind her.
"Mbali Fields," Simba repeated with a nod. "That's where the zebras and gazelles can find their grass."
"But that's at the very edge of the Pride Lands," Kufu noted,
"You think they can make it?" Kion asked, looking up at his father.
Simba looked down at the three cubs with a smile. "I'm certain they can, " he answered, " because I'm sending the Lion Guard with them."
Fuli blinked. "You want us to lead a migration, Your Highness?" She quirked her brow and exchanged a glance with Kion and Kufu.
"You'll have the rest of the Guard with you," Simba reminded them, seeing the look of hesitation in his son's eyes. "But I know you, Kion. You can do whatever you put your mind to," the king smiled down at his son.
"Thanks, Dad," Kion replied, returning the smile. "I won't let you down," he promised.
"You never do," Simba lowered his head and brushed his nose over his son's mane. He then glanced at the other two cubs. "Neither do you, Kufu and Fuli," he praised.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Kufu and Fuli said as they lowered their bodies and bowed.
The next morning, the Guard met with Muhimu's and Swala's herds at their usual grazing area to begin the trek to Mbali Fields. Kion paced on a rocky hill overlooking the area. Kufu and Fuli sat under the tree, watching their best friend pace.
"Kion, if you pace any more, you're gonna create a trench in the rock," Kufu noted with a sigh.
"I just want everything to go smoothly," Kion replied. "Ono should be back soon with the best route to Mbali Fields. I just don't..." He was cut off when Fuli rubbed her cheek against his.
"Ki, calm down. Look, everything is gonna be OK because me and Kufu are right here beside you like always," Fuli told her best friend.
"Fuli's right, Kion," Kufu agreed as he approached the two felines. "I know leading a migration might be a little bit difficult, but as long as we're together, we can handle this." He said with a smile.
Kion closed his eyes and turned his head, rubbing his forehead against Fuli's and pounded his head against Kufu's.
"Who's ready for a Savannah trip?" Bunga shouted as he cartwheeled around a few zebras. "Raise your hooves! Whoo!" He backed up into a zebra that turned out to be Muhimu. "Oh, it's you."
"Have we met?" Muhimu asked, looking down at the Guard's Bravest.
"Uh, yeah, you sat on me yesterday?" Bunga reminded her, his hands resting on his hips. "Remember?"
Muhimu chuckled. "I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about," she rebuffed, "Little mongoose."
"Mongoose!?" Bunga repeated, offended by the remark. "I'm a honey badger!"
"Whatever," the zebra leader scoffed. "When are we getting this show on the road? I need to get to the grazing grounds, before it is time." She leaned down and stared Bunga right in the eyes.
"It is time?" Bunga questioned. "Don't get all Rafiki on me, Muhimu. We're almost ready to go. Just keep your stripes on," he told the zebra leader.
Muhimu just scoffed and walked away from the honey badger as Mbaku approached him. "I'm sorry about my mate, Bunga, she's just a little stressed out," he explained.
"Well, that stress will wear out once we get moving," Bunga said.
"Everything's gonna be fine," Fuli reassured Kion. "Have a little faith." She gave her best friend a reassuring smile, brushing her nose against his whiskers.
"Thanks, Fuli," Kion returned the smile, tapping his forehead against hers before turning to Kufu. "And you two Kufu, I needed that."
"Hey, what are best friends for?" Kufu reminded him.
"We'll always be by your side no matter what," Fuli said with a smile.
"Looks like everyone's ready, Kion," Ono informed him, flying over the three cubs before landing near the edge of the hill. "Did I interrupt something?" Ono questioned.
"Only a little bit of a romantic fluff between Kion and Fuli," Kufu teased, causing Ono to chuckle while the lion and cheetah's faces turned red.
"Shut it, Kufu!" Kion and Fuli said together as they glared at Kufu before turning back to Ono.
"Did you scout us the best route to Mbali Fields?" The Guard's leader asked.
