Here's the big moment. The entire reason James is in this mess. Is he going to be able to face this? I mean, he's a Legendary Blader in all but name and position at this point, so he should be fine.

Right.

Okay.

Don't look at me like that.

~Silverleone

Simba, Nala, Leone and I were standing at the peak of Pride Rock. Each one of us had eyes out for movement, but it had been two hours since sunrise and nothing.

"James."

"Yeah, Simba?"

"Should you be in the sun this long?"

"I'll be fine." Leone scoffed at that. I gave him the side eye. Simba rolled his own eyes.

"Go, we'll let you know when we see them." I grimaced, but conceded.

"Alright." Leone and I headed down to the den to take a break. Kiara launched herself at Leone's leg, wrapping her own limbs around it.

"Gotcha!" She growled. He bent down and nuzzled her, making her giggle. "Where are mommy and daddy?" She asked. I shrugged.

"They're talking on top of Pride Rock. Adult stuff."

"Aww, but that's boring!"

"I agree." I couldn't help but match her cheeky grin. Though it faded from my lips when our situation came back to me. I knelt down, rubbing her ears.

"Kiara, something is going to happen today."

"What? What is it?"

"Some bad humans are coming to the Pridelands. Leone and I are going to stop them from hurting any of you." She thought about it for a minute. Then her eyes lifted to meet mine.

"But, what if you get hurt?"

"That's something I'm willing to risk."

"But the pride are stronger than you." She said it more out of confusion than anything.

"Yes, but Leone doesn't get hurt by humans. We can stop them without risking anyone in the pride." She let out a worried groan and pushed into my hand.

"James, I'm scared." I scooped her up and rested her head on my shoulder. A hand ran down her back.

"I'll be okay. I've faced things far more dangerous than a bunch of hunters."

"I don't want you to get hurt…"

"I won't. Leone will protect me, right bud?" He growled in agreement. Wings fluttered above us before Zazu landed with a couple of hops.

"James, the king and queen have spotted the approaching humans coming from that direction." He gestured off to the left of the lower portion of Pride Rock. I gave Kiara a quick hug before setting her down.

"James, please, don't go…" She had tears in her eyes as she brushed her paw against the ground.

"I have to do this, Kiara." My tone was gentle, but unwavering. She whimpered. "I promise, I'll be okay." Simba and Nala appeared at her sides, comforting her. Simba straightened up, locking eyes with me. I beat him to whatever he was going to say.

"Simba, I'll be careful. Our collective safety is top priority." He nodded.

"Come back unharmed."

"Is that an order?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yes!" Nala put her paw down. A stern look masked her worry. "You are to return here by sundown, uninjured." I gave her a crooked smile and a short bow.

"Yes, your Majesty. Simba, could you gather the pride really quick?" He nodded and sucked in a breath. A roar bounced off the rocks around us. I glanced at Leone. "Almost as impressive as you, and he's half your size." I ducked under a paw swipe as he playfully snarled.

The pride gathered dutifully just outside the den, most of them bearing confusion on their faces. I looked to Simba for permission to speak. He nodded and I turned to the pride.

"Simba and Nala spotted the poachers on their way here. Leone and I are going to intercept them. Now, I want each of you to promise that no matter what you hear, you will not come after me." A few cried out in protest. Uzuri stepped forward.

"James, you can't possibly think this is safe!"

"Which is exactly why you all need to stay here. Protect your home, but don't follow me."

"Why should we stay back here?! This is our land!" Another lioness shouted. I closed my eyes as more of the pride began to cry out in protest. Leone shot a stream of fire over our heads. His jaws shut once everyone stopped.

"I get it! Your pride has protected this place for a long time. But the risk of any of you dying is far greater than me." I straightened up when some went to protest. "Nala and Simba saved my life. You all have welcomed me into your home and pride. I owe it to them, and to all of you, to stop these poachers before they can lay a finger on you." I turned to Simba. "Despite my power, I'm still mortal. Should I fail, I only hope they give up. If they don't, I trust that you all can handle whoever is left." Every lion looked concerned, a few still crying out in protest.

I closed my eyes. Purple energy ignited behind my right eyelid before spreading over my form. Leone matched me. A beam of energy pierced the sky as Leone roared his defiance over the upcoming threat. The beam shuddered before fading. His Bey bounced up and I caught him, placing him in his holster. I faced the direction of the poachers, a breath leaving my lips.

