Disclaimer: So, I've been getting spammed messages about 'commisions' for The Lion Guard: Unity lately, and while I love the idea, I'm going to set some ground rules. The first time I replied to one of these, I didn't get a response. So if you're legit, make sure we talk on here before doing business. Second, if you want to review the story, feel free to do so, but it must be for discussing the story, how you felt about it, and your overall opinion of it. Not stuff about 'mentall illnesses' being given to every character, or stuff that should be saved for PMs. With that out of the way, please enjoy the chapter.

Also, I don't own Lion King, or Lion Guard.

The Lion Guard: Unity

The Roar's Return Part Two

In the Outlands, Mzingo was flying to Janja's lair. That was where Cheezi and Chungu were complaining to Janja. Chungu was the first to be heard when we saw them in the hideout. "Janjaaa. I'm hungry."

"Me too." Cheezi added, being just as hungry as Chungu.

"You two only have yourselves to blame." Janja stated, finding what they told them earlier pathetic. "To think you were scared by the roar of a lion cub!"

Cheezi tried to explain it all to Janja. "Janja. See, Kion's roar, it wasn't like, like a normal roar. It was-" Cheezi laughed a bit during this. "super loud!"

"And the clouds!" Chungu chimed in, attempting to help. "They turned into roaring lions!"

Cheezi nodded quickly before Janja scoffed. "I can make clouds WAY scarier than the ones outside!" Janja's words got laughs out of the other hyenas.

After Janja said that, Mzingo revealed his presence. "And I always wish you didn't."

Janja knew Mzingo's entrance must be important. Too bad his army were still laughing. "Stuff it, furbrains! Seems we have a visitor to our humble, humid den."

"Janja. Hyenas." Mzingo greeted, figuring it would help to at least be formal. Even though Janja's clan were all savages in their own right.

"Mzingo. What're you doin' this far into the Outlands?" Janja asked curiously. "Looking for leftovers?"

"Even if I were, you wouldn't be of any help." Mzingo retorted, making Janja roll his eyes. "I have some information you'd like to know about Kion."

This intrigued Janja. He had a history with Kion. What kind of history went without saying. "Ya don't say."

Mzingo was more than happy to share his information. "Simba has told Kion to assemble a new Lion Guard."

"Lion Guard? That's impossible." Janja replied in confusion. "The Lion Guard died out after Scar-" Something then occurred to Janja at that moment. "Unless..."

"J-J-Janja?" Mzingo asked.

"The roar." Janja was starting to catch onto what Cheezi and Chungu saw. "Of course!"

"Of course what?" Mzingo asked, knowing Janja knew more than he was letting on.

Janja walked past Mzingo and stood at the entrance of the lair. "Don't you know the stories? The Lion Guard was legendary; the most powerful team of lions in the Pridelands. At least they were." Janja started laughing at the previous Lion Guard's fate. "Until Scar killed them!"

Janja's clan started laughing, but Mzingo was baffled. "What? A Lion took out the Lion Guard?"

"Or so the story goes." Janja said, and then Cheezi and Chungu laughed some more.

"Hilarious!"

"Yeah. Them lions ain't too bright!"

After Chungu laughed some more, Janja spoke up again. "Stuff it, furbrains! A new Lion Guard could be very bad for us hyenas. And, all the other Outlanders."

"I gathered as much from what I overheard from Kion and Bunga." Mzingo responded.

"Yes." Janja explained the Lion Guard for his clan. "The Lion Guard protected the so called 'circle of life'. If Kion's new Guard wins the trust of the Pridelands, we Outlanders will-" Janja was interrupted by a bug slithering on a rock. He lunged for it in an attempt to eat it. When it ended up on his head, he jumped up. It flew off his head and he failed to bite it. He slid when landing and grabbed the bug. However, it ended up in his nose, making his clan laugh. He tried to lick it, and then hit it, before slamming his face on the ground while trying to get it out.

Janja then sneezed the bug out. Mzingo was there, giving a deadpan expression. He then got back to the point. "Now, Janja. What were you saying about the Lion Guard and..." He shuddered before he finished. "the Outlanders?"

"I was saying," Janja continued. "With a Lion Guard patrolling the Pridelands, it'll be next to impossible for us Outlanders to take whatever animals we want for food!"

"Then what are we gonna do?" Cheezi asked worriedly.

"Ooh, ooh. We could eat each other." Chungu suggested.

"No!" Janja stated when looking back. He then turned to his clan. "We'll strike now, before the Lion Guard is ready. And we'll take down all the animals we can."

"Mmm. I like the sound of that!" Mzingo said favorably.

"Whole herds of animals." Janja said ferociously.

"Yeah, right!" Cheezi said with a jump.

"Tasty." Chungu added with a pleased smile.