"Affirmative," the Keenest of Sight confirmed. "Through the plains past Maji Baridi Falls, down Rocky Ridge, then right through the canyon to Mbali Fields, pretty simple, really." He added with a shrug.
"I was hoping you'd say that," Kion smiled and walked to the edge of the hill, while Ono flew over and perched on Beshte's back. "Listen up, everybody!" Kion addressed, getting both herds' and the rest of his Guard's attention. "It's a long way to Mbali Fields, but I'll do my best to get you all there safe and sound!"
"We know you will!" One of the gazelles shouted.
"We trust you, Kion!" Muhimu voiced, "Right, everyone?"
There were overlapping voices all cheering in agreement. Kufu stood back with a smile across her muzzle, before looking to Ono on Beshte's back. "Alright Ono, point the way."
The egret gave a firm nod. "Affirmative," with a smile he took off from Beshte's back and flew towards Mbali Fields.
"Ya know, it's a shame that you weren't born first," Fuli said to Kion as the pair led the herds after Ono.
"Why do you say that?" Kion asked, looking at his crush with a raised brow.
Fuli met is eyes. "Because you'd make a great king someday after what I just saw." She smiled and brushed against the prince's right side.
"She's right, Kion," Kufu said, approaching the two felines. "Someday, you actually would be a great king."
"Heh, well thanks, guys," Kion said in a bashful tone.
Kion and Kufu stayed at the front of the herds, closely following Ono, while the rest of the Guard spread out to make sure no one strayed or got left behind, but a baby gazelle started slowing down and yawned. Beshte helped it out by carrying the baby on his back while it took a little nap. A zebra strayed from the herd, but Fuli sped in front of it and led it back to the herd.
Soon the canyon came into view and the whole Lion Guard walked to the edge to overlook it. Not too far in the distance, they could see the bright green grass of Mbali Fields.
"How's it look from above, Ono?" Kion asked the bird as he landed on a small, flat-surfaced stone.
"So far so good," the Keenest of Sight reported. "Though it seems like everyone's slowing down."
The trio looked back at the two herds, noticing they were, in fact, getting sluggish. Kion walked a few paces to address the two groups. "Hey, everyone!" he addressed with a smile, "I know you're tired and I know you're hungry but..."
"We were hungry when we started," a male gazelle cut off.
"Now we're starving," added a female zebra.
"It's not much farther, I promise. We'll get to Mbali Fields, soon!" Kion reassured them. He leaned down closer to Ono and whispered. "We will get to Mbali Fields soon, right?"
"Affirmative," Ono agreed. "We just have to go down this steep slope and through the canyon. You can see the fields from here." A small clasp of thunder echoed not too far in the distance as dark clouds began to roll in, "I just hope we get there before the storm hits." The egret added under his breath.
"We're almost there, everyone!" Kion announced. "See the patch of green at the end of the canyon?"
"Look at all that grass," Muhimu sighed. "I can almost taste it from here. Oh, yummy!"
"Yummy?" Bunga questioned, looking up at the zebra leader. "You know it's gonna taste like grass, right?"
"Yes! I can't wait!" Muhimu squealed with a grin. "In fact, I can't wait!" She let out a neigh and ran through her herd and headed for the canyon.
"Muhimu!" Mbaku called out to his mate, seeing their leader gallop ahead made the rest of the zebra herd follow suit. "Wait, everyone stop!"
"Uh-oh," Kufu muttered, seeing the zebras' charging right for them.
"Everyone! Slow down!" Kion yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the thundering hoofsteps and zebra's neighing. "The slope is too steep." Both cubs ducked low as two zebras leaped over them.
"No way this ends well," Fuli sighed.
Seeing the zebras charging into the canyon, the gazelles soon followed suit. The Lion Guard raced after them down the slope into the canyon, trying to slow down the herds. The thundering hoofbeats echoed throughout the canyon, shaking loose some rocks on the ledges near the end of the path.