"Let's end this before it even begins."

««{{}}»»

I could hear the vehicles as I walked closer. There were a lot, and it took everything I had to squash the fear worming into my heart. After some contemplation, we decided to not beat around the bush.

So I walked straight into their path and stood there. A bastion against those who would harm our pride.

A few men looked up and cried out in a foreign language. The vehicles stopped and close to forty people were watching me. I stood my ground, observing the area. One man stepped out of a vehicle and folded his arms. His hair, full beard and mustache had a salt and pepper coloring to them

"You are American, yes?" He asked. He wasn't a native. Tourist poacher. Not that uncommon, if I had to guess.

"No." He looked me up and down when I didn't elaborate. To be fair, I was born in the States, but my family had lived in Japan for more than five years. Blond hair and blue eyes weren't common in my new home.

"Why are you here?"

"These lands are protected. The animals are protected. You will find no profit here." The man scoffed.

"Profit? What do you think we are?"

"Poachers. Nothing more," I said shortly. The man scowled, far less intimidating than he would have liked. He couldn't form tornados or create dimensions, after all. He was just human.

"Go away or we will hunt you like beast!" I pulled out my launcher and loaded Leone onto it.

"I challenge any of you to a Bey battle. I win, you leave these lands and the animals on it alone forever. I lose, I'm your first victim today." The man scoffed at me.

"What is this?" One of the other men stepped forward and held out his own Bey to the boss. "Ah, children's toy," He scoffed dismissively. "Do you think it is some kind of threat to us?" I grinned.

"You'll wish it wasn't in about five seconds." The Blader loaded up and took position.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"LET IT RIP!" An explosion went off halfway between us, covering the area in smoke. A burst of wind followed, knocking clothing around and a few unprepared men stumbled back. Leone sat in the middle of a newly formed crater. The other Bey was dug into the side of it.

The Blader fell to his knees, his face going ashen white. Leone leapt to my hand.

"Who's next?" I asked. The boss took a minute to shake himself out of his surprise before calling out. A few more men loaded up, forming a line around the edge of the crater. I tilted my head to the side.

"Six on one? Hardly fair. Sure you don't have a few more Bladers in this band of murderers?" The boss made a rude gesture. "Fine. If that's how you want to play." I loaded up again.

Six explosions rocked the earth. I was sure the elephants near Pride Rock felt it through the ground. Two of the men had gone running for their Beys while the others stumbled or fell to their knees. I thought I heard one of them muttering about a power beyond anything they had felt before. The boss actually growled and pointed at me.

"You will not take what is ours!"

"I'm not taking anything. I'm stopping you from making the worst mistake of your life."

"You think we won't kill you and leave you for whatever we don't take? I hear there is a lion pride near here. Perhaps they would love some human flesh." My grin darkened.

"You wish that were true." I stood tall. "This is your final warning! Leave these lands! Or those explosions won't just be aimed at your Beys!"

"Kill him!" The boss shouted. Leone leaped from the stadium, landing at my feet.

"Phantom Zone!" The purple dome formed around me in less than a second. A hail of bullets slammed into it moments later. I flinched as they pinged off, and mentally reinforced it, just for surety's sake. "Go!" I called while throwing my hand forward. Leone dashed forward, the dome staying strong just like we practiced. A few more poachers had Beys, but they were blown away before they could even touch him.

"No time to waste, Leone. Bare your fangs! Stamina Mode!" I held up my hand, palm down, before twisting wrist so it was facing up. Leone let out an explosion of power that knocked away more poachers. I felt the Phantom Zone gain strength and grinned. If we could keep it up just like in training, we'd be good.

"Open Guard Mode!" The Spin Track dropped and he vanished in a flash.

"Wh-where'd it go?!" A poacher shouted. A vehicle exploded, sending one or two men flying. A purple light flashed through the area, trailed by more explosions and screams.

"Special Move! Specter's Glare!" Leone let out a roar that sent vibrations through the ground and air. The conscious poachers let out screams of pain as their very bones vibrated. We didn't normally use that much power, especially when we weren't in battle. But we didn't care.

They were threatening our pride.

The pitch twisted a little at that thought, making more of them scream out.