Janja climbed up to the top of a rock mountain in his lair. "Tonight, we Outlanders will feast!" Once he was at the top, he finished his announcement. "Hyenas and vultures alike! Tonight... we strike!"

Villanous music played as Janja laughed when walking forward. Once he jumped down, he walked up to Cheezi and Chungu and started singing. "When you live in the Outlands, it's better to make your own rules." Then, Janja looked at two other hyenas. "Ask anyone outside the Pridelands; the circle of life is for fools!"

Janja's eye was closed in on, and his army started vocalizing in the form of a laugh. "Ha ha ha ha ha, ah ah! Ha ha ha ha ha, ah ah!"

"We go where we want when we want to." Janja sang before stomping on an image of Pride Rock. "And we eat, yes we eat as we please. (Ah ah!)" Several Pridelands animals were shown cowering. "That Kion can't give us a curfew."

Mzingo joined in when his flock was shown perched up in the trees. "Or tell us to stay in the trees!"

"NO!" Janja's clan exclaimed. Then, they started jumping across the screen after Mzingo flew over it. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike! No one's safe, so the time is right!" Janja popped up from some grass and looked around. "The circle of life's gonna feel our bite!" When he peeked out, Cheezi jumped and bit his butt. He gave a deadpan expression after yelping and looking back at him. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha, ah ah! Ha ha ha ha ha, ah ah!"

"So before this new Guard is ready," Janja continued, and clouds came and went to reveal him. "to defend the Pridelands from harm. (Ah ah!)" Janja was annoyed when Cheezi and Chungu smushed his head with theirs. After that, a tower of Pridelanders was shown. "We'll make them all feel unsteady. We'll give them cause for alarm."

"YEAH!" The hyenas jumped across the screen again. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike! No one's safe, so the time is right!" Once Janja jumped at the screen, cowering animals were revealed. "The circle of life's gonna feel our bite! Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike!" Janja laughed with the vocalizing playing over a lined out gazelle. Several more appeared, surrounded by Janja's army.

Janja got ready to fill the others in on his plan. "Alright, fellas. Bring it in. Here's the plan." Janja sang again when Kion was shown sleeping. Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu were shown creeping beneath. "While the animals are in their slumber, we'll be creeping beneath. And just like a roaring thunder..." Janja rose up, smiling at what he sang next. "We'll wake them up with our teeth!"

Janja's clan walked in a straight line. They jumped off one by one while singing. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike! No one's safe, so the time is right!" The screen rose up to the vultures under the son. "The circle of life's gonna feel our bite!" And then Mzingo in the tree. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike!"

"Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike! No one's safe, so the time is right!"

As the hyenas kept singing, Janja spoke next to a singing Cheezi. "Tonight we strike! Nobody's safe!"

Janja laughed as the rest of the hyenas sang. He was climbing up his rock wall during this. "The circle of life's gonna feel our bite!" Janja jumped over three hyenas on the way there. "Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike!"

Once Janja reached the top, he rejoined the song. "The circle of life's gonna feel our bite! Tonight we strike! Tonight we strike!" Volcanoes erupted to finish the song and cover the screen. Janja looked to see the sun starting to set. When he saw this, he spoke menacingly. "Just you wait, Kion. You're about to feel, my, bite."

In the Pridelands, a snail was moving down a descending leaf. Up in the air was the egret who warned his flock before. His eyes glimmered as he prepared to catch his prey. "Target in sight." His sights were set on the snail. Once he locked on, he made his dive. "Dive!"

He swooped down and flew as fast as he could. He was sure he wouldn't miss his prey. That is... until a certain honey badger got in his path. "Heya Ono!"

"Whoa!" Ono exclaimed as he flew above Bunga. It was so sudden that he lost control of his flight. Falling to the ground, he slid right by a lion cub's paws. He looked up and saw Kion smiling at him. While he was disappointed about missing his meal, he was always happy to see a good friend. "Oh. Hi Kion. Good to see you."

"You see just about everything, Ono." Kion said, knowing who his Keenest of Sight was already. "That's why I wanna talk."

Then, Kion, Bunga, and Ono made their way to one of the Pride Lands several water spots, where some hippos chilling in the water. Some of them were cheering for one hippo in particular as he went up to a rock. "Beshte! Beshte! Beshte!"

"Hey everybody! Who wants a waterslide?" The hippos cheered again, giving Beshte his answer. "Poa. One waterslide, comin' up!" Beshte started pushing the rock. He revealed a catchphrase he had as he did. "Twende Kiboko!" Beshte pushed the rock, creating the waterslide. It carried the happy hippos, as well as himself. "Yeah!"

The water ended up splashing on Kion, Bunga, and Ono. They were all taken aback by the water. When standing back up, Bunga checked in with Kion. "Strongest?"

Kion was more than happy to confirm it. "Strongest."

"Also wettest." Ono snarked.