"Hapana!" Ono gasped when he noticed the rocks. "Kion? We have a problem!"
Kion, Fuli, and Kufu looked ahead and saw the rocks beginning to fall. The three felines on the Guard ran to the front of the herd, urging them to turn back. The rocks crashed down, blocking the exit of the canyon. One large rock was about to fall on Muhimu, when Bunga pushed her out of the way.
"Why did you shove me?" Muhimu asked, glaring at the honey badger currently sitting on her back. "Don't you know I'm in a family way?"
"No, you were in the rocks' way," Bunga corrected. "I was trying to save your life."
"He's right, Muhimu, you almost got crushed by those rocks over there," Mbaku gestured towards the pile of rocks blocking the canyon exit.
"Oh, well, that's different," the zebra leader chuckled dryly, looking away from the Guard's Bravest. "Now, could you please get up? You're sitting on me!"
"Well, now you know how it feels," Bunga retorted, jumping off her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Muhimu huffed as she got to her feet. "Oh, never mind, odd little hedgehog," she groaned as she stomped off.
"I'm a honey badger!" Bunga corrected her again, this time raising his voice. "Ugh, what is wrong with her today?" He questioned.
"Like I said, she's going through a lot of stress and it's not just about the migration," Mbaku explained before following his mate, leaving the honey badger in confusion by what he said.
The rest of the Lion Guard looked up at the rocks blocking their path.
"Guess we're not as close as we thought," Kion sighed.
"So what do we do now?" Beshte asked, looking at the two lion cubs.
"Any ideas?" Fuli asked the two lions to her left.
"Well, the herds can't go over it, and we can't go through it," Kufu informed as he looked over the barricade. "So should we go around it?" He asked, looking at Kion.
"I think we should. Ono?" Kion looked up at the bird hovering above them. "Scout out another route to the grazing grounds."
"I'm on it," Ono nodded and flew higher over the canyon.
Swala walked up and examined the barricade. "I blame the zebras for this." She scoffed, before heading back to her own herd.
"Swala," Wkabi said, looking at his mate.
Ono looked in every direction, trying to find another route. He ended up finding one, but it went out of the Pride Lands. The Keenest of Sight flew back to the Guard and perched on a small rock.
"What's the news, Ono?" Kufu asked as he and Kion walked up to him.
"Well, I did find another route to the fields," Ono informed them. "But, it goes through the Outlands."
"That won't be easy," Fuli muttered, glancing at Kion. "We'll need to be on alert for the clans that live out there."
"More specifically, keep an eye out for Janja and his hyenas or Reirei and her jackals," Kufu said, glancing at Kion.
"I promised my dad we'd get these herds to their new home," Kion reminded them, meeting Kufu's eyes. "And if we have to go through the Outlands to get there, then that's what we're going to do."
"At least we've got one thing going for us," Bunga cut in with a smile. "That storm hasn't started yet." As soon as he said that, a loud clap of thunder echoed all around them. Then, rain began to fall. "Maybe, I shouldn't have said that out loud." The honey badger chuckled dryly.
"Ya think?" Kufu raised his brow, casting a half-lidded glance at the honey badger.
The Guard led the herds back through the canyon.
"I'm starting to wonder if Kion knows what he's doing," Muhimu voiced to her herd. "He says we're almost there, now he's taking us in a different direction."
"Has he ever even led a migration?" A male zebra pondered aloud.
"Maybe we should've stayed home," a female zebra spoke up.
"If Simba had brought us, we'd be there by now," Swala noted. "I'm not sure Kion can handle a trip like this."
"Now, everyone, calm down. Look, I'm sure Kion knows what he's doing," Mbaku said, trying to calm down everyone.
"Mbaku's right," Wkabi nodded in agreement. "Let's just give Kion a chance, he is a great leader.
"Hmph, somehow, I highly doubt that," Swala muttered.
Even at the front of the herds, and a few paces ahead, Kion could still hear everything they were saying. He let out a groan and rolled his eyes.