One poacher ran towards the Phantom Zone and rammed his shoulder into it. He had to be cursing me in his own language as he slammed his fist into the purple barrier again and again.

"You brought this upon yourself!" I snapped. The man froze when a growl came from behind him. Leone glared from only a foot away before he let out a roar that even shook the air inside the dome. I winched at that, but steadied myself. The man promptly fainted.

"Alright Leone, clean this up!" I looked towards their equipment. "There!" I pointed at the fourth to last vehicle. I didn't want to leave them completely stranded, as that would be counter productive, but taking out any extra resources would force a retreat. Leone flashed over and slammed into it. Sparks flew as he tore into the gas tank, causing a huge explosion.

All went quiet. Leone zipped around, making sure no one was conscious. I sighed before dropping the dome and kicking the guy right next to me in the head, just to make sure.

"Man, it's a mess." I started to walk towards their stuff to see if anything was salvageable, only to stop. My eyes squeezed shut in the exasperation I had been dreading. "I thought I told you to stay. Back!" I turned and glared at the offending lion. Uzuri stood up from her hiding spot, looking over the temporary battle field.

"I knew Leone was strong. But this…"

"Uzuri, seriously, it isn't safe. Most of them are just unco-!" A loud voice cut me off.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" I spun around in time to see a poacher only a few feet away from me, already with a rifle in his hands. The barrel raised. At me. My hand raised to create the Zone. The man's eyes flicked to his left. The barrel moved in the same direction. A gasp came from behind me.

Uzur-!

*CRACK*

I hit the dirt on my side, sliding a few feet from my lunge. My shirt was turning red on the left side. Before the poacher that fired the shot could do anything else, Leone flashed over. The resulting concussive force brushed my hair and clothing around.

"James!" Uzuri ran over, only to freeze at the sight of my wound. "What's wrong?! Why are you bleeding?! That man never even touched you!"

"I need the monkey," I groaned as I pressed my hands to the wound. Uzuri turned to Leone.

"Go get Rafiki!" Leone nodded before the resulting shockwave of him bolting off nearly knocked her off her paws. She turned to me, panic in her eyes.

"Not, how I imagined, this going," I spat around gritted teeth.

"Save your strength," Uzuri urged. The pain was really starting to kick in.

"Hey."

"What?!" She looked ready to cuff me.

"You think I'd be placed with the great kings?" I cracked a pain filled smirk. Her brow creased.

"Stop that kind of talk, right now!" She demanded, growing frustrated at my smirk that didn't last long. My breaths hissed through my teeth.

"Heh, look at you, ordering me around-." The smile was filled with pain and quickly twisted into a grimace again.

"James…?" I rolled my head to my right to see Simba approaching. "James, what's wron-you're hurt!" His eyes widened upon seeing the blood.

"I-you lions have no survival instincts!" I nearly shouted through my teeth.

"The others are checking the rest of the humans."

"S-still! This was almost one of you!"

"Stop talking, save your strength!" Uzuri cried. Leone skidded to a halt next to me. Rafiki hopped off his back and immediately went to work, not a word to be said. Leone pressed his nose to my forehead, sharing his strength with me.

"Hey, bud. Just, another scar, eh?" He slapped his paw over mouth, which also covered my whole face. It was his own demand to shut up.

I winced at every little thing Rafiki did.

"Hold him down. I need to press these into his wound," Rafiki said.

This wasn't going to be pretty. Leone promptly laid down, setting his chest on mine while keeping clear of the wound. Simba laid across my legs. Rafiki patted an uninjured spot before pressing something into the open wound. A scream tore through the air until his hands backed off. I was gasping for air, which really only made the pain worse as my stomach flexed.

I could feel Leone push more energy through our bond and I took whatever he offered. I couldn't afford to be stubborn at the moment. While we were both hurting due to the bond, his capacity was much higher than mine.

It was still too much and I knew it would lessen for both of us if I allowed myself to fall unconscious. I placed a hand on his cheek.

"I'm just, going to sleep, Leone. Not my time yet." I closed my eyes and let myself slip into the darkness. I could feel his concern, but I knew I would be okay.

««{{}}»»

"James…?"

"Shh, let him sleep."

"But I'm worried."

"You're going to worry more if he wakes up in pain."

"I guess…what happened?"

"He got hurt in the fight. Rafiki said he'll be okay. Let him rest."

"Yes mommy."