Ono flapped his wings to get the water off, splashing Kion and Bunga. They were annoyed by this with Bunga calling him out. "Ono!"

After that, Bunga was running along the Pridelands. He called to the animal who Kion seemingly picked for his fastest. Once she passed him anyway. "Fuli, wait! Kion wants to talk!"

"Not now, Bunga!" Fuli responded in a hurry. "I gotta run."

"What? Why?"

"That's why!"

Bunga looked back, and a bunch of baboons trampled him. In the distance, Ono was standing on Beshte while looking for Fuli for Kion. "I see Fuli's a bit occupied."

"She's always moving after all." Kion said, knowing how often Fuli was running around. "Good thing I'm the one planning her rescue."

Fuli dodged one of the baboons before making a turn. "Huwezi!" She jumped over another one when calling back. "You can't catch me!"

Ono managed to catch up with Fuli to help. "Fuli! This way!"

Fuli followed Ono's instructions and went his way. As the baboons continued their chase, Kion called to Fuli. "Fuli; jump!" Once Fuli jumped over, Kion made his next command. "Beshte; now!" Beshte stood upon Kion's command. And because the baboons are stupid, they crashed into him. Kion snorted, successfully holding in his laughter before commending Beshte. "Nice save, Beshte."

Fuli stood on the rock when joining in. "Totally. Thanks." She then addressed the baboons, and why they were chasing her. "And as for you guys, I said I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be mean when I said ya looked funny when you scratched your heads."

The baboons scratched their heads before the leader replied. "Pology accepted." He lied down with his baboons, being exhausted.

After that, Kion stood in front of the others to start the meeting. "Hey guys. Thanks for meeting with me. I'll get to the point. I need your help."

"What's the kerbubble, Kion?" Beshte asked, ready to help his friend.

"My dad entrusted me to assemble the new Lion Guard." Kion explained. Each member was shown as Kion listed off their roles. "This team consists of the Pride Lands Fiercest, Bravest, Strongest, Fastest, and Keenest of Sight." Kion stepped forward when explaining the Lion Guard's purpose. "Together, we can protect the Pride Lands, and defend the Circle of Life. Whatya say?"

Ono did a whistle before Beshte expressed his interest. "Well lick my tail and call me a meerkat!"

"I'll say Hakuna Matata on Uncle Timon's behalf." Bunga said, making Beshte laugh at the reminder of Bunga's family.

Fuli walked up to Kion when sharing her annoyance with something. "The 'Lion' Guard? Figures." Her eye roll in that last word said a lot. "Always the lions lording over the Pride Lands."

"Would you accept my proposal to change that?" Kion joked, making Fuli snort in response. No way she'd think of marrying him. He got serious when explaining that he needed Fuli. "The Lion Guard needs you, Fuli. You're the Pride Lands' fastest."

"You got that right!" Fuli said confidently. "And you're supposed to be the fiercest?"

"Well, he is a lion." Beshte said.

"And lions are fierce. It's kinda common knowledge really." Ono added. Cue his rambling about what made lions fierce. "It's more than just the regal presence they give off that makes them that way too. Their sharp claws and teeth have made them perfect for hunting. And those who challenge them to gain leadership are always in for a fight." During this, Beshte listened patiently, Bunga zoned out, and Kion and Fuli rolled their eyes while smiling. "A lion is always ready to protect their territory too. It's why they're always defending the Pride Lands from hyenas, jackals, and other-"

Kion laughed a bit when telling Ono to stop. "I think she gets it, Ono." Ono nodded in understanding as Kion got back on topic. He couldn't resist smirking as he did. "You've seen me lead before, Fuli. Are you saying I can't do it?"

Fuli responded with a grin of her own. "Well, it has been a while since our last time working as a team."

"I think saving you showed I haven't lost my touch."

"But can you keep that touch during a hyena invasion?"

"Your spots better stay on when I do."

"As if anything could ever scare them off."

Bunga hatched an idea, running up to Kion to share it. "Show em the roar, Kion. Show em the roar!"

"The roar, huh?" Fuli decided to call Bunga's bluff for fun. "You think you can lead just because you can roar?"

"It's not just any roar, Fuli," Kion shot back. He was hoping he wouldn't have to bring out the roar to convince the rest of his friends. A pit in his tummy formed as he briefly wondered if he could even replicate what he did at the edge of The Outlands, Still, he couldn't back down now that his pride was on the line. "It's a…special roar."

"Special roar?" Fuli asked with a raised eyebrow, She still wasn't buying Kion's new talent.

Bunga was more than excited for the others to see the roar. "Wait till you hear it! Come on, Kion! Show em the roar!"

"So, what IS the deal with your roar?" Beshte asked curiously.

"Oh, you totally have to show us now, Kion." Fuli said, wanting to see this for herself.

"Seeing is believing." Ono said, but then corrected his use of words. "Though, with the roar, it's more about hearing."