"Don't listen to them, Kion," Kufu told him. "You're doing great."
"Is it just me or is this water getting deeper?" Fuli asked, realizing her paws were completely submerged. She heard a rushing sound and glanced back, her green eyes widening. "Kion! Kufu!"
The two cubs looked back at their cheetah friend and saw a massive wave coming right for them.
"Flash flood!" Kion alerted, sending the herds into a panicked frenzy.
"Higher ground, everyone!" Kufu advised, standing on a small ledge. "Move! Now!"
Mostly everyone made it to higher ground, but a few members of each herd got caught in the floodwater's current.
"No animal gets lost!" Kion said to his team. "Let's go!"
"Ono, keep these animals on safer ground!" Kufu called up to the egret. "We'll get the others!"
Ono nodded and led the herds uphill while the rest of the Guard ran back down to rescue those in the water.
Two zebras were screaming for help as the current carried them.
"Beshte! Those two are yours!" Kion called out to the hippo.
"I'm on it!" The Guard's Strongest jumped into the water, swimming underneath the two equines and lifting them onto his back, swimming them to shore.
A gazelle tried to outrun the rushing water.
"Fuli, that one's yours!" Kion looked at the cheetah, who nodded and sped ahead. Hearing another gazelle's cry, he looked to the Bravest member. "Bunga, help that one!"
"Got it, Kion!" Bunga saluted, running to help the gazelle.
"Help!" Swala called as she struggled against the current. Kion and Kufu ran and hopped on an overhanging branch.
"Don't panic, Swala! We'll get you!" Kion assured as he and Kufu each took one of the gazelle leader's horns in their mouths and pulled her from the water, dragging her onto the solid ground. Both cubs laid on their backs and panted, trying to catch their breath.
"Help me!" Muhimu cried as she fought the current.
"I'm coming!" Bunga shouted, jumping into the water. He swam to the zebra leader and grabbed the side of her neck. "Gotcha, Muhimu."
"You've got me?" She half-glared at the honey badger clinging to her. "You're the size of my head!"
"Then it's a good thing you've got a big head," Bunga retorted, hanging onto her with one hand while using the other to swim back to the bank. "Muhimu, work with me here!" Bunga grunted.
"I'm trying, but it's hard," the zebra huffed. "I'm swimming for two!"
"I'm the one swimming for two!" corrected the honey badger. "Now help me out and paddle!"
The two made it to solid ground and collapsed with a collective sigh.
"Well, now that you've saved me twice, I suppose I should admit it," Muhimu sighed. "I did sit on you."
"Yeah! I've still got the stripe marks to prove it," Bunga agreed.
"Anyway, I'm sorry," the zebra leader apologized. "And, thank you."
"Hakuna matata," Bunga replied, getting to his feet.
"Muhimu!" Mbaku called out as he rushed over to his mate. "Are you alright?" He asked in concern.
"I'm alright, Mbaku, thanks to Bunga," Muhimu said, looking at the honey badger.
"Thank you for saving my mate, Bunga," Mbaku thanked the Guard's Bravest with a smile.
"No problem, Mbaku," Bunga said with a smile. "Now, come on, we have to get to higher ground."
The groups rejoined at the top of the canyon, the two herds discussing Kion's leading skills.
"Yes, he saved me, but it's his fault I was in trouble in the first place, right?" Swala said to a few members of her herd.
Kion's ears fell to the sides of his head as he turned his back towards the two herds and the rest of his Guard.
Bunga cleared his throat. "So, um, Kion, what now?" he asked, running his claws through the white fur on the back of his head and neck.
The prince didn't say anything in response. He just lowered his head and let out a shaky breath.
"Kion?" Fuli muttered, her own ears falling to the sides.
"I don't know," Kion admitted.
Kufu and Fuli picked up the doubt in his voice and they both ran towards him.
"Hey, man, don't listen to them. You're a great leader," Kufu told him.
"Kufu's right, Kion, don't let them get to you," Fuli agreed as her tail swayed behind her as she moved her paw so it brushed against Kion's. "I believe in you. All you need to do is do the same."
"I need you guys to do something for me," Kion told them, looking at his second and third-in-command in the eyes.
"Anything you need," Fuli replied instantly, nuzzling her cheek against his.
"Yeah, just name it," Kufu said.
"Keep an eye on the herds, and the Guard," Kion said. "I'll be back. I just need to think alone for a moment."
"You can count on us, man," Kufu nodded.
"Take all the time you need, Ki," Fuli said with a smile.
Kion smiled back and tapped his forehead against theirs before walking down a trail that was surrounded by two large stone walls. Kufu and Fuli watched as their best friend disappeared down the path, and they looked at each other in concern as they walked back to the rest of the Guard.
"Is Kion OK?" Beshte asked in concern.
"He'll be fine, he just needs some alone time right now," Kufu explained.
"Yeah, he just needs some time to think," Fuli nodded before turning her head to the direction of where Kion walked off to, she was concerned about her best friend and she hoped he'd be fine.
As Kion walked to the edge of the rock, the clouds opened up and Mufasa's spirit appeared.
"Kion, something's troubling you," the former king noted, sensing the doubt lingering in his grandson's heart.
"Grandfather, I don't know what to do," Kion admitted, his ears falling flat. "Dad trusted me to lead the herds… But everything went wrong. And now, they all think I'm a bad leader. And I think they might be right." He lowered his head.
"Kion, don't let their lack of faith affect yours," Mufasa told him.
The young prince looked up at his grandfather's spirit. "I really do want them to trust me."
"They will," Mufasa assured. "As long as you trust yourself, confidence, Kion. That's all you need to complete this journey." He added with a soft smile. "But confidence doesn't come from what others think about you, it comes from inside yourself."
Kion nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Grandfather." He bowed his head and turned to head back to the herds and the Lion Guard, and Mufasa's spirit disappeared into the clouds.
"You think Kion's gonna be OK?" Beshte asked his ears at the sides of his head.
"Sure he is," Bunga answered. "He's Kion."
"Speaking of," Kufu motioned to the aforementioned lion prince, who was walking back towards them.
Just then, Swala and a male from Muhimu's herd approached him.
"The herds have been talking and we're not happy," the male zebra said sternly
"You promised us the trip would end in a huge field with enough grass for everyone," Swala said, giving the Lion Guard leader a look.
"We're not there yet. It's taking longer than we thought," Kion informed the two. "But I know we'll make it. Trust me."
"I'm not sure I do," Swala admitted.
"Me, neither!" a female zebra spoke up.
"I'm with Swala!" a male gazelle agreed.
"Well, I trust Kion!" Fuli voiced, moving to stand beside her best friend.
"Same here!" Kufu followed.
"All of us do!" Bunga exclaimed with Beshte and Ono nodding in agreement.
"I trust Kion too." Mbaku said, giving the lion prince a smile.
"My mate might not trust him, but I do," Wkabi stepped up.
"So do I!" Muhimu agreed. "I agree, the trip hasn't gone the way we hoped. But it's not Kion's fault. Part of it was mine." She admitted, her ears falling to the sides of her head. "We all know I started the stampede. If I hadn't, we wouldn't have had to change course. And who can predict a flash flood?" She rolled her eyes. "But Kion and the Lion Guard got us through it safe and sound." She stepped up and looked in the prince's eyes. "I have faith in you, Kion." She bent her front legs and bowed. "And, I promise to make things easier from now on, not harder." She rose to her hooves and smiled.
Kion smiled back at the zebra leader. "Thanks, Muhimu," he gave her a nod before jumping onto a stone slab to get a view of both herds. "There's a whole new life for you at Mbali Fields. Now, in order to get there, we have to cut through the Outlands." He informed. "I won't lie. There are predators there. But you're with the Lion Guard, and we'll keep you safe. That's a promise!" The rest of the Guard nodded in agreement with their leader. "So, who's ready?"