"Well, if there's any excuse to show it off." Kion said, mustering up all the bravado he could. After all, Simba said HE was chosen by the elders! Why shouldn't he be able to use the roar whenever he wanted? Kion went over to a ledge with a renewed sense of confidence. "Just stay behind me, okay? I don't want anyone getting blasted."

And with that, Bunga and the others got right behind Kion. With their banter from how fast it went.

"Scuze me."

"Watch it!"

"Groundlings."

Kion looked back at his friends to make sure they they were set. "Ready?" The others were waiting, and Kion looked ahead. It was now or never. "Okay. This is the roar." Kion dug his claws into the land and bared his teeth, He could feel something brewing deep within him that was just waiting to be let out. He as he opened his mouth to roar...his tail lifted,

PHHHHHT

A three second fart that smelled like wet antelope hide left his vibrating butt. The green cloud went over to his friends who were as shocked as he was over what just happened. "What in the Pridelands?"

Ono spoke up, sincerely hoping this wasn't one of Kion and Bunga's fart pranks. "That was... different."

Fuli burst out laughing while wafting the fart away. "That was the roar? What makes it so special? That it came out of your butt?"

"Didn't sound like a roar, but it sure smelled like something impressive." Beshte admitted while keeping Kion's feelings in mind with his tone.

"That wasn't the roar!" Bunga exclaimed. He was hoping Kion just farted as a joke, and leaned in closer to Kion. Whatcha tryin to do? steal my thunder?"

Just then, Kion saw Zazu flying up in the sky, and decided to use the adviser to cover for his mistake. "Sorry guys. Zazu would've gotten hit if I actually roared."

Zazu alerted Simba to Kion's presence. "I found him, sire! Kion's over here!"

Simba arrived soon after, followed by Kiara and Tifu. As soon as Kiara saw Kion and his friends, she spoke up. "See, dad? What'd I tell ya?"

"Thank you, Princess." Simba said affectionately. "I have to talk to Kion. You and Tiifu can head on to track the Gazelles."

"Yes, dad." Kiara headed off with Tiifu after that. She would've loved to have stayed and watched Kion be punished, but she knew her dad would be more mad if she disobeyed him.

Despite his sister clearly ratting him out, Kion was more than happy to see Simba. Once he got close enough, he whispered to his father. "Dad! Perfect timing. I tried to use the roar just now, but I think it might be broken."

Simba raised an eyebrow after he heard that. "It might be broken?"

"It's the only reason I can think of." Kion admitted. He looked back to make sure his friends couldn't hear him before turning back to Simba. "And now Fuli thinks I'm faking it."

"We'll figure that out later. I don't know much about the roar myself outside of its main function." Simba admitted. He then got to the point. "Son, Kiara told me you recruited Bunga to join the Lion Guard."

Simba looked at Kion's friends, where Bunga was waving excitedly. "Hey!"

Simba looked back at Kion to confirm this. "Is this true?"

"You bet!" Kion said confidently. As worried as he was about the roar not working, he was excited to introduce his guard to his father. "I was just telling my friends about it."

"Your friends?" Simba asked. However, he refrained from jumping to conclusions. He wanted to trust that Kion was taking this seriously. "Does that mean you've decided on your team?"

"I sure have. They're right behind me!" Kion stated. He looked back at his team, who were still reeling from being farted on. "Soon enough, anyway. Fuli's the Fastest, Beshte's the Strongest, Ono's the Keenest of Sight, and the bravest is none other than Bunga!" Kion smiled until he noticed Simba's concerned expression. His ears and face dropped as all his worries came back in a rush of emotion. He seemed almost scared of having screwed this up. "Did I do something wrong?"

While Simba was proud of his son for assembling a team so quickly, he still wanted Kion to know what he was getting into. "Kion, the Lion Guard has always been made up of lions."

"Okay, sure." Kion looked back at his friends. Fuli's eyes met his and she smirked at him, almost as if she expected this reaction from Simba. Kion realized in that moment that what his father was getting at was wrong. He decided to defend his friends. "But The Circle of Life involves all animals, right? Shouldn't they get a chance to defend their home?"

Simba was stunned at Kion's words. He could never imagine talking back to his own father, yet here Kion was, showing a stubbornness that reminded him so much of his youth. "You're right Kion, but just…be careful okay?" Simba said. As dangerous as being lead of the Lion Guard was, he knew he had to let go and let his son make his own decisions. "I'm not saying your friends are incapable of being a good Lion Guard." Kion tried to hold it together, knowing his father was just trying to help him. "I just want you to know that you'll have to keep their strengths and weaknesses in mind." Simba gave Kion an assuring smile to show he still believed in him. "Understand?"

Kion's concerns about messing this up were still there. But he wouldn't let that stop him. He decided that the best course of action was to prove his team could help the Pride lands. At least... that's what he hoped to do. "Yeah. I do."