A chorus of cheers erupted from the herds as they voiced their agreements. Fuli and Kufu ran up and stood by Kion's side.
"Great job, Kion," Fuli praised.
"You were born to be a leader," Kufu added with a smile.
"I can't take all the credit," Kion replied. "Thanks for having faith in me, guys."
"Like I said, Kion, we'll always have your back," Kufu said with a smile
"I have all the faith in the savannah in you," Fuli admitted, which made Kion blush.
Side by side, they led the zebras and gazelles towards Mbali Fields, crossing into the Outlands territory.
"Remember, everyone, we're in the Outlands now," Kion said, looking over his shoulder. "Be as quiet as you can. Got it?"
"But what if..." a male zebra began loudly,
"Shh, Kion said that we have to be..." Mbaku started before being cut off by Muhimu, who suddenly let out a scream and lay down, "Muhimu, what's wrong?" He asked in concern.
"It's time!" She screamed again.
"Yeah, time to stay quiet," Bunga reminded her, grabbing the female's snout.
"No," Muhimu rebuked. "Time for the baby!"
"What? Now?!" Mbaku asked in shock.
"What baby?" the Guard's Bravest questioned.
"The baby I'm about to have!" Muhimu let out another shriek.
"Baby? You're having a baby?" Bunga repeated, still in disbelief. "Like a baby, baby? Like a baby, baby, baby?" Muhimu nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I've been telling you the whole time, you silly honey badger," Muhimu scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
"Yes! I'm a honey badg..." the realization hit Bunga and he yelled at the top of his lungs, "You're having a baby!"
Ono gasped and stopped flapping his wings, landing on top of Kufu's head, his wings spread out behind her ears.
"Now it makes sense why she's been short-tempered," Kufu muttered, earning an 'uh-huh' from the bird on his head.
"You're having a baby? Right now?" Kion questioned. Muhimu nodded again. "What do we do?" He asked, glancing at the others.
"How should I know?" Kufu replied.
"I'm not an expert at this," Fuli told him.
"Neither am I," Beshte followed.
"I only know about eggs," Ono informed them, moving to perch on Beshte's back.
"Leave it to us," Swala stated. "She'll need help, ladies. Who's with me?" A few females from Muhimu's herd stepped around their leader. Swala noticed Bunga was next to Muhimu. "She'll want some privacy."
"Trust me, you don't wanna be near this," Wkabi told the honey badger as he remembered when Swala gave birth to their daughter.
Bunga rubbed the back of his head. "No problem, see you later!"
"Wait!" Muhimu called out to Bunga as he stopped in his tracks. "I'll feel safer if you're nearby." She said to the honey badger. "You saved me before. I wouldn't be here to have this baby if it weren't for you."
"I agree," Mbaku nodded in agreement. "You saved my mate and unborn child. We are thankful for that, and we'd be honored if the honey badger who saved them was here to witness the birth of our child." He said with a smile.
"Um...OK," Bunga shrugged, rubbing his arms. "How nearby do I have to be?" Muhimu let out another groan and rolled onto her side, the females of her herd forming a circle to shield her from view. "So, not too nearby, then, good."
"A baby zebra? It's gonna be so cute!" Beshte sighed.
"But we're in the Outlands. There's predators everywhere," Fuli reminded them. "She can't have the baby here."
Ono took off from Beshte's back to check on Muhimu. "She can and she is!" He informed the others.
"Then, we're gonna have to stay here till she's had it," Beshte noted.
"Kion, what should we do?" Kufu asked, looking at the leader of the Guard.
Kion sighed. "Fuli's right. There's a lot of dangerous predators out here." He agreed. "If we want to keep everyone safe, we need to split up," he advised, meeting Kufu's eyes. He gave a nod in agreement. "Fuli," Kion turned to his cheetah crush. "You take Ono and Beshte and lead the herds to Mbali Fields. Kufu and I will stay here with Bunga and Muhimu."