Simba rubbed Kion's head affectionately after that. "I know it's hard being a leader. I'll be here if you need my help."

Simba left to continue his duties, and to let Kion lead his team. Kion did his best to suppress his feelings. He wanted to do this right. As he walked back over to his friends, Bunga could feel something was wrong. He knew Kion well enough to know when he was upset. "Kion?"

"What're we waiting for? We have work to do." Kion said. He looked to Fuli to see if she'd help. "Fuli? Are you in?"

Fuli still didn't believe in Kion's new roar, but she was impressed that he stood up to the king and fought so she would have a place on the team. She smiled, and playfully responded so Kion wouldn't know how touched she was by his gesture. "Just as long as you can keep up." Kion smiled, glad that everyone was on board.

The Lion Guard set out for their first rescue after that. Their first one involved saving a zebra from mud. Because he was apparently stupid enough to stand still until he sank. Kion's call to get him out was certainly... an idea. "Ono! See if you can pull him out."

"Are you sure, Kion?" Ono asked, knowing he wouldn't be strong enough. "I think we'd do better if we-"

"There isn't time!" Kion interrupted, his eyes darting to the zebra as he did.

Ono looked back at Thurston. Despite his skepticism, he flew on over. "Okay 'Panic and Run'. Hold still."

"Panic and run is what I do to defend myself." The zebra said, seemingly offended by the name. "My name is Thurston."

Ono continued struggling to help Thurston out as he retorted. "Forgive me if I'm too busy losing breath to remember!"

As Ono kept tiring out, Fuli noticed Kion looking around worriedly. "Yeah, I think we should change plans."

"You sure?" Kion asked, and then he and Fuli looked again to see Ono now lying on Thurston's back. Fuli gave Kion a deadpan expression. He tried to contain himself when responding. "Okay, you're sure."

After Thurston was saved, the Guard found themself dealing with an angry porcupine. He was refusing to move away from a hole a hyrax had his food stored away in. "Don't worry, little guy. We'll get your food back in no time." Kion addressed Bunga after making his promise. "Bunga. You have-"

"Nah, you should handle this one, Kion." Bunga insisted, gently pushing Kion over to where the porcupine was. "This guy should know not to mess with the leader of the Lion Guard.

"But you have-" Kion started to say, but Bunga ran back over, starting to frustrate him. This led to him rolling his eyes, and he then tried to figure out how to deal with the porcupine. 'Well, talking didn't work when we got here. We'll have to force him to move.' Kion tried to lower his tail over to the porcupine's nose. The porcupine saw this when the tip of the tail tickled his snout. The porcupine looked up at Kion, who tried to be as careful as possible. But when the porcupine grabbed his tail, Kion stopped and looked back at the porcupine. "You saw me, didn't you?"

"Yep." The grumpy porcupine pulled Kion's tail, causing him to fall back. Both sides of his butt, and right around his tail, got barraged by spiky quills all over. It caused Kion to cry out in pain. In response, several birds flew away, scared by the howl.

After Bunga removed the quills from his butt, Kion was climbing up to the top of a rock wall. Somehow, an elephant calf managed to get up there. Kion offered his paw to try and help the elephant calf get down. "I've got you, Mtoto. Just take my paw."

"Um... okay." Mtoto said timidly. He made his way to Kion, allowing him to take his paw. Kion used both paws to hold Mtoto while making his way down. However, he ended up slipping, and unintentionally pulled Mtoto as he did. "Whoa!" Mtoto screamed as Kion fell down the rock wall. Bunga and Fuli caught Kion, and Beshte ran to save Mtoto.

Beshte managed to catch Mtoto, amazing him. Beshte then checked to see if he was okay. "You alright there, Mtoto?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, Beshte." Mtoto said gratefully. He then hopped down to head home. "I gotta get home. I'll see you guys later!" Mtoto ran off while calling to Kion, who managed to recover well from his fall. "Glad you're okay, Kion!"

"You too, Mtoto!" Kion called, but when he left, his insecurities started to become too much. He'd been out of it since Simba expressed doubt in his team's success. And after three failed rescues, it was starting to catch up to him. When he noticed Bunga's worried look, he spoke up. "Sorry. I just... I'll be right back."

Kion walked off without much explanation. Beshte joined Bunga, Fuli, and Ono as Kion walked off. It was hard for Bunga to let his friend walk off. "Kion..."

"Slow down, Lil B." Beshte advised. "I think Kion needs some space." Bunga obliged when he saw Kion walking off again. He was clearly not in the mood for conversation.

Kion was looking at the ground while walking along the Pride Lands. Covered in doubt, lack of clarity, and pressure, he was unsure if he could really handle his new role. "I found the best team I could find. One that could cover every strength and weakness I could think of." Kion arrived close to a ledge when asking himself a question. "What if... I'M not the best?"

Kion sat down beside the ledge as music started playing. There, he started singing Kion's Lament. "Why? Why even trust me at all? They say the Guard is my call... but what if that call is wrong?" Kion started climbing down the rocks as he kept going. "Now what, what should I do? And who, who do I turn to?" Kion looked into a pond, seeing it reflect his conflicted expression. "Now everything feels so upside down." Kion jumped onto a rock when trying to motivate himself. "Deep down, maybe I knew." But it did little to conquer his self doubt. "But it might be too good to be true." The clouds started to shimmer as Kion looked away from them. "The Pride Lands safety, up to me. Some leader I turned out to be!"

In the clouds formed the head of a King from the past. Kion's grandfather: Mufasa. "Kion."

Kion was stunned and turned around in disbelief. "Hevi Kabisa. Are you..."

"Yes Kion. I am your Grandfather." Mufasa answered.

"Mufasa." Kion said. It was true. He was talking to his deceased Grandfather. He had to wonder what was causing this however. "I didn't think clouds could talk."

Mufasa laughed a bit before addressing Kion's inner doubts. "You seemed troubled, Kion. So I came to help you find your way. You're about to embark on an incredible journey, as leader of the Lion Guard."

"It's all so new to me." Kion admitted, feeling this was all thrust upon him. "When I first heard about it, I thought, wow. Me. A leader. It sounded so awesome! But it also sounded... scary. And I still don't know if I can do it."

"It's okay to be scared, Kion." Mufasa assured Kion. "Being leader of the Lion Guard is not always easy."

"Then, maybe I'm NOT ready to lead. OR use the Roar." Kion then recalled his fumble with the Roar. "I don't even know how to control it. First it's super loud when I don't see it coming, and then when I TRY to use it, I fart on my friends. And even if I COULD control it..." In that moment, Kion's biggest fear was revealed. "...will I end up like Scar?"

"The Roar is not something you can use for no reason, Kion." Mufasa informed Kion. Thanks to Scar, he knew the benefits, and downsides, of having such a power. Or at least the biggest one. "If you use the Roar just to use it, it will not come to you. There has to be a motive when you use it. It can be for good, or for great evil." Kion started to get a better understanding of the Roar. It wasn't something you could just turn on and off whenever you wanted. There had to be a motive. "Trust your instincts, Kion. The Roar will be there when you need it. As will I. Until the Pride Lands end."

Mufasa started to fade, but Kion was still confused. "Grandfather Mufasa; wait! I have more questions!" Kion sighed before thinking about his grandfather's words of wisdom. They started to make more sense once he did. "Trust my instincts. The Roar will be there when I need it." With that clarity about the roar, Kion started to feel better. Key word being, started to. "Maybe I CAN do this. I can't just give up when things get hard."

Kion began singing again, taking Mufasa's words into his next verse. "Maybe my journey is far from done." He smiled when he started to embrace his cause. "They need a leader, and I'm the one." Kion started walking forward, showing that he would do his best to be the Lion Guard's leader. "So now it's time for them all to see." Kion's smile turned into a confident one. "The lion I was born to be!"

Kion stopped on a rock, looking back as he kept singing. "It is tiiiiime to take the lead on my own!" He then walked alongside a river, his reflection being shown as he walked by it. "It is tiiiiime for something bigger than, I've ever known!" After that, he jumped up the same rocks he climbed down. "No need to wonder, the choice is done!" Kion stood confidently, being closer to fully embracing his new role. "Now I believe I truly am the one."

Kion's lion mark appeared on his left shoulder again. When he looked at it, he finished the first verse. "So is it tiiiiime? Is it tiiiiime?" With one confident smile, maybe a little much so as he looked at his mark Kion had his answer. "Yes. It is, tiiiiime." With his newfound resolve, Kion was ready to lead the Lion Guard once more.

The sun was close to being fully set. And once it did, Bunga was heard running over to Kion. "Kion; Kion!" Bunga seemed frantic as he reached the cub. "It's Janja and the hyenas! They're attacking the gazelles!"

"At the start of night? That's pretty smart." Kion admitted. To Bunga's surprise, he started to show much more confidence than he did before. "But it's not smart enough to stop the Lion Guard!" And with that, Kion and Bunga ran off.

Janja and his clan were chasing the gazelle herd where Kiara was supposed to be tracking them. Fuli, Ono, and Beshte were on a nearby hill. Ono quickly figured out their plan. "Mzingo's telling them which gazelle to go for! Smart plan, Janja. I-i-in a devious sort of way."

"I don't get it. They already scored a couple gazelles." Beshte revealed, not fully understanding their plan. "That should be plenty for all of them."

"Something tells me they're after something more, Beshte." Fuli admitted.

"If I had to guess..." Kion said nearby, revealing himself and Bunga to the others as he walked over. "Janja's clan won't stop until the whole herd is dead."