"No way, Ki, what if there's an attack?" The Fastest asked. "You'll need our help."
Kion faced Fuli and met her eyes. "Fuli, the Lion Guard's duty is to defend the Circle of Life." He reminded her. "That means taking care of this baby and the herds." The cheetah lowered her head, but kept her eyes locked with the lion prince. "You know it's the right thing to do." Kion said, his eyes never wavering from the cheetah's.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Fuli scoffed.
"Wouldn't expect you to," Kion said with a smile.
"See you at the grazing grounds," Ono saluted, taking to the sky.
"Everyone who's not helping Swala and Muhimu, follow Fuli, Ono, and Beshte to Mbali Fields," Kion instructed the herds. All but four zebras, Mbaku, Wkabi and Swala remained as Muhimu went into labor.
"Um, how are you doing, Muhimu? Muhimu is everything OK?" Bunga asked as he tried to get a peek before hearing a high-pitched neigh. "Hey, that was pretty good you made your voice sound like..." He stopped himself when he realized that wasn't Muhimu. "A baby! Your baby! It's here!"
That caught Kion and Kufu's attention and they ran to join Bunga as two zebras parted so they could see the new baby. Muhimu nuzzled her little one, a tiny foal with bright blue eyes,
"It's a boy," she announced.
"Whoa!" Bunga, Kufu, and Kion sighed, completely in awe at what just happened.
"It's the Circle of Life in its purest form," Kufu breathed.
The new foal took his first steps.
"Look at that. He's pretty cute," Bunga noted. "Does he do anything?"
"Like what?" Mbaku asked, raising his eyebrow.
"I dunno, like to play? Or tell jokes?" the honey badger questioned.
"Bunga, he was just born," Kufu reminded him. "He can't even talk yet."
The infant foal let out another high-pitched neigh that echoed all around the canyon.
Unknown to the three Guard members, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu heard the noise and discovered their location.
"Ha, did you hear that?" Cheezi asked.
"Yeah, it sounds like a snack," Janja said sinisterly as he saw the group of zebras and two gazelles in the middle of the open. "A whole pack of snacks, a snack pack!" He cackled
"That's not all, Janja," Cheezi said as he spotted the three Lion Guard members. "Kion, Kufu, and Bunga are down there, too!"
"So what?" Janja said with a scoff. "When we run in, they are gonna protect the baby. But the big zebras and gazelles are gonna panic and run." He said in a mocking tone while Cheezi and Chungu laughed.
"Oh yeah!" Cheezi laughed.
"Zebras always do that," Chungu laughed.
"And then we can pick'em off without even thinking!" Janja exclaimed.
"Without thinking?" Chungu asked with a smirk. "Good! Cause that's how we do everything!" He said as the three hyenas laughed.
"That was really cool, but a little loud," Bunga noted, tapping the infant's shoulder. "Not your fault, you weren't born yet when Kion told us to be quiet, but..."
"OK, zebras, better run!" Janja warned, coming into view. "'Cause here we come!"
"Hyenas!" Swala, Wkabi, and the zebras screamed. "Panic and run! Panic and run!" They broke into a frenzy as the hyenas ran down into the canyon
"No! Stop! Don't Panic and Run!" Kufu shouted over their screams. "That's just what they want!"
"We have to stick together!" Kion added in a louder voice. "Circle around Muhimu and the baby! Now!" both cubs added in unison.
"Everyone!" Muhimu shouted, getting their attention. "Stop running and listen to the Lion Guard!"
"She's right, listen to the Lion Guard, listen to Kion!" Mbaku ordered.
Swala, Wkabi and the zebras ceased their panicking.
"Thanks," Kion said to Muhimu, before looking at the rest. "Now, circle up!"