Fuli, Ono, and Beshte got scared after hearing that. And Fuli was quick to question it. "Don't they care about the circle of life?"

"Um, Fuli? Janja's been doing worse stuff since we were little." Kion reminded Fuli, who recalled their first time meeting Janja after hearing that. Kion had another idea on why they were doing this. "Ono; you mentioned Mzingo just now. I think he might've overheard us talking about the Lion Guard."

"And that's why Janja's clan keeps going!" Ono said after a gasp. "They're trying to throw the Pride Lands off balance before the Lion Guard can stop them!"

"Exactly! So we don't have a second to waste!" Kion said, having a greater ease of mind than he did before.

Beshte, being the caring friend he was, checked on Kion to make sure he was sure about this. "Does that mean you're feeling better?"

"I showed up, didn't I?" Kion pointed out, and his smile showed that he was telling the truth. Knowing they were already on board, he started giving the Guard their roles. Starting with Bunga, who got a lion mark on his left shoulder after Kion touched it. "Bunga. You're the Bravest."

Bunga immediately took a liking to his new marking. "Now that's what I'm talkin about!"

Kion went over to Fuli and did the same with her. "Fuli. You are the fastest." He went to Ono next, once Fuli's mark appeared on her left shoulder. "Ono. You are the Keenest of Sight." Ono admired the mark on his left wing. When he did, Kion gave Beshte his mark. "Beshte. You are the strongest." Beshte's ears wiggled happily after he got his mark. With his Guard assembled, Kion got ready to begin the plan. "We're the Pride Lands' new Lion Guard. And here's what we're going to do!"

Kiara was behind a rock near the area where Janja's plan was taking place. She was starting to get worried, and annoyed, by how long Tiifu was taking to get Simba. "Dad always was a heavy sleeper. And an early one too." Kiara was surprised by what she saw next. "What?" It was the Lion Guard, walking up to the edge of the rock. They stood firm, confident, and ready to stop Janja's clan.

Before they headed out, Kion let the Guard in on one more thing. "Make sure you remember your part in the future. Because I won't do it all twice." After staring ahead, he started the Lion Guard's new callout. "Till the Pride Lands end... Lion Guard defend!"

The Guard rushed ahead with Bunga complimenting Kion's callout. "Oh-ho yeah! That's WAY better than mine!" Once they reached the herd, Chungu noticed Bunga and shouted in surprise. "Zuka Zama!"

Bunga started blinding Chungu as soon as he landed on him. "Hey! I can't see! Is it bedtime already!?"

In the air, Ono was doing a surprisingly good job at keeping Mzingo busy. He swooped past him, throwing him off his guard. "What the-"

Ono swooped down as soon as Mzingo's guard was dropped, sending him down with a smash to the head. "Looking for something, featherneck?"

Mzingo regained his balance just in time before glaring up at Ono. "I just found him!" Mzingo chased after Ono, who kept his distance while planning his next move.

Cheezi and two other hyenas were chasing two gazelles once Fuli caught up to them. She got in front of them before planning how to stop them. "Huwezi!" She turned around right in front of them, making them skid to a stop. "Nowhere to run that I can't run faster!" The hyenas ran off, but Fuli wasn't gonna let that happen. She smirked when she got in front of them again as they tried chasing another gazelle. "See what I mean?" Fuli continued chasing the three hyenas, who reached Janja as he looked around.

Janja looked and saw Kion, who made his way towards him as he brought up how badly his plan was falling apart. "You've got some nerve ruining my plans, Kion! You're really starting to tick me off!"

"If it helps, you did make me late for bedtime." Kion replied, and then he looked to see Bunga coming in with Chungu.

"Comin through!" Bunga called, and then Chungu crashed into the other hyenas.

Kion saw his chance, calling to a certain hippo to finish the job. "Beshte; now!"

"Outta the way!" Beshte called, allowing the gazelles nearby to disperse. He announced his catchphrase as he made his move. "Twende kiboko!" And he ended up hitting all of them, sending them flying! Because Janja was the only one smart enough to dodge.

At that moment, Tiifu arrived with Simba, Nala, and Rafiki; the latter of whom pointed Simba and Nala to the Lion Guard. "Simba! Nala! Look!" The Lion Guard was chasing Janja's clan as they whimpered in defeat. "It's Kion's Lion Guard!" Rafiki laughed a bit as he showed how proud he was of Kion. "He's got Janja and the hyenas on the run!"

"That's our boy!" Nala exclaimed, showing that she was proud of Kion too. Simba gave a smiling nod, as he was just as proud as Nala.

Tiifu smiled as well, but gasped when something dire caught her eye. "But the herd!" The herd was headed straight for the rock Kiara was on! "It's charging right towards Kiara!" Naturally, this horrified Simba and Nala.