"What's the matter?" Janja cackled as he and his two hyenas advanced on the group. "Not gonna run? Don't we scare you?" Cheezi and Chungu then proceeded to make scary faces, but not one animal budged.
"Forget it, Janja," Kufu snarled, baring his teeth. "We're not making it easy for you."
"You'll have to deal with all of us," Kion added, narrowing his eyes into a glare.
Janja grinned, baring his fangs. "Our pleasure," he growled as he lunged forward.
Kion met Janja's lunge and the two rolled across the ground, while Bunga tackled Cheezi head-on and Kufu lunged for Chungu. The muscular hyena was sent into the rock wall, but went in for a second attack, only to be kicked in the face by Kufu's hind legs. He then went to help Bunga with the second hyena.
Kion pinned Janja to the ground, his paw on the hyena's face. "Janja, time for you to g..." He was cut off when Chungu crashed into him.
Now free from the lion cub, Janja stalked towards the zebras, only to be kicked in the face by Muhimu's son and sent flying, right into his two clanmates.
"Beat it, Janja!" Kion snarled.
"Yeah, yeah, we're going. I don't even like zebra anyway!" Janja said as he ran off.
"Yeah, it's too chewy!" Cheezi said before following Janja.
"And too uhh… stripey!" Chungu said before running off.
"Hey!" A female zebra yelled, feeling insulted by what Chungu said as the three hyenas ran away.
"Bunga, did you see him?" Muhimu asked, rubbing her snout against her son's. "He kicked that hyena. He saved my life."
"I don't know much about babies, but that's a pretty cool kid you've got there," Bunga praised, to which the foal neighed again and snorted.
Ono flew over the fields, taking a head count of the herds, before landing on a rock next to Beshte. "All present and accounted for!" the Keenest of Sight reported. "The Mbali Fields migration is officially over."
"Nothing went the way we thought it would," Kion admitted.
"But we still got everyone here safe," Kufu reminded him.
"And that's what counts," Fuli added.
"We even added one," Beshte grinned with a chuckle, his eyes on the new zebra foal.
"Welcome to the Circle of Life, little guy," Kufu said with a smile, watching as the foal kicked his hind legs and ran in a circle, braying happily.
"You said it, baby!" Bunga agreed with a laugh.
Muhimu and Mbaku then approached the Guard.
"Thank you, Lion Guard, for everything," Muhimu bowed her head.
"Yes, I don't know how we could repay you," Mbaku said, bowing his head.
"We were just doing our job," Kion replied, tipping his head. "We're just glad your new baby is happy and healthy."
The foal neighed again as he chased Bunga around the field.
"So, what are you gonna name him?" Kufu asked, looking up at the two zebras.
"How about you pick the name, Muhimu," Mbaku said, looking at his mate.
"Hmm," the female leader pondered a moment, before letting out a small gasp. "I got it. His name..." she looked at her son playing with Bunga, "Is Hamu."
"That's a nice name," Beshte agreed, he and everyone else watching as the Guard's Bravest played with the newest member of the Pride Lands.
To be continued…
A/N: And that was The Mbali Fields Migration, and this was a nice episode, I decided to give Muhimu and Swala mates because I have a feeling that they do have mates in the show, but we never saw them, so I decided to add them, and I hope you all enjoy reading this chapter.
Up Next: Bunga and Simba find out that they actually have a lot more in common than they realize.
Here's the Cast List:
Max Charles as Kion; Caleel Harris as Kufu; Joshua Rush as Bunga; Diamond White as Fuli; Atticus Shaffer as Ono; Dusan Brown as Beshte; Rob Lowe as Simba; James Earl Jones as Mufasa; Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu; Bill Fagerbakke as Mbaku; Tunisia Hardison as Swala; Richard Horvitz as Wkabi; Andrew Kishino as Janja; Kevin Schon as Chungu; Vargus Mason as Cheezi; Ace Gibson as Male Zebra and Male Gazelle; Erica Luttrell as Female Gazelle and Female Zebra.