"Oh no!"

"Kiara!"

Kiara got hit by one of the gazelles, causing her to fall. She landed wrong on one paw and bent it. After shouting in pain, she called for help. "Help!"

Hearing the shout, Ono knocked Mzingo back before using his sight to spot Kiara. He dodged one of Mzingo's strikes and smacked him down. This time, he made him tumble into a bush, proving it to be a much more powerful strike. "Kion, Kiara's hurt!"

Ono swooped down to the Guard, and Kion, after showing fear towards his sister getting hurt, made their next action clear. "Okay! We need to get to her fast!"

"I'm the fastest there is. But what do I do once I'm there?" Fuli asked.

Luckily, Bunga had a plan. And it started with him hopping on Fuli's back. "Just get me close. I'll take it from there." Kion showed curiosity, and Bunga assured him he had it. "Don't worry, Kion. This time, yours truly has a plan."

"As long as we save Kiara." Kion responded, and then he got them all moving. "Hurry!"

"This way!" Ono acted as their guide, and Fuli rode Bunga there.

Bunga held on tight as Fuli ran on ahead. "Just get me as close as you can!"

Fuli ran as fast as she could alongside the herd. When they were close enough, Ono called down to them. "Kiara's trapped behind that rock!"

"I can't get any closer!" Fuli stated, knowing she'd get hit if she did. "Not like we have time for redos!"

"No worries, Fuli. This is where I get off!" Bunga said, and then he called ahead. "Hang on, Kiara!" Bunga jumped on the gazelles one by one, up until he got stuck on one's horn. He passed the rock, but with the right adjustment, he flung himself up into the air. "Zuka Zama!" With three backflips, Bunga managed to land safely on the rock.

Kiara looked at her broken paw again before looking up at Bunga. She was shocked to see him standing there. "Bunga!? Have you lost your mind!?"

"Never had one, Kiara. Now uh, if ya don't mind..." Bunga was carefree at first. Then, he got serious, smiling as he warned the gazelles. "Scram ya goofy gazelles!" Bunga pointed his butt out with his finisher. "Taaake this!" And without hesitation...

BRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUP

...Bunga ripped a big fart right in front of the rock. The noxious odor of rotten eggs caused the gazelles to disperse. Some of the fart got to Kiara, who covered her nose once it did. Bunga stood confidently, wiping his muzzle as he stated the origin of his move. "Uncle Pumbaa taught me that one!"

Kiara coughed a bit before thanking Bunga for the save. "Thanks, Bunga. Never thought your butt would save my life."

Ono flew over to Kion to tell him the good news. "Kion! Bunga and Fuli did it! Kiara's safe!"

"Great! Have them regroup with us at the edge of the field!" Kion commanded, but not before sharing another detail. "Oh. And this time, you just might get the roar."

Kiara limped over to Simba and Nala, who shared her relief. "Mom! Dad!"

"Kiara!"

"You're safe."

"I might not have been if it weren't for Kion and his friends." Kiara admitted. "I guess he knew what he was doing after all."

Nala gave a sly grin to Simba, who was happy to confirm this. "He did. Didn't he." Rafiki got Simba and Nala's attention before pointing in another direction. It was the Lion Guard getting ready to send Janja's clan home.

Janja was licking a wound he got up from the fall before noticing Kion and the others. Once Kion jumped down, Janja walked a bit closer. "Well, if it isn't Kion, the lion cub. You and your friends better leave now, before ya get hurt."

"I think you're mistaken, Janja. We're not the ones who'll get hurt." Kion said proudly, allowing the clouds to form above him as he got ready to use the roar. "We're the ones who'll stop you from disrupting the circle of life." When the cloud shade started covering Janja, he looked around in confusion. And then, Kion got ready. He used the roar and began pushing Janja's clan back. Despite Janja trying to stand his ground, Kion's roar pushed him back as well.

When the hyenas started falling down some rocks, Bunga cheered in joy. "Alright! Now that's the roar!"

Rafiki laughed a bit when holding up his staff before addressing the roar. "Did you hear that!?"

The others were amazed, and Kion smiled. He certainly loved the feel he got from the roar. It made him feel... powerful. "Heh. I could get used to this."

As the rest of his clan ran away, Janja looked back at Kion menacingly. "You win today, Kion. Next time, won't be so easy."

Kion was joined by the rest of the Guard as Rafiki spoke to Simba about their successful job. "You see, Simba? You see? He is ready. It is time!"

Nala looked at Simba with a smile. "Simba?"

"Yes. Kion IS ready." Simba said assuredly. "It IS time." Kion and his guard were standing together on the rock Kion roared on. "Time, for the Lion Guard." Kion, now sure he could handle the role as leader of the Lion Guard, looked over the Pride Lands from where he stood. The timing of his roar wasn't mistaken. He was ready to lead the Lion Guard.

To be continued